EP3064445A1 - Limitation de l'accès à une structure qui est ouverte et fermée au moyen d'une fermeture à glissière en plastique - Google Patents

Limitation de l'accès à une structure qui est ouverte et fermée au moyen d'une fermeture à glissière en plastique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3064445A1
EP3064445A1 EP16159011.2A EP16159011A EP3064445A1 EP 3064445 A1 EP3064445 A1 EP 3064445A1 EP 16159011 A EP16159011 A EP 16159011A EP 3064445 A1 EP3064445 A1 EP 3064445A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coupler
slider
zipper
package
cover
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP16159011.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Robert C. Reinders
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US14/732,019 external-priority patent/US20160257448A1/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP3064445A1 publication Critical patent/EP3064445A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
    • B65D33/16—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices
    • B65D33/25—Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners
    • B65D33/2508—Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2215/00—Child-proof means
    • B65D2215/02—Child-proof means requiring the combination of simultaneous actions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2215/00—Child-proof means
    • B65D2215/04—Child-proof means requiring the combination of different actions in succession
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2215/00—Child-proof means
    • B65D2215/06—Child-proof means based on the difference in size between children's and adults' hands

Definitions

  • This invention pertains to zippers, and especially to plastic zippers which are used to control access, to open and close, e.g. plastic bags or other packaging structures, thus temporarily closing off access, and also allowing access, as appropriate, to the contents of the package. Access to contents of the bag is prevented when the zipper is closed, and access to contents of the bag is enabled when the zipper is open.
  • the invention can pertain to any use of slider-based plastic zippers which control access to contents of a package or other container, or other controlled-access space.
  • the zipper elements may be disposed inside a closed compartment of the container/bag/package, and a second closure/seal, intended to be a single-use closure/seal, is used in addition to the re-closable, re-openable closure/seal affected by the zipper, thus closing in the entirety of the zipper within the space enclosed inside the bag.
  • a second closure/seal intended to be a single-use closure/seal
  • the re-closable zipper is subsequently used to provide temporary and re-closable access, namely intermittent access, to the contents of the container/package/bag while otherwise sealing the container/package/bag, for example to preserve freshness and/or quality of the product contained within the container/package/bag.
  • the zipper is defined by first and second facing interlocking rails on facing or overlapping panels of the plastic bag e.g. while the bag is being fabricated.
  • interlocking rails are in facing relationship with each other, typically at the top of the bag.
  • interlocking rails extend the full respective dimension, for example the width or the length, of the bag.
  • the user presses and holds the interlocking rails against each other, and advances that held pressure along the length of the interlocking rails, namely across the width, or the length, of the bag, whereby the interlocking rails are pressed into a locking engagement with each other along the length of the zipper, thus to seal closed the facing interlocking rails of the zipper at the facing panels.
  • plastic zippers have now come into commercial use in combination with a variety of products which are packaged in flexible plastic packaging, for example various types of food, whether sold through grocery stores or convenience stores or as ready-to-eat products/food sold through e.g. a restaurant, a café, or the like.
  • the slider engages both of the interlocking rails, performing the tasks of keeping the interlocking rails properly aligned with each other, and applying the appropriate interface and/or pressure between the facing interlocking rails, progressively along the length of the zipper as the slider is moved along the length of the zipper, whereby the facing interlocking rails are progressively sealed closed against each other, thus progressively sealing the bag closed at the zipper as the slider progresses along the length of the zipper.
  • closure/seal prevents access to the contents of the bag so long as the zipper remains closed/sealed, as well as preventing spillage or leakage of the contents from the bag.
  • slider-based plastic zippers provide the ability to seal the bag closed, then reopen/unseal the bag. Such bag can be sealed, and re-opened, a plurality of times using a single slider on such plastic zipper.
  • the zipper consists only of the facing interlocking rails, or includes a slider as a separate element, either way, the process of opening the zipper and accessing the contents of the bag is easy enough that a child, or other unauthorized individual, has the ability and/or strength to open the bag and access the contents of the bag.
  • a slider-based zipper can be used on facing flexible plastic panels where the flexible plastic panels are mounted to one or more other elements of the package/container structure which are generally considered to be inflexible.
  • facing flexible plastic panels may be mounted to hard plastic, plastic or other flexible laminate, or cardboard, or corrugated board, or natural or manufactured wood products, or metal portions of a container/package, optionally functioning as flexible extensions of such elements.
  • Such embodiments encounter the same challenges as mentioned above, relating to interlocking rail alignment, closing pressure, and preventing unauthorized access to the product contained in such package/container.
  • an access-controlling mechanism for example and without limitation, a locking mechanism, for use at the zipper on a plastic bag.
  • access-controlling mechanism as a locking mechanism for use on a container/receptacle/package/bag which uses a plastic zipper with a slider to close, and to then re-open, such container, at will, in order to deny unauthorized access to the contents of the container such as to a child or other physically or mentally or otherwise developmentally-challenged/disabled individual, while also allowing, enabling access to authorized individuals.
  • Such mechanism should desirably make it difficult, preferably impossible, for a child or other physically or mentally-challenged user to open the bag or other container, thus to gain access to the contents of the bag, through the zipper, while allowing access to an authorized user.
  • This invention provides an access-controlling, access-limiting, mechanism, namely an access-limiting structure, for limiting access to a container, a package, a bag, or other receptacle or space through an opening which is closed, and re-opened, optionally controlling access, multiple times each direction, by a plastic zipper where the zipper is opened and closed by use of a slider. Access is controlled by moving a slider back and forth along a plastic zipper, opening and closing the container.
  • the access-limiting mechanism includes, in addition to the slider, a coupler. The coupler can stay fixed, immovable, at a given location, relative to the zipper; or can be moved along the length of the zipper.
  • the slider and coupler are coupled to each other, reversibly limiting the ability of the slider to open the zipper. Access can be further limited by adding a second control mechanism such as a cover, optionally a latching cover, which reversibly overlies one or both of the slider and the coupler.
  • a second control mechanism such as a cover, optionally a latching cover, which reversibly overlies one or both of the slider and the coupler.
  • the slider and coupler and, as applies, the cover are released from respective coupling arrangements, whereupon the slider and coupler can be moved away from each other thereby opening some or all of the length of the zipper, and correspondingly opening the container to the extent the zipper has been opened.
  • the invention provides, for example, an obstructing device, such as a lock, which impedes, optionally prevents, unauthorized individuals from sliding the slider away from the coupler to thus open the container and access the contents of the container.
