String zipper designs for slider-operated reclosable packaging

Abstract

A reclosable package comprising a receptacle having a mouth, a string zipper joined to the receptacle at the mouth, the string zipper comprising first and second mutually interlockable zipper strips, and a slider mounted over the string zipper to cause the first and second zipper strips to separate when the slider is moved in one direction along the string zipper and to cause the first and second zipper strips to interengage each other when the slider is moved in an opposite direction along the string zipper. In one exemplary embodiment, the first flangeless zipper strip comprises two monohook elements, and the second flangeless zipper strip also comprises two monohook elements. In another exemplary embodiment, the first flangeless zipper strip comprises one monohook element and one double hook element, while the second flangeless zipper strip comprises three monohook elements.

1 . A reclosable package comprising: 
 a receptacle comprising first and second walls, respective portions of said first and second walls forming a mouth that communicates with an interior volume of said receptacle;    a string zipper comprising mutually interengageable first and second flangeless zipper strips, said first flangeless zipper strip having a back joined to said portion of said first wall, and said second flangeless zipper strip having a back joined to said portion of said second wall; and    a slider mounted over said string zipper to cause said first and second flangeless zipper strips to separate when said slider is moved in one direction along said string zipper and to cause said first and second flangeless zipper strips to interengage each other when .said slider is moved in an opposite direction along said string zipper, said slider comprising first and second sidewalls, said portions of said first and second walls joined to said first and second flangeless zipper strips passing between said first and second sidewalls of said slider,    wherein said first flangeless zipper strip comprises a first monohook element, said second flangeless zipper strip comprises a second monohook element, and said first and second monohook elements interfere with each other during relative movement of said first and second zipper strips into and out of interengagement.    
   
   
       2 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first flangeless zipper strip further comprises a first backup element, said first backup element and said first monohook element defining a first groove therebetween, said first groove receiving a portion of said second monohook element when said first and second zipper strips are interengaged.  
   
   
       3 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said second flangeless zipper strip further comprises a third monohook element, said second and third monohook elements defining a first groove therebetween, said first groove receiving a portion of said first monohook element when said first and second zipper strips are interengaged.  
   
   
       4 . The package as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first flangeless zipper strip further comprises a double hook element, said second flangeless zipper strip further comprises a fourth monohook element, and said third and fourth monohook elements define a second groove therebetween, said second groove receiving a portion of said double hook element when said first and second zipper strips are interengaged.  
   
   
       5 . The package as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said second and third monohook elements comprise respective hook flanges that project in substantially the same direction, while said first monohook element comprises a hook flange that projects in a generally opposite direction.  
   
   
       6 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first flangeless zipper strip comprises a third monohook element, said second flangeless zipper strip comprises a fourth monohook element, and said third and fourth monohook elements interfere with each other during relative movement of said first and second zipper strips into and out of interengagement.  
   
   
       7 . The package as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said first and third monohook elements are disposed between said second and fourth monohook elements.  
   
   
       8 . The package as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said first and third monohook elements define a channel therebetween, and said second flangeless zipper strip further comprises an alignment element that projects into said channel when said first and second zipper strips are interengaged and that assists in aligning said first and second zipper strips with each other as they move toward each other and into interengagement.  
   
   
       9 . The package as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said alignment element spreads said first and third monohook elements apart when said first and second zipper strips are interengaged.  
   
   
       10 . The package as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said alignment element backs up said first and third monohook elements when said first and second zipper strips are interengaged.  
   
   
       11 . The package as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said alignment element comprises a cylindrical portion and a stem portion, said cylindrical portion being connected to said base of said second flangeless zipper strip by said stem portion.  
   
   
       12 . The package as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said second and third monohook elements comprise respective hook flanges that project in generally the same first direction, whereas said first and fourth monohook elements comprise respective hook flanges that project in generally the same second direction, said second direction being opposite to said first direction.  
   
   
       13 . The package as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said first flangeless zipper strip further comprises first and second backup elements, said first backup element and said first monohook element defining a first groove therebetween, said first groove receiving a portion of said second monohook element when said first and second zipper strips are interengaged, and said second backup element and said third monohook element defining a second groove therebetween, said second groove receiving a portion of said fourth monohook element when said first and second zipper strips are interengaged.  
   
   
       14 . The package as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said first and third monohook elements comprise respective hook flanges that project in generally the same first direction, whereas said second and fourth monohook elements comprise respective hook flanges that project in generally the same second direction, said second direction being opposite to said first direction.  
   
   
       15 . The package as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said slider comprises a top wall connected to said first and second sidewalls, and a plow having one end connected to said top wall, said plow being inclined at an angle relative to said top wall that is not a right angle.  
   
   
       16 . A reclosable package comprising a receptacle having a mouth, a string zipper joined to said receptacle at said mouth, said string zipper comprising first and second mutually interlockable zipper strips, and a slider mounted over said string zipper to cause said first and second zipper strips to separate when said slider is moved in one direction along said string zipper and to cause said first and second zipper strips to interengage each other when said slider is moved in an opposite direction along said string zipper, respective portions of said mouth passing between mutually opposing sidewalls of said slider, wherein said first flangeless zipper strip comprises a first monohook element, said second flangeless zipper strip comprises a second monohook element, and said first and second monohook elements interfere with each other during relative movement of said first and second zipper strips into and out of interengagement.  
   
   
       17 . A reclosable package comprising a receptacle having a mouth, a string zipper joined to said receptacle at said mouth, said string zipper comprising first and second mutually interlockable zipper strips, and a slider mounted over said string zipper to cause said first and second zipper strips to separate when said slider is moved in one direction along said string zipper and to cause said first and second zipper strips to interengage each other when said slider is moved in an opposite direction along said string zipper, respective portions of said mouth passing between mutually opposing sidewalls of said slider, wherein said first flangeless zipper strip comprises a first backup element, a first monohook element and a double hook element, said first backup element and said first monohook element defining a first groove therebetween, and said second flangeless zipper strip comprises second, third and fourth monohook elements, said second and third monohook elements defining a second groove therebetween, said double hook element being received in said second groove, and said fourth monohook element being received in said first groove.  
   
   
       18 . A reclosable package comprising a receptacle having a mouth, a string zipper joined to said receptacle at said mouth, said string zipper comprising first and second mutually interlockable zipper strips, and a slider mounted over said string zipper to cause said first and second zipper strips to separate when said slider is moved in one direction along said string zipper and to cause said first and second zipper strips to interengage each other when said slider is moved in an opposite direction along said string zipper, respective portions of said mouth passing between mutually opposing sidewalls of said slider, wherein: 
 said first flangeless zipper strip comprises first and second backup elements and first and second monohook elements, said first backup element and said first monohook element defining a first groove therebetween, and said second backup element and said second monohook element defining a second groove therebetween; and    said second flangeless zipper strip comprises third and fourth monohook elements, said third monohook element being received in said first groove, and said fourth monohook element being received in said second groove.    
   
   
       19 . The package as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said first and second monohook elements define a channel therebetween, and said second flangeless zipper strip further comprises an alignment element that projects into said channel when said first and second zipper strips are interengaged and that assists in aligning said first and second zipper strips with each other as they move toward each other and into interengagement.  
   
   
       20 . The package as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said alignment element spreads said first and second monohook elements apart when said first and second zipper strips are interengaged.