Child resistant slider having insertable torpedo and methods

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present disclosure relates to a reclosable zip bag. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a closable zip pouch that is childproof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Manufacturers of household products are increasingly replacing rigid packaging with flexible sealed packages due to the advantages offered by the present flexible packaging, which include: less packaging material, lower packaging costs, reduced storage space and lower shipping costs [0003] After purchasing flexible closing packages containing household products, they are usually stored in a conventional home location where they are recovered, opened and reclosed until the content is exhausted. Opening and closing these packages is easy for both adults and children. If these packages contain potentially dangerous products and are available to young children, this presents a risk for them. As a result, there is a need to provide a large-scale closure and a method to increase the difficulty of children opening the bag and at the same time providing adequate measures for adults and seniors to open the bag. Document US20060168779 A1 discloses a zip closure with a zip having a flexible torpedo slide holder for separating complementary interlocking lock profiles.

SUMMARY [0004] In one aspect, a child lock closure system is provided with a slide lock. The system includes a lockable lock with a male track and a female track having complementary profiles for engaging and unlocking. The cutout is defined by complementary profiles, where the cutout is separated from the end of the closing system with the slide lock. The slider is slidably located on the lock closure. The slider includes a flexible slider handle with a torpedo. When the slider is moved closer to the notch, the slider handle is selectively movable to the position between the male track and the female track and results in separation from the engagement profiles and opening of the opening when the slide is moved in the opening direction along the lock closure.

[0005] In a further aspect, there is provided a zipper for closing a breech having a male track and a female track with complementary interlocking profiles. The slider includes a base having a top member and a bottom member. The lower member includes the first and second legs. The base is adapted to move along the upper edge of the tracks with the first and second leg extending the tracks. The slider handle extends from the upper base member and is positioned above the first and second legs so that there is an open-ended recess where the recess is free of legs, free of side walls and free of other slide design so that the open volume of the cavity extends from the end wall between the slider handle and the first and second legs. The slider handle is constructed and arranged like to bias with respect to the base about the rotary axis to the direction in the direction and away from the first and second legs. Torpedo extends from the bottom surface of the slider handle and stresses in the direction of and away from the first and second legs when writing the slider handle. The torpedo is selectively movable to the position between the male track and the female track and results in the separation of the interlocking profiles when the slide is moved in the direction of opening along the lock structure. The first and second legs have internal surfaces located close enough together to compress the profiles in a meshing relationship when the slide is moved in the approaching direction along the lock closure. Torpedo extends from the bottom surface of the slider handle and stresses in the direction of and away from the first and second legs when writing the slider handle. The torpedo is selectively movable to the position between the male track and the female track and results in the separation of the interlocking profiles when the slide is moved in the direction of opening along the lock structure. The first and second legs have internal surfaces located close enough together to compress the profiles in a meshing relationship when the slide is moved in the approaching direction along the lock closure. Torpedo extends from the bottom surface of the slider handle and stresses in the direction of and away from the first and second legs when writing the slider handle. The torpedo is selectively movable to the position between the male track and the female track and results in the separation of the interlocking profiles when the slide is moved in the direction of opening along the lock structure. The first and second legs have internal surfaces located close enough together to compress the profiles in a meshing relationship when the slide is moved in the approaching direction along the lock closure.

[0006] In a further aspect, there is provided a method of operating a bag with a zipper having an openable and closable opening. The method includes providing a bag with a lock having a first and a second panel, each having an upper portion forming an opening, a bottom, and first and second opposite sides. The first and second panels are connected to each other along respective bottoms, their respective first opposing sides, and the respective second opposing sides. A lock closure has been provided including a female track and a men track having complementary interlocking and unlocking profiles. One of the profiles is located near the top of the first panel, while the other profile is near the top of the second panel. Profiles mesh to close the hole and unlock to open the hole. The closure of the zipper includes a notch placed from the first page. The slider is located on the closure of the zipper. The method includes opening the opening by moving the slider to the cut-out; pressing the elastic slider handle on the slider to place the torpedo under the slider holder between the female track and the men's track; when pushing, moving the slider in the direction of opening along the lock closure which is to result in the separation of the interlocking profiles.

