CLAIMS
1. A multiple use sealer (MUS) for accessing the contents of a sealed package, said MUS comprising © a frame having a flexible sidewall;
» a sealing surface associated with said flexible sidewall, and wherein the aperture of said frame is capable of repeatedly changing between two positions of which the first one is a closed position and the second an open position, and wherein said sealing surface is forced by said flexible sidewall at said closed position, and wherein said flexible sidewall is outwardly bended at said open position.
2. A MUS as in claim 1 , wherein a flap skirting said frame extends from said sidewall.
3. A MUS as in claim 2, wherein said flap laterally extends from said flexible sidewall.
4. A MUS as in claim 2, wherein said flap extends parallel with said flexible sidewall.
5. A MUS as in claim 2, wherein a face of said flap is coated with an adhesive material.
6. A MUS as in claim 1, wherein a segment of the internal face of said frame is coated with an adhesive material.
7. A MUS as in any of claims 5 or 6, wherein a foil is removably attached to said coated face.
8. A IvIUS as in claim 7, wherein said foil is winded around a wheel.
9. A MUS as in claim 1 further comprising a sealing means covering a segment of said frame.
10. A MUS as in claim 1, further comprising at least one elongated bulge forcing against a segment of said sealing surface.
11. A MUS as in claim 1 , wherein said sealing surface comprises a segment of the wrapping of said package.
12. A MUS as in claim 1 , wherein said sealing surface comprises a segment of the surface of said flexible sidewall.
13. A MUS as in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tubes disposed between said flexible sidewall and said sealing surface.
14. A MUS as in claim 1 , wherein said MUS comprises two members.
15. A MUS as in claim 14 wherein said two members are pivotally attached to each other.
16. A MUS as in claim 1 , further comprising a pincher for inwardly pinching said frame.
17. A MUS as in claim 1 , further comprising a bending spring embedded in said flexible sidewall, wherein said bending spring is selected from a group of items consisting of tubes containing compressed fluids, cavities containing compressed fluids, tubes enclosing pipe springs, cavities enclosing pipe springs, elastic wires and elastic strips.
18. A MUS as in claim 1 , further comprising a magnet embedded in said sidewall.
19. A MUS as in any of claims 1 - 18, attached to said package.
20. A method for converting a sealed package into a reclosable package, said method comprising the steps of a. peeling off a foil attached to an adhesive face of a frame- member of a multiple use sealer (MUS); b. pressing said frame member against a surface of said package, and wherein a sealing surface is associated with a sidewall of said frame, and wherein said sidewall is flexible, and wherein the aperture of said frame is capable of repeatedly changing between two positions of which the first one is a closed position and the second is an open position, and wherein said sealing surface is forced by said sidewall at a closed position, and wherein said frame-member is any item 5 selected from a group of items consisting of a flap skirting said frame, a segment of a surface of said sidewall, a surface of a bracket attached to said sidewall, a segment of the internal face of said frame and any combination thereof.
to 21. A method as in claim 20, further comprising cutting an aperture through the wrapping of said package confined by the rim of said frame.
22. A method as in claim 20, wherein said sealing surface comprises a is segment of the wrapping of said package.
23. A method as in claim 20, wherein said sidewall is outwardly bended at an open position.
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ATTACHABLE MULTIPLE USE SEALER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
5 The present invention relates in general to multiple use sealers for sealed packages. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of attaching an attach-once-seal-many-times sealers to packages and/or packing bags.
i o BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Reclosable packages are normally employed for storing sensitive materials or utensils for repetitive access whilst providing for retaining them relatively isolated from the ambient atmosphere are common in the marketplace. For example, reclosable plastic bags having an opening provided
15 with zippers, are regularly used for packaging food or drugs. Common zippers either of a type "pinch to close and pull to open", or those having a slider moved to one side to open and to the opposite side to close are typically attached to the edge of an opening of the plastic bags by heat-sealing prior to filling the bags. Containers lined with plastic bags having a sealed outlet, such as by 0 means of a screwable cap, typically used for storing liquids are exemplary as well.
