Line Of Weakness Delineates Substantially The Entire Tearing Path Patents (Class 383/207)
  • Patent number: 6095686
    Abstract: The invention concerns a packaging bag (3), made of plastic sheeting and with a carrying handle (1), for personal-hygiene articles, in particular nappies. The one-piece sheet (8) is closed by means of longitudinal and transverse welds (18, 19) to form a bag (3) having a front (15), a back (16), two ends (11), a bottom (14) and a top (5) with an M-shaped top fold. When full, the bag (3) assumes a parallelepipidal shape. The carrying handle (1) is designed as a flat, one-piece, x-shaped strap (2) which is slit at each end over part of its length. The slit ends of the strap (2) are each welded to the inside of the M-shaped top fold where it is drawn in to form a triangle (10) when the bag is full and hence the parallelepipidal in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Kobusch Folien GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Mohrmann
  • 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: 6060095
    Abstract: An expandable microwave popcorn package which contains a charge of popcorn kernels for preparation in a microwave oven. The package is formed of front and back panels preferably joined together at the top and bottom ends by an adhesive and at the sides by side panels. The back panel includes a pair of separation lines along which the package material is relatively weak such that a portion of the back panel can be torn from the remainder of the package to expose the popcorn within. Separation lines may be formed by weakening a portion of the bag substrate, by reinforcing the adjacent areas, or by a combination of the two. Side panels are folded to form gussets which allow the package to remain flat during storage, to expand to accommodate the popped kernels. A susceptor is also preferably placed on the front panel opposite the back panel to enhance the popping action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Hunt-Wesson, Inc.
    Inventor: Cynthia Scrimager
  • 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: 6017598
    Abstract: The invention concerns a multilayer polymer film and a multichamber bag, whose bag chambers are formed by seams in the outer border zone and by at least one seam in the chamber separation zone, whereby the seams are formed from the polymer materials facing the chambers. The polymer materials facing the chambers are inseparably sealed together in the outer border zone and sealed together in the chamber separation zone such that the seam is separable with a force which lies in the range from 5 to 20 N. The different strength of the bond from the sealing process is obtained by varying sealing temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Fresenius AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kreischer, Klaus Heilmann, Thomas Nicola, Michael Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 5988882
    Abstract: A bag for carrying and exposing a food item, such as sandwich-type items sold at fast food or convenience stores. The bag includes front, back and gussetted side panels which are interconnected and form a V-shaped closed end and an open end. A pair of lines of weakness or perforations are provided, located on the front panel, extending between the open and closed ends, spaced apart a distance substantially less than the width of the front panel of the bag, which define a ripping strip. A pull tab is provided integral with the end of the ripping strip at the top end of the bag and extending therefrom to facilitate opening of the bag. Thus, the bag can be opened by grasping the pull tab and tearing the ripping strip along the lines of perforation so as to expose the bag interior and a food item therein for removal, application of condiments, and/or reuse of the bag to keep the food item warm or as a place mat to receive the food item for consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Bagcraft Packaging, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mauro Fisher, Harold L. Benford, Larry J. Reynolds, Dustin L. Rupert, Craig L. Schnieders, Gary D. Updegraff, Ronald E. Warner
  • Patent number: 5967665
    Abstract: A flexible polymer packaging bag is provided with an easy-open end seal feature for easily tearing through a fused seal. The bag has a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, in which the walls form an interior space. A stack of articles are contained in the interior space. A seal is in one of the walls and includes at least one seal area and at least one weakened zone. A frangible line for opening the bag is in the one wall and intersects the seal at the weakened zone, so that the frangible line can be easily tom where it intersects the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Allen MacDonald, Thomas Michael Lager, Michael Andrew Machurick, Jesse Paul Sorenson
  • 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: 5964534
    Abstract: A bag of flexible material for packaging an edible food product and supporting the food product for eating has a closed bottom and an open top for receiving a food product. A wall of the bag is adapted to be opened between the top end and a location spaced above the bottom end of the bag, whereby a closed pouch is formed below the location by which a consumer can hold the food product and wherein the portion of the bag above the location is foldable outwardly about the pouch to provide a skirt covering the consumer's hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: Theodore W. Welles
  • Patent number: 5954433
    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. 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. A peelable seal is arranged between the profile strips and the bag body, over the frangible joint to substantially hermetically seal the frangible joint. Additionally, an antioxidant constituent can be blended into the material forming the profile strips to inhibit oxygen transmission through the profile strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Innoflex Incorporated
    Inventor: James W. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5947604
    Abstract: A flexible bag for protecting luggage includes first and second opposing panel sections joined by a gusset at a first end. The first and second panel sections are secured together along first and second opposite edges with the gusset therebetween, to form a containment region between the first and second panel sections and bordered by the first and second edges and the gusset. A mouth is defined by the first and second panel sections at a second end opposite to the first end. The mouth is movable from an open position to a closed position, and provides access to the containment region when in the open position. A tamper-evident closure arrangement is at the mouth for securing the mouth in the closed position. The closure arrangement includes an adhesive region held by the second panel section, and a flap arrangement integral to the first panel section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Strout Plastics
    Inventors: Scott M. Bang, Kenneth E. Carney, Bruce M. Ancel, Thomas S. Everett, Lance M. Swenson
  • Patent number: 5941642
    Abstract: A system for packaging and dispensing fluids including a flexible package having a removable margin portion and retention elements by which a tube may be held in a certain position within the package such that, when the removable margin is detached and pressure is applied to the exterior surface of the package sides, the dispensing end of the tube is indirectly pushed out from within the package inner volume and above the margin of the package for sanitarily dispensing fluid and, upon release of the pressure, the tube may slide back within the inner volume for the sanitary storage of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Jon D. Darmstadter
  • Patent number: 5934809
    Abstract: Pouches of flexible packaging material exhibit a tearing zone in the form of a weakness such as perforations or a separation in the material, this in order to be able to remove the contents easily. The packaging material is covered over by at least one film-forming mass, at least in the region of weakness, in order that the package remains closed until the contents are to be used. The film-forming mass may be the decorative printing on the pouch. After packaging, the contents are protected by the pouch and, in order to remove the contents, the pouch may be opened readily by a pulling or snapping movement which causes the covering of film-forming mass to break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Alusuisse Technology & Management Ltd.
    Inventor: Claude A. Marbler
  • Patent number: 5924573
    Abstract: A bag dispensing system for suspending and dispensing plastic bags such as T-shirt bags and merchandise bags comprises a bag dispenser constructed to be mounted underneath counters of checkouts. The bag dispensing system comprises relatively short bag engaging hooks which are inserted through apertures formed in T-shirt bags. The apertures are positioned to enable downward removal of the T-shirt bags from the bag dispenser by applying a small downward force. The bag dispensing system further comprises removably detachable bag supporting members to simultaneously support different sized merchandise bags. Merchandise bag engaging hooks provided on the bag dispenser, and slits formed through the merchandise bag panels and gussets, assist in the opening of the bags during dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Orange Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carmelo Piraneo, Salim Bana, Gary A. Woodruff, Richard S. Petrie
  • Patent number: 5911508
    Abstract: A reclosable bag comprises a pair of opposing wall panels, a reclosable seal, and an optional tamper-evident partition. The pair of opposing wall panels are joined along a pair of opposing sides and a bottom bridging the opposing sides to create a receptacle space having a mouth end opposite the bottom. The reclosable seal extends along the mouth end, and includes first and second opposing reclosable elements and first and second fins extending downward from the respective reclosable elements. The reclosable elements are releasably engageable to each other. The first and second fins are connected to the respective opposing wall panels. The tamper-evident partition is located below the reclosable elements and forms a one-time breakable preferential area of weakness. The tamper-evident partition separates an interior of the bag from a first area bounded in cross-section by the tamper-evident partition, the fins, and the engaged reclosable elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Inventors: David V. Dobreski, Charles D. Keyser, Toby R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5908246
    Abstract: An unsealing structure for packing films that are difficult to rip to pack merchandise is disclosed, where the films can be easily ripped by stripping a tag label. A tearing line 2 is formed in the surface of the film 1 of the film package by hot shearing. A cutout 3 communicates with the tearing line 2 to assist in unsealing the film package. A tag label 4 is affixed to the film 1 and covers the tearing line 2 and the cutout 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Komatsu Electronic Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Arimura, Youichi Sakurai
  • 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: 5893460
    Abstract: A packaging sleeve of heat-shrinkable thermoplastic comprising a flattened tube having a first wall and second wall connected along parallel first and second lines of connection; lines of weakness formed in said first and second walls proximate to one of said lines of connection; said lines of weakness and the line of connection defining tear strip zones therebetween; a reinforcing-levering band in said zones formed by welding superimposed portions of said first and second walls; said reinforcing levering band being disposed parallel to said lines of weakness and in combination with said zones and lines of weakness establishing a tear strip for opening the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Halpak Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Castro, Seymour Naps
  • 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: 5783266
    Abstract: The present invention relates to easy-open hermetically sealed single serving packages. The present invention relates in particular to a multi-layer film that is particularly adapted for use in individually sealed packages where increased storage life of the packaged product is desired. The present invention is also useful in packaging multiple individual servings together in a single overall package, so that when the overall package is opened, the individual servings are protected from oxygen and moisture. More particularly, this invention is concerned with a novel film used for packaging individual sticks of chewing gum so that the freshness of each individual stick of chewing gum or the like is retained for extended periods of time after the overwrap packaging has been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: Russ Gehrke
  • Patent number: 5772330
    Abstract: A flexible bag for protecting luggage includes first and second opposing panel sections joined by a gusset at a first end. The first and second panel sections are secured together along first and second opposite edges with the gusset therebetween, to form a containment region between the first and second panel sections and bordered by the first and second edges and the gusset. A mouth is defined by the first and second panel sections at a second end opposite to the first end. The mouth is movable from an open position to a closed position, and provides access to the containment region when in the open position. A tamper-evident closure arrangement is at the mouth for securing the mouth in the closed position. The closure arrangement includes an adhesive region held by the second panel section, and a flap arrangement integral to the first panel section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Strout Plastics (div. of Great Pacific Enterprises (II))
    Inventors: Scott M. Bang, Kenneth E. Carney, Bruce M. Ancel, Thomas S. Everett, Lance M. Swenson
  • Patent number: 5745929
    Abstract: A sanitary cover comprised of a non-porous flexible material having a first opening is provided. The flexible material can be large enough to cover a toilet seat, and to tuck one or more portions of the flexible material underneath the toilet seat, to secure the toilet seat cover. The flexible material may be in the shape of a sheet or a bag. A bag shaped flexible material has a top opening which is large enough to fit over the toilet seat and to tuck one or more portions underneath the toilet seat. There is also provided a bottom opening in the bag shape which is preferably ovally shaped and slightly smaller than the opening in the toilet seat. An attachment device is provided through which a cord passes. The cord may be elastic or plastic and can be pulled to tighten and further secure the top of the bag shape underneath the toilet seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Linda Paula Sobieralski
  • Patent number: 5735401
    Abstract: A machine to make up doses of semen in a container comprising welded thermoplastics films that can be opened by hand without using instruments in order to insert therein an insemination probe includes a tubular needle having a nozzle over which is threaded a cleaning ring to prevent coating of a region to be sealed by welding with semen and to keep the walls of the thermoplastics films dry after filling the dose with semen. The sealing weld is made by a device having inverted U-shape jaws. An incision perpendicular to the branches of the U-shape is made at the same level as the latter by an incision device including an orientable blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Instruments de Medecine Veterinaire
    Inventors: Robert Cassou, Maurice Cassou, Bertrand Cassou
