Resealable Adhesive Closure Tape

Abstract

An adhesive closure strip and dispenser are presented. The device includes a dispenser housing including a roller rotatably disposed therein. A sheet comprising the adhesive closure strips is rolled along the roller and is configured to extend out of an opening of the housing. The sheet can include various designs or indicia on an upper side thereof. The lower side of the sheet includes a reusable adhesive material thereon. The sheet is divided into segments via a plurality of perforations wherein each individual segment includes a non-adhesive pull tab portion for easy removal from the housing. The pull tab also allows for a portion of the closure strip to remain free to pull on after the closure strip has been used to seal a bag or container. In use, a section of sheet can be torn away and applied to a flexible bag to releasably seal the opening thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to adhesive closures and tape dispensers. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adhesive closure strip and dispenser wherein individual perforated sections of adhesive closure strips having pull tabs are connected in a roll and rotatably disposed through the opening of a housing.

Many individuals frequently consume foods such as potato chips and popcorn, which are often stored in large plastic or paper bags. Once opened, the bags may be difficult to close, and a bag left open may lead to food therein growing stale and thereby unappetizing for an individual. Traditional bag closure fasteners, such as plastic clips, often beak easily and lead to bags being left open again. Accordingly, a device that enables proper closure of a bag such that food stored therein is long sustained thereby providing convenience and comfort to a user is desired.

Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to adhesive closures and tape dispensers. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. One of these devices relates to a bag having a built-in closure tab. Another device relates to a flexible bag having front and back panels sealed along bottom and side edges wherein a pressure sensitive adhesive closure strip is adhered to the back panel and to the rear surface of the front panel. The devices in the known art, however, fail to disclose an adhesive closure strip and dispenser wherein each section of the adhesive sheet includes a reusable adhesive and a pull tab..

In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing adhesive closure strips. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of adhesive closure tape now present in the known art, the present invention provides a resealable adhesive closure tape wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when utilizing an individual strip of adhesive closure tape to resealably close flexible bags and other containers.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved resealable adhesive closure tape that has all the advantages of the known art and none of the disadvantages. The present system comprises an elongated strip of a flat and flexible construction having opposing sides wherein one of the opposing sides comprises an adhesive while the other opposing side is non-adhesive. The elongated strip has a plurality of perforations incrementally spaced and running perpendicular from the edges of the elongated strip. The individually separable segments of the elongated strip have a first end and a second end wherein a pull tab is disposed on one end thereof. The pull tab comprises a portion of the individually separable segments wherein both of the opposing sides are non-adhesive to allow a user to grip between their fingers when installed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a resealable adhesive closure tape wherein the individually separable segments of the elongated strip are of a predetermined length and have covers that removably cover the adhesive tape which can be removed to expose the adhesive surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a resealable adhesive closure tape wherein a pull tab is disposed on one end of the individually separable segments of the elastic strip comprises a semi-rigid material to allow for a user to grab hold of the surface better.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a resealable adhesive closure tape wherein the elongated strip is made of a thin and flexible material such as cellophane and the adhesive surface is comprised of a mixture of an adhesive and a rubbery substance for a weaker, resealable bond.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a resealable adhesive closure tape wherein the elongated strip is removably installed over a tube in rolled fashion wherein the tube may be rotatably installed over an axel within an enclosed housing of a dispenser having a slot adapted to receive the elongated strip therethrough.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the resealable adhesive closure tape.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the resealable adhesive closure tape showing an individually separable segment of the elongated strip.

FIG. 3 shows perspective view of an embodiment of the resealable adhesive closure tape installed within a dispenser.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the resealable adhesive closure tape installed within a dispenser.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the resealable adhesive closure tape being used with a bag of chips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the adhesive closure strip and dispenser. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for dispensing individual segments having a non-adhesive pull tab for use in reusably sealing a flexible food container. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the resealable adhesive closure tape. The resealable adhesive closure tape 11 comprises an elongated strip having a flexible and planar construction. The elongated strip 12 comprises two opposing sides. In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated strip 12 is composed of a thin film material, such as cellophane, which allows for a flexible and transparent surface area. As such, the elongated strip 12 will not obstruct the view of a user therethrough.

The elongated strip 12 has two opposing sides wherein a first side comprises an adhesive, and a second side is non-adhesive. As such, the first side of the elongated strip 12 will attach to a targeted surface when placed into contact with the targeted surface. In one embodiment, the adhesive used on the first opposing side of the elongated strip is composed of a mixture of epoxy and a rubbery substance. The use of such a material creates a weaker bond and allows for the adhesive closure tape 11 to be peeled off and reused. The elongated strip 12 itself is separable into a plurality of segments 13 of a predetermined length for use in reusably sealing food bags and other flexible containers. In the illustrated embodiment, each segment of the plurality of segments is defined by a greater length than width.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the resealable adhesive closure tape showing an individually separable segment of the elongated strip. Individual segments 13 of a predetermined length are capable of being separated off from the elongated strip 12 for individual use. A plurality of perforations 14, which run perpendicular between a first and second edge of the elongated strip, allow a user to tear off the individual segments 13 for use. A thin layer of paper 15 is place over the adhesive surface 16 of the first opposing side of the elongated strip 12. The paper layer 15 is able to be peeled off by a user when being installed to expose the adhesive surface 16.