Efforts have been invested in developing machinery providing for speeding up and therefore reducing the costs of manufacturing reclosable packages and packing bags. However, introducing such machinery into, or 5 incorporating it with, existing production lines is normally associated with lack of flexibility and/or financial burden. Often such costs are unaffordable. In turn a
substantial quantity of products, which would preferably be provided with such reclosable packaging, are regularly packaged.
Furthermore the level of sealing provided by means of a zipper is unsatisfactory with regard to storing of liquids and/or volatile or hygroscopic materials.
Hence a method for attaching resealable devices to filled packages, which involves simple and significantly less expensive manufacturing equipment, is beneficial.
Furthermore, multiple use seals that can be also attached to a filled package by the user himself or herself, which are simple to use and economically affordable, are called for.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1A is an isometric view of a multiple use sealer (MUS) attachable to a filled package according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 1B is a sectional view of the MUS shown in Fig. 1A;
Fig. 1C is a sectional view of a MUS attachable to a filled package according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2A is an isometric view of a MUS according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a packing bag;
Fig. 2B is an isometric view of the MUS shown in Fig. 2A being opened;
Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a MUS attachable to a filled package according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4A an isometric view of a MUS attachable to a packing bag according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4B is a sectional view of the MUS shown in Fig. 4A;
Fig. 4C is an isometric view of the MUS shown in Fig. 4A attached to a packing bag; Fig. 5A is an assembly drawing schematically showing the attaching process of a MUS according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention to a packing bag;
Fig. 5B is an isometric view of the MUS shown in Fig. 5A attached to a packing bag;
Fig. 6A is an isometric view of a MUS according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention in an open position;
Fig. 6B is an isometric view of the MUS shown in Fig. 6A in a closed position; Fig. 7A is an isometric view of a MUS according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention in an open position;
Fig. 7B is an isometric view of the MUS shown in Fig. 7A in a closed position;
Fig. 8A is an isometric view of a MUS according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention in an open position;
Fig. 8B is an isometric view of the MUS shown in Fig. 8A in a closed position;
Fig. 9A is an isometric view of a MUS according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention in an open position; Fig. 9B is a sectional view of the MUS shown in Fig. 9A in a closed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides a multiple use sealer (MUS) and a method for affixing a MUS onto a sealed package and/or packing bag. A MUS of the invention is an elongated framed aperture having sealing surfaces, which are biased to press one against the other. The frame of a MUS of the invention is flexible and is attachable to a surface of a packing bag prior to its filling, as well as to a surface of a filled package, preferably a soft package. The frame is attached such that when opened, the contents of the package or the packing bag are accessible from the outside. A package suitable for the application of a MUS of the invention is of any geometrical shape and contains materials or utensils enfolded with a sealed wrapping.
To open a package onto which a MUS of the invention has been applied, the user compresses a longitudinal axis of the MUS, causing a deformation of the elongated frame, typically to turn the frame into an oval geometrical shape, providing an aperture. Elastic restoring forces invoked by the deformation of the frame bias the aperture to resume the closed formation, upon release of the compression. Similarly, these elastic forces bias the sealing surface to a mutually engaged formation, thereby sealing the aperture of the package. In an alternative arrangement, the elastic sidewalls are biased to open when released from the gripping of a pincher associated with the MUS. To close such an open package the user forces the pincher to grip, slide or rotate and press the sidewalls of the frame thereby pressing the sealing surfaces one against the other. Optional bending springs, such as one or more tubes or elongated tubular cavities filled with compressed fluid, such as air, a pipe spring and/or one or more elastic strips or wires, such as common bending springs made of steel or plastic resins, embedded in the sidewalls provide for enhancing the elastic restoring forces. Optional magnets or magnetic strips respectively embedded in the sidewalls provide for enhanced sealing as well.
The wrapping material to which the device of the invention applies is any known material such as plastic, laminated metallic foil or paper, paper, and/or cardboard. A MUS makes the content of a package accessible through its resealable aperture. Attaching a MUS of the invention to a packing bag is accomplished as known in the art by adhering and/or heat sealing an optional flap skirting its frame to a surface or surfaces of the packing bag. Attaching a MUS of the invention onto a filled package is accomplished similarly to the method of adhering a self-adhesive label by pressing the adhesive face of a frame member or a bottom face of a flap skirting its frame against a targeted area within the surface of the package or packing bag. Contact glue or equivalent known adhesive materials sustaining predefined pulling or shearing stresses, which are typically employed in producing self-adhesive articles, provide for such adhering.
Reference is now made to Figs 1 A - 6B. In Fig. 1A an isometric view of a MUS according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown. Frame 10 of MUS 12 has two elongated walls 14, connected at their both ends and skirted by laterally extending flap 16. Pincher 18, which is pivotally attached to end 19 of frame 10, laterally presses both walls one against the other. The bottom face of flap 16 is coated with an adhesive material, such as typically used for adhering self adhesive labels, providing for adhering MUS 12 to packages filled with their content. Typically a film, not shown, is removably attached to this bottom face. This film is removed prior to the adhering of MUS 12 to a targeted area within the surface of the package.
In Fig. 1B a sectional view along line AA of the MUS shown in Fig. 1A is shown. Inner edges 20 of pincher 22, which are cylindrically shaped, are compressed into mating grooves disposed along the external surfaces of walls
24. The spacing between edges 20 when unstressed, namely when pincher 22 is pulled off walls 24, is somewhat smaller than the width of both walls when measured between the deepest lines along both respective grooves. MUSes of the invention as well as MUS 25 are made of flexible materials that are bendable and compressible, such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE). A mold
having a thin central wall, which is blade like tapered at its both ends provides for its manufacturing. The inner surfaces of walls 24 constitute the sealing surfaces of this MUS. Optionally one or more elongated bulges, not shown, disposed across one of the sealing surfaces provide for an enhanced pressure exerted on a relatively small area within the other sealing surface thereby improving the level of sealing provided by MUS 25. When pincher 22 is rotated towards flap 26 edges 20 are inwardly compressed whilst they slide downwards across skewed surfaces 28 concomitantly with a respective compression of walls 24 up to the point in which edges 20 are sprung into both respective grooves. Therefore the elastic forces exerted by stressed walls 24 and pincher 22, which remains compressed at this position, seal aperture 30 by pressing both inner surfaces of walls 24 one against the other.
Alternatively the sidewalls of the frame of a MUS can have such bulges whereas the mating grooves are disposed on the surface of the pincher. In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention a MUS that is similarly applicable to a filled package is shown in Fig. 1C. Covering pincher 32 is pivotally attached to sidewalls 34 of frame 35 of MUS 36 at one of the frame's ends. The spacing between the deepest lines along grooves 37 symmetrically located on the inner surfaces of the sidewalls of covering pincher 32 is somewhat smaller than the maximal width of the top of both sidewalls 34 when disposed adjacent to each other and when the covering pincher and the walls are unstressed. The inner surfaces of sidewalls 34 constitute the sealing surfaces of this MUS. Therefore in a closed position as is shown, both walls as well as the covering pincher are respectively compressed. The elastic forces originated by the compressed units, which are exerted on each wall in opposing directions press both sealing surfaces one against the other thereby sealing aperture 38. Slopes 39 of the inner surface of the sidewalls of covering pincher 32 provide for downwardly sliding it along the edges of walls 34 until these edges are sprung into grooves 37 when are faced. On the other hand rotating covering pincher 32 in the opposite direction causes these edges to be sprung off back to their uncompressed state when they face the clearance originated by slopes 39. MUS 36 is made of plastic resin, such as LDPE or polyurethane,
by employing respective molds for skirted frame 35 and pincher 32. Alternatively the skirted walls as well as pincher 32 can be separately extruded and then two skirted walls are further connected into an integral frame onto which pincher 32 is respectively hinged.
