MXPA03011634A

MXPA03011634A - Reclosable fastener assembly with slider closed position indicator.

Info

Publication number: MXPA03011634A
Application number: MXPA03011634A
Authority: MX
Inventors: A Soller Douglas
Original assignee: S C Johnson Home Storage Inc
Priority date: 2001-06-15
Filing date: 2001-06-15
Publication date: 2005-03-07
Also published as: BR0117051A; EP1395138B1; PT1395138E; NZ530139A; ATE277534T1; CA2455343C; EP1395138A1; ES2228891T3; JP2004529731A; CA2455343A1; DE60106096T2; KR20040029999A; DE60106096D1; WO2002102181A1

Abstract

A reclosable fastener assembly includes first and second elongated closure elements that are engageable to form a seal. A slider is slidable relative to the closure elements between an open position and a closed position and is adapted (i) to engage the closure elements to one another when moved across the closure elements toward the closed position and (ii) to disengage the closure elements from one another when moved across the closure elements toward the open position. The slider carries a first partial indicator. A second partial indicator is located relative to the closure elements to as to complement the first partial indicator to form a visual indicator when the slider is in the closed position.

Description

INSTALLATION OF RECONNECTION CLAMP WITH INDICATOR OF THE CLOSED POSITION OF THE SLIDING GUIDE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to reconnecting fastening installations, such as the type that is useful for sealing thermoplastic bags. More specifically, the present invention relates to such a fastener installation employing a sliding guide by which the fastener installation opens and closes, and which provides a visual indicator of when the sliding guide is in its closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The reconnecting fastening installations are well known in the art, most commonly for use in sealing thermoplastic bags. Such fastener installations often include a pair of opposed clutch closure elements, which can be pressed together to form a closure and consequently leverage apart to release the closure. In various fastener installations, commonly referred to as "zips," the closure elements are complementary configurations that close when pressed together. Some typical fastener installations are illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 5, 140,720 (slit elements and closure flange), U.S. Patent No. 5,007, 143 (roll action zipper configuration), and E.U. No. 3, 173,184 (configurations having alternative hook-shaped closure elements). Some fastener installations include a sliding guide to facilitate the clutch and disengagement of the closing elements. The sliding guide operates on the closing elements, and, depending on the direction of the sliding guide moves along the closing elements, the fastening installation is either open or closed. A typical sliding guide frames the closure elements and is configured to retain the closure elements together when moving in one direction and to lever the closure elements apart when moving in the other direction. In some embodiments, the sliding guide will include a separating element that is fixed between the closing elements in order to be levered apart. Such spacer elements are illustrated in the US Patents. No. 4,262,395 (arrow-shaped spacer element); 5,007, 143 (conical separating element); 3, 173, 184 (v-shaped spacer element) and 5,067,208 (spacer element in the form of a key lock). Certain reconnect holding devices provide audible and / or tactile feedback as the sliding guide moves through the closure elements. These typically include seals or deformations in the closure elements that affect the feel and / or sound that the closure elements produce as they are closed, such as in US Patent Nos. 5, 138,750 and 5,722, 128, or elements of closure that deform elastically when closed, such as in the US Patent No. 5,774,955. The forming type provides feedback while the sliding guide is moving, but no real indication as to whether the fastening installation is closed or open once the sliding guide is at one end of the closing elements. The last type provides an indication of when the fastening installation is closed, but that indication is in turn very sharp. Other reconnect holding devices provide visual feedback when the closure elements are engaged. These typically include closure elements that provide color that combine to produce a color change when the closure elements are closed. Some examples are illustrated in the Patents of E. U. Nos. 4,829,641; 4,907,321 and 5,356,222. Unless the closure configurations are sufficiently separated, this adjustment is only useful when the user remembers which color indicates an open position of the closure elements. In this way, it is not always easy for the user to say in a flash if a fastening installation is closed or open. This is especially true for fastening installations employing sliding guides, because the action of the typical sliding guide does not separate the closure elements far enough that it is visually obvious when the fastener is open. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a reconnect holding device, employing a sliding guide, by which a visual indicator is provided as if the sliding guide is in its fully closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The reconnecting restraining device of the present invention names the preceding requirements in the art by providing complementary partial indicators which combine to form a visual indicator when the sliding guide is in the closed position. According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a reconnect fastener installation, including elongate closure elements, first and second, closable to form a closure. A sliding guide is slidable relative to the closing elements between an open position and a closed position and is adapted (i) to engage the closing elements together as they move through the closing elements towards the closed position and ( I) disengage the closing elements from each other as they move through the closing elements towards the open position. The sliding guide carries a first partial indicator. A second partial indicator is located relative to the closure elements in order to supplement the first partial indicator to form a visual indicator when the sliding guide is in the closed position. Preferably, the second partial indicator is stationary relative to the closing elements. Generally, the second partial indicator is located near one end of the closure elements. The partial indicators, first and second, may comprise complementary parts of a model. The model can be a word, in which case the partial indicators, first and second, can include complementary parts of individual letters of the word. The model can also represent an object that can be three-dimensional. A latch can be placed in such a way that the sliding guide connects the latch when the slide is in the closed position, and the second partial indicator can be provided in the latch. Alternatively, the sliding guide may include an opening through one side of the sliding guide, and the second partial indicator may comprise a visible feature that is located in order to be visible through the opening of the sliding guide when the sliding guide is in the closed position. A pair of the openings may be provided, each through opposite sides of the slide, in which case a pair of the visible features may be provided, each located so as to be visible through a different pair of the openings. of the sliding guide when the sliding guide is in the closed position. The feature can be provided on the surface of one of the closure elements, and for example, it can be a pigmented spot. According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a reconnect fixing device for selectively closing a mouth of a thermoplastic bag. The fastener installation includes closure, first and second configurations, placed on opposite surfaces of the mouth of the bag. The closure configurations, first and second, are lockable to seal a mouth of the bag. A sliding guide frames the closure configurations, and is slidable relative to the closure configurations between an open position and a closed position. The slide guide is adapted (i) to close the closure configurations as they move through the closure configurations to the closed position and (i) to disengage the closure configurations from each other as they move through the closure configurations towards the open position. The sliding guide carries a first partial indicator. A second partial indicator is placed relative to the closure configurations so as to be combined with the first partial indicator to form a visual indicator when the sliding guide is in the closed position. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements wholly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1A is a partial perspective view of a thermoplastic bag employing a reconnect holding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 B is a detailed perspective view of an aspect of the fastener installation illustrated in Figure 1, in a closed position.

Figures 2A and 2B are schematic illustrations of partial indicators of a fastening installation according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a partially open position and a closed position, respectively. Figures 3A and 3B are schematic illustrations of partial indicators of a fastening installation according to another embodiment of the fastening installation of the present invention, in a partially open position and a closed position, respectively. Figure 4A is a partial perspective view of a thermoplastic bag employing a reconnect holding device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4B is a detailed perspective view of an aspect of a fastener installation illustrated in Figure 4A, in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Figures 1 A and 1 B illustrate a reconnect holding device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The fastener installation 1 includes the first and second elongated closure elements 10, 20 which are engageable to form a seal. A sliding guide 30, which can slide relative to the closing elements 1 0, 20 between a closed position (illustrated in Figure 1 B) and a fully open position (at the opposite end of the closing elements 10, 20) it is adapted to promote the clutch between the closure elements 1 0, 20 when they move through the closure elements 10, 20 towards their closed position, and disengage the closing elements 1 0, 20 from each other as they move through. of the closing elements towards their open position. The fastener installation includes partial indicators, first and second, 42, 44 which are visible features that complement each other to form a visual indicator 40 when the sliding guide 30 is in its closed position. The first partial indicator 42 is provided on the sliding guide 30. The second partial indicator 44 is provided separate from the slide guide 30 and is positioned in order to complement the first partial indicator 42 and to form the visual indicator 40 when the guide of sliding 30 moves to its closed position. The reconnect holding device 1 is useful, for example, for selectively closing the mouth of a thermoplastic bag 50. A typical thermoplastic bag 50 is formed of an opposite pair of flexible plastic sheets 51, 53, sealed together along a lower part (not shown) and two edges of opposite sides 52, 54. The upper edges 56, 58 of the bag 50 are not sealed together, thereby forming an open mouth (to which the closure elements are fixed. Plastic sheets 51, 53 are typically made from any flexible thermoplastic film Examples of suitable materials include low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, substantially linear copolymers of ethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, other thermoplastic polymers, and mixtures of two or more of these: The pigment (s), ethylene vinyl acetate (for enhanced clarity), or the like, are often added.

