Slider actuated opening feature

Abstract

A pouch includes sidewalls that define a mouth, a cam member disposed proximate the mouth, and a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong. The slider engages the cam member to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pouch, comprising:
 sidewalls that define a mouth;   a cam member disposed proximate the mouth; and   a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong, wherein the slider engages the cam member to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.   
     
     
         2 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the cam member includes a first arm disposed proximate the mouth and a second arm coupled to the first arm and extending angularly away from the first arm and the mouth. 
     
     
         3 . The pouch of  claim 2 , wherein the first arm is disposed on an interior surface of the mouth and the second arm extends through a sidewall to an outer surface of the mouth. 
     
     
         4 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls include first and second walls that define the mouth and the cam member includes a first cam portion disposed on the first wall and a second cam portion disposed on the second wall. 
     
     
         5 . The pouch of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second cam portions includes a first arm attached proximate the mouth and a second arm coupled to the first arm and extending angularly away from the first arm and the mouth. 
     
     
         6 . The pouch of  claim 5 , wherein the slider slides over the first and second cam portions and urges the second arms together and the first arms apart. 
     
     
         7 . The pouch of  claim 6 , wherein the slider includes extensions that extend downwardly from sidewalls of the slider, and wherein the extensions slide over the first and second cam portions and urge the second arms together and the first arms apart. 
     
     
         8 . The pouch of  claim 6 , wherein the slider defines a channel with a tapered portion and the mouth is disposed within the channel, further wherein the tapered portion slides over the first and second cam portions and urges the second arms together and the first arms apart. 
     
     
         9 . The pouch of  claim 1 , further comprising a closure mechanism disposed proximate the mouth, wherein the slider is coupled to the closure mechanism and opens the closure mechanism when urged in an opening direction and closes the closure mechanism when urged in a closing direction, and wherein the slider automatically engages the cam member to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition when urged in the opening direction. 
     
     
         10 . The pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the closure mechanism includes opposing first and second interlocking closure members and the cam member is disposed below the first and second interlocking closure members. 
     
     
         11 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the cam member and slider are configured so that when the slider engages the cam member the slider can be releasably locked into place to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition, a tactile and/or audible indication that the slider has engaged the cam member is provided, and/or the slider is prevented from sliding off of the mouth. 
     
     
         12 . A closure assembly, comprising:
 a first closure member opposing a second closure member, wherein the closure members comprise elongate strips;   a slider coupled to the first and second closure members, wherein the slider de-couples the first closure member from the second closure member when urged in an opening direction along the closure members and couples the first closure member to the second closure member when urged in a closing direction along the closure members; and   a cam member disposed proximate at least one of the first and second closure members,   wherein the slider engages the cam member to maintain the first and second closure members in a spread apart condition when urged in the opening direction.   
     
     
         13 . The closure assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the cam member includes a first cam portion disposed proximate the first closure member and a second cam portion disposed proximate the second closure member, and wherein each of the first and second cam portions includes a first arm attached proximate a respective one of the first and second closure members and a second arm coupled to the first arm at a pivot point and extending angularly away from the first arm. 
     
     
         14 . The closure assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first arms are disposed on interior surfaces of the closure members and the second arms extend through the closure members to outer surfaces thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The closure assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the slider engages the first and second cam portions to urge together the second arms and urge apart the first arms about the pivot point. 
     
     
         16 . The closure assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the slider includes extensions that extend downwardly from sidewalls of the slider, and wherein the extensions engage the first and second cam portions to urge together the second arms and urge apart the first arms. 
     
     
         17 . The closure assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second closure members comprise interlocking closure members and the cam member is disposed below the first and second interlocking closure members. 
     
     
         18 . A method of maintaining a mouth defined by sidewalls of a pouch in a spread apart condition, wherein the pouch includes an opening feature disposed proximate the mouth and a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong, comprising the steps of:
 sliding the slider in an opening direction along the mouth to automatically engage the opening feature; and   engaging the opening feature with the slider to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the opening feature includes first and second opposing cam members, the first cam member including a first arm disposed proximate the mouth and a second arm coupled to the first arm and extending angularly away from the first arm, wherein the method includes the step of engaging the second arm with the slider to urge the second arm toward the second cam member and the first arms apart from the second cam member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pouch includes a closure mechanism disposed proximate the mouth, and wherein the step of sliding the slider in an opening direction de-couples the closure mechanism, and further wherein the method comprises the step of sliding the slider in a closing direction to disengage the opening feature and couple the closure mechanism.