The present invention generally relates to packages to be filled with a product on a form, fill, and seal machine and, more particularly, to a reclosable package filled through its tip on a form, fill, and seal machine.
A typical reclosable package includes first and second opposing panels joined to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. A reclosable fastener extends along a package top disposed opposite the bottom. The fastener generally 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. The first and second tracks are thermally fused to, or integrally formed with, the respective first and second panels. To open and close the fastener, the package may be provided with a slider mounted to the fastener.
If reclosable packages of the foregoing type are to be prepackaged with a product and then sold in a store, the packages are typically prepared on a horizontal or vertical form, fill, and seal machine. In the form, fill, and seal machine, the package is first formed into the shape of a pouch having a fill opening at either the top or the bottom. If the fill opening is disposed at the bottom, then the top is sealed prior to filling the package. Similarly, if the fill opening is disposed at the top, then the bottom is sealed prior to filling the package. Next, the package filled with the product via the fill opening. Finally, the fill opening is sealed shut to fully enclose the product within the package. If the product delivered to the package includes food, then the fill opening is typically provided at the package bottom and a tamper-evident feature is provided along the top. The tamper-evident feature indicates to a consumer whether or not the package has been tampered with prior to purchase.
Some reclosable packages include a gusset along the bottom which expands in response to filling the package with a product. The gusset is advantageous because it increases the volume of product that can be contained in the package and, when the gusset expands, it allows the package to stand up on a store shelf. The stand-up package obviates the use of additional features such as headers with holes for hanging the package from a hook or post. The bottom gusset, however, makes it less practical to provide a fill opening at the bottom because most of the product resides in the gusset.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, 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 bottom optionally includes a gusset. 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 are joined to each other along an area of weakness. The first and second tracks are optionally provided with respective first and second fins joined to each other along the aforementioned area of weakness to effectively create a single fin comprised of the first and second fins. To open and close the fastener, the package is optionally provided with a slider mounted to the fastener.
The package is convertible between a pre-filled condition and a post-filled condition. In the pre-filled condition, the first track is connected to the first panel, but the second track is only connected to the second panel along the sides thereby creating a fill opening between the second track and the second panel in a region between the sides. After the package is filled with a product via the fill opening, the package is converted to the post-filled condition. In the post-filled condition, the second track is connected to the second panel to seal the fill opening.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of making a reclosable package includes the following sequence of steps:
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, another method of making a reclosable package includes the following sequence of steps:
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for performing the above methods.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Turning now to the drawings,
The package 10 is provided with a reclosable fastener 23 extending along a package top disposed opposite the gusseted bottom 20. The fastener 23 includes first and second opposing tracks 24 and 26. The first track 24 includes a rib-type male profile 28 and a first fin 30 extending downward from the male profile 28, while the second track 26 includes a groove-type female profile 32 and a second fin 34 extending downward from the female profile 32. The male and female profiles 28 and 32 are adapted to interlock with each other. The first track 24 includes a plurality of narrow first sealant ribs 36 on an outer surface of the first fin 30 to facilitate connecting the first fin 30 to the first panel 12, and the second track 26 includes a plurality of narrow second sealant ribs 38 on an outer surface of the second fin 34 to facilitate connecting the second fin 34 to the second panel 14. To provide tamper evidence, lowermost ends of the first and second fins 30 and 34 are joined to each other along a line of weakness 40 to effectively create a single fin comprised of the first and second fins 30 and 34. The line of weakness 40 may be a scored line, a perforated line, a thinned die line, or a tear strip. In an alternative embodiment, the first and second tracks 24 and 26 do not include the respective depending fins 30 and 34, and tamper evidence is provided by joining the lowermost ends of the profiles 28 and 34 instead of the lowermost ends of the fins.
