Plastic closure clip for closing a mesh bag

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure clip (1, 1') made of plastic material for closing a bag, such as a mesh bag, configured to clamp a gathered portion (9) of the bag. The clip is made in a single piece and comprises two arms (2, 3) with clamping means (21, 31) which, when the arms are brought closer together, cooperate to close by crushing the gathered portion of the bag located between the arms. The arms are joined by a proximal end (2a, 3a) to a connecting bridge (4) and at their distal end (2b, 3b) the arms have mutually interlocking complementary retention elements (22, 32) when the arms are brought closer together. Each arm is joined to the connecting bridge by means of a respective lightened portion of material (41, 42) of the piece, each defining a respective joint.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure clip made of plastic material that is especially suitable for closing a bag, such as a mesh bag, in particular for clamping a gathered portion of said bag.Background of the invention

[0002] In the context of the present invention, the term clip is used to designate a utensil used to close tubular flexible containers.

[0003] Nowadays, clamp-shaped clips for this purpose are known.

[0004] For example, patent documents ES 2076889; ES 2058717; and EP 287627 all disclose clamp-shaped clips.

[0005] These clips have in common that they comprise two arms joined and hinged to one another, the clip being able to adopt an open position, which allows a longitudinal portion of a bag to be closed to be placed between the arms; and a closed position, in which the arms are joined together, crushing the bag portion placed between the arms.

[0006] These clips also have in common the provision of retention means to keep the arms in the closed position; as well as clamping means, located on the arms and facing each other, which assist or interact with the material of the bag to better facilitate the grip of the clamp with respect to the bag.

[0007] The retention means usually consist of complementary elements located at the distal ends of the arms and which can be mutually interlocked when said distal ends of the arms are brought closer together.

[0008] These clips also have in common that they are made in a single piece, which is an advantage for their production, avoiding having to assemble or connect parts that are obtained separately to form the clip.

[0009] The aforementioned clips, however, have some drawbacks that remain pending to be successfully resolved.

[0010] A first drawback arises when considering using these clips to close bags in automatic packaging machines or processes.

[0011] In this context, the clips must be supplied and operated very quickly, in line with the packaging rate that the processes on the automatic packaging machines are capable of achieving, in order not to represent a bottleneck in terms of productivity.

[0012] At the same time, when the portion of the bag that is placed between the arms of the clip is a gathered portion of said bag, and is not a flattened portion but rather a bulging one, as if it were a cord, a sudden and relatively high closing force must be applied to the arms of the clip so that the clip reaches its closed position with the interposition of the bag material between its arms, which must be crushed, offering some resistance.

[0013] In clips of the type described above, this causes the arms to become misaligned, i.e., while the clip is at rest the arms are coplanar, these same arms stop being coplanar when the clip is forced to close.

[0014] When this occurs, the interlocking elements of the retention means for keeping the arms in the closed position may not meet. In other words, misalignment of the arms can cause the clip to not close properly. Consequently, either the bag in the process of being manufactured must be rejected or the finished bag may be defective, accidentally opening during normal use because the clip was not closed properly.

[0015] A first objective of the invention is a clip that overcomes this drawback.

[0016] The clips incorporated into the bags for closing the same are accessory elements that are not initially reusable, intended to be discarded when the bag is opened. This entails assuming other objectives that are also secondary purposes of the present invention.

[0017] For example, it is of interest to reduce the manufacturing costs of clips, one measure to be taken into account being the amount of material used to manufacture a clip unit. The less material required, the cheaper the clip will be. However, in the clips discussed above, the drawback of arm misalignment arose. This misalignment is helped by the solution adopted in the single-piece clips so that the arms are joined hinged together. This solution is based on the deformation of the material that the clip is made of, specifically on the deformation of a connecting bridge that joins the two arms. If the material is reduced, this connecting bridge will be more prone to both arms not being articulated about a theoretical common axis of rotation, which could cause the material to bend in an uncontrolled manner and the arms to become misaligned, thus ceasing to be coplanar.

[0018] This is a deterrent for the design of a clip that is lightweight, but at the same time guarantees a controlled, sufficiently fast and secure closure.

[0019] Another measure to be taken into account is the cost of tooling or the cost of carrying out the manufacturing process.

[0020] For example, in the case of the clips discussed above, it can be observed that they do not have a rectangular cross-sectional contour. Consequently, injection moulding processes must be used when the clips are made of plastic material.

[0021] In this sense, a clip design is desirable that, without giving up achieving the aforementioned objectives, can be obtained using an alternative manufacturing process to injection moulding, and specifically having a greater performance.

[0022] Currently, there are known material proposals for making mesh bags that offer a greater sustainability compared to classic plastic materials. An alternative is bioplastics. The modern implementation of selective waste collection encourages users to deposit the waste generated, classified according to the material making up the waste, in separate collection containers.

[0023] The addition of non-binding materials to the bags, such as clips used to close the same, can make correct selective waste collection difficult. Specifically, it may require the clips to be removed so that they can be placed in a different collection container than the one corresponding to the bags, as the clip is made of a different type of material.

[0024] It is therefore also a secondary purpose of the invention to have a clip that facilitates the correct selective waste disposal by the user.Description of the invention

[0025] The proposed clip is a clip according to claim 1.

[0026] The clip is made in a single piece and comprises two arms with clamping means which, when the arms are brought closer together, cooperate to close by crushing the gathered portion of the bag located between the arms, the arms being joined by a proximal end to a connecting bridge and the arms having at their distal end mutually interlocking complementary retention elements when the arms are brought closer together.

[0027] In essence, the clip is characterised in that each arm is joined to the connecting bridge by means of a respective lightened portion of material of the piece, each defining a respective joint. In other words, there are two portions in the clip intended or especially configured to act as a flexible hinge, each allowing the folding of one arm relative to the connecting bridge.

[0028] Preferably, the lightened portions of material are symmetrical with respect to an imaginary plane that cuts transversely to the connecting bridge.

[0029] In a variant embodiment, the lightened portions of material define in the piece two concave recesses towards the space comprised between the arms, which in turn define in the connecting bridge a central portion having a greater thickness than its adjacent portions, of a lesser thickness; and the clamping means comprise in each arm and in its respective proximal end a first projection sized to be fitted against the connecting bridge when the arms are brought closer together and interlock the complementary retention elements with each other.

[0030] In another variant, the lightened portions of material define in the piece two concave recesses towards the outside of the piece, which in turn define in the connecting bridge a central portion having a greater thickness than its adjacent portions.

[0031] In any case, the dimensioning of these first projections of the clamping means can be selected to prevent the passage of the material making up the gathered portion of the bag, or a package formed by the gathered portion of the bag and a sheet forming a label, towards the space enclosed or circumscribed by these first projections and the connecting bridge when the clip adopts a closed position, that is, with the complementary retention elements mutually interlocked.

[0032] It is contemplated that the clamping means comprise on each arm and on the inner face of the clip a plural number of projections and conveniently arranged to fit alternately the projections of one arm with those of the other arm when the arms are brought closer together and interlock the complementary retention elements with each other without interposing any external element between the aforementioned arms. This forces the crushed material between the arms of the clip to spread out and be distributed through the same, thereby achieving maximum contact with the surface of said arms, consequently increasing the friction force between the clip and the crushed material.

[0033] It is contemplated that the mutually interlocking complementary retention elements are designed to comprise in a first arm a female element with at least one hook formation in the direction of approach between the arms; and in the second arm a male element with at least one retaining formation suitable for being caught by the hook formation of the first arm when the male element is received in the female element.

[0034] In one variant, the male element and the female element are formed in the piece such that they are misaligned, in the direction of introduction of the male element into the female element, to a greater degree when the arms are brought closer together without interposing any external element between each other than when the arms are brought closer together with a gathered portion of the bag being interposed between each other, resulting in a deformation of the arms by bulging outwards in the second case.

[0035] In one embodiment, the female element has a plural number of hook formations; and the male element has an arrowhead configuration and has a plural number of retaining formations, in a staggered pattern, corresponding to the number of hook formations on the female element, such that all of the retaining formations are capable of being caught by a corresponding hook formation when the arrowhead of the male element is entirely received in the female element.

[0036] The clip may be a clip obtained by means of injection moulding.

[0037] The clip may be a clip obtained by transversally cutting a bar obtained using extrusion, which presents significant advantages over injection moulding, the best known being those relating to lower machinery costs, a more stable production and higher productivity. For this purpose, the piece making up the clip is designed with a rectangular cross section, including the parts with the clamping elements.

[0038] The clip of the invention can give rise to a combination of clip and bag of the same material, facilitating the recycling of the combination, the bag being able to be a mesh bag and the combination a combination of bioplastic or biodegradable material.Brief description of the drawings

[0039] Figure 1 is a plan view of a clip according to the invention, adopting an open position; Figures 2 and 3 are plan and side views, respectively, of the clip in Figure 1, adopting a closed position; Figure 4 is another perspective view of the clip in Figure 1, adopting an open position; Figures 5 and 6 are plan views of the clip in Figure 1 in the closed position, but in use, i.e., having been applied to a bag to clamp a previously gathered longitudinal portion of said bag, with and without the interposition of a label, respectively; and Figure 7 is a plan view of another clip according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0040] The invention is exemplified by the clip 1 configured according to Figures 1 to 6.

[0041] The clip 1 is made of plastic material, is flexible and is made in a single piece.

[0042] The clip 1 comprises two arms 2, 3 connected by their proximal end 2a, 3a to a connecting bridge 4. This clip 1 is characterised in that each arm 2, 3 is connected to the connecting bridge 4 by means of a respective lightened portion of material 41, 42 of the piece, each defining a respective joint.

[0043] In the clip 1, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 each defining a joint are symmetrical with respect to an imaginary plane A which cuts the clip transversely in the middle area of the connecting bridge 4.

[0044] In this exemplary embodiment, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 are formed by respective curved recesses, concave towards the space comprised between the arms 2, 3. Consequently, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 in turn define in the connecting bridge 4 a central portion 4a having a greater thickness than its adjacent portions, of a lesser thickness. It must be noted that while the central portion 4a having a greater thickness produces a bulge towards the inside of the piece, the connecting bridge 4 has an external contour free of bulges, which results in a contour without irregularities and without a solution of continuity.

[0045] This particular configuration, based on two joints, one for each arm 2, 3, helps to better control the bending deformation of the material which the clip 1 is made of when the arms 2, 3 of the clip are suddenly pushed to be brought closer together, specifically preventing the misalignment of the arms that affects known clips when they are intended to be used in automated packaging processes.

[0046] The two joints allow the clip 1 to adopt the open position shown in Figure 1 and the closed position shown in Figure 2 and, most importantly, moving from the first to the second position without the arms 2, 3 ceasing to be coplanar even when the operation is performed quickly and a longitudinal portion previously gathered of a bag is placed between the arms, forming a sort of cord, which will offer resistance to being crushed between the arms 2, 3, all of this as will be described in greater detail later.

[0047] Figures 1 and 2 show that the arms 2, 3 of the clip 1, conventionally, have respective clamping means 21, 31 which, when the arms 2, 3 are brought closer together, cooperate to close by crushing the gathered portion of the bag arranged between said arms; the arms 2, 3 being also provided, at their distal end 2b, 3b, with respective complementary retention elements 22, 32 suitable for their mutual interlocking when the arms 2, 3 are brought closer together and to place the clip 1 in a closed position, avoiding its accidental or unwanted opening.

[0048] The exemplary clip 1 is characterised in that the piece making up the same has a rectangular transversal section, including the parts with the clamping elements 21, 31, as shown in combination in Figures 3 and 4. This fact gives the clip 1 the possibility of being obtained using extrusion.

[0049] Specifically, a clip 1 such as that in the example can be individualised by transversally cutting an extruded bar of the material making up the clip. This production process has significant advantages over injection moulding, the best known being lower machinery costs, a more stable production and higher productivity.

[0050] Contrary to expectations, and despite choosing a rectangular transversal section, the tests carried out have shown optimal performance of a clip according to the invention with reduced dimensions, which means optimising the cost of materials. Clip 1 sizes with a depth dimension z (see Figure 3) between 6 mm and 3 mm, for example 4 mm; with a length dimension y (see Figure 2) between 18 mm and 14 mm, for example, 16 mm; and with a width dimension x (see again Figure 2) between 8 mm and 10 mm, for example 9.2 mm, have proven successful.

