US3869842A — Bag sealing apparatus and method of use

Claim 1

Independent Claim 127 words

For use with a plastic bag having a front and a rear wall and a flap, said bag having an article disposed therein, with said flap being folded over said rear wall to close the bag, apparatus for forming a handle in said bag, said apparatus comprising a housing having a mouth into which said flap and the abutting rear wall of the bag is inserted and reciprocating heating means operative after the insertion of the bag within said apparatus mouth for producing a pair of heat seals in the flap and abutting rear wall to seal the flap to the abutting rear wall, thereby sealing the article within the bag while forming a pocket between said seals, which pocket serves as the handle for the bag.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 127 words

For use with a plastic bag having a front and a rear wall and a flap, said bag having an article disposed therein, with said flap being folded over said rear wall to close the bag, apparatus for forming a handle in said bag, said apparatus comprising a housing having a mouth into which said flap and the abutting rear wall of the bag is inserted and reciprocating heating means operative after the insertion of the bag within said apparatus mouth for producing a pair of heat seals in the flap and abutting rear wall to seal the flap to the abutting rear wall, thereby sealing the article within the bag while forming a pocket between said seals, which pocket serves as the handle for the bag.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating means is arranged so that the heat seals formed thereby are disposed at an angle to one another but do not meet.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising motor means for moving the heating means into contact with the bag disposed within the housing mouth.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 118 words

Apparatus for forming a handle in a plastic bag, said bag having a flap folded thereagainst at its top, said apparatus comprising a housing having a mouth into which the flap of said bag is inserted, reciprocating heating means for producing a pair of heat seals in the flap to seal the flap to the bag portion lying thereunder and to form a pocket therebetween upon the insertion of the bag within the housing mouth, and motor means for moving the heating means into contact with the bag disposed within the housing mouth, said motor means moving the heating means into contact with the bag in automatic response to the insertion of the bag within the housing mouth.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 118 words

Apparatus for forming a handle in a plastic bag, said bag having a flap folded thereagainst at its top, said apparatus comprising a housing having a mouth into which the flap of said bag is inserted, reciprocating heating means for producing a pair of heat seals in the flap to seal the flap to the bag portion lying thereunder and to form a pocket therebetween upon the insertion of the bag within the housing mouth, and motor means for moving the heating means into contact with the bag disposed within the housing mouth, said motor means moving the heating means into contact with the bag in automatic response to the insertion of the bag within the housing mouth.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the heating means is electrically heated.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the heating means comprises a pair of elongated electric heating elements for producing heat when energized, each element including a heating face, said elements being disposed normally to one another but with their heating faces being coplanar.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 49 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said heating elements comprise an elongated holding member having a longitudinal groove therein in which a resistance heating element is disposed, said heating element being held in place by an elongated sleeve disposed about said insulating member and said heating element.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said sleeve is polytetrafluoroethylene coated fiberglass.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 6 and additionally comprising control means for energizing the heating elements in response to the insertion of the bag within the housing mouth and for deenergizing said heating elements a preselected time thereafter.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said preselected time is established by adjustable means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the control means causes said heating element to move out of contact with the bag after a predetermined time.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control means include means for precluding the appaRatus from repeating operation until the bag is removed from the mouth of the housing and another bag inserted therein.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 134 words

Apparatus for forming a handle in a plastic bag, said bag having a flap folded thereagainst at its top, said apparatus comprising a housing having a mouth into which the flap of said bag is inserted, reciprocating heating means for producing a pair of heat seals in the flap to seal the flap to the bag portion lying thereunder and to form a pocket therebetween upon the insertion of the bag within the housing mouth, and control means for energizing the heating means in response to the insertion of the bag within the housing mouth and for deenergizing said heating means a preselected time thereafter, said control means including means for precluding the apparatus from repeating operation until the bag is removed from the mouth of the housing and another bag is inserted therein.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 134 words

Apparatus for forming a handle in a plastic bag, said bag having a flap folded thereagainst at its top, said apparatus comprising a housing having a mouth into which the flap of said bag is inserted, reciprocating heating means for producing a pair of heat seals in the flap to seal the flap to the bag portion lying thereunder and to form a pocket therebetween upon the insertion of the bag within the housing mouth, and control means for energizing the heating means in response to the insertion of the bag within the housing mouth and for deenergizing said heating means a preselected time thereafter, said control means including means for precluding the apparatus from repeating operation until the bag is removed from the mouth of the housing and another bag is inserted therein.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 122 words

A method for sealing a plastic bag having an article disposed therein while forming a handle for said bag, said bag having a front and a rear wall and a flap folded against said rear wall comprising the steps of disposing the flap and the abutting rear wall under a heating means having a pair of angled elongated heating elements, automatically moving said heating means into contact with the mouth of said bag, and heating said heating means to form a pair of angled heat seals in the flap to seal the article therein by forming a pocket between the seals, which serves as a handle for the bag and thereafter automatically moving the heating means out of contact with the bag.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 122 words

A method for sealing a plastic bag having an article disposed therein while forming a handle for said bag, said bag having a front and a rear wall and a flap folded against said rear wall comprising the steps of disposing the flap and the abutting rear wall under a heating means having a pair of angled elongated heating elements, automatically moving said heating means into contact with the mouth of said bag, and heating said heating means to form a pair of angled heat seals in the flap to seal the article therein by forming a pocket between the seals, which serves as a handle for the bag and thereafter automatically moving the heating means out of contact with the bag.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 122 words

A method for sealing a plastic bag having an article disposed therein while forming a handle for said bag, said bag having a front and a rear wall and a flap folded against said rear wall comprising the steps of disposing the flap and the abutting rear wall under a heating means having a pair of angled elongated heating elements, automatically moving said heating means into contact with the mouth of said bag, and heating said heating means to form a pair of angled heat seals in the flap to seal the article therein by forming a pocket between the seals, which serves as a handle for the bag and thereafter automatically moving the heating means out of contact with the bag.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 122 words

A method for sealing a plastic bag having an article disposed therein while forming a handle for said bag, said bag having a front and a rear wall and a flap folded against said rear wall comprising the steps of disposing the flap and the abutting rear wall under a heating means having a pair of angled elongated heating elements, automatically moving said heating means into contact with the mouth of said bag, and heating said heating means to form a pair of angled heat seals in the flap to seal the article therein by forming a pocket between the seals, which serves as a handle for the bag and thereafter automatically moving the heating means out of contact with the bag.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the heating of said heating means is automatically stopped a predetermined period of time after said means are moved into contact with the bag.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-03-10	1978-09-09	1979-03-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-03-10	1982-09-09	1983-03-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-03-10	1986-09-09	1987-03-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Bag sealing apparatus and method of use

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag