SLIDER ACTUATED OPENING FEATURE
A pouch includes sidewalls that define a mouth, a cam member disposed proximate the mouth, and a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong. The slider engages the cam member to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.
Not applicable.
REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable.
SEQUENTIAL LISTINGNot applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a feature that is actuated by a slider for maintaining a mouth of a pouch in an open condition.
2. Background of the Invention
A pouch, such as a bag having flexible walls defining a mouth and an interior cavity, is useful for storing items therein. Generally, an item may be inserted and removed from the interior cavity through the mouth. However, if the pouch has flexible walls, the mouth often must be maintained in an open position by a user with one hand, for example, while inserting an item into the pouch using the other hand. This can sometimes be cumbersome or inconvenient and, therefore, it is desirable to have a pouch with a mechanism for holding the mouth in an open position that will free up both hands of a user for performing other tasks.
One design developed to alleviate this situation includes a reclosable plastic bag having a zipper closure and a camber-inducing strip disposed adjacent a top of the bag on an outside of one or more sides of the bag co-extensively with the zipper closure. The camber-inducing strips have a retained coil memory, such that when the zipper closure is disengaged, the camber-inducing strips bow outwardly to cause the top of the bag to assume a wide-open posture. The plastic bag may include a slider coupled to the zipper closure for engaging and disengaging same.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one example, a pouch includes sidewalls that define a mouth, a cam member disposed proximate the mouth, and a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong. The slider engages the cam member to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.
According to another example, a closure assembly includes a first closure member opposing a second closure member and a slider coupled to the first and second closure members, wherein the closure members comprise elongate strips. The slider de-couples the first closure member from the second closure member when urged in an opening direction along the closure members and couples the first closure member to the second closure member when urged in a closing direction along the closure members. The closure assembly further includes a cam member disposed proximate at least one of the first and second closure members. The slider engages the cam member to maintain the first and second closure members in a spread apart condition when urged in the opening direction.
According to a further example, a method of maintaining a mouth defined by sidewalls of a pouch in a spread apart condition, wherein the pouch includes an opening feature disposed proximate the mouth and a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong, includes the steps of sliding the slider in an opening direction along the mouth to automatically engage the opening feature, and engaging the opening feature with the slider to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.
Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, wherein similar structures have similar reference numbers.
Turning now to
As illustrated more clearly in
An opening feature 50 is coupled to the pouch 20 proximate the mouth 32 and the peripheral edge 26. The opening feature 50 includes first and second cam members 52, 54, disposed on the first and second sidewalls 22, 24, respectively. The cam members 52, 54 can be selectively squeezed together by a slider to pivot from a closed position with the mouth 32 closed into an open position that maintains the mouth 32 of the pouch 20 in an open condition. The second cam member 54 (best seen in
The pouch 20 further includes a slider 70 that is coupled to the mouth 32 to slide therealong in an opening direction A and in a closing direction B opposite the opening direction for opening and closing the closure mechanism 34. The slider 70 may take any shape sufficient to actuate the opening feature 50 in accordance with the manner described herein. In the embodiment shown, the slider 70 includes generally parallel, opposing sidewalls 72, 74 that are spaced from each other and coupled together by a top wall 76 to define a channel 78 therebetween. The mouth 32, including the interlocking members 36, 38 and top edges of the sidewalls 22, 24, are disposed within the channel 78. The slider 70 further includes an extension 80 that extends downwardly from a lower portion of the sidewall 74 for engaging the opening feature 50. In the present embodiment, the extension 80 is shown proximate a first end 82 of the sidewall 74 and slider 70. However, in other embodiments, the extension can be disposed proximate an opposite second end 84 of the sidewall 74 or anywhere between the first and second ends 82, 84. Preferably, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill, another extension that is preferably a mirror image of the extension 80 also extends downwardly from the sidewall 72.
In use, the slider 70 is slid in the opening direction A along the closure mechanism 34 towards the peripheral edge 26 until the slider 70 automatically engages the opening feature 50 to maintain the mouth 32 in a spread-apart condition. When the slider 70 first reaches the cam members 52, 54, the first arms 56A and 56B enter into the channel 78 and/or between the extensions 80 of the slider. As the slider moves further along the opening feature 50, portions of the slider 70, such as the sidewalls 72, 74 and/or the extensions 80, slide over the second arms 58A, 58B of the cam members 52, 54 and urge the second arms together therebetween, thereby causing the cam members 52, 54 to pivot about the respective pivot points and urge the first arms 56A, 56B apart into an open position. As best seen in
The slider 70 optionally may also be configured to releasably lock with a detent on the opening feature in the open position. In one example best seen in
Preferably, the slider 70 includes features to close or occlude the closure mechanism 34 of the pouch 20 when slid in the closing direction B and to separate or de-occlude the closure mechanism 34 when slid in the opening direction A. Generally, such features may include closure bars to press the closure mechanism 34 together and a separator member for separating the closure mechanism as known in the art. The slider 70 and pouch 20 may also include features that facilitate the slider to remain engaged with the mouth 32 and the closure mechanism 34. For example, the pouch 20 may include heat sealed portions adjacent the side edges 26, 28 that interact with a separator member of the slider 70 to prevent the slider from sliding off of the mouth 32. In the present embodiment, the detents 62A, 62B or other portions of the arms 56, 58 may also interact with the slider 70 to prevent the slider from sliding off of the mouth 32. If portions of the opening feature 50 are used to maintain the slider 70 on the mouth 32, then the mouth 32 of the pouch 20 could be widened by omitting the heat sealed portions adjacent the side edges 26, 28, which are features commonly used in prior pouches to retain a slider thereon. Exemplary sliders suitable to be adapted for use with the opening feature are disclosed in Porchia et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,285 and Ackerman U.S. Pat. No. 7,574,782, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Other sliders may also be adapted for use consistent with the disclosure herein.
