Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20020118896?dq=inventor:%22Arthur+R.+Hair%22
Timestamp: 2016-12-11 07:24:34
Document Index: 319762758

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 80', 'art 80', 'art 80', 'art 80', 'art 80', 'art 80', 'arts 80', 'arts 80', 'arts 80']

Patent US20020118896 - Apparatus for making reinforced reclosable package seals - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsPackages having improved openable and resealable interlocking closures and methods and apparatus for making the same from a continuous web of film, the closure having male and female portions and being formed either in line with or transversely to the direction of film flow during package formation at...http://www.google.com/patents/US20020118896?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20020118896 - Apparatus for making reinforced reclosable package sealsAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS20020118896 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 09/808,174Publication dateAug 29, 2002Filing dateMar 15, 2001Priority dateMay 22, 1997Also published asCA2314505A1, CA2314505C, DE60030513D1, DE60030513T2, EP1072526A2, EP1072526A3, EP1072526B1, US6350057, US6568150, US6755927, US20010010253Publication number09808174, 808174, US 2002/0118896 A1, US 2002/118896 A1, US 20020118896 A1, US 20020118896A1, US 2002118896 A1, US 2002118896A1, US-A1-20020118896, US-A1-2002118896, US2002/0118896A1, US2002/118896A1, US20020118896 A1, US20020118896A1, US2002118896 A1, US2002118896A1InventorsHarold FormanOriginal AssigneeForman Harold M.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (18), Classifications (37), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetApparatus for making reinforced reclosable package seals
[0048] In the several figures, like elements are denoted by like reference characters, which to the extent possible are the same as the correspondingly placed reference characters in the earlier application. [0049] Considering first FIGS. 1 and 11, there are seen packages 20 and 20′ having at opposite ends heat sealed end seals 21A/21B and 21′A/21′B, tearoff feature 62, and resealable package locking closures 22 and 22′. The packages are identical except for the shape of the resealable locking closures, closure 22 in FIG. 1 being formed along a straight line, while closure 22′ in FIG. 11 is formed along an arc. The straight line form of closure requires less package length than the arcuate form, but the arcuate form provides somewhat easier package opening because the opening force is effectively applied to a shorter length of the closure. Both types are formed in the same way, as will be subsequently shown. The closures 22 and 22′ may also have formed into their structures at intervals along their length, hinge formations 31 and/or reinforcing V-notches 60. FIG. 1 is shown with the longitudinal package seal, which is normally the bottom surface of the package, shown uppermost to reveal details of the resealable closure 22. [0050] The single overlap type of longitudinal seal as seen in FIG. 1 is shown in diagrammatic end view in FIG. 1A as an open package tube before end sealing, showing the overlapped outer and inner margins 48 and 49 of the package bottom surface 23, and the continuous package upper surface 24. An enlarged cross section of this closure structure not taken through the overlap is shown in FIG. 2, while a cross section of the closure structure taken through the single overlap is shown in FIG. 3. A cross section of the closure structure as would be seen when taken through the double overlap longitudinal package seal structure shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1B as having an outer layer 48, a middle layer 50 and an inner layer 51, is shown in FIG. 3A. All of these closures are illustratively shown as formed of single or multiple thermally fused triple plies or layers of packaging film, the formation of such triple plies into a strip 30 being described hereinafter. As will be subsequently shown, the resealable closures are formed during the package making process from multiple reversely fanfolded layers of the film from which the packages are made, as best seen in the enlarged cross-sectional views of FIGS. 2, 3 and 3A to which attention should be now directed. [0051] The internested closure sections of all of FIGS. 2, 3 and 3A are seen to be formed in an arrowhead shape with the lower legs of the arrowhead angled inwardly downward toward one another. This angled orientation of the base legs results in easier package opening and reclosing. In FIG. 2 the upper film portion 23 of the package 20 is seen reversely folded into three thermally fused layers 23A/23B/23C forming the outer female section 22A of the closure 22, with the lower film portion 24 being similarly folded into three thermally fused layers 24A/24B/24C forming the inner male section 22B of the closure 22. This structure is the cross section through the interlocking closure taken at any point that is not through the longitudinal package seals shown in FIG. 1A as 48/49 and in FIG. 1B as 48/50/51, and is the same for all of the packages. It is identical to the structure of FIG. 2 of my earlier application and functions in the same way. The package overlap structures of FIGS. 3 and 3A however depart materially from that of FIG. 2 as will be now described. [0052] Considering first the single overlap structure of FIG. 3, it is seen that the inner male closure portion 22B is the same as that of FIG. 2, consisting of three layers of packaging film 24A/24B/24C, but that the outer female portion 22A instead of also having only three layers has six thermally fused layers in the overlap region of margins 48/49, namely, layers 48A/48B/48C/49A/49B/49C. This renders the female closure portion 22A substantially stiffer in this overlap region located centrally of the package, and provides increased holding power of the male closure portion 22B within the female portion 22A at the maximum opening stress region of the package. In the double overlap structure of FIG. 3A it is seen that the inner male closure portion 22B is also the same as that of FIG. 2, consisting of three layers of packaging film 24A/24B/24C, but that the outer female portion 22A instead of also having only three layers has nine thermally fused layers in the overlap region of margins 48/50/51, namely, the layers 48A/48B/48C/50A/50B/50C/51A/51B/51C. This renders female closure portion 22A even stiffer in this overlap region than the structure of FIG. 3. [0053] [0053]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the opening of the package 20 by first tearing off the end seal 21B adjacent to the closure 22, as shown in FIG. 4, by means of the tear-off feature 62 shown in FIG. 1, and then opening the resealable locking closure 22 by separating the outer and inner sections 22A and 22B as shown in FIG. 5. The separation process, for those interested, is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of my earlier application and show the outer and inner sections 22 a and 22 b, corresponding to 22A and 22B of the present application, being respectively expanded and compressed as the inner section 22 b is pulled out of the outer section 22 a, and then shown springing back to their static state conditions. The process is identical for the resealable closure of the present application and the drawings are not here repeated. FIG. 5 also illustrates the action of the hinge formations 31 which permit the stiff interlock seal 22 to flex about the hinges 31 and form, in the package shown, a generally octagonal opening that renders access to the package interior much easier. Fewer or more hinges 31 may of course be used depending on the package opening size and the nature of the contents. The reinforcing V-notches 60 stiffen the sections of the resealable closure disposed between the hinges 31. The hinges 31 and V-notches 60 are seen more clearly in the enlarged fragmentary showing of FIG. 5A. [0054] [0054]FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic showing of apparatus for producing finished packages as shown in the Figures. Film 25 from a roll 26 of heat sealable packaging film is spooled off and fed around roller 27 and between rollers 28 to the film fanfolding device 29 where at package length intervals the film is multiple folded and edge heat sealed into strips 30 extending fully widthwise of the running film with the strip layers 30 being unsecured to one another between the edge seals. For the straight seal of FIG. 1 the strip width is approximately one half inch, while for the arcuate form of FIG. 11 it could be about one inch. To accomplish this the film 25 is either made of thermoplastic material or is thermoplastically coated. The fanfolding device 29 and the process of forming the film 25 to include the heat sealed fanfolded strip 30 are shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8, the position of the apparatus of FIG. 7 being that shown in the operating cycle position of FIG. 8C. [0055] The device 29 consists of, a pair of fanfolding plates 37 having window slots 38, the plates being synchronously shiftable toward and away from one another in slightly separated parallel planes, upper and lower film clamping guide rods 39, and upper and lower heating bars 40A and 40B carried on the guide bars 39. The upper heating bar 40A is provided along its lower face with a centrally longitudinally extending slot 35 which forms a pair of downturned legs 52 extending widthwise of the running length of the film, while the lower heating bar 40B is provided along its upper face with a similar centrally longitudinally extending slot 35 which forms a pair of upturned legs 52, the downturned and upturned pairs of legs 52 being positioned in apposed relationship. The film 25 moves from right to left between the plates 37 as shown by arrows 41 in FIG. 8A. As shown in FIG. 8B by the arrows 42, the plates 37 are shifted toward one another into overlapping position to form a three layer fanfold of film 25 with the windows 38 of the plates 37 vertically aligned. Next, as shown in FIG. 7 and in FIG. 8C by the arrows 43, the film clamping guide rods are shifted toward one another through the windows 38 to clamp the three layers of film together. [0056] As shown in FIG. 8D by arrows 44, the plates 37 are then retracted away from one another, while as shown by arrows 45 the heating bars 40A and 40B are shifted toward one another so that the upper and lower pairs of legs 52 of the heating bars engage the upper and lower outer surfaces of the fanfolded film strip to edge seal the layers together into the heat sealed strip 30 with the layers of strip 30 being unsecured to one another between the edge seals 53 as best seen in FIG. 8F. The unsecured condition of the layers of strip 30 shortens the time required to subsequently form the interlocking closure because the layers conform to the forming dies more easily and do not have to be first resoftened to be formed. Finally, as shown by arrows 46 in FIG. 8E, the rods 39 and heating bars 40A and 40B are retracted, and the strip 30 moves out of the fanfolding device on its way to the packaging device 33. It should be understood that during the course of formation of the strip 30 the entire apparatus 29 moves in the direction of motion of the film 25 and then retracts to its initial position in preparation for the next cycle of strip formation, as shown by the arrow 47. [0057] These strips 30 then proceed to a device for removing the thermoplastic coating from most of the undersurface of the strip, shown illustratively as an abrader generally designated as 63. Other known types of devices are also usable for this purpose, such as corona devices. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 10 the abrader 63 includes a pair of abrading wheels 64 driven by motors 65 supported on a carrier bar 66. The carrier bar 66 reciprocates transversely to the running length of the film to treat the undersurface of the strip 30 which will form the non-sealable facing surfaces of the interlocking closure, as shown by arrow 67, and also moves longitudinally with the film, as shown by arrow 68, for a distance sufficient to complete abrasion of the desired portion of the strip. In the case of a single overlap package as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1A, the longitudinal film margin which forms the portion 48 is left with its thermoplastic surface intact so that it can subsequently be heat sealed to the opposite film margin 49 during package formation by packaging machine 33. This also is the case for the margin 48 of the double overlap package as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1B, and for the opposite longitudinally extending film margin which forms the interface between layers 50 and 51. In this latter case, if an abrader is utilized, only one abrading wheel would be used. [0058] Upon completion of a strip treatment the abrader moves downward out of engagement with the film strip 30 and returns to its starting place to engage the next strip. The film then passes around the rollers 32 and into the packaging machine 33 where the items 34 to be packaged, carried on conveyor 36, are wrapped and emerge for end sealing and package cutting by the device designated generally as 69, and formation of the resealable interlocking closure by the device designated generally as 70, being thereafter carried away for packing for shipment by the conveyor 36. [0059] The completion of the packaging by end sealing and reclosable seal formation takes place respectively at the sealing station sealing device 69 and forming device 70 shown in FIG. 6 and in the enlarged cross sectional detail of FIG. 9, to both of which reference should now be made. After emerging from the package forming apparatus 33 the package ends are sealed by the sealing device 69, and at the same time the package resealable locking feature is completed from the strip 30 by a closure former 70. A wrapped product carrying a strip 30 and shown as 71 emerges from the packaging machine 33 and passes to a position between the sealing device 69 and the closure former 70. The upper and lower heat sealing bars 72 and 73 move toward one another to heat seal the ends of adjacent packages to form the opposite end seals 21A and 21B shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, followed closely by the descent of the cutting bar 74 which severs the seals 21A/21B of the adjacent packages from one another. Moreover, the apposed faces of strip 30 are held in proper position for closure forming at former 70 by the immediately adjacent heat seal 21B. [0060] As seen in FIG. 6, the strips 30 have been wrapped during packaging so that each strip is disposed in two layers, one above the other with the abraded surfaces in contact, but remain unsecured to one another so that they may be subsequently separated. As seen in FIG. 9 the closure former 70 consists of an anvil die 54 formed at the lower end of the upper heater block 55, a lower recess die 56 formed at the upper end of lower heater block 57, a pair of apposed reciprocable forming plates 58, vacuum ports 59 in the lower heater block 57, and heaters 61 in the upper and lower heater blocks. The anvil die 54 and recess die 56 are shown as configured to produce the upper end of the arrowhead interlock shape, but also formed longitudinally along these dies are the proper configurations to form the hinges 31 and/or the reinforcing V-notches 60 when it is desired to include them in the interlock closure. [0061] In one method of forming the resealable closure, as the edge sealed strip 30 comes into position between the upper and lower heater blocks 55 and 57 of the forming device 70, the latter move vertically toward one another, and the forming sequence is initiated by moving the heated upper anvil 54 and lower recess 56 into mating position and heat forming the strip 30 into the recess 56 where the strip is retained in position by vacuum drawn through the manifolds 59. The anvil 54 then retracts