Bag closure seal

May 2, 1961

2,981,990

Η. N. BALDERREE, JR

BAG CLOSURE SEAL

Filed Sept. 20, 1957

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United States Patent Office

2,981,990

Patented May 2, 1961

2,981,990

BAG CLOSURE SEAL

Henry N. Balderree, Jr., 112 Oleander St, Lake Jackson, Tex.

Filed Sept. 20,1957, Ser. No. 685,153

Claims. (CL 24—30.5)

This invention relates to new and improved bag closure seals, and particularly to bag closure seals having carrier means therewith.

In the packaging of fruits, vegetables and similar items for storage, display, marketing, and other uses, it has been common practice to use bags made from plastics such as polyethylene so that the items in the bag are readily visible to the purchaser or user. In the past, efforts have been made to seal the open end of the plastic or polyethylene bags with staples or by heat sealing. The staples do not provide an effective air-tight seal to keep the items in the bag fresh for extended periods, and upon opening the stapled end of the bag, the bag is torn or punctured so that the bag is not satisfactory for re-use. When the bags are heat sealed, an effective seal is provided, but the sealing requires special machinery which is generally considered too expensive and impractical for use in packaging items at each individual grocery store or at home. Therefore, the seat sealing procedure ordinarily requires packaging at a factory which is unsatisfactory in the case of items such as fruit, vegetables and meat. Also, when heat sealing is used, the bag is virtually destroyed when opened so that re-use of the bag is impossible.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a new and improved bag closure seal which can be attached to a polyethylene or pldstic bag without special equipment or skill so that the bag may be filled at individual stores or homes, and at the same time to provide an effective air-tight seal for keeping fruit, vegetables and other items in the bag fresh for extended periods of time.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved bag closure seal for closing and sealing an open end of a bag and for also providing a carrier means or handle to facilitate carrying the bag.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bag closure seal wherein a bag is sealed by confining the end thereof in a restriction, and wherein means are provided with the seal to maintain the end of the. bag in the restriction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bag closure seal which is made of a pliable material and which has at least two restrictions through which the end of a bag is adapted to extend for locking the end of the bag to the seal in an air-tight sealed position.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a bag closure seal which is made of a pliable material and which has at least two restrictions through which the end of a bag is adapted to extend for locking the end of the bag to the seal in an air-tight sealed position, and wherein each restriction has a slit for the entry of the end of the bag into the restriction, the material of the seal being sufficiently pliable and resilient to permit a temporary widening of each slit by bending the portions of the seal on each side of each slit to allow the end of the bag to enter each restriction, and the portions

IS on each side of each slit returning to their normal positions to thereby return the slits to their normal widths which are narrow enough to prevent the inadvertent release of the end of a bag from the restrictions.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a seal which is so constructed that the weight of the items in the bag is utilized for increasing the effectiveness of the seal on the bag when the bag is Carried by a portion of the seal.

The preferred embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter, together with other features thereof, and additional objects will become evident from such description.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the bag closure seal of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the bag closure seal of this invention with a bag in the closed and sealed position for carrying same;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another form of the bag closure seal of this invention; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the seal of Fig. 3 with a bag in the sealed and closed position.

In the drawings, the letter A designates generally the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The bag closure seal A is adapted to be releasably connected to a bag B so as to close and seal the end of the bag B (a portion of which is shown in Fig. 2). The bag B may be formed of various materials, but the closure seal A of this invention is particularly suitable for use with bags B formed of plastic or othere similar material. One of the most common types of plastic presently used for bags in the display and marketing of fruits and vegetables is polyethylene and preferably, bags of polyethylene are used with the closure seal A of this invention. Briefly, the bag B has one end thereof, generally an open end, folded over as indicated at B’ so as to attach same to the bag closure seal A. Also, as will be explained more in detail hereinafter, the closure seal A includes a carrier means or handle to facilitate handling of the bag B.

