Patents by Inventor Steven Ausnit

Steven Ausnit 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: 20090263051
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a high burst slider zipper which allows for bottom filling of reclosable packages, such as large bags, and further provides increased resistance to damage from the dropping or shock loading of the filled package. This is achieved by providing a peel seal or other frangible or separable connection between the zipper profiles, and by sealing a portion of one of the flanges to itself by a hard seal above the peel seal. This causes the external forces on a bag from bottom filling or shock loading to be directed toward the hard seal and further directed so as to cause a shear force against the peel seal, thereby increasing the resistance of the package to external forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: David J. ANZINI, Rusty KOENIGKRAMER, Steven AUSNIT
  • Publication number: 20090257691
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a high burst closure which allows for bottom filling of packages, such as large bags, and further provides increased resistance to damage from the dropping or shock loading of the filled package. This is achieved by providing profiles that combine an upper portion of one profile and its related flange, so as to form a juncture above a peel seal joining one profile to the other, so that external forces on a package or bag from bottom filling or shock loading are directed toward the juncture thereby causing a shear force against the peel seal or other frangible connection, thereby increasing the resistance of the package to external forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Rusty KOENIGKRAMER, David J. ANZINI, Steven AUSNIT
  • Publication number: 20090258772
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a high burst slider zipper which allows for bottom filling of reclosable packages, such as large bags, and further provides increased resistance to damage from the dropping or shock loading of the filled package. This is achieved by providing a peel seal or other frangible or separable connection between the zipper profiles, and by sealing a portion of one of the flanges to itself by a hard seal above the peel seal. This causes the external forces on a bag from bottom filling or shock loading to be directed toward the hard seal and further directed so as to cause a shear force against the peel seal, thereby increasing the resistance of the package to external forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: David J. ANZINI, Rusty KOENIGKRAMER, Clifton R. HOWELL, Steven AUSNIT
  • Patent number: 7537386
    Abstract: A reclosable package comprises a receptacle having first and second walls, respective mouth portions of the front and rear walls forming a mouth that communicates with an interior volume of the receptacle; a zipper having mutually interengageable zipper strips, one zipper strip being joined to the mouth portion of the front wall and the other zipper strip being joined to the mouth portion of the rear wall; a slider mounted to the zipper, the slider initially being parked in a position whereat the zipper is closed along a majority of its length; and a tack seal that resists movement of the slider in an opening direction from the initially parked position. The tack seal is designed to rupture and no longer resist slider movement when a predetermined threshold level of force is exerted by the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Basil C. Linton, Gregory H. Crunkleton, Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 7524110
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a semi-soft cap or patch which is secured by adhesive to a slider on a zipper in a reclosable package. This cap or patch prevents the slider from puncturing the web or film of the bag during high pressure pasteurization. Further, the cap or patch is secured to a tear-away header which is formed as a shroud over the zipper. This allows the user to tear off the header which likewise removes the cap or patch from the slider. The header, with the cap or patch still attached thereto, can thereafter be disposed of as a single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Anzini, Steven Ausnit, Michael J. Lasofsky, Lars Wihlborg, Per Bentsen, Robert G. Kobetsky
  • Patent number: 7510328
    Abstract: A reclosable package comprises a receptacle having a mouth, a header that encloses a space above the mouth, and a slider-zipper assembly disposed in the mouth, the slider-zipper assembly comprising a slider mounted to a zipper. The header has a tear-away portion and respective remaining portions that flank at least a portion of the slider. A pull tab is coupled to and rotatable relative to the slider and projects above the upper edges of the remaining portions of the header. This arrangement enables the user to move the slider by grasping the pull tab. The user need not reach into the space between the remaining portions of the header to grasp the slider itself. In one embodiment, the pull tab is coupled to the sidewalls of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Schneider, Steven Ausnit
  • Publication number: 20090067761
