Joseph W Mercer

US Patent:

53800940, Jan 10, 1995

Filed:

Feb 3, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/191238

Inventors:

Edward H. Schmidt - Cincinnati OH
Joseph B. Mercer - Hickory NC

Assignee:

The Procter & Gamble Company - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

B65D 3018

US Classification:

383209

Abstract:

An improved top opening, rectangular flexible bag for containing a stack of highly compressed flexible articles. The bag has front and back panels, two side panels and top and bottom panels, all of which are connected together to form an internal compartment for containing the stack under high compression. The stack is arranged within the bag in such a way that the side panels are under tension. The line of weakness defines the entire top portion of the bag which can be easily removed, thus exposing the entire contents of the bag for easy removal. The improvement to the bag is that the line of weakness is applied to the front and back panel of the bag simultaneously, thus providing perfect alignment of the lines of weakness where they intersect the side seals of the bag. The bag is further improved with a notch where the line of weakness intersects the side seal, thus significantly reducing the force to initiate the tear through the bead of plastic created by the side seal. A further improvement is that the line of weakness is applied in the machine direction as the bag is manufactured, thus requiring a simple, inexpensive, rotary cutting tool rather than an expensive, reciprocating die, and without negatively impacting line speeds.

US Patent:

55140670, May 7, 1996

Filed:

Sep 16, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/307976

Inventors:

Edward H. Schmidt - Cincinnati OH
Joseph B. Mercer - Hickory NC

Assignee:

The Procter & Gamble Company - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

B31B 2360
B31B 2314

US Classification:

493196

Abstract:

An improved top opening, rectangular flexible bag for containing a stack of highly compressed flexible articles. The bag has front and back panels, two side panels and top and bottom panels, all of which are connected together to form an internal compartment for containing the stack under high compression. The stack is arranged within the bag in such a way that the side panels are under tension. The line of weakness defines the entire top portion of the bag which can be easily removed, thus exposing the entire contents of the bag for easy removal. The improvement to the bag is that the line of weakness is applied to the front and back panel of the bag simultaneously, thus providing perfect alignment of the lines of weakness where they intersect the side seals of the bag. The bag is further improved with a notch where the line of weakness intersects the side seal, thus significantly reducing the force to initiate the tear through the bead of plastic created by the side seal. A further improvement is that the line of weakness is applied in the machine direction as the bag is manufactured, thus requiring a simple, inexpensive, rotary cutting tool rather than an expensive, reciprocating die, and without negatively impacting line speeds.