Zipper assembly and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A zipper assembly for a resealable enclosure can include an elongated flange having a panel side and an opposite facing side. The panel side can be coupled with an inner surface of a panel of the resealable enclosure. The zipper assembly can include an interlocking element protruding from the flange. The interlocking element can be shaped to mate with another interlocking element of another flange to close the enclosure and shaped to be pulled apart to open the enclosure. The zipper assembly also can include a tear strip disposed in the flange. The tear strip can be pulled to tear through the panel of the resealable enclosure to provide access to the zipper assembly inside the enclosure. The tear strip can have a larger thickness than the flange between the panel side and the facing side of the flange.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A zipper assembly for a resealable enclosure, the zipper assembly comprising:
 an elongated flange having opposite first and second sides, at least one of the first side or the second configured to be coupled with an inner surface of a panel of the resealable enclosure, the flange including protruding rails that outwardly project from the first side or the second side of the flange;   an interlocking element protruding from the flange, the interlocking element shaped to mate with another interlocking element of another flange to close the enclosure and shaped to be pulled apart to open the enclosure; and   a tear strip between the protruding rails, the tear strip configured to be pulled to tear through the panel of the resealable enclosure to provide access to the zipper assembly inside the enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The zipper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding rails project from the first side of the flange that is configured to be coupled with the inner surface of the panel of the resealable enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The zipper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding rails and the interlocking element project from the second side of the flange. 
     
     
         4 . The zipper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding rails project from both the first side and from the second side of the flange. 
     
     
         5 . The zipper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tear strip is thinner than the protruding rails of the flange. 
     
     
         6 . The zipper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tear strip and the protruding rails of the flange have an equivalent thickness. 
     
     
         7 . The zipper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding rails include one or more surfaces that are oriented at an acute angle relative to the panel side of the flange. 
     
     
         8 . The zipper assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more surfaces include a first angled surface extending from an upper edge of the tear strip to an upper edge of the flange and at least a second angled surface extending from a lower edge of the tear strip toward the interlocking element. 
     
     
         9 . The zipper assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the flange is tapered in shape in the protruding rails such that the flange is thinner at the upper edge of the tear strip and at the lower edge of the tear strip than at the upper edge of the flange or in a location between the interlocking element and the lower edge of the tear strip. 
     
     
         10 . The zipper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flange includes gaps located (a) between the protruding rails and (b) between opposite edges of the tear strip and the flange, the gaps filled with a peel seal material. 
     
     
         11 . The zipper assembly of  claim 10 , wherein outer surfaces of the protruding rails include an outer layer formed from a same material as the tear strip. 
     
     
         12 . A zipper assembly for a resealable enclosure, the zipper assembly comprising:
 an elongated flange having a first side and an opposite second side, at least one of the first side or the second side configured to be coupled with an inner surface of a panel of the resealable enclosure;   an interlocking element protruding from the flange, the interlocking element shaped to mate with another interlocking element of another flange to close the enclosure and shaped to be pulled apart to open the enclosure; and   a tear strip configured to be pulled to tear through the panel of the resealable enclosure to provide access to the zipper assembly inside the enclosure, the tear strip located between opposing edges of the flange with gaps between each of the opposite edges and the tear strip.   
     
     
         13 . The zipper assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the flange includes a recess with an interconnecting web extending across the recess from one of the opposing edges of the flange to another of the opposing edges of the flange. 
     
     
         14 . The zipper assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the flange includes flange portions on opposite sides of the tear strip that are spaced apart from the opposing edges of the flange by the gaps. 
     
     
         15 . The zipper assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising peel seal material in the gaps. 
     
     
         16 . A zipper assembly for a resealable enclosure, the zipper assembly comprising:
 an elongated flange configured to be coupled with an inner surface of a panel of the resealable enclosure;   an interlocking element protruding from the flange, the interlocking element shaped to mate with another interlocking element of another flange to close the enclosure and shaped to be pulled apart to open the enclosure;   a first tear strip coupled with the flange, the tear strip configured to be pulled to tear through the panel of the resealable enclosure to provide access to the zipper assembly inside the enclosure; and   a second tear strip coupled with the flange with the first tear strip between the second tear strip and the interlocking element.   
     
     
         17 . The zipper assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the second tear strip is configured to limit pulling of the first tear strip from tearing the flange to an upper edge of the flange. 
     
     
         18 . The zipper assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a third tear strip coupled with the flange between the first tear strip and the interlocking element. 
     
     
         19 . The zipper assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the third tear strip is configured to limit pulling of the first tear strip from tearing the flange to the interlocking element. 
     
     
         20 . The zipper assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the flange includes a panel side configured to be coupled with the inner surface of the panel, the panel side of the flange including elongated ribs of an adhesive material that adhere the flange to the inner surface of the panel.