CLOSABLE CONTAINER

Abstract: The application describes a closeable bag or container with an elongate opening which can be closed by movement of a closure means therealong. The bag has a lock unit at one end of the opening and the closure means has a tab which cooperates with the lock unit and with a disposable locking member to close the bag or container. The lock unit has first and second apertures. The tab has at least a first aperture which can register with the first aperture of the lock unit when the tab is placed thereon. The locking member has first and second protrusions for location in the apertures of the lock unit with the tab being located between the locking member and the lock unit. At least the second protrusion of the locking member has a configuration such that it locks into the second aperture of the lock unit. The locking member has a line of weakness running between the protrusions such that the first protrusion can be disengaged from the lock unit and from the tab in a first step and the second protrusion can be disengaged from the lock unit in a second step.

Description: CLOSABLE CONTAINER The invention relates to a closable container, for example a bag or reusable envelope, which has an elongate opening - for example a zipped opening - which can be closed by movement of a closure means therealong. The container has a lock unit at one end of the opening and the closure means has a tab which cooperates with the lock unit, and with a disposable locking member, to close the container. An envelope of the above type is described m GB-A- 1424680. In this reference, the disposable locking member has a head part, a stem part and a plug part. The plug part goes through an aperture m the puller tab of the zipper and engages m an aperture in the lock unit. The envelope is opened by removal of the head part of the locking member, which causes rupture of the stem part with the plug part being left behind m the lock unit or in the envelope . Because the envelope can only be opened by breaking the locking member, a tamper evident seal to the envelope is provided. In GB-A-2330379 a locking device is disclosed which is m the form of a keyless padlock. A locking bar is inserted into the locking device and is locked m place by means of a disposable locking element . The locking element has a locking post and a plug part, and incorporates a tear line by means of which the locking element can be split into two parts. It is an aim of the invention to provide an improved and novel locking mechanism for a container or a closable bag such as a resuable envelope. According to the invention there is provided a closeable bag or container with an elongate opening which can be closed by movement of a closure means therealong, the bag having a lock unit at one end of the opening and the closure means having a tab which cooperates with the lock unit and with a disposable locking member to close the bag or container, wherein: I) the lock unit has first and second apertures; li ) the tab has at least a first aperture which can register with the first aperture of the lock unit when the tab is placed thereon; in) the locking member has first and second protrusions for location m the apertures of the lock unit with the tab being located between the locking member and the lock unit; IV) at least the second protrusion of the locking member has a configuration such that it locks into the second aperture of the lock unit; and v) the locking member has a line of weakness running between the protrusions sucn tnat tne first protrusion can be disengaged from the lock unit and from the tab m a first step and the second protrusion can be disengaged from the lock unit m a second step. In a preferred embodiment the tab has two apertures corresponding to the two apertures of the lock unit, and the tab is only released from the lock unit, and thus the elongate opening of the container or bag can only be opened, when the steps of removing both the protrusions of the locking member from tne lock unit are performed. The second aperture of the lock unit and of the tab (if the tab has a second aperture) is advantageously shaped so as to have a narrower portion, m which the second protrusion of the locking member positively engages, and a wider portion which is wide enough to allow removal of the protrusion. The second protrusion can be moved to the wider portion for removal, after removal of the first protrusion. The opening of the container or bag of the invention is thus performed by an operation of several steps. The removal of the locking member is performed by two or three steps and this level of complexity presents an effective deterrent to a potential unauthorised accesser to the bag. A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail below by example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a closable bag or container m accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the view showing the lock unit, the end of the elongate opening, the closure means ana the tab; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a