AU2003224109A1

AU2003224109A1 - Reusable seal applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article

Info

Publication number: AU2003224109A1
Application number: AU2003224109A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Emilio Costa
Original assignee: Llexan Int Srl Unipersonale
Current assignee: LLEXAN INTERNATIONAL Srl UNIPERSONALE
Priority date: 2002-04-30
Filing date: 2003-04-22
Publication date: 2003-11-17
Also published as: WO2003094135A1; CA2476766A1; ITPD20020035U1; EP1500070A1; CN1650336A; US20050076482A1

Description

WO 03/094135 PCT/EP03/04133 REUSABLE SEAL APPLICABLE TO A SLENDER PORTION OF A COMMERCIAL ARTICLE Technical Field The present invention relates to a reusable seal applicable to a slender 5 portion of a commercial article. Background Art Currently, the display and good visibility of the trademark on articles for sale is an enormously important commercial factor. . The possibility to display one's trademark with good visibility even on o10 portions of article that have limited dimensions and on small parts can be a significant competitive advantage. Moreover, with the new standards on the transparency of products with respect to the consumer, information to be applied to the product in addition to the price is considerable. 15 The dimensions of labeling seals have therefore increased significantly in recent years, worsening the problem of labeling on portions of article that have small dimensions. Seals of various kinds are currently used in order to label slender portions of commercial articles, and most can be traced mainly to a single category of 20 seals. Such category is characterized in that the seals that belong to it cannot be reused once removed from the article to which they refer. Moreover, the seals are often particularly difficult to remove from the article to which they refer, and in some cases it is necessary to use dedicated 25 tools for this operation. Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the present invention is to provide a reusable seal that is applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article that solves the above mentioned problems.

WO 03/094135 PCT/EPO3/04133 2 Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a reusable seal applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article that can be used and handled easily. Another object of the present invention is to provide a reusable seal s applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article that does not require the use of dedicated tools. Another object of the present invention is to provide a reusable seal applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article that is strong and does not separate easily from the article. 10 Another object of the present invention is to provide a reusable seal applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article that meets requirements of good visibility of the seal. Another object of the present invention is to provide a reusable seal applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article that can be 15 manufactured with known systems and technologies. This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a reusable seal applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article, characterized in that it comprises a first plate and a second plate which are arranged side by side and are joined at corresponding 20 edges by at least one elastically deformable hinge body, said first and second plates being provided monolithically, on the respective edges arranged opposite said at least one hinge body, respectively with a first wing and a second wing, which can be mutually coupled, by way of reversible engagement means, in order to accommodate and lock said slender article 25 portion between said first and second plates. Brief description of the Drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative WO 03/094135 PCT/EPO3/04133 3 example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the seal according to the invention in the open position; Figure 2 is a plan view of the seal according to the invention in the open 5 position; Figure 3 is a partially sectional side view of the seal according to the invention in the open position; Figure 4 is a partially sectional side view of the seal according to the invention in the closed position. 10 Ways of carrying out the Invention With reference to the figures, a reusable seal applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The seal 10, made of plastics, comprises a first plate 11 and a second 15 plate 12, which are rectangular and substantially have the same dimensions; the plates are arranged side by side and are joined at their corresponding lower edges 13 and 14 by a plurality of elastically deformable hinge bodies constituted by bridges 16 made of soft plastics which are mutually parallel and spaced. 20 The bridges allow to mutually rotate the plates 11 and 12. The bridges 16 are monolithic with respect to a contact element 15 made of soft plastics, which is formed by two portions 15a and 15b connected by the bridges 16. The portions 15a and 15b have the same shape and dimensions as the 25 plates 11 and 12, onto which they are fixed respectively, for example by overmolding the contact element 15 on the plates 11 and 12 by means of a plastic injection-molding process. A first wing 19 and a second wing 20 are provided respectively on the upper edges 17 and 18, which lie opposite the lower edges 13 and 14 of the WO 03/094135 PCT/EPO3/04133 4 plates 11 and 12. The wings 19 and 20 can be mutually coupled, by way of reversible engagement means illustrated hereinafter, in order to allow to accommodate and lock between the first and second plates 11 and 12 the slender portion of 5 an article (not shown in the figures). Further, the wings 19 and 20 are monolithic with the corresponding plates 11 and 12. In particular, the wing 19 protrudes at right angles to the plate 11 from the upper edge 17. 10 The wing 19 runs along the entire length of the edge 17 and supports symmetrically on its ends respectively a pair of monolithic tabs 22 that are substantially shaped like a prism with a rectangular base. The tabs 22 protrude upward with respect to the wing 19 and partly protrude outside the wing 19 in the direction in which the two plates 11 and 15is 12 close. Likewise, the wing 20 protrudes at right angles to the plate 12 from the upper edge 18. The wing 20 protrudes centrally on the edge 18 for a length that is substantially equal to the portion of wing 19 that is comprised between the 20 tabs 22. The reversible engagement means comprise, in this embodiment, two sets of teeth 23, which are arranged parallel to each other on the surface of the wing 19 that is comprised between the two tabs 22 and couple by elastic deformation with two longitudinal parallel slots 24 formed on the side of the 25 wing 20 that is directed toward the lower edge 14. Above the wing 20 there is a semicircular monolithic protrusion 25 so as to facilitate the opening and closure of the seal 10. Laterally to the wing 20 there are respectively two symmetrical seats 26 for coupling to the tabs 22.

