US20160318665A1

US20160318665A1 - Cloth bag with attached elastic closure loop

Info

Publication number: US20160318665A1
Application number: US15/143,584
Authority: US
Inventors: Sheila Springer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-05-02
Filing date: 2016-05-01
Publication date: 2016-11-03

Abstract

A cloth bag with a new integrated closing method by attached elastic closure loop which allows simple and secure closure without knots or ties and yet when open allows access to contents unimpaired to the limit of the bag's opening size. The bag can be made from many types of materials to be compatible with our needs. The elastic closure loop lengths and strengths can also be adjusted to create different degrees of security of the bag closure from tight to loose.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application relates and claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/156,211 filed on May 2, 2015.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cloth bag with attached elastic closure loop.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cloth bags exist that have integrated closing mechanisms. Examples include: A. Cloth bags with integrated drawstring closures which require extraction of the drawing string from the track around the bag opening and then manual knotting or tying to create the closure. Release of the bag opening is accomplished by untying the string and drawing it back into it's track around the bag. B. Cloth bags exist with enclosed elastic around the opening with tightness of the resulting closure determined by the elastic length and strength. Opening the bag with an elasticized opening requires pressure to be applied against the dynamics of the elastic closure to create access to contents. The cloth bag with attached elastic closure loop allows the externally attached elastic loop to be wrapped or wound back around the bag opening to close or seal it. It does not require drawing the elastic out of a track created in the bag materials such as a drawstring. When the closure is not in use, the bag opening is unimpaired to the limit of the opening size yet the bag closure mechanism (attached elastic loop) is still attached, protruding outside the bag from a seam.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a cloth bag with a new integrated closing method, the externally protruding attached elastic loop, which allows simple and secure closure without knots or ties and yet when open allows access to contents unimpaired to the limit of the bag's opening size.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions:

FIG. 1 is to show the bag consists of a cloth bag and elastic closure loop.

FIG. 2 is to show the elastic closure loop attached on the seam of the cloth bag and sowed between the two layers of the cloth bag.

FIG. 3 the steps should be followed by anyone to use the cloth bag with attached elastic closure loop to contain any item or items inside the cloth bag.

FIG. 3A the first step to use the cloth bag with attached elastic closure loop to contain any item or items inside the cloth bag.

FIG. 3B the second step to use the cloth bag with attached elastic closure loop to contain any item or items inside the cloth bag.

FIG. 3C the third step to use the cloth bag with attached elastic closure loop to contain any item or items inside the cloth bag.

FIG. 3D the fourth step to use the cloth bag with attached elastic closure loop to contain any item or items inside the cloth bag.

FIG. 4 the other uses or applications for the cloth bag of the present Invention and the way to close the opening bag.

FIG. 4A an example of the other uses or applications for the cloth bag of the present Invention in the open position.

FIG. 4B an example of the other uses or applications for the cloth bag of the present Invention in the close position after used a way to close the opening bag.

FIG. 5 the other uses or applications for the cloth bag of the present Invention and the way to close the opening bag.

FIG. 5A an example of the other uses or applications for the cloth bag of the present Invention in the open position.

FIG. 5B an example of the other uses or applications for the cloth bag of the present Invention in the close position after used a way to close the opening bag.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention parts, reference is now made to the following descriptions:

