U.S. patent application number 12/544208 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-04 for releasable pull tie.
Invention is credited to Brian A. Fried.
Application Number | 20100050394 12/544208 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41723206 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100050394 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fried; Brian A. |
March 4, 2010 |
Releasable Pull Tie
Abstract
A pull tie is described comprising an elastomeric cord and a
slidable stop. The pull tie can be suitable for releasable,
multi-use closures for flexible bags and containers.
Inventors: |
Fried; Brian A.; (Melville,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Brian A. Fried
PO Box 672, 9 Richbourne Lane
Melville
NY
11747
US
|
Family ID: |
41723206 |
Appl. No.: |
12/544208 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61093659 |
Sep 2, 2008 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
24/30.5P ;
24/114.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/3909 20150115;
B65D 33/1633 20130101; Y10T 24/155 20150115; Y10T 24/153 20150115;
Y10T 24/3969 20150115; Y10T 24/3984 20150115; Y10T 24/15 20150115;
Y10T 24/38 20150115; Y10T 24/3987 20150115; Y10T 24/158
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/30.5P ;
24/114.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16; A44B 21/00 20060101 A44B021/00 |
Claims
1. A pull tie for releasably closing flexible containers comprising
an elastomeric cord substantially in a U-shape having a bend from
which both a first leg and a second leg extend, the first and
second legs being held in place with a releasable slidable lock,
the slidable lock comprising a body having one or more openings to
receive the first and second legs of the elastomeric cord, a
depressible plunger comprising at least one bore to receive the
legs of the elastomeric cord within the body of the slidable lock,
bias means that urge the plunger into a locking position such that
the elastomeric cord is gripped by the slidable lock, wherein
depressing the depressible plunger reduces the gripping of the
elastomeric cord by the slidable lock and allows the slidable lock
to be moved relative to the elastomeric cord, wherein the portion
of the elastomeric cord between the slidable lock and the bend
defines a loop that can receive a portion of a flexible
container.
2. The pull tie of claim 1, further comprising a lock retention
means attached to the legs of the elastomeric cord to prevent the
slidable lock from being readily removed from the elastomeric
cord.
3. The pull tie of claim 2, wherein the lock retention means
comprises a bridging element.
4. The pull tie of claim 3, wherein the lock retention means
comprises enlarged endings of the elastomeric cord.
5. The pull tie of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric cord is a
deformable silicone polymer having a width of at least 2 mm.
6. The pull tie of claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the pull tie
permit a maximum loop size of at least 2 inches in length to be
achieved, the loop having sufficient resiliency that it can
substantially maintain its shape regardless of orientation in
earth's gravity field.
7. The pull tie of claim 1, where the bias means comprise a spring
operably associated with the body of the slidable lock and the
depressible plunger.
8. The pull-tie of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric cord has a
cross-sectional area of about 2 square millimeters or greater.
9. The pull-tie of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric cord has a
cross-sectional area of about 4 square millimeters or greater.
10. The pull tie of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric cord further
comprises an elongated reinforcing element.
11. The pull tie of claim 10, wherein the reinforcing element is
non-elastomeric, and wherein a cross-section of at least a portion
of the elastomeric cord the elastomeric material of the elastomeric
cord having a cross-sectional area of about 1 square millimeter or
greater.
12. The pull tie of claim 10, wherein at least 30% of the
cross-sectional area of the elastomeric cord in a region adapted
for engagement with the slidable lock is occupied by elastomeric
material.
13. The pull tie of claim 10, wherein at least 50% of the
cross-sectional area of the elastomeric cord in a region adapted
for engagement with the slidable lock is occupied by elastomeric
material.
14. The pull tie of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric cord comprises
a phosphorescent material.
15. The pull tie of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric cord varies in
cross-sectional area along its length with a maximum to minimum
area ratio of at least 1.3.
16. The pull tie of claim 1, wherein the pull tie is sufficiently
durable for at least about 50 cycles of use in each of which a
flexible container is secured with the pull tie and then
released.
17. A method of using the pull tie of claim 1, wherein the loop in
the absence of deforming forces has an original shape, the method
comprising: (a) providing the pull tie with slidable lock in a
first position remote from the bend; (b) opening the loop with
lateral force to increase the width of the loop; (c) placing a
portion of a flexible container within the widened loop; (d)
releasing the lateral force to allow the loop to be urged towards
its original shape and thereby engage the portion of a flexible
container received in the loop; and (e) depressing the depressible
plunger and sliding the slidable lock toward the bend to cinch the
portion of a flexible container received in the loop.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the elastomeric cord has a
cross-sectional area of at least 2 square millimeters and a length
from about 10 cm to 50 cm.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the flexible container is a
plastic bag having an opening surrounded by a mouth, and the
portion of the flexible bag placed within the widened loop of the
pull tie comprises the mouth of the plastic bag.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising subsequent opening
of the flexible container by depressing the depressible plunger and
sliding the slidable lock away from the bend in the pull tie to
release the engaged portion of the flexible container in the loop.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Appl. Ser.
No. 61/093,659, "Releasable Pull Tie," filed Sep. 2, 2008, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all
purposes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention pertains to releasable, multi-use closures
for flexible bags and containers. In particular, this invention
pertains to releasable pull ties for closing flexible bags.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Plastic bags used for numerous items of food require
reusable closure means to allow the food to repeatedly be opened
and closed. The ubiquitous "wired paper twist tie" used for freezer
bags, plastic bags, loafs of bread, etc., has a number of
limitations, as do other approaches such as clamps, plastic clips,
including those with a notch for receiving the flexible material of
a bad, and related devices. Twist ties and other closures may easy
to lose, for example, and sometimes require high levels of
dexterity to use or force. Existing closures also may not provide
tight seals. Further, currently known methods tend to be
unattractive and in some cases are not useful for many repeat
uses.
[0006] In light of the limitations of prior solutions, there is a
need for an improved plastic bag closure that can be repeatedly
used and provide effective closure. There is also a need for an
improved bag closure that can provide a highly effective tight seal
to protect the contents. Further, there is a need for a bag closure
that is easy to use even for persons with limited mobility or
dexterity. Again, there is a need for improved aesthetics in bag
closures.
[0007] In mentioning the above unmet needs, it is not to be assumed
that any one aspect of the invention must necessarily meet all or
any of these particular needs, which are cited simply by way of
providing background information pertaining to some aspects of the
invention. Likewise, any advantages hereafter described need not
pertain to all aspects of the invention, and should not be used to
limit the scope of the invention as claimed.
SUMMARY
[0008] An improved bag closure has been developed comprising an
elastomeric cord in a loop configuration having a bend and two side
legs, further comprising a slidable lock that engages each of the
legs to form a closed loop between the slidable lock and the bend.
The loop can receive a portion of a plastic bag or other flexible
container or object to be secured, wherein the slidable lock can
then be slid toward the bend to engage the portion of the plastic
bag (or other object) enclosed by the loop. The slidable lock has
biasing means that urge a portion of the lock against the
elastomeric cord to grip the elastomeric cord (e.g., to clamp down
on the elastomeric cord) and help prevent the lock from slipping
relative to the elastomeric cord in use. A bias release can be
activated to allow the slidable lock to be moved to a new position
relative to the cord.
[0009] In operation, the slidable lock will typically be moved
between two general positions, an open position and a closed
position, though these need not be fixed locations but can vary
depending upon the material being closed and the variable operation
of the user, for the slidable lock may be able to assume a broad
range of locations along the elastomeric cable. In the open
position, the slidable lock is remote from the bend, and the length
of the elastomeric cable between the lock and the bend provides a
loop that can be readily expanded with the fingers to receive an
object such as a plastic bag. Then, the lock may be slid into a
closed position to compress the bag in the loop and create a snug
closure.
[0010] Thus, the bag closure of the present invention provides a
closure that can securely enclose an portion of a flexible bag
(typically the mouth thereof) such as a plastic bag by placing a
portion of the flexible container through the loop formed by the
elastomeric cord and the slidable lock. This is done while the lock
is in a first position remote from the bend of the elastomeric
cord, followed by sliding the slidable lock to a second position
relatively closer to the bend than in the first position, wherein
the size of the loop is reduced and the portion of the flexible bag
extending through the loop is constricted into a sealed or closed
configuration.
