Hinged closure apparatus

Abstract

A hinged closure apparatus may comprise a first limb, a second limb, and a locking mechanism coupled with at least one of the first limb or the second limb. The first limb may have a first elongated panel with a first hinged end and a first free end opposite the first hinged end, and a first sealing member coupled with the first elongated panel and extending along a length of the first elongated panel. The second limb may have a second elongated panel with a second hinged end and a second free end opposite the second hinged end, and a second sealing member coupled with the second elongated panel and extending along a length of the second elongated panel, wherein the second hinged end may be movably coupled with the first hinged end. The locking mechanism may be adjustable to be in a locked position such that the first free end may be removably fastened with the second free end and a seal may be formed between a surface of the first sealing member and a surface of the second sealing member. The locking mechanism may be releasable into an unlocked position such that the first free end may be detached from the second free end, and a release from the locked position into the unlocked position may require simultaneously a first unlocking action and a second unlocking action.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hinged closure apparatus, comprising:
 a first limb having a first elongated panel with a first hinged end and a first free end opposite the first hinged end, and a first sealing member coupled with the first elongated panel and extending along a length of the first elongated panel;   a second limb having a second elongated panel with a second hinged end and a second free end opposite the second hinged end, and a second sealing member coupled with the second elongated panel and extending along a length of the second elongated panel, wherein the second hinged end is movably coupled with the first hinged end; and   a locking mechanism coupled with at least one of the first limb or the second limb, wherein
 the locking mechanism is adjustable to be in a locked position such that the first free end is removably fastened with the second free end and a seal is formed between a surface of the first sealing member and a surface of the second sealing member, 
 the locking mechanism is releasable into an unlocked position such that the first free end is detached from the second free end, and 
 a release from the locked position into the unlocked position requires simultaneously a first unlocking action and a second unlocking action. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein execution of the second unlocking action requires execution of the first unlocking action beginning prior to and continuing through execution of the second unlocking action. 
     
     
         3 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is formed using flexible material. 
     
     
         4 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a first hook coupled with the first free end and a second hook coupled with the second free end, the first hook being latched to the second hook when the locking mechanism is in the locked position. 
     
     
         5 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first unlocking action includes pressure on the first hook in an unlatching direction that unlatches the first hook from the second hook. 
     
     
         6 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second unlocking action includes a movement of the second hook in an unlocking direction subsequent to being unlatched from the first hook, the unlocking direction being different than the unlatching direction. 
     
     
         7 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the seal is airtight. 
     
     
         8 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first sealing member includes a protruding structure, and the second sealing member includes a recessed structure, such that the protruding structure is received within the recessed structure when the locking mechanism is in the locked position. 
     
     
         9 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the protruding structure includes a main branch extending outwardly from the first limb, and at least one subbranch extending laterally outward from the main branch. 
     
     
         10 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hinge fastening member coupled with the first hinged end, wherein the second hinged end includes a hinge opening and the hinge fastening member is positioned through the hinge opening.   
     
     
         11 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated panel includes a first opening and the second elongated panel includes a second opening. 
     
     
         12 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the first elongated panel is of a smaller dimension than a second portion of the first elongated panel. 
     
     
         13 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the first limb includes a textured portion. 
     
     
         14 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bag coupled with the second sealing member, at an exterior portion of the bag.   
     
     
         15 . A hinged closure apparatus, comprising:
 a first elongated limb having a first hinged end, a first free end opposite the first hinged end, and a protruding structure extending from the first hinged end to the first free end, the protruding structure including a main branch extending outwardly from the first elongated limb, and at least one subbranch extending laterally outward from the main branch;   a second elongated limb having a second hinged end, wherein the second hinged end is movably coupled with the first hinged end, a second free end opposite the second hinged end, and a recessed structure extending from the second hinged end to the second free end; and   a locking mechanism coupled with at least one of the first elongated limb or the second elongated limb, wherein the locking mechanism is adjustable to be in a locked position, such that the first free end is removably fastened with the second free end, the protruding structure is received within the recessed structure, and a seal is formed between and along a length of the protruding structure and a length of the recessed structure.   
     
     
         16 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the main branch and the at least one subbranch further extend from the first hinged end to the first free end. 
     
     
         17 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one subbranch includes multiple subbranches of varying dimensions. 
     
     
         18 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the multiple subbranches include an outer subbranch and an inner subbranch, the outer subbranch being positioned closer than the inner subbranch to the second elongated limb, and the inner subbranch extends further than the outer subbranch from the main branch. 
     
     
         19 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the recessed structure includes an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion being positioned closer than the inner portion to the first elongated limb, and the outer portion is wider than the inner portion. 
     
     
         20 . The hinged closure apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the locking mechanism is releasable into an unlocked position such that the first free end is detached from the second free end, and a release from the locked position into the unlocked position requires a first unlocking action and a second unlocking action to be performed simultaneously.