Bag sealing device

Claim 1

A closure device for temporarily sealing flexible bags comprising: first and second longitudinally extended arms, each arm having an outer end and an inner end and at least one substantially flat inner surface, a hinge connecting said arms at the inner ends thereof, permitting said arms to pivot in one direction into stacked disposition with said inner surfaces disposed adjacent to each other, a locking assembly disposed on said inner surfaces adjacent to the outer ends of said arms comprising an upwardly projecting male snap lock element located on the inner surface of one of said arms, and a female snap lock element disposed within the inner surface of the other of said arms, said female snap lock element comprising an opening defined primarily by parallel walls being adapted to receive and releasably engage said male snap lock element therein, a clasping assembly located along said inner surfaces comprising an elongated longitudinal ridge extending along the inner surface of one arm and a longitudinal slot disposed matingly with said ridge along the opposite adjacent inner surface of the other arm, said slot extending only partially through said arm and being adapted to seat said ridge to crimpingly engage the entire girth of said bag, longitudinally extending reinforcement means located on the outer surface of and being integral with the arm defining said slot being parallel to said slot to maintain the stiffness of said arm when said slot and said ridge engage the surface of said bag, and release means located at the free end of one of said arms to disengage said locking assembly and release said bag.