To open and close the fastener 23, the package 10 is optionally provided with a slider 42 mounted to the fastener 23. The slider 42 disengages the profiles 28 and 32 in response to movement along the fastener 23 in an opening direction and engages the profiles 28 and 32 in response to movement along the fastener 23 in a closing direction. To accommodate the slider 42 and make it difficult to open the fastener 23 without using the slider 42, the fastener 23 is preferably free to pull flanges extending upwardly from the male and female profiles 28 and 32. To stop movement of the slider 42 near the sides 16 of the package 10 and thereby prevent the slider 42 from sliding off the end of the fastener 23, a pair of end terminations 44 and 46 are mounted to the fastener 23 near the respective sides 16 of the package.10. The end termination 44 stops movement of the slider 42 in the opening direction, while the end termination 46 stops movement of the slider 42 in the closing direction. The end terminations 44 and 46 may be a separate element attached to the fastener 23, as shown in
The package 10 is convertible between a pre-filled condition and a post-filled condition. In the pre-filled condition shown in
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for making and filling the reclosable package 10. The method and apparatus are illustrated in
A sealer 60 seals the first fin 30 (see
If the packages 10 are provided with respective sliders 42, the sliders 42 are mounted to the fastener 23 at bag width distances apart either before the fastener 23 is attached to the web 52 or after the fastener 23 is attached to the web 52.
The sliders 42 may be installed using various techniques. For example, the slider 42 may have hinged wings that fold and snap permanently in place to attach the slider 42 to the fastener 23. Further details concerning such a hinged slider may be obtained from U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,010,627, 5,063,644, and 5,070,583 to Herrington, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In an alternative embodiments the slider 42 may have a pair of side walls that are temporarily flexed away from each other as the slider 42 is mounted on the fastener 23 and then returned to their original position after the slider 42 is mounted. In another alternative embodiment, prior to the formation of the side seals, the fastener 23 is cut apart at a location where a side seal is to be generated, the ends formed by the cutter are moved laterally relative to each other to expose the ends, and the slider 42 is threaded onto one of the exposed ends. Further details concerning this technique of inserting a slider through a split fastener may be obtained from U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,760 to Donovan, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In yet another alternative embodiment, prior to the formation of the side seals, the fastener 23 is notched at a location where a side seal is to be generated and the slider 42 is threaded onto the fastener 23 via the notch. The notch is sized to accommodate the slider 42. Further details concerning this technique of inserting a slider onto a notched fastener may be obtained from U.S. application Ser. No. 09/307,937 to Provan et al. entitled “Zipper and Zipper Arrangements and Methods of Manufacturing the Same”, filed May 10, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
After forming the side seals 16 and installing such optional components as a slider 42 and end terminations 44 and 46, a cutter 68 separates the packages 10 from each other at the side seals 16. Each package 10 is then placed beneath a fill tube 70 having a spout that is inserted into a fill opening between the second fin 34 and the second panel 14 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The fill tube 70 conveys a predetermined amount of product to the interior of the package 10. The gusset 22 expands in response to filling the package 10 with the product.
The moving members 74 are disposed on opposite sides of the package 10 beneath the respective guides 72. The moving members 74 continuously or intermittently convey the packages 10 supported by the guides 72 to the sealer 76. Each moving member 74 is preferably a Teflon-coated glass-cloth belt encompassing a pair of spaced pulleys. As shown in
The package 10 may be composed of various plastic polymers, copolymers, coextrusions and/or laminations. The panels 12 and 14 are preferably comprised of mono-layer or multi-layer combinations of: polyethylene (high, medium, low, linear low, and/or ultra low density polymers including metallocene); polypropylene (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); ethylene vinyl acetate; nylon (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); polyethylene terephthalate (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); polyvinyl chloride; ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH); polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC); polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH); polystyrene; foil and/or metalization; and paper. The slider 42 and end terminations 44 and 46 are preferably comprised of mono-material, blends, alloys, and/or co-polymers of: polyethylene (high, medium, low, linear low, and/or ultra low density polymers); polypropylene (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); ethylene vinyl acetate; nylon (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); thermoplastic polyesters; polycarbonate; acrylics; and/or polystyrene. The profiles 12 and 14 and the fins 30 and 34 are preferably comprised of mono-layer, blends, alloys, coextrusions, laminations and/or coatings of: polyethylene (high, medium, low, linear low, and/or ultra low density polymers including metallocene); polypropylene (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); ethylene vinyl acetate; nylon (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); polyethylene terephthalate (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); polyvinyl chloride; ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH); polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC); polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH); polystyrene; foil and/or metalization; and paper. The sealant ribs 36 and 38 are preferably comprised of mono-material, blends, and/or coextrusions of: polyethylene (low, linear low, and/or ultra low density polymers including metallocene); ethylene vinyl acetate, adhesive or low melting temperature sealant.
