Resealable Closure Strip Termination Ends for Complete Sealing

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing resealable closure strips for flexible bags often leave gaps at the outer ends when sealed, allowing air to enter and potentially causing spoilage due to the thickness of the closure strips preventing complete sealing.

Innovation Solution

Modifying the closure strips by removing or flattening portions of the profile body and flange to create termination ends that can be sealed between panels, ensuring the ends of the closure strips are fully integrated into the seal, using techniques such as cutting, flattening, or applying heat and pressure to eliminate gaps and achieve a complete seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the closure strip maintains its original thickness, then the coupling strength and sealing capability are improved, but gaps remain at the outer ends preventing complete sealing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing capabilityVSAvoidgap elimination at ends

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The closure strip is divided into two functional zones: a thicker coupling portion for strong engagement and a thinner termination end for complete sealing. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The closure strip exhibits non-uniform thickness with different local properties: the coupling portion maintains greater thickness for strength while the termination end is reduced in thickness to enable complete sealing. This local quality variation resolves the contradiction between sealing capability and gap elimination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the closure strip thickness is reduced to eliminate gaps, then complete sealing is achieved, but the coupling strength is weakened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegap elimination at endsVSAvoidcoupling strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The closure strip is divided into two functional zones: a thicker coupling portion for strong engagement and a thinner termination end for complete sealing. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The closure strip exhibits non-uniform thickness with different local properties: the coupling portion maintains greater thickness for strength while the termination end is reduced in thickness to enable complete sealing. This local quality variation resolves the contradiction between sealing capability and gap elimination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the closure strip uses uniform thickness throughout, then manufacturing is simplified, but gaps prevent complete sealing at the ends

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniform thickness productionVSAvoidsealing completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The closure strip exhibits non-uniform thickness with different local properties: the coupling portion maintains greater thickness for strength while the termination end is reduced in thickness to enable complete sealing. This local quality variation resolves the contradiction between sealing capability and gap elimination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The modified closure strips effectively prevent air from entering the bag by ensuring a complete seal at the ends, enhancing the preservation of contents within the resealable enclosure.

Implementation Method 1

applying heat and pressure to the panels and the closure strip to seal the closure strip to the panels

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat: Heating

Implementation Method 2

applying heat and pressure to the panels and the closure strip to seal the closure strip to the panels

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS20240336380A1Closure strips of resealable enclosures and methods of terminating the closure strips

Publication Date: 2024.10.10 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC

AI summary

A method includes obtaining an elongated supply strip formed from an elongated profile body and an elongated flange and modifying portions of the profile body and/or the flange in different locations along a length of the supply strip to define termination ends of closure strips. The supply strip is separated into at least one of the closure strips at the termination ends. The flange in the closure strip is coupled to one or more panels of a resealable enclosure, and the panels are partially sealed to define an opening into the resealable enclosure. The profile body is configured to repeatedly couple with and decouple from itself to close and open the opening in the resealable enclosure. The panels are sealed to each other such that the ends of the closure strip are sealed between the panels.