Abstract:
The present invention relates to a cutter clip for closing a bag package, said clip comprising: (a) a first arm having a clipping hook, at the front end, thereof; (b) a second arm, connected at its back side to the back side of said first arm, having a closing hook, at its front end, thereof, wherein said clipping hook closes on said closing hook, when said clip is in a closed position, for closing said bag package; (c) a cutting slot formed within said clip; and (d) a cutting blade, mounted within said cutting slot.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to clips for bag-type packages. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Many processed food and other products come packaged in bags which are sealed tightly with adhesives. Since the adhesives used to seal the bag packages are quite strong and cannot be pulled apart by hand, frequently the consumer tears the bag while opening it. As a result, many families nowadays store a pair of scissors in the kitchen to open such bag packages. 
         [0003]    Moreover, many families keep clips on hand to seal such bag packages after they have been opened. Two types of clips exist, one which uses a spring to force its two opposing arms against the bag, and one which uses a hook-type mechanism to clip its two opposing arms against the bag. Existing hook-type clips have integral hinges that are especially thin-walled to provide the flexibility needed for opening and closing the clip. Unfortunately, over time, clips are prone to breaking in this area. 
         [0004]    It would therefore be desired to propose a system void of these deficiencies. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a clip for sealing packages that also has cutting means for opening a bag package. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a clip that has an enforced hinge for sealing packages which is durable and flexible. 
         [0007]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a clip that has reduced defects in manufacturing. 
         [0008]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
         [0009]    The present invention relates to a cutter clip for closing a bag package, said clip comprising: (a) a first arm having a clipping hook, at the front end, thereof; (b) a second arm, connected at its back side to the back side of said first arm, having a closing hook, at its front end, thereof, wherein said clipping hook closes on said closing hook, when said clip is in a closed position, for closing said bag package; (c) a cutting slot formed within said clip; and (d) a cutting blade, mounted within said cutting slot. 
         [0010]    Preferably, an integral bow connects the back ends of the first and second arms along their outer walls. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the bow has a thickness in the range of between 0.5-5 mm. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the bow is a smooth bow. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the bow is a ridged bow. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, a hinge connects the back ends of said first and second arms. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, two hinges connect the back ends of said first and second arms. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the clipping hook, of the first arm, covers the blade when the hook is in the closed position. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the cutting blade is installed within a blade station. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, plastic may be injected directly onto the metal of the blade before the blade is placed into the blade station. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the blade station may be over molded around blade. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the clip may be manufactured with over molding, by injecting the plastic of the clip around the blade. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the blade is removable. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the blade is a utility knife type of blade. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, the blade is located on the first arm. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the blade is located on the second arm 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, at least one of the arms, has a hole therewithin. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    The accompanying drawings, and specific references to their details, are herein used, by way of example only, to illustratively describe some of the embodiments of the invention. 
           [0027]    In the drawings: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic illustration of a cutter clip, constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention, in an open position and a close up view of a portion of the cutter clip having a blade; 
           [0029]      FIG. 1B  is a schematic illustration of a person opening a bag package using the cutter clip of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 1C  is a schematic illustration of the cutter clip of  FIG. 1A  when sealing an opened bag package; 
           [0031]      FIG. 1D  is a schematic illustration of the cutter clip of  FIG. 1A  in a closed position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2A  is an expanded view of the cutter clip of  FIG. 1A  showing a blade station and a blade; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2B  is an expanded view of the clip with the blade and the blade station of  FIG. 2A  combined; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic illustration of the cutter clip of  FIG. 1A  and a cross-sectional view of the blade installed in the clip; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic illustration showing how the blade is held within the blade station; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional illustration showing an alternative embodiment of the blade installed in the clip; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4 a    is a schematic illustration the cutter clip of  FIG. 1A  showing multiple alternative locations for the blade; 
           [0038]      FIG. 4 b    is a schematic illustration the cutter clip of  FIG. 1A  showing another alternative location for the blade; 
           [0039]      FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C  are schematic illustrations of the production of one embodiment of the cutter clip of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0040]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration an alternative embodiment of cutter clip of  FIG. 1A  showing a large slot in an inner wall of one of the arms. 
           [0041]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0042]    In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. 
         [0043]    The terms of “front”, “back”, “down”, “up”, “bottom”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “right”, “left” or any reference to sides or directions are used throughout the description for the sake of brevity alone and are relative terms only and not intended to require a particular component orientation. 
