Patents by Inventor Kenny McCracken

Kenny McCracken 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: 10065770
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a package with a rigid or semi-rigid container and a polymeric or plastic header with a reclosure, such as a zipper. The rigid or semi-rigid container is typically provided in a stack of flat containers. The header is sealed, glued or otherwise secured to the containers. The container, typically inverted, is filled, and the bottom is formed by folding and sealing the bottom portion of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Clifton Howell, David Wallace, Kenny McCracken, Kevin Owen, Rusty Koenigkramer, Robert Hogan, Eric Plourde, David Anzini, Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 9260225
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a zipper for a reclosable bag wherein the zipper is designed to make additional sound during operation, and further provide an increased tactile response. The zipper profile is manufactured by forming cuts in the profile, and then the profile is stretched so that the cuts become gaps. These gaps cause additional sound during operation of the zipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: David Anzini, Rusty Koenigkramer, Eric Plourde, Kenny McCracken, Steven Ausnit, Charles G. Greco
  • Publication number: 20140263597
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a package with a rigid or semi-rigid container and a polymeric or plastic header with a reclosure, such as a zipper. The rigid or semi-rigid container is typically provided in a stack of flat containers. The header is sealed, glued or otherwise secured to the containers. The container, typically inverted, is filled, and the bottom is formed by folding and sealing the bottom portion of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Clifton HOWELL, David WALLACE, Kenny MCCRACKEN, Kevin OWEN, Steven OLECHOWSKI, Rusty KOENIGKRAMER
  • Publication number: 20140263598
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a package with a rigid or semi-rigid container and a polymeric or plastic header with a reclosure, such as a zipper. The rigid or semi-rigid container is typically provided in a stack of flat containers. The header is sealed, glued or otherwise secured to the containers. The container, typically inverted, is filled, and the bottom is formed by folding and sealing the bottom portion of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Clifton HOWELL, David WALLACE, Kenny MCCRACKEN, Robert HOGAN, Kevin OWEN, Steven OLECHOWSKI, Eric PLOURDE, David ANZINI, Steven AUSNIT, Rusty KOENIGKRAMER
  • Patent number: 8784289
    Abstract: The embodiments include a wide mouth gusseted package wherein four machine direction edge seals are formed on the film, and the zipper is applied in the transverse direction on the opposite side of the film from where the machine direction edge seals are formed. In the resulting package, the edge seals are at the exterior of the four corners of the package, and the resulting gussets can be folded inwardly or outwardly. The package may further include a sealing strip with a peel seal layer and a sealant layer whereby a hermetic package may be produced at higher production rates and lower productions costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Greco, David Matthews, David Anzini, Eric Plourde, Kenny McCracken
  • Publication number: 20120301056
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a zipper for a reclosable bag wherein the zipper is designed to make additional sound during operation, and further provide an increased tactile response. The zipper profile is manufactured by forming cuts in the profile, and then the profile is stretched so that the cuts become gaps. These gaps cause additional sound during operation of the zipper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: David ANZINI, Rusty KOENIGKRAMER, Eric PLOURDE, Kenny MCCRACKEN, Steven AUSTNIT, Charles G. GRECO
  • Publication number: 20120187182
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a package with a rigid or semi-rigid container and a polymeric or plastic header with a reclosure, such as a zipper. The rigid or semi-rigid container is typically provided in a stack of flat containers. The header is sealed, glued or otherwise secured to the containers. The container, typically inverted, is filled, and the bottom is formed by folding and sealing the bottom portion of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Clifton Howell, David Wallace, Kenny McCracken, Kevin Owen, Rusty Koenigkramer, Steven Olechowski
  • Publication number: 20120060449
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a package with a rigid or semi-rigid container and a polymeric or plastic header with a reclosure, such as a zipper. The rigid or semi-rigid container is typically provided in a stack of flat containers. The header is sealed, glued or otherwise secured to the containers. The container, typically inverted, is filled, and the bottom is formed by folding and sealing the bottom portion of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Clifton Howell, David Wallace, Kenny McCracken, Kevin Owen, Eric Plourde, David Anzini, Steven Ausnit
  • Publication number: 20120047852
    Abstract: The disclosure pertains to the a wide mouth gusseted package wherein four machine direction edge seals are formed on the film, and the zipper is applied in the transverse direction on the opposite side of the film from where the machine direction edge seals are formed. In the resulting package, the edge seals are at the exterior of the four corners of the package, and the resulting gussets can be folded inwardly or outwardly. The package may further include a sealing strip with a peel seal layer and a sealant layer whereby a hermetic package may be produced at higher production rates and lower productions costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOLS WORK INC.
    Inventors: Charles GRECO, David MATTHEWS, David ANZINI, Eric PLOURDE, Kenny MCCRACKEN
  • Publication number: 20110301006
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a package with a rigid or semi-rigid container and a polymeric or plastic header with a reclosure, such as a zipper. The rigid or semi-rigid container is typically provided in a stack of flat containers. The header is sealed, glued or otherwise secured to the containers. The container, typically inverted, is filled, and the bottom is formed by folding and sealing the bottom portion of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Clifton Howell, David Wallace, Kenny McCracken, Kevin Owen, Rusty Koenigkramer, Robert Hogan, Eric Plourde, David Anzini, Steven Ausnit
  • Publication number: 20110297680
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a package with a rigid or semi-rigid container and a polymeric or plastic header with a reclosure, such as a zipper. The rigid or semi-rigid container is typically provided in a stack of flat containers. The header is sealed, glued or otherwise secured to the containers. The container, typically inverted, is filled, and the bottom is formed by folding and sealing the bottom portion of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Clifton Howell, David Wallace, Kenny McCracken, Kevin Owen, Rusty Koenigkramer, Steven Olechowski, Robert Hogan, Eric Plourde, David Anzini, Steven Ausnit
  • Publication number: 20070062157
    Abstract: A package comprising: a receptacle comprising front and rear walls joined to each other at top and bottom cross seals and connected to each other along first and second sides of the receptacle, the front wall comprising a loop that projects outward and that extends across the front wall from the first side to the second side of the receptacle; and a pair of zipper strips having mutually interlocked profiles, the zipper strips being disposed inside and joined to the loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Eric Plourde, John Pilarski, Rusty Koenigkramer, Kenny McCracken
  • Publication number: 20060177156
    Abstract: Reclosable bags are disclosed wherein a sheet of web is folded so that outward longitudinal quarters are folded over a central longitudinal half in a horizontal form fill seal apparatus. The central longitudinal half forms the back wall of the bag while the two outward longitudinal quarters form the front wall of the bag. A fin seal is formed where the longitudinal edges meet. The zipper is formed within the fin seal. However, in an alternative embodiment, the zipper is formed within the top fold while the longitudinal edges are joined by a fin seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Kevin Owen, Kenny McCracken
  • Publication number: 20050069229
    Abstract: A tamper-evident reclosable bag having a pull tab feature that facilitates opening of a header by a consumer. The pull tab feature is provided by an offset between the top and bottom webs (or front and rear walls) of the package. One web has a cutout while the other web has a portion that overlaps the cutout. The offset provides a simple means for the consumer to grasp only one of the webs of the package and then pull the webs apart or peel the offset web away from the cutout web. The peeled-away layer can be provided with a line of weakened tear resistance, allowing a section of the header to, at the same time, be torn off the package. After the tamper-evident seal provided by the header is broken, the consumer can open the zipper, gaining access to the contents of the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Kenny McCracken, Lewis Haws
  • Publication number: 20040007309
    Abstract: An apparatus, device (10) and method for simultaneously producing tack-seals (28, 34) and for cutting a zipper (12) from a continuous length of zipper before the zipper is attached to the thermoplastic film (38) used to make a reclosable bag. A first end section (26) of the zipper (12) is cut and fused by a heated blade (24) of the device (10), thereby providing a first tack-seal (28). The zipper (12) is advanced and a second end section (32) is cut and fused by the heated blade (24) of the device (10), thereby providing a second-tack seal (34) so that the zipper includes a pair of tack-seals at both ends of the zipper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin Owen, Kenny McCracken