1—Cloth bag.
2—Elastic closure loop.
3—Seam of the cloth bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.
The present invention made and consists of a cloth bag 1 and elastic closure loop 2 attached on the seam of the cloth bag 3 and sewed between the two layers of the cloth bag 2 as shown in FIG. 2, the cloth bag 2 with attached elastic closure loop 2 has an attached closing mechanism which allows closure of the cloth bag 1 without need for an additional device or part. Unlike other integrated closing methods such as drawstrings or enclosed elastic around bag openings, the bag's closure mechanism is an elastic closure loop 2 which is attached to the cloth bag 1 and protrudes externally as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
The closure is accomplished by the elastic nature of the elastic closure loop 2 when placed around the bag opening. When not in use, the elastic closure loop 2 does not impede the cloth bag 1 opening as with elastic closure loop 2 which is fixed around the opening. When reopening the cloth bag 1 there is no friction of the drawing out of the cloth bag 1 or string from it's track made particularly difficult when the materials are wet or moist such as in food or gardening applications. The cloth bag 1 is equipped with an elastic closure loop 2 to provide an elastic closing mechanism by securing two ends of an elasticized material in a seam of the cloth bag 3 at or near the bag opening with the resulting loop of elastic material 2 remaining outside the bag 1 as shown in FIG. 2.
The bag is closed by pulling the elastic closure loop 2 back around the bag opening and releasing the elastic closure loop 2 to contract around the outside of the cloth bag 1 as shown in FIG. 3.
Bag materials can be varied to allow for various porosities for different applications such as for the passage of liquid through the bag, exposing the contents to the liquid such as for tea or wort while maintaining the bag contents inside the bag 1 via the attached elastic closure loop 2. Bag materials may also permit the escape of liquids or fine particle either by gravity or expression from the contents keeping wanted materials inside such as for cheese or nut milk making or other straining applications. Bag materials can also be made from tightly woven materials or treated fabrics which resist infiltration to contents by exterior intrusions such as insects or fluids or the escape of contents through the bag walls such as moisture or fine particles.
The elastic closure loop 2 lengths and strengths can also be adjusted to create different degrees of security of the bag closure from tight to loose. This variation can also allow for the bag 1 to be closed with one loop over the bag opening of the attached elastic closure loop 2 or allow it to be twisted and re-circled around the opening multiple times.
Referring to FIG. 3 these are the steps to follow for any person would use the cloth bag 1 with attached elastic closure loop 2 to contain any item or items inside the bag 1:
1. With the attached elastic loop 2 protruding as a loop outside the bag 1, place desired contents into the bag 1 through the bag opening 1 as shown in FIG. 3A.
2. Gather the bag 1 at the opening together and hold the attached elastic loop 2 as if to close it as shown in FIG. 3B.
3. Take the attached elastic closure loop 2 and pull it over the bag opening 1 to encircle the outside of gathered bag material as shown in FIG. 3C.
4. Release the attached elastic loop 2 and allow it to contract around the bag material thus closing the bag opening 1 as shown in FIG. 3D. Optionally the attached elastic loop 2 may be re-twisted and used to encircle the bag opening 1 more than once.
Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 there are other uses or applications for the cloth bag 1 of the present Invention. The cloth bag 1 with attached elastic closure loop 2 can be used for all content storage applications. It can be used where breathability or penetration of bag materials is preferred as well as having a simple and fast to employ attached closing loop such as for the storage, washing or transportation of fabrics, food or organic materials in a domestic or commercial environment. The bag 1 can be used in cooking where the contents and suitable bag material can be immersed in fluid permitting infusion of the surrounding liquid or preparation of the contained food item. Even when wet or moist the attached elastic closure loop 2 is easily disengaged from the closing position and the bag opening 1 becomes enlarged to bag size limits for removing bag contents.
The bag 1 with attached elastic closure loop 2 can be used for simple containment and transportation by utilizing various colors and prints of bag material and elastic loop colors and widths such as for gift wrapping or retail carry out. The closing mechanism does not require knots or bows to secure and when the loop is in the open position, protruding outside of the bag 1, the full extent of the bag opening can be used for contents loading or removal. Because the bag closure does not require the dexterity to draw a string and tie the closure, the bag 1 with attached elastic closure loop can be used by children with limited manual skills. The bag 1 with attached elastic closure loop can be used in any application where a drawstring bag has been used.
In all cases and applications of the bag 1 uses we can close the opening bag 1 as shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 5A by taking the attached elastic closure loop 2 and pull it over the bag opening 1 to encircle the outside of gathered bag material then release the elastic closure loop 2 and allow it to contract around the bag 1 thus closing the bag opening 1 or the elastic closure loop 2 may be re-twisted and used to encircle the bag opening 1 more than once as shown in FIG. 4B and FIG. 5B.

