Easy-access adhesive-backed fastener system

Abstract

An article and method for providing a reclosable opening in a preexisting sheet are disclosed. The article includes at least one adhesive-backed strip with one half of an interlockable fastening system such as a zipper carried along one edge thereof. The article may also include a second adhesive-backed strip having the complementary half of the interlockable fastening system along an edge thereof. The adhesive-backed strips are positioned on either side of a slit in the pre-existing sheet such that the halves of the interlockable fastening system can be selectively engaged by a user, thus providing a reclosable opening in the preexisting sheet.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An article of manufacture useful for providing a reclosable opening in a preexisting item, the article comprising: 
 at least a first strip portion having a first edge, a second edge, and a backside;    a first interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system provided about said first edge of said first strip portion and being substantially coextensive therewith; and    an adhesive substantially covering said backside of said first strip portion.    
     
     
         2 . The article according to  claim 1 , further comprising a release liner substantially covering said backside of said first strip portion.  
     
     
         3 . The article according to  claim 2 , wherein said first interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system comprises a first plurality of zipper teeth distributed about said first edge of said first strip portion.  
     
     
         4 . The article according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least a second strip portion having a first edge, a second edge, and a backside, said backside of said second strip portion being substantially covered by adhesive;    a second interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system provided about said first edge of said second strip portion and being substantially coextensive therewith, said first interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system being selectively engageable with said second interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system to thereby selectively secure at least a portion of said first strip portion in a closed configuration relative to at least a portion of said second strip portion.    
     
     
         5 . The article according to  claim 4 , further comprising a first release liner portion substantially covering said backside of said first strip portion and a second release liner portion substantially covering said backside of said second strip portion.  
     
     
         6 . The article according to  claim 4 , wherein said first interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system comprises a first plurality of zipper teeth distributed about said first edge of said first strip portion and said second interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system comprises a second plurality of zipper teeth distributed about said first edge of said second strip portion, wherein said second plurality of zipper teeth are adapted to interlock with said first plurality of zipper teeth.  
     
     
         7 . The article according to  claim 6 , further comprising a zipper slide in engagement with at least one of said first plurality of zipper teeth and with at least one of said second plurality of zipper teeth, said zipper slide interlocking more of said first plurality of zipper teeth with more of said second plurality of zipper teeth when said zipper slide is moved in a first direction, said zipper slide disengaging an increasing number of said first plurality of zipper teeth from said second plurality of zipper teeth when said zipper slide is moved in a second direction that is in reverse relative to said first direction.  
     
     
         8 . The article according to  claim 7 , further comprising a first release liner portion substantially covering said backside of said first strip portion and a second release liner portion substantially covering said backside of said second strip portion.  
     
     
         9 . The article according to  claim 4 , wherein said first strip portion and said second strip portion each have a first end and a second end, the article further comprising: 
 a first transverse portion, connecting said first end of said first strip portion and said first end of said second strip portion; and    a second transverse portion connecting said second end of said first strip portion and said second end of said second strip portion, said first edge of said first strip portion and said first edge of said second strip portion extending substantially from said first transverse portion to said second transverse portion, and    said first strip portion, said second strip portion, said first transverse portion, and said second transverse portion cooperatively framing an elongated opening.    
     
     
         10 . The article according to  claim 9 , wherein said first transverse portion and said second transverse portion each have a backside substantially covered by adhesive and wherein said backsides of said first strip portion, said second strip portion, said first transverse portion, and said second transverse portion are substantially covered with release lining.  
     
     
         11 . The article according to  claim 10 , wherein said first interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system comprises a first plurality of zipper teeth distributed about said first edge of said first strip portion and said second interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system comprises a second plurality of zipper teeth distributed about said first edge of said second strip portion, wherein said second plurality of zipper teeth are adapted to interlock with said first plurality of zipper teeth.  
     
     
         12 . The article according to  claim 11 , further comprising a zipper slide in engagement with at least one of said first plurality of zipper teeth and with at least one of said second plurality of zipper teeth, said zipper slide interlocking more of said first plurality of zipper teeth with more of said second plurality of zipper teeth when said zipper slide is moved in a first direction, said zipper slide disengaging an increasing number of said first plurality of zipper teeth from said second plurality of zipper teeth when said zipper slide is moved in a second direction that is in reverse relative to said first direction.  
     