  • an obstructing device such as a lock
  • the invention provides, as an access-controlling, access-limiting mechanism, a lock structure which locks the slider to the coupler, the coupler being mounted on a substrate, such as a plastic bag, on which the slider is operative.
  • the first piece of the access-limiting structure is the slider, itself, which has several of the same features as a conventional slider on a slider-based plastic zipper.
  • the user moves the slider back and forth along the length of the zipper, thereby opening and closing the zipper as the slider is moved, and thereby opening and closing the e.g. plastic bag in accord with a given position of the slider along the length of the zipper.
  • the second piece of the access-limiting structure is the coupler which, in some embodiments, stays fixed, immovable, at a given location, relative to the zipper e.g. at one side of the bag and, in some embodiments, straddles the elongate interlocking rails which extend along the length of the zipper.
  • the slider is slid back and forth on the interlocking rails along the length of the zipper, opening or closing the zipper as the slider moves each direction and correspondingly opening or closing access to the contents which may be inside such container/package/bag, depending on which direction the slider is being moved.
  • the invention limits, and in some embodiments, completely controls, a potential user's ability to slide the slider.
  • the slider and/or coupler collectively have cooperating access-controlling, at least access-limiting, elements, e.g. male and female locking elements, which provide a locking function, or other access-limiting function, for example some obstruction, which functions to limit/control a potential user's ability to move/slide the slider and coupler away from each other.
  • access may be controlled/limited by cooperating elements on the slider and coupler, which can be locked to each other.
  • access may be controlled by an obstructing element which obstructs access to a user's ability to slide the slider away from the coupler.
  • Access may be controlled by a combination of locking elements and obstructing elements.
  • Access may be controlled by multiple locks such that more than one access-limiting lock must be released in order to move/slide the slider and coupler away from each other.
  • the number of access-limiting barriers, and the level of sophistication of the access-limiting barriers are designed and configured to deny, or at least limit, access to the types of unauthorized individuals who are most capable of circumventing access-limiting barriers. Typically, less capable unauthorized individuals will inherently be unable to circumvent such access-limiting barriers/elements.
  • the engagement of the locking elements occurs automatically as part of the male and female locking elements being aligned with each other as the respective locking elements come into close proximity or engagement with each other as the slider and the coupler approach each other.
  • the slider When the slider is locked to the coupler, the slider cannot be freely slid away from the coupler to thereby open the zipper, whereby primary access to opening of the bag, and corresponding accessing of the contents of the bag, is prevented. Rather, first the lock must be released/unlocked/de-coupled; and subsequently the slider and coupler can be slid away from each other, along the length of the zipper to open the bag.
  • the male locking element is on the coupler and the female locking receptacle is on the slider.
  • a cover is mounted on one of the slider and the coupler, or optionally on another one of the package elements, such as a wall of the package.
  • the cover can be used to cover the slider, thus obstructing access to the slider; or may be used to cover the release elements, thus to limit access to the release elements which are used to release the slider and the coupler from each other.
  • the cover In order to slide the slider along the length of the zipper and away from the coupler, thus to gain access to the contents of the bag, the cover must first be unlatched as applies, and moved from its covering position; and then the slider can be slid along the length of the zipper thereby to open the zipper, thus to open the container.
  • a second locking mechanism for example associated with the cover, provides a second locking/latching function whereby the slider and the coupler are locked to each other by both first and second locks/latches.
  • both the first and second locking mechanisms must first be released, whereupon the slider can be slid along the zipper and away from the coupler, thereby to open the zipper.
  • the second locking mechanism also covers and/or obstructs access to one or more lock release elements of the first locking mechanism whereby the second locking mechanism acts both as a lock and as an obstructing element or cover; which forces a specific sequence of events wherein the second locking mechanism must be released first in order for an individual to have access to the first locking mechanism.
  • a thwarted attempt to open the second locking mechanism automatically acts to prevent the opening of the first locking mechanism, even if the individual has the knowhow and physical ability to open the first locking mechanism.
  • the invention comprehends apparatus for mounting on a package having a product-receiving compartment, the package further having zipper-type structure for accessing the product-receiving compartment, the package including a first wall having a first edge, a second plastic wall having a second edge, and a zipper, the zipper having a length, and including first and second interlocking rails at respective ones of the first and second edges of the first and second plastic walls, the first and second interlocking rails having lengths.
  • the apparatus comprises a slider having a slider body, the slider body having a slider top, and comprising a slider channel adapted to interface with the interlocking rails, the slider body being adapted to being moved back and forth along the lengths of the interlocking rails whereby interaction between the slider channel and the interlocking rails opens and closes the portions of the interlocking rails over which the slider is moved, thereby opening and closing the respective portions of the zipper; and a coupler, having a coupler body, adapted to be mounted on the package, the coupler having a coupler top, and being adapted to be releasably coupled to the slider body, so as to limit the ability of the slider to open the zipper, thus to limit access to the internal compartment through the zipper while the coupler is coupled to the slider.
  • the apparatus further comprises a cover adapted to being mounted on the package.
  • the slider and the coupler are coupled to each other at a coupling location, and the cover is further adapted to overlie the coupled slider and coupler at the coupling location.
  • the cover is adapted to overlie a full length of one of the coupled slider body and coupler body.
  • the apparatus further comprises a release structure on one of the slider and the coupler, the release structure being operable by a user to release the slider body and the coupler body from being coupled to each other, further comprising a cover adapted to be mounted on the package, optionally on one of the slider body and the coupler body, the cover obstructing access to enough of the release structure to prevent activation of the release structure, to release the slider body and the coupler body from each other while the cover is so obstructing such access, the cover being movable so as to enable access to the release structure, after which the release structure can be actuated to affect release of the slider body and the coupler body from being coupled to each other.
  • the apparatus further comprises an engaging structure which interacts with one of the slider body and the coupler body and thereby releasably latches the cover to the one of the slider body and the coupler body at the engaging structure, such that the latching must be unlatched before the slider body and the coupler body can be released from being coupled to each other.
  • the engaging structure comprises a snap latch
  • the releasable latching comprises a snap-latching of the engaging structure to an element on the respective slider or coupler whereby the snap-latching includes building a force which is quickly released as the latching is engaged.
  • the cover is mounted to one of the slider body and the coupler body.
  • the cover is adapted to being mounted on the package by a plastic hinge, wherein the cover articulates about the hinge in moving into and out of an overlying relationship with at least one of the slider body and the coupler body when the slider body and said coupler body are coupled to each other.