[0051] This performance has been tested with clips made of different materials, suitable for extrusion, highlighting those made essentially of polyethylene, with HDPE REPSOL ALCUDIA 5703L being a suitable candidate (hereinafter referred to as material A); and those made up of one or a mixture of bioplastics, with INZEA F08 (hereinafter referred to as material C) being a suitable candidate. Also suitable are polyethylene mixed materials, such as material A, with polypropylene, with BASELL CLYRELL RC110E being a polypropylene candidate.

[0052] The effectiveness of the clips has been tested on market mesh bags, specifically on tubular bags of 3.5 to 13 gr / linear metre, with and without the insertion of labels of approximate weights of 80 gr / m 2< to 230 gr / m 2< , following a test protocol using self-manufactured equipment, which simulates the handling of a bag by the consumer.

[0053] Essentially, said test protocol consists of holding the tested bags closed with a clip according to the invention by the bottom thereof and in an inverted position, securing them with a jaw that is hung or connected to a vertical cylinder with variable pressure regulation that exerts a succession of pulls at different pressures. The cylinder contracts and expands every two seconds, increasing the pressure by half a bar every five pulls, the succession of pulls beginning at a pressure of 1.5 bar. When the contents of the bag fall out due to the opening of the bag, it is considered to have broken and the number of pulls made so far is recorded.

[0054] The following is a non-limiting example of the number of pulls / cycles that were withstood by bags tested with a 150 micron thick PE label (143 g / m2) and a 4.2 g per linear metre polyethylene mesh, with a content of 2 kg distributed in the form of discrete balls, simulating fruit or vegetables, closed with a clip similar to that in Figure 1 and sized according to z= 4mm; y= 16 mm; and x=9.2 mm, without breaking / opening, the clip being made of the aforementioned material A. NUMBER OF PULLS 2 KG BAG VALUE 1VALUE 2VALUE 3VALUE 4VALUE 5AVERAGE MAXIMUM MINIMUM 352343.4 5 2

[0055] Accepting two pulls as the minimum acceptable value threshold, it is considered that the average value of 3.4 pulls that is obtained with the aforementioned test conditions and clip configuration ensures the correct performance of the bag closed with the clip throughout the useful life of said bag (that is, during its handling in the packaging process, during its transport, at its point of sale and at its destination).

[0056] Advantageously, the aforementioned materials A, B are materials from which a mesh of a bag closed with the clip according to the invention can be made.

[0057] Therefore, the set formed by the bag and the clip can be disposed of in the same selective collection container. In other words, it will not be necessary to remove the clip from the bag to dispose of each one in a corresponding container, according to the material from which the bag and the clip are made, respectively.

[0058] Certainly, other aspects have also been observed which, although optional, contribute to the fact that the specific clip exemplified by the invention achieves optimal results.

[0059] For example, the above-mentioned clamping means 21, 22 comprise, on each arm 2, 3 and on its respective proximal end 2a, 3a, a first projection 21A, 31A oriented towards the space comprised between the arms and sized to be fitted against the central portion 4a, bulging towards the inside of the piece, of the connecting bridge 4 when the arms 2, 3 are brought closer together and interlock the complementary retention elements 22, 32 with each other.

[0060] The technical effect of this feature is best shown in Figures 5 and 6, which are respective plan views of the clip 1 in the closed position but now in use, that is, having been applied by clamping a gathered portion 9 of a mesh bag. In Figure 5, the clip 1 embraces a gathered portion 9 of a tubular mesh; and in Figure 6, the clip embraces a gathered portion 9 of a tubular mesh wrapped with a sheet performing the function of a label 10 and that is interposed between the mesh and the arms 3, 4 of the clip 1.

[0061] Figures 5 and 6 are realistic illustrations and show to what extent these aforementioned first projections 21A, 31A hinder the passage of the material making up the gathered portion 9 of the bag, or the package formed by the gathered portion 9 of the bag and the sheet forming the label 10, towards the free space offered by the concave transition recesses between the connecting bridge 4 and the arms 2, 3 designed to perform the function of respective joints to allow the arms 2, 3 to pivot. The arrangement of material of the gathered portion 9 of the bag, or where appropriate of the package formed by the gathered portion 9 of the bag and the sheet forming the label 10, in these free spaces may in some cases be undesirable, since it will be poorly clamped material that may cause the clip 1 to slip and accidentally be removed from the bag.

[0062] The invention is also exemplified by the clip 1' in Figure 7. Unlike the clip 1, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 define in the connecting bridge 4 of the piece making up the clip a central portion 4a having a greater thickness than its adjacent portions, forming in this case a bulge towards the outside of the piece. The first projections 21A, 31A may be configured if desired to fit against each other to hinder the passage of the material making up the gathered portion of the bag, or the package formed by the gathered portion of the bag and the sheet forming a label, towards the space enclosed or circumscribed by these first projections 21A, 31A and the connecting bridge 4 when the clip 1' adopts a closed position.

[0063] In the exemplary clips 1, 1', the clamping means 21, 22 comprise, on each arm 2, 3, in addition to the first functional projections 21A, 31A explained above, as many other projections also oriented towards the space between the arms 2, 3.

[0064] The invention contemplates the provision of a plural number of projections on each arm 2, 3.

[0065] The invention contemplates various shapes for these projections.

[0066] The following is explained in reference to the clip 1 but also applies to the clip 1'.

[0067] In the examples, each arm 2, 3 is provided with several projections 21B, 21C; and 31B, 31C, 31D that have a general triangular shape and that are conveniently sized and arranged to fit the projections of one arm alternately with those of the other arm when they are brought closer together and interlock the complementary retention elements 22, 32 with each other without any external element being interposed between the aforementioned arms 2, 3 (case of Figure 2).

[0068] The technical effect of this particularity is shown in realistic Figures 5 and 6, and its purpose is to force the crushed material to spread out and be distributed between the arms 2, 3, thereby seeking to have maximum contact with the surface of said arms, consequently increasing the friction force between the clip 1 and the crushed material.

[0069] A non-alternating arrangement of the projections would facilitate a stronger clamping in the places of maximum proximity between opposite projections; and relaxation in the places with greater space between opposite projections, retention being concentrated only on the former, where stronger clamping occurs.