[0011] Thus, in one embodiment, the present invention comprises a
pull tie for releasably closing flexible containers comprising an
elastomeric cord substantially in a U-shape having a bend from
which both a first leg and a second leg extend, the first and
second legs being held in place with a releasable slidable lock,
the slidable lock comprising a body having one or more openings to
receive the first and second legs of the elastomeric cord, a
depressible plunger comprising at least one bore to receive the
legs of the elastomeric cord within the body of the slidable lock,
bias means that urge the plunger into a locking position such that
the elastomeric cord is gripped by the slidable lock, wherein
depressing the depressible plunger reduces the gripping of the
elastomeric cord by the slidable lock and allows the slidable lock
to be moved relative to the elastomeric cord, wherein the portion
of the elastomeric cord between the slidable lock and the bend
defines a loop that can receive a portion of a flexible
container.
[0012] The flexible bags that may be closed with the bag closure of
the present invention include bags containing food products such as
bread bags; plastic produce bags containing fruits, vegetables,
bulk goods, and the like; mesh bags such as mesh bags for oranges;
paper bags, metalized foil bags, gift bags, resealable bags, bags
used to market lettuce leaves and other salad ingredients, snack
bags such as those used to package potato chips, candy, trash bags,
bags containing medical articles or medical waste, bags for
forensic samples, sample bags, money bags, etc.
[0013] Bags and other objects that may be used with the present
invention may be made of flexible films such as plastic films,
multilayer films, cloth, paper, metallic foil, metal mesh, foams,
laminates and composite materials, leather, rubber, simulated
leather or rubber, and the like The bag closures of the present
invention need not be limited to flexible bags in use, but can be
used for a variety of purposes such as closing, grasping, pinching,
restraining, or joining a variety of objects including containers,
items of clothing, gift items, toys, camping supplies such as
tents, screens. For example, the bag closure may be used to
temporarily join two or more items such as two socks, or may be
used to hold one or more items in place, such as holding a curtain
or flexible screen in an open position. The closures may also be
used to hold bundled hair or other filamentous objects (e.g.,
similar to a "scrunchie" as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,696,
"Decorative Pony Tail Holder and Method of Using," issued Apr. 12,
1994 to R. Revson, or other hair retainers) or as a decorative
attachments that can be placed on a variety of objects.
[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
elastomeric cord has substantial rigidity such that it can maintain
its shape regardless of orientation (i.e., the influence of gravity
has substantially little influence on the shape assumed by the
elastomeric cord, particular when the slidable lock is present).
Unlike the highly flexible cords in slidable lanyards used to hold
name badges or cord locks used on cords attached to clothing,
luggage, or other items, the elastomeric cords of the present
invention generally have substantially rigidity such that they hold
their shape. This can be achieved both through the material type
and the diameter or cross-sectional size and shape of the
elastomeric cord. In some embodiments, the elastomeric cord has
been molded or formed into a U-shape such that the elastomeric cord
retains the U-shape even in the absence of the slidable lock.
Alternatively, the shape of the loop between the slidable lock and
the bend of the elastomeric cord may be substantially maintained
regardless of the orientation of the pull tie in earth's
gravitation field, due to the resilience of the elastomeric
cord.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIGS. 1A and 1B show an embodiment of the pull tie of the
present invention with the sliding lock in two alternate
positions.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a food bag closed with a pull tie.
[0017] FIG. 3 depicts the deformation of the pull tie loop that may
be manually achieved before inserting a bag into the loop prior to
cinching the pull tie into a closed position.
[0018] FIG. 4 depicts a portion of a slidable lock.
[0019] FIG. 5 depicts a pull tie in which the two legs of the pull
tie are fused into a narrow bridging member.
