Ventable package with zipper closure, and methods

Abstract

A reclosable polymeric package having a zipper closure at its mouth and a venting feature that allows air or other fluid to be vented from the package interior when the zipper closure is sealed. In one example, the venting feature includes vents covered by a tape intermittently secured to the package to define fluid passageways. Methods of use are provided.

1 . A polymeric package, comprising: 
 (a) a surrounding wall having a bottom edge, together forming an interior;    (b) a first zipper profile member and a second zipper profile member on the surrounding wall opposite the bottom edge; and    (c) a venting feature on the surrounding wall, the venting feature comprising vents within the surrounding wall to provide fluid communication between the interior and a region exterior of the package, and a tape overlying the vents.    
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tape is positioned on an exterior surface of the surrounding wall.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the surrounding wall has a first side edge and an opposite second side edge, and the venting feature extends from the first side edge to the second side edge.  
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the vents in the surrounding wall are apertures through the surrounding wall.  
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the vents in the surrounding wall are slits through the surrounding wall.  
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein the slits through the surrounding wall define semi-circles.  
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tape is attached to the surrounding wall along longitudinal edges of the tape.  
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the tape is attached to the surrounding wall intermittently at attachment regions.  
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein the tape and the surrounding wall define a plurality of passages to convey fluid from the package interior to the region exterior of the package, each of the passages being between two adjacent attachment regions.  
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the surrounding wall comprises first and second panels, and wherein the venting feature is on the exterior surface of one of the first and second panels.  
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a slider device mounted on the first zipper profile member and the second zipper profile member, the slider device configured to seal the profile members together when the slider device is moved in a first direction, and to unseal the profile members when the slider device is moved in an opposite second direction.  
     
     
         12 . A method of using a package, comprising: 
 (a) providing a package having an interior, a resealable zipper extending across a mouth of the package and a venting feature including vents and a tape covering the vents;    (b) placing an item in the interior through the mouth of the package;    (c) closing the resealable zipper after the item is in the interior; and    (d) expelling air from the interior through the venting feature.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein expelling air from the interior through the venting feature includes squeezing the package to urge air through the vents and around the tape.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein expelling air includes pushing air through the vents and through passages defined by areas between intermittent attachment regions securing the tape to the package.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein expelling air from the interior through the venting feature includes pushing air through cross-shaped vents.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein expelling air from the interior through the venting feature includes pushing air through flaps.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein expelling air from the interior through the venting feature includes pushing air through polygonal-shaped vents.