Sealing component of a closure device for a reusable shipping container.

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing element for a shipping container closure device (1). The closure device comprises a male connector (2) with a body (6) equipped with a first locking element and a female connector (3) with a first part (15) and a second part (16) movable relative to each other between a spread-apart and a close-coupled position. The female connector (3) includes return means for bringing the parts (15, 16) back to the spread-apart position. The parts (15, 16) define, in the close-coupled position, a housing for the body (6). The first part (15) includes a second locking element complementary to the first locking element for locking the body (6) in the housing during their interaction. The sealing element (4) is dimensioned so that the first locking element continues to cooperate with the second locking element when the female connector, in the close-coupled position, tends to return to the spread-apart position.Figure for the abridged version: figure 7.

Description

Title of the invention: Sealing element of a closure device for a reusable shipping container. technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of parcel shipping and relates particularly to a closure device for a reusable shipping container equipped with sealing means and to said sealing means.

[0002] The present invention aims first of all to ensure that the package has not been opened during shipping and secondly to allow the reuse of the shipping container once the seal has been replaced on the closing device. State of the art

[0003] Environmental regulations are increasingly encouraging parcel shipping companies to use recyclable and / or reusable containers to limit the production and treatment of waste.

[0004] In this respect, recyclable plastic envelopes are known, the use of which is the same as a paper envelope. These are notably used in the online sales sector for textile products and are for single use only.

[0005] Plastic envelopes with a closure system are also known, allowing the envelope to be reused several times—twice in most designs—after its initial opening. These envelopes, however, quickly end up in the trash once the maximum number of uses is reached and should then be disposed of with recyclable waste. These envelopes may have secure adhesive sealing strips on their closure system, preventing any attempt at fraudulent opening of the envelope during shipping. These envelopes may also have a shock protection system, such as padding or an inflatable chamber. These envelopes are suitable for small volumes of items to be shipped.

[0006] It is also known to use shipping cartons which have the advantage of allowing the shipment of larger volumes of items, being recyclable, and being able to be closed with an adhesive strip that seals the flaps closing the opening of the carton. The disadvantage is that these cartons are generally single-use, considerably increasing the amount of cardboard waste to be recycled. In fact, these cartons are not always recycled, which does not help to reduce the environmental impact.

[0007] It is also known to use flexible bags made of textile material, waterproof or not, padded or not, which have an opening at one of their The bag has two longitudinal ends, with an opening allowing for the insertion and removal of items to be shipped. The lateral edges of the flexible bag, at the longitudinal end with the opening, include a closure device consisting of a male connector attached to the first lateral edge and a female connector attached to the second lateral edge. The male connector has two tabs, and the female connector has two slots. The male connector engages with the female connector, and the tabs snap into the slots to secure the closure device. The bag opening is closed by rolling the bag over itself at the opening and then securing the closure device. Such textile bags are advantageously washable for repeated use, provided they remain undamaged.One drawback is that these bags are often not returned to the sender for cleaning and reuse, as they may find other uses with the recipients who receive the packages. Another disadvantage is that the closure mechanism does not allow for the detection of bag opening during shipping, since the male and female connectors can be freely engaged and disengaged. This limits the use of this type of bag to certain applications, in favor of disposable and recyclable shipping containers whose closure mechanism provides a seal that guarantees the package has not been opened during shipping. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. To this end, the invention's primary objective is to design a shipping container closure device that encourages the recipient to return the container for reuse by the sender. Another objective is to ensure that the package has not been opened during shipping.

[0009] These objectives are achieved by means of the invention, which implements a shipping container closure device and a sealing element for said closure device. The closure device comprises a male connector and a female connector adapted to be engaged with one another for the establishment of said closure device. The male connector comprises a body equipped with a first locking element. The female connector comprises a first part and a second part that are movable relative to each other so as to be able to be placed in a spread position or in a close position. In addition, the female connector comprises return means configured to naturally return, that is to say, in the absence of a retaining force, the first part and the second part to the spread position. The first part and the second part are configured to define in the close position A housing opening onto one end of the female connector and configured to receive the body of the male connector. The first part of the female connector includes a second locking element complementary to the first locking element, so as to lock the body in the housing when the first and second locking elements cooperate, i.e., interact. Furthermore, the closure device includes a sealing element configured to retain the female connector in the closed position; the removal of the sealing element causes the female connector to return to the open position, in which the first and second locking elements are released from each other, allowing the male and female connectors to disengage.

