Flexible bags – With closure – Rib and groove
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-22
2002-03-26
Pascua, Jes F. (Department: 3727)
Flexible bags
With closure
Rib and groove
Reexamination Certificate
active
06361213
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to sliding mechanical closures such as those commonly employed on flexible storage bags, particularly those suitable for use in the containment and protection of various items including perishable materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Flexible storage bags for use in the containment and protection of various items, as well as the preservation of perishable materials such as food items, are well known in the art. Such bags typically comprise a rectangular sheet of polymeric film folded upon itself and sealed along two edges to form a semi-enclosed container having two flexible opposed sidewalls, three sealed or folded edges, and one open edge. A closure integrally formed with the bag such as an interlocking rib-type seal or separately provided such as a plastic or paper-clad-wire tie completes the containment assembly.
As utilized herein, the term “flexible” is utilized to refer to materials which are capable of being flexed or bent, especially repeatedly, such that they are pliant and yieldable in response to externally applied forces. Accordingly, “flexible” is substantially opposite in meaning to the terms inflexible, rigid, or unyielding. Materials and structures which are flexible, therefore, may be altered in shape and structure to accommodate external forces and to conform to the shape of objects brought into contact with them without losing their integrity. Flexible storage bags of the foregoing variety are typically formed from polymeric film, such as polyethylene or other members of the polyolefin family, in thicknesses of between about 0.0002 inches to about 0.002 inches. Such films are frequently transparent but sometimes are opaque and/or colored.
Flexible storage bags of the currently commercially available variety provide a means of conveniently storing a wide range of objects and materials in a generally disposable containment device. Flexible storage bags with sliding mechanical closures have been developed to improve the ease of opening and closing mechanical interlocking seals. While such sliding mechanical closures have proven suitable for such uses, there remains the issue of consumer confidence that the sliding mechanical closure will resist inadvertent opening.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a sliding mechanical closure which provides for increased security against accidental opening.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a flexible storage bag having an opening, a mechanical interlocking seal for closing the opening, and a slider for sealing the mechanical interlocking seal. The slider includes a mechanical manually-releasable locking element for preventing accidental movement of the slider.
The locking element may comprise a pivotally releasable locking element, such as a pivotally mounted loop of material, or a button which when depressed releases an internal locking mechanism within the slider, or an internal locking mechanism within the slider which is released by manually compressing the slider.
Locking elements in accordance with the present invention may be automatically engaged and manually released by the consumer, or may be manually engaged and released. Locking elements may also secure the slider in other positions, such as opened and intermediate/partially opened positions, in addition to or instead of the closed position. Multiple locking elements may be provided of the same or diverse types.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1991943 (1935-02-01), Keviczky
patent: 2071544 (1937-02-01), Kroll
patent: 2289586 (1942-07-01), Marinsky et al.
patent: 2303750 (1942-12-01), Marinsky
patent: 2495114 (1950-01-01), Leguillon et al.
patent: 2616141 (1952-11-01), Morin
patent: 2779370 (1957-01-01), Wittenberg
patent: 2962070 (1960-11-01), Towles
patent: 4186786 (1980-02-01), Kirkpatrick
patent: 4262395 (1981-04-01), Kosky
patent: 4786190 (1988-11-01), Van Erden et al.
patent: 4829641 (1989-05-01), Williams
patent: 4875258 (1989-10-01), Goedecke
patent: 4890935 (1990-01-01), Ausnit et al.
patent: 4907321 (1990-03-01), Williams
patent: 5064664 (1991-11-01), Hustad
patent: 5067208 (1991-11-01), Herrington, Jr. et al.
patent: 5103979 (1992-04-01), Hustad
patent: 5117883 (1992-06-01), Chen
patent: 5131121 (1992-07-01), Herrington, Jr. et al.
patent: 5161286 (1992-11-01), Herrington, Jr. et al.
patent: 5189764 (1993-03-01), Herrington et al.
patent: 5248201 (1993-09-01), Kettner et al.
patent: 5301394 (1994-04-01), Richardson et al.
patent: 5301395 (1994-04-01), Richardson et al.
patent: 5356222 (1994-10-01), Kettner et al.
patent: 5442837 (1995-08-01), Morgan
patent: 5470156 (1995-11-01), May
patent: 5474382 (1995-12-01), May
patent: 5486051 (1996-01-01), May
patent: 5489252 (1996-02-01), May
patent: 5509735 (1996-04-01), May
patent: 5513915 (1996-05-01), May
patent: 5527112 (1996-06-01), Dais et al.
patent: 5551127 (1996-09-01), May
patent: 5564834 (1996-10-01), Porchia et al.
patent: 5647671 (1997-07-01), May
patent: 5681115 (1997-10-01), Diederich et al.
patent: 6036364 (2000-03-01), Heuvel
patent: 6074094 (2000-06-01), Manolizi et al.
patent: 858850 (1940-12-01), None
Lewis Leonard W.
Meyer Peter D.
Pascua Jes F.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
LandOfFree
Sliding mechanical closure with consumer-releasable... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sliding mechanical closure with consumer-releasable..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sliding mechanical closure with consumer-releasable... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2827874