Patent Application
20160137356
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for closing bags and other containers, for example, temporary or permanent bag enclosure devices for the construction of gift bags.
2. Summary
Described herein are devices pertaining to the closure of containers having at least one opening, such as bags. These devices comprise at least one connecting structure configured to fit over at least a part of the container's opening, with the connecting structure being connected to at least two sides of the container. In some embodiments, the closure device comprises additional base structures that the connecting structure can connect to and/or be held in place by.
The closure device can be temporary (i.e. freely removable and replaceable without damaging the bag) or can be permanent. In some embodiments, the closure device can function as a device that can convert a conventional container, such as a bag, into a gift bag. In some of these embodiments, the closure device at least partially covers and/or seals the opening of the container, thus obscuring the contents inside, for example, a gift. In some embodiments, opening of the container can be accomplished by destroying or removing the closure device, thus allowing one to gain access to the contents of the bag. This allows the closure device to be applied to regular non-gift containers a user may have in his or her possession and convert them into gift containers using closure devices, incorporating features of the present invention. This allows a user to conserve materials by re-using unused containers, as well as obviating the need to purchase expensive gift bags. In the gift bag embodiments, the closure device can comprise an aesthetically pleasing shape and appearance, for example, having one or more base structures resembling a cake for a birthday.
In one embodiment, a closure device for a container having at least one opening comprises a first base structure configured to connect to a first side of the container, a second base structure configured to connect to a second side of the container, and at least one connecting structure configured to connect the first base structure and the second base structure, such that the connecting structure is over at least a portion of the at least one opening.
In another embodiment, a closure device for a container having at least one opening comprises a connecting structure comprising a first portion and a second portion, a first base structure configured to connect the first connecting structure portion to a first side of the container, and a second base structure configured to connect the second connecting structure portion to a second side of the container, wherein the connecting structure is over at least a portion of the at least one opening.
In yet another embodiment, a closure device for a container having at least one opening comprises a first base structure comprising a first connection element, the first base structure configured to connect to a first side of the container, such that the first base structure conceals a substantial portion of the first side of said container, a second base structure comprising a second connection element, the second base structure configured to connect to a second side of the container, such that the second base structure conceals a substantial portion of the second side of said container, and at least one connecting structure configured to connect the first base structure and the second base structure, such that the at least one connecting structure is over at least a portion of the at least one opening.
These and other further features and advantages of the invention would be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Throughout this description, the preferred embodiment and examples illustrated should be considered as exemplars, rather than as limitations on the present invention. As used herein, the term “invention,” “device,” “present invention,” or “present device” refers to any one of the embodiments of the invention described herein, and any equivalents. Furthermore, reference to various feature(s) of the “invention,” “device,” “present invention,” or “present device” throughout this document does not mean that all claimed embodiments must include the referenced feature(s).
It is also understood that when an element or feature is referred to as being “on” or “adjacent” to another element or feature, it can be directly on or adjacent the other element or feature or intervening elements or features may also be present. It is also understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.
Relative terms such as “outer”, “above”, “lower”, “below”, “horizontal,” “vertical” and similar terms, may be used herein to describe a relationship of one feature to another. It is understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.
Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements or components, these elements or components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element or component from another element or component. Thus, a first element or component discussed below could be termed a second element or component without departing from the teachings of the present invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated list items.
The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to different views and illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances are expected. Embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of the regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.
Each of first portion 112 and second portion 114 can be connected to container 108 in one or more of the following ways: 1) connected to different sides of container 108, such that opening 110 is held at least partially shut (for example opposing sides of container 108 as shown); 2) directly connected to different sides of container 108, such that opening 110 is held at least partially shut, for example, in embodiments where closure device 100 does not comprise a base structure; 3) connected to one or more base structures, which are in turn connected to different sides of container 108, such that opening 110 is held at least partially shut; 4) connected to container 108 at different sides, such that first portion 112 and second portion 114 are held in place and/or connected to the sides of the container by one or more base structures, such that opening 110 is held at least partially shut (for example, by being sandwiched between a base structure and a side of the container); and/or 5) any connection configuration that is known in the art.
