Resealable Bag Enclosure with Opening Stop Pattern

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Resealable bags often tear beyond the zipper assembly when excessive force is applied, preventing resealing and compromising the freshness of contents.

Innovation Solution

A resealable bag enclosure design featuring a peel seal with a pattern oriented differently than the zipper assembly and relief areas to absorb excess force, preventing tearing and allowing resealing without ripping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the seal does not go the length of the film, then the opening that needs to be resealed is decreased, but the bag may tear past the zipper assembly when excessive force is applied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening length to be resealedVSAvoidbag integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is segmented into two distinct patterns: a first pattern (zipper assembly) that allows resealing and a second pattern (opening stop) that prevents over-opening. This segmentation divides the sealing function into two separate zones with different purposes, allowing the seal to stop before reaching the film edge while maintaining bag integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second pattern acts as an intermediary element between the zipper assembly and the film edge. It serves as a mediator that absorbs excess force and prevents direct transmission of tearing forces to the film edge, thereby protecting the bag structure while allowing controlled opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If excessive force is applied to open the bag, then the bag can be opened fully, but the bag tears past the zipper assembly preventing resealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebag openingVSAvoidresealability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The second pattern is positioned beforehand to cushion and absorb excess opening forces before they can cause damage. This pre-positioned protective structure prevents tearing by distributing and absorbing the impact of excessive force, ensuring the bag remains resealable even when opened with too much force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The opening stop pattern provides preliminary anti-action by resisting and preventing the harmful action of over-opening. It creates a counter-force that stops the opening process before it can progress to a point where resealing becomes impossible, thereby preemptively protecting against the loss of resealability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP4153497B1Resealable bag enclosure
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP4153497B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4153497B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A resealable bag enclosure may be provided that includes a film having an opposing first side and second side coupled with each other, and a resealable zipper assembly coupled with the first side and the second side of the film. The first side and the second side of the film together may form a pattern at an opening stop location disposed between the first and second edges of the film and adjacent to an end of the zipper assembly. The pattern of the first side and the second side of the film may also resist opening of the resealable bag enclosure beyond the end of the zipper assembly when the first side and the second side of the film are pulled apart to prevent the peel seal from extending beyond the pattern.