System and Clip for Holding and Filling a Stack of Flexible Packages

Abstract

The invention is a packaging system having a plurality of flexible packages that are arranged in a stack and held together with a clip having a pair of fingers and a retaining tongue that support and hold the flexible packages in the stack. The clip permits an outermost package to be filled and then removed from the stack with minimal tearing or damage to the flexible package. The clip comprises a body formed of a resilient flexible material, a pair of fingers extending outwardly in opposite directions from the body, and a resiliently deformable retaining tongue formed in the body that is configured and arranged to apply a clamping force against the stack so that the packages are retained in a stack. The clip and the fingers may comprise a flexible material that can collapse so that the flexible bag may be easily removed from the stack.

1  A packaging system comprising: 
 a plurality of flexible packages arranged in a stack, each package having an open edge defining an mouth through which the package can be filled, and each package having at least one opening formed therein adjacent the open edge; and    a clip retaining and holding the flexible packages as a stack, the clip comprising a body formed of a resilient flexible material and having at least one finger extending outwardly from the body, the body extending into one side of the stack through the opening formed in the respective individual packages so that the finger engages an outermost package of the stack; and a resiliently deformable retaining tongue formed in said body and configured and arranged to engage the stack and to apply a clamping force so that the packages are retained in a stack.    
   
   
       2 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the clip includes a pair of fingers extending outwardly in opposite directions from the body and wherein each finger is configured and arranged to engage the outmost package of the stack.  
   
   
       3 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible packages of the stack are arranged with the open edge thereof on a common side of the stack.  
   
   
       4 . The packaging system of  claim 3 , wherein the flexible packages are of a generally rectangular configuration, each having said open edge and three closed edges.  
   
   
       5 . The packaging system of  claim 3 , additionally including a hanger opening formed in the body at a location spaced from the finger, and the system including a support peg extending laterally through the hanger opening so that the clip suspends the stack of packages for filling with the open edges of the respective packages oriented upwardly.  
   
   
       6 . The packaging system of  claim 4 , wherein the finger engages the outermost package of the stack and the clip is positioned onto the support peg with the finger facing outwardly so that the outermost package may be individually removed from the stack by sliding the opening of the outermost package off of the finger.  
   
   
       7 . The packaging system of  claim 5 , including a compressed air source positioned above the support peg and oriented toward the open edges of the packages so that a blast of compressed air from the source will enter the open edge of the outermost package to open it to facilitate filling the package with an article.  
   
   
       8 . The packaging system of  claim 6 , including a second opening formed in each package adjacent said open edge thereof and at a location spaced from the first opening, and a second clip retaining and holding the flexible packages as a stack, and a second support peg extending laterally through the hanger opening of the second clip so that the stack of packages is suspended from the two clips with the open edges of the respective packages oriented upwardly.  
   
   
       9 . The packaging system of  claim 8 , including a projection extending from said body at a distal location from said finger, the projection having a configuration adapted to pass through the opening in another like clip so that the projection of one clip can be passed through the opening of the other clip for holding the stack of packages in a folded configuration for storage and shipment.  
   
   
       10 . The packaging system of  claim 8 , wherein the second clip comprises a body formed of a resilient flexible material, at least one finger extending outwardly from the body, the body extending into one side of the stack through the second opening formed in the respective individual packages so that the finger engages an outermost package of the stack, a resiliently deformable retaining tongue formed in said body and configured and arranged to engage the outermost package of the stack and to apply a clamping force against the stack, and a hanger opening formed in the body at a location spaced from the finger.  
   
   
       11 . The packaging system of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible packages comprise packages of a generally rectangular configuration formed of opposed sheets or tubular construction of flexible thermoplastic film, each having said open edge and three closed edges.  
   
   
       12 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic film is selected from the group consisting of ethylene homopolymer, ethylene copolymer, propylene homopolymer, propylene homopolymer, propylene copolymers, ionomers, paper, and blends thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , wherein the packages comprise sterilizable packages for medical instruments.  
   
   
       14 . The packaging system of  claim 13 , including one or more breathable vents through which a sterilization agent may be introduced into an interior space of the package.  
   
   
       15 . A packaging system comprising: 
 a plurality of rectangular-shaped packages arranged in a stack, each package having an open edge defining a mouth through which the package can be filled, and each package having one or more spaced apart openings formed therein adjacent the open edge; and    one or more clips retaining and holding the rectangular packages as a stack, each clip comprising a body formed of a resilient flexible material, a pair of fingers extending outwardly in opposite directions from the body, the body extending into one side of the stack through one of said openings formed in the respective individual packages so that each pair of fingers engages an outermost package of the stack, and a resiliently deformable retaining tongue formed in said body and configured and arranged to engage the outermost package of the stack and to apply a clamping force against the stack so that the packages are retained in a stack.    
   
   
       16 . The package system according to  claim 15 , wherein each finger includes an angled surface that engages the outermost package of the stack so that the outermost package may be individually removable from the stack by sliding the outermost package along each angled surface until the pair openings slide off each respective pair of fingers.  
   
   
       17 . The package system according to  claim 15 , wherein each pair of fingers are collapsible so that an outermost package may be individually removed from the stack by sliding the pair openings of the outermost package off each respective pair of fingers.  
   
   
       18 . The package system according to  claim 15 , wherein each package comprises a front sheet and a rear sheet affixed to each other to define a mouth to the package, the rear sheet extending beyond the front sheet and the package mouth to define a flap, and wherein the one or more openings are formed in said flap.  
   
   
       19 . The package system according to  claim 18 , wherein the front and rear sheets include inner surfaces that are heat sealable to each other.  
   
   
       20 . The package system according to  claim 18 , wherein the front and rear sheets are affixed to each other with an adhesive, thermal bond, or ultrasonic fusion bond.  
   
   
       21 . The package system according to  claim 18 , wherein each package comprises a tubular construction that defines the front and rear sheets.  
   
   
       22 . A clip for retaining and holding a stack of individually separable flexible packages to facilitate filling of individual packages and removal of a filled package from the stack, the clip comprising: 
 a body formed of a resilient flexible material that is configured to be at least partially inserted into a stack of packages through an opening formed in each respective package;    a pair of fingers extending outwardly in opposite directions from the body and configured to engage an outermost package of a stack of packages when the body is at least partially inserted into the stack of packages; and    a resiliently deformable retaining tongue formed in said body and configured to engage the outermost package of the stack and to apply a clamping force against the stack of packages so that the packages are retained in a stack and may be individually removed therefrom.    
   
   
       23 . The clip according to  claim 22 , additionally including a hanger opening formed in the body so that the clip can be hung from a support.  
   
   
       24 . The clip according to  claim 22 , including a projection extending from said body at a distal location from said fingers, the projection having a configuration adapted to pass through the opening in another like clip.  
   
   
       25 . The clip according to  claim 24 , wherein the projection has an arrow-head like shape.  
   
   
       26 . A method of packaging a plurality of flexible packages as a stack, the method comprising: 
 assembling a plurality of flexible packages as a stack;    providing a clip having a clip body formed of a resilient flexible, at least one finger extending outwardly from the body, and a resiliently deformable retaining tongue formed in said body;    inserting the clip into the stack of packages through an opening formed in each respective package until the at least one finger engages an outermost package of the stack so that the at least one finger holds and supports the stack; and    engaging the outermost package of the stack with the retaining tongue so that a clamping pressure is applied against the stack so that the packages are retained in a stack.    
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the clip includes a hangar opening and further comprises the step of inserting a peg support through said hanger opening so that the stack of flexible packages are in a suspended position.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising the step of removing an outermost package from the stack by applying a pulling force on the outermost package so that the opening slides over the at least one finger.  
   
   
       29 . A method of packaging an article comprising: 
 providing a packaging system according to  claim 1;     creating a mouth into an interior space of an outermost flexible package;    inserting an item into an interior space of the flexible package;    detaching the flexible package from the packaging system; and    sealing the opening of the thus removed flexible package to enclose the item therein.    
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising introducing a sterilization agent into the interior of the flexible package.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step of creating a mouth includes blasting compressed air into the open edge of the outermost flexible package to open it.  
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step of sealing comprises contacting an exterior surface of the flexible package with a heating element so that heat from the heating element seals the mouth closed.