Package making – Methods – Forming a cover adjunct or application of a cover adjunct to...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-26
2001-04-10
Sipos, John (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Forming a cover adjunct or application of a cover adjunct to...
C053S416000, C053S451000, C053S133400, C493S213000, C493S927000, C156S066000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212857
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of reclosable packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to a slide-zipper assembly; a method of attaching the slide zipper assembly to thermoplastic film; and a method of making slide-zippered packages, preferably on a form-fill-seal (FFS) machine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Slide-zipper assemblies are well-known in the reclosable packaging art, such as those slide-zipper assemblies disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,007,143, 5,008,971, 5,131,121 and 5,664,299. Methods of making reclosable packages on FFS machines are likewise well-known in the reclosable packaging art, such as those methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,909,017, 4,655,862 and 4,894,975.
Because of the facility which is provided by slide-zippers to consumers of reclosable packages and because of the large volume of reclosable packages made on FFS machines today, it is highly desirable and advantageous to combine the two technologies so that slide-zippered packages can be made on FFS machines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new type of slide-zipper assembly particulary suited for use in the manufacture of slide-zippered packages on FFS machines. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of attaching the slider zipper assembly to thermoplastic film, which thermoplastic film can subsequently be used to make slide-zippered packages on an FFS machine or the like. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of making slide-zippered packages, preferably on an FFS machine.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a reclosable zipper is provided. The reclosable zipper is comprised of a first profile interlockable with a second profile. Each profile includes an interlocking member and a flange extending from the interlocking member on one side thereof at the bottom of the zipper. The interlocking members are interlockable with one another. The zipper flanges are wrapped around the zipper and joined together at the top of the zipper. Optionally, a slider may be included for opening and closing the zipper. The slider straddles the zipper and is adapted to open the zipper as it is moved therealong in an opening direction and to close the zipper as it is moved therealong in a closing direction.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, lengths of the reclosable zipper are attached to thermoplastic film via the connected flanges. The zipper-equipped thermoplastic film may then be fed into an FFS machine or rolled up for later use.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the zipper-equipped thermoplastic film is fed into an FFS machine or the like where it is made into reclosable packages.
The present invention will now be described in detail, with frequent reference being made to the drawings identified below in which the same numerals represent the same elements.
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patent: 5713669 (1998-02-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 6017412 (2000-01-01), Van Erden
patent: 6131369 (2000-10-01), Ausnit
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Pitney Hardin Kipp & Szuch LLP
Sipos John
LandOfFree
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