Abstract: A containment and disposal bag for human bodily fluids is disclosed which includes a bag having a hollow interior and a top at least partially open to receive the bodily fluids; preferably a funnel structure within the bag to channel said bodily fluids into the interior and to restrict expulsion of bodily fluids from the interior prior to sequestration; a hydrophilic material within the bag which is rapidly gellable upon contact with the bodily fluids in the bag, the gellation serving to essentially completely sequester the bodily fluids and prevent it from thereafter being expelled from the bag; and a closure to close the top of the bag after introduction of the bodily fluids into the bag. The hydrophilic material is commonly a polymer which is activated upon contact with the water-based bodily fluids and which gels rapidly (normally within thirty seconds or less) to sequester the bodily fluids.

Abstract: A plastic bag with a recloseable zipper-type closure is formed with grip strips on its lips to ease the opening of the bags. The grip strips are extruded from a grip strip extruder which is moved relative to a movement of the zipper type profile to produce a regularly repeating pattern. The strips facilitate opening the bag even with wet or oily fingers. A method and apparatus for forming the same is also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible polymeric fluid impermeable cover includes a first web secured to and coextensive with a second web at a coextensive inter-relationship. A peripheral conduit is formed about the perimeter of the first and second web to contain a respective first and second continuous drawstring, wherein each drawstring is projecting exteriorly of the cover through opposed and respective first and second sides. A modification of the invention includes the web structure including a pocket accessible through a zipper to contain food debris therewithin in an alternative use relative to the drawstring structure to secure the bag about food debris and may further include a continuous fluid filled chamber positioned interiorly and adjacent the drawstring conduit to contain a fluid therewithin, wherein the fluid is utilized to stabilize the cover during use, as well as permitting access to fluid for cleaning of the table subsequent to its use.

Abstract: A reclosable bag is formed with profiles on internal surfaces of the bag walls defining a closure. Gripping ribs are formed between the profiles and the bag mouth to facilitate opening the bag. Finger guide ribs provided opposite the profiles to facilitate closing the bag.

Abstract: A zipper for a reclosable thermoplastic bag which produces an audible clicking sound and/or a vibratory or bumpy feel when closed or "zipped", and processes and apparatus for making such zippers.

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.

Abstract: A containment and disposal bag for human bodily fluids is disclosed which includes a bag having a hollow interior and a top at least partially open to receive the bodily fluids; preferably a funnel structure within the bag to channel said bodily fluids into the interior and to restrict expulsion of bodily fluids from the interior prior to sequestration; a hydrophilic material within the bag which is rapidly gellable upon contact with the bodily fluids in the bag, the gellation serving to essentially completely sequester the bodily fluids and prevent it from thereafter being expelled from the bag; and a closure to close the top of the bag after introduction of the bodily fluids into the bag. The hydrophilic material is commonly a polymer which is activated upon contact with the water-based bodily fluids and which gels rapidly (normally within thirty seconds or less) to sequester the bodily fluids.

Abstract: A suspendable bag adapted for suspending on a structure and opening, filling, and severing away therefrom. A suspension wall extends from the bags and includes suspension holes adapted to receive suspension pegs located on the structure. A score line is provided below the suspension holes and a support hole is provided below the score line and above the bag. The support hole is adapted to receive a support bag located on the structure. During operation, the support hole, in conjunction with the support peg, allows the opening of a reclosable zipper at the mouth of the bag by only pulling on a lip connected to the front wall of the bag. The support hole, in conjunction with the support peg, further supports the back portion of the bag while the bag is being filled with various products.

Abstract: An easy-open container having a membrane forming the top edge of the container and hermetically sealing the contents thereof. 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 to gain access to the bag contents. A membrane for sealing the mouth opening of a bag-like structure. A method for making a membrane as aforesaid and a method for making an easy-open container having the structure aforesaid are also provided.

