U.S. patent number 3,874,034 [Application Number 05/440,421] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-01 for perforated thermoplastic plastic strap closure affixed to an open mouth bag structure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mobil Oil Corporation. Invention is credited to William J. Clayton.
United States Patent |
3,874,034 |
Clayton |
April 1, 1975 |
PERFORATED THERMOPLASTIC PLASTIC STRAP CLOSURE AFFIXED TO AN OPEN
MOUTH BAG STRUCTURE
Abstract
A device for easily, quickly, and securely closing flexible bag
structures comprising an elongated strap made of resilient material
having at least two longitudinally spaced apart perforations. The
strap has an end portion of configuration adapted for insertion
into and pulling through a perforation in said strap spaced apart
from another perforation intermediate said end portion and the
perforation through which the end portion is inserted to form a
noose. In use, such as for closing the gathered mouth of a bag, a
positive lock is provided upon further pulling of said end portion
until the intermediate perforation interlocks with the perforation
through which the end portion is inserted. Additionally, an
improved closure device in combination with a bag structure is
provided comprising a plastic strap having a single aperture at one
end adapted to receive the opposite end of the strap when the strap
is used for securing an open mouth bag in a closed position. Such a
strap is advantageously detachably secured near the open mouth
portion of the bag to assure user convenience for ready
accessibility of the strap locking device when it is desired to
secure the bag in a closed position.
Inventors: |
Clayton; William J. (Fairport,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Mobil Oil Corporation (New
York, NY)
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Family
ID: |
26910990 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/440,421 |
Filed: |
February 7, 1974 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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216411 |
Jan 10, 1972 |
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35779 |
May 8, 1970 |
3633247 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
24/30.5P; 383/71;
383/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
63/1027 (20130101); Y10T 24/153 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
63/10 (20060101); B32b 003/02 (); B65d
063/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/62 ;206/DIG.18
;24/3.5P,16PB |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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796,222 |
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Jan 1936 |
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FR |
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1,278,571 |
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Oct 1961 |
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FR |
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1,468,567 |
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Dec 1966 |
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FR |
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259,578 |
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Jun 1949 |
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CH |
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Primary Examiner: Griffin; Donald A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Huggett; Charles A. Tierney; James
D.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
216,411 filed Jan. 10, 1972, now abandoned, which latter
application was a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 35,779 filed May 8, 1970, entitled "Perforated
Strap Closure For Bags," now U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,247.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for closure of flexible bag structures which comprises
a flexible elongated strap having at least two longitudinally
spaced-apart perforations, one end of said strap being elongatedly
tapered such that said tapered end may be inserted into and pulled
through one of said perforations spaced-apart from another of said
perforations said latter perforation being intermediate said
tapered end portion (being inserted) and said perforation through
which said end portion is inserted to form a noose, said
elongatedly tapered strap end being further characterized by having
outwardly projecting shoulders at opposite edges of said strap,
approximately at the point where said flexible strap begins to
taper, whereby when said noose is formed and said elongatedly
tapered end is pulled through said perforation at said end portion
of said strap, said intermediate perforation engages with the
perforation through which said end portion is inserted to provide
for said noose, a lock which is further reinforced by engagement of
said shoulders with the engaged perforations.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The closure device of the present invention has application as a
means for closing flexible bags. The closure device is further
characterized as being detachably secured adjacent the open mouth
portion of the bag it is desired to close.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,114,184 discloses a device for use as a bag closure
which comprises a male to female interlocking means having exterior
edges of lateral teeth on the male member, and U.S. Pat. No.
