The Glad Products Company

The Procter Gamble Company

Brita Gmbh

Matthew William Waldron

Shaun T Broering

Edward B Tucker

David John Hoying

Michael G Borchardt

Sarah J Steenblock

Robert Thomas Dorsey

Jason R Maxwell

Daniel Charles Peck

Deborah K Fix

Robert W Fraser

Kyle R Wilcoxen

Gregory Stuart Kent

John G Schroeder

Hasani Gillispie

Lehai Minh Pham Vu

John Brian Strube

Jack F Melvan

Mark D Pszczolkowski

Angelli Sue Denmon

David A Bailey

Richard D Palmer

Carl Louis Bergman

John E Rusnak

Jack A MacPherson

Scott W Binger

Karin L Toerner

Charles B Snoreck

Nancy M Mack-Robles

Jill Marlene Orr

Robert Haines Turner

Eric Bryan Bond

Kenneth E Cisek

Zeljko Vidovic

Justin Zickus

Karen Denise McAffry

Jeffrey S Stiglic

Kyle T Diehl

Ryan J Coonce

Ken Cisek

Rebecca S Reuhs

Shaun Thomas Broering

John Augustyn

Abhishek Dutta

Nancy M Mack-Roble

John Prusinski

A thermoplastic bag includes duplicative seals. In particular, in one or more implementations, a thermoplastic bag includes a first seal and at least a second seal reinforcing the same area of the thermoplastic bag. For instance, in one or more implementations, the thermoplastic bag includes multiple seals along each side edge or along the hem. If one seal fails, the other seal(s) can remain in place to prevent leaks. Thus, the duplicative seals of the thermoplastic bag can provide reinforced strength and desired aesthetics.

Thermoplastic bags with duplicative seals

One or more implementations of a multi-film thermoplastic bag including a zone of contact areas between adjacent films with varying lamination. The contact areas comprise areas in which at least first and second thermoplastic films of the multi-film thermoplastic bag are in intimate contact and bonded together by heat and pressure. The contact areas help reinforce the bag due to increased stiffness provided by the contact areas, as well as distribute stresses/stain over more material, and thereby, help reduce tearing or other damage by stresses/strain from grasping fingers (e.g., during a grabbing motion to lift or carry) or objects being placed inside the bag. Additionally, the increased stiffness can provide a tactile feel that connotes strength to a user grasping the grab zone.

Multi-film thermoplastic bags with zones of contact areas having variable lamination

Thermoplastic bags with phased deformation patterns are described. In particular, one or more implementations comprise thermoplastic bags with ring rolling, SELFing, or other deformation patterns phased or aligned relative to the sides of the bags. The phased deformation patterns can allow for reducing or eliminating deformation patterns in areas of the thermoplastic bag in which side seals or other seals are formed. Additionally or alternatively, the phased deformation patterns can provide for zones that provide differing properties (e.g., functional or aesthetic). Such zones can vary aligned along a width of the thermoplastic bag and optionally also vary along a height of the thermoplastic bag. The differing zones can provide the thermoplastic bags with phased deformations that provide leak prevention, liquid containment, and other benefits.

Phased intermeshing rollers for creating patterns in trash bags

Plastic film with surface pattern for embossing

One or more implementations of a multi-film thermoplastic structure include a first film having a first appearance in contact with a second film having a second appearance at one or more visually distinct contact areas, including a continuous contact area spanning a width of the structure. In one or more implementations the multi-film thermoplastic structure comprises a thermoplastic bag and the continuous contact area forms a hem seal near a top opening of the thermoplastic bag.

Multi-film thermoplastic bags having hem seals comprised of continuous contact areas and methods of making the same

One or more implementations of a multi-film thermoplastic structure include a first film having a first appearance in contact with a second film having a second appearance at one or more visually-distinct contact areas. Wherein the one or more visually-distinct contact areas, cause the first film to take on the second appearance of the second film. The visually-distinct contact areas being of a uniform gauge and configured to separate before either of the first film or the second film fails when subjected to peel forces.

