Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Bag fasteners – Resilient slot bag tie
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-12
2001-09-04
Sakran, Victor N. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Bag fasteners
Resilient slot bag tie
C024S0160PB, C024S03050S, C024S546000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282757
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to flexible closures for flexible openings, particularly flexible reusable closures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Flexible containers as disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,990 have the potential to replace plastic bags and hard sided containers commonly used for storing food and other miscellaneous goods in many applications. However, these flexible containers rely on the ability of the material at the hinged corners to stand up to constant use for their closure's ability to open and close repeatedly. This need for wearability limits the materials that may be used. Additionally, the containers need not only to stand up to constant use but also to be able to seal tightly at these corners, in other words needing strength for wear and flexibility for seal. This again limits the materials that are appropriate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned with providing a flexible container closure which can withstand long-term use and which can be designed to clamp as tightly or as loosely as desired in specific regions or along the entire length of the closure or specifically at the corners, and may be made from a variety of different materials.
In general, the present invention provides a closure either attached to or attachable to or able to be incorporated into or able to be placed around a flexible opening or region on a flexible entity such as a container, surface, tube or sleeve, where the closure is comprised of a part that is stiffened to some degree around the opening of the entity. Unlike the prior referenced patented container, the closure of the present invention advantageously relies largely on the flexibility of the closure in the larger region near the corners of the closure for most of its movement during opening and closing instead of strictly on a hinged connection that forms the corner.
According to a particular aspect of the present invention there is provided a flexible closure capable of closing a flexible opening, comprising at least two strip-like elements having ends. The strip-like elements are oriented in a parallel series and attached together at the ends. The strip-like elements are alternately deformed in groups of at least one to one side then to the other side of the flexible opening to close it. The groups of strip-like elements form two sets, one of the sets on each of two sides of an area to be closed. The two sets are positioned away from each other when the area to be closed is open, and they are positioned against each other when the area to be closed is closed.
The closure may be formed in all one piece. The closure may be permanently attached, removably attached, or placed around the flexible opening. The closure may also be incorporated into the flexible opening. One or more of the strip-like elements of the closure may possess at one or more region that is stiffened. A section of the flexible opening being closed by the closure may be kept open while the remainder of the flexible opening is closed. Additionally, a closure may close more than one flexible openings. Also, the strip-like elements of the closure may be lined up both vertically and horizontally to form a three dimensional structure.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flexible closure comprising a series of at least two flexible stiffening flanges that are lined up like rungs on a ladder. The rung-like flexible stiffening flanges are attached at two ends by two attachment regions that are perpendicular to the rung-like flexible stiffening flanges, and appear like sides of a ladder that support rungs of a ladder. The rung-like flexible stiffening flanges and attachment regions thereby form a ladder-like structure. This ladder-like structure is oriented in a vertical manner and the rung-like flexible stiffening flanges move horizontally in groups of at least one away from the centerline of the ladder-like structure to form an opening. The groups of rung-like flexible stiffening flanges form two sets on opposing sides of the opening, and the sets of groups of rung-like flexible stiffening flanges move towards each other to close the closure.
The sets on the two opposing sides of the closure may be held together by an internal force within one or more of the flexible stiffening flanges. A container may incorporate the closure. The two sets on the two opposing sides may be held together by an external force pressing from the outside of the opposing sides. The means by which the closure is held closed may be separate from the closure. The force holding the sets on opposing sides together may be created by the closure being deformed and held in a curved manner. The closure may be maintained in a curved manner by a releasably attached attachment connecting the two ends. The flexible stiffening flanges of the closure on the outer of the two sides when the closure is deformed and held in a curved manner may be made up of the material comprising a flexible opening being closed. One or more of the flexible stiffening flanges of the closure, at least one of said two flexible stiffening flanges from each of said two sets, may overlap in a vertical manner.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure comprising a series of at least two flexible bar-like portions that are oriented in groups of at least one to one side then to the other side of an opening between them. The groups comprise two sides of said opening that is oval, circular or eye shaped when opened. The two sides move towards each other as the opening closes. The flexible bar-like portions have ends connected together and comprising a hingeline having two corners that coincide with the ends of the flexible bar-like portions making up the groups comprising the two sides of the opening. The sides nest against each other when the closure is closed.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 91075 (1869-06-01), Borst et al.
patent: 1111091 (1914-09-01), Pauli
patent: 1338375 (1920-04-01), Kleidman
patent: 2084757 (1937-06-01), Alter
patent: 2227390 (1940-12-01), Green
patent: 2325853 (1943-08-01), Harlem
patent: 2695647 (1954-11-01), Deutsch
patent: 3259302 (1966-07-01), Rocchisani
patent: 3996937 (1976-12-01), Williams
patent: 4660558 (1987-04-01), Kees, Jr.
patent: 5524990 (1996-06-01), Buck
“dry bag” with top that rolls to seal marketed by West Marine, no date is given.
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