Tie sleeve for forming an enclosure from a sheet

Abstract

A device and method for assembling a pouch from a sheet material, including a hollow body with a passage formed therethrough and a slot extending across a width of the hollow body configured to receive a tying piece, wherein a sheet material may be placed through the passage of the hollow body so that a necking portion is formed in the sheet material by wrapping the ends of the tying piece at the slot around the sheeting material and securing the ends of the tying piece together, after which a pouch is formed from the sheet material and the tying device that may be removed from the device.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device for assembling a pouched product, comprising:
 a hollow body forming a passage therethrough extending in a height direction, the hollow body including a top portion, a bottom portion, and a connecting portion,   the top portion including a first rim, the first rim surrounding a first hole extending through the top portion,   the bottom portion including an upper section and a lower section, the upper section comprising a second rim, the second rim surrounding a second hole extending through the bottom portion, and   the connecting portion connecting the top portion to the upper section of the bottom portion such that the first rim is maintained above the second rim with the first hole maintained in alignment with the second hole, and such that a gap is formed between a lowermost circumferential edge of the first rim and an uppermost circumferential edge of the second rim,   the gap forming a slot extending across a width of the hollow body from the connecting portion to opposite edges of the lowermost circumferential edge of the first rim and the uppermost circumferential edge of the second rim, the width occupying most of a cross-sectional area of the passage in a width direction.   
     
     
         2 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the top-portion and the bottom portion are each funnel-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the hollow body is a rounded, monolithic structure formed of a uniform material. 
     
     
         4 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the hollow body has a total height between 3 and 6 inches, and the width of the slot extends across at least 70% of the cross-sectional area of the passage in the width direction. 
     
     
         5 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the hollow body is formed of a uniform molded material. 
     
     
         6 . The device in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the uniform material is ceramic. 
     
     
         7 . A device for assembling a pouched product, comprising:
 a top portion including a first rim, the first rim surrounding a first hole extending through the top portion;   a bottom portion including an upper section and a lower section, the upper section comprising a second rim, the second rim surrounding a second hole extending through the upper section; and   a connecting portion for connecting the top portion to the upper section of the bottom portion such that the first rim is maintained above the second rim to form a passage extending in a height direction, and such that a gap is formed between a lowermost circumferential edge of the first rim and an uppermost circumferential edge of the second rim, the gap forming a slot extending across a width of a cross-sectional area of the passage in a width direction.   
     
     
         8 . The device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the first rim is funnel-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the second rim is funnel-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the width of the slot extends across at least 70% of the cross-sectional area of the passage in the width direction. 
     
     
         11 . The device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the second hole extends vertically through the bottom portion from the upper section to the base to form a cavity surrounded by an inner surface of the bottom portion. 
     
     
         12 . The device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein a vertical length of the bottom portion is greater than a vertical length of the top portion, and the base is configured to stand freely upon a surface. 
     
     
         13 . The device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the second hole extends vertically through the bottom portion from the upper section to the base to form a cavity surrounded by an inner surface of the bottom portion. 
     
     
         14 . The device in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the second hole extends vertically through the entirety of the bottom portion, a bottom-most edge of the base forming a third rim surrounding a third hole in vertical alignment with the second hole. 
     
     
         15 . The device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the device is suitable for assembling a party favor. 
     
     
         16 . A method for assembling a pouched product, comprising:
 providing an assembly device, the assembly device including a top portion including a first rim, the first rim surrounding a first hole extending through the top portion, a bottom portion including an upper section and a lower section, the upper section comprising a second rim, the second rim surrounding a second hole extending through the upper section, and a connecting portion for connecting the top portion to the upper section of the bottom portion such that the first rim is maintained above the second rim to form a passage extending in a height direction, and such that a gap is formed between a lowermost circumferential edge of the first rim and an uppermost circumferential edge of the second rim, the gap forming a slot extending across a width of a cross-sectional area of the passage in a width direction;   inserting a length of flexible, open-end tying piece into the slot of the assembly device such that a mid-section of the tying piece rests against the connecting part of the assembly device;   placing a flexible sheet on the first rim of the assembly device such that a mid-section of the flexible sheet extends over the first hole of the assembly device;   pressing the mid-section of the flexible sheet through the first hole of the assembly device and then past the slot of the assembly device, through the second hole and into the bottom portion of the assembly device while maintaining a peripheral edge of the flexible sheet outside the first hole so that the flexible sheet forms a pouch with an opening at the first hole, a neck portion of the pouch being exposed through the slot of the assembly device;   depositing filler material into the opening at the first hole such that the filler material settles at a bottom of the pouch inside the bottom portion of the assembly device;   drawing opposite end-portions of the tying piece around the exposed neck portion and tying the tying piece about the neck portion to secure the filler in the bottom of the pouch and form an assembled pouch product; and   removing the assembled pouch product from the assembly device.   
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the assembled pouch product is a party favor. 
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the flexible sheet is selected from the group consisting of: cheese cloth, mylar, and cellophane fabric. 
     
     
         19 . A kit for assembling a pouched product, comprising:
 an assembly device in accordance with  claim 1 ;   a tying piece suitable for insertion into the slot of the assembly device; and   a flexible sheet suitable for insertion into the bottom portion of the assembly device through the first hole of the top portion.   
     
     
         20 . A kit for assembling a pouched product, comprising:
 an assembly device in accordance with  claim 7 ;   a tying piece suitable for insertion into the slot of the assembly device; and   a flexible sheet suitable for insertion into the lower section of the assembly device through the first hole of the top portion.