Child resistant closure system including hood arrangement for recloseable bag and methods

Abstract

A child resistant zipper closure for a plastic bag includes a zipper closure having a hood arrangement that includes at least a non-removable hood section in covering relation to a first portion of the zipper closure. There can be slider to open and close the closure, and the non-removable hood section will be sized to accommodate the slider. The hood arrangement can include a removable section to expose the zipper closure and allow access to the slider.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A child resistant zipper closure system comprising:
 (a) a zipper closure selectively closable and openable, the zipper closure being openable at an opening initiation point; and   (b) a non-removable hood covering zipper closure such that no portion of the opening initiation point is physically exposed; the non-removable hood being a thermoplastic film extending only partially along the zipper closure from the opening initiation point and being sealed above the opening initiation point.   
     
     
         2 . The zipper closure system of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable hood portion. 
     
     
         3 . The zipper closure system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-removable hood is non-transparent. 
     
     
         4 . A flexible package comprising the child resistant zipper closure system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . A zippered plastic bag having an openable and recloseable mouth, the bag comprising:
 (a) first and second panels each having a top forming the mouth, a bottom, and first and second opposing sides;   (b) a zipper closure in proximity to the top of the first and second panels for interlocking to close the mouth and for unlocking to open the mouth, the zipper closure being openable at an opening initiation point; and   (c) a hood arrangement including at least a non-removable hood section in covering relation to the zipper closure at an opening initiation point of the zipper closure; the non-removable hood section being a thermoplastic film extending only partially along the zipper closure from the opening initiation point and being sealed above the opening initiation point.   
     
     
         6 . A bag according to  claim 5  wherein:
 (a) the hood arrangement includes an open position and a closed position;
 (i) in the closed position, the hood arrangement covers an entire extension of the zipper closure; and 
 (ii) in the open position, the hood arrangement includes only the non-removable hood section covering the opening initiation point and less than the entire extension of the zipper closure. 
 
 
     
     
         7 . A bag according to  claim 6  wherein:
 (a) the hood arrangement is secured to the first and second panels; and 
 (b) in the closed position, the hood arrangement includes a removable hood section and the non-removable hood section; the removable hood section being removable from the first and second panels to expose the zipper closure when removed. 
 
     
     
         8 . A bag according to  claim 7  wherein:
 (a) the first and second panels are scored to permit removal of the removable hood section. 
 
     
     
         9 . A bag according to  claim 5  wherein:
 (a) the non-removable hood section is non-transparent. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a zippered plastic bag having an openable and recloseable mouth; the method comprising:
 (a) providing a zippered plastic bag having first and second panels each having a top forming the mouth, a bottom, and first and second opposing sides; a zipper closure in proximity to the top of the first and second panels for interlocking to close the mouth and for unlocking to open the mouth, the zipper closure having an opening initiation point; and a hood arrangement including at least a non-removable hood section in covering relation to the zipper closure at the opening initiation point of the zipper closure; the non-removable hood section being a thermoplastic film extending only partially along the zipper closure from the opening initiation point and being sealed above the opening initiation point; and   (b) opening the mouth by accessing the opening initiation point in the non-removable hood section and unlocking the zipper closure.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein:
 (a) the hood arrangement includes a removable hood section and the non-removable hood section; and 
 (b) the method further includes, before the step of opening the mouth, removing the removable hood section to expose a portion of the zipper closure. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein:
 (a) the step of removing the removable hood section includes tearing the removable hood section from the first and second panels along a score line.