U.S. patent number 3,815,810 [Application Number 05/269,577] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-11 for opening and re-sealing device for bag containers.
Invention is credited to Lester R. Wellman.
United States Patent |
3,815,810 |
Wellman |
June 11, 1974 |
OPENING AND RE-SEALING DEVICE FOR BAG CONTAINERS
Abstract
A device for opening and re-sealing a flexible container
includes an anchor or base portion attached to the main body of the
bag, a tear-away part attached to a section of the bag desired to
be torn away when the tear-away part is separated from the base
portion of the device along a predetermined shear line, and a
locking or clipping appendage attached to the base portion along a
first fold line. The base portion is provided with a second fold
line. The bag is opened by tearing the tear-away part of the device
to remove it together with a portion of the bag to form a
dispensing aperture. Re-sealing is effected by folding the base
portion along the second fold line, releasably engaging the folded
section of the base portion with the remaining section, and then
folding the appendage over the folded section of the base portion
and clipping it to hold the doubled-over base portion in a locked
or reclosed position.
Inventors: |
Wellman; Lester R. (Highland
Park, IL) |
Family
ID: |
23027841 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/269,577 |
Filed: |
July 7, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/204; 383/81;
383/905; 383/89; 383/906 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
75/5822 (20130101); Y10S 383/905 (20130101); B65D
2575/586 (20130101); Y10S 383/906 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
75/52 (20060101); B65D 75/58 (20060101); B65d
033/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/62,65,66,51TC,51ST |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Price; William I.
Assistant Examiner: Garbe; Stephen P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dawson, Tilton, Fallon &
Lungmus
Claims
I claim:
1. In combination with a flexible sealed container storing fluent
material, a device for opening and re-closing said container, said
device being formed of flat, semi-rigid or rigid material and
including a tear-away part engaging a corner of the container
desired to be removed, a base portion attached to both sides of
said container and extending about one edge thereof to support said
container and said edge adjacent to the portion of the container
desired to be removed, said tear-away part and said base portion
being separable along a predetermined shear path extending about a
corner of said container from said one edge and an appendage
attached to said base portion along a fold line and including a
locking mechanism, whereby said container may be opened by removing
said tear-away part to shear a portion of said bag from said edge
along said predetermined shear path and the aperture thus formed
may be re-closed by application of said locking mechanism on said
appendage.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said appendage is attached to the
base portion of said device along the first fold line and wherein
said base portion is divided into first and second sections along a
second fold line spaced between said shear path and said first fold
line, whereby after said tear-away part is removed to form an
aperture in said bag, the upper part of said base portion adjacent
the aperture thus formed may be folded downwardly along said second
fold line and said appendage may be folded upwardly along said
first fold line, said appendage further defining tab means for
placement over the doubled-over base portion to lock the same in
place.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein said shear locus is a curved line
thereby to provide at least one corner when said tear-away part is
removed, and wherein said appendage includes a corresponding
aperture to receive said corner in tucking relation when said base
portion is folded along said second fold line.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said tear-away part includes first
and second quadrants located respectively on either side of said
bag adjacent a corner thereof and wherein said base portion
includes an upper section partially defining one of said quadrants
and an extension partially defining the other of said quadrants,
said upper section and said extension being bonded to the outer
surface of said bag, said quadrants also being bonded to the outer
surface of said bag, said base further including a lower section
extending beneath the upper section thereof, whereby when said
tear-away part is removed, said upper section of said base portion
and said extension thereof may be folded about a second fold line
partially defining the upper and lower sections of said base
portion to bring said upper and lower sections thereof into
contacting relation, whereupon said appendage may be folded over
the doubled-over base portion and clipped along the outer edge of
the fold in said base portion.
5. A device for opening and re-closing a flexible container for
dispensing the contents thereof, said device being formed of flat
material and including a tear-away part attached to said bag
adjacent a corner thereof, a base portion attached to said bag and
separable from said tear-away part along a predetermined shear line
defining the portion of said bag desired to be removed, and an
appendage connected to said base portion along a first fold line,
said appendage including locking means and being movable away from
said container, said base portion including a second fold line
generally parallel to said first fold line, whereby when said
tear-away part is removed from said device, said base portion may
be folded along said second fold line and said appendage may be
folded along said first fold line and said locking means attachable
to said bag and to said device along said second fold line to
retain said base portion in its folded position to thereby effect a
re-closing of said aperture.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein said tear-away part includes first
and second quarter-circle sections engaging and bonded to said bag
on either sides of a corner thereof, said shear line being the
portion of a circle, said base portion further including an
extension attached to said bag opposite the side on which the upper
section of said base portion is attached to said bag and foldable
therewith when said tear-away part is removed from said device.
