U.S. patent application number 13/276835 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-26 for closure device and sack employing it.
Invention is credited to Henri BOIS.
Application Number | 20120099805 13/276835 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44019669 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120099805 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BOIS; Henri |
April 26, 2012 |
CLOSURE DEVICE AND SACK EMPLOYING IT
Abstract
The present invention relates in particular to a closure device
comprising: two substrate webs (12, 13); complementary closure
means (2, 3), each being respectively connected to a corresponding
web (12, 13), characterized by the fact that each web (12, 13)
consists of two parts, to with a first part (14, 16) bearing one of
the closure means (2; 3), and a second part (15, 17) distinct from
the first, these first (14, 16) and second (15, 17) parts being
provided along their lower edge and upper edge respectively with
mutual and complementary cooperation means (40, 41, 40', 41'), such
as clipping means.
Inventors: |
BOIS; Henri; (Neuilly sur
Seine, FR) |
Family ID: |
44019669 |
Appl. No.: |
13/276835 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/2541 20130101;
B65D 33/2566 20130101; B65D 33/2525 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/42 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 20, 2010 |
FR |
1058559 |
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. A closure device comprising: two substrate webs; complementary
closure means, each being connected respectively to a corresponding
web, wherein each web consists of two parts, to with a first part
bearing one of the closure means, and a second part distinct from
the first, these first and second parts being provided along their
lower edge and upper edge respectively with mutual and
complementary cooperation means, such as clipping means.
13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said second parts of
said webs are distinct entities.
14. A device according to claim 12, wherein said second parts of
said webs consist of one and the same sheet folded over itself.
15. A device according to claim 12, wherein said closure means are
molded integrally with the corresponding first part.
16. A device according to claim 12, wherein said closure means are
inserted elements.
17. A device according to claim 12, wherein said closure means are
complementary profiles.
18. A device according to claim 12, wherein said mutual cooperation
means consist of complementary beads and gutters.
19. A device according to claim 12, wherein said first and second
parts are made of different plastics, incompatible in profile.
20. A sack manufactured using a closure device comprising: two
substrate webs; complementary closure means, each being connected
respectively to a corresponding web, wherein each web consists of
two parts, to with a first part bearing one of the closure means,
and a second part distinct from the first, these first and second
parts being provided along their lower edge and upper edge
respectively with mutual and complementary cooperation means, such
as clipping means.
21. A sack according to claim 20, wherein said second parts of said
webs themselves delimit the receptacle of this sack.
22. A sack according to claim 20, which includes at least one
additional web attached to said first parts and/or second parts
which delimits the receptacle of the sack.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of closure
devices comprising complementary closure means.
[0002] In certain cases, these means are actuated, respectively
during opening and during closing, by a slide.
[0003] By way of a non-limiting example, such closure devices are
an integral part of sacks.
[0004] These sacks comprise two generally parallel webs forming
their main walls, complementary closure means built into the webs
and possibly a slide for actuating said means, during closing and
during opening.
[0005] During manufacture of these sacks, there are two zones for
each web which have very different technical and mechanical
characteristics.
[0006] The first is that which bears closure means such as
profiles. It is generally provided with ribs or other protruding
members.
[0007] The second consists of webs which subsequently delimit
either a part of the closure or the walls of the sack. When a large
size sack is involved, for example one intended to receive a
considerable quantity of animal feed, this second zone has a vast
extent.
[0008] During manufacture of these webs, particularly by profile,
creep problems are observed in this second zone, which can have
deleterious effects on the quality of the final product,
particularly by bringing about deformations of the first zone,
called the "technical zone."
[0009] Moreover, it may be required or desired, for manufacturing
reasons connected with the technical constraints specific to each
zone of the closure devices and/or of the sack, that these sacks be
made of distinct plastics which are incompatible or compatible in
co- profile only with difficulty.
[0010] The present invention has as its principal object to remedy
this difficulty, by providing a closure device structure that does
not have these disadvantages.
[0011] The present invention therefore relates to a closure device
comprising: [0012] two substrate webs; [0013] complementary closure
means, each being respectively connected to a corresponding web
[0014] characterized by the fact that each web consists of two
parts, to with a first part which bears one of the closure means,
and a second part distinct from the first, these first and second
parts being provided with mutual and complementary cooperation
means, such as clipping means.
