Infestation resistant reclosable seal

Abstract

A container has a reclosable zipper seal. The zipper comprises a pair of interlocking sections attached to respective portions of the container. The interlocking sections are secured to portions of the container by an adhesive. No sewing is used to secure the interlocking sections to the sides of the container. The adhesive may provide a significant resistance to permeation by organisms or other contaminants. The adhesive sealing of the interlocking sections to the container may thus provide a significant resistance of the container to exogenous infestation. Alternatively, the interlocking sections may comprise a plastic material such that upon the interlocking sections being sewn to the container, the container may be appreciably resistant to exogenous infestation. Where a gusseted bag is used, portions of the gussets may be adhesively sealed, such as through external application of an adhesive or by applying heat to a heat-sealable outer ply of the bag.

1 . A container system, comprising: 
 (a) a container, comprising an opening defined by a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each have an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the container comprises a paper material;    (b) a zipper positioned at the container opening, the zipper comprising: 
 (i) a first interlocking section having an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface, and  
 (ii) a second interlocking section having an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface,  
    wherein the zipper is operable to selectively open and close a seal of the container opening upon engagement between the one or more teeth of the first interlocking section and the one or more teeth of the second interlocking section, wherein the first interlocking section is secured to the first side wall with an adhesive, wherein the second interlocking section is secured to the second side wall with an adhesive.    
   
   
       2 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the first side wall of the container is secured to the inner surface of the first interlocking section, wherein the outer surface of the second side wall of the container is secured to the inner surface of the second interlocking section.  
   
   
       3 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the first interlocking section is not secured to the first side wall with sewing, wherein the second interlocking section is not secured to the second side wall with sewing.  
   
   
       4 . The container system of  claim 1 , further comprising a slider configured to engage and disengage the teeth of the first interlocking section and the teeth of the second interlocking section.  
   
   
       5 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second interlocking sections each comprise a plastic material.  
   
   
       6 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a bag.  
   
   
       7 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises multiple layers of material, wherein at least one of the layers comprises a heat-sealable material.  
   
   
       8 . The container system of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second interlocking sections are each secured to a paper layer of the container.  
   
   
       9 . The container system of  claim 7 , wherein the outermost layer of the container comprises a paper material.  
   
   
       10 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is heat activated.  
   
   
       11 . A container system, comprising: 
 (a) a container, comprising an opening defined by a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each have an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the container comprises a paper material;    (b) a zipper secured to the container, the zipper comprising: 
 (i) a first interlocking section having an inner surface, an outer surface, one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface, and a flange region, and  
 (ii) a second interlocking section having an inner surface, an outer surface, one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface, and a flange region, wherein the one or more teeth of the first interlocking section are configured to engage with the one or more teeth of the second interlocking section; and  
   (c) a securing means for securing the first interlocking section to the first side wall and the second interlocking section to the second side wall, wherein the securing means is configured to prevent exogenous infestation of the container between the interlocking sections and the respective side walls.    
   
   
       12 . The container system of  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the first side wall of the container is secured to the inner surface of the first interlocking section, wherein the outer surface of the second side wall of the container is secured to the inner surface of the second interlocking section.  
   
   
       13 . The container system of  claim 11 , wherein the container comprises a bag.  
   
   
       14 . A method of making a container system, comprising: 
 (a) providing a bag, wherein the bag comprises an opening defined by a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the bag further comprises a paper material;    (b) providing a first interlocking section and a second interlocking section, wherein the first interlocking section has an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface, wherein the second interlocking section has an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface;    (c) securing the first interlocking section to the first side wall;    (d) securing the second interlocking section to the second side wall; and    (e) prohibiting exogenous infestation of the bag through permeation between the interlocking sections and the respective side walls.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the result of prohibiting exogenous infestation of the bag is obtained by performing a step of applying an adhesive between the interlocking sections and respective side walls.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the adhesive is used to secure the interlocking sections to the respective side walls.  
   
   
       17 . A container system, comprising: 
 (a) a container, comprising an opening defined by a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each have an inner surface and an outer surface;    (b) a zipper positioned at the container opening, the zipper comprising: 
 (i) a first interlocking section having an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface, and  
 (ii) a second interlocking section having an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface,  
   wherein the zipper is operable to selectively open and close a seal of the container opening upon engagement between the one or more teeth of the first interlocking section and the one or more teeth of the second interlocking section, wherein the first interlocking section is secured to the first side wall with sewing, wherein the second interlocking section is secured to the second side wall with sewing, wherein the zipper comprises a plastic material.    
   
   
       18 . The container system of  claim 17 , wherein the container has a heat-sealable ply, wherein heat is applied to at least a portion of the heat-sealable ply of the container.  
   
   
       19 . The container system of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 (a) adding an adhesive between the first interlocking section and the first side wall; and    (b) adding an adhesive between the second interlocking section and the second side wall.    
   
   
       20 . The container system of  claim 17 , wherein the container comprises a gusseted bag, the method further comprising sealing portions of the gussets of the bag.