[0070] On the other hand, the complementary retention elements 22, 32 are designed so as to comprise in a first arm 2 a female element 22 with at least one hook formation 22a in the direction of approach between the arms 2, 3; and in the second arm 3 a male element 32, with at least one retaining formation 32a suitable for being caught by the hook formation of the first arm 2 when the male element 32 is received in the female element 22.

[0071] The technical effect sought is similar to that of a ratchet, which will allow the insertion of the male element 32 into the female element 22 but will prevent its extraction as the retaining formations get stuck in the hook formations.

[0072] This effect is achieved by playing with the deformation of the material that makes up the piece, in this case by sizing the male element 32 to force the opening, by elastic deformation, of the part of the piece forming the female element 22 when it receives the male element 32 and each retaining formation slides along the apex of a complementary hook formation, restoring the shape of the female element when the retaining formation surpasses the apex of the hook formation.

[0073] The invention contemplates the provision of a singular or plural number of hook formations and retaining formations.

[0074] The invention contemplates different profiles for the hook and retaining formations.

[0075] In the example, an inner wall and an outer wall facing each other are distinguished in the female element 22, each of which has two hook formations 22a, 22b; and the male element 32 has a general arrowhead configuration, for the case of double arrow, and has an inner side and an outer side each of which has two retaining formations 32a, 32b in a step, arranged and sized in correspondence with the hook formations 22a, 22b of the female element 22, so that all the retaining formations are susceptible to being caught by a corresponding hook formation when the double arrowhead of the male element 32 is entirely received in the female element 22.

[0076] The invention contemplates, in the event of there being a plural number of hook formations, that these are not all equal.

[0077] Likewise, the invention also contemplates, in the event of there being a plural number of retaining formations, that these are not all equal.

[0078] In some cases, it may be that all hook shapes are equal, but not all retaining shapes, and vice versa, that not all hook shapes are equal, but all retaining shapes are.

[0079] Since the clip 1 is made in a single piece, made of plastic material with flexible properties for the reasons stated above, the forced closure of the clip 1 around a gathered portion 9 of a bag, either with or without the interposition of a sheet forming a label 10, can cause a slight outward bulging of the arms 2, 3 of the clip 1 when it adopts the closed position. The degree of this bulging will depend on several factors, with particular relevance being the amount of material placed between the arms 2, 3 of the clip 1 and the space left between the arms when the clamp adopts the closed position.

[0080] This deformation of the clip 1 may affect the interlocking capacity of the complementary retention elements 22, 32. The selection of an uneven profile of the hook and retaining formations can promote the interlocking between the male and female elements of the complementary retention means when the clip 1 is deformed.

[0081] For example, it is contemplated that the profiles of the hook formations are different on the inner wall and on the outer wall of the female element 22 and / or that the profiles of the retaining formations are different on the inner side and on the outer side of the male element.

[0082] The invention also contemplates taking further measures, whether or not in combination with the other ones explained.

[0083] For example, the male element 32 and the female element 22 are provided to be formed in the clip 1 so that they are slightly misaligned, in the direction of insertion of the male element into the female element, to a greater degree when the arms 2, 3 are brought closer together without interposing any external element between each other than when the arms 2, 3 are brought closer together with material to be clamped being interposed between each other, the arms 2, 3 bulging.

[0084] In any case, Figures 4 and 5 show other aspects of interest that also contribute to ensuring that the clip 1 remains closed, once applied to close a bag.

[0085] This is the case of the contour selected for the distal end 3b of the arm 3 at the base of the male element 33. It is a curved outline, lacking corners that can catch on external elements. A similar measure is observed for the case of the contour of the distal end 2b of the arm 2, also curved in the area of connection with the outer wall 23 of the female element 22.

[0086] Furthermore, (see Figure 2) said outer wall 23 of the female element 22, which has also a curved finish at the mouth of the female element 23, is an essentially straight wall following a direction substantially tangent to the curvature of the distal end 3b of the arm 3, in order to seek maximum continuity of the contour, interrupted by the coupling between the female element 22 and the male element 33, in this portion of the clip 1.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0040]The invention is exemplified by the clip 1 configured according to Figures 1 to 6.

[0041]The clip 1 is made of plastic material, is flexible and is made in a single piece.

[0042]The clip 1 comprises two arms 2, 3 connected by their proximal end 2a, 3a to a connecting bridge 4. This clip 1 is characterised in that each arm 2, 3 is connected to the connecting bridge 4 by means of a respective lightened portion of material 41, 42 of the piece, each defining a respective joint.

[0043]In the clip 1, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 each defining a joint are symmetrical with respect to an imaginary plane A which cuts the clip transversely in the middle area of the connecting bridge 4.

[0044]In this exemplary embodiment, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 are formed by respective curved recesses, concave towards the space comprised between the arms 2, 3. Consequently, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 in turn define in the connecting bridge 4 a central portion 4a ...

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure clip made of plastic material that is especially suitable for closing a bag, such as a mesh bag, in particular for clamping a gathered portion of said bag.Background of the invention

[0002] In the context of the present invention, the term clip is used to designate a utensil used to close tubular flexible containers.

[0003] Nowadays, clamp-shaped clips for this purpose are known.

[0004] For example, patent documents ES 2076889; ES 2058717; and EP 287627 all disclose clamp-shaped clips.

[0005] These clips have in common that they comprise two arms joined and hinged to one another, the clip being able to adopt an open position, which allows a longitudinal portion of a bag to be closed to be placed between the arms; and a closed position, in which the arms are joined together, crushing the bag portion placed between the arms.

[0006] These clips also have in common the provision of retention means to keep the arms in the closed position; as well as clamping means, located on the arms and facing each other, which assist or interact with the material of the bag to better facilitate the grip of the clamp with respect to the bag.

[0007] The retention means usually consist of complementary elements located at the distal ends of the arms and which can be mutually interlocked when said distal ends of the arms are brought closer together.

[0008] These clips also have in common that they are made in a single piece, which is an advantage for their production, avoiding having to assemble or connect parts that are obtained separately to form the clip.

[0009] The aforementioned clips, however, have some drawbacks that remain pending to be successfully resolved.

[0010] A first drawback arises when considering using these clips to close bags in automatic packaging machines or processes.

[0011] In this context, the clips must be supplied and operated very quickly, in line with the packaging rate that the processes on the automatic packaging machines are capable of achieving, in order not to represent a bottleneck in terms of productivity.