Multi-film thermoplastic structures and bags having visually-distinct contact areas and methods of making the same

One or more implementations of a multi-film thermoplastic bag with a conjoined hem channel. For example, the multi-film thermoplastic bag includes a multi-film hem channel. Bonds secure the layers of the hem channel together so as to prevent a drawtape from inverting or bunching an inner layer of the hem channel during cinching. The bonds are thus located in a hem channel of a multi-film thermoplastic bag so as to reduce an amount of mechanical engagement between the films of the multi-film thermoplastic bag and another thermoplastic film such as a drawtape. In one or more implementations, a grab zone of the multi-film thermoplastic bag also includes bonds in the form of contact areas to provide tactile and visual cues of strength in the grab zone.

Multi-film thermoplastic bags having conjoined hem channels and methods of making the same

One or more implementations of a multi-film thermoplastic bag with a grab zone of contact areas positioned in a high-touch area of the bag. For example, the multi-film thermoplastic bag includes one or more regions of a first film in contact with a second film at one or more contact areas. The grab zone regions of one or more contact areas are located in visible and high-touch areas to provide visual and tactile cues of strength and durability. Moreover, the grab zone regions of one or more contact areas serve to distribute pull and lift forces across a wider area in order to avoid common failures in high-touch areas such as over stretching, punctures, tears, and rips.

Multi-film thermoplastic bags having grab zones with contact areas and methods of making the same

Thermoplastic bags with phased deformation patterns

Bonded formed laminates, and methods for making bonded formed laminates, are made from multiple layers of formed substrates comprising at least one nonwoven formed substrate which are bonded together at the distal ends or bases of protrusions formed in the substrates. The bonded formed laminate provides a very soft and lofty structure that is sustainable under compression.

Bonded laminate including a formed nonwoven substrate

One or more implementations of a multi-film thermoplastic structure include a first film having a first appearance in contact with a second film having a second appearance at one or more visually-distinct contact areas arranged into a text. Wherein the one or more visually-distinct contact areas, cause the first film to take on the second appearance of the second film. In one or more implementations the multi-film thermoplastic structure comprises a thermoplastic bag and text comprises a suffocation warning.

Multi-film thermoplastic structures having visually-distinct contact areas arranged in text and methods of making the same

The present disclosure relates to a reinforced thermoplastic bag (e.g., comprising a bag-in-bag). In one or more embodiments, the reinforced thermoplastic bag includes a reinforced portion at a top-of-bag area where users often apply an external force to lift or carry the reinforced thermoplastic bag. In these or other embodiments, a grab-zone reinforcement insert is positioned across one or both of a hem channel region and a grab-zone along an outer surface, an inner surface, or between layers of the reinforced thermoplastic bag. In one or more embodiments, the grab-zone reinforcement insert comprises multiple layers (e.g., of a non-woven material). For example, the grab-zone reinforcement insert includes a first and second layer formed by a fold. In other implementations, the grab-zone reinforcement insert includes separate, discrete layers. In one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the grab-zone reinforcement insert is positionally affixed via a hem seal.

Thermoplastic bag with reinforced top

Methods for making tip bonded formed laminates are made from multiple layers of formed substrates made from films which are bonded together at the tips of their formed protrusions. Tip bonded laminates can be designed with greater resistance to bending, improved resilience to compression, and can be patterned for directionally oriented responses to tensile loads. Also, tip bonded formed laminates made from multiple layers of formed substrates can use their layered structure to provide better aesthetics as well as better physical properties such as improved puncture resistance. Tip bonded formed laminates can be configured with thicker portions and designed patterns, which are appealing to consumers. A tip bonded formed laminate can be made from two or more formed substrates and can be used instead of a single, thick, unformed, substrate, so the laminate can use about the same amount of material, while still providing surprising functional benefits.

Methods of forming laminates

Growing community of inventors

Hamilton, OH, United States of America

Matthew William Waldron