[0020] FIG. 6 depicts a pull tie lacking a bridging member in which
each of the two legs of an elastomeric cord the pull tie terminate
in separate terminal stops.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] FIGS. 1A and 1B show an embodiment of the pull tie 20 of the
present invention. A deformable, resilient elastomeric cord 22 is
provided substantially in a U-shape defined by a bend 40 from which
descends a first leg 30 and a second leg 32 of the elastomeric cord
22. The legs 30, 32 of the elastomeric cord 22 are engaged (and, in
some embodiments, held in place) with a slidable lock 24 comprising
a body 26 through which the elastomeric cord 22 passes and a
depressible plunger 28, here visible as an external button that can
be depressed. Not visible from this perspective are at least one
internal bore within the depressible plunger 28 that receives the
legs 30, 32 of the elastomeric cord 22. Also not shown is bias
means such as an internal spring between the lower surface of the
slidable lock body 26 and the depressible plunger 28 that urges the
depressible plunger 24 upward to grip the elastomeric cord 22 and
prevent relative motion of the slidable lock 24 and the elastomeric
cord 22. The terminal portions of the legs 30, 32 of the
elastomeric cord 22 are joined by a bridging member 36, here shown
as a circle or loop with an interior hole 38 that can be readily
gripped by fingers. The bridging member 36, which acts as a lock
retention means to keep the slidable lock 24 from undesired
separation from the elastomeric cord 22, could have any desired
alternate shape (not shown) and need not define a loop. Likewise,
the bridging member 36 need not comprise elastomeric material and
may be a section of flexible or rigid material such as a plastic
strip or rod, a filament, a metal band, etc. The bridging member 36
can also be much thinner or smaller than shown, and may, for
example, comprise a section of adhesive material joining the
elastomeric cord 22, and in some embodiments may be unitary with
the elastomeric cord 22. The bridging member 36 may comprise a
thermal or ultrasonic bond joining the legs 30, 32 together, or
other attachment means, or may be the result of fusion (not shown)
of the two legs 30, 32 into a single element of the elastomeric
cord 22.
[0022] In FIG. 1A, the slidable lock is at an intermediate position
with a relatively large loop 34 defined between the bend 40 and the
two substantially parallel descending legs 30, 32 of the
elastomeric cord 22 above the slidable lock 24. In FIG. 1B, the
slidable lock 24 has been moved to a higher position defining a
much smaller loop 34. In this latter position, a flexible bag (not
shown) within the loop 34 could be tightly closed and held in a
sealed position by the snug grip of the slidable lock 24 against
the elastomeric cord 22. When the user (not shown) wishes to
release the pull tie 20 and open the bag (not shown), the
depressible plunger 28 could be depressed to release the grip of
the slidable lock 24, and the slidable lock 24 could then be slid
to a lower position on the pull tie, more remote from the bend
40.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a food bag 50 closed with a pull tie 20. Here a
bread bag is shown, such as thin, transparent polymeric commonly
used for commercial bread. Rather than using a twist tie to seal
it, the bag 50 is closed securely with the pull tie 20. The closure
was achieved by placing the end 52 of the bag 50 through a loop 34
of the pull tie 20 and then moving the slidable lock 24 toward the
bend 40 of the elastomeric cord 22 of the pull tie 20 to cinch the
pull tie 20 in a closed position as shown, thereby closing and
securing the bag 50. When a user wishes to open the bag 50, the
pull tie 20 is readily and quickly opened by depressing the
depressible plunger 28 and sliding the slidable lock 24 back toward
the circular bridging member 36 of the pull tie 20, or otherwise
sliding the slidable lock 24 away from the bend 40.
[0024] FIG. 3 depicts a pull tie 20 and shows the deformation of
the pull tie loop 34 that may be manually achieved before inserting
a bag into the loop 34 prior to cinching the pull tie 20 into a
closed position. The loop 34 may be enlarged, for example, to
receive a bag or other object (not shown) by pulling laterally on
the legs 30 and 32 in the respective directions shown by arrows 54
and 56, especially when the slidable lock 24 is relatively near the
bridging member 36 and relatively remote from the bend 40 of the
elastomeric cord 22. In many embodiments, in the absence
substantial lateral force, the resilient nature of the elastomeric
cord will tend to urge the legs 30, 32 back into a substantially
parallel position (not shown here, but see FIGS. 1A and 1B),
defining a U-shape in the upper section 48 of the pull-tie 20 above
the slidable lock 24. In many embodiments, the shape of the
elastomeric cord 22 will tend to be relatively insensitive to
gravity, allowing the shape to be retained regardless of
orientation in earth's gravity field.