[0010] Thus, thanks to the aforementioned characteristics, the sealing element ensures the sealing of the closure device and retains the female connector in the closed position. As long as the sealing element is not removed, the first and second locking elements cooperate and cannot be disengaged from each other, preventing the male connector body from being withdrawn from the female connector housing; the male and female connectors thus remain attached, preventing the shipping container from being opened during shipment. As soon as the sealing element is removed, no further retaining force is exerted on the first and second parts of the female connector, the return means exerting a return force that naturally brings the first and second parts back to the open position.Returning the container to its open position disengages the first locking mechanism from the second, thus allowing the male connector to be removed from the female connector. The absence of the sealing element, which was destroyed during its removal, renders the female connector unusable, leaving it in the open position. The closure mechanism is therefore inoperable in its current state unless a new sealing element, held by the sender, is installed. Consequently, the shipping container remains open once the sealing element is removed. This allows the recipient to observe whether the package was opened during shipping and also renders the shipping container unusable, prompting the recipient to return it to the sender.The sender can then clean the shipping container and install a new sealing device on the female connector for a new shipment of parcels.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the locking device, the first locking member is formed by an opening on the body of the male connector and the second locking member is formed by a flexible tab on the first part of the female connector. The flexible tab includes a protruding element directed towards the second part of the female connector and configured to enter the opening on the body When the female connector is in the close position and the body is engaged in the housing, once the protruding element is engaged in the opening, the male connector body cannot be removed from the female connector housing in the close position. The flexible tab advantageously allows the male connector body to be engaged in the female connector housing after the sealing element has been placed on the female connector in the close position. The flexible tab flexes and lifts the protruding element during the insertion of the body into the housing; once the body is fully inserted into the housing, the opening aligns with the protruding element. The flexible tab can then return to its normal position thanks to the restoring force exerted by its elasticity, inserting the protruding element into the opening and thus locking the body in the housing.

[0012] An alternative embodiment without a flexible tab remains conceivable, i.e., with only the aforementioned protruding element present on the first part of the female connector. This alternative is, however, more cumbersome in use since it requires properly positioning the body of the male connector relative to the first part of the female connector in order to insert the protruding element into the opening of the body, then positioning the first and second parts of the female connector in a close position to form the housing and locking the body into it by inserting the protruding element into the opening, and finally, simply putting in place the sealing element to hold the female connector in the close position.

[0013] According to the aforementioned preferred embodiment of the closure device, the protruding element comprises a first bevel and the body comprises a second bevel. The first and second bevels are configured so that the body pushes the flexible tab, causing it to flex during the insertion of said body into the housing. This flexible tab returns to its normal position once the protruding element is aligned with the opening. These bevels facilitate the insertion of the male connector body into the female connector housing in a close position, with minimal effort. Variations without these bevels or with alternatives to the beveled shape are also possible, for example, a curved shape.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the closure device, a sliding connection is implemented between the second part of the female connector and the body of the male connector, in the direction of insertion of the body into the housing. This sliding connection not only facilitates the insertion of the body into the housing for the aforementioned preferred embodiment but, in all embodiments, ensures disengagement of the first and second locking elements when the sealing element is removed and the female connector naturally returns to its position. Once removed, the user simply needs to detach the male connector body, which remains in a sliding connection with the second part of the female connector. Variants without this sliding connection are also possible, which may then require manual intervention by the operator to disengage the male connector body from the protruding element of the first part of the female connector.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the closure device, the first and second parts of the female connector are made in a single, clamp-shaped piece and are connected by a flexible linking element configured to allow the connector to reach the closed position under stress and to return naturally to the open position when the stress is removed, thanks to the restoring force exerted by the flexible linking element, which has elasticity. It is understood that the flexible linking element is also part of the clamp-shaped piece, since it connects the first and second parts. This design facilitates the manufacture of the female connector as a single piece.Variations of the female connector remain conceivable, for example by using two separate parts to form the first and second parts of the female connector, the two parts then being connected by a pivot joint or a sliding joint to form a clamp or a jaw and move from the open position to the closed position, and vice versa, a spring constituting the return means being then mounted in compression between the said two parts to naturally return them to the open position.

[0016] According to the closure device, the male connector includes a first fastening element and the female connector includes a second fastening element. This facilitates the attachment of the male and female connectors to the shipping container. Preferably, the first and second fastening elements consist of strap loops. These straps will be sewn or welded to ensure permanent attachment of the male and female connectors to the shipping container.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the closure device, the sealing element consists of a sealing strip configured to encircle the first and second parts of the female connector in a close position. This facilitates the implementation of the sealing element. However, variations remain possible for the implementation of the sealing element. Preferably, the sealing strip is made of a recyclable and compostable material, in particular paper. This sealing strip could be made of plastic or other materials, according to possible embodiments.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the closure device, when the sealing element is a sealing strip as described above, the first part and the second part The female connector comprises at least one first stop element and at least one second stop element, said stop elements being configured to delimit the positioning of the sealing strip when the female connector is clamped. This ensures proper positioning of the sealing strip, guaranteeing against any attempt to open the closure device without removing the sealing strip.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the closure device, the sealing element includes a marking system configured to identify a fraudulent opening of said sealing element.

[0020] Another objective is to ensure that the female connector is properly held in the close position when the sealing member is put in place and encircles the first and second parts of said female connector. The first and second parts of the female connector define, in said close position and in a transverse section plane, a first rectangular section of width L1 and height H1. The sealing member, at least when it encircles the first and second parts of the female connector in the close position, also defines, in a transverse section plane, a rectangular section of width L2 and height H2, respectively greater than the width L1 and height H1 of said first rectangular section, and sized to keep the first locking member of the male connector and the second locking member engaged while the female connector (3) tends to return to the open position.

[0021] The width L1 and the height H1 define a first perimeter PI of the first rectangular section. According to a preferred embodiment of the sealing element, the width L2 and the height H2 define a second perimeter P2 of the second rectangular section, said width L2 and said height H2 being dimensioned with respect to the width L1 and the height H1 so that the second perimeter P2 does not exceed 3 mm of the first perimeter PI (P1 <P2<Pl+3mm).

