Including Means For Reclosing The Bag Patents (Class 383/203)
  • Patent number: 6287000
    Abstract: A flexible package includes a recloseable zipper along the mouth of the package for selective opening and closing of the mouth. The zipper includes first and second closure profiles, which are configured and constructed to selectively interlock. A tamper evident seal is provided, attached to both the first and second closure members to indicate whether or not the seal on the package has been damaged. A slider device is configured and constructed to facilitate the mating (closing) and unmating (opening) of the zipper, and to open the tamper evident seal to provide access to the package interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Patent number: 6273607
    Abstract: A flexible, reclosable package having a reclosable zipper construction openable and closeable by a slider device, and a tamper-evident structure disposed over the zipper construction to provide indication whether access has been gained to the interior of the package. A second tamper-evident structure may be disposed between the zipper construction and the package interior. This second structure may be a web or a peel seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Patent number: 6273608
    Abstract: A sterile collection bag and method of opening using wire mechanisms. The bag includes a body and an opening mechanism. The body is formed of opposed side walls and an upper body end. The interior of the body defines a sterile collection space for an object. The opening mechanism includes first and second flexible metal strips each having a first end, a second end, and a mid-section. The mid-section of each metal strip is attached to the center section of a side wall. The metal strips are longer than the width of the body so as to extend beyond the side wall edges. The ends of the metal strips are unattached to one another. In one embodiment, the upper end of the body includes an opening. In another embodiment, the body includes a lateral tear line located below the body upper end, with the opening mechanism located below the tear line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: International BioProducts Incorporated
    Inventors: N. Robert Ward, Jr., Debra K. Cory, Geoffrey S. Bright
  • Patent number: 6270257
    Abstract: A package in the form of a reclosable bag includes a bag body including front and back walls, and a profile strip fastener assembly sealingly mounted on the inside surface of the front wall. The profile strip fastener assembly includes a pair of releasably interlocking profile strips, with a secondary, peelable seal provided between the profile strips apart from their mechanically interlocked portions. By this arrangement, enhanced sealing for the package is provided, while abating the stress to which the interlocked portions of the profile strips are subjected during forming and filling of the package. The bag body preferably includes a frangible joint substantially aligned with the fastener assembly for gaining access to the assembly, with the frangible joint desirably providing tamper-evidence of opening of the package. The profile strips are sealed to the front wall of the bag body with a continuous oval shaped seal around the frangible joint. The perimeter seal is located above the peelable seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Innoflex Incorporated
    Inventor: James W. Yeager
  • Patent number: 6264366
    Abstract: Reclosable closure arrangements suitable for use with packages, such as food and non-food packages, include a zipper closure having mating closure profiles that are releasably engageable with each other, a slider device to open and close the profiles, and a tamper evident-structure. In some embodiments, the tamper evident-structure is positioned between the zipper closure and the slider device. In other embodiments, the tamper evident-structure is positioned over the zipper closure and the slider device. The tamper evident-structure may be a variety of constructions, such as an encapsulating layer. The tamper-evident structures may include structures such as peel seals, areas of weakness, and solid folds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard G. Custer
  • Patent number: 6247843
    Abstract: A flexible package includes a recloseable zipper along the mouth of the package for selective opening and closing of the mouth. The zipper includes first and second closure profiles, which are configured and constructed to selectively interlock. A tamper evident seal is provided, attached to both the first and second closure members to indicate whether or not the seal on the package has been damaged. The tamper evident seal extends along a side of at least one of the first and second closure profiles. A slider device is configured and constructed to facilitate the mating (closing) and unmating (opening) of the zipper, and to open the tamper evident seal to provide access to the package interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Buchman
  • Patent number: 6244748
    Abstract: A plastic package with a fastener composed of a plastic package body and a sealing sheet disposed in an internal portion of the package, wherein a first side of the package body and the sealing sheet are capable of being opened and closed by the fastener at an inlet portion of the package body, and a second side of the package body and the sealing sheet are sealed and the first side of the package body and the sealing sheet are bonded by peelable bonding portion(s) at a more internal side and/or external side of the package than the fastener. The package of the present invention has excellent filling, opening and resealing abilities even if the contents are liquid, as well as excellent pressure resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Showa Highpolymer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Juichi Kasai, Yoshihiro Tomomoto, Osamu Uemura
