BAG CLOSURE MEANS

• US 3,571,861 A
• Filed: 11/26/1968
• Issued: 03/23/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Earle L. Olson
• Original Assignee: Earle L. Olson
• Inventors: Olson, Earle L.
• Application Number:
  US04/778,983
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• US Class Current: 24/30.50R
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/1675 Hinged clips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/15 Bag fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/153 Plastic band bag tie

Abstract

A one-piece molded resilient plastic clip for sealing food bags or the like having a first flat elongated leg with a snap element formed thereon adjacent one end and a second, hingedly attached leg having a complementary snap element, said hingedly connected legs being swingable over upon themselves and snap locked together to positively clampingly seal the open neck portion of a bag interposed therebetween, there being integral fingerpositioning means formed on said clip to facilitate the manual opening and closing of the same.

Claims

1. A one-piece closure clip formed of resilient, flexible material, comprising:

first and second elongated legs having an outer end and an inner end portion;

hinge means connecting the inner end portions of said legs in a manner whereby said legs can be folded over to an overlying position;

a male snap lock element on the inner surface of said first leg adjacent the outer end thereof, said male snap lock element having downwardly diverging angular faces terminating in shoulders;

complementary female snap lock means on the inner surface of said second leg adjacent the Outer end thereof, said female lock means including a socket adapted to receive said male snap elements, and having one of its marginal edges defining said socket opening beveled on an angle complementary to the angle of the corresponding face of said male snap element to facilitate the wedging entry of said male snap element into said socket, the resilient flexible nature of said clip permitting said lock means to be releasably snap locked together to secure said clip in its closed condition clampingly engaging an object positioned between said legs.

2. The closure clip recited in claim 1 and wherein said female snap element socket includes a relatively thin neck portion designed to flex in response to manual force to facilitate the joinder and separation of said interfitting snap elements.

3. The closure clip recited in claim 1 wherein said male snap element has hook means formed thereon, and wherein one of the marginal edges defining said female socket opening is provided with a coacting hook element to promote the joinder of said snap elements.

4. The closure clip recited in claim 1 and including finger-positioning means on said legs adapted to promote the proper positioning of a user'"'"''"'"'s fingers to facilitate the manual closing and locking of said clip.

5. The closure clip recited in claim 4 wherein said finger-positioning means includes a curved shoulder formed integrally on the exterior surface of one of said legs at a point spaced inwardly from the outer end thereof.

6. The closure clip recited in claim 4 wherein said finger-positioning means are provided with transverse grooves adapted to form nonslip surfaces.

7. The closure clip recited in claim 1 and wherein said legs are provided with oppositely curved outer end portions which diverge when the clip is in its closed condition to permit a user to insert a finger therebetween to pry said legs apart when it is desired to open said clip.

8. The closure clip recited in claim 1 and having a flat longitudinal ridge formed on and protruding from the inner surface of one of said legs engageable against the inner surface of the opposite leg when the clip is in its closed condition to pressurably clampingly engage material interposed between said legs.