  • the coupler when mounted on the package, is adapted to being held immovable in a fixed location on the package.
  • the coupler body when mounted on a such package, is adapted to being movable back and forth along the interlocking rails whereby interaction between the coupler and the interlocking rails opens and closes the portion of the zipper over which the coupler is moved.
  • the apparatus further comprises a coupler lock structure on the coupler, adapted and configured to interact with at least one other element of the package, thereby to immobilize the coupler at a location along the lengths of the interlocking rails.
  • the coupler lock structure is adapted to releasably immobilize the coupler at such location along the lengths of the interlocking rails.
  • the apparatus comprises a restraining mechanism comprising a male element on one of the slider and the coupler, and a female receptacle on the other of the slider and the coupler.
  • the female receptacle is embodied in the top of one of the slider body and the coupler body, and the male element extends from the other of the slider body and the coupler body.
  • the apparatus further comprises first and second release fingers on the one of the slider and the coupler which is associated with the female receptacle, and wherein the release fingers engage and deflect the male element in affecting the slider and the coupler being released from each other.
  • the coupling of the slider body and the coupler body to each other limits movement of the slider along the lengths of the interlocking rails.
  • the invention comprehends apparatus limiting access to a compartment of a package through a plastic zipper when the apparatus is mounted on such package, the apparatus comprising a slider, having a slider body, the slider body comprising a slider channel adapted to interface with first and second interlocking rails on the package, the slider body being adapted to being moved back and forth along lengths of the interlocking rails whereby interaction between the slider channel and the interlocking rails opens and closes the portion of the zipper over which the slider is moved; a coupler, having a coupler body, the coupler body comprising a coupler channel adapted to interface with the interlocking rails of the zipper, the coupler body being adapted to being moved back and forth along the length of the interlocking rails whereby interaction between the coupler channel and the interlocking rails opens and closes the portion of the zipper over which the coupler is moved; and a restraining mechanism on one of the slider body and the coupler body, the restraining mechanism being designed and configured to
  • the invention comprehends a package having an internal compartment for receiving product thereinto, the package comprising a first wall having a first plastic edge and a second plastic wall having a second plastic edge proximate the first plastic edge, and a zipper, the zipper having a length, and comprising first and second interlocking rails at respective ones of the first and second edges of the first and second plastic walls, wherein interlocking of the rails is actuated by a channel in an actuator which is moved along respective adjacent portions of the lengths of the rails, the zipper comprising access-limiting apparatus wherein the slider operates as a first actuator and the coupler acts as a second actuator, and wherein the slider channel and the coupler channel both, individually and simultaneously, and cooperatively, engage the interlocking rails such that the slider channel opens a length of the interlocking rails as the slider is moved in a left-to-right direction along the length of the zipper and closes a length of the interlocking rails as the slider is moved in a right-to-left direction along
  • the slider and the coupler can be coupled to each other by structure on at least one of the slider body or the coupler body, and wherein the so-coupled structure can be moved along the length of the zipper such that the interlocking rails remain interlocked to each other and the zipper is closed, along the respective lengths of the zipper to the left and right of the coupled slider and coupler.
  • the one of the slider channel or the coupler channel which leads in the direction of movement progressively opens respective portions of the lengths of the interlocking rails as the respective channel engages the rails, and the one of the slider channel or the coupler channel which follows in the direction of such movement, progressively closes the respective portions of the lengths of the interlocking rails as the respective following channel engages the rails.
  • the invention comprehends apparatus limiting access to a compartment of a package through a plastic zipper when mounted on such package, the apparatus comprising a slider, having a slider body, the slider body comprising a slider channel adapted to interface with first and second interlocking rails on the package, the slider body being adapted to being moved back and forth along lengths of the interlocking rails whereby interaction between the slider channel and the interlocking rails opens and closes the portion of the zipper over which the slider is moved; a coupler, having a coupler body adapted to being attached to the package; and a restraining mechanism on one of the slider body and the coupler body, the restraining mechanism being designed and configured to automatically engage structure on the other of the slider body and the coupler body, to thereby couple the slider and the coupler to each other, as at least one of the slider and the coupler is slid along the length of the zipper such that the slider and the coupler come close enough to each other to sufficiently close the zipper as to prevent unauthorized access
  • the apparatus further comprises a cover operative to be mounted on at least one of the slider, the coupler, or the package, thereby to be operative to cover a selected portion of at least one of the slider or the coupler when the slider and the coupler are coupled to each other, thereby to obstruct release of the restraining mechanism and to correspondingly obstruct release of the slider and the coupler from each other.
  • the apparatus further comprises the restraining mechanism also being designed and configured such that, when the slider and the coupler are coupled to each other, the zipper is necessarily sufficiently closed to prevent spillage of solid-state package contents from the package.
  • the apparatus further comprises a male element on one of the slider and the coupler, and a female receptacle on the other of the slider and the coupler, further comprising first and second release fingers on the one of the slider and the coupler which is associated with the female receptacle, and wherein the release fingers engage and deflect the male element in affecting the slider and the coupler being released from each other.
  • the invention comprehends apparatus limiting access to a compartment of a package through a plastic zipper when mounted on the package, the apparatus comprising a slider, having a slider body, the slider body comprising a slider channel adapted to interface with first and second interlocking rails on the package, the slider body being adapted to being moved back and forth along lengths of the interlocking rails whereby interaction between the slider channel and the interlocking rails opens and closes the zipper; a coupler, having a coupler body, the coupler being adapted to being attached to the package; and a restraining mechanism on one of the slider body and the coupler body, the restraining mechanism being designed and configured to engage structure on the other of the slider body and the coupler body, thereby to couple the slider and the coupler to each other such that, in the process of the slider body and the coupler body interacting with each other to so couple the slider and the coupler to each other, an element on at least one of the slider body and the coupler body is resiliently de
  • the restraining mechanism comprises a male engagement element on one of the slider body and the coupler body and a female receptacle in the other of the slider body and the coupler body, and wherein the deflection imposes a maximum deflection stress on the deflected element, and wherein, when the male engagement element and the female receptacle have become full engaged with each other, such maximum deflection stress has been at least partially alleviated.
  • the restraining mechanism comprises a male engagement element extending from one of the slider body and the coupler body toward the other of the slider body and the coupler body, and a female receptacle in the other of the slider body and the coupler body, the male engagement element and the female receptacle being so cooperatively configured that, in the process of the male engagement element and the female receptacle interacting to couple the slider to the coupler, structure of at least one of the male engagement element and the female receptacle is so resiliently deflected.