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a high burst closure which allows for bottom filling of packages, such as large bags, and further provides increased resistance to damage from the dropping or shock loading of the filled package. This is achieved by providing profiles that combine an upper portion of one profile and its related flange, so as to form a juncture above a peel seal joining one profile to the other, so that external forces on a package or bag from bottom filling or shock loading are directed toward the juncture thereby causing a shear force against the peel seal or other frangible connection, thereby increasing the resistance of the package to external forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Rusty Koenigkramer, David J. Anzini, Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 7496992
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates a leakproof or leak-resistant zipper with profiles which include an inter-engaging element with inter-engaging fingers and a leakproof or leak-resistant structure. The slider, when moved in the closing direction, urges the fingers of one profile to inter-engage with the fingers of the other profile and further urges the elements of the leakproof or leak-resistant structure into engagement with each other. The slider, when moved in the opening direction, separates the inter-engaging fingers of the inter-engaging elements and further allows the elements of the leakproof or leak-resistant structure to separate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit
  • Publication number: 20090052812
    Abstract: Reclosable gusseted packages or bags have improved resistance to leaking or spilling through the gussets by sealing the gussets together through apertures in the gusset walls, by sealing the zipper flanges together through apertures passing through the gussets in the package or bag, by folding portions of the gussets, or by sewing the gussets shut in areas proximate to the zipper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Eric Plourde, Kevin Owen, David J. Anzini, Lars G. Wihlborg, Paul M. Jenkins, Rusty Koenigkramer, Clifton R. Howell, Daniel Sullivan, Glyn Russell, Brian Ehrhardt, Steven Ausnit
  • Publication number: 20080240625
    Abstract: The zipper assembly for a reclosable package or bag includes a zipper with exterior interlocking elements and flanges, and typically includes a slider. Additionally, a hinged secondary zipper formed from interior interlocking elements. A first interior interlocking element is hinged by an interior flange with respect to the first flange while the second interior interlocking element is attached to the second flange. The hinging of the secondary zipper causes forces or loads from within the reclosable package or bag to configure the secondary zipper in a shear configuration, rather than a peeling configuration, thereby increasing the interior burst strength of the package or bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Kenny E. McCracken, Glyn Russell, Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 7419301
    Abstract: A reclosable packaging having a slider/zipper assembly and a sealed header. The header has a tear notch for initiating tearing of the header material and a line of weakness for continued tearing of the header material at an elevation which is lower than the top of the slider. Most preferably, the line of weakness is lower than the bottom of the slider. When the header is torn along the line of weakness, at least part of the slider is exposed and accessible to the consumer. In one embodiment, the tear notch is located in a side edge at an elevation higher than the top of the slider. A slit is provided which traverses a range of elevations encompassing a first elevation near an elevation of the tear notch and a second elevation near an elevation of the line of weakness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Schneider, Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 7416338
    Abstract: A reclosable package comprises a slider-operated zipper wherein at least one of the zipper parts has a hinged flap to which a marginal portion of a panel of packaging film is joined. The hinged flap swings away from the rest of the zipper part in response to a pulling force tending to pull that zipper part away from the other zipper part. The flap is disposed between a base strip of the zipper part that it forms a part of and a sidewall of the slider. The slider is retained on the zipper by retaining ledges projecting from a distal end of a plow that pries open the zipper during slider travel in an opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit
  • Publication number: 20080110001
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a leakproof or leak-resistant slider zipper for reclosable packages or bags wherein the zipper profiles include upper flanges which are captured within horizontal channels of the slider. The horizontal channels are configured to be closer to each other at the closing end than at the opening end so as to urge the zipper profiles together at the closing end and apart at the opening end. The zipper profiles further include complementary interlocking elements as well as a lower bead and flap configuration wherein the flap remains urged against the bead in a leakproof or leak-resistant configuration throughout the entire length of the slider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit
  • Publication number: 20080092487
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to various embodiments and alternatives for vertical form fill and seal methods and apparatus. In particular, two sheets of web are fed by forming collars to a fill tube (or in some embodiments, side by side fill tubes) wherein the sheets of web are wrapped approximately 180 degrees around the periphery of the fill tube. Zippers can be provided mounted transversely on the first sheet of web, mounted in the machine direction on the first sheet of web, or fed as a continuous length between the two longitudinal edges of the two sheets of web. Additionally, some embodiments fill side by side bags from a single fill tube. Other embodiments fill side by side bags from side by side fill tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit
  • Publication number: 20080089620
    Abstract: A reclosable package having a slider-operated zipper wherein the contents of the package are accessed through the front wall of the package, not through the top of the package. The reclosable package comprises: a bag body comprising front and rear walls of bag making material; a flexible zipper joined to the front wall and not joined to the rear wall; and a slider mounted to the zipper, the slider being movable in a first direction along the zipper for opening the zipper and movable in a second direction along the zipper for closing the zipper. Alternatively, the flexible zipper is joined to the front wall along first and second zones of joinder disposed at different heights on the front wall, and is joined to the rear wall only in zones of joinder where the zipper is joined to both of the front and rear walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: John H. Schneider, Steven Ausnit
  • Publication number: 20080050052
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a high burst slider zipper which allows for bottom filling of reclosable packages, such as large bags, and further provides increased resistance to damage from the dropping or shock loading of the filled package. This is achieved by providing a peel seal or other frangible or separable connection between the zipper profiles, and by sealing a portion of one of the flanges to itself by a hard seal above the peel seal. This causes the external forces on a bag from bottom filling or shock loading to be directed toward the hard seal and further directed so as to cause a shear force against the peel seal, thereby increasing the resistance of the package to external forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: David J. Anzini, Rusty Koenigkramer, Steven Ausnit
  • Publication number: 20080050056
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a high burst slider zipper which allows for bottom filling of reclosable packages, such as large bags, and further provides increased resistance to damage from the dropping or shock loading of the filled package. This is achieved by providing a peel seal or other frangible or separable connection between the zipper profiles, and by sealing a portion of one of the flanges to itself by a hard seal above the peel seal. This causes the external forces on a bag from bottom filling or shock loading to be directed toward the hard seal and further directed so as to cause a shear force against the peel seal, thereby increasing the resistance of the package to external forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: David J. Anzini, Rusty Koenigkramer, Clifton R. Howell, Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 7325378
    Abstract: Various embodiments and alternatives for vertical form fill and seal methods and apparatus are disclosed. In particular, two sheets of web are fed by forming collars to a fill tube (or in some embodiments, side by side fill tubes) wherein the sheets of web are wrapped approximately 180 degrees around the periphery of the fill tube. Zippers can be provided mounted transversely on the first sheet of web, mounted in the machine direction on the first sheet of web, or fed as a continuous length between the two longitudinal edges of the two sheets of web. Additionally, some embodiments fill side by side bags from a single fill tube. Other embodiments fill side by side bags from side by side fill tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit
  • Publication number: 20070280563
    Abstract: Reclosable packages include an impressed pattern which is impinged against by the slider. This creates an aesthetically pleasing appearance. This further creates an aesthetically pleasing sound and corresponding tactile sensation when the slider is moved. This sound can be enhanced by providing internal protuberances to the slider. When a string zipper or similar zipper is used, the web to zipper seal line can include the impressed pattern. However, when a flanged zipper is used, the impressed pattern and the web to flange seal lines are formed in different locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 7302782
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making reclosable packages having slider-actuated string zippers. More specifically, the apparatus is a form-fill-seal machine having means for placing product on a web of packaging film; means for forming a receptacle having an interior volume and a mouth, with the product in the interior volume and a string zipper installed in the mouth, the web of packaging film forming at least one wall of the receptacle; a slider insertion device for inserting sliders on the string zipper; and means for sealing the receptacle so that ambient air cannot enter the interior volume. The form-fill-seal machine may further include either means for aligning an edge of the web with a flangeless zipper strip of the zipper strip before the web is joined to the flangeless zipper strip or means for trimming an edge of the web after a portion of the web proximal to the edge has been joined to a flangeless zipper strip of the string zipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit