Reclosable package or bag with double zipper or similar configuration

Abstract

The zipper profiles have a complex shape, such as a double zipper configuration. The apparatus for the manufacture thereof includes an extrusion die and further includes a main or primary extruder for the supply of material, such as low density polyethylene, to form the tubing for the manufacture of reclosable packages, bags or pouches. The apparatus further includes at least one secondary extruder, or co-extruder, for the extruding of each reclosable profile onto the tubing. The speed of the co-extruders is controlled so as to control the extrusion of the reclosable profiles.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A package comprising:
 walls comprising a tubular film formed by a first extrudate; and   a double zipper integrally joined with the tubular film, the double zipper being formed from a second extrudate which is different from the first extrudate;   the double zipper including a first profile with at least two interlocking elements and a second profile with at least two interlocking elements, wherein the at least two interlocking elements from the first profile engage with the respective at least two interlocking elements from the second profile at a same time.   
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 21  wherein the first extrudate is low density polyethylene material. 
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 22  wherein the second extrudate is resin material. 
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 21  wherein the second extrudate is colored. 
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 21  wherein the tubular film is formed by drawing and cooling the first extrudate. 
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 21  wherein the tubular film is formed simultaneously with the double zipper. 
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 21  wherein the interlocking elements of the first profile are closely adjacent and wherein the interlocking elements of the second profile are closely adjacent. 
     
     
         28 . A package comprising:
 walls comprising a tubular film formed by a first extrudate; and   at least one interlocking element formed on the tubular film by extruding a second extrudate at a varying velocity in accordance with a desired shape of the at least one interlocking element.   
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 28  wherein the first extrudate is low density polyethylene material. 
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 29  wherein the second extrudate is resin material. 
     
     
         31 . The package of  claim 28  wherein the at least one interlocking element includes a plurality of interlocking elements. 
     
     
         32 . The package of  claim 31  wherein the plurality of interlocking elements are closely adjacent. 
     
     
         33 . The package of  claim 28  wherein the second extrudate is colored. 
     
     
         34 . The package of  claim 28  wherein the first extrudate is formed by drawing and cooling. 
     
     
         35 . The package of  claim 28  wherein the tubular film is formed simultaneously with the at least one interlocking element. 
     
     
         36 . A package comprising:
 a tubular film and an integrally joined double zipper, wherein the integrally joined double zipper includes a first set of closely adjacent interlocking elements and a second set of closely adjacent interlocking elements; and   wherein the tubular film is extruded from a primary extruder and the double zipper is extruded from at least one secondary extruder, different from the primary extruder.   
     
     
         37 . The package of  claim 36  wherein the first and second sets of interlocking elements each include male and female interlocking elements. 
     
     
         38 . The package of  claim 36  wherein the first set of interlocking elements includes at least two male elements and the second set of interlocking elements includes at least two female elements. 
     
     
         39 . The package of  claim 36  wherein each set of interlocking elements includes at least three interlocking elements. 
     
     
         40 . The package of  claim 36  wherein all interlocking elements of the first set can be interlocked with respective interlocking elements of the second set at a same time. 
     
     
         41 . The package of  claim 36  wherein each interlocking element of the first set is spaced to be interlocked a corresponding interlocking element of the second set at a same time. 
     
     
         42 . A package comprising:
 a tubular film extruded from a primary extruder and first and second sets of closely adjacent interlocking elements extruded from at least one secondary extruder;   wherein the interlocking elements and the tubular film are integrally joined.   
     
     
         43 . The package of  claim 42  wherein all interlocking elements of the first set can be interlocked with respective interlocking elements of the second set at a same time. 
     
     
         44 . The package of  claim 42  wherein the first set of interlocking elements includes two male interlocking elements and the second set of interlocking elements includes two female interlocking elements. 
     
     
         45 . The package of  claim 42  wherein each set of interlocking elements includes a male element and a female element. 
     
     
         46 . The package of  claim 42  wherein a distance between the first and second sets of interlocking elements is greater than a distance between interlocking elements within a respective set of interlocking elements. 
     
     
         47 . A package comprising:
 a tubular film extruded from a primary extruder and a plurality of sets of interlocking elements extruded from at least one secondary extruder;   wherein the interlocking elements are integrally joined to the tubular film and wherein a mass of the interlocking elements is controlled by velocity of extrudate from the at least one secondary extruder.   
     
     
         48 . A package comprising:
 a tubular film extruded from a primary extruder and a double zipper extruded from at least one secondary extruder;   wherein the double zipper is integrally joined to the tubular film, free of exposure of contact surfaces between the double zipper and the tubular film; and   the double zipper including a first profile with at least two closely adjacent interlocking elements and a second profile with at least two closely adjacent interlocking elements, wherein the at least two interlocking elements from the first profile engage with the respective at least two interlocking elements from the second profile at a same time.   
     
     
         49 . A package comprising:
 a tubular film extruded from a primary extruder and a double zipper extruded from at least one secondary extruder;   wherein the double zipper is integrally joined to the tubular film, free of a gap between the double zipper and the tubular film; and   the double zipper including a first profile with at least two closely adjacent interlocking elements and a second profile with at least two closely adjacent interlocking elements, wherein the at least two interlocking elements from the first profile engage with the respective at least two interlocking elements from the second profile at a same time.   
     
     
         50 . A package comprising:
 a tubular film extruded from a primary extruder and a plurality of sets of at least three interlocking elements extruded from at least one secondary extruder;   wherein the interlocking elements and the tubular film are integrally joined and wherein one set of at least three interlocking elements interlocks with another set of at least three interlocking elements.   
     
     
         51 . The package of  claim 50  wherein one set of at least three interlocking elements includes at least two female interlocking element and another set of at least three interlocking elements includes at least two male interlocking elements. 
     
     
         52 . The package of  claim 50  wherein one set of at least three interlocking elements includes only male elements and another set of at least three interlocking elements includes only female elements. 
     
     
         53 . The package of  claim 50  wherein the interlocking elements are closely adjacent within each set. 
     
     
         54 . A package comprising:
 a tubular film and an integrally joined double zipper, wherein the integrally joined double zipper includes a first set of closely adjacent interlocking elements and a second set of closely adjacent interlocking elements, wherein the interlocking elements of the first set are closely adjacent to each other and not interlockable with each other and the interlocking elements of the second set are adjacent to each other and not interlockable with each other and wherein the sets of interlocking elements are opposed to each other and wherein one set of interlocking elements is interlockable with the other set of interlocking elements;   wherein the tubular film is extruded from a primary extruder and the double zipper interlocking elements are extruded from at least one secondary extruder.