Segmented Fastener Strips for Sealed Resealable Enclosure Corners

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flexible enclosures with fastener strips face difficulties in forming sealed corners, leading to gaps that allow air and product leakage, and the manufacturing process is complex, resulting in improperly formed enclosures.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a single web of flexible material with fastener strips spaced apart to form a resealable enclosure, where the strips are attached to the interior of the walls and spaced to create gaps that form corners, allowing the enclosure to be folded into a sealed shape without the fastener strips entering the corners, using a system with a zipper applicator and heat-sealing assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a continuous fastener strip is laid across the web to reseal the enclosure, then the enclosure can be resealed, but the thickness of the fastener strip creates gaps through which air and product can pass, and it becomes difficult to create sealed corners

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidair and product leakage through gaps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous fastener strip is divided into discrete segments spaced apart from each other. These segmented fastener strips are attached to the web at intervals, allowing the web to be folded back and sealed at the corners between the segments. This segmentation eliminates the gap problem by removing the fastener strip material from the corner regions, enabling proper sealing while maintaining resealing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the gussets are not sealed together to allow opening access, then the enclosure can be opened for access, but the fastener strip becomes a long thin strand that is difficult to manufacture and seal properly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening accessVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fastener strip is segmented into discrete portions rather than being a single long continuous strand. Each segment is independently attached to the web at specific locations, simplifying the manufacturing process. The segments are spaced to allow the gussets to be opened and closed without requiring a continuous fastener strip, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fastener strips are pre-spaced and positioned on the web before the gussets are formed and sealed. This preliminary placement ensures that when the gussets are folded and sealed, the fastener strips are already in the correct positions to enable opening and closing, simplifying the overall manufacturing sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a long thin fastener strip is used to seal the enclosure, then the enclosure can be sealed, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and results in improperly formed enclosures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing capabilityVSAvoidenclosure formation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The fastener strip is divided into discrete segments that are spaced apart, which simplifies the manufacturing process. Each segment can be independently positioned and sealed to the web, improving manufacturing precision. This segmentation allows for better control during the sealing process, preventing improper enclosure formation while maintaining sealing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution enables the creation of enclosures with sealed corners and increased volume, reducing material usage and deformation, while simplifying the manufacturing process by forming the enclosure from a single web of flexible material with spaced fastener strips.

Implementation Method 1

a heat-sealing assembly that bonds the fastener strips to the flexible material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat sealing:

Data Source

PatentUS20240066826A1Resealable enclosure having fastener strips, and a method and system for making the same

Publication Date: 2024.02.29 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC

AI summary

A method is provided that includes moving a first web of flexible material in a web direction. The method then includes attaching fastener strips to the first web. The fastener strips are spaced-apart a predetermined distance along a transverse direction to the web direction. An enclosure is formed from the first web including a front wall, a back wall, a first lateral side wall, and a second lateral side wall. The front wall opposes the back wall, and the first lateral side wall opposes the second lateral side wall. The enclosure includes an upper end openable by separating the fastener strips. Corners are formed in the enclosure between the front wall, the back wall, the first lateral side wall, and the second lateral side wall. The corners are formed from the predetermined distance between the fastener strips and the fastener strips are spaced apart from each other by the corners.