| CLAIMS
1. A releasable and re-usable tie or clasp, for the temporary closure of a plastics bag, comprising:-
(i) a planar, or generally planar body, having a perimeter and being of thin-walled multi-directional tear-resistant synthetic plastics construction, so as to provide tear- resistant flexibility;
(ii) an aperture provided centrally of the body and of relatively small dimension(s) compared with that or those of the body; and
(iii) at least two mutually spaced-apart slits intersecting the central aperture and extending towards the perimeter of the body to define therebetween a flexible tongue which terminates in a convex edge defining at least a portion of the aperture.
2. A tie or clasp as claimed in Claim 1, provided with four radially extending slits or slots at 90° spacing, such that the central aperture is a four sided through hole having four convex sides.
3. A tie or clasp as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, of 750 micron thickness.
4. A tie or clasp as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, of 600 micron thickness.
5. A tie or clasp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body member is circular.
6. A tie or clasp as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the body member is of 60mm diameter.
7. A tie or clasp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body member is produced in a co-extruded plastics.
8. A tie or clasp as claimed in Claims 1 to 6, wherein the body member is produced from a plastics that is a mix of polyethylene and polypropylene to provide tear- resistance.
9. A tie or clasp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body member is produced by blanking out from sheet plastics.
10. A releasable and re-usable tie or clasp, comprising a planar, or generally planar body, having a perimeter and being of thin-walled tear-resistant synthetic plastics single curved slit, with ends of the slit stopping short of the perimeter of the clasp, and exhibiting a hook-like return slit of relatively short length.
11. A tie or clasp as claimed in Claim 10, produced in closed cell polyethylene.
12. A tie or clasp as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11 , which is disc-like.
13. A tie or clasp as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 12, having a diameter of approximately 50-80cm.
14. A tie or clasp as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 13, having a thickness of approximately 8 mm. |
Title of the Invention
Tie or clasp for a plastics bag etc Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tie or clasp either for temporarily fitting to an article e.g. for closing the neck of a plastics bag or for use as a connector for two adjacent items such as cords or wires, or two adjacent ends of a belt, and hence being releasable and re-usable, or for permanent fitting to an article e.g. for closing a refuse bag. Background of the Invention
Plastics bags of polythene are distributed in large numbers by supermarkets and other retail outlets, and in more recent times steps have been taken to reduce the number of plastics bags issued and/or to encourage their re-use.
Whilst the handles of plastics bags may simply be knotted together to prevent inadvertent loss of contents e.g. whilst being transported in a car boot, the undoing of a knot frequently results in destruction of the bag by producing one or more tears, thereby precluding re-use.
With a view to avoiding the dexterity required in knotting and unknotting plastics bags, and the inevitable destruction of a not insignificant proportion of bags, thereby preventing their re-use as rubbish bags e.g. to line a domestic pedal bin, various proposals have been made to design a simple and cheap tie or clasp, as described for instance in US 3820200, US 5381588 and JP 9-77095. With the first mentioned proposal the tie or clasp is disc-like having a central aperture from which extend an array of radial slits with a concave surface between adjacent slits and with the slits terminating in a rounded aperture aimed at preventing propagation of a tear. With the second mentioned proposal tear propagation is dealt with by providing an orthogonal, short length slit at the terminal end of each principal slit, whilst no central aperture is
provided. With the third proposal the problem of tear is dealt with by providing a thicker perimeter rim.
For various technical reasons none of the above type of proposals has found wide use particularly for either the temporary closure of a plastics bag, without damage to the bag upon removal of the tie/clasp, so that the bag is reusable for other purposes, such as a waste container, or for the permanent closure of a rubbish-filled bag. Object of the Invention
A basic object of the invention is the provision of a releasable and re-usable tie or clasp particularly, although not exclusively of the temporary closure of a plastics bag. Summary of a First Aspect of the Invention
According to the present invention there is provided a releasable and re-usable tie or clasp, for the temporary closure of a plastics bag, comprising :- (i) a planar, or generally planar body, having a perimeter and being of thin-walled multi-directional tear-resistant synthetic plastics construction, so as to provide tear-resistant flexibility;
(ii) an aperture provided centrally of the body and of relatively small dimension(s) compared with that or those of the body; and
(iii) at least two mutually spaced-apart cuts/slits intersecting the central aperture and extending towards the perimeter of the body to define therebetween a flexible tongue which terminates in a convex edge defining at least a portion of the aperture. Advantages of the Invention
The provision of the convex edge between adjacent cuts/slits results in portions of an article to be secured e.g. the handles/neck of a plastics bag, when partially pulled through the central aperture beingencouraged into and along the cutfelit(s) whereby the tie
or clasp is self-retaining, only being removable by manual manipulation, with the avoidance of any sharp edges (e.g. as are present in US 5381588) ensuring that there is no propensity for such edges piercing of the bag upon removal of a tie or clasp, such that the bag remains re-usable for other purposes. The tie or clasp in accordance with the invention is equally usable for holding closed, temporarily or permanently, other containers such as paper bags.
By tear-resistant is meant a plastics that resists tearing in normal use. Preferred or Optional Features of a First Aspect of the Invention
The tie or clasp is provided with four radially extending slits or slots at 90° spacing, such that the central aperture is a four sided through hole having four convex sides.
The body member is of 600 micron thickness.
The body member is of 200 -750 micron thickness.
The body member is circular. The body member is of 60mm diameter with total cut/slit no more than 70% of dia.
The body member is produced in a co-extruded plastics.
The body member is produced from a plastics that is a mix of polyethylene and polypropylene to provide tear-resistance.
The body member is produced by blanking out from sheet plastics. Summary of a Second Aspect of the Invention
According to the present invention there is provided a releasable and re-usable tie or clasp, comprising a planar, or generally planar body, having a perimeter and being of flexible tear-resistant synthetic plastics in which is provided a single curved cut/slit, with ends of the cut/slit stopping short of the perimeter of the body, and exhibiting a hook-like return cut/ slit of relatively short length.
Preferred or Optional Features of a Second Aspect of the Invention
The tie or clasp is produced in closed cell polyethylene. The tie or clasp is disc-like.
The tie or clasp has a diameter of approximately 50-80cm. The tie or clasp has a thickness of approximately 8 mm.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows disc shape with planar or generally planar body with at least 2 mutually spaced apart slits with hole having 4 convexed sides.
Figure 2 shows disc shape with planar or generally planar body with at least 4 mutually spaced apart slits with hole having 4 convexed sides
Figure 3 shows square shape with planar or generally planar body with at least 2 mutually spaced apart slits with hole having 4 convexed sides.
Figure 4 shows square shape with planar or generally planar body with at least 4 mutually spaced apart slits.
A further embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 5 disc shape with planar or generally planar body with at least 1 curved slit exhibiting a * upward curving hook like return slit of relatively short length.
Figure 6 disc shape with planar or generally planar body with at least 1 curved slit exhibiting a downward curving hook like return slit of relatively short length.
The tie/clasp shown in figure 1 ,2,3,4 of the drawings comprises a body 1 and having a central aperture 3 defined by convexed edges 4. The tie/clasp shown in figure 1 and 3 comprisies a body 1 and aperture 3 and 2 slits 2.Figure 3 shows hooked end slits 5at ends of slits 2. The tie/clasp shown in figure 2 and 4 comprisies a body 1 and aperture 3 and 4 slits 2.Figure 4 shows hooked end slits 5 at end of slits 2, The tie/clasp shown in figure 5 comprisies a body 6 and curved slit 15 terminating in an upward curving hook. The tie/clasp shown in figure 6 comprisies a body 6 and curved slit 15 terminating in an downward curving hook.