US2058158A - Pouch - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1936.

w. KOELLER POUCH Filed Oct. 26, 1934 Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES. -1,

POUCH Walter P. Koeller, Chicago; Ill., assignor .to' f Pres-To-Fill Products Company, a corporation of Illinois Chicago, 111.,

Application October 26, 1934,sfi J 1 V e 3 Claims. (Cl. -40) v The present invention relates to a self-closing, refillable pouch or envelope suitable for storing and dispensing powdered and granular materials.

Included in the objects of the invention, among others, are the provision of the following: i

An unique structure suitable for pocket 'or purse use having openings, one to receive a material and the other to dispense such material;

An improved construction for a flexible pouch or envelope having a dispensing part that is spring closed; I

A container or envelope possessing a discharge or dispensing opening that will be closed at-all times that it is not forcibly held openfand A novel combination of flexible material and spring means for producing a self closing aperture in a material containing pouch or the like. These objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, are obtained by the novel construction, improved arrangement, and unique combination of the several elements that consti tute the invention, one embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying single sheet of drawings hereby made a part of this specification, and inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pouch embodying the subject matter of the present invention;

' Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on' the line 22 of Figure .1;

Figure 3 is a. fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the dispensing end of the pouch when in closed position; and

Figure 5 is a similar view of the end' of the device when open for dispensing purposes.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the drawing and in the description of the invention that follows.

The pouch illustrated comprises flat parallel side members l0 and I of substantially the same size and pattern. The sides I0 and II may be integral if the pouch is made of rubber or any other moldable material. When other materials are used, these may be stitched together at their edges. The pouch illustrated is of rubber with the sides l0 and II integral at their edges, the outer faces of sides l0 and H being molded to imitate the grain of leather. The edges of sides It] and II simulate stitching.

The pouch may be said to comprise .a substantially coniform tube that has been flattened, the lower or discharge end of the tube being narrower than the upper or receiving end.

Each of the side members Ill and II has an upwardly extending arcuate flap, I2 and I3. The

fitting into pockets f8 and-l9'just'described and flap [2. on side I0. isturned downwardly over the contents of the pouch. The outermost. flap 13 on side II is pulled; over the innermost flap l2 and fastened in, closed position by a snap fastener, the base |4 of which is, secured to side l0 and =5 the snap part l5 of which'is attached to flap 43. The pouch illustrated in Figure 1 is satisfactory for pocket use and is adapted to be charged with tobacco, but theinvention is in no way limited to a pouchofthe shape illustrated or to one for holding tobacco. Face powder, tooth powder, and a number of otheritems may be stored in and dispensed from other styles andflsizes of pouches made in accord with the present inven tion. I At the lower end of the pouch, there is a narrow slot [6 that extends approximately halfway across the lower end ll of the pouch and which isv centered in respect to the opposed edges and the, opposed faces of the pouch. Theslit I1 is parallel tothe outer facesv of sides l0 and of the pouch. i r l o At the interior corners of the lower end of the pouch. are relatively deep pockets l8 and I9, best illustrated in Figure 3. Seated in the pockets and "secured therein by suitable cement 20 are the ends of a metal spring 2| of U-shape. 'springjl comprises a closed end 22 .and two'legs 23 and* 24;fthe'-free"ends of the legs 23-and 24 being secured against displacement therefrom by adhesive 20.

The spring 2| is of fiat resilient stock. Its closed section 22 is formed with the flat faces of the spring extending transversely of the pouch from side ID to side Each of the legs 23 and 24 preferably is formed with one edge of the fiat material in alignment with a lateral edge of the pouch. The spring 2| is so shaped that when pressure is applied to the legs 23 and 24 which are slightly turned in adjacent the lower end of the pouch, the legs of the spring will be forced inwardly in a uniform manner with their outer edges in substantial parallelism and thus insure a symmetrical opening of the slot or slit I6. Such an arrangement also insures that the metal of the spring 2| will not bite into the material of the pouch unevenly at any one or more points along the line of spring contact with the material forming the lateral edges of the pouch.

The spring 2| and the pouch material engaged thereby are in contact but a limited length of the legs 23 and 24. This limited contact is for the purpose of preventing the pouch from being opened unless it is grasped closely adjacent its 5 extreme end I7. A pressing of the spring at points remote from end I'I will not force the ends of the spring together to spread the sides I and II apart at slit I6. The twisting of the spring adds to its strength and produces a slight separation between the sides I0 and II.

The lower end or discharge end of the pouch is normally closed by the tension of the spring 2I. Such tension tends to stretch the bottom of the pouch and thus draws the sides I0 and II together at end I'I. With the pouch closed at its lower end, tobacco or other material is loaded into the pouch through the wide mouth thereof obtained by separating the clasp fastener I4 and I and spreading the two flaps I2 and I3 upwardly into a funnel shape. After sufl'icient tobacco has been loaded in the pouch, the flap I2 is turned inwardly and downwardly and the outer flap is then drawn thereover. The fastener parts I4 and I5 are snapped into position. The pouch is then ready for use. It may be carried in the pocket in the case of tobacco and in the purse in the case of face powder.

For use, the pouch is grasped adjacent its lower end I'I, generally between the palm of the hand and one or more fingers, or by the thumb and fingers. The ends of the spring 2| are pressed inwardly. This produces a symmetrical opening of the slit I6 from its closed position illustrated in Figure 4 to its open position shown in Figure 5.

The opening of the pouch permits a free discharge of the contents of the pouch. The rate of fiow will be determined by the size of the opening, and the size of the opening is regulated by the pressure upon the spring ends. To arrest the flow of material from the pouch, the pressure upon the spring is reduced to a minimum and the slit or slot I 6 automatically closes. The shape and size of the aperture in the illustrated embodiment of the invention is such that the opening fits readily over a pipe bowl so that tobacco may be poured into such pipe without any loss by spilling. For face powder or other materials, the slit may be much smaller and the entire pouch may be of reduced size.

The spring 2| may be of any suitable metal and may be plated with a material which is not affected by the contents of the pouch. Such platings as cadmium, nickel and chromium have their particular utilities.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A pouch comprising a flattened tube of elastic material having a large top end and a small bottom end having a slit therein, closing flaps at the top end, moulded spring retaining pockets at each side of the slit in the bottom end, and a U-shaped spring of strap material within the pouch and having its ends cemented into said pockets, the legs of the spring being in contact with the insides of the edges of said flattened tube above said pockets, and such slit being openable upon compression of the legs of said spring inwardly.

2. A pouch comprising a flattened tube of elastic material having a large open top end and a small bottom end having a slit therein, overlapping closing flaps at the top end, fastening means for said flaps, moulded spring retaining pockets at each side of the slit in the bottom end, and a U-shaped spring of strap material having its closed end twisted to an angle with its legs, said spring having the ends of its legs cemented into said pockets, said legs being in contact with the insides of the'edges of said flattened tube for a short distance above the bottom end thereof, said spring maintaining such slit in closed position, and such slit being openable by pressing the edges of said flattened tube inwardly against the resistance of said spring.

3. A pouch comprising a flattened tube of elastic material having a large open top end and a small bottom end having a slit therein and having roughly parallel edgesextending a short distance above the bottom, overlapping closing flaps for the top end, moulded spring retaining pockets at each side of the slit in the bottom end, and a flat U-shaped spring having its legs twisted into a a. common plane for a distance above the ends greater than the length of such parallel edges, theends of said legs being cemented into said pockets, and the twisted portions of said legs being in contact with the insides of said roughly parallel edges, said spring maintaining such slit in closed position and being compressible to open such slit.

WALTER P. KOELLER.

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