Considering the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings in detail, the bag closure seal A is preferably a one piece member or body formed of a resilient material such as polytetrafluoroethylene, although various other materials are suitable. The body 10 of the closure seal A is formed with a sealing restriction or opening 11 which extends through the thickness of the body 10. The opening or restriction 11 is of such size that it bunches or compacts the folded over end portion B' of the bag B so as to fully and completely close and seal the open end of such bag B. In order to increase the effectiveness of the sealing action of such opening or restriction 11, the lower end 11α of the restriction 11 is substantially V-shaped. Thus, when the weight of the bag B and its contents are imposed upon the folded over portion B' by holding the closure seal A in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the portion of the bag B passing through the restriction or opening 11 is further forced into the restriction of the V-shaped notch 11α for the increased sealing action.

In order to insert the end of the bag B into the restriction or opening 11 readily and quickly and to also prevent the inadvertent release of the end of the bag which after it has been inserted into the opening or restriction 11, a narrow slit 11Z&gt; is formed at the upper end of the opening or restriction 11. The bag B may have its end in a

2,081,990 flattened condition as it is pulled through the slit 11b and the compacting or bunching of the turned over portion B' of the bag B is thus inserted into the opening or restriction 11 without requiring a careful threading or longitudinal insertion of the end of the bag through the restriction or opening 11. This is particularly important in this invention because the size of the opening 11 must be substantially the size of the end of the bag B when it is compacted or squeezed tightly together in a sealed condition so that release from that sealed condition during use will not occur. Since the opening 11 is therefore relatively small and is substantially the same size as the amount of the material in the folded over portion B' of the bag B, it would be almost impossible to insert such material longitudinally through the opening 11. It should also be noted that a large opening 12, which is large as compared to the opening 11, is formed at the upper end of the body 10 and, as will be explained hereinafter, such opening 12 serves also as a carrier opening or handle opening through which one or more fingers of a user’s hand may be inserted for carrying the bag B in the closed and sealed condition. The large area or opening provided by the handle opening 12 facilitates the insertion of the bag portion B' into the opening 11 because the opening 12 is so much larger than the ends of the bag that such amount of space makes it very easy to pass the end of the bag through the opening 12 longitudinally. Thereafter, the end of the bag may be pulled laterally through the slit lib to compact and bunch the folded over portion B' of the bag B within the restriction or opening 11.

On each side of the slit lift, the body 10 is formed with inwardly extending ears or projections which converge together and almost touch each other. In order to facilitate the insertion of the end of the bag B laterally through the opening lift, the slit lift may be widened temporarily if the ears or projections 10α are formed of a resilient material. As previously stated, the entire closure seal A is preferably formed of a resilient material, but in any event, the ears or projections 10α should be formed of a resilient material and could be formed of a different material than the main portion of the body 10. The ears or projections 10α are therefore formed of a resilient material such as the polytetrafluoroethylene so that by bending such ears or projections, the slit lift is widened to enable the folded over portion B' of the bag B to be more easily inserted into the restriction or opening 11. It should be pointed out that in the usual case, the ears or projections 10α are sufficiently flexible or resilient so that the pull exerted by the contact of the bag end B' as it is forced through the slit lift is sufficient to temporarily bend the ears or projections 10α to widen the opening lift temporarily as the bag portion B' is passing therethrough. The ears or projections 10α of course return to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 after the end portion B' has been passed into the opening 11 so that the only passage remaining is the slit lift and so long as there is no material pressure or forced exerted to pull the end of the bag B out through the slit lift, the portion of the bag B within the opening or restriction 11 is maintained in the bunched or compacted condition to maintain the seal in the end of the bag B.

For preventing the turned over portion B' at the end of the bag B from slipping longitudinally through the opening or restriction 11 after it has been inserted therein, a retaining restriction or opening 15 is provided at the lower portion of the body 10. The area 10ft of ths body 10 between the openings 11 and 15 must be of substantial length and thickness so that it will have adequate strength to prevent tearing or splitting from one of the openings II or 15 to the other. Therefore, in some instances it may be desirable to reinforce the area 10ft between the openings 11 and 15, although such reinforcement is not illustrated.

