Patents by Inventor James E. Buchman

James E. Buchman 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).

  • Publication number: 20030063820
    Abstract: Stand-up, gusseted packages having a reclosable closure mechanism around the periphery of the package mouth. The package has opposite first and second panels, and first and second side panels, which together form a surrounding wall that defines the mouth. The closure mechanism is present on each of the panels. On the first and second panels, the closure mechanism is oriented inward, so that the panels can be interlocked. On each of the first and second side panels, the closure mechanism is oriented outward, and is present as a first portion and a second portion defined by the gusset. To close the package, the closure mechanisms on the first panel and second panel are interlocked, and the side panels are folded inward to allow the first portion and the second portion to interlock. Methods of making the package are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Publication number: 20030054931
    Abstract: A method of making packages having a reclosable zipper closure by a vertical form fill and seal process. The method includes providing a pocket in a film web into which a zipper closure is positioned and attached. The film web is folded and sealed to form side panels and seams, which result in a package. The pocket provides an internal tamper evident-structure for the package. An external tamper evident-structure can be provided between the distal ends of the mating profiles of the zipper closure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: James E. Buchman, Paul A. Tilman
  • Patent number: 6533456
    Abstract: Stand-up, gusseted packages having a reclosable closure mechanism around the periphery of the package mouth. The package has opposite first and second panels, and first and second side panels, which together form a surrounding wall that defines the mouth. The closure mechanism is present on each of the panels. On the first and second panels, the closure mechanism is oriented inward, so that the panels can be interlocked. On each of the first and second side panels, the closure mechanism is oriented outward, and is present as a first portion and a second portion defined by the gusset. To close the package, the closure mechanisms on the first panel and second panel are interlocked, and the side panels are folded inward to allow the first portion and the second portion to interlock. Methods of making the package are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Publication number: 20030049408
    Abstract: A slider device and methods of making. The slider device is for use with a resealable package having a zipper closure, and includes a top wall with first and second ends, a spreader depending from the top wall, a first sidewall with a first hook construction extending therefrom, and a second side wall with a second hook construction extending therefrom. An extended length of profiled material is extruded and can be converted to form individual slider devices. The spreader can be tapered, either in its width or the distance in which is depends from the top wall. These slider devices can be incorporated into resealable packages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Patent number: 6530870
    Abstract: A method of making packages having a reclosable zipper closure by a vertical form, fill and seal process. The method includes providing a pocket in a film web into which a zipper closure is positioned and attached. The film web is folded and sealed to form side panels and seams, which result in a package. The pocket provides an internal tamper evident-structure for the package. An external tamper evident-structure can be provided between the distal ends of the mating profiles of the zipper closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Buchman, Paul A. Tilman
  • Patent number: 6531081
    Abstract: A slider device and methods of making. The slider device is for use with a resealable package having a zipper closure, and includes a top wall with first and second ends, a spreader depending from the top wall, a first sidewall with a first hook construction extending therefrom, and a second side wall with a second hook construction extending therefrom. An extended length of profiled material is extruded and can be converted to form individual slider devices. The spreader can be tapered, either in its width or the distance in which is depends from the top wall. These slider devices can be incorporated into resealable packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Patent number: 6527444
    Abstract: A reclosable bag is provided that includes a reclosable mouth with a zipper and a slider device. The reclosable bag also includes a shield that covers the zipper such that when product is dispensed into the bag interior, the shield protects the zipper and prevents contact between the product and the zipper. In preferred arrangements, the shield includes an area of weakness to permit easy removal of the shield from the bag. Preferably, the shield is shaped to function as a funnel to help direct product into the bag interior, when filling. Preferred methods of using and constructing bags will utilize constructions as described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Patent number: 6517242
    Abstract: A method of making packages having a reclosable zipper closure encased in a tamper-evident structure, and the packages made thereby. The method includes providing a package having an interior defined by a bottom seam and side seams. The side seams are present as a body seam and a tamper-evident structure seam; there is no side seam present across the zipper closure. The lack of a side seam present across the zipper closure facilitate removal of the tamper-evident structure. A slider device may be present on the packages to facilitate mating and unmating of the zipper closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Publication number: 20030021499
    Abstract: A flexible, reclosable package having a reclosable zipper construction openable and closeable by a slider device, and a tamper-evident structure disposed over the zipper construction to provide indication whether access has been gained to the interior of the package. A second tamper-evident structure may be disposed between the zipper construction and the package interior. This second structure may be a web or a peel seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Publication number: 20020196987