[0012] At the same time, when the portion of the bag that is placed between the arms of the clip is a gathered portion of said bag, and is not a flattened portion but rather a bulging one, as if it were a cord, a sudden and relatively high closing force must be applied to the arms of the clip so that the clip reaches its closed position with the interposition of the bag material between its arms, which must be crushed, offering some resistance.

[0013] In clips of the type described above, this causes the arms to become misaligned, i.e., while the clip is at rest the arms are coplanar, these same arms stop being coplanar when the clip is forced to close.

[0014] When this occurs, the interlocking elements of the retention means for keeping the arms in the closed position may not meet. In other words, misalignment of the arms can cause the clip to not close properly. Consequently, either the bag in the process of being manufactured must be rejected or the finished bag may be defective, accidentally opening during normal use because the clip was not closed properly.

[0015] A first objective of the invention is a clip that overcomes this drawback.

[0016] The clips incorporated into the bags for closing the same are accessory elements that are not initially reusable, intended to be discarded when the bag is opened. This entails assuming other objectives that are also secondary purposes of the present invention.

[0017] For example, it is of interest to reduce the manufacturing costs of clips, one measure to be taken into account being the amount of material used to manufacture a clip unit. The less material required, the cheaper the clip will be. However, in the clips discussed above, the drawback of arm misalignment arose. This misalignment is helped by the solution adopted in the single-piece clips so that the arms are joined hinged together. This solution is based on the deformation of the material that the clip is made of, specifically on the deformation of a connecting bridge that joins the two arms. If the material is reduced, this connecting bridge will be more prone to both arms not being articulated about a theoretical common axis of rotation, which could cause the material to bend in an uncontrolled manner and the arms to become misaligned, thus ceasing to be coplanar.

[0018] This is a deterrent for the design of a clip that is lightweight, but at the same time guarantees a controlled, sufficiently fast and secure closure.

[0019] Another measure to be taken into account is the cost of tooling or the cost of carrying out the manufacturing process.

[0020] For example, in the case of the clips discussed above, it can be observed that they do not have a rectangular cross-sectional contour. Consequently, injection moulding processes must be used when the clips are made of plastic material.

[0021] In this sense, a clip design is desirable that, without giving up achieving the aforementioned objectives, can be obtained using an alternative manufacturing process to injection moulding, and specifically having a greater performance.

[0022] Currently, there are known material proposals for making mesh bags that offer a greater sustainability compared to classic plastic materials. An alternative is bioplastics. The modern implementation of selective waste collection encourages users to deposit the waste generated, classified according to the material making up the waste, in separate collection containers.

[0023] The addition of non-binding materials to the bags, such as clips used to close the same, can make correct selective waste collection difficult. Specifically, it may require the clips to be removed so that they can be placed in a different collection container than the one corresponding to the bags, as the clip is made of a different type of material.

[0024] It is therefore also a secondary purpose of the invention to have a clip that facilitates the correct selective waste disposal by the user.Description of the invention

[0025] The proposed clip is a clip according to claim 1.

[0026] The clip is made in a single piece and comprises two arms with clamping means which, when the arms are brought closer together, cooperate to close by crushing the gathered portion of the bag located between the arms, the arms being joined by a proximal end to a connecting bridge and the arms having at their distal end mutually interlocking complementary retention elements when the arms are brought closer together.

[0027] In essence, the clip is characterised in that each arm is joined to the connecting bridge by means of a respective lightened portion of material of the piece, each defining a respective joint. In other words, there are two portions in the clip intended or especially configured to act as a flexible hinge, each allowing the folding of one arm relative to the connecting bridge.

[0028] Preferably, the lightened portions of material are symmetrical with respect to an imaginary plane that cuts transversely to the connecting bridge.

[0029] In a variant embodiment, the lightened portions of material define in the piece two concave recesses towards the space comprised between the arms, which in turn define in the connecting bridge a central portion having a greater thickness than its adjacent portions, of a lesser thickness; and the clamping means comprise in each arm and in its respective proximal end a first projection sized to be fitted against the connecting bridge when the arms are brought closer together and interlock the complementary retention elements with each other.

[0030] In another variant, the lightened portions of material define in the piece two concave recesses towards the outside of the piece, which in turn define in the connecting bridge a central portion having a greater thickness than its adjacent portions.

[0031] In any case, the dimensioning of these first projections of the clamping means can be selected to prevent the passage of the material making up the gathered portion of the bag, or a package formed by the gathered portion of the bag and a sheet forming a label, towards the space enclosed or circumscribed by these first projections and the connecting bridge when the clip adopts a closed position, that is, with the complementary retention elements mutually interlocked.

[0032] It is contemplated that the clamping means comprise on each arm and on the inner face of the clip a plural number of projections and conveniently arranged to fit alternately the projections of one arm with those of the other arm when the arms are brought closer together and interlock the complementary retention elements with each other without interposing any external element between the aforementioned arms. This forces the crushed material between the arms of the clip to spread out and be distributed through the same, thereby achieving maximum contact with the surface of said arms, consequently increasing the friction force between the clip and the crushed material.

[0033] It is contemplated that the mutually interlocking complementary retention elements are designed to comprise in a first arm a female element with at least one hook formation in the direction of approach between the arms; and in the second arm a male element with at least one retaining formation suitable for being caught by the hook formation of the first arm when the male element is received in the female element.

[0034] In one variant, the male element and the female element are formed in the piece such that they are misaligned, in the direction of introduction of the male element into the female element, to a greater degree when the arms are brought closer together without interposing any external element between each other than when the arms are brought closer together with a gathered portion of the bag being interposed between each other, resulting in a deformation of the arms by bulging outwards in the second case.

[0035] In one embodiment, the female element has a plural number of hook formations; and the male element has an arrowhead configuration and has a plural number of retaining formations, in a staggered pattern, corresponding to the number of hook formations on the female element, such that all of the retaining formations are capable of being caught by a corresponding hook formation when the arrowhead of the male element is entirely received in the female element.

[0036] The clip may be a clip obtained by means of injection moulding.

[0037] The clip may be a clip obtained by transversally cutting a bar obtained using extrusion, which presents significant advantages over injection moulding, the best known being those relating to lower machinery costs, a more stable production and higher productivity. For this purpose, the piece making up the clip is designed with a rectangular cross section, including the parts with the clamping elements.

