Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-09
2001-10-09
Yao, Sam Chuan (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S244270, C156S271000, C156S244250
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299720
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to reclosable plastic bags of the type in which items may be stored. More particularly, the present invention relates to a slide zipper for use with such plastic bags and a method for making the zipper.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Slide zippers have different requirements than traditional interlocking zippers which are opened and closed directly by the hands of the user. First, the manufacturing tolerances are much smaller. Second, the slider must smoothly interact with the zipper to open and close the bag. Third, the zipper must interact with the slider to resist having the slider pulled off the zipper from the top of the bag. And fourth, the zipper must interact with the slider to resist having the slider pulled off the end of the zipper from the side of the bag.
Slide zippers for use with plastic bags are well known in the reclosable fastener art. Examples of conventional slide zippers can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,007,143, 5,008,971, 5,131,121 and 5,664,299. However, many prior art slide zippers have proven problematic in that they do not adequately satisfy the aforementioned requirements.
Recently, a new type of slider zipper has been developed which, as disclosed in the parent of the present application, improves on prior art slide zippers and satisfies the aforementioned requirements.
The present invention relates to a slide zipper which further improves on prior art slide zippers and which satisfies all of the aforementioned requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a novel and unique slide zipper and a method for making the zipper. The zipper is comprised of two interlocking profiles, each profile including an interlocking member for interlocking with the interlocking member of the other profile, a web for sealing each profile to a plastic bag, and a ribbon for interacting with the slider.
In a preferred embodiment the interlocking members each have a pair of hooked arms. The hooks on the first interlocking member are oriented outwardly with respect to each other and are adapted to engage the hooks of the second interlocking member, which are oriented inwardly with respect to each other.
The slider straddles the zipper, interacting with the profile ribbons, and is slidable therealong. As oriented on a bag having the zipper at the top, the slider consists of a top from which two arms depend. The slider bottom is defined by two inwardly directed hooked ends, each hooked end hooking around a profile ribbon so that it becomes positioned between the ribbon and its corresponding web, thereby holding the slider in place and preventing the slider from being pulled off the zipper. In addition, to keep the slider from coming off the ends of the zipper the profiles are sealed together at either end so that when the slider reaches the ends of the zipper the hooked ends of the slider arms will contact the sealed area and be prevented from moving any further.
The slider has an opening end and a closing end. At the closing end the slider arm inner walls are sufficiently close to one another to press the two profiles into engagement when the slider is moved in the closing direction (i.e. opposite to the closing end). At the opening end of the slider there is a contoured separator blade which extends downwardly from the top of the slider and which is engageable with the top hooked arm of the first interlocking member.
When the slider is moved in the opening direction, the separator blade disengages the top hooked arms of the interlocking members and a force component on the top hooked arm of the first interlocking member urges the top of the first profile away from the second profile. At the opening end of the slider the inner walls of the slider arms are further apart than at the closing end such that the slider arms do not force the profiles into engagement. The opening end of the slider may also be provided with a cavity or recess to facilitate lateral movement of the first profile.
Additionally, the hooked end on the first slider arm engages the bottom of the ribbon portion of the first profile and lifts the same so that the bottom hooked arms of the two interlocking members also disengage. The combined actions of the separator blade and the hooked end on the first slider arm thus serve to first disengage the top hooked arm of the first interlocking member from the top hooked arm of the second interlocking member, then move the first profile away from the second profile, and then lift the bottom hooked arm of the first interlocking member out of engagement with the bottom hooked arm of the second interlocking member to thereby free the first profile from the second profile. Alternatively, the second slider arm could force the second profile downwardly out of engagement with the first profile.
The present invention will now be described in more complete detail with reference being made to the figures identified below wherein the same numerals represent identical elements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4428788 (1984-01-01), Kamp
patent: 5609420 (1997-03-01), Palmisano
patent: 6080252 (2000-06-01), Plourde
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Musser Barbara J.
Pitney Hardin Kipp & Szuch LLP
Yao Sam Chuan
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