John D Athans

US Patent:

6378177, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Jun 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/609939

Inventors:

John D. Athans - Victor NY
Craig E. Cappel - Pittsford NY
Michael W. McManus - Marion NY

Assignee:

Pactiv Corporation - Lake Forest IL

International Classification:

A44B 1900

US Classification:

2458512, 24415, 24399, 383 63

Abstract:

A fastener for a top-filled tamper-evident reclosable plastic package is disclosed. The package includes first and second opposing panels joined along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging said sides. The fastener includes first and second opposing tracks along a top of the package. The first and second tracks include respective first and second interlocking profiles and respective first and second fins extending from the respective first and second profiles. The first and second fins are joined to each other at their respective lower ends. A preferential area of weakness is disposed along or near the juncture of the first and second fins. While the fastener is attached to the first panel, the fastener initially is at least partially unattached to the second panel so as to allow the package to be filled with a product via a fill opening between the fastener and the second panel. After filling the package with the product, the fill opening is sealed. The fastener includes special structure added proximate the fins to prevent the fins from being deformed, being stuck to each other, or being accidentally sealed to each other while sealing the fill opening.

US Patent:

RE39505, Mar 13, 2007

Filed:

Aug 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/647819

Inventors:

Toby R. Thomas - Pleasant Prairie WI, US
Samuel D. Aversa - Farmington NY, US
John D. Athans - Victor NY, US

Assignee:

Pactiv Corporation - Lake Forest IL

International Classification:

B65B 1/04
B65B 61/18

US Classification:

53412, 53459, 53469, 531334, 531392, 532847, 53562, 53570, 493213

Abstract:

A fill-through-the-top reclosable package includes first and second opposing body panels joined to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The package is provided with a reclosable fastener extending alone a package top disposed opposite the bottom. The fastener includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track includes a male profile, while the second track includes a female profile adapted to releasably interlock with the male profile. To provide tamper evidence, the first and second tracks may be joined to each other along an area of weakness. When making the package, the first track is first attached to the first panel, the package, the first track is first attached to the first panel, the package is filled with a product via a fill opening between the second track and the second panel, and then the second track is attached to the second panel.

US Patent:

RE40284, May 6, 2008

Filed:

Nov 1, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/591408

Inventors:

Toby R. Thomas - Pleasant Prairie WI, US
Samuel D. Aversa - Canandaigua NY, US
John D. Athans - Victor NY, US

Assignee:

Pactiv Corporation - Lake Forest IL

International Classification:

B65B 1/04
B65B 61/18

US Classification:

53412, 53459, 53469, 531334, 531392, 532847, 53562, 53570, 493213

Abstract:

A fill-through-the-top reclosable package includes first and second opposing body panels joined to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The package is provided with a reclosable fastener extending along a package top disposed opposite the bottom. The fastener includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track includes a male profile, while the second track includes a female profile adapted to releasably interlock with the male profile. To provide tamper evidence, the first and second tracks may be joined to each other along an area of weakness. When making the package, the first track is first attached to the first panel, the package is filled with a product via a fill opening between the second track and the second panel, and then the second track is attached to the second panel.

US Patent:

61485888, Nov 21, 2000

Filed:

Dec 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/466617

Inventors:

Toby R. Thomas - Pittsford NY
Samuel D. Aversa - Farmington NY
John D. Athans - Victor NY

Assignee:

Pactiv Corporation - Lake Forest IL

International Classification:

B65B 6118

US Classification:

53412

Abstract:

A fill-through-the-top reclosable package includes first and second opposing body panels joined to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The package is provided with a reclosable fastener extending along a package top disposed opposite the bottom. The fastener includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track includes a male profile, while the second track includes a female profile adapted to releasably interlock with the male profile. To provide tamper evidence, the first and second tracks may be joined to each other along an area of weakness. When making the package, the first track is first attached to the first panel, the package is filled with a product via a fill opening between the second track and the second panel, and then the second track is attached to the second panel.

US Patent:

6071011, Jun 6, 2000

Filed:

Aug 12, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/373312

Inventors:

Toby R. Thomas - Pittsford NY
Samuel D. Aversa - Farmington NY
John D. Athans - Victor NY

Assignee:

Tenneco Packaging, Inc. - Lake Forest IL

International Classification:

B65D 3316

US Classification:

383 64

Abstract:

A fill-through-the-top reclosable package includes first and second opposing body panels joined to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The package is provided with a reclosable fastener extending along a package top disposed opposite the bottom. The fastener includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track includes a male profile, while the second track includes a female profile adapted to releasably interlock with the male profile. To provide tamper evidence, the first and second tracks may be joined to each other along an area of weakness. When making the package, the first track is first attached to the first panel, the package is filled with a product via a fill opening between the second track and the second panel, and then the second track is attached to the second panel.

US Patent:

62792989, Aug 28, 2001

Filed:

Oct 21, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/422510

Inventors:

Toby R. Thomas - Pittsford NY
Samuel D. Aversa - Farmington NY
John D. Athans - Victor NY

Assignee:

Pactiv Corporation - Lake Forest IL

International Classification:

B65B 104
B65B 6118

US Classification:

53412

Abstract:

A fill-through-the-top reclosable package includes first and second opposing body panels joined to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The package is provided with a reclosable fastener extending along a package top disposed opposite the bottom. The fastener includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track includes a male profile, while the second track includes a female profile adapted to releasably interlock with the male profile. To provide tamper evidence, the first and second tracks may be joined to each other along an area of weakness. When making the package, the first track is first attached to the first panel, the package is filled with a product via a fill opening between the second track and the second panel, and then the second track is attached to the second panel.

US Patent:

20200039696, Feb 6, 2020

Filed:

Oct 11, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/599699

Inventors:

- Lake Forest IL, US
John Athans - Victor NY, US

International Classification:

B65D 33/25

Abstract:

A child resistant slider includes a top member and a pair of spaced legs depending from the top member. At least a first leg of the spaced legs has a first tang projecting laterally away from a remaining portion of the first leg and a remaining portion of the slider. The first tang has a separator plow. The tang can be movable to move the first plow into a position to separate interlocked male and female tracks of a zipper closure. In other examples, both legs include a projecting tang having a separator plow.

US Patent:

20190161243, May 30, 2019

Filed:

Nov 29, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/826079

Inventors:

- Lake Forest IL, US
John Athans - Victor NY, US

International Classification:

B65D 33/25

Abstract:

A child resistant slider includes a top member and a pair of spaced legs depending from the top member. At least a first leg of the spaced legs has a first tang projecting laterally away from a remaining portion of the first leg and a remaining portion of the slider. The first tang has a separator plow. The tang can be movable to move the first plow into a position to separate interlocked male and female tracks of a zipper closure. In other examples, both legs include a projecting tang having a separator plow.