TAMPER EVIDENT POLYMERIC PACKAGE WITH ZIPPER CLOSURE AND VALVE, AND METHODS
A reclosable package having a zipper closure, and optionally a slider device to open and close the zipper closure, and a one-way valve. The package can include an internal seal, which can be a peal seal. In use, the valve is used to remove air from the interior of the package, and the sealant strip, in combination with the zipper closure, provides a better seal than the zipper alone.
1 . A polymeric resealable bag comprising:
(a) a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, the surrounding wall having a first side edge and a second side edge;
(b) a zipper closure secured to the surrounding wall, comprising a first mating closure profile and a second mating closure profile;
(c) a first tamper-evident structure casing at least a portion of the zipper closure, the first tamper-evident structure having a weakness extending between the first and second side edges constructed and arranged to permit removal of the first tamper-evident structure along the weakness from a remaining portion of the bag; and
(d) a one-way evacuation valve oriented in the surrounding wall between the zipper closure and the interior volume.
2 . The resealable bag of claim 1 wherein the surrounding wall comprises a first panel section and a second opposed panel section.
3 . The resealable bag of claim 2 wherein:
(a) the first mating profile is attached to the first panel section and extends from the first side edge to the second side edge; and
(b) the second mating profile is attached to the second panel section and extends from the first side edge to the second side edge.
4 . The resealable bag of claim 2 further comprising a seal present on at least one of the first and second panel sections, between the zipper closure and the interior volume, and extends between the first and second side edges.
5 . The resealable bag of claim 2 further comprising a slider device operably mounted on the zipper closure and being moveable between a first position adjacent to the first side edge and a second position adjacent to the second side edge;
(a) the slider device being constructed and arranged to interlock the first mating profile with the second mating profile when the slider device is moved in a direction from the second position to the first position; and
(b) the slider device being constructed and arranged to disengage the first mating profile from the second mating profile when the slider device is moved in a direction from the first position to the second position.
6 . The resealable bag of claim 2 further comprising a second tamper evident-structure positioned between the zipper closure and interior volume.
7 . The resealable bag of claim 6 wherein the second tamper evident-structure comprises a web extending between the first panel section and the second panel section from the first side edge to the second side edge.
8 . The resealable bag of claim 1 wherein the surrounding wall comprises textured film material.
9 . The resealable bag of claim 8 , wherein the surrounding wall comprises a first panel section and a second opposed panel section.
10 . The resealable bag of claim 9 , wherein the textured film material is attached to at least one of the first and second panel sections.
11 . The resealable bag of claim 9 , wherein the textured film material is integral with at least one of the first and second panel sections.
12 . The resealable bag of claim 4 , wherein the seal is a resealable seal.
13 . The resealable bag of claim 2 wherein:
(a) the zipper closure includes:
(i) a first zipper profile defining a first profile member secured to the first panel section; and
(ii) a second zipper profile defining a second profile member secured to the second panel section;
(A) the first profile member and second profile member being constructed and arranged to selectively interlock and separate.
14 . The resealable bag of claim 4 wherein the seal is positioned between the zipper closure and the valve.
15 . The resealable bag of claim 4 wherein the valve is positioned between the zipper closure and the seal.
16 . The resealable bag of claim 3 further comprising:
(a) a food item in the interior volume.
17 . A method of storing a food item in a polymeric bag; the method comprising:
(a) providing a bag having: a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, the surrounding wall having a first side edge and a second side edge; a zipper closure secured to the surrounding wall, comprising a first mating closure profile and a second mating closure profile; a first tamper-evident structure casing at least a portion of the zipper closure, the first tamper-evident structure having a weakness extending between the first and second side edges constructed and arranged to permit removal of the first tamper-evident structure along the weakness from a remaining portion of the bag; and a one-way evacuation valve oriented in the surrounding wall between the zipper closure and the interior volume.; and
(b) providing a food item in the interior volume.
18 . A method according to claim 17 wherein:
(a) the step of providing a food item includes orienting cheese in the interior volume.
19 . A method according to claim 17 , wherein:
(a) the step of providing a bag includes providing a bag having a resealable peel seal between the first and second panel sections.
20 . A method of using a polymeric bag; the method comprising:
(a) breaching a tamper evident header to obtain access to a zipper closure;
(b) pulling the zipper closure apart to separate the closure to provide access to a seal sealing together opposing panel sections of a bag;
(b) pulling the opposing panel sections of the bag apart in a vicinity of the seal to release the seal and provide access to a storage area of the bag;
(c) accessing a food item in the storage area of the bag;
(d) after accessing the food item, interlocking the zipper closure to close the bag; and
(e) squeezing the bag to force at least some gas in the bag through a one-way valve located in the first panel section.
21 . A method according to claim 20 wherein:
(a) the step of pulling the zipper closure apart to separate the closure comprises moving a slider device from a first position adjacent to the first side edge to a second position adjacent to the second side edge to separate the closure; and
(b) the step of interlocking the zipper closure to close the bag comprises moving the slider device from the second position to the first position.