The Dow Chemical Company

Fred Stevenson

R Douglas Behr

Timothy R Woods

Lloyd E Lefevre

A disposable or reusable and reclosable gussetted plastic bag capable of being compactly stored as a food container in freezers, yet capable of standing with an upright spout in a microwave oven for non-spill thawing and cooking of food contained in the bag. The bag is formed of two wing-shaped pouches on either side of the upright spout. The bag preferably has inner and outer skin layers of different heat sealing temperatures so that peripheral sealing is effected only with the inner skin layers, allowing the wing-shaped pouches to be formed out of a gussetted bottom without sealing of the outer skin layers of the gusset walls facing one another. Two pairs of relief seals are located adjacent each gusset joint at both edges of the bag. Each seal is positioned 45.degree. off the gusset joint and preferably has a radius shape. The heat seals are formed by applying heat adjacent each gusset joint with a hot bar or other heat sealing device following formation of the bag.

Gussetted plastic bags having relief seals and method of making same

A disposable or reusable and reclosable gussetted plastic bag capable of being compactly stored as a food container in freezers, yet capable of standing with an upright spout in a microwave oven for non-spill thawing and cooking of food contained in the bag. The bag is formed of two wing-shaped pouches on either side of the upright spout. The bag preferably has inner and outer skin layers of different heat sealing temperatures so that peripheral sealing is effected only with the inner skin layers, allowing the wing-shaped pouches to be formed out of a gussetted bottom without sealing of the outer skin layers of the gusset walls facing one another. Two pairs of relief seals are located adjacent each gusset joint at both edges of the bag. Each seal is positioned 45.degree. off the gusset joint and preferably has a rounded peak shape. The heat seals are formed by applying heat adjacent each gusset joint with a hot bar or other heat sealing device following formation of the bag.

A vinylidene chloride copolymer composition manufactured by the addition of a grease copolymer, such as low molecular weight ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymer, in place of or in combination with conventional plasticizer blend additions.

Extrusion-grade vinylidene chloride copolymer compositions and films

A disposable or reusable and reclosable thermoplastic bag capable of being compactly stored as a food container in freezers, yet capable of standing with an upright spout in a microwave oven for non-spill thawing and cooking of food contained in the bag. The bag is formed of two wing-shaped pouches on either side of the upright spout. The preferred closure is a zipper type which can automatically vent upon softening of its thermoplastic structure during the cooking stage. The bag preferably has inner and outer skin layers of different heat-softening temperature responses so that peripheral sealing is effected only with the inner layers, allowing the wing-shaped pouches to be formed out of a gussetted bottom without sealing of the outer layer plies facing one another.

Growing community of inventors

Beaverton, MI, United States of America

Fred Stevenson