Linear fastener

Abstract

The present invention relates to improvements for tactile guidance for closing a linear fastener. Such fasteners are known for use on reclosable storage bags. Disclosed is a fastener assembly comprising first and second opposing flanges. Each flange can have linear male and female closure elements that interlock with matching male and female elements of the second flange. The fastener assembly can further comprise a linear arrangement of perforations between the closure elements to provide enhanced tactile feedback while the fastener is closed.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A fastener, comprising:
 a first flange and an opposing second flange,   first male and female closure elements extending distally from a first surface of the first flange,   a first closure gap between the first male and female closure elements,   second male and female closure elements extending distally from a first surface of the second flange,   the first male closure element interlocking with the second female closure element,   the first female closure element interlocking with the second male closure element, and   a plurality of perforations arranged within the first closure gap.   
     
     
         2 . The fastener of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the first flange extending from a first end to a second end,   the first male and female closure elements extending between the first and second ends of the first flange, and   the plurality of perforations extending between the first and second ends of the first flange.   
     
     
         3 . The fastener of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the plurality of perforations arranged along a single line.   
     
     
         4 . The plurality of perforations of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first perforation of the plurality of perforations proximate to the first end of the first flange,   a last perforation of the plurality of perforations proximate to the second end of the first flange, and   one or more central perforations of the plurality of perforations located between the first and last perforations.   
     
     
         5 . The fastener of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 the one or more central perforations larger than the first and last perforations.   
     
     
         6 . The fastener of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 the first and last perforations larger than the one or more central perforations.   
     
     
         7 . The fastener of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a plurality of first side perforations of the plurality of perforations distributed between the first perforation and the one or more central perforations, and   a plurality of second side perforations of the plurality of perforations distributed between the last perforation and the one or more central perforations,   a plurality of first side perforation gaps comprising gaps between adjacent perforations of the plurality of first side perforations, and   a plurality of second side perforation gaps comprising gaps between adjacent perforations of the plurality of second side perforations.   
     
     
         8 . The fastener of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 each of the plurality of first side perforation gaps increasing as the gaps move further away from the first side perforation and towards the one or more central perforations, and   each of the plurality of second side perforation gaps increasing as the gaps move further away from the last side perforation and towards the one or more central perforations.   
     
     
         9 . The fastener of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 each of the plurality of first side perforation gaps decreasing as the gaps move further away from the first side perforation and towards the one or more central perforations, and   each of the plurality of second side perforation gaps decreasing as the gaps move further away from the last side perforation and towards the one or more central perforations.   
     
     
         10 . The fastener of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 each of the plurality of first side perforations increasing in size as the perforations move away from the first side perforation and towards the one or more central perforations, and   each of the plurality of second side perforations increasing in size as the perforations move away from the last side perforation and towards the one or more central perforations.   
     
     
         11 . The fastener of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 each of the plurality of first side perforations decreasing in size as the perforations move further away from the first side perforation and towards the one or more central perforations, and   each of the plurality of second side perforations decreasing in size as the perforations move further away from the last side perforation and towards the one or more central perforations.   
     
     
         12 . The fastener of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second surface of the first flange curving inwards about an individual perforation of the plurality of perforations.   
     
     
         13 . The fastener of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first surface of the first flange having an annular shaped wall surrounding an individual perforation of the plurality of perforations.   
     
     
         14 . A fastener, comprising:
 a first flange and an opposing second flange,   first male and female closure elements extending distally from a first surface of the first flange,   a first closure gap between the first male and female closure elements,   second male and female closure elements extending distally from a first surface of the second flange,   the first male closure element interlocking with the second female closure element,   the first female closure element interlocking with the second male closure element,   a plurality of perforations arranged within the first closure gap, and   the plurality of perforations varying in size.   
     
     
         15 . The fastener of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a plurality of perforation gaps comprising gaps between adjacent perforations of the plurality of perforations, and   the plurality of perforation gaps varying in size.   
     
     
         16 . The fastener of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 one or more central perforations of the plurality of perforations located between opposing first and second ends of the first flange,   a plurality of first side perforations of the plurality of perforations distributed between the first end of the first flange and the one or more central perforations, and   the plurality of first side perforations varying in size from the one or more central perforations.   
     
     
         17 . The fastener of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first perforation of the plurality of first side perforations proximate to a first end of the first flange,   a last perforation of the plurality of perforations proximate to a second end of the first flange,   one or more central perforations of the plurality of perforations located between the first and last perforations,   a plurality of first side perforations of the plurality of perforations distributed between the first perforation and the one or more central perforations, and   the plurality of first side perforations increasing in size as the perforations move further away from the first side perforation and towards the one or more central perforations.   
     
     
         18 . A fastener, comprising:
 a first flange and an opposing second flange,   first male and female closure elements extending distally from a first surface of the first flange,   a first closure gap between the first male and female closure elements,   second male and female closure elements extending distally from a first surface of the second flange,   the first male closure element interlocking with the second female closure element,   the first female closure element interlocking with the second male closure element,   a plurality of perforations arranged within the first closure gap,   a plurality of perforation gaps comprising gaps between adjacent perforations of the plurality of perforations, and   the plurality of perforation gaps varying in size.   
     
     
         19 . The fastener of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 the plurality of perforations varying in size.   
     
     
         20 . The fastener of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first perforation of the plurality of perforations proximate to the first end of the first flange,   a last perforation of the plurality of perforations proximate to the second end of the first flange,   one or more central perforations of the plurality of perforations between the first and last perforations,   a plurality of first side perforations of the plurality of perforations distributed between the first perforation and the one or more central perforations, and   the plurality of first side perforations increasing in size as the perforations move away from the first side perforation.