Patents by Inventor Gregory S. Sprehe

Gregory S. Sprehe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11407562
    Abstract: A reclosable child-resistant plastic zipper assembly of manufacturer definable length is disclosed. The assembly has a first zipper strip and a second zipper strip, the zipper strips having complementary reclosure profiles. The zipper assembly lacks upper flanges, but instead terminates at a pair of closure tabs that meet at an opening point when the strips have been mated to provide the closure. The zipper strips each further include a texturized gripping region on the exterior surfaces to enable a user to open the zipper assembly. The assembly may be affixed to the upper end of a bag or other flexible container to provide child-resistant access to the contents therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: COM-PAC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Gregory S. Sprehe
  • Patent number: 10759569
    Abstract: A reclosable plastic zipper assembly, method of mounting and method of manufacturing of such, wherein the assembly has a ribbon with a first zipper strip profile and a second zipper strip profile, the first zipper strip profile includes at least one rib, and where the second zipper strip profile includes at least one recess, with the at least one rib and the at least one recess having complementary mating shapes for mating along the length of the plastic zipper assembly, the reclosable plastic zipper assembly also having a bead and a pair of perforations and the zipper strip profiles being capable of mating by folding the ribbon along the length of the plastic zipper assembly around the bead, and having a first perforation on the ribbon between the bead and the first zipper profile and a second perforation on the ribbon between the bead and second zipper profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: COM-PAC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Sprehe, Donald K. Wright, Christopher L. Pemberton
  • Publication number: 20190382164
    Abstract: A reclosable plastic zipper assembly, method of mounting and method of manufacturing of such, wherein the assembly has a ribbon with a first zipper strip profile and a second zipper strip profile, the first zipper strip profile includes at least one rib, and where the second zipper strip profile includes at least one recess, with the at least one rib and the at least one recess having complementary mating shapes for mating along the length of the plastic zipper assembly, the reclosable plastic zipper assembly also having a bead and a pair of perforations and the zipper strip profiles being capable of mating by folding the ribbon along the length of the plastic zipper assembly around the bead, and having a first perforation on the ribbon between the bead and the first zipper profile and a second perforation on the ribbon between the bead and second zipper profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Gregory S. Sprehe, Donald K. Wright, Christopher L. Pemberton
  • Patent number: 10384835
    Abstract: A reclosable plastic zipper assembly of indefinite length is disclosed, the assembly including a ribbon having a first zipper strip profile and a second zipper strip profile, where the first zipper strip profile includes at least one rib, and where the second zipper strip profile includes at least one recess. The at least one rib and at least one recess are complementary in shape such that the zipper strip profiles may be mated by inserting the at least one rib into the at least one recess along the length of the plastic zipper assembly. The reclosable plastic zipper assembly further includes a bead and a pair of perforations, where the zipper strip profiles may be mated by folding the ribbon along the length of the plastic zipper assembly around the bead, where a first perforation is on the ribbon between the bead and the first zipper profile, and the second perforation is on the ribbon between the bead and second zipper profile, wherein the zipper assembly has been extruded through a single die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Com-Pac International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S Sprehe, Donald K Wright, Christopher L Pemberton
  • Publication number: 20190039784
    Abstract: A reclosable child-resistant plastic zipper assembly of manufacturer definable length is disclosed. The assembly has a first zipper strip and a second zipper strip, the zipper strips having complementary reclosure profiles. The zipper assembly lacks upper flanges, but instead terminates at a pair of closure tabs that meet at an opening point when the strips have been mated to provide the closure. The zipper strips each further include a texturized gripping region on the exterior surfaces to enable a user to open the zipper assembly. The assembly may be affixed to the upper end of a bag or other flexible container to provide child-resistant access to the contents therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventor: Gregory S. Sprehe
  • Patent number: 10099818
    Abstract: A reclosable child-resistant plastic zipper assembly of indefinite length is disclosed. The assembly has a first zipper strip and a second zipper strip, the zipper strips having complementary reclosure profiles. The zipper assembly lacks upper flanges, but instead terminates at a pair of closure tabs that meet at an opening point when the strips have been mated to provide the closure. The zipper strips each further include a texturized gripping region on the exterior surfaces to enable a user to open the zipper assembly. The assembly may be affixed to the upper end of a bag or other flexible container to provide child-resistant access to the contents therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Com-Pac International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory S Sprehe
  • Publication number: 20170121061
    Abstract: A reclosable plastic zipper assembly of indefinite length is disclosed, the assembly including a ribbon having a first zipper strip profile and a second zipper strip profile, where the first zipper strip profile includes at least one rib, and where the second zipper strip profile includes at least one recess. The at least one rib and at least one recess are complementary in shape such that the zipper strip profiles may be mated by inserting the at least one rib into the at least one recess along the length of the plastic zipper assembly. The reclosable plastic zipper assembly further includes a bead and a pair of perforations, where the zipper strip profiles may be mated by folding the ribbon along the length of the plastic zipper assembly around the bead, where a first perforation is on the ribbon between the bead and the first zipper profile, and the second perforation is on the ribbon between the bead and second zipper profile, wherein the zipper assembly has been extruded through a single die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: COM-PAC INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Gregory S Sprehe, Donald K Wright, Christopher L Pemberton