While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/373,21209/373,312, filed Aug. 12, 1999, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,011 on Jun. 6, 2000.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1992152 | Yeates | Feb 1935 | A |
2064432 | Keidel | Dec 1936 | A |
2506311 | Moore | May 1950 | A |
2560535 | Allen | Jul 1951 | A |
2848031 | Svee et al. | Aug 1958 | A |
2898027 | Scholle | Aug 1959 | A |
2978769 | Harrah | Apr 1961 | A |
2994469 | Troup et al. | Aug 1961 | A |
3054434 | Ausnit et al. | Sep 1962 | A |
3104798 | Stone | Sep 1963 | A |
3172443 | Ausnit | Mar 1965 | A |
3181583 | Lingenfelter | May 1965 | A |
3198228 | Naito | Aug 1965 | A |
3226787 | Ausnit | Jan 1966 | A |
3256981 | Kurtz | Jun 1966 | A |
3259951 | Zimmerman | Jul 1966 | A |
3262634 | Goodwin | Jul 1966 | A |
3282493 | Kamins et al. | Nov 1966 | A |
3313471 | Dickard et al. | Apr 1967 | A |
3325084 | Ausnit | Jun 1967 | A |
3326399 | Ausnit | Jun 1967 | A |
3338285 | Jaster | Aug 1967 | A |
3339606 | Kugler | Sep 1967 | A |
3368740 | Rohde | Feb 1968 | A |
3371696 | Ausnit | Mar 1968 | A |
3381592 | Ravel | May 1968 | A |
3387640 | Butler | Jun 1968 | A |
3416986 | Carley | Dec 1968 | A |
3417675 | Ausnit | Dec 1968 | A |
3425469 | Ausnit | Feb 1969 | A |
3426396 | Laguerre | Feb 1969 | A |
3437258 | Kugler | Apr 1969 | A |
3456867 | Repko | Jul 1969 | A |
3460337 | Feild | Aug 1969 | A |
3462068 | Suominen | Aug 1969 | A |
3471005 | Sexstone | Oct 1969 | A |
3473589 | Gotz | Oct 1969 | A |
3532571 | Ausnit | Oct 1970 | A |
3535409 | Rohde | Oct 1970 | A |
3543343 | Staller et al. | Dec 1970 | A |
3565147 | Ausnit | Feb 1971 | A |
RE27174 | Ausnit | Sep 1971 | E |
3608439 | Ausnit | Sep 1971 | A |
3613524 | Behr | Oct 1971 | A |
3619395 | Skendzie | Nov 1971 | A |
3625270 | Skendzic | Dec 1971 | A |
3633642 | Slegel | Jan 1972 | A |
3640381 | Kanada et al. | Feb 1972 | A |
3655503 | Stanley et al. | Apr 1972 | A |
3679511 | Ausnit | Jul 1972 | A |
3701191 | Laguerre | Oct 1972 | A |
3701192 | Laguerre | Oct 1972 | A |
3711011 | Kugler | Jan 1973 | A |
3722672 | Ebata | Mar 1973 | A |
3738567 | Ruda | Jun 1973 | A |
3744211 | Titchenal et al. | Jul 1973 | A |
3746215 | Ausnit et al. | Jul 1973 | A |
3780781 | Uramoto | Dec 1973 | A |
3785111 | Pike | Jan 1974 | A |
3790992 | Herz | Feb 1974 | A |
3815317 | Toss | Jun 1974 | A |
3817017 | Titchenal | Jun 1974 | A |
3818963 | Whitman | Jun 1974 | A |
3827472 | Uramoto | Aug 1974 | A |
3839128 | Arai | Oct 1974 | A |
3868891 | Parish | Mar 1975 | A |
3903571 | Howell | Sep 1975 | A |
3909887 | Yoshida | Oct 1975 | A |
3948705 | Ausnit | Apr 1976 | A |
3953661 | Gulley | Apr 1976 | A |
3988184 | Howard | Oct 1976 | A |
3991801 | Ausnit | Nov 1976 | A |
4003972 | Herz | Jan 1977 | A |
4094729 | Boccia | Jun 1978 | A |
4101355 | Ausnit | Jul 1978 | A |
4112990 | Anderson | Sep 1978 | A |
4118166 | Bartrum | Oct 1978 | A |
4153090 | Rifkin | May 1979 | A |
4189050 | Jensen et al. | Feb 1980 | A |
4189809 | Sotos | Feb 1980 | A |
4191230 | Ausnit | Mar 1980 | A |
4196030 | Ausnit | Apr 1980 | A |
4212337 | Kamp | Jul 1980 | A |
4235653 | Ausnit | Nov 1980 | A |
4240241 | Sanborn, Jr. | Dec 1980 | A |
4241865 | Ferrell | Dec 1980 | A |
