C. W. LEGUILLON ETAL
THERAPEUTIC BAG WITH SEALING CLOSURE
Filed July 12, 1946
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
2,495,114
THERAPEUTIC BAG WITH
SEALING CLOSURE
Charles W. Leguillon, Akron, and Carroll P.
Krupp, Barberton, Ohio, assignors to The B. F.
Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corpo-
ration of New York
Application July 12, 1946, Serial No. 683,124
5 Claims. (Cl. 150—2.1)
The invention relates to containers for flowable material and especially to therapeutic bags adapted for applying hot or cold treatments by rilling the bags with hot water, ice or other flowable material, and positioning the filled bags where desired.
Objects of the invention are to provide for effectively and conveniently sealing the container against leakage of the flowable material; to provide for such sealing without removing any parts of the container; to provide- for such sealing by closure means integral at all times with the container; to provide for widening the opening of the container to facilitate filling the latter together with sealing of the container upon closure of the opening; and to provide for sealing against leakage of contained flowable material under applied force on the container within the burstresisting strength of the walls thereof.
Further objects are. to provide for resisting sharp bending of margins of the opening; to provide for protecting fastener elements of the closure means against direct contact with the flowable material and for preventing accidental breakage of the seal at the opening especially under flexure laterally of the opening; to provide for opening and closing the container by slide fastener action and effecting sealing by lip-action; and to provide for simplicity of construction and convenience of manufacture and use, and for effectiveness of operation.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,
Fig. 1 is a plan view from above of a therapeutic bag for hot water, ice and the like, and constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention,
Fig. 2 is ah end view of the bag showing closure means of the slide fastener type for sealing the elongated opening, the closure means being in the closed condition.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3—3 of Fig. 1 showing the closure means including sealing elements in a partially opened condition,
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4—4 of Fig. 2, parts being broken away,
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5—5 of Fig. 2, parts being broken away, and
Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6—6 of Fig. 3, parts being broken away.
In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the container construction includes a bag having a hollow body 10 adapted to receive and contain hot or cold
5 water, ice, or other flowable materials or substances, the body 10 having impervious walls of flexible rubber or other rubber-like material, which may be reinforced as by sheet fabric material, if desired and are deformable in response
10 to applied force on the bag to transmit the force to flowable material contained in the space within the body. The container or bag 10 is formed or molded in one piece, and may be of elongated and flattened shape or other suitable shape hav
15 ing an elongated opening 12, preferably in an end wall 11 and extending substantially the full length of the end wall I ( providing substantial area of the opening to facilitate conveniently filling and emptying the container. The bag may, if desired,
20 be molded with the opening in a suitable widened arrangement for facilitating filling, in which case the margins of the opening may have an Inherent spring-like spreading action for effecting the widened arrangement for the open condition of
25 the bag.
For effectively sealing the elongated opening 12, there is provided closure means or sealing slide fastener means 13 integrally united and secured in sealing relation to relatively thick marginal
30 portions 14 to 17 of the walls of the container and extending the entire length of the opening 12. The construction and arrangement of the closure means 13 and the marginal portions 14 to I7 provides a truss-like stiffening action along the
35 opening 12 for resisting sharp bending of the marginal portions 14, 16 especially laterally of the opening, while permitting widening the opening by flexure of the marginal portions 14, 18 for the open condition of the closure means to
40 facilitate filling the bag with the flowable ma- terial.
The sealing slide fastener means 13, which also functions to draw the Sidewall marginal portions 14 and 16 together and maintain the marginal
45 portions 14 to 17 in the desired spaced relationship, includes stringers 18, 19 of flexible impervious material, preferably treated fabric material, extending continuously along the opening 12 in superimposed relation to the faces of sidewall and
60 end marginal portions 14 to 17, inclusive, defining the opening 12, as shown especially iri Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the stringers being integrally Secured to the marginal portions desirably by a suitable adhesive such, for example, as rubber cement.
H Cooperating fastener elements 20, 21 extend in
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series along and are attached to adjacent mar- of one of the stringers for positioning the runner gins of the stringers for detachably joining the 22 at the end at 25 to assure the desired constringers. A slider or runner 22 having a suit- tinuity of lip-action sealing by cooperation of the ably shaped plate element 22a is movable along runner with the sealing elements, especially the the adjacent margins of the stringers and pro- 5 projecting portion 30. A stud element 35 may be vides for engaging and disengaging the fastener secured to the stringers at the end at 25 to engage elements 20, 21. a pull tab 36 of the runner 22 in a detachable
Sealing elements 23, 24 of resilient rubber or manner facilitating holding the runner 22 to pre
other rubber-like material may be mounted di- vent effectively accidental movement of the run
rectly upon the fastener elements at a face of 10 ner and accidental breakage of the lip-seal be
the slide fastener means and preferably are dis- cause of such movement.