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing element is initially in the form of a sealing strip with fold lines, said sealing strip, once folded along said fold lines, having two transverse sides of width L2 and two lateral sides of height H2. Alternative embodiments could be envisaged with a sealing element initially forming a belt having a rectangular cross-section in a transverse plane, the sealing element then being put in place by inserting it onto the female connector in a close position.

[0023] According to this preferred embodiment of the sealing element, the sealing strip has, at one of its two longitudinal ends, an adhesive flap configured to be glued onto an end portion at the other of its two longitudinal ends. In one embodiment, this adhesive flap comprises an adhesive layer temporarily coated with a removable protective element. In another embodiment, this adhesive flap is directly bonded to the end portion at the other of the two longitudinal ends of said sealing strip, said sealing strip being folded in half along two of said fold lines.

[0024] According to this preferred embodiment, the sealing strip comprises a notch on two portions corresponding to the two transverse sides. This notch facilitates gripping the sealing element with the fingers for tearing.

[0025] According to this preferred embodiment, the sealing strip comprises, on two portions corresponding to the two transverse sides, a tab. This tab facilitates gripping the sealing element with the fingers for tearing. The tab and the notch will preferably both be present on the sealing strip and arranged respectively on two longitudinal edges of said sealing strip, in the same alignment.

[0026] In other words, these notches and tabs constitute gripping elements configured to grasp the sealing strip and allow it to be torn more easily. Of course, other forms of gripping elements could be considered for the same purpose.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing strip includes pre-cuts configured to facilitate tearing of said sealing strip.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the sealing element comprises a length L3 of between 24 mm and 30 mm. This length L3 is adapted to a length L4 of the first part and the second part of the female connector when said female connector is in the close position and the sealing element is placed on said female connector.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing element is composed of a recyclable and compostable material, in particular paper.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the sealing element includes a marking system configured to identify a fraudulent opening of said sealing element. The marking can, for example, be achieved by allowing a color to appear in the adhesive area of ​​an adhesive flap and / or by fraying the material of an adhesive flap to prevent its re-adhering, thus ensuring the identification of a fraudulent opening of the sealing element.

[0031] The invention also relates to a booklet of sealing elements, said sealing elements being made up of sealing strips having one or more of the aforementioned characteristics, said sealing strips being attached to each other at their longitudinal edges, said longitudinal edges being provided with pre-cuts configured to allow the detachment of one sealing strip from the other sealing strips of said booklet.

[0032] The invention also relates to a shipping container comprising an opening for the introduction and removal of articles and a system for closing the opening, the closing system comprising at least one closing device for maintaining the closing system in the closed position, the closing device having one or both of the aforementioned characteristics of the invention.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the shipping container is a flexible bag comprising two lateral edges and an opening arranged at one of the bag's longitudinal end edges. The bag includes a closure device whose male connector is attached to a first lateral edge and whose female connector is attached to a second lateral edge, at said longitudinal end edge. The flexible bag is preferably made of textile material to allow for cleaning and greater resistance, enabling repeated use for shipping packages. The bag may also have various characteristics, for example, being leak-proof against liquids and / or gases, having a padding system or any other shock protection system, and / or having an insulated system for keeping items cool or, conversely, warm.

[0034] Of course, the closure device and the sealing element could be implemented on variants of the shipping container, for example a shipping container made of textile material in the form of a bag having a flap, one or two closure devices according to the invention being implemented between the flap and the front face of the bag. Brief description of the figures

[0035] The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which is supported by figures, including:

[0036] [Fig-1] illustrates a view of a flexible bag which has a closure device according to the existing prior art; [Fig.2] illustrates a three-dimensional view of a female connector of a closure device according to the invention, said female connector being in a spread-away position; [Fig.3] illustrates a side view of the female connector of [Fig.2], in a spread-away position; [Fig.4] illustrates a three-dimensional view of the female connector of figures 2 and 3, in close-up position; [Fig.5] illustrates a three-dimensional view of the female connector of [Fig.4], the female connector being held in a close position by means of a sealing element; [Fig.6] illustrates a three-dimensional view of a male connector of a closing device according to the invention; [Fig.7] illustrates a three-dimensional view of the male connector of [Fig.6] engaged in the female connector of figures 2 to 5, said female connector being held in a close position by means of the sealing member; [Fig.8] illustrates in three-dimensional view the male connector engaged in the female connector in the absence of the sealing element, said female connector having returned to the open position; [Fig.9] illustrates a side view of [Fig.8]; [Fig. 10] illustrates a first embodiment of the sealing device according to the invention in the form of a sealing strip; [Fig. 11] illustrates a second embodiment of the sealing element according to the invention in the form of a sealing strip; [Fig. 12] illustrates in a longitudinal section plane, the closure device according to the invention in mode of use, the sealing member maintaining the female connector in the close position and the male connector being inserted into the female connector; [Fig. 13] schematically represents in a cross-sectional plane the female connector held in a close position by means of a sealing element, as illustrated in three-dimensional view on [Fig. 5]; [Fig. 14] schematically represents in a cross-section plane the female connector held in a close position by means of a sealing element, with the first part and the second part of said female connector tending to return to the spread-out position under the effect of the return means; [Fig. 15] schematically represents a set of sealing components. Detailed description

[0037] Figure 1 illustrates a flexible bag 100 on which a closure device 200 is implemented according to the existing prior art. The bag 100 is made of a textile material that facilitates its cleaning. The bag 100 has two lateral edges 101, 102 and an opening 103 arranged at a longitudinal end edge 104 of said bag 100, this opening allowing the introduction of one or more items (not shown) into the internal volume 105 of said bag 100. The closure device 200 according to the prior art includes a male connector 201 which includes a first attachment loop 202 allowing the passage of a first strap 106 which is fixed, for example, by sewing or welding, at the longitudinal end edge 104 so as to position the male connector 201 on the first lateral edge 101 at said opening 103. The closure device 200 according to the prior art includes a female connector 203 which includes a second attachment loop 204 allowing the passage of a second strap 107 which is fixed, for example, by sewing or welding, to the longitudinal end edge 104 so as to position the female connector 203 on the second lateral edge 102 at the level of said opening 103. The male connector 201 includes two flexible tabs 205, 206 which are configured to be engaged in a (non-visible) housing inside a body 207 of the female connector 203, the body 207 having two openings 208, 209 leading to said housing, said openings 208, 209 receiving, respectively by snapping, protrusions 210, 211 onto the flexible tabs 205, 206 when they are engaged in said body 207. The closure of the opening 103 of the bag 100 is obtained by rolling the longitudinal end edge 104 of the bag 100 onto itself and snapping the male connector 201 with the female connector 203.This type of closure device 200 according to the prior art allows the male connector 201 to be assembled with the female connector 203 and their disassembly, freely, as many times as desired, which does not ensure any guarantee as to the absence of opening of the bag 100 during shipment and as to the return of the empty bag 100 to the sender for reuse of said bag 100, the person who received the package may decide to use the bag which remains operational for other purposes.

[0038] The closure device 1 according to the invention, illustrated in its entirety in [Fig. 7], will be arranged on the bag 100 in place of the closure device 200 according to the prior art and will resolve the aforementioned drawbacks. As illustrated in [Fig. 7], the closure device 1 comprises a male connector 2, a female connector 3, and a sealing element 4. The male connector 2 will be installed in place of the male connector 201, and the female connector 3 will be installed in place of the female connector 203.

[0039] With reference to [Fig. 6], the male connector 2 includes an attachment member 5 consisting of an attachment loop which will be assembled with the lateral edge 102 of the bag 100 at the opening 103, by means of the first strap 106 attached to the longitudinal end edge 104 by stitching or welding. The male connector 2 also includes a body 6 which extends forward from the attachment member 5. The body 6 includes a flat rectangular shape which has on one of its two faces 7 a U-shaped reinforcing rib 8 positioned at a distance from the contour 9 of the body 6. A rectangular opening 10 passes through the body 6 inside this rib 8, the opening 10 corresponding with the U-shape of the rib 8 on three of its sides, as shown in [Fig. 6]. The body 6 also includes first bevels 11 which extend from the front edge 12 of the rib 8 to the front edge 36 of said body 6, as shown in [Fig.6].

[0040] With reference to Figures 2 to 5, the female connector 3 includes an attachment member 13 consisting of an attachment loop which will be assembled with the lateral edge 101 of the bag 100 at the opening 103, by means of the first strap 107 attached to the longitudinal end edge 104 by sewing or welding. The female connector 3 includes a part 14 which has the shape of a clamp, the part 14 comprising a first part 15, a second part 16 and a connecting element 17 connecting the first part 15 and the second part 16. The part 14 is naturally in a spread position, the first part 15 and the second part 16 being away from each other, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The connecting element 17 has a small thickness, as shown in [Fig.[3], which provides it with elasticity, allowing the part 14 to be positioned in a close position under stress, with the first part 15 coming into contact with the second part 16, as illustrated in particular by Figures 4 and 5, under stress. In order to maintain the part 14 in this close position, the sealing element 4 encircles the first part 15 and the second part 16, as shown in [Fig. 5]. Preferably, this sealing element 4 consists of a sealing strip made of paper to allow for its composting after being torn off when the closure device 1 is opened to open the bag 100. The removal of the sealing element 4 releases the part 14, which is no longer subjected to any holding force, thus allowing the first part 15 and the second part 16 to naturally return to a separate position thanks to the elasticity of the connecting element 17.

