Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a child-resistant zipper and a packaging bag incorporating
such a zipper to prevent unwanted opening of the zipper, for example, by a child,
etc., but which is readily opened by predetermined procedures.
Background Art
[0002] The term "child-resistant" refers to a function/mechanism by means of which it is
possible to prevent an object from being easily manipulated, for example, by a child
or other similar individual. Due to this function, a child is hindered or prevented,
for example, from tampering with a lighter, and from easily opening a container of
medicine, etc.
[0003] On the other hand, a packaging bag including a sealing zipper can be easily opened
and closed, and may be used for various packaging purposes. For example, the packaging
bag disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No.
3655104 is suitable, in particular, for the packaging of food to be cooked by heating by
a microwave oven, etc. In this case, two zippers are provided in parallel at the opening
of the bag body. Only one of the zippers is opened on heating, and the open zipper
is closed when the food is to be stored after the completion of the heating, whereby
it is possible to perform the heating and the storage thereafter through easy operational
procedures.
[0004] Although there has been proposed a zipper suitable for the packaging of food to be
cooked by heating as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No.
3655104, no zipper has been proposed as of yet which is provided with a child-resistant function
to hinder or prevent its opening by a child.
[0005] Thus, in a case where something which has to be prevented from being accidentally
ingested by a child is included in a packaging bag equipped with a zipper, control
of the packaging bag requires careful monitoring. Thus, there is a need for a child-resistant
zipper for use in a packaging bag that is difficult for a child to open.
[0006] The present invention has been made with a view toward solving at least one of the
above problems.
Summary of the Invention
[0007] In a first aspect according to the present invention, there is provided a zipper
unit equipped with a pair of adhesion band members for adherence to opposing inner
side surfaces of an opening of a packaging bag , and a fit-engagement body configured
to releasably engage opposing surfaces of the adhesion band members, wherein the fit-engagement
body comprises a sealing zipper which releasably engages the inner side surfaces of
the opening of the bag in a sealed state which is released with the opening operation
of the opening of the packaging bag ; and a locking zipper comprising a first fit-engagement
portion with at least one fit-engagement protrusion, and a second fit-engagement portion
with at least one fit-engagement recess, wherein the first and second fit-engagement
portions are on opposing surfaces of the fit engagement body and the fit-engagement
protrusion and recess are adapted to releasably engage the first and second fit-engagement
portions in a locked state, the locking zipper also comprising a releasing cutout
portion provided in the fit-engagement body, wherein engagement of the fit-engaging
protrusion and recess is released from the releasing cutout portion to unlock the
locking zipper, wherein the locking zipper and the sealing zipper are arranged on
the inner side surfaces of the opening of the bag.
[0008] In one embodiment, there is provided a zipper unit, wherein, in the locking zipper
, a plurality of releasing cutout portions are alternately provided along the first
and second fit-engagement portions between protrusions and recesses, respectively,
and wherein the locked state of the locking zipper is released when engaged fit-engagement
protrusions and fit-engagement recesses are caused to slide oppositely toward an adjacent
releasing cutout portion.
[0009] In another embodiment, there is provided a zipper unit, wherein, in the locking zipper,
the releasing cutout portion is provided at an end portion of the fit-engagement body,
and the locked state of the locking zipper is released by inserting a finger into
the releasing cutout portion.
[0010] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a packaging bag with a zipper
unit equipped with a pair of adhesion band members adhered to inner opposing side
surfaces of an opening of the packaging bag, and a fit-engagement body configured
to releasably engage opposing surfaces of the adhesion band members, wherein the fit
engagement body comprises: a sealing zipper which releasably engages the inner side
surfaces of the opening P1 in a sealed state which is released with the opening operation
of the opening of the packaging bag; and a locking zipper comprising a first fit-engagement
portion with at least one fit-engagement protrusion, and a second fit-engagement portion
with at least one fit-engagement recess, wherein the first and second fit-engagement
portions are on opposing surfaces of the fit engagement body and the fit-engagement
protrusion and recess are adapted to releasably engage the first and second fit-engagement
portions in a locked state, the locking zipper also comprising releasing cutout portions
provided in the fit-engagement body , wherein engagement of the fit-engaging protrusion
and recess is released from a releasing cutout portion , wherein the releasing cutout
portions are alternately provided along the first and second fit-engagement portions
between protrusions and recesses, respectively, and the locked state of the locking
zipper is released when engaged fit-engagement protrusions and recesses are caused
to slide oppositely toward the adjacent releasing cutout portion, and wherein the
locking zipper is provided as the first zipper at the opening of the packaging bag
, and the sealing zipper is provided as the second zipper accessible when the locking
zipper is released.