Referring now to
Other embodiments of the disclosure including all the possible different and various combinations of the individual features of each of the foregoing described embodiments are specifically included herein.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYAn opening feature is disclosed herein that allows a pouch to be automatically maintained in an open, spread apart condition when a slider is slid in an opening direction. In one example, the slider functions to open and close a mouth of the pouch and to engage the opening feature to maintain the mouth in an open condition. The opening feature disclosed herein allows a user to selectively engage the opening feature with the slider to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition without the mouth automatically spreading apart, thereby providing more user control than some of the prior art designs. In addition, the ability to selectively maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition without the use of camber-inducing strips may provide a mouth that is easier to close and seal when desired. Further, the opening feature and slider disclosed herein can in some embodiments be easily applied to existing pouches without any substantial redesign to such pouches.
Numerous modifications to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive right to all modifications within the scope of the impending claims is expressly reserved. All patents, patent publications and applications, and other references cited herein are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
Claims
1. A pouch, comprising:
- sidewalls that define a mouth;
- a cam member disposed proximate the mouth; and
- a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong, wherein the slider engages the cam member to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.
2. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the cam member includes a first arm disposed proximate the mouth and a second arm coupled to the first arm and extending angularly away from the first arm and the mouth.
3. The pouch of claim 2, wherein the first arm is disposed on an interior surface of the mouth and the second arm extends through a sidewall to an outer surface of the mouth.
4. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls include first and second walls that define the mouth and the cam member includes a first cam portion disposed on the first wall and a second cam portion disposed on the second wall.
5. The pouch of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second cam portions includes a first arm attached proximate the mouth and a second arm coupled to the first arm and extending angularly away from the first arm and the mouth.
6. The pouch of claim 5, wherein the slider slides over the first and second cam portions and urges the second arms together and the first arms apart.
7. The pouch of claim 6, wherein the slider includes extensions that extend downwardly from sidewalls of the slider, and wherein the extensions slide over the first and second cam portions and urge the second arms together and the first arms apart.
8. The pouch of claim 6, wherein the slider defines a channel with a tapered portion and the mouth is disposed within the channel, further wherein the tapered portion slides over the first and second cam portions and urges the second arms together and the first arms apart.
9. The pouch of claim 1, further comprising a closure mechanism disposed proximate the mouth, wherein the slider is coupled to the closure mechanism and opens the closure mechanism when urged in an opening direction and closes the closure mechanism when urged in a closing direction, and wherein the slider automatically engages the cam member to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition when urged in the opening direction.
10. The pouch of claim 9, wherein the closure mechanism includes opposing first and second interlocking closure members and the cam member is disposed below the first and second interlocking closure members.
11. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the cam member and slider are configured so that when the slider engages the cam member the slider can be releasably locked into place to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition, a tactile and/or audible indication that the slider has engaged the cam member is provided, and/or the slider is prevented from sliding off of the mouth.
12. A closure assembly, comprising:
- a first closure member opposing a second closure member, wherein the closure members comprise elongate strips;
- a slider coupled to the first and second closure members, wherein the slider de-couples the first closure member from the second closure member when urged in an opening direction along the closure members and couples the first closure member to the second closure member when urged in a closing direction along the closure members; and
- a cam member disposed proximate at least one of the first and second closure members,
- wherein the slider engages the cam member to maintain the first and second closure members in a spread apart condition when urged in the opening direction.
13. The closure assembly of claim 12, wherein the cam member includes a first cam portion disposed proximate the first closure member and a second cam portion disposed proximate the second closure member, and wherein each of the first and second cam portions includes a first arm attached proximate a respective one of the first and second closure members and a second arm coupled to the first arm at a pivot point and extending angularly away from the first arm.
14. The closure assembly of claim 13, wherein the first arms are disposed on interior surfaces of the closure members and the second arms extend through the closure members to outer surfaces thereof.
15. The closure assembly of claim 13, wherein the slider engages the first and second cam portions to urge together the second arms and urge apart the first arms about the pivot point.
16. The closure assembly of claim 15, wherein the slider includes extensions that extend downwardly from sidewalls of the slider, and wherein the extensions engage the first and second cam portions to urge together the second arms and urge apart the first arms.
17. The closure assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second closure members comprise interlocking closure members and the cam member is disposed below the first and second interlocking closure members.
18. A method of maintaining a mouth defined by sidewalls of a pouch in a spread apart condition, wherein the pouch includes an opening feature disposed proximate the mouth and a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong, comprising the steps of:
- sliding the slider in an opening direction along the mouth to automatically engage the opening feature; and
- engaging the opening feature with the slider to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the opening feature includes first and second opposing cam members, the first cam member including a first arm disposed proximate the mouth and a second arm coupled to the first arm and extending angularly away from the first arm, wherein the method includes the step of engaging the second arm with the slider to urge the second arm toward the second cam member and the first arms apart from the second cam member.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the pouch includes a closure mechanism disposed proximate the mouth, and wherein the step of sliding the slider in an opening direction de-couples the closure mechanism, and further wherein the method comprises the step of sliding the slider in a closing direction to disengage the opening feature and couple the closure mechanism.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 23, 2010
Publication Date: Feb 23, 2012
Inventors: Robert R. Turvey (Sanford, MI), Bryan L. Ackerman (Freeland, MI)
Application Number: 12/861,582
International Classification: B65D 33/16 (20060101);