GB2088824A

GB2088824A - Bag closure

Info

Publication number: GB2088824A
Application number: GB8135471A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-11-26
Filing date: 1981-11-25
Publication date: 1982-06-16
Also published as: GB2088824B; DE3146750A1

Abstract

A closure on a flexible walled cloth, plastic or paper bag 2 comprises a strip of aluminium, wire or plastic 1 which remembers its deformed shape and can be bent into a bowed position together with a bag layer affixed thereto along its length. The bag layers can be sealed and then when unsealed the spout provides selectively operated spout opening and closing means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to flexible walled bags This invention relates to flexible bag containers of paper, thin plastics film or the like and, more particularly, it relates to a closure and spout structure permitting a flexible walled bag to be repeatedly closed and opened for storage and pouring of contents.

A flexible spout structure is disclosed in my U.S.

Patent 4,027,819 of June 7,1977. However, that spout structure was of necessity corner mounted on a rectangular bag and required aluminum to be broken, which could result in sharp edges that could snag clothing or cut fingers. Also the aluminum needed to be rivetted in place and was not readily manufactured by mass production inexpensive continuous flow bagmaking equipment.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved spout structures which resolve the foregoing problems of the prior art.

Also, it is an object of this invention to provide bags made with integral spout structure thereon which may be used for storage of and removal of portions or all the granular, solid, liquid or hybrid contents thereof.

Thus, this invention provides on a paper or thin film plastic bag structure, preferably rectangular, an integral pouring spout structure formed of a thin narrow strap or strip of deformable material having a memory to stay in a disfigured or bent position, such as aluminum, plastic or wire. This strap is affixed along its length adjacent an edge of the bag, or across its corner, to one bag layer thereby to carry therealong with the bag material to attain the same shape when the strap is bent or disfigured. Thus, when the strap is bowed, it provides a spout which can be reclosed when the trap is flattened or restraightened. In order to provide bowing of the opposite bag layer the ends of the strap are affixed to the opposite bag layer by welding, gluing or the like.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will be found throughout the following description, drawings and claims.

In the drawings: Figures 1, 1 A and 1 B show in plan view the construction of straps that are used in accordance with the invention; Figures 2, 3 and 4 show in front elevation bags with integral spout structure as afforded by the invention, with spouts in closed position; Figures 5, 6, 7 and 7A show in section view the closure structure provided by various embodiments of this invention; and Figures 8, 9 and 10 show in front perspective view bags afforded by this invention with spouts open.

As may be seen from the drawings, the straps 1 of Figures 1, 1 A and 1 B can have several configurations of end structure 3, for purposes made more clear hereinafter. These straps are of thin aluminum, a plastic holding its deformed or bent shape, wire or a combination of plastic body and embedded wire 5 as shown in Figure 1 B.

The end embodiment 3 of Figure 1A is particularly advantageous for mounting over the corner of a substantially rectangular bag 2 as seen in Figures 2 and 4. Thus, the bag may be of the sealed plastic type, permitting the bag corner to be sheared or cut off when desired for use of the spout structure provided by this invention. As shown in Figure 3, the strap 1 is placed adjacent an edge of the bag 2 such as along the entire top edge, and if desired may be sealed at the edge 6 for shearing when desired for use of the strap 1 spout opening.

As may be seen from Figures 5 to 10, the strap 1 when bowed provides a spout opening 4. Thus, one bag layer 2A is affixed along the length of the strap to adhere thereto and follow the deformed (bowed) shape of the strap. The strap end portions 3 affixing the other bag layer 2B to the strap so that it will take an opposite bow. The bowed position is simply achieved by squeezing the two ends together or rubbing the central strap 1 section with a finger. As may be seen in Figures 7 and 7A, the strap 1 may be rebent or straightened by an opposite force to close the two bag layers 2A and 2B together in a mechanically sealed position.

It is most important and critical that the bag layer 2A or 2B, whether paper, cloth or plastic, be affixed to the strap 1 along its length to provide proper spout formation and closure. Thus, the strap is preferably affixed by gluing, sewing or sonic welding in the case of plastic materials.

The Figure 10 structure shows a strap along a portion of one edge to produce a "corner" spout and maintain the rectangular bag shape.

Depending upon the nature of the materials to be stored and dispensed, the bag may be constructed with or without edge sealing of the two bag layers together adjacent the length of the strap 1.

Having therefore provided an improved bag and spout structure, those features of novelty believed descriptive of the nature and spirit of the invention are defined with particularity in the claims which follow.

1. Bag structure, comprising in combination, a bag of flexible material comprising two layers substantially affixed together about all edges but providing along the edge of predetermined length where the layers can be separated to form an opening spout portion a thin narrow strap of deformable material of a length slightly greater than said length that will hold its configuration when bent and affixed to be bag material on one layer along the edge adjacent said opening spout, and means affixing the remaining layer of the bags to the ends of the strap thereby to permit the strap to be bowed to hold in bowed position the two layers thereby opening the spout and to be flattened to close the spout.