Abstract: Dual flexible plastic pouches and a method of making the pouches where the pouches are reuseable and reclosable and have a double fastener strip arranged along the center between the pouches, the double strip is formed with a lower layer and upper pull flanges folded in from the edge of the lower layer with the pull flanges having reclosable rib and groove elements between the flanges and lower layer, an upper film web is juxtaposed over the lower web and bonded thereto over the peripheral edge to form pouches, the flanges are heat sealed to the upper web with a heat blocking thermal barrier between the flanges and lower layer of the fastener to prevent unintentional bonding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an improved easy-open container wherein a continuous base layer is integrally extruded with structure for gripping thereon and applied to existing film to seal perforated lines of tearing therein. Interlocking zipper elements are contemporaneously extruded and fused to the continuous base layer. Die clutter is reduced and the method produces a flexible container having desirable sealing, opening and gripping features.

Abstract: A recloseable, peggable package wherein the enclosed product is packaged between first and second package panels includes two package extensions and a recloseable seal strip interior of the package extensions. The package panels are hermetically sealed around their periphery and further sealed to the recloseable seal strip exterior of the hermetic seal. The first and second package panel extensions are sealed exterior of the recloseable seal strip and the extensions contain at least one opening extending therethrough which enables the package to be vertically displayed on a display member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a zipper for a reclosable thermoplastic bag having opposing rib and groove profiles wherein at least one of the opposing zipper profiles has an longitudinally extending part interlockable and substantially free of interdigitation with the opposing profile and wherein the part is structurally discontinuous along its length. When the rib and groove profiles are interlocked, an audible clicking sound and/or a vibratory or bumpy feel perceptible to the touch is imparted.Further disclosed is a process and apparatus for making the zipper wherein a zipper profile is extruded and indentions are formed within and along it.

Abstract: An extruded plastic zipper assembly comprises a pair of matching zipper strips having complementary reclosably interlocked zipper profiles with laterally extending confronting webs, and complementary non-zipper stabilizing rib means on the webs cooperating with the interlocked profiles for maintaining the webs substantially parallel to one another so that the assembly can be stacked in substantially uniform parallel relation with like zipper assemblies in a magazine package container, and a method of making the same.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing plastic film stock material including a sealing head utilizing heated air for continuous welding of reclosable plastic closure strips of plastic film. The sealing head is an elongated block having tapered walls which form a narrow bottom edge. The edge is curved longitudinally to match the curvature of a cooperating platen to define a small welding gap through which pass plastic webs to be welded. The sealing head includes a plurality of air distribution manifolds interconnected by passageways to provide a tortuous path for air flowing through the head from an inlet to an elongated, narrow exit slot formed at the bottom edge of the head. Multiple sealing heads are mounted on a carrier frame for positioning adjacent the platen to produce elongated welds to secure two-piece closure strips to a plastic web.

Abstract: Profiled bead and recess fasteners have mating, complementary parts. One part has a bead which engages in a recess in the other. When engaged, there is resistance to separation under tension forces. The recess has an entrance for the bead which is smaller in section than the bead but which is adjustable by local deformation to pass the bead by flexure of one side of the recess by the bead which comes out of contact with the other side. The local deformation can be produced by finger pressure and so the fastener can be operated without the usual slider, although a slider can be provided for some purposes.

Abstract: Bag making material comprises a plastic film carrying a reclosable fastener or zipper male profile and with one or more alignment ribs in spaced parallel relation to the profile. Reinforcing ridge or ridges provide stabilizing beam effect in respect to the profile and/or the alignment rib or ribs on the film along the back of the profile and/or alignment rib base or bases.

Abstract: A composite protective laboratory specimen bag (A) and method is illustrated which includes folded tubing (D) having a releasable lock (26) for forming a first fluid-tight compartment (B) for containing a laboratory specimen container. J-folded sheeting (E) with a reverse flip (46) forms a second compartment (C) for containing associated paper work. The tubing and sheeting are heat sealed together across a web (32) of the tubing to form a closed top composite bag with side mouth openings (24,48) for the compartments. A protective plate (62) avoids damage to the lock during the heat sealing step.

