Flexible bags – With closure – Elongated clamping elements
Utility Patent
1999-06-09
2001-01-02
Pascua, Jes F. (Department: 3727)
Flexible bags
With closure
Elongated clamping elements
C383S090000
Utility Patent
active
06168312
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of packaging and, more specifically, to a system for repetitively opening and sealingly closing an openable end of a pliable container, such as a bag.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Pliable or flaccid containers are widely used to store both edible and non-edible products. For example, snack items, such as various types of chips and cereals, are typically packaged in pliable containers. These containers are generally sealed at both ends for initial packaging purposes and then one of the ends is opened to access the product. It is often desirable to utilize the container to store the product for extended periods of time and to repetitively open and close one end of the container to selectively access the contents thereof.
When used to store edible food items, it is particularly advantageous to adequately seal the openable end of the container between uses in order to prolong the useful life of the food items stored therein. For this reason, once the initial seal at one end of the container is broken, it is common practice to roll up the openable end of the pliable container for storage. Unfortunately, the rolled-up ends of such pliable containers generally tend to unroll between uses, which leads to the food items becoming stale prematurely.
Proposed solutions to this problem include providing various types of closure structures at the openable end to maintain the side walls of the container in a close bearing relationship for sealing purposes. For example, it is known to utilize a clip to prevent the openable container end from unrolling. Since such clips are completely separate from the container, they can be misplaced and are therefore often only used when readily available. In addition, these clips often tend to break and only directly maintain a small central section of the openable container end in a rather tight, closed condition. Zip-type closure arrangements have also become quite prevalent for use with certain types of bags. Such closure arrangements are considered advantageous in at least they generally extend entirely across the width of the openable end and are formed integral with the container. However, such closure arrangements are considered to be quite difficult to use, particularly for children and the elderly, due to the required dexterity. In addition, these closure arrangements do not provide an immediate indication that a complete seal has been established. Instead, the entire arrangement must be systematically sealed from one end of the opening to the other and if any portion is not sealed, the purpose of the entire closure can be completely compromised.
Based on the above, there exists a need in the art for a simple, inexpensive closure system for use with pliable containers which will be effectively used to repetitively open and sealingly close the pliable containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a closure system for use in repetitively opening and closing an openable end of a pliable container. In accordance with various preferred embodiments of the invention, the closure system includes first and second bands extending transversely across a first side wall of the pliable container. The second band is connected to the first band and arranged in a distinct plane from the first band when the closure system assumes an open condition, and nests with the first band in a common plane when the closure system assumes a closed condition wherein the openable end of the pliable container is sealing closed with at least a portion of a second side wall of the container being located between the first and second bands.
The closure system also includes structure attached to each of the first and second bands which develops a biasing force tending to maintain the system in the closed condition in order to create a good sealing condition at the openable end. Although this closure structure can vary in accordance with the present invention, it generally constitutes at least one spring member acting between the first and second bands. This structure can take various forms, such as one or more clips or clamps, a toggle unit, a curl strip and the like, without departing from the invention. In any case, the spring structure also cooperates with the bands to enable a stable open condition for the pliable container to ease access to the contents of the container. Therefore, the spring structure and bands are specifically designed and interconnected in a manner which optimizes the sealing condition of the sides of the pliable container when closed, but enables a stable open condition to be assumed as well.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
REFERENCES:
patent: 288118 (1883-11-01), Reidy
patent: 670029 (1901-03-01), Meier
patent: 1064446 (1913-06-01), Courtney
patent: 1124091 (1915-01-01), Willoughby
patent: 1138882 (1915-05-01), Meier
patent: 1265996 (1918-05-01), Cerny
patent: 1654921 (1928-01-01), Critelli
patent: 1658294 (1928-02-01), Lewis
patent: 1794577 (1931-03-01), Brell
patent: 1798945 (1931-03-01), Lamarthe
patent: 1982845 (1934-12-01), Wagman
patent: 2000928 (1935-05-01), Cundall et al.
