US2886932A

US2886932A - Tool for closing bags and the like

Info

Publication number: US2886932A
Application number: US733390A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin I Davis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-05-06
Filing date: 1958-05-06
Publication date: 1959-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 1976-05-19

Description

May 19, 1959 B. l. DAVIS TOOL FOR CLOSING BAGS AND THE LIKE Filed May 6, 1958 IILIIIIIIII .III wlllflmllng .uqnnuny IIII I IIIIIIII III-I I IIIIIIII INVENTOR. BENJAMIN DAlV/S Nun 2,886,932 Patented May 19, 1959 TOOL FOR CLOSING BAGS AND THE LIKE Benjamin 1. Davis, Ellendale, Tenn.

Application May 6, 1958, Serial No. 733,390

Claims. (Cl. 53-285) This invention relates to a tool adapted for use in closing bags and the like. More specifically, it relates to a tool for placing a band around the neck of a bag and the like.

This invention is particularly useful in placing a resilient band of rubber or the like around the neck of the wellknown plastic type of bags used in deep freezers and refrigerators. The present practice is to fold the neck of the bags and then secure by hand a rubber band around the neck thereof. As is well known to those who have tried placing rubber bands on the necks of these bags, it is a tedious and tiresome process-particularly, if the bag is nearly full, which makes the neck short and leaves very little room in which to work. After placing rubber bands on several of these bags, ones fingers become extremely tired, which makes the operation much more difficult.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a convenient tool for placing bands on the necks of bags and the like.

A further object is to provide such a tool which is simple in construction but highly efiicient.

A further object is to provide in such a tool means for, first, folding the neck of the bag over and thence tightly placing a rubber band over the folded neck.

A further object is to provide such a tool comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel slidably received in said outer barrel and having a portion extending forwardly beyond the forward end of said outer barrel for the reception of a rubber band thereon, plunger means slidably received in said inner barrel and including a hook extending outwardly beyond the forward end of said inner barrel for the reception of the neck of a bag, and an actuating arm for operating the tool to draw the neck of the bag into said inner barrel and thence to contact and slide said inner barrel rearwardly into a retracted position in said outer barrel whereby being effective to cause said outer barrel to push the rubber band off said inner barrel onto the neck of the bag.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction of tools for closing bags and the like.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the tool of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectionalized view of the tool taken as along a vertical plane through the longitudinal center line thereof and illustrating the tool ready for closing the neck of a bag, with a fragmentary portion only of the bag being shown.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the neck of the bag after being drawn into the inner barrel in an intermediate step in the operation of the device.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 and showing the completion of the closure operation after the rubber band has been pushed off onto the neck of the bag.

Referring, now, to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the tool 11 of the present invention includes an outer barrel 13 having a bore 15 extending axially thereof, which bore is closed at one end and open at the other. For purposes of clarity, the end of tool 11 adjacent the opening of bore 15, i.e., the end of the tool to the left as viewed in the figures, will hereinafter be designated the forward end; and the end of the tool to the right as viewed in the figures will be designated the rearward end. A butt 17 of the tool is provided adjacent the rearward end of barrel 13, which butt is preferably disposed perpendicular to the axis of barrel 13 and is adapted to be received in the palm of ones hand when operating the device, as will be hereinafter explained.

An inner barrel 19 is slidably received in close adjacency to outer barrel 13 in the bore thereof for movement between a forward or extended disposition best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and a rearward or retracted disposition best shown in Fig. 4. When in said extended disposition, a portion of the inner barrel, as at 21, extends forwardly past the forward end of outer barrel 13 in an exposed disposition whereby being adapted. to receive a rubber band 23 wrapped therearound, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be understood that rubber band 23 seen in these figures has been looped several times around portion 21, which accounts for the several cross-sectional portions thereof appearing in these figures. When in said retracted disposition, inner barrel 19 is disposed inside of outer barrel 13, as best seen in Fig. 4. Inner barrel 19 is provided with a bore 25 which opens adjacent the forward end of the inner barrel and is closed adjacent the rearward end thereof as by an end piece 27 having a hole 29 therein through which extends a screw 31, which screw is threadedly engaged in butt 17. A spring 33 is disposed in bore 15 around screw 31 and extends between end piece 27 and butt 17 to urge inner barrel 19 towards said extended disposition with the inner barrel being stopped in said extended disposition when endpiece 27 abuts the head 35 of screw 31.

An elongated plunger 37 is slidably received in the bore 25 of inner barrel 19 for movement between a forward or extended disposition best shown in Fig. 2 and a rearward or retracted disposition best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A hook 39 is fixedly mounted on plunger 37 adjacent the forward end thereof and extends forwardly therefrom. In said extended disposition of plunger 37, hook 39 is in a position exterior of inner barrel 19, i.e., an exposed position, so as to be adapted to be hooked around the neck of a bag, as best shown in Fig. 2. When plunger 37 is in said retracted disposition, book 39 is disposed inside of inner barrel 19.

Actuating means is provided for operating the device, which actuating means preferably comprises a rod 41 fixedly mounted in a vertical bore extending through plunger 37 with rod 41 extending upwardly and downwardly from the plunger.

Outer barrel 13 is provided with an upper slot 43 ex tending through the Wall of the outer barrel along a portion of the length thereof and adjacent the upper side thereof. Similarly, a lower slot 45 extends through the wall of outer barrel 13 along a portion of the length thereof and adjacent the lower side of the barrel. In a similar manner, inner barrel 19 is provided with an upper slot 47 and a lower slot 49.

Slots

43, 45, 47, and 49 are preferably in vertical alignment with one another. The upper portion of rod 41 extends upwardly through upper slots 43, 47 and therebeyond, and the lower portion of.

rod 41 extends downwardly through

lower slots

45, 49

and therebeyond. It will be understood that this disposi tion of rod 41 makes it possible for the user to place butt 3 same hand respectively positioned around the upper and lower parts of rod 41 for the actuation thereof. Slots 47, 49 are preferably shorter in length than slots 43, 45 and are arranged in

barrels

13, 19 so that the rearward ends of slots 47, 49 are positioned forwardly of the rearward ends of slots 43, 45 when the tool is in the position ready for use, shown in Pig. 2.

Tool 11 is used in the following manner: With inner barrel 19 disposed in said extended disposition, a rubber band 23 is looped around portion 21. This may be done with plunger 37 in either the extended or retracted disposition, but it will be understood that it is, easier to place the rubber band around portion 21 with the plunger retracted. This retraction may be accomplished by moving rod 41 rearwardly until it is engaged with the rearward end of slots 47, 49. After the rubber band is placed on portion 21 as above described, plunger 37 is extended by moving rod 41 forwardly and then hook39 is hooked around the neck 5.1 of a bag 53 as best shown in Fig. 2, which neck is preferably twisted. With tool 11 held as previously described with the fingers on rod 41 and butt 17 in the palm of the hand, rod 41 is pulled rearwardly, whereupon hook 359 pulls the neck of the bag into inner barrel 1 .9 in a folded disposition as best shown in Fig. 3. In this position it will be seen rod 41 has contacted inner barrel 19 adjacent the rearward end of slots 47, 49. Continued rearward movement of rod 41 urges the inner barrel and plunger 37 rearwardly together whereupon the forward end of outer barrel 13 pushes rubber band 23 oif onto the neck of the bag, as best shown in Fig. 4. Plunger 37 may then be extended so as to remove hook 39 from the bag.

It will be understood that hook 39 may be omitted without departing from tne spirit and scope of the present invention. In other words, the folding operation may be accomplished by hand and the folded neck stuffed into the bore of inner barrel 19 for subsequent placing of the rubber band thereon in accordance with the previously described operation. However, by including hook 39, a much more convenient and efficient device is provided.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that tool 11 of the present invention is a very handy and useful device, whereby bands may be placed on the neck of bags very quickly and easily. Furthermore, when the bags are almost full, the present tool can be used to accomplish this closure whereas many times it would be practically impossible by hand due to the short neck of the bag.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A tool for placing a band around the neck of a bag and the like comprising an outer barrel having rearward and forward ends, an inner barrel slidably received in said outer barrel and having a portion extending forward- 1y beyond the forward end of said outer barrel for the reception of a band thereon, plunger means slidably received in said inner barrel and including a hook extending forwardly beyond the forward end of said inner barrel for the reception of the neck of a bag, an actuating arm mounted on said plunger and extending outwardly therefrom, each of said inner and outer barrels being provided with a slot, said actuating arm extending through, the slots in said inner and outer barrels, said actuating arm being disposed in a forward disposition and being movable rear wardly first to slide said plunger means rearwardly for drawing the neck of the bag into said inner barrel in a folded disposition and thence to contact and slide said inner barrel rearwardly into a retracted disposition in said outer barrel whereby being effective to cause said outer assaaaa barrel to push the band off of said inner barrel onto the neck of the bag.

