Reclosable package and method

Abstract

A reclosable tamper-evident package is opened and closed repeatedly by moving a slider device with a clip in a first, inoperative position that interlocks a first closure of the package. When it is desired to close the package and provide an indication of further opening, the clip is moved to a second, operative position, so that motion of the slider also interlocks a second closure that cannot be opened without providing an indication. A slider device includes a top wall, first and second sidewalls, and a clip moveable from an inoperative position to an operative position. A closure assembly includes a zipper with the slider device. A method of using a package includes grasping a slider device and pushing a clip down to engage the clip against a portion of a zipper closure arrangement, and then moving the slider device in a first direction while the clip squeezes the portion of the zipper closure arrangement to close the mouth.

1 . A slider device for use with a recloseable package having a zipper closure arrangement; the slider device comprising: 
 (a) a top wall;    (b) a first sidewall depending from the top wall;    (c) a second sidewall depending from the top wall; 
 (i) the top wall, first sidewall, and second sidewall defining a cavity to operatively receive a zipper closure arrangement; and  
   (d) a clip secured to at least one of the top wall, first sidewall, and second sidewall; the clip being moveable from a first, inoperative position to a second position; 
 (i) the second position including the clip being operatively oriented to engage the zipper closure arrangement.  
   
     
     
         2 . A slider device according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 (a) the clip includes a first wall, a first leg depending from the first wall, and a second leg depending from the first wall.    
     
     
         3 . A slider device according to  claim 2  wherein: 
 (a) the clip is secured to the top wall.    
     
     
         4 . A slider device according to  claim 3  further comprising: 
 (a) a living hinge between the clip first wall and top wall to secure the clip to the top wall.    
     
     
         5 . A slider device according to  claim 4  wherein: 
 (a) the first position of the clip includes: 
 (i) the first and second legs being outside of the cavity; and  
 (ii) the clip first wall being angled relative to the top wall; and  
   (b) the second position of the clip includes: 
 (i) the first and second legs being at least partially inside of the cavity; and  
 (ii) the clip first wall being against the top wall.  
   
     
     
         6 . A slider device according to  claim 5  wherein: 
 (a) the top wall defines an opening; and    (b) the first and second legs are movable through the opening when the clip moves from the first position to the second position.    
     
     
         7 . A slider device according to  claim 6  further comprising: 
 (a) a splitter depending from the top wall; the splitter being constructed and arranged to at least partially separate the zipper closure arrangement when the slider device is slid along the zipper closure arrangement.    
     
     
         8 . A slider device according to  claim 7  wherein: 
 (a) the first and second sidewalls define: 
 (i) a first width therebetween to define a zipper squeezing region; the first width being sized to cause the first and second sidewalls to squeeze at least a portion of the zipper closure arrangement;  
 (ii) a second width therebetween to define a zipper non-squeezing region; the second width being sized greater than the first distance;  
   (b) the first and second sidewalls each has a hook construction at an end remote from the top wall; 
 (i) the zipper non-squeezing region being between each hook construction and the zipper squeezing region;  
   (c) the first sidewall defines a first groove sized to receive the first leg; and    (d) the second sidewall defines a second groove sized to receive the second leg.    
     
     
         9 . A slider device according to  claim 2  wherein: 
 (a) the first position of the clip includes the first and second legs being outside of the cavity; and    (b) the second position of the clip includes the first and second legs being at least partially inside of the cavity.    
     
     
         10 . A slider device according to  claim 9  wherein: 
 (a) the top wall defines an opening; and    (b) the first and second legs are movable through the opening to move the clip from the first position to the second position.    
     
     
         11 . A slider device according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (a) a splitter depending from the top wall; the splitter being constructed and arranged to at least partially separate the zipper closure arrangement when the slider device is slid along the zipper closure arrangement.    
     
     
         12 . A slider device according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 (a) the first and second sidewalls define: 
 (i) a first width therebetween to define a zipper squeezing region; the first width being sized to cause the first and second sidewalls to squeeze at least a portion of the zipper closure arrangement; and  
 (ii) a second width therebetween to define a zipper non-squeezing region; the second width being sized greater than the first distance.  
   
