Abstract:
A twist-tie cluster is described that includes a plurality of twist ties, each having a wire retained within a strip of material, wherein a cut is made in each of said wires between said first end and said second end, and where an uncut portion of the material connects the twist ties. A connecting means connects first segments of the twist ties together. A twist-tie dispenser is also described including a back wall and a cam member rotatable between a first position and a second position, where the second position traps the twist ties between the back wall and the cam member. A method of dispensing twist-ties is described including trapping a group of twist-ties between a cam member and a back wall.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 08/686,807, filed Jul. 26, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,434. Application Ser. No. 08/686,807 is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to twist-tie closure devices of the type which are often available in bulk quantities in grocery stores for the purpose, among others, of temporarily closing plastic bags containing produce, meat packages, baked goods, candies, etc. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Twist-tie closure devices are well known in the art and widely available. They are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use. Methods of making and dispensing twist-tie closure devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,092,830, 5,213,400, and 5,232,431. Although the methods and apparatus disclosed in these patents constitute advances in the art, additional improvements are beneficial. For example, improvements relating to the cost of manufacturing the dispensers and the effort required to keep the dispensers stocked would be useful. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a simple, cost effective, and reliable method and apparatus for packaging and dispensing bulk quantities of twist-tie closure devices in hygienic, organized, and spill-proof fashion. In a preferred embodiment, numerous twist-ties are secured together at one “common” end to form a cluster or bunch. Each of the twist-ties extends from this common end to an opposite “free” end. Each of the twist-ties includes a wire disposed within a strip of material which is typically paper or plastic. Each wire is severed a relatively short distance from the common end. However, at least a portion of the material is not completely severed—thereby allowing any one of the twist-ties to be removed from the cluster simply by pulling on the free end thereof with sufficient force to tear the material. 
     The cluster is preferably formed of several layers of twist-tie panels, wherein each panel includes two sheets of paper or plastic and a plurality of wires disposed therebetween and extending generally parallel to one another. Individual twist-ties are formed by making parallel cuts in the sheets between each of the wires and parallel thereto. Each cut extends from the free end of a respective twist-tie to a point proximate where the wire is severed. 
     Each panel includes a relatively small span of uncut sheets extending from the point proximate where the wires are severed to the common end. In this manner, approximately one thousand twist-ties may be presented for use within a space of only a few cubic inches. Many advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description that follows. 
     A twist-tie dispenser is also described including a back wall and a cam member rotatable between a first position and a second position to trap a group of twist-ties between the back wall and the cam member. The dispenser may include opposing side walls supporting the cam member. Further, the dispenser may include a front wall and/or a top wall. The dispenser may be used in combination with the twist-tie cluster of the present invention or the dispenser and cluster may be used independently. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     With reference to the Figures wherein like numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout several views: 
     FIG. 1 is an metric view of a twist-tie cluster constructed according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the twist-tie cluster of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a twist-tie dispenser constructed according to the principles of the present invention holding a twist-tie cluster constructed according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of a cam member of the twist-tie dispenser of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the cam member of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the twist-tie dispenser of FIG. 1 where the cam member is in a closed position; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the twist-tie dispenser of FIG. 1 where the cam member is in an open position; and 
     FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic top view of an alternative embodiment wherein a twist-tie cluster is comprised of several sheets each of which is folded back against itself. 
    
    
     While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood however that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In FIGS. 1-7, a preferred embodiment twist-tie cluster constructed according to the principles of the present invention is designated as  40 , and a preferred embodiment twist-tie dispenser constructed according to the principles of the present invention is designated as  80 . FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of cluster  40 . 
     In FIG. 3, the twist-tie cluster  40  is shown supported by the twist-tie dispenser  80 . This particular combination is considered well suited for use in the produce section of a grocery store. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not necessarily limited to a single application nor to the combination of the preferred embodiment twist-tie cluster  40  and the preferred embodiment twist-tie dispenser  80 , since each may have utility in the absence of the other. 
     The twist-tie cluster  40  is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 1-2. The twist-tie cluster  40  includes a plurality of individual twist-ties  41 , each of which extends from a first or common end  42  to a second or distal end  43 . As shown in FIG. 2, each individual twist-tie  41  includes a wire  44  disposed or embedded within a carrier material, which in this case, includes two strips of paper  45   a  and  45   b . Those skilled in the art will recognize that the proportions of the twist-tie cluster  40  may vary greatly according to the present invention. For example, longer or shorter twist-ties may be desired for specific applications. Longer twist-ties with a large paper area may be used where it is desirable to allow space for writing on the twist-tie. For a typical twist-tie used to close plastic bags, the detachable portion of the twist-tie may have a length of about four inches and a width of about one-eighth inch. For this type of twist-tie, the cluster may have dimensions of about 4.75 inches high, 4.75 inches wide, an about 0.75 inch deep in one possible embodiment. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the twist-ties  41  are provided in sheets  50 , each of which includes the two strips of paper  45   a  and  45   b  and a plurality of the wires  44  extending parallel to one another. The individual twist-ties  41  are formed by cutting through the paper  45   a  and  45   b  along lines  46  which are generally spaced between and parallel to the wires  44 . Each sheet  50  is then subjected to an intermittent, transverse cut along a line  47  extending perpendicular to the lines  46  and proximate the common ends  42  of the twist-ties  41 . The so-called “intermittent” cut severs each of the wires  44  but leaves a portion of the papers  45   a  and  45   b  intact. A first segment  52  of the twist-tie  41  is disposed above the cut line  46 , and a second segment  53  of the twist-tie  41  is disposed below the cut line  46 . As a result of this process, the first or upper segment  52  of each individual twist-tie  41  remains interconnected (e.g., by way of papers  45   a  and  45   b  which remain uncut), but the second or lower segment  53  can be easily torn from the sheet  50 . A method and apparatus for cutting the twist-tie sheets  50  in this manner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,431. 
     Several sized sheets  50  may be positioned adjacent one another to form a cluster  40 . Alternatively, a single sheet  50 ′ may be folded back against itself at (e.g., approximately five inches) intervals to form the cluster  40  (best seen in FIG.  8 ). A cluster  40  as used herein is defined as a collection of twist-ties  41  at least three across and at least three deep. 
     In order to interconnect the sheets  50  of twist-ties into a cluster  40 , the sheets  50  of twist-ties are clamped or held together in the region of the transverse cut  47 , and the first ends  42  thereof are interconnected. In the preferred embodiment, the means for interconnecting the common ends  42  of the twist-ties is a suitable adhesive  48  which is applied thereto. Those skilled in the art will recognize alternatives (e.g., such as staples). In any case, the “weak link” in this arrangement is the transverse cut  47 , which allows the lower segment  53  of each twist-tie  41  to be removed from the cluster  40  by a user upon grasping the free end of the twist-tie  41  and imparting a detaching force. 
     One preferred method for inter-connecting the common ends  42  of the twist-ties is to apply adhesive by dipping the common end  42  of a tightly clamped cluster of twist-tie sheets  50  into a pool of hot melt adhesive. The end of the cluster is then removed from the adhesive and excess adhesive is allowed to drip off. One possible type of hot melt adhesive that may be used is Nacan Cool Lock Food Packaging Adhesive KHM-416, made by the National Starch &amp; Chemical Company of Rampton, Ontario. 
     A preferred twist-tie dispenser  80  is shown in FIGS. 3,  6  and  7 . The twist-tie dispenser  80  is preferably plastic and is preferably made by an injection molding process, although many other manufacturing methods are possible and contemplated, such as extrusion. 
     The twist-tie dispenser  80  includes a back wall  82  and a cam member  84 , where the cam member  84  traps the twist-tie cluster  40  against the back wall  82 . The twist-tie dispenser  80  can also optionally include two side walls  86  having holes  90 . The cam member  84  can extend between the side walls  86  and can be supported in the holes  90 . In the alternative, other methods for supporting the cam member  84  can be used, such as a bracket extending from the back wall or top wall. Other cam member support devices may be used as long as they allow rotation of the cam member and allow insertion of the twist-tie cluster between the cam member and the back wall. The dispenser  80  can also include a top wall  92 , a front wall  94  and a bottom wall  96 . 
     The cam member  84  rotates between a first position, or open position, and a second position, or closed position. The cam member  84  is shown removed from the dispenser in FIGS. 4 and 5. The cam member  84  includes a lever portion  98  at one end that is grasped when rotating the cam member  84 . At the other end, the cam member  84  may include an end cap to prevent the cam member  84  from slipping out of the hole  90 . The cam member  84  also includes a trap portion  100  that is offset from the rest of the cam member, so that when the cam member is rotated using the lever portion  98 , the trap portion  100  moves closer to the back wall to trap the twist-tie cluster  40  against the back wall  82 . 
     The cam member  84  can be rotated between an open position (shown in FIG. 7) and a closed position (shown in FIG. 6.) In the open position, a first distance is defined between the trap portion of the cam member and the back wall that is large enough to allow the connecting end of the twist-tie cluster  40  to be easily inserted and removed from the space. After inserting the connected or common end  42  of the twist-ties into the space, the cam member  84  is rotated to trap the twist-ties between the trap portion  100  and the back wall  82 . In the second position, a second distance between the cam member  84  and the back wall  82  that is smaller than the first distance. The dispenser  80  is designed so that the second distance is slightly smaller than the normal depth of the cluster  40 , so that the cluster  40  is held tightly against the back wall  82  by the cam member  84 . In the second or closed position, the cam member can rest against a stop  104  that extends from the side wall  86 . 
     The cam member shown in FIGS. 4-5 is a preferred embodiment, but different types of devices may be used to trap the twist-ties against the back wall according to the present invention. Alternatives to the illustrated cam member include other devices capable of moving laterally away from and toward the back wall or other devices for translating rotational motion into lateral motion. Preferably, the cam member  84  is stainless steel. 
     The top wall  92  may be configured to fit into a support base (not shown). For example, a support base could be used where two twist-tie dispensers  80  are held by the same support base, with the back walls  82  contacting each other. In the alternative, a support base may attach to the bottom wall  96  of one or two dispensers  80 . Also other types of dispensers could be attached to the top wall or bottom wall of the dispenser. For example, a coupon dispenser could be attached to the bottom wall of the twist-tie dispenser where the twist-tie dispenser is used in a grocery store. A notch  102  at the juncture between the back wall  82  and the bottom wall  96  may accommodate attachment of a support base or additional dispenser, for example. 
     Holes (not shown) may be formed through the rear wall  82  to facilitate mounting of the dispenser  80  to a wall, to another support, or to another dispenser by means of screws or other fasteners. It will be appreciated that such holes may preferably be formed through rear wall  82  after the dispenser is formed. 
     A preferred dispenser may have a back wall about 5-6 inches wide and 5-6 inches high, most preferably 5.25 inches wide and 5.25 inches high. The depth of the preferred dispenser may be about 1.75 inches. However, where a larger twist-tie or flag twist-tie is used to accommodate writing on the twist-tie, the dispenser may be about seven inches high in one embodiment. 
     The present invention also provides methods of arranging twist-ties into clusters. In one such method, a sheet of twist-ties has parallel wires disposed within a carrier material. The wires are severed proximate first ends thereof, and the carrier material is cut between the parallel wires from second, opposite ends to where the wires are severed. The sheet back is preferably sized according to the width of the dispenser  80 , or may alternatively be folded against itself more than once at relatively equal intervals. In the latter case, the first ends of the wires on discrete folded back portions of the sheet are interconnected by an adhesive. 
     Another such method facilitates arrangement of twist-ties into a cluster at least three twist-ties across and at least three-twist ties deep. The twist-ties have a wire disposed within a carrier material and are arranged to extend generally parallel to one another. The twist-ties are interconnected at one end by an adhesive, and the wire of each twist-tie is severed proximate the interconnected end, so that a person can pull on an opposite, free end of any of the twist-ties to remove it from the cluster. 
     The twist-tie cluster, with or without the dispenser, provides a compact and cost effective arrangement of twist-ties suitable for presentation at a point of purchase. The twist-ties can be provided in relatively large quantities with relatively little inconvenience. 
     The present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments and applications. Yet the foregoing description will enable those skilled in the art to recognize additional embodiments and applications of and for the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the extent of the following claims.