AU2003246004A1 - Reclose bag and slider therefor - Google Patents

Description

-1- P/00/0011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: CHEQUER CORPORATION LIMITED RODNEY ERNEST SULLIVAN Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: Newnham Co Level 1, 425-429 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest PO Box 1325, Crows Nest New South Wales 2065, Australia Ph: 0064-27-231 6702 Fax: 0064-9-413 8175 RECLOSE BAG AND SLIDER

THEREFOR

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Pauapp.doc NI430au.doc 2 This invention relates to reclose plastic bags having an associated slider to execute the opening and closing of the reclose elements.

Many plastic bags having one, two or more pairs of inter-engagable reclose elements extending across the mouth are known. Where more than pair of reclose elements are provided these are positioned adjacently one above the other. Also often a slider is assembled therewith to execute the opening and closing of the reclose elements. Typically the sliders incorporate a depending separator finger that is disposed between the reclose elements to force them apart as the slider is slid along the reclose elements in an "opening" direction. In the opposing "closing" direction the slider forces the reclose elements together. This is normally achieved by side mounted runners on the slider laterally impinging onto the reclose elements and forcing them to interlock with one another.

A problem can be that the presents of the separator finger between the reclose elements prevents closure of the reclose elements along there full length and consequently the bag is not "leak proof". Attempts have been proposed to overcome this limitation by providing a cut-out or similar rebate feature at one "closed" end of the reclose elements to form a parking station for the slider in a fully closed position. Another form is where more than one reclose element is involved; the length the separator finger depends is limited to stop short of the lowermost pair of reclose elements enabling it to close along its full length. Such approaches have drawbacks and an intention of this invention is to provide an alternative reclose elements with slider structure which it is envisaged will at least provide a useful choice.

According to a first embodiment of this invention there is provided a reclose bag broadly comprising an opening sealable by at least one pair of laterally projecting inter-engagable N1430au.doc 3 reclose elements set down from the bag opening and also from at least one adjacently above pair of corresponding projecting non-engagable release elements whereby by insertion of a wedging apart separator between the release elements and the longitudinal sliding of the separator therealong the release elements can be forced laterally outward of one another and in so doing prising apart the reclose elements.

According to a second embodiment of this invention there is provided a reclose bag as described in the preceding paragraph in combination with a slider adapted to straddle the bag opening and the release and reclose elements to execute the opening and closing of the bag, the slider incorporating a longitudinally disposed wedging apart separator finger depending therefrom to be disposed between the release elements but terminating clear of the reclose elements.

According to third embodiment of this invention there is provided a slider for a reclose bag as described in either of the two immediately preceding paragraphs broadly comprising a body with a central bridge section and depending side walls adapted to straddle the bag opening and the release and reclose elements to execute the opening and closing of the bag and incorporating a longitudinally wedge shaped separator finger depending downward of the bridge section, whereby with the operative straddle mounting of the slider to a bag the separator is disposed between the release elements but terminates short of the reclose elements.

In further describing the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment wherein: Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view on line A-A on Fig 3 and NI 430au doc 4 Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line B-B on Fig 3, and Fig. 3 is a fragmented side view of a reclose bag with an associated slider.

A plastics bag 1 is manufactured in conventional manner either with or without reclose elements 2 being integrally moulded therewith. In this preferred embodiment the reclose elements 2 are moulded as part of an "add-on" strip 3 fixed to the bag 1 in known manner.

Also, non-engaging release elements 4, as described in more detail below, are moulded with the reclose elements 2 as integral features of the strip 3.

Preferably one pair of laterally projecting inter-engagable reclose elements 2 are provided together with two pair of release elements 4. As described in more detail below, the composition of the plastics strip 3 is selected to provide sufficient rigidity to impart a lateral separating "opening" force applied from a slider 5 to the release elements 4 through to the reclose elements 2. In known manner, slider attachment rails 6 are provided on the bag 1 either, as depicted, as an integral element of the bag 1 or as "add-on" strips.

The release elements 4 are provided adjacently above the reclose elements 2, the release elements 4 also projecting laterally inward from the inside face of the bag 1 sides. Preferably the release elements 4 are disposed adjacently one above the other. The release elements 4 of each pair thereof are preferably disposed in lateral alignment and preferably terminate adjacently short of one another centrally between the bag I sides. This provides a small space or gap to receive a separator finger 7 therebetween. It may be that the release elements 4 buttup against one another or are even laterally off-set with one side being above the other and of sufficient length to marginally overlap. In such cases, the insertion of the separator finger 7 N143,0odoc therebetween will create its own gap or space by flexing the release elements 4 laterally outward.

