Tamper evident polymeric package with zipper closure and valve, and methods

Abstract

A reclosable package having a zipper closure, and optionally a slider device to open and close the zipper closure, and a one-way valve. The package can include an internal seal, which can be a peal seal. In use, the valve is used to remove air from the interior of the package, and the sealant strip, in combination with the zipper closure, provides a better seal than the zipper alone.

1 . A polymeric resealable bag comprising: 
 (a) a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, the surrounding wall having a first side edge and a second side edge;    (b) a zipper closure secured to the surrounding wall, comprising a first mating closure profile and a second mating closure profile;    (c) a first tamper-evident structure casing at least a portion of the zipper closure, the first tamper-evident structure having a weakness extending between the first and second side edges constructed and arranged to permit removal of the first tamper-evident structure along the weakness from a remaining portion of the bag; and    (d) a one-way evacuation valve oriented in the surrounding wall between the zipper closure and the interior volume.    
     
     
         2 . The resealable bag of  claim 1  wherein the surrounding wall comprises a first panel section and a second opposed panel section.  
     
     
         3 . The resealable bag of  claim 2  wherein: 
 (a) the first mating profile is attached to the first panel section and extends from the first side edge to the second side edge; and    (b) the second mating profile is attached to the second panel section and extends from the first side edge to the second side edge.    
     
     
         4 . The resealable bag of  claim 2  further comprising a seal present on at least one of the first and second panel sections, between the zipper closure and the interior volume, and extends between the first and second side edges.  
     
     
         5 . The resealable bag of  claim 2  further comprising 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; 
 (a) 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; and    (b) 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.    
     
     
         6 . The resealable bag of  claim 2  further comprising a second tamper evident-structure positioned between the zipper closure and interior volume.  
     
     
         7 . The resealable bag of  claim 6  wherein the second tamper evident-structure comprises a web extending between the first panel section and the second panel section from the first side edge to the second side edge.  
     
     
         8 . The resealable bag of  claim 1  wherein the surrounding wall comprises textured film material.  
     
     
         9 . The resealable bag of  claim 8 , wherein the surrounding wall comprises a first panel section and a second opposed panel section.  
     
     
         10 . The resealable bag of  claim 9 , wherein the textured film material is attached to at least one of the first and second panel sections.  
     
     
         11 . The resealable bag of  claim 9 , wherein the textured film material is integral with at least one of the first and second panel sections.  
     
     
         12 . The resealable bag of  claim 4 , wherein the seal is a resealable seal.  
     
     
         13 . The resealable bag of  claim 2  wherein: 
 (a) the zipper closure includes: 
 (i) a first zipper profile defining a first profile member secured to the first panel section; and  
 (ii) a second zipper profile defining a second profile member secured to the second panel section; 
 (A) the first profile member and second profile member being constructed and arranged to selectively interlock and separate.  
 
   
     
     
         14 . The resealable bag of  claim 4  wherein the seal is positioned between the zipper closure and the valve.  
     
     
         15 . The resealable bag of  claim 4  wherein the valve is positioned between the zipper closure and the seal.  
     
     
         16 . The resealable bag of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 (a) a food item in the interior volume.    
     
     
         17 . A method of storing a food item in a polymeric bag; the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a bag having: a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, the surrounding wall having a first side edge and a second side edge; a zipper closure secured to the surrounding wall, comprising a first mating closure profile and a second mating closure profile; a first tamper-evident structure casing at least a portion of the zipper closure, the first tamper-evident structure having a weakness extending between the first and second side edges constructed and arranged to permit removal of the first tamper-evident structure along the weakness from a remaining portion of the bag; and a one-way evacuation valve oriented in the surrounding wall between the zipper closure and the interior volume.; and    (b) providing a food item in the interior volume.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein: 
 (a) the step of providing a food item includes orienting cheese in the interior volume.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 (a) the step of providing a bag includes providing a bag having a resealable peel seal between the first and second panel sections.    
     
     
         20 . A method of using a polymeric bag; the method comprising: 
 (a) breaching a tamper evident header to obtain access to a zipper closure;    (b) pulling the zipper closure apart to separate the closure to provide access to a seal sealing together opposing panel sections of a bag;    (b) pulling the opposing panel sections of the bag apart in a vicinity of the seal to release the seal and provide access to a storage area of the bag;    (c) accessing a food item in the storage area of the bag;    (d) after accessing the food item, interlocking the zipper closure to close the bag; and    (e) squeezing the bag to force at least some gas in the bag through a one-way valve located in the first panel section.    
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein: 
 (a) the step of pulling the zipper closure apart to separate the closure comprises moving a slider device from a first position adjacent to the first side edge to a second position adjacent to the second side edge to separate the closure; and    (b) the step of interlocking the zipper closure to close the bag comprises moving the slider device from the second position to the first position.