  • the invention comprehends apparatus limiting access to a compartment of a package through a plastic zipper when mounted on the package, the apparatus comprising a slider comprising a slider channel adapted to interface with first and second interlocking rails on the package, the slider being adapted to being moved back and forth along lengths of the interlocking rails whereby interaction between the slider channel and the interlocking rails opens and closes the zipper; a coupler attached to the package; a first restraining mechanism on one of the slider and the coupler, the first restraining mechanism being designed and configured to engage structure on the other of the slider and the coupler, thereby to couple the slider and the coupler to each other; and a second restraining mechanism, separate and distinct from the first restraining mechanism, on one of the slider and the coupler, the second restraining mechanism being designed and configured to engage structure of the other of the slider and the coupler, thereby to couple the slider and the coupler to each other.
  • the second restraining mechanism couples the slider and the coupler to each other independent of the coupling affected by the first restraining mechanism.
  • the second restraining mechanism couples the slider and the coupler to each other in cooperation with the coupling affected by the first restraining mechanism.
  • FIGURES 1 and 2 show a mechanism 10 for controlling access to a plastic bag 12.
  • Bag 12 has a plastic zipper 14 extending across substantially the full width of the bag at the top of the bag, although only a portion of the bag is shown in FIGURE 1 .
  • Zipper 14 is defined by facing interlocking rails 14a, 14b which extend across the width of the bag.
  • access-controlling mechanism 10 is defined by a two-piece locking mechanism 16.
  • the first piece of locking mechanism 16 is a plastic slider 18, having a length "L” extending along the length of the zipper, and a width "W" transverse to the length of the slider.
  • Slider 18 looks much like a conventional slider on a conventional plastic bag which has a conventional plastic zipper. A user opens and closes the zipper by moving/sliding slider 18 back and forth across the width of the bag.
  • the second piece of the locking mechanism is a plastic coupler 20 which, in the embodiments represented by FIGURES 1 and 2 , stays fixed at a given location relative to bag 12 at one side of the bag, astraddle elongate interlocking rails 14a, 14b.
  • Both slider 18 and coupler 20 are made of relatively resilient plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) whereby certain elements of the slider and the coupler can be designed in cross-section thickness such that parts of the respective such elements are resiliently deflectable, whereby such elements can be moved by moderate force from an unstressed/rest position to a deflected/stressed position and, upon release of such force, the respective element moves generally back toward, optionally substantially to, a previous unstressed position.
  • PVDC polyvinylidene chloride
  • the zipper By sliding the slider in a first direction, the zipper is opened, providing access to contents of the bag. By sliding the slider in the opposite direction, the zipper is closed, thus at least temporarily closing off access to the contents of the bag. Moving the zipper to the full extent possible in either direction either completely closes off access to the bag or opens the bag to the full extent possible, depending on which direction the slider is being moved.
  • a first end 22 of coupler 20 faces a second end 24 of slider 18.
  • Ends 22 and 24 have a restraining mechanism, namely cooperating lock elements 26, e.g. male 26a and female 26b lock elements, which provide a locking function to control, thus to allow or prevent, movement of slider 18 along the length of zipper 14 and away from coupler 20.
  • slider 18 is moved toward, and brought into proximity with, coupler 20. Because both the slider and the coupler are mounted on the interlocking rails, and the respective slider and coupler are cooperatively configured, male lock element 26a on slider 18 is automatically in general alignment with female lock receptacle 26b on coupler 20 and is so designed as to automatically come into engagement with the female lock receptacle 26b on coupler 20 as at least a portion of end 24 of the slider comes into an abutting, or nearly abutting, relationship with end 22 of the coupler, thus locking the slider to the coupler as end 24 of the slider gets close to, optionally abuts, coupler 20.
  • male lock element 26a has first and second lock fingers 28a, 28b, spaced from each other, with facing surfaces of the lock fingers extending parallel to each other, and extending toward coupler 20.
  • Each of lock fingers 28a, 28b has a laterally extending protrusion 30 which extends in the direction of the width "W" of the slider.
  • Female lock receptacle 26b on end 22 of coupler 20 is sized and configured to receive male lock element 26a as slider 18 is moved toward coupler 20, with fingers 28a, 28b experiencing a frictional, resistive engagement with the sides of female lock receptacle 26b as fingers 28a, 28b are received into the female receptacle.
  • leading edges 34a, 34b of lock fingers 28a, 28b engage corresponding left and right side walls of female locking receptacle 26b, imposing a resistive transverse stress on fingers 28a, 28b forcing male lock fingers 28a, 28b to resiliently deflect laterally, transversely toward each other.
  • the magnitude of the deflection of the male lock fingers is enough that such deflection can be readily seen with a naked eye having 20/20 vision, until the lock fingers reach a maximum deflection stress.
  • slider 18 is locked to coupler 20 by the locking of lock fingers 28a, 28b to the coupler at locking receptacle 26b, and a first portion of end 24 of the slider is in abutting relationship with a second portion of end 22 of the coupler.
  • the lower portion of slider 18 has the usual channel structure 40, open at the bottom of the slider, to receive, to engage, and to disengage the respective interlocking rails 14a, 14b of zipper 14 so as to facilitate/enable opening and closing of the zipper as slider 18 is moved back and forth along the length of the zipper.
  • Such channel structures 40 are known in the art.
  • the bottom of coupler 20 also has channel structure 40 for receiving the interlocking rails such that any portion of the interlocking rails which are inside/under the coupler, and which are not permanently sealed to each other, are being held closed, or almost closed, by the coupler.
  • the channel structure 40 of the coupler need not be configured to separate/open the zipper. Nonetheless, the channel structure of the coupler may, if desired, be configured to separate/open the zipper.
  • zipper 14 is opened by moving the slider from left to right, namely away from the coupler, and is closed by moving the slider right to left, toward the coupler. Restated, any portion of the zipper which is to the left of the slider and to the right of the coupler is open while any portion of the zipper which is to the right of the slider is closed. So, to fully close the zipper, the slider is moved the full length of the zipper to the left, up against the coupler as illustrated in FIGURE 2 . Alternatively, to fully open the zipper, the slider is moved as far as possible to the right, away from the coupler.
  • a body 33 of release element 35 is integral with, or mounted to, or otherwise attached to, coupler 20 at or near the end 22 of coupler 20 which faces slider 18.