posed at the interior of the bag, as shown espe- For the arrangement shown in the drawings, cially in Pigs. 3, 5 and 6, whereby the fastener the marginal portions 14 and 16 of the bag 10 exelements are protected and the sealing elements tending in spaced-apart generally parallel reare exposed to the contained flowable material, 15 lation to one another along the opening, are relathe latter elements being subjected directly to tively thick as compared to other portions of the the pressure exerted by the flowable material walls and are diverging in cross-section toward for increased sealing action and operate effec- the opening. Recessed end faces each of subtively to prevent leakage despite such pressure. stantial area facilitate the secure attachment of The sealing elements 23, 24 extend continuously 20 *ne stringers, as shown especially in Pig. 5. The along substantially the entire length of the ad- sidewall marginal portions 14, 16 merge with the jacent margins of the stringers 18, 19 and united- end marginal portions 15, 17, which are relaly merge with one another at the end at 25 of the tively thick and project inwardly of the ends of elongated opening 12 providing continuity of the the opening at 37, 38 for closing such ends and sealing elements especially continuously about 25 supporting the sealing elements. The sidewall such end, which constitutes in effect a sealing marginal portions 14, 16 being integrally united element extending along one of said margins and with the end marginal portions 15, 17 provide continuing about the end at 25 and along the with the sealing slide fastener means 13 a trussother of said margins, as shown especially in like stiffening action along the opening \ 2 for rePigs. 3 and 6. 30 sisting objectionable localized lateral flexing or
The sealing elements include base portions 26, sharp bending of the closure. Such stiffening ac
27.desirably mounted directly on and bonded to tion assures especially the maintenance of the
the fastener elements 20, 21 and include portions sealing elements in the desired lip-sealing ;-e
28, 29 projecting laterally from the base por- lationship for the closed condition of the closure
tions toward one another and tapering to edges 35 means 13 under normal flexure conditions and
for effecting sealing by lip-action of an edge of prevents accidental breakage of the seal by sepa
one of such portions against the sealing surface ration of the sealing elements one from another
of the other sealing element. The merging of under severe flexure conditions by resisting
the sealing elements 23, 24 provides a tapered-in- localized sharp bending of the closure arrange
section projecting portion 30 extending contin- 40 ment along the opening.
uously about the end at 25 for cooperation with The construction and arrangement of the marthe runner including seating means 22o to effect ginai portions 14 to 17 together with the sealing sealing by lip-action continuously about such end su,je fastener means 13 integrally secured thereat 25. The sealing elements coacting with the w^n n0t oniy advantageously provides an effecother parts of the slide fastener means 13 thus 45 tive truss-like stiffening action along the opening provide for sealing by lip-action of the edges for the closed condition of the closure resbung against leakage of contained flowable material sha bending of the marginal portions 14, 18 in under applied force on the bag within the burst- the same direction laterally of the opening, but ^^fJi^n °f« ... £6 an f fhP to addition. assures maintenance of alignment of
with thin coatings II. 32 of suitable rubber-like construction and arrangement facilitates filling material in continuation of the rubber-like ma- 55 the bag b* P6TM11"^ the shortening and widterial of the sealing elements, thus rendering the TMm* of *he. elongated opening 12 under lateral fabric material of the stringers impervious. The flexure of the adjacent marginal portions 14, IS stringers and their coatings 31, 32 serve as flex- m opposite directions, when the end marginal ible intervening portions of reduced wall thick- Portions 15 and 17 are pressed toward one anness joining the sealing elements to the marginal co other as °y the thumb and fingers of one hand portions throughout the major portion of the of the TM***- The separated and flexed marginal length of the opening, as shown especially in Pigs. portions 14, 16 including the stringers and seal3 and 5, which construction facilitates flexure of "^ elements attached thereto tend to resume the sealing elements relative to the marginal por- their original aligned position for the open conditions and maintenance of the seal despite flex- 65 tion of tne closure upon the release of such endure of the bag as a whole. The outer faces of the wise pressure, by virtue of the flexibility and stringers may be covered in part entirely around resiliency of the material of such parts of the the periphery of the opening 12 with a shield closure.
element 33 of thin flexible rubber-like material The inwardly projecting shoulder 37 of sub
for sealing and improved appearance, the shield 70 stantial area facilitates the attachment of the element 33 merging smoothly with the marginal stringers and is provided with a rounded inner portions 14 to 17. The shield element 33 is prefer- face at 37a substantially conforming to the curably adhered to the stringers after assembly of vature of the rounded-end contour of the merged the slide fastener means with the bag 10. sealing elements 23, 24 for closely embracing the
A suitable stop 34 may be provided at a margin 75 base portions of the latter at the portion 30 to
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effect substantial bracing thereof at their region of merger, as shown especially in Figs. 3 and 6.
The other inwardly projecting shoulder 38 Is provided with a recess 40 adapted to receive snugly therein the end portions of the sealing ele- 5 ments 23, 24, as shown especially in Figs. 1 and 3. The end portions of the sealing elements at the recess 40 are adhered to the shoulder 38 and adhered together at the overlapping laterallyprojecting portions 28, 29 thereof thus comprising 10 means for fluid-sealing at such end of the opening, the laterally-projecting portions 28, 29 being in unattached relation adjacent the recess 40.
The bag 10 may be provided with a tab 39 of suitable rubber-like material at the end marginal 15 portion 17 for facilitating manipulation of the runner 22 along the opening 12 to close the latter. The bag also may be provided with an apertured extension 41 at the end opposite the end wall 11 for facilitating storage as by hanging the bag 20 from a hook.
In the use of the bag, the same may be stored with the slide fastener means in the fully or partially-opened condition to assure the entrance of air into the interior space of the bag for drying and airing. To fill the bag, the opening 12 may be widened by urging the end marginal portions 15, II toward one another under force applied by the thumb.and fingers of one hand thereby laterally flexing the'adjacent marginal portions 14, 16 and attached parts of the slide fastener means in opposite directions. Manipulating the runner 22 away from the end at 25 of the opening 12 disengages the fastener elements 20, 21 and separates the sealing elements 23, 24 thus placing the bag in condition for the filling operation. Holding the opened bag by the tab 39, hot water may be conveniently poured into the interior space directly through the closure means, while the air in such space is vented rapidly through the widened opening of substantial area. The opening 12 may be then sealed by manipulating the runner 22 toward the end at 25 until it reaches stop 34 and the end position shown especially in Fig. 2, whereby the marginal portions 14 and 16 45 are drawn toward one another, the fastener elements are engaged, and the sealing elements are disposed in overlapping and lip-sealing relation continuously along the opening 12 and continuously about the end at 25, the laterally-projecting 50 portion 30 cooperating with the seating surface of the runner to effect sealing continuously about such end. The pull tab 36 may be engaged with the stud element 35 assuring holding the runner in the desired position and preventing accidental 55 movement of the runner and accidental breakage of the seal. Thus, the marginal portions 14 to IT of the opening 12 are joined and the opening effectively closed and sealed.
Under some conditions of use, there may be a tendency of the walls, especially the sidewall marginal portions 14 and 16, to flex or bend sharply and laterally of the opening, which sharp flexing is resisted effectively by the truss-like stiffening action of the relatively thick marginal portions 14 to 11. The closure means 13, while permitted to flex as necessary for normal usage, is thus prevented from becoming distorted by such sharp bending to an extent inducing separating movement of the lip-sealing elements at one or more local regions along the opening.
The hereinabove described construction of the bag 10 thus provides advantageously for sealing effectively the elongated opening 12 against the leakage of contained flowable material, even
under applied force on the bag within the burstresisting strength of the walls thereof, together with facilitating conveniently filling and emptying the bag, while avoiding loss or mislaying of parts of the closure as in prior constructions of therapeutic bags. The construction advantageously eliminates the bulky and protruding closure arrangements of the prior therapeutic bags and instead provides a compact, non-protruding, integral closure arrangement •while protecting the slide fastener means and effecting sealing continuously throughout the entire extent of the opening by lip-action, which lip-action sealing is Increased with increased transmitted force of the flowable material acting upon the sealing elements. The closure arrangement maintains its sealing action under and withstands fluid-pressure forces substantially equal to the burst-resisting strength of the walls of the bag itself.
Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined in the following claims. We claim:
1. A container for flowable material, said container comprising a hollow body having impervious walls of flexible material including marginal portions denning an elongated opening in a wall of the container, and sealing slide fastener means secured to said marginal portions, said fastener means comprising a pair of sealing elements of elastic rubber-like material extending along said marginal portions and united therewith by flexible intervening portions of reduced wall thickness as compared to said elements and marginal portions throughout the major portion of the length of said opening and closed at the ends of said opening, at least one of said sealing elements including a portion projecting laterally of sa:d opening toward the other element and tapering to an edge for contacting said other element in overlapping relation in the direction of said opening and in sliding engagement laterally of said opening with said elements in sealing relation by lipaction of said edge, said marginal portions being relatively thick as compared to other portions of said walls and constructed and arranged to provide with said sealing slide fastener means and said intervening portions a truss-like stiffening action along said opening for resisting sharp bending of said marginal portions while permitting widening of said opening by flexure of said marginal portions to facilitate filling and emptying the container.
2. A therapeutic bag adapted to hold water, ice and other flowable material, said bag comprising a hollow body having impervious walls of flexible rubber-like material including marginal portions defining an elongated opening in a wall of the bag, sealing slide fastener means secured to said marginal portions integrally therewith, said slide fastener means comprising a pair of sealing elements of elastic rubber-like material extending along said marginal portions from end to end of said opening and united with said marginal portions by flexible intervening portions of reduced wall thickness as compared to said elements and marginal portions throughout the major portion of the length of said opening, at least one of said sealing elements including a portion projecting laterally of said opening toward the other element and tapering to an edge for contacting said other element in overlapping relation in the direction of said opening and in sliding engagement laterally of said opening with said elements in sealing rela75 tion by lip-action of said edge, and means for Join
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