In Figs 2A - 2B a MUS according to another preferred embodiment of the invention is shown attached to a packing bag whilst being in a closed and an open positions respectively. A flap skirting the frame of MUS 40 extends into packing bag 42 along the direction of the walls of the frame and of the respective walls of packing bag 42. The flap is adhered and/or heat-sealed to the inner surface of packing bag 42, as is known in the art, such that the aperture of MUS 40 forms a continuum with the lumen of packing bag 42. Pincher 44 compresses wall 46 against the other wall of the frame of MUS 40. For opening the bag and accessing its content, pincher 50 is first sprung off grooves 52 externally disposed on walls 54 by rotating it in the direction of arrow 56. Bending its respective walls outwards by pressing the opposing ends of MUS 57 one against the other in the direction of arrows 58 and 59 opens MUS 57. Flap 60 is attached, as described hereinabove, to the inner surface of packing bag 62. Optionally one or more elongated bulges, such as bulge 64, are disposed on the sealing surface of walls 54. These bulges provide for an enhanced pressure to be exerted across a substantially reduced area of the sealing surface of the opposite wall, thereby improving the level of sealing provided by MUS 57.
In Fig. 3 an isometric view of a MUS suitable for adhering onto filled packages according to another preferred embodiment is shown. MUS 110 has laterally extending flap 112 providing for its adhering to a surface of a package. A plurality of tubes, such as tubes 114, is symmetrically disposed along walls confining aperture 116. These tubes are deformed when the aperture is closed therefore the homogeneity of the pressure exerted on the surfaces of these walls is increased. Any structure that is similarly laterally deformable, such as opened or partially opened cavities, or perforated layer disposed between a sidewall and the adjacent sealing surface can according to the present
invention substitute tubes 114. These tubes as well as such structured layers are referred to hereinafter as tubes. The forces exerted by the deformed tubes are applied in addition to the restoring forces exerted by the outwardly bent elastic sidewalls 118. Therefore, the level of sealing is substantially increased. Such MUSs can be adhered to surfaces of the wrapping of packages by a user similarly to the adhering of a self-adhesive label or a sticker. First he/she peels off the foil covering the bottom of the MUS and then presses the bottom flap against the surface at the targeted area. Prior to the first use, the user cuts an opening in the wrapping of the package through the opened aperture of the MUS, such as by means of a cutting knife, after the adhering of the MUS to the package is accomplished. Optionally a securing strip or lock, which is similar to the known temper evident locks, secures the topside of the MUS, such that a risk of unintentionally cutting open a package is minimized.
In Figs 4A - 5B MUSes in which internal surfaces of the wrapping constitute the sealing surfaces of the MUSes in accordance with two other preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in different views and stages respectively. MUS 130 consists of two similar members 132 and 134 respectively. Each member has a male connecting bracket at one end and a female mating recess located at its other end, both are not shown. These brackets and recesses provide for fitting while both members are mutually attached. In Fig. 4B a sectional view along line BB of the MUS shown in Fig. 4A is shown. Tube 140 is disposed in front of sidewall 142. Elongated cylindrical bulge 144 is disposed in front of tube 140 at the side opposing sidewall 142. Similarly tube 146 is disposed in front of sidewall 148 and elongated cylindrical groove 150 is disposed at the opposite side of tube 146. The radius of the cylindrical groove is smaller than the radius of the cylindrical bulge. Therefore, when the elongated cylindrical bulge is laterally forced against the elongated cylindrical groove the resulting pressure exerted on a substantially small area in the vicinity of tips 152 of the groove is significantly enhanced. Optionally the cross sections of the bulge and the mating groove may have different geometrical shapes as long as the edges of the groove are similarly pressed against the surface of the mating bulge.
Normally MUSes in which the sealing surfaces consist of segments of the surfaces of a wrapping do not have a skirting flap. In such cases segments of the internal face of the frame are affixed to the wrapping of a package or packing bag, such as surfaces 154, 154A, and surfaces 156, 156A are attached to the respective external surfaces of the wrapping. In accordance with the present invention such attachment is effected similarly to adhering self- adhesive labels as well as by common adhering and or soldering methods. The respective surfaces of the male connecting brackets and female recesses disposed at the ends of each member are optionally coated with adhesive material. As tubes 140 and 146 are laterally compressible, pressing both members of this MUS one against the other whilst enclosing a segment of the wrapping of a package for their adhering can be also conveniently effected by a user. In Fig. 4C MUS 170 is shown attached to packing bag 172 such that it is disposed in a close proximity to the end of the seam 174. A user may cut the packing bag open by means of a cutting knife or scissors along the spacing between MUS 170 and seam 174. Adhering of MUS 170 to the packing bag at its edge opposing its aperture can be also accomplished during the packaging process prior to its filling with a content. In Figs. 5A and 5B members 180 and 182 of MUS 184 are sown spaced apart and symmetrically disposed at both sides of packing bag 186 prior to their attachment. Following the attachment of both members of MUS 200 to packing bag 202, such that the MUS is located in proximity to seam 204, sliding pincher 206 is forced along groove 208 in the direction of arrow 210.
In Figs 6A and 6B a MUS according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in open and a closed positions respectively.
This MUS is especially suitable for packages containing viscous liquids, such as bathing soaps. When MUS 220 is in an open position sliding pincher 222 is fully drawn aside from frame 224 whose tubular sidewall 226 when is released is outwardly sprung to open an oval aperture. Flap 228 extending parallel to sidewall 226 provides for adhering this MUS to a packing bag. In Fig. 6B this
MUS is shown in a closed position in which its sidewall is compressed into a flat
structure. Optionally one or more bulges and grooves, not shown, are disposed on the sealing surfaces of the sidewall.
MUSes which are especially suited for storing liquids according to two different embodiments in open and closed positions are shown in Figs 7A - 8B respectively. In Fig. 7A MUS 240 is shown attached to packing bag 242 typically employed for storing non-viscous liquids and/or materials or utensils that has to be sealed air/ water-tight. Its frame has two relatively high sidewalls 244 having an outwardly protruding widened strip. Both sidewalls are connected at their ends 245. Gripping brackets 246 are resiliently attached to both ends of the widened strip of both walls. Securing strip 248 is attached to the sidewalls during the production phase of the packing bag such that it covers the aperture confined by the walls. The flap skirting the aperture of MUS 240 extends into packing bag 242 and is adhered or heat sealed to the inner surfaces of the respective sidewalls of the packing bag. Following the attachment of MUS 240 to packing bag 242 the frame of the MUS is folded along folding lines 250 and gripping brackets 246 are snapped lock around sidewalls 244 as is shown in Fig. 7B. Optionally the ends of the securing strip are further adhered to the gripping brackets. To open such package the securing strip is first removed from the gripping brackets which are further snapped open. The bended sidewalls are straitened as is shown in Fig. 7A to which reference is again made. The securing strip is further released and both ends of the widened strips are pressed against each other in the direction of arrows 252 and 254. Releasing both ends of the widened strips recloses the aperture confined by sidewalls 244.
Reference now made to Figs 8A and 8B in which a MUS in accordance with a different embodiment is shown. MUS 270 has laterally extending bottom flap 272 skirting its aperture 274. Therefore this MUS is suitable to be applied to filled packages. The bottom of flap 272 is coated with adhesive material similar to those employed for self-adhesive labels. Gripping brackets 276 disposed on top of flap 278 provide for retaining the sidewalls of the frame bended at the same level. The other features of this MUS are similar
to those described hereinabove with reference to Figs 7A and 7B to which reference is again made.
Reference is now made to Figs 9A and 9B in which isometric and sectional views of a MUS according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention are respectively shown. Such MUS is especially suitable for being applied by a user onto sealed and filled packages. Such MUSes typically enclose a segment of the packing bag and are applicable to packages such as containing coffee, spices or other aromatic materials that has to be stored in an air- and water-tight sealing. The sealing surfaces of this MUS are the respective inner surfaces of the packing bag enclosed. MUS 290 consists of two members 292 and 294 respectively. Member 292 is pivotally attached to member 294 by means of a hinge disposed at one of their respective ends. Pins 296 symmetrically disposed at both sides of the other end of member 294 provide for snap locking MUS 290 in a closed position. In this position both members enclose the wrapping of a packing bag. Normally forcing both ends one against the other opens MUS 290. Concomitantly pressing both handles 298 releases pins 294 thereby snapping MUS 290 open.
In Fig. 9B MUS 310 is shown in a closed position. Tube 312 is disposed in front of sidewall 314 of one member. Elongated shaft 316 is disposed at the opposite side of tube 312. Filament 318, which is typically made of a compressible material, such as silicon or latex, is embedded in shaft 316. Tube 320 is disposed in front of sidewall 322 of the other member of this MUS. Shaft 324 has sharpened tip 326 outwardly protruding such that it presses against filament 318 when the MUS is in a closed position. Both the filament and the sharpened tip are pressed against each other due to the restoring elastic forces exerted by the deformed tubes and the bent sidewalls. Such an arrangement effectively provides for sealing by pressing an uneven layer of wrapping simultaneously consisting of two and four layers of wrapping and yet retaining the inner space of the packing bag onto which this MUS is applied sealed air/ water- tight. Surfaces of the frame of this MUS are optionally coated with an adhesive material similarly to the respective surfaces of the
MUS described hereinabove with reference to Fig. 4B to which reference is again made.
Optionally a tamper evident cover or a sealing cover attached to the frame of a MUS of the invention such that they enclose a segment of the MUS while leaving its flap or flaps open substitutes the above mentioned securing strip. Such sealing covers, tamper evident covers securing strips or locks are referred hereinafter by sealing means. Pinchers according to the invention can be slidingly or pivotally attached to the frame of a MUS or grip its sidewall such as by means of clips or fasteners. Any such pincher is applicable as long as it inwardly pinches the frame of a MUS thereby forcing its sealing surfaces one against the other.
According to the present invention manufacturers are able to conveniently convert their current regular packaging into a reclosable packaging simply by attaching MUSes of the invention to their finished products. Alternatively, they themselves or with the aid of a third party may provide a customer with a MUS for independent use. A single MUS such as any of MUSes shown in Figs 1A, 3, 4A, 5A, 8A, and 9A to which reference is again made, can be separately packaged for self-use. For attaching such a MUS to a sealed package a user first peels off the covering film and then presses the adhesive side of the flap against the targeted area within the surface of the sealed package. Alternatively such MUSes can be successively attached to a carrying strip serving as a continuous film simultaneously covering the adhesive faces of their flaps. Such a strip can be wound around a feeding wheel or be loaded into a feeding device of an applicator.
An applicator providing for automatic attachment of MUSes of the invention can be incorporated into a production line at the stage in which sealed and pre-filled packages emerge. Such an applicator is similar to the known applicators of the kind "wipe and tamp" typically providing for attaching self- adhesive labels to non-rigid surfaces. Such applicators automatically release the strip carrying objects to be attached onto the targeted surfaces from their feeding device; peel off the covering foil from the adhesive faces of the objects
to be attached; and press them against the targeted surfaces, while the targeted surfaces are moving. Such an applicator has to be adapted accordingly. In a case of an applicator having a feeding wheel, the wheel has to be adapted to bear a strip carrying larger and significantly heavier objects than the regular self-adhesive labels. The respective pressing arms and the forces that they exert on the adhered objects have also to be adapted accordingly.