Abstract: A flexible and hingeable valve mechanism is provided to a package or pouch, e.g., a package top seal, creating one or more channels through the top seal of the pouch and then, approximate to the one or more channels, making or forming a pocket within the same seal. As the pocket is filled with gas, it can prevent the top seal from accidentally kinking and allow other gas pressure to flow freely through the one or more channels. If the pouch is tilted or tipped over, the pocket will fill with the liquid content of the pouch and the weight of the liquid within the pocket will cause the pocket to hingeably displace and close off at least a portion of the one or more channels to prevent leaking or spilling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ventilatable valve bag with a wall material (4) comprising at least one gas-permeable inner layer (6) that is impermeable to a filler material and at least one gas-impermeable outer layer (8) as well as two closing sides (10), a first closing side (10) being formed by closing the valve bag (2) and a second closing side (10) being arranged opposite the first closing side (10). An intermediate space (14) is formed between a part of the inner layer (6) defining an inner space (12) of the bag and the outer layer (8), and at least one ventilation channel (18) leading out of a wall material edge section (16) is arranged on at least one closing side (10) of the valve bag (2), between the inner layer (6) and the outer layer (8) of a wall material region, such that the intermediate space (14) can be ventilated to the surroundings.

Abstract: This invention relates to a paper bag for bulk material such as cement, gypsum, granular material, animal feed or the like, with a bottom and with an upper part opposite the bottom, wherein bottom and/or upper part are folded and glued by closing up the side parts around side fold lines, in particular in the form of a cross or block bottom, wherein for gluing the side parts at least one gluing or bonding agent activatable after the application is provided, which is applied continuously at least from a side fold line up to at least the opposite side fold line of the side parts.

Abstract: A woven laminated plastic bag having an easy access or re-sealable feature and methods for making the same are provided. In certain aspects the easy access or re-sealable feature is attached to the bag without the use of an adhesive. In various aspects the bag can be fabricated from woven polypropylene and/or polyethylene layer which can be laminated with a film layer, can form a pinch bottom bag, and can have one or both sides include graphics and/or printing. The bag in one embodiment can also provide a top end and/or a bottom end either or both of which provide one or more discrete areas which may each contain discrete graphics and/or printing.

Abstract: An accordion-sides square-bottom bag and manufacturing method thereof, comprising a paper tube (10) made by a sheet enclosing the sides; accordion sides are folded on two sides of the paper tube (10); the paper tube is provided with a first indentation line (21) and a second indentation line (22), the distance from the second indentation line (22) to the base being greater than the distance between the first indentation line and the second indentation line, but not exceeding twice the distance; two ends of the second indentation line (22) are symmetrically provided with a first crease line (31) and a second crease line (32), the distances between the respective ends of the first and second crease lines and the two edges of the paper tube (10) exceeding the folded depth of the accordion sides; and a first cutting line (41) and a second cutting line (42) are provided from the ends of the first and second crease lines to the base of the paper tube (10).

Abstract: Methods of sealing a woven laminated plastic bag are provided that result in no adhesive-to-adhesive contact. In various aspects the bag can be fabricated from woven polypropylene and/or polyethylene layer which can be laminated with a film layer, can form a pinch bottom bag, and can have one or both sides include graphics and/or printing. The bag can also provide a top end and/or a bottom end either or both of which provide a discrete area which may contain discrete graphics and/or printing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a stepped end on a tube of flexible material includes a tube slitting station having a slitting tool with double edge slitting to provide respective slits beside a first panel and beside a second panel, respectively; a first trimming station trimming a first panel of the tube to a first shortened length, a second trimming station trimming the side gussets to a second length, wherein the second length is longer than the first shortened length; and an adhesive applying station applying adhesive on the tube above and below a fold line across the tube, wherein the tube is adapted to be folded along the fold line, and the adhesive material is adapted to form an adhesive to adhesive seal above and below the fold line.

Abstract: A pleated stand-up packaging pouch has a rib in a pinch form which is formed by adhering inner faces of end edges of the packaging material and at least one pleat which is formed by folding the pleated stand-up packaging material in a three-ply strip form in the orthogonal direction to its longitudinal direction and adhering inner faces of the folded portions, and is characterized in that the pleat formed on an edge between a folded bottom face portion and a peripheral portion extends from the peripheral portion in the same plane as the peripheral portion, and the bottom face portion and an upper end of an underside face of the pleat form a substantially right angle, and the pleat has a cut-off portion at the portion where the pleat and the rib cross.