[0015] Advantageously, the second parts of said webs are distinct
entities.
[0016] However, according to another possible embodiment, the
second parts of said webs consist of one and the same sheet folded
over itself.
[0017] According to one advantageous embodiment, said closure means
are molded integrally with the corresponding first part.
[0018] Said closure means can, however, consist of inserts.
[0019] Preferentially, said closure means are complementary
profiles.
[0020] Advantageously, the mutual cooperation means are made up of
complementary beads and gutters.
[0021] Finally, according to one variation, said first and second
parts are made of different plastics, incompatible in profile.
[0022] The invention also relates to a sack manufactured making use
of a device conforming to one of the foregoing embodiments.
[0023] According to the advantageous and non-limiting features of
this sack: [0024] said second parts of said webs themselves delimit
the receptacle of this sack, [0025] it includes at least one
additional web, attached to said first parts and/or second parts,
which delimits the receptacle of the sack.
[0026] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
appear upon reading the detailed description that follows, of a
preferred embodiment.
[0027] This description will be given with reference to the
appended drawing wherein:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic section view of a closure device
according to the invention.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a view similar to the foregoing of a variation in
implementation of this device.
[0030] FIGS. 3 and 4 are very schematic section views of sacks
which incorporate the closure device of FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 5A is a schematic view which shows the initially
distinct elements of a closure device conforming to a variation of
the present invention, designed to be assembled together to
constitute a closure device including an opening indicator as shown
schematically in section in FIG. 5B.
[0032] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are schematic views of three other
embodiments of a sachet incorporating the closure device.
[0033] This description applies to a closure device which is
subsequently used to manufacture a sack. It is, however, a simple
example, the closure device being suitable for other uses, for
example for uniting the two ends of a sheet designed to serve as a
poster.
[0034] The closure device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a structure
generally known per se in outline. Its embodiment according to the
invention, however, is innovative.
[0035] It has an upper part 10 and a lower part 11.
[0036] It consists of two webs made of plastic, labeled 12 and
13.
[0037] At the upper part 10, the two webs 12 and 13 are equipped
with complementary closure profiles 2 and 3.
[0038] These profiles can be the subject of many embodiments. The
invention is not limited to the exact embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 1.
[0039] In the case illustrated here, the profiles 2 and 3 are
respectively of the male and female type, as is well known to the
person skilled in the art. The invention can, however, apply to
other types of profiles, particularly those with complementary
hooks. It can also apply to other closure means, such as those with
loops and hooks, well known under the name of Velcro (trademark)
strips.
[0040] In the implementation form of FIG. 1, the profiles 2 and 3
are extruded integrally with the webs 12 and 13.
[0041] However, in one variation of implementation not shown, these
complementary profiles could be carried on support strips applied
to the webs 12 and 13, for example by heat welding or adhesive
bonding.
[0042] This device has the special features described
hereafter.
[0043] In practice, the webs 12 and 13 each consist of two parts,
to with a first part which bears one of the profiles, and a second
part distinct from the first, these first and second parts being
provided with mutual and complementary means of cooperation 4, such
as clipping means.
[0044] More precisely, the web 12 includes a first part 14 (which
can be called the upper part when considering FIG. 1) which bears
the profile 2, while the web 13 includes a first part 16 which
bears the profile 3.
[0045] Further, the web 12 includes a second part 15, while the web
13 has an analogous second part 17.
[0046] The lower edge of the first parts 14 and 16 is provided here
with a bead 40, while the upper edge of the second parts 15 and 17
is shaped in the form of a complementary gutter 41.
[0047] The bead 40 is formed as a continuous ridge, of cylindrical
section for example, the diameter whereof is greater than the
thickness of the web 14 which bears it, while the gutter 41 is
shaped as a groove with converging edges.
[0048] Consequently, by clipping the beads 40 into the gutters 41,
or by coupling by translation, the different parts are connected
together as shown in FIG. 1.
[0049] Thanks to this structure, the device can be manufactured, by
profile for example, in distinct sub-assemblies, which are
subsequently combined. In this fashion, the creep problems
encountered with devices already known are avoided.
