Closure device for a reclosable pouch

Abstract

A reclosable pouch includes a body portion having first and second opposing bag walls, wherein each bag wall has an internal side and first and second closure elements disposed on the internal sides of the first and second bag walls, respectively. A rib is disposed on the internal side of the first wall, wherein the rib is parallel to and spaced apart a sufficient distance from the first closure element to guide a user's fingers when sealing the closure elements.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A reclosable pouch, comprising: 
 a body portion having first and second opposing bag walls, wherein each bag wall has an internal side;    first and second closure elements disposed on the internal sides of the first and second bag walls, respectively; and    a rib disposed on the internal side of the first wall, wherein the rib is parallel to and spaced apart a sufficient distance from the first closure element to guide a user's finger when sealing the closure elements.    
     
     
         2 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a second rib is disposed on the internal side of the first wall parallel to the first-named rib and wherein the first closure element is between the first-named and the second ribs.  
     
     
         3 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 2 , wherein the first-named and second ribs extend continuously from a first side of the thermoplastic storage bag to a second side of the thermoplastic storage bag.  
     
     
         4 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 2 , wherein the first-named and second ribs extend intermittently from a first side of the thermoplastic storage bag to a second side of the thermoplastic storage bag.  
     
     
         5 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first-named and second ribs has an inverted T-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         6 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first-named and second ribs has an inverted Y-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         7 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 2 , wherein a height of each of the first-named and second ribs is greater than a height of the first closure element.  
     
     
         8 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 2 , wherein a third rib is disposed on the internal side of the second wall and wherein the third rib is parallel to and spaced apart a sufficient distance from the second closure element to guide a user's fingers when sealing the closure elements.  
     
     
         9 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 8 , wherein a fourth rib is disposed on the internal side of the second wall parallel to the third rib and wherein the second closure element is between the third and fourth ribs.  
     
     
         10 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the first-named, second, third, and fourth ribs extend continuously from a first side of the thermoplastic storage bag to a second side of the thermoplastic storage bag.  
     
     
         11 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the first-named, second, third and fourth ribs extend intermittently from a first side of the thermoplastic storage bag to a second side of the thermoplastic storage bag.  
     
     
         12 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first-named, second, third and fourth ribs has an inverted T-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         13 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 9 , wherein a height of the first-named and second ribs is greater than a height of a first closure element and a height of the third and fourth ribs is greater than a height of the second closure element.  
     
     
         14 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a second rib is disposed on the internal side of the second wall parallel to the second closure element.  
     
     
         15 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 14 , wherein the first-named and second ribs extend continuously from a first side of the thermoplastic storage bag to a second side of the thermoplastic storage bag.  
     
     
         16 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 14 , wherein the first-named and second ribs extend intermittently from a first side of the thermoplastic storage bag to a second side of the thermoplastic storage bag.  
     
     
         17 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first-named and second ribs has an inverted T-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         18 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 14 , wherein a height of the first-named rib is greater than a height of the first closure element and a height of the second rib is greater than a height of the second closure element.  
     
     
         19 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the rib extends continuously from a first side of the thermoplastic storage bag to a second side of the thermoplastic storage bag.  
     
     
         20 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the rib extends intermittently from a first side of the thermoplastic storage bag to a second side of the thermoplastic storage bag.  
     
     
         21 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the rib has a T-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         22 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the rib has a triangular cross-section.  
     
     
         23 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the rib has a semi-circular cross-section.  
     
     
         24 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the rib has an inverted Y-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         25 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the rib is greater than a height of the first closure element.  
     
     
         26 . A zipper tape, comprising: 
 first and second closure elements disposed on first and second surfaces; and    a guide rib disposed on the first surface, wherein the guide rib is parallel to and spaced apart a sufficient distance from the first closure element to guide a user's finger when sealing the closure elements.    
     
     
         27 . The zipper tape of  claim 26 , wherein a second guide rib is disposed on the first surface parallel to the first-named rib and wherein the first closure element is between the first-named and second ribs.  
     