while the vacuum continues to hold the strip in the recess 56. The forming plates 58 then move toward one another and shape the inturned lower legs of the arrowhead shape into the heat softened strip 30. Finally, the forming plates 58 are retracted and the vacuum is released, thereby releasing the formed resealable closure. The forming device is then retracted to its starting position in preparation for forming the next closure. This sequence repeats and produces a continuous line of packaged products. [0062] In a second, and preferred method of forming the resealable closure, as the edge sealed strip 30 comes into position between the upper and lower heater blocks 55 and 57 of the forming device 70, the latter move vertically toward one another, and the forming sequence is initiated by moving the heated upper anvil 54 and lower recess 56 into mating position and heat forming the strip 30 into the recess 56. Next, the forming plates 58 then move toward one another and press the upper sides of the strip 30 against the sides of the upper heater block male die 55. The upper heater block and male die 55 are then retracted, and the forming plates 58 are moved further inward to pinch together the portion of the strip 30 therebetween and form the arrowhead shape in the interfitted parts of the resealable closure. Then, the lower heater block and female die 56 are moved further upward toward the forming plates 58 to move the rear surfaces of the arrowhead into a more planer alignment, rendering the arrowhead more triangular in shape and more similar to the showing of FIG. 2a of parent application Ser. No. 08/861,576. The forming plates 58 are then retracted to their starting position in preparation for forming the next closure. This forming method does not require the use of vacuum, and dispenses with the need for that type of apparatus. [0063] Considering now the embodiments of the invention which are formed by edge folding the film web 25 or adding a film strip to increase the number of layers of the longitudinally extending package seal, consider first the edge folding form of making the package. If film web 25 is longitudinally single folded along one edge before entering the fanfold device 29, the single overlap packaging apparatus which produces a longitudinal package seal as shown in FIG. 1A, will produce an interlock 22 as seen in FIG. 3A rather than as seen in FIG. 3. This is because the fanfold device 29 will make a six fold through the folded edge of strip 30. Devices for edge folding running webs are well known in the art, and the edge fold width would be made about the same as the width of the package longitudinal seal. [0064] If instead of edge folding the running web 25, an additional strip 75 of packaging film, or other heat sealable film, is laid over one longitudinal margin of the web 25 with the web edge and one strip edge substantially congruent, two different structures can be produced depending upon the point on the web where the overlay is introduced. If the overlay of strip 75 is done before entry of the web 25 into the fanfold device 29, then the same interlock closure structure results as previously described for edge folding the web, namely, the interlock closure structure shown in FIG. 3A. However, if the overlay of strip 75 is done after the strip 30 has been formed, then the longitudinal package seal will appear as shown in the detail of FIG. 12, and a different interlock closure structure is formed, as shown in FIG. 12A. Strip 75 is shown for illustrative purposes as about three times the thickness of the packaging film 25, but can be of any thickness desired, as determined by the particular application. Apparatus for applying a strip 75 to a web are well known in the art, and typically could be as shown in FIG. 12B in which are seen a film strip roll 76, a pair of strip pulling rollers 77, and a pair of positioning rollers 78 which may also be heat sealing rollers applying the strip to the web 25. The strip 75 could also be a strip slit off of one longitudinally running edge of the web 25 just prior to overlay on the web. [0065] Consider now the isometric view of package 79 as seen in FIG. 13, which shows a longitudinally extending reinforced reclosable side edge package seal 80 having an outer female part 80A and an inner male part 80B, the seal 80 being best seen in the diagrammatic showing of FIG. 14, and a rupturable seal 81 by means of which the package edge margin 82 may be removed to open the package by providing access to the resealable closure 80. FIG. 14 also discloses a single overlap longitudinal package seal 83, which could also be a double overlap seal as a function of the particular type of wrapping machine. FIG. 15 shows an enlarged cross sectional view through resealable closure 80 as would be seen when viewed along line 15-15 on FIG. 13, with the male part 80B formed of three plies 80B1/80B2/80B3 of the packaging film and the female part 80A as illustratively formed of five plies 80A1/80A2/80A3/80A4/80A5 of the packaging film. Apparatus for forming the seal 80 and the package 79 is seen in FIG. 16, to which reference should now be made. [0066] In FIG. 16 there is seen a web of packaging film 84 moving into the broad end of the fanfolding apparatus 85 and emerging from its narrow end as a narrowed web having formed therein the two stacks of folded film 86 and 87 which are immediately heat sealed by the heat seal rollers 90 into sealed strips which respectively will become the female part 80A and the male part 80B of the resealable interlocking closure. As shown in FIG. 17 the four fanfold guide plates 88 continuously form the five layer female stack 86, and the two fanfold guide plates 89 continuously form the three layer male stack 87. The heat sealed stacks 86 and 87 then respectively enter the heated female forming die 91 and heated male forming die 92 where the interlocking female and male parts 80A and 80B respectively are formed in the stacked strips 86 and 87, as best seen in the showing of FIG. 18. If instead of a fanfolded stack it is desired to utilize a strip of heat sealable material to form the strips 86 and 87, the fanfolding apparatus 85 may be replaced with a pair of strip appliers of the kind shown in FIG. 12B. [0067] Upon emergence from the heated forming dies, the closure parts 80A and 80B pass through thermal insulating blocks 93 of the same cross section as the dies and into the cooled setting dies 94 which quickly cool the parts to stable mechanical configurations. Before the web enters into the packaging apparatus 96 the double perforation wheels 95 apply the tear-off perforation lines 81 to the web. The packager 96 wraps the product, forms the longitudinal package seal 83 best seen in FIG. 14, and positions the closure parts 80A and 80B for closure, after which the latter are pressed together into interlocking fit by the press rollers 97 and 98, as best seen in larger detail in FIG. 19. Successive incomplete packages of product are then end sealed and severed by package end sealer and cutter 99 to form individual finished packages 79. [0068] An apparatus for making a continuous series of bags with resealable interlocking closures, somewhat similar in concept to that of FIG. 16, is shown in FIG. 20 where there are seen a web 100 having the running longitudinal edges stack formed by the male and female stackers 101 and 102 into stacks 103 and 104, which stacks are then edge sealed by heat seal rollers 105. The sealed stacks, as before, enter the heated forming dies 106 and 107 where the male and female interlocks 108 and 109 are formed, and emerge from the cooled setting dies 110 and 111. The web with the interlocks formed thereon is advanced by drive rollers 112 and 113, and the web edge carrying the female interlock 109 is turned over the inverter bar 114 into alignment with the male interlock 108, and the two are pressed into engagement by the press rollers 115 and 116. The bags are completed by the side sealer 117 which heat seals the side edges of the bags and does one of two other things. One option is to make a narrow edge seal and also sever successive bags from one another. Another option is to make a wider fin seal with a line of severance formed midway between the edges of the seal and not to sever the bags, but to wind them on a roll or reverse fold them into a stack for bulk packaging. If instead of a fanfolded stack it is desired to utilize a strip of heat sealable material to form the strips 103 and 104, the fanfolding devices 101 and 102 may be replaced with a pair of strip appliers of the kind shown in FIG. 12B. [0069] An alternative form of package to that shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 21 as 119, and can be produced by the same apparatus as shown in FIG. 6 by a modification to the closure former dies 70. As seen in FIG. 21 the package 119 has most of the same features as the package of FIG. 1, namely, an end seal 120, a tear-of feature 121, and a resealable closure, 122. However, the package of FIG. 21 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that the resealable closure 122 extends only partly across the width of the package, the rest of the package in line with the closure 122 being formed as a permanent heat seal 123. This form of package is useful when the package contents is a pourable material, such as cereal or rice, or the like, and it is desirable to have the package open only partly for better pouring control. The relative lengths of the resealable closure 122 and permanent seal 123 can be proportioned as desired by the configuration of the closure forming dies 70. [0070] Considering finally FIGS. 22, 22A and 22B, there is shown an alternative apparatus for forming the stacked edge-sealed strip from which the resealable interlocking package closure is formed transversely to the web. Instead of fanfolding the web of packaging film as previously shown and described, a stack is formed by securing a separate strip of substantially constant thickness material to the web of packaging film transversely to its running length rather than colinearly as shown in FIG. 12B. Multiple strips can be so stacked or a single strip of whatever thickness is desired. In FIG. 22 there is seen packaging film 124 spooling off of a roll 125 and passing into and through a sealing device 126 where a piece 127 of a strip of flexible material 128 which spools off of a roll 129 is heat sealed to the film 124 after being severed from the strip 128 by the knife and anvil 130. Stacked heat-sealed strips 131 are produced at package length intervals by the apparatus to be now described. [0071] A vacuum belt 132 draws the strip material from the supply roll 129 in the manner well known in the art and feeds it through the knife and anvil 130 transversely across the upper surface of the web 124, the strip being picked up by the vacuum belt 133 and carried to a point approximately an inch from the far edge 134 of the web 124, the one inch representing the spacing of the knife 130 from the near edge 135 of the web 124. Next, the knife 130 severs the the piece 127 from the strip 128, and the vacuum belt 133 moves the ends of severed strip 127 the remaining inch into congruency with the web edges 134 and 135. At this point in the cycle the movement of web 124 and the vacuum belts 132 and 133 are stopped, as seen in FIG. 22A, and the severed piece 127 is heat sealed to the web 124. Heat sealing is effected by the upper heat seal bars 136 and lower heat seal bars 137 which, as seen in FIG. 22B, are moved respectively down and up to heat seal the edges of the stacked strip and web, as at 138. The sealer bars are then retracted, and movement of the web 124 and strip 128 resumes for the next cycle. [0072] The surface of the strip 128 which is not sealed to the web 124 does not have heat-sealable properties so that a surface abrading device such as is shown at 63 in FIG. 6 is not needed. However, a patch of hot melt material is applied to either the terminal upper inch of one or both ends of the strip 131 at a downstream station, depending upon the type of longitudinal seal that is to be formed. [0073] Having now described the invention in connection with particularly illustrated embodiments thereof, it will be understood that modifications and variations of the invention may now occur from time to time to those normally skilled in the art without departing from the essential scope or spirit of the invention, and accordingly it is intended to claim the invention both broadly and specifically as indicated in the appended claims. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6675558Apr 18, 2001Jan 13, 2004Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.Method for manufacturing flexible packages having slide closuresUS6688079Nov 26, 2001Feb 10, 2004Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.Method for manufacturing flexible packages having slide closuresUS6688080Nov 26, 2001Feb 10, 2004Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.Method for manufacturing flexible packages having slide closuresUS6769229Aug 30, 2001Aug 3, 2004Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.Method for manufacturing flexible packages having slide closuresUS6823647Sep 11, 2003Nov 30, 2004Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.Apparatus for manufacturing flexible packages having slides closuresUS6829873Sep 11, 2003Dec 14, 2004Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.Apparatus for manufacturing flexible packages having slide closuresUS6834474Sep 20, 2002Dec 28, 2004Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.Package with zipper closureUS8066137Aug 8, 2008Nov 29, 2011Clear Lam Packaging, Inc.Flexible, stackable container including a lid and package body folded from a single sheet of filmUS8122687Jul 31, 2003Feb 28, 2012Kraft Foods Global Brands LlcMethod of making flexible packages having slide closuresUS8231024Nov 6, 2008Jul 31, 2012Clear Lam Packaging, Inc.Flexible, stackable container and method and system for manufacturing sameUS8602242Nov 6, 2009Dec 10, 2013Clear Lam Packaging, Inc.Flexible, stackable container used for storing a quantity of product and method for manufacturing sameUS8602244Jun 29, 2012Dec 10, 2013Clear Lam Packaging, Inc.Flexible, stackable sealed package having corner seals and formed from a sheet of filmUS9162786Mar 14, 2014Oct 20, 2015Clear Lam Packaging, Inc.Flexible, stackable container and method and system for manufacturing the sameUS20040045255 *Sep 11, 2003Mar 11, 2004Panagiotis KinigakisApparatus for manufacturing flexible packages having slide closuresUS20040045256 *Sep 11, 2003Mar 11, 2004Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.Apparatus for manufaturing flexible packages having slide closuresUS20040074210 *Sep 11, 2003Apr 22, 2004Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.Apparatus for manufacturing flexible packages having slide closuresUS20040138982 *Dec 8, 2003Jul 15, 2004David LawrenceBond issue risk managementUS20070012589 *Jul 15, 2005Jan 18, 2007Cassoni Robert PProcess for manufacture of a flexible package* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification383/121International ClassificationB31B23/26, B65D33/24, B65B7/02, B65B51/00, B65B51/10, B29D5/10, B31B19/90, B65D75/12, B65D33/25, B65D75/58Cooperative ClassificationY10T24/45168, Y10T156/1044, Y10T156/1007, Y10S493/927, B65D33/255, B65D33/2533, B31B19/90, B65B9/06, B65D33/25, B31B2219/9022, B65D75/12, B65D75/5805, B31B2219/9016, B65D33/2558, B65D33/2541, B29D5/10European ClassificationB31B19/90, B65B9/06, B29D5/10, B65D33/25, B65D75/58B, B65D75/12, B65D33/25A3, B65D33/25A3A, B65D33/25A1C, B65D33/25A3CLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 7, 2004CCCertificate of correctionSep 22, 2006FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jan 3, 2011REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedMay 27, 2011LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesJul 19, 2011FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20110527RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services