Bag closure device and methods of fabricating the same

Abstract

Bag closure devices include elongate male and female members each having a wall which is generally U-shaped in cross-sectional configuration and terminating in a pair of opposing, separated edge regions which define therebetween a slot extending the axial length of the members. The U-shaped walls of the male and female members are formed of a resilient, shape-retaining plastic material (e.g., PE) which permits the opposing edge regions to be resiliently displaced relative to one another so as to facilitate the entry of the male member into a generally cylindrical interior space defined by the female member when the two members are moved into frictional nested relationship. The male and female members are preferably interconnected to one another by an integral hinge which facilitates moving the same into such nested relationship. A locking member may optionally be provided so as to releasably lock the male and female members in their nested relationship. The devices are fabricated by extruding the material into a preform which, in one embodiment, includes oppositely oriented U-shaped preforms of the male and female members separated by a substantially planar central region, the preforms extending parallel to the extrusion axis. In another embodiment, a continuous U-shaped preform is extruded and opposing wall sections thereof are removed to establish the male and female members interconnected to one another by the region which remains after removal of the wall sections.