Device for closing sacks or the like

March 30, 1965 M. AHLGREN ETAL 3,175,338

DEVICE FOR CLOSING SACKS OR THE LIKE Filed May 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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March 30, 1965

M. AHLGREN ETAL 3,175,338

DEVICE FOR CLOSING SACKS OR THE LIKE

Filed May 23, 1962

Sheets-Sheet 2

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Paul D. Alexanozz.

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3,175,338

Patented Mar. 30, 1965

United States Patent Office

175 338

DEVICE FOR CLOSING SACKS OR THE TIKE Myron Ahlgren, 3335 Becerra Way, Sacramento, Calif., and Paul D. Alexander, 15 N. Banner Drive, Sonora, Calif.

Filed May 23,1962, Ser. No. 197,125

Claims. (Cl. 53—390)

The invention described herein relates to a device for forming a bag or the like and closing the open top portion thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to to a device which is adapted to receive a sheet of flat material from which a bag is formed and objects placed therein and operable to close or gather the open top of the formed bag so that a tie or fastener may be applied thereto.

The device for forming and closing bags of the present invention has particular application in the bagging or wrapping of soft or messy bait used in fishing. However, the invention is not restricted to that particular application. As applied to the wrapping or bagging of soft baits for fishing, a piece of cloth or other material is placed in the device, the soft bait placed therein and the open upper end of the bag constricted to allow a tie or fastener of any siutable type to be placed thereon. The same operation of the enfolding device described herein would be followed irrespective of the material being wrapped or sacked.

The primary object of the invention is a device for forming a bag or the like and closing the open upper end thereof whereby the open end of the sack is constricted and tied or fastened by suitable means.

Another object of the invention is a device for forming a bag or the like and closing the open end thereof and which is provided with means to hold the bag during the constricting operation of the open upper end.

Another object of the invention is a device for forming a bag or the like and closing the open end thereof and which includes a base having an opening therein to receive the material from which the bag is formed and means movable relative to the base to constrict the open upper end of the formed bag to allow a fastener to be tied or placed thereon.

Another object of the invention is a device for forming a bag or the like and closing the open end thereof having a simple construction and an efficient mode of operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become rapidly apparent by referring to the following detailed description when taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view illustrating the device with the structural parts in open position for the reception of flat sheet material for forming a bag or the like.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section taken on lines 2—1 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the structural parts in the same open position; and in dotted lines both the manner in which the flat sheet material with contained objects is held in the device, and the positions assumed by the same when the sheet top is constricted. Arrows indicate the movement of certain of the structural parts.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 3—3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 4—4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view illustrating the bag-forming and bag-holding means in an operative position prior to sheet constriction.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view illustrating the position assumed by the parts when a bag has been formed by constriction of the bag sheet.

_ FIGURE 7 is an exploded view of the bag-closing device of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, particularly to the exploded view in FIGURE 7, the device comprises three elements; namely a base member indicated by the reference numeral 10, a slide member indicated by the reference numeral 12, and a holding plate indicated by refer5 ence numeral 14. The base member is provided with an opening 16 in the bottom 18 thereof. The opening 16 is adapted to receive the sheet material to form a bag and in which the same is held during the constricting operation of the open top thereof. The base member is provided 10 with oppositely disposed guide channels 20 and 22 extending the entire length thereof. Slide member 12 is carried on the base 10 and movable in guide channels 20 and 22 in a longitudinal direction. Slide member 12 is provided with shoulders 24 and 26 engageable with oppositely 15 positioned aligned stops 28 and 30, only 28 being shown.

Mounted on guide members 20 and 22 adjacent one end of base member 10 are vertically extending lugs 32 and 34 each having an opening therein. The holding plate 14 which is substantially rectangular in configuration and 20 having a transverse dimension slightly less than the space between guide means 20 and 22 is provided with a pair of outwardly extending pivot pins 36 and 38 which, when the device is assembled in closed position (FIG. 6), are adapted to extend through the overhead aligned openings 25 in vertical lugs 32 and 34 to pivotally mount the plate to the base 10 in underslung relationship with respect to the overhead pivots.

The plate like portions of the bottom 18 of the base 10 _o which define the opening 16 include a pair of converging ³⁰ wall portions 40, 42 which meet at a point in the approximate center of the base 10. Walls 44 and 46 of opening 16 are in substantial parallel relation to each other, while walls 48 and 50 are in converging relation and terminate in transverse wall 52. The purpose of the particular configuration of opening 16 will be later described.

A handle 54 is provided at one end of slide member 12. The other end of slide member 12 is provided with a substantially V-shaped notch 56 defined by converging walls 58 and 60. A generally triangular shaped lug 62 is secured to the underside of slide member 12 and which is more clearly shown in FIGURE 6 in dotted lines. Lug 62 together with the shoulders 24 and 26 and stops 28 and 30 on the base member 10 prevent withdrawal of the slide 12 _4g from the guide channels 20 and 22.

In use the device is assembled with the parts as shown in FIGURES 1 through 6. Sheet material S, shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2, is positioned from the top into opening 16 in the bottom 18 of the base 10. The central por₅₀ tion of the sheet material is first depressed to form a bag, and objects to be contained therein are deposited in the depressed portion. Holding plate 14 is then moved in the direction of the arrow of FIGURE 2, pivoting on pins 36 and 38. The pins are positioned in the openings 55 in lugs 32 and 34. Holding plate 14 is next moved in overlying relation to the open upper end of the sheet bag as shown in FIGURE 5, and the plate remains in position between guide members 20 and 22 until bag discharge is effected. Slide 12 is next moved to closure position 20 shown in FIGURE 6, and its walls 58 and 60, which define the V-shaped notch 56 engage the sheet bag adjacent the open top thereof and constrict the bag top against opposing walls 40 and 42 of opening 16. Opening 16 is in the bottom 18 of base member 10. The device may then be gg turned upside down, and fastening means may be placed around the constricted portion of the bag S. The holding plate 14 may then be returned to the open position and slide 12 may be withdrawn to the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, whereupon the bag S may be removed ₇₀ from the opening 16 in the base 10.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the device described herein provides an extremely efficient means for

3,175,338 the handling and wrapping of soft or messy materials, particularly fish baits. Normally, the material must be handled by the fisherman and results in the usually unpleasant odor of the bait remaining on the hands of the fisherman. These unpleasant disadvantages are completely obviated by the instant invention.

While many variations and modifications may be made in the inventive concept above set forth, it is intended that this disclosure should be interpreted merely as illustrative and limited only by the scope of the appended claims.