Abstract: A zippered cook-in-bag pouch and method wherein the pouch and a profiled extruded plastic zipper structure at the mouth of the pouch body are formed from material which will withstand substantially without deterioration maximum cooking heat to which contents within the pouch may be subjected when cooking the contents. A set hot melt adhesive between the profiles bonds the profiles tenaciously against separation at room temperature. The adhesive is sufficiently softenable at a temperature substantially above room temperature but near the cooking temperature, for releasing the profiles for opening the pouch body. The adhesive is settable to a non-tacky state in respect to the separated profiles when the adhesive temperature drops below the softenable temperature of the adhesive so that the zipper can then be reclosed and opened at will without adhesive interference.

Abstract: A bag structure and the method of forming wherein the bag is formed of a thin film material with wall panels and an openable bag top having pressure closable rib and groove profile fasteners at the top and upwardly extending pull flanges with a fold formed at the top of one of the wall panels and extending downwardly to attach to one of the fasteners and the flange of that fastener attached directly to the fastener so that the pull flange can apply an opening force directly to the fastener and so that the side wall and the fold can expand and move outwardly without applying a direct force to the fastener which would tend to open the fastener.

Abstract: An improved reclosable bag structure formed out of a plastic film or laminations thereof with front and back wall panels attached along their bottom and along their side edges and having fastener strips along the inner surfaces of the panels at the bag top with the strips secured thereto and one strip having a web element which is secured at its lower edge below the center line of the first strip and the other strip having a web element which is secured to the top of the strip with said web elements bonded along their faces to the inner surfaces of the panels at the top of the bag so that forces against the bag walls cause the strips to tilt and resist separation with said forces being applied in a shear mode rather than a peel mode.

Abstract: A recloseable bag having a fastener assembly comprising two fastener profiles, each having a hinged double wall construction to prevent unintended opening of the bag due to internal forces exerted on the inside of the bag wall panels. The bag is easily openable when suh is intended by simple manipulation of pull flanges, thereby providing access to the interior of the bag. The hinged double wall construction also assures proper alignment of the fastener profiles across the length of the upper portion of the bag wall panels, making interlocking closure easy when pressure is applied on the outer walls of the bag behind the fastener profiles.

Abstract: An interlocking closure fastening device comprising a first closure element and a second closure element wherein the first closure element or the second closure element may comprise a plurality of closure element units having the same or alternately different structures. The closure fastening device is particularly adapted for multiposition occlusion of the closure elements such as in connecting various parts of plastic film to itself, different plastic films to each other, and variable-depth pouches, containers, or storage bags.

Abstract: A tubular plastic container having moisture-proof capabilities and being reclosable with a continuous longitudinal seal along a back side, with cross-seals at the ends and with a front fold along the longitudinal front center formed by confronting faces being drawn together and folded over said front center with the confronting faces having internal continuous complementary interlocking rib and groove elements wherein the fold is severable for access to the rib and groove elements.

Abstract: A reclosable plastic film bag and the method of making the same with the bag having opposed side walls, pressure closable separable opposed rib and groove fastener elements on confronting faces of the top for closing the bag, plastic film above the fastener elements hermetically closing the bag top, lines of tear perforation through the film to tear off the top and perforation sealing strips attached to the surface of the film preventing the passage of air through the perforations.

Abstract: Recloseable plastic bags having mating interlocking profiles; the bags each include a band of double thickness, formed adjacent the mouth of the bag and a pocket formed by the band and the panel surface of the bag to facilitate handling of the bag such as by inserting the user's finger in the pocket and grasping the band.

Abstract: Bags with reclosable zippers along their mouth ends and having pull flanges extending above the zippers, have attending upwardly from said pull flanges separably attached tamper evident extensions which are adhesively fixed to one another so that it is necessary to separate the tamper evident extensions from the pull flanges along lines of weakening when it is desired to gain access into the bag through the reclosable zipper. A method of and an apparatus for making the bags in linked chains and a method of and apparatus for filling the linked bags and then completing the filled bags are disclosed.

Abstract: Improved reclosable, flexible containers having an internal fastening element wherein the improvement comprises an external opener for disengaging the internal fastening element.