[0007] Many examples of desirable product properties have been described in part in the description below herein, and in part, examples will be understood in the description, or will result from practicing various aspects of the present disclosure. Disclosure aspects may refer to individual properties as well as property combinations. It should be understood that both the above general description and the following detailed description are only explanatory and do not limit the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a slider constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure

FIG. 2 is the front side view of the slider of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the slider of FIG. 2 and shows a slider handle extending in an upward direction from the base;

FIG. 4 is a view of the slider of FIG. 2 and shows a slider handle extending down from the base;

FIG. 5 is a front side view of an alternative embodiment of the slide in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a first side view of another alternative embodiment of the slide of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of the slider of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the slider plan of FIG. 7 at the end of the closing of the lock adjacent to the end welded ultrasonically

FIG. 9 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of the slider of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the slide of FIG. 1, where the cross-section was taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the slide of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a rear view of the slider of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view of the closure closure of the zipper with the slider of FIG. 1 and 2 installed on it.

FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the bag with a lock closure and the slider of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the bag of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0009] With reference first to FIG. 13, a bag B having a lockable closure of the lock 36 is shown. The closure of the lock 36 includes a child resistant opening property to prevent the child from easily opening the lock closure 36.

[0010] In particular, the lock closure 36 includes a slider 1 with child-protection properties. More details on the slider 1 are described below in this document.

[0011] In the exemplary embodiment, bag B (shown in FIGS. 14 and 15) can be made in a number of different ways. In the non-limiting example shown, the bag B is formed of a single flexible plastic sheet folded inward, and includes first and second opposite body panels 25 and 26. The body panels 25 and 26 are rigidly connected to each other along a pair of sides 28 and 30 and a bottom 32, which extends between the pair of sides 28 and 30. The bag B preferably has a lock closure 36 extending along an opening 38 formed against the bottom 32 of the bag B, in which the lock closure 36 has complementary engaging and unlocking profiles. In one example, the supplementary profiles include a male track 18 and a female track 19. The inner volume 39 of the bag B is accessible through the opening 38,

[0012] The opposite ends of the lock closure 36 are provided with ultrasonic, male and female welded ends forming raised sections 24 and 27. The raised parts 24, 27 form end stops to prevent the slide from being easily pulled out of the ends of the lock closure. Many variants are possible. For example, end stops can be made according to any of the documents US 7,921,534; 5,088,971; 5,131,121; 5,161, 286; and 5,448,807.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 15, in the present non-limiting example, tracks 18 and 19 have interlocking male and female profiles 14 and 15 extending over their length in the form of rib and groove elements on respective tracks. The tracks 12 and 13 can be discarded separately by a fin 16 included in the tracks, which is connected by welding to the bag. The male and female profiles 18 and 19 have complementary shapes in cross-section and are similar by pressing the bottom of the elements first by rolling the elements to a closed position towards their upper part. Shapes in cross-section of the interlocking male and female profiles 14 and 15 are described in US Pat. Well. 5007143. There may be other embodiments, and this is only an example for illustrative purposes.

[0014] With reference to FIG. 1-3, an exemplary embodiment of a slider 1 including child-resistant features is described. The slider 1 is slidably located on the latch closure 36. The slider 1 includes a flexible slider handle 2. The elastic slider handle 2 has an upper surface 40, a bottom surface 42 (FIGURE 2) and first and second side 51, 52 extending between the upper surface 40 and The handle of the slider 2 comprises a torpedo 3 extending from the bottom surface 42. The term "torpedo" refers to the opening finger or plow to cause separation of the meshing profiles 14, 15, in the form of ejection from the bottom surface 42. In certain example examples torpedo 3 does not physically penetrate the meshing profiles 14, 15 but extends between tracks 18, 19, which causes that tracks 18, 19 are separated from each other resulting in tracks 18, 19 unwinding and separating the meshing profiles 14, 15. The torpedo depth 3 may vary to facilitate or impede the opening of the closure 36. As shown in FIG. 1, torpedo 3 has the shape of a triangle along the horizontal plane. When the slide 1 is moved to the cut-out 8 in the lock closure, the slide holder 2 can be selectively moved to a position to place the torpedo between the male and female tracks 18, 19 and result in separation of the interlocked profiles 14, 15 when the slide 1 is moved towards the opening 44 (FIG. 14) along the lock latch 36. torpedo 3 has the shape of a triangle along the horizontal plane. When the slide 1 is moved to the cut-out 8 in the lock closure, the slide holder 2 can be selectively moved to a position to place the torpedo between the male and female tracks 18, 19 and result in separation of the interlocked profiles 14, 15 when the slide 1 is moved towards the opening 44 (FIG. 14) along the lock latch 36. torpedo 3 has the shape of a triangle along the horizontal plane. When the slide 1 is moved to the cut-out 8 in the lock closure, the slide holder 2 can be selectively moved to a position to place the torpedo between the male and female tracks 18, 19 and result in separation of the interlocked profiles 14, 15 when the slide 1 is moved towards the opening 44 (FIG. 14) along the lock latch 36.

[0015] Many embodiments of the slider 1 are feasible. The slider 1 unfolds the closure of the lock 36 at the top of the bag B and is adapted to open or close the interlocking tracks 12 and 13 of the lock latch 36. The slider 1 can be molded from any suitable plastic such as nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, Delrin, or ABS . In one embodiment, the slider is cast as a single element. Other embodiments are also possible.

[0016] In exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, the slider 1 comprises a U-shaped inverted member comprising a reverse support member or body 17 from which the slide handle 2 extends outwards.

In the illustrated examples, the slider body 17 includes a base 46. The base 46 includes a top member 48, and a bottom member 50, and a side wall 7. The lower member 50 may include first and second opposing legs 20, 21 each having a stretching leg. Inwardly, the structure of the arm 20, 21. The first and second legs 20, 21 have internal surfaces that are placed sufficiently close to each other to press the male and female profiles 14, 15 into a meshing relationship when the slide 1 is moved in the approaching direction 56 along the closure. lock 36.

The base 46 is adapted to slide along the upper edges of the male and female tracks 18, 19 through the first and second legs 20, 21 which spaced tracks 18, 19. The arm designs 22, 23 engage the bottom of the lock closure 36 to prevent the the slider 1 floated from the edges of the tracks 18, 19, while the slider 1 deploys the lock closure 34.

[0019] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the slider taken in the cross-section AA of the slide 1 shown in FIG. 2 a FIG. 11 shows the final view of the slider 1.

[0020] The elastic handle of the slider 2 can extend from the upper member 48 of the base 46 to the position upstream of the end wall 7 as shown in FIG. 5; to a position that is equal to the wall 7 as shown in FIG. 2; or to a position that is outside the end wall 7 as shown in FIG. 6. The flexible handle of the slider 2 can extend outwardly towards the level as shown in FIG. 2; in an upward direction at an angle α above the level as shown in FIG. 3; or in a downward direction at an angle β below the level as shown in FIG. 4. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the elastic handle of the slider 2 is supported from the upper member 48. The slider handle 2 is located above the first and second legs 20, 21 so that there is a recess 5 of the open volume between them. Recess 5 is free from legs, side walls, and free from other slide designs such that the open volume of the cavity 5 extends from the end wall 7 between the handle of the slide 2 and the legs 20, 21. There may be multiple variants, and on the exemplary embodiments of FIG. 2-6, the cavity 5 extends at least 50%, e.g. at least 60%, but not more than 90% of the total length of the slide 1 from the end wall 7.

[0021] The slider handle 2 is connected to the top member 48 of the base 46 at the pivot point or pivot axis 4. The slider handle 2 is designed and arranged to bias with respect to the base 46 about the pivot axis 4 in a direction away from the first and the second leg 20, 21. In one embodiment, the slider handle 2 can bias towards the legs 20, 21 by sliding to the volume defined by the cavity 5. In the further embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the slider handle 2 can tighten towards legs 20, 21 and enter between legs 20, 21 in the most downward position. When the slider handle 2 is stretched towards the bottom member 50,

Torpedo 3, as mentioned above, extends from the bottom surface 42 of the slider handle 2. The torpedo 3 is tensioned in the direction and away from the lower member 50 and the first and second legs 20, 21 when the slider handle is tensioned 2. How seen in FIG. 1 and 2, in the present embodiment, the torpedo 3 is located at the end 54 of the slide handle

2. In the present example, torpedo 3 has the shape of a triangle, wherein the base of the triangle 60 is adjacent to the end 54 of the handle of the slider 2. In further embodiments, the torpedo 3 may be distanced from the end 54. The top 62 of the torpedo 3 is opposite to the base of the triangle 60, and is useful in the initial penetration and separation of the male and female trajectories 18, 19 and results in the separation of the meshed male and female profiles 14, 15 when in operable position to perform this operation.

Torpedo 3 is selectively movable to a position between the male and female tracks 18, 19 and results in the separation of the meshed male and female profiles 14, 15 when the slide 1 is moved towards the opening 44 along the lock closure 36.

[0024] In the variant illustrated in FIG. 7, the end 54 of the handle of the slider 2 is concave. In the schematic view of FIG. 8, the concave end 54 engages the portion raised 24 of the ultrasonically welded end of the lock closure 36 to improve retention of the end of the slider 1.

[0025] It should be understood that the slider handle 2 can slide down around the rotary axis 4 by applying downward pressure, and return to the original position upon release. The thickness, length, and rotary axis of the slider handle 2 can be adapted to provide a challenge for a young child while facilitating adults and seniors to operate on the slider 1 and open the bag B. International and national test protocols for child-resistant packaging consider children as small if the child is under the age of fifty-two months.

[0026] With reference to FIG. 13, the slider 1 is shown parked at a distance of 10 from the side 28 of the bag B. In this position, the closure of the slider 36 is closed, with a meshed male and female profile 14, 15. The profile of the lock 6 includes a notch 8 placed at a distance of 11 from side 28 B. The distance 11 will be such that the slider 1 has to be moved from the parked position to find a cut-out 8. For example, it may be about a quarter below the lock's length 36. The length 12 of the cut-out 8 may be slightly larger than the length of the torpedo 3. It is desirable to have a notch 8 which will be as short as possible to increase the challenge of coupling the torpedo 3 in the lock closure 36. In some applications,

[0027] In use, to open the lock closure 36, as a first step, the slider 1 is grasped by the user. For example, the slider 1 may be gripped by the thumb on one side of the slider 1 and the middle finger on the opposite side, while the downward pressure is applied to the slider holder 2 via the index finger. As a second step, the slider 1 is moved from the rest position on the closure of the lock 36 towards the opposite end of the closure of the lock 36 while pressing downwardly on the slider holder 2 until a notch 8 is found that allows the slider handle 2 to downwardly in the recess 5. As a third step, the leveling force of the adult person on the slider 1 is used to couple the torpedo 3 between the male and female tracks 18, 19 and this results in the separation of the meshed male and female profiles 14, 15.

[0028] After releasing the downward pressure of the slider handle 2, the slider handle 2 returns to the original aligned position and disengages from the lock profile 2. The user then opens the bag B to access the inner volume 39 and the contents of the package 64. The bag B may then again closed by moving the slider 1 to its original position. It is not necessary or desirable to press on the handle of the slider 2 to close the closure of the zipper 36, because the handle of the slider 2 must remain in its original harnessed state when closing the closure of the zipper 36.

[0029] It will be understood that the slider 1 has advantages. For example, the shape of the slider 1 in the aligned embodiment of the slider handle is suitable for stacking in warehouses with an automatic feed for high volume production.

[0030] Hereinafter, the slider 1 and the lock closure 36 present a quadruple challenge to the user who attempts to move the slider 1 to open the closure 36. The slider 1, including the unframed horizontal elastic handle of the slider 2 extends along the top of the slider 1. The slider 1 rests on one end of the bag when the closure of the zipper 36 is in the closed position. To open the bag B, the user will use one hand to hold the bag B at one end, and the other hand to actuate the slide 1. The actuation of the slide 1 is achieved by at least four of the actions described above.

From the review of the Figures in this document and the above descriptions, it should be understood that the closure of the lock 36 allows initiation of the opening 38 only in one location along the length of the closure 36 - on the recess 8. This helps to inhibit easy opening of the closure 36 by the child. The separation of the interlocking profiles 14, 15 is actuated from the side of the profiles 14, 15 through the cut-out 8. The system has advantages on other systems that may have a small opening along the top of the profiles to allow mechanical separation from above, but also to allow the child to insert teeth or nails to close the zipper and open it.

[0032] The above description represents exemplary principles of the present disclosure. Many embodiments may be made using these principles.