The closure elements 10, 20 typically comprise complementary configurations, which face each other, which can be closed substantially through their entire length to form a closure. The closure elements 10, 20 are clutched together when pressed together. The closure elements 10, 20 are fixed to and near the upper edges, 56, 58, respectively, of the plastic sheets 51, 53 of the bag 50 and face each other. The closure elements 10, 20 may be exempted separately and attached to the bag, or may be entirely exempt with the sheets forming the bag. The closure elements may take any of the forms known in the art, including configurations such as those set forth above, shown in US Patents. Nos, 5, 140,720; 5,007, 143 and 3, 173, 184. As noted, the closing elements 10, 20 are engaged and disengaged from each other by the action of the sliding guide 30. The construction and operation of the sliding guide 30, while interacting with the closure elements 10, 20, for opening and closing the fastener installation 1, they are not critical to the present invention and can take any suitable form. A suitable glide guide is illustrated in the U.S. Patent. No. 5,722, 128, incorporated herein by reference. The sliding guide 30 will typically have an inverted U-shaped configuration, with an upper part 31 which is placed on both sides through the locking elements and sides 32, 33 which depend on the upper part, one on either side of the closing elements 10, 20. At least a part of the closing elements is framed by the sides 32, 33 of the sliding guide. Typically, the ridges 35 project into each side 32, 33 of the slide 30. The ridges 35 help to maintain the slide 30 on the closure elements 10, 20 and can assist in pressing the closure elements. 10, 20 in the clutch. The outer surfaces of the closure elements 1 0, 20 can be formed to accommodate or provide a rail for the flanges 35. The ridges 35 can extend substantially the entire length of the slide 30, or can be provided at either end of the guide of sliding 30. Typically, the sliding guide will be conical, in such a way that the sides 32, 33 of the flanges 35 are closer together to an end 38 (the "retaining" end) of the slide 30 at the other end 39. As the sliding guide 30 moves towards its closed position, the retaining end 38 for the sliding guide 30 is pulled. The closest space (between the sides 32, 33 or the flanges 35) acts to press the closure elements 10, 20 together, thereby forcing the closure elements 1 0, 20 to close. A spacer element (not shown) may depend on the upper part 31 between the sides 32, 33 of the slide. The spacer element is fixed between the closing elements 10, 20. As the sliding guide 30 moves towards the fully open position, the separating member draws the retaining end 38 of the sliding guide 30, in such a way that the separating element leverages the closing elements 10, 20, apart. As with the overall slide guide 30, the configuration of the spacer element is not critical to the present invention. The sliding guide 30 can be formed in any suitable manner, including the manufacture of multiple parts that are secured together on the closure elements 10, 20 (for example, by fusion, friction adjustment, joints, retentions, or the like), or a one-piece construction that is fixed on the closing elements. The sliding guide 30 (or parts of the slide) can be formed using any suitable method, such as injection molding, and can be formed of any suitable material such as, for example, polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene, nylon, polystyrene, acetal, polyacetone, high density polyethylene, polycarbonate, styrene butadiene acrylonitrile, or the like. Optionally, it can provide a latch 60 in a position in which the slide 30 will engage the latch 60 when the slide guide 30 is in its closed position. This insurance 60 can serve two functions. The latch 60 can prevent the slide guide 30 from sliding out of the end of the closure elements 10, 20 once the slide 30 reaches its closed position. The latch 60 can also reinforce the edge 54 of the bag 50 and / or the ends of the closure elements 10, 20, thereby maintaining the sheets 51, 53 together on the edge 54 of the bag and / or the closure elements 10, 20 together at their ends. A similar lock (not shown) can be provided at the opposite end of the closure elements 10, 20 for the same reasons. The end latches 60 also provide the user with a convenient latch when the slide guide 30 is moved. The construction and safety of the latches 60 are not critical to the present invention, and can be made in any suitable manner. For example, the latches 60 can be riveted, retained, molded or fused in any of the sheets 51, 53 or in the closure elements 10, 20, or they can be formed integrally with the closure elements 10, 20, generally in a process of post-extrusion. Examples of suitable insurance are illustrated in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,067, 208 (riveted on clips); 5,088,971 (molded from surrounding fastener material); 5, 131, 121 (ultrasonically formed); 5, 161, 286 (retained on clips); 5,405,478 (united end insurance); 5,442,837 (sealed ends of configurations) and 5,448,807 (fused on clips). As noted above, the sliding guide 30 includes the first partial indicator 42. The first partial indicator 42 can be formed integrally with the slide guide 30, or it can be fixed to the slide guide 30, while the first partial indicator 42 is moves with the sliding guide 30. The second partial indicator 44 is positioned relative to the closing elements 1 0, 20, so as to be combined with the first partial indicator 42 to form a visual indicator 40 when the sliding guide 30 is located. in its closed position. The second partial indicator 44 should be stationary relative to the closure elements 10, 20 and is preferably located near the end of the closure elements 1 0, 20. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 A and 1 B, the indicators partial, first and second, 42, 44 provide complementary parts of a model. The current content of the model is not crucial to the present invention, although it is preferred that the model be chosen and divided in order to provide a clear indication of when the visual indicator 40 is formed and not formed. For example, the model can be a word. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, the model is the word "CLOSED" divided between the partial indicators, first and second, 42, 44. If the model is a word, it is preferred that the partial, first and second indicators , 42, 44 include complementary parts of an individual letter or individual letters of the word (as in the embodiment shown in Figures 2A and 2B), thus emphasizing the disconnection of the partial indicators, first and second, 42, 44 when the sliding guide 30 is not in its closed position. In another embodiment, illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B, the model represents an image or object. The image or object can be bi- or three-dimensional, and if desired, a well-known animated character, symbol, or the like. In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1A-3B, wherein the partial indicators, first and second, 42, 44, comprise complementary parts of a model, it is preferred that the second partial indicator 44 be provided on the insurance 60 that is found. close to the closed position of the sliding guide 30. However, this is not necessary for the invention, and the second partial indicator 44 can be provided integrally with the closure elements 10, 20 or another part of the fastening installation 1, or it can be a separating element fixed to the fastening installation. In another embodiment, illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B, the slide 30 includes an opening 37 through which a surface of the closure elements 10, 20 can be observed. The opening 37 can be located in such a way that the closure elements 10, 20 are visible there through. Alternatively, the sliding guide 30 can extend up or down the closing elements 10, 20 and the opening 37 can be positioned in such a way that a different part of the holding installation 1 or bag 50 is visible therethrough. The opening 47 can be formed in any suitable manner. For example, if the sliding guide is injection molded, the opening 47 may be formed during molding, in a post-molding operation (eg, drilling), or some combination of the two. The sliding guide 30 and the opening 37 provide the first partial indicator 42. The second partial indicator 44 is a feature of the holding device or bag which is located so as to be visible through the opening 37 of the sliding guide 30. when the sliding guide 30 is in its closed position. The second partial indicator 44 is placed on the closure elements 10, 20, a different part of the fastening installation 1, or the bag 50, depending on the location of the opening 37 of the sliding guide 30 when the sliding guide 30 is in its closed position. For example, the second partial indicator 44 may be a colored spot, pattern, icon, symbol, letter, word or the like that is provided on or is visible through an external surface of one of the closure elements 10, 20. The second partial indicator 44 can be formed in any suitable manner, such as, for example, ink jet printing, contact printing, embossing, or the like. If desired, the openings 37 can be provided on each side 32, 33 of the slide 30, and the corresponding second partial indicator 44 can be provided on each side of the bag. Alternatively, multiple openings 37 may be provided on either or both sides 32, 33 of the slide 30, and corresponding second partial flags 44 may be provided. In one adjustment, the sliding guide 30 may include, as part of the first partial indicator 42, a part of a model interspersed with and interrupted by the openings 37. The second partial indicator 44 may be a complementary part of the model located in order to be visible through the openings 37 when the slide guide 30 is in its closed position. This adjustment has similarities to the modalities discussed with reference to Figures 1 A-1 B, in its partial indicators, first and second, 42, 44 comprise complementary parts of a model, and similarities to the modality discussed with reference to Figures 4A and 4B, wherein a visual indicator 40 is formed by aligning the openings in the slide 30 with a visible feature of the fastening installation 1.

