Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
12190-C-l
1133438
The invention relates to an interlocking closure
device and more particularly to a closure device including
two closure profiles operable for being interlocked
continuously over a predetermined length.
Generally, an interlocking closure device for use
in connection with fl OEible containers such as plastic
bags and the like are well-kno-~. Furthermore, ~anufactur-
ing methods for closure devices made of plastic material
are generally well-kno-w~.
It is also well-kno~ thqt such clo,ure device,
~ay be interlo^ked by a slider or they may be slide.less.
A container including an interlo_king clo;ure
device w'aich is cap~ble of being continuously interlo_ked
should enable the user to occlude the closure device
easily and to verify visually that the o-clusion is
complete.
In the prior art, it is kno-~a to identify the
o?enqble end of a container with a colored stripe. The
stripe is sp~ced away from the closure device and therefore
does not identify the actual position of either of the
closure profile,.
Moreover, the stripe provides no inform~tion
as to the completeness of the o.clusion of the closure
device.
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~133~38
The instant inve~tion overcones the afore~entioned
pro~lems to provide closure devices having i~pro-~ed
co~sumer appeal and marketability.
As ~sed herein, closure profiles are continuou,
strip; having respective cross sections w~ich enable
the closure profiles to be interlocket.
A clo,ure profile can include a flanged portion
and can be conne_ted to a sidew~ll of a contziner.
As used herein, the ter~ "co~nected" includes
an integral combination obtained from extrusion thro~gn
the same die opening as well as a~hesive or co~e,ive
connections.
As used herein, the ter~ "color" includes clear
transparent and tinted transp~rent and,similarly, cle~r
translucent and tinted translucent.
One e~odiment of the present invention is an
interlo;king closure device co~prising two clo,ure
profiles operable for being interlo:ked continuo1sly
over a predetermined length, wherein the improvement
comprises ~he closure profiles having different colors,
whereby the position of the profiles on a container can
be e~sily identified visually *o simplify the clo~ing and
opening of the co~tainer and/or the co~plete o_clusion
of the closure profiles can be easily verified visually.
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1133438
Another embodiment of the invention is a
container comprising two flexible sidewalls and an
interlocking closure device including two closure profiles
operable for being interlocked continuously over a pre-
determined length connected to the sidewalls, wherein
the improveDe~t comprises the closure profiles having
different colors, whereby the position of the profiles
on the sidewall can be identified visually easily to
simplify the closing and openir.g of the container.
A further embodiment of the inven;ion is a
con,ainer comprising two flexible sidewalls, and an
interlocking closure device including two closure profiles
operable for being interlocked continuously over a p.e-
determined length connected to the side~alls., wherein the
im2rovement comprises the closure profiles having
different prim~ry colors selected to produce a predete-mined
secondary color, whereby the complete occlusion of the
closure profiles can be identified visually easily.
Another further embodiment of the invention is
one or both of the closure profiles of the invention
including a flange portion.
Ihe invention accordingly comprises the features
of construction, combination of elements and arrangement
of parts which will be exemplified in a construction
hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application
of which will be indicated in the clai~s.
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1133~38 12190-C-l
Generally, the closure device of the invention
can be made from polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, or
any other flexible thermoplastic material or the like or
a combination thereof.
The closure device can be of the type in which
one closure profile partially encircles the other closure
profile such as the closure device shown in reissue U. S.
Patent No. Re 28,969 to Naito. The closure can also be of
the type in which each of the closure profiles includes a
plurality of hook portions and the closure profiles engage
to establish occlusion, for example, as shown in U. S.
~atent No. 3,054,434 to Ausnit et al, Fig. ~.
The use of different colors for the interlocking
closure is advantageous for both a sliderless closure
device as well as a closure device having a slider. The
use of different colors for the closure profiles is advan-
tageous for a sliderless interlocking closure device
-because of the absence of a slider to provide a mechanical
indication of the opening of the container. The use of
different colors for the closure profiles is particularly
advantageous for both the slidered closure device and the
sliderless closure device because, as shall be seen more
clearly herinafter, the use of the colored closure profiles
provides means for easy visual verification of complete
occlusion of the closure profiles when interlocking the
closure device.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and
objects of the invention, reference should be had to the
following detailed description, taken in connection with
the accompanying drawings, in which:
1133438 12190-C-l
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible
container including a closure device in accordance with
the invention;
Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are diagram~atic and
sectional views of closure devices in accordance with
the invention;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a flexible
container having a gusseted bottom and including a
closure device in accordance with the invention; and
1~ Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the closure
device of Fig. 2A in an occluded state.
In carrying the invention into effect, certain
embodiments have been selected for illustration in the
accompanying drawings and for description in this speci-
fication, reference being had to Figs. 1 to 4.
Fig. 1 shows a typical flexible container 10
formed from a thin, transparent, plastic film which has
been folded to define a bottom portion 11 and heat
sealed along vertical side edges 12 to form a pouch.
The sidewalls 13 extend beyond a sliderless
closure device 14 to provide mouth portions 16 and 17
to simplify the opening of the closure device 14.
The closure device 14 includes closure profiles
18 and 19. In accordance with the art, the end portions
of the closure profiles 18 and 19 are connected to each
other.
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1133438
The closure profiles 18 and 19 are different
colors to be easily identified visually. The sidewalls 13
are transparent, but could be opaque. If the sidewalls 13
were opaque, then at least one of the closure profiles
should be a color which can be easily distinguished from
the sidewall region adjacent to it.
Preferably, the sidewalls 13 are transparent at
least in the region adjacent to the closure profiles 18
and 19.
Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D show different embodi-
ments of the interlocking closure devices of the invention.
Fig. 2A shows closure profiles 21 and 22 which are flange-
less and are intended to be connected to opposite sidewalls
of a container. Fig. 2B shows closure profile 23 including
a flange portion 24 and flangeless closure profile 26.
Fig. 2C shows flangeless closure profile 27 and closure
profile 28 including a flange portion 29. Fig. 2D shows
closure profiles 31 and 32 including flange portions 33
and 34.
Preferably, the flange portion is clear trans-
parent, but the flange portion could be tinted some color
or even be opaque. ~he flange portion could have a
predetermined color while the remainder of the closure
profile is transparent.
Fig. 3 shows a container 36 similar to the con-
tainer 10, but including a gusseted bottom 37, thus
providing a stand-up interloc~ing closure bag.
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~1~3438
Fig. 4 shows that the occluded c~osure device
of ~ig. 2A results in the fem~le closure profile 21
having borders 38 and 39 on opposite sides of portions
of the male closure profile 22.
Because the closure profiles 21 and 22 are
different colors, the completeness of the occlusion
can be easily verified visually by observing the
relationship between the continuous borders 38 and 39
with respect to the closure profile 22. Prefe.ably,
the closure profiles 21 and 22 should be contrasting
opaque colors to optimize the ease in visually identifying
the completeness of the occlusion.
The sidewalls of a container used in connection
with the closure profiles 21 and 22 should be transparent
at least in the region adjacent to the closure profiles 21
and 22.
The closure profiles 21 and 22 for another
embodiment ean be primary colors and sufficiently
translucent so that the o_clusion of the closure profiles
21 and 22 produces a visible secondary color. Thus, the
completeness of the o~clusion can be determined visually
easily by observing a continuous region of the secondary
color ~ordered on each side by one of the primary colors
depending upon the side being viewed.
11334~ 12190-C-l
For exampl~, one closure profile can be colored
red and the other colored yellow so that occlusion of the
closure profile produces an orange colored continuous
region.
I wish it to be understood that I do not desire
to be limited to the exact details of construction shown
and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a
person skilled in the art.
~ aving thus described the invention, what I
claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent
is as follows:
