Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Eric Paul Plourde

Steven Ausnit

Kenny E McCracken

David J Anzini

Lars G Wihlborg

Robert E Hogan

Rusty Koenigkramer

Charles Greco

Kevin P Olechowski

Glyn Russell

John H Schneider

Lawrence Share

David J Matthews

Clifton Ronald Howell

Stephen P Belko

Neil J Kozarsky

John A Caporaso

James H Pool

Frank J Kelly

Paul Michael Jenkins

Christopher J Ludwig

David C Wallace

Robert C Stolmeier

Owen Joseph McGarel

Clifton R Howell

Marion Johnson

Jose Septien

Christine N Shimel

Victor Matias

David Mark Wallace

Michael J McMahon

Art Malin

Donald L Crevier

Mark David Steele

Jose Manuel Septien Rojas

Tilak R Varma

Kevin Owen

John H Pilarski

Randall Wayne Yoder

Michael J Lasofsky

Brian Ehrhardt

Thomas C Carney

Timothy S McLaren

Stephen P Schaller

Robert J Coulton

Adrian Wenc

Francis Olajide, Jr

David Galley

Komal Singh

David Pritchard

Maurice Finnegan, Iii

Wendell T Meeks

Steven Olechowski

Francis Olajide

Charles G Greco

Kenny Mccracker

David Keith

Kenny E Mccracken

Kenny Mccracken

Arthur Bucci

James Howie Johnson

Robert Hogan

Michael Mcmahon

A biodegradable (repulpable, compostable and/or water soluble) zipper is provided for attachment to a biodegradable flexible package. The biodegradable zipper is formed using a water-soluble polymer that can be combined with a repulpable and/or compostable material, such as a plant-based cellulose material. The biodegradable zipper enables the biodegradable package to be opened and closed by the consumer, so that the consumer has the option to determine, change or manipulate the contents of the biodegradable flexible package.

Biodegradable zipper for zip packaging

A reclosable enclosure includes a body having a front panel and a back panel secured to each other and forming a cavity therebetween to store contents. The body includes a flap that extends from a top end of the body. The reclosable enclosure includes a zipper assembly coupled to an interior surface of at least the front panel. The zipper assembly includes a first profile strip and a second profile strip that form a reclosable zipper to selectively close the cavity. The flap blocks access to the reclosable zipper and is sealed to at least one of the front panel or the second profile strip in an intact state of the flap. The flap defines one or more lines of weakness to permit irreparable separation of a sub-flap from a remainder of the flap to access the reclosable zipper.

Flexible reclosable enclosure with flap

A zipper for a reclosable bag includes a first interlocking element, and a second interlocking element. The first interlocking element and the second interlocking element are configured to cooperate to selectively open and close the zipper. One or both of the first interlocking element and the second interlocking element are formed of at least 85% repulpable material.

Reclosable bag having a repulpable zipper

A zipper assembly is provided that may be coupled to a resealable enclosure. The zipper assembly may include flanges having opposite interior and exterior surfaces. The exterior surfaces of the flanges may be coupled with one or more films of the enclosure. The zipper assembly also may include locking members protruding from the flanges. The locking members may mate with each other to close the enclosure and to separate from each other to open the enclosure. The flanges and the locking members may be formed from a non-common material and a common material.

Zipper assemblies having post-consumer recyclate material

A child-resistant reclosable bag includes a container configured to retain one or more items, and a zipper coupled to the container. The zipper includes one or more primary seals, and one or more secondary seals at one or more defined locations. The one or more secondary seals at the one or more defined locations provide one or more areas to be engaged to peel open the container.

Child-resistant reclosable bags

Enclosure assembly includes an outer box enclosure and a flexible, resealable enclosure that is disposed within the outer box enclosure. The resealable enclosure has a resealer formed by a single intermeshable closure member that is affixed to and wraps from a front side of the outer box enclosure, around at least one of side edge of the outer box enclosure, and onto a back side of the resealable enclosure. Prior to initially opening the resealable enclosure, the intermeshable closure member is uncoupled with itself. The intermeshable closure member is configured to couple with itself at a first area of the intermeshable closure member that is on the front side of the resealable enclosure and at a different, second area of the intermeshable closure member that is on the back side of the resealable enclosure to close the resealable enclosure.