disposable locking member for use with the lock unit of Fig. 1, the view showing the locking member from the rear so that the protrusions of the locking member are visible; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lock unit of Fig. 1, but showing the tab of the closure means m position on the lock unit; Fig. 4 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 3 but showing the locking member of Fig. 2 m position on the lock unit, thus connecting with the lock unit and holding the tab therebetween; Figs. 5a to 5c are detailed sectional views showing the engagement of the second protrusion of the locking member with the lock unit; Figs. 6a to 6f are detailed longitudinal sectional views showing the steps for removal of the locking member from the lock unit and thus the release of the tab of the closure means; and Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view, perpendicular to the sectional views of Figs. 6a to 6f, indicating the construction of the lock unit. Fig. 1 shows the corner of a container, m this embodiment a closable bag or reusable envelope 1, the bag having an elongate zip opening 2 which can be closed by movement of a zipper 3 therealong . At one end of the opening 2 the bag has a lock unit 4 and the zipper 3 has a puller tab 5 which cooperates with the lock unit 4, and with a disposable locking member 6 (see Fig. 2) to close the bag. The lock unit has a first aperture 7 and a second aperture 8. The puller tab 5 has at least a first aperture 9 which registers with the first aperture 7 of the lock unit 4, when the tab 5 is located on the lock unit 3. As seen in Fig. 2, the locking member 6, which is of a generally square and planar configuration, has on one side a first protrusion 10 and a second protrusion 11 for location m the apertures 7 and 8 of the lock unit. Assuming correct usage of the locking member 6, the protrusions 10 and 11 of the locking member will be located m the apertures of the lock unit 4 when the tab is on the lock unit, underneath the locking member. Thus, the protrusion 10 of the locking member will penetrate the aperture 9 of the tab, before penetrating the aperture 7 of the lock unit. The protrusion 10 is, in this embodiment, in the form of a tapered post . The second protrusion 11 of the locking member 6 has a configuration, for example an arrow head configuration 12, such that it positively engages or locks into the second aperture 8 of the lock unit . The locking member 6 has a line of weakness 13 running across it, between the protrusions 10 and 11, so that the first protrusion 10 can be removed from the lock unit 4 and from the tab 5 in a first step, the second protrusion 11 then being disengaged from the lock unit in a subsequent, second step. The line of weakness 13 can be formed as a line of reduced thickness running from one side edge and then down between the protrusions to end close to the lower edge of the locking member 6, and so it effectively divides the member 6 into first and second parts 6a, 6b. The member 6 includes upper, side and lower lips 14a, 14b and 14c which aid proper location on the lock unit. The member also has an "ear" 15 projecting from one corner. In the preferred embodiment, the puller tab 5 has a second aperture 16, the two apertures 9, 16 of the puller tab 5 thus corresponding to the two apertures 7, 8 of the lock unit. The two protrusions 10, 11 of the locking member 6 thus penetrate the two apertures of the tab, as well as the two apertures of the lock unit. The tab 5 could, however, be truncated adjacent the aperture 9 and the aperture 16 would thus not be present . As clearly visible m Fig. 1, the second aperture 8 of the lock unit advantageously has a narrower portion 8a and a wider portion 8b. The arrow head 12 of the protrusion 11 of the locking member 6 engages m the narrower portion 8a (as described m more detail below with reference to Fig. 5) , whereas the wider portion 8b is of sufficier.- size such that the protrusion 11 can disengage from the aperture 8. The movement of the protrusion 11 from the narrower portion 8a to the wider portion 8b of the aperture 8 s described later. Figs. 3 and 4 show the way m which the bag 1 is closed. As seen m Fig. 3, with the zipper 3 pulled across the zipped opening 2 of the bag, the puller tab 5 is located on the lock unit 4, with the apertures 9 and 16 m registration with the apertures 7 and 8 of the lock unit. It will be appreciated that the lock unit has a recessed seat 17 the shape of which corresponds to the snape of the puller tab 5 so that easy and accurate alignment of the puller tab on the lock unit is achieved. The lock unit also has a mouth portion 18 at the end of the zipped opening 2 for receiving the zipper 3, a neck portion 19 communicating the mouth 18 with the seat 17 and allowing location therein of the ring 20 of the zipper 3 which connects the puller tab to the zipper 3 m a secure but freely movable manner (this connection being conventional for zio Dullers) . As shown m Fig. 4, with the puller tab 5 m place on the lock