(19)
(11) EP 0 873 856 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
21.07.1999 Bulletin 1999/29

(43) Date of publication A2:
28.10.1998 Bulletin 1998/44

(21) Application number: 98300178.5

(22) Date of filing: 12.01.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: B31B 19/90
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 24.04.1997 US 839974

(71) Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
Glenview, Illinois 60025 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Malin, Art
    Northbrook, Illinois (US)
  • Van Erden, Donald L.
    Wildwood, Illinois (US)
  • Kohl, James G.
    Gardenridge, Texas (US)
  • McMahon, Michael J.
    Palatine, Illinois (US)

(74) Representative: Rackham, Stephen Neil 
GILL JENNINGS & EVERY, Broadgate House, 7 Eldon Street
London EC2M 7LH
London EC2M 7LH (GB)

   


(54) Zipper strip and packaging using it


(57) A zipper strip (10) for a reclosable bag or package (110 Figure 8) includes a male interlocking profile (12) and a female interlocking profile (14) . The male interlocking profile (12) includes a male interlocking member (16) and a male web (20) coextruded therewith. In like manner, the female interlocking profile (14) includes a female interlocking member (18) and a female web (22). The male interlocking member (16) snappingly engages into the female interlocking member (18) to join the profiles (12, 14) to one another. One of the male and female webs (20, 22) is wider than the other in at least one of two directions extending outwards from the male and female interlocking members (16, 18), the greater width forming at least one flange (24, 26) extending widthwise beyond the other web. The zipper strip (10) is designed to be attached to thermoplastic sheet material (50) by sealing the at least one flange (24, 26) thereto without sealing the male and female webs (20, 22) to each other. Methods for securing the zipper strip (10) to thermoplastic sheet material, and for making packages on a horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine, are also disclosed.






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