4246288 | Sanborn, Jr. | Jan 1981 | A |
4249982 | Ausnit | Feb 1981 | A |
4252238 | Spiegelberg et al. | Feb 1981 | A |
4277241 | Schulze | Jul 1981 | A |
4279677 | Takahashi | Jul 1981 | A |
4285376 | Ausnit | Aug 1981 | A |
4295919 | Sutrina et al. | Oct 1981 | A |
4309233 | Akashi | Jan 1982 | A |
4341575 | Herz | Jul 1982 | A |
4355494 | Tilman | Oct 1982 | A |
4363345 | Scheibner | Dec 1982 | A |
4372793 | Herz | Feb 1983 | A |
4379806 | Korpman | Apr 1983 | A |
4415386 | Ferrell et al. | Nov 1983 | A |
4419159 | Herrington | Dec 1983 | A |
4428477 | Cristofolo | Jan 1984 | A |
4428788 | Kamp | Jan 1984 | A |
4430070 | Ausnit | Feb 1984 | A |
4437293 | Sanborn, Jr. | Mar 1984 | A |
4446088 | Daines | May 1984 | A |
4490959 | Lems | Jan 1985 | A |
4497678 | Nussbaum | Feb 1985 | A |
4498939 | Johnson | Feb 1985 | A |
4514962 | Ausnit | May 1985 | A |
4515647 | Behr | May 1985 | A |
4517788 | Scheffers | May 1985 | A |
4518087 | Goglio | May 1985 | A |
4522305 | Jacobsson | Jun 1985 | A |
4528224 | Ausnit | Jul 1985 | A |
4540537 | Kamp | Sep 1985 | A |
4555282 | Yano | Nov 1985 | A |
4561109 | Herrington | Dec 1985 | A |
4563319 | Ausnit et al. | Jan 1986 | A |
4573203 | Peppiatt | Feb 1986 | A |
4581006 | Hugues et al. | Apr 1986 | A |
4582549 | Ferrell | Apr 1986 | A |
4584201 | Boston | Apr 1986 | A |
4586319 | Ausnit | May 1986 | A |
4589145 | Van Erden et al. | May 1986 | A |
4601694 | Ausnit | Jul 1986 | A |
4602405 | Sturman et al. | Jul 1986 | A |
4612153 | Mangla | Sep 1986 | A |
4615083 | Mayerhofer | Oct 1986 | A |
4617683 | Christoff | Oct 1986 | A |
4620320 | Sullivan | Oct 1986 | A |
4638913 | Howe, Jr. | Jan 1987 | A |
4646511 | Boeckmann et al. | Mar 1987 | A |
4651504 | Bentsen | Mar 1987 | A |
4652496 | Yasufuku et al. | Mar 1987 | A |
4654878 | Lems | Mar 1987 | A |
4655862 | Christoff et al. | Apr 1987 | A |
4656075 | Mudge | Apr 1987 | A |
4663915 | Van Erden et al. | May 1987 | A |
4664649 | Johnson et al. | May 1987 | A |
4665552 | Lems et al. | May 1987 | A |
4665557 | Kamp | May 1987 | A |
4666536 | Van Erden et al. | May 1987 | A |
4673383 | Bentsen | Jun 1987 | A |
4682366 | Ausnit et al. | Jul 1987 | A |
4691372 | Van Erden | Sep 1987 | A |
4698118 | Takahashi et al. | Oct 1987 | A |
4703518 | Ausnit | Oct 1987 | A |
4709398 | Ausnit | Nov 1987 | A |
4709533 | Ausnit | Dec 1987 | A |
4710157 | Posey | Dec 1987 | A |
4713839 | Peppiatt | Dec 1987 | A |
4736450 | Van Erden et al. | Apr 1988 | A |
4736451 | Ausnit | Apr 1988 | A |
4744674 | Nocek | May 1988 | A |
4755247 | Mudge | Jul 1988 | A |
4755248 | Geiger et al. | Jul 1988 | A |
4782951 | Griesbach et al. | Nov 1988 | A |
4786190 | Van Erden et al. | Nov 1988 | A |
4787880 | Ausnit | Nov 1988 | A |
4790126 | Boeckmann | Dec 1988 | A |
4791710 | Nocek et al. | Dec 1988 | A |
4792240 | Ausnit | Dec 1988 | A |
4807300 | Ausnit et al. | Feb 1989 | A |
4812074 | Ausnit et al. | Mar 1989 | A |
4817188 | Van Erden | Mar 1989 | A |
4832505 | Ausnit et al. | May 1989 | A |
4835835 | Gould | Jun 1989 | A |
4840012 | Boeckmann | Jun 1989 | A |
4840611 | Van Erden et al. | Jun 1989 | A |
4844759 | Boeckmann | Jul 1989 | A |
4846585 | Boeckmann et al. | Jul 1989 | A |
4848064 | Lems et al. | Jul 1989 | A |
4850178 | Ausnit | Jul 1989 | A |
4855168 | Imaizumi | Aug 1989 | A |
4863285 | Claxton | Sep 1989 | A |
4875587 | Lulham et al. | Oct 1989 | A |
4876842 | Ausnit | Oct 1989 | A |
4877336 | Peppiatt | Oct 1989 | A |
4878987 | Ven Erden | Nov 1989 | A |
4889731 | Williams, Jr. | Dec 1989 | A |
4890935 | Ausnit et al. | Jan 1990 | A |
4892414 | Ausnit | Jan 1990 | A |
4892512 | Branson | Jan 1990 | A |
4894975 | Ausnit | Jan 1990 | A |
4895198 | Samuelson | Jan 1990 | A |
4902140 | Branson | Feb 1990 | A |
4909017 | McMahon et al. | Mar 1990 | A |
4923309 | Van Erden | May 1990 | A |
4924655 | Posey | May 1990 | A |
4925316 | Van Erden et al. | May 1990 | A |
4925318 | Sorensen | May 1990 | A |
4929225 | Ausnit et al. | May 1990 | A |
4941307 | Wojcik | Jul 1990 | A |
4944409 | Busche et al. | Jul 1990 | A |
4945714 | Bodolay et al. | Aug 1990 | A |
4947525 | Van Erden | Aug 1990 | A |
4969309 | Schwarz et al. | Nov 1990 | A |
4969967 | Sorensen et al. | Nov 1990 | A |
4971454 | Branson et al. | Nov 1990 | A |
4974395 | McMahon | Dec 1990 | A |
4993212 | Veoukas | Feb 1991 | A |
5005707 | Hustad et al. | Apr 1991 | A |
5007142 | Herrington | Apr 1991 | A |
5007143 | Herrington | Apr 1991 | A |
5010627 | Herrington et al. | Apr 1991 | A |
5014498 | McMahon | May 1991 | A |
5017021 | Simonsen et al. | May 1991 | A |
5020194 | Herrington et al. | Jun 1991 | A |
5022530 | Zieke | Jun 1991 | A |
5023122 | Boeckmann et al. | Jun 1991 | A |
5024537 | Tilman | Jun 1991 | A |
5027584 | McMahon et al. | Jul 1991 | A |
5033868 | Peppiatt | Jul 1991 | A |
5035517 | Edelman | Jul 1991 | A |
RE33674 | Uramoto | Aug 1991 | E |
5036643 | Bodolay | Aug 1991 | A |
5042224 | McMahon | Aug 1991 | A |
5046300 | Custer et al. | Sep 1991 | A |
5063069 | Van Erden et al. | Nov 1991 | A |
5063639 | Boeckmann et al. | Nov 1991 | A |
5063644 | Herrington et al. | Nov 1991 | A |
5065899 | Tilman | Nov 1991 | A |
5066444 | Behr | Nov 1991 | A |
5067208 | Herrington et al. | Nov 1991 | A |
5067822 | Wirth et al. | Nov 1991 | A |
5070583 | Herrington | Dec 1991 | A |
5071689 | Tilman | Dec 1991 | A |
5072571 | Boeckmann | Dec 1991 | A |
5085031 | McDonald | Feb 1992 | A |
5088971 | Herrington | Feb 1992 | A |
5092684 | Weeks | Mar 1992 | A |
5092831 | James et al. | Mar 1992 | A |
5096516 | McDonald et al. | Mar 1992 | A |
5100246 | La Pierre et al. | Mar 1992 | A |
5105603 | Natterer | Apr 1992 | A |
5107658 | Hustad et al. | Apr 1992 | A |
5111643 | Hobock | May 1992 | A |
5112138 | Peppiatt | May 1992 | A |
5116301 | Robinson et al. | May 1992 | A |
5121997 | La Pierre et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
5127208 | Custer et al. | Jul 1992 | A |
5129734 | Van Erden | Jul 1992 | A |
5131121 | Herrington et al. | Jul 1992 | A |
5147272 | Richison et al. | Sep 1992 | A |
5152613 | Herrington, Jr. | Oct 1992 | A |
5161286 | Herrington, Jr. et al. | Nov 1992 | A |
5167608 | Steffens, Jr. et al. | Dec 1992 | A |
5179816 | Wojnicki | Jan 1993 | A |
5186543 | Cochran | Feb 1993 | A |
5188461 | Sorensen | Feb 1993 | A |
5189764 | Herrington et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
5198055 | Wirth et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
5209574 | Tilman | May 1993 | A |
5211482 | Tilman | May 1993 | A |
