Zipper closure with ears for slider engagement; recloseable pouch; & methods

Abstract

A recloseable zipper closure for use with a pouch includes 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. A first ear extends from the second profile leg in a direction away from the female fin, the first ear has a first tip positioned a furtherest distance away from the female and male profiles. A second ear, opposing the first ear, extends from the male base in a direction away from the male fin. The second ear has a second tip positioned a furthest distance away from the female and male profiles. A first protrusion extends from the first ear at a non-zero angle in a direction toward the second ear; and a second protrusion extends from the second ear at a non-zero angle in a direction toward the first ear.

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;   (d) a male fin attached to the male profile member;   (e) a first ear extending from the second profile leg in a direction away from the female fin;
 (i) the first ear having a first tip positioned a furtherest distance away from the female and male profiles; 
   (f) a second ear, opposing the first ear, extending from the male base in a direction away from the male fin;
 (i) the second ear having a second tip positioned a furthest distance away from the female and male profiles; 
   (g) a first protrusion extending from the first ear at a non-zero angle in a direction toward the second ear; and   (h) a second protrusion extending from the second ear at a non-zero angle in a direction toward the first ear.   
     
     
         2 . The zipper closure of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the first protrusion extends from the first ear at a 90 degree angle; and   (b) the second protrusion extends from the second ear at a 90 degree angle.   
     
     
         3 . The zipper closure of  claim 2 , wherein the first protrusion and second protrusion are co-linear. 
     
     
         4 . The zipper closure of  claim 2 , wherein the first protrusion and second protrusion are not co-linear. 
     
     
         5 . The zipper closure of  claim 2 , wherein the first protrusion and second protrusion are of the same thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The zipper closure of  claim 2 , wherein the first protrusion and second protrusion have differing thicknesses. 
     
     
         7 . The zipper closure of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the first protrusion extends from the first ear at a non-perpendicular angle and in a direction toward the second tip; and   (b) the second protrusion extends from the second ear at a non-perpendicular angle and in a direction toward the first tip.   
     
     
         8 . The zipper closure of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the first protrusion extends from the first ear at a non-perpendicular angle and in a direction toward the male profile; and   (b) the second protrusion extends from the second ear at a non-perpendicular angle and in a direction toward the female profile.   
     
     
         9 . The zipper closure of  claim 8 , wherein:
 (a) the first protrusion extends from the first tip; and   (b) the second protrusion extends from the second tip.   
     
     
         10 . The zipper closure of  claim 9 , wherein:
 (a) the first protrusion extends at an angle toward the second protrusion, as it extends from the first tip to a waist section; and   (b) the second protrusion extends at an angle toward the first protrusion, as it extends from the second tip to a waist section.   
     
     
         11 . The zipper closure of  claim 9 , wherein:
 (a) the first protrusion extends at an angle toward the second protrusion, as it extends from the first tip; and   (b) the second protrusion extends at an angle toward the first protrusion, as it extends from the second tip.   
     
     
         12 . The zipper closure of  claim 1 , wherein the male profile member includes a continuous male rib projection with a head remote from the male base and first and second, opposite continuous 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. 
     
     
         13 . The zipper closure of  claim 12 , 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.   
     
     
         14 . The zipper closure of  claim 1 , further comprising a slider device having a closing end, an opposite opening end, a top wall, a first side wall and a second side wall extending from the top wall; a plow extending from the top wall at the opening end and into the plow-receiving volume; the plow being positioned to wedge between the first ear and second ear to drive them apart and disengage the male profile and female profile as the slider device is moved in an opening direction along the zipper closure. 
     
     
         15 . The zipper closure of  claim 1 , wherein the second ear is parallel to the first ear. 
     
     
         16 . 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;   (d) a male fin attached to the male profile member;   (e) a first ear extending from the second profile leg in a direction away from the female fin;
 (i) the first ear having a first tip positioned a furtherest distance away from the female and male profiles; 
   (f) a second ear, opposing the first ear, extending from the male base in a direction away from the male fin;
 (i) the second ear having a second tip positioned a furthest distance away from the female and male profiles; 
 (ii) the first and second ears having a widest extension between them being between the first tip and second tip, and at least a first segment of the first ear and second segment of the second ear being angled toward each other to define a lead-in region for a slider device. 
   
     
     
         17 . The zipper closure of  claim 16 , wherein:
 (a) the first tip is a terminal end of the first ear; and   (b) the second tip is a terminal end of the second ear.   
     
     
         18 . The zipper closure of  claim 17 , wherein:
 (a) the first segment of the first ear and second segment of the second ear extend toward each other from the first tip and second tip to a waist section;   (b) the first ear has a third segment;   (c) the second ear has a fourth segment; and   (d) the third segment and fourth segment extend from the waist section away from each other toward the female profile and male profile.   
     
     
         19 . The zipper closure of  claim 18 , wherein the male profile member includes a continuous male rib projection with a head remote from the male base and first and second, opposite continuous 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. 
     
     
         20 . The zipper closure of  claim 19 , 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.   
     
     
         21 . The zipper closure of  claim 16 , further comprising a slider device having a closing end, an opposite opening end, a top wall, a first side wall and a second side wall extending from the top wall; a plow extending from the top wall at the opening end and into the plow-receiving volume; the plow being positioned to wedge between the opposing first ear and second ear to drive them apart and disengage the male profile and female profile as the slider device is moved in an opening direction along the zipper closure.