U.S. patent application number 12/745871 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-25 for bag including closure profiles actuated by a slider.
This patent application is currently assigned to S2F FLEXICO. Invention is credited to Henri Bois.
Application Number | 20100296756 12/745871 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40445518 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100296756 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bois; Henri |
November 25, 2010 |
BAG INCLUDING CLOSURE PROFILES ACTUATED BY A SLIDER
Abstract
The invention relates to a bag (1) that comprises two
substantially parallel sheets (12, 13) defining the main walls
thereof, complementary closing profiles (2, 3) respectively
attached to said sheets (12, 13), and a slider (5) for actuating
the profiles (2, 3) upon opening or closing. The bag is
characterised in that at least one of said sheets (12, 13)
includes, on the outer face thereof, in the vicinity of the
gripping area of the slider (5) and parallel to the movement
direction of the latter, a strip-shaped bead defining a build up
having a thickness and a width sufficient for locally modifying the
deformability thereof.
Inventors: |
Bois; Henri; (Neuilly Sur
Seine, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
S2F FLEXICO
Henonville
FR
|
Family ID: |
40445518 |
Appl. No.: |
12/745871 |
Filed: |
January 21, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
January 21, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2009/050654 |
371 Date: |
July 14, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/2591
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/64 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 22, 2008 |
FR |
08 50394 |
Claims
1.-10. (canceled)
11. A bag including: two sheets generally parallel forming its main
walls; mating closure profiles respectively attached on these
sheets; a slider for actuating the profiles upon closing and
opening, wherein at least one of said sheets includes, on its
external face, in proximity to the gripping area of said slider and
parallel to the displacement direction of the latter, a
strip-shaped bead forming an overthickness with sufficient
thickness and width for locally modifying the deformability
thereof.
12. The bag according to claim 11, wherein said strip-shaped bead
is capable of locally increasing the rigidity thereof.
13. The bag according to claim 11, wherein said bead has a width
comprised between 5 and 15 millimeters and a thickness comprised
between 100 and 1,000 micrometers.
14. The bag according to claim 11, wherein said bead also forms an
abutment means capable of immobilizing said sheets relatively to
said slider along a direction generally perpendicular to the
displacement axis of the slider.
15. The bag according to claim 11, wherein said slider comprises
flanks, the inner surface of each of them bearing a boss directed
towards the opposite flank, so that the sheets forming the main
walls converge towards each other, from said profiles towards said
bosses.
16. The bag according to claim 11, which it includes parallel to
said profiles, between said sheets and at the mouth of the bag,
additional raised means positioned on the inside of the closure
profiles, designed for ensuring the seal by forming a barrier
between the sheets in a 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 displaced towards
the closure position of the bag, and that said bead is located in
the vicinity of said bosses.
17. The bag according to claim 11, wherein said bead is integrally
formed with said sheets in the same material.
18. The bag according to claim 17, wherein said bead is a bead
co-extruded with said sheets formed with a different material, for
example high density polyethylene, while the sheets consist of low
density polyethylene.
19. The bag according to claim 11, wherein said bead is an element
added to said sheets.
20. The bag according to claim 17, wherein said bead consists of a
deformable material, notably based on rubber.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of bags
comprising mating closure profiles respectively actuated upon
opening and closing by a slider.
[0002] These bags have already been of great help. Indeed, the
sliders facilitate the opening and closing of the bags, so that
their presence is strongly appreciated by elderly or blind
persons.
[0003] These bags include two generally parallel sheets forming its
main walls, mating closure profiles attached on these sheets, as
well as a slider for actuating the profiles upon closing and
opening;
[0004] The slider has a cross-section in the shape of an upside
down "U", its two parallel flanks coming on either side of the
aforementioned sheets, facing the profiles.
[0005] Automated machines are used for placing sliders on such
bags.
[0006] To summarize, a set of contiguous bags, bound to each other,
moves stepwise past a machine regularly supplied with sliders.
Every time a bag is immobilized in front of the machine, means
proceed with translationally placing a slider in the direction of
the bag.
[0007] Means will bear upon the sheets of the bag, in order to
ensure perfect immobilization of the bag during the placement.
