Bag Packaging Closure and Dispensing Device

Abstract

A bag packaging closure and dispensing device is disclosed. The device has first and second legs secured together about a package. The legs include first and second flexible portions biased apart to provide a space therebetween for dispensing. A slider is moveable along the legs to move the first and second flexible portions together to close the packaging. A method for opening and closing packaging for dispensing contents is also disclosed.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A bag packaging closure and dispensing device comprising:
 first and second legs, including first and second flexible portions extending from first and second rigid portions, each of the first and second rigid and flexible portions extending partially along a package, the first and second flexible and rigid portions together extending along a package;   means for removably securing the first and second legs together about a package;   the first and second flexible portions of a resiliently deformable material biased apart to provide a semi-circular space therebetween for dispensing; and   a slider moveable along the legs to move the first and second flexible portions together to close a package.   
     
     
         2 . A method for opening and closing packaging for dispensing contents comprising:
 attaching first and second legs about an end of a package, each of the first and second legs having a length comprising a rigid portion extending partially along a package and a flexible portion of a resiliently deformable material extending along a remaining portion of a package;   securing the first and second legs together about a package;   moving a slider along the flexible portions of the legs to move the flexible portions with respect to each other to open a semi-circular space and to close a package; and   removing the first and second legs from a package after use.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the first and second legs include flexible portions which are biased apart and moving the slider along the legs overcomes the bias to close a package. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the slider overcomes the bias of the first and second flexible portions to close a package. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising first and second living hinges between the rigid portions of the first and second legs and the flexible portions respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a third living hinge between the first and second flexible portions. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for removably securing the first and second legs together about a package comprises one or more locking tabs. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for removably securing the first and second legs together about a package comprises magnets. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first and second legs compress a package to removably secure the legs about a package. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for removably securing the legs comprises a snapfit about a package. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the slider is positioned only on the flexible portion of the legs. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising moving the slider only on the flexible portions of the legs. 
     
     
         13 . A bag packaging closure and dispensing device comprising:
 first and second legs extending along a package, the first and second legs including first and second rigid portions extending partially along a package, and first and second flexible portions extending from the first and second rigid portions along a remaining portion of a package, the first and second legs removably secured together about an exterior of a package;   the first and second flexible portions biased apart to provide a space therebetween for dispensing contents of a package; and   a slider positioned only on the flexible portions of the legs and moveable along the flexible portions of the legs to overcome the bias and move the first and second flexible portions together to close a package.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  comprising living hinges between the first and second rigid portions and the first and second flexible portions of the legs. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a third living hinge between the first and second flexible portions. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising one or more locking tabs on the legs. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising magnets that secure the first and second legs together. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the first and second legs compress a package to removably secure the legs about a package. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a snapfit to removably secure the legs about a package. 
     
     
         20 . A bag packaging closure and dispensing device comprising:
 first and second legs, including first and second flexible portions;   one or more locking tabs for removably securing the first and second legs together about a package;   the first and second flexible portions biased apart to provide a space therebetween for dispensing; and   a slider moveable along the legs to move the first and second flexible portions together to close the packaging.   
     
     
         21 . A bag packaging closure and dispensing device comprising:
 first and second legs, including first and second flexible portions;   magnets for removably securing the first and second legs together about a package;   the first and second flexible portions biased apart to provide a space therebetween for dispensing; and   a slider moveable along the legs to move the first and second flexible portions together to close the packaging.   
     
     
         22 . A bag packaging closure and dispensing device comprising:
 first and second legs, including first and second flexible portions;   a snapfit connection for removably securing the first and second legs together about a package;   the first and second flexible portions biased apart to provide a space therebetween for dispensing; and   a slider moveable along the legs to move the first and second flexible portions together to close the packaging.   
     
     
         23 . A bag packaging closure and dispensing device comprising:
 first and second legs including first and second rigid portions and first and second flexible portions, the first and second legs removably secured together about an exterior of a package;   one or more locking tabs on the legs;   the first and second flexible portions biased apart to provide a space therebetween for dispensing contents of a package; and   a slider moveable along the legs to move the first and second flexible portions together to close the packaging.   
     
     
         24 . A bag packaging closure and dispensing device comprising:
 first and second legs including first and second rigid portions and first and second flexible portions, the first and second legs removably secured together about an exterior of a package;   magnets to secure the first and second legs together;   the first and second flexible portions biased apart to provide a space therebetween for dispensing contents of a package; and   a slider moveable along the legs to move the first and second flexible portions together to close the packaging.   
     
     
         25 . A bag packaging closure and dispensing device comprising:
 first and second legs including first and second rigid portions and first and second flexible portions, the first and second legs removably secured together about an exterior of a package;   a snapfit connection to removably secure the first and second legs about a package;   the first and second flexible portions biased apart to provide a space therebetween for dispensing contents of a package; and   a slider moveable along the legs to move the first and second flexible portions together to close the packaging.   
     
     
         26 . A method for opening and closing packaging for dispensing contents comprising:
 attaching first and second legs about an end of a package, each of the first and second legs having a length comprising a rigid portion extending partially along a package and a flexible portion extending along a remaining portion of a package;   securing the first and second legs together about a package;   moving a slider positioned only on the flexible portions of the legs along the flexible portions to move the flexible portions of the legs with respect to each other to open and close a package; and   removing the first and second legs from a package after use.