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US 2008/0260302 A1Published application
One-piece flexible bag closure and method
OwnerMichael Anthoney Martinezinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A one-piece clip for flexible bags intended both to prevent the contents from spilling out and to prevent the migration of air through the bag. A method for closing flexible bags.
Claims20
A flexible bag closure comprising:
- A. a flat plate having a perimeter, a longitudinal axis, a first end with respect to said longitudinal axis, said first end having a v-notch in said perimeter, and a second end with respect to said longitudinal axis, said v-notch having a width as measured transverse to the longitudinal axis that is comparable to or larger than the diameter of the twisted neck of a flexible bag, said plate being of non-frangible material;
- B. a funnel-shaped centrally-positioned opening in said plate, said opening symmetric with respect to said longitudinal axis, said opening tapering towards said first end symmetrically with respect to said longitudinal axis, said opening having at least one barb protruding into it from said second end towards said first end;
- and
- C. a straight elongated slit on said longitudinal axis in said first end, generally as long as one to two diameters of the twisted neck of a flexible bag, extending from said perimeter to said centrally-positioned opening, symmetrically dividing said first end into two wings flush along said slit.
1 more element
A flexible bag closure comprising:
- A. a flat plate having a perimeter, a longitudinal axis, a first end with respect to said longitudinal axis, said first end having a v-notch in said perimeter, and a second end with respect to said longitudinal axis, said v-notch having a width as measured transverse to the longitudinal axis that is comparable to or larger than the diameter of the twisted neck of a flexible bag, said plate being of non-frangible material;
- B. a centrally-positioned opening in said plate, said opening symmetric with respect to said longitudinal axis, said opening having at least one barb protruding into it from said second end towards said first end;
- C. a straight elongated slit on said longitudinal axis in said first end, generally as long as one to two diameters of the twisted neck of a flexible bag, extending from said perimeter to said centrally-positioned opening, symmetrically dividing said first end into two wings flush along said slit, said slit ending in said centrally-positioned opening in a barb.
A method for closing the necks of flexible bags, comprising:
- A. raveling or twisting the neck of a flexible bag such as a plastic bag is twisted or raveled;
- B. providing a flat plate having:
- a perimeter, a longitudinal axis, a first end with respect to said longitudinal axis, said first end having a v-notch symmetric with respect to said longitudinal axis, said v-notch having a width as measured transverse to the longitudinal axis that is comparable to or larger than the diameter of the twisted neck of a flexible bag, and a second end with respect to said longitudinal axis, said plate made of non-frangible material;
- a funnel-shaped centrally-positioned opening in said plate, said centrally-positioned opening symmetric with respect to said longitudinal axis, said centrally-positioned opening having a first end and a second end corresponding to the two ends of said plate, said centrally-positioned opening having a perimeter, said centrally-positioned opening tapering towards said first end symmetrically with respect to said longitudinal axis, said centrally-positioned opening having at least one barb protruding into it generally from said second end towards said first end or protruding from said side, or protruding from said perimeter towards said longitudinal axis;
- and a straight elongated slit on said longitudinal axis in said first end generally as long as one to two diameters of the twisted neck of a flexible bag, said slit extending from said perimeter to said centrally-positioned opening, symmetrically dividing said first end into two wings flush along said slit;
- the barbs that are positioned on the second end side of the centrally-positioned opening point towards the slit, engaging and holding the twisted neck of the flexible bag when the neck is in the centrally-positioned opening;
- the position and orientation of said barbs also allow the user to remove the twisted neck of the flexible bag from the centrally-positioned opening without tearing the neck against the barbs;
- C. pushing the raveled or twisted neck into the v-notch in the first end of the plate;
- D. twisting the clip and pushing the raveled or twisted neck into the slit, which opens, and further pushing the raveled or twisted neck through the length of the slit into the centrally-positioned opening.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.