Abstract: The present invention provides a recloseable bag, the bag having a mouth and including a closure at the mouth, the closure having a first end and a second end. The recloseable bag also includes a first crushed section at the first end of the closure, the closure further including an intact portion. It also includes a first transition area between the first crushed section and the intact portion, and a sealing material in the first transition area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a one way valve having a valve body, a wall, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. The valve has a plunger which is moveable with respect to the valve body from a first position to a second position. The valve also has a diaphragm positioned in the valve body for movement between a third position and a fourth position when the plunger is in the first position. When the diaphragm is in the third position the fluid outlet is closed and when the diaphragm is in the fourth position the fluid outlet is open.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recloseable bag, the bag having a mouth and including a closure at the mouth, the closure having a first end and a second end. The recloseable bag also includes a first crushed section at the first end of the closure, the closure further including an intact portion. It also includes a first transition area between the first crushed section and the intact portion, and a sealing material in the first transition area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recloseable bag, the bag having a mouth and including a closure at the mouth, the closure having a first end and a second end. The recloseable bag also includes a first crushed section at the first end of the closure, the closure further including an intact portion. It also includes a first transition area between the first crushed section and the intact portion, and a sealing material in the first transition area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a balloon anchor including a spool having opposing sides, a pair of flanges, one flange extending from each opposing side of the spool, at least one of the flanges having a cutout section, the cutout section having a first side and a second side; and a hook extending from the second side of the cutout section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating a surface of a layered polymeric structure. The method includes the steps of: (1) providing a first sheet of material, (2) providing a second sheet of material, (3) positioning the first sheet or the second sheet to overlap at least a portion of the other sheet to define an interference zone, (4) directing a first polymeric material into the interference zone to adhere the first sheet to the second sheet to form the layered structure; and (5) texturing a surface of the first sheet or the second sheet to form a pattern on the surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recloseable bag having a mouth and including a zippered closure at the mouth. The zippered closure has a first end and a second end. The bag also includes a slider having a body with having a first edge and a second edge. The slider is movable along the zippered closure. An arm extends from one of the first edge or second edge of the slider body. The arm includes a distal end.

Abstract: The present invention provides a provides an airtight bag that includes a bag having a mouth and an outer surface. The bag further includes a zippered closure at the mouth, the zippered closure having a first end and a second end, and a first drop on the outer surface of the bag at one of the first end or the second end of the zippered closure.

Abstract: A balloon rack for buoyant balloons displays balloons at approximately eye level in a neat, untangled and orderly fashion, by providing an elongated retention slot for securely receiving a balloon weight secured to the lower end of each balloon's tether. The elongated retention slot can retain various types of balloon weights, including spool-shaped balloon weights, within the slot, and the rack can be mounted to a panel or flat surface. Alternately, the rack may be free-standing.

Abstract: An air-evacuable bag has a one-way valve therein having two layers of valve film, neither of which is the sidewall of the bag. By forming the one-way valve of smooth, double-layered valve film, unwanted air gaps caused by textured surfaces in the sidewalls of the bag are avoided, thereby minimizing air leakage back into an evacuated bag. A method for the manufacture of such air-evacuable bags incorporates a roll supplying a first valve film layer, a roll supplying a first sidewall layer, a roll supplying a second valve film layer, and a roll supplying a second sidewall layer. As the film coming off the first valve film layer roll passes the roll supplying the first sidewall layer, both the sidewall layer and first valve film layer move in close proximity to one another until the valve film is tacked to the first sidewall layer. The second film and second sidewall layer are processed simultaneously in a like manner, and all four layers are joined at a sealing station.

Abstract: A display device for displaying lighter-than-air novelty balloons includes an elongated base with a rear wall and a front wall extending therefrom to form a channel for receiving and retaining balloon weights. The display device is formed from a plastic material and at least one of front or rear walls are flexible with respect to the other. A gap between the upper edge portion of the front wall and the upper edge portion of the rear wall, which has a smaller width that the base of the channel receives and retains balloon weights in a resilient manner. The outer side of the base is adapted to being attached to a display object by an adhesive, a magnetic member, or fasteners. A display rack for displaying lighter-than-air novelty balloons includes a pole for attaching a plurality of the display devices thereto in a vertical orientation. A support base provides support for the pole and maintains the pole in an upright position.

Abstract: An improved zipper closure for plastic bags and other plastic containers is provided with fillets along uppermost and lowermost interlocking fingers of the zipper to prevent escape gaps from forming between the two sides of the zipper closure through which air or liquid would otherwise leak, especially at the bag's side seal locations. Conventional heat dies are used in combination with excess quantities of plastic material, either integrally formed, or, alternatively, co-extruded with, the zipper closure to form the fillets, thereby eliminating the need for use of a pressure differential-producing die to manufacture plastic bags without escape gaps.

Abstract: A packaged balloon and greeting card are disclosed comprising a balloon having an uninflated body, a filler neck extending from said body, and a first image displayed on said body; a greeting card having a face displaying a second image matching the first image; a tether line having a first end attached to the filler neck and a second end attached to the greeting card; and a packaging envelope receiving the uninflated balloon body, the greeting card, and at least a portion of the tether line. A third image, matching the first and second image, can be displayed on the envelope. The packaging envelope can also include an opening through which the balloon filler neck extends outside the envelope for communication to a source of inflating gas to permit in-situ inflation of the balloon body in the envelope. The envelope can also be constructed so as to be burst by inflation of the uninflated balloon body while it resides in the envelope to facilitate unpackaging of the balloon for use.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for inserting valves between the front and back panels of inflatable bodies, such as air or helium inflated novelty balloons or air-inflated dunnage bags, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of conveying an upper web and lower web through a conveyor assembly in a contiguous relation and conveying the webs to a spreader bar which projects between the peripheral edges of the webs to form an open zone between the peripheral edges of the webs. A valve insertion mechanism separates the webs at the open zone and inserts the valve between the top and bottom webs at the open zone. As the valve insertion mechanism is withdrawn from between the webs, the webs are brought back into a contiguous relation which frictionally retains the valve between the webs. The webs are then further conveyed, with the valve now frictionally retained in position therebetween, to a downstream die station without any attachment of the valve to either of the webs prior to reaching the die station.