[0038] The clip of the invention can give rise to a combination of clip and bag of the same material, facilitating the recycling of the combination, the bag being able to be a mesh bag and the combination a combination of bioplastic or biodegradable material.Brief description of the drawings

[0039] Figure 1 is a plan view of a clip according to the invention, adopting an open position; Figures 2 and 3 are plan and side views, respectively, of the clip in Figure 1, adopting a closed position; Figure 4 is another perspective view of the clip in Figure 1, adopting an open position; Figures 5 and 6 are plan views of the clip in Figure 1 in the closed position, but in use, i.e., having been applied to a bag to clamp a previously gathered longitudinal portion of said bag, with and without the interposition of a label, respectively; and Figure 7 is a plan view of another clip according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0040] The invention is exemplified by the clip 1 configured according to Figures 1 to 6.

[0041] The clip 1 is made of plastic material, is flexible and is made in a single piece.

[0042] The clip 1 comprises two arms 2, 3 connected by their proximal end 2a, 3a to a connecting bridge 4. This clip 1 is characterised in that each arm 2, 3 is connected to the connecting bridge 4 by means of a respective lightened portion of material 41, 42 of the piece, each defining a respective joint.

[0043] In the clip 1, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 each defining a joint are symmetrical with respect to an imaginary plane A which cuts the clip transversely in the middle area of the connecting bridge 4.

[0044] In this exemplary embodiment, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 are formed by respective curved recesses, concave towards the space comprised between the arms 2, 3. Consequently, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 in turn define in the connecting bridge 4 a central portion 4a having a greater thickness than its adjacent portions, of a lesser thickness. It must be noted that while the central portion 4a having a greater thickness produces a bulge towards the inside of the piece, the connecting bridge 4 has an external contour free of bulges, which results in a contour without irregularities and without a solution of continuity.

[0045] This particular configuration, based on two joints, one for each arm 2, 3, helps to better control the bending deformation of the material which the clip 1 is made of when the arms 2, 3 of the clip are suddenly pushed to be brought closer together, specifically preventing the misalignment of the arms that affects known clips when they are intended to be used in automated packaging processes.

[0046] The two joints allow the clip 1 to adopt the open position shown in Figure 1 and the closed position shown in Figure 2 and, most importantly, moving from the first to the second position without the arms 2, 3 ceasing to be coplanar even when the operation is performed quickly and a longitudinal portion previously gathered of a bag is placed between the arms, forming a sort of cord, which will offer resistance to being crushed between the arms 2, 3, all of this as will be described in greater detail later.

[0047] Figures 1 and 2 show that the arms 2, 3 of the clip 1, conventionally, have respective clamping means 21, 31 which, when the arms 2, 3 are brought closer together, cooperate to close by crushing the gathered portion of the bag arranged between said arms; the arms 2, 3 being also provided, at their distal end 2b, 3b, with respective complementary retention elements 22, 32 suitable for their mutual interlocking when the arms 2, 3 are brought closer together and to place the clip 1 in a closed position, avoiding its accidental or unwanted opening.

[0048] The exemplary clip 1 is characterised in that the piece making up the same has a rectangular transversal section, including the parts with the clamping elements 21, 31, as shown in combination in Figures 3 and 4. This fact gives the clip 1 the possibility of being obtained using extrusion.

[0049] Specifically, a clip 1 such as that in the example can be individualised by transversally cutting an extruded bar of the material making up the clip. This production process has significant advantages over injection moulding, the best known being lower machinery costs, a more stable production and higher productivity.

[0050] Contrary to expectations, and despite choosing a rectangular transversal section, the tests carried out have shown optimal performance of a clip according to the invention with reduced dimensions, which means optimising the cost of materials. Clip 1 sizes with a depth dimension z (see Figure 3) between 6 mm and 3 mm, for example 4 mm; with a length dimension y (see Figure 2) between 18 mm and 14 mm, for example, 16 mm; and with a width dimension x (see again Figure 2) between 8 mm and 10 mm, for example 9.2 mm, have proven successful.

[0051] This performance has been tested with clips made of different materials, suitable for extrusion, highlighting those made essentially of polyethylene, with HDPE REPSOL ALCUDIA 5703L being a suitable candidate (hereinafter referred to as material A); and those made up of one or a mixture of bioplastics, with INZEA F08 (hereinafter referred to as material C) being a suitable candidate. Also suitable are polyethylene mixed materials, such as material A, with polypropylene, with BASELL CLYRELL RC110E being a polypropylene candidate.

[0052] The effectiveness of the clips has been tested on market mesh bags, specifically on tubular bags of 3.5 to 13 gr / linear metre, with and without the insertion of labels of approximate weights of 80 gr / m 2< to 230 gr / m 2< , following a test protocol using self-manufactured equipment, which simulates the handling of a bag by the consumer.

[0053] Essentially, said test protocol consists of holding the tested bags closed with a clip according to the invention by the bottom thereof and in an inverted position, securing them with a jaw that is hung or connected to a vertical cylinder with variable pressure regulation that exerts a succession of pulls at different pressures. The cylinder contracts and expands every two seconds, increasing the pressure by half a bar every five pulls, the succession of pulls beginning at a pressure of 1.5 bar. When the contents of the bag fall out due to the opening of the bag, it is considered to have broken and the number of pulls made so far is recorded.

[0054] The following is a non-limiting example of the number of pulls / cycles that were withstood by bags tested with a 150 micron thick PE label (143 g / m2) and a 4.2 g per linear metre polyethylene mesh, with a content of 2 kg distributed in the form of discrete balls, simulating fruit or vegetables, closed with a clip similar to that in Figure 1 and sized according to z= 4mm; y= 16 mm; and x=9.2 mm, without breaking / opening, the clip being made of the aforementioned material A. NUMBER OF PULLS 2 KG BAG VALUE 1VALUE 2VALUE 3VALUE 4VALUE 5AVERAGE MAXIMUM MINIMUM 352343.4 5 2

[0055] Accepting two pulls as the minimum acceptable value threshold, it is considered that the average value of 3.4 pulls that is obtained with the aforementioned test conditions and clip configuration ensures the correct performance of the bag closed with the clip throughout the useful life of said bag (that is, during its handling in the packaging process, during its transport, at its point of sale and at its destination).

[0056] Advantageously, the aforementioned materials A, B are materials from which a mesh of a bag closed with the clip according to the invention can be made.

[0057] Therefore, the set formed by the bag and the clip can be disposed of in the same selective collection container. In other words, it will not be necessary to remove the clip from the bag to dispose of each one in a corresponding container, according to the material from which the bag and the clip are made, respectively.

[0058] Certainly, other aspects have also been observed which, although optional, contribute to the fact that the specific clip exemplified by the invention achieves optimal results.

[0059] For example, the above-mentioned clamping means 21, 22 comprise, on each arm 2, 3 and on its respective proximal end 2a, 3a, a first projection 21A, 31A oriented towards the space comprised between the arms and sized to be fitted against the central portion 4a, bulging towards the inside of the piece, of the connecting bridge 4 when the arms 2, 3 are brought closer together and interlock the complementary retention elements 22, 32 with each other.

[0060] The technical effect of this feature is best shown in Figures 5 and 6, which are respective plan views of the clip 1 in the closed position but now in use, that is, having been applied by clamping a gathered portion 9 of a mesh bag. In Figure 5, the clip 1 embraces a gathered portion 9 of a tubular mesh; and in Figure 6, the clip embraces a gathered portion 9 of a tubular mesh wrapped with a sheet performing the function of a label 10 and that is interposed between the mesh and the arms 3, 4 of the clip 1.

[0061] Figures 5 and 6 are realistic illustrations and show to what extent these aforementioned first projections 21A, 31A hinder the passage of the material making up the gathered portion 9 of the bag, or the package formed by the gathered portion 9 of the bag and the sheet forming the label 10, towards the free space offered by the concave transition recesses between the connecting bridge 4 and the arms 2, 3 designed to perform the function of respective joints to allow the arms 2, 3 to pivot. The arrangement of material of the gathered portion 9 of the bag, or where appropriate of the package formed by the gathered portion 9 of the bag and the sheet forming the label 10, in these free spaces may in some cases be undesirable, since it will be poorly clamped material that may cause the clip 1 to slip and accidentally be removed from the bag.

[0062] The invention is also exemplified by the clip 1' in Figure 7. Unlike the clip 1, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 define in the connecting bridge 4 of the piece making up the clip a central portion 4a having a greater thickness than its adjacent portions, forming in this case a bulge towards the outside of the piece. The first projections 21A, 31A may be configured if desired to fit against each other to hinder the passage of the material making up the gathered portion of the bag, or the package formed by the gathered portion of the bag and the sheet forming a label, towards the space enclosed or circumscribed by these first projections 21A, 31A and the connecting bridge 4 when the clip 1' adopts a closed position.

[0063] In the exemplary clips 1, 1', the clamping means 21, 22 comprise, on each arm 2, 3, in addition to the first functional projections 21A, 31A explained above, as many other projections also oriented towards the space between the arms 2, 3.

[0064] The invention contemplates the provision of a plural number of projections on each arm 2, 3.

[0065] The invention contemplates various shapes for these projections.

[0066] The following is explained in reference to the clip 1 but also applies to the clip 1'.

[0067] In the examples, each arm 2, 3 is provided with several projections 21B, 21C; and 31B, 31C, 31D that have a general triangular shape and that are conveniently sized and arranged to fit the projections of one arm alternately with those of the other arm when they are brought closer together and interlock the complementary retention elements 22, 32 with each other without any external element being interposed between the aforementioned arms 2, 3 (case of Figure 2).

[0068] The technical effect of this particularity is shown in realistic Figures 5 and 6, and its purpose is to force the crushed material to spread out and be distributed between the arms 2, 3, thereby seeking to have maximum contact with the surface of said arms, consequently increasing the friction force between the clip 1 and the crushed material.

[0069] A non-alternating arrangement of the projections would facilitate a stronger clamping in the places of maximum proximity between opposite projections; and relaxation in the places with greater space between opposite projections, retention being concentrated only on the former, where stronger clamping occurs.

[0070] On the other hand, the complementary retention elements 22, 32 are designed so as to comprise in a first arm 2 a female element 22 with at least one hook formation 22a in the direction of approach between the arms 2, 3; and in the second arm 3 a male element 32, with at least one retaining formation 32a suitable for being caught by the hook formation of the first arm 2 when the male element 32 is received in the female element 22.

[0071] The technical effect sought is similar to that of a ratchet, which will allow the insertion of the male element 32 into the female element 22 but will prevent its extraction as the retaining formations get stuck in the hook formations.

[0072] This effect is achieved by playing with the deformation of the material that makes up the piece, in this case by sizing the male element 32 to force the opening, by elastic deformation, of the part of the piece forming the female element 22 when it receives the male element 32 and each retaining formation slides along the apex of a complementary hook formation, restoring the shape of the female element when the retaining formation surpasses the apex of the hook formation.

[0073] The invention contemplates the provision of a singular or plural number of hook formations and retaining formations.

[0074] The invention contemplates different profiles for the hook and retaining formations.

[0075] In the example, an inner wall and an outer wall facing each other are distinguished in the female element 22, each of which has two hook formations 22a, 22b; and the male element 32 has a general arrowhead configuration, for the case of double arrow, and has an inner side and an outer side each of which has two retaining formations 32a, 32b in a step, arranged and sized in correspondence with the hook formations 22a, 22b of the female element 22, so that all the retaining formations are susceptible to being caught by a corresponding hook formation when the double arrowhead of the male element 32 is entirely received in the female element 22.

[0076] The invention contemplates, in the event of there being a plural number of hook formations, that these are not all equal.

[0077] Likewise, the invention also contemplates, in the event of there being a plural number of retaining formations, that these are not all equal.

[0078] In some cases, it may be that all hook shapes are equal, but not all retaining shapes, and vice versa, that not all hook shapes are equal, but all retaining shapes are.

[0079] Since the clip 1 is made in a single piece, made of plastic material with flexible properties for the reasons stated above, the forced closure of the clip 1 around a gathered portion 9 of a bag, either with or without the interposition of a sheet forming a label 10, can cause a slight outward bulging of the arms 2, 3 of the clip 1 when it adopts the closed position. The degree of this bulging will depend on several factors, with particular relevance being the amount of material placed between the arms 2, 3 of the clip 1 and the space left between the arms when the clamp adopts the closed position.

