Tamper-evident reclosable bag

Abstract

A plastic bag comprises opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. A reclosable zipper extending along a mouth portion formed opposite the sealed bottom of the plastic bag. The zipper is preferably free of graspable upper pull flanges in order to best accommodate a slider and inhibit operation of the zipper without the slider. The slider is mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position. The zipper is closed while the slider is in the closed position. The zipper is opened in response to movement of the slider to the open position. To inhibit tampering with the contents of the bag, the bag includes a tamper-evident feature. In one set of embodiments, the tamper-evident feature initially maintains the slider in the closed position and allows the slider to move away from the closed position toward the open position in response to removing or breaking the tamper-evident feature. In another set of embodiments, the tamper-evident feature initially maintains a mouth portion of the plastic bag in a folded position and allows the mouth portion to be unfolded in response to removing or breaking the tamper-evident feature.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tamper-evident slider bag, comprising: 
 first and second opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging said pair of sides;    a reclosable zipper extending along a mouth formed opposite said bottom;    a slider slidably mounted to said zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position, said zipper being closed while said slider is in said closed position, said zipper being opened in response to movement of said slider to said open position; and    a stationary tamper-evident member initially extending over said zipper and coupled to said opposing body panels, said tamper-evident member being initially positioned relative to said slider so as to initially obstruct the movement of said slider away from said closed position, said slider being allowed to move away from said closed position in response to removal of said tamper-evident member from the bag.    
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said tamper-evident member includes an adhesive label adhered to outer surfaces of said opposing body panels.  
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein said adhesive label is adjacent to said slider along said zipper.  
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said tamper-evident member includes a flexible strip stapled to said opposing body panels.  
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 4 , wherein said flexible strip is comprised of a material selected from a group consisting of cardboard, paper, plastic, and foil.  
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 4 , wherein said tamper-evident member is adjacent to said slider along said zipper.  
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said tamper-evident member includes a plastic sleeve adhered to outer surfaces of said opposing body panels.  
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 7 , wherein said plastic sleeve covers at least a portion of said slider.  
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said tamper-evident member includes a profiled plastic sleeve connected by friction fit to said zipper.  
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 9 , wherein said profiled plastic sleeve has an inner profile substantially complementary to an outer profile of said zipper.  
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 9 , wherein said profiled plastic sleeve is adjacent to said slider along said zipper.  
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said tamper-evident member includes shrink wrap encapsulating said slider when said slider is in said closed position.  
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 12 , wherein said shrink wrap is adhered to said opposing body panels.  
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said tamper-evident member includes a plastic tab including first and second tab panels integrally formed with said respective first and second body panels, said first and second tab panels extending upward from said respective first and second body panels and being connected to each other above said zipper.  
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 14 , wherein said plastic tab is initially disposed adjacent to said slider when said slider is in said closed position.  
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 14 , wherein said first and second tabs are detachably connected to said respective first and second body panels along respective lines of weakness.  
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said zipper includes a first track with a first profile and a second track with a second profile, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other, and wherein said first and second tracks are free of graspable upper pull flanges extending upwardly from said respective first and second profiles.  
     
     
         18 . A tamper-evident slider bag, comprising: 
 first and second opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging said pair of sides;    a reclosable zipper extending along a mouth formed opposite said bottom, said zipper including a first track with a first profile and a second track with a second profile, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other;    a slider slidably mounted to said zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position, said zipper being closed while said slider is in said closed position, said zipper being opened in response to movement of said slider to said open position; and    a stationary tamper-evident member including a pin initially passing through said zipper at a location proximate to said slider when said slider is in said closed position so as to initially obstruct the movement of said slider away from said closed position, said slider being allowed to move away from said closed position in response to removal of said pin from the bag.    
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 18 , wherein said pin is a price tag pin.  
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 18 , wherein said pin is flexible and includes an elongated central portion and a pair of stops at opposing ends to keep said pin on said zipper.  
     
     
         21 . The bag of  claim 18 , wherein said first and second tracks are free of graspable upper pull flanges extending upwardly from said respective first and second profiles.  
     
     
         22 . The bag of  claim 18 , wherein said pin passes through said slider to anchor said slider to said zipper.  
     
     
         23 . The bag of  claim 18 , wherein said pin passes through said zipper adjacent to said slider.  
     
     
         24 . The bag of  claim 18 , wherein said first track includes a first fin extending downward from said first profile and wherein said second track includes a second fin extending downward from said second profile, said pin passing through said first and second fins.  
     
     
         25 . The bag of  claim 18 , wherein said pin passes through said first and second profiles.  
     
     
         26 . A tamper-evident slider bag, comprising: 
 first and second opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging said pair of sides;    a reclosable zipper extending along a mouth formed opposite said bottom;    a slider slidably mounted to said zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position, said zipper being closed while said slider is in said closed position, said zipper being opened in response to movement of said slider to said open position, said slider including a shoulder riding along said first body panel as said slider is moved between said closed and open positions; and    a stationary tamper-evident stepped member disposed adjacent to said first body panel and including at least one step, said shoulder being engaged to said step when said slider is initially in said closed position so as to initially prevent movement of said slider away from said closed position, said slider being allowed to move away from said closed position in response to removal of said stepped member from the bag.    
     
     
         27 . The bag of  claim 26 , wherein said stepped member is detachably adhered to said first body panel.  
     
