Abstract: A composite web of packaging material for making gusseted packages having openable and reclosable interlocking seals, the seals having male and female portions, snap detents, and formed transversely to the direction of material flow. The packaging material is provided at package length intervals with thermoformable strips secured thereto transversely to the running length of the packaging material, and is fed to a modified standard vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine with gussets forming tooling where the packaging material is formed into a bag with the thermoformable strips inside at the upper end of the bag, product deposited into the bag, the bag sealed, the reclosable interlocking seal formed, and the bag severed from the next bag being formed. The reclosable seal provides auditory and tactile indications of seal closing. Some packages are formed with the thermoformable strips in the gusset, and some are formed with the gusset free of strip material.

Abstract: A novel continuous web of composite packaging film for making packages having improved openable and reclosable interlocking seals, the seal having male and female portions of arrowhead shape in cross section, snap detents, and being formed transversely to the direction of film flow during package formation at line speed. The packaging film is provided at package length intervals with thermoformable strips secured thereto transversely to the running length of the film, and is fed to a modified standard vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine where the film is formed into a bag with the thermoformable strip inside in ends abutting folded facing relationship at the upper end of the bag, product deposited into the bag, the bag sealed, the reclosable interlocking seal formed, and the bag severed from the next bag being formed.

Abstract: Methods of making packages having improved resealable interlocking closures from a web of film, the closure having male and female portions formed in line with or transversely to the film flow during package formation. The film is fanfolded to form a stack, the layers of which are heat sealed together. The strip is abraded on one surface to remove the thermoplastic coating, the film then being formed into packages having overlap longitudinal package seals, and in which portions of the strip are apposed. The package ends are sealed and the locking closure is formed in the strip, the female portion formed in the package face that includes the longitudinal package seal. In another embodiment the inner and outer parts of the resealable closure are separately formed. Layering other than by fanfolding to form a stack may be utilized, by heat sealing a strip of heat sealable material to the packaging film, Also optionally formed in the resealable closure are hinges and reinforcing V-notches.

Abstract: Apparatus for making packages having interlocking closures from a web of film, the closure having male and female portions and being formed in line with or transversely to the direction of film flow. A converter fanfolds the film into spaced apart stacks of heat sealed together layers. Abrading means abrade one surface of each strip to remove the thermoplastic coating. A package former forms packages having longitudinal seals, and places strip portions in apposed position. The package ends are sealed and the locking closure is formed in the strip. The locking closure female portion is formed in the face including the longitudinal seal. In another embodiment the strip inner and outer parts of the resealable closure are separately formed before package formation. Alternatively, layering is done by heat sealing a strip of heat sealable material to the packaging film. Optionally formed in the resealable closure are hinges and reinforcing V-notches.

Abstract: Apparatus for making packages having improved openable and reclosable interlocking seals from a continuous web of composite packaging film, the seal having male and female portions of arrowhead shape in cross section, snap detents, and being formed transversely to the direction of film flow during package formation at line speed. The packaging film is provided at package length intervals with thermoformable strips secured thereto transversely to the running length of the film, and is fed to a modified standard vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine where the film is formed into a bag with the thermoformable strip inside in ends abutting folded facing relationship at the upper end of the bag, product deposited into the bag, the bag sealed, the reclosable interlocking seal formed, and the bag severed from the next bag being formed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making gusseted packages having openable and reclosable interlocking seals, the seals having male and female portions, snap detents, and formed transversely to the direction of film flow. The packaging film is provided at package length intervals with thermoformable strips secured thereto transversely to the running length of the film, and is fed to a modified standard vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine with gussets forming tooling where the film is formed into a bag with the thermoformable strips inside at the upper end of the bag, product deposited into the bag, the bag sealed, the reclosable interlocking seal formed, and the bag severed from the next bag being formed. The reclosable seal provides auditory and tactile indications of seal closing. Some packages are formed with the thermoformable strips in the gusset, and some are formed with the gusset free of strip material.