  • Release fingers 36a, 36b extend away from end 22 of coupler 20, across the top of coupler 20 and are movable relative to the top of coupler 20. Terminal ends 38 of the release fingers overlie a left portion of the top of coupler 20. Ends 38 of release fingers 36a, 36b can be manually squeezed toward each other. Release fingers 36a, 36b, as extending from body 33, are sufficiently rigid that e.g.
  • leading edges 34a, 34b of the lock fingers engage facing surfaces of the release fingers such that, as the release fingers are squeezed toward each other, potentially against latent resilient stresses in the lock fingers, the movement of the release fingers toward each other pushes the lock fingers toward each other such that the distance between lateral protrusions 30 is reduced enough that the lateral protrusions can be retracted through the opening at female lock receptacle 26b, thereby to release the male lock fingers from the female lock receptacle.
  • the transverse vector moves the lock fingers toward each other, thus enabling protrusions 30 to move outwardly past the sidewalls at the lock receptacle opening.
  • the longitudinal vector provides the force which causes the protrusions to, in fact, move longitudinally without further urging or, in the alternative, which enables the user to easily move the slider out of engagement with the coupler along the direction, and with the assistance of, the longitudinal force vector.
  • male lock element 26a can be retracted from female lock receptacle 26b as the ends of the release fingers are squeezed toward each other.
  • the slider With the slider released from coupler 20, the slider can be slid along the length of zipper 14 as easily as in a zipper which does not use a coupler, thus to open the zipper and allow respective access to the contents of the bag.
  • coupler 20 in a fixed, unmoving position, coupled to the body of the bag, and/or to the zipper, in combination with the respective male and female lock elements, provides secure locking of the slider at one side of the bag, ensuring that the zipper remains closed, while providing for release of the lock elements using only manual effort, but effort which does require at least modest finger dexterity, optionally more dexterity than can be exercised by a young child, optionally more dexterity than can be exercised by a typical physically handicapped adult.
  • the invention contemplates a slider and a coupler, where the slider and the coupler collectively embody a two-piece locking mechanism which allows the slider and the coupler to be releasably coupled to each other, thereby to prevent unauthorized access to the contents of the bag. While a male/female lock mechanism of a particular structure is illustrated, the lock mechanism can have any design so long as the lock mechanism releasably couples the slider and the coupler to each other.
  • Factors considered in designing mechanism 10 for controlling, limiting, access to the contents of the package include, without limitation, value of the product to be contained in the package and corresponding potential loss to the owner, the level of danger/risk which the contents of the package pose to an unauthorized user, any legal implications, capacity of contemplated unauthorized users to circumvent and open access-controlling, access-limiting security features, the period of time and the length of time during which unauthorized users may have access to the package, the robustness of the body of the package/bag itself, the use environment, and supervisory and security measures contemplated to be used to secure the environment, to which the package will be exposed, from unauthorized users so that such unauthorized users will not have even short-term access to the bag.
  • a two-piece, male-female lock mechanism such as that illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 , may provide enough control to deter substantially all unauthorized users.
  • an enhanced level of locking/security/deterrence is desirable in order to provide reasonable certainty that access to the contents of the package is in fact limited, controlled, to the extent contemplated as being necessary to achieve the objectives defined for the package.
  • Such usage might be where the contemplated unauthorized user may have greater capabilities, such as, relative to some base line capabilities, relatively greater dexterity, greater intellect, and/or more persistence.
  • Another reason for enhanced lock/security is where the product contained in the bag presents an enhanced level of risk to an unauthorized user, or where the product has enhanced value to the owner or to an authorized user.
  • a simple primary male/female lock system such as that illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 may not provide the level of security necessary to protect the child, whereby a more sophisticated, two-stage locking mechanism, or other enhanced security system, may be desirable/justified.
  • a limit on reasonableness in designing the security system is that the security system typically need not provide more deterrence, to a particular group of unauthorized users, than is provided by the walls/sheets which make up the body of the package/bag, for example the product-holding receptacle, the inner chamber of the package.
  • a lock, closure, or other deterrence which is much more difficult to circumvent than penetrating the walls of the package/bag is not an obvious lock or closure for controlling access through the zipper.
  • a cover 42 also preferably plastic, is shown incorporated into, or mounted on, or otherwise part of, slider 18.
  • Cover 42 is configured to be rotated about hinge 44, over the slider body and over the coupler, thereby to overlie, and cover the primary locking mechanism, namely over the male and female lock element, namely over the coupling location, specifically over abutting ends 22, 24 where the slider and coupler are coupled to each other, and over the release fingers.
  • cover 42 In the rest position of the cover, illustrated in FIGURE 3 , cover 42 extends away from slider 18, and correspondingly extends away from coupler 20.
  • cover 42 acts as a second element, namely in addition to the lock fingers, holding the slider immovably locked to the coupler. Desirably, but not necessarily, more force is required to release, unlock, unlatch the cover from the coupler than can be exerted by the contemplated unauthorized user, e.g. child, of interest.
  • the cover can, in the alternative, be attached by hinge 44 to the coupler rather than to the slider, and is typically molded as a unitary plastic member of the coupler or slider to which the cover is permanently attached.
  • a plastic hinge such as that illustrated in FIGURES 3-5 is sometimes referred to, known as, a living hinge.
  • first and second portions of the cover can be mounted to each of the slider and the coupler whereby the first and second portions collectively cover the release fingers, and collectively lock or latch to the access-limiting mechanism while overlying the release fingers or other coupling location.
  • the cover can be separately mounted to the material of the body/receptacle of the bag/package, itself, separate from any mounting of the coupler or the slider to the bag/package.
  • the cover can be used as a separate element, not attached to the slider, not attached to the coupler, not attached to the package sheet material or any other part of the package.
  • the cover overlies/covers and/or obscures enough of whatever other structure a user needs to access, namely the coupling location or release elements/fingers, in order to release at least one operative locking/latching mechanism; or otherwise limits/controls access to, physically interferes with, such unauthorized access by way of an operative locking/limiting mechanism.
  • the cover will overlie at least half of the length of the e.g. coupler, taken along the direction of the length of the zipper and may overlie the full length of the coupler or slider.
  • FIGURES 3 , 4 , and 5 also show a coupler 20 and a slider 18, including the same male/female locking mechanism as in FIGURES 1 and 2 , and wherein cover 42 is coupled, mounted, or otherwise attached, at a first location on the cover, namely hinge 44, to the right end of the slider.