     
         28 . The bag of  claim 26 , further including an end termination mounted to said zipper and disposed adjacent to said closed position of said slider, said end termination stopping said slider at said closed position when said slider is moved from said open position to said closed position, and wherein said stepped member is detachably connected to said end termination.  
     
     
         29 . The bag of  claim 28 , wherein said stepped member is integrally formed with said end termination.  
     
     
         30 . The bag of  claim 26 , wherein said stepped member includes a plurality of steps having respective sloped surfaces, said sloped surfaces being inclined such that each of said plurality of steps gradually increases in thickness in a direction extending away from said open position of said slider.  
     
     
         31 . The bag of  claim 26 , wherein said shoulder includes a protrusion, said protrusion from said shoulder being engaged to said step when said slider is initially in said closed position so as initially prevent movement of said slider away from said closed position.  
     
     
         32 . A tamper-evident slider bag, comprising: 
 first and second opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom ridging said pair of sides;    a reclosable zipper extending along a mouth formed opposite said bottom;    a slider slidably mounted to said zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position, said zipper being closed while said slider is in said closed position, said zipper being opened in response to movement of said slider to said open position;    an end termination mounted to said zipper and disposed adjacent to said closed position of said slider, said end termination stopping said slider at said closed position when said slider is moved from said open position to said closed position; and    a latch initially integrally connected to one of said end termination and said slider and latched to the other of said end termination and said slider so as to initially retain said slider in said closed position, said slider being allowed to move away from said closed position in response to breaking said latch away from said one of said end termination and said slider.    
     
     
         33 . The bag of  claim 32 , wherein said latch is retained with said other of said end termination and said slider after said latch is broken away from said one of said end termination and said slider.  
     
     
         34 . The bag of  claim 32 , wherein said latch is initially integrally connected to said end termination and latched to said slider.  
     
     
         35 . The bag of  claim 32 , wherein said latch is initially integrally connected to said slider and latched to said end termination.  
     
     
         36 . The bag of  claim 32 , wherein said latch includes a shaft and an enlarged head at one end of said shaft, and wherein said one of said end termination and said slider includes a cavity for receiving said latch.  
     
     
         37 . The bag of  claim 36 , wherein said cavity includes first and second sections, said second section being larger in size than said first section, said shaft being located in said first section, said enlarged head being located in said second section.  
     
     
         38 . A tamper-evident slider bag, comprising: 
 first and second opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging said pair of sides;    a reclosable zipper extending along a mouth formed opposite said bottom;    a slider slidably mounted to said zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position, said zipper being closed while said slider is in said closed position, said zipper being opened in response to movement of said slider to said open position, said slider from being at least one slot; and    a retaining member extending through said slot and digging into said zipper when said slider is initially in said closed position so as to initially maintain said slider in said closed position, said slider being allowed to move away from said closed position in response to removal of said retaining member from said slot.    
     
     
         39 . The bag of  claim 38 , wherein said at least one slot includes a pair of slots spaced away from each other and wherein said retaining member is U-shaped, said U-shaped retaining member including a pair of spaced legs extending through said respective slots and digging into said zipper when said slider is initially in said closed position.  
     
     
         40 . The bag of  claim 39 , wherein said slider includes a transverse member and a pair of side walls extending downward from opposite sides of said transverse member, said transverse member riding along an upper portion of said zipper as said slider is moved between said open and closed positions, each of said side walls including a leg and a wing encompassing said leg, portions of said wing being separated from said leg to form said pair of slots.  
     
     
         41 . A tamper-evident plastic bag, comprising: 
 first and second opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging said pair of sides; and    a reclosable zipper extending along a mouth portion formed opposite said bottom;    said mouth portion being initially folded relative to a remainder of the bag and detachably connected to said bag remainder by a breakable connection so as to temporarily secure said mouth portion in a folded position alongside said bag remainder and thereby inhibit access to an interior of said bag remainder via said reclosable zipper, access to said interior of said bag remainder via said reclosable zipper being allowed in response to breaking said breakable connection.    
     
     
         42 . The bag of  claim 41 , wherein said breakable connection includes a pair of seal areas located along said respective sides.  
     
     
         43 . The bag of  claim 42 , wherein said pair of seal areas are located in close proximity to said zipper.  
     
     
         44 . The bag of  claim 42 , wherein sections of said mouth portion approximately midway between said sides are free of said breakable connection such that said sections provide a carrying handle when said mouth portion is secured in said folded position.  
     
     
         45 . The bag of  claim 41 , further including a slider slidably mounted to said zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position, said zipper being closed while said slider is in said closed position, said zipper being opened in response to movement of said slider to said open position.  
     
     
         46 . The bag of  claim 41 , wherein said breakable connection includes a seal area attaching said mouth portion to an adjacent one of said body panels.  
     
     
         47 . The bag of  claim 41 , wherein said breakable connection includes one or more stickers extending between said folded mouth portion and said remainder of said bag.  
     
     
         48 . The bag of  claim 41 , wherein said breakable connection includes a pin passing passing through said folded mouth portion and said bag remainder, access to said interior of said bag remainder via said reclosable zipper being allowed in response to removing said pin.  
     
     
         49 . The bag of  claim 48 , further including a slider slidably mounted to said zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position, said zipper being closed while said slider is in said closed position, said zipper being opened in response to movement of said slider to said open position, and wherein said pin initially passes through said zipper at a location proximate to said slider when said slider is in said closed position so as to initially obstruct the movement of said slider away from said closed position, said slider being allowed to move away from said closed position in response to removal of said pin from the bag.