7. The device of claim 5 wherein said locking means of said
appendage includes a tab foldable outwardly relative to said
appendage and located to couple over said doubled-over base portion
when the same is folded along said second fold line.
8. The device of claim 5 wherein said locking means of said
appendage includes a tab partially defined by an inclined lead-in
slot and a hinged aperture and adapted to be placed over the fold
line in said bag formed when said base portion is doubled over to
maintain said doubled-over base portion in its folded position
until said tab is released.
9. A package comprising a sealed flexible plastic container for
storing fluent goods; a device formed of flat material attached to
said container about a corner thereof, and comprising a semi-rigid
member folded about an edge of said container adjacent said corner
and including a tear-away part secured to a portion of opposite
exterior surfaces of said container about a segment desired to be
removed, a base portion attached to opposite exterior surfaces of
said container to support the same adjacent the segment of the
container desired to be removed, said tear-away part and said base
portion being separated along a predetermined shear path; an
appendage attached to one side of said base portion along a first
fold line and including an aperture for receiving a tip of said
container and base portion in tucked relation after said segment
has been removed and said base has been folded along said first
fold line, said appendage further including a locking portion
partially defined by a second fold line and including a bendable
tab for fitting over the doubled-over portion of said base portion,
after folding about said second fold line, whereby said bag may be
opened by removing said tear-away part to shear a portion of said
bag along said predetermined shear path and the aperture thus
formed is reinforced by said base portion for dispensing.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a device for opening and
re-closing a bag or flexible container. Such a container may be
used to store fluent products, and it is intended that the present
invention be applicable to a broad class of such stored products,
including liquids, pastes, gases, particulate matter, lumps, flakes
or any combination of these. The device of the present invention
performs the functions of opening a sealed package along a
predetermined locus or shear line to form an aperture suitable for
dispensing the goods within the container by pouring or forcing
them through the aperture thus formed, and, if desired, re-closing
or re-sealing the opening.
Many containers are, of course, known and commercially available
for storing, shipping and dispensing fluent goods. Included among
these are the conventional milk carton, the cylindrical container
with a metallic spout for table salt, and so on. However, most such
containers wherein the container material is flexible plastic or
thin metal foil or paper-covered foil normally require some
additional implement to open them, such as a pair of scissors or a
knife. Further, once opened, this type of container is normally not
well suited for re-closing and further storage of the remaining
contents of the container.
Among the principal objects and advantages of the present invention
are the reduction in packaging cost and the reduction of bulk of
the disposable portion of the package. The latter factor has
assumed increasing significance recently, with the prevailing
concern over pollution and the amount of waste material that must
be disposed of with such containers.
The present invention includes a device for opening and re-sealing
a flexible container which includes an anchor or base portion
attached to the main body of the bag. A tear-away part is attached
to the base portion of the device as well as to a section of the
bag desired to be sheared away when the tear-away part is separated
from the base portion along a predetermined shear line. Preferably,
the device is associated with a corner of a bag or flexible
container so that when the tear-away part is pulled away, a corner
portion of the container is removed to form a dispensing aperture.
The remaining portion of the device reinforces this aperture.
This device has an advantage in that it requires a person opening
the bag to grasp the device with the thumb and forefinger of one
hand placed on either side of the base portion of the device
(thereby holding the bag and its contents in an upright position
without exerting pressure on the contents of the bag) while using
the thumb and forefinger of the other hand to twist away the
tear-away part in a shearing motion. The tear-away part of the
device is separated a slight distance along a shear line from the
base portion of the device to facilitate the shearing action, and
the bag is backed on both sides both by the tear-away part and an
extension of the base portion to facilitate the shearing in the
case of tough or stretchable materials used as the container, and
to reinforce the pouring aperture.
The device may consist of a single piece of thin but fairly rigid
material, such as polypropylene, polystyrene, ABS, PBC or metal,
and since it is located on the outside of the bag, it need not
necessarily be compatible with the contents of the bag.
