Closure Securing Element Patents (Class 493/214)
  • Patent number: 6131374
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming and closing bags, said method comprising steps consisting in delivering closure means comprising at least two complementary strips disposed on respective backing sheets, in delivering a film that is to constitute the walls of the bag, in heat-sealing a first backing sheet of the closure means to the film along at least one of the longitudinal edges of said sheet, with the closure means being angularly positioned transversely to the longitudinal direction of the film, in shaping the resulting film as equipped with the closure means into a tube, and in heat-sealing the second backing sheet of the closure means to an opposite face of the film along only one edge of said second sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Flexico-France
    Inventor: Henri Georges Bois
  • Patent number: 6110090
    Abstract: A continuous method of providing a gasket to a reclosable fastener strip having reclosable closure strips with interlocking profiles. The fastener strip is moved longitudinally, the profiles are disengaged and the closure strips are separated by approximately 90.degree. from one another. A membrane is conveyed, independently of the fastener strip, along a path that brings it parallel to one of the closure strips. Thereafter, the separated closure strips are brought back together to sandwich the membrane between their respective profiles and the profiles are re-engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 6099451
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a bag with a reclosable zipper includes feeding an elongated sheet of bag film in a first direction under a placement head. A zipper assembly is fed in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction into the placement head, and the segment of the zipper assembly in the placement head is cut off. Rollers may be used to retain the zipper segment in the placement head. The placement head, with the zipper segment, is moved adjacent the bag film. The bag film is then compressed between a hot sealing bar and a resilient portion of the placement head to seal the zipper segment to the bag film. Then the bag film is folded over the zipper segment, sealed along a bottom and rear seam, and sealed to the other side of the zipper segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Steven C. Mulder, James K. Holmes
  • Patent number: 6090029
    Abstract: An improved bulk bag or bulk box liner and spout fitment construction for the liner discharge and/or fill openings. The liner is of liquid impervious thermoplastic multiple-ply sheet material, and the spout fitment is a rigid thermoplastic spout of either open or closed flange type. The spout tube extends through the liner fitment opening and has an external flange base adjacent the liner-interior tube end that is permanently affixed and heat sealed to the liner in a first annular heat weld zone formed between an outward facing surface of the flange base and the interior surface of the liner. A first backing piece of liquid impervious plastic sheet material overlies the inward-facing flange surface and has a marginal portion overlying the liner interior surface. A second annular heat seal is formed between this backing piece and flange base in a second annular weld zone spaced radially inwardly from the first heat weld seal zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Custom Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Lee LaFleur
  • Patent number: 6088998
    Abstract: A zipper strip for a reclosable package having a transverse zipper is provided. The zipper strip comprises a male interlocking profile and a female interlocking profile. Each profile includes an interlocking member and an integral web which defines a trailing flange. One or both of the profiles are provided with high compression members which allow one or both of the interlocking members to be sealed to thermoplastic film without being crushed or distorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Art Malin, Ronald L. Ramsey, Lawrence Share, Richmond M. Scott
  • Patent number: 6086524
    Abstract: A storage bag and a method and apparatus for forming such a storage bag. The storage bag contains a reclosure tie formed as an integral marginal portion of the bag beyond an edge of the bag. The marginal portion includes overlying layers of bag material that form an elongated structure along an axis with first and second ends. A fused closure is formed in the marginal portion parallel to the axis and over a portion of the marginal portion spaced from one end thereof. This structure defines a tail and open loop that wrap around an opened bag thereby to close the bag in a positive fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Andrew McG. Martin
  • Patent number: 6068585
    Abstract: A gored packing bag which comprises a front body 1, a rear body 2, gores 3,4 formed by gluing the front body and the rear body into a combined situation, and a pair of fasteners 5, 6 in arranged between the front or rear body and the gores, one of a base tape being glued as a whole on an inner surface of the front or rear body close to an open end thereof, while both end portions of the other base tape 8 being glued to a half side of gore 28,29 facing to the front and an intermediate remainder of the gores in the width direction being glued on a corresponding inner surface of the front or rear body, and a fixed portion 30, 31 of remaindered gores in the width direction being glued on a corresponding inner surface of the front or back body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventor: Toshikatu Ouchi
  • Patent number: 6044621
