Closure system for pouch or container

Abstract

A container or pouch made from an elastomer includes a body having a front wall and a rear wall that are configured to provide an inner volume of the container. A closure system includes a male portion having a male sealing profile that has a male closure element that extends from a thickened region, and a female portion has a female sealing profile that includes a female closure element and defines an opening into a cavity. A gate is disposed between the inner volume and the male closure element. A centerline extends through the opening, the cavity, the male sealing profile, and the thickened region when the closure system is in a closed configuration. The gate extends below an axis that extends through the opening and is perpendicular to the centerline in the closed configuration.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A container or pouch made from an elastomer, comprising:
 a body that comprises a front wall and a rear wall that are configured to provide an inner volume of the container; and   a closure system, comprising:
 a male portion having a male sealing profile that includes a male closure element that extends from a thickened region; 
 a female portion having a female sealing profile that includes a female closure element and defining an opening into a cavity, wherein a centerline extends through the opening, the cavity, the male sealing profile, and the thickened region when the closure system is in a closed configuration; and 
 a gate that is disposed between the inner volume and the male closure element, wherein an axis extends through the opening and is perpendicular to the centerline, and wherein the gate extends below the axis in the closed configuration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the gate is unitary with the closure system. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the gate is configured to contact the female closure element when contents within the inner volume contact the gate. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the gate is configured to at least partially contact the female portion in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the gate at least partially varies along a surface that faces the inner volume. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the gate is at least partially uniform along a surface that faces the inner volume. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the gate extends integrally from the male portion of the closure system. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the gate includes a first layer that extends from the female portion of the closure system and a second layer that extends from the male portion of the closure system. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the closure system further comprises a gap having a distance between the male closure element and the gate, and
 wherein the distance is measured in a direction perpendicular to the centerline.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the female closure element is greater than a height of the thickened region, and
 wherein the height of the female closure element and the height of the thickened region are each measured in a direction perpendicular to the centerline.   
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the height of the female closure element is at least 100% of the height of the thickened region. 
     
     
         12 . A container or pouch made from an elastomer, comprising:
 a body that comprises a front wall and a rear wall that are configured to provide an inner volume of the container; and   a closure system, comprising:
 a male portion having a male sealing profile that includes a male closure element that extends from a thickened region; 
 a female portion having a female sealing profile that includes a female closure element and defining an opening into a cavity, wherein a centerline extends through the opening, the cavity, the male sealing profile, and the thickened region when the closure system is in a closed configuration; and 
 a gate that extends from the male portion and is disposed between the inner volume and the male closure element, 
   wherein the gate is configured to engage with the female closure element when contents within the inner volume contact the gate in the closed configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the closure system further comprises a gap having a distance between the male closure element and the gate,
 wherein the distance is measured in a direction perpendicular to the centerline.   
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein a volume of the gap is defined by at least a height of the gate,
 wherein the height of the gate is measured in a direction perpendicular to the centerline.   
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the gate comprises a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein a thickness of at least a portion of the female portion continuously varies beneath the female closure element,
 wherein the thickness of the female portion is measured in a direction parallel to the centerline.   
     
     
         17 . A container or pouch made from an elastomer, comprising:
 a body that comprises a front wall and a rear wall that are configured to provide an inner volume of the container; and   a closure system, comprising:
 a male portion having a male sealing profile that includes a first male closure element that extends from a thickened region; and 
 a female portion having a female sealing profile that includes a female closure element and defining an opening into a cavity, the female closure element including an inner portion that includes the cavity, wherein a centerline extends through the opening, the cavity, the first male closure element, and the thickened region when the closure system is in a closed configuration, 
   wherein a height of the inner portion is greater than a height of the thickened region, the height of the inner portion and the height of the thickened region each measured in a direction perpendicular to the centerline.   
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the male portion further includes a second male closure element that is disposed between the first male closure element and the inner volume. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the male portion further comprises a gap between the first male closure element and the second male closure element. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the height of the inner portion is between about 100% and about 200% of the height of the thickened region.