Openable assembly with gripping aids and folding means

Abstract

An openable closure assembly including: a) a base having two end edges, a front longitudinal side and a back longitudinal side, a top surface and a bottom surface; b) an opening mechanism mounted on the top surface of the base adjacent to and spaced from both of the longitudinal side edges; c) at least one gripping aid joined to an end edge of the opening mechanism. Also disclosed are packages comprising the closure assembly. Additionally disclosed are securement loops which can be attached to the package bottom panel and into which the gripping aids can be inserted.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An openable closure assembly comprising: 
 a) a base having, two end edges, a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side;    b) a closure mechanism comprising a first portion and a second portion, mounted on said base adjacent to and spaced apart from said longitudinal sides;    c) at least one gripping aid joined to at least one of the end edges of said opening mechanism.    
     
     
         2 . The openable assembly of  claim 1  wherein the opening mechanism is selected from the group consisting of zippers, hook and loop closures, adhesive fasteners and perforations.  
     
     
         3 . The openable assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gripping aids are in the shape of spheres.  
     
     
         4 . The openable assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gripping aids are in the shape of cubes.  
     
     
         5 . The openable assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gripping aids include adhesives and/or hooking loop fastening elements.  
     
     
         6 . A package with an opening comprising: 
 a) a first panel having a first longitudinal edge and a second panel having a second longitudinal edge;    b) an openable closure assembly having a first end edge and a second end edge and comprising a closure mechanism including a first portion and a second portion;    c) at least one gripping aid joined to at least one of said end edges of said closure assembly.    
     
     
         7 . The package according to  claim 6  wherein the closure assembly additionally comprises a base joined between the first portion and the first panel and the second portion and the second panel.  
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the first and second portions extend beyond the first and second panels such that at least one of the end edges of the closure assembly is located outwardly from the opening.  
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8  wherein the gripping aid is disposed adjacent the end edge outward from the opening.  
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the opening mechanism is selected from the group consisting of zippers, hook and loop closures, adhesive fasteners and perforations.  
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the gripping aids are generally in the shape of spheres.  
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the gripping aids are generally in the shape of cubes.  
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the gripping aids include adhesives and/or hooking loop fastening elements.  
     
     
         14 . A package comprising: 
 a) a first panel having a first longitudinal edge and a second panel having a second longitudinal edge;    b) a bottom panel;    c) a closure assembly comprising: 
 i) a base having, two end edges, a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side, said base being joined to and extending beyond said first and second panels;  
 ii) a closure mechanism comprising a first portion and a second portion, mounted on said base adjacent to and spaced apart from said longitudinal sides;  
 iii) at least one gripping aid joined to at least one of the end edges of said closure assembly.  
   d) at least one securement loop joined to the package which is capable of interacting with the gripping aid.    
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14  wherein said package is reusable.  
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 14  wherein said package is disposable.  
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the opening mechanism is selected from the group consisting of zippers, hook and loop closures, adhesive fasteners and perforations.  
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the gripping aids are generally in the shape of spheres.  
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the gripping aids are generally in the shape of cubes.  
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the gripping aids include adhesives and/or hooking loop fastening elements.  
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the gripping aid interacts with the securement loop so as to hold at least a portion of the package in a folded configuration.  
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the folded configuration of the package is substantially parallelepipedal.  
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the package contains a stack of sheets of material.