IE903678A1 - Closure clip - Google Patents

Abstract

The closure clip (10) is made of elastic plastic for closing bags made of plastic film for packaging purposes and the like which have two clamping arms (14; 16) which are connected to one another so as to be swivellable in the region of one of their ends in each case and are provided in the region of their other end in each case with catch elements which can be brought into detachable engagement. The clamping arms (14; 16) each have a limb portion (18; 22) extending spaced apart and essentially in parallel in the closed position of the closure clip (10). Projecting from the flat side facing the other clamping arm limb portion (22, 18) in each case of at least one of the clamping arms is a clamping extension (20), whose height, measured from the assigned limb portion, is selected such that the clear spacing, present between the limb portions (18, 22) in the closed position, is at least largely bridged by the clamping extension (20) or the clamping extensions. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a closure clip of elastic plastics material for closing plastic bags for packaging purposes and the like including two gripping arms which are pivotally connected together in the vicinity of one of their ends and which are provided in the vicinity of their other end with locking elements movable into releasable locking engagement.

Such closure clips serve to close conventional packaging bags of plastics film such that the packaged material contained within the bag is accessible for removal after opening the closure clip but the bag may also be closed again if it has only been partially emptied. To close the bag it is gathered together in the vicinity of its opening and possibly twisted slightly whereafter the closure clip with its gripping arms opened and unlocked is passed over the twisted bag opening region and then closed by pressure on the opened end regions of the gripping arms.

It is the object of the invention to construct closure clips of this type so that they ensure a tight and firm closure, that is to say secured against undesired emptying of the bag, even of bags of differing size, whereby the clips can be opened and closed without difficulties - if necessary many times.

Starting from a closure clip of the type referred to above, this object is solved in accordance with the invention if the gripping arms have respective limb sections which, in the closed position of the closure clip extend substantially parallel and spaced apart and if projecting from the flat side of at least one of the gripping arms directed towards the respective other gripping arm limb section there is a gripping projection whose height measured from the associated limb section is so selected that the free gap between the limb sections in the closed position is at least substantially bridged by the clamping projection or the clamping projections. A bag closed with such a closure clip is compressed by clamping the gathered together bag mouth region between the gripping projections or if only one such gripping projection is provided between the gripping projection and the second gripping arm, whereby due to the resilient deformation of the gripping arms a gripping force is exerted on the bag mouth region so that a tight and firm closure is provided.

The construction can be such that projecting from the flat side of one limb section there is a clamping projection whose height is approximately the same as the free spacing between the limb sections of the gripping arms when in the closed position. Alternatively, at least one gripping projection can project from the flat side of each gripping arm limb section, whose height is in each case approximately equal to half the free spacing between the gripping arm limb sections.

The gripping projection associated with each limb section can be divided into at least two - or more gripping projection sections by at least one recess passing from the free gripping edge of the gripping projection substantially to the flat side of the respective limb section. An outwardly arched deformation of the gripping arms is thus facilitated which is particularly convenient if a relatively large bag is to be closed, i.e. the gathered and optionally twisted mouth region of the packaging bag is relatively thick. The recess or recesses conveniently have a ν'shaped tapering shape in the direction towards the flat side of the associated gripping arm limb section. It is thus ensured that the gripping arms can arch outwardly without the gripping arm sections preventing this arching due to the surfaces defining the recesses coming into premature engagement.

The two gripping arms are conveniently pivotally connected together by a film hinge.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the locking elements are constituted by strip-like projections projecting in the vicinity of the free ends of the gripping arms from their flat side directed towards the other gripping arm, the free edges of which projections are turned up in the manner of hooks in opposite senses. The hook-shaped turned-over edges which are formed can thus be locked together.

In an advantageous development of the invention, formed on the strip-like projection whose free edge is turned up in the manner of a hook in the direction of the pivotal connection of the gripping arms, there is a strip-like handle which is provided as an unlocking lever and whose free edge is directed away from the pivotal connection of the gripping arms. By applying pressure to the free end of this handle and the free end of the associated gripping arm the associated strip-like projection is elastically so deformed that its turned-up edge comes out of locking engagement with the turned-up edge on the second strip-like projection and the two gripping arms can then be pivoted apart.