The opening 15 is substantially the same size as the opening 11 and, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the opening 15 has a notch 15α which is preferably substantially Vshaped at the upper end of the opening 15. Such notch 15α serves the same purpose as the notch 11α in that it tends to increase the bunching or compacting of the portion of the bag extending through the opening 15. A slit 15ft extends from the lower edge of the body 10 into the opening 15 so that the end of the bag B may be passed laterally through the slit 15ft into the opening 15. As explained in connection with the slit lift, the end B' of the bag B may be pulled laterally in a substantially flattened condition through the slit 15ft and once the end B' of the bag B is within the opening 15, the narrowness of the slit 15ft helps to retain the end B' of the bag B within such opening 15. Also, since the folded over end portion B' of the bag B is in effect knotted within the openings 11 and 15, the portion of the end B' which extends from the openings 11 and 15 is enlarged as compared to the portions in the openings 11 and 15 so that resistance to movement of the end of the bag B' relative to the closure seal A is obtained. Ears or projections 10c are formed on the body 10 adjacent to the slit 15ft and they are preferably formed of a resilient flexible material in the same manner as the ears or projections 10α. Therefore, by bending the ears or projections 10c, the slit 15 may be widened temporarily for the insertion of the end portion B' of the bag B laterally through the slit 15ft into the opening 15. To facilitate the bending of the ears or projections 10c, extensions lOd are formed at the lower end of the body 10 to enable a person to grip the extensions 10// with the thumb and forefinger to cause the portions 10c to bend for the widening of the slot 15ft. When the projections or extensions lOd are released, the inherent resiliency of the material returns the ears or projections 10c to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that the narrowness of the slit 15ft is utilized in retaining the end portion of the bag B within the opening 15.

The carrier or handle opening 12 is formed in the body 10 with a sufficient width and depth to permit the insertion of at least one finger of the user’s hand so that when the closure seal A is in the position shown in Fig. 2 with respect to the bag B, the bag B may be readily carried while maintaining same in the sealed and closed position. The body portion 10c at the upper end thereof above the opening 12 is of sufficient thickness and strength to support the normal load on the seal A when the bag B has the various items therein which it will normally carry. The width of the opening 12 may be varied to accommodate different numbers of a person’s fingers as desired.

In the use of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the end portion B' which is ultimately folded over as indicated in Fig. 2, is first pulled longitudinally through the handle opening 12 so that the extreme end of the portion B' lays over the body 10 and extends below the lower end thereof. The extensions or projections 10rf are then grasped with the thumb and a finger of a person’s hand or in any other manner so as to cause the ears 10c to bend for widening the slit 15ft. The extreme end portion of the bag B is then pulled through the slit 15ft and is compacted or squeezed into the restriction or opening 15. The projections or extensions 10ft are then released so that the ears 10c return to the normal position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and thereby the compacted or bunched portion of the end of the bag B within the opening 15 is held therein.

In order to insert the folded over portion B' of the bag B into the opening 11, the fingers of the user’s hand may be inserted through the opening 12 so as to lift the closure seal A. Since the folded over portion B' of the bag B is extending through the opening 12 below the person’s fingers, the weight of the bag B and its contents are imposed upon the bag B at the portion passing over the body 10 at the lower part of the opening 12 adjacent the

9,981,990 s

slit 11b and such weight is utilized for pulling the portion of the bag B' into the opening 11. When the entire quantity of the material of the end portion B' is within the opening 11 by such pulling action, it is gripped and held against movement and therefore the contents of the bag B and the bag B itself are lifted by the grasping of the body portion lOe with the fingers passing through the opening 12. It will be appreciated of course that the above procedure for attaching the end portion B' of the bag B into the opening 11 and 15 may be varied within the scope of this invention, but the above procedure illustrates the simplicity and ease with which an open end of a bag may be sealed and closed without damaging the bag in any way. Also, the bag is in the position for carrying same because of the provision of the carrier or handle opening 12, as previously described.

