STORAGE BAGS WITH GRIP FLANGES

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/644,161, filed May 8, 2024, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Reclosable plastic storage bags are used to hold and store many different items. These storage bags are often used for their food-safe properties and low cost to manufacture. M any such storage bags include a storage pouch with a closure along one side. The closure allows for repeated closing and opening of an entryway into the storage area of the storage pouch.

M any storage bag closures are made up of two flanges each having mating locking features that hold the entryway closed when engaged with one another. Many closure mechanisms have been developed for storage bags including slider closures, zipper closures, and press-to-close closures.

Storage bags with press-to-close closures are closed by pressing down and sliding a finger along the closure to mate the locking features. These storage bags are opened by grabbing the flanges at the top of the bag and pulling the mating locking features apart. Depending on a consumer's size of fingers and thumbs, including dexterity and if the flanges/hands are wet, they may have issues properly grabbing the flanges in order to open the bag.

SUMMARY

Plastic storage bags according to the present disclosure include a storage pouch and a press-to-close closure. The storage pouch has a front panel and a back panel that define a storage area. The front and back panel of the storage pouch are free from one another along one side to provide an entryway into the storage area. The press-to-close closure selectively closes off the entryway into the storage area.

In illustrative embodiments, the press-to-close closure includes a front flange coupled to the front panel of the storage pouch and a back flange coupled to the back flange of the storage pouch. Each of the front flange and the back flange have a base strip, a lock feature, and gripping features arranged between the lock feature and a free end of the base strip.

In In illustrative embodiments, the gripping features include ridges that extend both from an interior side of the base strip and an exterior side of the base strip at the same and/or overlapping location. This feature can form generally + shapes, diamond shapes, or other suitable shapes at intervals along the base strip. The ridges can more specifically have shark fin, rectangle, trapezoid, t-shape, triangle, polygon, crescent, or any other suitable geometric shape.

In illustrative embodiments, the gripping features can include beads located at the free end of the base strips included in the front and back flanges. The beads can be enlarged relative to the ridges so as to provide further grip for a user along with an indication that the end of the flange has been reached. Enhancements made to the features on the flanges of the closure, including ridges and beads, allow consumers to firmly grip the flanges and open the bag.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a plastic storage bag including a storage pouch and a press-to-close closure along a top edge of the storage pouch, the illustrative storage pouch being made up of a front panel, a back panel welded along the sides to the front panel, and a gusseted floor interconnecting the front panel and the back panel along a bottom edge of the storage bag;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the press-to-close closure of the plastic storage bag in FIG. 1 showing that the closure includes a front flange and a back flange each extending from a corresponding one of the front panel or back panel of the storage pouch, the illustrative front flange and back flange each made up of a base strip, a series of male/female locking features, and gripping features;

FIG. 3 is a detail view of a portion of the back flange of the press-to-close closure in FIG. 2 showing that the gripping features include ridges that extend both from an interior side of the base strip and an exterior side of the base strip at the same location between the bottom and top of the base strip, and further showing that each ridge has a shark fin shape with a curved top side and flat bottom side;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second press-to-close closure adapted for use in a plastic storage bag like that in FIG. 1 showing that the closure includes a front flange and a back flange each made up of a base strip, a series of male/female locking features, and gripping features;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the front flange of the press-to-close closure in FIG. 4 showing that the gripping features include ridges with shark fin shapes similar to those in the embodiment of FIG. 3 along with a final ridge at the free end of the base strip extends only from the interior side of the base strip;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a third press-to-close closure adapted for use in a plastic storage bag like that in FIG. 1 showing that the closure includes a front flange and a back flange each made up of a base strip, a series of male/female locking features, and gripping features;

FIG. 7 is a detail view of a portion of the front and back flanges of the press-to-close closure in FIG. 6 showing that the gripping features include ridges with shark fin shapes similar to those in the embodiment of FIG. 3 as well as beads at the free end of the base strips, and further showing that the beads are enlarged to at least twice the height of along the base strip as the ridges to provide an identifiable final protrusion along the base strip;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth press-to-close closure adapted for use in a plastic storage bag like that in FIG. 1 showing that the closure includes a front flange and a back flange each made up of a base strip, a series of male/female locking features, and gripping features;