The free spacing between the gripping arms, when in the closed position, - and substantially bridged by the gripping projection or the gripping projections - is in a convenient further development determined by the length of a spacer section bent away from the shank section of one of the gripping arms, whereby optionally - the film hinge connects the end of this spacer section with the shank section of the other gripping arm.

The invention will be explained in more detail in the following description of two exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawings, in which; Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a first exemplary embodiment of the closure clip in accordance with the invention in the open and closed positions, respectively; and Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a second exemplary embodiment of the closure clip in accordance with the invention in the open and closed positions, respectively.

The closure clip, which is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and is designated as a whole as 1 0, is a one-piece injection moulded component of an elastically modified plastics material which is shown in Fig. 1 in the open state and in Fig. 2 in the closed state.

The closure clip 10 has two gripping arms 14 and 16 which are pivotally connected together by means of a film hinge 12 and of which the gripping arm 1 is formed by an elongate, substantially rectangular shank section 18 from whose flat side which is directed towards the other gripping arm 16 in the closed position a rib-like clamping projection 20 projects.

On the other hand, bent away from the gripping arm 16 at the lower end of the limb section 22 corresponding to the limb section 18 of the gripping arm 14 is a spacer section 24. The film hinge 12 connects the free end of the spacer section 24 with the shank section 18 of the gripping arm 14.

The height of the gripping projection 20 measured at right angles to the flat side of the shank section 18 corresponds approximately to the length of the spacer section 24 or is only slightly smaller than it.

Projecting from the inner surface of each gripping arm 14, 16 somewhat below the upper free edge are respective strip-shape projections 26, 28 which extend in the transverse direction and which at their free ends have a respective hook-shaped turned-up edge 30, 32 in opposite senses. The length of the projections 26, 28, measured at right angles from the flat sides of the shaft sections 18, 22 of the gripping arm 16 is so selected that the turned-up edges 30, 32 in the closed position illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the shank sections 18, 22 extend approximately parallel, are hooked together, i.e. are in locking engagement and thus prevent pivoting apart of the gripping arms 14, 16 into the open position shown in Fig. 1.

Projecting from the upper flat side of the strip-like projection 26 is a transversely extending handle 34 which serves as an unlocking lever. If opposed forces are exerted with the thumb and the index finger on the free end of this unlocking lever 34 and the projecting upper end of the shank section 18 of the gripping arm 14, the strip-shape projection 26 bends elastically so that the turned-up edge 30 formed at its free end is freed from the locking engagement with the turned-up edge 32 and the gripping arms can then be pivoted apart, for which purpose the person operating the closure clip 10 pulls the upper free end of the gripping arm 16 away from the gripping arm 14 with his second hand.

The closure clip 1 1 0 shown in Figures 3 and 4 substantially corresponds to the closure clip 10 described above so that it will be sufficient to describe in detail below only the modifications which have been effected and reference can be made to the preceding description of Figures 1 and 2 for the constructional features which are the same, particularly as the same components of both closure clips are associated with the same reference numerals in the drawings though in the case of those associated with the closure clip 110 they are preceded by a '1' to distinguish from the closure clip 10.

A substantial difference between the two closure clips resides in that instead of the strip-like gripping projection 20 projecting from the shank section 18 and substantially bridging the free spacing between the limb sections 18, 22, in the closure clip 110 gripping projections 120a and 120b, respectively, of half the height project from the inner surfaces of the two shank sections 118 and 122, which projections are dimensioned to have a breadth greater than the rib-like gripping projection 20 which, however, are divided into two respective gripping projection sections 121a, 121b by a respective recess 21 which tapers in a V-shaped manner and extends from the free gripping edge of the respective gripping projection 120a, 120b substantially to the flat side of the respective limb section 118, 122. It is thus possible for the shank sections to be able to bend elastically outwards if, - for instance in the case of a relatively large bag - the material to be compressed between the gripping projections in the closed position is relatively thick. Such an elastic arching of the shank sections 118, 122 is not impeded by the aforementioned V-shape of the recesses 21.

A further modification of the closure clip 110 resides in that the shank section 122 projects downwardly beyond the spacer section 124, which is bent away at right angles, and thus performs a handle 123 which facilitates the opening of the clip 110 after it has been unlocked by pressure on the handle 134 and the upper free edge of the shank section 122.

Claims (12)

1. . Closure clip of elastic plastics material for closing plastic bags for packaging purposes and the like including two gripping arms which are pivotally connected together in the vicinity of one of their ends and which are provided in the vicinity of their other end with locking elements movable into releasable locking engagement, characterised in that the gripping arms (14, 16; 114, 116) have respective limb sections (18, 22; 118, 122) which, in the closed position of the closure clip (10; 110), extend substantially parallel and spaced apart and that projecting from the flat side of at least one of the gripping arms directed towards the respective other gripping arm limb section (22, 18; 122, 118) there is a gripping projection (20; 120a, 120b) whose height measured from the associated limb section is so selected that the free gap between the limb sections (18, 22; 118, 122) in the closed position is at least subtantially bridged by the clamping projection (20) or the clamping projections (120a, 120b).

2. Closure clip as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that projecting from the flat side of one limb section (18) there is a gripping projection (20) whose height is approximately the same as the free spacing between the limb sections (18, 22) of the gripping arms (14, 16), when in the closed position.

3. Closure clip as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that projecting from the flat side of the gripping arm limb sections (118, 122) there is a respective at least one clamping projection (120a, 120b) and that the height of the clamping projections (120a, 120b) is in each case approximately equal to half the free spacing between the gripping arm limb sections (118, 122).

4. Closure clip as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the gripping projection (120a, 120b) associated with each limb section (118, 122) is divided into at least two gripping projection sections (121a, 121b) by at least one recess (121) passing from the free gripping edge of the gripping projection substantially to the flat side of the respective limb section (118, 1 22) .

5. Closure clip as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that each respective recess (121) tapers in a ν'shape in the direction towards the flat side of the associated gripping arm limb section (118, 122).

6. Closure clip as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the gripping arms (14, 16; 114, 116) are pivotally connected by a film hinge (12; 112).

7. Closure clip as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the locking elements are constituted by strip-like projections (26, 28; 126, 128) projecting in the vicinity of the free ends of the gripping arms (14, 16; 114, 116) from their flat side directed towards the other gripping arm, the free edges of which projections are turned up in the manner of hooks in opposite senses.

8. Closure clip as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that formed on the strip-like projection (26; 126), whose free edge is turned up in the manner of a hook in the direction of the pivotal connection of the gripping arms (14, 16; 114, 116) there is a strip-like handle (34; 134) which is provided as an unlocking lever and whose free edge is directed away from the pivotal connection of the gripping arms (14, 16; 114, 116).

9. Closure clip as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 5 and Claim 6, characterised in that the free spacing present between the limb sections (18, 22; 118, 122) of the gripping arms (14, 16; 114, 116), when in the closed position, is determined by the length of a spacer section (24; 124) bent away from the shank section (22; 122) of one of the gripping arms (16; 116) and that the film hinge (12; 112) connects the end of this spacer section (24; 124) with the shank section (18; 118) of the other gripping arm (14; 114).

10. Closure clip as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the shank section (122), which is provided with the angled spacer section (124), is extended downwardly a bit beyond the spacer section such that the portion of the shank section (122) projecting beyond the spacer section forms a handle (123) for pivoting the gripping arms (114; 116) apart. -

11. 11. A closure clip substantially in accordance with either of the embodiments herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. The features described in the foregoing specification, or any obvious equivalent thereof, in any novel selection.