[0025] FIG. 4 depicts a portion of one embodiment of a slidable
lock 24 showing a depressible plunger 28 encased in a plunger
housing 60 cooperatively associated with an internal body member 62
which helps define two bores 64 and 66 each for receiving a leg
(not shown) of an elastomeric cord (not shown). A bias means 80,
here depicted as a spring, is beneath the surface of the
depressible plunger 28. Not shown are external body members or
casements that define a portion of the outer surface of the
slidable lock which engage with the depressible plunger 28 and
internal body member 62. The lower surface 68 of the internal body
member 62 may be exposed and act as an external surface of the
slidable lock 24, or it may be covered completely or in part by an
external body members or casement (not shown).
[0026] FIG. 5 depicts a pull tie 20 similar to those of FIGS. 1A
and 1B, except that the bridging element 38 comprises a relatively
narrow fused region 70 where the two legs 30, 32 come together. The
fused region 70 may be appended, as shown, with a gripping element
72 that may be a disk, a sphere, a textured surface of any shape,
or any other structure suitable for grasping, such as by a thumb
and a finger of one hand. The gripping element 72 may comprise
elastomeric material or substantially non-elastomeric material.
[0027] FIG. 6 depicts a pull tie 20 similar to those of FIGS. 1A
and 1B, except that it lacks a bridging element 38 and instead
comprises terminal stops 74,76 at the ends of each of the legs 30,
32, respectively, which act to prevent the slidable lock 24 from
leaving engagement with the legs 30, 32 of the elastomeric cord 22.
The terminal stops 74, 76, which act as lock retention means to
retain the slidable lock 24 on the elastomeric cord 22, may be
enlarged portions of the elastomeric cord 22 or other structures
that are unitary with the elastomeric cord 22, or they may be
separately formed, distinct objects that are attached to the legs
30, 32 but not unitary therewith. The terminal stops 74, 76 may
also serve as a gripping element to provide a similar function of
the gripping element 72 in FIG. 5.
The Elastomeric Cord
[0028] The elastomeric cord can have a cross-sectional shape that
is circular, elliptical, rectangular, octagonal, or any other
desired shape, and need not be uniform in cross-section along its
length. The ratio of the maximum cross-sectional area to the
minimum cross-sectional area along any region adapted to pass
within or be directly contacted by the slidable lock may about 1.1
or greater, such as about 1.3 or greater, 1.5 or greater, 2 or
greater, or 3 or greater. The elastomeric cord can also comprise
multiple strands and may, for example, be in the form of a
multi-strand rope comprising multiple elastomeric strands joined or
twisted together.
[0029] The elastomeric cord may have a length of from about 10 cm
to 50 cm, such as from about 20 cm to about 40 cm, or from about 25
cm to about 35 cm, or about 10 cm or greater. In other versions,
particularly for use with objects other than standard plastic bags
for consumer use, larger or smaller cord lengths may be considered.
The diameter or effective diameter (for non-circular
cross-sections, defined as the diameter of a hypothetical circle
having the same cross-sectional area as the cord) of the
elastomeric cord may generally be from about 1 mm to about 12 mm,
such as from about 2 mm to about 10 mm or from about 3 mm to about
8 mm. The elastomeric cord may comprise a single elastomer or a
blend of two or more materials, including two or more elastomers,
and may be substantially homogeneous or heterogeneous in
composition. For example, the elastomeric cord may comprise a
rubber cord coated with silicone, or visa versa, or multiple
strands or layers of differing materials.
[0030] The elastomers may be selected from silicone polymers,
natural rubber, synthetic rubbers, polyurethane, Neoprene.RTM.
(chloroprene, a product of DuPont Performance Elastomers), vinyl
polymers, synthetic block copolymers with elastomeric properties
such as butadiene copolymers, polyolefins such as metallocene
polypropylene or polyethylene, nitrile Buna-N or other copolymers
of butadiene and acrylonitrile, carboxylated nitrile polymers or
highly saturated nitrile polymers such as HNBR, Varmac (a copolymer
of ethylene, methylacrylate and a monomer to facilitate
vulcanization), fluoro-elastomers such as Viton.RTM. (produced by
DuPont Performance Elastomers) or Fluorel.RTM. (produced by 3M
Corporation), and the like.
[0031] Silicone polymers may comprise siloxane polymers such as
those with substituent vinyl and methyl groups, organoreactive
polysiloxanes, etc., including those described in U.S. Pat. No.
7,271,233, "Room-Temperature-Curable Silicone Rubber Composition,"
issued Sep. 18, 2007 to Yoshitake et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,119,143,
"Silicone Pads for Electronics Thermal Management," issued Oct. 10,
2006 to Jarnjevic and Eaton; U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,554, "Silicone
Rubber Composition," issued Jul. 5, 1988 to Itoh et al.; U.S. Pat.
No. 3,639,155, "Dirt-Resistant Silicone Rubber," issued Feb. 1,
1972 to Hartlein and Vincent. Silicone polymers may be reinforced
(e.g., with PTFE or other polymeric or non-polymeric materials),
comprise particulates and filler materials such as silica,
pigments, and the like.
[0032] The elastomer may be provided as a coating on an underlying
non-elastomeric material such as a string, thread, ribbon, strip of
textile, or cord. In some embodiments, the thickness of the
elastomeric material in the elastomeric cord (or over at least a
portion thereof, said portion being located in a zone that can be
engaged by the slidable lock) is at least about 0.5 mm or at least
about 1.0 mm over at least a portion of the underlying
non-elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional
area of an elastomeric cord such as a composite elastomeric cord
has a cross-sectional area of about 1 square millimeter or greater,
more specifically about 2 square millimeters or greater, and more
specifically still about 4 square millimeters or greater. In some
embodiments, at least 30% or at least 50% of the cross-section of
the cord is occupied by elastomeric material. In related
embodiments, a non-elastomeric material may be used as a
reinforcing element to reinforce the elastomeric material. The
reinforcing element may be elongated (e.g., aspect ration of about
10 or greater) in the form of one or more filaments that may be,
for example, polymeric, natural fibers, or metallic filaments.
[0033] In one embodiment, the elastomeric cord comprises
phosphorescent material to provide a glow-in-the-dark function.
Common pigments used in phosphorescent materials include zinc
sulfide and strontium aluminate. Glow-in-the-dark pigments can
include, for example, zinc sulfide or strontium oxide
aluminate-based compounds. Radioluminescent materials may also be
used, such as tritium-excited luminous compounds. f
[0034] The elastomeric cord may be substantially smooth, striated,
serrated, etc. In some versions, serrations or other surface
irregularities provide steric hindrance to removal of the band. In
other versions, the clamping in the slidable lock provides
sufficient force and restraint. In other words, normal force
pressing on the band holds it in place, resulting in a two-way
restraint (band cannot easily slide in either the up or down
direction). When a ratchet-like mechanism is in play, a one-way
restraint may predominate, meaning that that slide can more easily
move in one direction than the other.
[0035] The band can interact with the clasp via a ratchet
mechanism, wherein angled grooves or serrations in the band engage
with an serrated portion of the clasp that contacts the band. Such
ratchet mechanisms are described, for example, in the following US
patents, each of which is herein incorporated by reference to the
extent they are non-contradictory herewith: [0036] U.S. Pat. No.
4,092,765, "Miniaturized Harnessing Device," issued Jun. 6, 1978 to
A. W. Joyce, which describes a miniaturized harnessing device
formed by a locking head and an attached serrated strap. The head
contains a guide channel for receiving the strap after encirclement
of the items to be harnessed, and an internal locking tang. The end
of the strap before the regular serrations has a serrated ramp, the
length of which is longer than the interval between regular
serrations, to ease the insertion of the strap into a small-scale
harnessing device. [0037] U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,233, "Releasable
One-Piece Cable Tie," issued Sep. 30, 1975 to Caveney and Moody,
which describes a releasable integral one-piece cable tie to be
tensioned about a bundle of wires and the like, the cable tie
comprising an elongated flexible strap, a row of teeth disposed on
one longitudinal surface of the strap and arranged transversely
with respect thereto, a frame integral with one end of the strap
and including an abutment wall, the frame having an entry surface
and an exit surface and a strap-receiving opening extending
therethrough, a pawl disposed within the frame in the
strap-receiving opening and hingedly connected thereto, the
abutment wall having a strap-bearing surface disposed toward the
pawl and defining therewith a strap-receiving throat, a set of
transverse teeth on the pawl disposed toward the abutment wall and
shaped complementary to the row of teeth on the strap, and an
extension on the pawl extending beyond the exit surface in all
positions of the pawl for engagement by a user to move the pawl.
[0038] U.S. Pat. No. 3,300,825, "Cable Tie and Anchor," issued Jan.
31, 1967 to A. W. Brandt, which describes a wedge-lock band
clamp.
[0039] Instead of spending the time to twist the wire around the
items packaging, this method of sealing freshness of a product and
securing it within the packaging may provide much greater ease of
use. The method, in general terms, comprises the steps of: [0040]
moving the sliding lock to a lower position to provide a large loop
between the sliding lock and the bend in the elastomeric cord, the
large loop defining an original shape; [0041] opening the large
loop with lateral force to increase the width of the opening of the
loop to receive an item such as a portion of a flexible bag; [0042]
releasing the lateral force to allow the widened large loop to be
urged towards its original shape and thereby engaging the item
received in the loop; [0043] activating a release means on the
slidable lock, such as pressing a depressible plunger that appears
as a button on the external surface of the lock, to decrease the
clamping of the elastomeric cord and thereby allowing the slidable
lock to slide more freely along the elastomeric cord; and [0044]
sliding the slidable lock toward the bend in the loop to cinch the
item received in the loop, thereby increasing the degree of closure
experienced by the received item.
[0045] The act of sliding the slidable lock after the release means
have been activated (e.g., a depressible plunger on the lock has
been depressed to decrease the braking force or clamping force
imposed on the elastomeric cord) can comprise grasping the lock
with one hand the elastomeric cord with the other and causing
relative motion such that the lock moves to a new position long the
elastomeric cord.
[0046] The elastomeric cord may terminate with a bridging member
that joins the two legs of the elastomeric cord descending from a
bend. The slidable lock is between the bend and the bridging
member. The bridging member may be a simple strut joining the ends
of the elastomeric cord, or may comprise a bond that joins them
together, such as adhesive, a thermal weld, a wire or string
wrapped around the two ends to bind them, a pin passing between
them, etc. In one version, the bridging member is made of the same
material as the elastomeric cord itself and is integral therewith,
and may be formed with the cord during molding or extrusion. An
integral bridging member may comprise a surface or shape that is
readily grasped by fingers, such as a circle or oval loop, a disk,
a square, etc.
[0047] Alternatively, the elastomeric cord may be provided without
a bridging member, but may terminate in unattached ends. To prevent
the ends from passing through the slidable lock and thus detaching
the slidable lock from the elastomeric cord, the elastomeric cord
may terminate in enlarged endings that cannot readily pass through
the bore of the body of the slidable lock, or through the passage
way between the body and the depressible plunger or other locking
elements in the slidable lock. The enlarged endings may be bulbs or
balls formed at the end of the cords, knots tied therein, added
elements attached to the ends of the cords, etc.
[0048] The pull tie and its components, such as the elastomeric
cord and slidable lock, are sufficiently resilient and durable that
the pull tie may be used many times to secure flexible containers
such as plastic bags. For example, a pull tie of some embodiments
of the present invention may be used for 50 or more cycles of
securing a bag and releasing a bag, or for 100 or more cycled, or
200 or more cycles before being likely to face mechanical failure.
Because of its reusable nature, pull ties may be marketed as
stand-along items for many uses by a consumer or other parties, or
may be sold in combination with plastic bags or other flexible
closures suitable for use with the pull tie, or may be provided as
a closure already in place securing a flexible container such as a
bread bag or other food or non-food item. The pull tie may be
marketed as an incentive to purchase a packaged item, a package of
flexible closures, or other product.
The Slidable Lock
[0049] The slidable lock may comprise plastic, metal, wood, or
other materials, and generally comprises a body having two or more
plastic components that engage to define a passage way that can
receive the elastomeric cord. The slidable lock comprises a release
element such as a depressible plunger in the form of a rounded,
elevated button on the outer surface of the slidable lock that can
be depressed to release the grip of the slidable lock on the
elastomeric cord. The plunger can be operably engaged with a spring
between the button and a lower internal surface of the body, such
that the spring biases the plunger to an upward position that
results in force being applied to the elastomeric cord that
prevents it from readily slipping in the passageway between the
body and the plunger. When the plunger is depressed, the grip on
the elastomeric cord is relaxed and the slidable lock can freely
slide to a new location.
[0050] In one embodiment, the lower portion of the plunger (beneath
the exposed surface of the button that may be depressed) has one or
two bores therein to receive the elastomeric cord (both legs could
fit into one bore, or there may be a bridge between two bores to
keep the legs separated). The bores may align with one or more
openings in the body of the slidable lock when the plunger is
depressed; otherwise, the bores are urged away from being aligned
with the one or more openings in the body of the slidable lock,
such that when an elastomeric cord passes through the bores and the
openings, the cord is pressured by the force being applied to the
plunger such that the cord is gripped. In some embodiment, the one
or more openings are two openings.
[0051] In one embodiment, the bores in the plunger have
substantially the same diameter as the elastomeric cord itself and
the openings in the body of the slidable lock, such that the
shifting of the bores out of alignment with the openings of the
body of the slidable lock will tend to make the elastomeric cord
follow a non-linear route through the slidable lock wherein
frictional forces are applied the prevent sliding of the lock until
the plunger is depressed.
[0052] A basic slidable lock unit that can be adapted for the
present invention is that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,891,
"Cord Lock Having Depressible Plunger," issued Sep. 15, 1981 to O.
W. Boden, herein incorporated by reference. Boden describes a cord
lock having a body containing a plunger which can be pressed
inwardly relative to the body against the resistance of an
actuating spring, with the body and plunger having apertures or
bores through which a cord or cords can extend and which have edges
acting to grip the cords when the plunger is in a predetermined
locking position. The apertures may be of oblong sectional shape,
and the gripping edges of the plunger and body may be sharpened in
a relation assuring effective clamping of the cord.
[0053] The slidable lock can employ other known cord locks used in
lanyards such as Streamlight.RTM. Lanyards (e.g., those pictured at
http://www.imagometrics.com/FLReviews/FL_Stuff.htm), or the cord
locks described in any of the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,665,590;
4,711,002; 5,208,950; 5,517,729; 5,572,770; 5,697,128; 6,189,186,
and 6,675,446.
REMARKS
[0054] When introducing elements of aspects of the invention or the
embodiments thereof, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are
intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The
terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be
inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than
the listed elements.
[0055] Having described aspects of the invention in detail, it will
be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without
departing from the scope of aspects of the invention as defined in
the appended claims. As various changes could be made in the above
compositions, products, and methods without departing from the
scope of aspects of the invention, it is intended that all matter
contained in the above description shall be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
[0056] While the foregoing description makes reference to
particular illustrative embodiments, these examples should not be
construed as limitations. The inventive system, methods, and
devices can be adapted for many other uses not explicitly listed
above, and can be modified in numerous ways within the spirit of
the present disclosure. All elements shown, for example, may be
subject to a wide variety of decorative enhancements and variations
in shape, texture, and so forth without departing from the scope of
the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited
to the disclosed embodiments, but is to be accorded the widest
scope consistent with the claims below.
* * * * *
References