US2166885A - Airtight receptacle - Google Patents

Description

July 18, 1989. J. l. WISEMAN 2,188,888

AIRTIGHT RECEPTACLE Filed March 28, 1988 Ulf? Patented July 1s, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y 1 Claim.

cles, such as tobacco pouches, brief cases, pocketbooks, bill folds, ladies hand bags and the compartments thereof, overnight bags and various 5 kinds of luggage but more especially to the closing means therefor.

It is well known that the tobacco.. stored in a container, in the form of a pouch including a slidable closure of the Zipper type is open to the l0 objection that it has a tendency to-becqme dry caused by air entering the pouch through the open spaces between the prongs or teeth forming elements of the closure and further after the pouch has been opened, the user is then required to separate the walls of the pouch, which is also objectionable to form a passage of a size to permit of the bowl of the pipe to be inserted into the pouch to scoop up tobacco. It is the aim of this invention to provide, in a manner as .10 hereinafter set forth, a receptacle having means to overcome the aforesaid objections.

Itis also well known that when a Zipper closure is operated in connection with containers or receptacles, such as brief cases, ladies handl bags. the

compartments of the latter, pocketbooks, bill folds, overnight Ibags and various kinds of luggage, there is often a tendency of the contents of the container to creep out of the opening and engage in the prongs or teeth and in the slide of the Zipper, which is very objectionable, which results in making the operating of the slide hard and oftentimes when opening or closing the Zipper is forced, it causes the Zipper to get out of commission and in many instances to break. It

is another aim of this invention to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a means to overcome the forcing .of the Zipper when opening and closing it.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a container or receptacle with a closure means acting es a seal when the container is closed to prevent the contents of the latter from seeping out, when such contents are of powdered or granulative form to prevent a messy'formation exteriorly of the container, when the latter is stored in a ladys hand bag or in the pocket of a garment.

One of the principal aims of the invention is to Provide a pouch, or similar container having an vA outer closure means of the well known Zipper type and an inner closure means associated with said Zipper for preventing interference of the contents of the container with the operation of the Zipper at all times.

The invention further aims to provide, in a This invention relates to containers or receptamanner to be referred to, a container which will be substantially air tight when closed.

The invention further aims to provide a receptacle of the character referred to in which there is an elastic and resilient element adjacent each row of Zipper teeth or prongs of the two rows comprising the usual Zipper assembly, said element extending partially above the said teeth or prongs of a row and by reason of its elasticity and resiliency closely hugging the teeth of the row adjacent one side vof the latter and acting to prevent contact of thev contents of the receptacle with said teeth.

It is a common expedient at the present time to provide various receptacles 'with a slide fastener of the Zipper type for a readily opening and closing means, but one of the greatest difficulties with this type of a receptacle is in preventing the teeth or prongs of the fastener from becoming fouled by the contents of the receptacle and thus injuring the contents as well as destroying the efflciencyof the fastener.l In the present invention the Zipper type fastener has secured adjacent each row of teeth or prongs an elastic and resilient element which may be entirely a flat 25 strip of rubber or a piece of rubberized fabric. The element has a tendency to flatten out at all times and in exercising this tendency it provides a guarding wall adjacent the teeth. Thus, when a part of the contents of the receptacle projects out of the receptacle it ls 4actually encompassed between the two walls which are provided by the resilient elements and when the Zipper is pulled shut, the two elements are forced down into closed overlapping position end away from the 35 walls of the Zipper, which has the effect of forcing the contents of the bag back into the same. There have been provided means heretofore for providing a substantially air tight closure, but

not one of these means Where the two eventually 40 overlying elements so secured at each end as to insure of their perfect operation to force the contents of the receptacle inwardly should they happen to project and at the same time provide an air tight seal. 45

Embodying the foregoing aims essentially and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the 50 accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

The several structural features of the invention are illustrated by way of example in connection with a receptacle of the tobacco pouch type.

In the drawing:`

Figure 1 is a perspective view looking towards the mouth of a receptacle, in accordance with this invention and with the mouth partly opened,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the receptacle extended and the mouth thereof opened,

-Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation looking towards the inner face of one side of the receptacle and illustrating the form` of the resilient elements,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating the parts of a slide closure of the Zipper type and further showing the arrangement of the elastic elements with respect to the rows of teeth or prongs of the fastener,

Figure 5 is a detail illustrating the relation of the corresponding ends of the elastic elements,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a closed tobacco pouch, in accordance with this invention, and

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6 of a closed ladys hand bag in accordance with this invention.

With reference to the drawing, Figures l to 6 illustrate a receptacle, in accordance with this invention in the form oi' a tobacco pouch by way of example as of rectangular contour and set up from a pair of opposed webs 9, I3 of textile fabric, leather, or other suitable material. The marginal portions of the ends and the marginal portion of one side of the webs are inturned, as at I i, arranged in abutting relation and secured in such relation by the stitching I2. This structural arrangement provides a receptacle formed of a front wallll, a rear wall i4, a pair of side walls i6, I9, a bottom I'l and an open top or mouth Il.

The pouch 9 -has secured thereto a slidable closure of the'Zipper type for opening and c1osing its mouth. The closure as shown includes a flexible carrier I9 for the pair of rows 2li, 2| of interengageable prongs or teeth and a slide 22 for coaction with the said rows to provide for the interengagement of the teeth of the rows to close the mouth and for `the separation of the teeth of the rows to open the mouth. The slidable closure is of well known form. The carrier I9 has the parts 23, 23'l thereof secured to the inner faces and extending upwardly beyond the top edges of the walls I3, i4. i

There is associated with the walls I3, I4 com bined protecting, projecting. compressing and sealing elements 24, 25 respectively of like form possessing elastic and flexible characteristics and having parts shiftable to a position in overlapping relation to seal the receptacle when the slide of the fastener is operated in a direction to close the receptacle and then latched in sealing position relative to the receptacle on the interengagement throughout of the teeth of said rows. The elements 24, 25 have portions thereof acted upon by the slide to overlap, when the slide is moved in a direction to close the receptacle for the purpose to compress or force inwardly into the receptacle that portion of any of the contents of the receptacle which extends outwardly between the walls i3, I4 thereby preventing any possibility of such portion engaging in the teeth of said rows to impair the operation of the closure. The said parts. of the elements further act, when the receptacle is open to automatically extend the intermediate portions of the walls I3, i4 away `from each other whereby convenient access may .tion and an outer portion.

be had to the contents of the receptacle when desired, more especially if the receptacle should be in the form of a tobacco pouch. 'I'he said parts of the elements also act, when the receptacle is closed to make it substantially air tight. The said parts of said' elements have a tendency to flatten out and 'in exercising this tendency they provide a guarding wall adjacent the inner sides of the rows of teeth.

Each of the said elements consists of a dat strip 2l of any suitable material possessing the desired elasticity and resiliency, preferably such material will be rubber or rubberized fabric. The strip will be of a length to extend from one end to the other end of the wall with which it is associated. The strip will be narrow, of the desired thickness and be disposed on its lower lengthwise edge. Each strip, at each of its ends has the outer portion of the end edge cut out as at 21 to form each end of the strip with an inner straight edge portion and a curved outer edge portion 29. The outer edge portion 29 is directed inwardly from the upper end of said inner edge portion and extends to an end of the outer lengthwise edge of the strip. Each strip consists of an inner por- The outer portion provides a freely movable and extendible elastic flap having its end edges provided by said curved outer portions of the end edges of the strip. The inner portion of the strip constitutes a stationary resilient rectangular base 20 of rectangular contour having its end edges provided by the said straight inner portions of the end edges of the strip. The base 30 is of greater length than the flap 29. The end terminal parts of the bases 30 are seated against the inturned and marginal portion of the front and rear walls. The stitching i2 is employed for anchoring the ends of the bases 30 to said inturned end marginal portions'. The ends of the flaps 29 are spaced from and are free of direct connection to the said inturned end marginal portions.

Each strip has the inner portion thereof which constitutes the base 30 thereof secured to the inner face of a part 23 or 23l of the carrier I9 by spaced rows of stitching 3|, 32. The flaps 29 of said strips extend beyond the inner sides of the rows of teeth or prongs oi' the closure. Each end terminal portion 33 of the flap 29 of the element 24 permanently overlaps the corresponding end terminal portion of the flap 29 of the element 25.

When the slide of the closure is moved in a direction to close the receptacle, the portions of the flaps 29 between the overlapped end terminal portions of said aps are moved to overlapping relation to provide the protecting, compressing and sealing functions for the elements 24, 25. When the closure is operated to open the receptacle, the said portions of the flaps 29 between the overlapped end terminal portions of the latter are automatically moved from overlapped relation to provide the projecting function of elements 24, 2l, as well for protecting the rows of teeth or prongs of the closure.

With reference to Figure 7, a ladys hand bag in accordance with this invention isindicated at 34.

What I claim is:

In a sealing means for a receptacle of that type formed of a pair of sections having their end marginal portions and a side portion thereof inturned and secured together inV abutting relation throughout to provide the receptacle with an entrance, said receptacle being formed with a closure for said entrance of the slide fastener l type including parts secured to the inner faces of of strip-like form adapted to be positioned against the inner faces of said parts, each of said elements has the outer portion of its end edges cut out to form each end edge of the strip with an inner straight edge Aportion and a curved outer edge portion directed inwardly from the upper end of said inner edge portion to an end of the outer lengthwise edge of the strip, each of said strips including anlinner portion and an outer portion, said outer portion providing a freely movable and extendible elastic flap having its end edges provided by the said curved outer edge portions of the end edges of the strip, said inner portion constituting a stationary rectangular base having its end edge provided by said straight inner edge portions of the end edges of the strip, one of said flaps being extended outwardly beyond the other to overlap the latter in superimposed relation throughout when the entrance is closed to seal the receptacle, said flaps being of less length than-said bases and having their end edges provide clearances for the outer portions of the ends of said elements relative to the upper termini of the said inturned end marginal portions, means for securing said bases to the sections of the receptacle and to said parts for maintaining the bases stationary, and means for anchoring the ends of said bases to the said inturned end marginal portions.

JACOB I. WISEMAN.

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