Unisex zippered packages with wide mouth and other features

Abstract

The disclosure pertains to method for manufacturing reclosable packages, bags or pouches wherein, typically, a unisex zipper is looped so as to form a gap between the ends of the zipper and sealed inside of the package. The formation of the looped zipper segment causes the package to have a wide open mouth, and a natural tendency toward the open configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for manufacturing reclosable packages, including the steps of:
 providing a web moving in a machine direction;   attaching a reclosure across the web in a transverse direction, wherein the reclosure includes an interlocking element and further includes first and second ends which are inwardly offset from respective first and second edges of the web, thereby providing respective first and second spaces of the web inwardly adjacent from respective first and second edges of the web, the first and second spaces of the web being outwardly adjacent from the respective first and second ends of the reclosure; and   bringing the first and second spaces of the web together, thereby positioning portions of the interlocking element proximate to the first and second ends of the reclosure into unmated opposing end-wise alignment, the first and second ends of the reclosure being separated by a gap.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including a step of sealing the first and second spaces of the web to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of sealing forms a fin seal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of sealing forms a lap seal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reclosure is a unisex zipper. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reclosure is a multiple alignment zipper. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the reclosure includes one flange. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the reclosure includes two flanges. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of bringing the first and second spaces of the web together further forms first and second walls of the package. 
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the reclosure includes a first flange and a peel seal on the flange. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of bringing the first and second spaces of the web together further includes forming the reclosure into loop which has a tendency to remain open. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further including a step of cross-sealing between sequential packages. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of bringing the first and second spaces of the web together further includes the step of forming a tube.