A device for selectively retaining a package opening in a gaping configuration and a package including the device applied to a package body. The device includes a circumferential strip with side seams formed as vertical or longitudinal hinges. One or more tabs extend in a first axial direction from
A device for selectively retaining a package opening in a gaping configuration and a package including the device applied to a package body. The device includes a circumferential strip with side seams formed as vertical or longitudinal hinges. One or more tabs extend in a first axial direction from an upper edge of the circumferential strip at the side seams. Each tab is coupled to the circumferential strip with a horizontal or transverse hinge. The tabs are pivotable about the horizontal or transverse hinges in opposite directions away from the opening axis to respective folded-out positions, which inhibits the device from folding at the side seams and retains a gaping open configuration of the device and package. The vertical hinges include thru cuts or line of perforations that go through the entire material thickness of the circumferential strip and the one or more tabs and extend for a majority of the full axial length of the device. The horizontal hinges may be in the form of a living hinge or alternatively thru cuts or a line of perforations.
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1. A device for selectively retaining a package opening in a gaping configuration, the device comprising: a circumferential strip configured to be secured to a package opening, the circumferential strip defining an opening axis;a pair of side seams formed as vertical hinges, wherein the pair of side
1. A device for selectively retaining a package opening in a gaping configuration, the device comprising: a circumferential strip configured to be secured to a package opening, the circumferential strip defining an opening axis;a pair of side seams formed as vertical hinges, wherein the pair of side seams define opposed first and second ends of the device, the device being divided by the pair of side seams into first and second sides; anda pair of tabs extending in a first axial direction from an upper edge of the circumferential strip, one of the pair of tabs being positioned at each of the opposed first and second ends of the device, each one of the pair of tabs being coupled to the circumferential strip with a horizontal hinge, the pair of tabs being pivotable about the horizontal hinges in opposite directions away from the opening axis to respective folded-out positions,wherein each one of the pair of side seams intersects a corresponding one of the horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs such that folding of the device at the side seams inhibits pivoting of the pair of tabs to the respective folded-out positions, and folding of the device at the side seams is inhibited to retain a gaping open configuration of the device when the pair of tabs are in the respective folded-out positions, andwherein the vertical hinges include thru cuts or a line of perforations that go through the entire material thickness of the adjacent portion of the circumferential strip and the pair of tabs, and wherein the thru cuts or line of perforations extend for a majority of the full axial length of the device, from upper ends of the pair of tabs to a lower end of the circumferential strip. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the pair of side seams extend substantially parallel to the opening axis. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs extend substantially circumferentially and substantially perpendicular to the opening axis. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the majority of the full axial length of the device is at least 50% of the height or length of the side seams. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the line of perforations are in the form of dotted lines or dashed lines. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the pair of side seams intersect the respective horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs at substantially 90-degree angles. 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one projection substantially aligned with one of the pair of tabs in the circumferential direction and extending in a direction opposite the first axial direction. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs comprises a living hinge located at a radially outward side of the device and formed by a blind slit from a radially inward side of the device. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the living hinge has a material thickness that is 80 percent or less of adjacent portions of the circumferential strip and the corresponding one of the pair of tabs. 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the living hinge has a material thickness that is 25 percent or less of adjacent portions of the circumferential strip and the corresponding one of the pair of tabs. 11. The device of the claim 1, wherein the horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs comprises thru cuts or a line of perforations that go through the entire material thickness of the adjacent portions of the circumferential strip and each of the pair of tabs. 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs do not span the entire width of the tabs. 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs include an uncut segment on one end or both ends of each of the pair of tabs, wherein the uncut segment has a width of less than or equal to 5 mm. 14. The device of claim 12, wherein the horizontal hinges extend for a majority of the width of the pair of tabs. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the majority of the width is at least 50% of the width of the tabs. 16. The device of claim 1, wherein the vertical hinges include an uncut segment on one end or both ends of the vertical hinges, wherein the uncut segment has a width of less than or equal to 5 mm. 17. The device of claim 1 made from a single piece with distal ends, and wherein the distal ends are joined to form a bond provided in the circumferential strip at an intermediate location along one of the first and second sides, spaced from both of the pair of side seams. 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the single piece with distal ends is formed from a thermoplastic polymer material via injection molding or extrusion followed by die cutting. 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the thermoplastic polymer material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polybutylene and blends thereof. 20. The device of claim 17, wherein the bond provided in the circumferential strip is formed by adhesive bonding, heat sealing, spot sealing or sonic welding. 21. The device of claim 1, further including a pair of pouch opening segments extending in a first axial direction from an upper edge of the circumferential strip, wherein each pouch opening segment is positioned about midway between each of the opposed first and second ends of the device and wherein each pouch opening segment is positioned on the opposite side of the circumferential strip from the other pouch opening segment. 