Abstract: Provided is a plastic bag including a live elastic strip that, in the elastic strip's normal condition, contracts thereby constricting an opening of the bag to assist in retaining the bag to an object. The elastic strip includes a first region that is continuously attached to a sidewall of the bag between a first side edge and a second side edge of the bag and a second region that remains unattached to the sidewall. The attached region does not contract but instead forces the portion of the sidewall to which it is attached to pucker into a serpentine path. The unattached region does contract causing the portion of the sidewall to which it is adjacent to bunch together. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a plastic bag that involves stretching a live elastic tape and continuously attaching a region of the stretched tape to a web of plastic material.

Abstract: Provided is a plastic bag including a live elastic strip that, in the elastic strip's normal condition, contracts thereby constricting an opening of the bag to assist in retaining the bag to an object. The elastic strip includes a first region that is continuously attached to a sidewall of the bag between a first side edge and a second side edge of the bag and a second region that remains unattached to the sidewall. The attached region does not contract but instead forces the portion of the sidewall to which it is attached to pucker into a serpentine path. The unattached region does contract causing the portion of the sidewall to which it is adjacent to bunch together. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a plastic bag that involves stretching a live elastic tape and continuously attaching a region of the stretched tape to a web of plastic material.

Abstract: A retaining element for use with elastic sheet material is disclosed. In one form, the sheet material can be provided as a bag having first and second side walls. The retaining element can be in the form of an elastic strip attached to one of the side walls. The retaining strip can comprise a heat-unstable activatable material such that it can be applied to the bag in a deadened condition wherein the strip is set and subsequently heated to transition to an activated condition wherein the retaining element is elasticized to provide an elasticized article which can have a shirred appearance. The retaining element can have various configurations and can be activated by various methods.