Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Minigrip LLC

Minigrap, Inc.

Zdenek Machacek

Richmond M Scott

Paul A Tilman

Robert G Kobetsky

Richard D Schulte

Herbert A Borst

Ernest Schnittger

Donald L Van Erden

Michael J McMahon

Art Malin

Steven Ausnit

John H Schneider

Lawrence Share

Glyn Russell

Duane B Piechocki

Michael J Lasofsky

A method for producing a zipper for use in the production of reclosable plastic bags of the type having the zipper extending across a top end of the bag. The zipper has a first profile member and a second profile member that is interengageable with the first profile member. At bag length intervals of the zipper notches are formed by removing at least a portion of the first profile member and a portion of said second profile member. A mold is positioned about each of the notches and a molten thermoplastic material is introduced into the mold cavity filling the notch and extending beyond the notch and over the zipper top so that when the molten thermoplastic material is cooled an end stop is formed in situ at each of said notches.

Plastic zipper with end stops and method for manufacturing same

A reclosable fastener assembly () for use in the manufacture of a plastic bag (). The fastener assembly () includes a zipper () with a seal feature on a web flange () extending from an interlocking member () of a profile () of the zipper (). The web flange () is bent at a lower portion of the web flange () upward to the interlocking member (). At the lower portion, an interior face () of the web flange () is sealed to an opposite interior face () to form a flange seal (). The bend () of the lower portion includes a weakness area () which, in concert with the flange seal (), acts as a barrier and a tamper-evident feature. After the flange seal () is initially tom open, the weakness area () may be torn open to access the plastic bag (). A method for making a reclosable plastic bag () is also disclosed.

Zipper with pre-activated peel-seal

A water-resistant zipper with interlocking profiles for a reclosable bag is disclosed. The zipper includes a first profile with upper and lower legs forming an engagement area therebetween. The upper and lower legs terminate in hooks extending into said engagement area. The lower leg further includes a downwardly extending arm. The second profile includes a male detent element which is detent engaged within the engagement area. The second profile further includes a first post which urges against the downwardly extending arm at all locations where the profiles are captured within a slider, thereby maintaining a water-resistant configuration. The second profile further includes a second post which urges against the upper leg when the first and second profiles are interlocked with each other.

Water-resistant zipper with slider

A flexible zipper intended for use in a package containing powder or other particulate matter. The zipper is designed to be resistant to clogging of the interlocking profiles with powder. This flexible zipper has first and second profiles that interlock in a closed zipper state to define a space therebetween. The space extends in a longitudinal direction, i.e., along the length of the zipper. The bases of both profiles are provided with apertures for enabling powder or other particulate matter trapped in the space between the profiles to pass into the interior volume of a package.

Powder-resistant flexible zipper for reclosable packaging

A reclosable fastener assembly () for use in the manufacture of a plastic bag (). The fastener assembly () includes a zipper () with a seal feature on a web flange () extending from an interlocking member () of a profile () of the zipper (). The web flange () is bent at a lower portion of the web flange () upward to the interlocking member (). At the lower portion, an interior face () of the web flange () is sealed to an opposite interior face () to form a flange seal (). The bend () of the lower portion includes a weakness area () which, in concert with the flange seal (), acts as a barrier and a tamper-evident feature. After the flange seal () is initially torn open, the weakness area () may be torn open to access the plastic bag (). A method for making a reclosable plastic bag () is also disclosed.

A reclosable package has a slider-operated zipper and a flexible inner funnel bag that can be turned inside out to provide a spout for dispensing the package contents. Initially, the funnel bag is tucked inside the filled package in an unopened state. The funnel bag can be accessed by moving the slider in the opening direction to open the zipper and then reaching inside the funnel bag. The consumer then grasps a pull-out flap and pulls the funnel bag inside out. Then the tip of the funnel is snipped, cut or torn to provide a opening for dispensing product. The funnel directs the package contents, especially fine powders, away from the reclosable zipper profiles during dispensing so that one or both profiles do not become clogged with matter that might interfere with interlocking. The pull-out flap is formed by inverting and folding a distal portion of the funnel bag. The pull-out flap is preferably spot-sealed in position.

Reclosable packaging having extensible funnel and slider-operated zipper

A method and apparatus for removing camber from zipper with profiles having interlocking elements and or webs. The zipper is stretched longitudinally in a manner so that the interlocking elements stretch relative to each other. To this end, the zipper is fed to an idler wheel that may be spring loaded. From a set of first drive wheels and fed from the idler wheel by a set of second drive wheels. The second drive wheels are driven faster than the first drive wheels to effect the stretching. Alternately only the second set of drive wheels are driven and the stretch is provided by the spring loaded idler wheel or the zipper is driven around a static curved surface.

Method of treating zipper to remove camber

A reclosable package is provided having a front wall and a rear wall joined at the bottom and sides and an open top containing a zipper. The zipper has a first profile and a second profile, each including interlocking members adapted to mate with each other. One profile has a flange secured to its associated wall at a location proximal a top end of that wall. The second profile has a flange portion secured to the other wall proximal a top end of that wall and to the first wall at a location below the location at which the first flange is secured to the first wall. A line of weakness extends along the second flange portion parallel to the profile interlocking member and between the two securing points. The line of weakness is formed in the cusp of a V-shaped section formed in the second flange and a peel seal is provided above the line of weakness joining together the sides of the V-shaped section.

Shock resistant tamper evident reclosable plastic bag

Method for manufacturing a plastic zipper with end stops

A zipper strip has a base member from which first and second profiles extend upwardly. Each of the profiles includes an arm having one of a set of interlocking member attached. The base member including a first web extending between the arms; a second web, outboard of the first arm; and a third web, outboard of said second arm. One or both surface of the webs may be coated with a sealant and/or peel seal material to imparted desired characteristics to the package formed with the zipper.

Reclosable zipper strip with coated webs

The zipper for a reclosable bag includes a male profile and a female profile. The female profile includes first and second legs extending from a planar base, with a space formed therebetween for insertion of a male profile therein. Apertures are formed in the planar base providing communication between the space between the first and second legs and an opposite side of the planar base. This allows the insertion of the male profile into the female element to urge particles or powder lodged in the space to pass through the apertures to the opposite side of the planar base.

Zipper for reclosable container with apertures passing through female profile

A zipper assembly is provided having a first profile and a second profile having interlocking members facing each other. Each of the profiles has an extension on a surface directed toward the other profile and disposed between its interlocking member and a lower distal end from which the zipper may be sealed to a bag. A slider may be disposed about the zipper assembly for engaging and disengaging the profiles.

Slide zipper assembly

A slide zipper assembly comprising a reclosable zipper and a slider is provided. The zipper includes a first profile interlockable with a second profile. The profiles include portions which form a fulcrum about which the profiles may be pivoted to disengage the profiles. The slider straddles the zipper and has a top from which two arms depend. The inner surface of one or both of the slider arms is shaped so that as the slider is moved along the zipper in an opening direction, one or both of the profiles is pivoted about the fulcrum so as to disengage the profiles.

A slide zipper assembly comprising an interlocked zipper and a slider is provided. The zipper has a first profile and a second profile. The profiles have arms ending in hooks that are engaged when the zipper is in a closed position. The slider is disposed for movement along the zipper. The slider has an opening end and a closing end. At the opening end the slider has a separator that extends downwardly to engage a profile arm to bend the same so that its hook disengages from the hook of the opposite profile.

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Nanuet, NY, United States of America

Zdenek Machacek