Granted Patent B2

US 12,589,914 · App. 18/503,270 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Inventors: Jay A. Milbrandt (Worthington, MN); Trevor Wintz (Round Lake, MN); Michael Schultz (Worthington, MN); David Schiller (Sioux Falls, SD)

Assignee: Bedford Industries, Inc.

B65D33/1658

Abstract

Claims (38)

1 . A reclosure article configured for permanent attachment to a flexible container, the article including a resilient, elongated strip comprising:

first and second tabs proximate each of first and second opposed ends, respectively;

first and second opposed longitudinal edges;

a raised bead disposed along at least one of the first and second longitudinal edges; and

a base extending between the first and second tabs and having a longitudinal center;

wherein at least the first tab has:

a first position in which an end of the first tab toward the center contacts the base; and

a second position wherein the first tab is flexed open so that the end of the first tab toward the center is moved out of contact with the base; and

a slot that includes a first cut through the strip.

2 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the first cut extends to one of the first and second longitudinal edges.

3 . The article of claim 2 including a second cut that extends to the first cut.

4 . The article of claim 3 , wherein the first cut and the second cut are mutually orthogonal.

5 . The article of claim 1 including an adhesive layer disposed on the strip between the first and second tabs.

6 . The article of claim 5 including a release liner disposed on the adhesive layer.

7 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the first cut is disposed entirely in an interior of the strip remote from both of the first and second longitudinal edges.

8 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the first cut is curved.

9 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the first cut is symmetrical about the longitudinal center.

10 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the first cut is disposed through a portion of the raised bead.

11 . The article of claim 1 comprising a grip flap defined between the first tab and a first end of the strip.

12 . A method of closing a flexible container using a reclosure article that is permanently attached to the container, the article comprising a resilient, elongated strip comprising:

first and second opposed longitudinal edges;

a raised bead disposed along at least one of the first and second longitudinal edges;

first and second tabs at each of two opposed ends of a base having a longitudinal center, wherein at least the first tab comprises a slot cut through the strip; and

a grip flap defined between the first tab and a first end of the strip;

the method comprising:

flexing the strip at the grip flap to move the first tab; and

inserting one of first and second opposite side edges of the flexible container into the slot.

13 . The method of claim 12 , comprising moving an end of the first tab out of alignment with a plane of the base.

14 . The method of claim 12 including folding a portion of the container before inserting one of first and second opposite side edges of the flexible container into the slot.

15 . An apparatus comprising:

a flexible container having first and second opposite side edges; and

a resilient, elongated strip permanently attached to the flexible container, the strip:

having a longitudinal center and first and second opposed longitudinal edges, wherein a raised bead is disposed along at least one of the first and second longitudinal edges; and

including first and second fasteners at each of two opposed ends of a base, wherein:

the first fastener comprises a first slot cut through the strip and configured to flex open toward the center, the first slot being positioned at the first side edge of the flexible container, and

the second fastener comprises a second slot configured to flex open toward the center, the second slot being positioned at the second side edge of the flexible container.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 including an adhesive layer disposed between the flexible container and the resilient, elongated strip.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 formed essentially of a polymeric composition.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (44)