Closure for closing plastic bags and the like

Claim 1

A closure for closing plastic bags or the like, comprising: a first clamping leg having first and second ends and a length therebetween, a base and sidewalls joined thereto, which base and sidewalls together form a substantially U-shaped transverse cross-section defining a recess extending substantially the length of the first leg; each sidewall including, in a plane of the sidewall, a lip having a thickness less than a thickness of the sidewall; a distance between the sidewall planes defining an interior sidewall width for the first leg; a second clamping leg having first and second ends and a length therebetween, a rib and sidewalls joined thereto, which rib and sidewalls form a substantially Vshaped transverse cross-section extending substantially the length of the second leg; a distance between a bag facing surface of said sidewalls of the second leg defining an exterior sidewall width for the second leg, said exterior sidewall width being greater than said interior sidewall width of the first leg; the first end of the first leg being pivotally joined to the first end of the second leg such that in a bag closing position the first leg overlies and mutually engages the second leg with the bag facing surface of the sidewalls of the second leg lying within the recess of the first leg; and a locking clamp for retaining the first and second legs in mutual engagement in the bag closing position, the clamp including a first member attached to the second end of the first leg, and a second member attached to the second end of the second leg; a bag to be closed being held between the bag facing surface of the sidewalls of the first leg and the bag facing sidewalls of the second leg when the closure is in the bag closing position.