3,363,293 discloses a bag tie with a locking means similar to that
of the above patent. No prior art is known of the type provided by
the present invention for the described closure of flexible bag
structures. German Pat. No. 1,079,537 discloses locking devices for
use as bag closures comprising a flexible strap characterized by
having an aperture at one extremity, adapted to receive the
opposite extremity of the strap whereby the opposite extremity is
passed through the aperture, the aperture edges lockingly engaging
protrusions on opposite edges of the closure strap. It will be
noted that there is no disclosure in this patent that such locking
devices may be or are intended to be detachably attached near or
adjacent to the open mouth portion of the bag it is desired to
close.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a closure device, for a flexible bag
structure, comprising a flexible elongated strap, preferably
substantially flat, having at least two longitudinally spaced apart
perforations (e.g., circular holes). An end portion of said strap
has a configuration adapted (e.g., elongatedly tapered to a point)
for insertion into and pulling through one of the perforations
spaced apart from another perforation intermediate said end portion
and the perforation through which said end portion is inserted to
form a noose. Upon further pulling of said end portion until the
intermediate perforation interlocks with the perforation through
which said end portion is inserted, a positive lock is provided.
The noose so formed may be tightened around the gathered folds of a
flexible bag structure opening to effect closure of the bag
structure.
The closure device of the present invention may as an embodiment
comprise several of such intermediate perforations (e.g., circular
holes) located substantially on the longitudinal axis of a
resiliently flexible elongated strap to provide several points of
positive locking action by interlocking with the perforation
through which said adapted end portion is inserted as the noose is
progressively tightened.
Another embodiment of the closure device of the present invention
comprises such a strap having two end portions of a configuration
adapted for insertion into and pulling through a perforation spaced
apart from a perforation intermediate one of the end portions and a
perforation through which said end portion is inserted.
Still another embodiment of the present invention comprises, in
combination, an open mouth bag structure having detachably affixed
to the exterior surface of one of the bag walls, near or adjacent
the open mouth portion of the bag, a closure device comprising a
plastic strap having (a) an aperture at one extremity thereof; and
(b) a plurality of spaced apart protrusions positioned along one or
both longitudinal edges of the strap, the end of the strap opposite
said perforation being adapted to be passed through the perforation
and further pulled therethrough, when it is desired to remove the
strap from the bag and secure the bag in a closed position by
forming such a noose. Positive locking action is achieved utilizing
such a strap when the protrusions along the longitudinal edges of
the strap interlock with the edges of the perforation as the end
portion of the strap is inserted and the noose is progressively
tightened until the noose snugly engages the gathered mouth of the
bag.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a flat top view of a flexible elongated strap embodied by
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a flat top view of another embodiment of a resiliently
flexible strap;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the strap of FIG. 2 in a tightened
noose position;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are flat top views of still other embodiments of
flexible straps as embodied herein;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bag closed by a closure of the
present invention;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a plastic bag in combination with a
closure device, as embodied herein, detachably secured to the
bag;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a plastic bag in combination with a
closure device, as embodied herein, detachably secured to the
bag;
FIG. 9A is a plan view of a plastic bag in combination with a
closure device as illustrated in FIG. 7 detachably secured to the
bag utilizing pressure sensitive adhesive tape;
FIG. 9B is a perspective view of a bag closure utilizing the
closure device illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9; and
FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are top planar views of other embodiments of
resilient, flexible straps which may be detachably secured to the
bag combination of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like
reference characters indicate like elements throughout, in FIG. 1
there is shown flexible elongated strap 9, made of a plastic
material such as polyethylene. Strap 9 comprises an end portion 8
of configuration adapted (i.e., elongatedly tapered to a point P)
for insertion into and pulling through a perforation as described
hereafter, and two longitudinally spaced apart perforations (i.e.,
circular holes), of which one perforation 12 is spaced apart from
the other perforation 13 intermediate said end portion 8. When used
for a bag closure, the strap of FIG. 1 is adapted for insertion of
end portion 8 into perforation 12 and further pulled therethrough
until perforation 13 interlocks with perforation 12, thus, the
strap provides a noose tightenable around the gathered folds of a
flexible bag structure opening to effect closure of the bag
structure.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, end portion 8 of strap 9 is of smaller
size in width from line aa to end point P of end portion 8 than is
the diameter of perforation 12 which is spaced longitudinally apart
from intermediate perforation 13. The intermediate perforation 13
is disposed in the end portion 8 of strap 9 where the width of the
end portion 8 is greater than the diameter of perforation 12. That
is, and as shown, intermediate perforation 13 is disposed in the
strap 9 at a portion thereof which is wider than end portion 8.