    Abstract: A zipper strip for a reclosable bag or package includes a male interlocking profile and a female interlocking profile. The male interlocking profile includes a male interlocking member and a male web coextruded therewith. In like manner, the female interlocking profile includes a female interlocking member and a female web. The male interlocking member snappingly engages into the female interlocking member to join the profiles to one another. One of the male and female webs is wider than the other in at least one of two directions from the male and female interlocking members, the greater width being represented by at least one flange extending widthwise beyond the other web. The zipper strip is designed to be attached to thermoplastic sheet material by sealing the at least one flange thereto without sealing the male and female webs to each other. Methods for securing the zipper strip to thermoplastic sheet material, and for making packages on a horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Art Malin, Donald L. Van Erden, James G. Kohl, Jr., Michael J. McMahon
  • Patent number: 6032437
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for forming packaging on the basis of film that includes complementary closure strips, the machine comprising: feeder means for feeding onto the film a closure means comprising two support webs provided with at least a first longitudinal assembly constituted by two complementary strips and with a second longitudinal assembly disposed at a distance from the first, urging means for urging the support webs towards each other between the two longitudinal assemblies, and two rectilinear guides suitable for penetrating respectively into the gaps between each pair of lateral edges of the support webs. The present invention also provides a method, the resulting packages, and closure means for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Flexico-France
    Inventor: Henri Georges Bois
  • Patent number: 6022144
    Abstract: A closure system for use in repetitively opening and closing an openable end of a pliable container includes first and second shape memory elements that are adapted to be attached to side walls of the pliable container adjacent the openable end thereof. Each of the first and second shape memory elements includes an elongated, generally concave surface portion and an opposing, generally convex surface portion. In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, the shape memory elements are provided on the container with the concave surface portions facing each other when the pliable container is in an open condition to maintain the opposing side walls in a spaced relationship in order to permit enhanced access to an interior of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Arthur D. Little Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Hausslein
  • Patent number: 6021621
    Abstract: A zipper sealer machine for use with a form, fill and seal machines and the method for bonding strips of reclosable fastener material to the film of a form fill and seal machine. Strips of reclosable fastener material are cut and the cut ends fused together by cutter-fuser jaws. A sensor senses when the cutter-fuser jaws become fully closed and when they begin to open so that other steps in the operation can be based on when the jaws actually begin to open and when they are actually fully closed rather than when the signal is sent that causes them to open and close. Relief area that have been coated with an anti-stick substance have been provide in the engaging surfaces of the cutter-fuser jaws to avoid fusing of the flanges and to prevent sticking of the flanges to the cutter-fuser jaws. The cut strips of reclosable fastener material are held on an edge of the rotor that is remote from the film surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Triangle Package Machinery Company
    Inventor: John M. Linkiewicz
  • Patent number: 6012264
    Abstract: A zipper sealer machine for use with form, fill and seal machines and the method for bonding strips of reclosable fastener material strip fastener material to the film of a form fill and seal machine. The zipper sealer machine is adapted to be mounted within in the form, fill and seal machine and coordinate with the components of the form, fill and seal machine such as its film control mechanism. The zipper sealer machine includes a substantially symmetrically formed rotor having a pair of outer edges. Reclosable fastener material strip fastener material is fed to an outer edge of the rotor and cut to length. The cutting process also fuses the cut ends of the reclosable fastener material strip fastener material . The rotor is rotated 180 degrees, which locates the strip of reclosable fastener material strip fastener material adjacent to the film course at which it is bonded to the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Triangle Package Machinery Company
    Inventor: John M. Linkiewicz
  • Patent number: 6003582
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying strip fastener elements or zippers to web material includes an unwind stand holding a roll of film material, an infeed dancer arrangement of rollers, a zipper apparatus which conditions zipper material, cuts zippers and delivers zippers to a zipper feed apparatus. The zipper feed apparatus loads zippers into a sealing platen of a rotating turret. The rotating turret carries the zippers successively to a position adjacent a surface of the film and a seal bar presses the film to successive zippers to seal the zippers thereto while a new zipper is being received in a sealing platen of the turret at a loading station at a rotational position at a distance from the sealing station. The film with zippers attached is drawn downstream of the turret to a rewind dancer roll assembly and thereafter to a rewind stand for winding into a roll of zippered film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Hudson-Sharp Machine Co.
    Inventors: Gerry J. Blohowiak, Peter J. Hatchell, Sean Kevin Lemerand, Ernest H. Teske, Scott C. Romenesko
  • Patent number: 6000197
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing bags on an automatic forming, filling and sealing (FFS) machine (100) wherein a tube (20) capable of forming walls (38, 40) of a bag is sequentially cut into portions by a cut which is approximately transverse with respect to the direction of movement of the tube (20). A fastener assembly (50) is attached to the cut end of that part of the tube (20) that is below the filling chute (110) of the FFS machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 5951453
    Abstract: A package in the form of a recloseable 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. One of the profile strips is connected to the inside of the front wall of the bag, while the other one of the profile strips includes a flange portion which extends from the profile strips to and adjacent end seal of the bag. A method of forming recloseable bags is disclosed, which method can be employed with a form, fill, and seal machine for effecting the efficient packaging of products in recloseable bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Innoflex Incorporated
    Inventor: James W. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5947603
    Abstract: A closure arrangement includes a first closure profile, a second closure profile, a slider device, and a slider housing. The slider device is designed to open the package when slid in one direction and to seal the package when slid in the opposite direction. The slider housing extends from a side of the package. The slider housing is designed to receive the slider device. When the package is opened and the slider device is slid into the slider housing, access to the contents of the package is provided across the entire width of the mouth of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Tilman
  • Patent number: 5937615
    Abstract: Apparatus for making flexible packages having an openable and resealable interlocking closure from a continuous web of flexible film, the closure being formed transversely to the direction of film flow at the consumer preferred position across one end of the package during package formation at line speed. The system utilizes a converter device mounted atop or adjacent to standard packaging apparatus to form a small amount of the running packaging film into the resealable closure structure as an integral part of the film extending transversely to the long dimension of the package. The converter functions with both horizontal and vertical form/fill/seal wrapping machines and with overwrap packagers, and uses diverse packaging films such as polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, high and medium density polyethylene and various film laminations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: Harold M. Forman
  • Patent number: 5927855
    Abstract: A tamper evident package includes a closure arrangement having a lockable orientation and an unlockable orientation. The lockable orientation includes a first closure member secured to a first package wall, and a second closure member secured to a second package wall. Preferably, the first closure member is secured to the first wall with a peelable sealing arrangement. The unlockable orientation includes the first closure member being separated or peeled from the first wall. The closure arrangement is transformed from the lockable orientation to the unlockable orientation in response to a pulling force separating the first closure member from the first wall. In some arrangements, the peelable sealing arrangement is pigmented to provide a visual indication that the package has been opened after an initial sealing of the closure arrangement. Methods for constructing and using a flexible package are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Mladomir Tomic, Michael E. Schreiter
  • Patent number: 5908245
    Abstract: A reclosable plastic bag has a bottom, sides, and a mouth and has a reclosable zipper for opening and resealing the plastic bag mouth. Heat seals are placed at each end of the zipper and each heat seal has an aperture therethrough and may form a pair of protruding hanging tabs. A protruding center tab extends from each side of said bag above the zipper and extending above the mouth of the bag such that each tab can be grabbed for opening the reclosable zipper. A method of making a reclosable zipper bag includes the steps of making a plastic bag having bottom, sides, and a mouth and having a reclosable zipper for opening and resealing the plastic bag mouth and heat sealing each end of the plastic bag zipper to seal the two sides together and punching an aperture in each of the heat seals and then cutting a protruding center tab in the plastic bag and forming an aperture through the center tab to form a reclosable plastic bag which is easily opened and resealed and has supporting tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Inventors: Charles H. Bost, Marcella Kirkland
  • 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: 5893645
    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: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. May
  • Patent number: 5875611
    Abstract: A reclosable package includes two sheets of a first polymeric resin material facing one another and forming a package opening having an inside and an outside. A first zipper strip having a male zipper profile and a first flange area, and a second zipper strip having a female zipper profile and a second flange area, are extruded from a second polymeric resin material. The first flange area is sealed to the first sheet with a first seal on the outside of the package opening, and the second flange area is sealed to the second sheet with a second seal on the outside of the package opening. The first and second seals are offset from one another relative to the male and female zipper profiles, so that the first and second seals are not in a back-to-back relationship with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Eric P. Plourde
  • Patent number: 5830119
    Abstract: A double-ended bag is formed from a tubular woven sheet having at least one tie member extending along the length of the tubular sheet. The tubular sheet is cut to create bag panels and tie member segments in registration. The bag panels are sewn together with the bag panels in registry and the tie member segments in registry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventor: Yu-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 5795282
    Abstract: The steps of constructing the box sleeve are patterning a single piece of fabric (10) to have a top edge (71), two side edges (73), (75) and a bottom edge (70); drawing a fold line (72) in the center of the fabric piece (10) to form first (74) and second (76) halves where each half includes at least one side edge (73), (75) and half the bottom edge (70); removing a portion of the fabric along both side edges (73), (75) and the bottom edge (70); removing a portion of the fabric along the bottom edge (70) adjacent the fold line (72); sewing the side edges (73), (75) together; sewing the two halves of the bottom edge (70) together; and constructing a closure (120), (126) along the top edge (116).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Mary deMunnik
  • Patent number: 5783012
    Abstract: A resealable flexible thermoplastic bag including a front wall and a back wall, said walls being joined along the major portions of their opposite longitudinal edges and bottom; an open mouth adjacent to the top edge of said bag; a closure near the open mouth of said bag including an adhesive strip affixed to a first inner surface of one of a front wall or rear wall of a bag at a preselected distance from the opening of the bag; and a flap member strip affixed to a second inner surface of one of a front wall or rear wall of a bag at a preselected distance from the opening of the bag; said flap member of said bag being pressable against and into said adhesive strip on said first inner surface, whereby a seal is formed by contacting said adhesive strip with said flap member of said second inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: DowBrands L.P.
    Inventors: Jose Porchia, Brian C. Dais
  • Patent number: 5769772
    Abstract: A package having multiple seals in close proximity is set forth. At least one of the seals is accomplished through the use of a polar polymer that bonds to an opposing panel in the package when exposed to an alternative electromagnetic field. The strength of the sealing can be controlled by the type and the amount of the polar polymer that is present as well as the field strength of the electromagnetic radiation, and its duration. The region to be sealed by the electromagnetic radiation can also be precisely controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Tenneco Packaging Inc.
    Inventor: Jay M. Wiley
  • Patent number: 5697747
    Abstract: A boring mechanism bores an aperture through a stack of papers and a binding mechanism inserts a bonding tape having adhesive on one side through the aperture and partially about the stack of papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Picard Co.