  • Hinge 44 provides a flexible plastic connection to the slider, where the entire width of the hinge flexes, whereby the cover can be rotated, from its fully open position shown in FIGURE 3 , counterclockwise to the vertical position shown in FIGURE 4 , and thence, or continuously, to the closed position shown in FIGURE 5 .
  • the release fingers With the cover so engaged over the release fingers, the release fingers are at least partially obstructed from view such that the availability, usefulness of the release fingers may not be recognized. Such recognition can be further suppressed, avoided by omitting window 48 in the cover.
  • the access-controlling/limiting mechanism 10 illustrated in FIGURES 3-5 requires two specific action steps in order to open the zipper.
  • the first step is to release, open cover 42, which does include a preliminary sub-step of releasing snap-locked engagement lip 46 from the release fingers.
  • the second step is squeezing the release fingers toward each other to thereby release lock fingers 28a, 28b from coupler 20.
  • the lock fingers are not automatically released from the coupler by force vector "V1"
  • the user pulls the slider away from the coupler while squeezing the release fingers, in an action which requires simultaneous use of both hands - namely a two-handed action.
  • Such requirement for simultaneous use of two hands, in and of itself irrespective of the structure of the access-controlling mechanism, provides an enhanced level of access control to the process of opening the zipper.
  • cover 42 requires a preliminary action step, namely that of releasing the cover, before release fingers 28a, 28b can be accessed and actuated.
  • cover 42 and release fingers 28a, 28b act as cooperating restraining mechanisms, with the common objective of restraining access to the zipper.
  • the cover can be foreshortened and narrower at its remote end such that the end of the cover engages either the inner surfaces 50 of male lock fingers 28a, 28b or the inner surfaces 52 of release fingers 36a, 36b so as to directly engage the lock fingers or the release fingers to prevent/impede either the release fingers from being squeezed toward each other or the lock fingers from being squeezed toward each other.
  • end of cover 42 can engage the rear end of the opening adjacent root 39, thereby independently coupling the slider and the coupler to each other.
  • the cover can as well be mounted to the slider or to the coupler, or to one of the side walls of the bag or other substrate to which the slider controls access, so long as the cover is effective, whether by locking or otherwise, to limit, optionally to prevent, access to whatever structure is responsible for releasing the primary locking elements; or the cover can serve as a second independent restraining mechanism, whereby the primary restraining mechanism 26 and the secondary restraining mechanism, e.g. cover 42, can be released independent of each other.
  • the cover can be a two-part cover where both parts can be attached to the slider, both to the coupler, or one each to the coupler and the slider.
  • a two-part such cover can employ its own secondary restraining mechanism which releasably locks the two parts to each other and/or to the slider or to the coupler, or to walls of the package/bag, when the cover overlies the release fingers or other primary release mechanism, or otherwise obstructs use of the release mechanism.
  • FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate a third embodiment of access-limiting, access-controlling mechanisms 10 of the invention.
  • Male lock element 26a on slider 18 embodies a central, longitudinally-extending shaft 54 extending from main body 62 of the slider.
  • Lock fingers 28a, 28b extend rearwardly, back toward the main body, from the remote end of shaft 54.
  • lock fingers 28a, 28b are compressed, moved toward each other as the male lock element 26a is advanced into the female receptacle on the coupler, and such maximum deflection/compressive stress is released once the ends of lock fingers 28a, 28b move past the side walls of female receptacle 26b on the coupler.
  • cover 42 is attached to the main body 62 of slider 18 by a plastic hinge 44, sometimes referred to as a "living" hinge.
  • cover 42 is rotated/pivoted about hinge 44, and window 48 on the cover is frictionally snap-engaged over riser 56 on the coupler, reinforcing the force used in holding the slider in abutting engagement with the coupler.
  • the engagement of the cover over riser 56 by contrast, requires tight/firm abutment of the end of the slider against the coupler, with the closing/locking of window 48 over riser 56 locking the slider and coupler tightly against each other.
  • cover 42 on riser 56 can include snap-latching of window 48 into a suitably-positioned detent in the corresponding surface of riser 56.
  • Such snap latching is affected by engagement of remote side wall 64 of window 48 with protruding engaging lip 46 on riser 56.
  • Length "L2" of cover 42 is dimensioned such that remote cover side wall 64 successfully moves past engaging lip 46 by the force being applied at riser 56 causing the slider to pivot, rotate, flex the hinge end of the cover, and thus slider body, up a few degrees about the locus of abutment 66 of the slider and coupler, so as to create a first small-angle wedge-shaped space 68a between slider 18 and coupler 20, and a second small-angle wedge-shaped space 68b between the top of the slider body and the bottom of the cover.
  • Corresponding flexing in the side walls of the bag adjacent the slider and coupler accommodates such angular movement at the interface where the coupler and slider meet.
  • the rounded shape of engaging lip 46 accommodates respective movement of remote edge 64 of window 48 about and downwardly past the lip as the user applies downward force on the window remote edge at riser 56. When enough force has been applied, the remote edge of the window moves past lip 46 whereupon the built-up force/stress is quickly, suddenly released as the cover window snap-engages/latches to riser 56.
  • cover 42 is released from riser 56.
  • the user engages end lip 70 of the cover with a finger or finger nail, and raises the end of the cover past lip 46 on the riser, thus releasing the cover from the coupler.
  • release fingers 28a, 28b are angled down from female receptacle 26b and the ends of the fingers are shown substantially touching the top surface of coupler 20.
  • Such downward angle of the release fingers relative to the top surface of the coupler defines third wedge-shaped spaces 68c between the bottom surfaces of the release fingers and the top surface of the coupler.
  • Such wedge-shaped spaces collectively express a tension being imposed on the abutment coupling of the coupler and the slider by the latching of cover 42 on riser 56.
  • release fingers 26a, 26b are disposed inwardly of side surfaces 74 of the coupler body.
  • release fingers 26a, 26b, as illustrated, have a height "H" of about 1 mm to about 3 mm, optionally about 1 mm to about 2 mm, optionally about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm.
  • the release fingers are limited in height, are touching, or substantially touching, the top surface of the coupler, are displaced inward of side surfaces 74 of the coupler body, and the effective height of the fingers above the top surface of the coupler body is no more than 3 mm, optionally no more than 2 mm, optionally about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm.
  • the outer edges of the release fingers are displaced inwardly, toward each other, from the side surfaces of the coupler body by at least 0.5 mm, optionally at least 1 mm.
