Illinois Tool Works Inc.

James H Pool

Eric Paul Plourde

Donald L Crevier

A method of manufacture comprising the following steps: (a) making a vent hole in a package; (b) loading product into a receptacle of the package via an opening; (c) closing the opening; (d) placing an air-permeable layer of material over the vent hole; (e) squeezing the receptacle after steps (a) through (d) have been performed to force air out the vent hole; and (f) after step (e) has been performed, sealing the package so that air cannot enter the receptacle via the vent hole. In accordance with some embodiments, the vent hole is formed in the receptacle and sealed by means of an air-impermeable patch or by joining two walls of the receptacle together. In accordance with other embodiments, the vent hole is formed in a zipper tape attached to the receptacle and various means can be used to seal the vent hole after air removal.

Method for evacuating air from flexible packages

A method of making slider end stops on zippers comprising two interlockable profiled closure members. The method comprises the steps of: opening a section of a zipper tape to form a gap between the profiled closure members; inserting a first portion of a body into the gap with a second portion of the body projecting above the tops of the profiled closure members; and joining the first portion of the body to adjoining sections of the profiled closure members. Then the body is narrowed down the middle to form a neck where the zipper tape will later be cut, each half of the body forming a respective slider end stop, but on different zipper segments. Alternatively, two bodies can be inserted into the gap and then joined to adjoining sections of the closure members. The zipper tape is cut between the two bodies, which will ultimately form respective slider end stops on different zipper segments. In an alternative embodiment, the zipper tape and the bag making film can be integrally formed.

Method for making slider end stops on zippers for reclosable packaging

A package having two or more compartments, adjacent compartments being seperated by a peel seal tape. A peel seal is formed by joining peel seal material coated on one surface of a substrate to one package wall, the other surface being coated with sealant material for hard sealing the substrate to the package wall. The substrate and coatings are formed by extrusion. The adjacent compartments of the package are filled with different materials. When one compartment is squeezed with sufficient pressure, that pressure breaks open the peel seal, allowing the respective contents of the two compartments to be mixed without removing the contents from the still externally sealed package.

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Lake Forest, CA, United States of America

James H Pool