The device also includes a locking or gripping appendage attached
along a first fold line to the base portion of the device and which
may easily be folded over. The base portion is provided with a
second fold line so that it may be doubled over.
The bag is opened, as mentioned, by pulling the tear-away part in a
shearing motion to remove it together with a portion of the bag to
form a dispensing aperture. Resealing is effected by folding the
base portion along the second fold line to double over the base
portion. After the tear-away part has been removed along a curved
shear line, two corners are left in the preferred embodiment for
releasably engaging the folded section of the base portion with the
remaining section of it. Then, the appendage is folded over the
doubled-over sections of the base portion and clipped to the base
portion to hold it in a locked or re-closed position.
Thus, with the present invention, a convenient, economical
container is provided for fluent goods wherein the container is
equipped with an integral tool or device for forming a dispensing
aperture in the container and which serves further to re-close the
container, if desired. If a container with the device is
self-contained to obviate the need for additional cutting or
severing implements and the container need not have formed in it
any particular lines of weakness. This makes for a stronger bag in
manufacture, shipping, storage, cooking or freezing, or the like.
Further, as mentioned, the manner in which the bag is opened does
not require an inadvertent increase in the internal pressure on the
contents of the bag, as has sometimes been required in prior
plastic or foil bags in order to open them. The flat configuration
and wafer thin, light mass of the device preclude its becoming a
focus of abrasive action.
The bag may be printed or marked externally, to direct a user in
the proper method of opening or re-closing the bag; and the
container may be manufactured economically since attachment of the
flat opening device will not interfere with the handling of the bag
material in web form, as is commonly encountered in manufacturing
or printing operations.
The present invention also minimizes accidental opening. Other
features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent
to persons skilled in the art from the following detailed
description of a number of embodiments, accompanied by the attached
drawing.
THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a device constructed
according to the present invention prior to attachment to a
container;
FIG. 2 is an end cross sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1 attached to a
container;
FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the beginning of the shear line;
FIG. 5 illustrates the opening of a container with a device of FIG.
1;
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate respectively the opening thus formed and
dispensing of the liquid through the opening;
FIGS. 8, 9, 11 and 12 illustrate re-closing of the container after
opening;
FIG. 10 is a cross sectional end view taken through the sight line
10--10 of FIG. 8;
FIG. 13 is an end view taken through the sight line 13--13 of FIG.
11;
FIGS. 14-16 illustrate a second embodiment of a device for opening
and re-sealing a flexible container;
FIG. 17 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, of a third embodiment
incorporating the present invention; and
FIGS. 18-20 illustrate the sequence in re-sealing a bag after
opening with the device of the embodiment of FIG. 17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring first to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-13, and particularly
to FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a device for
opening and re-sealing or re-closing a flexible container for
storing fluent goods. The device 10 is formed preferably from a
single thin sheet of relatively rigid or stiff material, such as
polypropylene, other suitable plastic material, paper or even sheet
metal.
It includes generally a tear-away part 11, a central base or anchor
portion 12, and a locking or clipping appendage 13.
Prior to attaching the device 10 to a bag, the tear-away part 11
has a generally semi-circular shape, including a first quadrant 14
and a second quadrant 15 separated by a fold line 16.
The base portion 12 includes an upper section 17, a lower section
18 (defined relative to the upper section 17 by means of a folding
intermediate section generally designated by reference numeral 19),
and a side extension 21 of the upper section 17 (which is defined
relative to the upper section 17 by a continuation of the
previously referred to fold line 16) The appendage 13 is defined
relative to the base section 19 by means of a fold line 22. The
fold line 22 is sometimes herein referred to as the "first" fold
line; the folding section 19 is sometimes herein referred to as the
"second" fold line; and the fold line 16 is sometimes referred to
as the "third" fold line, as will be made clear subsequently.
A shearing path or locus is defined by a slit 25 which separates
the quadrant 14 of the tear-away part 11 from the upper portion 17
of the base 12, and in its continuation, also separates the
quadrant 15 of the tear-away part 11 from the extension 21 of the
base 12. When the device is folded about the fold line 16, the
quadrants 14, 15 of the tear-away part 11 become registered, the
upper section 17 and the extension 21 of the base portion 12 also
become registered, and the folded sections of the shearing
interrupted slit 25 also become registered, as indicated in FIGS. 3
and 5. The quadrants 14, 15 are temporarily held to the associated
parts 17, 21 of the base 12 by means of links 27 which are of a
thickness such as to make them easily torn by the hand.
