Cereal Bag Zipper

Abstract

The present invention is a closure capable of being applied to an existing flexible container structure in order to form a releasable closure thereon. The closure includes base formed of a flexible material having an adhesive disposed on one side thereof in order to attach the closure to the exterior of a container. The closure also includes a pair of releasably engageable zipper sections secured to the base on opposite sides of a gap formed in the base having an open end and a closed end. The closure further has a liner located between the zipper sections and the base that extends over the gap to finction as a positioning device for properly locating the closure on the flexible container. The base and the liner also limit the size of any opening formed in the container to the size of the closure.

1 . A resealable closure adapted to be secured to the exterior of a container, the closure comprising:
 a) a base adapted to be secured to an end of the container to be opened, and including a first adhesive disposed along one side of the base and a gap having an open end defined in the base; and   b) a pair of zipper sections each including one of a pair of complementary engagement structures, the zipper sections fixed to the base opposite the first adhesive on opposite sides of the gap and releasably engageable with one another to selectively expose the gap in the base.   
   
   
       2 . The closure of  claim 1  further comprising a liner secured to the base over the gap in the base between the base and the zipper sections. 
   
   
       3 . The closure of  claim 2  wherein the liner includes a removable section disposed in alignment with the gap. 
   
   
       4 . The closure of  claim 3  wherein the removable section defines an aperture in the liner. 
   
   
       5 . The closure of  claim 2  wherein the liner is affixed to the base over the gap by a second adhesive disposed on the base opposite the first adhesive. 
   
   
       6 . The closure of  claim 5  wherein the liner is at least partially disposed between the base and the pair of zipper sections. 
   
   
       7 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein each of the pair of zipper sections includes an engagement section on which one of a pair of complementary engagement structures are disposed, and an attachment section secured to the base. 
   
   
       8 . The closure of  claim 7  wherein the attachment section of each zipper section is affixed to the base by a second adhesive disposed on the base opposite the first adhesive. 
   
   
       9 . The closure of  claim 7  wherein the engagement sections have a length sufficient to form a clearance space between the gap in the base and the engagement structures. 
   
   
       10 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the zipper sections are not directly engaged with one another other than by the complementary engagement structures thereon. 
   
   
       11 . The closure of  claim 10  wherein the zipper sections are joined at one end. 
   
   
       12 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the base comprises:
 a) a pair of opposed sides with the gap located therebetween;   b) a central section joining each of the opposed sides and defining a closed end of the gap and adapted to form a stop for an opening in a container to which the closure is secured.   
   
   
       13 . The closure of  claim 12  wherein the base is formed of a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       14 . The closure of  claim 2  wherein the liner defines a cutting zone. 
   
   
       15 . The closure of  claim 14  wherein the cutting zone includes printed indicia to define the location of the cutting zone. 
   
   
       16 . The closure of  claim 14  wherein the cutting zone includes a perforated line to define the location of the cutting zone. 
   
   
       17 . A method of dispensing material from a container, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a closure including a base adapted to be secured to an end of the container to be opened, the base having a pair of opposed sides with a gap having an open end defined in the base between the opposed sides, a central section joining each of the opposed sides and defining a closed end of the gap, the central section adapted to form a stop for an opening in the container to which the closure is secured, and a first adhesive disposed along one side of the base and, and a pair of zipper sections each including one of a pair of complementary engagement structures, the zipper sections fixed to the base opposite the first adhesive on opposite sides of the gap and releasably engageable with one another to selectively expose the gap in the base;   b) positioning the opposed sides of the base against each side of the end of the container to be opened to locate the closure over the end of the container; and   c) opening the zipper sections to expose the end of the container to be opened through the gap in the base.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the closure includes a liner secured to the base over the gap in the base between the base and the zipper sections, and further comprising the step of forming an aperture in the liner after the step of positioning the side of the base against each side of the container. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the closure includes a liner secured to the base over the gap in the base between the base and the zipper sections, and further comprising the step of engaging the end of the container to be opened with the liner prior to the step of positioning the side of the base against each side of the container. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of forming an opening in the end of the container to be opened after the step of opening the zipper sections to expose the end of the container to be opened through the gap in the base.