  • Patent number: 6241390
    Abstract: An easy open industrial bag includes a tab secured to a front wall on the exterior of the bag. The tab is secured between the front wall and a flap formed on a back wall of the bag and folded over and secured to the front wall for closing the bag. The flap is secured with an adhesive disposed in a pattern providing an adhesive void at an opening edge of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Southern Bag Corporation, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gene Douglas Schneck
  • Patent number: 6224262
    Abstract: A recloseable bag includes a bag body having a first wall and a second wall connected together substantially around proximate perimeters. The bag includesa first openable joint formed as perforations through the first wall and a patch secured to the first wall over the first openable joint. The patch has a second openable joint formed as perforations in registry with the perforations of the first openable joint. The patch can be composed of a material that tears in a controlled fashion along the perforations of the second openable joint. A zipper arrangement can be sealed to the inside surface of the patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Innoflex Incorporated
    Inventors: John F. Hogan, James W. Yeager
  • Patent number: 6213645
    Abstract: A package fabricated from a flexible sheet material capable of being sealed for closing off the interior of the package from ambient atmosphere is disclosed. The package has two or more side walls and a like number of side seams. The package has an open upper end portion terminating in a free edge. The inner surface of the side walls has a releasably securable adhesive adjacent the upper end portion in a pattern wherein the adhesive does not extend into the area of the side seams, thus increasing the structural integrity of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Fres-co System USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Scott Beer
  • Patent number: 6177172
    Abstract: Reclosable bags, plastic film for making the bags, and a method and apparatus for making the bags are disclosed. The bag has a reclosable fastener (26) connected to a single wall of the bag, and the film (55) has a reclosable fastener (26) connected to one side thereof which does not require attachment to any other portion of the film (55) when making a bag. The fastener (26) has a tamper-proof member attached thereto to indicate if the bag has been previously opened. The film (55) can be wound into a roll (54) suitable for use on conventional bag making machines including form, fill, and seal machines or a chain of coilable reclosable bags can be produced therefrom since the fasteners (26) are connected to the web preferably transversely to the bags longitudinal formation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Innoflex Incorporated
    Inventor: James W. Yeager
  • Patent number: 6174397
    Abstract: Methods an apparatus and a system in which reclosable bags and components thereof are formed. The reclosable bags 2001 are made from base web material that has transversely applied fastener tape segments thereon. The web material is used in a vertical form, fill and seal bag forming method. The method includes the steps of supplying a continuous strip of tape, having male and female fasteners profiler across the web for sealing thereon. In one embodiment a continuous strip of barrier material, and a continuous strip of fastener having first and second interlocked fastener profile strips are positioned on the continuous strip of tape; and secured thereon, the barrier tape is folded to obtain a fold and two opposing barrier tape fastener strip connecting portions; and, the fold is slit to form two separate continuous strips of barrier material strips and two continuous strips of tape. In another embodiment a coating is applied to the tape itself to prevent sealing of the folded slit tape to itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6149302
    Abstract: A bag having tamper-evident features including an adhesive flap foldable to cover the mouth of the bag to deter and indicate tampering with the contents. Indicia on the bag are visibly altered by attempts to release the adhered flap. A tear zone can be provided to facilitate detachment of a portion of the bag without cutting. Reclosable closure elements also can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventor: Nossi Taheri
  • Patent number: 6120184
    Abstract: A bag for the containment of fluent material, having an openable and reclosable pour spout. The bag includes a tubular bag body, and at least one flattened end forming a bag mouth. A closure flap emanates from one side of the bag mouth, to be folded over across the mouth to close the bag. A spout structure is affixed to an outer surface of one of the sides of the bag mouth. The spout structure includes a base sheet affixed to the bag body, and a spout flap releasably affixed to the base sheet. Upon sealing of the bag end, the spout flap becomes non-releasably affixed to an inside portion of the closure flap of the bag body. The spout flap is separable from the base sheet, via a first adhesive material is affixed to one or both of the spout flap and base sheet, for enabling repeated opening and reclosing of a portion of a portion of the bag mouth at the spout flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Stone Container Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Laurence, Bruce Bartles, Morris Crosby, Steve Wiggins
  • Patent number: 6113271
    Abstract: A resealable label flap including a label stop that bonds with a product package to prevent removal of the label flap from the product package. The label flap includes a base layer having a first adhesive applied to its bottom face surface. The first adhesive is a removable adhesive that allows the label flap to be repeatedly pealed and reapplied to the package body. The label flap further includes a top layer applied to the top face surface of the base layer. A portion of the top layer extends past the base layer to form a label stop for the label flap. The label stop of the label flap includes a second adhesive that permanently bonds with the package body to prevent the complete removal of the label flap from the package body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Prime Label & Screen, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry M. Scott, James F. Konicke
  • Patent number: 6079878
    Abstract: A package in the form of a reclosable bag includes a bag body including front and back walls, and a profile strip fastener assembly sealingly mounted on the inside surface of the front wall. The profile strip fastener assembly includes a pair of releasably interlocking profile strips, with a secondary, peelable seal provided between the profile strips apart from their mechanically interlocked portions. By this arrangement, enhanced sealing for the package is provided, while abating the stress to which the interlocked portions of the profile strips are subjected during forming and filling of the package. The bag body preferably includes a frangible joint substantially aligned with the fastener assembly for gaining access to the assembly, with the frangible joint desirably providing tamper-evidence of opening of the package. The profile strips are sealed to the front wall of the bag body with a continuous oval shaped seal around the frangible joint. The perimeter seal is located above the peelable seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Inventor: James W. Yeager
  • Patent number: 6071011
    Abstract: A fill-through-the-top reclosable package includes first and second opposing body panels joined to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The package is provided with a reclosable fastener extending along a package top disposed opposite the bottom. The fastener includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track includes a male profile, while the second track includes a female profile adapted to releasably interlock with the male profile. To provide tamper evidence, the first and second tracks may be joined to each other along an area of weakness. When making the package, the first track is first attached to the first panel, the package is filled with a product via a fill opening between the second track and the second panel, and then the second track is attached to the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Tenneco Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Toby R. Thomas, Samuel D. Aversa, John D. Athans
  • Patent number: 6062413
    Abstract: An aperture forming structure, which when attached to or integrally formed in dispenser packages for flowable substances allows reclosure and single or multiple uses. The aperture forming structure includes a break away tip member of thermoformable plastic. The break away tip includes a hollow protrusion from a surface. The intersection of the hollow protrusion and the surface is a fault line. Rupturing of the fault line creates an aperture from which the contents of the dispenser package may exit. A cap may be integrally formed with the aperture forming structure and detached for protecting the hollow protrusion or for closing the aperture created when the fault line is ruptured. The aperture forming structure can be made by heating a relatively stiff substantially flat thermoformable sheet of and then stretching the sheet to create a first and a second hollow protrusion in a tiered configuration. A rupture line is placed at the intersection of the first and the second protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Sanford Redmond
  • Patent number: 6048100
    Abstract: A resealable closure for a bag is described wherein the bag has upper and lower ends and including a front wall member, a back wall member, and opposite side wall members. The lower end of the bag is sealed in conventional fashion. The upper ends of the wall members are folded downwardly adjacent the front wall member to form a flap which extends across the upper end of the bag with the upper flap being permanently sealed, by an adhesive, to the front wall member except for a flap portion adjacent one of the side wall members. The resealable closure is positioned between the flap portion and the front wall of the bag and permits the flap portion to be opened to form a pour opening in the upper corner of the bag. The flap portion may be resealed by the resealable closure. The closure is designed so that the contents of the bag will not come into contact with any sticky or tacky surface as the material is being poured from the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Industrial Label Corp.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Thrall, James M. Freeman, Wayne C. Piper
  • Patent number: 6019512
    Abstract: Reclosable bags, plastic film for making the bags, and a method and apparatus for making the bags are disclosed. The bag has a reclosable fastener (26) connected to a single wall of the bag, and the film (55) has a reclosable fastener (26) connected to one side thereof which does not require attachment to any other portion of the film (55) when making a bag. The fastener (26) has a tamper-proof member attached thereto to indicate if the bag has been previously opened. The film (55) can be wound into a roll (54) suitable for use on conventional bag making machines including form, fill, and seal machines or a chain of coilable reclosable bags can be produced therefrom since the fasteners (26) are connected to the web preferably transversely to the bags longitudinal formation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: James W. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5964532
    Abstract: A reclosable package comprises opposing wall panels and a reclosable seal. The opposing wall panels are joined on three sides such as to create a receptacle space having a mouth at one end. The reclosable seal extends along the one end and including a first track and a second track. The first track includes a first reclosable element and a first fin portion extending downward from the first reclosable element toward the receptacle space. The first track is joined to one of the wall panels. The second track includes a second reclosable element and a second fin portion extending downward from the second reclosable element toward the receptacle space. The second track is joined to the other of the wall panels. The first and second reclosable elements are releasably engageable to each other. In one embodiment, the first and second fin portions are joined to each other along a one-time breakable preferential area of weakness to prevent tampering with the package prior to being opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Tenneco Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: Eric A. St. Phillips, Toby R. Thomas, Alex R. Provan
  • Patent number: 5945145
    Abstract: A package for sliced food product comprising a bottom wall, a top wall, opposite sidewalls and opposite end walls, wherein the package includes a flap which comprises portions of the top wall and/or an adjoining sidewall of the package, and which is movable between a closed position and an open position to selectively facilitate access to the package interior. The package is preferably made of a thin, flexible plastic material. The flap is removably retained in closed position by a peelable seal extending along one or more edges of the flap, or at least along portions thereof. The package is configured so that when the flap is in open position, the sliced food product is accessible from the side, which facilitates engagement of slice edges and subsequent separation thereof, as well as removal of the slices without undue distortion. This makes the package particularly useful in conjunction with packaging of certain sliced cheeses, although the package may also be useful with other products as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Kraft Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Jo Ellen Nielsen Narsutis, John F. McDevitt, John C. Little
  • Patent number: 5904425
    Abstract: A closure arrangement for a polymeric bag has a pair of opposing films joined at a fold line and perforated along the fold line. The arrangement includes a base strip, a pair of heat-resistant strips, and a peelable strip composed of peelable material. The base strip has opposing inner and outer surfaces, and the outer surface of the base strip is securably arranged with respect to one of the pair of opposing films of the polymeric bag. The pair of heat-resistant strips are securably arranged to the inner surface of the base strip, and are spaced from each other so as to form a gap therebetween. The peelable strip includes a first portion having opposing first and second surfaces and a stem portion extending perpendicular to the first surface of the top portion. The stem portion extends into the gap between the pair of heat-resistant strips and is arranged with respect to the inner surface of the base strip. Various other closure arrangements are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. May
  • Patent number: 5902047
    Abstract: Reclosable bags, plastic film for making the bags, and a method and apparatus for making the bags are disclosed. The bag has a reclosable fastener connected to a single wall of the bag, and the film has a reclosable fastener connected to one side thereof which does not require attachment to any other portion of the film when making a bag. The fastener has a tamper-proof member attached thereto to indicate if the bag has been previously opened. The film can be wound into roll suitable for use on conventional bag making machines including form, fill, and seal machines or a chain of coilable reclosable bags can be produced therefrom since the fasteners are connected to the web preferably transversely to the bags longitudinal formation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Innoflex Incorporated
    Inventor: James W. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5855434
    Abstract: A package reclosure label has a paper base label which is secured by a pressure-sensitive adhesive to the package. A tear resistant synthetic top sheet has a first end permanently adhered to the base sheet and extends beyond the far end of the base sheet to a second end which is secured by a resealable adhesive directly to the package. A generally unadhered central portion of the top sheet is also releasably adhered to the base sheet. The package is reclosed by folding over its open flap and adhering the first end of the top sheet to the flap. The labels are provided for application to packages side-by-side in multitude on a continuous release liner, with the pressure sensitive adhesive of the base sheet and the resealable adhesive of the second end of the top sheet mounting the labels to the liner in production of the labels and prior to application of the labels to packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Menasha Corp.
    Inventor: Ronald G. Hagen
  • Patent number: 5833368
    Abstract: An easy-open beverage container and opening system therefor includes an opening provided in a barrier wall. Covering the opening is a tamper-evident pull tab having a holding portion and a topmost free end portion. An adhesive adheres the holding portion to an outside surface of the barrier wall so that the hole is sealed. A pair of slits is provided in the holding portion at opposite lateral edges of the holding portion adjacent the free end portion and the respective slits extend inwardly and downwardly away therefrom. The consumer grasps and pulls the non-adhered free end portion downwardly toward an opposite end of the holding portion to expose the opening. This causes a peeled part of the holding portion initially to be pulled from the barrier wall until the slits are reached; at which time the peeled part laterally separates from a remainder of the holding portion initially along the slits and then further along tear lines beginning at the lowermost ends of the slits to expose the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Kraft Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Harry Kaufman
  • Patent number: 5829884
    Abstract: A package in the form of a reclosable bag includes a bag body including front and back walls, and a profile strip fastener assembly sealingly mounted on the inside surface of the front wall, and a one-way vent incorporated into the bag sealing arrangement. The profile strip fastener assembly includes a pair of releasably interlocking profile strips, with a secondary, peelable seal provided between the profile strips apart from their mechanically interlocked portions. The bag body preferably includes a frangible joint substantially aligned with the fastener assembly for gaining access to the assembly, with the frangible joint desirably providing tamper-evidence of opening of the package. The profile strips are sealed to the front wall of the bag body with a continuous oval shaped seal around the frangible joint, except for a gap which in part defines the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Innoflex Incorporated
    Inventor: James W. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5669715
    Abstract: A reclosable plastic bag comprises first and second opposing panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The bag is provided with a reclosable zipper extending along a mouth formed opposite the sealed bottom. The zipper includes a male track with a male profile and a female track with a female profile. A slider is slidably mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position. The male and female profiles are engaged to each other while the slider is in the closed position. The male and female profiles are disengaged from each other in response to movement of the slider to the open position. To prevent tampering with the contents of the plastic bag prior to being initially opened, the slider is initially parked in the closed position at one end of the zipper, and upper edges of the male and female profiles are detachably connected to each other, except at the one end of the zipper supporting the parked slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Tenneco Packaging
    Inventors: David V. Dobreski, Michael W. McManus, Alexander R. Provan, Toby R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5609420
    Abstract: A package closure for such packages as reclosable plastic bags includes male and female interlocking profiles and a tear bead on one side of a zipper tape film. On the other side of the zipper tape film are two tear containing strips, preferably of ethylene vinyl acetate. In use, the zipper tape film is in a folded condition with male and female profiles interlocked. This places the tear containing strips on opposite sides of the outside of the folded zipper tape film, where they cooperate in serving to seal and bond packaging film to the zipper tape film, and to prevent the tear formed when the package is initially opened from running to the profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Minigrip, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Palmisano
  • Patent number: 5461845
    Abstract: A reclosable bag and plastic film and method for making the bag. The bag has a reclosable fastener connected to a single wall of the bag, and the film has a reclosable fastener connected to one side thereof which does not require attachment to any other portion of the film when making a bag. The fastener has a tamper-proof member attached thereto to indicate if the bag has been previously opened. The method includes providing a roll of film with attached fasteners, unwinding the film, forming it into a tube, and sealing the tube to form a bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: James W. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5427245
    Abstract: The bag (1) for packaging compressible products arranged vertically in the form of at least one horizontal pile, substantially parallelepipedal in shape, comprising two front walls (5, 6), two side walls (3, 4), one bottom wall (7) and one top wall (8), is provided with an opening device consisting of a line of weakness forming a discontinuous contour, comprising two first vertical precut lines (13) made in each of the front walls (5, 6) and being extended by two second precut lines (15) made essentially in the part forming the base (10) of the attached handle (9), and a third precut line (14) made in the top wall (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Peaudouce
    Inventor: Jean Roussel
  • Patent number: 5290105
    Abstract: Containers, in particular plastic bags, for limited doses of liquid, oil, cream doses, and the like, that can be easily opened and reclosed, and that are well sealed and resistant to from tearing and leakage. The container body (envelope) is formed of a thermosealable, substantially flexible composite film (laminated or coextruded). A substantially rigid insert is welded to the inside top portion of the envelope. The insert has a base, a neck with a central hole, a groove fracture part, and a knurled cap from the center of which a pin protrudes. After the insert is fractured and removed, it can be easily flipped over and reinserted in the base to reseal the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Safta S.P.A.
    Inventor: Adriano Tencati
  • Patent number: 5215380
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for applying a reclosable profile element and a tear strip element to a packaging film is disclosed. Packaging film is formed into a tubular form about a forming tube. The tubular shaped packaging film is advanced along the length of the forming tube and over a product fill tube having an outer perimeter less than the outer perimeter of the forming tube. The packaging film is deformed to conform to the outer perimeter of the product fill tube. Excess packaging film, made available due to the differences in outer perimeters of the forming tube and product fill tube, is formed into a loop. A reclosable profile element is guided into the loop and adhered to the inner surface of the loop. A tear strip is also provided which may be adhered to the packaging film prior to said film into a tubular shape about said forming tube, or may be guided into the loop of said film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard G. Custer, Richard R. Kosiorek, Michael P. Kolosoo, Mladomir Tomic
  • Patent number: 5211482
    Abstract: A zipper closure strip for attachment to the top of a formed, filled and sealed package is provided. The zipper strip has a pair of interlocking profile members that extend from bowed webs which conform generally to the cross section of the top of the filled package. The strip may thus straddle the top of the package, gable fashion, and be bonded to the top of the package by heat seals, adhesive or the like. A slider seats on the profile members for urging them into engagement or forcing them apart. A blade protrudes through the slider from a plunger to enable the film at the top of the package beneath the closure strip to be slit. The zipper may be cuffed to expose the top end of the package to facilitate opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Minigrip, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Tilman
  • Patent number: 5186543
    Abstract: An easy-open container includes guide strips to limit tearing to areas adjacent to the intended line of tearing with a tear strip. The guide strips protect zipper elements and bag walls from distortion or tearing due to deviating tear lines. In a second embodiment, the guide strips are included with one or more tear strips on a membrane which may be attached to a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Gene A. Cochran
  • Patent number: 5165545
    Abstract: Stacks of folded paper tissues are usually enwrapped with a thin foil, thus forming a soft pack. Lately these packs are provided with a reclosable opening aid. This opening aid can be arranged in the region of a narrow longitudinal face of the pack, with an outer folding flap (18) at the same time serving as closing flap (23). In order to facilitate handling and to ensure a higher stability of the pack, the opening aid is designed such that only a portion of the outer folding flap (18) is formed as a closing flap (23), while the inner continuous folding flap (17) remains in the original pack position even when the pack is opened. The ends of the folding flap (17) are anchored to marginal side cross-strips (28, 29) of the outer folding flap (18). A recess (29) arranged preferably central in the region of the inner folding flap (17) and being open towards the free edge expediently enlarges the extraction opening (30) for the paper tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Jurgen Wach
  • Patent number: 5121997
    Abstract: An easy-open container includes a membrane forming the top edge of the container and hermetically sealing the contents thereof. Elements for opening the container are disposed on the membrane, and includes a first bead of thermoplastic material and a first perforated line for tearing across the membrane. In one embodiment the membrane is disposed inward from the mouth of the bag, leaving portions of the bag walls extending upward beyond the container top edge to form guide rails which facilitate opening of the container. One guide rail is removed as the bag is opened and remaining portions of the bag walls are offset to enhance access to the bag contents. A membrane for sealing the mouth opening of a bag-like structure is also provided, as are methods for making an easy-open container and for making a membrane having the strcutures aforesaid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Words Inc.
    Inventors: Frank La Pierre, Daniel Beyer, Daniel P. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5118202
    Abstract: A recloseable plastic bag containing an object and a method of making the bag. A plastic tube having cooperating snap fit members protruding from the surface of said tube extending along the length of the tube, adjacent to one lateral edge is provided. The tube is heat sealed along a series of spaced apart lines extending from one lateral edge to an opposite lateral edge. An area of the protruding snap fit members is heat sealed and flattened. A perforated line is formed to extend across the tube and said flattened area. The tube is slit adjacent to each of the heat seal lines and may receive an object in slitted side of the formed bag. The resulting bag may be conveniently severed from the tube along the perforated line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Inventor: Edward C. Bruno
  • Patent number: 5112138
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bag having an outer unitary piece of flexible plastic material including generally rectangular front and rear plastic panels and a gusset connecting the panels at a first end portion of the bag, and an inner unitary piece of flexible plastic material including generally rectangular front and rear panels and a gusset connecting the last-mentioned panels at the first end portion of the bag. The ends of the inner and outer unitary pieces of flexible plastic material opposite the first end of the bag are open to facilitate introducing goods into the bag. The side edges of the gussets and the panels are connected together so that the bag when filled can approximate the shape of a hexahedron with the gusset of said outer piece of flexible plastic material being flattened and closing the first end portion of the bag. At least a portion of the outer unitary piece is frangible so as to facilitate access to the goods in the bag and thereafter permit reuse of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Paramount Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: Harry R. Peppiatt
  • Patent number: 5063069
    Abstract: A plastic film bag for foodstuffs or the like having opposed film bag walls joined at their edges and forming a mouth between the walls and at one side reclosable fastener strips between the walls at the bag mouth having facing releasably interlocking profiles thereon with a sealing strip extending from one profile to the wall of the other profile with the sealing strip being sufficiently broad to avoid stress thereon and preferably with the sealing strip having a frangible fracture line extending substantially parallel to the profile to be torn when the profiles are first separated with the fracture line formed in various ways including perforations, or a score line, or an insert in the sealing web defining the frangible fracture line or the web being formed of multiple parts joined by a portion that fracture more easy than the sealing web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Zip-Pak Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Daniel P. McDonald, Steven Ausnit