U.S. patent application number 12/275033 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-04 for bag including closing profiles actuated by a slider.
This patent application is currently assigned to S2F FLEXICO. Invention is credited to Henri BOIS.
Application Number | 20090142007 12/275033 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39561749 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090142007 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BOIS; Henri |
June 4, 2009 |
BAG INCLUDING CLOSING PROFILES ACTUATED BY A SLIDER
Abstract
The present invention relates to a bag (1) including: two
generally parallel sheets (12, 13); matching closing profiles (2,
3) fixed on these sheets (12, 13); a slider (5) for actuating the
profiles (2, 3), this slider (5) comprising flanks (51, 52) each
inner surface of which bears a boss (53, 54). This bag is
remarkable by the fact that said sheets (12, 13) include on their
outer faces, and outside said slider (5), abutment means (6)
capable of immobilizing said sheets (12, 13) relatively to said
slider (5) along a direction generally perpendicular to the
displacement axis (X-X') of the slider (5).
Inventors: |
BOIS; Henri; (Neuilly Sur
Seine, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP;SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
S2F FLEXICO
|
Family ID: |
39561749 |
Appl. No.: |
12/275033 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/64 ;
383/69 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/2591
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/64 ;
383/69 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 21, 2007 |
FR |
0708161 |
Claims
1. A bag (1) comprising: two generally parallel sheets (12, 13)
forming main walls of the bag; matching closing profiles (2, 3)
respectively fixed on said sheets (12, 13); a slider (5) for
actuating the profiles (2, 3) upon closing and opening, said slider
(5) comprising opposing flanks (51, 52), each inner surface of
which bears a boss (53, 54) directed towards the opposite flanks,
so that the sheets (12, 13) forming the main walls converge towards
each other, said profiles (2, 3) towards said bosses (53, 54);
wherein said sheets (12, 13) comprise on their outer faces and
outside said slider (5), abutment means (6) capable of immobilizing
said sheets (12, 13) relative to said slider (5) along a direction
generally perpendicular to a displacement axis (X-X') of the slider
(5).
2. The bag according to claim 1, further comprising, parallel to
said profiles (2, 3), between said sheets (12, 13) and at the mouth
(10) of the bag, additional raised relief means (4) positioned on
the inside of the closing profiles (2, 3), designed to provide a
seal by forming a barrier between the sheets (12, 13) in the
closure position of the bag, said additional relief means (4) being
adapted so as to be urged towards a sealing position by the slider
(5) when the slider is moved towards the closure position of the
bag, and that said abutment means (6) are located in the vicinity
of said bosses (53,54).
3. The bag according to claim 1, further comprising additional
abutment means (6) located on said sheets (12, 13) inside said
slider (5), i.e. on the side of its inner space.
4. The bag according to claim 1, wherein said abutment means (6)
comprises a bulge which protrudes at the surface of each of said
sheets (12, 13) and which extends parallel to the displacement axis
(X-X') of the slider.
5. The bag according to claim 1, wherein said bulge (6) is
continuous.
6. The bag according to claim 4, wherein said bulge (6) is
discontinuous, i.e. formed with a series of sections, the largest
interval (l.sub.2) between two neighboring sections being smaller
than the longitudinal dimension (l.sub.1) of said slider.
7. The bag according to claim 1, wherein said abutment means (6)
are made with said sheets in the same material.
8. The bag according to claim 1, wherein said abutment means (6)
are components added to said sheets.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of bags
comprising matching closing profiles respectively actuated upon
opening and closing by a slider.
[0002] These bags have already been very helpful. Indeed, the
sliders facilitate the opening and closing of the bags, so that
their presence is strongly appreciated by elderly or partially
sighted persons.
[0003] In the past, one was confronted with a sealing defect of
these bags. In particular, most of these bags did not have a total
seal in the position for closing the profiles. This sealing defect
was due to the fact that the profiles remain separate in front of
the slider.
[0004] Now, a perfect seal is required in many applications,
notably, but without any limitation, for bags used for freezing
food products.
[0005] In document WO-A-99/65353, a bag structure is described with
which this sealing defect may be overcome.
[0006] Thus, in a particular embodiment, a bag is described, which
includes: [0007] two generally parallel sheets forming its main
walls, [0008] matching closing profiles respectively fixed on these
sheets, [0009] a slider for actuating the profiles upon closing and
opening, this slider comprising flanks, each inner surface of which
bears a boss directed towards the opposite flanks, so that the
sheets forming the main walls converge towards each other, said
profiles towards said bosses.
[0010] The sealing problem according to the aforementioned document
is solved by the fact that parallel to the profiles, between the
sheets and at the mouth of the bag, additional raised relief means
are provided, positioned on the inside of the closing profiles,
designed to provide a seal by forming a barrier between the sheets
in the closure position of the bag, these additional means being
adapted so as to be urged towards their sealing position by the
slider when the latter is moved towards the closure position of the
bag.
[0011] Therefore, the relative seal provided by the matching
profiles is completed by that provided by the additional raised
relief means.
[0012] Such a structure generally gives satisfaction. However, it
is perfectible insofar that it is necessary to make sure that the
slider is properly positioned relatively to the additional raised
relief means, so as to make sure that the sheets are nipped at a
distance allowing good contact of these additional means.
[0013] In other words, situations occur in which either one of both
sheets of the bag undergoes a slight translation in a direction
perpendicular to the displacement axis of the slider, so that the
aforementioned additional means are no longer facing the other
sheet. It is easily understood that a sealing defect then results
from this.
[0014] Even in the absence of said additional means, the slight
translation poses a problem.
[0015] The present invention is therefore directed to solving this
difficulty.
[0016] A secondary object of the invention is to fulfill this
purpose, without changing the general structure of the
aforementioned bag.
[0017] The invention therefore relates to a bag including: [0018]
two generally parallel sheets forming its main walls; [0019]
matching closing profiles respectively fixed on these sheets;
[0020] a slider for actuating the profiles upon closing and
opening, this slider comprising flanks, each inner surface of which
bears a boss directed towards the opposite flank, so that the
sheets forming the main walls converge towards each other, said
profiles towards said bosses.
[0021] According to the invention, said sheets include on their
outer faces and on the outside of said slider, abutment means
capable of immobilizing said sheets relatively to said slider along
a direction generally perpendicular to the displacement axis of the
slider.
[0022] By these abutment means, proper positioning of the sheets
and of the slider is performed so as to achieve proper nipping of
the sheets.
[0023] According to other advantageous but non-limiting features:
[0024] additional raised relief means parallel to said profiles,
between said sheets and at the mouth of the bag, are positioned on
the inside of the closing profiles, designed in order to provide
the seal by forming a barrier between the sheets in the closed
position of the bag, these additional means being adapted so as to
be urged towards their sealing position by the slider when the
latter is moved towards the closure position of the bag, and the
abutment means are located in the vicinity of said bosses; [0025]
the bag includes additional abutment means located on said sheets,
inside said slider, i.e. on the side of its inner space; [0026]
said abutment means consist of a bulge which protrudes at the
surface of each of said sheets and which extends parallel to the
displacement axis of the slider; [0027] said bulge is continuous;
[0028] said bulge is discontinuous, i.e. formed by a series of
sections, the largest interval between two neighboring sections
being smaller than the longitudinal dimension of said slide; [0029]
said abutment means are made with said sheets in the same material;
[0030] said abutment means are components added to said sheets.
[0031] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of
certain preferred embodiments.
[0032] This description will be made with reference to the appended
drawings wherein:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of the
bag of the invention;
[0034] FIGS. 2 and 3 are detailed and enlarged views of the bag
structure of FIG. 1;
[0035] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are partial front views of a bag according
to the invention, illustrating several embodiments of the abutment
means.
[0036] The bag illustrated in FIG. 1 has a structure generally
known from document WO-A-99/65353 which was commented above.
[0037] This bag 1 includes a mouth 10 and a bottom 11. It consists
of two main plastic sheets referenced as 12 and 13.
[0038] These sheets are connected together at the bottom 11. In the
embodiment illustrated here, both sheets are integral with each
other from the start. However, in an embodiment not shown, both of
these sheets may be initially separate, and then superposed and
attached to each other when manufacturing the bag.
[0039] At the mouth 10, both sheets 12 and 13 are provided with
matching closing profiles 2 and 3.
[0040] These profiles may be the object of many embodiments. The
invention is not limited to the specified embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 1.
[0041] In the case illustrated here, the profiles 2 and 3 are of
the male and female type respectively, as this is well-known to one
skilled in the art. However, the invention may apply to other types
of profiles, notably of the type with matching hooks.
[0042] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the profiles 2 and 3 are made
by extrusion with the sheets 12 and 13 which form the bag.
[0043] However, in an alternative embodiment not shown, these
matching profiles may be borne on supporting webs added onto the
sheets 12 and 13, for example by hot welding or adhesive
bonding.
[0044] As mentioned above, the bag further includes a slider 5
adapted for actuating the profiles 2 and 3 upon closing and
opening.
