Reclosable bag having tamper-evident membrane

Abstract

A flexible, reclosable package having a reclosable zipper that includes a tamper-evident structure extending between the sealing flanges of the reclosable zipper. The tamper-evident structure is a frangible membrane extending across the open interior of the package and attached at each of its ends to one of the sealing flanges of the reclosable zipper. The frangible membrane is configured to rupture upon initial opening of the package to allow access to the open package interior.

1 . A flexible, reclosable package comprising: 
 (a) first and second panel sections defining an interior, a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second side edges extending between the top edge and the bottom edge;    (b) a zipper closure comprising first and second mating profiles; 
 (i) the first mating profile including a first sealing flange attached to the first panel section adjacent to the top edge and extending from the first side edge to the second side edge;  
 (ii) the second mating profile including a second sealing flange attached to the second panel section adjacent to the top edge extending from the first side edge to the second side edge;  
   (c) a slider device operably mounted on the zipper closure and being moveable between a first position adjacent to the first side edge and a second position adjacent to the second side edge; 
 (i) the slider device being constructed and arranged to interlock the first mating profile with the second mating profile when the slider device is moved in a direction from the second position to the first position;  
 (ii) the slider device being constructed and arranged to disengage the first mating profile from the second mating profile when the slider device is moved in a direction from the first position to the second position; and  
   (d) a tamper-evident structure attached between the first sealing flange and the second sealing flange.    
     
     
         2 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 1  wherein the tamper-evident structure is a frangible membrane having a first end connected to the first sealing flange and a second end connected to the second sealing flange.  
     
     
         3 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 2  wherein the frangible membrane is formed from a first material and the first and second mating profiles are formed from a second material where the first material is weaker than the second material.  
     
     
         4 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 3  wherein the frangible membrane is continuous throughout its length.  
     
     
         5 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 4  further comprising a second tamper-evident structure encasing the zipper closure such that the second tamper-evident structure must be removed prior to movement of the slider device along the zipper closure.  
     
     
         6 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 2  further comprising a layer of non-sealing material disposed along the interior of the first and second ends of the frangible membrane.  
     
     
         7 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 6  wherein the non-sealing material is arranged to prevent the first and second ends of the frangible membrane from sealing together when the first and second sealing flanges are attached to the first and second panels.  
     
     
         8 . The flexible, reclosable packaging of  claim 1  wherein the frangible membrane forms a hermetic seal between the first sealing flange and second sealing flange.  
     
     
         9 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 2  wherein the frangible membrane is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polypropylene, EVOH, Saran, Nucrel, foil and metalized polyester.  
     
     
         10 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 1  wherein the tamper-evident structure is a frangible membrane having a first end connected to the first sealing flange and a second end connected to the second sealing flange, wherein the frangible membrane includes a line of weakness between the first end and the second end.  
     
     
         11 . A flexible, reclosable package comprising: 
 (a) first and second panel sections defining an interior, a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second side edges extending between the top edge and the bottom edge;    (b) a zipper closure comprising first and second mating profiles; 
 (i) the first mating profile including a first sealing flange attached to the first panel section adjacent the top edge and extending from the first side edge to the second side edge;  
 (ii) the second mating profile including a second sealing flange attached to the second panel section adjacent the top edge extending from the first side edge to the second side edge; and  
   (c) a tamper evident structure attached between the first sealing flange and the second sealing flange.    
     
     
         12 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 11  wherein the tamper-evident structure is a frangible membrane having a first end connected to the first sealing flange and a second end connected to the second sealing flange.  
     
     
         13 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 12  wherein the frangible membrane is formed from a first material and the first and second mating profiles are formed from a second material where the first material is weaker than the second material.  
     
     
         14 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 13  wherein the frangible membrane is continuous throughout its length.  
     
     
         15 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 12  further comprising a layer of non-sealing material disposed along the interior of the first and second ends of the frangible membrane.  
     
     
         16 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 15  wherein the non-sealing material is arranged to prevent the first and second ends of the frangible membrane from sealing together when the first and second sealing flanges are attached to the first and second panels.  
     
     
         17 . The flexible, reclosable packaging of  claim 12  wherein the frangible membrane forms a hermetic seal between the first sealing flange and second sealing flange.  
     
     
         18 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 12  wherein the frangible membrane is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polypropylene, EVOH, Saran, Nucrel, foil and metalized polyester.  
     
     
         19 . The flexible, reclosable package of  claim 12  wherein the tamper-evident structure is a frangible membrane having a first end connected to the first sealing flange and a second end connected to the second sealing flange, wherein the frangible membrane includes a line of weakness between the first end and the second end.