Closable container

Abstract

A closable container is provided, including a first wall of flexible material having a first interior face, a second wall of flexible material having a second interior face, the first and second walls being laterally opposed and arranged to form an interior volume of the closable container with the first interior wall and the second interior wall at least partially defining the interior volume, a first cooperative panel having a first cooperating face and a first joining face opposite the cooperating face, at least a portion of the first cooperating face comprising a first fastener element, and a second cooperative panel having a second cooperating face and a second joining face opposite the second cooperating face, the second cooperating face comprising a second fastener element configured to engage with the first fastener element to form an interlocking connection, the second fastener element being substantially identical to the first fastener element. The first joining face is joined to the first interior face at a first joint and the second joining face is joined to the second interior face at a second joint, at least one of the first and second joints being narrower than a width of the respective first or second cooperative panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closable container, comprising:
 a first wall of flexible material having a first interior face;   a second wall of flexible material having a second interior face, the first and second walls being laterally opposed and arranged to form an interior volume of the closable container with the first interior wall and the second interior wall at least partially defining the interior volume;   a first cooperative panel having a first cooperating face and a first joining face opposite the cooperating face, at least a portion of the first cooperating face comprising a first fastener element; and   a second cooperative panel having a second cooperating face and a second joining face opposite the second cooperating face, the second cooperating face comprising a second fastener element configured to engage with the first fastener element to form an interlocking connection, the second fastener element being substantially identical to the first fastener element,   wherein the first joining face is joined to the first interior face at a first joint and the second joining face is joined to the second interior face at a second joint, at least one of the first and second joints being narrower than a width of the respective first or second cooperative panel.   
     
     
         2 . The closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second joints is positioned away from a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the respective first or second cooperative panel. 
     
     
         3 . The closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener element comprises a first plurality of hooked protrusions and the second fastener element comprises a second plurality of hooked protrusions, each hooked protrusion of the second plurality of hooked protrusions being substantially identical to each hooked protrusion of the first plurality of hooked protrusions. 
     
     
         4 . The closable container according to  claim 3 , wherein each hooked protrusion has a single shank from which two mutually opposed engaging portions extend. 
     
     
         5 . The closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein only one of the first or second joining face is joined to the respective first or second inner wall over an entire width of the respective first or second cooperative panel. 
     
     
         6 . The closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein both the first and second joints are narrower than a width of the respective first and second cooperative panel, and each of the first and second joints are positioned away from a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the respective first or second cooperative panel. 
     
     
         7 . The closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second joint are at least one of an ultrasonic weld, an adhesive joint and a heat seal. 
     
     
         8 . The closable container according to  claim 1 , comprising a first pull-tab joined to an exterior face of the first wall and a second pull-tab joined to an exterior face of the second wall. 
     
     
         9 . The closable container according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second pull-tabs are positioned away from the first and second cooperating panels and toward a bottom of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The closable container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom wall affixed to the first and second walls to define the interior volume. 
     
     
         11 . The closable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is a plastic material selected from one of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene. 
     
     
         12 . A closable container, comprising:
 a first wall of flexible material having a first interior face;   a second wall of flexible material having a second interior face, the first and second walls being laterally opposed and arranged to form an interior volume of the closable container with the first interior wall and the second interior wall at least partially defining the interior volume;   a first cooperative panel having a cooperating face and a first joining face opposite the cooperating face, at least a portion of the cooperating face comprising a first plurality of hooked protrusions;   a second cooperative panel having a second cooperating face and a second joining face opposite the second cooperating face, the second cooperating face comprising a second plurality of hooked protrusions configured to engage with the first plurality of hooked protrusions to form an interlocking connection, wherein each hooked protrusion of the first and second plurality of hooked protrusions has a single shank from which two mutually opposed engaging portions extend,   the first joining face being joined to the first interior face at a first joint and the second joining face being joined to the second interior face at a second joint; and   a first pull-tab affixed to an exterior face of the first wall at a position away from the first joint, and a second pull-tab affixed to an exterior face of the second wall at a position away from the second joint,   wherein the first and second joints are configured such that when a tensile force is exerted upon one or both of the first and second pull-tabs, the interlocking connection may be disengaged without substantial force being exerted on the first and second plurality of hooked protrusions.   
     
     
         13 . The closable container according to  claim 12 , wherein both the first and second joints are narrower than a width of the respective first and second cooperative panel, and each of the first and second joints are positioned away from a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the respective first or second cooperative panel. 
     
     
         14 . The closable container according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second joints are configured such that exerting a tensile force on a top portion of the first and second walls results in a force being exerted on the first and second interlocking connection. 
     
     
         15 . The closable container according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second joint are at least one of an ultrasonic weld, an adhesive joint and a heat seal. 
     
     
         16 . The closable container according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the two mutually opposed engaging portions extend away from the shank in a direction substantially parallel to a lateral axis of the first and second cooperative panels. 
     
     
         17 . The closable container according to  claim 12 , further comprising a bottom wall affixed to the first and second wall to define the interior volume. 
     
     
         18 . The closable container according to  claim 12 , wherein the flexible material is a plastic material selected from one of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene. 
     
     
         19 . A child resistant, closable container, comprising:
 a bag of flexible material having an opening with a first interior wall of the bag and a second interior wall of the bag at least partially defining the opening;   a closure device configured to close the opening, the closure device being of an automatically gripping type, comprising a first cooperative panel having a cooperating face and a first joining face opposite the cooperating face, at least a portion of the cooperating face comprising a first fastener element, and a second cooperative panel having a second cooperating face and a second joining face opposite the second cooperating face, the second cooperating face comprising a second fastener element, the first and second fastener elements being substantially identical to one another,   wherein the first joining face is joined to the first interior wall of the bag at a first joint and the second joining face being joined to the second interior wall of the bag at a second joint, at least one of the first and second joints being positioned asymmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the first and/or second cooperative panel;   a first pull-tab affixed to an exterior portion of the bag opposite the first interior wall; and   a second pull-tab affixed to an exterior portion of the bag opposite the second interior wall,   wherein application of a tensile force to the first pull-tab and/or the second pull-tab result in opening of the closure device without substantial force being exerted on the first and second fastener elements.   
     
     
         20 . The child-resistant, closable container according to  claim 19 , wherein the closure device is of a hook-in-hook type, and the first fastener element comprises a first plurality of hooked protrusions and the second fastener element comprises a second plurality of hooked protrusions, each hooked protrusion of the second plurality of hooked protrusions being substantially identical to each hooked protrusion of the first plurality of hooked protrusions.