[0080] This deformation of the clip 1 may affect the interlocking capacity of the complementary retention elements 22, 32. The selection of an uneven profile of the hook and retaining formations can promote the interlocking between the male and female elements of the complementary retention means when the clip 1 is deformed.

[0081] For example, it is contemplated that the profiles of the hook formations are different on the inner wall and on the outer wall of the female element 22 and / or that the profiles of the retaining formations are different on the inner side and on the outer side of the male element.

[0082] The invention also contemplates taking further measures, whether or not in combination with the other ones explained.

[0083] For example, the male element 32 and the female element 22 are provided to be formed in the clip 1 so that they are slightly misaligned, in the direction of insertion of the male element into the female element, to a greater degree when the arms 2, 3 are brought closer together without interposing any external element between each other than when the arms 2, 3 are brought closer together with material to be clamped being interposed between each other, the arms 2, 3 bulging.

[0084] In any case, Figures 4 and 5 show other aspects of interest that also contribute to ensuring that the clip 1 remains closed, once applied to close a bag.

[0085] This is the case of the contour selected for the distal end 3b of the arm 3 at the base of the male element 33. It is a curved outline, lacking corners that can catch on external elements. A similar measure is observed for the case of the contour of the distal end 2b of the arm 2, also curved in the area of connection with the outer wall 23 of the female element 22.

[0086] Furthermore, (see Figure 2) said outer wall 23 of the female element 22, which has also a curved finish at the mouth of the female element 23, is an essentially straight wall following a direction substantially tangent to the curvature of the distal end 3b of the arm 3, in order to seek maximum continuity of the contour, interrupted by the coupling between the female element 22 and the male element 33, in this portion of the clip 1.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0040]The invention is exemplified by the clip 1 configured according to Figures 1 to 6.

[0041]The clip 1 is made of plastic material, is flexible and is made in a single piece.

[0042]The clip 1 comprises two arms 2, 3 connected by their proximal end 2a, 3a to a connecting bridge 4. This clip 1 is characterised in that each arm 2, 3 is connected to the connecting bridge 4 by means of a respective lightened portion of material 41, 42 of the piece, each defining a respective joint.

[0043]In the clip 1, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 each defining a joint are symmetrical with respect to an imaginary plane A which cuts the clip transversely in the middle area of the connecting bridge 4.

[0044]In this exemplary embodiment, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 are formed by respective curved recesses, concave towards the space comprised between the arms 2, 3. Consequently, the lightened portions of material 41, 42 in turn define in the connecting bridge 4 a central portion 4a ...

Claims

1. A plastic closure clip (1, 1') for closing a bag, such as a mesh bag, configured in particular for clamping a gathered portion (9) of the bag, the clip being made in a single piece comprising two arms (2, 3) with clamping means (21, 31) which, when the arms are brought closer together, cooperate to close by crushing the gathered portion (9) of the bag located between the arms, the arms (2, 3) being connected by a proximal end (2a, 3a) to a connecting bridge (4) and the arms having at their distal end (2b, 3b) respective mutually interlocking complementary retention elements (22, 32) when the arms are brought closer together, characterised in that each arm (2, 3) is joined to the connecting bridge (4) by means of a respective lightened portion of material (41, 42) of the piece, each defining a respective joint.

2. The clip (1, 1') according to claim 1, characterised in that the lightened portions of material (41, 42) are symmetrical with respect to an imaginary plane that cuts transversely to the connecting bridge (4).

3. The clip (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the lightened portions of material (41, 42) define in the piece two concave recesses towards the space comprised between the arms (2, 3) which in turn define in the connecting bridge (4) a central portion (4a) having a greater thickness than its adjacent portions, of a lesser thickness; and in that the clamping means (21, 31) comprise in each arm (2, 3) and in its respective proximal end (2a, 3a) a first projection (21A, 31A) that is sized to be fitted against the connecting bridge (4) when the arms are brought closer together and interlock the complementary retention elements (22, 32) with each other.

4. The clip (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the central portion (4a) having a greater thickness forms a bulge towards the inside of the piece.

5. The clip (1') according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the lightened portions of material (41, 42) define in the connecting bridge (4) of the piece a central portion (4a) having a greater thickness than its adjacent portions which forms a bulge towards the outside of the piece.

6. The clip (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the clamping means (21, 31) comprise on each arm (2, 3) and on the inner face of the clip a plural number of projections (21B, 21C, 31B, 31C, 31D) conveniently arranged to alternately fit the projections of one arm with those of the other arm when the arms are brought closer together and interlock the complementary retention elements with each other without interposing any external element between said arms (2, 3).

7. The clip (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mutually interlocking complementary retention elements (22, 32) comprise in a first arm (2) a female element (22) with at least one hook formation (22a) in the direction of approach between the arms (2, 3); and in the second arm (3) a male element (32) with at least one retaining formation (32a) suitable for being caught by the hook formation of the first arm when the male element (32) is received in the female element (22).

8. The clip (1, 1') according to claim 7, characterised in that the male element (32) and the female element (22) are formed in the piece such that they are misaligned, in the direction of introduction of the male element into the female element, to a greater degree when the arms (2, 3) are brought closer together without interposing any external element between one another than when the arms (2, 3) are brought closer together with a gathered portion (9) of the bag being interposed between each other, resulting from a deformation of the arms (2, 3) by bulging outwards in the second case.

9. The clip (1, 1') according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the female element (22) has a plural number of hook formations (22a, 22b); and in that the male element (32) has an arrowhead configuration and has a plural number of retaining formations (32a, 32b), in a staggered pattern, corresponding to the number of hook formations (22a, 22b), such that all the retaining formations are capable of being caught by a corresponding hook formation when the arrowhead of the male element (32) is entirely received in the female element (22).

10. The clip (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it has a rectangular cross section.

11. The clip (1, 1') according to the preceding claim, characterised in that it has been obtained by transversally cutting a bar obtained using extrusion.

12. The clip (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that it has been obtained using injection moulding.

13. A clip (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims applied to a gathered portion (9) of a bag by clamping and closing the same, the clip being of the same material as that of the bag.

14. The clip (1, 1') and bag combination according to claim 13, characterised in that the bag is a mesh bag.

15. The clip (1, 1') and bag combination according to claims 13 or 14, characterised in that the material is a bioplastic.

16. The clip (1, 1') and bag combination according to claims 13 or 14, characterised in that the material is biodegradable.

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