Abstract: Methods for making packages having improved openable and reclosable interlocking seals from a continuous web of composite packaging film, the seal having male and female portions of arrowhead shape in cross section, snap detents, and being formed transversely to the direction of film flow during package formation at line speed. The packaging film is provided at package length intervals with thermoformable strips secured thereto transversely to the running length of the film, and is fed to a modified standard vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine where the film is formed into a bag with the thermoformable strip inside in ends abutting folded facing relationship at the upper end of the bag, product deposited into the bag, the bag sealed, the reclosable interlocking seal formed, and the bag severed from the next bag being formed.

Abstract: Packages having improved openable and reclosable interlocking seals and a method and apparatus for making the same from a novel continuous web of composite packaging film, the seal having male and female portions of arrowhead shape in cross section, snap detents, and being formed transversely to the direction of film flow during package formation at line speed. The packaging film is provided at package length intervals with thermoformable strips secured thereto transversely to the running length of the film, and is fed to a modified standard vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine where the film is formed into a bag with the thermoformable strip inside in ends abutting folded facing relationship at the upper end of the bag, product deposited into the bag, the bag sealed, the reclosable interlocking seal formed, and the bag severed from the next bag being formed.

Abstract: Packages having web formed resealable interlocking closures of packaging film fanfolded to form a stack and heat sealed together forming a multilayered strip in plane with the film. The strip is abraded on one surface, the film passing into the package former where packages are formed having longitudinal package seals, and which places portions of the strip in apposed position. The package ends are sealed and the resealable locking closure is formed in the strip. The female portion of the locking closure is formed in the package face that includes the overlapped longitudinal package seal. Alternatively, the strip is not abraded and the inner and outer parts of the resealable closure are separately formed before package formation takes place. To form the strip, heat sealing a strip of heat sealable material to the packaging film may also be utilized. Optionally formed in the resealable closure are hinges and reinforcing V-notches.

Abstract: The package and system according to the invention utilize a novel converter device mounted adjacent to standard packaging apparatus for forming a composite packaging film and feeding it to the packaging apparatus to form a finished package with an adhesively resealable closure structure oriented in the consumer desired direction extending transversely to the long dimension of the package. Alternatively, the composite packaging film made according to the invention may be wound on a spool and stored for future use if there is a substantial difference between the rate of production of the composite packaging film and the production rate of the packaging machinery. The converter and the composite film made by it function with both horizontal and vertical form/fill/seal wrapping machines and with overwrap packagers.

Abstract: Flexible packages having an openable and resealable interlocking closure made from a continuous web of flexible film, the closure being formed transversely to the direction of film flow at the consumer preferred position across one end of the package during package formation at line speed. The system utilizes a converter device mounted atop or adjacent to standard packaging apparatus to form a small amount of the running packaging film into the resealable closure structure as an integral part of the film extending transversely to the long dimension of the package. The converter functions with both horizontal and vertical form/fill/seal wrapping machines and with overwrap packagers, and uses diverse packaging films such as polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, high and medium density polyethylene and various film laminations.

Abstract: Apparatus for making flexible packages having an openable and resealable interlocking closure from a continuous web of flexible film, the closure being formed transversely to the direction of film flow at the consumer preferred position across one end of the package during package formation at line speed. The system utilizes a converter device mounted atop or adjacent to standard packaging apparatus to form a small amount of the running packaging film into the resealable closure structure as an integral part of the film extending transversely to the long dimension of the package. The converter functions with both horizontal and vertical form/fill/seal wrapping machines and with overwrap packagers, and uses diverse packaging films such as polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, high and medium density polyethylene and various film laminations.

Abstract: The invention provides tape graphics printed on a longitudinally extending strip of packaging film simultaneously with the printing of the rest of the packaging film, the tape graphics strip being subsequently slit away from the rest of the film and applied to the package as part of the sealing tape, thereby eliminating the problem of proper registration of tape graphics when the tape is applied to the package because the tape and the package film are synchronized as each package is fabricated without the accumulation of long term drift between the package film and the tape being applied to it. Since the tape graphics are printed at the same time as the package film, there is no need to have a separate preproduced inventory of customized graphics tape, and the colors of the graphics tape and the rest of the package are perfectly matched.

Abstract: A mobile or transportable refrigerated container temperature monitoring system which includes digital monitoring and printout devices which provide accuracy and reliability, and means for periodically checking the monitoring means for operability and logging the results. An analog to digital converter is utilzed to convert analog temperature data obtained from thermistor sensors to digital form to provide digital data readout and to drive a digitally responsive printer. Sensing and control devices are provided to prevent printer jamming and compensate for widely varying temperature conditions. Automatically activated testing devices are provided which test and record the functionality of the thermistor temperature sensors by periodically applying a predetermined heat input to the thermistor temperature sensors and recording the responses including responses indicating errors, insuring reliability of the outputted recorded temperature data and pinpointing any improperly functioning sensors.

Abstract: A bi-directionally openable hatch cover hinge and lock device for hatch covers which close the hatches on top of railroad cars and which are openable from either side of the car, utilizing a minimum number of component parts and including a passive captive device for the hatch cover to prevent loss of the cover if the latches on one side are left open and the hatch is opened from the other side, and also including an integrated one piece yoke top and handle with a pivoted cam lock attached to the handle, the pivoted cam lock being weight biased toward its locked position and being prevented from rotating beyond its weight biased locking condition by a stop pin.

Abstract: An improved swab for wind instruments for removing accumulated deposits of condensation within the instrument which if not removed can change the instrument tone, and in severe cases destroy sound production, producing a hiss or gurgling sound instead of a tone. The swab is made of highly absorbent silk, is not subject to jamming within the instrument, forcing moisture into the tone holes of the instrument, or leaving lint within the instrument, and includes a jam releasing pull-out tail.

Abstract: A manually operated railroad car handbrake release system in which the release of the handbrake at one end of a car automatically causes release of the brakes at the opposite end of the same car. The system utilizes the standard type handbrake, but has affixed to each of the handbrake units a hydraulic cylinder, with interconnecting hydraulic lines between hydraulic cylinders located at opposite ends of the railcar. Brake releasing actuation at one handbrake unit pressurizes the hydraulic system so that the cylinder affixed to the brake unit at the opposite end of the car is also actuated to operate the release handle and release the brake at that end. When the release handles are actuated and released, return springs disposed about the cylinders piston rods automatically return the release handles and pistons at both ends to their non-actuated positions. The brake release system is operative from either end of the railroad car, and does not include any provision for resetting the brakes.

Abstract: An elastomeric vertical isolator pad for placement between the roller bearing adaptors of railroad cars and the car truck sideframes, the pad being formed of an elastomer having a melting point not lower than 500.degree. Fahrenheit and having a Shore hardness durometer in the range of 50 to 70, the pad being configured to have a base and lower sidewall portions which fit snugly within a pocket on the top of the bearing adaptor, and having upper sidewalls portions extending upward beyond the upper surface of the bearing adaptor to a pad upper surface configured for surface engagement with an overlying part of the truck sideframe, the upper sidewall portions being angled inwardly to the pad upper surface.

Abstract: A quickly installable and removable integral lightweight floor structure trailer adaptor for railroad well cars for converting the well car from one for use with containers to one for carrying trailers, including a plurality of substantially equal height parallel disposed lightweight beams having substantially coplaner upper surfaces fixedly interconnected to form a rigid platform for the wheels of a trailer, the height of the beams being such as to raise the underside of a trailer to an elevation above the well car sidewalls a sufficient distance to provide withdrawal clearance for the loading arms of a trailer loading crane when the trailer with the adaptor carried thereby is loaded into the well car, and quick detachable coupling means securing the adaptor to the wheels of a trailer bogie with the tires seated on the adaptor to effectively restrain movement of the adaptor relative to the trailer wheels.

Abstract: A latch retraction device for narrow stile doors which may be hinged either on the left side or on the right side, and which utilizes a push or pull actuator for retracting the latch instead of utilizing a rotary knob for that purpose. The device utilizes inter-engaged toothed elements to provide linear to rotary motion in a novel configuration of parts which permits one set of parts to be utilized to provide either a push or a pull actuation for latch retraction with either a right hand or left hand door and thereby eliminating the necessity to manufacture and inventory a large number of parts to accommodate all four types of desired uses.