US3173184A

US3173184A - Shaped head top closure

Info

Publication number: US3173184A
Application number: US225267A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ausnit Steven
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-09-21
Filing date: 1962-09-21
Publication date: 1965-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1982-03-16
Also published as: GB1036454A

Description

March 16, 1965 s. AUSNIT SHAPED HEAD TOP CLOSURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1962 a r w w m 4 T r V m W w m BY i v 7 ATTORNEYS March I6, T965" s.Aus N|1' 3 3 SHAPED HEAD TOP CLOSURE Filed Sept. 21, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 16, 1965 s. AUSNIT 3,

SHAPED HEAD TOP CLOSURE Filed Sept. 21, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNE YS United States Patent 3,173,184 SHAPED HEAD TOP (ILGSURE Steven Ausnit, 124 E. 61st St., New York, N.Y. Fiied Sept. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 225,267 9 Claims. (Cl. 24-201) The present invention relates to improvements in a flex ble closure assembly and particularly to improved exible fastener strips having coaoting releasable pressure interlocking elements on their confronting surfaces, and to improved elements for separating the strips. The invention further relates to an improved slider for separating the strips when moved in one direction and for joining the strips when moved in another direction, and to a pouch incorporating the strips.

The invention contemplates providing a pair of plastic flexible closure strips each having a marginal portion with releasable pressure interlocking elements such as rib and groove elements extending therealong, with web portions attached to the marginal portions for attaching to the downwardly extending walls of a pouch or bag. Along the upper edges of the marginal portions are coextensive laterally projecting separating lugs arranged to have upwardly facing surfaces so that downwardly directed bending forces can be applied to the separating lugs to effectively help to separate the fastener strips and to cam open the interlocking elements in a bending action.

The invention further contemplates providing an integral one-piece formed slider movable along the flexible closure strips and having downwardly facing camming or bending surfaces engaging the upper surfaces of the lugs, having a central V-shaped separating element, having upwardly facing retaining surfaces riding beneath the lugs, having first laterally inwardly facing closing surfaces for engaging the outer surfaces of the lugs, and having short outwardly curved second closing surfaces engaging the strips beneath the lugs for pressing the strips together.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved flexible fastener strips with a slider wherein the strips are separated by a dual action being separated by spreading separating surfaces between the strips as well as by bending surfaces engaging the upper surfaces of separating lugs on the strips.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved flexible fastener strips provided with laterally extending separating lugs which act to help peel the strips apart for separation and also act as retainer guides for a slider on the strips thus avoiding the necessity of a slider which has deep sides engaging a substantial surface area of the strips.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved flexible fastener strips wherein the necessity of providing a slider with deep sides with holding means at the ends of the sides is avoided and wherein the unsatisfactory effects of a loaded bag in making movement of the slider more difficult are avoided, and an easily movable slider is made possible facilitating improved operation with a loaded bag.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved simplified slider structure.

Other objects, advantages and features will become more apparent with the teaching of the principles of the invention in connection with the disclosure of the preferred embodiments thereof, in the specification, claims and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of closure strips and a pouch embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating closure strips embodying the principles of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic end view illustrating the action of forces in helping separate the strips;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a slider constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line VV of FIGURE 4, illustrating the separating action of the slider on the strips;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VI-VI of FIGURE 4 illustrating the action of the closing end of the slider on the strips;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the slider;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of a pair of closure strips of modified structure;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a slider of a modified structure embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the slider of FIG- URE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line XIXI of FIGURE 10, and including the fastener strips, to show the action of the slider in separating the strips; and

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of another form of slider.

As shown on the drawings:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a pouch 10 with

walls

11 and 12 which may be termed front and back walls or side walls, and the walls are generally of a soft flexible plastic material such as polyethylene attached along their edges to form a closed pouch. At the upper edges of the walls are closure strips 13 and 14, FIGURES 1 and 2.

