REUSABLE BAG CLAMP WITH RECIPROCATING BLADE

• US 20130305540A1
• Filed: 05/21/2012
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory Ruddell, Robert J. Halas
• Original Assignee: Gregory Ruddell, Robert J. Halas
• Inventors: Ruddell, Gregory, Halas, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,807,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 30/123
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/00 Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/1658 Elements for flattening or folding the mouth portion B65D33/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/1675 Hinged clips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/25 Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/2508 using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/2541 characterised by the slide fastener, e.g. adapted to interlock with a sheet between the interlocking members having sections of particular shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/15 Bag fasteners

Abstract

An improved bag clamp comprises a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member has an opening in a clamping surface thereof and the second jaw member a blade reciprocatingly mounted therein. A hinge couples the first jaw member and the second jaw member. The clamp is moveable between an open configuration in which the first jaw member and second jaw member are angularly spaced and a closed configuration in which the opening in the first jaw member is aligned with the blade of the second jaw member.

Claims

1. A bag clamp comprising:

a first jaw member having an opening in a clamping surface thereof;

a second jaw member having a slot extending therethrough;

a hinge coupling the first jaw member and the second jaw member, wherein the clamp is moveable between an open configuration in which the first jaw member and the second jaw member are angularly spaced-apart and a closed configuration in which the opening in the first jaw member is aligned with the slot in the second jaw member; and

a releasable locking mechanism for locking the clamp in the closed configuration.

2. The bag clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first jaw member is an elongate jaw member and the opening extends along a length of the first jaw member.

3. The bag clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second jaw member is an elongate jaw member and the slot extends along a length of the second jaw member.

4. The bag clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the opening in the clamping surface is a channel.

5. The bag clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first jaw member includes a hollow and the opening is an access to the hollow.

6. A bag clamp comprising:

a first jaw member and an opening in a clamping surface of the first jaw member;

a second jaw member and a blade reciprocatingly to the second jaw member;

a hinge coupling the first jaw member and the second jaw member, wherein the clamp is moveable between an open configuration in which the first jaw member and the second jaw member are angularly spaced-apart and a closed configuration in which the opening in the first jaw member is aligned with the blade mounted to the second jaw member; and

a releasable locking mechanism for locking the clamp in the closed configuration.

7. The bag clamp as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first jaw member is an elongate jaw member and the opening extends along a length of the first jaw member.

8. The bag clamp as claimed in claim 6 wherein the second jaw member is an elongate jaw member and the blade reciprocates along a length of the second jaw member.

9. The bag clamp as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first jaw member includes a hollow and the opening is an access to the hollow.

10. The bag clamp as claimed in claim 6 wherein the opening in the clamping surface is a channel.

11. The bag clamp as claimed in claim 6 wherein the blade is movable along a length of the second jaw member and movable between a retracted position in which the blade is disposed within the second jaw member and an extended position in which the blade extends from a clamping surface of the second jaw member.

12. The bag clamp as claimed in claim 11 wherein the blade is biased towards the retracted position.

13. The bag clamp as claimed in claim 11 further including a releasable safety mechanism for maintaining the blade in the retracted position.

14. The bag clamp as claimed in claim 6 wherein the blade is a bi-directional cutting blade.

15. A bag clamp comprising:

a first elongate jaw member and a longitudinal opening in a clamping surface of the first elongate jaw member;

a second elongate jaw member and a longitudinal slot in a clamping surface of the second jaw member;

a hinge coupling the first jaw member to the second jaw member, the clamp being movable between an open configuration in which the first jaw member and the second jaw member are angularly spaced-apart and a closed configuration in which the opening in the clamping surface of the first jaw member is aligned with the slot extending through the clamping surface of the second jaw member;

a cutting mechanism including a blade reciprocatingly mounted on a guide rod disposed within the second elongate jaw member, the blade being movable along a length of the second elongate jaw member and the blade being moveable between a retracted position in which the blade is disposed within the second jaw member and an extended position in which the blade extending through the slot in the clamping surface of the second jaw member; and

a releasable locking mechanism for locking the clamp in the closed configuration.