[0011] In an embodiment, there is provided a zipper packaging bag provided with a zipper
unit equipped with a pair of adhesion band members adhered to inner opposing side
surfaces of an opening of a packaging bag, and a fit-engagement body configured to
releasably engage opposing surfaces of the adhesion band members, wherein the fit
engagement body comprises : a sealing zipper which releasably engages the inner side
surfaces of the opening in a sealed state which is released with the opening operation
of the opening of the packaging bag; and a locking zipper comprising a first fit-engagement
portion with at least one fit-engagement protrusion, and a second fit-engagement portion
with at least one fit-engagement recess, wherein the first and second fit-engagement
portions are on opposing surfaces of the fit engagement body and the fit-engagement
protrusion and recess are adapted to releasably engage the first and second fit-engagement
portions in a locked state, the locking zipper also comprising a releasing cutout
portion provided in the fit-engagement body, wherein engagement of the fit-engaging
protrusion and recess is released from the releasing cutout portion , wherein the
releasing cutout portion is provided at a longitudinal end portion of the fit-engagement
body , the locked state of the locking zipper is released by inserting a finger into
the releasing cutout portion, and wherein the locking zipper is provided as the first
zipper at the opening of the packaging bag , and the sealing zipper is provided as
the second zipper accessible by the release of the locking zipper.
[0012] The zipper unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, for use in a
packaging bag, incorporates a locking zipper which has a fit-engagement strength that
is greater or stronger than the fit-engagement strength of the sealing zipper. The
locking zipper includes a releasing cutout portion formed within part of the fit-engagement
body , and the locked state of the locking zipper is released from the releasing cutout
portion, whereby, even when the opening of the packaging bag is opened at the sealing
zipper, the locking zipper is not released or unlocked, but can be opened from the
releasing cutout portion making the opening of the locking zipper difficult for opening
by a child, or other similar individual.
[0013] The locking zipper is formed such that protrusions and recesses formed in the fit-engagement
body and releasing cutout portions are alternately provided along the fit-engagement
body, and that fit-engaged protrusions and recesses of the fit-engaged fit-engagement
body are released from engagement when respectively caused to slide oppositely toward
the adjacent releasing cutout portion. Thus, if one tries to open the packaging bag,
the locking zipper will not open, thereby hindering opening of packaging bag by a
child.
[0014] The releasing cutout portion may be provided at a longitudinal end portion of the
fit-engagement body and the fit-engaged portions of the fit-engagement body are opened
or released from engagement by inserting a finger into the releasing cutout portion.
Thus, if one tries to open the packaging bag , the locking zipper will not open. As
a result, the packaging bag hinders opening by a child.
[0015] It is possible to provide various packaging bags with a locking zipper as herein
described to render the opening of the packaging bags to be child-resistant. Furthermore,
when the locking zipper is released from its locked state and opened, the sealing
zipper is readily opened through the opening operation of the packaging bag in a normal
manner.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0016]
Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a side sectional view taken along arrow line II-II of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side sectional view showing a lock structure when the opening is widened.
Fig. 4 is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a side sectional view taken along arrow line V-V of Fig. 4.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, a zipper unit, for example, a polyethylene
or polypropylene zipper unit, is provided having a fit-engagement body 2 comprising
first and second fit-engagement portions which may be releasably fit-engaged; basically,
the zipper is formed by the adhesion band members 1 and the fit-engagement portions
of body 2 protruding therefrom; due to the fit-engagement strength of the fit-engagement
portions of body 2, the opening P1 of the packaging bag P may be releasably engaged
(See Figs. 1 and 4) .
[0018] The adhesion band members 1 are band-like members for adherence to the opposing inner
sides of the opening P1 of, for example, a packaging bag P, e.g. a polyethylene or
polypropylene bag (See Fig. 1). The first fit-engagement portion of fit-engagement
body 2 comprises fit-engagement protrusions 2A and the second fit-engagement portion
comprises fit-engagement recesses 2B provided on the opposing surfaces of the fit-engagement
body 2 and permit the band-like bodies 1 to be fit-engaged with each other.
[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, a zipper unit is provided comprising two
kinds of zippers: the locking zipper 10 and the sealing zipper 20 (See Figs. 1 and
4). The sealing zipper 20 is a zipper for releasably engaging the opposing inner side
surfaces of the opening P1 of bag P to each other in a sealed state; it is a zipper
of a general type in which the fit-engaged fit-engagement body 2 (e.g. the engagement
of first and second portions of the fit-engagement body 2) is opened or released with
the opening operation of the opening P1 of the packaging bag P.