FIG. 9 is a detail view of a portion of the front and back flanges of the press-to-close closure in FIG. 8 showing that the gripping features include ridges with shark fin shapes similar to those in the embodiment of FIG. 3 as well as beads at the free end of the base strips, and further showing that the beads are enlarged to about twice the height and width of the ridges to provide an identifiable final protrusion along the base strip;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth press-to-close closure adapted for use in a plastic storage bag like that in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a sixth press-to-close closure adapted for use in a plastic storage bag like that in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective photographic view of a plastic storage bag having the press-to-close closure of FIGS. 8 and 9 showing how the bead at the free end of the base strips can provide a visual and tactile indicator of the free edge; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective photographic view of the plastic storage bag of FIG. 14 with the closure rolled over and down along the sides of the storage pouch so as to facilitate filling of the storage pouch with a liquid, and further showing that the inwardly/outwardly extending ridges provide purchase for the fingers of a user on the outside of the bag when the rim is pinched in this configuration as well as purchase for the fingers of the user reaching under the closure to move the flanges back to their original position as shown in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An illustrative plastic storage bag 10 is adapted to store various items and is reclosable so as to allow for multiple uses as suggested in FIG. 1. The storage bag 10 includes a storage pouch 12 and a press-to-close closure 14. The storage pouch 12 defines a storage area in which items can be kept. The press-to-close closure 14 is arranged along a top edge of the storage pouch 12.

The storage pouch 12 includes a front panel 16, a back panel 18, and a gusseted floor 20 as shown in FIG. 1. The back panel 18 is welded along left and right sides to the front panel 16. The gusseted floor 20 interconnects the front panel 16 and the back panel 18 along a bottom edge of the storage bag 10. Due to this construction, the pouch 12 is configured to stand up for filling when the gusseted floor is expanded as suggested in FIG. 1.

The press-to-close closure 14 of the plastic storage bag 10 selectively seals off entry into the storage area of the pouch 12 as suggested in FIG. 1. The closure 14 includes a front flange 26 and a back flange 28 that can be engaged and disengaged from one another. Each of the front flange 26 and the back flange 28 extends from a corresponding one of the front panel 16 or back panel 18 of the storage pouch 12.

The illustrative front flange 26 and back flange 28 are each made up of a base strip 30, a series of male/female locking features 31, 32, and gripping features 34. When the front flange 26 is engaged with the back flange 28 to close off access to the storage area of the pouch 12, the male locking features 31 are inserted into the female locking features 32 to resist movement of the front flange 26 away from the back flange 28.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the gripping features 34 include ridges 40 that provide purchase for the fingers of a user grasping the front and back flanges 26, 28 of the closure 14 as suggested in FIG. 3. The ridges 40 extend both from an interior side of the base strip 30 and an exterior side of the base strip 30 at the same location between the bottom and top of the base strip 30. The results of this geometry is a general + shape being generated by the base strip 30 and each set of ridges 40.

In the illustrated example, each ridge 40 has a shark fin shape with a curved top side 41, a flat bottom side 42 perpendicular to the flange 26, 28, and a fillet 43 that extends from the flange 26, 28 to the flat bottom side 42. The fillet 43 forms an obtuse angle with both the flange 26, 28 and the flat bottom side 42 of the ridge 40. The illustrated fillet 43 extends from the flange 26, 28 about one-fourth to one-third of the overall height of the ridge 40 from the flange 26, 28. In other examples, it is contemplated that the ridges 40 may have other suitable shapes such as rectangle, trapezoid, t-shape, triangle, polygon, or crescent.

When being filled or otherwise used, the closure 14 can be rolled down to hold the opening into the bag 10 open as suggested in the embodiment of FIG. 15. The + shape created at the base strip 30 and each set of ridges 40 provide reinforcement for the flanges 26, 28 to support rolling and unrolling of the closure 14 while remaining structurally sound.

In addition, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, two of the gripping features 34 are arranged substantially equidistantly from the storage pouch 12 as suggested at reference 35 so as to contact one another when the closure 14 is closed. In this way, the flanges 26, 28 are discouraged from coming into contact and are spaced apart so that a user can grip the flanges 26, 28 and pull them apart to disengage locking features 31, 32. In addition, the equidistant gripping features 34 at 35 create a full hoop around the opening into the pouch 12 when the closure 14 is rolled down to hold the open the bag 10.

A second press-to-close closure 214 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The closure 214 is adapted to selectively close a plastic storage bag like the exemplary bag 10 in FIG. 1.

The press-to-close closure 214 includes a front flange 226 and a back flange 228 that can be engaged and disengaged from one another. Each of the front flange 226 and the back flange 228 extends from a corresponding front panel or back panel of a storage pouch.

The illustrative front flange 226 and back flange 228 are each made up of a base strip 230, a series of male/female locking features 231, 232, and gripping features 234. When the front flange 226 is engaged with the back flange 228 the male locking features 231 are inserted into the female locking features 232 to resist movement of the front flange 226 away from the back flange 228.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the gripping features 234 include primary ridges 240 and final ridges 241 that provide purchase for the fingers of a user grasping the front and back flanges 226, 228. The primary ridges 240 are located between the male/female locking features 231,232 and an associated final ridge 241 as shown in FIG. 4. The final ridges 241 are located at a free edge of the flanges 226, 228.

The primary ridges 240 extend both from an interior side of the base strip 230 and an exterior side of the base strip 230 at the same location between the bottom and top of the base strip 230. The results of this geometry is a general + shape being generated by the base strip 230 and each set of primary ridges 240. In the illustrated example, each ridge 240 has a shark fin shape with a curved top side and flat bottom side. In other examples, it is contemplated that the ridges 40 may have other suitable shapes. Unlike the primary ridges 240, the final ridges 241 at the free end of the base strip 230 extends only from the interior side of the base strip 230.

When being filled or otherwise used, the closure 214 can be rolled down to hold the opening into the bag 10 open as suggested in the embodiment of FIG. 15. The + shape created at the base strip 230 and each set of ridges 240 provide reinforcement for the flanges 226, 228 to support rolling and unrolling of the closure 214 while remaining structurally sound.

In addition, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, two sets of the gripping features 234 are arranged substantially equidistantly from the storage pouch as suggested at reference 235 so as to contact one another when the closure 214 is closed. In this way, the flanges 226, 228 are discouraged from coming into contact and are spaced apart so that a user can grip the flanges 226, 228 and pull them apart to disengage locking features 231, 232. In addition, the equidistant gripping features 234 at 235 create a full hoop around the opening when the closure 214 is rolled down to hold the open the bag 10.

A third press-to-close closure 314 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The closure 314 is adapted to selectively close a plastic storage bag like the exemplary bag 10 in FIG. 1.

The press-to-close closure 314 includes a front flange 326 and a back flange 328 that can be engaged and disengaged from one another. Each of the front flange 326 and the back flange 328 extends from a corresponding front panel or back panel of a storage pouch.

The illustrative front flange 326 and back flange 328 are each made up of a base strip 330, a series of male/female locking features 331, 232, and gripping features 334. When the front flange 326 is engaged with the back flange 328 the male locking features 331 are inserted into the female locking features 332 to resist movement of the front flange 326 away from the back flange 328.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the gripping features 334 include ridges 340 and beads 342 that provide purchase for the fingers of a user grasping the front and back flanges 326, 328. The primary ridges 340 are located between the male/female locking features 331, 332 and an associated bead 342 as shown. The beads 342 are located at a free edge of the flanges 326, 328.

The primary ridges 340 extend both from an interior side of the base strip 330 and an exterior side of the base strip 330 at the same location between the bottom and top of the base strip 330. The results of this geometry is a general + shape being generated by the base strip 330 and each set of primary ridges 340. In the illustrated example, each ridge 340 has a shark fin shape with a curved top side and flat bottom side. In other examples, it is contemplated that the ridges 340 may have other suitable shapes.

The beads 342 extend both inwardly and outwardly from the base strip and are enlarged in a height dimension along the base strip 330 when compared to the ridges 340 as shown in FIG. 7. The beads 342 can have a height dimension of about at least twice that of the ridges 240 and can have a width dimension about the same as the ridges 240. Further, in the example, the bead 342 of the back flange 328 has a height dimension along the base strip 330 of about twice the height of the bead 342 included in the front flange 326. In this way, the beads 342 provide an identifiable final protrusion along the base strip 330.

A fourth press-to-close closure 414 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The closure 414 is adapted to selectively close a plastic storage bag like the exemplary bag 10 in FIG. 1.

The press-to-close closure 414 includes a front flange 426 and a back flange 428 that can be engaged and disengaged from one another. Each of the front flange 426 and the back flange 428 extends from a corresponding front panel or back panel of a storage pouch.

The illustrative front flange 426 and back flange 428 are each made up of a base strip 430, a series of male/female locking features 431, 432, and gripping features 434. When the front flange 426 is engaged with the back flange 428 the male locking features 431 are inserted into the female locking features 432 to resist movement of the front flange 426 away from the back flange 428.

In this embodiment, the gripping features 434 include ridges 440 and beads 442 that provide purchase for the fingers of a user grasping the front and back flanges 426, 428. The primary ridges 440 are located between the male/female locking features 431, 432 and an associated bead 442 as shown. The beads 442 are located at a free edge of the flanges 426, 428.

The primary ridges 440 extend both from an interior side of the base strip 430 and an exterior side of the base strip 430 at the same location between the bottom and top of the base strip 430. The results of this geometry is a general + shape being generated by the base strip 430 and each set of primary ridges 440. In the illustrated example, each ridge 440 has a shark fin shape with a curved top side and flat bottom side. In other examples, it is contemplated that the ridges 440 may have other suitable shapes.

The beads 442 extend both inwardly and outwardly from the base strip and are enlarged in a height dimension along the base strip 430 and in a width dimension extending away from the base strip 430 when compared to the ridges 440 as shown in FIG. 9. The beads 442 can have a height dimension of about at least twice that of the ridges 440 and can have a width dimension about twice that of the ridges 440. In this way, the beads 442 provide an identifiable final protrusion along the base strip 430.

A storage bag 410 incorporating the closure 414 described above is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. In this design, the closure 414 may be rolled over and down along the sides of a storage pouch 412 so as to facilitate filling of the storage pouch 412 with a liquid or other material. The inwardly/outwardly extending ridges 440 and beads 442 provide purchase for the fingers of a user on the outside of the bag 410 when pinched. Moreover, the ridges 440 and beads 442 provide purchase for the fingers of the user reaching under the closure 414 to move the flanges 426, 428 back to their original position as shown in FIG. 14. Finally, the + shape created at the ridges 440 and the enlarged beads 442 provide reinforcement for the flanges 426, 428 to support rolling and unrolling of the closure 414 while remaining structurally sound.

A fifth press-to-close closure 514 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The closure 514 is adapted to selectively close a plastic storage bag like the exemplary bag 10 in FIG. 1.

The press-to-close closure 514 includes a front flange 526 and a back flange 528 that can be engaged and disengaged from one another. Each of the front flange 526 and the back flange 528 extends from a corresponding front panel or back panel of a storage pouch.

The illustrative front flange 526 and back flange 528 are each made up of a base strip 530, a series of male/female locking features 531, 532, and gripping features 534. When the front flange 526 is engaged with the back flange 528 the male locking features 531 are inserted into the female locking features 532 to resist movement of the front flange 526 away from the back flange 528.

The gripping features 534 include ridges 40 that provide purchase for the fingers of a user grasping the front and back flanges 526, 528 of the closure 514 as suggested in FIG. 10. The ridges 540 extend both from an interior side of the base strip 530 and an exterior side of the base strip 530 at the same location between the bottom and top of the base strip 530. In this illustrative embodiment, each ridge 540 has a triangular shape with a base along the base strip and a point spaced apart from the base strip 530. The results of this geometry is a general diamond cross-sectional shape being generated by the base strip 530 and each set of ridges 540.

When being filled or otherwise used, the closure 514 can be rolled down to hold the opening into the bag open as suggested in the embodiment of FIG. 15. The diamond shape created at the base strip 530 and each set of ridges 540 provide reinforcement for the flanges 526, 528 to support rolling and unrolling of the closure 514 while remaining structurally sound.

A sixth press-to-close closure 614 is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The closure 614 is adapted to selectively close a plastic storage bag like the exemplary bag 10 in FIG. 1.

The press-to-close closure 614 includes a front flange 626 and a back flange 628 that can be engaged and disengaged from one another. Each of the front flange 626 and the back flange 628 extends from a corresponding front panel or back panel of a storage pouch.

The illustrative front flange 626 and back flange 628 are each made up of a base strip 630, a series of male/female locking features 631, 632, and gripping features 634. When the front flange 626 is engaged with the back flange 628 the male locking features 631 are inserted into the female locking features 632 to resist movement of the front flange 626 away from the back flange 628.

The gripping features 634 include ridges 40 that provide purchase for the fingers of a user grasping the front and back flanges 626, 628 of the closure 614 as suggested in FIG. 10. The ridges 640 extend both from an interior side of the base strip 630 and an exterior side of the base strip 630 at overlapping locations between the bottom and top of the base strip 630. In this illustrative embodiment, each ridge 640 has a triangular shape with a base along the base strip and a point spaced apart from the base strip 630. The point of each ridge 640 is spaced apart from the point of an opposed ridge 640 while the base of each ridge 640 overlaps with a portion of the base of an opposed ridge.

When being filled or otherwise used, the closure 614 can be rolled down to hold the opening into the bag open as suggested in the embodiment of FIG. 15. The shape created at the base strip 630 and each set of ridges 640 provide reinforcement for the flanges 626, 628 to support rolling and unrolling of the closure 614 while remaining structurally sound.

Some storage bags in the market do have ridges to aid in grabbing of flanges, however these ridges are only on one side of the flange, preventing a secure grip. Also, bags in market to not have a bead at the end of each flange, which provides an added feature & defense for fingers/thumbs from slipping off the flange while trying to open a bag. Thus, designs in line with the teachings of this disclosure provide advantages to a user.