         [0044]    Applicant has realized that adding a blade to the clip provides a clip which not only facilitates the opening of the bag packages, but also keeps the contents of the bag sealed after the package has been opened. 
         [0045]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 1A , which illustrates a side view of an opened cutter clip  10 , constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, to  FIG. 1B , which illustrates a user using cutter clip  10  to open a bag package  15 , to  FIG. 1C , which illustrates bag package  15  closed with cutter clip in a closed position and to  FIG. 1D , which illustrates a side view of a closed position of the cutter clip  10 . 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , cutter clip  10  may comprise a first arm  1 , a second arm  2 , an outer thick bow  13 , and a blade  18 . Bow  13  may be integrally connected to both first arm  1  and second arm  2  at their back ends, thereby providing a hinge between arms  1  and  2 . 
         [0047]    First arm  1  may comprise a clipping hook  4  at its front end and second arm  2  may comprise a closing hook  5  at its front end such that, to close cutter clip  10 , a person may clip clipping hook  4  over closing hook  5 . Closing hook  5  may hold clipping hook  4  in place while the cutter clip  10  is in a closed position, thereby preventing the opening of the cutter clip  10 . 
         [0048]    Thick bow  13  may have a thickness in the range of 0.5-5 mm, which may be thick enough to hold cutter clip  10  in a closed position and/or to minimize defects during use and manufacturing. In another embodiment, thickness in the range of 0.3-5 mm. In yet another embodiment, thickness in the range of 0.3-10 mm. Thick bow  13  may be a smooth bow or a ridged bow as shown and may provide additional flexibility to clip  10 , particularly for thick bags. 
         [0049]    In one embodiment, the cutter clip may have an integral thin hinge which connects the back ends of the first and second arms. 
         [0050]    As mentioned hereinabove, cutter clip  10  additionally may comprise blade  18 , partially shown in a close-up portion of  FIG. 1A  and shown in more detail in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . Blade  18  may be held at an end of a long slot  17  formed in second arm  2 . Long slot  17  may keep blade  18  in a protected location in cutter clip  10 , to keep it from cutting fingers, slicing the package, etc. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 1B , the user may slide a closed edge  16  of package  15  through long slot  17  and against blade  18  in order to cut open package  15 . Afterwards, the user may close cutter clip  10  on package  15 , as shown in  FIG. 1C . 
         [0052]      FIG. 1D  shows cutter clip  10  in its closed position. In this position, clipping hook  4  of first arm  1  hooks over closing hook  5  of second arm  2 . Second arm  2  may press against the sides of long slot  17 , pressing it closed and thus, covering blade  18  when it is not in use. 
         [0053]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  which show blade station  19 , blade  18  and clip  10  in an expanded view and in a combined view, respectively. As shown in  FIG. 2A , blade station  19  may comprise an elevated outer wall  25 , a side wall  23 , a floor  21  and a flexible arm  55 . During manufacturing, blade  18  may be slid onto floor  21  ( FIG. 2B ), under flexible arm  55  and snug up to walls  25  and  23 . The blade station  19  may have a semi-circle shaped hole  61  upon which blade  18  may sit, thereby to enable blade  18  to come into contact with the bag and to leave blade  18  free for cutting. 
         [0054]    The combination of blade  18  and blade station  19  may be placed into a wall slot  27  formed into second arm  2 . Second arm  2  may also comprise sloping walls  80  which may be shaped to match flexible arm  55 . Moreover, flexible arm  55  may include a protrusion  81  and sloping walls  80  may include a round slot  82  which may match protrusion  81 , such that, when the combination of blade  18  and blade station  19  may be placed into wall slot  27 , flexible arm  55  may bend until protrusion  81  may reach round slot  82 , at which point, protrusion  81  may snap into round slot  82 , thereby holding blade  18  in place. 
         [0055]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 3A  which shows cutter clip  10  with blade station  18  installed therein. Side wall  25  of blade station  19  may align along the side of second arm  2 .  FIG. 3  also shows a cross-sectional view of second arm  2 , along line AA, showing how blade  18  is held within arm  2 . 
         [0056]    It may be appreciated that a height H of the outer walls of cutter clip  10  may be large enough to hold blade station  19  therein and may also be large enough to provide strength to outer bow  13 . 
         [0057]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 3B , which is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment of the blade-station combination. In this embodiment, blade  18  may have a hole  84  therein which may match a downward protrusion (not shown) on flexible arm  55 . Thus, when blade  18  may be slid under flexible arm  55 , the downward protrusion of arm  55  may snap into hole  84  of blade  18 , thereby holding blade  18  to station  19 . 
         [0058]    In a further alternative embodiment, shown in  FIG. 3C  to which reference is now briefly made, cutter clip  10  may have a protrusion  85  formed therein near slot  17 , and blade  18 , with hole  84 , may slide into long slot  27  and may snap onto protrusion  85 . 
         [0059]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 a   , which is a schematic illustration showing some alternative locations on arms  1  and  2  for long slot  17 , through which a package may be brought to blade  18 . Location  34  may be on the outside of first arm  1 , near clipping hook  4 . Location  32  may be on the outside of the second arm  2 , near closing hook  5 . Location  35  may be on the outside of second arm  2 , near outer bow  13 . In one embodiment, long slot  17  may be located on the inner side of the first arm  1 . In another embodiment, long slot  17  may be located on the outer side of the first arm  1 . In yet another embodiment, long slot  17  may be located on the inner side of the second arm  2 . In yet another embodiment, long slot  17  may be located on the outer side of the second arm  2 . It will be appreciated that long slot  17  may be located in any suitable location on clip  10  and at any angle. 
         [0060]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 b   , which is an illustration showing another alternative location for blade  18 . Location  36  may be on the outside of second arm  2 . It will be appreciated that blade  18  may be located in any suitable location on clip  10  and at any angle. In this embodiment, clip  10  may be manufactured with over molding, by injecting the plastic of the clip  10  around blade  18 . 
         [0061]    In an alternative embodiment, plastic may be injected directly onto the metal of blade  18  before placing it into blade station  19 . In a further alternative embodiment, clip  10  may be manufactured with over molding, by injecting the plastic of the clip  10  around blade  18 . In a further alternative embodiment, blade station  19  may be over molded around blade  18 . 
         [0062]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C  which illustrate a further alternative embodiment of the cutter clip, here labeled  10 ′. In this embodiment, blade  18  may be a replaceable box cutter or utility knife type of blade, labeled  18 ′. 
         [0063]      FIG. 5A  shows cutter clip  10 ′ after molding, with blade covering  30  connected, through a thin plastic connection, to second arm  2 . First arm  1  may be formed with a U-shape  75  which may contribute to the flexibility of first arm  1 , thereby to enable it to bend more easily around thick bags. Cutter clip  10 ′ may also have one or two hinges for connecting the back end of first arm  1  to the back end of second arm  2 . Each hinge may be connected to the inner walls or outer walls of the first arm  1  and second arm  2  at their back ends. 
         [0064]      FIG. 5B  shows replaceable blade  18 ′ being placed on a floor section  32  of second arm  2 , with blade covering  30  disconnected from second arm  2 . 
         [0065]    In  FIG. 5C , blade covering  30  is shown placed over replaceable blade  18 ′, thereby holding replaceable blade  18 ′ within second arm  2 . 
         [0066]    It will be appreciated that both second arm  2  and blade covering  30  have long slots  17  and that these slots  17  are aligned when blade covering  30  is placed over replaceable blade  18 ′. 
         [0067]    To replace blade  18 ′, a user may remove blade covering  30 , take out the existing blade  18 ′ and put in a new blade  18 ′. 
         [0068]    In an alternative embodiment, shown in  FIG. 6  to which reference is now made, one of the arms, here labeled  40  may be formed with a large hole  50  therewithin. Large hole  50  may contribute to the flexibility of the inner wall of the arm, thereby to enable it to bend more easily around thick bags. The hole  50  may have close boundaries, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , or the hole  75  may have open boundaries as depicted in  FIG. 5A . 
         [0069]    In other embodiments the blade  18  may be inserted in a clip having a different design, shape or thickness. Thus, although the blade  18  has been illustrated in conjunction with a clip having a thick bow, the blade  18  may be inserted in other clip designs having different shapes and thicknesses. 
         [0070]    In some embodiments more than the one blade may be inserted in a clip. 
         [0071]    In one embodiment the clip may be manufactured with a cutting slot and without the blade. Hence a blade may be inserted at a later time. In this embodiment, the blade may be a utility knife type of blade, or any other type of blade. 
         [0072]    While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.