    Inventors: Sueji Sawada, Masayuki Kasuya
  • Patent number: 5613934
    Abstract: A tear guide arrangement for opening a package from a sealed form, the package having first and second opposing films, comprises first and second opposing base strips, first and second opposing tear guide strips, and sealant material. The first and second base strips are disposed between the first and second films and are adapted for attachment to the respective first and second films. The first base strip has upper and lower sides and the second base strip has upper and lower sides. The first and second base strips are composed of a first polymeric material. The first and second tear guide strips are disposed generally parallel to and co-planar with the respective first and second base strips. The first and second tear guide strips are detachably connected to the upper sides of the respective first and second base strips to form respective breakable bonds. The first and second tear guide strips are composed of a second polymeric material which is stiffer than the first polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. May
  • Patent number: 5564259
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a resealable tubular form fill package is provided. A supply of thin thermoplastic film is continuously fed over a filling spout and formed into a tubular shape by bringing the lateral edges of the film together in an abutting face-to-face relationship. The faces of the edges are brought together at a seal location to form a fin seal. A supply of zipper closure is continuously fed adjacent the film material and adhered to the film. The film and the zipper closure are sealed and cut to produce a form fill package having a zipper closure. The zipper closure and film may be cut and sealed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: KCL Corporation
    Inventor: Robert C. Stolmeier
  • Patent number: 5558613
    Abstract: A method for substantially reducing the variance in results obtained in pull tests on reclosable plastic bags, wherein the forces needed to open the bags from within and from without are measured and compared, by controlling the attachment point of the bag wall to the base of the zipper profile requires the use of selectively placed preferential seal areas. These seal areas are provided by disposing an interlayer between each profile and its respective bag wall. The interlayers include a strip of material having a lower melting point than those of the profiles and the bag walls and having a preselected width greater than any possible lateral displacement, or "float", of the profiles that may occur in the sealing apparatus. Where the strip does not take up the entire width of the interlayer, it has a preselected, constant width and runs parallel to the zipper profiles. The lower melting point of the material of the strip, and the width of the strip, ensure that the seal location on the profiles remains fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Minigrap, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Tilman, Richmond M. Scott, Zdenek Machacek
  • Patent number: 5554093
    Abstract: A flexible container, and a process and apparatus for making the container having first and second sidewalls, side seams, a bottom edge, a top and an opening adjacent the top including the first and second sidewalls made from the same film web stock material, said web stock having at least a first visual pattern impressed thereon such that upon forming said first and second sidewalls from said web stock, said first and second sidewalls are adjacent to each other and at least a second visual pattern on the container different from the first visual pattern is perceived by an observer of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Dowbrands L.P.
    Inventors: Jose Porchia, Brian C. Dais, Karen E. McBride, D. Lyn Farrelly, Robert R. Steele
  • Patent number: 5511884
    Abstract: A recloseable plastic bag having male and female interlocking profiles which are easily openable and easily closeable, and a method of making such bag are disclosed. The bag includes mating profiles which comprise a selected non-engaging section such that the profiles cannot interlock at that section. The non-engaging section permits a user to more easily open the bag when the separating action of the profiles is initiated at the non-engaging section. The non-engaging section also permits air to escape as the bag and profiles are pressed together to close, to enable easier closing of the bag when product is contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Inventors: Edward C. Bruno, Roger A. Davison
  • Patent number: 5492411
    Abstract: A closure arrangement for a polymeric bag with first and second opposing films comprises first and second opposing base strips, a first peelable strip of a first color, and a second peelable strip of a second color. An outer surface of the first base strip is attached to an inner surface of the first film. An outer surface of the second base strip is attached to an inner surface of the second film. The first peelable strip is attached to the inner surface of the first base strip, and the second peelable strip is attached to the inner surface of the second base strip. The first and second peelable strips are disposed between the first and second base strips. The second peelable strip is generally parallel to and opposes the first peelable strip. The second color of the second peelable strip is lighter than the first color of the first peelable strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. May
  • Patent number: 5489252
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a closure arrangement for a polymeric bag having a pair of opposing films comprises a wide base strip, a pair of narrow heat-resistant strips composed of heat-resistant material, and a T-shaped peelable strip composed of peelable material. The base strip has opposing inner and outer surfaces, and the outer surface of the base strip is adapted for attachment to one of the pair of opposing films of the polymeric bag. The-pair of heat-resistant strips are attached to the inner surface of the base strip, and are positioned generally parallel to each other and spaced from each other so as to form a gap therebetween. The peelable strip includes a top 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 attached to the inner surface of the base strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. May
  • Patent number: 5435864
    Abstract: A plastic bag having a reclosable plastic zipper is provided with a tamper-evident, non-reclosable peel seal formed by coextruding an adhesive onto a side strip adjacent to the interlocking zipper. The coextrusion causes the adhesive to preferentially adhere to the side strip when the peel seal is broken. A method for manufacturing the reclosable plastic zipper includes the steps of coextruding a zipper profile including a plane area with an adhesive on the plane area, slitting the profile lengthwise, and folding over one of the resulting sides of the zipper to interlock them with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Minigrip, Inc.
