U.S. patent application number 12/114213 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-06 for compression resistant closure.
Invention is credited to Gregory E. HANNON, Charles Thomas ROSENMAYER.
Application Number | 20080273819 12/114213 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39645549 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080273819 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HANNON; Gregory E. ; et
al. |
November 6, 2008 |
Compression Resistant Closure
Abstract
A closure device is provided having an upper seal member with at
least one tongue having a forward facing tip and a reverse facing
tip configured to interlock with a matingly configured lower seal
member.
Inventors: |
HANNON; Gregory E.;
(Landenberg, PA) ; ROSENMAYER; Charles Thomas;
(Avondale, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GORE ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS, INC.
551 PAPER MILL ROAD, P. O. BOX 9206
NEWARK
DE
19714-9206
US
|
Family ID: |
39645549 |
Appl. No.: |
12/114213 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60915809 |
May 3, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 19/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/64 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16 |
Claims
1. A device comprising: a. an upper seal member having a base and a
top wherein the top has at least one tongue having a forward facing
tip and a reverse facing tip; and b. a lower seal member having a
base and a top, wherein the top of the upper seal member and the
top of the lower seal member provide mating surfaces between the
upper and lower seal members, when interlocked together.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper seal member comprises
polyurethane.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said upper seal member comprises a
lubricant.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said lower seal member comprises a
lubricant.
5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a slider.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to provisional application
U.S. Ser. No. 60/915,809, filed May 3, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present device solves the long felt need for a reliable
fastener that can be easily secured and separated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Provided is a device comprising an upper seal member having
a base and a top wherein the top has at least one tongue having a
forward facing tip and a reverse facing tip; and a lower seal
member having a base and a top, wherein the top of the upper seal
member and the top of the lower seal member provide mating surfaces
between the upper and lower seal members, when interlocked
together.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a closure device in an
unlocked configuration.
[0005] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a closure device in an
unlocked configuration.
[0006] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a closure device in a locked
configuration with a tensile cross-pull strength applied.
[0007] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a closure device in a locked
configuration with a compressive force applied.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] As shown in FIG. 1, disclosed is a closure device 1 for
creating a seal which includes an upper seal member 10 having a
base 12 and a top 14, a lower seal member 20 having a base 22 and a
top 24, and a slider 30, wherein the top 14 of the upper seal
member and the top 24 of the lower seal member provide mating
surfaces between the upper and lower seal members, when interlocked
together. By moving a slider, or providing a force in one
direction, the upper seal member is lifted from its interlocking
relationship with the lower seal member, as depicted in FIG. 1.
[0009] Moving the slider or providing a force in the opposite
direction causes the upper and lower seal members to interlock. The
upper and lower seal members have interlocking tongue portions 60
and groove portions 70 which cooperate to interlock the members,
see FIG. 2. The tongue portions of the upper member and lower
member have both forward facing tips 62 and reverse facing tips 64
projecting from the tongue portions in a nearly perpendicular
manner to the base of the seal member. The forward facing tips are
those tips which are oriented to provide cross-pull strength, i.e.
the strength of the closure when pulled apart in the same plane as
the closure, as depicted in FIG. 3. The reverse facing tips are
those tips which are oriented to provide compressive cross-pull
strength when a compressive force is applied to the closure in the
same plane as the closure, as depicted in FIG. 4. The upper member
exhibits at least one tongue having a forward facing tip and at
least one tongue having a reverse facing tip. The at least one
forward facing tip and the at least one reverse facing tip may be
present on one tongue or on different tongues. It is not necessary
to have an equal number of forward facing tips and reverse facing
tips. For instance, as shown in FIG. 1, a single tongue can have
both a forward facing tip and a reverse facing tip, while a single
different tongue has only a forward facing tip.
[0010] As shown in FIG. 3, the upper seal member is engaged with
the lower seal member in such a manner as to seal the tongues with
the grooves in an interference fit. In order to assist in easy
fitting of the tongues into the grooves, a lubricant may be used.
The lubricant may be applied as a separate component, or may be a
component of the material, such as a silicone or slip agent, from
which the closure device is fashioned.
[0011] The present profile design incorporates the interlocking
tongues and tips to maximize cross-pull strength and compressive
cross-pull strength of the sealed closure. The incorporation of
multiple tongue shapes in a single closure further allows the
closure to maintain flexibility without compromising strength and
performance. The tip design further allows the sealed closure to
prevent being inadvertently pushed open. While this device is
described using a slider to close the upper seal member to the
lower seal member, it is also possible to seal the upper seal
member to the lower seal member without the need of a closure, for
instance by using a thumb or another pressure to interlock the
tongue and grooves into a mating configuration. Further, while the
upper seal member and the lower seal member may provide air tight
or liquid proof seals when matingly engaged, it is understood that
embodiments of this device may not need to provide such air or
liquid-proof seals, and that these embodiments will provide a
reliable closure.
[0012] Numerous materials may be used in the composition of the
present invention, including but not limed to rubbers, metals,
woods, plastics, polyurethanes, and other suitable materials. The
sizing of the device may be similarly engineered to desired
specifications.
[0013] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described herein, the present invention should
not be limited to such illustrations and descriptions.
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