US2314252A - Device for closing and carrying containers - Google Patents

Description

March l6, 1943; J. F. SPRINGBORN 2,314,252

. DEVICE FOR CLOSING AND CARRYING CONTAINERS Filed April 2, 1941 (10 b INVENTOR 6. Jivhn Frank/[n Spr/nyborn Patented Mar. 16, 1943 DEVICE FOR CLOSING AND CARRYING CONTAINERS John Franklin Springborn, Wellsburg, W. Va., as-

signor of one-half to Hammond Bag & Paper Company, Wellsburg, W. Va.,

West Virginia a'corporation of Application April 2, 1941, Serial No. 386,509 9 Claims. (01. 294-1) This invention in general is applicable to a device for closing and carrying a container. The structure is formed from a single piece of resilient material, for example, spring wire, so fashioned as to provide a device which is readily attached to and detached from a container and which, when attached, not only closes the end of the container but also serves as a handle for carrying it.

It is common practice to close the ends of a bag-like container by a tie wire twisted around the gathered material which forms the mouth of the bag. Such a practice has its advantages but also its disadvantages, amongst which are that it is not feasible to disengage the tie so that the bag end can be opened to permit inspection of the bag contents and then be readily closed by use of the same tie. Nor does such a fastener provide a handle for carrying the bag and, furthermore, the security of the tie depends on its initial application.

I have invented a device which overcomes these disadvantages. The combined fastener and handle made and applied according to my invention can readily be placed in position around the gathered end of the bag to firmly close the end of the bag and grip the material forming the end more tightly when the bag is lifted since'the greater the weight of the container and contents the tighter the end is gripped. My device also forms a more convenient carrying handle.

It is well-known that a slip noose is a con.- venient and secure arrangement for tying one object to another, and particularly is this true when an object is to be suspended, as the weight of the suspended object insures a tight connection. My invention makes use of the holding powers of a noose while the material from which a noose is made may be fairly stiff and resilient. The device is simple in construction, very economical to manufacture, simple to apply or disengage, and provides a very satisfactory means for handling and carrying a container with which it is used.

One of the objects of my, invention is to make a slip noose structure out of resilient or semirigid material, or out of a piece of steel spring wire. Another object is to use such a slip noose in connection with a convenient carrying handle.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like numerals show similar parts, I have shown for purposes of illustration only certain present preferred embodiments of my invention. In the drawing-- Figure 1 is a plan view of a fastener and handle device ready for application to a container;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the device applied to a bag to close the mouth thereof;

Figure 3 is a plan view along the line ILL-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view showing a modified fastener and handle device;

Figure 5 is a plan view showing another modified fastener and handle device; and

V Figure 6 is a view of the modification shown in Figure 5, but showing the device unhooked and slightly tilted.

The combined closure fastener and handle illustrated inFigures l, 2 and 3 may be conveniently'made from a continuous piece of resilient material, such as spring wire of suitable length. The wire is bent to form a straight portion or handle Ill, and two arms H and I2, disposed respectively on opposite sides of the handle The arm 12 extends substantially straight for a distance and is then curved to form a noose portion or loop 13. The end of the arm is bent back on itself to form a hook Hi. The other arm H, which I prefer to extend from the handle in a fairly gradual bend, extends to the arm i2 and is bent back on itself to form an elongated eye 15 which embraces the arm 12. The end of the arm ll passes inside the handle side of the arm and across and over it, and terminates in the point It. The point It will engage the bag material when the bag is lifted and help to prevent relative movement between the bag and the noose.

In using my device I first gather the material adjacent the top of the bag B, after which the arm II and the noose portion 13, in the open position shown in Figure 1, is manipulated to embrace the gather. The hook I4 is then ongaged with arm H as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The resiliency of the wire will cause the device to closely embrace the gathered bag end. The bag can then be lifted by the handle 10.

In Figure 4 I have shown a modification in which a portion of the arm I la is shaped to form a ratchet H which will allow the hook Mo to slide in one direction, to the right, but will prevent sliding movement in the opposite direction along th arm Ila. This arrangement permits the noose l3a to be forced into very close engagement with the bag gather and to be locked. against loosening. The noose can readily be disengaged by unhooking the hook Ma. It will be observed that the arm end Mia and the end of a hook Ma extend into the noose a short distance portion l0.

to provide points for engagement with the bag material in the noose, and this enhances the anti-slip properties of the device.

The modified device illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 differs from that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 in that the end of the arm lib terminates in a shepherds crook, and the end of the hook Mb is bent sharply to extend into the noose.

It is realized that the present invention may be embodied and practiced in constructions other than those specifically disclosed herein and therefore the disclosures are to be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An article of the class described comprising a handl formed from a piece of' resilient wire with extending portions, the portions of wire extending from the opposite ends of the handle being formed into a slip noose, the distal end of one of the noose-forming portions of the wire being shaped for detachably sliding engagement in one direction only with one of the noose-forming portions of the wire.

2. A combined closur fastener and handle formed from a piece of spring wire bent to form a handle and a noose, each of the ends of the wire forming the noose having a hooked portion to engage a relatively straight portion of the other end of the wire.

3. A combined closure fastener and handle formed from a piece of spring wire bent to form a handle and a noose, one of the ends of the wire forming the noose having a hooked portion to engage a portion of the other end, the last named portion having means thereon to permit sliding of the hooked portion in only one direction therealong.

4. A combined closure fastener and handle formed from one piece of resilient material bent to form a handle with extending arms, one arm of the handle extending through a hooked end of the other arm, and: bent to form a loop, the end of the loop having a hook and being slidably engaged with the first mentioned arm in such,

manner that sliding can take place in one direction only.

5. A combined closure fastener and handle formed from one piece of resilient material bent to form a handle with extending arms, one arm of the handle extending through a hooked end of the other arm, and bent to form a loop, the end of the loop having a hook which slidably engages the first-mentioned arm, the extreme end of at least one arm being inclined inwardly to- Ward the second loop in such manner that sliding can take place in one direction only.

6. An article of the class described formed from one piece of resilient wire, comprising a handle, two arms extending from opposite ends of the handle, the end of each arm being formed to embrace the other arm and form a slip-noose, both arms being shaped to permit the sliding thereon of said arm-embracing ends, whereby both or the noose-forming portions of said arms become shorter as the noose is tightened.

7. An article of the class described formed from one piece of resilient Wire, comprising a handle, two arms extending from opposite ends of the handle, the end of each arm terminating in a hook which slidably engages the other arm, the portions of the arms between the hooks forming a slip noose and both of such nooseforming portions of the arms decreasing inlength when the noose is tightened, the end of one of said hooks facing into the noose.

8. A combined closure fastener and handle formed from one piece of resilient material bent to form a handle with extending arms, one arm extending through and having a sliding engagement with a hooked end of the second arm, the end portion of said first mentioned arm being bent to form a loop, the end of the loop having a hook thereon which slidably-engages the second arm to form a slip-noose, both of the nooseforming portions of said arms decreasing in length when the noose is tightened.

9. A combined closure fastener and handle formed from one piece of resilient material bent to form a handle with extending arms, one arm extending through and having a sliding engagement with a hooked end of the second arm, the end portion of said first mentioned arm being bent to form a loop, the end of the loop having a hook thereon which slidably engages the second arm, said second arm having a portion thereof shaped as to permit sliding of a hook therealong in one direction only.

JOHN FRANKLIN SPRINGBORN.

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