    Inventors: Zdenek Machacek, Lawrence Share
  • Patent number: 5429576
    Abstract: A reusable adhesive envelope and a method and apparatus for making same. The envelope includes a pouch adapted to receive the contents and having an open edge. A flap is mounted adjacent this open edge and may be folded about a flap fold to close the pouch opening. The exterior of the pouch mounts a protective strip. The interior face of the flap mounts a pressure sensitive adhesive, which is initially covered by a release liner. Upon removing the release liner the adhesive on the flap may be secure to the protective strip to close the flap. The flap may be opened and reclosed numerous times. The protective strip and the adhesive/release liner combination are each applied to the envelope as tape strips. With the envelopes in the open configuration these tape strips are alternately applied from a single transfer mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Winkler & Dunnebier
    Inventor: Alfred Doderer-Winkler
  • Patent number: 5425825
    Abstract: A plastic bag having a reclosable plastic zipper is provided with a tamper-evident, non-reclosable peel seal formed by applying an adhesive to a treated strip adjacent to the interlocking zipper. The treatment is preferably by corona discharge, which causes the adhesive used to provide the peel seal to preferentially adhere to the treated strip when the peel seal is broken. A method for manufacturing the reclosable plastic zipper includes the steps of extruding a zipper profile, treating a portion of its surface, preferably by corona discharge, applying an adhesive to the treated portion, slitting the profile lengthwise, and folding over one of the resulting sides of the zipper to interlock them with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Inventors: George Rasko, Lawrence Share
  • Patent number: 5415904
    Abstract: A snap fastener (11) having a base section (14), (17) to be welded to a bag body (22) is made of a linear chain low-density polyethylene (L-LDPE) or a compound resin of the linear chain low-density polyethylene and a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as a sub-ingredient. A packaging bag is fabricated with the snap fastener from the bag body (22) and the pair of snap fastener half-members. When the snap fastener (11) is made of a compound resin of L-LDPE and LDPE, the composition ratio between them is set at 95-60 wt %:5-40 wt %. The melt index (MI) of the compound resin is set at a range of 1-15 g/10 minutes. The packaging bag body (22) is adapted to have an inner side layer made of L-LDPE. An outer side layer adhered to the inner side layer may be made of nylon so as to form the multilayered bag body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Idemitsu Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toyokazu Takubo, Shigezo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5402619
    Abstract: A tin-tie bending device for bending the ends of a tin-tie about the edges of a bag wherein the tin-tie is secured to across the width of the bag and the ends of the tin-tie extend beyond the edges of the bag prior to bending. The device includes means for moving the bag along a travel path past a detecting means and a bending means of the device. The detecting means detects the bag as it travels past the detecting means. The bending means bends the end of the tin-tie about the edge of the bag and is actuated upon the detecting means sensing the passing of the bag along the bag travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Bedford Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott L. Nelson, Stan W. Drietz
  • Patent number: 5391136
    Abstract: A tamper-evident Seal for a plastic envelope with a pocket and closing flap having first adhesive sealing means for sealing the flap to the envelope and a second, tamper-evident sealing means adhering to the end of and extending beyond the end of the flap which also adheres to the envelope after the flap is closed and sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Makowka
  • Patent number: 5383989
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing reclosable plastic bags or packages includes the step of presoftening the complete length of the zipper before it is introduced into the space between two plies of plastic sheet material, which form the sides of the plastic bag or package. The presoftening enables the zipper, which may comprise interlocked male and female profiles, to be fused together and completely flattened when a seal bar clamps thereacross to form a side seal area transverse to the zipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. McMahon
  • Patent number: 5346456