unit 4 , the locking member 6 can be pushed onto the lock unit to lock the puller tab m place, thus securing the oag m a closed condition. The first protrusion 10 of the locking member 6 passes through the first aperture 9 of the puller tab 5 and then penetrates the lock unit 4, through the aperture 7. The second protrusion 11 of the locking member 6 passes through the second aperture 16 of the puller tab 5 and penetrates into the aperture 8 of the lock unit 4 , the arrow head configuration of the second protrusion locking m the aperture 8. For the avoidance of any doubt, the arrow head 12 of the protrusion 11 engages behind the narrow portion 8a of the aperture 8 at this stage. The upper and lower edges of the locking member 6 rest on upper and lower seat portions 17a and 17b, while the central part of the locking member rests on the puller tab 5. The bag 1 is now securely closed and can only be opened by removal of the locking member 6. As will be discussed m more detail below, the locking member 6 can only be removed by breaking the locking member and so unauthorised opening of the bag is immediately obvious. The locking member thus provides a tamper evident seal to the bag. The locking members will be individually numbered so that unauthorised access to the bag will be observable, even if the locking memoer is replaced. Individual numbering of locking members of this type - so-called "seals" - is known m the art. The removal of the locking member and thus the lifting of the puller tab of the zipper is described below. In relation to Figs. 3 and 4, it can be noted that the lock unit includes two cutaway portions 21, 22, one at the upper side of the lock unit 4 and one at the left-hand end of the lock unit, opposite to the neck portion 19. The first cutaway portion 21 allows easy access to the edge of the locking member 6 for the finger of a person opening the bag. It is obviously convenient if the locking member 6 is configured so as to be wider than the tab, and so overhangs the tab, and can thus be lifted away from the tab without the user needing to insert a fingernail between the locking member and the tab. The portion 21 communicates with the neck portion 19 and the seat 17 via a shoulder 25. The second cutaway portion 22 is again to allow the user's finger easy access to the sealing member 6 and also to the puller tab 5. Figs. 5a, b and c show m more detail the location of the arrow head 12 of the sealing member 6 m the narrower portion 15 of the aperture 8 of the lock unit 4. The arrow head 12 has opposing barbs 23 which m the relaxed condition have an overall width which is greater than that of the portion 8a of the aperture 8. The protrusion member 11 is formed of a suitable resilient plastics material such that the barbs 23 can be bent resiliently inwards. In the inward position, the overall width of the barbs is the same as or slightly less than the width of the portion 8a of the aperture 8. The aperture 8 has, on the inside of the lock unit 4 a widened portion with internal shoulders 24. Thus, upon pressing m of the protrusion 11 into the aperture 8 the barbs 23 of the arrow head are squeezed inwards but then flexed outwardly to engage behind the shoulders 24 of the aperture 8. In this position, the locking member 6 is at least temporarily locked m the lock unit 4, with the puller tab 5 held therebetween. It should be noted that in Figs. 5a, b and c the full length of the protrusion 11 is not seen; obviously the length of the protrusion member is such that between the lock unit 4 and the sealing member 6 there is a sufficient distance to accommodate the thickness of the puller tab 5. Figs. 6a to 6f indicate longitudinal cross sectional views through the upper part of the lock unit 4 and m particular show the sequence of removal of the locking member 6 and thus the release of the puller tab 5. The protrusion 11 is engaged m the aperture 8, as just described, but the shape of the protrusion 10 corresponds to the shape of the aperture 7 so that it slides easily therein . In Fig. 6a is seen the puller tab m position on the lock unit 4 with the locking member 6 placed thereover, the protrusions 10, 11 of the locking member thus going into Fig. 6b indicates the first step m the removal of the locking member 6. The user's finger lifts the edge of the locking member 6, using the ear 15 and the cutaway portion 21 of the lock unit, to break the locking member along the break line 13 and remove the right hand portion 6a of the locking member away from the lock unit. Only limited resistance against this removal is provided by the strength of the break line. The protrusion 10 of the locking member 6 slides easily m and out of the aperture of the lock unit and does not lock inside the aperture (though m an alternative embodiment such locking could occur) . Fig. 6c shows the right hand part of the locking member removed. With the protrusion 10 no longer located m the aperture 7 of the lock unit and the right hand part of the locking member no longer abutting the shoulder 25 between the seat 17 and cutaway portion 21 of the locking unit 4, the left hand part 6b of the locking member is free to move and, m particular, the protrusion 11 can move across the aperture 8 of the lock unit 4 so that the arrow head 12 is located at the wider portion 8b of the aperture 8. The movement of the left hand part 6a of the locking member across the seat of the lock unit can be facilitated by the user pushing it across . As soon as the arrow head 12 of the protrusion 11 is located at the wider portion 8b of the aperture 8, that part of the locking member can be removed This is indicated m Fig. 6d and Fig. 6e. With both parts 6a, 6b of the locking member removed the puller tab 5 can be lifted off the lock unit 4, as shown m Fig. 6f , and the zipped opening 2 of the bag can be pulled open. In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the puller tab 5 may include only the first aperture 9 and may extend only underneath the right hand part 6a of the locking member 6. Thus, the puller tab 5 can be removed as soon as the first part 6a of the locking member 6 is removed. In this embodiment, the removal of the second part 6b of the locking member is not part of the release of the puller, though obviously both parts of the locking member must be removed before the bag can be closed and resealed with a fresh locking member. If the lock unit 4 is formed with an aperture 8 which does not have a wider portion 8b to allow removal of the arrow head 12 of the locking member, then removal of the left hand part 6b of the locking member may occur by forcibly removing it, thus breaking off the barbs 23 (or the protrusion itself) which will fall inside the lock unit. The barbs 23 can be removed from the lock unit by turning the bag upside down and shaking. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view through the upper part of the lock unit 4, transversely to the longitudinal sectional views of Fig. 6. This sectional view of Fig. 7 shows the seat 17 for the puller tab and the cutaway portion 21. In particular, the section shows bores 26 in the lower part of the unit which are for receiving pins of a base plate (not shown) . The lock unit 4 is secured to the bag by the base plate being inside the bag and the pins of the plate penetrating tne fabric of the bag and forcibly locating m the bores 26. The construction of the lock unit and its fitting to the bag is thus similar to what is described m GB-A-14246780. The lock unit and the base plate may be formed of a suitable metal, such as hardened steel, or of plastic such as nylon, polypropylene, ABS , styrene or engineering plastic. The zipper and puller are essentially conventional, only the shape of the apertures m the puller being new. The disposable locking members, which will generally be supplied m bulk, are formed of suitable resilient but frangible plastics material, such as styrene, nylon or polypropylene.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A closeable bag or container with an elongate opening which can be closed oy movement of a closure means therealong, the bag having a lock unit at one end of the opening and the closure means having a tab which cooperates with the lock unit and with a disposable locking member to close the bag or container, nerein : I) the lock unit has first and second apertures; n) the tab has at least a first aperture which can register with the first aperture of the lock unit when the tab is placed thereon; m) the locking member has first and second protrusions for location in the apertures of the lock unit with the tab being located between the locking member and the lock unit; IV) at least the second protrusion of the locking member has a configuration such that it locks into the second aperture of the lock unit; and v) the locking member has a line of weakness running between the protrusions such that the first protrusion can be disengaged from the lock unit and from the tab m a first step and the second protrusion can be disengaged from the lock unit m a second step. 2. A closeable bag or container according to claim 1, wherein the second aperture of the lock unit is shaped so as to have a narrower portion, m which the second protrusion of the locking member positively engages, and a wider portion which is wide enough to allow removal of the protrusion. 3. A closeable bag or container according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the tab has two apertures corresponding to the two apertures of the lock unit . 4. A closeable bag or container according to any preceding claim, wherein the second protrusion of the locking member has an arrow-head configuration and the first protrusion has the shape of a post. 5. A closeable bag or container according to any preceding claim wherein a line of weakness runs across the locking member, between the protrusions.

Inventors: BENJAMINS ARTHUR MICHEL, BENJAMINS, ARTHUR, MICHEL
Applicants: BENJAMINS ARTHUR MICHEL, ENVOPAK GROUP LTD, BENJAMINS, ARTHUR, MICHEL, ENVOPAK GROUP LIMITED
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A44B19
IPC codes: A44B19, G09F3