5224779 | Thompson et al. | Jul 1993 | A |
5247781 | Runge | Sep 1993 | A |
5254073 | Richison et al. | Oct 1993 | A |
5259904 | Ausnit | Nov 1993 | A |
5273511 | Boeckmann | Dec 1993 | A |
5283932 | Richardson et al. | Feb 1994 | A |
RE34554 | Ausnit | Mar 1994 | E |
5301394 | Richardson et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
5301395 | Richardson et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
5322579 | Van Erden | Jun 1994 | A |
5334127 | Bruno et al. | Aug 1994 | A |
5366294 | Wirth et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
5383989 | McMahon | Jan 1995 | A |
5391136 | Makowka | Feb 1995 | A |
5400565 | Terminella et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
5400568 | Kanemitsu et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
RE34905 | Ausnit | Apr 1995 | E |
RE34906 | Tamaki et al. | Apr 1995 | E |
5403094 | Tomic | Apr 1995 | A |
5405478 | Richardson et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
5405629 | Marnocha et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
5412924 | Ausnit | May 1995 | A |
5415904 | Takubo et al. | May 1995 | A |
5425216 | Ausnit | Jun 1995 | A |
5425825 | Rasko et al. | Jun 1995 | A |
5426830 | Richardson et al. | Jun 1995 | A |
5431760 | Donovan | Jul 1995 | A |
5435864 | Machacek et al. | Jul 1995 | A |
5442837 | Morgan | Aug 1995 | A |
5442838 | Richardson et al. | Aug 1995 | A |
5448807 | Herrington et al. | Sep 1995 | A |
5448808 | Gross | Sep 1995 | A |
5456928 | Hustad et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
5461845 | Yeager | Oct 1995 | A |
5470156 | May | Nov 1995 | A |
5482375 | Richardson et al. | Jan 1996 | A |
5486051 | May | Jan 1996 | A |
5489252 | May | Feb 1996 | A |
5492411 | May | Feb 1996 | A |
5505037 | Terminella et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
5509735 | May | Apr 1996 | A |
5511884 | Bruno et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
5513915 | May | May 1996 | A |
5519982 | Herber et al. | May 1996 | A |
5525363 | Herber et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
5542902 | Richison et al. | Aug 1996 | A |
5551127 | May | Sep 1996 | A |
5551208 | Van Erden | Sep 1996 | A |
5552202 | May | Sep 1996 | A |
5557907 | Malin et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
5558613 | Tilman et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
5561966 | English | Oct 1996 | A |
5564259 | Stolmeier | Oct 1996 | A |
5573614 | Tilman et al. | Nov 1996 | A |
5582853 | Marnocha et al. | Dec 1996 | A |
5592802 | Malin et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5613934 | May | Mar 1997 | A |
5622431 | Simonsen | Apr 1997 | A |
5625927 | Chu | May 1997 | A |
5628566 | Schreiter | May 1997 | A |
5638586 | Malin et al. | Jun 1997 | A |
5647671 | May | Jul 1997 | A |
5664299 | Porchia et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
5669715 | Dobreski et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
5681115 | Diederich et al. | Oct 1997 | A |
5682730 | Dobreski | Nov 1997 | A |
5704192 | Jostler et al. | Jan 1998 | A |
5711751 | Harmanoglu | Jan 1998 | A |
5713669 | Thomas et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5725312 | May | Mar 1998 | A |
5769772 | Wiley | Jun 1998 | A |