Abstract: A drainable ostomy pouch includes a collection portion and a drain chute extending from the collection portion having a discharge opening for permitting emptying of contents from the pouch. The drain chute is foldable between an open condition in which the drain chute is extended from the collection portion, and a closed condition in which the drain chute is folded towards the collection portion; and a pocket for receiving at least a portion of the drain chute when the drain chute is in its closed condition.

Abstract: A method for sealing a bag which is formed from a tube of material and has front and rear walls, a pair of opposing, inward-tending gusset folds, each of these folds having front and rear vertical creases. The steps may include slitting each of the opposing front creases along longitudinal their axes to obtain front and rear plies. A first rearward fold is formed by rearwardly folding the rear ply together with the inward-tending gusset folds such that the inner surface of the rear ply is visible. A second rearward fold is formed by rearwardly folding the first fold until the inner surface of the rear ply lays against the rear wall of the bag.

Abstract: A double fold seal having an ultrasonic stitch is provided as a closure means for a bag formed from synthetic resin material, and especially a woven synthetic resin material. A transverse heat seal is created using an ultrasonic welder, for example, and at least two flaps formed outboard from the seal. The flaps are folded over one of the bag panels and ultimately over the heat seal so as to create a bag closure that is strong and leak resistant.

Abstract: A pinch bottom open mouth bulk material bag fabricated from polywoven material has closures at one or both ends that are non-sewn and which comprise a strip of tape running in the cross-bag direction. The tape is folded over the respective bag end, which may be modified, and is glued in place to close the end. The closure has no holes or other openings through which contaminants may enter the bag interior.

Abstract: A method for sealing a bag which is formed from a tube of material and has front and rear sides, a pair of opposing, inward-tending gusset folds, each of these folds having front and rear vertical creases, comprising the steps of slitting each of the opposing front creases along longitudinal their axes, obtaining front and rear plies. A first rearward fold is formed by rearwardly folding the rear plies together with the rear vertical creases such that the inner surface of the rear ply is visible. A second rearward fold is formed by rearwardly folding the first fold until the inner surface of the rear ply lays against the rear side of the bag.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing square bottom plastic bags designed to stand upright when opened. The bags are constructed with open tops, side handle openings and attached headers or with t-shirt style handles. The bags are produced in registered bag stacks and include means for adhering a rear surface of one bag to a front surface of a subsequent bag making the bags self-opening when used in dispensing rack. The headered bags have tear-off headers or headers with weakened areas that will rupture upon dispensing. The t-shirt bags have apertures through the handles to suspend the bags on a rack or a header attached above the handles. The bags have detachable or rupturable center tabs. The bags are registered with hot pins or cold stakes through an upper portion of the bags or bag handles. The bags have openings, microperforations, or are formed of porous material to dissipate heat or moisture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microstructured optical fiber including a photonic band gap-guided core; and at least one index-guided core. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a microstructured optical fiber including a set of main cores; a microstructured region surrounding the set of main cores; and at least alignment core, the alignment cores having substantially different optical propagation properties than the main cores. The present invention also includes methods for coupling, monitoring, and locating discontinuities in the fibers of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating a photonic crystal fiber preform using an extrusion die, comprising the step of extruding a first optical material into a plurality of dispersed phases to axially orient the dispersed phases.

Abstract: A block bottom bulk material bag, or satchel bottom bag, is formed from multiple plies of paper and an inner ply of plastic that is adhered to the innermost ply of paper. The bag is formed from roll-stock material that is cut into blanks. The knives that cut the blanks are registered relative to one another so that when the pinch bottom or satchel bottom is formed there is no paper surface exposed to the interior of the bag and the entire interior surface of the bag to which bulk material contained in the bag is exposed is covered with plastic.

Abstract: A block bottom bulk material bag, or satchel bottom bag, is formed from multiple plies of paper and an inner ply of plastic that is adhered to the innermost ply of paper. The bag is formed from roll-stock material that is cut into blanks. The knives that cut the blanks are registered relative to one another so that when the pinch bottom or satchel bottom is formed there is no paper surface exposed to the interior of the bag and the entire interior surface of the bag to which bulk material contained in the bag is exposed is covered with plastic.

Abstract: A block bottom bulk material bag, or satchel bottom bag, is formed from multiple plies of paper and an inner ply of plastic that is adhered to the innermost ply of paper. The bag is formed from roll-stock material that is cut into blanks. The knives that cut the blanks are registered relative to one another so that when the pinch bottom or satchel bottom is formed there is no paper surface exposed to the interior of the bag and the entire interior surface of the bag to which bulk material contained in the bag is exposed is covered with plastic.

