Plastic bag zipper closer

Abstract

A device useful in the closing of the zipper of a plastic bag has an elongate hollow body with one or more sidewalls. A linear sidewall slit is defined within the sidewalls. The sidewall slit is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body and runs along the entire length of the body. A closer element is disposed within the body. The closer element has a pair of opposed biased surfaces disposed proximate to one another to form a trough. The biased surfaces are spaced apart at the base of the trough by a closer element slit having a width which is the same or slightly smaller than the combined thickness of the plastic bag and zipper combination. The closer element slit is disposed in communication with the sidewall slit. In a typical embodiment, the intersection of the closer element slit and the sidewall slit forms a single L-shaped combined slit.

What is Claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device useful in closing a zipper on a plastic bag, the device comprising: 
 (a) an elongate hollow body having one or more sidewalls, a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis;    (b) a linear sidewall slit defined within the one or more sidewalls, the sidewall slit being disposed along the entire length of the body between the first end and the second end; and    (c) a closer element disposed within the body, the closer element comprising a pair of opposed biased surfaces disposed proximate to one another to form a trough, the pair of biased surfaces being spaced apart at the base of the trough by a closer element slit, the closer element slit having a width chosen to be the same or slightly smaller than the combined width of the plastic bag and zipper, the closer element slit being disposed in communication with the sidewall slit such that the intersection of the closer element slit and the sidewall slit forms a combined slit.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the trough is V-shaped.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the width of the closer element slit is between about 0.06 inches and about 0.08 inches.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the closer element slit has a length between about 0.75 inches and about one inch.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the combined slit is L-shaped.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises an end wall and the closer element slit is defined within the end wall.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the end wall is disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the sidewall slit comprises a main portion and a V-shaped starter opening.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the width of the main portion is between about 0.015 inches and about 0.03 inches.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the V-shaped starter opening is defined by opposed sidewall edges and wherein the angle between the opposed sidewall edges is between about 25° and about 35°.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the one or more sidewalls have exterior surfaces which define a pair of opposed planar gripping surfaces disposed generally parallel to one another.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the pair of biased surfaces in the closer element are flat and disposed at an angle with respect to one another of between about 15° and about 30°.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the pair of biased surfaces in the closer element are flat and disposed at an angle with respect to one another of between about 20° and about 25°.  
     
     
         14 . A device useful in closing a zipper on a plastic bag, the device comprising: 
 (a) an elongate hollow body having one or more sidewalls, a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis and an end wall disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at the second end of the body;    (b) a linear sidewall slit defined within the one or more sidewalls, the sidewall slit being disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body and running along the entire length of the body between the first end and the second end; and    (c) a closer element disposed within the body, the closer element comprising a pair of opposed biased surfaces disposed proximate to one another to form a trough, the opposed pair of biased surfaces being disposed with respect to one another by an angle between about 15° and about 30°, the pair of biased surfaces being spaced apart at the base of the trough by a closer element slit, the closer element slit having a length between about 0.75 inches and about one inch and a width between about 0.06 inches and about 0.08 inches, the closer element slit being disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body and in communication with the sidewall slit such that the intersection of the closer element slit and the sidewall slit forms an L-shaped combined slit.    
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the sidewall slit comprises a main portion and a V-shaped starter opening.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the width of the main portion is between about 0.015 inches and about 0.03 inches.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the V-shaped slit is defined by opposed sidewall edges and wherein the angle between the opposed sidewall edges is between about 25° and about 35°.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the one or more sidewalls have exterior surfaces which define a pair of opposed planar gripping surfaces disposed generally parallel to one another.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the pair of biased surfaces in the closer element are flat and are disposed at an angle with respect to one another of between about 20° and about 25°.