Tamper evident reclosable seals

Abstract

A container has a reclosable zipper seal. The zipper includes a slider that facilitates opening and closing of the zipper. The container also includes a tamper evidence device. The tamper evidence device provides an indication as to whether the container has been substantially opened. The tamper evidence device may be part of the container, the zipper, the slider, or combinations thereof. The tamper evidence device may include a membrane, spot seals, one or more seals of container walls, a seal of zipper profile walls, a tack, a drape, an adhesive, or deformed material resulting from formation of an opening formed through the slider and the zipper profiles. The tamper evidence device may require breakage the first time the container is opened. The tamper evidence device may provide an initial resistance to the first act of opening the container.

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;    (b) a zipper positioned at the container opening, the zipper comprising: 
 (i) a first profile having an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface, and  
 (ii) a second profile 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 profile and the one or more teeth of the second profile; and    (c) a membrane secured to the inner surfaces of the first profile and the second profile, wherein the membrane and the first and second profiles are formed separately.    
   
   
       2 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the first side of the container is secured to the inner surface of the first profile, wherein the outer surface of the second side of the container is secured to the inner surface of the second profile.  
   
   
       3 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a substantially transparent plastic material.  
   
   
       4 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sides of the container are secured to the first and second profiles at respective container securing locations on the first and second profiles, wherein the membrane is secured to the first and second profiles at respective membrane securing locations on the first and second profiles.  
   
   
       5 . The container system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the respective membrane securing locations is positioned between the one or more teeth and the container securing location of each of the first and second profiles.  
   
   
       6 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a substantially transparent plastic material. perforation.  
   
   
       7 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is not resealable.  
   
   
       8 . 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 profile having an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface, and  
 (ii) a second profile 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 profile and the one or more teeth of the second profile; and    (c) one or more spot seals, wherein the one or more spot seals are positioned and configured to resist a first act of opening of the container, wherein the one or more spot seals are configured to have no substantial effect on subsequent acts of opening the container, wherein the one or more spot seals are breakable without compromising wall integrity, wherein the spot seals are non-resealable.    
   
   
       9 . The container system of  claim 8 , wherein the spot seals secure the first profile to the second profile.  
   
   
       10 . The container system of  claim 8 , wherein the spot seals comprise intermittent heat welds.  
   
   
       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;    (b) a zipper secured to the container, the zipper comprising: 
 (i) a first profile having an inner surface, an outer surface, one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface, and a flange region, and  
 (ii) a second profile having an inner surface, an outer surface, one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface, and a flange region,  
    wherein the zipper is configured to provide a seal upon engagement between the teeth of the first profile and the teeth of the second profile, wherein the flange regions of the first and second profiles form a “W”-like configuration, the “W”-like configuration comprising an upturned portion of the first profile, a remainder portion of the first profile, a first valley defined by the upturned portion of the first profile and the remainder portion of the first profile, an upturned portion of the second profile, a remainder portion of the second profile, and a second valley defined by the upturned portion of the second profile and the remainder portion of the second profile, wherein the teeth of each profile are positioned on the remainder portion of each profile.    
   
   
       12 . The container system of  claim 11 , wherein the first side of the container is secured to the upturned portion of the first profile, wherein the second side of the container is secured to the upturned portion of the second profile.  
   
   
       13 . The container system of  claim 11 , further comprising an adhesive located in each of the first and second valleys.  
   
   
       14 . The container system of  claim 11 , wherein the upturned portions of the first and second profile are each joined at a tack.  
   
   
       15 . 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 in the container opening, the zipper comprising: 
 (i) a first profile having an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface,  
 (ii) a second profile having an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface, wherein the zipper is configured to provide a seal upon engagement between the one or more teeth of the first profile and the one or more teeth of the second profile, and  
 (iii) a slider, wherein the slider is configured to engage and disengage the teeth of the first and second profiles; and  
   (c) an opening formed in the first profile and the second profile, wherein the opening comprises deformed material, wherein the deformed material is configured to provide resistance to a first act of movement of the slider.    
   
   
       16 . The container system of  claim 15 , wherein the opening is also formed in the slider.  
   
   
       17 . The container system of  claim 15 , wherein the deformed material is deformed by an act of melting.  
   
   
       18 . The container system of  claim 17 , wherein the act of melting is performed with a hot needle-like structure.  
   
   
       19 . The container system of  claim 15 , wherein the deformed material is deformed by an act of pulling material of the zipper through the opening.  
   
   
       20 . The container system of  claim 19 , wherein the act of pulling material of the zipper through the opening is performed with a hook-like structure.  
   
   
       21 . 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 profile having an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more teeth adjacent the inner surface, and  
 (ii) a second profile 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 profile and the one or more teeth of the second profile;    (c) a membrane secured to the inner surfaces of the first profile and the second profile, wherein the membrane and the first and second profiles are formed separately; and    (d) at least one seal, wherein the at least one seal is formed by securing a portion of the inner surface of the first side wall to a portion of the inner surface of the second side wall, wherein the seal is positioned proximate to the zipper.