Pouch for Tobacco with an Improved Zipper Closure

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a pouch for tobacco comprising a pocket for containing the tobacco and having an opening providing access to the interior of the pocket, wherein the opening of the pocket is provided with a zipper closure for releasably sealing the opening, and wherein the zipper closure comprises two opposing, longitudinally-extending and interlockable rib and groove profiles, characterized in that at least a part of one of the profiles has intermittent structural alterations along the length of the profiles to provide an intermittent sensory perception, like e.g. an audible and/or tactile sensation, when opening or closing the zipper closure of the pouch.

1 . A pouch for tobacco comprising a pocket for containing the tobacco and having an opening providing access to the interior of the pocket, wherein the opening of the pocket is provided with a zipper closure for releasably sealing the opening, and wherein the zipper closure comprises two opposing, longitudinally-extending and interlockable rib and groove profiles, wherein at least a part of one of the profiles has intermittent structural alterations along the length of the profiles to provide an intermittent sensory perception, when opening or closing the zipper closure of the pouch. 
     
     
         2 . The pouch of  claim 1  further comprising a flap for covering of the pocket of the pouch, and wherein one of the longitudinally extending profiles is arranged on a surface of the flap and the respective opposing longitudinally extending profile is arranged on an outer surface of the pouch. 
     
     
         3 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the intermittent sensory perception is selected from a group consisting of an audible or tactile sensation. 
     
     
         4 . The pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the structural alterations are indentations. 
     
     
         5 . The pouch of  claim 4 , wherein the indentations are crushings or incisions. 
     
     
         6 . The pouch of  claim 5 , wherein a depth of the indentations is at least 10%, preferably 25%, more preferably 50%, even more preferably 75%, most preferably 100% of the height of the profiles. 
     
     
         7 . The pouch of  claim 6 , wherein the indentations are in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the profiles. 
     
     
         8 . The pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the structural alterations are arranged at regular or irregular intervals along the length of the profiles. 
     
     
         9 . The pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the structural alterations are arranged at irregular intervals along the length of the profiles. 
     
     
         10 . The pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the structural alterations are flarings. 
     
     
         11 . The pouch of  claim 10 , wherein the flarings are bulges. 
     
     
         12 . The pouch of  claim 4 , wherein only the groove profile of the zipper closure has the intermittent structural alterations. 
     
     
         13 . The pouch of  claim 12 , wherein the structural alterations are crushings with a depth of 25% to 100% of the height of the profile. 
     
     
         14 . The pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the rib profile and the groove profile of the zipper closure have the intermittent structural alterations. 
     
     
         15 . The pouch of  claim 14 , wherein the structural alterations of the profiles are arranged in an offset position to each other when the zipper closure is closed. 
     
     
         16 . The pouch of  claim 15 , wherein the structural alterations are incisions with a depth of 25% to 100% of the height of the profiles. 
     
     
         17 . The pouch of  claim 14 , wherein the structural alterations of the profiles are arranged in a directly opposing position to each other when the zipper closure is closed. 
     
     
         18 . The pouch of  claim 17 , wherein the structural alterations are flarings and wherein the width of the profile in the area of the flarings is 10% to 200% broader than the width in the adjacent areas of the profiles which do not have flarings. 
     
     
         19 . The pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the zipper closure comprises one or more printed elements arranged on at least one of the surfaces of the zipper closure.