[0008] However, these sheets generally have the particularity of
being extremely deformable, so that in spite of the pressure of
said means, relative displacement of the sheet is observed.
[0009] The main object of the present invention is to overcome this
difficulty, by providing a bag structure with which the automated
slider placement is facilitated.
[0010] A secondary object of the invention is to propose a bag
which moreover has a high seal.
[0011] The invention relates to a bag including: [0012] two
generally parallel sheets forming its main walls; [0013] mating
closure profiles respectively attached on these sheets; [0014] a
slider for actuating the profiles upon closing and opening.
[0015] According to the invention at least one of said sheets
includes on its outer face, in proximity to the gripping area of
said slider and parallel to the direction of displacement of the
latter, a strip-shaped bead forming an overthickness with
sufficient thickness and width for locally modifying the
deformability thereof.
[0016] According to other advantageous but non-limiting features:
[0017] said strip-shaped bead is capable of locally increasing
rigidity; [0018] said bead has a width comprised between 5 and 15
millimeters and a thickness comprised between 100 and 1,000
micrometers; [0019] said bead also forms an abutment means capable
of immobilizing said sheets relatively to said slider along a
direction generally perpendicular to the axis of displacement of
the slider; [0020] said slider comprises flanks, the inner surface
of each of them bears a boss directed towards the opposite flank,
so that the sheets forming the main walls converge towards each
other, from said profiles to said bosses; [0021] it includes,
parallel to said profiles, between said sheets and at the mouth of
the bag, additional raised means positioned on the inside of the
closure profiles, designed in order to ensure the seal by forming a
barrier between the sheets in the bag-closing position, these
additional means being adapted so as to be urged towards their
sealing position by the slider when the latter is displaced towards
the bag-closing position, and that said bead is located in the
vicinity of said bosses; [0022] said bead and said sheets are
integrally formed with the same material; [0023] said bead is
co-extruded with said sheets and consists of a different material,
for example in high density polyethylene while the sheets consist
of low density polyethylene; [0024] said bead is an element added
to said sheets, [0025] said bead consists of a deformable, notably
rubber-based material.
[0026] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent upon reading the detailed description which follows
of certain preferred embodiments.
[0027] This description will be made with reference to the appended
drawings wherein:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment
of the bag of the invention;
[0029] FIGS. 2-4 are also sectional views of three other
embodiments of the bag.
[0030] The bag illustrated in FIG. 1 has a structure generally
known from document WO-A-99/65353 about which comments were made
above.
[0031] This bag 1 includes a mouth 10 and a bottom 11. It consists
of two main sheets in plastic material, referenced as 12 and
13.
[0032] 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 separated and then superposed and
attached to each other upon manufacturing the bag.
[0033] At the mouth 10, both sheets 12 and 13 are provided with
mating closure profiles 2 and 3.
[0034] These profiles may be the object of many embodiments. The
invention is not limited to the specific embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 1.
[0035] In the case illustrated here, the profiles 2 and 3 are
respectively of the male and female type, 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 mating hooks.
[0036] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the profiles 2 and 3 are
integrally extruded with the sheets 12 and 13 which make up the
bag.
[0037] However, in an alternative embodiment not shown, these
mating profiles may be borne on supporting webs added onto the
sheets 12 and 13, for example by hot welding or adhesive
bonding.
[0038] As mentioned above, the bag further includes a slider 5
adapted for actuating the profiles 2 and 3 upon closing and
opening.
[0039] This slider may be the object of many standard embodiments.
A typical example of a slider is described in document EP-A-0 479
661. In the embodiment presented 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 (not visible) two converging passage corridors for the mating
closure profiles 2 and 3 which fit together.
[0040] Thus, when the relative displacement direction of the slider
5 relatively to the closure profiles 2 and 3 tends to displace the
slider by forcing engagement of the profiles, the bag is closed.
When the slider is displaced in the opposite direction, the bag is
opened.
