Detachable Closure Device for a Bag
A detachable closure device for a bag includes a fastener having a first wall coupled along a fold to an opposing, second wall. A first attachment mechanism is disposed at a first end of the first wall and a second attachment mechanism is disposed at an opposite, second end of the first wall. At least one latching element is disposed on the fastener and configured to detachably couple the fastener to a side panel of a bag.
None
REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable
SEQUENTIAL LISTINGNot applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a closure device for a bag, and more particularly, to a detachable closure device used to alternatively open and close an opening of one or more bags, such as one or more disposable or re-usable bags.
2. Description of the Background of the Disclosure
Bags such as pouches, satchels, shopping bags, tote bags, book bags, hand bags, lunch bags and the like, are often used to carry items. These bags typically have an open top for easy access into a compartment of the bag. However, if the bag has no securable cover or lid, the contained items are susceptible to falling out of the bag, which can damage the items or risk loss of the items. This risk is pronounced when using disposable bags such as lunch bags. Disposable lunch bags do not have a securable cover or lid, jeopardizing loss or damage of the lunch content when a user, such as a child, carries the lunch bag throughout the day.
In order to secure items within a bag's compartment, some bags have a built-in closure mechanism that, for example, secures a cover, lid, or zipper profile to the open top of the bag. In this manner, the bag may be occluded and reopened at will. Examples of such closure mechanisms include zippers, buckles, and pins that are each built-in to the bag. However, because these closure mechanisms are an inherent part of the bag, the closure mechanisms are not detachable from the bag. When the bag is no longer useful, the closure mechanism is also rendered useless because the closure mechanism is substantially inseparable from the bag and not easily reusable with other bags.
Accordingly, it would be an advance in the art to provide solutions for one or more of the above issues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one embodiment, a detachable closure device for a bag includes a fastener having a first wall coupled along a fold to an opposing, second wall. A first attachment mechanism is disposed at a first end of the first wall and a second attachment mechanism is disposed at an opposite, second end of the first wall. At least one latching element is disposed on the fastener and configured to detachably couple the fastener to a side panel of a bag.
According to another embodiment, a disposable lunch bag for use with a detachable closure device includes a polygonal bottom panel. A plurality of planar, side panels extend upwardly from an outer periphery of the polygonal bottom panel to form an edge at an open top. An engaging mechanism includes at least one aperture situated proximate the edge of one of the planar, side panels through which opposing latching elements of a detachable closure device couple with one another.
According to a different embodiment, a bag includes a bottom panel and a plurality of side panels that extend upwardly from an outer periphery of the bottom panel to form a top edge of an open top. A detachable closure device is removably attachable to the top edge of one of the side panels. The detachable closure device includes a fastener having a first wall coupled along a fold to an opposing, second wall. The detachable closure device also includes a first latching element disposed on the first wall and a second latching element disposed on the second wall. The first latching element engages with the second latching element when the fold is placed over the top edge of the one side panel. Further, first and second attachment mechanisms are disposed at opposite corresponding ends of the first wall of the fastener.
Referring to
One or more latching elements are disposed on the fastener 102 and are configured to removably couple the fastener 102 to a side panel 204 of the bag, such, as bag 200 of
In certain embodiments, the attachment mechanisms 130 and 140 of the closure device 100 are disposed at opposing first and second ends 110, 112 of the fastener 102. To illustrate, in
Further, in certain embodiments, at least one of the attachment members 130 and 140 is configured to couple with other devices. For example, in
Referring now to
The removable articles 162 A-D may be charms or pogs that are capable of being received within the openings 160A-D. In certain embodiments, the one or more removable articles 162A-D may include a communication element, such as an image (e.g., peace symbol on removable member 162C) or a message (e.g., “bananas are good for you” on removable member 162D). In some embodiments the user may write a note, their name, or other message on the removable articles 162A-D. Other forms of content are also contemplated, such as a picture of a person or a pet; a Quick Response Code; a trademark or slogan; a combination thereof, and the like. Alternatively, or in combination, the surface of the removable articles 162A-D include a reflective surface (e.g., a mirror), a color, or a textured substance. The removable articles 162A-D are made of any suitable materials such as plastic, paperboard, metal, glass, gelatinous material, and the like.
As shown in
It is also contemplated that in certain embodiments, the removable articles 162A-D also serve the function of the latching elements (114:120 and 116:122) of the fastener 102. Referring to
The bag 200 is made of any suitable material such as plastic, paper, fabric and the like, or any combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the bag is made of a bi-axially oriented nylon bag coated in a polyethylene sealant layer or other thermoplastic film making the bag 200 substantially waterproof. Preferably, at least an upper part of each side panel is made of a deformable material, such as paper, thermoplastic film, woven material, fabric or other flexible material. Here, the deformable material allows the upper part of the opposing side panels of the bag 200 to roll down over each other toward the polygonal bottom panel 212 (see
The bag 200 includes an engaging mechanism 202 configured to couple with the closure device 100. In
As illustrated in
As stated previously, after the closure device 100 is detachably coupled to the side panel 204, the opposing side panel 208 of the bag 200 is brought in proximity of the closure device 100 to occlude the open top 214 of the bag 200. The two opposing panels 204 and 208 of the bag 200 are then rolled down over each other toward the bottom panel 212 of the bag 200 (
In certain embodiments, the bag 200 is a disposable bag, such as a single use disposable lunch bag. In one embodiment, the closure element 100 is successively re-used with a plurality of disposable bags 200. To illustrate, a consumer uses a first disposable bag 200 with the closure element 100 to seal the bag 200. After the bag 200 is used, the closure element 100 is removed and the disposable bag 200 is disposed of, while the closure element 100 is not disposed of. Rather, the closure element 100 is made available for use with another bag 200. In other embodiments, a life span of the disposable bag is beyond a single use, such as multiple uses over one or more months, for example. Referring to
Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to certain embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which have been presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYNumerous modifications 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 the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use what is herein disclosed and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of this disclosure are reserved.
Claims
1. A detachable closure device for a bag, the detachable closure device comprising:
- a fastener including a first wall coupled along a fold to an opposing, second wall;
- a first attachment mechanism disposed at a first end of the first wall;
- a second attachment mechanism disposed at an opposite, second end of the first wall; and
- at least one latching element disposed on the fastener and configured to detachably couple the fastener to a side panel of a bag.
2. The detachable closure device of claim 1, wherein the first and second walls are hingedly connected at the fold.
3. The detachable closure device of claim 1, wherein the at least one latching element comprises a pair of inter-engaging first and second elements, wherein the first element is provided on the first wall and the second element is provided on the second wall.
4. The detachable closure device of claim 3, wherein the first element is disposed on a first inner surface of the first wall and is engageable with the second element disposed on a second inner surface of the second wall.
5. The detachable closure device of claim 3, wherein the first and second elements include a pair of clip elements, snap elements, hook-and-loop latching elements, hook and eye latching elements, socket and ball latching elements, button and hole latching elements, butterfly clasp latching elements, buckle and catch latching elements, or complementary magnetic latching elements.
6. The detachable closure device of claim 3, wherein the first element is engageable with the second element through an aperture in a side panel of a bag that is proximate to an open top of the bag.
7. The detachable closure device of claim 1, wherein the first attachment mechanism includes an insertion member and the second attachment mechanism includes a corresponding engaging member.
8. The detachable closure device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second attachment mechanisms includes a flexible member extending from a respective end of the first wall.
9. The detachable closure device of claim 8, wherein the flexible member is a lanyard.
10. The detachable closure device of claim 1, wherein the first attachment mechanism includes a first flexible member connected to an insertion member and the second attachment mechanism includes a second flexible member connected to an engaging member that is configured to engage the insertion member.
11. A disposable lunch bag for use with a detachable closure device, the disposable bag comprising:
- a polygonal bottom panel;
- a plurality of planar, side panels each extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the polygonal bottom panel to form an edge at an open top; and
- an engaging mechanism including at least one aperture situated proximate the edge of one of the planar, side panels through which opposing latching elements of a detachable closure device couple with one another.
12. The disposable lunch bag of claim 11, wherein an upper portion of the plurality of planar, side panels are each made of flexible material such that, when the open top is occluded, two opposing planar, side panels are configured to roll down over each other toward the polygonal bottom panel.
13. A bag comprising:
- a bottom panel;
- a plurality of side panels each extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the bottom panel to form a top edge of an open top; and
- a detachable closure device removably attachable to the top edge of one of the side panels, the detachable closure device including: a fastener including a first wall coupled along a fold to an opposing, second wall; a first latching element disposed on the first wall and a second latching element disposed on the second wall, wherein the first latching element engages with the second latching element when the fold is placed over the top edge of the one side panel; and first and second attachment mechanisms, each disposed at opposite corresponding ends of the first wall of the fastener.
14. The bag of claim 13, wherein the first attachment mechanism includes an insertion member and the second attachment mechanism includes a corresponding engaging member of a quick-release buckle.
15. The bag of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second attachment mechanisms includes a flexible member extending from a respective end of the first wall.
16. The bag of claim 15, wherein the flexible member is a lanyard.
17. The bag of claim 13, wherein two opposing side panels are configured to be rolled down over each other toward the bottom panel after the first latching element of the detachable closure device engages with the second latching element and the open top is occluded.
18. The bag of claim 13, further comprising at least one of a durable container for food and a bottle for a drinkable fluid.
19. The bag of claim 13, wherein the plurality of side panels are each made of a biodegradable material.
20. The bag of claim 13, wherein the first and second walls of the detachable closure device are hingedly connected at the fold.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 7, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 12, 2013
Inventors: Robert R. Turvey (Sanford, MI), Keegan E. Burggren (Midland, MI)
Application Number: 13/491,532
International Classification: B65D 33/16 (20060101); B65D 30/02 (20060101); B65D 33/04 (20060101);