     
     
         13 . A slider device according to  claim 12  wherein: 
 (a) the first and second sidewalls each has a hook construction at an end remote from the top wall; 
 (i) the zipper non-squeezing region being between each hook construction and the zipper squeezing region.  
   
     
     
         14 . A slider device according to  claim 2  wherein: 
 (a) the first sidewall defines a first groove sized to receive the first leg; and    (b) the second sidewall defines a second groove sized to receive the second leg.    
     
     
         15 . A closure assembly comprising: 
 (a) a zipper closure arrangement having first and second zipper profiles constructed and arranged to selectively interlock; and    (b) a slider device oriented to slide along the zipper closure arrangement; the slider device including: 
 (i) a top wall oriented to slide along a top of the zipper closure arrangement;  
 (ii) a first sidewall depending from the top wall oriented to slide along a side of the zipper closure arrangement;  
 (iii) a second sidewall depending from the top wall oriented to slide along a side of the zipper closure arrangement; 
 (A) the top wall, first sidewall, and second sidewall defining a cavity to operatively receive the zipper closure arrangement therein; and  
 
 (iv) a clip secured to at least one of the top wall, first sidewall, and second sidewall; the clip being moveable from a first position to a second position; 
 (A) the first position including the clip being remote from the zipper closure arrangement; and  
 (B) the second position including the clip being oriented to operatively engage the zipper closure arrangement.  
 
   
     
     
         16 . A closure assembly according to  claim 15  wherein: 
 (a) the zipper closure arrangement includes first and second closures defined by the first and second zipper profiles; 
 (i) the first closure being constructed and arranged to mate when the slider device is moved along the zipper closure arrangement in a first direction; and  
 (ii) the second closure being constructed and arranged to mate when the slider device is moved along the zipper closure arrangement in the first direction and when the clip is in the second position; the second closure being constructed and arranged not to mate when the clip is in the first position.  
   
     
     
         17 . A closure assembly according to  claim 16  wherein: 
 (a) the slider device further includes a splitter depending from the top wall; the splitter being constructed and arranged to separate the first closure when the slider device is moved along the zipper closure arrangement in a second direction opposite of the first direction.    
     
     
         18 . A closure assembly according to  claim 17  wherein: 
 (a) the splitter and the second closure are oriented so that the second closure is not separated by the splitter, when the slider device is moved along the zipper closure arrangement in the second direction.    
     
     
         19 . A closure assembly according to  claim 16  wherein: 
 (a) the clip includes a first wall, a first leg depending from the first wall, and a second leg depending from the first wall.    
     
     
         20 . A closure assembly according to  claim 19  wherein: 
 (a) the clip is secured to the top wall.    
     
     
         21 . A closure assembly according to  claim 20  further comprising: 
 (a) a living hinge between the clip first wall and top wall to secure the clip to the top wall.    
     
     
         22 . A closure assembly according to  claim 21  wherein: 
 (a) the first position of the clip includes: 
 (i) the first and second legs being outside of the cavity; and  
 (ii) the clip first wall being angled relative to the top wall; and  
   (b) the second position of the clip includes: 
 (i) the first and second legs being at least partially inside of the cavity and pressed against the second closure; and  
 (ii) the clip first wall being against the top wall.  
   
     
     
         23 . A closure assembly according to  claim 22  wherein: 
 (a) the top wall defines an opening; and    (b) the first and second legs are movable through the opening to move the clip from the first position to the second position.    
     
     
         24 . A closure assembly according to  claim 22  further comprising: 
 (a) a splitter depending from the top wall; the splitter being constructed and arranged to separate the first closure when the slider device is moved along the zipper closure arrangement in a second direction opposite of the first direction.    
     
     
         25 . A closure assembly according to  claim 19  wherein: 
 (a) the first and second sidewalls define: 
 (i) a first width therebetween to define a zipper squeezing region; the first width being sized to cause the first and second sidewalls to mate the first closure;  
 (ii) a second width therebetween to define a zipper non-squeezing region; the second width being sized greater than the first distance and to not cause the first and second sidewalls to mate the second closure.  
   
     
     
         26 . A closure assembly according to  claim 19  wherein: 
 (a) the first and second sidewalls each has a hook construction at an end remote from the top wall; 
 (i) each of the hook constructions slidably engaging an external portion of the zipper closure arrangement.  
   
     
     
         27 . A closure assembly according to  claim 19  wherein: 
 (a) the first sidewall defines a first groove sized to receive the first leg; and    (b) the second sidewall defines a second groove sized to receive the second leg.    
     
     
         28 . A closure assembly according to  claim 16  wherein: 
 (a) the second closure includes a tamper-evident structure to signal when the second closure has been mated and then separated at least once after being mated.    
     
     
         29 . A closure assembly according to  claim 28  wherein: 
 (a) the second closure includes: 
 (i) a male profile member on the first zipper profile; the male profile member including a head at a free end and a stem connecting the head to a remaining portion of the first zipper profile; and  
 (ii) a female profile member on the second zipper profile; the female profile member being sized to receive and interlock with the male profile member.  
   
     
     
         30 . A closure assembly according to  claim 29  wherein: 
 (a) the stem is frangible and will break to separate the head from a remaining portion of the first zipper profile responsive to a separation force applied to the second closure.    
     
     
         31 . A closure assembly according to  claim 30  wherein: 
 (a) the female profile member includes first and second arms with a receiving void therebetween sized to receive the head; and    (b) each of the first and second arms includes a depending finger extending into the void to engage a base of the head, when the head is oriented in the void of the female profile member.    
     
     
         32 . A closure assembly according to  claim 31  wherein: 
 (a) the second closure includes first and second posts on the first zipper profile; the first post being adjacent to and against the first arm and the second post being adjacent to and against the second arm when the male profile member is operably oriented in the female profile member.    
     
     
         33 . A closure assembly according to  claim 31  wherein: 
 (a) the clip includes a first wall, a first leg depending from the first wall, and a second leg depending from the first wall;    (b) the top wall defines an opening; and    (c) the second position of the clip includes: 
 (i) the first and second legs being at least partially through the top wall opening and inside of the cavity pressed against the second closure to force the head of the male profile member into the void of the female profile member.  
   
     
     
         34 . A closure assembly according to  claim 28  wherein: 
 (a) the first closure includes a first hooked profile member on the first zipper profile;    (b) the first closure includes a second hooked profile member on the second zipper profile; 
 (i) the first and second hooked profile members being constructed and arranged to selectively mate and separate.  
   
     
     
         35 . A closure assembly according to  claim 34  wherein: 
 (a) the first closure further includes a first closure post on the first zipper profile adjacent to the first hooked profile member; 
 (i) the second hooked profile member being received within a gap between the first closure post and the first hooked profile member, when the first and second hooked profile members are mated.  
   
     
     
         36 . A closure assembly according to  claim 35  wherein: 
 (a) the first and second sidewalls define: 
 (i) a first width therebetween to define a zipper squeezing region; the first width being sized to cause the first and second sidewalls to press against the first closure and move the second hooked profile member into the gap between the first closure post and the first hooked profile member,  
 (ii) a second width therebetween to define a zipper non-squeezing region; the second width being sized greater than the first distance and to not cause the first and second sidewalls to mate the second closure.  
   
     
     
         37 . A closure assembly according to  claim 36  wherein: 
 (a) the first closure is located between the second closure and the top wall of the slider device; and    (b) the zipper squeezing region is located between the zipper non-squeezing region and the top wall.    
     
     
         38 . A closure assembly according to  claim 16  wherein: 
 (a) the first closure is located between the second closure and the top wall of the slider device.    
     