In FIG. 2 there is shown another embodiment of a flexible strap 10
provided as a closure device for a flexible bag structure and, in
FIG. 3, such a strap is shown in the form of a closed interlocked
loop. The strap 10 comprises end portions 14 and 15 of a
configuration adapted (i.e., elongatedly tapered to a point) to be
inserted into and pulled through a perforation longitudinally
spaced apart from a perforation intermediate the spaced apart
perforation and the inserted end portion to form a noose. In this
embodiment, perforations 12 and 13 are disposed so that either one
can be used as the perforation into which an end portion of the
strap can be initially inserted. Thus, if end portion 15 is used as
the inserted end portion, perforation 12 is the spaced apart
perforation into which end portion 15 is inserted and perforation
13 is the intermediate perforation which provides the positive
locking action when it engages with perforation 12 as the end
portion 15 is pulled through perforation 12. Likewise, when end
portion 14 is used as the inserted end portion, perforation 13 is
the spaced-apart perforation and perforation 12 is the intermediate
perforation.
FIG. 3 shows the first of the above options in which end portion 15
is used as the inserted end portion and the noose 16 is formed
which may be tightened around the gathered folds of a flexible bag
structure opening to effect closure of the bag structure. Also
shown in FIG. 3 is the positive locking action provided by
interlocking of perforation 12, with perforation 13, when the noose
is tightened to where perforations 12 and 13 coincide. This
positive locking action is accomplished when the flexible strap is
compressed into a curl (e.g., generally U-shaped) upon being pulled
through a perforation which is smaller in width (e.g., diameter)
than is the width of the strap where the intermediate perforation
is located. The resilient force due to the compressing of the strap
against the inner edge of the outer encompassing perforation is
less where the holes interlock than it is on either side of the
inside encompassed hole along the strap. This compressive force
differential causes the interlocking of the holes to be
substantially positive, effectively restraining movement in either
a noose tightening or loosening direction.
As a further embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, strap 10 comprises a
plurality of intermediate or spaced apart perforations 13 on the
longitudinal axis between perforations 12 and 13 to provide said
positive locking action at various points as the noose is
tightened. FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the closure
device of the present invention in which flexible strap 11
comprises perforation 12 in body portion 17 cut at right angles to
the parallel side edges 18 and 18 of the strap and in which the
diameter of hole 12 is smaller than the width of at least a portion
of tapered end portion 19 of the strap 11. End portion 19 of strap
11 is tapered to a point so that it can be inserted into and pulled
through perforation 12. Intermediate perforations 13, 13', etc.,
provide a positive locking action by interlocking with perforation
12 as the noose is tightened. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5,
the end portion 19 may be in the configuration shown wherein the
tapered end has shoulders (i.e., shoulders 19') that provide a
positive catch in hole 13.
FIG. 6 shows a closure device, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in
combination with a flexible bag B to effect closure of the bag
opening by securely holding the gathered folds of said bag opening
closed. In this embodiment, and with bag B filled or otherwise
containing material that may be trash, food products, etc., the
closure is effected in the manner aforediscussed in regard to FIG.
3.
The closure device of the present invention may be used with
flexible bag structures of various types. Non-limiting examples of
flexible bag structures with which the present closure device is
useful include paper, cellophane, vinyl, polyethylene and the like.
