Ventable Package with Zipper Closure, and Methods

Abstract

A reclosable package having a zipper closure with a venting feature that allows air or other fluid to be vented from the package interior. In one example, the venting feature includes vents in the package wall covered by a perforated tape intermittently secured to the package to define fluid passageways. A second tape covers the perforated tape. Methods of using 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, a first tape overlying the vents, the first tape having a plurality of perforations therein, and a second tape overlying the first tape.    
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first tape is positioned on an exterior surface of the surrounding wall.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the surrounding wall comprises 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 first tape is attached to the surrounding wall along longitudinal edges of the tape.  
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the first tape is attached to the surrounding wall intermittently at attachment regions.  
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the perforations in the first tape are apertures through the first tape.  
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the perforations in the first tape are slits through the first tape.  
     
     
         11 . 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.  
     
     
         12 . 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.  
     
     
         13 . 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, a perforated first tape covering the vents, and a second tape covering the first tape;    (b) placing an item in the interior through the mouth of the package;    (c) closing the resealable zipper; and    (e) expelling air from the interior through the venting feature.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein expelling air from the interior through the venting feature includes squeezing the package to urge air through the vents and around the first tape.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein expelling air includes pushing air through the vents and through passages defined by areas between intermittent attachment regions securing the first tape to the package.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein expelling air from the interior through the venting feature includes pushing air through cross-shaped vents.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein expelling air from the interior through the venting feature includes pushing air through flaps.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein expelling air from the interior through the venting feature includes pushing air through polygonal-shaped vents.