    Abstract: An in-line machine for attaching elongated, flexible closure tie elements to the individual bag portions of a laterally folded plastic film web being continuously discharged from a bag forming station, and being forcibly captured by a winder mechanism, engages and drives the moving web toward the winder mechanism by means of mutually spaced inlet, central and outlet drive rollers. During operation of the machine, first and second slack portions of the film web are respectively positioned between the inlet and central rollers, and between the central and outlet rollers. These slack portions are held in vertically looped configurations by a downwardly directed, yielding vacuum force applied thereto. The inlet and outlet rollers are driven at identical speeds corresponding to the constant linear film web output speed from the bag forming station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: John C. Marrelli
    Inventors: Gary L. Rutledge, Edgar R. Pitcher
  • Patent number: 5334127
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming recloseable plastic bags having engageable mating profiles wherein the bags are made to have an initially open mouth. The profiles which are made to be in an closed condition are opened by a blade apparatus which engages and opens the profiles at a point after the tubing is fused or tacked to thereby maintain proper alignment of the profiles when the bags are made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Inventors: Edward C. Bruno, Roger A. Davison
  • Patent number: 5328436
    Abstract: The deadfold reclosure sticker for hand pressure application to a bag has a flexible backing liner with a low adhesion surface. On the liner is a flexible deadfold reclosure sticker having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer forming a base surface releasably adhered to the low adhesion surface of the liner. The sticker comprises a laminate of pliable layers and at least two deadfold wires having a thickness at least twice as great as the laminate. The wires are in spaced parallel alignment and are embedded along their length in the laminate with the ends of said wires exposed to view. The flexible backing liner has a structural feature for easy removal of it for hand application of it onto a flexible bag to form a deadfold reclosable bag easily reclosed by simple folding steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Bedford Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Larsen, Lloyd Tinklenberg
  • Patent number: 5322579
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing reclosable plastic bags or packages, wherein sections of zipper profiles are pre-softened at intervals equal in length to the width of the bags or packages to be manufactured. The pre-softening enables the zipper profiles to be fused together and completely flattened when a seal bar clamps thereacross to form a side seal area transverse to the zipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Van Erden
  • Patent number: 5273511
    Abstract: A method for providing a welded side seam area in a plastic bag or package having interlocking male and female profile sections on plies of plastic sheeting material includes the provision of cut-outs through one of the male and female profile sections and contiguous plastic sheeting material at preselected intervals therealong. The welds, which may be provided by a seal bar or jaws, are provided along lines including or passing through the cut-outs. A thinner and more leak-resistant side seam area between bags or packages is the result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Hugo Boeckman
  • 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: 5203759
    Abstract: Apparatus for application of a first tie to a hollow casing material includes a mechanism for cutting incremental units of casing from a reel and for simultaneously punching openings through the casing. Incremental units are then transferred from the cutting apparatus into a clipper for application of a clip about the incremental unit of the casing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: David O. Torres, Johnny T. Stanley, Brian W. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5188461
    Abstract: A packing comprising first and second opposed surfaces in a closure area of the packing has profiled portions secured to and extending over each of the opposed surfaces, which profiled portions are adapted to be releasably interengaged to permit connection and disconnection of the opposed surfaces. The profiled portions are each formed integrally with an outer layer of a strip material secured to the associated one of the opposed surfaces. The outer layer of the strip material is formed of a material well suited for forming a peel seal weld with the other opposed surface of the packing, such as a portion of the outer layer of the opposing strip material. The outer layer of each strip material is secured to the one of the first and second opposed surfaces via a base layer of the strip material to which the outer layer is secured by means of a non-peel seal type connection. As a result, the sheete material of the packing, a bag for example, need not be formed of a peel seal weldable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Schurpack, Inc.
    Inventor: Leif B. Sorensen
  • Patent number: RE34554
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Minigrip, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit