Reclosable Bag Spout Formed From Zipper Flanges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reclosable bags lack an efficient and tamper-evident mechanism for opening and closing, which complicates access to contents and ensures integrity.
Innovation Solution
A reclosable bag design featuring first and second strips of fastener material with longitudinal flanges, where the flanges are secured to form a spout and can be manually disengaged using grasping flanges or a slider, providing a tamper-evident peel-seal feature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional reclosable bags use simple opening mechanisms, then the structure is simple, but the opening and closing mechanism is not tamper-evident and access is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening mechanism is divided into separate components: first and second fastening strips with distinct flanges (longitudinal flanges and grasping flanges). This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the longitudinal flanges for securing and the grasping flanges for manual operation - while collectively providing tamper-evident protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The peel-seal layer acts as an intermediary element between the fastening strips and the container opening. This intermediate layer provides the tamper-evident feature by requiring deliberate separation, creating a clear indicator of whether the container has been opened and closed properly.
2Ease of operation
If the bag opening is always accessible, then ease of access is improved, but contents integrity and tamper-evidence are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening mechanism transitions between two dynamic states: closed (providing integrity and tamper-evidence) and open (providing access to contents). The engageable and disengageable nature of the fastening strips allows the system to adapt between these states based on user needs, while the peel-seal layer maintains tamper-evidence when in the closed state.
3Ease of operation
If the spout is always accessible, then dispensing ease is improved, but the risk of unintended opening and loss of tamper-evidence is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is nested within the container body and is only accessible when the fastening mechanism is deliberately opened. The spout remains contained and protected when the bag is closed, preventing unintended access while allowing controlled dispensing when the user intentionally separates the fastening strips.
4Reliability
If the fastening strips are secured tightly, then contents security is improved, but manual opening becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the fastening strips have different properties: the longitudinal flanges are designed for secure attachment to the container (providing contents security), while the grasping flanges are specifically shaped and positioned to be easily manipulated by fingers (providing manual opening ease). This local differentiation of functional properties resolves the contradiction between security and ease of operation.
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
Enables easy and repeated opening and closing of the bag while ensuring the contents' integrity and providing a tamper-evident mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
If the flanges of the fastener strips are plastics material, they can conveniently be secured together by heat sealing.
Data Source
AI summary
The bag 1 has an opening 20 which is reclosable by way of zipper profiles 24, 26. A spout 30 is formed from flanges of the zipper profiles and folds out from the inside of the bag for use in dispensing its contents. After use, it is folded away and the bag sealed by the zipper. Zippers useful in making the bag are also disclosed (FIGS. 4 to 7), one being a slider zipper. A method of making the bag and apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed (see FIGS. 8 to 16), as is incorporation of the process in reel-to-reel, pre-made bag and form-fill-seal types of process.