Abstract: The present invention is directed to a drawstring bag comprising a first panel and a second panel. The first panel and the second panel are joined along a first side, a bottom, and a second side. The first panel and the second panel thereby define an upper opening of the bag. The drawstring bag may further comprise a first pair of drawstrings disposed within a first hem along the upper opening of the bag in the first panel and a second pair of drawstrings disposed within a second hem along the upper opening of the bag in the second panel. The first pair of drawstrings may comprise a shorter elastic drawstring and a longer inelastic drawstring.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of incrementally stretching polymeric film formed from a blown film extrusion process. The present invention is further directed to a polymeric bag formed from an incrementally stretched polymeric film. The incremental stretching is performed on a collapsed polymeric bubble via a pair of intermeshing rollers. The incrementally stretched polymeric film may be stretched only along a portion of its width. The polymeric bag may be a drawstring trash bag with an extended hem where only the extended hem of the polymeric bag comprises incrementally stretched polymeric film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic film having improved tear and puncture resistance. The thermoplastic film has a plurality of embossed regions that are comprised of a plurality of parallel, linear embosses. The plurality of embossed regions is arranged so that a straight line cannot traverse the thermoplastic film without intersecting at least one of the plurality of embossed regions. Certain embodiments further disclose an unembossed arrangement having at least three distinct segments that extend in three distinct directions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic bag having enhanced capacity without significantly compromising dart impact properties. The thermoplastic bag has an area of induced elasticity that provides enhanced capacity, the area of induced elasticity generally surrounded by an area lacking induced elasticity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements for the manufacturing of a wave-cut bag, more specifically a wave-cut bag with improved tie-flaps. Disclosed is a process for intermittently incrementally stretching and imparting a rib-like pattern to a collapsed tube of a blown film extrusion process. The incrementally stretched collapsed tube is particularly well suited for constructing wave-cut trash bags with a rib pattern on the tie-flaps of the trash bags. Further disclosed is a wave-cut trash bag with a rib pattern on its tie-flaps and surrounding area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic film having improved tear and puncture resistance. The thermoplastic has a plurality of embossed regions that are comprised of a plurality of parallel, linear embosses. The plurality of embossed regions is arranged so that a straight line cannot traverse the thermoplastic film without intersecting at least one of the plurality of embossed regions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for differential cooling of a plastic film tube. The apparatus and method includes the use of a blown film extrusion die that extrudes a plastic film tube upward. An air cooling system applies cooling air across one or more surfaces of the plastic film tube. One or more throttling valves are coupled to a pressurization pump that provides a pressurized working fluid, preferably water. The throttling valves are positioned to project the pressurized working fluid from outlets of the throttling valves towards circular arcs of the plastic film tube, the circular arcs of the plastic film tube being less than the circumference of the plastic film tube to provide a blown film tubular plastic film with controlled gauge variation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic film having improved tear and puncture resistance. The thermoplastic has a plurality of embossed regions that are comprised of a plurality of parallel, linear embosses. The plurality of embossed regions is arranged so that a straight line cannot traverse the thermoplastic film without intersecting at least one of the plurality of embossed regions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic film having improved tear and puncture resistance. The thermoplastic has a plurality of embossed regions that are comprised of a plurality of parallel, linear embosses. The plurality of embossed regions is arranged so that a straight line cannot traverse the thermoplastic film without intersecting at least one of the plurality of embossed regions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a drawstring bag comprised from a first panel and a second panel. The first panel and the second panel are joined along a first side, a bottom, and a second side. The first panel and the second panel thereby define an upper opening of the bag. The drawstring bag may further comprise a first hem located along the upper opening of the bag in the first panel and a first drawstring may be disposed within the first hem. The first drawstring may be manufactured from a drawtape film subjected to a cold-stretch process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for differential cooling of a plastic film tube. The apparatus and method includes the use of a blown film extrusion die that extrudes a plastic film tube upward. An air cooling system applies cooling air across one or more surfaces of the plastic film tube. One or more throttling valves are coupled to a pressurization pump that provides a pressurized working fluid, preferably water. The throttling valves are positioned to project the pressurized working fluid from outlets of the throttling valves towards circular arcs of the plastic film tube, the circular arcs of the plastic film tube being less than the circumference of the plastic film tube to provide a blown film tubular plastic film with controlled gauge variation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic bag having enhanced capacity without significantly compromising dart impact properties. The thermoplastic bag has an area of induced elasticity that provides enhanced capacity, the area of induced elasticity generally surrounded by an area lacking induced elasticity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for differential cooling of a plastic film tube. The apparatus and method includes the use of a blown film extrusion die that extrudes a plastic film tube upward. An air cooling system applies cooling air across one or more surfaces of the plastic film tube. One or more throttling valves are coupled to a pressurization pump that provides a pressurized working fluid, preferably water. The throttling valves are positioned to project the pressurized working fluid from outlets of the throttling valves towards circular arcs of the plastic film tube, the circular arcs of the plastic film tube being less than the circumference of the plastic film tube to provide a blown film tubular plastic film with controlled gauge variation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an improved construction of an elastic drawstring trash bag. The elastic drawstring trash bag described herein is comprised of a plastic bag made from two panels. An elastic drawstring is provided within hems running along the top of the two panels. The upper opening of the elastic drawstring bag is reduced (when the bag is in a relaxed state) by decreasing the distance between the interior edges of the short seals used to weld the drawstrings and bag together. Like an ordinary non-elastic drawstring bag, the elastic drawstring is pulled through access cutouts centrally located along the upper edge of the bag. When the bag of the present invention is in a relaxed state, the reduced upper opening width of the elastic drawstring bag is therefore less than bag proper width, allowing a consumer to pull the elastic drawstring bag over the lip of a trash receptacle and allowing the elastic drawstrings to snugly fit around the trash can.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thermoplastic drawstring trash bag wherein the thermoplastic drawstring trash bag has an enhanced thickness region in one or more panels of the drawstring trash bag. The enhanced thickness region has an average thickness that is greater than the thickness of the remaining portions of the panels forming the drawstring trash bag. The enhanced thickness region is generally in the area of the hems and traverses the hem seals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an improved elastic drawstring for use with a trash bag. The elastic drawstring is comprised primarily of a two-component polyethylene blend. The first polyethylene component is a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) having a density of 0.915 g/cc or less, with a preferred range of between 0.900 g/cc and 0.915 g/cc. In certain preferred embodiments, the density of the first polyethylene component is approximately 0.906 g/cc. The second polyethylene component is a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) having a density of between 0.915 g/cc and 0.929 g/cc. In a preferred embodiment, the second polyethylene component has a density of approximately 0.918 g/cc.