Abstract:
A self-closing utility bag for holding small articles includes a pouch with an upper pouch portion, a lower pouch portion, a neck portion between the upper and lower pouch portions, a top opening that is maintained in a partially open orientation, and a self-closing mechanism. The self-closing mechanism includes a first resilient strip disposed parallel to a pouch top opening at a location either adjacent the neck portion in the upper pouch portion but spaced from the pouch top opening or at the neck portion, and a second resilient strip disposed opposite the first resilient strip where the first and second resilient strips maintain the pouch in a closed orientation but having a resilient spring action that allows intruding access to an inside of the lower portion while returning to the closed orientation when the intruding access is removed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to small parts bags and/or pouches. Particularly, the present invention relates to a small parts pouch with self-sealing closure. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    There exist a large variety pouches and aprons used by workers such as construction workers, maintenance workers, carpenters, framers, and iron workers. Typically, these pouches and/or aprons are made from materials such as cotton, nylon, leather, vinyl, and the like. Each tool pouch/apron includes one or more pouches adapted for receiving a plurality of small parts, nails, screws, and other similarly sized components that are required by workers for performing their duties. In these types of aprons, the pouches have open tops to allow easy access by the worker needing one of the small parts such as a fastener. The open tops may, at times, allow the parts and/or fasteners contained in the pouch to fall out depending on the worker&#39;s movement and orientation. Oftentimes, a worker will retrieve a plurality of parts and/or fasteners for use and, in so doing, inadvertently spills or drops some of the parts and/or fasteners to the ground caused by the simple act of removing the worker&#39;s hand from the pouch. 
         [0005]    To alleviate this concern, there have been devised pouches that are self-closing. These include a waterproof case that is opened by pressure on two opposite points. Another is a self-closing, snap-open pouch that has opposed transverse creases adjacent the ends of each closure strip to insure that the strips will spring apart under a longitudinal compressive load applied to both strips at the ends. 
         [0006]    There is also disclosed a utility pouch having a self-sealing closure. The pouch includes a body that defines an interior space in which items can be stored, an opening that provides access to the interior space, and a self-sealing closure associated with the opening that prevents items from falling out of the pouch. The opening includes a cylindrical cord that encircles the opening. The closure has two opposed pieces of resilient material such as rubber, neoprene and the like that together seal the interior space of the pouch. The closure forms a generally V-shaped cross-section secured within the opening such that the top edges of the opposed resilient pieces are separated and their bottom edges contact each other in their natural state. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The prior art suffers from various disadvantages. In those self-closing bags/pouches that require a longitudinal compressive force at the ends of the self-closing strips, two hands are required. One to apply the longitudinal compressive force to open and maintain the bag/pouch in an open orientation and a second hand to retrieve and/or place small items within the interior space of the bag/pouch. In the self-closing bag/pouch that have a neoprene/rubber closure forming a generally V-shaped cross-section secured within the bag/pouch opening such that the top edges of the opposed resilient pieces of the closure are separated and their bottom edges contact each other in their natural state, the pouch must have a deeper/higher configuration from the open top to the bottom of the internal space to accommodate the neoprene/rubber closure in order to maintain the bottom edges in contact with each other in the natural state. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-closing utility bag for small parts that permits opening and access to the internal volume or space using one hand. It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-closing utility bag for small parts that includes a self-closing mechanism recessed from an open top of the pouch. 
         [0009]    The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing a self-closing utility bag for small parts that has an upper pouch portion with a top opening, a lower pouch portion and a neck portion between the upper pouch portion and the lower pouch portion where the upper and neck portions provide access to the internal space of the lower pouch portion. A self-closing mechanism is spaced from the top opening and attached within either the upper pouch portion or the neck portion. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the self-closing utility bag for holding small articles includes a pouch with an upper pouch portion, a lower pouch portion, a neck portion between the upper and lower pouch portions, a pouch top opening, and a first resilient strip and a second resilient strip opposed to the first resilient strip where the first and second resilient strips are attached to the upper pouch portion and spaced from the top opening. The upper pouch portion has a first upper pouch wall and a second upper pouch wall. The lower pouch portion has a first lower pouch wall and a second lower pouch wall. The neck portion is formed between a pouch first side edge, a pouch second side edge and the pouch top opening. The pouch top opening has a size sufficient to allow a user&#39;s hand to pass into and out of the upper pouch portion. The first upper pouch wall and the second upper pouch wall are configured to maintain the pouch top opening in a partially open orientation. The self-closing mechanism includes a first resilient strip and a second resilient strip opposed to the first resilient strip. The first and second resilient strips are disposed substantially parallel to the pouch top opening and at a location that is adjacent the neck portion in the upper pouch portion but spaced from the pouch top opening or at the neck portion. The first and second resilient strips maintain the pouch at or adjacent the neck portion in a closed orientation but have a resilient spring action that allows intrusive access to the internal volume/space while returning to the closed orientation when the intrusive access is removed. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the neck portion is formed by the pouch first side edge and the pouch second side edge converging towards each other from the pouch top opening to the neck portion and diverging away from each other toward the lower pouch portion. 
         [0012]    In a further embodiment of the present invention, the neck portion forms a secondary opening within the bag and below the pouch top opening where the secondary opening has a size sufficient to allow passage of a user&#39;s hand into and out of the lower pouch of the bag. 
         [0013]    In still another embodiment of the present invention, a protective liner is disposed on and attached to at least a portion of the inside surface of the pouch lower portion. 
         [0014]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first resilient strip is disposed with a hem formed on an inside surface of the first upper pouch wall of the upper pouch portion. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the second resilient strip is disposed within a hem formed on the inside surface of a second upper pouch wall of the upper pouch portion. 
         [0016]    In a further embodiment of the present invention, the first and second resilient strips extend over a substantial distance between the pouch first side edge and the pouch second side edge. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the bag includes a bottom or bottom panel in the lower pouch portion between the first lower pouch wall and the second lower pouch wall at a first bottom edge and a second bottom edge of the first and second lower pouch walls. 
         [0018]    In still another embodiment of the present invention, the bag includes at least one belt loop attached to the upper portion on an outside surface of the pouch. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a self-closing pouch for small parts. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  showing the preferred position of the self-closing mechanism. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the self-closing pouch taken along line  5  in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the self-closing pouch taken along line  6  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  showing the self-closing mechanism in a normally-closed position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  showing the self-closing mechanism in a position when a user&#39;s hand is accessing the internal chamber of the pouch. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a partial, enlarged, cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  showing the self-closing mechanism between two layers of material in its normally-closed orientation. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a partial, enlarged, cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 6  showing the self-closing mechanism between two layers of material in a parts space accessing position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a self-closing pouch without a separately defined bottom component. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0030]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in  FIGS. 1-11 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  show one embodiment of a small parts pouch  10  with a self-sealing closure (shown in  FIGS. 4-11 ). Pouch  10  includes an upper pouch portion  30 , a lower pouch portion  50 , a pouch bottom  14 , a first upper pouch edge  16 , a second upper pouch edge  17 , and a pouch top opening  18 . Upper pouch portion  30  has a first upper wall  31  and a second upper wall  32 . Lower pouch portion  50  has a first lower wall  51  and a second lower wall  52 . Upper pouch portion  30  is connected to lower pouch portion  50  at a pouch neck portion  60 . First upper wall  31  and first lower wall  51  form pouch front wall  11 . Second upper wall  32  and second lower wall  52  form pouch rear wall  12 . Lower pouch portion  50  defines a pouch volume or internal space  70  (shown in  FIGS. 5-6 ). Pouch volume  70  is configured to receive small parts such as, for example, screws, nails, nuts and bolts, rivets, washers, spacers, and the like. Pouch  10  may be made of polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, polyester, canvas, and the like. A vinyl coated polyester is preferred for ease of cleaning. 
         [0031]    Bottom  14  extends upward to neck portion  60  at opposed first upper pouch edge  16  and second upper pouch edge  17  forming lower first edge wall  14   a  and lower second edge wall  14   b.  In this embodiment, pouch volume  70  is formed by bonding the peripheral edges  14   c,    14   d,    14   e,  and  14   f  of bottom  14 , first edge wall  14   a  and second edge wall  14   b  to the peripheral edges  16   a,    17   a  of first lower wall  51  and second lower wall  52 , respectively. The peripheral edges may be adhered to each other using adhesives, stitching, hemming, or other means known to those skilled in the art. To facilitate carrying pouch  10 , at least one belt loop  20  is fixedly attached to the upper pouch portion  30  on pouch rear wall  12 . Although a single, wider belt loop  20  may be used, two or more belt loops  20  are preferred. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of pouch  10 . To provide pouch  10  with a more aesthetically pleasing appearance, an upper hem  22  is fixedly attached on each of first upper pouch edge  16  and second upper pouch edge  17 . A lower front hem  24  and a lower rear hem  26  are fixedly attached on each of the peripheral edges  14   c,    14   d,    14   e,    14   f,    16   a,  and  17   a.    
         [0033]    Turning now to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated a front view of pouch  10 . As shown, neck portion  60  has a length L n  that is shorter than length L o  between first pouch edge  16  and second pouch edge  17  at pouch top opening  18  and shorter than length L L  between first pouch edge  16   a  and second pouch edge  17   a  of lower portion  50 . Although pouch  10  may be made in a variety of sizes, the preferred size has a length L L  of about 9-9.5 inches, a length L o  of about 8.75-9.25 inches and a length L n  of about 7.5-8 inches. Although it is preferable and shown that first pouch edge  16  and second pouch edge  17  converge towards each other at neck portion  60 , the edges  16 ,  17  may be parallel or diverge from each other. 
         [0034]    Also shown is a self-closing mechanism  80  located within upper portion  30  of pouch  10 . Self-closing mechanism  80  is spaced a predefined distance below pouch opening  18 . Preferably, mechanism  80  is in the range of about 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches below pouch opening  18  and is made of two strips of resilient material such as metal, thermoplastic, and the like opposed to each other where one of the two strips is attached to each of the first upper wall  31  and second upper wall  32 . 
         [0035]    An important aspect of first upper wall  31  and second upper wall  32  is that there is excess material between first pouch edge  16  and second pouch edge  17  at least above self-closing mechanism  80  in an area designated by reference number  30   a  while the material to which self-closing mechanism  80  is attached does not have excess material between first pouch edge  16  and second pouch edge  17 . It is the excess material that enables pouch top opening  18  to remain slightly open to provide easy access by a user&#39;s hand to the self-closing mechanism  80 . There are various ways to provide the required relationship between self-closing mechanism  80  and a slightly open pouch top  18 . One is disclosed in relation to  FIG. 6  below. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of pouch  10  showing the inside of pouch rear wall  12  and a partial segment of bottom  14 . Attached to second upper wall  32  is second closing strip  82 . Second closing strip  82  may be attached using adhesives, stitching, hemming and the like. It is preferred that first and second upper walls  31 ,  32  fold upon themselves at pouch top opening  18  to present a soft, pliable surface for a user&#39;s hand to prevent scratching, scrapping and/or cutting the skin on the user&#39;s fingers when entering pouch  10 . One embodiment of this folding is more clearly shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0037]    Turning now to  FIG. 6 , there is illustrated a cross-sectional view of pouch  10  transverse to pouch front wall  11  and pouch rear wall  12 . As is more clearly shown, first lower wall  51 , second lower wall  52  and bottom  14  of pouch lower portion  50  defines pouch volume  70  in which small parts are contained. First lower wall  51  and second lower wall  52  converge towards each other from bottom  14  to neck portion  60  defining a neck opening  62 . First upper wall  31  and second upper wall  31  extend upwardly from neck opening  62  at a relatively smaller divergent angle. In this embodiment, first upper wall  31  has a first upper outside wall  31   a  and a first upper inside wall  31   b.  As shown, first upper outside wall  31   a  folds in a reverse direction at pouch top opening  18  forming first inside wall  31   b  that extends toward neck opening  62 . At a predefined distance below and from pouch top opening  18 , first inside wall  31   b  again folds in a reverse direction forming a first hem wall  31   c.  First hem wall  31   c  extends a predefined distance towards pouch top opening  18  to form a hem enclosure  90  for receiving and securing a first closing strip  81  of closing mechanism  80 . Likewise, second upper wall  32  has a second upper outside wall  32   a  and a second upper inside wall  32   b.  As shown, second upper outside wall  32   a  folds in a reverse direction at pouch top opening  18  forming second inside wall  32   b  that extends toward neck opening  62 . At a predefined distance below and from pouch top opening  18 , second inside wall  32   b  again folds in a reverse direction forming a second hem wall  32   c.  Second hem wall  32   c  extends a predefined distance towards pouch top opening  18  to form a hem enclosure  92  for receiving and securing a second closing strip  82  of closing mechanism  80 . 
         [0038]    It is important to note that first upper outside wall  31   a  and an upper portion of first inside wall  31   b  above hem enclosure  90  has excess material between first and second upper pouch walls  16 ,  17  while hem enclosure  90  does not. Likewise, second upper outside wall  32   a  and an upper portion of second inside wall  32   b  above hem enclosure  92  has excess material between first and second upper pouch walls  16 ,  17  while hem enclosure  92  does not. It should be understood that the side edges of hem enclosures  90 ,  92  are also attached to first and second upper pouch walls  16 ,  17 . This allows self-closing mechanism  80  to remain in a normally-closed position as shown. Even though  FIGS. 4-5  show self-closing mechanism  80  as extending along substantially the distance between first upper pouch edge  16  and second upper pouch edge  17 , self-closing mechanism  80  may be only so long as is necessary to allow a user&#39;s hand to both access pouch volume  70  and retrieve one or more small parts contained in pouch volume  70 . The length of the first and second closing strips  81 ,  82  defines a secondary access opening  83  (shown in  FIGS. 7-8 ), which is narrower than neck opening  62 . It is the self-closing mechanism  80  that prevents the small parts contained in pouch volume  70  of pouch  10  from falling out of pouch  10  when pouch  10  is turned upside down or to the horizontal position, inadvertently or purposely. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of pouch  10 . As seen, secondary access opening  83  is in its normally-closed orientation while pouch top opening  18  is partially/slightly open to provide easy access by a user&#39;s hand to secondary access opening  83 . First upper outside wall  31   a,  first upper inside wall  31   b,  second upper outside wall  32   a,  and second upper inside wall  32   b  in this embodiment defines pouch top opening  18 .  FIG. 8  illustrates secondary access opening  83  in an open orientation, which only occurs when a user&#39;s hand (i.e. the fingers) is pushed through secondary access opening  83  forcing first and second closing strips  81 ,  82  to separate from each other from their normally-closed orientation and into pouch volume  70  to remove small parts within pouch volume  70  or to add small parts into pouch volume  70 . In this view, hems  90  and  92  are more clearly shown relative to first inside wall  31   b  and second inside wall  32   b.  As previously discussed, when a user&#39;s hand is removed from pouch  10 , self-closing mechanism  80  resumes its closed orientation shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0040]    Turning now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , there is illustrated an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of secondary access opening  83  and hems  90 ,  92 . It should be understood that the thickness of the pouch walls  31 ,  32 , the self-closing mechanism  80  and the access opening  83  are exaggerated for ease of understanding the structural relationship of the components to each other. In the normally-closed orientation, the inside pouch walls  31   b,    32   b  at access opening  83  would be in contact with each other or have such a small spacing that the small parts within pouch volume  70  could not inadvertently fall out and/or pass through access opening  83 .  FIG. 10  shows access opening  83  in an open orientation when a user&#39;s hand (not shown) has forcibly opened (i.e. separated self-closing strips  81 ,  82  from each other) access opening  83 . Typically, a user&#39;s fingers would begin penetration through self-closing mechanism  80  forcing self-closing strips  81 ,  82  to separate allowing the user&#39;s hand to follow into pouch volume  70 . Because self-closing strips  81 ,  82  are biased to return to their straight orientation, as soon as the user removes the user&#39;s hand from pouch volume  70 , self-closing strips  81 ,  82  return to their original orientation causing access opening to also return to its normally-closed orientation. 
         [0041]    Turning now to  FIG. 11 , there is illustrated another embodiment of self-closing pouch. In this embodiment, self-closing pouch has no separately-defined bottom component. Pouch  10  has an enclosure  10  defining an inside space  70  (not shown) where enclosure  10  has a front side panel  11 , a rear side panel  12 , an upper portion  30 , a lower portion  50  where upper and lower portions  30 ,  50  are formed by front and rear side panels  11 ,  12 , a top opening  18 , a neck portion  60  formed between upper and lower portions  30 ,  50 , and a self-closing mechanism  80 . Front side panel  11  has a front inside surface  11   a,  a front outside surface  11   b,  a front peripheral edge  11   c,  and a front opening edge  11   d.  Rear side panel  12  as a rear inside surface  12   a,  a rear outside surface  12   b,  a rear peripheral edge  12   c,  and a rear opening edge  12   d.  Front and rear peripheral edges  11   c,    12   c  form a first enclosure side edge  16  and a second enclosure side edge  17  (not shown). The front side panel  11  and the rear side panel  12  further define the upper and lower portions  30 ,  50  where upper portion  30  includes a top opening  18 . Top opening  18  is formed and defined by front and rear opening edges  11   d,    12   d.    
         [0042]    As shown, excess material is used to form lower portion walls  51 ,  52 , which are attached to each other along their peripheries such that a pouch seam  15  is formed from pouch side edge  16  beginning at pouch top opening  18  around pouch lower portion  50  to pouch side edge  17  ending at pouch top opening  18 . As in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , self-closing mechanism  80  is contained within pouch upper portion  30 . 
         [0043]    Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.