GB1575657A - Closure means for a bag - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CLOSURE MEANS FOR A BAG (71) I, NORMAN STANLEY PEAKE, a British subject of Cherry Court, Salterns Lane, Old Bursledon, Hampshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement : The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to closure means for bags, particularly closure means incorporating a handle or other suspension device.

It has become the custom to carry or display items of merchandise in bags or envelopes of flexible plastics sheet material for example, polythene film, and it is frequently desirable to provide means for supporting the bags in a readily visible manner for inspection by a prospective purchaser and also to facilitate carrying each bag after the article enclosed therein has been purchased.

The invention therefore provides, for attachment around a mouth portion of a bag of flexible plastics sheet material, a closure means comprising two closure members each having two opposed end portions and linked together at adjacent ones of said end portions by a hinge device to provide a reinforcement rib for a bag mouth, at least one of said closure members incorporating handle means and at least one hooked lug projecting from one of said closure members and capable of engaging with the other member when said closure members are in a confronting position, one lying against the other.

Advantageously, there may be two hooked lugs projecting from one closure member to engage the second member in an overlapping manner and a further projection on the first mentioned closure member against which the second member abuts to ensure that the portion of the second closure member overlapped by the hooked lugs of the first member remains in position and is prevented from accidental dislodgement.

In a preferred example of the invention, the closure means is moulded in a unitary construction in plastics material, the two closure members being initially formed in an open, flat condition with the hinge device provided by two portions of the moulding which are relatively thin and narrow, that is, so-called "plastics hinges".

There will now be described a closure means according to the invention. It will be understood that the description, which is to be read with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a closure means in an asmoulded flat condition; Figure 2 shows the opposite face of the closure means of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view on arrow III of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a view of the closure means in use.

The closure means 2 is shown in an asmoulded condition in Figures 1 and 2 and is formed in an initially flat condition. It comprises two closure members 4 and 5, end portions of which are linked by hinge devices 6 formed by a narrow neck of plastics material of a thickness less than that of the remainder of the moulding. Each closure member 4, 5, also incorporates handle means in the form of finger engaging portions 8, one of which is provided with a suspension hook 10.

Two hooked lugs 12 are provided on the portions 8 of the member 5 together with a further projection 14 at the base of the hook 10.

In use, the two closure members 4, 5 are hinged about the hinge devices 6 so that the members confront each other.

A polythene film bag 15 is then secured to the members 4, 5, so as to depend therefrom as shown in Figure 4. The members 4, 5 form a continuous reinforcement rib for the mouth of the bag, and the bag is closed by moving the member 4, which is free of lugs or projections, with respect to the other member 5 so that the lugs 12 thereof engage with portions of the member 4 in an overlapping manner.

To guard against unintentional disengagement of the lugs 12, the projection 14 bears against an outer edge 16 of the member 4.

The closed bag may then be hung on a rod (not shown) by means of the hook 10 so that its contents may be readily viewed.

Various modifications may be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A closure means for attachment to a mouth portion of a flexible bag comprising two closure members each having two opposed end portions and linked together at adjacent ones of said end portions by a hinge device to provide a reinforcement rib for a bag mouth, at least one of said closure members incorporating handle means and at least one hooked lug projecting from one of said closure members and capable of engaging with the other member when said closure members are in a confronting position, one lying against the other.

2. A closure means as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are two hooked lugs projecting from one of the closure members, said lugs being adapted to engage the second member in an overlapping manner.

3. A closure means as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is a further projection against which the second member abuts to ensure that it remains in position.

4. A closure means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said closure means being moulded from mouldable plastics material in a unitary construction and initially formed in an open, flat condition, said hinge device comprising two portions of the moulding which are thin and narrow relative to the closure members.

5. A closure means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said handle means is provided with a suspension book.

6. Closure means for attachment to a mouth portion of a flexible bag constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (not shown) by means of the hook 10 so that its contents may be readily viewed. Various modifications may be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A closure means for attachment to a mouth portion of a flexible bag comprising two closure members each having two opposed end portions and linked together at adjacent ones of said end portions by a hinge device to provide a reinforcement rib for a bag mouth, at least one of said closure members incorporating handle means and at least one hooked lug projecting from one of said closure members and capable of engaging with the other member when said closure members are in a confronting position, one lying against the other.

2. A closure means as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are two hooked lugs projecting from one of the closure members, said lugs being adapted to engage the second member in an overlapping manner.

3. A closure means as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is a further projection against which the second member abuts to ensure that it remains in position.

4. A closure means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said closure means being moulded from mouldable plastics material in a unitary construction and initially formed in an open, flat condition, said hinge device comprising two portions of the moulding which are thin and narrow relative to the closure members.

5. A closure means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said handle means is provided with a suspension book.

6. Closure means for attachment to a mouth portion of a flexible bag constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.