The slider 5 is provided to mount on the bag 1 and combine with the reclose 2 and release elements 4 to execute the opening and closing of the bag 1. Preferably the slider 5 is moulded from suitable plastics material and comprises a central bridge section 5a with depending side walls 5b. The slider 5 straddles the bag 1 opening including the release 4 and reclose elements 2. Runners 5c at the lower ends of the wall 5b snap-fit over the rails 6 to guide the slider therealong.

The separator finger 7 is carried by the slider 5, the separator finger 7 preferably being moulded integrally therewith. The separator finger 7 depends centrally downward of the bridge section 5a as will penetrate between the release elements 4 but not the reclose elements 2 when the slider 5 is mounted as aforesaid on the bag 1. The separator finger 7 is preferably longitudinally wedged shaped being narrower at a front end, relative to an opening action of the slider, thereof than a rear end thereof. Referring to Figs 1 and 2, Fig 1 depicts the release elements 4 being impinged upon by the narrower end section of the separator finger 7 and Fig.

2 by the wider end section thereof. Referring in particular to Fig. 3, as the slider 5 is moved in a bag opening direction along the bag 1 top the separator finger 7 will cause a wedging apart action on the release elements 4. This wedging action is depicted by the different modes of the release 4 and reclose 2 elements shown in Figs. I and 2. More particularly as depicted in Fig.

2, this wedging action is sufficient to impart a prising or plough-like action to the reclose elements 2 causing them to disengage. Opening of the bag I is thus executed. In an alternative form (not depicted) the separator finger 7 is parallel side and disposed at an angle to N1430au.doc 6 its intended line of travel to provide a similar ploughing apart action to the release 4 and reclose 2 elements.

As aforesaid, the laterally runners 5c at the lower ends of the sides 5b fit over the slider rail 6 to mount the slider 5 to the bag 1. In the "closing" direction of the slider 5 the spacing between the walls 5b together with the clip-on gripping provided by the runners 5a impinge the walls of the bag I and the reclose elements 2 forcing them toward one another and re-engaging the reclose elements 2. Also, at the "closed" end of the bag 1 the reclose elements 2 but not the release elements 4 are fused, as at 8, together preventing them being prised apart by the separator finger 7. Thus the slider 5 can be parked in the closed position bridging the fused section 8 with the associated separation of the release elements 4 not affecting an opening of the reclose elements 2.

Claims (9)

1. A reclose bag comprising an opening sealable by at least one pair of laterally projecting inter-engagable reclose elements set down from the bag opening and also from at least one adjacently above pair of corresponding projecting non-engagable release elements whereby by insertion of a wedging apart separator between the release elements and the longitudinal sliding of the separator therealong the release elements can be forced laterally outward of one another and in so doing prising apart the reclose elements.

2. A reclose bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein one only pair of reclose elements and two pair of adjacently spaced apart release elements are provided.

3. A reclose bag as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the release elements of a pair of release elements terminate short of one another to form a separator receivable gap therebetween.

4. A reclose bag as claimed in any one of the three preceding claims in combination with a slider adapted to straddle the bag opening and the release and reclose elements to execute the opening and closing of the bag, the slider incorporating a longitudinally disposed wedging apart separator finger depending therefrom to be disposed between the release elements but terminating clear of the reclose elements. A reclose bag in combination with a slider as claimed in claim 4 wherein the separator finger is longitudinally tapered, being narrower at a front end, relative to an opening action of the slider, thereof than a rear end thereof.

Ni430au doe 8

6. A slider for a reclose bag as claimed in any one of the claims 1-3 inclusive comprising a body with a central bridge section and depending side walls adapted to straddle the bag opening and the release and reclose elements to execute the opening and closing of the bag and incorporating a longitudinally wedge shaped separator finger depending downward of the bridge section, whereby with the operative straddle mounting of the slider to a bag the separator is disposed between the release elements but terminates short of the reclose elements.

7. A reclose strip for a plastic bag comprising at least one laterally projecting reclose element and at least one adjacent and corresponding projecting non-engagable release element.

8. A reclose bag substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A slider for a reclose bag substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A reclose strip for a plastic bag substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. CHEQU RPORATION LIMITED By their attorneys NEWNHAM CO