Ventable package with zipper closure, and methods

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/592,490, filed Nov. 2, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/735,780, filed on Nov. 12, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

This disclosure relates to polymeric packages, and, in particular, to packages having a resealable closure arrangement and a venting feature, and methods of manufacturing and using the packages.

Flexible polymeric packages may be used to hold a variety of products. Examples of such products include a variety of edible food products such as cheese, meat, crackers, granular sugar, powdered sugar, flour, salt, and baking soda, and non-food products such as laundry detergent, sand, medical supplies, and other products. Resealable packages are convenient because they can be closed and resealed after opening to contain the enclosed contents. Resealable packages are also advantageous in that they extend the life of food products because they can be opened and closed (resealed) multiple times. Resealable polymeric packages are used in environments that include the refrigerator, freezer, and at room conditions.

The present disclosure is directed to reclosable packages having a zipper closure. The packages include a venting feature that allows flow of fluid, such as air, form the interior of the packages to the outside environment. In use, the venting feature is used to evacuate air from the interior of the packages, without the need to open the zipper closure.

In one particular aspect, the disclosure is to a polymeric package that has a surrounding wall and a bottom edge, which together form an interior for receiving items therein. A first zipper profile member and a second zipper profile member are present on the surrounding wall opposite the bottom edge. Access can be gained to the interior through the mouth that is defined between the zipper profile members. The package includes a venting feature on the surrounding wall, the venting feature comprising a plurality of vents within the surrounding wall to provide fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the package, and a tape overlying the vents. The tape may be attached to the surrounding wall along longitudinal edges of the tape, and/or may be attached intermittently at attachment regions. Together, the tape and the surrounding wall define a plurality of passages that provide fluid communication between the package interior and the exterior of the package. The passages allow fluid from the package interior to flow to the exterior of the package, and vice versa.

Various methods for using the package, and of making the package, are also described.

These and various other features which characterize the packages of this disclosure are pointed out with particularity in the attached claims. For a better understanding of the packages of the disclosure, their advantages, their use and objectives obtained by their use, reference should be made to the drawings and to the accompanying description, in which there is illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a polymeric package according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the package of FIG. 1 taken along line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the polymeric package of FIG. 1 illustrating a portion partially removed to facilitate understanding of its construction;

FIG. 3 is a view of the polymeric package similar to FIG. 2, with three suitable alternate embodiments illustrated enlarged;

FIG. 4 is a view of the polymeric package similar to FIG. 1, with an enlarged view of a portion of the package; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the package of FIGS. 1-4 illustrating a method of using the package.

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