The closure strips 13 and 14 have

marginal portions

17 and 18 with releasable

pressure interlocking elements

15 and 16 thereon. These are shown in the form of rib and groove elements with the marginal portion'17 having hook-shaped rib elements 15 coactingly fitting into matingly shaped groove elements on the marginal portion 18. Similarly, the marginal portion 18 has hook-shaped rib elements 16 which coactingly and interlockingly fit into mating shaped groove elements on the marginal portion 17. These rib and groove elements are shaped so that laterally applied pressures will force them together to coactingly interlock, and they may be pulled apart for separating the strips.

Extending downwardly to attach to the pouch walls are web portions 19 and 213. The web portion 19 is integral with and extends below the marginal portion 17, and the web portion 20 is attached to the marginal portion 18 at its upper end by a lateral hinge portion 21 which is integral with the marginal and web portions. This hinge portion is located above the longitudinal centerline CL which is substantially at the center of the interlocking

elements

15 and 16 taken as a whole. By locating the hinge portion 21 at or above the centerline CL, when separating forces are applied to the marginal portions, such as is caused by the forces within a full bag, the marginal portions will tend to swing into alignment with the web portions as they are pulled apart so that the forces acting on the interlocking

elements

15 and 16 will act parallel to the marginal portions, or in other words, in a direction in which the interlocking hook-shaped rib and groove elements have their greatest strength. For this purpose, the hook-shaped elements 16, on the strip wherein the web portion 20 is connected to its marginal portion 18 by the hinge portion 21, point upwardly, or in other words, in the direction of the connection of the marginal portion to the web portion.

Suitable materials for manufacturing the closure strips 13 and 14 include the thermoplastic and thermosetting organic synthetic resins, and the strips are commonly transparent or translucent colorless plastic. Of particular importance for this use are thevinyl type resins such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloridepolyvinyl acetate copolyrners, and similar vinyl resins, and polyethylene. Rubber, either natural or synthetic, is not a preferred material since, in the case of rubber, it is more difficult to control the degree of rigidity for interlocking engagement between the strips. However, by proper compounding and vulcanizing the rubber, the degree of rigidity can be controlled to make rubber acceptable for purposes of the instant invention.

Along the upper edges of the

marginal portions

17 and 18, and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, are separating

lugs

22 and 23. These separating lugs extend laterally outwardly to present upwardly facing force receiving

bending surfaces

24 and 25. The lugs also have laterally outwardly facing surfaces 2s and 27, and downwardly facing surfaces 28 and As illustrated in FIGURE 3, forces F may be applied to the

upper surfaces

24 and 25 of the separating lugs, and this will cause them to bend downwardly and apply a bending or peeling separating force to the interlocking

elements

15 and 16. Since the

lugs

22 and 23 project laterally outwardly beyond the vertical plane of the

marginal portions

17 and 18, vertical parallel forces F will help separate the fastener strips peeling them apart as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

This force, that will help separate, peel and bend, may be applied by the slider shown in FIGURES 4 through 7.

As illustrated in FIGURES 4 through 7, the slider 33 is formed of one piece with the parts or elements being integral. The slider may be molded such as of hard plastic, or may be shaped or stamped such as of a single piece of metal, and for purposes of description the slider will be described as being bent and formed of metal.

The slider has an upper back 31 and the

sides

32 and 33 are substantially planar or flat at a closing end C of the slider and are inclined downwardly at an opening end of the slider.

Turned downwardly from the

sides

32 and 33 of the back are

sides

34 and 35, and from these sides the material of the slider is bent inwardly to form

bottom portions

36 and 37. Thus

channels

38 and 39 are formed on each side of the slider which receive the

lugs

22 and 23. The channels are bounded by the

top portions

32 and 33, the

side portions

34 and 35, and the

bottom portions

36 and 37. The top portions provide downwardly facing opening surfaces. The

side portions

34 and 35 provide inwardly facing closing surfaces, and the

bottom portions

36 and 37 provide upwardly facing closing surfaces.

Below the

bottom portions

36 and 37 are downwardly extending and outwardly

curved closing portions

40 and 41 which ride beneath the lugs on the strips and engage the outer surfaces of the strips.