     
         39 . A package comprising: 
 (a) a surrounding wall defining a bottom, an interior volume, and a mouth to provide access to the interior volume; and    (b) a closure assembly oriented at the mouth; the closure assembly including: 
 (i) a zipper closure arrangement having first and second zipper profiles constructed and arranged to selectively interlock; and  
 (ii) a slider device oriented to slide along the zipper closure arrangement; the slider device including: 
 (A) a top wall oriented to slide along a top of the zipper closure arrangement;  
 (B) a first sidewall depending from the top wall oriented to slide along a side of the zipper closure arrangement;  
 (C) a second sidewall depending from the top wall oriented to slide along a side of the zipper closure arrangement; 
 (1) the top wall, first sidewall, and second sidewall defining a cavity to operatively receive the zipper closure arrangement therein; and  
 
 (D) a clip secured to at least one of the top wall, first sidewall, and second sidewall; the clip being moveable from a first position to a second position; 
 (1) the first position including the clip being remote from the zipper closure arrangement; and  
 (2) the second position including the clip being oriented to operatively engage the zipper closure arrangement.  
 
 
   
     
     
         40 . A package according to  claim 39  wherein: 
 (a) the zipper closure arrangement includes first and second closures defined by the first and second zipper profiles; 
 (i) the first closure being constructed and arranged to mate when the slider device is moved along the zipper closure arrangement in a first direction; and  
 (ii) the second closure being constructed and arranged to mate when the slider device is moved along the zipper closure arrangement in the first direction and when the clip is in the second position; the second closure being constructed and arranged not to mate when the clip is in the first position.  
   
     
     
         41 . A package according to  claim 40  wherein: 
 (a) the slider device further includes a splitter depending from the top wall; the splitter being constructed and arranged to separate the first closure when the slider device is moved along the zipper closure arrangement in a second direction opposite of the first direction; and    (b) the splitter and the second closure are oriented so that the second closure is not separated by the splitter, when the slider device is moved along the zipper closure arrangement in the second direction.    
     
     
         42 . A package according to  claim 41  wherein: 
 (a) the clip includes a first wall, a first leg depending from the first wall, and a second leg depending from the first wall;    (b) the clip is secured to the top wall with a living hinge;    (c) the first position of the clip includes: 
 (i) the first and second legs being outside of the cavity; and  
 (ii) the clip first wall being angled relative to the top wall;  
   (d) the second position of the clip includes: 
 (i) the first and second legs being at least partially inside of the cavity and pressed against the second closure; and  
 (ii) the clip first wall being against the top wall;  
   (e) the top wall defines an opening; and    (f) the first and second legs are movable through the opening to move the clip from the first position to the second position;    
     
     
         43 . A package according to  claim 40  wherein: 
 (a) the first and second sidewalls define: 
 (i) a first width therebetween to define a zipper squeezing region; the first width being sized to cause the first and second sidewalls to mate the first closure;  
 (ii) a second width therebetween to define a zipper non-squeezing region; the second width being sized greater than the first distance and to not cause the first and second sidewalls to mate the second closure;  
   (b) the first sidewall defines a first groove sized to receive the first leg; and    (c) the second sidewall defines a second groove sized to receive the second leg;    
     
     
         44 . A package according to  claim 40  wherein: 
 (a) the second closure includes a tamper-evident structure to signal when the second closure has been mated and then separated at least once after being mated.    
     
     
         45 . A package according to  claim 44  wherein: 
 (a) the second closure includes: 
 (i) a male profile member on the first zipper profile; the male profile member including a head at a free end and a stem connecting the head to a remaining portion of the first zipper profile; and  
 (ii) a female profile member on the second zipper profile; the female profile member being sized to receive and interlock with the male profile member;  
 (iii) the stem being frangible to separate the head from a remaining portion of the first zipper profile responsive to a separation force applied to the second closure;  
   (b) the first closure includes: 
 (i) a first hooked profile member on the first zipper profile; and  
 (ii) a second hooked profile member on the second zipper profile; the first and second hooked profile members being constructed and arranged to selectively mate and separate.  
   
     
     
         46 . A package according to  claim 44  wherein: 
 (a) the first closure is located between the second closure and the top wall of the slider device.    
     
     
         47 . A package according to  claim 40  wherein: 
 (a) the first closure comprises a first material; and    (b) the second closure comprises a second material different from the first material.    
     
     
         48 . A tamper-evident zipper closure arrangement comprising: 
 (a) a first closure including mating profile members constructed and arranged to selectively move between being interlocked and separated; and    (b) a second closure, adjacent to the first closure, and including mating profile members constructed and arranged to selectively interlock; 
 (i) the second closure including a tamper-evident structure to signal when the second closure has been interlocked and then separated at least once after being interlocked.  
   
     
     
         49 . A tamper-evident zipper closure arrangement according to  claim 48  wherein: 
 (a) the second closure includes: 
 (i) a male profile member on a first zipper profile; the male profile member including a head at a free end and a stem connecting the head to a remaining portion of the first zipper profile; and  
 (ii) a female profile member on a second zipper profile; the female profile member being sized to receive and interlock with the male profile member; 
 (A) the stem being frangible to separate the head from a remaining portion of the first zipper profile responsive to a separation force applied to the second closure.  
 
   
     
     
         50 . A tamper-evident zipper closure arrangement according to  claim 49  wherein: 
 (a) the female profile member includes first and second arms with a receiving void therebetween sized to receive the head; and    (b) each of the first and second arms includes a depending finger extending into the void to engage a base of the head, when the head is oriented in the void of the female profile member;    (c) the second closure includes first and second posts on the first zipper profile; the first post being adjacent to and against the first arm and the second post being adjacent to and against the second arm when the male profile member is operably oriented in the female profile member.    
     
     
         51 . A tamper-evident zipper closure arrangement according to  claim 49  wherein: 
 (a) the first closure includes a first hooked profile member on the first zipper profile;    (b) the first closure includes a second hooked profile member on the second zipper profile; 
 (i) the first and second hooked profile members being constructed and arranged to selectively interlock and separate; and  
   (c) the first closure includes a first closure post on the first zipper profile adjacent to the first hooked profile member; 
 (i) the second hooked profile member being received within a gap between the first closure post and the first hooked profile member, when the first and second hooked profile members are interlocked.  
   
     
     
         52 . A tamper-evident zipper closure arrangement according to  claim 48  wherein: 
 (a) the first closure comprises a first material; and    (b) the second closure comprises a second material different from the first material.    
     
     
         53 . A method of using a package; the package including a package surrounding wall defining an interior volume, a mouth, and a closure assembly oriented at the mouth; the closure assembly including a zipper closure arrangement and a slider device operably oriented on the zipper closure arrangement; the method comprising: 
 (a) grasping a slider device and pushing a clip down to engage the clip against a portion of the zipper closure arrangement; and    (b) moving the slider device in a first direction while the clip squeezes the portion of the zipper closure arrangement to close the mouth.    
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 53  further comprising: 
 (a) before the step of grasping a slider device and pushing a clip down, grasping the slider device and moving the slider in a first direction to squeeze only a second portion of the zipper closure and releasably close the mouth.    
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 53  wherein: 
 (a) the zipper closure arrangement includes a first closure and a second closure; and    (b) the step of moving the slider in a first direction while the clip squeezes the portion of the zipper closure arrangement to close the mouth includes moving the slider in a first direction while the clip squeezes the second closure to close the mouth.    
     
     
         56 . A method according to  claim 55  wherein: 
 (a) before the step of grasping a slider device and pushing a clip down, grasping the slider device and moving the slider in a first direction to squeeze only the first closure and not the second closure to releasably close the mouth.    
     
     
         57 . A method according to  claim 56  wherein: 
 (a) the step of grasping a slider device and pushing a clip down includes pushing a clip having a pair of legs through an opening in a top wall of the slider device to engage the second closure.    
     
     
         58 . A method according to  claim 56  wherein: 
 (a) the step of moving the slider device in a first direction while the clip squeezes the second closure to close the mouth includes locking the second closure secure; the second closure being unable to be opened without breaking a portion of the second closure.    
     
     
         59 . A method according to  claim 56  further comprising: 
 (a) after the step of using the clip to close the second closure, accessing the interior volume by breaking the second closure.