  • Patent number: 5722774
    Abstract: Flexible plastic bag for a plurality of compressible absorbent articles which are arranged in parallel, one beside the other. The bag has an approximately rectangular base, a front side, a rear side, two narrow sides, and an upper side and is closed on all sides. The bag also has a line of weakness which marks an opening for the individual removal of the articles. The height of the bag is greater than the depth of the bag, the line of weakness extends, midway along the bag, from the longitudinal center of the upper side, toward the base, about half way down the front side of the bag. The base has a downwardly directed supporting band. The absorbent articles do not exerting sufficient pressure on any of the sides of the bag filled with said articles to cause the opening to gape open. The opening can be formed by bending the bag to open the line of weakness, and it closes after removal of the product when the bag is replaced on its supporting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hartz
  • Patent number: 5683029
    Abstract: A combination sealing and opening strip for various types of packages comprises a three-layer laminate strip having a centrally-located, high strength membrane with pressure-sensitive adhesive on both sides of the membrane. The membrane comprises a material, such as MYLAR.RTM. flexible synthetic film, polyester, other polymeric films, fiberglass, or fibrous or non-fibrous materials of various compositions with a strength greater than that of the package material. This provides for a controlled tearing of the package material. During strip manufacture, the adhesive-coated strip is laminated in precise registration onto a differentially-coated release liner. The combination strip and release liner are applied to the package material in a location such as the flap of a common overnight envelope. When sealing the package, the user peels the release liner from the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Ludlow Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph N. Lyons
  • Patent number: 5666445
    Abstract: An easy opening plastic bag includes a plastic front panel, a plastic rear panel, and plastic left and right end panels coupled to the front and rear panels. A plastic gusset is formed at the top of the bag and is joined to the front, rear, left, and right panels. A first frangible portion is disposed near a top of the front panel, and a second frangible portion is disposed near a top of the rear panel. The first and second frangible portions lie in a plane which allows a portion of the bag to rotate away from the remainder of the bag about an axis parallel to the plane. A third frangible portion is provided in the bag and extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first and second frangible portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Inventors: Daniel J. Conrad, Mark A. Roland
  • Patent number: 5655843
    Abstract: An easy opening plastic bag includes a plastic front panel, a plastic rear panel, and plastic left and right end panels coupled to the front and rear panels. A plastic gusset is formed at the top of the bag and is joined to the front, rear, left, and right panels. A first frangible portion is disposed near a top of the front panel, and a second frangible portion is disposed near a top of the rear panel. The first and second frangible portions lie in a plane which allows a portion of the bag to rotate away from the remainder of the bag about an axis parallel to the plane. A third frangible portion is provided in the bag and extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first and second frangible portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Paramount Packaging Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Conrad, Mark A. Roland
  • Patent number: 5636925
    Abstract: A plastic, heavy duty bag having an easy opening pouring spout, and a method and apparatus for forming a plastic, heavy duty bag having an easy opening pouring spout are disclosed. The bag includes a radially disposed perforation in the upper corner of the bag. Above a heat sealing strip, a slit is formed in the portion of the bag extending above the heat sealing strip, to aid in tearing through the heat seal strip to gain access to the perforation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Bonar Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory B. Smiley
  • Patent number: 5564223
    Abstract: A quick-peelable fruit protective wrap comprises gadgets formed by folding both lateral sides of the wrap outside in, a nearly U-shaped notch portion forming a pair of strips with both sides of the opening portion in the top connected together to span over a branch, and a base portion with the gadgets also adhered in one body, and has pores on the whole surface, the pores are formed in ovals with the long diameters directed along the opening and base portions and the base portion of the wrap is of reinforced structure, thereby permitting a fruit to be taken out at a stretch from the wrap and simultaneously the wrap to be removed from the branch bearing the fruit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takita
  • Patent number: 5562964
    Abstract: Improved detaching of perforated roll products of paper or nonwovens is achieved by selectively reducing strength of the sheet along the perforation line at the edges of the sheet. This is achieved by lowering the bonded length (the sum total of the distance between perforations) at the edges of the sheet relative to that within the central portion of the sheets. Greater bonded lengths in the middle of the sheet enable the sheet to pass through converting operations with minimal breaks, while having lower bonded lengths at the outer edges allows the user to more easily start a tear in the sheet at the perf line and reduce the number of "ears" left on the roll as a result of detaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Jones
  • Patent number: 5560945
    Abstract: A perforated package of a composite integral sheet material which includes a first layer of absorbent material, a second layer of printable material and an impermeable pigmented polymer layer interposed between the first and second layers. The composite material has a plurality of air pockets formed between at least one of the first or second layers and the polymer layer, by discontinuously bonding the first or second layers to the polymer material. The package has two parallel lines of perforation which allow access to the interior of the package and to the foodstuff contained therein. A method of using the perforated package of composite integral material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: James River Corporation of Virginia
    Inventors: Daniel J. Geddes, Kathy Rigotti, Linda L. Bunker, Arthur C. Berger, Patrick L. Maynard, Robert Patterson, David H. Hollenberg
  • Patent number: 5511664
    Abstract: The outer surface of an article is covered with a wrapping film, and both ends of the wrapping film are lap-welded by heating, so that a body seal section is created. A removal tab is created at a position close to the longitudinal end thereof by slits that are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and cut parallel to each other along the marginal line of the body seal section on an upper overlapping film of the wrapping film. A perforated section is created and extended in line with one of the slits that constitute the removal tab in such a way that it crosses an imaginary continuation from this slit and departs from another imaginary continuation from the remaining slit. The end of the removal tab is picked up with fingers, and the fingers are moved in a direction of an arrow A, and the wrapping film is torn up from the slits. A split from one of the slits reaches the perforated section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Aramaki, Makoto Sato
  • Patent number: 5507579
    Abstract: A bag for enclosing an object having a top face, a bottom face and a side panel. The side panel has a first fold line attached to the top face and a second fold line attached to the bottom face, wherein the side panel has a third fold line defining a first area and a second area and wherein the first area defines a trapezoid. In other embodiments, the first area may be a rectangle, a five sided area defined by a rectangle and either a trapezoid or a rounded gusset area. In addition there is disclosed a bag that is convertible into an eating surface. The convertible bag has a top face and a bottom face with each having a first edge and a second edge. A pair of side panels are attached to the side panels along the first and second edges so that they extend substantially perpendicular with respect to the top and bottom faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Perseco Division of The HAVI Group LP
    Inventor: John F. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 5503477
    Abstract: An elongated serving, storing and heating bag for a food product of the type having a folded shell construction such as a taco, burrito, hot dog or the like is disclosed. The bag is in the form of an open ended bag of paper-like material having a dead fold capability with the bag including first and second side panels hingedly connected to one another along substantially parallel first and second fold lines with the first and second side panels combining to form an elongated tubular sleeve having a first open end and a second sealed end for receiving the food product therein. The bag further includes a gusseted fold line forming one of the first or second fold lines so as to permit expansion of the bag along one longitudinal edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: James River Corporation of Virginia
    Inventor: Debra Schlough
  • Patent number: 5464285
    Abstract: A plastic bag for containing merchandise which includes a plurality of walls forming a compartment for receiving and containing the merchandise, a generally flat flap connected at the top wall of the bag so as to be capable of extending outwardly therefrom, and perforations formed in the flap and in the container walls in a particular pattern that permits the perforations in the flap to be separated to form a handle opening in such flap without opening the bag itself, and which can be further opened to provide an access opening in the bag to permit removal of the merchandise therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Venture Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard F. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5445454