The

side portions

34 and 35 taper inwardly or together from the opening end 0 to the closing end C of the slider, and the curved closing portions 49 and 41 similarly taper together from the opening end 0 to the closing end C of the slider.

The

bottom portions

36 and 37 of the side channels 38 and 3? serve as retainer surfaces and slide beneath the lugs on the strips holding the slider on the strips.

To aid in separating the strips, at the opening end 0 the back 31 is shaped with a V-shaped downwardly extending depression 42 which forms a separating finger.

Th channels

38 and 39 form a T slot shaped to apply a camming action by bending the

lugs

22 and 23 downwardly when the slider is moved in its opening direction to help separate the strips, and to apply a closing force to the strips when the slider is moved in its closing direction. These directions are illustrated and labelled by the arrowed lines shown in FIGURE 4. The channels of the T slot fitting around the fastener lugs also retain the slider on the strip. A tab or a manually grippable surface may be attached to the slider if desired for facilitating ease of handling.

The function of the slider in opening or separating the strips is illustrated in FIGURE 5. As the slider is moved in the opening direction, at the opening end of the slider the separating finger 42 will move between the strips tending to force them apart. The finger in effect aids in holding the sides of the. strip in the T slots at the side of the slider.

lso as the slider is moved in its opening direction, the

sides

32 and 33 of the back apply a downwardly directed force to the upper surfaces 24 and of the separating lugs. This tends to bend the strips apart disengaging the hook-shaped

ribs

15 and 16, as shown in FIGURE 5.

As the slider is moved in the closing direction, it applies closing forces to the strips as illustrated in FIG- URE 6.

The sides 34 and of the slider engage the side surfaces 26 and 27 of the closing lugs urging them together. The inn-er surfaces of the sides thus in effect form first closing surfaces. Similarly, the closing portions and 41 engage the outer side surfaces of the strips and force the strips together. The

bottom portions

36 and 37 of the

channels

38 and 39 will of course aid in the closing operation and will apply an upward force to the

undersurfaces

28 and 29 of the lugs. In effect, while each of the surfaces applies an individual opening or closing force, they act in concert of action with the T slot arrangement acting to close or open the strips depending upon the direction in which the slider is moved. The channels or

slots

38 and 39 are curved upwardly and together toward the closing end C of the slider, or in other words are curved downwardly and apart toward the opening end 0.

The short closing portions 49 and 41 are bent outwardly away from the strips so that only a small surface area engages the sides of the strips. This will permit the web portion 29 to bend or curve outwardly and the web portion 19 similarly to curve outwardly as occurs with a loaded bag. Even when the web portions and bag walls are thus pulled outwardly with a loaded bag, the slider does not bind and is not unduly held against sliding as can occur with sliders with straight sides. With the T slot arrangement, a slider with deep sides such as is necessitated to provide holding means at the ends, is avoided.

In summary, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, closure strips 13 and 14 are mounted at the top opening of a bag 10 and have laterally extending separating

lug

22 and 23 coextensive with the strips. The lugs provide an additional separating means operable by the application of downwardly applied forces which help bend or peel the strips apart. Coacting with the strips is a slider 30 shaped with a T slot having

side channels

38 and 39 which retain the slider on the strips and the slider applies a complex separating force to the strips when moved in an opening direction, and a complex closing force to the strips when moved in a closing direction.

FIGURE 8 illustrates another form of closure strips 50 and 51. The strips have marginal portions 52 and 53 respectively having releasable interlocking

elements

54 and 55, with the element 54 presenting an arrow shaped rib, and the element 55 presenting a cooperatively shaped groove.

Projecting laterally from each side of the marginal portions 52 and 53 are

flanges

58 and 59. Extending downwardly are

web portions

56 and 57 for attaching the strips to a bag or pouch.

FIGURES 9 through 11 illustrate a slider 60 for the strips 5% and 51 of FIGURE 8.

