Patents by Inventor Wayne M. Wegner

Wayne M. Wegner 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: 5425911
    Abstract: A method of forming a plastic film with at least one closure element utilizes a die having a removable lower die lip with grooves in the shape of the closure elements and a choker bar located in the manifold of the die to control the amount of extrudate to the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products Inc.
    Inventors: Mladomir Tomic, Wayne M. Wegner
  • Patent number: 5366294
    Abstract: A recloseable package having recloseable profile strips with a heat barrier is disclosed. The profile strips have flange elements and recloseable , mated profile strips. The package is made by providing mated top and bottom profile strips, providing top and bottom package films on opposite sides of the mated strips and applying heat and pressure to the films adjacent the flanges sufficient to simultaneously form heat seals respectively between the top film and the top profile strip flange and between the bottom film and bottom profile strip flange. The heat barrier may comprise a thickened flange element, buffer strip or a coextrusion of high temperature resin on the inside layer of the flange element. The heat barrier prevents the flanges from fusing together during the formation of flange-film seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence W. Wirth, Wayne M. Wegner, Mladomir Tomic, Raymond Buchko, Johann Natterer
  • Patent number: 5356222
    Abstract: An interlocking closure device for a plastic bag includes two closure elements which interlock over a predetermined length to selectively open and close the opened end. The first closure member projects from an opaque web and is formed with brightly colored tips co-extruded with the contrasting opaque web and connecting portions. The second closure element has a translucent web co-extruded of clear resin with opaque tips connected to that web with clear connecting portions formed of clear resin. When the tips of the first and second closure elements properly mate together, the bright color is highly contrasted against the opaque color and appears as a pair of parallel bands through the transparent or translucent web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine E. Kettner, Jack R. McLean, Mladomir Tomic, Wayne M. Wegner
  • Patent number: 5284430
    Abstract: A cast film die used to integrally form closure elements on a film of varying thickness has a removable lower die lip with grooves in the shape of the closure elements and a choker bar located in the manifold of the die to control the amount of extrudate that flows to the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Mladomir Tomic, Wayne M. Wegner
  • Patent number: 5248201
    Abstract: An interlocking closure device including two closure elements which interlock over a predetermined length is formed along an open end of a bag to selectively open and close it. A male member projecting from a translucent web on one of the two closure elements and a female member projecting from a translucent web on the other of the closure elements are respectively differently colored. Upon complete mating engagement, the respective colors are respectively observable through the translucent webs as continuous bands of their color. If the closure elements are incompletely mated, then both colors are observable through one or both translucent webs as adjacent band portions of their individual color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine E. Kettner, Jack R. McLean, Mladomir Tomic, Wayne M. Wegner
  • Patent number: 5238306
    Abstract: A closure system for a film wall package includes profile strips having a reclosable seal of the interlocking type, flange elements and, adjacent the reclosable seal, an adhered strip of peelable material. The peelable material and the profile strip may be co-extruded. With packaging film attached to the profile strips, typically to the flange elements, the resulting product may be used in a horizontal form, fill and seal operation, at which time the reclosable elements are mated and a peel seal is formed. The peel seal may be disposed on either side of the reclosable seal with respect to the interior of the package. The benefits of both peel seals and reclosable seals may be obtained by using optimum materials for those elements while, at the same time, allowing the use of a different material for the walls of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Heintz, Steven H. Simonsen, Wayne M. Wegner
  • Patent number: 5198055
    Abstract: A method of forming a recloseable package using special profile strips, the strips themselves and a resulting package are disclosed. The profile strips have a flange element and a recloseable means element, and two mated profile strips are provided with a heat barrier means.The method comprises the steps of providing mated top and bottom profile strips, providing top and bottom package films on opposite sides of the mated strips and applying heat and pressure to the films adjacent the flanges sufficient to simultaneously form heat seals respectively between the top film and the top profile strip flange and between the bottom film and bottom profile strip flange. The heat barrier means may comprise a thickened flange element, buffer strip or a coextrusion of high temperature resin on the inside layer of the flange element. The heat barrier means prevents the flanges from fusing together during the formation of flange-film seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence W. Wirth, Wayne M. Wegner, Mladomir Tomic, Raymond Buchko, Johann Natterer
  • Patent number: 5067822
    Abstract: A method of forming a recloseable package using special profile strips, the strips themselves and a resulting package are disclosed. The profile strips have a flange element and a recloseable element, and two mated profile strips are provided with a heat barrier.The method comprises the steps of providing mated top and bottom profile strips, providing top and bottom package films on opposite sides of the mated strips and applying heat and pressure to the films adjacent the flanges sufficient to simultaneously form heat seals respectively between the top film and the top profile strip flange and between the bottom film and bottom profile strip flange. The heat barrier may comprise a thickened flange element, buffer strip or a coextrusion of high temperature resin on the inside layer of the flange element. The heat barrier prevents the flanges from fusing together during the formation of flange-film seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence W. Wirth, Wayne M. Wegner, Mladomir Tomic, Raymond Buchko, Johann Natterer
  • Patent number: 5023142
    Abstract: A small amount of polypropylene material is added to polyethylene in order to produce a composition which substantially eliminates telescoping during storage of rolls of film. The anti-telescoping composition can contain other additives such as liquid additives and/or tackifiers (whether or not liquid). When such additives are used, the anti-telescoping composition of the invention allows the use of greater quantities of these additives in polyethylene than would otherwise be possible without causing telescoping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin G. Hetzler, Wayne M. Wegner, Billie C. Munger
  • Patent number: 5017021
    Abstract: An improved closure member for a package is provided comprising first and second profile strips sealed to the package at the package opening, a male member formed on the first profile strip, a post member also formed on the first profile strip on the inboard side of the male member, a female member formed on the second profile strip and capable of mating with the male member under pressure, thereby forming a releasable closure mechanism for the package. The profile strip is secured to the package in a limited area such that all disengagement forces which act initially on the package are directed to the strip through a single path. The post member is positioned close enough to the male member to provide added resistance to the disengagement through a wedging or pivot-type interaction with a portion of the female member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve H. Simonsen, Mladomir Tomic, Wayne M. Wegner