The individual segments 13 of the elongated strip 12 have a first end and a second end when separated. A pull tab 17 is located at an end of an individual length 13 of the resealable adhesive closure tape 11 when separated from the elongated strip 12. The pull tab 17 is a portion of the individually separable length 13 which is non-adhesive on both opposing sides such that a part of the adhesive closure tape 11 will not be attached to a surface. This allows for a user to be able to grab ahold of a portion of the adhesive closure tape 11 to pull on so that the bag or container that it is installed on may be reopened and then resealed. The pull tab 17 abuts the plurality of perforations 14 of the elongated strip 12 such that the pull tab 17 is disposed on an end of each individually separable length 13 of the elongated strip 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there are shown perspective views of an embodiment of the resealable adhesive closure tape installed within a dispenser. In the illustrated embodiment, of the resealable adhesive closure tape 11, a dispenser 18 is provided through which the resealable adhesive closure tape 11 is stored and dispensed. In the illustrated embodiment, the dispenser 18 comprises an enclosed housing having a planar bottom surface, a top surface, and four sidewalls defining an interior volume. The elongated 12 strip is rotatably disposed around a tube in a rolled fashion, as shown by the cutout in FIG. 4.

An axle 20 spans between opposing sidewalls inside the dispenser 18 and is adapted to receive the core of the adhesive closure tape 11 roll and allow the roll to rotatably maneuver around the axle 19. A slot 20 disposed on one of the sidewalls not spanned by the axle 19 and is adapted to receive the elongated string 12 therethrough, wherein the individual segments 13 of the elongated strip 12 may be pulled through and shorn off for use. The bottom surface of the dispenser is planar in dimension and configured to rest flush against a flat surface.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the resealable adhesive closure tape being used with a bag of chips. In practice, a user will tear off an individual length 13 of the elongated strip of the resealable adhesive closure tape 11 for use in sealing a flexible construction food bag or similar container. The user will either unroll the elongated strip from around the tubular core or pull through and rip off using the dispenser. A user will then peel off the cover covering the adhesive surface 16 of the closure tape 11 and the apply to hold shut a flexible container such as a potato chip bag or dog food bag. After being installed, a user may reopen a bag by grasping the pull tab 17 and pealing back the adhesive closure tape 11 to unseal the adhesive bond and reseal after use. In the illustrated embodiment, the resealable adhesive closure tape 11 is used for sealing flexible bags such as chips and dog food containers. In alternate embodiments, the resealable adhesive closure tape 11 may be used for any suitable purpose requiring non-permanent adhesion or closure.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) A resealable adhesive closure tape, comprising: an elongated strip of planar and flexible construction having two opposing sides, wherein one side of the strip comprises an adhesive;a plurality of perforations disposed upon the elongated strip at a plurality of increments thereof, wherein each perforation of the plurality of perforations is disposed at a perpendicular angle with a pair of edges of the elongated strip;wherein a plurality of segments of the elongated strip are defined between the plurality of perforations;wherein each segment of the plurality of segments is removable from the elongated strip;a pull tab disposed on one end of the individual length wherein the pull tab comprises a portion of a non-adhesive surface on both opposing sides of the elongated strip.

2) The resealable adhesive closure tape of claim 1, wherein each segment of the plurality of segments is of a predetermined length adapted for sealing a flexible bag or other container.

3) The resealable adhesive closure tape of claim 1, wherein a cover is disposed on the adhesive portion of each segment of the plurality of segments of the elongated strip.

4) The resealable adhesive closure tape of claim 3, wherein the cover is removably disposed on the adhesive portion of each segment of the plurality of segments of the elongated strip.

5) The resealable adhesive closure tape of claim 1, wherein the pull tab disposed on one end of each segment of the elongated strip is comprised of a semi-rigid material adapted to be more easily gripped between the fingers of a user.

6) The resealable adhesive closure tape of claim 1, wherein the elongated strip is composed of a flexible and transparent material.

7) The resealable adhesive closure tape of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is comprised of a non-permanent mixture of rubbery material and adhesives which produce weaker bonds allowing for the reuse of the individual segments.

8) The resealable adhesive closure tape of claim 1, wherein the elongated strip is rotatably disposed around a tube in a rolled fashion.

9) The resealable adhesive closure tape of claim 1, wherein a dispenser is adapted to store the resealable adhesive closure tape within an interior volume and distribute the elongated strip through a slot disposed therein.

10) The resealable adhesive closure tape of claim 9, wherein the dispenser comprises an enclosed housing having a top surface, bottom surface, and four sidewalls defining an interior volume wherein a slot disposed in one of the sidewalls and configured to receive a length of the elongated strip therethrough.

11) The resealable adhesive closure tape of claim 9, wherein the dispenser includes an axle having a spanning from opposing sidewalls within the interior volume wherein a roll of the elastic strip may be installed thereon and rotatably dispensed through the slot.

12) The resealable adhesive closure tape of claim 11, wherein the dispenser includes a removably attachable sidewall wherein the sidewall is removable to allow for a roll of the elongated strip to be installed over the axle.