Abstract: A food storage and preparation bag at least one sheet of flexible sheet material assembled to form a semi-enclosed container having an opening defined by a periphery and a closure for sealing the opening to convert the semi-enclosed container to a closed container. The opening defines an opening plane and the sheet material includes a first region and a second region being comprised of the same material composition. The first region undergoes a substantially molecular-level deformation and the second region initially undergoes a substantially geometric deformation when the sheet material is subjected to an applied elongation along at least one axis. The first region and the second region are visually distinct from one another, wherein the second region includes a plurality of raised rib-like elements and the first region is substantially free of rib-like elements.

Abstract: A flat-bottom bag is provided having a folded bottom. Improved adhesive patterns are provided on the bag prior to folding. A first adhesive is provided in a plurality of parallel lines interiorly disposed in a bottom end of the bag. The lines are arranged on front and rear walls parallel to the side walls so that one outer line is positioned on each side of the front and rear walls with corresponding inner lines positioned so that when the sides are folded inwardly, each outer line intersects and contacts one respective inner line in an overlapping manner. This arrangement provides a securing of all interior edges of the folded bottom. A second adhesive can be applied to the exterior of the bag to bond front and rear flap extensions to each other and to the folded sides, forming the flat bottom. In an embodiment, an outer bottom flap is formed by slits in the front flap extension.

Abstract: A multiple ply open mouthed bag with a rectangular satchel bottom having a plurality of tubular paper plies enclosing a seamless inner plastic pouch capable of heat sealing and/or severance at said open mouth. The paper plies may be made capable of pinch, sewn, or other various closures at said open mouth. The plastic pouch being foldably, non-adhesively and detachably arranged at the satchel bottom of the bag. The satchel bottom being formed by the slitting, folding and overlapping of stepped paper plies adhesively bonded thereat to form the satchel bottom and to loosely retain said pouch independently and away from said adhesive bonding.

Abstract: A self-opening style bag formed of a tube with a bottom constructed of folded-inward-portions of side walls and overlying portions of front and rear walls, all folded around a perimeter fold line. The tube provides adhesive strips on portions of the bottom region of the tube to assemble the bottom of the bag wherein at least the front wall and rear wall have transverse adhesive strips applied adjacent the fold line and edge strips along edges in the bottom region. The side walls have adhesive applied along bottom edges thereof. Alternately a heat sealable material is applied over an inside surface of the bag and local heating is used to effect seals. When the side walls are folded inward, they are sealed at all seams in the bottom of the bag to prevent small articles from becoming trapped between seams.

Abstract: A self-opening style bag formed from a paper tube of rectangular configuration wherein portions of the side walls are folded inward to form a bottom and thereafter are surrounded by folded over portions of the front and rear walls to complete the bottom. Front and rear flaps are cut into the front and rear panels and adhesive is applied to inside surfaces of the front and rear walls in a C-shaped configuration around said flaps, folding the side walls and portions of the front and rear walls inwardly forms a seal across the width of the bottom along the front and rear walls and a seam is formed between the folded over portion of the side panels which completes a sealed integrity of the bottom of the bag.

Abstract: A sealable square bottom container apparatus comprising one or more plies of sheet material. The square bottom of the container apparatus includes a continuous ring of sealable adhesive to form a substantially sift-proof bottom panel after articulation and sealing of the bottom of the container apparatus. Such a continuous ring forms a positive seal towards preventing the inadvertent migration or seepage of articles from within said container apparatus, particularly articles such as oils, steam, fluids and fine powder materials--without the need for an additional patch, sealing pastes or preliminary welds applied to the bottom of the container apparatus.

Abstract: For popping popcorn in a microwave oven, a flexible bag is provided which contains popcorn and includes a collapsible stand. The bag has upper and lower opposing face panels connected together by longitudinally extending, centrally projecting gussets that are integral with the face panels. Prior to popping, the gussets are folded between the upper and lower face panels of the bag. The panels and gussets are preferably formed from a pair of superimposed sheets of paper that are laminated together with adhesive. Popcorn is placed in the bag and the bag ends are sealed. A microwave heating susceptor of any suitable type is provided in the lower panel of the bag or elsewhere in the bag if desired. During popping of the popcorn kernels, the bag increases in size and the gussets expand outwardly as the bag becomes filled with popped kernels, hot vapor and steam.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a flexible bag in which the back panel is defined by inner and outer overlapping sections that overlap to form a back seam. The outer section defines a removable section which has a first perforation generally parallel to the back seam and an edge that is generally parallel to the bag bottom and intersects the first perforation. Alternatively, a second perforation may be provided along the edge. The outer panel is about as wide as the bag and the removable section is less than one-half the width of the outer panel. The first perforation is positioned between the back seam and side edge of the removable section. The first perforation may be adjacent the back seam and the second perforation is adjacent the bag bottom.A blank for forming said bag from a web is also disclosed.

