WO2021124373A1

WO2021124373A1 - Closure by arches on parallel planes

Info

Publication number: WO2021124373A1
Application number: PCT/IT2020/050317
Authority: WO
Inventors: Corrado Padoan
Original assignee: Demilan.It S.R.L.
Priority date: 2019-12-19
Filing date: 2020-12-18
Publication date: 2021-06-24
Also published as: EP4100333A1; IT201900024856A1

Abstract

Device with stable opening and snap closure applied to the mouth, and integrated in the material (5, 6) of bags or similar containers, made up of at least one shaped element (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d,) preferably in the form of an arch or a similar shape, and at least one other element, with a shape that is essentially straight and flexible (3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 4c, 4e) whereby these elements are fit on pivots (1, la, lb, lc, Id, le) at their ends, in the preferred but not solely limited version made up of orthogonal extensions (1, lb, lc, Id) that prolong at least one of the two elements, as the shaped and the straight and flexible elements are located on different levels on substantially parallel planes, which are superimposed (instead of facing counterposed on the same plane), which avoids them pressing directly on each other, in the closed position.

Description

DESCRIPTION

The invention consists of a snap release device to obtain the stable opening and hermetic closure of bags and similar containers, as they consist of at least one shaped element (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n) preferably with an arch or a similar shape, and at least one other, with a shape that is essentially straight and flexible (3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3n, 4c, 4d), with at least one of these elements provided with loops (0) or similar details by means of which they are applied to pivots (1, la, lb, lc, Id, In) on which they can flex and slide in a position that can be adjusted between them.

The two elements are therefore positioned so they flex on planes that are essentially parallel, making it possible to determine their length without reciprocal limits, as exemplified in Figure C, in which segment 3c exceeds the profile of 2c.

These characteristics of freedom between the reciprocal positions and the respective dimensions, in the specific application of the opening of bags or similar containers, inside the cases made of leather or similar materials, making up the container of the bag, make it possible to obviate the limits of other similar devices known as of today. The existing devices are in fact designed invariably with the use of fixed closures that bind the two elements together, the arch shaped one and the flexible one, counterposed on the same single plane, for which the flexible element is still rigidly contained and limited by the size of the shaped one, which therefore excludes the possibility to adjust the position or the dimensional excursion.

This characteristic creates concrete problems starting from the manufacture of the bags whose material, synthetic leather, fabric or other similar fabrics, pinched between the two segments in the closed position and, furthermore, due to the fact that they almost always have an uneven thickness, generates obstructions in particular near the closures, creating an approximate closure and/or the need to adjust it, item by item, which is not very economical and to the complete detriment of industrial production.

The invention described here permits instead to obtain a simple and low-cost design, flexibility in the shape of the objects, easy application, precise and hermetic closures independently of the container material, based on which it can be constantly adapted.

The precision in the application is determined by the fact that the distance between the shaped and flexible element can be adjusted during assembly based on the thickness of the case and, as exemplified in the detail illustrated in Figure F, the flexible element (3) can press on its material (7), instead of directly on the shaped element as is the case for the existing devices, as it is possible to select the position and measurement of the length, thanks to the cited elements of mutual freedom of movement and design, the precursor to other design solutions.

The hermetic closure is accentuated by an additional feature that consists in giving the shaped element the form that, during the construction procedure, is not designed a priori and regardless of the straight flexible element rather, on the contrary, is determined precisely by the physiological curve that this element assumes, flexing as a result of the material, thickness and distance between the two ends.

In the case of harmonic steel, for example, a shape with a progressive curve, as clearly shown on the plan view in Figure Y.

Finally, the sliding structure on accessible pivots makes it possible to approach the manufacturing of the bag starting from the shaped element, as it is possible to insert the flexible element at a later, final phase and, with the further possibility to add other compartments (figures C and H) on the same shaped element.

In the drawings, in Table I, Figure A illustrates the basic scheme of the device, whereby at least one preferably arch-shaped element 2a and a substantially straight segment 3a are applied on the two pins la by means of loops 0 or similar details at their ends, flexible on a plane parallel to the shaped one being at least one of the two elements sliding (in this illustration the flexible element 3a is shown sliding) along the pivots, so as to allow adjustment between the respective reciprocal positions. Figure B illustrates the preferred, but not limiting, solution, for which the pivots lb are extensions that are substantially orthogonal to the plane on which the arch 2b lies, which with they integrate, on whose hinges the element 3b is fit, free to flex as well as slide, opening a variable gap (f, fl, in figures Bl, B2), as shown, to support the variation of the thickness of the bag material. Figure X shows the perspective view of the two fundamental elements of this preferred solution, and Y shows the plan view of segment 3 in a straight position, and then in the shape it assumes when flexed, according to which the shaped element 2 is adapted.

Elements illustrated in all cases in the three Tables, with rotation and translation on the pivots 1 by means of the loops 0. Table II, figure Z describes the characteristic of the invention that ensures greater flexibility as the flexible element 3 (contained in the flap of the edge 6) dimensioned, with respect to the shaped element 2 (contained in the flap of the edge 5), based on the thickness of the material 7 (leather or similar) of the container, vertically adjustable during manufacturing in order to press down on the material, whose flexibility is adapted by making use of its deformability, ensuring optimal adhesion, and therefore tightness. To better understand the functionality that is obtained, Table III and drawings F and G show the opening-closing (snap) sequence of the bag.

Returning to Table II, Figure C shows the shaped element 2c, whereby two flexible elements 3c and 4c are hinged on their extensions lc which make it possible to apply more flexible elements to the same shaped element, in order to add compartments, on a single shaped element, as shown in Table III, Figure H, in which the flexible element 4c is embedded in the pocket 8.

Table II also demonstrates the flexibility of the invention as shown in figure D, which shows the device overturned, therefore the flexible element 3d, whose length exceeds that of the shaped element 2d, to obtain the opening and closure of the backpack M, shown in Table III, whose dome, with the upper edge 9 containing the flexible element, being able to protrude over the compartment limited by the flap 10, embedded by the shaped element 2d, where Figure N shows the edge 9, with it 3d, pushed back to open the compartment of the backpack.

This detail is schematically emphasized by figure Ml in table IV.

Figure E shows the case in which the extensions le continue orthogonally to segment 2e, which do not contribute to opening and closing, which are instead ensured by two flexible elements 3e and 4e, which have the characteristics described, that permit lengths and the ability to adjust along the pins, whose shaped element, being oriented in another direction, provides only support, as can be seen in drawing L in Table III.

Claims

1. Device with stable opening and snap closure applied to the mouth, and integrated in the material (5, 6) of bags or similar containers, made up of at least one shaped element (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d,) preferably in the form of an arch or a similar shape, and at least one other element, with a shape that is essentially straight and flexible (3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 4c, 4e) whereby these elements are fit on pivots (1, la, lb, lc, Id, le) at their ends, in the preferred but not solely limited version made up of orthogonal extensions (1, lb, lc, Id) that prolong at least one of the two elements, as the shaped and the straight and flexible elements are located on different levels on substantially parallel planes, which are superimposed (instead of facing counterposed on the same plane), which avoids them pressing directly on each other, in the closed position.

2. Object, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that at least one of the two device elements, preferably but not necessarily, the straight flexible one has loops (0) or similar details at its ends, which permit free sliding along the pivots (1, la, lb, lc, Id, le) in an orthogonal direction to the respective planes (example 3a - 3a in figure A), in order to permit the adjustment of the distance between the plane of the shaped element and the plane of the flexible straight element, to be able to vary the size of the gap (fl, f2 in figures B1 and B2) that is created between the two elements in the closed position.

3. Object, according to any of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that, in a closed position, the flexible element pushes against the material of the bag, below the level where the shaped element (2 in figure Z) is applied, making the material of the bag (leather or similar elastically deformable material) a participating and integrative part of the closure (3, 7 in figure Z) thereby obtaining the best tightness (as also shown in figure F and illustrated in figure Fl).

4. Object, according to any of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the elements of the device, the shaped and the straight flexible elements, are hinged on planes that are substantially parallel with each other (Drawings A, B, C, D) with lengths that are indifferently greater than, equal to or less than each other, which permits the straight element to flex freely beyond the limits of the shaped one (example Figure D), being able, for example, to protrude as shown for the backpack in figures M and N and schematically in figure Ml.

5. Object, according to any of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the extensions (lc) of the shaped element are extended such to house the coupling of multiple flexible elements (3c, 4c, figure C) thereby obtaining, in the application to the bags (Figure H, 4c), their additional compartments (8) resting on the same shaped element.

6. Object, according to any of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the shape of the shaped element (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) is determined by reproducing the physiological shape assumed, based on the material used, by the straight element (3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, and figures X and Y) in order to obviate the lack of a reciprocal shape, without the direct contact and pressure between the two shaped and flexible linear elements, improving the closure, making the profiles coincide.

7. Object, according to any of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the shape of the shaped element (Figure E, 2e) differs from the arch shape, being freely oriented and sized based on the desired distance between the pivots (le) on which at least two flexible elements (3e, 4e) are fit, with a length greater than the distance between the pins and as a result flexed into an arch, able to close and open the opening of the bag, indifferently from both sides (figure L).

Everything as described and illustrated and for the specified purposes.