The Glad Products Company

First Brands Corporation

Jack A MacPherson

Scott W Binger

Michael G Borchardt

Shaun T Broering

Robert Thomas Dorsey

Robert W Fraser

Kenneth E Cisek

Theodore J Fish

Ranyi Zhu

Ken Cisek

Matthew William Waldron

Kyle R Wilcoxen

Angelli Sue Denmon

Jason R Maxwell

Carl Louis Bergman

Robert T Dorsey

Howard Deason

Film with pattern

Multi-layer bags may be formed to include first and second sidewalls joined along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a closed bottom edge. The first and second layers may be non-continuously laminated together in discrete sections to include bonded regions in which the layers are bonded and unbonded regions in which the layers are not bonded. Such a bag may be described as a 'bag-in-a-bag' type configuration in which the inner bag is non-continuously bonded to the outer bag. The inventors have surprisingly found that such configurations of non-continuous bonding provides increased and unexpected strength properties to the multi-layer films and bags.

Multi-layered bags with discrete non-continuous lamination

Apparatus and methods for creating multi-layered lightly-laminated provide films with increased or maintained strength. An increased level of strength is achieved by bonding adjacent layers of the multi-layer film together in a manner that the bond strength of the laminated layers is less than a strength of a weakest tear resistance of the individual first and second film layers. The inventors have surprisingly found that such a configuration of light bonding provides increased and unexpected strength properties to the multi-layer film as compared to a monolayer film of equal thickness or a multi-layer film in which the plurality of layers are tightly bonded together.

Multi-layered lightly-laminated films and methods of making the same

Multi-layer bags may be formed to include first and second sidewalls joined along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a closed bottom edge. The first and second layers may be non-continuously laminated together to include bonded regions in which the layers are bonded and unbonded regions in which the layers are not bonded. Such a bag may be described as a 'bag-in-a-bag' type configuration in which the inner bag is non-continuously bonded to the outer bag. The inventors have surprisingly found that such configurations of non-continuous bonding provides increased and unexpected strength properties to the multi-layer films and bags.

Non-continuously laminated multi-layered bags

Incrementally-stretched adhesively-laminated films include two or more film layers adhesively bonded together. At least one of the two or more film layers is incrementally stretched. The incrementally-stretched adhesively-laminated films can have maintained or increased strength parameters despite a reduction in gauge. The incrementally-stretched adhesively-laminated films can be formed into bags for use as trash can liners or food storage. Methods of forming incrementally-stretched adhesively-laminated films include cold stretching one or more of the first and second film layers and adhesively bonding the film layers together.

Incrementally-stretched adhesively-laminated films and methods for making the same

Multi-layered bags include an outer layer or bag and an inner layer or bag that is shorter than the outer layer or bag. The shortened inner layer or bag can stretch or expand to the outer layer or bag when loaded with objects or otherwise strained. Such multi-layered bags can allow for a reduction in thermoplastic material without compromising the strength of the multi-layered bag. In various implementations, the inner layer or bag may be non-continuously laminated, continuously laminated, or joined only along one or more edges to the outer layer or bag. Implementations including non-continuous bonds securing the inner layer or bag to the outer layer or bag can provide additional strength to the bag. Methods of forming multi-layered bags with a shortened inner layer including inserting an inner layer within an outer layer and then joining the layers to form a bag.

Multi-layered bags with shortened inner layer

Methods for creating multi-layered bags with increased or maintained strength involve forming a ribbed pattern in one or more film layers of a multi-layered bag. The method also includes non-continuously laminating the film layers of the multi-layered bag together. In one or more implementation, a transverse direction ring rolling process forms the ribbed pattern and bonds the film layers together. In one or more additional implementations, the ribbed pattern and lamination are formed separately. Still further implementations include forming network patterns one or more film layers of a multi-layered bag. Multi-layered bags formed in accordance with one or more implementations of the present invention include one or more of increased strength or reduced basis weight.

Non-continuously laminated multi-layered bags with ribbed patterns and methods of forming the same

Trash bags may be formed to include first and second sidewalls joined along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a closed bottom edge to form an outer bag. A second inner bag may be inserted within the first bag to form a 'bag-in-a-bag' type configuration in which the inner bag is bonded to the outer bag along side seals. When the outer and inner bags are formed primarily from LLDPE thermoplastic resin using a blown film process, the inventors have surprisingly found that such configurations provide increased and unexpected strength properties while using less material.

Trash bag with inner bag

Trash bags may be formed to include first and second sidewalls joined along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a closed bottom edge to form an outer bag. A second inner bag may be inserted within the first bag to form a 'bag-in-a-bag' type configuration in which the inner bag is bonded to the outer bag along side seals by a continuous process. The bags may also be bonded together along the hem and the draw tape. When the side seals of the inner bag and the outer bag are sealed together by a continuous rather than a reciprocating process, the inventors have surprisingly found that such seals require carefully controlled process conditions to prevent inadequate seals.

Growing community of inventors

Aurora, IL, United States of America

Jack A MacPherson