FR3147797A3 - DEVICE FOR GRIPPING AND CLOSING A BAG - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for gripping and closing a bag (B), comprising a first (2) and a second (3) half-parts fixed on at least one fixing section (23, 33) on respective upper edges of said bag (B), said first (2) and second (3) half-parts comprising respective first (21) and second (31) movable fins defining first closing means (4); said first (2) and second (3) half-parts, further comprising second (5) closing means comprising an opening (22) made on said first (2) half-part and a hooking tab (32) made on said second (3) half-part and capable of being inserted into said opening (22) so as to maintain said first (2) and second (3) half-parts in a stable coupling. [Fig. 1]

Description

DEVICE FOR GRIPPING AND CLOSING A BAG

The present invention relates to a device for gripping and closing a bag.

In particular, the present invention relates to a device for gripping and closing a bag of the type making it possible to maintain certain temperature conditions inside said bag.

The present invention finds particular application, for example, for isothermal type bags.

This type of bag is increasingly used, for example, in the food or pharmaceutical sector, where certain products they contain must maintain a certain temperature during medium or long-term travel and transport.

For example, when it comes to prepared dishes or foods, it is increasingly common to serve them to the consumer in a different place from where they were cooked, just think, in particular, of take-away or home-delivered meals.

However, the transport of these dishes or foods requires great care in order to avoid exposing them to heat sources that could compromise their quality and, above all, their level of safety for the consumer.

In general, foods, especially fresh foods, keep better when cold, while they deteriorate more quickly when exposed to heat sources.

In fact, many bacterial species, even pathogenic ones, are mesophilic, meaning they grow well at temperatures between 25 and 40°C and in the presence of water.

It may happen that food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms is purchased.

While it is true that the presence of a limited quantity of these pathogenic micro-organisms is not sufficient to cause serious harm to the consumer, it is equally true that the exposure of these foods to heat sources leads to the production of pathogenic micro-organisms to the point that they can cause food poisoning.

In other cases, insufficient protection against heat sources, even if it does not pose an infectious risk, can nevertheless lead to a deterioration in the quality of a food.

Dry bread, for example, does not pose a health risk, but it is still significantly less tasty than fresh bread.

Similarly, it is sometimes difficult to prevent hot dishes from cooling down when transporting them from one place to another.

We know that it is increasingly common, for example, to order dishes and food to be delivered to the home, and in order for this service to be carried out optimally, it is necessary to deliver these dishes at an optimal temperature, avoiding any cooling.

It is therefore widely recommended to take necessary precautions when transporting food.

To maintain the temperature conditions inside the bag, the closing device of the latter plays a fundamental role.

Today, there are pressure closure devices with two parts, each of which is inverted in shape relative to the other and fixed to opposite edges of the bag.

These snap closure devices are made of plastic and are generally applied to insulated plastic bags.

So, although they represent a good solution for maintaining certain temperature conditions inside a bag, they are not without drawbacks.

For example, these devices made of plastic are very polluting and difficult to recycle, because they are often made up of several materials.

In this regard, there are also solutions providing gripping and closing devices made of paper, applicable to paper bags.

These known paper-type devices provide two half-parts fixed on respective edges of a bag. These half-parts comprise a pair of movable fins capable of rotating about a horizontal axis so as to pass from a rest configuration to a gripping configuration in which the two half-parts are coupled and define a sort of handle for gripping the bag.

When the fins are in the gripping configuration, the bag closure also occurs because the two halves are coupled to each other.

This solution solves the problems highlighted above regarding environmental impact in terms of pollution and recycling, but it is absolutely not without drawbacks.

A significant drawback of known devices made of paper is that they do not always guarantee optimal maintenance of the desired temperature conditions inside the bag.

In fact, when the bag is moderately filled, this closing mechanism is not sufficient to prevent heat transfer between the inside of the bag and the outside environment, because a space is created between the two edges of the bag.

The present invention therefore aims to provide a device for gripping and closing a bag capable of resolving the aforementioned drawbacks of the state of the art.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a device for gripping and closing a bag capable of optimizing the maintenance of temperature conditions inside the bag.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a device for gripping and closing a non-polluting and easily recyclable bag.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for gripping and closing a bag which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

According to the present invention, these and other objects are achieved by a device for gripping and closing a bag.

The technical characteristics of the invention are highlighted from the detailed description below, with reference to the appended drawings illustrating embodiments by way of non-limiting example, in which:
illustrates a side view of two half-parts of a device for gripping and closing a bag according to the present invention,
illustrates a perspective side view of a bag gripping and closing device applied to said bag,
illustrates a perspective view from above of a bag gripping and closing device applied to said bag.

By reference 1, there has been indicated, generically, a device for gripping and closing a bag according to the present invention, hereinafter also simply referred to as device 1.

The device 1, object of the present invention, comprises a first 2 and a second 3 half-part which can be fixed at least on a section 23, 33 of fixing on respective upper edges of the bag B.

Essentially, these half-parts 2 and 3 can be fixed, along a section made on their outer surfaces, on inner parts of the bag B made near the respective upper edges.

Advantageously, the fixing sections 23 and 33 are fixed to the upper edges of the bag B by gluing.

Alternatively, fixing sections 23 and 33 are fixed to upper edges of bag B by heat sealing.

Alternatively, fixing sections 23 and 33 are fixed to upper edges of bag B by heat fusion.

The method of attachment varies depending on the material used to manufacture device 1 and bag B.

The first 2 and second 3 half-parts have respective internal surfaces for reciprocal coupling.

Essentially, during use, when the two halves 2 and 3 are coupled, the bag B is completely closed, and the device 1 prevents any heat transfer between the inner space of the bag B and the external environment.

In particular, by avoiding any heat transfer between the inner space of bag B and the external environment (in both directions), any consequent cooling of the inner space of bag B and any consequent heating of the inner space of bag B are avoided.

With reference to the attached figures, the aforementioned first 2 and second 3 half-parts comprise respective first 21 and second 31 movable fins capable of passing from a rest configuration in which said first 21 and second 31 fins essentially define a section of continuity of the first 2 and second 3 half-parts, to a gripping and closing configuration in which the first 21 and second 31 fins are capable of rotating in combination around an axis X of transverse development of the device 1.

Essentially, when the movable fins 21 and 31 are in a gripping and closing configuration, the device 1 defines a sort of gripping handle allowing a user to insert a hand into the space generated by the rotation of the fins 21 and 31.

Furthermore, when the fins 21 and 31 are in the gripping and closing configuration, they will essentially be placed in contact with an upper zone of one of the two half-parts 2 or 3, depending on the direction of rotation of the fins 21 and 31 around the axis X.

In such a gripping and closing configuration, one of the fins 21 and 31 surrounds the half-part 2 or 3 on which the remaining fin between the fins 21 and 31 is made, so as to couple the two half-parts 2 and 3.

The first 21 and the second 31 fins then define first closing means.

The first 21 and the second 31 fins further comprise second closing means.

These second closing means comprise an opening 22 made on the first half-part 2 and a hooking tab 32 made on the second half-part 3 and capable of being inserted into the opening 22 so as to retain the first 2 and second 3 half-parts in a stable coupling.

Essentially, the cross-section of the tab 32 has an inverted shape relative to the opening 22 so that the tab 32 can slide inside the opening 22.

Advantageously, the device 1 is made of paper.

According to another embodiment, the device 1 is made of PE.

The first 2 and second 3 half-parts have through holes 24 and 34 respectively.

These through holes 24 and 34 are able to be placed at the same height so as to identify a passage channel.

Essentially, the passage channel identified by the through holes 24 and 34 allows the device 1 and the bag B attached to it to be suspended so as to be able, for example, to display it.

The device 1 for gripping and closing a bag B according to the present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks and has significant advantages.

The first important advantage of the device 1, the subject of the present invention, consists in providing a product that is respectful of nature, that is to say non-polluting, and easily recyclable.

Another important advantage of the device 1, object of the present invention, is that it optimizes the degree of thermal insulation inside the bag B, avoiding the transfer of heat between the interior space and the external environment thereof, and therefore avoiding any heating or cooling inside the bag B.

Another important advantage of the device 1, object of the present invention, is that it is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Claims (7)

Device (1) for gripping and closing a bag (B), comprising:
- a first (2) and a second (3) half-part fixed at least on a section (23, 33) of fixing on respective upper edges of said bag (B), and comprising respective internal surfaces of reciprocal coupling, said first (2) and second (3) half-parts comprising respective first (21) and second (31) movable fins capable of passing from a rest configuration, in which said first (21) and second (31) fins essentially define a section of continuity of said first (2) and second (3) half-parts, to a gripping and closing configuration in which said first (21) and second (31) fins are capable of rotating in combination about an axis (X) of transverse development of said device (1), said first (21) and second (31) fins defining first closing means; said first (2) and second (3) half-parts further comprise second closing means comprising:
- an opening (22) made on said first (2) half-part,
- a hooking tab (32) made on said second (3) half-part and capable of being inserted into said opening (22) so as to maintain said first (2) and second (3) half-parts in a stable coupling. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of paper. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of PE. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first (2) and second (3) half-parts comprise respective through holes (24, 34) capable of being placed at the same height so as to identify a passage channel. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixing sections (23, 33) are fixed to said upper edges of said bag (B) by gluing. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims from 1 to 4, characterized in that said fixing sections (23, 33) are fixed on said upper edges of said bag (B) by heat sealing. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims from 1 to 4, characterized in that said fixing sections (23, 33) are fixed on said upper edges of said bag (B) by thermo-fusion.