[0041] With reference to Figures 2 to 4, the first portion 15 of the part 14 has a flat shape and includes a flexible tab 18 extending inwards from a leading edge 19 of the first portion 15. The flexible tab 18 lies in its rest position in the plane of the first portion 15. The flexible tab 18 includes a protruding element 20 oriented towards the second portion 16, as shown in [Fig. 3]. This protruding element 20 has a bevel 21, the longer side 22 of which is located at the edge 23 of the flexible tab 18. The female connector 3 has a recess 24 into which the body 6 of the male connector 2 can be inserted.During the insertion of the body 6 into the housing 24, with the female connector in the close position, the bevels 11 arranged at the front of the body 6 come into contact with the bevel 21 on the protruding element 20, thus exerting a force on the flexible tab 18 which flexes to allow the continued insertion of the body 6 into the housing 24 until the protruding element 20 is positioned above the opening 10 on the body 6, then allowing the flexible tab 18 to return to its normal position, the protruding element 20 being then engaged in the opening 10. In this engaged position, the large side 22 of the protruding element 20 is against the front edge 12 of the rib 8, thus preventing any possibility of disengagement of the body 6 from the housing 24. Thus, as long as the sealing element 4 remains on the female connector 3 which is in the close position, the male connector 2 cannot be disengaged from the female connector 3, the closing device 1 remaining as illustrated in [Fig.7].

[0042] With reference to Figures 2 to 9, the second part 16 of the component 14 on the female connector 3 comprises a flat shape with two lateral edges 25, 26 that are curved inwards to form two grooves 27, 28 arranged opposite each other inside the housing 24. These grooves 27, 28 define a slide that allows the lateral edges 29, 30 of the body 6 of the male connector 2 to be received during the engagement of said body 6 in the housing 24. This slide connection between the second part 16 and the body 6 contributes to the proper guidance of the body 6 during its insertion into the housing 24, when the female connector 3 is in the close position and the sealing member 4 encircles the female connector 3. When the sealing member 4 is withdrawn, the female connector 3 naturally returns to the open position thanks to the restoring force exerted by the connecting element 17, as explained previously.The second part 16 then carries the body 6 with it during its separation from the first part 15, thanks to the presence of the slide, which allows the body 6 to be released simultaneously from the protruding element 20 and, thus, the male connector 2 to be disengaged from the female connector 3 for the opening of the closing device 1. .

[0043] With regard in particular to figures 3, 5 and 7, the external face 31 of the first part 15 and the external face 32 of the second part 16 respectively comprise stop elements 33, 34 which make it possible to delimit the positioning of the sealing member 4 consisting of a sealing strip and prevent the said sealing member 4 from moving towards the attachment member 13. Thus, the sealing member 4 is suitably positioned on the female connector 3 in a close position and completely covers the flexible tab 18, which prevents the separation of the two parts 15, 16 and access to the flexible tab 18 to attempt to flex it and to detach the protruding element 20 from the body 6 without tearing off the sealing member 4.

[0044] The outer face 31 of the first part 15 also includes two reinforcing elements 37 which extend between the two stop elements 33 on said outer face 31 and the attachment member 13, these reinforcing elements 37 being arranged above the connecting element 17 which connects the first part 15 to the second part 16. These reinforcing elements 37 provide rigidity to the first part and ensure that the connecting element 17 flexes and works properly when the second part 16 is brought closer to the first part 15 for passage into the close position of the female connector 3, in order to exert a suitable restoring force on the second part 16 as soon as the sealing member 4 is removed.

[0045] The male connector 2 is made of a single piece of plastic, for example polypropylene. Similarly, the female connector 3 is made of a single piece of plastic, for example polypropylene. The sealing element 4 is made of paper, preferably kraft paper; it would also be possible to provide a sheet of plastic with a pre-cut opening to facilitate its removal when disengaging the male connector 2 and the female connector 3.

[0046] The presence of the flexible tab 18 on the first part 15 of the female connector 3 advantageously allows the sealing member 4 to be placed on the female connector 3 in a close position, before the body 6 is engaged in the housing 24. However, a variant could be envisaged without the flexible tab 18, i.e. by arranging the protruding element 20 directly on an inner face 35 of the first part 15 of the female connector 3. In this case, it would be necessary to first position the body 6 of the male connector 2 in the grooves 27, 28 of the second part 16 of the female connector, then to position the female connector 3 in a close position, thus allowing the protruding element 20 to enter the opening 10 on the body 6 and, finally, only to put in place the sealing member 4 to retain the female connector 3 in a close position.

[0047] The sealing element 4 may also include a marking system for identifying an attempt to fraudulently open said sealing element. For example, when the sealing element 4 is a sealing strip, as described above, the sealing strip may include a colored marker that appears when an attempt is made to peel off the adhesive part of said sealing strip.

[0048] Alternative embodiments of the male connector 2 are also possible without the rib 8 and without the bevels 11 or, on the contrary, with a rib and bevels identical and complementary to the rib 8 and the bevels 11 and implemented on the face opposite to the face 7, these variants offering reversibility to the male connector 2 which can thus be inserted in one direction or the other into the housing 24 of the female connector 3 in a close position.

[0049] The closure device 1 according to the invention is implemented on the bag 100. However, it is possible to consider implementing one or more closure devices 1 on another type of shipping container, for example a bag which includes a flap for closing an opening, one or two closure devices 1 then being arranged between the flap and the front face of the bag.

[0050] Figure 10 shows a first embodiment of the sealing member 4, which initially takes the form of a sealing strip 38 laid flat and provided with folding lines 39, 40, 41, 42 that define five sections on said sealing strip 38. When folding the sealing strip 38 according to said folding lines 39, 40, 41, 42, the first portion 43 defines a lateral side 4a of the sealing member 4, the second portion 44 defines a transverse side 4b of the sealing member 4, the third portion 45 defines a lateral side 4c of the sealing member 4, the fourth portion 46 defines a transverse side 4d of the sealing member 4 and the fifth portion 47 defines a flap which is adhesive and comes to stick on the first portion 43 during the shaping or pre-forming of the sealing member 4.

[0051] According to an embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 10], this fifth portion 47 comprises on its inner face an adhesive layer 48 which can be temporarily coated with a removable protective element 49 preventing the flap from sticking until the protective element 49 is removed. The flap can be configured to peel away so as to fray and prevent re-adhering and / or reveal a visual marking, for example a color, when the flap is peeled away, which will allow the detection of fraudulent opening of the closure device 1. During use, the user pinches the female connector 3 to bring the first part 15 and the second part 16 into the close-coupled position illustrated in [Fig. 4], then folds the sealing strip 38 along the fold lines 39, 40, 41, 42 to secure the first part 15 and the second part 16 in the close-coupled position.Next, he removes the protective element 49 in order to stick the flap against the first portion 43 constituting the lateral side 4a or the lateral side 4c of the sealing element 4. The user only has to engage the male connector 2 in the female connector 3 when closing said closing device 1.

[0052] Alternatively, this fifth portion 47, equipped with the adhesive layer 48, can be directly glued against the first portion 43 to close the sealing strip 38 and fold it in half along the folding lines 40, 42, so as to pre-form the sealing member 4 and to condition it in a flattened form. During use, the user only has to shape the sealing member 4 by folding it along the folding lines 39, 40, 41, 42 to give it a rectangular belt shape, then he pinches the female connector 3 to bring the first part 15 and the second part 16 into the close position illustrated in [Fig.4] and inserts said female connector 3 into the sealing member 4 forming a belt, the user only has to engage the male connector 2 in the female connector 3 at the time of closing said closure device 1.

[0053] In this [Fig. 10], the sealing strip 38 comprises on each of its two portions 44, 46, a notch 50, 51 extending inwards from a first longitudinal edge 52 of said sealing strip 38, these notches 50, 51 facilitating gripping with the fingers of one hand in order to more easily tear this sealing strip 38 for opening the closure device 1. Similarly, the sealing strip 38 comprises on each of said two portions 44, 46, a tab 53, 54 extending outwards from a second longitudinal edge 55 of said sealing strip 38, these tabs 53, 54 facilitating gripping with the fingers of one hand to more easily tear this sealing strip 38 for opening the closure device 1. As shown in [Fig. 10], the notches 50, 51 and the tabs 53, 54 are arranged in the same alignment on each of the two portions 44, 46 and are complementary, these being obtained during the successive cutting of the sealing strips 38. It would be possible to provide variants of the sealing strip 38 with only the notches 50, 51 or with only the tabs 53, 54.The sealing strip 38 also includes pre-cuts 56 distributed on each side of the notches 50, 51 and the tabs 53, 54, these pre-cuts 56 facilitating the removal of the sealing strip 38 by pulling on one or the other of the notches 50, 51 or the tabs 53, 54.

[0054] Figure 11 illustrates a variant of the sealing strip 38' on which lines. The fold lines 39', 40', 41', 42' are arranged differently from those illustrated in [Fig. 10], but also allow five portions to be defined on said sealing strip 38'. When folding the sealing strip 38' along said fold lines 39', 40', 41', 42', the first portion 43' defines a flap, the second portion 44' defines a lateral side 4a of the sealing member 4, the third portion 45' defines a transverse side 4b of the sealing member 4, the fourth portion 46' defines a lateral side 4c of the sealing member 4 and the fifth portion 47' defines a transverse side 4d. The first portion 43', constituting the flap, is adhesive and sticks to the fifth portion 47' during the shaping of the sealing member 4.

[0055] According to an embodiment illustrated in [Fig.

[11] , this first portion 43' includes on its inner face an adhesive layer 48' which can be temporarily coated with a removable protective element 49' preventing the flap from sticking until the protective element 49' is removed. The flap can be configured to peel away so as to fray and prevent re-adhering and / or reveal a visual marking, for example a color, when the flap is peeled away, which will allow the detection of a fraudulent opening. The sealing element 4 is placed on the female connector 3 as previously described for [Fig. 10], except that the flap is glued to a transverse side 4b, 4d of the sealing element 4.

[0056] Alternatively, this first portion 43', equipped with the adhesive layer 48', can be directly glued against the fifth portion 47' to close the sealing strip 38' and folded in half along the fold lines 39', 41', so as to pre-form the sealing element 4 and shape it into a flattened form. During use, the user only needs to shape the sealing element 4 by folding it along the fold lines 39', 40', 41', 42' to give it a rectangular belt shape, then they pinch the female connector 3 to bring the first part 15 and the second part 16 in the close position illustrated in [Fig.4] and inserts said female connector 3 into the sealing member 4 forming a belt, the user only having to engage the male connector 2 into the female connector 3 at the time of closing said closing device 1.

