Zipper closure; recloseable pouch; & methods

Abstract

A recloseable zipper closure for use with a flexible package has a female profile including first and second spaced profile legs joined by a female base to define a central, continuous, elongate receiver recess. A male profile opposing the female profile includes a male profile member extending from a male base, the male profile member being sized and positioned to be releasably inserted in the receiver recess and engaged with the first and second profile legs. A female fin is attached to the female profile at an attachment area along the base; the female fin being positioned to be secured to a portion of the flexible package. A male fin is attached to the male profile member and is positioned to be secured to another portion of the flexible package.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recloseable zipper closure for use with a flexible package; the zipper closure comprising:
 (a) a female profile including first and second spaced profile legs joined by a female base to define a central, continuous, elongate receiver recess;   (b) a male profile opposing the female profile; the male profile including a male profile member extending from a male base, the male profile member being sized and positioned to be releasably inserted in the receiver recess and engaged with the first and second profile legs;   (c) a female fin attached to the female profile at an attachment area along the base; the female fin being positioned to be secured to a portion of the flexible package; and   (d) a male fin attached to the male profile member; the male fin being positioned to be secured to an opposing portion of the flexible package.   
     
     
         2 . The zipper closure of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment area of the female fin is along the female base positioned between the first and second profile legs. 
     
     
         3 . The zipper closure of  claim 1 , wherein the male fin is attached to the male profile member at the male base. 
     
     
         4 . The zipper closure of  claim 1 , wherein the male profile member includes a male rib projection with a head remote from the male base and first and second, opposite side arms on opposite sides of the rib projection; the side arms providing for engagement recesses thereunder for locking engagement with portions of the first and second profile legs. 
     
     
         5 . The zipper closure of  claim 4 , wherein:
 (a) the first profile leg has a first hook member;   (b) the second profile leg has a second hook member;   wherein when the male profile member is inserted in the receiver recess, the first and second hook member are received in respective ones of the engagement recesses to interlock.   
     
     
         6 . The zipper closure of  claim 5 , wherein:
 (a) the first profile leg is positioned as a product-side leg and having the first hook member positioned closer to an interior of a flexible package, when the closure is secured to the flexible package;   (b) the second profile leg is positioned as a consumer-side leg and having the second hook member positioned away from the interior of the flexible package, when the closure is secured to the flexible package;   (c) the first side arm on the male profile member is positioned as a product-side side arm, positioned closer to the interior of the flexible package, when the closure is secured to the flexible package, and positioned to engage with the product-side leg;   (d) the second side arm on the male profile member is positioned as a consumer-side side arm, positioned away from the interior of a flexible package, when the closure is secured to the flexible package, and positioned to engage with the consumer-side leg;   wherein engagement between the product-side leg and product-side side arm is stronger than engagement between the consumer-side leg and consumer-side side arm.   
     
     
         7 . The zipper closure of  claim 6 , wherein the male base includes a lock down feature to interfere with the second profile leg. 
     
     
         8 . The zipper closure of  claim 7 , wherein the lock down feature comprises a bend defining a concave receiving volume in the male base. 
     
     
         9 . The zipper closure of  claim 7 , wherein the lock down feature comprises a protuberance extending from the male base toward the female profile. 
     
     
         10 . The zipper closure of  claim 7 , further including:
 (a) a stub projecting from the second profile leg in a direction away from the female fin; the stub having a terminal surface; and   (b) an ear extending from the male base and sized to rest on the terminal surface of the stub, when the male profile and female profile are interlocked, forming a parting surface contained within a plane orthogonal to a plane containing the male base.   
     
     
         11 . The zipper closure of  claim 10 , wherein the lock down feature comprises a bend defining a concave receiving volume in the male base. 
     
     
         12 . The zipper closure of  claim 10 , wherein the lock down feature comprises a protuberance extending from the male base toward the female profile. 
     
     
         13 . The zipper closure of  claim 12 , wherein the protuberance also extends from the ear toward the female profile. 
     
     
         14 . The zipper closure of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the female fin includes a first slider-engaging projection extending away from the male fin, and being spaced from the female base and the first profile leg; and   (b) the male fin includes a second slider-engaging projection extending away from the female fin, and being spaced from the male base.   
     
     
         15 . A flexible, recloseable package comprising:
 (a) a recloseable zipper closure including,
 (i) a female profile including first and second spaced profile legs joined by a female base to define a central, continuous, elongate receiver recess; 
 (ii) a male profile opposing the female profile; the male profile including a male profile member extending from a male base, the male profile member being sized and positioned to be releasably inserted in the receiver recess and engaged with the first and second profile legs; 
 (iii) a female fin attached to the female profile at an attachment area along the base; 
 (iv) a male fin attached to the male profile member; 
   (b) a first panel having a top edge; the female fin secured to the first panel along the top edge; and   (c) a second panel, opposing the first panel, having a top edge; the male fin secured to the second panel along the second panel top edge;   wherein the first panel and second panel form a surrounding package wall having an interior volume.   
     
     
         16 . The flexible package of  claim 15 , further including a slider slidably located on the zipper closure; the slider including:
 (a) an opening end and an opposite closing end;   (b) a top wall with an internal surface;   (c) first and second legs extending from the top wall and enclosing the internal surface of the top wall;
 (i) the first and second legs having internal surfaces converging toward each other as they extend from the opening end to the closing end; 
 (ii) the first leg having a first hook at a terminal end, extending in a direction toward the second leg; 
 (iii) the second leg having a second hook at a terminal end, extending in a direction toward the first leg; and 
   (d) a splitter extending from the internal surface of the top wall at the opening end.   
     
     
         17 . The flexible package of  claim 16 , wherein:
 (a) the female fin includes a first slider-engaging projection extending away from the male fin, and being spaced from the female base and the first profile leg;
 (i) the first hook of the slider being engaged with the first slider-engaging projection; and 
   (b) the male fin includes a second slider-engaging projection extending away from the female fin, and being spaced from the male base;
 (ii) the second hook of the slider being engaged with the second slider-engaging projection. 
   
     
     
         18 . The flexible package of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second panels are secured together along opposite side edges. 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating a zippered bag having an openable and recloseable mouth; the method comprising:
 (a) providing a zippered bag having first and second panels forming a wall surrounding an interior, an open mouth, and a closed bottom; and a recloseable zipper closure secured to the panels along the mouth;
 (i) the recloseable zipper closure including a female profile including first and second spaced profile legs joined by a female base to define a central, continuous, elongate receiver recess; and a female fin attached to the female profile at an attachment area along the base; the female fin being secured to the first panel; 
 (ii) the recloseable zipper closure including a male profile opposing the female profile; the male profile including a male profile member extending from a male base, the male profile member being sized and positioned to be releasably inserted in the receiver recess and engaged with the first and second profile legs; and a male fin attached to the male profile member; the male fin being secured to the second panel; and 
   (b) putting the female fin and male fin in tension to draw the first and second spaced profile legs together to increase lock interference between the male profile member and the first and second spaced profile legs.  20  The method of claim  19 , wherein:   (a) the male profile member has a first side arm positioned near the interior; and   (b) the step of putting the female fin and male fin in tension generates torque on the first side arm.   
     
     
         21 . The method of claim  20 , wherein:
 (a) the male base includes a lock down feature to interfere with the second profile leg; and   (b) the step of generating torque on the first side arm increases lock interference between the second profile leg and the lock down feature.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lock down feature comprises a bend defining a concave receiving volume in the male base. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lock down feature comprises a protuberance extending from the male base toward the female profile.