Compact storage device for food-grade pouches
AssigneeHoney Bear Holdings LLC
InventorJ. Michael Tierney, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A storage pouch includes first and second panels formed from a flexible sheet material and joined along lateral and bottom edges to define an interior storage cavity and an open mouth along opposed upper edges. A first stiffening member extends along the upper edge of the first panel and a second stiffening member extends along the upper edge of the second panel. A first set of magnets on the first stiffening member and a second set of magnets on the second stiffening member are arranged in opposed pairs and generate magnetic attraction that draws the stiffening members together to close the mouth. The panels are deformable under inward lateral compression to separate the stiffening members and open the mouth.
Claims20
A storage pouch comprising:
- a first panel formed from a flexible sheet material;
- a second panel formed from the flexible sheet material and joined to the first panel along respective lateral edges and a bottom edge, the first and second panels defining an interior storage cavity and an open mouth along opposed upper edges of the first and second panels;
- a first stiffening member extending along the upper edge of the first panel;
- a second stiffening member extending along the upper edge of the second panel;
- a first set of magnets mounted on the first stiffening member;
- and
- a second set of magnets mounted on the second stiffening member,
- the first set of magnets being arranged in opposed pairs with the second set of magnets and generating a magnetic attraction that draws the first and second stiffening members together in a closed position of the mouth,
- the first and second panels being deformable under inward lateral compression adjacent the mouth, the inward lateral compression separating the first and second stiffening members against the magnetic attraction and opening the mouth, and release of the inward lateral compression permitting the first and second stiffening members to return toward alignment under the magnetic attraction.
A method of manufacturing a storage pouch, the method comprising:
- cutting a first panel blank from a flexible sheet material, the first panel blank including a first main panel portion and a first integral flap portion at an upper edge of the first main panel portion;
- cutting a second panel blank from the flexible sheet material, the second panel blank including a second main panel portion and a second integral flap portion at an upper edge of the second main panel portion;
- mounting a first stiffening member along the first panel blank;
- mounting a second stiffening member along the second panel blank;
- mounting a first set of magnets on the first stiffening member;
- mounting a second set of magnets on the second stiffening member, the first and second sets of magnets being arranged in opposed pairs;
- folding the first integral flap portion over the first stiffening member and the first set of magnets, enclosing the first stiffening member and the first set of magnets between layers of the flexible sheet material of the first panel blank, the folding defining an upper edge of the first panel blank;
- folding the second integral flap portion over the second stiffening member and the second set of magnets enclosing the second stiffening member and the second set of magnets between layers of the flexible sheet material of the second panel blank, the folding defining an upper edge of the second panel blank;
- and
- joining the first panel blank and the second panel blank along lateral edges and a bottom edge,
- the joined first and second panel blanks enclosing an interior storage cavity and defining an open mouth along the opposed upper edges of the first and second panel blanks,
- the opposed pairs of magnets generating a magnetic attraction that draws the first and second stiffening members together in a closed position of the mouth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.