Zipper profile with improved leak resistance

Abstract

A bag for containing at least one of liquid and solid items therein. The bag has releasable closures for opening and closing the bag. The closures are constructed to resist leakage from the bag.

1 . A bag for containing at least one of liquid and solid items, the bag comprising:
 a first sheet of flexible material having an exterior surface and an interior surface;   a second sheet of flexible material having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surfaces of the first and second sheets being generally opposed to each other in an interior of the bag and the exterior surfaces of the first and second sheets facing away from the interior of the bag, the first and second flexible sheets being connected to form an enclosed space, and being unconnected along an end of the bag to form an opening at a first edge of the bag;   a male closure member mounted on the interior surface of the first sheet proximate the opening and having a height extending away from the interior surface of the first sheet;   a female closure member mounted on the interior surface of the second sheet, the female closure member being arranged opposite the male closure member and the male and female closure members being constructed to repeatedly matingly engage each other to close the opening of the bag and to releasably disengage each other to open the opening of the bag, the female closure member comprising a first arm and a second arm extending along a length of the female closure member and defining a space for receiving the male closure member; and   a stabilizer on the interior surface of the first sheet in a proximate the male closure member, the stabilizer having a height extending away from the interior surface that is less than the height of the male closure member, the stabilizer being arranged in closely spaced relationship to the first arm of the female closure member when the male and female closure members are engaged to close the opening and to engage the first arm of the female closure to limit deflection of the male and female closure members.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer has a height which is less than one half the height of the male closure member. 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer includes a base proximate the interior surface of the first sheet of flexible material and an upper portion extending away from the base and the interior surface of the first sheet of flexible material. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 3 , wherein the upper portion tapers from the base to a distal end of the stabilizer. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 4 , wherein the stabilizer is elongate and extends along a width of the bag. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is spaced from the male closure member a distance sufficient to permit an end portion of the first arm of the female closure member to pass between the male closure member and the stabilizer. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 6 , wherein the stabilizer is connected to the male closure member. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 6 , wherein the end portion of the first arm of the female closure member is shaped differently from an end portion of the second arm of the female closure member. 
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second arms of the female closure member includes a base portion extending from the corresponding end portion of the respective first or second arm, each end portion intersecting its corresponding base portion to form an elbow on a side of the respective first or second arm that is located on an interior of the female closure member. 
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 9 , wherein an angle between the end portion and the base portion of the first arm of the female closure member at the elbow makes and angle of 90°or less, and an angle between the end portion and the base portion of the second arm of the female closure member at the elbow makes an angle of greater than 90°. 
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 8 , wherein the first arm comprises a height extending from the interior surface of the second sheet to the end portion of the first arm, and the second arm comprises a height extending form the interior surface of the second sheet to the end portion of the second arm, and wherein the height of the second arm is greater than the height of the first arm. 
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 10 , wherein the base portions of the first and second arms of the female closure member are connected together at ends of the base portions opposite the end portions of the first and second arms. 
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 8 , wherein the male closure member comprises a base, a stem extending up from the base and a head that is wider than the stem. 
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein an intersection of the stem and the head on a side of the male closure member closer to the stabilizer is shaped differently than an intersection between the stem and the head on a side of the male closure member that is farther away from the stabilizer. 
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 14 , wherein the intersection of the stem and the head on the side of the male closure member closer to the stabilizer makes an angle of less than 90°. 
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 15 , wherein the intersection of the stem and the head on the side of the male closure member that is farther away from the stabilizer makes and angle greater than 90°. 
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein the head comprises a first arcuate section, a second arcuate section, and peak arcuate section spaced apart a long a width of head, the first and second arcuate sections extending from the stem to the peak arcuate section. 
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 17 , wherein a radius of curvature of the first arcuate section is less than a radius of curvature of the second arcuate section, and a radius of curvature of the peak arcuate section is less than the radius of the first arcuate section and the radius of the second arcuate section.