Turning now to the appendage 13 of the device, there are formed
first and second side apertures 29 and 30, each of generally
triangular shape and having a base line along the fold line 22. The
apertures 29 and 30 are aligned respectively with the points or
corners of the upper section 17 of the base 12. Such corners are
formed when the tear line is curved. These corners are designated
respectively 31 and 32 in FIG. 1, and they are formed after the
tear-away part 11 is removed from the device. The points 31, 32 are
received respectively in the apertures 29, 30 in this embodiment,
of the appendage 13 when the upper section 17 is folded downwardly
about the fold section 19 in reclosing the container, as will be
explained in more detail below.
First and second apertures 33 and 34 are also formed in the
appendage 13 with associated slits 33a and 34a, the slits being
generally parallel to the fold line 22 and fold line 19 so as to
partially define, in combination with the apertures 33 and 34 first
and second side locking tabs 35 and 36 respectively which may be
pulled into the plane of the fold, see FIG. 1 (or upwardly of the
illustration of FIG. 3) to provide a locking mechanism which also
will be discussed in more detail below.
Turning now to FIG. 2, the fold line 16 may be seen to be an
irregular slit perforation, although other processes are known that
will perform equally well. The perforation thus forms a hinge in
attaching the device to a bag by folding the quadrant 15 and
extension 21 thereabout to register respectively with the quadrant
14 and upper section 17 of the base 12. In attaching the device to
a bag, the quadrant 15 and extension 21 are folded out of the plane
of the page and over to the right. Similarly, the fold section 19
includes two perforation lines 19a and 19b as seen in FIG. 2.
Finally, the fold line 22 is also a perforation.
Turning now to FIG. 3, a bag is generally designated by reference
numeral 38, and it may be of any flexible tearable material of the
types mentioned above; one suitable material currently enjoying
commercial acceptance is a laminate formed of surface layers of
thin polyethylene bonded to a central core layer of nylon or vinyl,
etc. to provide strength.
The device 10 is attached to a corner of the bag 38 by folding the
extension 21 and quadrant 15 about the fold line 16 to engage the
surface of the bag which cannot be seen in FIG. 3.
The device 10 is secured to the bag 38 by heat sealing, or adhesive
along the inner or bag-engaging surfaces of the quadrants 14, 15,
the upper section 17 of the base 12 and the extension 21 of the
base 12. Heat sealing is readily accomplished when the device is
made of high-density polyethylene, as is preferred. Alternatively,
attachment could be by means of a suitable adhesive or bonding
agent.
Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the device 10 is attached to the
bag 38, removal of the tear-away part 11 is accomplished by holding
the device with one hand along the base section 12, gripping the
tear-away device 11 with the other hand, and tearing along the
shearing line 25, severing the links 27 with this action, and
shearing the bag material along the shearing line 25 with a true
shearing action, rather than a stretching or ragged tearing action,
thereby providing a relatively well-defined aperture formed with
the prepared removal of a quarter-circle section or corner of the
bag, as best seen in FIG. 6 wherein the opening thus formed is
denoted by reference numeral 41. It is considered an important
advantage of the present invention that during the opening of the
bag, both hands of the person are required to hold the device 10,
the weight of the container and its contents and drape below. Thus,
there is no tendency to exert internal pressure on the contents of
the container. After the tear-away part is removed, the remaining
portion of the device 10 forms a pouring device, as illustrated in
FIG. 7. That is, the sides of the aperture 41 formed in the corner
of the bag are reinforced by the upper section 17 of the base 12,
the extension 21 thereof, and the fold line 16 connecting the two
sections of the device 10.
