Closure system for pouch or container

Abstract

A container made entirely from an elastomer includes a body with a front wall and a rear wall that is connected to the front wall along a peripheral edge. The container further includes a closure system comprising a front side having a male closure profile that includes a male closure element and a rear side having a female closure profile. The female closure profile includes a female closure element and defines a cavity. A centerline extends through the cavity such that the female closure element is symmetrical about the centerline. The male closure element includes a head portion that has a primary profile and a secondary profile that extends from the primary profile. A height of the secondary profile measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the centerline is greater than a height of the primary profile measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the centerline.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A container or pouch, comprising:
 a body; and   a closure system, comprising:
 a front side having a male closure profile that includes a male closure element; and 
 a rear side having a female closure profile that includes a female closure element and defines a cavity, 
 wherein a centerline extends through the cavity such that the female closure element is symmetrical about the centerline, 
   wherein the male closure element includes a head portion that has a primary profile and a non-continuous, secondary profile that extends from the primary profile, and   wherein the secondary profile comprises an outward face that is defined by a first vertical plane that extends in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline, an inward face that is defined by a second vertical plane that is parallel with respect to the first vertical plane, and side faces that extend between the outward face and the inward face.   
     
     
         2 . The container or pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the secondary profile measured in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline is greater than a height of the cavity measured in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline. 
     
     
         3 . The container or pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the secondary profile measured in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline is greater than a height of the primary profile measured in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline. 
     
     
         4 . The container or pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the height of the secondary profile is between 125% and 300% of the height of the primary profile. 
     
     
         5 . The container or pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the primary profile measured in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline is greater than a height of the secondary profile measured in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline. 
     
     
         6 . The container or pouch of  claim 5 , wherein the height of the secondary profile is between 50% and 80% of the height of the primary profile. 
     
     
         7 . The container or pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the primary profile defines an outer corner, and
 wherein the first vertical plane extends through an outermost point of the primary profile defined along the outer corner.   
     
     
         8 . The container or pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the male closure element further comprises a base region and a stem that extends between the base region and the head portion, and
 wherein the primary profile, the secondary profile, the stem, and the base region are molded together to form a unitary component.   
     
     
         9 . A container or pouch, comprising:
 a body; and   a closure system, comprising:
 a male closure profile that includes a male closure element; and 
 a female closure profile that includes a female closure element and defines a cavity, 
 wherein a centerline extends through the cavity, 
   wherein the male closure element includes a head portion that has a primary profile and a non-continuous, secondary profile that extends from the primary profile, and   wherein a height of the secondary profile measured in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline is greater than a height of the cavity measured in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline.   
     
     
         10 . The container or pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary profile comprises an outward face that is defined by a first vertical plane that extends in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline, an inward face that is defined by a second vertical plane that is parallel with respect to the first vertical plane, and side faces that extend between the outward face and the inward face. 
     
     
         11 . The container or pouch of  claim 10 , wherein, the side faces extend in a direction that is parallel with respect to the centerline. 
     
     
         12 . The container or pouch of  claim 10 , wherein the side faces curve inward toward the centerline as the side faces extend from the inward face to the outward face. 
     
     
         13 . The container or pouch of  claim 12 , wherein the primary profile defines inner corners, and
 wherein the side faces extend past the inner corners of the primary profile and intersect the inward face to define oversized inner corners of the secondary profile.   
     
     
         14 . The container or pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the height of the secondary profile is between 125% and 200% of the height of the cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The container or pouch of  claim 9 , wherein a maximum thickness of the secondary profile measured in a direction that is parallel with respect to the centerline is less than a maximum thickness of the primary profile measured in a direction that is parallel with respect to the centerline. 
     
     
         16 . A container or pouch, comprising:
 a body; and   a closure system, comprising:
 a male closure profile that includes a male closure element; and 
 a rear side having a female closure profile that includes a female closure element and defines a cavity, 
 wherein a centerline extends through the cavity, 
   wherein the male closure element includes a head portion that has a primary profile and a non-continuous, secondary profile that extends from the primary profile,   wherein a maximum thickness of the secondary profile measured in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline is less than a maximum thickness of the primary profile measured in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline.   
     
     
         17 . The container or pouch of  claim 16 , wherein the maximum thickness of the secondary profile is between 10% and 60% of the maximum thickness of the primary profile. 
     
     
         18 . The container or pouch of  claim 16 , wherein the secondary profile comprises an outward face that is defined by a first vertical plane that extends in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline, an inward face that is defined by a second vertical plane that is parallel with respect to the first vertical plane, and side faces that extend between the outward face and the inward face. 
     
     
         19 . The container or pouch of  claim 16 , wherein a height of the secondary profile measured in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline is greater than a height of the cavity measured in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to the centerline. 
     
     
         20 . The container or pouch of  claim 16 , wherein the female closure element is symmetrical about the centerline.