WO 03/094135 PCT/EPO3/04133 5 Advantageously, the tabs 19 allow comfortable grip with two fingers on the part of the user during the opening and closure of said seal. The operation of the invention is as follows. The plates 11 and 12 can rotate with respect to each other by way of the 5 bridges 16, which act as a hinge. The two corresponding faces of said plates are moved mutually closer and the slender portion of the article to be sealed is inserted. The slots 24 of the wing 20 mate with the teeth 23, which undergo elastic deformation, thus clamping effectively the seal 10. 10 The element 15 made of soft plastic material ensures a grip of the article that is effective yet does not damage the article to be labeled. By acting in reverse it is possible to open said seal by way of the protrusion 25. It should be noted that the tabs 19 and the protrusion 25 allow s15 comfortable and effective opening and closure of the invention. In practice it has been found that the invention thus described solves the problems noted in known types of seal; in particular, the present invention provides a reusable seal applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article that is easy to use and handle. 20 Moreover, the present invention provides a reusable seal applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article that does not require the use of dedicated tools. Moreover, the present invention provides a reusable seal applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article that is strong and does not separate 25 easily from said article. Further, the present invention provides a reusable seal applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article that meets requirements of good visibility of said seal. In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with WO 03/094135 PCT/EPO3/04133 6 the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art. The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. PD2002U000035 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by 5 reference.

Claims

1. A reusable seal applicable to a slender portion of a commercial article, characterized in that it comprises a first plate (11) and a second plate (12) which are arranged side by side and are joined at corresponding edges (13, 5 14) by at least one elastically deformable hinge body (16), said first (11) and second (12) plates being provided monolithically, on the respective edges arranged opposite said at least one hinge body, respectively with a first wing (19) and a second wing (20), which are mutually coupleable, by way of reversible engagement means (23, 24), in order to accommodate and lock o10 said slender article portion between said first (11) and second (12) plates.

2. The seal according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of said elastically deformable hinge bodies constituted by mutually parallel and spaced bridges (16) which are monolithic with a contact element (15) that is formed by two portions (15a, 15b) that are mutually connected 15 by said bridges (16) and are monolithically fixed respectively to said first plate (11) and to said second plate (12).

3. The seal according to claim 2, characterized in that said contact element (15) and said bridges (16) are made of soft plastics that is overmolded by injection on said first and second plates (11, 12). 20

4. The seal according to claim 2, characterized in that said two portions (15a, 15b) have shapes and dimensions equal to those of said first and second plates (11, 12).

5. The seal according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second plates (11, 12) have rectangular 25 shapes and substantially have the same dimensions.

6. The seal according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first wing (19) protrudes at right angles from said first plate (11) and supports symmetrically, at its ends, respectively a pair of monolithic tabs (22) that are substantially shaped like a prism with a WO 03/094135 PCT/EPO3/04133 8 rectangular base.

7. The seal according to claim 6, characterized in that said second wing (20) protrudes at right angles from said second plate (12), said second wing (20) protruding for an extent that is substantially equal to the portion of said 5 first wing (19) that lies between said monolithic tabs (22).

8. The seal according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises two symmetrical seats (26) for coupling to said monolithic tabs (22) formed respectively laterally to said second wing (20).

9. The seal according to claim 7, characterized in that said reversible o10 engagement means comprise two sets of teeth (23), which are mutually parallel and are arranged on the surface of said first wing (19) that lies between said monolithic tabs (22) for coupling to two longitudinal parallel slots (24) formed in said second wing (20).

10. The seal according to one or more of the preceding claims, 15 characterized in that a monolithic protrusion (25) for the opening and closure of the seal (10) is provided above the second wing (20).