  • Publication number: 20160122086
    Abstract: A reclosable child-resistant plastic zipper assembly of indefinite length is disclosed. The assembly has a first zipper strip and a second zipper strip, the zipper strips having complementary reclosure profiles. The zipper assembly lacks upper flanges, but instead terminates at a pair of closure tabs that meet at an opening point when the strips have been mated to provide the closure. The zipper strips each further include a texturized gripping region on the exterior surfaces to enable a user to open the zipper assembly. The assembly may be affixed to the upper end of a bag or other flexible container to provide child-resistant access to the contents therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: COM-PAC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Gregory S. Sprehe
  • Patent number: 8353147
    Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal machine in conjunction with a product supply apparatus provides a continuous, heat sealable plastic film and zipper tape and provides separate, product filled, reclosable, top opening sealed bags. The apparatus includes a means for supplying the continuous plastic film, a means for supplying zipper tape, a means for sealing the zipper tape sections to the film, a vertical fill tube assembly, a feeding means including a film drive roll upstream, film pull belts adjacent the vertical fill tube, a vertical sealing means for sealing the edges of the continuous film to the edges of the continuous zippered cap strip, a horizontal sealing, perforating, and severing means for severing the plastic tube between the first and second horizontal seals, and a tensioning means for horizontally elongating the flexible plastic tube transverse to its length prior to formation of the horizontal seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Inventors: Gregory S. Sprehe, Donald Wright, Christopher Pemberton, Lester Siebert, Robert Beiser
  • Publication number: 20110235951
    Abstract: A reclosable back-seam bag having a top seal and a bottom seal, and a front wall and a back wall is disclosed. The front wall is joined to the back wall at the top seal and the bottom seal. The reclosable back-seam bag includes a reclosable fastener that includes two ends, a first continuous elongated profile strip having a front wall connecting flange and a second continuous elongated profile strip having a back wall connecting flange. The first continuous elongated profile strip includes a male interlocking profile having at least one male interlocking member, and the second continuous elongated profile strip includes a female interlocking profile having at least one female interlocking member. The male interlocking member is configured so as to cause the male interlocking profile to be separated from the female interlocking profile with a substantially equal opening force when being separated in a direction toward said top seal as when separated in a direction toward said bottom seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: COM-PAC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Sprehe, Donald Wright, Christopher Pemberton
  • Patent number: 7914208
    Abstract: A reclosable fastener strip for securing to a film web comprises first and second elongated profile strips having interlocking hooks, recesses and protuberances. Each hook, as extruded, has a half arrowhead-shaped tip, a concave or partial-concave tail, and a generally upstanding neck connecting the tip and tail. Each recess has a base with a pair of generally upstanding neck elements disposed on opposite ends of the base. The base does not extend laterally beyond the neck elements. Each protuberance, as extruded, has a rounded tip, a concave or partial-concave tail, and a generally upstanding neck portion connecting the tip and tail. The profile strips are readily secured to the web without entrapping air between the profile strips and the film web and form an vacuum tight seal. The interlocking hooks, recesses and protuberances are sized, constructed and arranged to provide a vacuum tight seal upon interconnection thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Com-Pac International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory S. Sprehe
  • Publication number: 20100061666
    Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal machine in conjunction with a product supply apparatus provides a continuous, heat sealable plastic film and zipper tape and provides separate, product filled, reclosable, top opening sealed bags. The apparatus includes a means for supplying the continuous plastic film, a means for supplying zipper tape, a means for sealing the zipper tape sections to the film, a vertical fill tube assembly, a feeding means including a film drive roll upstream, film pull belts adjacent the vertical fill tube, a vertical sealing means for sealing the edges of the continuous film to the edges of the continuous zippered cap strip, a horizontal sealing, perforating, and severing means for severing the plastic tube between the first and second horizontal seals, and a tensioning means for horizontally elongating the flexible plastic tube transverse to its length prior to formation of the horizontal seals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Gregory S. Sprehe, William A. Bodolay, Robert Beiser, Donald Wright, Christopher Pemberton, Lester Siebert
  • Publication number: 20090120895
    Abstract: The present invention includes a baby bottle liner constructed and arranged to fit into a cavity of a baby bottle. The baby bottle liner includes a continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener. The continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener has a first continuous elongated profile strip and a second continuous elongated profile strip. The first continuous elongated profile strip and the second continuous elongated profile strip are dimensioned to provide an airtight and/or watertight seal upon interconnection thereof. The baby bottle liner further comprises an airtight and watertight side seal at each end of the reclosable fastener. Each side seal connects an end of the reclosable fastener to an inside surface of a front wall and an inside surface of a back wall of the liner. The invention also provides a baby bottle with a baby bottle liner and a kit for infant nursing that has a plurality of baby bottle liners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: COM-PAC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Gregory S. Sprehe
  • Patent number: 6954969