22. The device of claim 21, wherein the pair of pouch opening segments completely overlap one another when the device is in the closed position. 23. The device of claim 21, wherein the pair of pouch opening segments are offset from one another by at least 3 mm when the device is in the closed position. 24. The device of claim 21, wherein the pair of pouch opening segments are of a shape selected from the group consisting of semi-circular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, elliptical, and parallelogram. 25. The device of claim 1, wherein the pair of tabs are of a shape selected from the group consisting of semi-circular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, elliptical, and parallelogram. 26. A package comprising: a package body including flexible sides, a closed end, an openable end, and a pair of side seams; anda device for selectively retaining the openable end of the package body in a gaping configuration, the device includinga circumferential strip secured to the package body at the openable end, the circumferential strip defining an opening axis coaxial with a package body axis,a pair of side seams aligned with the pair of side seams of the package body, the pair of side seams of the device being formed by vertical hinges, anda pair of tabs extending in a first axial direction from an upper edge of the circumferential strip, one of the pair of tabs extending across each one of the side seams of the device, each one of the pair of tabs being coupled to the circumferential strip with a horizontal hinge, the pair of tabs being pivotable in opposite directions away from the opening axis about the horizontal hinges to respective folded-out positions,wherein the vertical hinges include thru cuts or a line of perforations that go through the entire material thickness of the adjacent portion portions of the circumferential strip and the pair of tabs, and wherein the thru cuts or line of perforations extend for a majority of the full axial length of the device, from upper ends of the pair of tabs to a lower end of the circumferential strip,wherein each one of the pair of side seams of the device intersects a corresponding one of the horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs such that folding of the device at its side seams inhibits pivoting of the pair of tabs to the respective folded-out positions, and folding of the device at its side seams is inhibited to retain a gaping open configuration of the device when the pair of tabs are in the respective folded-out positions, the package thus being operable in at least two configurations includinga first configuration in which the device is folded upon its side seams and the openable end of the package body can be closed, anda second configuration in which the pair of tabs are both folded outward away from the opening axis about the respective horizontal hinges to inhibit closing of the openable end of the package body. 27. The package of claim 26, further comprising a resealable closure mechanism for selectively holding the openable end of the package closed. 28. The package of claim 27, wherein the resealable closure mechanism is positioned proximate the openable end with the circumferential strip positioned therebetween. 29. The package of claim 26, wherein the pair of tabs extend outwardly past the openable end of the package body in the first configuration. 30. The package of claim 29, further comprising a hermetically-sealed header coupled to the package body at the openable end, the header covering the pair of tabs and being severable from the package body to expose the pair of tabs and enable access to the package body through the openable end. 31. The package of claim 26, wherein the horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs extend substantially circumferentially and substantially perpendicular to the opening axis and the package body axis. 32. The package of claim 26, wherein the majority of the full axial length of the device is at least 50% of the height or length of the side seams. 33. The package of claim 26, wherein the line of perforations are in the form of dotted lines or dashed lines. 34. The package of claim 26, wherein the pair of side seams of the device intersect the respective horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs at substantially 90-degree angles. 35. The package of claim 26, further comprising at least one projection substantially aligned with one of the pair of tabs in the circumferential direction and extending in an inward direction into the package body. 36. The package of claim 26, further comprising a hermetic seal formed between the flexible sides of the package body, the hermetic seal being positioned adjacent the openable end, with the circumferential strip positioned therebetween. 37. The package of claim 36, further comprising a resealable closure mechanism operable to selectively hold the openable end of the package closed. 38. The package of claim 26, wherein the horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs is a living hinge located at a radially outward side of the device and formed by a blind slit from a radially inward side of the device. 39. The package of claim 38, wherein the living hinge has a material thickness that is 80 percent or less of adjacent portions of the circumferential strip and the corresponding one of the pair of tabs. 40. The package of claim 39, wherein the living hinge has a material thickness that is 25 percent or less of adjacent portions of the circumferential strip and the corresponding one of the pair of tabs. 41. The package of claim 26, wherein the horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs comprises thru cuts or a line of perforations that go through the entire material thickness of the adjacent portions of the circumferential strip and each of the pair of tabs. 42. The package of claim 26, wherein the horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs do not span the entire width of the tabs. 43. The package of claim 42, wherein the horizontal hinges of the pair of tabs include an uncut segment on one end or both ends of each of the pair of tabs, wherein the uncut segment has a width of less than or equal to 5 mm. 44. The package of claim 42, wherein the horizontal hinges extend for a majority of the width of the pair of tabs. 45. The package of claim 44, wherein the majority of the width is at least 50% of the width of the tabs. 46. The package of claim 26, wherein the vertical hinges include an uncut segment on one end or both ends of the vertical hinges, wherein the uncut segment has a width of less than or equal to 5 mm. 47. The package of claim 26, wherein the device is made from a single piece with distal ends, and wherein the distal ends are joined to form a bond provided in the circumferential strip at an intermediate location along one of the first and second sides, spaced from both of the pair of side seams. 