Reclosable packaging having hermetic zipper and related method of manufacture

Abstract

A reclosable package or bag having a mouth with a hermetic plastic zipper installed therein. The hermetic zipper has first and second interlockable profiled structures connected by a frangible connection and having no flanges. The package or bag is constructed such that the frangible connection resides on the product side of the zipper, i.e., the frangible connection extends inside the receptacle of the package or bag, when the package is in an unopened state, i.e., when the zipper is closed. Preferably, the first interlockable profiled structure has at least one male member with an expanded head and the second interlockable profiled structure has at least one female member with a groove for receiving the expanded head of a male member.

1 . A package comprising a receptacle having a mouth at an upper end, and a plastic hermetic zipper attached to said mouth, wherein said hermetic zipper comprises first and second interlockable profiled structures without flanges and a frangible connection connecting said first interlockable profiled structure to said second interlockable profiled structure, wherein said frangible connection extends inside said receptacle on a product side of said zipper when said zipper is closed.  
     
     
         2 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second interlockable profiled structures comprises a respective base surface, said base surfaces being on opposing sides of said zipper when said first and second interlockable profiled structures are interlocked with each other, and wherein said receptacle comprises first and second walls, said first wall being heat sealed to at least a portion of said base surface of said first interlockable profiled structure and said second wall being heat sealed to at least a portion of said base surface of said second interlockable profiled structure.  
     
     
         3 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first interlockable profiled structure comprises a male member having an expanded head and said second interlockable profiled structure comprises a female member having a groove for receiving said expanded head of said male member.  
     
     
         4 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said frangible connection comprises first and second edges, and said receptacle comprises first and second walls and first and second side seals, wherein said first side seal seals said first wall to said second wall with said first edge of said frangible connection blended into said first side seal, and said second side seal seals said first wall to said second wall with said second edge of said frangible connection blended into said second side seal.  
     
     
         5 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosed header that encloses said zipper, wherein a line of perforations is formed in said header.  
     
     
         6 . A method of manufacturing a plastic zipper comprising the steps of: 
 continuously extruding a layer of plastic material;    continuously extruding plastic material in the form of first and second interlockable profiled structures without flanges;    joining said first interlockable profiled structure to a first lateral portion of said layer; and    joining said second interlockable profiled structure to a second lateral portion of said layer, wherein said first and second lateral portions of said layer are separated by an intermediate lateral portion of said layer.    
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said extruding steps are performed concurrently.  
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said layer has a thickness such that said intermediate lateral portion of said layer is easily breakable by a consumer.  
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said first interlockable profiled structure comprises a base and a male member having an expanded head and said second interlockable profiled structure comprises a base and a female member having a groove for receiving said expanded head of said male member, said first and second lateral portions of said layer being respectively joined to said bases of said first and second interlockable profiled structures on a side of said bases which is respectively opposite to said male and female members.  
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a plastic zipper comprising the step of concurrently continuously extruding first and second interlockable profiled structures and a web out respective die orifices arranged so that said continuously extruded first interlockable profiled structure lands on a first lateral portion of said web, and said continuously extruded second interlockable profiled structure lands on a second lateral portion of said web, said first and second lateral portions of said web being separated by an intermediate lateral portion of said web.  
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said first and second interlockable profiled structures and said web are made of the same plastic material.  
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said first and second interlockable profiled structures are made of the same plastic material and said web is made of a different plastic material.  
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said web has a thickness such that said intermediate lateral portion of said web is easily breakable by a consumer.  
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said first interlockable profiled structure comprises a male member having an expanded head and said second interlockable profiled structure comprises a female member having a groove for receiving said expanded head of said male member.  
     
     
         15 . A plastic zipper comprising first and second interlockable profiled structures without flanges and a frangible connection which connects said first interlockable profiled structure to said second interlockable profiled structure, said frangible connection being disposed on one side of said first and second interlockable profiled structures when said zipper is closed.  
     
     
         16 . The zipper as recited in  claim 15 , wherein each of said first and second interlockable profiled structures comprises a respective base having first and second sides, and said frangible connection connects said first sides of said bases of said first and second interlockable profiled structures.  
     
     
         17 . The zipper as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said first interlockable profiled structure comprises a male member having an expanded head and said second interlockable profiled structure comprises a female member having a groove for receiving said expanded head of said male member.  
     
     
         18 . A package comprising a receptacle having a mouth at an upper end, first and second interlockable profiled structures respectively attached to opposing sides of said mouth and interlocked with each other, and a frangible connection connected to said first interlockable profiled structure along a first juncture, connected to said second interlockable profiled structure along a second juncture, and connected to said receptacle along third and fourth junctures, wherein said frangible connection hermetically seals an inner volume of said receptacle and said first and second interlockable profiled structures do not have flanges.  
     
     
         19 . The package as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said first interlockable profiled structure comprises a male member having an expanded head and said second interlockable profiled structure comprises a female member having a groove for receiving said expanded head of said male member.  
     
     
         20 . The package as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said frangible connection comprises first and second edges, and said receptacle comprises first and second walls and first and second side seals, wherein said first side seal seals said first wall to said second wall with said first edge of said frangible connection blended into said first side seal, and said second side seal seals said first wall to said second wall with said second edge of said frangible connection blended into said second side seal.  
     
     
         21 . The package as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising an enclosed header enclosing said first and second interlockable profiled structures, wherein a line of perforations is formed in said header.