Abstract: A trash bag for recyclable waste which will eliminate a second collection of recyclables and having color or another type of code thereon to permit the bag to be identified and separated from trash bags containing ordinary trash, and a system and method for collecting recyclable waste. The trash bag is designed to be placed in the normal trash collection stream along with bags of ordinary trash and to be delivered to an existing landfill or incinerator or to another separation location at which identification and separation of the bags from the bags of ordinary trash is accomplished. According to the invention, identification and separation of the bags of recyclable trash can be performed manually or in an automated manner at the landfill, incinerator, or other separation location.

Abstract: A bag of the gusseted square-bottom type having a generally rectangular bottom including a rectangular bottom fold portion and a triangular bottom fold portion is made with the triangular fold portion overlapping the rectangular fold portion. The triangular fold portion is sealed at the outermost ends thereof to define an inner enclosed space which communicates with the interior of the bag so that it can be extended from the bag bottom as the bag expands during a microwave cooking operation to form a fin-like extension.

Abstract: A flexible bulk container comprises a tubular side wall structure (1 to 4) of woven fabric, lifting means (13) at an upper end of the side wall structure, and a base (14) closing the lower end of the side wall structure. The base is in the form of a polygon having an even number of sides and comprising a plurality of thicknesses of said woven fabric. Each thickness is formed by two joined flaps of woven fabric forming integral extensions of the side wall structure and each extending from one side of the polygon towards the opposed side thereof. In each thickness of the base, each flap is of substantially right-angled triangle shape having a first adjacent side lying along one side of the polygon and a second adjacent side extending at right angles from said one side to the opposed side of the polygon, and the two flaps are secured together substantially along the hypotenuses thereof.

Abstract: In an iris-stop arrangement for stopping-off a duct the secondary bag has a contact length with the duct of at least 0.7 times its diameter. The apparatus is such that the point where the inflation neck of the bag meets the remainder of the bag can adopt a position not substantially in front of the secondary bag support member. Thus the bag has improved functional grip on the duct and does not suffer severe flexing at the neck when it moves back to rest against the support member. Preferably the portion of the bag which contacts the duct in use is a single layer of fabric thick while the ends of the bag, which have to withstand the bag inflation pressure unsupported, are two layers thick. In this way the bag can have good performance characteristics while only needing a relatively small insertion hole in the side of the duct.

Abstract: A plastic film sack having gussetted side walls, and in the bottom of said sack, a heat-seal stripe welding together the four film layers in the gusseted regions of the sack and a heat seal stripe welding together the two film layers between said gusseted regions; and between the heat-seal stripes of the four film layers and the heat-seal stripe of the two film layers are unsealed, arcuate stress-relief regions and the method of forming the same.

Abstract: A flexible container for filling, transport and storage of bulk material is made from at least one piece of base material. The bottom of the container is formed from at least four paired, preferably equally large, flaps which are direct extensions of the container side walls. The bottom flaps are formed by cut lines in the piece of material, and the angles .alpha. and .beta. of alternate flaps converge toward the center of the bottom. The sum of top angles .alpha. and .beta. of the flaps is less than 360.degree., such that the container bottom formed by joints of the flaps is downward slightly cone or funnel shaped when the container is filled. The sum of the angles .alpha. and .beta. of the flaps preferably is between (240.degree.-280.degree.) and 360.degree.. The container bottom will be substantially square or rectangular, depending on whether .alpha.=.beta. or .alpha..noteq..beta..

Abstract: An improved bag construction, and a method of bag forming, are disclosed which gives an economical yet strong, burst- and leak-resistant closure without the necessity of sewing or use of expensive stepped cut tubes. The bag is formed using a tube having opposed, interconnected front and rear panels, wherein a pair of laterally spaced, parallel cut lines are provided adjacent the top margin of the tube which define opposed first and second marginal flaps respectively in the front and rear panels. In bag-forming operations, the first flap is folded and glued against the outer face of the front panel, and the closure is completed by folding and gluing the second flap over the open end of the tube in a manner to refold the first flap and engage the outer face of the first panel. In another embodiment, a filling valve is inserted between the front and rear panels adjacent the closure end during the bag-forming operation, so as to provide a valve bag.