Abstract: An envelope has an envelope body formed by opposing panels that define an interior and an opening. A closure is joined to and extends up from the top margin of one panel. The envelope is configured such that the interior surface of the closure is sealable to the other panel to permanently close the envelope opening. The closure includes a closure panel and a tear band coextruded with the closure panel. The tear band is composed of a polymeric material having lower tear strength than the material of the closure panel. The tear band defines a zone of weakness extending along the width of the closure for opening the closure by tearing along the zone of weakness after it is permanently closed.

Abstract: A receptacle liner for gripping the receptacle and method of making. A liner may be formed by one or more panels including at least one resilient segment extending from a bottom to a top of the liner. The liner segment can be coextruded so that the resilient segment is made from resilient material and other portions of the liner are made from another material that is less resilient. When the liner is placed in a receptacle, the liner can be expanded by resiliently stretching the resilient segment so that the liner may apply a gripping force to the receptacle. The liner can include gusseted side panels. A mouth can be formed as a recess in the top ends of front and rear panels and extend through the gusseted side panels to define handle portions and form apertures in the handle portions that open to the mouth.

Abstract: A closure for closing a bag and a die head and method for making the closure. The closure includes two closure members having support walls and mating interlocking profiles. The support walls are resilient and have self-retaining forms in vertical section including middle sections curving outwardly away from one another when mounted on a bag. Top portions of the support walls extend outwardly away from one another to form gripping panels when the closure is closed. A die head for forming a closure member includes a body that defines a slot including a support wall segment for forming the support wall of the closure member. The support wall segment includes first and second portions oriented transverse to one another and intersecting at a vertex. To form the closure member, polymer is extruded through the slot and quenched.

Abstract: A receptacle liner for gripping the receptacle and method of making. A liner may be formed by one or more panels including at least one resilient segment extending from a bottom to a top of the liner. The liner segment can be coextruded so that the resilient segment is made from resilient material and other portions of the liner are made from another material that is less resilient. When the liner is placed in a receptacle, the liner can be expanded by resiliently stretching the resilient segment so that the liner may apply a gripping force to the receptacle. The liner can include gusseted side panels. A mouth can be formed as a recess in the top ends of front and rear panels and extend through the gusseted side panels to define handle portions and form apertures in the handle portions that open to the mouth.

Abstract: A closure for closing a bag and a die head and method for making the closure. The closure includes two closure members having support walls and mating interlocking profiles. The support walls are resilient and have self-retaining forms in vertical section including middle sections curving outwardly away from one another when mounted on a bag. Top portions of the support walls extend outwardly away from one another to form gripping panels when the closure is closed. A die head for forming a closure member includes a body that defines a slot including a support wall segment for forming the support wall of the closure member. The support wall segment includes first and second portions oriented transverse to one another and intersecting at a vertex. To form the closure member, polymer is extruded through the slot and quenched.

Abstract: A closure for closing a bag and a die head and method for making the closure. The closure includes two closure members having support walls and mating interlocking profiles. The support walls are resilient and have self-retaining forms in vertical section including middle sections curving outwardly away from one another when mounted on a bag. Top portions of the support walls extend outwardly away from one another to form gripping panels when the closure is closed. A die head for forming a closure member includes a body that defines a slot including a support wall segment for forming the support wall of the closure member. The support wall segment includes first and second portions oriented transverse to one another and intersecting at a vertex. To form the closure member, polymer is extruded through the slot and quenched.

Abstract: A bag has top and bottom edge margins and opposite side margins. First and second bag panels of the bag define a bag interior and an opening at the top edge margin of the bag. A reclosable closing structure at the top edge margin of the bag can repeatedly close the bag. First and second gripping panels are joined to the top edge margin of the bag at first and second joints, respectively. The gripping panels can provide surfaces for gripping when opening the bag, and the joints can be flexible to allow pivoting of the gripping panels relative to the bag. The gripping panels can be formed integrally with a closure for appending to a bag body.

Abstract: A receptacle liner for gripping the receptacle and method of making. A liner may be formed by one or more panels including at least one resilient segment extending from a bottom to a top of the liner. The liner segment can be coextruded so that the resilient segment is made from resilient material and other portions of the liner are made from another material that is less resilient. When the liner is placed in a receptacle, the liner can be expanded by resiliently stretching the resilient segment so that the liner may apply a gripping force to the receptacle. The liner can include gusseted side panels. A mouth can be formed as a recess in the top ends of front and rear panels and extend through the gusseted side panels to define handle portions and form apertures in the handle portions that open to the mouth.

Abstract: A bag and closure for a bag. The closure includes interlocking closure profiles that extend along the width of the closure and are selectively matable to close the closure or bag. The closure profiles are configured to be spaced apart from the top end of the bag. The closure further includes grip spacing formations that extend along the width of the closure. When the profiles mate, the grip spacing formations engage one another and urge opposing top end portions of the bag or closure outward to define an enlarged gap. The opposing top end portions, thus, define gripping bands that are accessible for being gripped during bag opening.

Abstract: An envelope has an envelope body formed by opposing panels that define an interior and an opening. A closure is joined to and extends up from the top margin of one panel. The envelope is configured such that the interior surface of the closure is sealable to the other panel to permanently close the envelope opening. The closure includes a closure panel and a tear band coextruded with the closure panel. The tear band is composed of a polymeric material having lower tear strength than the material of the closure panel. The tear band defines a zone of weakness extending along the width of the closure for opening the closure by tearing along the zone of weakness after it is permanently closed.

