Releasable pull tie

A pull tie for releasably closing flexible containers, comprising:

• a substantially rigid elastomeric cord formed with a U-shape a bend at one end from which a first leg and a second leg extend, and
• a slideable lock configured to hold the first and second legs in place and comprising a body having one or more openings to receive the first and second legs, a depressible plunger comprising at least one bore to receive the first and second legs within the body of the slidable lock, and bias means to urge the plunger into a locking position such that the first and second legs are gripped by the slidable lock,
• wherein depressing the depressible plunger reduces the gripping of the first and second legs by the slidable lock and allows the slidable lock to be moved relative to the first and second legs,
• wherein the first and second legs are rigid enough to allow the lock to slide to a lower position on the first and second legs, more remote from the bend,
• wherein the portion of the first and second legs are between the slidable lock and the bend defines a loop that can receive a portion of a flexible container, and
• wherein when the pull tie is not in use, the first and second legs are straight and parallel to each other, separated by a uniform gap substantially along the first and second legs and,
• wherein depressing the depressible plunger reduces the gripping of the first and second legs by the slidable lock and allows the slidable lock to be moved along the first and second legs and to slide to an upper position on the first and second legs and through the gap, towards the bend, and the gap remains substantially uniform at the ends of the legs distal from the U-shaped bend.