Patents by Inventor Joel L. Johnson

Joel L. Johnson 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: 8826498
    Abstract: The zipper includes flanges which include an oxygen scavenging polymer. The oxygen scavenging polymer can be a co-extruded layer or blended with other polymers. The oxygen scavenging polymer is activated by ultra-violet light prior to installation by a form fill seal apparatus. This zipper is particularly useful in reducing residual oxygen in the packaging of such food products as cheese and meat, thereby extending the shelf life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Joel L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7322920
    Abstract: A reclosable package comprises a pre-made bag with a post-applied shrouded slider-zipper assembly installed in the mouth of the bag. The bag material comprises a layer made of paper and a layer of thermoplastic material laminated to the paper layer. The shrouded slider-zipper assembly comprises a pair of flanged zipper parts made of thermoplastic material, a slider mounted to the zipper, and a folded web of thermoplastic film material joined to the layer of thermoplastic material of the bag. The flanges of the zipper parts are respectively joined to opposing sides of the folded web. The package is made by an automated process whereby an individual shrouded slider-zipper assembly is cut from a continuous chain of assemblies, inserted into the open mouth of a pre-made bag and tack sealed in place. The assembly is then fully sealed to the bag by a drag sealer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Joel L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20070271742
    Abstract: The zipper includes flanges which include an oxygen scavenging polymer. The oxygen scavenging polymer can be a co-extruded layer or blended with other polymers. The oxygen scavenging polymer is activated by ultra-violet light prior to installation by a form fill seal apparatus. This zipper is particularly useful in reducing residual oxygen in the packaging of such food products as cheese and meat, thereby extending the shelf life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Joel L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7081176
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sealing a split-flange zipper tape in a center fold of a web of bag making film without sealing or tacking the two sides of the split zipper web together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joel L. Johnson, Ronald Cortigiano, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6993886
    Abstract: A method for sealing a zipper assembly to bag making film at three or more points. The zipper assembly comprises a short zipper flange and a long zipper flange. The short flange is joined to one wall of the package while the long flange is joined to both walls of the package to define a product space in which the product is contained. Both the short and long zipper flanges are sealed to the bag making film at a first sealing station prior to folding of the film. After folding, the long zipper flange is sealed at one or more zones of joinder to the other side of the folded film. If the zipper assembly is attached in proximity to the fold line, then the second sealing operation is performed before filling and the bag is filled through the package bottom. If the zipper assembly is attached near the edge of the web of bag making film, then the second sealing operation is performed after the filling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Joel L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6986377
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sealing a split-flange zipper tape in a center fold of a web of bag making film without sealing or tacking the two sides of the split zipper web together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joel L. Johnson, Ronald Cortigiano, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6910805
    Abstract: A method for sealing a zipper assembly to bag making film at three or more points. The zipper assembly comprises a short zipper flange and a long zipper flange. The short flange is joined to one wall of the package while the long flange is joined to both walls of the package to define a product space in which the product is contained. Both the short and long zipper flanges are sealed to the bag making film at a first sealing station prior to folding of the film. After folding, the long zipper flange is sealed at one or more zones of joinder to the other side of the folded film. If the zipper assembly is attached in proximity to the fold line, then the second sealing operation is performed before filling and the bag is filled through the package bottom. If the zipper assembly is attached near the edge of the web of bag making film, then the second sealing operation is performed after the filling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Joel L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040060638
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sealing a split-flange zipper tape in a center fold of a web of bag making film without sealing or tacking the two sides of the split zipper web together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Joel L. Johnson, Ronald Cortigiano
  • Publication number: 20040062456
    Abstract: A method for sealing a zipper assembly to bag making film at three or more points. The zipper assembly comprises a short zipper flange and a long zipper flange. The short flange is joined to one wall of the package while the long flange is joined to both walls of the package to define a product space in which the product is contained. Both the short and long zipper flanges are sealed to the bag making film at a first sealing station prior to folding of the film. After folding, the long zipper flange is sealed at one or more zones of joinder to the other side of the folded film. If the zipper assembly is attached in proximity to the fold line, then the second sealing operation is performed before filling and the bag is filled through the package bottom. If the zipper assembly is attached near the edge of the web of bag making film, then the second sealing operation is performed after the filling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Joel L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6185907
    Abstract: In a horizontal form-fill-and-seal (FFS) machine, a continuous length of packaging film is folded lengthwise over the consumer products to be packaged. The lateral edges of the packaging film are separately and independently aligned with one another by edge sensing and control devices. A zipper is fed between the aligned lateral edges of the packaging film. The lateral edges are sealed to one another, and the zipper sealed to the folded packaging film, by a pair of sealing sections, each of which includes a pair of parallel sealing devices. Side seals are produced by conventional means, which also separate completed packages from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Art Malin, Joel L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5664303
    Abstract: A zipper for a reclosable package includes a male interlocking profile and a female interlocking profile having male and female interlocking members, respectively. One, and only one, of the male and female interlocking profiles includes an extended flange separated and separable therefrom by perforations. In a reclosable package, polymeric sheet material is bonded to the male and female interlocking profiles and, specifically, to both sides of the extended flange. The extended flange, so reinforced with polymeric sheet material, can thereafter be used as a header from which the package may be hung for display in a retail store. Because of the perforations separating the extended flange from one of the two profiles, the header may be readily torn from the package to provide a consumer with access to its contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Joel L. Johnson
  • Patent number: D680880
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Printpack Illinois, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel L. Johnson, Hannah Catherine Smith, David J. Kessler
  • Patent number: D691898
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Printpack Illinois, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel L. Johnson, Jr., Davis James Kessler, Jr.