GB2153895A

GB2153895A - Closure device for flexible containers

Info

Publication number: GB2153895A
Application number: GB08403590A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Lindsay Grieve
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-02-10
Filing date: 1984-02-10
Publication date: 1985-08-29
Also published as: GB8403590D0

Abstract

The closure device is in the form of a three-legged clip, the neck portion of the container following a sinuous path through the clip and being crimped by the legs of the clip. The gripping surfaces of the central leg 3 are inclined. the gripping surfaces 4, 5 of the outer legs 1, 2 being parallel to the adjacent surface of the central leg. This ensures that the neck of the container is gripped over substantially the entire length contacted by the device. The device is preferably an integral moulding of resilient plastics material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sealing member This invention relates to a sealing member.

With the increasing popularity of prepacked foods it has become common to provide bread and other items in plastics bags, with a sealing member for reciosing the bag when part of its contents have been used. This allows the remainder of the food in the bag to be kept fresh for future consumption. However, presently-provided sealing members are not fully effective, or are awkward to affix.

According to the present invention there is provided a sealing member for sealing a flexible-walled passageway, comprising a generally U-shaped member having a central leg intermediate and generally parallel to the legs of the U, the central leg and the legs of the U defining between them a sinuous path for receiving the flexible walling of the passageway thereby to constrict or close the passageway.

Preferably the sealing member is of plastics material, and preferably resilient.

Preferably also the member is formed as a single moulding.

The sealing member acts by passing the item to be sealed in a first direction between one of the legs of the U and the central leg, and reversing the direction of passage between the central leg and the other leg of the U. The legs should be sufficiently close together to hold the item firmly by friction in this configuration, and to close the passageway as the item passes over the central leg.

Thus the item is clamped between the central leg and the legs of the U.

Preferably the central leg, and preferably also the legs of the U, have surfaces shaped so that the item is clamped along its length passing through the member. In this respect the central leg may be triangular in crosssection, the legs of the U each having a surface inclined in a plane parallel to the plane of the adjacent surface of the central leg, so as to provide a parallel-walled passage between them.

Preferably the central leg and the legs of the U are spaced so as to crimp the item being sealed to close the passageway.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a container having a flexible neck portion which is closed by a sealing member of the invention as defined above.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a sealing member of the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the member of Fig. 1 in use; and Figure 3 is a front view of a container closed by the sealing member of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the sealing member of this embodiment of the invention is a single moulding in the form of a generally U-shaped member having legs 1 and 2, with an additional, central, leg 3 depending from the base of the U. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the central leg 3 is triangular in cross-section and the legs 1 and 2 each have a surface 4, 5 respectively facing the central leg 3 inclined in a parallel plane to that of the adjacent surface of the central leg 3. The legs 1 and 2 are equally spaced from the central leg 3 and parallel to it.

The sealing member is made from resilient plastics material, for example PVC or polypropylene.

In use, a flexible polyethylene packet 6 of sliced bread or other food has its neck portion 7 sealed against passage of air by means of the member of this embodiment. The member is applied to the neck 7 by passing the neck 7 between the first leg 1 of the U and the central leg 3, and between the central leg 3 and the second leg 2 of the U, and pulling the neck taut in the direction A as shown in Fig. 2. This has the effect of crimping the neck 7 between the legs 1 and 2 and the central leg 3, and around the apex of the central leg 3. The legs 1 and 2 of the sealing member are spaced from the central leg 3 by such a small distance that this crimping is effective to flatten the neck 7 and seal it against passage of air into or out of the packet 6.

A significant feature of this embodiment of the invention is that the neck 7 is sealed along a considerable length as it passes through the sealing member, and the resilience of the legs 1, 2, 3 holds the neck 7 closed. The packet 6 can be easily opened by sliding the sealing member laterally from the neck 7, and can be resealed effectively by reapplying the member to the neck.

Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A closure member for a flexible walled passageway comprising a generally U-shaped member having a central leg intermediate and generally parallel to the legs of the U, the central leg and the legs of the U defining between them a sinuous path for receiving the flexible walling of the passageway, and the central leg and the legs of the U being spaced so as to crimp-the walling of the passageway in use.

2. A closure member according to Claim 1, wherein the central leg has two surfaces at an angle to one another and the legs of the U each have a surface in a plane parallel to the palne of the adjacent surface of the central leg.

3. A closure member according to Claim 1

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Sealing member This invention relates to a sealing member. With the increasing popularity of prepacked foods it has become common to provide bread and other items in plastics bags, with a sealing member for reciosing the bag when part of its contents have been used. This allows the remainder of the food in the bag to be kept fresh for future consumption. However, presently-provided sealing members are not fully effective, or are awkward to affix. According to the present invention there is provided a sealing member for sealing a flexible-walled passageway, comprising a generally U-shaped member having a central leg intermediate and generally parallel to the legs of the U, the central leg and the legs of the U defining between them a sinuous path for receiving the flexible walling of the passageway thereby to constrict or close the passageway. Preferably the sealing member is of plastics material, and preferably resilient. Preferably also the member is formed as a single moulding. The sealing member acts by passing the item to be sealed in a first direction between one of the legs of the U and the central leg, and reversing the direction of passage between the central leg and the other leg of the U. The legs should be sufficiently close together to hold the item firmly by friction in this configuration, and to close the passageway as the item passes over the central leg. Thus the item is clamped between the central leg and the legs of the U. Preferably the central leg, and preferably also the legs of the U, have surfaces shaped so that the item is clamped along its length passing through the member. In this respect the central leg may be triangular in crosssection, the legs of the U each having a surface inclined in a plane parallel to the plane of the adjacent surface of the central leg, so as to provide a parallel-walled passage between them. Preferably the central leg and the legs of the U are spaced so as to crimp the item being sealed to close the passageway. Further according to the present invention there is provided a container having a flexible neck portion which is closed by a sealing member of the invention as defined above. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a sealing member of the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the member of Fig. 1 in use; and Figure 3 is a front view of a container closed by the sealing member of Fig. 1. Referring now to the drawing, the sealing member of this embodiment of the invention is a single moulding in the form of a generally U-shaped member having legs 1 and 2, with an additional, central, leg 3 depending from the base of the U. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the central leg 3 is triangular in cross-section and the legs 1 and 2 each have a surface 4, 5 respectively facing the central leg 3 inclined in a parallel plane to that of the adjacent surface of the central leg 3. The legs 1 and 2 are equally spaced from the central leg 3 and parallel to it. The sealing member is made from resilient plastics material, for example PVC or polypropylene. In use, a flexible polyethylene packet 6 of sliced bread or other food has its neck portion 7 sealed against passage of air by means of the member of this embodiment. The member is applied to the neck 7 by passing the neck 7 between the first leg 1 of the U and the central leg 3, and between the central leg 3 and the second leg 2 of the U, and pulling the neck taut in the direction A as shown in Fig. 2. This has the effect of crimping the neck 7 between the legs 1 and 2 and the central leg 3, and around the apex of the central leg 3. The legs 1 and 2 of the sealing member are spaced from the central leg 3 by such a small distance that this crimping is effective to flatten the neck 7 and seal it against passage of air into or out of the packet 6. A significant feature of this embodiment of the invention is that the neck 7 is sealed along a considerable length as it passes through the sealing member, and the resilience of the legs 1, 2, 3 holds the neck 7 closed. The packet 6 can be easily opened by sliding the sealing member laterally from the neck 7, and can be resealed effectively by reapplying the member to the neck. Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

3. A closure member according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the central leg and the legs of the U have surfaces shaped so that in use the passageway is clamped along its length passing through the member.

4. A closure member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the member is of a resilient material.

5. A closure member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the member is of a plastics material.

6. A closure member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the member is formed as a single moulding.

7. A closure member for sealing a flexible walled passageway, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.