2. A tool for placing a band around the neck of a bag and the like comprising an outer barrel having rearward and forward ends, an inner barrel slidably received in said outer barrel and having a portion extending forwardly beyond the forward end of said outer barrel for the reception of a band thereon, plunger means slidably received in said inner barrel and including a hook extending forwardly beyond the forward end of said inner barrel for the reception of the neck of a bag, actuating means for actuating said plunger and said inner barrel, said actuating means being effective first to slide said plunger means rearwardly for drawing the neck of the bag into said inner barrel in a folded disposition and thence to contact and slide said inner barrel rearwardly into a retracted disposition in said outer barrel whereby causing said outer barrel to push the band off of said inner barrel onto the neck of the bag.

3. A tool for placing. a band around the neck of a bag and the like comprising an outer barrel having rearward and forward ends, an inner barrel slidably received in said outer barrel and having a portion extending forwardly beyond the forward end of said outer barrel for the reception of a band thereon, said inner barrel being provided with a bore opening adjacent the forward end of the inner barrel for the reception of the neck of a bag, actuating means for actuating said inner barrel to slide said inner barrel rearwardly into a retracted disposition in said outer barrel, when in said retracted disposition said inner barrel being positioned with the forward portion thereof being substantially entirely within said outer barrel whereby causing said outer barrel to push the band off of said inner barrel onto the neck of the bag when said inner barrel is caused to slide rearwardly into said retracted disposition.

4. A tool for placing a band around the neck of a bag and the like comprising an outer barrel having rearward and forward ends, an inner barrel slidably received in said outer barrel and having a portion extending forwardly beyond the forward end of said outer barrel for the reception of a band thereon, said inner barrel being provided with a bore opening adjacent the forward end of the inner barrel, plunger means slidably received in said inner barrel, an actuating arm mounted on said plunger and extending outwardly therefrom, each of said inner and outer barrels being provided with a slot, said actuating arm extending through the slots in said inner and outer barrels, said actuating arm being disposed in a forward disposition and being movable rearwardly first to slide said plunger means rearwardly for providing room for inserting the neck of the bag into the bore of said inner barrel and thence to contact and slide said inner barrel rearwardly into a retracted disposition in said outer barrel whereby being effective to cause said outer barrel to push the band off of said inner barrel onto the neck of the bag.

5. A tool for placing a band around the neck of a bag and the like comprising an outer barrel having rearward and forward ends, a butt provided adjacent the rearward end of said outer barrel for resting in the palm of a persons hand when using the tool, an inner barrel slidably received in said outer barrel for movement between a forward disposition and a rearward disposition, means for urging said inner barrel into said forward disposition, when in said forward disposition said inner barrel extending forwardly beyond the forward end of said outer barrel to provide an exposed portion for the reception of a band therearound, when in said rearward disposition said inner barrel being retracted in said outer barrel,plunger means including a hook adjacent the forward end thereof, said plunger means being slidably received in said inner barrel for movement between a forward disposition and'a rearward disposition, when in said forward disposition said plunger being disposed with said hook extending forwardly from said inner barrel for the reception of the neck of a bag in the hook, when in said rearward disposition said plunger being disposed with said hook retracted in said inner barrel, an actuating arm mounted on said plunger and extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions, each of said inner and outer barrels being provided with a pair of slots adjacent the upper and lower sides thereof and in vertical alignment with one another, the pair of slots in said outer barrel being longer than the pair of slots in said inner barrel and terminating rearwardly of the pair of slots in said inner barrel, said actuating arm extending through the pairs of slots in said inner and outer barrels and outwardly in opposite directions beyond said outer barrel for engagement by the fingers of a person using the tool 16 6 whereby being adapted to be drawn rearwardly towards said butt to carry said plunger rearwardly therewith, rearward movement of said actuating arm from a position in which said plunger is in said forward disposition being efiective first to draw the neck of the bag into said inner barrel in a folded disposition and thence to contact and slide said inner barrel rearwardly into the rearward disposition thereof whereby being effective to cause said outer barrel to push the band off of said 10 inner barrel onto the neck of the bag.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,169,775 Cornwall Feb. 1, 1916