The closure device may be attached, in detachable manner, to
individual bag structures for use when closure of the bag is
desired. Non-limiting means of attaching them to bags include
adhesive tape, glue, and pressure sensitive adhesives. An
embodiment of the latter is shown in FIG. 7 wherein a closure
device 10 as embodied herein is attached by means of, for example,
a pressure sensitive adhesive to an outside wall of plastic bag 20
having an open mouth at 21. When the bag 20 is used for packaging
and is to be closed, strap 10 can be readily detached and used for
closure as aforedescribed.
The closure device may be made from any resilient material,
examples of which include thermoplastics, suitably flexible paper
products, etc., in single film thickness or a plurality of films
(laminates) sealed together to give a desired thickness and
rigidity for the intended usage.
The closure device, as embodied herein, is desirably provided with
an embossed pattern in the body of the strap material to add to the
security of the strap in its use as a closure device by imparting
more resilient strength to the strap wall in the interlocking
position. However, for some applications, a smooth surface is
suitable.
The size specifications of the closure device of the present
invention may vary according to its prospective use. For many
usages, a strap as embodied herein is suitable when comprised of a
suitable plastic material from about 3 mils to about 6 mils or more
in thickness, from about 5 to about 7 inches in length and from
about 3/4 to about 11/2 inches in width, and in which the
perforations, when in the form of holes, have a diameter generally
about 25 percent of the width of the strap at the area of the
perforations. Non-limiting examples of perforations in the present
device include circular holes, crossed slits, slits of various
orientations, combinations of these and any other suitable
configuration of a perforation opening.
A specific example of a closure device of the present invention,
generally suitable for closure of plastic garbage bags and food
bags comprises as 6 mils thick embossed polyethylene film of the
configuration shown in FIG. 5 having an overall length of 6 inches,
a width of 1 inch at the area defined by 3 inch parallel side edges
18 and 18 and circular holes (12, 13, and 13') 1/4 inch in diameter
disposed in the strap with perforation 12 being about 1/2 inch from
end 17 and the remaining holes being disposed on the substantially
longitudinal center line of the device towards the other end of the
strap.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, a thermoplastic bag 30 is shown with a
flexible, plastic, locking strap 31 detachably secured adjacent the
open mouth 32 of bag 30. Locking strap 31 is affixed to the bag
utilizing a pressure sensitive adhesive. Such adhesive may be
coated on one side of the locking strap or on the surface of bag
wall. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 9-A the locking strap, or bag
closure element 31, may be detachably secured to bag 30 utilizing
tape 33, e.g. paper or plastic, coated with an adhesive.
FIG. 9-B is an illustration, similar to FIG. 6, illustrating a bag,
the gathered mouth of which has been securely fastened utilizing
the locking strap 31, shown detachably affixed to the bags of FIGS.
8 and 9-A. As shown, in FIG. 9-B, the bag mouth is secured by
passing, through the single perforation 34 at one end of locking
strap 31, the opposite end 35 of strap 31 and tightening the
thereby formed noose around the bag mouth. The strap releasably
locks into position when the noose is of suitable circumference, as
a result of the flexible protrusions 36 lockingly engaging the
edges of perforation 34.
As hereinbefore noted, FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are shown as examples of
locking straps having a locking principle substantially similar to
locking strap 31. Such straps are shown, by way of example, in
connection with the type of closure strap which may be employed
within the scope of the present invention.
The present invention enables, for example, a user of disposable
bags, such as trash can liners, lawn debris and leaf bags and the
like to have, after such bags are filled and ready for closure, a
readily accessible closure device, the device being immediately at
hand by virtue of its being detachably secured adjacent the open
mouth of the bag it is desired to close. Such an arrangement is in
sharp contrast with prior art closure devices for this type of bag
where closures are generally packaged loosely, in a common
container with the bags, but not releasably attached thereto as in
the case of the present invention.
Although the present invention has been described with preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and
variations may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit
and scope of this invention, as those skilled in the art will
appreciate. Such variations and modifications are therefore
considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *