FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to opening closed laminate materials for example dog waste bags or grocery produce bags and more specifically to a self-attaching handheld laminate separator. The self-attaching handheld laminate separator is used to apply additional friction via pinch force to aid in opening closed laminate material.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Dogs are more than a pet because they are part of the family. Since the first wolf was tamed and made mans best friend, dogs have walked among men as friends. As time moved forward and cities grew larger the need to cleanup poop after your dog grew. Many cities have ordinances in place requiring dog owners to cleanup poop after their dog in public areas. This task has not changed much since the invention of the plastic bag and offers some users a difficult experience.
It is important to note that for many users picking up their dogs poop is not a difficult task, but for some it is a dreaded daily event. Those individuals with physical disabilities limiting their use of hands and fingers often require some type of aid in opening their dog poop bags. Also included are dog walkers that are opening many bags each day requiring time and energy.
To this end, various bag opener devices have been developed and marketed for use in opening plastic bags. However, there heretofore has not been developed a laminate separator that incorporates such novelty elements in a form that may be self-attached to an object.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a separator that provides a user increased grip on a top and/or bottom Layer of a laminate in order to move them relative to one another. The separator is made of a flexible material, such as silicone, formed flat for ease of manufacturing. The separator has a first end, a middle Section, and a second end. The middle section comprises an aperture located proximate to the first end and notched neck proximate to the second end. In use, the second end is inserted through the aperture and positioned such that the notched neck is captured by the aperture, thus creating a formed loop wherein the loop wraps around an object. further, the aperture and notched neck provide a decreased cross-sectional area allowing for greater strain to fit around larger objects. The middle Section may comprise a dissimilar thickness (not shown) to provide increased strain to the same end.
The first and second ends are subsequently provided a pinch force normal to the laminate to capture the laminate, at which point the first and second ends are provided transfers forces orthogonal to the pinch force in order to move them relative to one another. Both the first and second ends comprise flares in order to provide increased surface area of the grip surfaces for improved friction. Additionally, the grip surfaces may comprise graphics which are recessed as not to limit the contracted area of the grip surfaces and also provide suction force on the laminate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The Foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be better understood when read with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top view of the laminate separator of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the laminate separator of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the laminate separator in a looped configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the laminate separator in a looped configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the laminate separator demonstrating pinch force application to a laminate surface of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a closeup zoomed view of the laminate separator demonstrating pinch force application to a laminate surface at the point where the laminate separator meets laminate surface of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a top view of the laminate separator 100 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Laminate separator 100 includes a flat body including a first end 120, a second end 130, and a middle section 110. Within the flat body are an aperture 140, and a notched neck 150. The aperture 140 and notched neck 150 interact when folding the second end 170 into, moving through the aperture 140 and continues until the notched neck 150 and the aperture 140 meet, thus locking the device in place.
To allow a user ample grip space when using the laminate separator 100 contains flares 160 with recessed graphics 180 located on each end which expand the footprint of the first end 120 and second end 130. The expanded space is used as the grip surface 170 allowing the laminate separator 100 space for the user to grip the device and for the device to grip the laminate.
In use, laminate separator 100 may be either placed around an object or used freely in the users hand, placing the proposed invention around an object gives the user a stationary placement for which to insert a section of unopened laminate in the instance they have only one hand available or the other hand is occupied by holding the object.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, laminate separator 100 may be injection molded from a synthetic material such as silicone rubber. However, other materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be used in the place of a synthetic material to form the laminate separator. For example, the materials of the present invention may also be made of a natural rubber material.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the laminate separator 100 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The grip surfaces 170 located at the first end 120 and second end 130 may comprise recessed graphics 180 which are shown recessed as not to limit the contact area of the grip surfaces 170 and also provide suction force when pressed to laminate. The recessed graphics 180 may be raised on the grip surface 170 in such a way that it does not limit the contact area of the grip surfaces 170. The recessed graphics 180 located at the middle section 110 are for a business logo or any script required for distribution. These graphics are recessed in such a way that it does not limit the structural integrity of the laminate separator 100 when folded into itself around an object.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the laminate separator 100 in a looped configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The laminate separator is shown looped around the object 200 such as a dog leash or reusable grocery bag. The configuration shown is achieved from the state of FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 as follows, take the second end 130 and place into the aperture 140 located on the second end 120 until meeting the notched neck 150, locking the proposed invention in place around an object 200.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the laminate separator 100 in a looped configuration around an object 200 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The proposed invention rests in such a way that the first end 120 and the second end 130, creating an angle of the two ends extended from the formed loop 190 equal to the angle created within the formed loop. This angle held is greater than 10 degrees and less than 180 degrees providing the user optimal space to place a piece of unopened laminate inside.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the laminate separator 100 looped around an object 200 demonstrating pinch force application to a laminate surface of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The laminate separator 100 functions utilizing pinch force generated by placing a piece of laminate 230 between the first end 120 and second end 130 while pinching together both ends applying pinch force 220 from both ends, while simultaneously applying transverse force 210 in opposite directions while maintaining pinch force 220, applying friction onto the laminate 230 separating the laminate resulting in an opened laminate or opened bag for example. The circle D represents the scaled view in FIG. 6.
FIG. 6 is a 2:1 scaled view of the laminate separator 100 highlighted by the circle D in FIG. 5 demonstrating pinch force application to a laminate surface at the point where the laminate separator meets laminate surface of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As described in FIG. 5 when pinch force is applied simultaneously with transverse force in opposite directions the laminate 230 is pulled in opposite directions resulting in the top layer 240 moving away from the bottom layer 250 resulting in an opened laminate surface or bag, allowing the user to completely open the laminate surface.
Patent Application
20230072014