Enclosure assembly having a resealable enclosure within an outer box enclosure

A repulpable zipper is provided for attachment to a repulpable flexible package. The repulpable zipper is formed using a water-soluble polymer combined with a repulpable material, such as a plant-based cellulose material. The repulpable zipper enables the repulpable package to be opened and closed by the consumer, so that the consumer has the option to determine, change or manipulate the contents of the repulpable flexible package.

Repulpable zipper for zip packaging

A child-resistant reclosable bag includes a container configured to retain one or more items within a product portion. A zipper is coupled to the container. The zipper is above the product portion. The zipper includes one or more primary seals, and one or more secondary seals at one or more defined locations. The one or more secondary seals at the one or more defined locations identify opening areas on the product portion. The opening areas are configured to be grasped and pulled apart to open the zipper.

Methods for forming and opening child-resistant reclosable bags

A filling slit is formed in a first panel of web material of a flexible pouch enclosure formed from the first panel and an opposing second panel of the web material and having a resealable closing assembly having interlocking male and female members joined to a flange. After the flexible pouch enclosure is at least partially filled with a product through an opening in the first panel of the web material that is created by the filling slit, the filling slit is closed by sealing the first panel to the flange of the resealable closing assembly.

Pouch enclosure with filling slit

Child-deterrent packaging includes an enclosure having opposing first and second sidewalls coupled with each other. The child-deterrent packaging also includes a zipper assembly coupled with the first and second sidewalls of the enclosure. The zipper assembly includes first and second zipper portions that mate with each other to enclose product that release from each other to provide access to the product. The child-deterrent packaging also includes a peel seal providing a barrier to ingress of one or more of oxygen or moisture. The peel seal is one or more of: disposed between and coupling the first and second zipper portions with each other, disposed between and coupling an entry section of the first sidewall with the first zipper portion of the zipper assembly, or disposed between and coupling the entry section of the first sidewall with another portion of the first sidewall.

Child-deterrent packaging having a barrier to protect contents from surrounding environment

The present disclosure relates to a valve, a method for forming a valve, and a package. The valve is made of at least three layers&#x2014;a first exterior layer (i.e., a base layer), at least one interior layer (i.e., a bubble layer), and a second exterior layer (i.e., a channel layer)&#x2014;and an attachment section located on each of at least two of the at least three layers. A bubble is formed between two of the first exterior layer and the at least one interior layer, and the bubble includes an enclosed material. A channel is formed between two of the second exterior layer, the at least two interior layers, and the first exterior layer, and the channel includes an inlet and an outlet. A physical characteristic of the bubble biases the channel towards a closed position that restricts flow of contents from the inlet to the outlet.

Bubble valve for flexible packaging

This disclosure pertains to a forming device used in the formation of a package with a self-mating reclosure, where a single self-mating closure wraps around the periphery of the forming device, and one end of the zipper segment extends into the lap seal of the forming device. Alternatively, one or two ends of the zipper segment could extend into a fin seal. The self-mating reclosure is mounted transversely on the sheet of web or film and includes at least one crushed end proximate to one edge of the sheet of web or film. The self-mating closure may be pre-crushed, prior to attachment to the sheet of web or film, or may be crushed after the sheet of web or film is wrapped around a forming device or similar structure.

Crushed end of self-mating closure segment for lap or fin seal

Various embodiments of the container of the type with a semi-rigid or rigid container portion and reclosable header are provided.

Enhancement for package with plastic header

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a package with a rigid or semi-rigid container and a polymeric or plastic header with a reclosure, such as a zipper. The rigid or semi-rigid container is typically provided in a stack of flat containers. The header is sealed, glued or otherwise secured to the containers. The container, typically inverted, is filled, and the bottom is formed by folding and sealing the bottom portion of the container.

Carton with plastic reclosable header

The present disclosure relates to spaced multi-rib zippers, reclosures or closures for flexible packaging, wherein openings or lines of weakness are created between rows of mating elements.

Enhancements to spaced multi-rib closure

Growing community of inventors

Homewood, IL, United States of America

Eric Paul Plourde