[0020] The locking zipper 10 is a zipper in which the fit-engagement the first and second
portions of the fit-engagement body 2 is stronger than that of the sealing zipper
20; it is provided so as to be difficult to open through the opening operation of
the opening P1 of the packaging bag P. Furthermore, at least one releasing cutout
portion 3 is provided in a part of the fit-engagement body 2 (See Figs. 1 and 4).
This releasing cutout portion 3 is provided so as to open or release the locked state
of the locking zipper 10 (e.g. the engagement of first and second portions of the
fit-engaged fit-engagement body 2 by the locking zipper 10).
[0021] In the locking zipper 10 shown in Figs. 1 through 3, the fit-engagement portions
of body 2 comprises a plurality of releasing cutout portions 3 alternately provided
with fit-engagement recesses 2B and protrusions 2A along the longitudinal direction
of the fit-engagement body 2 (See Fig. 3(A)). And, when the fit-engagement protrusion
2A and the fit-engagement recess 2B in the fit-engaged state are caused to slide oppositely
in the direction of the adjacent releasing cutout portion 3 (See Fig. 3(B)), the fit-engagement
body 2 is opened or released from its locked state (See Fig. 3(C)). Although a large
number of releasing cutout portions 3 are provided along the fit-engagement body 2
in the drawings, the number and interval of the releasing cutout portions 3 are not
restricted to those shown but can be set arbitrarily from at least 1 to a plurality.
[0022] In the locking zipper 10 shown in the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5, the releasing
cutout portion 3E is provided at a longitudinal end portion of the fit-engagement
body; by inserting a finger into the releasing cutout portion 3E, the fit-engagement
state of the fit-engagement body 2 is released. That is, by inserting a fingertip
into the releasing cutout portion 3E, it is possible to forcibly open, e.g. disengage
the fit-engagement body 2 by disengaging the engagement between recesses and protrusions
of first and second fit engagement portions. Although, in the shown example, the releasing
cutout portions 3E are provided at both longitudinal end portions of the fit-engagement
body 2, it is also possible to provide the releasing cutout portion 3E solely at one
side of the end portions. Furthermore, apart from forming the releasing cutout portion
3E in a width allowing insertion of a fingertip, it is also possible to form the releasing
cutout portion 3 by cutting out a part of the fit-engagement body 2. Thus, a releasing
cutout portion 3E permits opening of the fit-engagement body 2 with a fingertip, or
other means.
[0023] The packaging bag P of an embodiment of the present invention is a packaging bag
P provided with zippers releasably engaging the opening P1 by the fit-engagement strength
of the fit-engagement body 2 (See Figs. 1 and 4). That is, the present invention provides
a zipper unit and packaging bag P incorporating a zipper unit comprising a locking
zipper 10 and a sealing zipper 20 at the opening P1.
[0024] Thus, the locking zipper 10 may be selected from a locking zipper as defined herein,
such as a locking zipper 10 shown in Fig. 1 or a locking zipper 10 shown in Fig. 4.
Regarding the sealing zipper 20, any type of conventionally used sealing zippers are
sufficient.
[0025] Preferably, by providing the locking zipper 10 as the first zipper at the opening
P1 of the packaging bag P, the opening of the packaging bag by a child is hindered
(See Figs. 1, 2 and 5). Furthermore, by providing the sealing zipper 20 as the second
zipper, closest to the inside P2 of the packaging bag P, and accessed only by opening
or releasing locking zipper 10, the packaging bag P is sealed. Although, in the shown
examples, the locking zipper 10 and the sealing zipper 20 are separately provided,
these may also be provided integrally.
[0026] The zipper unit described herein is applicable to all packaging bags in which both
a locking zipper 10 and the sealing zipper 20 are concurrently used at the opening
P1. Thus, in addition to the flat bag as shown in the drawings, the packaging bag
of the present invention may be gusseted bags of various types, including, but limited
to, bottom gusset or side gusset bags, with or without a flat-bottom configuration.
Further, regarding the configuration, structure, size, contents, etc., of the packaging
bag P, various modifications are possible.