In one example (not illustrated), the first partial indicator 42 on the slide 30 includes the word "CLOSED" printed thereon, except that a pair of the openings 37 is provided in place of the letters "R" and " D ", respectively. The second partial indicator 44 is the word "OPEN" located so as to be visible when the sliding guide 30 is not in its closed position in order to darken when the sliding guide 30 is in its closed position. The letters "A" and "T" of the word "OPEN" may be located in order to be visible through the openings 37 of the slide 30, thereby completing the word "CLOSED" to form the visual indicator 40 Of course, other words or models can be used. In still another embodiment (not illustrated), the first partial indicator 42 is provided by a sliding guide 30 which is observed therethrough and colored. The second partial indicator 44 can be an underlying pattern in a color that is superimposed (and obscured) by a second color. The second partial indicator 40 is visible through the sliding guide 30 when the sliding guide 30 is in its closed position. The colors of the sliding guide 30 and the second partial indicator 44 are chosen in such a way that the second color is filtered by the sliding guide 30 in such a way that the underlying pattern becomes visible through the sliding guide 30. to form the visible indicator 40. In a preferred version, the second color is provided in an overlay model. The user will know that the superimposed model indicates that the fastening installation is open, while the underlying model indicates closed (such as, for example, the word "CLOSED"). While the present invention has been described with respect to what are currently considered the preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the modes discussed. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover several equivalent modifications and adjustments, some of which are discussed above, included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the following claims is intended to be according to the most reasonable interpretation in order to understand all the equivalent modifications and functions and structures.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The fastening installations according to the present invention are particularly useful as resealable closures for thermoplastic bags. Such a fastening installation provides ease of use by virtue of its use of a sliding guide to assist in the opening and closing of the fastening installation. The user is also provided with a simple visual indication so as to whether the sliding guide is in its closed position.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A reconnect holding device (1) comprising: elongated closure elements, first and second, (10, 20) closable to form a closure; a slidable sliding guide (30) relative to the closing elements (10, 20) between an open position and a closed position and adapting (i) to engage the closing elements (1 0, 20) with each other when they move to through the closing elements (1 0, 20) towards the closed position and (ii) to disengage the closing elements (10, 20) from each other When they move through the closing elements (10, 20) towards the open position; a first partial indicator (42) carried by the sliding guide (30); and a second partial indicator (44) located relative to the closure elements (10, 20) in order to supplement the first partial indicator (42) to form a visual indicator when the sliding guide is in the closed position, characterized in that a final latch (60) is provided on the closing elements in such a way that when the sliding guide (30) reaches the closed position, it joins the final latch (60), the first partial indicator is on the surface of the guide of sliding (30) and the second partial indicator is on the surface of a final insurance (60), and the partial indicators, first and second, (42, 44) are spliced in such a way to form a model comprising the indicator visual when the sliding guide (30) reaches the closed position. The fastening installation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the model comprises a word. The fastening installation (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the partial indicators, first and second, (42, 44) include complementary parts of an individual letter of the word. 4. The fastening installation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the model represents an object. 5. A reconnect fixing device (1) for selectively closing a mouth of a thermoplastic bag, the fastening device (1) comprising: elongated, first and second closure configurations (10, 20) placed on opposite surfaces of the mouth the bag, the configurations, first and second (10, 20), closing to seal the mouth of the bag; a sliding guide (30) that frames the closing configurations (10, 20), the sliding guide (30) being slidable relative to the closing configurations (10, 20) between an open position and a closed position and adapting ( i) to close the closure configurations (10, 20) when moving through the closure configurations (10, 20) toward the closed position and (ii) to disengage the closure configurations from each other as they move through the the closure configurations (10, 20) towards the open position; a first partial indicator (42) carried by the sliding guide (30), and a second partial indicator (44) placed relative to the closing configurations (1 0, 20) in order to be combined with the first partial indicator (42) to form a visual indicator when the sliding guide is in the closed position, characterized in that an end latch (60) is provided on the closing elements in such a way that when the sliding guide (30) reaches the closed position, it splices the final insurance (60), the first partial indicator is on the surface of the sliding guide (30) and the second partial indicator is on the surface of a final insurance (60), and the partial indicators, first and second , (42, 44), are spliced in such a way as to form a pattern comprising the visual indicator when the sliding guide (30) reaches the closed position. 6. The fastening installation (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the model comprises a word. The fastening installation (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the partial indicators, first and second, (42, 44) include complementary parts of an individual letter of the word. The fastening installation (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the model represents an object.