     
         13 . A method of providing a reclosable opening in a preexisting item, the method comprising in any order the steps of: 
 providing at least a first adhesive-backed strip portion having a first interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system provided about one edge thereof;    providing at least a second adhesive-backed strip portion having a second interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system provided about one edge thereof, the first interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system being selectively engageable with the second interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system to thereby selectively secure at least a portion of the first adhesive-backed strip portion in a closed configuration relative to at least a portion of the second adhesive-backed strip portion;    applying the first adhesive-backed strip portion and the second adhesive-backed strip portion to the item, the first adhesive-backed strip portion and the second adhesive-backed strip portion being positioned on the item such that the first interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system and the second interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system can be selectively engaged to one another to thereby selectively secure at least a portion of the first adhesive-backed strip portion in a closed configuration relative to at least a portion of the second adhesive-backed strip portion; and    providing an opening in the item, the opening being located substantially intermediate the first adhesive-backed strip portion and the second adhesive-backed strip portion.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the first adhesive-backed strip portion and the second adhesive-backed strip portion has a backside substantially covered by adhesive and is provided with a release liner which substantially covers the adhesive on the backside of each of the first adhesive-backed strip portion and the second adhesive-backed strip portion, the method further comprising the step of removing the release liner from each of the first adhesive-backed strip portion and the second adhesive-backed strip portion prior to the step of applying the first adhesive-backed strip portion and the second adhesive-backed strip portion to the item.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system comprises a first plurality of zipper teeth and the second interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system comprises a second plurality of zipper teeth which are adapted to interlock with the first plurality of zipper teeth.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein a zipper slide is provided in engagement with at least one of the first plurality of zipper teeth and at least one of the second plurality of zipper teeth, the zipper slide interlocking more of the first plurality of zipper teeth with more of the second plurality of zipper teeth when the zipper slide is moved in a first direction, the zipper slide disengaging an increasing number of the first plurality of zipper teeth from the second plurality of zipper teeth when the zipper slide is moved in a second direction that is the reverse of the first direction.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first adhesive-backed strip portion and the second adhesive-backed strip portion each have a first end and a second end, and wherein a first transverse portion connects the first end of the first adhesive-backed strip portion and the first end of the second adhesive-backed strip portion, a second transverse portion connects the second end of the first adhesive-backed strip portion and the second end of the second adhesive-backed strip portion, the first edge of said first adhesive-backed strip portion and the first edge of the second adhesive-backed strip portion extend substantially from the first transverse portion to the second transverse portion, and the first adhesive-backed strip portion, the second adhesive-backed strip portion, the first transverse portion, and the second transverse portion cooperatively frame an elongated opening.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the first transverse portion and the second transverse portion each have a backside substantially covered by adhesive, wherein the first and second adhesive-backed strip portions each have backsides, and wherein the backsides of the first adhesive-backed strip portion, the second adhesive-backed strip portion, the first transverse portion, and the second transverse portion are substantially covered with release lining, and the method further comprises the step of removing release lining from the backsides of the first adhesive-backed strip portion, the second adhesive-backed strip portion, the first transverse portion, and the second transverse portion prior to the step of applying the first adhesive-backed strip portion and the second adhesive-backed strip portion to the item.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system comprises a first plurality of zipper teeth and the second interlockable portion of a reclosable fastener system comprises a second plurality of zipper teeth which are adapted to interlock with the first plurality of zipper teeth, and wherein a zipper slide is provided in engagement with at least one of the first plurality of zipper teeth and at least one of the second plurality of zipper teeth, the zipper slide interlocking more of the first plurality of zipper teeth with more of the second plurality of zipper teeth when the zipper slide is moved in a first direction, the zipper slide disengaging an increasing number of the first plurality of zipper teeth from the second plurality of zipper teeth when the zipper slide is moved in a second direction that is the reverse of the first direction.  
     
     
         20 . An adhesive-backed reclosable fastener system comprising: 
 a flexible frame defining an opening through said frame, said frame having an adhesive backside; and    a reclosable closure supported by said frame, said reclosable closure being capable of assuming closed and open configurations, said reclosable closure permitting access through said opening through said frame when said reclosable closure is in said open configuration, and said reclosable closure at least deterring access through said opening through said frame when said reclosable closure is in said closed configuration.