2. The bag structure defined in claim 1 wherein the material is a plastic having embedded therein

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to flexible walled bags This invention relates to flexible bag containers of paper, thin plastics film or the like and, more particularly, it relates to a closure and spout structure permitting a flexible walled bag to be repeatedly closed and opened for storage and pouring of contents. A flexible spout structure is disclosed in my U.S. Patent 4,027,819 of June 7,1977. However, that spout structure was of necessity corner mounted on a rectangular bag and required aluminum to be broken, which could result in sharp edges that could snag clothing or cut fingers. Also the aluminum needed to be rivetted in place and was not readily manufactured by mass production inexpensive continuous flow bagmaking equipment. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved spout structures which resolve the foregoing problems of the prior art. Also, it is an object of this invention to provide bags made with integral spout structure thereon which may be used for storage of and removal of portions or all the granular, solid, liquid or hybrid contents thereof. Thus, this invention provides on a paper or thin film plastic bag structure, preferably rectangular, an integral pouring spout structure formed of a thin narrow strap or strip of deformable material having a memory to stay in a disfigured or bent position, such as aluminum, plastic or wire. This strap is affixed along its length adjacent an edge of the bag, or across its corner, to one bag layer thereby to carry therealong with the bag material to attain the same shape when the strap is bent or disfigured. Thus, when the strap is bowed, it provides a spout which can be reclosed when the trap is flattened or restraightened. In order to provide bowing of the opposite bag layer the ends of the strap are affixed to the opposite bag layer by welding, gluing or the like. Other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will be found throughout the following description, drawings and claims. In the drawings: Figures 1, 1 A and 1 B show in plan view the construction of straps that are used in accordance with the invention; Figures 2, 3 and 4 show in front elevation bags with integral spout structure as afforded by the invention, with spouts in closed position; Figures 5, 6, 7 and 7A show in section view the closure structure provided by various embodiments of this invention; and Figures 8, 9 and 10 show in front perspective view bags afforded by this invention with spouts open. As may be seen from the drawings, the straps 1 of Figures 1, 1 A and 1 B can have several configurations of end structure 3, for purposes made more clear hereinafter. These straps are of thin aluminum, a plastic holding its deformed or bent shape, wire or a combination of plastic body and embedded wire 5 as shown in Figure 1 B. The end embodiment 3 of Figure 1A is particularly advantageous for mounting over the corner of a substantially rectangular bag 2 as seen in Figures 2 and 4. Thus, the bag may be of the sealed plastic type, permitting the bag corner to be sheared or cut off when desired for use of the spout structure provided by this invention. As shown in Figure 3, the strap 1 is placed adjacent an edge of the bag 2 such as along the entire top edge, and if desired may be sealed at the edge 6 for shearing when desired for use of the strap 1 spout opening. As may be seen from Figures 5 to 10, the strap 1 when bowed provides a spout opening 4. Thus, one bag layer 2A is affixed along the length of the strap to adhere thereto and follow the deformed (bowed) shape of the strap. The strap end portions 3 affixing the other bag layer 2B to the strap so that it will take an opposite bow. The bowed position is simply achieved by squeezing the two ends together or rubbing the central strap 1 section with a finger. As may be seen in Figures 7 and 7A, the strap 1 may be rebent or straightened by an opposite force to close the two bag layers 2A and 2B together in a mechanically sealed position. It is most important and critical that the bag layer 2A or 2B, whether paper, cloth or plastic, be affixed to the strap 1 along its length to provide proper spout formation and closure. Thus, the strap is preferably affixed by gluing, sewing or sonic welding in the case of plastic materials. The Figure 10 structure shows a strap along a portion of one edge to produce a "corner" spout and maintain the rectangular bag shape. Depending upon the nature of the materials to be stored and dispensed, the bag may be constructed with or without edge sealing of the two bag layers together adjacent the length of the strap 1. Having therefore provided an improved bag and spout structure, those features of novelty believed descriptive of the nature and spirit of the invention are defined with particularity in the claims which follow. CLAIMS

2. The bag structure defined in claim 1 wherein the material is a plastic having embedded therein a pair of wires.

3. The bag structure defined in claim 1 wherein the material is a thin aluminum sheet.

4. The bag structure defined in claim 1 wherein the bag is substantially rectangular and the spout is disposed across one corner thereof.

5. The bag structure defined in claim 1 wherein the bag is substantially rectangular and the spout is disposed along one edge thereof adjacent at least one corner.

6. The bag structure defined in claim 1 wherein the strap is a plastic material and the means affixing the strap to the bag material comprises supersonically welded bag-plastic structure.

7. The bag structure defined in claim 1 wherein the strap is affixed to the bag material along its length.

8. The bag structure defined in claim 7 wherein the strap is affixed by a film of glue between the bag material and the strap.

9. The bag structure defined in claim 7 wherein the strap comprises a wire.

10. Bag structure, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.