Turning now to FIGS. 8-13, when it is desired to re-close the
aperture 41 in the bag, the upper section 17 and the extension 21
of the base 12 of the device are folded downward about the hinge or
second fold line 19, thereby providing a folded seal in the corner
of the bag indicated by the line 44 in FIG. 8, this line completely
traversing the corner of the bag at a location inwardly of the
aperture 41 formed in the bag. This folding action in this
embodiment also brings the corners 31, 32, formed by removal of the
tear-away part into alignment with the corresponding apertures 29,
30 in the appendage 13. These corners are engaged by their
associated apertures, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the pre-tucked
relationship being illustrated in FIG. 10 from the side. With the
corners 31, 32 trapped by the apertures 29, 30, as seen in FIGS. 9
and 11, the appendage 13 is then folded upwardly about the first
fold line 22 and over the doubled-over upper section 17 of the base
12. As best seen in FIG. 11, the lead-in slits 33a, 34a are
parallel to the fold 44 and spaced beneath it so that the lower
ends of the tabs 33, 34 may be lifted over the fold 44 and locked
in place, as illustrated in FIG. 12, thereby trapping the
doubled-over upper section of the base 12 and locking or latching
it in place. An end view of the completed re-closure is shown in
FIG. 13. The seal is re-opened by forcing a thumb against the
exposed tab portion of the appendage 13 into the plane of the page
of FIG. 12, thereby releasing the tabs 34 and 33. The container may
be resealed a number of times, of course.
A second embodiment of the inventive device is shown in FIGS. 14-16
wherein the tear-away part is generally designated by reference
numeral 111, and it has a triangular shape, including first and
second sides 114, 115 located on either side of a corner of the bag
138.
In this embodiment, the intermediate section is generally
designated 112, and the appendage 113. A fold line 122 is located
between the base 112 and appendage 113. The base 112 includes first
and second side sections 117 and 121 located on either side of the
bag 138 and joined along a hinge line 116. The tear-away part 111
may be connected to the base 112 by means of links similar to the
previously described links 27, but the are separated by a straight
shear locus 125, as contrasted to the previously described curved
shear locus 25.
As best seen in FIGS. 15 and 16, the appendage 113 has a cross
sectional shape in the form of a hook 175.
In operation of this embodiment, first the tear-away part 111 is
removed along the shear locus 125, and if re-closing is desired,
the appendage 113 is folded upwardly about the fold line 122, and
the hook 175 is placed over the exposed aperture to clamp the two
sections 117, 121 of the base 112 together to effect a re-closure
as seen in FIG. 16.
Turning now to the embodiment of FIGS. 17-20, reference numeral 211
denotes a tear-away part, 212 signifies a base, and 213 indicates
an appendage. The tear-away part 211 includes quadrants 214 and 215
separated by a fold line 216. The base 212 includes an upper
section 217, a lower section 218 separated from the upper section
217 by means of a transverse fold line 219, and an extension 221
defined relative to the upper section 217 by an extension of the
fold line 216.
The appendage 213 is separated from the lower section 218 of the
base 212 by means of a first fold line 222. Generally, V-shaped
apertures 229 and 230 are formed in the appendage 213 and adapted
to receive respectively the corners 231 and 232 of the upper
section 217 and extension 221 of the base 212 formed when the
tear-away part 211 is removed to form an aperture in the bag
238.
The appendage 213 also includes an inclined slot 250 leading into a
generally rectangular aperture 251 to partially define a tab 252.
First and second apertures 253 and 254 are formed in the tab 252 to
facilitate gripping of the tab and severing a link 255 holding the
distal end of the tab 252 to the main body of the appendage 213 at
the outboard end of the lead-in slot 250.
The operation of the device illustrated in FIGS. 17-20 is similar
to the operation of the first device. First, the tear-away part is
removed to form an aperture in the bag and to provide a pouring
spout. Again, only the elements of the tear away part and the base
portion are heat-sealed to the bag, the appendage 213 being free to
be folded away from the bag.
When it is desired to re-seal the aperture, the upper section 217
and the extension 221 of the device are folded downwardly as seen
in FIG. 18 by means of the fold line 219, and the corners 232 and
231 are tucked into their associated V-shaped apertures 229 and
230, as seen in FIG. 19. Next, the appendage 213 is folded upwardly
over the doubled-over base portion 212 to trap it. With one hand
thus holding the device as shown in FIG. 19, the second hand is
free to sever the link 255, thereby freeing the tab 252 to extend
partially over the bag fold 244, as seen in FIG. 20 to complete the
re-closure.
In those cases in which the re-closing feature is not desired (for
example, in the case of motor oil) the appendages 13, 133 and 213
may be omitted; and the device still retains all of the other
features and advantages mentioned above.
Having thus described in detail a number of embodiments of the
present invention, persons skilled in the art will be able to
modify certain of the structure which has been described and to
substitute equivalent elements or materials for those which have
been disclosed while continuing to practice the principal of the
invention; and it is, therefore, intended that all such
modifications and substitutions be covered as they are embraced
within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *