US3672122A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bag holder and expander unit
Assignee: Playtex FP Inc
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Filing: 1970-07-20
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A bag expander is provided for mounting an open ended flexible bag positioned thereon on to a hollow, reusable holder which terminates in an annular edge. The expander has a base member and a head member which are adapted to move axially with respect to each other. A plurality of fingers are housed in the base member and biased toward the head member such that the head member provides a camming action on the fingers when axial movement takes place. A bag is placed over the head member and ends of the fingers of the expander, which is positioned on the holder and depressed, thereby camming the fingers outwardly and thus folding the bag outwardly and over the edge of the holder. Excursion limitation means are provided to limit the relative movement between the head member and base member of the expander to prevent the fingers from contacting the bag at the edge of the holder during the bag seating operation to prevent tearing of the bag, especially if the expander is rotated during the seating operation. In a preferred embodiment the excursion limitation means is comprised of a skirt extension of the head member which is of a predetermined length and prevents further movement when the skirt reaches the base member. The skirt is preferably of such a configuration so as to perform the additional function of supporting the fingers on their initial movement. An improved base construction is provided having compartments which seat the fingers for pivotal movement therein, as well as preventing lateral movement of the fingers, which simplifies the fabrication of the expander.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Berger
- 👤 William E Fitzpatrick
- 👤 James H Mcginley
- 👤 Adolf Pfund
- 👤 Ira G Schwartzberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:36
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B43/00; B65B43/26; B65B43/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
293 words
In combination, a supporting holder and expander unit for mounting the flexible open end of a container over the rigid open end of the supporting holder, comprising: a hollow supporting holder terminating in an open end having a rigid annular edge; a container formed of a material having a flexible open end, said container adapted to be mounted in said holder with its open end adapted to fit outwardly and over said annular edge; an expander for mounting said container open end on said annular edge, said expander including; a base member, a head member, and a plurality of radially movable fingers; said head member including a portion adapted to fit on said annular edge, guide means between said head member and said base member slideably joining said head member and said base member for biased relative axial movement of said members towards and away from each other; said plurality of radially movable fingers positioned between said base member and the outer periphery of said head member; said fingers including free ends adapted to accept the flexible open end of said container; means for biasing said fingers inwardly towards the periphery of said head member whereby said head member acts as a camming surface for said fingers during said relative axial movement between said head member and said base member; and excursion limitation means for limiting the extent of relative axial movement between said base member and said head member towards each other, said excursion limitation means operatively limiting said extent of movement such that the free end portions of said fingers are spaced away from the annular edge of said holder and avoid contact with the underlying flexible material of the container open end at the poiNt of greatest inward axial movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
293 words
In combination, a supporting holder and expander unit for mounting the flexible open end of a container over the rigid open end of the supporting holder, comprising: a hollow supporting holder terminating in an open end having a rigid annular edge; a container formed of a material having a flexible open end, said container adapted to be mounted in said holder with its open end adapted to fit outwardly and over said annular edge; an expander for mounting said container open end on said annular edge, said expander including; a base member, a head member, and a plurality of radially movable fingers; said head member including a portion adapted to fit on said annular edge, guide means between said head member and said base member slideably joining said head member and said base member for biased relative axial movement of said members towards and away from each other; said plurality of radially movable fingers positioned between said base member and the outer periphery of said head member; said fingers including free ends adapted to accept the flexible open end of said container; means for biasing said fingers inwardly towards the periphery of said head member whereby said head member acts as a camming surface for said fingers during said relative axial movement between said head member and said base member; and excursion limitation means for limiting the extent of relative axial movement between said base member and said head member towards each other, said excursion limitation means operatively limiting said extent of movement such that the free end portions of said fingers are spaced away from the annular edge of said holder and avoid contact with the underlying flexible material of the container open end at the poiNt of greatest inward axial movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said excursion limitation means comprises an annular skirt of predetermined length on said head member, the free end of said skirt normally spaced apart from said base member, said free end of the skirt contacting said base member at the extreme permissible excursion of said head member towards said base member to limit the extent of axial movement therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said head member includes an annular skirt for supporting an appreciable intermediate portion of said fingers during initial movement of the fingers from a static condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said annular skirt includes side walls for supporting an appreciable intermediate portion of said fingers during initial movement of the fingers from a static condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said excursion limitation means comprises a plurality of protrusions spaced equidistant a predetermined height above the base and along the inner surface of a plurality of said movable fingers for contacting said head member and limiting the relative axial movement between said base and said head member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said biasing means between said base member and said head member includes a compression spring and wherein said excursion limitation means comprises said spring having a predetermined length under full compression for limiting the extent of relative movement between said head and base members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said fingers are made of a thermosetting molded plastic material and have annular ridges on the outer surfaces of said free end portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said base member has a plurality of upstanding side walls forming compartments which seat said fingers therein, and wherein each of said fingers include a base portion, said compartments having a shape which generally conforms to the shape of the base portions of said fingers and said side walls having sufficient height to minimize lateral movement of said fingers in said base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein projections are provided in each of said compartments in said base member which act as pivot points for said fingers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
203 words
An expander unit for receiving the flexible open end of a container and mounting same outwardly and over the rigid annular edge of a supporting holder comprising: a base member, a head member and a plurality of radially movable fingers, guide means for operatively connecting said base member to said head member in axially spaced relationship, biasing means for normally maintaining the axial spacing between said base and head members, with said members movable towards each other against the force of said biasing means said radially movable fingers having a seated end mounted in said base member, and a free end biased against an outward surface of said head member, said head member outward surface configurated to cam said fingers radially outward as said head member is moved towards said base member, said head further including an excursion limiting skirt of a predetermined length extending towards said base member, said skirt including a free end which is normally spaced apart from said base member by a predetermined amount, said free end of the skirt contacting said base member at the extreme permissible excursion of said head member towards said base member to limit the extent of axial movement therebetween to said predetermined amount.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
203 words
An expander unit for receiving the flexible open end of a container and mounting same outwardly and over the rigid annular edge of a supporting holder comprising: a base member, a head member and a plurality of radially movable fingers, guide means for operatively connecting said base member to said head member in axially spaced relationship, biasing means for normally maintaining the axial spacing between said base and head members, with said members movable towards each other against the force of said biasing means said radially movable fingers having a seated end mounted in said base member, and a free end biased against an outward surface of said head member, said head member outward surface configurated to cam said fingers radially outward as said head member is moved towards said base member, said head further including an excursion limiting skirt of a predetermined length extending towards said base member, said skirt including a free end which is normally spaced apart from said base member by a predetermined amount, said free end of the skirt contacting said base member at the extreme permissible excursion of said head member towards said base member to limit the extent of axial movement therebetween to said predetermined amount.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An expander unit as set forth in claim 10 wherein said annular skirt includes side walls for supporting an appreciable intermediate portion of said fingers during initial movement of the fingers from a static condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
An expander unit as set forth in claim 10, wherein said base member has a plurality of side walls forming compartmenTs which seat said fingers therein, said compartments having a shape which generally conforms to the shape of the seated end of said fingers and said side walls having sufficient height to minimize lateral movement of said fingers in said base.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2900779A
Cited
US3247647A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |