Not applicable
Not applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a closure mechanism having a plurality of interlocking closure elements.
2. Description of the Background of the Invention
A thermoplastic pouch in the form of a bag for the storage of items generally includes a closure mechanism, which comprises two separate closure strips attached to inner surfaces of opposing pouch walls. A first closure strip typically comprises one or more continuous closure elements of various cross-sectional shapes that interlock with one or more closure elements of a second opposing closure strip. These closure mechanisms are known in the art.
In some instances, a bag includes a clasp having first and second complementary clasp members. Each of the clasp members includes a plurality of prongs thereon that are spaced uniformly in transverse and longitudinal rows, wherein the prongs of one clasp member are spaced twice as far apart as the prongs of the other clasp member. The prongs of one clasp member are received by sockets formed between the prongs of the opposite clasp member to interlock the two clasp members.
In other instances, a bag includes a first closure having one or more omega-shaped elements and a second closure having a plurality of omega-shaped elements. Each omega-shaped element of the first closure engages any two adjacent omega-shaped elements of the second closure, thereby allowing multiple options for closure thereof.
A bag in some instances has a reclosable zipper including first and second base members each having a plurality of interlocking zipper profile parts extending therefrom. One of the profile parts has a larger head than the heads of the other profile parts to resist opening of the zipper due to internal pressures.
In further instances, a bag includes a closure strip for sealing an open end of the bag. The closure strip includes hook and loop fastener elements each in the form of an elongated tape.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a resealable closure mechanism comprises first and second closure strips. The first closure strip includes a plurality of discontinuous closure elements and the second closure strip includes a plurality of discontinuous closure elements. One or more of the discontinuous closure elements of the first closure strip randomly engages one or more of the discontinuous closure elements of the second closure strip.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a resealable closure mechanism comprises first and second opposing bag walls. The first closure strip includes a plurality of discontinuous closure elements and the second closure strip includes at least one continuous closure element. The at least one continuous closure element of the second closure strip randomly engages one or more of the discontinuous closure elements of the first closure strip.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description. Like reference numerals in the drawings designate like structures in the various embodiments.
The present invention is directed toward apparatuses, methods, kits, and combinations for opening and/or closing a resealable pouch. While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, several specific embodiments are discussed herein with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered only as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. For example, where the invention is illustrated herein with particular reference to a resealable pouch, it will be understood that any other resealable pouch, such as a thermoplastic pouch, a container, or bag (for example a paper, plastic, or foil bag) can, if desired, be substituted in whole or in part for the resealable pouch in the apparatuses, methods, kits, and combinations herein described.
It has been discovered that the closure strips described herein are unique and exhibit several advantages as closure mechanisms. Such closure strips exhibit improved ease of use by providing multiple paths along which the closure strips may be interlocked. The closure mechanisms may be provided separately as standalone reclosable fasteners, wherein each closure strip may be provided with an adhesive backing. Alternatively, the closure strips may be provided already affixed to a container, such as a reclosable pouch.
Referring now to
In a first embodiment, the first closure strip 26 and the second closure strip (not shown) include a plurality of discontinuous closure elements, e.g., 28a-28c, which may be arranged in columns extending along a height of the bag 10 and may further be arranged in rows extending along a width of the bag (hereinafter referred to as a “linear pattern”). Alternatively, the discontinuous closure elements, e.g., 28a-28c, of the first closure strip 26 and the second closure strip (not shown) may be placed on the closure strips in a random fashion, (hereinafter referred to as a “random pattern”), as shown in
Although any number and size of discontinuous closure elements, e.g., 28a-28c (
A user may close the bag 10 by contacting first and second bag walls 12, 14 over the first closure strip 26 and second closure strip (not shown) at the first side portion 16 of the bag using the thumb and a finger, pinching the area over the first and second closure strips and sliding the thumb and finger across the bag to the second side portion 18, thereby randomly interlocking at least one of the discontinuous closure elements of the first closure strip with at least one of the discontinuous, or alternatively, continuous, closure elements of the second closure strip along one of multiple closure paths. Because multiple closure paths exist, it is not necessary for a consumer to line up the closure strips in order to close the bag 10. And while it is preferable that a majority of the closure elements of the first closure strip engage a majority of the closure elements of the second closure strip upon closure, it is not necessary. The closure details will become more apparent in later FIGS.
It may be desirable to add features to the first and second closure strips, which help indicate complete closure of the bag to the consumer. One method is to add a first color to closure elements of the first closure strip 26 and a second color to closure elements of the second closure strip 40, wherein a third color is formed upon closure. An alternative method is intermittent deformation of the closure elements with a deforming wheel. This produces a tactile and/or audible sensation when the closure strips are closed. A further alternative method is to stagger deformations so that a checkerboard pattern is produced on the interlocked closure strips.
Referring specifically to
According to
This example and others are for illustrative purposes only, as closure may be achieved by one or more of the elements of the first closure strip engaging one or more of the closure elements of the second closure strip. For example, while
Alternatively, as shown in
Yet alternatively, as shown in
Turning now to
Yet alternatively, the male closure elements, e.g., 54a-54g, of the first closure strip 26 may be arranged in a linear pattern or a random pattern and one or more of the female closure elements, e.g., 56a-56c, of the second closure strip 40 may be continuous, extending from the first side portion 16 to the second side portion 18 of the bag 10. To facilitate closure, for example, the discontinuous or continuous female closure elements, e.g., 56a-56c, of the second closure strip 40 may randomly engage any of the discontinuous male closure elements, e.g., 54a-54g, of the first closure strip 26. The one or more continuous female closure elements, e.g., 56a-56c, of the second closure strip 40 may shift or slide along one or more of the discontinuous male closure elements, e.g., 54a-54g, when interlocked. This allows first and second bag walls 12, 14 to move relative to one another along a closure path.
In yet an alternative embodiment, the male closure elements, e.g., 54a-54g, of the first closure strip may be continuous and one or more of the female closure elements, e.g., 56a-56c, of the second closure strip 40 may be continuous. To facilitate closure, for example, the discontinuous or continuous female closure elements, e.g., 56a-56c, of the second closure strip 40 may randomly engage any of the continuous male closure elements, e.g., 54a-54g, of the first closure strip 26. The one or more continuous female closure elements, e.g., 56a-56c, of the second closure strip 40 may shift or slide along one or more of the continuous male closure elements, e.g., 54a-54g, when interlocked. This allows first and second bag walls 12, 14 to move relative to one another along a closure path.
To further assist in leakage prevention, alternative embodiments are shown in
Turning now to
A resealable bag useful in the present invention can be made by various techniques known to those skilled in the art including those described in, for example, Geiger, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,248. Other useful techniques to make a resealable bag of the present invention include those described in, for example, Zieke et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,789. Other useful techniques to make a resealable bag of the present invention include those described in, for example, Porchia et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,561. Additional examples of making a resealable bag as described herein include, for example, a cast post applied process, a cast integral process, and/or a blown process.
Illustratively, the resealable bag walls of the present invention can be made of any flexible material suitable for packaging a sample, article, and/or substance, including, for example, any suitable thermoplastic film. A flexible material useful in the present invention includes, for example, polyethylene (for example, low density polyethylene, and linear low density polyethylene), substantially linear copolymers of ethylene and a C3-C8 alpha-olefin, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl, and/or other polymers, in single or multiple layer, and combinations thereof. Additionally, the resealable bag walls can be constructed of any flexible material including, for example, paper and/or metal, including, for example, aluminum foil or sheets. The flexible material may be transparent or semi-transparent (to permit viewing of the sample, article, and/or substance in the resealable bag), translucent, lucent, clear, and/or opaque, at least in part, depending on the application in which the resealable bag will be utilized.
Also illustratively, any of the closure elements described herein may be extruded by any convenient extrusion process from a thermoplastic material similar to that used for the bag walls, or any other extrudable material suitable for forming a resealable closure element. The closure elements could also be formed by other suitable processes, such as by hand forming, molding, carving, etching, aggregation, accumulation, or microreplication, and of other materials such as wax, rubber, metal, cloth, or plastic.
The discontinuous closure elements, as described herein, or, more specifically, the interruption of closure elements may be accomplished through any suitable cutting means that can remove pieces of the closure strips. These may include a rotating gear, wherein teeth of the gear have a cutting edge, which tears away material as it rotates and as the closure strip passes below. An additional cutting means comprises a rotating gear that segments the closure strip. The segmented closure strip then passes over a roll, which flexes the closure strip, causing the segmented regions to open up, forming an opening. An oscillating cutting tool may then be used to cut away alternating segments. An alternative to cutting portions from the closure strips is to stomp intermittent sections of the closure, leaving independent members standing. The stomping may be accomplished by known thermal or ultrasonic means.
Two or more surfaces described herein may be attached together in a permanent or non-permanent manner by any fastening, securing, and/or joining techniques known to those skilled in the art. Examples include mechanically, chemically, and/or heat fastening, securing, and/or joining together two or more surfaces of metal, plastic, glass, rubber, paper, and/or ceramic, and combinations thereof. A chemical agent useful in the present invention to fasten, secure, and/or join two or more surfaces includes, for example, an adhesion promoter, a binding agent (for example, a cyanoacrylate adhesive, or an epoxy putty), a bonding agent (for example, a hot melt adhesive), a crosslinking agent, a curing agent (for example, a UV light curing adhesive), a fixative agent, a sticking agent, and/or a vulcanizing agent, and combinations thereof. Exemplary chemical agents useful in the present invention include those described in, for example, The Handbook of Industrial Chemical Additives—2nd Edition, Gower Publishing Limited (Mar. 28, 1998). Additional examples of chemical agents useful in the present invention include those described in the Merck Index, Thirteenth Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 13th edition (October 2001). Heat fastening, securing, and/or joining techniques useful in the present invention include, for example, ultrasound, heat or sonic staking, and/or laser welding or joining techniques. Mechanical techniques useful in the present invention, include, for example, the use of tabs, protrusions, hooks, clamps, fasteners, ties, fastening strips (for example, Velcro®), adhesive tape (for example, two sided tape), rivets, soldering, brazing, and/or welding, and combinations thereof. Combinations of the above fastening, securing, and/or joining techniques and agents can be used in the present invention.
The embodiments of the thermoplastic storage pouch as described herein advantageously provide the consumer with a pouch and a closure mechanism therefor, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a plurality of discontinuous closure elements. The existence of multiple closure elements provides for multiple closure paths. This minimizes the need for consumers to line up the closure strips of the closure mechanism in order to close the pouch, as is required by the prior art. Additionally, the closure strips described herein have a greater surface area than traditional closure strips for improved ease of closure.
Numerous modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications, which come within the scope of the appended claims, are reserved.
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