Resealable Zipper Bag Alignment Button for Reliable Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Resealable storage bags with zipper lock closures often face difficulties in alignment due to narrow tracks and contents, leading to unreliable airtight seals, especially when the bag is full or the zipper seal is long, resulting in misalignment and incomplete closure.
Innovation Solution
The integration of alignment buttons with raised features and corresponding sockets on opposing sides of the bag's seal, which capture the apex of the raised feature to align the opposing tracks of the zipper lock or seal, facilitating easy closure and ensuring a reliable airtight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the zipper seal tracks are made narrow to reduce bag size, then the bag volume is reduced, but the alignment difficulty increases making it hard to close
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment button is divided into two separate parts: a raised feature on one side of the bag and a corresponding socket feature on the opposing side. These segmented features work together to provide alignment guidance while maintaining a compact bag design.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment button features act as intermediary elements between the user's fingers and the zipper tracks. When the user pinches the alignment buttons, they provide a mechanical guide that ensures proper track alignment, solving the alignment difficulty caused by narrow tracks.
2Area of stationary object
If the zipper seal length is increased to seal larger bags, then the sealing capacity is improved, but the alignment reliability decreases leading to incomplete closure
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment buttons are positioned along the zipper seal to provide preliminary alignment guidance before the sealing action occurs. This pre-alignment ensures that when the user closes the bag, the tracks are properly positioned for reliable sealing throughout the entire seal length.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket feature capturing the apex of the raised feature provides tactile feedback to the user that proper alignment has been achieved. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable closure by confirming that the tracks are correctly positioned before the sealing force is applied.
3Quantity of substance
If the bag is filled to capacity to maximize storage, then the storage efficiency is improved, but the track alignment becomes difficult due to contents interference
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment button features serve as intermediary mechanical guides that bridge the gap between the user's closing action and the zipper tracks. By pinching the alignment buttons, the user obtains precise alignment guidance that overcomes the interference caused by bag contents.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the reliance on direct finger manipulation of narrow tracks with a mechanical guidance system consisting of raised features and socket features. This mechanical substitution provides more reliable alignment guidance that is not affected by bag contents.
Data Source
AI summary
An alignment button for easy resealing of zipper bags is provided. One or more alignment buttons facilitate closure of resealable storage bags possessing zipper lock, zip fastener, or press seal closures, such as sandwich bags and plastic food storage bags. Each alignment button has a raised feature and a corresponding socket feature on opposing sides of the bag's seal or closure. When the two parts of each alignment button are pressed together, the socket feature captures an apex part of the raised feature and aligns opposing tracks of a zipper lock or seal for easy closure. One of more of the alignment buttons may be manufactured as an integral feature of the seal or closure, or may be located in a line or pattern, above or below the seal or closure. Likewise, multiple alignment buttons may be placed above and below the seal or closure in a pattern.