     
         28 . The zipper tape of  claim 27 , wherein the first-named and second ribs extend continuously along the first surface.  
     
     
         29 . The zipper tape of  claim 27 , wherein the first-named and second ribs extend intermittently along the first surface.  
     
     
         30 . The zipper tape of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the first-named and second ribs has an inverted T-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         31 . The zipper tape of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the first and second ribs has an inverted Y-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         32 . The zipper tape of  claim 27 , wherein a height of the first-named and second ribs is greater than a height of the first closure element.  
     
     
         33 . The zipper tape of  claim 27 , wherein a third rib is disposed on the second surface and wherein the third rib is parallel to and spaced apart a sufficient distance from the second closure element to guide a user's fingers when sealing the closure elements.  
     
     
         34 . The zipper tape of  claim 33 , wherein a fourth rib is disposed on the second surface parallel to the third rib and wherein the second closure element is between the third and fourth ribs.  
     
     
         35 . The zipper tape of  claim 34 , wherein the first-named, second, third, and fourth ribs extend continuously along the first and second surfaces.  
     
     
         36 . The zipper tape of  claim 34 , wherein the first-named, second, third and fourth ribs extend intermittently along the first and second surfaces.  
     
     
         37 . The zipper tape of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the first-named, second, third and fourth ribs has an inverted T-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         38 . The zipper tape of  claim 34 , wherein a height of the first-named and second ribs is greater than a height of the first closure element and a height of the third and fourth ribs is greater than a height of the second closure element.  
     
     
         39 . The zipper tape of  claim 26 , wherein a second rib is disposed on the second surface and wherein the second rib is parallel to and spaced apart a sufficient distance from the second closure element to guide a user's fingers when sealing the closure elements.  
     
     
         40 . The zipper tape of  claim 39 , wherein the first-named and second ribs extend continuously along the first and second surfaces.  
     
     
         41 . The zipper tape of  claim 39 , wherein the first-named and second ribs extend intermittently along the first and second surfaces.  
     
     
         42 . The zipper tape of  claim 39 , wherein at least one of the first-named and second ribs has an inverted T-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         43 . The zipper tape of  claim 39 , wherein a height of the first-named rib is greater than a height of the first closure element and a height of the second rib is greater than a height of the second closure element.  
     
     
         44 . The zipper tape of  claim 26 , wherein the rib extends continuously along the first surface.  
     
     
         45 . The zipper tape of  claim 26 , wherein the rib extends intermittently along the first surface.  
     
     
         46 . The zipper tape of  claim 26 , wherein the rib has an inverted T-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         47 . The zipper tape of  claim 26 , wherein the rib has a triangular cross-section.  
     
     
         48 . The zipper tape of  claim 26 , wherein the rib has a semi-circular cross-section.  
     
     
         49 . The zipper tape of  claim 26 , wherein the rib has an inverted Y-shape cross-section.  
     
     
         50 . The zipper tape of  claim 26 , wherein a height of the rib is greater than a height of the first closure element.  
     
     
         51 . A thermoplastic bag, comprising: 
 first and second body portions joined to one another to form bag walls;    a first closure element disposed on an inside surface of the first body portion;    a second closure element disposed on an inside surface of the second body portion opposite the first closure element; and    a pair of guide ribs disposed on the inside surface of the first body portion adjacent the first closure element and spaced from the first closure element by a distance sufficient to guide a user's fingers during closure of the bag.    
     
     
         52 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 51 , wherein the guide ribs are disposed on either side of the first closure.  
     
     
         53 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 51 , wherein the first closure element comprises a female closure element and the second closure element comprises a male closure element.  
     
     
         54 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 51 , wherein each guide rib is disposed approximately 0.2 inch from the first closure element.  
     
     
         55 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 54 , wherein each guide rib has a height of approximately 0.09 inch.  
     
     
         56 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 54 , wherein each guide rib has a width at the widest point thereof of approximately 0.67 inch.