Reusable Bag Closing, Content Dispensing, and Preservation Device

Abstract

This application describes a new, reusable device for temporarily convening the single opening of a bag into a sealable dispenser, consisting of a closing apparatus that is held shut by a latching mechanism. The closing apparatus has a nozzle that reduces the area through which the contents of the bag may be dispensed and provides an interface for a removable cap, which serves as a preservation measure for the contents of the bag. The nozzle also provides a barrier between the contents of the bag and the operator. Previously, bags were resealed through an interlocking feature of the bag, clamping, or by thermally bonding bags of fusible materials. The new device does not require any interlocking features of a bag or any specific material properties. Further, the new device is designed for repeated use, fitting a wide array of bags, contents, and applications.

The embodiments of the invention in which the inventors claim an exclusive property or privilege  are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A new device for holding shut the open end of a bag, while providing a controlled closable pathway for dispensing the contents: two solid surfaces, joined at a pivot, having a common geometric planar surface of contact (the sealing apparatus), as well as a means to hold the sealing apparatus in the fully closed position until acted upon by an operator; a geometric feature on the two solid planar surfaces that provides a pathway for the contents of the bag to be introduced to the outside environment if the cap closing the pathway is removed; a geometric feature on the two solid planar surfaces which adds interlocking geometries with respect to the planar surface of contact; a feature to close the opening provided by the invention such as a cap or lid; and a feature that provides the operator the ability to remove the device from the bag it is effecting at the end opposite the pivot joint of the main contacting body. 
     
     
         2 . The geometric feature on the two planar surfaces, of the  claim 1 , wherein said pathway for the contents of the bag may be any type of funnel, tube, hose, nozzle, pipe, box, trough, conveyor, or slide type of geometry that can sufficiently assist gravity or vibration in dispensing the contents from the bag utilizing the device. 
     
     
         3 . The pathway of the contents, of the  claim 2 , wherein said dispensing is conducted in a method such that the operator is not exposed to the contents and the pathway is restrictive such that the operator may decide the amount of interaction of the contents with the operator or the environment by adding an attachment to the nozzle feature. 
     
     
         4 . The geometric feature on the two planar surfaces, of the  claim 1 , wherein said interlocking geometry may consist of a raised bump and lowered dimple, a raised rib and lowered channel, a raised cross-hatch and lowered cross-hatch (linear or diamond in pattern), an aligning feature with the bag, a feature of the device that creates holes in the bag, an elastic system that adds interference or tension, or rough frictional surface of any grit (or metric of roughness). 
     
     
         5 . The feature to remove the device, of the  claim 1 , wherein said removal feature may be any type of latch, interlocking geometry, over-center design, spring (torsional or compression), magnet, or adhesive material that can sufficiently produce enough force to keep the device closed during operation. 
     
     
         6 . A device that uses compressive force to seal a bag and is held closed and can also be removed by a feature of the  claim 5 , wherein said feature is opposing or adjacent to the main pivoting feature. 
     
     
         7 . The pivot joint, of the  claim 1 , wherein said pivot joint may consist of a screw, pin, ring, nut and bolt, cotter pin, interlocking rotational geometry, engaged thread, limited slider, bearing, gear, spur, shoulder, or clasp that can provide enough degrees of freedom to allow the main body of the device to open enough to feed a bag through and close sufficiently to seal a standard bag. 
     
     
         8 . The feature to close the opening, of the  claim 1 , wherein said closing structure may be any type of screw cap, lid, sliding face, bold-on surface, cover, zipper, pocket, sleeve, plug, case, seal, wrapping (including adhesive), or iris-like closing feature.