48. The package of claim 47, wherein the single piece with distal ends is formed from a thermoplastic polymer material via injection molding or extrusion followed by die cutting. 49. The package of claim 48, wherein the thermoplastic polymer material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polybutylene and blends thereof. 50. The package of claim 47, wherein the bond provided in the circumferential strip is formed by adhesive bonding, heat sealing, spot sealing or sonic welding. 51. The package of claim 26, further including a pair of pouch opening segments extending in a first axial direction from an upper edge of the circumferential strip, wherein each pouch opening segment is positioned about midway between each of the opposed first and second ends of the device and wherein each pouch opening segment is positioned on the opposite side of the circumferential strip from the other pouch opening segment. 52. The package of claim 51, wherein the pair of pouch opening segments completely overlap one another when the package is in the closed position. 53. The package of claim 51, wherein the pair of pouch opening segments are offset from one another by at least 3 mm when the package is in the closed position. 54. The package device of claim 51, wherein the pair of pouch opening segments are of a shape selected from the group consisting of semi-circular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, elliptical, and parallelogram. 55. The package of claim 26, wherein the pair of tabs are of a shape selected from the group consisting of semi-circular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, elliptical, and parallelogram. 56. A device for selectively retaining a package opening in a gaping configuration, the device comprising: a strip portion configured to be secured to a package opening;at least one tab extending from the strip portion;a vertical hinge portion dividing the strip portion and the at least one tab into two sides, the vertical hinge portion allowing the two sides to be folded together about the vertical hinge portion, wherein the vertical hinge portion includes thru cuts or a line of perforations that go through the entire material thickness of the adjacent strip portion and the adjacent at least one tab and wherein the thru cuts or line of perforations extend for a majority of the full axial length of the device, from upper end of the at least one tab to a lower end of the strip portion; anda horizontal hinge portion coupling the tab to the strip portion, the horizontal hinge intersecting the vertical hinge portion and allowing the tab to pivot from a vertical orientation generally aligned with the strip portion to a folded-out position that is angled out of alignment from the strip portion, wherein the horizontal hinge portion comprises a living hinge located at a radially outward side of the device and formed by a blind slit from a radially inward side of the device or the horizontal hinge portion comprises thru cuts or a line of perforations that go through the entire material thickness of the adjacent strip portion and the at least one tab,wherein folding of the device along the vertical hinge inhibits pivoting of the at least one tab to the folded-out position, and folding of the device along the vertical hinge is inhibited when the at least tab is in the folded-out position. 57. The device of claim 56, and a package coupled thereto, the package having at least one openable end, which is secured to the strip portion of the device. 58. The device of claim 56, wherein the majority of the full axial length of the device is at least 50% of the full axial length of the device. 59. The device of claim 56, wherein the line of perforations in the vertical hinge portion and the horizontal hinge portion are in the form of dotted lines or dashed lines. 60. The device of claim 56, wherein the horizontal hinge portion does not span the entire width of the at least one tab. 61. The device of claim 60, wherein the horizontal hinge portion includes an uncut segment on one or both ends of the at least one tab, wherein the uncut segment has a width of less than or equal to 5 mm. 62. The device of claim 60, wherein the horizontal hinge portion extends for a majority of the width of the at least one tab. 63. The device of claim 62, wherein the majority of the width is at least 50% of the width of the at least one tab. 64. The device of claim 56, wherein the living hinge of the horizontal hinge portion has a material thickness that is 80 percent or less of adjacent portions of the strip portion and the corresponding at least one tab. 65. The device of claim 64, wherein the living hinge of the horizontal hinge portion has a material thickness that is 25 percent or less of adjacent portions of the strip portion and the corresponding at least one tab. 66. The device of claim 56, wherein the vertical hinge portion includes an uncut segment on one end or both ends of the vertical hinge portion, wherein the uncut segment has a width of less than or equal to 5 mm. 67. The device of claim 56, further comprising a bond provided in the strip portion at an intermediate location along one of the two sides, spaced from the vertical hinge portion. 68. The device of claim 56, further including a pair of pouch opening segments extending in a first axial direction from an upper edge of the strip portion, wherein each pouch opening segment is positioned about midway between each of the opposed first and second ends of the device and wherein each pouch opening segment is positioned on the opposite side of the strip portion from the other pouch opening segment. 69. The device of claim 68, wherein the pair of pouch opening segments completely overlap one another when the device is in the closed position. 70. The device of claim 68, wherein the pair of pouch opening segments are offset from one another by at least 3 mm when the device is in the closed position. 71. The device of claim 68, wherein the pair of pouch opening segments are of a shape selected from the group consisting of semi-circular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, elliptical, and parallelogram. 72. The device of claim 56, wherein the at least one tab is of a shape selected from the group consisting of semi-circular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, elliptical, and parallelogram. 73. The device of claim 56, wherein the at least one tab includes one tab. 74. The device of claim 56, wherein the at least one tab includes two tabs.
Blair Norman (202 Old Glenarm Road Larne ; BT 40 1TT GB5), Device for keeping a bag mouth open and holding the bag against a vertical surface or a pole.
Hamilton Peter Worthington ; McGuire Kenneth Stephen ; Tweddell ; III Richard ; Garth Shirley Florence ; Oney ; Jr. Jack Lee, Flexible storage bag with selectively-activatible closure.
Hammond Edward P. (Cincinnati OH) Kinne Daniel J. (Cincinnati OH) Roseberry George L. (Fairfield OH), Self-expanding flexible pouch including improved extensible stay to maximize opening.
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