    Abstract: A flexible, reclosable package having a zipper closure and a slider device mounted thereon, the zipper closure and slider device encapsulated within a tamper evident-structure such as a hood. The hood has a top seal region where the walls of the hood are sealed together; the hood walls can be of the same material as the package walls. In one embodiment, each end of the zipper closure includes an area that terminates the slider device travel; this can be a crush area or region. In order to gain access to the interior of the package, the hood is removed by breaching the hood, such as at an area of weakness that is between the slider device and the region where the zipper closure attaches to the package walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Paul A. Tilman, James E. Buchman
  • Patent number: 6474866
    Abstract: A flexible, reclosable package having a reclosable zipper construction openable and closeable by a slider device, and a tamper-evident structure disposed over the zipper construction to provide indication whether access has been gained to the interior of the package. A second tamper-evident structure may be disposed between the zipper construction and the package interior. This second structure may be a web or a peel seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Patent number: 6467956
    Abstract: A flexible, reclosable package having a zipper closure and a slider device mounted thereon, the zipper closure and slider device encapsulated within a tamper evident-structure such as a hood. The hood has a top seal region where the walls of the hood are sealed together; the hood walls can be of the same material as the package walls. In one embodiment, each end of the zipper closure includes an area that terminates the slider device travel; this can be a crush area or region. In order to gain access to the interior of the package, the hood is removed by breaching the hood, such as at an area of weakness that is between the slider device and the region where the zipper closure attaches to the package walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Tilman, James E. Buchman
  • Publication number: 20020139704
    Abstract: A method of making packages having a reclosable zipper closure on a vertical form, fill and seal process. The method includes providing a length of the zipper closure having a length same as the width of the resulting package. The ends of the length of zipper closure are sealed together prior to applying the zipper closure to the film web. The zipper construction is first applied and adhered to one half of the film web and then to the other half. A tamper-evident structure encasing the zipper closure may be included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Patent number: 6412254
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing includes feeding a continuous web of flexible panel material into a package forming operation. The continuous web is configured to define first and second juxtaposed panel sections; positioning a continuous strip of resealable closure mechanism having a series of spaced slider devices thereon between the first and second panel sections of the continuous web to form a continuous combination having the first and second panel sections and the resealable closure mechanism; and forming a plurality of flexible packages from the continuous combination. Each flexible package includes only one slider device thereon and a seal between the first and second panel sections oriented to enclose the one slider device between the first and second panel sections and the seal. A system for manufacturing a flexible package is disclosed. In addition, a flexible package is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Tilman, James E. Buchman
  • Publication number: 20020077238
    Abstract: A method of making packages having a reclosable zipper closure by a vertical form, fill and seal process. The method includes providing a pocket in a film web into which a zipper closure is positioned and attached. The film web is folded and sealed to form side panels and seams, which result in a package. The pocket provides an internal tamper evident-structure for the package. An external tamper evident-structure can be provided between the distal ends of the mating profiles of the zipper closure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: James E. Buchman, Paul A. Tilman
  • Publication number: 20020076122
    Abstract: A flexible, reclosable package having a reclosable zipper construction openable and closeable by a slider device, and a tamper-evident structure disposed over the zipper construction to provide indication whether access has been gained to the interior of the package. A second tamper-evident structure may be disposed between the zipper construction and the package interior. This second structure may be a web or a peel seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Patent number: 6364530
    Abstract: A flexible package is disclosed comprising a package surrounding wall having first and second side seals and a mouth therebetween. The flexible package also includes a recloseable closure mechanism along the mouth for selective opening and closing of the mouth. The recloseable closure mechanism includes a first and second closure profile. Each of the closure profiles have an upper flange and a slider device for selectively opening and closing the recloseable closure mechanism. Furthermore, each of the first and second upper flanges define a slit adjacent to the first side seal. The slit accommodates the slider device such that the first and second upper flanges conform to the slider device when the slider device is positioned within the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Patent number: 6347885
    Abstract: A flexible, reclosable package having a reclosable zipper construction openable and closeable by a slider device, and a tamper-evident structure disposed over the zipper construction to provide indication whether access has been gained to the interior of the package. A second tamper-evident structure may be disposed between the zipper construction and the package interior. This second structure may be a web or a peel seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Publication number: 20010053253
    Abstract: A method of making packages having a reclosable zipper construction openable and closable by a slider device, and the packages made thereby. An extended length of zipper closure construction is used. The zipper closure construction consists of a zipper closure having first and second mating profiles, a first tamper evident-structure encasing the slider device and the zipper closure, and a second tamper evident-structure. Together, the first and second tamper evident-structure envelop the mating profiles and slider device. When incorporated into a package, the first tamper-evident structure encases the slider device and zipper closure, and the second tamper evident-structure is positioned between the mating profiles and the package interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Buchman, Paul A. Tilman
  • Patent number: D469721
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Buchman