[0041] According to the invention, at least one of the sheets 12
and 13 includes on its outer face, in proximity to the gripping
area of the slider 5 (by gripping area of the slider is meant the
area of the sheets 12, 13 of the bag located facing its flanks 51
and 52) and parallel to the displacement direction of this back, a
strip-shaped bead 6 forming an overthickness on the sheets, with
sufficient width and thickness in order to locally modify the
deformability thereof.
[0042] In the example illustrated here, each sheet 12 and 13 has a
strip-shaped bead 6.
[0043] This is a bead added to the sheets, for example by adhesive
bonding or welding.
[0044] In another embodiment, it may be integrally formed with them
in the same material. Under such an assumption, the bead is for
example obtained by simple extrusion, so that it forms a localized
overthickness of the material of the sheets 12 and 13.
[0045] In one alternative, it may be obtained by co-extrusion, so
that it consists of a material different from that of the
sheets.
[0046] When the sheets 12 and 13 are particularly deformable, the
strip-shaped bead 6 locally increases the rigidity of the bag, so
that the pressing means of an automated machine may enter in
intimate contact with the latter with view to perfect
immobilization.
[0047] When the bead is added to the sheets, it may be made in the
same material as them, or in another material, preferably more
rigid. An example is medium or high density polyethylene.
[0048] In any case, it is the wide shape and the overthickness of
the bead which contributes to locally modifying the deformability
of the bag.
[0049] As an indication, the bead 6 has a width comprised between 5
and 15 millimeters and a thickness comprised between 200 and 1,000
micrometers.
[0050] If necessary, the upper surface of the bead may be provided
with portions in relief or other protrusions facilitating gripping
of the bag.
[0051] Moreover, the bead may consist of a relatively deformable
material, for example based on rubber or similar to rubber. In this
case, the bulk formed by the bead locally rigidifies the bag, but
its characteristics resulting from its "rubbery" nature facilitate
its gripping.
[0052] In the example of FIG. 2, the free ends 51 and 52 of the
flanks of the slider are folded back inwards in order to form a
boss 53, respectively 54, directed towards the opposite flank.
[0053] The beads 6 and the sheets 12 and 13 will here be integrally
formed in the same material. In addition to the aforementioned
function, they form an abutment means which opposes the movement of
the sheets 12 and 13 in a direction perpendicular to the
displacement direction of the slider.
[0054] In the example presented here, an analogous bead 7 is placed
on the sheets 12 and 13, facing the profiles 2 and 3.
[0055] The space which separates both beads 6 and 7 and which
materializes a groove 8, is used for improving attachment of the
slider 5.
[0056] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the flanks of the slider 5 are
also provided with bosses 53 and 54 directed towards each other.
The elongated and central sole 55 of the slider is visible
there.
[0057] Due to the presence of these 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.
[0058] In other words, the main walls from the profiles converge
towards each other in the direction of the inner space of the
bag.
[0059] The bag moreover includes additional raised means 4 which
are designed in order to ensure the seal by forming a barrier
between the sheets 12 and 13 in the closure position of the bag.
They are positioned on the inside of the closure profiles.
[0060] 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 displaced towards the sealing position.
[0061] More specifically, these means 4 each consist of a bead in
plastic material which extends parallel to the X-X' axis of
displacement of the slider.
[0062] In order to provide the seal, the beads extend exactly
facing each other.
[0063] But, as discussed above, it occasionally occurs that one of
the sheets 12 and 13 of the bag is subject a slight translation
perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the slider, so
that the beads 4 are not strictly facing each other.
[0064] The result of this is then a lack of seal.
[0065] But due to the presence of the strip-shaped beads 6, the
sheets 13 are immobilized along the general direction perpendicular
to the X-X' displacement axis of the slider 5 by contact between
the beads and the bosses 53 and 54.
[0066] In other words, the positioning of the sheets is "blocked"
relatively to the slider so that the additional sealing means 4 are
perfectly facing each other and completely ensure their sealing
function.
[0067] Moreover, due to the presence of the profiles 2 and 3 on the
sheets 12 and 13, these regions of the bag are rigid or not very
deformable. Now, the presence of the strip-shaped beads 6
contribute to bringing the sheets 12 and 13 closer to each
other.
* * * * *