US2780261A - Sliderless fastener closure - Google Patents

Description

Mb., 5, 1957 E. F. svEc ETAL 2,780,251

SLIDERLESS FASTENER cLosURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001'.. 26, 1954 F IFm 5, 1957 E. F. svEc ETAL SLIDERLESS FASTENER CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1954 www ses

SLIDERLESS FASTENER CLOSURE Application ctober 26, 1954, Serial No. 464,867 7 Claims. (Cl. 150-3) The present invention relates to a pouch or similar container having a sliderless fastener closure, and more particularly, to a pouch having a fastener or closure arrangement adapted to provide an air-tight seal.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved pouch with a sliderless fastener or closure, and an improved sliderless fastener or closure therefor.

Another object is to provide an improved sliderless form of fastener for pouch-like containers, in which the fastener is provided with integral means extending substantially the entire length of the fastener which allow a container closed by the fastener to be opened quickly and easily and in which the risk of accidental opening is reduced to a minimum.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an improved fastener comprising two flat overlapping closure strips offset enlarged marginal reinforcements, wherein the reinforcements have confronting faces, each of the faces containing at least one ridge and at least one groove raligned with and adapted for resilient lockingengagement with the grooves and ridges on the other reinforcement and vice versa. and wherein one of the reinforcements has means formed integrally therewith extending longitudinally the entire length thereof for separating the reinforcements to provide an opening into a container closed by the fastener.

One of the main features of this invention is to provide a pouch-like container with an improved form of fastener, in which a pouch, or the like is formed of front and back sheet-like walls having mated edges united together to define a container and in which the free upper edges of the walls are spaced from each other to define an opening. The opening, in turn, is provided with the instant improved fastener which allows the pouch to be hermetically sealed on the one hand, and easily opened on the other. This improved fastener comprises two overlapping closure strips secured to the free upper edges of the front and back walls of the pouch and extending the length thereof. The free marginal edges of the overlapping closure strips are enlarged or thickened to form offset reinforcement portions, which due to the overlapping relationship of the closure strips, have confronting faces. One or more longitudinally extending grooves and ridges are formed on each of the confronting faces of the reinforcements such that the ridges on one reinforcement are aligned with and adapted for resilient hermetically sealed locking engagement with the grooves on the other reinforcement, and vice versa. One of the reinforcements is provided with an integral flange and/or frictional engagement surface extending longitudinally along the entire length of the reinforcement. Such flange and/or frictional engagement surfaces provide efficient means by which the reinforcement or marginal edges of the closure strips may be easily separated to provide an opening into the pouch. By frictional engagement surfaces is meant a surface provided with suitable projections, serrations or the like, which materially aid in manually grasping or engaging the closure strip in opening the same.

States Patent O which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a pouch or similar container having the novel sliderless fastener of the instant invention mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the pouch of Figure 1 taken substantially along liue II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modiiication of the fastener structure;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing another embodiment of the sliderless fastener which may be employed in closing the pouch of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the sliderless fastener of the instant invention;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing still another modification of the fastener;

Figure 7 is a partial cross sectional view of a pouch having a closure or fastener of the instant invention embodiment of the instant closure structure as employed with a pouch-like container.

In accordance with the instant invention a pouch, or similar container, shown gene-rally at 11 in Figure l, is provided with a sliderless fastener closure shown generally at 12.

VThe pouch 11 includes a resilient sheet-like back wall 13 and a resilient sheet-like front wall 14 substantially coextensive therewith and secured to the back wall along the side edges, as at 15 and 16 and the bottom edge 17. Preferably the back and front walls 13 and 14 are made of sheets of thermoplastic synthetic resin materials such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, halogenated polyethylenes, polyvinyl acetate, and polyethylene, and copolymers, heteropolymers and mixtures thereof. Such materials are substantially impervious to air and moisture, and may be prepared in suitable thin resilient sheets which are translucent, and substantially transparent, so as to be suitable for use in the instant pouch 11. The trout and back walls 13 and 14 may be suitably heat-sealed, sewed or glued together, or both, along their marginal edges 15, 16 and 17, so as to define a suitable air-tight and moisture proof container portion for the pouch 11.

The back wall 13 may extend upwardly a short distance beyond the front wall 14, as shown best in Figures 2-4, 9 and 10. For some embodiments of the instant enclosure, however, the back and front walls 13 and 14 may be of substantially the same height, as shown in Figures 5-7. As will be brought out more clearly hereinafter, the relative heights ofthe back and front walls 13 and 14 will depend to a great extent upon the type of closure or fastener structure employed.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 2-4, 9 and l0, the

back wall 13 extends upwardly a short distance beyond the l top 14a of the front wall 14. The top 13a of the back Awall 13 is substantially parallel to but spaced upwardly 3 in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the fastener or :losure arrangement 12 comprises a pair of overlapping trips 13 and 19. The closure strips 18 and 19 are coexensive with the top portions 13a and 14a of the-back ind front walls 13 and 14 and span the opening described .herebetween The top edge 18a of theclo'sure strip 18 s sealingly engaged to the top portion 13d of the back yall 13, while the edge portion 19aof the closure strip 19 s sealingly engaged and preferably integral lwith the irontxwall 14, such as at the upper edge 14a. This sealing f the closure or yfastener 12 to the pouch 11 is preferably :ffected by heat sealing, glueing' or the like. .The end l)ortions of the closure strips 18 and 19, likewise, are iealed to the edges 15 and 16 ofthe. pouch 11'so'fas to provide a complete seal for the elongated slot-,like-penlng defined by the front and back. walls13 andi'v 14, as lescribed. l Each ofthe strips 18 and 19 can be, and preferably is :onvenientlyfabricated by extrusion ,through-a suitable lie followed by severing the extruded'str'ipsto appropri- 'ate lengths.` Suitable materialsfor manufacturing( the itripsvl'iand 19 include the thermoplastic and thermoietting organic synthetic resin's'referred tio abovefinidescribingrthe pouch 11'. i l i i i vOf particular importance ,for thisuse are: the vinyl type resins such as polyvinyl ehloride, polyvinylacetate, oolyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate 'c,:opolyiner s,` and similar vinyl resins and polyethylenes and rubber, either natural or synthetic. Rubber, however, isifnot a preferred'starting material, since, in the-caserof" rubber,v it is more difficult to control the degree of rigidity forliriterlocking engagement between the strips 18 and.19i However, by proper compounding and vulcanizing `of rubber, thedegreeof rigidity can be controlled to make the rubber acceptable forthe purposes of the instant invention. l The closure strips 18 and 19 include anelongated, thin web'portion 181; and '19b and offset, thickenedmargin'al reinforcement portions and 21, respectively. The str1ps'18 and 19 and the reinforced marginal portions and 21 extend substantially the full distance between the pouch' side edges 15v and 16 (Figure l), and theextremitres of the marginal reinforcements Zffand 21 are crimped together so vas to merge into the end portions of the closurestrip 12 at the edges 15 and 16. I l

As noted in the drawings, the closure strips 18 andA 19 are provided to overlap so that the faces of the reinforcements 20and 21 are in overlapping confronting relationship. The confronting facesl ofl the reinforcements have a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves 22vk and yridges '23formed integrally therewith such that the grooves 22 on thereinfor'cement 20 and the ridges 23 on' the reinforcement 21, land vice versa, are in alignedV relationship so as' to be adapted for resilient hermetically sealed locking engagement with one another. l H

'*This hermetically sealed resilient locking engagement isaccomplished by forming the reinforcement '20 and reinforcement 21 so as to have substantially identical crossl sectional configurations. As may be noted,y the reinforcements 20 and 21 present allochirallyl mateabley groovesI 22 and ridges 23, on the contiguous confronting faces thereof. The grooves 22 and ridges 23 are arranged ,i substantially normal to, or at right angles to, the planes.

ofthe clc'isure strips 18 and 19, or the planes of the-flat,

unreiriforcedweb portions of the closure strips18fand 19;. suc'hiis at 18h and 19h. The grooves 22 in one-of. the.r

reinforcements correspond in 'shapeto the ridges 2 3 in the other of the reinforcements, and vice versa. Of course,` one or more ridges may be employedin each reinforcement, with an equal number of grooves arrangedi substantially as shown in the drawings.

The head portion 23a of each ridge 23 is enlarged and they neckW portion 23h is constricted, so as to forman. adjacent complementary groove 22 with restricted opening Vthereinto and an enlarged bottom portion, as shown. In Ythis manner, a groove 22` in one of the reinforcements.

20 or 21 correspondsinshapeto the ridge 23 in the other reinforcement, and vice versa. Also, the head portion 23a of each of the ridges 23 has an undercut engaging surface 23e providing a portion overhanging the adjacent groove 22 adapted to engage a similar undercut surface 23C of an opposite ridge 23. In this fashion, a ridge 23 on the reinforcement 20 of the closure strip 18 will be in opposed contact `with a corresponding undercut, engaging surface 23e of another ridge 23 on the reinforcement 21 of the closure strip 19 when a ridge 23 on one reinforcement is engaged in a groove 22 on the other reinforcement.

The undercut lsurfaces 23e may lbe inclined or .may be in a plane substantially parallel with lthe plane of the reinforcement, and substantially aligned therewith.

A flange 24 is formed integrally with the reinforcement 21 of the closure strip 19. The integral flange 24 extends longitudinally along the entire length ofthe reinforcement l21. The `flange 24gextends upwardly away. from the reinforcement 21 and is adapted to lie in close relation to the closure strip 19. The junction between the flange `24 and the reinforcement 21, such 4as lat 25, is

- provided to have a thicknessless than the thickness of the that lv vhen the vreinforcements 26 and 21 are in lock-l flange 24. Thisreduced thickness of the junction 2 5, permits limited flexing movement ofthe flange 24 while the reinforcements 20 and 21, and their respective grooves andv ridges, are ina locking engagement without causing the reinforcements 20 and y21 to become disengaged. This feature is advantageous in preventing accidental openingy of the pouch 11. For example, when the pouch 11 is introduced into or removed from a pocket it is not unlikely that the flange 24 might accidentally engage a part ofthe garment. If the flange 24 were rigid and noty capable. of limited flexing, such engagement could possibly cause the closure member 12 to open. Because of the thinner junction 25 which permits limited flexing of theillange 24 fsuch accidental disengagement of the reinforcements 20 and 21 is not possible. When however,- one chooses to open the pouch it is a simple matter to graspvk the flange '24 substantially anywhere along the` length thereof and by pulling the flange 24 away from the closure strip 18 the reinforcement 21 becomes disengaged from the reinforcement 20. When the reinforcements 20 and 21 are thus disengaged an opening is provided into the container or ouch 11.

I nthe embodiment shown in Figure 3, a flange 25 is also constructed so as to prevent accidental disengagement ofthe reinforcements 20 and 21. As seen in Figure 3, this is accomplished by forming the flange 25 so as to be yintegral with the reinforcement 21 and extend longi-` tudinally along the entire length thereof. The flangel 25 includes a. laterally projecting, generally upwardly curved `first leg 26-and an integral, inwardly and upwardly slop-v ing-.second-legi27. 1 The marginal, free edge of the second leg .27.1 has `a somewhat rounded or ovulate configuration, such as 28 and abuts or contacts the web portion 18asof theclosure strip V18. This arrangement is such ing engagement, the second leg 27 of the flange 25 is somewhat resiliently biased outwardly. Thus, in order forthe reinforcements 2t)` and 21 to become vdisengaged accidentally it". would benecessary for some object to` overcome'the resilient force .provided between the second 1eg727'of vthe-flange 25 and thev closure stripl 18.' The possibilities .of 'this happening however, are. extremely small and,l accordingly, the. pouch 11 mayv be4 easily handled without accidental openingy of the closure or fastener12. .Of course, to open the closure 12 one merely graps the flangeZS and pullsit away from the closure strip,..18,- which disengages the reinforcements 20. and t providing an openin'g'into the pouch l11.

The'zembodiment of the closure 12 shownin Figure-f is similarto thoseL shown in Figures 2 and 3, except` that the flange 29 andthe ridges and grooves on the reinforcements 20 and.21 aresOmeWhat modified. The marginal grooves 30 and ridges 31 on the reinforcements 20 and 21 are substantially identical to those of Figures 2 and 3. The central ridges 33 formed on the confronting faces of the reinforcements 20 and 21, however, have an undercut surface 34 formed on both sides of the ridges 33 which form a corresponding overhanging portion 35 on both sides of the groove 32. In cross section the ridges and grooves 33 and 32 have the general configuration of an anchor, and when the undercut portions 34 on the ridges 33 of one of the reinforcements are in locking engagement with the undercut portions 34 of the ridges on the opposite reinforcement the ridges 33 are held tightly against lateral displacement. Accordingly, this configuration gives a tighter hermetically sealed locking engagement than do the ridges and grooves described previously, and likewise, require a greater amount of disengaging force in order to open the closure fastener 12.

The flange 29 is formed integrally with the reinforcement 21 and extends longitudinally along the entire length thereof. The flange 29 includes a laterally projecting first leg 36 formed integrally with the reinforcement 21 by means of an arcuately shaped thinner connecting land portion 37. A second, downwardly extending leg 38 is formed integrally with the first leg 36 and is adapted to overlie the marginal reinforcement 21 in a close parallel relationship. A foot 39 is formed integrallywith the first leg 36 and engages the closure strip 18 and provides an extended lever arm for easier disengagement of ridges 33 and grooves 32. When it is desired to open the pouch 11 one merely grasps the second leg 38 of the flange 29 and pulls it outwardly causing the flange to fulcrum on the foot 39, which results in smooth disengagement of the ridges 33 from the grooves 32 in the reinforcements 20 and 21. In addition, the arcuate land portion 37 connecting the first leg 36 and the reinforcement 21 allows limited flexing movement of the flange 29 without the grooves and ridges on the reinforcements 20 and 21 becoming accidentally disengaged as explained in describing the flange 24 of Figure 2. The structure shown in Figure 4 is especially suitable in providing heavier fastenings of larger dimensions for use in industrial purposes, such as for example in the Water-tight boots and the like.

ln the embodiment shown in Figures -7 the pouch 11 has back and front walls 13 and 14 of substantially equal height, and are spaced laterally along the free unsecured top edges thereof so as to define any elongated slot-like opening, the plane of which is substantially perpendicular to the planes of the walls 13 and 14.

The fastener or closure assembly 12 shown in Figure 5 comprises a closure strip 40 sealingly aflixed to one wall, such as 13, and extends upwardly therefrom over the top free edge thereof. A second closure strip 41 is sealingly aflixed to the other wall, such as 14, and extends upwardly therefrom and over the top free edge thereof. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the embodiment shown in the Figures 5-7 the pouch 11 has, in reality, no front or back wall but rather two walls of substantially equal height.

The closure strip 4@ includes a thin, non-reinforced web portion 42 and a thickened reinforced marginal por-v tion shown generally at 43. The closure strip 41 includes a thin, non-reinforced web portion 44 and a thickcned or enlarged marginal reinforcement portion shown generally at 45.

The marginal reinforcement 45, which extends along the entire length of the closure strip 41, has a generally rounded configuration and has a longitudinally extending groove 46 formed therein. The marginal portions of the groove 46 projects inwardly to provide marginal longitudinal ridges 47. The marginal longitudinal ridges 47 include a rounded head portion 48 having an undercut portion 49 formed on the inner side thereof.

The marginal reinforcement 43 of the closure strip 46 has a longitudinally extending ridge 50 formed integrally therewith at the central portion thereof. The ridge 50 has an enlarged head portion 51 and a restricted neck portion 52. Undercut portions 53 are provided on either side of the head portion 51 of the ridge 50 and are adapted to coact for locking engagement with the undercut portions 49 on the marginal ridges 47 of the closure strip 41. As may be noted, the cross sectional configuration of the ridge 50 is substantially identical to that of the groove 46 formed in the reinforcement 45. An upper curved or arcuate arm 54a and a lower curved arm 54 are formed integrally with the marginal reinforcement 43 of the closure strip 40 and extend laterally therefrom on either side of the ridge 50. The arcuate configuration of the arms 54 and 54a define grooves adapted to receive the head portion 48 of the ridges 47 on the marginal reinforcement 45.

The web portion 42 of the closure strip 40 extends upwardly a short distance to provide an upstanding arm 55 which, in coaction with the laterally projecting arm 54a, defines a longitudinally extending groove 56.

A flange 57 is formed integrally with and extends longitudinally the entire length of the marginal reinforcement 45 on the closure strip 41. The flange 57 includes a generally upstanding first leg 5S, a second leg 59 integral with and projecting laterally from the first leg 58, and a locking head portion 60. The rounded, locking head portion 60 has a plurality of longitudinally extending riblike serrations or grooves formed thereon providing a frictional engagement surface to aid in grasping the flange 57. When the marginal reinforcements 43 and 45 of the closure strips 40 and 41 are in resilient locking engagement by means of the groove 46 and ridge 50 the flange 57 is bent over transversely and the head portion 60 is resiliently engaged or locked in the groove 56. When thus locked in the groove 56, it is substantially impossible for the pouch 11 to be opened by accidental engagement of the flange 57.

The longitudinal grooves or rib-like serrations 61 formed on the head portion 60 aid materially in disengaging the head portion 56 when it is desired to open the pouch 11. When the pouch 11 is to be opened, one simply engages the ribs 61 with a thumb nail, or the like, and pulls the head portion 60 of the flange 57 free from the groove 56. The flange 57 is then grasped by the head portions 60 and the reinforcements 43 and 45 can be separated by pulling the same apart, to provide an opening into the pouch 11.

The closure assembly 12 shown in Figure 6 is somewhat similar to that in Figure 5. In Figure 6, however, the ridge 62 on the reinforcement 43 of the closure strip 40 has a generally hook-like configuration. The marginal reinforcement 45 on the closure strip 41 has a generally kidney-shaped conguration defining a hookshape groove 63 extending longitudinally therein, and which is adapted to conform to the cross sectional configuration of the ridge 62.

A flange 64 is formed integrally with the reinforcement 45 and extends longitudinally the entire length thereof and projects laterally therefrom in substantially right angled relationship to the planes of the Walls 13 and 14. The flange 64 lies in close spaced relationship to the top portion of the reinforcement 43 and preferably does not project laterally beyond the plane of the closure strip 40. In this fashion there is little danger of the flange 64 becoming accidentally engaged with an object when it is handled, such as when being introduced into or removed from a pocket or the like.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the closurestrips 40 and 41 are affixed to the top free edges of the walls 13 and 14 along the length thereof, and depend inwardly therebetween. The closure strips 40 and 41 are provided with thickened marginal reinforcements 43 and 45 respectively. The reinforcement 43 hasa 7 ridge 65 formed thereon of acontguration substantially identical to that describedl uuderFigure 5. Likewise', the reinforcement 45 has a groove 66 formed therein of a configuration substantially Yidentical to that described under Figure and )is adapted for receiving and holding the vridge 1A65 in resiliently locking engagement. A generally upright flange 67 is formed integrally with the reinforcement and extends the entire length thereof. The llange 67 projects laterally upwardly from the reinforcement 45 ,between the walls 13 and 14, substantially parallel thereto. Theilange 67 includes a leg Aportion or shank 68` and an enlarged head portion 69` formed integrally therewith. 4The enlarged head portion 69 facilitates grasping of the ilange'j67 when the marginal reinforcements'43 and 45 are to bedisengaged The structure shown in Figure 7 is especially suitable for closing a container which 'is intendedgto vbe filled with aliquid o r particulate material and which is likely to be subjectedv to external pressures. By sealingly aflixing the closure strips 4i) and 41 to the upper edges of the walls 13 and 14 so'that the strips depend inwardly of the walls, the closure structure w12 is capable of withstanding increased inner pressures. For, any pressure exerted yfrom the inside on the reinforcements 43 and 45 and the walls 13 and 14 will cause the walls 13 and 14 to expand outwardly and the closure assembly 12 to move upwardly. However, such pressure merely increases the locking ktension `on the ridge engaged in the f groove 66. This structure is especially adaptable for use ,in such articles as lhot water bottles, liquid foodl containers and thc. like.

In the embodiment shown in Figure `8, the enlarged marginal reinforcement portions of lthe closure strips 18 andk 19 are substantially identical to those shown in Figures 2 and 3. In the embodiment shown in VFigure 8, however, an integral flange is not provided on the reinforcement 21. In the structure shown in Figure 8, means for facilitating opening of the pouch is provided in the form of a plurality of rib-like serrations or grooves formed integrally with the reinforcement 21 and extend longitudinally the entire length thereof. In opening a pouch sealed by a closure assembly of the type shown in Figure 8, one merely engages the frictional engagement surfaces or rib-like serrations 70 with a linger nail or thumb nail and pulls outward on the reinforcement 21. In this manner the reinforcements 20 and 21 are effectively disengaged and an opening into the pouch is provided.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 9 an integral ange extending the entire length of the reinforcement 21 is provided with frictional engagement surfaces to aid in grasping. As seen in Figure 9 the marginal reinforcernent y21 has a laterally projecting flange 71 formed integrally therewith extending longitudinally the length thereof. The llange 71 in turn, is provided with a frictional engagement surface 71 in the form of a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs or serrations 72.

In the embodiment shown in Figure l0 the overlapping marginal reinforcement portions 20 and 21 are disposed in an angular relationship to the front and back walls 14 and 13. In this embodiment, the closure strip 18 is sealingly ail'lxed to the top edge 13a of the back wall 13 along the length thereof. The closure strip 18 has an oiset integral thickened marginal reinforcement portion 20 depending angularly away from the back wall 13. The closure stripA 19 is sealingly affixed to the top free edge portion 14a of the front wall 14 along the length thereof and extends upwardly above the wall 14. The closure strip 19 has an offset integral thickened marginal reinforcement portion 21 disposed angularly upwardly toward the back wall 13 and is adapted to overlie the marginal reinforcement 20 of the Yclosure strip 18. The reinforcements 20 and 21 have grooves 22 and ridges 23 formed on the'confronting `faces thereof in the same manner as shown inFigures 2, 3, 8 and 9.

, 8' Acamlike flange '751s formed. integrally with the rein'- fpreernent 21 on the cjlpsurejstripV 19 and projects up-- wardly therefrom. The flange 73' .has -a ,generally rounded edge portion ,74thereon which contactsv or abuts `the surface of Ythe closure strip V13 adjacent and above the reinforcement 420. In this embodiment the closure member is not opened iby ypulling the reinforce` ments 20 and 21 apart, although the closure assembly 12 may 'be opened in this fashion if desired. Preferably, however, the pouch 11 is opened by' exerting pressure, laterally inwardly on the outer surfaces of the kpouch 11 in the vicinity ofthe marginal reinforcements 20 and 21 such as shownby the arrows F. Whensuch inwardly directed-pressure is exerted on the ,pouch 11 the closure strip 18 is Vcaused `to move toward the reinforcement l2'1. This produces a cam-like action on the rounded edge 74 of the flange 73 causing the flange 73 to become `flexed outwardly away from the closure strip 18 which vin turn disengages the ridges 23 from the'grooves 22. In this manner the marginal yreinforcements 20 and 21 are eiectively separated, to provide an opening into the pouch 11.

There are a number of distinct .advantages in forming the flanges Aused in opening the instant sliderless fastener integnal with one of :the'reinforced marginal portions along substantiallythe entine length thereof. One such advantage,-` as noted previously, is Ithat the closure strips maybe separated byl grasping the flange anywhere along the length thereof.

A more important advantage, however, is in the econ- -omy of producing the instant closure strips. Opening flaps'or .flanges which have been provided on similar closure-strips'employed heretofore have always comprised separate pieces which are aixed-t-o the closure strip sub -sequentto the extrusionthereof.

In this invention however, the flange grasped in opening the closure -mernber is formed integral and simultaneously with the closure strip as the :strip is being ex truded. This not only eliminates an Vadditional step iu the manufacturing of the fastener, but also provides a stronger means for grasping the closure strips.

It will be apparent lto those skilled in the art that we have now provided a new and improved sliderless form `of fastener for pouch-like containers in which the fastener is provided with .a novel means -to facilitate the separation of lthe lfastener elements to provide `an opening into a pouch closed =or sealed `by the structure.

It -will also be apparent that the novel means for opening the instant .enclosure structures are such that it is substantially impo-ssible to open the closures accidentally and only intentional force will open the pouch.

It Iwill .be understood that modiiications' and vaniati-ons may be effected without departing from `the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:

l. A container .comprising .front and back .sheet-like wall portions having mated edges united together to -detine a container and having corresponding free upper edges spaced from each other to define .an opening into said container, a firs-t closure stripfsecuredto the free upper edge of `one of said wall portions extending the length thereof, a. second closure strip secured to the free upper edge ofthe other ofsaid wall portions extending the.

length thereof, said closure strips having offset integral thickened marginal reinforcements, said reinfoncements having on confronting faces .at least one longitudinally extending groove and ridge, said groove in one of said reinforcements being ,aligned within .said ridge in the other reinforcement `for resilient locking engagement therewith, and means integral with the marginal reinforcement of said first closure strip longitudinally along the entire length thereof whereby said reinforcements can .be separated to provide an opening into said container, th-e .ends of said closure .strips land of said means an-d .the portions of said mated edges adjacent to said ends being merged 9 and united together to forma complete seal for said opening when said closure strips are mated together.

2. A pouch comprising front and back sheet-like wall portions having mated edges united together `to define a container and having corresponding free upper edges spaced from each other to define an opening into said container, a first closure strip secured to the free upper edge `of one of said walls extending the length thereof, `a second closure strip secured to the free upper edge of the other of said walls extending the length thereof, said closure strips having `off-set integral thickened marginal reinforcements', said reinforcements having on confrontwing faces at least one longitudinally extending groove and ridge, said groove in one of said reinforcements being aligned with said ridge in the other reinforcement for resilient locking `engagement therewith, and a flange formed integral with the marginal reinforcement of said first closure strip longitudinally along the entire length thereof whereby said reinforcements can be separated to provide an opening into said container by grasping said flange and pulling the same away from that strip opposite the strip upon which said fiange is formed, the ends of said closure strips and of said rflange and the portions of said mated edges adjacent to said ends being merged and united together to form a complete seal for said opening when said closure strips are mated together.

3. In an article of the class described including a container closed by a pair of overlapping closure strips with thickened marginal reinforcements, said reinforcements having on confronting faces longitudinally extending grooves and ridges, the grooves in one of said reinforcements being aligned with ridges in the other reinforcement for resilient locking engagement therewith, the improvement which comprises providing means integral with the marginal reinforcement of one of said yclosure strips along the entire length thereof whereby frictional engagement surfaces are provided to aid in manually grasping said closure strip in separating said reinforcements to provide an opening into said container.

4. A pouch comprising front and back sheet-like walls having mated edges united together to define a container and having corresponding free upper edges spaced from each other to define an opening into said container on the front side thereof, a first closure strip secured to the free upper edge of said back wall to extend the length thereof and downwardly therefrom, a second closure strip secured to the upper free edge of said front wall to extend the length thereof and upwardly therefrom to overlap said first closure strip, said closure strips having offset integral thickened marginal reinforcements, said reinforcements having on confronting faces longitudinally ex-tending grooves and ridges, each groove in one .of said reinforcements being aligned with a corresponding ridge in the opposite reinforcement and lvice versa `and adapted for resilient locking engagement therewith, longitudinal `ribs integral with the marginal reinforcement of said s'econd closure strip along the entire length thereof providing means for frictionally engaging said first closure strip whereby said reinforcements can be separated to provide an opening into said container.

5. A pouch comprising front and back sheet-like walls having mated edges united together to define a container and having corresponding free upper edges spaced from each other to define an opening into said container on the front side thereof, a first closure strip secured to the free upper edge of said back wall to extend the length thereof and downwardly therefrom, a second closure strip secured to the upper :free edge of said front wall to extend the length thereof and upwardly therefrom to overlap said first closure strip, said closure strips having offset integral thickened marginal reinforcements, said reinforcements having on confronting faces longitudinally extending grooves and ridges, each groove in one of said reinforcements being aligned with a corresponding ridge in the opposite reinforcement `and vice versa and adapted for resilient locking engagement therewith, a flange integral with the `marginal reinforcement of said second closure strip extending longitudinally the length thereof and extending laterally normally therefrom, said fiange having frictional engagement surfaces thereon to aid in grasping said flange to separate said reinforcements to provide an opening into said container.

6. A pouch comprising `front and back sheet-like walls having mated edges united together to define a container and having corresponding free upper edges spaced from each other to define an opening into said container on the front side thereof, a first closure strip secured to the free upper edge of said back wall to extend the length thereof and downwardly therefrom, a second closure strip secured to the upper free edge of said front wall to extend the length Ithereof and upwardly therefrom to overlap said first closure strip, said closure strips having offset integral thickened marginal reinforcements, said reinforcements having on confronting faces longitudinally extending grooves and ridges, each `groove in one of said reinforcements being aligned with a corresponding ridge in the opposite reinforcement and vice versa and adapted for resilient locking engagement therewith, a flange integral with the marginal reinforcement of said second closure strip extending longitudinally the entire length thereof and extending laterally normally therefrom, said flange having longitudinal ribs integral therewith to aid in grasping said flange whereby said reinforcements can be separated to provide an opening into said container by grasping said flange and pulling the same away from said first closure strip.

7. In a sliderless fastener closure including a pair of overlapping closure strips with thickened marginal reinforcements having on confronting faces longitudinally extending grooves and ridges, the grooves in one of said reinforcements ybeing aligned `with ridges in the other reinforcement for resilient locking engagement therewith, the improvement which comprises providing means integral lwith the marginal reinforcement of one of said closure strips along the entire length thereof to aid in separating said reinforcements in opening said closure the ends of said marginal reinforcements and of said means being rnerged and united together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,666,466 Sharat Jan. 19, 1954

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