    Abstract: A reclosable fastener strip for securing to a film web comprises first and second flangeless, elongated profile strip having a plurality of interlocking hooks, recesses and protuberances. Each hook, as extruded, has a half arrowhead-shaped tip, a concave or partial-concave tail, and a generally upstanding neck connecting the tip and tail. Each recess has a base with a pair of generally upstanding neck elements disposed on opposite ends of the base. The base does not extend laterally beyond the neck elements. Each protuberance, as extruded, has a rounded tip, a concave or partial-concave tail, and a generally upstanding neck portion connecting the tip and tail. The profile strips are readily secured to the web without entrapping air between the profile strips and the film web and form an airtight and watertight seal. The interlocking hooks, recesses and protuberances are dimensioned to provide and airtight and watertight seal upon interconnection thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Com-Pac International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory S. Sprehe
  • Publication number: 20030118701
    Abstract: The present invention includes a baby bottle liner constructed and arranged to fit into a cavity of a baby bottle. The baby bottle liner includes a continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener. The continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener has a first continuous elongated profile strip and a second continuous elongated profile strip. The first continuous elongated profile strip and the second continuous elongated profile strip are dimensioned to provide an airtight and/or watertight seal upon interconnection thereof. The baby bottle liner further comprises an airtight and watertight side seal at each end of the reclosable fastener. Each side seal connects an end of the reclosable fastener to an inside surface of a front wall and an inside surface of a back wall of the liner. The invention also provides a baby bottle with a baby bottle liner and a kit for infant nursing that has a plurality of baby bottle liners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Gregory S. Sprehe
  • Patent number: 6576278
    Abstract: The present invention includes a baby bottle liner constructed and arranged to fit into a cavity of a baby bottle. The baby bottle liner includes a continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener. The continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener has a first continuous elongated profile strip and a second continuous elongated profile strip. The first continuous elongated profile strip and the second continuous elongated profile strip are dimensioned to provide an airtight and/or watertight seal upon interconnection thereof. The baby bottle liner further comprises an airtight and watertight side seal at each end of the reclosable fastener. Each side seal connects an end of the reclosable fastener to an inside surface of a front wall and an inside surface of a back wall of the liner. The invention also provides a baby bottle with a baby bottle liner and a kit for infant nursing that has a plurality of baby bottle liners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Com-Pac International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory S. Sprehe
  • Patent number: 6361212
    Abstract: The present invention includes a reclosable back-seam bag and method for making the bag. The reclosable back-seam bag includes a bag body having a top seal and a bottom seal, and a front wall and a back wall. The front wall is joined to the back wall at the top seal and the bottom seal. A reclosable fastener assembly including two ends, a first continuous elongated profile strip and a second continuous elongated profile strip is included in the bag. The first continuous elongated profile and the second continuous elongated profile provide an airtight and watertight seal upon interconnection thereof. An airtight and/or watertight side seal at each end of the reclosable fastener assembly is also provided. A continuous airtight and watertight lower seal along the length of the reclosable fastener assembly is positioned below the profiles. The lower seal connects the reclosable fastener assembly to the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Com-Pac International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Sprehe, Donald K. Wright, Christopher L. Pemberton
  • Patent number: 6059457
    Abstract: An evacuable storage container for holding compressible articles including a flexible, air-impermeable bag defining an interior and having first and second openings, a one-way valve mechanism sealingly positioned over the first opening, and configured to allow fluid to pass through the valve mechanism out of the bag and to substantially prevent fluid from entering the bag, and a zipper seal adjacent the second opening that is configured to substantially close the second opening. The zipper seal is integral with the bag and includes a first strip including at least one rib that extends from the surface of the first strip, and a second strip opposite the first strip, the second strip including at least two ribs that extend from the surface of the second strip and that are offset from the rib of the first strip such that the first and second strips may be sealingly engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Com-Pac International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Sprehe, Lester D. Siebert, Donald K. Wright
  • Patent number: 5662576
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing an improved bag for the cultivation of mushroom spawn is provided. The bags have continuous gas permeable sealing strips sealed to the inside walls of the bags which cover openings in the bag, so as to allow the bag to be vented without loss of moisture. The openings and sealing strips are positioned close to the top and bottom of the bag so as to maximize air flow through the mushroom spawn without creating dry spots, thereby improving spawn yield. The apparatus includes rollers for dispensing plastic film and at least one continuous hydrophobic strip of material. A series of apertures are punched by cutting dies in the film, and a vacuum system removes the cut out portions. The strip of material is positioned over the apertures and sealed by sealing dies over them, so as to enclose the apertures. A cutting dies cuts off the film and strips. A conventional bag making machine then forms the bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Compac International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Sprehe, Lester Siebert, William Towne
  • Patent number: 5659997
    Abstract: An improved bag for the cultivation of mushroom spawn is provided the bag has continuous gas permeable sealing strips sealed to the inside walls of the bags which covering openings in the bag, so as to allow the bag to be vented without loss of moisture. The openings and sealing strips are positioned close to the top and bottom of the bag so as to maximize air flow through the mushroom spawn without creating dry spots, thereby improving spawn yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Compac International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Sprehe, Lester Siebert, William Towne