  • some hard object, hard tool such as a small pliers, or fingernails, are required to apply sufficient force to the release fingers to get the fingers sufficiently squeezed for the release fingers to get through female receptacle 26b.
  • the engagement surfaces of the release fingers which are engaged by a user's human fingers can have a greater height "H", or can be located further outwardly away from each other and outwardly relative to the outer surfaces of the sidewalls of the coupler, or both.
  • H the height of the release fingers which are engaged by a user's human fingers
  • Such modifications provide release fingers which are readily engaged by the soft flesh of an adult human user's fingers, and squeezed toward each other, enough to enable movement of the release fingers through the female receptacle, thus to release the slider from the coupler.
  • both the slider body and the coupler body are tapered, narrowing in width from abutted ends 22, 24 to the opposing remote ends. Such taper, narrowing frustrates facile gripping of the coupler and slider, particularly where substantial effort is being simultaneously exerted in squeezing release of fingers 28a, 28b.
  • FIGURE 8 shows an embodiment of access-controlling mechanism 10 wherein coupler 20 is not immovably fixed in position relative to the bag/zipper. Rather, the coupler can be moved left or right along the length of the zipper as suggested by the double-headed arrow 58. Correspondingly, the slider can be moved left or right along the length of the zipper as suggested by double-headed arrow 60. Such movement of the slider and coupler can take place when the slider and zipper are locked to each other, and also while the slider and coupler are not locked to each other.
  • the structure of zipper channel 40 in the coupler is configured similar to the structure of the zipper channel in the slider.
  • the structure of the coupler zipper channel is a mirror image of the channel structure in the slider whereby the coupler closes the zipper when moved from left to right while the slider closes the zipper when moved from right to left.
  • the zipper is closed by bringing the slider and coupler together and is opened by separating the slider and coupler from each other.
  • Those portions of the length of the zipper which are under coupler 20, and those portions of the length of the zipper which are to the left of coupler 20, are always closed.
  • Those portions of the length of the zipper which are under slider 18, and those portions of the zipper which are to the right of slider 18, are always closed.
  • the full length of the zipper is always closed, irrespective of where, along the length of the zipper, the locked slider/coupler combination is. And with the slider and coupler locked together in abutting relationship, the locked combination of slider and coupler can be moved along the length of the zipper with the full lengths of the interlocking rails of the zipper remaining effectively closed, locked to each other irrespective of where that locked combination is along the length of the zipper.
  • the portion of the length of the zipper which is between the slider and the coupler is opened as illustrated in FIGURE 8 , by the movement of either the slider or the coupler, or both.
  • the user for releasing the locking elements 26, 28 from each other, typically the user needs to use two hands simultaneously on access-controlling mechanism 10.
  • access limiting mechanism As the locking elements of the access-controlling, access limiting mechanism are released from each other, even such minimal movement of the coupler or slider as is required for such lock release, opens a short length of the zipper.
  • any further movement of either the slider or the coupler away from the other of the slider or the coupler opens a corresponding portion of the length of the zipper.
  • the maximum available length of opening of the zipper occurs when both the slider and the coupler are moved as far as possible along the length of the zipper, away from each other, typically to opposing edges of the bag on which the slider and coupler are mounted.
  • the zipper can be subsequently re-closed by moving either the slider or the coupler, or both, toward the other of the slider or the coupler, and again securing the lock elements to each other.
  • Such securement of the lock elements to each other is suggested in FIGURE 2 .
  • the zipper can extend less than the full length, full corresponding dimension, of the package.
  • coupler 20 is slidable along the length of the zipper.
  • a separate and distinct lock structure 76 is provided on the coupler for locking, optionally releasably locking, the coupler to the bag at a desired location along the length of the zipper.
  • a slot 78 extends from the outer surface of side wall 80 of the coupler to the interior wall of zipper channel 40.
  • a lock bolt 82 is mounted in slot 78 by a pivot pin 84 which extends through a bore 86 in the coupler. Bore 86 extends in a straight line from the bottom of coupler 20 to slot 78, and further into the coupler body above slot 78.
  • protuberances on the top and bottom of the lock bolt can be snap-connected into corresponding recesses/detents in the top and bottom walls of slot 78.
  • a control lever 88 extends from the body of lock bolt 82 and lies along, but spaced from, side wall 80 of the coupler.
  • coupler 20 is moved to the desired position along the length of the zipper. Having reached the desired position along the length of the zipper, the user lifts control lever 88 away from its rest position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 9 , thus rotating the remote end 90 of the lock bolt inwardly about pivot pin 84 into channel 40 and against the side wall of the bag to which the coupler is mounted.
  • the lifted control lever and respective rotated lock bolt are shown in dashed outline in FIGURE 9 .
  • Such rotation of the lock bolt traps the side wall of the bag against the opposing side wall of channel 40 of the coupler.
  • FIGURE 9 shows an optional detent 92 which can receive both the bag side walls and the remote end 90 of the lock bolt, thus locking the side walls of the bag in the detent.
  • a snap latch such as protuberance 94 can be employed e.g. on the remote end of lock bolt 82, to cooperate with a respective female detent on the wall of slot 78 which faces remote end 90 when the lock bolt is in the retracted position shown in solid lines.
  • Protuberance 94 can also engage detent 92 as lock structure 76 is holding the coupler locked against the side walls of the bag in immovable position along the length of the zipper.
  • This, or other, releasable coupler lock structure is effective to releasably lock the coupler in an immovable, fixed location along the length of the zipper.
  • the coupler can be selectively locked in a desired position on the zipper, thus to limit the length of the zipper which can be traversed by the slider.
  • Such locking typically engages the lock structure of the coupler with elements of the zipper, or to other element(s) of the packaging structure.
  • the coupler lock structure can be configured such that the locking can be either permanent, whereby the coupler cannot be later released and moved, or can be releasable.
  • the coupler is releasably locked in position at a desired location along the length of the zipper, which limits the portion of the length of the zipper which can be traversed by the slider, thus limiting the portion of the zipper which can be opened. If, when the user desires to move the slider along a greater portion of the length of the zipper, thus to open a greater portion of the length of the zipper, the coupler is unlocked and is moved to the desired location which provides greater length traverse by the slider, and the coupler is then again releasably locked in position at that location along the length of the zipper. The slider is then able to traverse a greater portion of the length of the zipper.
  • the coupler is unlocked from its position along the length of the zipper and is moved to the new desired position location which provides a lesser length of the zipper which can be traversed/opened by the slider.
  • the user can tailor the size of the opening created by the slider in dispensing the package contents from the package.
  • the coupler By providing for the coupler to be releasably fixed, the package enables the user to determine the size of the dispensing opening according to the contents of the package, or according to the amount of product desired to be dispensed, or the rate at which product is to be dispensed.
  • the provision for the coupler to be releasably fixed enables the package user to dispense the first portion of the product through a first size opening and to dispense the second portion of the product through a second different size opening.
  • the female lock receptacle 26b can be designed, configured, embodied in the top, e.g. the top surface of e.g. the coupler.
  • the male lock fingers, or other male lock structure which is locked into the female lock receptacle extends from a hinge such as hinge 44 and can be articulated, from a rest position displaced from the interface of slider 18 and coupler 20, similar to the rest position shown for cover 42 in FIGURE 3 , to an overlying position as shown in FIGURE 5 where the e.g. male lock structure on the slider interfaces with, engages with, the female lock receptacle on the coupler.
  • receptacle 26b can be in the top surface of slider 18 and the male lock fingers articulate from coupler 20 into such recess.
  • coupler 20 embodies a cover 42, having a hinge 44, which is articulated, pivoted as in FIGURES 4 and 5 , over the release elements of the lock structure after the operative locking elements are locked together, whereby such cover operates as an obstructing element, obstructing access to the respective release elements of the locked-together, access-limiting restraining mechanism, illustrated by lock structure 26.
  • each of the male and female lock elements can be used on either the slider or the coupler, so long as one of the slider and the coupler bears the male lock element and the other of the slider and the coupler bears the female lock receptacle.
  • coupler 20 need not be mounted on the interlocking rails of the zipper. Rather, the coupler can be mounted to the zipper, or on essentially any other element of the package/bag, such as to one or more of the package walls. What remains important is that respective lock element 26a or 26b which is embodied in the coupler be appropriately aligned with the corresponding lock elements 26a or 26b which is/are embodied in the slider, enough to enable the slider and the coupler to be coupled to each other.
  • male element 26a and female receptacle 26b are omitted, and cover 42 provides the only lock structure locking the slider and coupler to each other.
  • engaging lip 46, or other engaging structure on the cover engages a selected structure on the one of the slider and coupler to which the cover is not hingedly mounted.
  • an engaging lip, or other engaging structure, on the one of the slider and coupler to which the cover is not hingedly mounted engages a window or other cooperating structure of the cover, as illustrated in FIGURES 6, 7, and 7a . Accordingly, the coupler can be releasably coupled to the slider by only cover 42.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
  • Slide Fasteners (AREA)
EP16159011.2A 2015-03-05 2016-03-07 Limitation de l'accès à une structure qui est ouverte et fermée au moyen d'une fermeture à glissière en plastique Withdrawn EP3064445A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201562128179P 2015-03-05 2015-03-05
US14/732,019 US20160257448A1 (en) 2015-03-05 2015-06-05 Limiting access to a structure which is opened and closed using a plastic zipper
US14/732,190 US9902529B2 (en) 2015-03-05 2015-06-05 Controlling access to a structure which is opened and closed using a plastic zipper

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3064445A1 true EP3064445A1 (fr) 2016-09-07

Family

ID=55527800

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16159011.2A Withdrawn EP3064445A1 (fr) 2015-03-05 2016-03-07 Limitation de l'accès à une structure qui est ouverte et fermée au moyen d'une fermeture à glissière en plastique

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3064445A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000067605A1 (fr) * 1999-05-11 2000-11-16 Pactiv Corporation Sac a glissiere inviolable
WO2002003824A1 (fr) * 2000-07-10 2002-01-17 The Glad Products Company Butée d'arrêt et élément coulissant destiné à un élément de fixation pouvant être refermé
US20110126384A1 (en) * 2009-05-21 2011-06-02 Ikuko Ozaki Slider for fastener
WO2014150576A1 (fr) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-25 Reynolds Presto Products Inc. Fermeture à glissière à l'épreuve des enfants pour sachet refermable à double curseur et procédés associés

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000067605A1 (fr) * 1999-05-11 2000-11-16 Pactiv Corporation Sac a glissiere inviolable
WO2002003824A1 (fr) * 2000-07-10 2002-01-17 The Glad Products Company Butée d'arrêt et élément coulissant destiné à un élément de fixation pouvant être refermé
US20110126384A1 (en) * 2009-05-21 2011-06-02 Ikuko Ozaki Slider for fastener
WO2014150576A1 (fr) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-25 Reynolds Presto Products Inc. Fermeture à glissière à l'épreuve des enfants pour sachet refermable à double curseur et procédés associés

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9902529B2 (en) Controlling access to a structure which is opened and closed using a plastic zipper
US5681115A (en) Child-resistant locking device for reclosable bag
US5086941A (en) Dispenser closure assembly
US7494280B2 (en) One-way zip-locking closure
US9456663B1 (en) Child-proof locking system
CA2891649C (fr) Fermoir a l'epreuve des enfants et sac d'emballage incorporant ledit fermoir
US4844284A (en) Child resistant package
JP5426692B2 (ja) 容器の蓋
US20050001435A1 (en) Latch mechanism for case and a carrying case with the latch
EP2465649A2 (fr) Conteneur de stockage scellable
US20150164290A1 (en) Two piece wet-tissue canister closure with an elastic hinge with an opening angle stop, a single sheet dispensing orifice, and tail storage
JP2011512304A (ja) 容器の蓋
JP4241390B2 (ja) 折畳み可能な側壁を有する容器、特に再利用可能な容器
US4437566A (en) Child proof container
US10766671B2 (en) Lid assembly for container
EP1413524B1 (fr) Couvercle de securite
EP2378914A1 (fr) Fermeture pour sachets
EP1538098A1 (fr) Boíte avec couvercle coulissant
EP3438385B1 (fr) Serrure pour récipients transportables, tels que des malles, des valises, des caisses, des chariots ou analogues
EP3064445A1 (fr) Limitation de l'accès à une structure qui est ouverte et fermée au moyen d'une fermeture à glissière en plastique
US20210039850A1 (en) Flip-top cap with warranty seal for pouches
CA2174695A1 (fr) Boite distributrice
DE102008037953A1 (de) Versandverpackung mit Originalitätsverschluss
US20200361676A1 (en) Container apparatus, methods for opening containers and zipper member for a container apparatus
US20100320237A1 (en) Fluid dispensing apparatus with lockable actuator

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20170307

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20170718

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20180802