When it is desired to release the folded over portion B' of the bag B from the closure seal A, the projections or extensions 10c? may be again grasped with the thumb and forefinger to bend the ears 10c for widening the slit 15b and then the end of the bag may be pulled out through the slit 156. Similarly, the ear portions 10α may be bent to widen the slit lib for pulling the end of the bag out of the opening 11. If the material of the body 10 is sufficiently flexible, the end of the bag may be grasped and pulled out of the openings 15 and 11 successively without need for the manipulation of the projections 10 J and the ears 10c and 10α, but the above procedure is preferred. In any event, the bag B has then been released from its sealed and closed connection with the bag closure seal A and is ready for reuse without having any perforations, punctures or other defects such as occur with the prior art procedures and constructions.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the modified bag closure seal A-l is illustrated. The seal A-l has a body 110 which has restrictions or openings 111 and 115 formed therein. The openings 111 and 115 are each of substantially the same size as the amount of material in the end of the bag B when such end is squeezed or bunched together as indicated in Fig. 4. The opening 111 has a slit 1116 for the pulling of the end of the bag B therethrough into the opening 111 for effecting the bunching or compacting of the material of the end of the bag B for sealing same. The end of the bag B is also pulled through the slit 115b and into the confinement of the restriction 115 to assure the retention of the end of the bag B in the closed and sealed condition with the closure seal A-l. The portions 110α and 110c on each side of the slits 11116 and 1156, respectively, are formed of a flexible resilient material so as to permit the widening of the slits 1116 and 1156 as the portions of the end of the bag B are pulled into the restrictions 111 and 115, respectively. Preferably, the entire closure seal A-l is formed of a resilient pliable material such as the polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, or similar plastic, but in any event, the portions 110α and 110c are formed of such pliable resilient material. It will be noted that the openings 111 and 115 are cylindrical and do not include the notches such as the notches 11α and 15α of the openings 11 and 15 in Figs. 1 and 2. A more effective seal is obtained when the notches are utilized, but if the openings 111 and 115 are sufficiently small to squeeze or confine the material of the end of the bag to seal and close same tightly, the notches such as the notches 11α and 15a of Figs. 1 and 2 may be omitted.

The operation or use of the closure seal A-l of Figs. 3 and 4 is believed evident from the foregoing description. The portions 110c on each side of the slit 1156 are preferably bent away from each other to widen the slit 1156 and then the end of the bag B is moved in a substantially flattened condition into the restriction or opening 115 to compact or bunch same together for providing a seal'. Likewise, the portions 110α are bent so as to widen the slit 1116 and to bunch or compact the portion of the end of the bag B which extends into and through the restriction or opening 111. The closure seal A-l is not intended for use in the carrying of the bag B by grasping of the seal A-l and therefore the end of 5 the bag B is not necessarily folded over but it may extend vertically upwardly from the bag B as illustrated in Fig. 4. However, it will be appreciated that by grasping the closure seal A-l, the bag B may be lifted by the seal A-l if desired. So long as the bag is compacted or 10 knotted tightly within the openings 111 and 115, a considerable amount of weight in the bag B may be lifted without releasing or causing a slippage of the bag B through the openings 111 and 115. The bag B is released from the closure seal A-l in the reverse man15 ner to that described above in connection with the attachment of the bag B to the seal A-l. Thus, the slits 1116 and 1156 are widened and then the end of the bag B is moved through such slits 1116 and 1156 to release the end of the bag B from the closure seal A-l.

²⁰ The end of the bag B is therefore released without any tearing, puncturing or other damage to the bag so that the bag may be reused and resealed by again connecting the closure seal A-l as desired. It can thus be seen that the closure seal A-l is particularly suitable for use ²⁵ with home refrigerators or freezers wherein fruits or vegetables are kept in a bag B formed of a plastic so as to maintain same in an air-tight enclosure within the bag B to maintain the fruits or vegetables fresh over an extended period of time. The same result is obtained ³⁰ with the closure seal A, and in addition, as explained above, the closure seal A provides the carrier opening or handle 12 which serves for carrying purposes.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and vari³⁵ ous changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.