Patents by Inventor Vernon C. Catchman

Vernon C. Catchman 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: 6439770
    Abstract: A plastic bag comprises opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. A reclosable zipper extending along a mouth portion formed opposite the sealed bottom of the plastic bag. The zipper is preferably free of graspable upper pull flanges in order to best accommodate a slider and inhibit operation of the zipper without the slider. The slider is mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position. The zipper is closed while the slider is in the closed position. The zipper is opened in response to movement of the slider to the open position. To inhibit tampering with the contents of the bag, the bag includes a tamper-evident feature. In one set of embodiments, the tamper-evident feature initially maintains the slider in the closed position and allows the slider to move away from the closed position toward the open position in response to removing or breaking the tamper-evident feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventor: Vernon C. Catchman
  • Publication number: 20020009239
    Abstract: A plastic bag comprises opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. A reclosable zipper extending along a mouth portion formed opposite the sealed bottom of the plastic bag. The zipper is preferably free of graspable upper pull flanges in order to best accommodate a slider and inhibit operation of the zipper without the slider. The slider is mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position. The zipper is closed while the slider is in the closed position. The zipper is opened in response to movement of the slider to the open position. To inhibit tampering with the contents of the bag, the bag includes a tamper-evident feature. In one set of embodiments, the tamper-evident feature initially maintains the slider in the closed position and allows the slider to move away from the closed position toward the open position in response to removing or breaking the tamper-evident feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Craig E. Cappel, Vernon C. Catchman, David V. Dobreski, David J. Thomas, Toby R. Thomas, Michael W. McManus
  • Publication number: 20010043762
    Abstract: A plastic bag comprises opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. A reclosable zipper extending along a mouth portion formed opposite the sealed bottom of the plastic bag. The zipper is preferably free of graspable upper pull flanges in order to best accommodate a slider and inhibit operation of the zipper without the slider. The slider is mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position. The zipper is closed while the slider is in the closed position. The zipper is opened in response to movement of the slider to the open position. To inhibit tampering with the contents of the bag, the bag includes a tamper-evident feature. In one set of embodiments, the tamper-evident feature initially maintains the slider in the closed position and allows the slider to move away from the closed position toward the open position in response to removing or breaking the tamper-evident feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Craig E. Cappel, Vernon C. Catchman, David V. Dobreski, David J. Thomas, Toby R. Thomas, Michael W. McManus
  • Publication number: 20010026649
    Abstract: A plastic bag comprises opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. A reclosable zipper extending along a mouth portion formed opposite the sealed bottom of the plastic bag. The zipper is preferably free of graspable upper pull flanges in order to best accommodate a slider and inhibit operation of the zipper without the slider. The slider is mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position. The zipper is closed while the slider is in the closed position. The zipper is opened in response to movement of the slider to the open position. To inhibit tampering with the contents of the bag, the bag includes a tamper-evident feature. In one set of embodiments, the tamper-evident feature initially maintains the slider in the closed position and allows the slider to move away from the closed position toward the open position in response to removing or breaking the tamper-evident feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventor: Vernon C. Catchman
  • Patent number: 5833791
    Abstract: A plastic bag comprises first and second opposing panels, a reclosable zipper, and a slider. The first and second opposing panels are fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The reclosable zipper extends along a mouth formed opposite the bottom. The zipper includes a first track with a first profile and a second track with a second profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The slider is slidably mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position. The first and second profiles are engaged to each other while the slider is in the closed position, and the first and second profiles are disengaged from each other in response to movement of the slider from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Tenneco Packaging
    Inventors: David A. Bryniarski, Vernon C. Catchman, David V. Dobreski, Michael W. McManus
  • Patent number: 4850946