5775812 | St. Phillips et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
5776045 | Bodolay et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
5782733 | Yeager | Jul 1998 | A |
5788378 | Thomas | Aug 1998 | A |
5823933 | Yeager | Oct 1998 | A |
5833791 | Bryniarski et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
5873969 | Keith et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5906438 | Laudenberg | May 1999 | A |
5911508 | Dobreski et al. | Jun 1999 | A |
5924173 | Dobreski et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5938337 | Provan et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5956924 | Thieman | Sep 1999 | A |
5964532 | St. Phillips et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
6000197 | Ausnit | Dec 1999 | A |
6017412 | Van Erden et al. | Jan 2000 | A |
6044621 | Malin et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6088998 | Malin et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
6131369 | Ausnit | Oct 2000 | A |
6131374 | Bois | Oct 2000 | A |
6138436 | Malin et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6138439 | McMahon et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6148588 | Thomas et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6212857 | Van Erden | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6216423 | Thieman | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6279298 | Thomas et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6286189 | Provan et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6286999 | Cappel et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6289561 | Provan et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6292986 | Provan et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6293896 | Buchman | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6327754 | Belmont et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6347437 | Provan et al. | Feb 2002 | B2 |
6360513 | Strand et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6363692 | Thieman | Apr 2002 | B2 |
6412254 | Tilman et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6419391 | Thomas | Jul 2002 | B2 |
6427421 | Belmont et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6439770 | Catchman | Aug 2002 | B2 |
6470551 | Provan et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6499272 | Thieman | Dec 2002 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
0 109 793 | May 1984 | EP |
0 109 793 | Mar 1987 | EP |
0 276 554 | Aug 1988 | EP |
0 302 144 | Feb 1989 | EP |
0 239 319 | Sep 1990 | EP |
0 374 539 | Sep 1993 | EP |
0 939 034 | Sep 1999 | EP |
0 978 450 | Feb 2000 | EP |
1 026 077 | Aug 2000 | EP |
1 350 126 | Dec 1963 | FR |
2 613 326 | Oct 1988 | FR |
1 546 433 | May 1979 | GB |
2 080 412 | Feb 1982 | GB |
2 085 519 | Apr 1982 | GB |
2 130 173 | May 1984 | GB |
2 268 721 | Jan 1994 | GB |
2 268 731 | Jan 1994 | GB |
57 105248 | Dec 1980 | JP |
WO 9529604 | Nov 1995 | WO |
WO 9535046 | Dec 1995 | WO |
WO 9535047 | Dec 1995 | WO |
WO 9535048 | Dec 1995 | WO |
WO 9924325 | May 1999 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 09373312 | Aug 1999 | US |
Child | 09422510 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 09422510 | Oct 1999 | US |
Child | 10647819 | US |