Description of Symbols
[0027]
- P:
- Packaging bag
- P1:
- Opening
- P2:
- the inside of the packaging bag
- 1:
- Adhesion band member
- 2:
- Fit-engagement body
- 2A:
- Fit-engagement protrusion
- 2B:
- Fit-engagement recess
- 3:
- Releasing cutout portion
- 10:
- Locking zipper
- 20:
- Sealing zipper
1. A child-resistant zipper unit comprising a pair of adhesion band members for adherence
to opposing inner side surfaces of an opening of a packaging bag, and a fit-engagement
body configured to releasably engage opposing surfaces of the adhesion band members,
wherein the fit-engagement body comprises: a sealing zipper which releasably engages
the inner side surfaces of the opening in a sealed state which is released with the
opening operation of the opening of a packaging bag; and
a locking zipper comprising a first fit-engagement portion with at least one fit-engagement
protrusion, and a second fit-engagement portion with at least one fit-engagement recess,
wherein the first and second fit-engagement portions are on opposing surfaces of the
fit engagement body and the fit-engagement protrusion and recess are adapted to releasably
engage the first and second fit-engagement portions in a locked state, the locking
zipper also comprising a releasing cutout portion provided in the fit-engagement body,
wherein engagement of the fit-engaging protrusion and recess is released from the
releasing cutout portion to unlock the locking zipper,
wherein the locking zipper and the sealing zipper are arranged parallel to the inner
side surfaces of the opening.
2. The zipper unit according to Claim 1, wherein, in the locking zipper, a plurality
of releasing cutout portions are alternately provided along first and second fit-engagement
portions between the protrusions and recesses, respectively, and wherein the locked
state of the locking zipper is released when the engaged fit-engagement protrusions
and a fit-engagement recesses are caused to slide oppositely toward an adjacent releasing
cutout portion.
3. The zipper unit according to Claim 1, wherein, in the locking zipper, the releasing
cutout portion is provided at an end portion of the fit-engagement body, and the locked
state of the locking zipper is released by inserting a finger into the releasing cutout
portion.
4. A zipper packaging bag provided with a zipper unit comprising a pair of adhesion band
members adhered to inner opposing side surfaces of an opening of the packaging bag,
and a fit-engagement body configured to releasably engage opposing surfaces of the
adhesion band members,
wherein the fit engagement body comprises a sealing zipper which releasably engages
the inner side surfaces of the opening in a sealed state which is released with the
opening operation of the opening of the packaging bag; and a locking zipper comprising
a first fit-engagement portion with at least one fit-engagement protrusion, and a
second fit-engagement portion with at least one fit-engagement recess, wherein the
first and second fit-engagement portions are on opposing surfaces of the fit engagement
body and the fit-engagement protrusion and recess are adapted to releasably engage
the first and second fit-engagement portions in a locked state, the locking zipper
also comprising releasing cutout portions provided in the fit-engagement body, wherein
engagement of the fit-engaging protrusion and recess is released from the releasing
cutout portion,
wherein releasing cutout portions are alternately provided along the first and second
fit-engagement portions between the protrusions and recesses, respectively, and locked
state of the locking zipper is released when engaged fit-engagement protrusions and
the fit-engagement recesses are caused to slide oppositely toward the adjacent releasing
cutout portion, and
wherein the locking zipper is provided as the first zipper at the opening of the packaging
bag, and the sealing zipper is provided as the second zipper accessible on release
of the locking zipper.
5. A zipper packaging bag provided with a zipper unit comprising a pair of adhesion band
members adhered to inner opposing side surfaces of an opening of a packaging bag,
and a fit-engagement body configured to releasably engage opposing surfaces of the
adhesion band members,
wherein the fit engagement body comprises a sealing zipper which releasably engages
the inner side surfaces of the opening in a sealed state and which is released with
the opening operation of the opening of the packaging bag; and a locking zipper comprising
a first fit-engagement portion with at least one fit-engagement protrusion, and a
second fit-engagement portion with at least one fit-engagement recess, wherein the
first and second fit-engagement portions are on opposing surfaces of the fit engagement
body and the fit-engagement protrusion and recess are adapted to releasably engage
the first and second fit-engagement portions in a locked state, the locking zipper
also comprising a releasing cutout portion provided in the fit-engagement body, wherein
engagement of the fit-engagingprotrusion and recess is released from the releasing
cutout portion,
wherein the releasing cutout portion is provided at a longitudinal end portion of
the fit-engagement body, and the locked state of the locking zipper is released by
inserting a finger into the releasing cutout portion, and
wherein the locking zipper is provided as the first zipper at the opening of the packaging
bag, and the sealing zipper is provided as the second zipper accessible when the locking
zipper is released.