Claims

1. A bag comprising:

bag made from cloth or any other materials, the bag materials can be varied to allow for various porosities for different applications such as for the passage of liquid through the bag, exposing the contents to the liquid such as for tea or wort while maintaining the bag contents inside the bag via the attached elastic closure loop, the bag materials may also permit the escape of liquids or fine particle either by gravity or expression from the contents keeping wanted materials inside such as for cheese or nut milk making or other straining applications, bag materials can also be made from tightly woven materials or treated fabrics which resist infiltration to contents by exterior intrusions such as insects or fluids or the escape of contents through the bag walls such as moisture or fine particles; and

elastic closure loop attached on the seam of the bag and sewed between the two layers of the bag, the elastic closure loop lengths and strengths can be adjusted to create different degrees of security of the bag closure from tight to loose, this variation can also allow for the bag to be closed with one loop over the bag opening of the attached elastic closure loop or allow it to be twisted and re-circled around the opening multiple times.

2. A method to close the bag of claim 1 using an elastic closure loop comprising:

attached elastic closure loop has an attached closing mechanism which allows closure of the bag without need for an additional device or part, the closure is accomplished by the elastic nature of the elastic closure loop when placed around the bag opening, when not in use, the elastic closure loop does not impede the bag opening as with elastic closure loop which is fixed around the opening, when reopening the cloth bag there is no friction of the drawing out of the bag or string from it's track made particularly difficult when the bag materials are wet or moist such as in food or gardening applications, the bag is equipped with an elastic closure loop to provide an elastic closing mechanism by securing two ends of an elasticized material in a seam of the cloth bag at or near the bag opening with the resulting loop of elastic material remaining outside the bag, the bag is closed by pulling the elastic closure loop back around the bag opening and releasing the elastic closure loop to contract around the outside of the cloth bag.

3. A method according to claim 2 comprising the steps to close a bag using an elastic closure loop for any person would use the bag with attached elastic closure loop to contain any item or items inside the bag:

with the attached elastic loop protruding as a loop outside the bag, place desired contents into the bag through the bag opening;

gather the bag at the opening together and hold the attached elastic loop as if to close it;

take the attached elastic closure loop and pull it over the bag opening to encircle the outside of gathered bag material; and

release the attached elastic loop and allow it to contract around the bag material thus closing the bag opening, optionally the attached elastic loop may be re-twisted and used to encircle the bag opening more than once.

4. Applications and uses for the bag of claim 1 and method of claim 2 and claim 3 comprising:

the cloth bag with attached elastic closure loop can be used for all content storage applications, It can be used where breathability or penetration of bag materials is preferred as well as having a simple and fast to employ attached closing loop such as for the storage washing or transportation of fabrics, food or organic materials in a domestic or commercial environment the bag can be used in cooking where the contents and suitable bag material can be immersed in fluid permitting infusion of the surrounding liquid or preparation of the contained food item, even when wet or moist the attached elastic closure loop is easily disengaged from the closing position and the bag opening becomes enlarged to bag size limits for removing bag contents;

the bag with attached elastic closure loop can be used for simple containment and transportation by utilizing various colors and prints of bag material and elastic loop colors and widths such as for gift wrapping or retail carry out, the closing mechanism does not require knots or bows to secure and when the loop is in the open position, protruding outside of the bag, the full extent of the bag opening can be used for contents loading or removal, because the bag closure does not require the dexterity to draw a string and tie the closure;

the bag with attached elastic closure loop can be used by children with limited manual skills, the bag with attached elastic closure loop can be used in any application where a drawstring bag has been used; and

in all cases and applications of the bag uses we can close the opening bag by taking the attached elastic closure loop and pull it over the bag opening to encircle the outside of gathered bag material then release the elastic closure loop and allow it to contract around the bag thus closing the bag opening or the elastic closure loop may be re-twisted and used to encircle the bag opening more than once.