Leakproof zipper end crush for reclosable bag

Abstract

A reclosable bag that can be hermetically sealed. The bag comprises a pair of zipper strips that are joined in respective zones without substantial deformation of the longitudinal profiled closure elements. These zones of zipper strip joinder assist in providing a leakproof transition from the openable section of the zipper to the corner seals, where the longitudinal profiled closure elements are either substantially deformed (e.g., crushed) or absent. The method of manufacture involves the steps of ultrasonically welding a wide area and then thermally crushing a narrower area overlapping the wide welded area to form leakproof zipper joints. This method can be applied to string (flangeless) zippers as well as flanged zippers.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 : A reclosable bag comprising:
 a receptacle having an interior volume and a mouth, said receptacle comprising first and second panels; and   a flexible zipper comprising first and second zipper strips respectively joined to said first and second panels in the area of said mouth, said first zipper strip comprising a first base and a first longitudinal closure element projecting from said first base, and said second zipper strip comprising a second base and second and third longitudinal closure elements projecting from said second base, said first longitudinal closure element being profiled to project between and interlock with the profiles of said second and third longitudinal closure elements,   wherein said first and second zipper strips are joined to each other with substantial deformation of said first through third longitudinal closure elements in first and second zones of joinder that are respectively located at opposite ends of said zipper, and are joined to each other with relatively less deformation of said first through third longitudinal closure elements in third and fourth zones of joinder that are respectively located contiguous with and between said first and second zones of joinder, said first and second zipper strips being not joined together in a section lying between said third and fourth zones of joinder.   
     
     
         19 : The bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said first longitudinal closure element is fused to said second and third longitudinal closure elements in each of said third and fourth zones of joinder, and central portions of said first and second zipper strips are substantially flattened in each of said first and second zones of joinder. 
     
     
         20 : The bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said first and second panels are joined to each other at first and second side seals extending generally transverse to an axis of said first and second zipper strips when the latter are straight and interlocked, and said first and second panels are joined or connected to each other along a bottom region. 
     
     
         21 : The bag as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said first side seal and said first zone of joinder have the same width and are contiguous. 
     
     
         22 : A reclosable bag comprising:
 a receptacle having an interior volume and a mouth, said receptacle comprising first and second panels; and   a flexible zipper comprising first and second zipper strips respectively joined to said first and second panels in the area of said mouth, said zipper having a length less than a width of said first and second panels, said first zipper strip comprising a first base and a first longitudinal closure element projecting from said first base, and said second zipper strip comprising a second base and second and third longitudinal closure elements projecting from said second base, said first longitudinal closure element being profiled to project between and interlock with the profiles of said second and third longitudinal closure elements,   wherein said first and second panels are joined to each other in first and second zones of joinder that are respectively located at opposite ends of said mouth, said zipper extending across a region between and contiguous with said first and second zones of joinder, and said first and second zipper strips being joined to each other with relatively little deformation of said first through third longitudinal closure elements in third and fourth zones of joinder that are respectively located contiguous with said first and second zones of joinder respectively, said first and second zipper strips being not joined together in a section lying between said third and fourth zones of joinder.   
     
     
         23 : The bag as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said first longitudinal closure element is fused to said second and third longitudinal closure elements in each of said third and fourth zones of joinder. 
     
     
         24 : The bag as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said first and second panels are joined to each other at first and second side seals extending generally transverse to an axis of said first and second zipper strips when the latter are straight and interlocked, and said first and second panels are joined or connected to each other along a bottom region. 
     
     
         25 : A reclosable bag comprising:
 a receptacle having an interior volume and a mouth, said receptacle comprising first and second panels; and   a flexible zipper comprising first and second zipper strips respectively joined to said first and second panels in the area of said mouth, said first zipper strip comprising a first base and a first longitudinal closure element projecting from said first base, and said second zipper strip comprising a second base and second and third longitudinal closure elements projecting from said second base, said first longitudinal closure element being profiled to project between and interlock with the profiles of said second and third longitudinal closure elements,   wherein respective first portions of said first and second zipper strips are joined to each other with relatively little deformation of respective first portions of said first through third longitudinal closure elements disposed in a first zone of joinder that is leakproof, and respective second portions of said first and second zipper strips are joined to each other with relatively little deformation of respective second portions of said first through third longitudinal closure elements disposed in a second zone of joinder that is leakproof, the portions of said first and second zipper strips lying between said first and second zones of joinder being not joined together and mutually interlockable.   
     
     
         26 : The bag as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said first zone of joinder is contiguous with a third zone of joinder in which respective first portions of said first and second panels are joined to each other, and said second zone of joinder is contiguous with a fourth zone of joinder in which respective second portions of said first and second panels are joined to each other. 
     
     
         27 : The bag as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said first and second panels are also joined to each other at first and second side seals extending generally transverse to an axis of said first and second zipper strips when the latter are straight and interlocked, and said first and second panels are joined or connected to each other along a bottom region, said third zone of joinder being contiguous with said first side seal and said fourth zone of joinder being contiguous with said second side seal. 
     
     
         28 : The bag as recited in  claim 25 , wherein respective third portions of said first and second zipper strips are joined to each other with substantial deformation of respective third portions of said first through third longitudinal closure elements disposed in a third zone of joinder, and respective fourth portions of said first and second zipper strips are joined to each other with substantial deformation of respective fourth portions of said first through third longitudinal closure elements disposed in a fourth zone of joinder, said first and second zones of joinder being respectively located contiguous with and between said third and fourth zones of joinder. 
     
     
         29 : The bag as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said first and second panels are joined to each other at first and second side seals extending generally transverse to an axis of said first and second zipper strips when the latter are straight and interlocked, and said first and second panels are joined or connected to each other along a bottom region, said third zone of joinder being contiguous with said first side seal and said fourth zone of joinder being contiguous with said second side seal. 
     
     
         30 : The bag as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said first portion of said first longitudinal closure element is fused to said first portions of said second and third longitudinal closure elements in said first zone of joinder, and said second portion of said first longitudinal closure element is fused to said second portions of said second and third longitudinal closure elements in said second zone of joinder.