Closure device 100, including connecting structure 102 and base structures 104, 106 can be made from any suitable material that could provide enough support to allow closure device 100 to hold container 108 closed. Some example materials include, but are not limited to: paper, resin, rubber, vinyl, polyurethane, poly vinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene foam, polymers/copolymer substances, acrylic substances, plastic, leather, metal, glass, fiberglass, wood, cloth or a combination thereof. The closure device 100 can be formed by any suitable method known in the art, for example, paper folding, molding, injection molding, stamping and extrusion.
If the material chosen for closure device 100 is sturdy enough and the connection to container 108 is freely removable without causing significant damage to container 108 and/or closure device 100, then closure device 100 can be reusable. In some embodiments, closure device 100 comprises one or more materials that can be easily destroyed by intentional manual manipulation, for example, paper which one can rip or tear. In these embodiments, closure device 100 can transform a common conventional container, such as a bag, into a wrapped gift, wherein one can destroy a portion of connecting structure 102 to allow access to a gift contained within the container 108.
While connecting structure 102 and base structures 104, 106 are shown in
One or more portions of connecting structure 102 and/or one or more portions of base structures 104, 106 can be connected to container 108 in a variety of ways by various connection element including, but not limited to: suction cups, hooks, gripping mechanisms, hook and loop connections (such as Velcro®), male/female connections, adhesives, tapes and any connection configuration known in the art.
First and second base structures 204, 206 are shown comprising first and second adhesive structures 208, 210 respectively, which are configured to connect to a portion of a container that is to be closed. In the embodiment shown, adhesive structures 208, 210 comprise separate adhesive pads connected to base structures 204, 206 which are coated with an adhesive material, such that they can stick to a portion of a container, as discussed above with reference to
Closure device 200 can be manufactured and distributed as a single attached unit or in multiple parts as separate components, for example, as three separate parts (e.g. a connecting structure, a first base structure and a second base structure) or two separate parts (e.g. a connecting structure connected to a first base structure and a separate second base structure, as shown in
In some embodiments, the above-mentioned shortening of the effective length of connecting structure 202 can be accomplished by connecting first base structure 204 to one side of a container, wrapping a desired length of connecting structure 202 over the opening of the container, and then pinning a portion of connecting structure 202 to the opposing side of the container utilizing second base structure 206. Depending on how long or short one wants connecting structure 202 to effectively be, one can connect second base structure 206 to a variable portion of the length of connecting structure 202 on the side of a container opposing the side of the container to which first base structure 204 is connected.
In some embodiments, one of more of base structures 204, 206 can comprise a holding portion 212, which can be used to better contain any excess length of connecting structure 202. Examples of such holding structures include small folds, recesses, handles or spools that can store excess length. In some embodiments, wherein connecting structure 202 is made of a flexible material, such as paper, the excess length can be easily handled by simply folding or bending connecting structure 202 prior to using base structure 206 to connect connecting structure 202 to the opposing side of the container.
The above mentioned adjustable length feature is shown in more detail in
The location along the length of connecting structure 302, which second base structure 306 pins to opposing side 308 results in connecting structure 302 having a fairly long-length and slack state of looseness. This allows for a wider opening 314 for container 310. This is useful if container 310 is larger or is containing a larger number of items within it. To adjust the length of connecting structure 302 such that the container 310 is more tightly closed and more closely resembles container 108 in
In some embodiments, the base structures 402, 404, which can include festive shapes, can hide or mask all or some of a portion of the container, for example, the side to which the base structure 402, 404 is connected. In these embodiments, the overall look or appearance of a container, for example, a common brown bag, can be concealed to appear to be a gift bag, for example, by having the shape, size or dimensions of the base structures 420, 404 match or otherwise correspond to the dimensions of the side of the bag to which the base structures 402, 404 are connected. In this way, closure devices incorporating features of the present invention can simultaneously at least partially close a container and at least partially conceal a container's appearance. In some embodiments, the base structures 402, 404 are configured to conceal a substantial portion of the sides of the container to which they are connected.
Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred configurations thereof, other versions are possible. Embodiments of the present invention can comprise any combination of compatible features shown in the various figures, and these embodiments should not be limited to those expressly illustrated and discussed. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should not be limited to the versions described above.
The foregoing is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. Design Application 29/509,019 to Lynne-Marie Beard, entitled BAG CLOSURE DEVICE, filed on Nov. 13, 2014. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/080,849 to Lynne-Marie Beard, entitled CLOSURE DEVICE, filed on Nov. 17, 2014. Both of these applications are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62080849 | Nov 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 29509019 | Nov 2014 | US |
| Child | 14943419 | US |