patent: 2037110 (1936-04-01), Bischoff
patent: 2040271 (1936-05-01), Rosenzweig
patent: 2067367 (1937-01-01), Willetts et al.
patent: 2074843 (1937-03-01), Hiering
patent: 2080402 (1937-05-01), Herman
patent: 2084757 (1937-06-01), Alter
patent: 2093976 (1937-09-01), Farmer
patent: 2125354 (1938-08-01), Meier
patent: 2142904 (1939-01-01), Lamarthe
patent: 2150627 (1939-03-01), Lieber
patent: 2158955 (1939-05-01), Blacher
patent: 2227390 (1940-12-01), Green
patent: 2232888 (1941-02-01), Schimelmitz
patent: 2338927 (1944-01-01), Gerendas
patent: 2409621 (1946-10-01), Geimer et al.
patent: 2564570 (1951-08-01), Hatfield
patent: 2572686 (1951-10-01), Andre
patent: 2635788 (1953-04-01), Snyder et al.
patent: 2804113 (1957-08-01), Nash
patent: 2822012 (1958-02-01), Gold
patent: 2873905 (1959-02-01), Denton
patent: 2922568 (1960-01-01), Harker
patent: 2973131 (1961-02-01), Mead et al.
patent: 3066846 (1962-12-01), Domigan
patent: 3138838 (1964-06-01), Richardson
patent: 3141221 (1964-07-01), Faulls, Jr.
patent: 3149772 (1964-09-01), Olsson
patent: 3201030 (1965-08-01), Pollack
patent: 3259302 (1966-07-01), Rocchisani
patent: 3272248 (1966-09-01), O'Farrell
patent: 3366312 (1968-01-01), Lowenberg et al.
patent: 3406853 (1968-10-01), McLeod
patent: 3442437 (1969-05-01), Mann
patent: 3446420 (1969-05-01), Rinecker
patent: 3782601 (1974-01-01), Krawagna
patent: 4142346 (1979-03-01), De Biasi
patent: 4210249 (1980-07-01), Holmes
patent: 4276982 (1981-07-01), Sibrava et al.
patent: 4317478 (1982-03-01), Babbidge
patent: 4593408 (1986-06-01), Drobish et al.
patent: 4617683 (1986-10-01), Christoff
patent: 4840611 (1989-06-01), Van Erden et al.
patent: 4892512 (1990-01-01), Branson
patent: 4898477 (1990-02-01), Cox et al.
patent: 4997104 (1991-03-01), Pohl
patent: 5000500 (1991-03-01), Almog
patent: 5002245 (1991-03-01), Hansen et al.
patent: 5037138 (1991-08-01), McClintock et al.
patent: 5094707 (1992-03-01), Bruno
patent: 5174658 (1992-12-01), Cook et al.
patent: 5181365 (1993-01-01), Garvey et al.
patent: 5184896 (1993-02-01), Hammond et al.
patent: 5328436 (1994-07-01), Larsen et al.
patent: 5337539 (1994-08-01), Barton
patent: 5372428 (1994-12-01), Bruno et al.
patent: 5377474 (1995-01-01), Kovacs et al.
patent: 5383989 (1995-01-01), Mc Mahon
patent: 5524990 (1996-06-01), Buck
patent: 5557907 (1996-09-01), Malin et al.
patent: 5570569 (1996-11-01), Masuda
patent: 5824380 (1998-10-01), Hagen
patent: 6022144 (2000-02-01), Hausslein
patent: 705748 (1965-03-01), None
patent: 2075772 (1998-09-01), None
patent: 324546 (1957-11-01), None
patent: 179441 (1906-12-01), None
patent: 2 304 670 (1973-01-01),
Arthur D. Little Enterprises, Inc.
Pascua Jes F.
LandOfFree
Closure system for pliable container does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Closure system for pliable container, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Closure system for pliable container will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2488452