    Abstract: Tubular bag packaging, for medicinal supply articles such as bandages or rigid dressings, in particular, consisting of a tough film web made up of several layers in a composite structure whose opposite borders are glued or welded together along a longitudinal seam to form a tube enveloping the material to be packed and which is sealed at its ends by means of two parallel transverse seams and which exhibits at least one aid to opening, enabling it to be torn open quickly and completely in order to remove the contents, whereby at least one of the transverse seams (1,2) exhibits controllable, given weakening in the form of an incision (3), which only divides the transverse seam (1) and (2), respectively, in an outer part of its width, and that a line of weakening (4) running across the length of the packaging (10) is intended for the tear, during the course of which at least one layer (12) of the composite structure making up the film (14) is provided with aids to tearing (5) such as incisions, perforations or t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerald Barkhorn
  • Patent number: 5443154
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed food product package is provided having a vacuum sealed or gas flushed and sealed product cavity and having a preformed perforated or cutaway portion on at least one of the sheets of film forming the package to allow easy separation of the package in order to gain access to the vacuum or gas flushed product cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Oscar Mayer Foods Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald O. Hustad, Jeffrey M. Lipinski
  • 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: 5399366
    Abstract: A perforated package of a composite integral sheet material which includes a first layer of absorbent material, a second layer of printable material and an impermeable pigmented polymer layer interposed between the first and second layers. The composite material has a plurality of air pockets formed between at least one of the first or second layers and the polymer layer, by discontinuously bonding the first or second layers to the polymer material. The package has two parallel lines of perforation which allow access to the interior of the package and to the foodstuff contained therein. A method of using the perforated package of composite integral material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: The James River Corporation of Virginia
    Inventors: Daniel J. Geddes, Kathy Rigotti, Linda L. Bunker, Arthur C. Berger, Patrick L. Maynard, Robert Patterson, David H. Hollenberg
  • Patent number: 5361905
    Abstract: A package, which can be substantially hexahedral, is composed of a flexible polymer material and contains a plurality of articles. The package includes a front face wall, a back face wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and two oppositely located end walls. A plurality of stacks of the articles are contained within the package, and the article stacks arranged to extend in a generally parallel, side-by-side configuration with each stack including a multiplicity of the articles. Each of the stacks is aligned along an appointed stacking direction of the package, and each of the stacks has opposed facing ends thereof contacting opposed walls of the package. A designated opening mechanism extends across a selected primary opening wall of the package and extends across at least a portion of each of a pair of oppositely located, complementary opening walls of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. McQueeny, Steven C. Gehling, William R. Newman, John E. Theobald, Paul Y. Yee
  • Patent number: 5335996
    Abstract: A bag for carrying and exposing a food item, usually of the hamburger-type sold at fast-food or convenience stores. The bag includes front, back and gusseted side panels which are interconnected and form a V-shaped closed end and an open end. A pair of lines of weakness or perforations are provided in the bag, one along the junction of each side panel and the front panel and extending between the open and closed ends. A pair of slits, one member associated with each line of perforation and extending from the bag open end to the respective perforation line. A second set of slits can be provided at open end of each of the non-perforated side panel/back panel junctions can be provided. The bag having a width or the distance between the lines of perforations being substantially equal to the width of the front panel. Thus the bag can be opened by tearing along the perforations so as to expose the bag interior and an item therein for removal, application of condiments, and/or reuse of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Bagcraft Corporation of America
    Inventors: Jeffery J. Cortopassi, Ronald Marsik, Raymond E. McDonald, Nicholas M. Shymanski
  • Patent number: 5312189
    Abstract: The bag includes at the area of a corner or a projection a pouring structure which is in part enclosed by a seam. The pouring structure includes a channel and a tube located in the channel in order to prevent a collapsing of the channel and to channel the discharging of the contents of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Cellpack AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Aeschbach, Martin Wiesmann
  • Patent number: 5282687
    Abstract: A bag for receiving and containing a substantially stacked array of selected articles includes a flexible front panel which has two opposed side edge regions, a top edge region, and an appointed lengthwise stack direction. A flexible back panel has two opposed side edge regions and a top edge region, and is connected in facing relation to the front panel along the side edge regions thereof. A flexible top gusset connects to the top edge regions of the front and back panels. The top gusset and one or more of the front and back panels have an appointed line of frangibility extending at least partially there across along a direction which is transverse to the stack direction. The line of frangibility is entirely spaced from each of the panel side edge regions by a distance which is not less than 1/2 a width dimension of the stacked array of articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Y. Yee
  • Patent number: 5282686
    Abstract: A shopping-type bag manufactured from lightweight plastic, or the like, and having a normally open mouth through which articles to be carried are received within and removed from the bag. A plurality of elongated, flexible strips are coextensively connected to and extended from the bag. The strips are of sufficient length to be mated together to constrict or close the mouth opening and thereby prevent the articles being carried from inadvertently falling out when the bag is tilted, jostled or laid horizontally. Each of the strips is provided with a series of serrations extending thereacross at which the strips may be severed from the bag so that the mouth can be quickly and easily reopened to permit access to the articles being carried within the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Inventor: Terry M. Haber
  • Patent number: 5219229
    Abstract: The packing includes a side-folds bag (10). For opening the same, tear lines (22) are provided that start at the handle (18) and extend congruently at first. In the upper wall portions (14a, 14b), the tear lines diverge towards the corners (23), ending in the end wall (12) or converging again. For tearing the bag open, one has to pull at the four-layered portion (21) of the handle (18). The tearing is then done in a controlled manner with a take-out opening being made in the upper wall (14), which opening may extend into the end wall (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Karl-H. Sengewald GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Sengewald
  • Patent number: 5217307
    Abstract: This invention provides tamper-safety labeling that can easily be applied to a container and closure means to disclose the opening of the container. This labeling is a single piece one that has a generally parallel perforated tear strip and tab formed from the face stock and that allows the tear strip and usually perforated member to be formed and laminated to a release liner having a release thereon at least commensurate with adhesive positioned in the laminate on each side of the tear strip in the face stock. Also, the tear strip may run at any angle from the horizontal plane of the container to permit the tear strip to be removed to present different arrangements of the labeling on the container and may become a product or origin identification for the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Morgan Adhesives Company
    Inventor: Jack M. McClintock
  • Patent number: 5199792
    Abstract: A sandwich pouch is formed from a unitary blank of Kraft paper or other easily biodegradable, flexible sheet material. The blank is of generally rectangular form and includes a plurality of generally rectangular panels, joined side by side and foldably secured together by generally transversely extending fold lines. The ends of a pair of middle panels are each provided with a generally rectangular end seal flap. The blank is also provided with a pair of longitudinally extending tear lines which permit the pouch formed from the blank to be torn open at either or both ends to gain access to its contents. The pouch is opened by bending back an upper front closure panel for insertion of a food product such as a hamburger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Paul D. Roosa
  • Patent number: 5174659
    Abstract: An initially closed openable and reclosable closure for flexible bags, the closure having a tearable line of weakening defining an openable elongated slit in a flexible film of one face of the flexible bag and pressure sensitive adhesive provided on the exterior of the one face of the flexible bag on opposite sides of the openable elongated slit whereby the tearable line of weakening may be ruptured thereby opening the elongated slit and providing access to the interior of the bag. The opened elongated slit may be reclosed by folding the bag to bring the adhesive into confronting relation with itself on opposite sides of the elongated slit to form an adhesive-to-adhesive closure thereby closing the elongated slit. Reclosable flexible bags of this type reclosed in a tamper evident manner are especially useful in medical and health care fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Vonco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis L. Laske
  • Patent number: 5158499
    Abstract: An easy open pouch having superimposed layers of film and at least two substantially parallel and linear laser scores located adjacent to at least one seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventor: Anthony Guckenberger