[0057] In this [Fig. 1 1], the sealing strip 38' comprises, on each of its two portions 45', 47', a notch 50', 51' extending inwards from a first longitudinal edge 52' of said sealing strip 38', these notches 50', 51' facilitating gripping with the fingers of one hand in order to more easily tear this sealing strip 38' for opening the closure device 1. Similarly, the sealing strip 38' comprises, on each of said two portions 45', 47', a tab 53', 54' extending outwards from a second longitudinal edge 55' of said sealing strip 38', these tabs 53', 54' facilitating gripping with the fingers of one hand in order to to tear more easily this sealing strip 38' for opening the closure device 1. As shown in this [Fig.

[11] The notches 50', 51' and the tabs 53', 54' are arranged in the same alignment on each of the two portions 45', 47' and are complementary, these being obtained during the successive cutting of the sealing strips 38'. It would be possible to provide variants of the sealing strip 38' with only the notches 50', 51' or with only the tabs 53', 54'. The 38' sealing strip also includes 56' pre-cuts distributed on each side of the 50', 51' notches and the 53', 54' tabs, these 56' pre-cuts facilitating the removal of the 38' sealing strip by pulling on one or the other of the 50', 51' notches or the 53', 54' tabs.

[0058] With reference to Figures 4, 5, 12, and 13, when the female connector 3 is in the close position, the first part 15 and the second part 16 define, in a cross-sectional plane, a first rectangular section SI comprising a height H1 and a width L1. This height H1 and this width L1 define a perimeter PI of the first rectangular section SI. Similarly, the sealing member 4, once formed, defines, in a cross-sectional plane, a second rectangular section S2 comprising a height H2 and a width L2. This height H2 and this width L2 define a perimeter P2 of the second rectangular section S2.The height H2 and the width L2 are respectively greater than the height H1 and the width L1 and they are dimensioned to ensure that the first part 15 and the second part 16 of the female connector 3, which are in the close position and which tend to move away from each other towards the spread position under the effect of the return means, preserve the protruding element 20 of the flexible tab 18 present on said first part 15, housed in the opening 10 on the body 6 of the male connector 2, said body 6 being placed in the housing 24 formed on said female connector 3 in. close positioning, thus preventing any risk of disconnection between male connector 2 and female connector 3.

[0059] With regard to figures 12 and 14, the first part 15 and the second part 16 tend to return naturally to a spread position under the effect of the return means, generating a slight spread El between the first part 15 and the second part 16. It is therefore necessary that this spread El remain less than the height H3 of insertion of the protruding element 20 inside the opening 10 to ensure that the body 6 of the male connector 2 cannot be dislodged from the housing 24 on the female connector 3 arranged in the close position.

[0060] In Figures 13 and 14, the dimensions are intentionally exaggerated to highlight the different parameters. It goes without saying that in reality, the dimensional differences between the first part 15 and the second part 16 in close proximity and the sealing member 4 will be smaller.

[0061] The dimensioning of the height H2 and the width L2 will depend on the design of the first locking member which could be different from the opening 10 and on the design of the second locking member, complementary to the first locking member, which could be different from the protruding element 20, the objective being to keep the first locking member and the second locking member engaged in said position close to the female connector 3.

[0062] Preferably, the perimeter P2, which is greater than the perimeter PI, does not exceed 3 mm of said perimeter PI (Pl <P2<Pl+3 mm). De préférence, la hauteur H2 est égale à 10 mm (H2=10 mm) et la largeur L2 est égale à 25 mm (L2=25 mm), pour une hauteur H1 égale à 9,8 mm (Hl=9,8 mm) et une largeur L1 égale à 24,5 mm (Ll=24,5 mm) constituées par la première partie 15 et la seconde partie 16 du connecteur femelle 3 en position rapprochée.

[0063] With reference to Figures 4, 5, 10 and 11, the outer face 31 of the first part 15 and the outer face 32 of the second part 16 each define a length L4 dimensioned for positioning the sealing member 4 when it is placed on the female connector 3. Preferably, the sealing member 4 has a length L3 less than the length L4 and greater than 80% of the length L4 (80% of L4 <L3<L4). De préférence la longueur L3 est comprise entre 24 mm et 30 mm (24 mm<L3<30 mm), pour une longueur L4 égale à 30 mm.

[0064] With regard to [Fig. 15], the sealing elements 4 are in the form of a sealing strip 38' as illustrated in [Fig. 11] and are initially in the form of a booklet of sealing elements 200 which preferably comprises five sealing strips 38' attached together at their longitudinal edges 52', 55' and at the notches 50', 51' and tabs 53', 54'. Pre-cuts will be provided between the longitudinal edges 52', 55' and the notches 50', 51' and the tabs 53', 54'. to allow easy detachment by hand of a 38' sealing strip from the other 38' sealing strips remaining attached to each other on the 200 sealing component booklet. The 38' sealing strips of the 200 sealing component booklet may remain flat and each include a removable 49' protective element, as described previously. Alternatively, the sealing strips 38' of the sealing element booklet 200 may be pre-formed, with the portion 43' constituting the flap already glued onto the portion 47' constituting a transverse side 4b, 4d of said sealing element 4, the pre-formed sealing strips 38' being folded in half and flattened, thus forming said sealing element booklet 200. These implementations in the form of a sealing element booklet 200 may also be envisaged with the sealing strip 38 illustrated in [Fig. 10].

Claims

1. Demands Sealing member (4) of a closure device (1) for a shipping container comprising a male connector (2) and a female connector (3) adapted to be engaged with each other for the establishment of said closure device (1), the male connector (2) comprising a body (6) provided with a first locking member, the female connector (3) comprising a first part (15) and a second part (16) movable relative to each other so as to be able to be placed in a spread position or in a close position, said female connector (3) comprising return means configured to naturally return the first part (15) and the second part (16) to the spread position, the first part (15) and the second part (16) being configured to define in the close position a housing (24) opening onto one end of the female connector (3) and configured to receive the body (6) of the male connector (2),the first part (15) of the female connector (3) comprising a second locking member complementary to the first locking member so as to lock the body (6) in the housing (24) when the first locking member and the second locking member cooperate, the first part (15) and the second part (16) defining in the close position and in a cross-sectional plane a first rectangular section of width L1 and height Hl, said sealing member (4) being configured to encircle said first part (15) and said second part (16) in the close position so as to retain and seal the female connector (3) in said close position, the withdrawal of the sealing member (4) causing the return of the female connector (3) to the open position in which the first locking member and the second locking member are released from each other for disengagement of the male connector (2) and the female connector (3),characterized in that said sealing member (4), at least when it encircles the first part (15) and the second part (16) in the close position, defines in a transverse cutting plane a rectangular section of width L2 and height H2, respectively greater than the width L1 and the height H1 of said first rectangular section and dimensioned to hold in contact the, first locking member and second locking member while the female connector (3) tends to return to the open position.

2. Sealing member (4) according to claim 1, wherein the width L1 and the height H1 define a first perimeter PI of the first rectangular section and the width L2 and the height H2 define a second perimeter P2 of the second rectangular section, the width L2 and the height H2 being dimensioned relative to the width L1 and the height H1 so that the second perimeter P2 does not exceed 3 mm from the first perimeter PI (P1 <P2<Pl+3 mm).

3. Sealing member (4) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, which is initially in the form of a sealing strip (38, 38') provided with fold lines, said sealing strip once folded along said fold lines (39-42, 39'-42') having two transverse sides (4b, 4d) of width L2 and two lateral sides (4a, 4c) of height H2.

4. Sealing member (4) according to claim 3, wherein the sealing strip (38, 38') has at one of its two longitudinal ends an adhesive flap configured to be glued to an end portion at the other of its two longitudinal ends.

5. Sealing member (4) according to claim 4, wherein the adhesive flap comprises an adhesive layer (48, 48') provisionally coated with a removable protective element (49, 49').

6. Sealing member (4) according to claim 4, wherein the adhesive flap is directly glued onto said end portion at the other of the two longitudinal ends of said sealing strip (38,38'), said sealing strip being folded in half along two of said fold lines.

7. Sealing member (4) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the sealing strip (38, 38') comprises on two portions corresponding to the two transverse sides, gripping members configured to grasp the sealing strip and allow it to be torn more easily.

8. Sealing member (4) according to claim 7, wherein the gripping members are made up of notches (50, 51, 50', 51') and / or tabs (53, 54, 53', 54').

9. Sealing member (4) according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the sealing strip (38, 38') comprises pre-cuts (56, 56') configured to facilitate tearing of said sealing strip.

10. Sealing member (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a length L3 of between 24 mm and 30 mm

11. iliili. Sealing element (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which is composed of a recyclable and compostable material, in particular paper.

12. Sealing device (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, which includes a marking system configured to identify a fraudulent opening of said sealing device.

13. Booklet of sealing elements (200), said sealing elements (4) having at least the characteristics of any one of claims 3 to 9, said sealing strips (38, 38') being attached to each other at their longitudinal edges (52, 55, 52', 55'), said longitudinal edges being provided with pre-cuts configured to allow the detachment of a sealing strip from the other sealing strips of said booklet.

14. A closure device (1) for a shipping container comprising a male connector (2) and a female connector (3) capable of being engaged with each other for the establishment of said closure device (1), the male connector (2) comprising a body (6) having a first locking member, the female connector (3) comprising a first part (15) and a second part (16) movable relative to each other so as to be able to be placed in a spread position or in a close position, said female connector (3) comprising return means configured to naturally return the first part (15) and the second part (16) to the spread position, the first part (15) and the second part (16) being configured to define in the close position a housing (24) opening onto one end of the female connector (3) and configured to receive the body (6) of the male connector (2),the first part (15) of the female connector (3) comprising a second locking member complementary to the first locking member so as to lock the body (6) in the housing (24) when the first locking member and the second locking member cooperate, the first part (15) and the second part (16) defining in the close-up position and in a transverse cutting plane a, first rectangular section of width L1 and height Hl, said closure device (1) comprising a sealing member (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, said sealing member being configured to encircle said first part (15) and said second part (16) in the close position so as to retain and seal the female connector (3) in said close position, the withdrawal of the sealing member (4) causing the return of the female connector (3) to the open position in which the first locking member and the second locking member are released from each other for disengagement of the male connector (2) and the female connector (3).

15. Shipping container comprising an opening for the introduction and removal of articles and a system for closing the opening, the closing system comprising at least one closing device (1) according to claim 14 for maintaining the closing system in the closed position.