Abstract: A plastic can liner and a drawstring for closing the can liner. First and second plastic panels joined along edges of the panels define a bag body. Opposed first and second panel edges that are not joined define a can liner opening. A first hem extends along the first panel edge and a second hem extends along the second panel edge. A drawstring extends through the first and second hems. The drawstring is a cross-laminated plastic film. In some embodiments, the drawstring includes first and second drawstring strips sealed together adjacent the opposite ends thereof. Each of the first and second drawstring strips can be made from a plastic film including a first layer and a second layer bonded to the first layer. Each of the first and second layers have a machine direction oriented transverse to the length of the drawstring and the machine direction of the other layer.

Abstract: A bag has top and bottom edge margins and opposite side margins. First and second bag panels of the bag define a bag interior and an opening at the top edge margin of the bag. A reclosable closing structure at the top edge margin of the bag can repeatedly close the bag. First and second gripping panels are joined to the top edge margin of the bag at first and second joints, respectively. The gripping panels can provide surfaces for gripping when opening the bag, and the joints can be flexible to allow pivoting of the gripping panels relative to the bag. The gripping panels can be formed integrally with a closure for appending to a bag body.

Abstract: A plastic bag has a closure comprising first and second mutually interlocking profiles and a slider on the closure adapted to engage the interlocking profiles in locking relationship when the slider is moved across the profiles in a locking direction and to disengage the interlocking profiles when the slider is moved across the profiles in an opening direction opposite the locking direction. Topographical features are spaced periodically along the width of the closure. The topographical features are arranged for engagement with the slider as the slider moves across the profiles. Engagement between the topographical features and the slider produces a locking tactile and audible sensation upon closing the closure which is different from an opening tactile and audible sensation upon opening the closure.

Abstract: A plastic bag having a zipper-type closure which includes opposing closure members which each has a plurality of projections. The projections of the closure members are configured for interlocking and sealing engagement when the zipper is closed. At least one of the projections on one of the closure members is in one embodiment made of a softer material than at least one of the other projections. In some embodiments, the soft projection(s) are not configured for close tolerance fit with complementary mating projections. In some embodiments, the closure is used in combination with a slider. The closure can include deformations for providing tactile or audible feedback against movement of the slider. The closure can include slider rails at a top edge margin to minimize the size of the slider.

Abstract: A temporary adhesive band provides a releasable sealing structure and a tearing structure in a plastic bag. The band can be coextruded with one or more panels of the bag and can be made from a polymer blend. It can have a relatively thick tear section that defines a tear line at a zone of weakness in the bag so that a closed end of the bag can be easily removed. The band also can have a releasable sealing section that remains attached to the bag after the closed end of the bag has been removed by tearing the bag along the tear line so that the bag can be resealed once it has been opened. The releasable sealing section of the temporary adhesive band is preferably made from a coextruded material with tacky properties so that no additional adhesive is required for resealing the bag.

Abstract: A plastic can liner and a drawstring for closing the can liner. First and second plastic panels joined along edges of the panels define a bag body. Opposed first and second panel edges that are not joined define a can liner opening. A first hem extends along the first panel edge and a second hem extends along the second panel edge. A drawstring extends through the first and second hems. The drawstring is a cross-laminated plastic film. In some embodiments, the drawstring includes first and second drawstring strips sealed together adjacent the opposite ends thereof. Each of the first and second drawstring strips can be made from a plastic film including a first layer and a second layer bonded to the first layer. Each of the first and second layers have a machine direction oriented transverse to the length of the drawstring and the machine direction of the other layer.

Abstract: The present invention is an extruded hollow thermoplastic sheeting, which is made of a pair of flat and parallel sheets spaced apart and interconnected by extending ribs of shifted patterns, e.g. of a sigmoid pattern, is disclosed in this invention. The thermoplastic sheeting of the invention has stronger tear strength and balanced physical properties as compared to hollow thermoplastic sheeting with extending ribs of straight pattern of the same specification. The present invention also provides a method for production thereof, wherein a fixing and cooling assembly is oscillated relative to a die, or vice versa, to create the ribs of shifted patterns.

Abstract: An extruded hollow thermoplastic board, which includes a pair of flat and parallel sheets spaced apart and interconnected by extending ribs, generally has a plurality of depression bands in the areas where the flat sheets and extending ribs are joined. The bands, which negatively affect the surface flatness, are especially apparent for crystalline thermoplastic materials. A hollow thermoplastic board, which effectively reduces the depth of the depression bands by inclusion of locationally fixed gas pockets in the rib area during production, is disclosed in the present invention. The hollow thermoplastic board of the present invention substantially enhances the surface smoothness and is highly beneficial to applications such as printing, lamination and graphic art. The present invention also provides a method for production of the hollow thermoplastic boards of smooth surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is an extruded, hollow, thermoplastic board which is made of a pair of flat and parallel sheets spaced apart and interconnected by extending ribs of shifted patterns, eg. of a sigmoid pattern, is disclosed in this invention. The thermoplastic sheeting of the invention has stronger tear strength and balanced physical properties as compared to hollow thermoplastic boards with extending ribs of straight pattern of the same specification. The present invention also provides a method for production thereof, wherein a fixing and cooling assembly is oscillated relative to a die, or vice versa, to create the ribs of shifted patterns.