[0045] This slider may be the object of many standard embodiments.
A typical slider example is described in document EP-A-0 479 661.
In the embodiment shown here, the slider made in plastic material,
includes two side wings 51 and 52 (or flanks), connected together
at a base 50 and which define with an elongated central sole 55,
two convergent passageways for the engageable matching closing
profiles 2 and 3.
[0046] Thus, when the direction of relative displacement of the
slider 5 with respect to the closing profiles 2 and 3 tends to
displace the slider by forcing engagement of the profiles, the bag
is closed. When the slider 5 is displaced in the reverse direction,
the bag is opened.
[0047] It will be noted that the base of the flanks 51 and 52 of
the slider extends inwards through bosses 53 and 54 directed
towards each other.
[0048] Because of the presence of the bosses, the sheets forming
the main walls of the bag converge towards each other, profiles 2
and 3 towards (in the direction of) these bosses.
[0049] In other words, from the profiles, the main walls converge
towards in each other in the direction of the inner space of the
bag.
[0050] The bag moreover includes additional raised relief means 4
which are designed in order to provide the seal by forming a
barrier between the sheets 12 and 13, in the closure position of
the bag. They are positioned inside the closing profiles.
[0051] In other words, these means 4 are placed on the inner face
of each sheet, facing the flanks 51 and 52 of the slider 5 so as to
be urged towards their sealing position by the slider when the
latter is moved towards the sealing position.
[0052] More specifically, these means 4 each consists of bulge of
plastic material which extends parallel to the displacement axis
X-X' of the slider.
[0053] To provide the seal, the bulges extend exactly facing each
other.
[0054] But, as discussed above, it occurs that one of the sheets 12
and 13 of the bag undergoes a slight translation perpendicular to
the displacement direction of the slider, so that the bulges 4 are
no longer strictly facing each other.
[0055] A sealing defect then results from this.
[0056] This is the reason why the sheets 12 and 13 include on their
outer face, in the vicinity of the bosses 53 and 54 of the slider,
abutment means 6 capable of immobilizing the sheets 12 and 13
relatively to the slider 5, along a direction generally
perpendicular to the displacement axis X-X' of the slider, by
contact between the bosses 53 and 54 and these abutment means
(6).
[0057] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the abutment means
consist of a bulge of material which extends all along the
transverse stretch of the bag.
[0058] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, these are bulges added on the
sheets 12 and 13, whereas in FIG. 3, these bulges are extruded with
the sheets 12 and 13.
[0059] By the presence of these abutment means, the positioning of
the sheets relatively to the slider is <<blocked>> so
that the additional sealing means 4 are perfectly facing each other
and completely provide their sealing function.
[0060] Moreover, because of the presence of the profiles 2 and 3 in
the sheets 12 and 13, these regions of the bag are rigid or not
very deformable. Now, the presence of the abutment means 6
contributes to bringing the sheets 12 and 13 closer to each
other.
[0061] In an embodiment not shown, it may be contemplated to do
without the presence of the additional sealing means 4.
[0062] Different embodiments of the abutment means are illustrated
in FIGS. 4-6. In order to facilitate reading of these figures, the
abutment means (6) are illustrated slightly separate from the
slider 5. However, in practice, they are positioned very close to
this slider.
[0063] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the abutment means consist of a
continuous bulge which extends parallel to the displacement axis
X-X' of the slider.
[0064] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, this bulge,
parallel to the X-X' axis is discontinuous and formed with a series
of sections, the largest interval l.sub.2 between two neighboring
sections being smaller than the longitudinal dimension l.sub.1 of
the slider 5.
[0065] Thus, regardless of the positioning of the slider, the
latter is always located facing at least one profile.
[0066] Finally, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the bulge 6 is also
discontinuous and consists of a series of sections limited to their
simplest expression, which means that they consist of points.
[0067] There again, the largest interval l.sub.3 between two
neighboring profiles is smaller than the longitudinal dimension
l.sub.1 of the slider.
[0068] The sheets, closing profiles, additional sealing means and
abutment means may be made in any suitable plastic material known
to one skilled in the art.
[0069] Preferably, this is a polyolefin, very advantageously low or
high density polyethylene, or even polypropylene.
[0070] In the embodiments illustrated in the appended figures, the
abutment means 6 are located outside the slider 5.
[0071] However, provision of additional, identical or similar
abutment means on the side of the inner space of the slider, on the
sheets, may be contemplated. Thus, the bosses 53 and 54 are framed
by the abutment means on their opposite sides.
* * * * *