    Abstract: A draw type bag with two single draw tapes having a front wall and back wall of flexible sheet material joined to each other along edges of the bag. Tubular channels extend along opposed transverse top edges of the front and back walls. The channels define an open mouth for the bag. Each of the channels has openings at the opposite ends of the top edges of the bag. A pair of draw tapes extends through both of the channels. One end of each of the tapes is attached to opposite side edges of the bag beneath the openings in one of the channels and the other end of each of the tapes extends through the openings at the corresponding ends of the other of the channels so that the tapes cross each other in both channels and wrap around the mouth of the bag whereby when the tapes are pulled the mouth of the bag is drawn tightly together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Broderick, Vernon C. Catchman, Fox J. Herrington, Shirley K. Johnston, Robert H. Olson, Donald Stell
  • Patent number: 4792241
    Abstract: A dual draw tape bag has a front wall and back wall of flexible sheet material joined to each other along edges of the bag. Tubular channels extend along opposed transverse top edges of the front and back walls. The channels define an open mouth for the bag. Each of the channels has openings at the opposite ends of the top edges of the bag. A pair of tapes extend through each of the chanels. One of the ends of each of the tapes is attached to the opposite side edges of the bag beneath the openings in the channels and the other ends of the tapes extend through the respective openings at the other end of the channels so that the tapes cross in the channels, whereby when the tapes are pulled, the top of the bag is drawn tightly together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Broderick, Vernon C. Catchman, Fox J. Herrington, Shirley K. Johnston, Robert H. Olson, Donald Stell
  • Patent number: 4786189
    Abstract: A draw tape bag with two single draw tapes having a front wall and back wall of flexible sheet material joined to each other along edges of the bag. Tubular channels extend along opposed transverse top edges of the front and back walls. The channels define an open mouth for the bag. Each of the channels has openings at the opposite ends of the top edges of the bag. A pair of draw tapes extends through both of the channels. One end of each of the tapes is attached to opposite side edges of the bag beneath the openings in one of the channels and the other end of each of the tapes extends through the openings at the corresponding ends of the other of the channels so that the tapes cross each other in both channels and wrap around the mouth of the bag whereby when the tapes are pulled the mouth of the bag is drawn tightly together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Broderick, Vernon C. Catchman, Fox J. Herrington, Shirley K. Johnston, Robert H. Olson, Donald Stell
  • Patent number: 4786191
    Abstract: A draw tape bag with two single tapes has a front wall and back wall of flexible sheet material joined to each other along edges of the bag. Tubular channels extend along opposed transverse top edges of the front and back walls. The channels define an open mouth for the bag. Each of the channels has openings at the opposite ends of the top edges of the bag. A tape extends through each of the channels. One of the ends of each of the tape is attached to the opposite side edges of the bag beneath the openings in the channels and the other end of the tape extends through the respective opening at the other end of the channel so that the tapes cross in their respective channels, whereby when the tapes are pulled, the top of the bag is drawn tightly together. A method of forming this draw tape bag is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Broderick, Vernon C. Catchman, Fox J. Herrington, Shirley K. Johnston, Robert H. Olson, Donald Stell
  • Patent number: 4717373
    Abstract: Apparatus for heat sealing a hem in a moving web of plastic film using a plurality of rollers or wheels mounted on a block at spaced locations for engaging the film along the path of a heat seal to be formed in the hem. The rollers are heated by contact of one of their sides against a heated block. The small force holding the rollers against the heated block is provided by a slight angular orientation of the roller relative to the direction of film travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Vernon C. Catchman, Fox J. Herrington
  • Patent number: 4597750
    Abstract: A method of inserting a continuous, pliable strip into each hem formed along an edge, an edge of one of a pair of superposed panels forming an elongated, continuous web, the hem being formed by turning an edge portion of a panel inward between the panels. Each strip is fed from a position outside the web on the hemmed side of the web, across the hem(s) to a position between the panels within the web, reversed in direction and fed to a position between the portions of the panel forming a hem. Each strip is then turned from a transverse direction to a longitudinal direction and fed longitudinally into the hem. An apparatus for performing the steps of the method is described for use in the manufacture of thermoplastic film draw strip bags and feeds a pair of extremely thin and flexible plastifilm strips into a pair of hems, each formed in one of a pair of superposed panels, eventually forming the sides of the finished bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Dana M. Boyd, Vernon C. Catchman, Kevin Broderick