The slider 60 is formed of one piece of material such as metal, and has a closing end C and an opening end 0. The slider has a back portion 61 with integral downwardly extending bent shaped

sides

67 and 63 which are bent to provide channels 62 and 63. The sides are additionally turned inwardly and downwardly to provide lower portions 64 and 65 which aid in closing the strips, and which also aid in retaining the slider on the strips.

The slider in effect provides a T-shaped slot extending therethrough for receiving the T-shaped strips 50 and 51.

The

sides

67 and 68 are shaped so that the channels 62 and 63 turn downwardly at the opening end 0 of the slider so as to apply a bending force to the strip flanges to bendingly pry them apart and aid in separation of the strips, FIGURE 11.

The back portion 61 and the

sides

67 and 68 taper together toward the closing end C of the slider 60 for closing the strips and forcing together the interlocking

elements

54 and 55 when the slider is moved in a closing direction. The sides are bent inwardly and downwardly at 64 and 65 and these bottom portions also taper together toward the closing end to aid in joining the strips. The lower portions 6 and 65 of the sides also hold the slider on the strips engaging beneath the

lateral flanges

58 and 59.

At the center of the opening end of the slider 69, the back 61 is bent downwardly to form a V-shaped separator 66 which aids in bending the strips 50 and 51 laterally outwardly, as shown in FIGURE 11, and aids in separating the strips.

Centrally located at the opening end and extending downwardly is a separating finger 69. The finger is formed by being cut from one side of the back 61 and is integral with the material of the slider and bent downwardly therefrom, so that the side of the back 61 and the side 68 are shorter than the other side of the back and the side 67. This permits the finger to be formed integral with the material of the slider, and the finger presents longitudinally extending surfaces being strong in the longitudinal sliding direction of the slider.

The finger is shaped with a concave surface 70 which faces the arrow shaped interlocking rib portion 54. The

back side of the concave portion 70 projects into the groove interlocking element 55, tending to separate if, and the front concave side functions to pull the rib interlocking element 54 out of the groove element 55.

FIGURE 12 illustrates another form of slider 71, having a back portion 72 with integral downwardly bent side portions 73 and 74-. The side portions are shaped so as to form channels 75 and 76 on each side with the slider presenting a T-shaped slot for sliding on the strips 50 and 51.

The slider 71 of FIGURE 12 is a simplified form of the slider of FIGURE 9, with the back portion 72 being flat. A finger 77 is cut from one side of the back portion and from the side, and is turned downwardly intermediate the sides 73 and 74 and bent to form a jog presenting a concave surface 78 facing the bead shaped interlocking element 54. The finger thus projects into the groove 55, and withdraws the bead 54 from the groove as the slider is moved in an opening direction. The slider is formed from one piece of material and presents a simplified strong compact unit.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an improved flexible closure assembly which meets the objectives, advantages and features above set forth.

The drawings and specification present a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific forms disclosed, but covers all modifications, changes and alternative constructions and methods falling within the scope of the principles taught by the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A flexible closure assembly comprising, opposed flexible fastener strips each having a marginal portion and attached web portions for attaching to a wall extending downwardly below the marginal portions, said web portions extending parallel and in the same direction and with one of said web portions attached hingedly to its marignal portion at the upper part thereof,

said marginal portions extending parallel to each other and having facing coacting releasable pressure interlocking continuous rib and groove elements parallel to the strips on their lateral inner sides, continuous separating lugs coextensive with the marginal portions and projecting laterally from the lateral outer sides at the upper outer edges of the marginal portions so that bending forces can be applied in a direction toward the lower edges of the marginal portions to help pry them apart to separate the interlocking elements, and a strip separating slider mounted on the strips and movable therealong in an opening direction for applying a force to said separating lugs to pry apart the interlocking elements.

2. A flexible closure assembly comprising, opposed flexible fastener strips each having a marginal portion and attached web portions for attaching to a wall extending downwardly below the marginal portions,

said marginal portions extending parallel to each other and having facing coacting releasable pressure interlocking elements on their lateral inner sides, continuous separating lugs coextensive with the marginal portions and projecting laterally from the lateral outer sides at the upper outer edges of the marginal portions so that bending forces can be applied in a direction toward the lower edges of the marginal portions to pry them apart to help separate the interlocking elements, and a strip separating slider having a closing end and an opening end and mounted on the strips and movable therealong in an opening direction for separating the strips and in a closing direction for joining the strips,

said slider having a central V-shaped separating element with upwardly outwardly extending separating surfaces at the opening end engag ng the inner surfaces of the mar inal portions and tapering apart toward the opening end for separating the strips,

and having downwardly facing bending surfaces engaging the upper surfaces of the lugs and tapering downwardly toward the opening end of the slider for applying a bending separating force to the lugs,

and further having an upwardly facing retaining surface riding beneath the lugs for holding the slider on the strips.

3. A flexible closure assembly comprising, opposed flexible fastener strips each having a marginal portion and attached web portions for attaching to a Wall extending downwardly below the marginal portions,

said marginal portions extending parallel to each other and having facing coacting releasable pressure interlocking elements on their lateral inner sides, continuous separating lugs coextensive with the marginal portions and projecting laterally from the lateral outer sides at the upper outer edges of the marginal portions so that bending forces can be applied in a direction toward the lower edges of the marginal portions to pry them apart to separate the interlocking elements, and a strip separating slider having a closing end and an opening end and mounted on the strips and movable therealong in an opening direction for separating the strips and in a closing direction for joining the strips,

said slider having downwardly facing bending surfaces engaging the upper surfaces of the lugs and tapering downwardly toward the opening end for applying a bending separating force to the lugs, and having upwardly facing retaining surfaces riding beneath the lugs for holding the slider on the strips, and further having short closing surfaces extending below the retaining surfaces and curved outwardly for sliding along the outer surfaces of the strips beneath the lugs,

said closing surfaces tapering together toward the closing end of the slider to apply closing force for urging the pressure interlocking elements together.

4. A flexible closure assembly comprising, opposed flexible fastener strips each having a marginal portion and attached web portions for attaching to a wall extending downwardly below the marginal portions,

said marginal portions extending parallel to each other and having facing coacting releasable pressure interlocking elements on their lateral inner sides,

continuous separating lugs coextensive with the marginal portions and projecting laterally from the lateral outer sides at the upper outer edges of the marginal portions so that bending forces can be applied in a direction toward the lower edges of the marginal portions to pry them apart to separate the interlocking elements, and a strip separating slider having a closing end and an opening end and mounted on the strips and movable therealong in an opening direction for separating the strips and in a closing direction for joining the strips,

said slider having downwardly facing bending surfaces engaging the upper surfaces of the lugs and tapering downwardly toward the opening end of the slider for prying apart the marginal portions when moved in an opening direction.

5. A slider for operation on a flexible closure assembly having opposed flexible fastener strips with pressure interlocking marginal portions and web portions attached thereto for attaching to downwardly extending walls with the marginal portions having separating lugs extending continuously laterally outwardly from the upper edges of the marginal portions, said slider comprising,

a one-piece formed element having a closing end and an opening end and having a central V-shaped separating element with upwardly outwardly extending separating surfaces at the opening end engaging the inner surfaces of the marginal portions and tapering apart toward the opening end for separating the strips,

having downwardly facing bending surfaces engaging the upper surfaces of the lugs and tapering downwardly toward the opening end of the slider for applying a bending separating force to the lugs,

said separating element supported on said bending surfaces,

having upwardly facing retaining surfaces riding beneath the lugs for holding the slider on the strips,

having laterally inwardly facing first closing surfaces extending between the retaining surfaces and the bending surfaces and tapering inwardly toward the closing end of the slider,

and having short second closing surfaces extending below the retaining surfaces and curved outwardly for sliding along the outer surfaces of the strip beneath the lugs and tapering together toward the closing end of the slider.

6. A slider for operation on a flexible closureassembly having opposed flexible fastener strips with pressure interlocking marginal portions and web portions attached thereto for attaching to downwardly extending walls with separating lugs extending continuously laterally outwardly from the upper edges of the marginal portions, said slider comprising,

a formed element having downwardly facing bending surfaces engaging the upper surfaces of the lugs and tapering downwardly toward the opening end of the slider for applying a bending separating force to the lugs,

and having means for retaining the slider on the strips.

7. A flexible closure assembly comprising, opposed flexible fastener strips each having a marginal portion 8. and attached web portions for attaching to a wall extending downwardly below the marginal portions,

one of said marginal portions being hingedly attached to its web portion near the upper edge of the marginal portion,

said marginal portions extending parallel to each other and having facing coacting releasable pressure interlocking continuous rib and groove elements parallel to the strips on their lateral inner sides, and continuous separating lugs coextensive with the marginal portions and on the upper edges thereof and projecting laterally outwardly from the lateral outer sides at each one of the corresponding edges of the marginal portions and being structurally related to the marginal portions so that bending forces applied in a direction downwardly parallel to the marginal portions and toward the other edge of the marginal :portions will tend to pry them apart and separate the interlocking elements.

8. A flexible closure assembly comprising, opposed flexible fastener strips each having parallel facing marginal portions with interlocking rib and groove elements on lateral inner facing surfaces,

and each having a web portion with the web portions extending downwardly away from the marginal portions in the same direction,

one web portion attached to said marginal portion by a laterally extending hinge portion integral therewith and located above the longitudinal centerline of said rib and groove elements, and laterally outwardly extending separating lugs coextensive with each of the marginal portions and extending laterally outwardly from the lateral outer side along the upper outer edges thereof and being structurally related to the marginal portions so that parallel bending separating forces applied to the lugs parallel to the marginal portions and toward the other edges thereof tend to help separate the rib and groove elements.

9. A flexible closure assembly comprising, opposed flexible fastener strips having parallel upwardly extending web portions with marginal portions thereon having coacting pressure interlocking continuous rib and groove elements extending parallel to the strips for releasably joining the strips, one of said marginal portions hingedly attached to its web portion at the upper end of the marginal portion,

and separating lugs extending laterally outwardly from each of the strips at the outer sides at the upper edge of the marginal portions and being structurally related to the marginal portions so that applying a downward separating pressure to the lugs parallel to the marginal portions will separate the interlocking elements on the strips.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,144,755 1/39 Freedman. 2,775,012 12/59 Mulka 24205.1 2,780,261 2/57 Svec 1503 3,054,434 9/62 Ausnit 1503 FOREIGN PATENTS 319,200 2/ 5 7 Switzerland.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A FLEXIBLE CLOSURE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, OPPOSED FLEXIBLE FASTENER STRIPS EACH HAVING A MARGINAL PORTION AND ATTACHED WEB PORTIONS FOR ATTACHING T A WELL EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY BELOW THE MARGINAL PORTIONS, SAID WEB PORTIONS EXTENDING PARALLEL AND IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND WITH ONE SAID WEB PORTIONS ATTACHED HINGEDLY TO ITS MARGINAL PORTION AT THE UPPER PART THEREOF, SAID MARGINAL PORTIONS EXTENDING LARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND HAVING FACING COACTING RELEASABLE PRESSURE INTERLOCKING CONTINUOUS RIB AND GROOVE ELEMENTS PARALLEL TO THE STRIPS ON THEIR LATERAL INNER SIDES, CONTINUOUS SEPARATING LUGS COEXTENSIVE WITH THE MARGINAL PORTIONS AND PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM THE LATERAL OUTER SIDES AT THE UPPER OUTER EDGES OF THE MARGINAL PORTIONS SO THAT BENDING FORCES CAN BE APPLIED IN A DIRECTION TOWARD THE LOWER EDGES OF THE MARGINAL PORTIONS TO HELP PRY THEM APART TO SEPARATE THE INTERLOCKING ELEMENTS, AND A STRIP SEPARATING SLIDER MOUNTED ON THE STRIPS AND MOVABLE THEREALONAG IN AN OPENING DIRECTION FOR APPLYING A FORCE TO SAID SEPARATING LUGS TO PRY APART THE INTERLOCKING ELEMENTS.