Twist-tie product

Abstract

A twist-tie includes a fastener having a malleable material surrounded by an outer coating having a longitudinal axis and extending between a first end and a second end; and an indicia portion extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis, the indicia portion including at least a portion that is attached to the fastener and at least a portion that is separated from the fastener, wherein a separation between the indicia portion and the fastener defines a slit that extends from an open end toward a closed end in a direction of at least one of the first end toward the second end and the second end toward the first end.

1 ) A twist-tie comprising:
 a fastener portion extending between a first end and a second end; and   an indicia portion extending at least partially along the fastener portion, the indicia portion including at least a portion that is attached to the fastener portion and at least a portion that is separated from the fastener portion by a slit, the slit extending from an open end toward a closed end in a direction of at least one of the first end toward the second end and the second end toward the first end.   
     
     
         2 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 1 , wherein the slit extends from the open end toward the closed end only in the direction of the first end toward the second end. 
     
     
         3 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 1 , wherein the slit defines a first slit extending from an open end toward a closed end in the direction of the first end toward the second end and a second slit extending from an open end toward a closed end in the direction of the second end toward the first end. 
     
     
         4 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 1 , wherein the open end of the slit is adjacent to at least one of the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         5 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 4 , wherein the open end of the slit is only adjacent to the first end. 
     
     
         6 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 3 , wherein the open end of the first slit is adjacent the first end and the open end of the second slit is adjacent the second end. 
     
     
         7 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastener portion includes a malleable material surrounded by an outer coating. 
     
     
         8 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicia portion includes pre-printed indicia thereon. 
     
     
         9 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastener portion defines a length extending between the first end and the second end, the slit defining the closed end at a location that is positioned at less than halfway along the length when taken in a direction either from the first end toward the second end or from the second end toward the first end. 
     
     
         10 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 9 , wherein the closed end is at a location that is positioned at less than halfway along the length when taken in a direction from the first end toward the second end. 
     
     
         11 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 3 , wherein the fastener portion defines a length extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the closed end of the first slit is positioned at less than halfway along the length when taken in a direction from the first end toward the second end, and the closed end of the second slit is positioned at less than halfway along the length when taken in a direction from the second end toward the first end. 
     
     
         12 ) A cluster of twist-ties comprising:
 a plurality of twist-ties defining the cluster, each twist-tie comprising:
 a fastener portion extending between a first end and a second end; and 
 an indicia portion extending at least partially along the fastener portion, the indicia portion including at least a portion that is attached to the fastener portion and at least a portion that is separated from the fastener portion by a slit, the slit extending from an open end toward a closed end in a direction of at least one of the first end toward the second end and the second end toward the first end. 
   
     
     
         13 ) A cluster according to  claim 12 , wherein the open end of the slit is adjacent to at least one of the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         14 ) A cluster according to  claim 12 , wherein the slit defines a first slit extending from an open end toward a closed end in the direction of the first end toward the second end and a second slit extending from an open end toward a closed end in the direction of the second end toward the first end. 
     
     
         15 ) A cluster according to  claim 12 , wherein the fastener portion includes a malleable material surrounded by an outer coating. 
     
     
         16 ) A cluster according to  claim 12 , wherein the indicia portion includes pre-printed indicia thereon. 
     
     
         17 ) A cluster according to  claim 12 , wherein the fastener portion defines a length extending between the first end and the second end, the slit defining the closed end at a location that is positioned at less than halfway along the length when taken in a direction either from the first end toward the second end or from the second end toward the first end. 
     
     
         18 ) A cluster according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of twist-ties defines twist-tie pairs, each twist-tie of the pair defining a fastener portion extending along a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end and an indicia portion extending at least partially along the fastener portion, the indicia portion including at least a portion that is attached to the fastener portion and at least a portion that is separated from the fastener portion by a slit, the slit extending from an open end toward a closed end in a direction of at least one of the first end toward the second end and the second end toward the first end, wherein the twist-ties of each pair are positioned on the cluster so as to at least partially overlap along the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         19 ) A cluster according to  claim 18 , wherein the open end of the slit for each twist-tie of a pair are positioned on opposite ends of the pair. 
     
     
         20 ) A twist-tie comprising:
 a fastener portion extending between a first end and a second end; and   an indicia portion extending at least partially along the fastener portion, the indicia portion including at least a portion that is attached to the fastener portion and at least a portion that is separated from the fastener portion by a first slit extending from an open end toward a closed end in the direction of the first end toward the second end and a second slit extending from an open end toward a closed end in the direction of the second end toward the first end.   
     
     
         21 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 20 , wherein the open end of the first slit is adjacent the first end and the open end of the second slit is adjacent the second end. 
     
     
         22 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 20 , wherein the fastener portion includes a malleable material surrounded by an outer coating. 
     
     
         23 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 20 , wherein the indicia portion includes pre-printed indicia thereon. 
     
     
         24 ) A twist-tie according to  claim 20 , wherein the fastener portion defines a length extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the closed end of the first slit is positioned at less than halfway along the length when taken in a direction from the first end toward the second end, and the closed end of the second slit is positioned at less than halfway along the length when taken in a direction from the second end toward the first end. 
     
     
         25 ) A twist-tie comprising:
 a fastener including a malleable material surrounded by an outer coating having a longitudinal axis and extending between a first end and a second end; and   an indicia portion extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis, the indicia portion including at least a portion that is attached to the fastener and at least a portion that is separated from the fastener, wherein a separation between the indicia portion and the fastener defines a slit that extends from an open end toward a closed end in a direction of at least one of the first end toward the second end and the second end toward the first end.   
     
     
         26 ) A cluster of twist-ties comprising:
 a plurality of twist-ties defining the cluster, each twist-tie comprising:
 a fastener including a malleable material surrounded by an outer coating having a longitudinal axis and extending between a first end and a second end; and 
 an indicia portion extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis, the indicia portion including at least a portion that is attached to the fastener and at least a portion that is separated from the fastener, wherein a separation between the indicia portion and the fastener defines a slit that extends from an open end toward a closed end in a direction of at least one of the first end toward the second end and the second end toward the first end.