Abstract: A method and structure for a non-reopening extruded plastic profile fastener wherein complementary rib and groove type profiles are constructed and arranged to be pressed into interlocking relationship, and provided with restraining means against permanent interlocking so that the fastener can be handled as an assembly with the profiles aligned for interlocking but not interlocked until the means are overridden and the profiles pressed into interlocked relation with one form of the overridable means being a frangible diaphragm across the groove to prevent movement of the rib and in another form a projecting strut which is yieldable with the application of a predetermined force or which is removable to permit the profiles to be moved to fully interlocked position.

Abstract: A reclosable pouch is provided having front and back walls and an opening along its upper edge. A first fastener profile is sealed on its ends to the exterior of the front wall of the pouch. The fastener profile extends longitudinally near the pouch opening. A second fastener profile is sealed on its ends to the exterior of the back wall of the pouch. The first and second fastener profiles each have a rib member extending longitudinally thereon and a groove for reception of the oppositely disposed rib. The fastener profiles are adapted for interlocking with the front and back walls of the pouch being interposed therebetween. A method and apparatus for manufacturing the aforesaid pouches are also described herein.

Abstract: A flexible container for storing foods in a freezer and cooking foods therein. The container includes an interlocking closure fastening device comprising an omega-shaped closure element and a co-acting clamping closure element. The co-acting clamping closure element may have a profile portion comprising two generally parallel arm portions wherein one of the arm portions terminates in an inwardly curved hook portion, and the other arm portion curves slightly inward prior to terminating in an outwardly extending clamp portion; or the profile portion may comprise two outwardly curved arm portions wherein one of the arm portions terminates in an inwardly curved hook portion, and the other arm portion curves inwardly prior to terminating in a slightly outwardly curved hook portion; or the profile portion may comprise one inwardly curved arm portion terminating in an inwardly curved hook portion, and one generally straight arm portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for applying a profile with adjacent ribs to a traveling film web to form an adjacent rib-type zipper. The device includes a first extruder for extruding a base member, and a mechanism for joining the base member to a bag film web. A second extruder is provided for extruding a male profile member, a first rib member and a second rib member as three separate extrudates. The extruder is configured for joining the profile member, first rib member and second rib member to the bag film in an aligned relation such that the profile member is disposed between the first and second rib members.

Abstract: A method for providing a wide-track integral thermoplastic closure for film or sheet stock. The closure includes ribs on either side of an element of the closure to provide the wide-track effect to assist one in ease of interlocking the closure elements. By varying the thickness of the closure element adjacent the ribs, the spacing of the ribs to provide the desired wide-track feel can be obtained.

Abstract: A bag closing separable fastener has a combination profile stabilizing and guiding and differential opening force enhancing post flange projecting from a base area along the outer side of a male profile and engagable with a base area alongside a complementary female profile. The post flange serves not only for stabilizing the male profile fastener strip, but also as a device for enhancing a hard-to-open from the inside and easy to open from the outside function of the fastener in respect to a bag with which associated. The male and female profile base areas and the post flange have substantially the same rigidity.

Abstract: Gusseted bags are provided with extruded reclosable plastic profile stirps along free upper end portions of face walls flanking a bag mouth, the fastener strips being free to separate throughout their lengths when opening the bag mouth to the full extent permitted by opposite side expanding gussets of the bag so that free access into the bag such as for inserting or removing contents such as a tray loaded with products such as cookies, or the like, or for pouring contents therefrom selectively between either of the separated ends of the upper end portions of the face walls and the cooresponding ends of the fastener strips is permitted. The fastener strips may have interlockable wraparound extensions. A method of making the bags is disclosed.

Abstract: A resealable reusable flexible plastic bag with a loop handle is disclosed for packaging heavy loads, for example large quantities of granular goods such as dog foods, in a sealed manner. The bag comprises flexible outer panels connected by a flexible gusset, inner flexible panels also connected by a flexible gusset, and a closure having flexible mating portions connected to the outer gusset. The outer gusset includes a frangible portion such as a line of perforations to facilitate access to the inner gusset. The inner gusset also includes a frangible portion to facilitate access to the goods therein. The flexible mating portions of the closure are separably connectable to each other to prevent access to the goods when connected and to facilitate access to the goods when separated.

Abstract: An improved cast process and apparatus for fusing closure elements, particularly those with thickened bases, to separately extruded film or sheet stock for making containers with integral reclosable closures. The process is applicable to webs of film which contain more than one pair of closure elements. The web is split immediately adjacent the die exit between adjacent pairs of closure elements to achieve a film having essentially erect closure elements and associated ribs should they be included. The process also permits beaded edges along both sides of the film. Improved containers can thus be produced.

Abstract: Bags especially adapted to be made from fusibly incompatible bag body web material and extruded plastic zippers comprising in each instance a pair of zipper strips having reclosable zipper profiles located below upper ends of pull flanges, and fused connecting anchors extending from the zipper strips through holes in the material of the bag body and thereby permanently attaching the zipper strips to the bag body. The portions of the bag body material having the anchor holes may be received in groove sockets in the zipper strips, where the zipper strips are located at the inside of the bag. The zipper strips may be located on the outside of the bag and sealably pinch material of the bag body material in and between interlocking profiles, with ends of the zipper strips secured to the sides of the bag by fused anchors extending through holes in side seams on the bag body. Method of making the bags is disclosed.

Abstract: A reclosable extruded plastic fastener for joining sheet material such as walls of bags, and method of making the same. The fastener comprises a grooved female profile and a complementary hook-headed male profile, and a stabilizing structure especially advantageous when pressing the profiles together into closed fastener assembly. The female profile has a generally square base with at least one stop shoulder to minimize tipping of the female profile about a thin, thermal bridge minimizing, heat transfer limiting stem. The hooked jaw arms of the female profile may have various geometric shapes. The male profile has an interhooking barb which interengages with the hooked jaws of the female profile. Stabilizing ribs are spaced from the head, but the rib at the inner side of the head is closer to the head than at the other or outer side, so that there is a desirable differential fastener separating relationship retaining the fastener efficiently with greater hold against opening due to internal bag forces.

Abstract: Integrally serially connected top fillable bags have closed bottoms and sides and reclosable zippers from which pull flanges extend upwardly. The bags are separated along their sides including the pull flanges and continuous connecting strips connect the tops of the pull flanges and have guide ribs extending continuously therealong for engagement by supporting jaws which serve to open the serially connected bags one at a time at a filling station for filling. After the filling station, the filled bag is separated from the connected bags by removing the connecting strip from the tops of the pull flanges of the filled bags in line with or below the top ends of the separations between bags. The zipper of the filled bag is closed by a closing device such as pinch rolls through which the bag is pulled and the connecting strips removed.

Abstract: An interlocking closure fastening device comprising a first closure element having an omega-shaped profile portion, and a second complementary closure element having a plurality of omega-shaped profile portions spaced to interdigitate with the first closure element and occlude with the first closure element. The profile portion of the first closure element is made from a stiff resin material, and is attached to a base portion made from a flexible resin material. The second closure element is made from a stiff resin material. The base portions of the second closure element are spaced from each other and interconnected by a flexible connecting portion. The closure device is adapted for use with reclosable plastic freezer storage and cooking bags.

Abstract: A serially interconnected chain of reclosable, zipper-lock plastic bags is arranged for facilitated handling in an automatic bag filling machine. The bag chain may be formed with single or plural connecting spot links between side edges of adjacent bags to maintain alignment of the bags in the chain as the chain is unwound from storage and threaded along a lateral transport path running through the filling machine. The connecting links are adapted to be broken during the loading operation so that separate, loaded bags may be discharged from the machine for packaging. Each bag is formed with raised ridge surface means running laterally thereacross adapted to be slidably received in a suitable guide track means of the filling machine to provide vertical support for the bags as the chain is being drawn between various work stations in the filling machine.

Abstract: A specimen, sample collection and transport container comprising a flexible plastic bag which is separated into selectively sealed chambers by leak-proof interlocking, multiple track, reclosable fasteners. The bag comprises a sheet of coextruded polyethylene-Saran-polyethelene material which is folded in half and sealed at the side edges. An interior fastener substantially traverses the container parallel to the folded bottom, thereby defining a lower chamber. An entrance fastener is affixed to the upper edges to selectively seal the entrance. Gripper flaps are added to the exterior of the container to facilitate the opening of the interior fastener. The lower chamber is supplied with a fixative or transport solution which is introduced by clipping or puncturing the lower corner or edge of the bag. The corner or hole is then sealed.

Abstract: Material and method for making three reclosable bag sections from separable fastener equipped web, comprising folding opposite free portions of the web upon themselves and folding an intervening portion of the web upon itself and thereby providing three bag sections in a generally Y orientation. Separably interlockable fastener profiles adjacent to juncture of the three sections being arranged to provide a respective bag top separable profile fastener assembly along each of the bag sections. The bag sections are separable from one another at the juncture. Pull flanges may be provided along the separable fastener assembly of each of the sections.

Abstract: Material for bags with flexible sidewalls having reclosable separable plastic profile bag mouth closures comprising flexible sheet material providing the bag body and sidewalls. The bag mouth closures comprise strips having separably interlockable complementary resilient plastic profiles and lateral pull flanges of greater thickness than the sheet material extending from one side of each of the base portions. The opposite side of each base portion is generally aligned with its profiles. The base portions and lateral pull flanges are secured in laminar relation to marginal portions of the sheet material, and with distal edges of the pull flanges directed toward bag top edges of the marginal sheet portions.

Abstract: A fastener assembly has two sets of fastener profile elements for a reclosable bag especially adapted for mutually facilitating alignment and interlocking closure interengagement of said fastener profile elements responsive to closing pressure applied from outside of the bag toward the fastener assembly.Further, the fastener assembly is so constructed that a lower portion of the fastener assembly effectively resists opening separation from the interlocking interengagement thereof by separating forces exerted on the wall panels of the bag from inside of the bag body, while the upper portion of the fastener assembly is adapted to be relatively easily separated by pulling apart pull flanges extending thereabove, and such pulling apart of the pull flanges sequentially thereafter being adapted to pull apart the lower portion of the fastener assembly for access through the mouth of the bag into the interior of the bag.

Abstract: A flexible bag has a releasable closure with a fin extending away from one of the mating pluralities of hook-like protrusions. The fin is joined to the base of the hook-like protrusions to apply disengaging force for opening the closure from the outside of the bag. The closure resists opening force from inside the bag. The protrusions have hook-like ends which have the same shape on all protrusions, which extend in one direction on one of the plurality of protrusions and in the other direction on the other plurality of protrusions. The protrusions are easily extruded from molten thermoplastic and applied to a moving web of film during an in-line bag manufacturing process.

Abstract: A flexible container for storing foods in a freezer and cooking foods therein. The container includes an interlocking closure fastening device comprising an omega-shaped closure element and a co-acting clamping closure element. The co-acting clamping closure element may have a profile portion comprising two generally parallel arm portions wherein one of the arm portions terminates in an inwardly curved hook portion, and the other arm portion curves slightly inward prior to terminating in an outwardly extending clamp portion; or the profile portion may comprise two outwardly curved arm portions wherein one of the arm portions terminates in an inwardly curved hook portion, and the other arm portion curves inwardly prior to terminating in a slightly outwardly curved hook portion; or the profile portion may comprise one inwardly curved arm portion terminating in an inwardly curved hook portion, and one generally straight arm portion.

Abstract: A composite laboratory specimen bag (A) and method is illustrated which includes folded tubing (D) having a releasable lock (26) for forming a first fluid-tight compartment (B) for containing a laboratory specimen container. J-folded sheeting (E) with a reverse flip (46) forms a second compartment (C) for containing associated paper work. The tubing and sheeting are heat sealed together across a web (32) of the tubing to form a closed top composite bag with side mouth openings (24,48) for the compartments. A protective plate (62) avoids damage to the lock during the heat sealing step.

Abstract: A bag with an openable mouth carries a reclosable extruded plastic zipper inside the mouth. The zipper has complementary profiles separably interlockable in a closed condition of the zipper. A gasket flange structure in separably sealingly grippingly interengageable by and between the profiles in the closed condition of the zipper, and may also serve as a tamper evident or tamper discouraging device.