[0050] The closure device illustrated in FIG. 2 is distinguished
from the previous one only by the fact that the lower edge of the
first parts 14 and 16 is provided with a gutter 40', while the
upper edge of the second parts 15 and 17 is provided with a bead
41'.
[0051] Such a closure device can be used, without limitation, to
manufacture a sack. To this end, the closure device can be attached
to a sheet or sheets constituting the body of the sack or even
connect the edges of the webs 15 and 17 opposite the closure
profiles 2, 3 to constitute the body of the sack.
[0052] FIGS. 3 through 8 will now be referred to in describing
embodiments of such a sack and variations of the closure
device.
[0053] Thus, with reference to FIG. 3, a closure device similar to
that of FIG. 1 is attached to a plastic sheet 5 which is folded
over itself.
[0054] More precisely, two free edges 50 of this sheet 5 are
attached to the free ends of the second parts 15, 17 respectively
of the two webs 12 and 13, using any attachment means F known to
the person skilled in the art, such as an adhesive or a weld.
[0055] A sack of a generally known type is then constituted, the
closing and opening whereof are accomplished by the cooperation or
absence of cooperation of the closure means 2 and 3.
[0056] The sack of FIG. 4 has generally a structure analogous to
that which was just described with reference to FIG. 3. It is
differentiated from it, however, by the fact that the sheet 5 is
attached not only to the lower end of parts 15 and 17 of the webs
12 and 13 but also in their upper part, substantially in the
vicinity of the closure means 2 and 3.
[0057] Better holding and adhesion of the sheet 5 to the closure
device is thereby attained, which protecting or making inaccessible
the complementary means 4, which makes it impossible to separate
them deliberately or accidentally.
[0058] In the embodiment of the closure device of FIG. 5A, one is
again considering a closure device analogous to that described in
FIG. 1.
[0059] Here, however, a sheet 6 is used, the ends whereof are
shaped in the form of a gutter 41, such that the second parts 15
and 17 of the webs 12 and 13 consist here of the sheet 6
itself.
[0060] It suffices then to fold the sheet 6 over itself in a U
shape and to engage the gutters 41 of the sheet 6 with the beads 40
of the closure device 1 to constitute a closure device as shown in
FIG. 5B.
[0061] It will be noted that the closure device illustrated in FIG.
5B has the advantage of having a web portion which connects the
webs 12 and 13 and thus constitutes an opening indicator.
[0062] Indeed, once this closure device is attached to a sheet or
sheets to constitute a sack, it will also be necessary to break
this web portion, after separation of the profiles 2 and 3, to gain
access for the first time to the contents of the sack. Said web
portion also constitutes a seal element for the sack in parallel
with the profiles 2 and 3.
[0063] As a variation, the manufacture of a sack using only this
device is possible if the sheet 6 is of adequate size for such a
construction.
[0064] The manufacture of a sack by means of a closure device
applied to a sheet is clearly illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 8.
[0065] Thus, with reference to FIG. 6, at the upper part of the
sack there is a closure device 1 to which has been attached a sheet
6 of limited longitudinal extent.
[0066] To this sheet 6 another sheet 7 is applied, also folded over
itself but of larger size, its opposite free ends 70 being attached
by means F (for example adhesive bonding or welding) to the sheet 6
on both its sides.
[0067] A sack structure is therefore contemplated which includes,
from top to bottom when FIG. 6 is considered, complementary closure
means 2 and 3 and an additional closure consisting of the fold in
the sheet 6, which must be broken to have access to the inside of
the receptacle of the sack (delimited by the sheet 7 itself).
[0068] FIGS. 7 and 8 relate to an analogous structure except in
that the sheet 7 is attached, at the upper part of the closure
device 1 (FIG. 7) and also at the upper part of the closure device
1 and on the opposite faces of the sheet 6 (FIG. 8).
[0069] The manufacture in two parts of the closure device thus
makes it possible to resolve the problems encountered with earlier
devices.
[0070] In addition, when it is intended to manufacture a device
using two plastics which are incompatible for fabrication by
coprofile, one then uses, in conformity with the invention, a first
material for the manufacture of the "technical" part 10 of the
device and another material for the web 11 of the film.
* * * * *