Abstract: A container and methods of manufacturing and operating the same are provided where the container has a cap that is removable yet childproof. The cap is positioned in a tubular body, and the cap has a generally smooth or continuous upper surface to reduce or eliminate surfaces or edges for a child to grasp. To operate the cap, a disc in the center of the cap is pushed below a lip, and a user grasps the lip to pull the cap from the tubular body. The force needed to press the disc away from the lip is low enough for an adult but too high for a child. Moreover, the cap forms an interference fit with the tubular body with enough friction force to prevent the cap from falling out of the tubular body but is low enough that the cap can be pulled from the tubular body.

Abstract: A container and methods of manufacturing and operating the same are provided where the container has a cap that is removable yet childproof. The cap is positioned in a tubular body, and the cap has a generally smooth or continuous upper surface to reduce or eliminate surfaces or edges for a child to grasp. To operate the cap, a disc in the center of the cap is pushed below a lip, and a user grasps the lip to pull the cap from the tubular body. The force needed to press the disc away from the lip is low enough for an adult but too high for a child. Moreover, the cap forms an interference fit with the tubular body with enough friction force to prevent the cap from falling out of the tubular body but is low enough that the cap can be pulled from the tubular body.

Abstract: A product tray insert that helps hold a vertical post in place is provided. The insert is placed within a product tray and has upwardly folding retaining flaps that capture the bottoms of the vertical posts between the flaps and a side of the tray. The tray insert is particularly useful for packaging systems that do not have a large rectilinear product to fit the posts against and that do not hold the posts at their ends.

Abstract: A protector for protecting a wall or other flat building surface from impacts caused by people and equipment. The protector is made from paper and comprises a honeycomb layer sandwiched between a wall-facing, lightweight paper layer and an outer-facing, heavyweight paperboard layer. The three-layer construction with a heavyweight paperboard outer layer is capable of distributing a point load across the entire surface area of the protector. The protector can be affixed to and removed from a wall without damaging or marking the wall.

Abstract: A guard for protecting a door frame is provided. The guard is a formed and cut paperboard tube comprising a longitudinal spine and two curvilinear, elongated, resilient side members attached to the spine. The side members terminate in free edges adapted to grip opposite sides of the door frame wall. Each side member further comprises a longitudinally disposed bead for enhanced impact resistance.

Abstract: A guard for protecting a door edge from impacts caused by people and equipment. The guard is a cut and formed paperboard tube comprising an elongated, substantially planar spine and two side members extending at right angles from the spine. Two gripping members are integrally connected to the side members. The gripping members have convex interior surfaces that form a friction fit with opposite sides of the door.

Abstract: An improved tray or other packaging article having hinged tab portions for securing a vertical support post is provided. The hinged tab portions capture the vertically oriented post and hold it in place for easier assembly of a larger packaging unit.

Abstract: A post in post structure comprising a short inner post segment and a pair of hollow outer posts slipped over either end of the inner post segment and affixed to the inner post segment. The post in post structure is particularly suitable for use with a product packaging and display system of the kind having vertically spaced trays supported by outer posts located over openings in each tray and inner posts inserted inside the outer support posts and through the tray openings to lock the system together.

Abstract: A box-like base assembly for holding vertical support posts in an upright position. The base assembly includes an outer base box and a center base member that fits within the outer base box, the center base member having inwardly collapsed sections for holding the vertical support posts in an upright position.

Abstract: A modular packaging system for shipping and displaying vertically stacked product containers. The system comprises a top cap, a plurality of corrugated trays with openings formed therein for receiving the bottoms of the product containers and restricting their movement, a bottom tray, a pallet, and vertical support posts that key inside the bottom tray and top cap and through the middle trays to help lock the system together. The entire assembly may be held together with banding and wrapped in a transparent plastic film to protect the product from dust and damage during shipment.

Abstract: A pressure-activated flexible valve for use with a container for dispensing fluid material such as ink. The valve has a single sealing surface and comprises a base portion having a valve seat and a cap having an annular rim that seats against the valve seat when the valve is closed. The cap has an annular flexible portion that changes shape in response to pressure from the container material, thereby opening and closing the valve. The valve may be locked closed, and the space between the valve rim and valve seat can be adjusted to accommodate a variety of fluids, including inks having different viscosities.

Abstract: A tubular container for fragile products is provided according to the present invention that includes a flexible end closure that moves inwardly against the products when vacuum is applied during packaging for providing cushioning support to the products. The flexible end closure is secured to an end of a tubular body wall having opposed ends and inner and outer surfaces and comprises a wound strip of material. A flexible liner having opposed end portions is secured to respective ends of the tubular body by way of an adhesive band between the liner and the inner surface of the tubular body wall. The flexible liner thus has a free medial portion between the end portions which moves inwardly against the products when vacuum is applied. A vent hole may be formed through the body ply and an outer label by way of a laser for allowing the passage of air therethrough.

Abstract: An improved plunger for fluid dispensing cartridges used in automated dispensing systems. The plunger helps control the reflection of ultrasonic signals used to sense the position of the plunger as it moves within the cartridge tube. The plunger has a convex bottom, ink-facing surface and a top surface comprising one or more flat, horizontal surfaces. In the preferred embodiment, the horizontal surfaces are concentric steps.

Abstract: An improved plunger for fluid dispensing cartridges used in automated dispensing systems. The plunger helps control the reflection of ultrasonic signals used to sense the position of the plunger as it moves within the cartridge tube. The plunger has a convex bottom, ink-facing surface and a top surface comprising one or more flat, horizontal surfaces. In the preferred embodiment, the horizontal surfaces are concentric steps.

Abstract: A multi-ply composite container for consumer products with at least one region of weakened strength and method for manufacturing same is provided. The composite container includes a multi-ply composite tube having a tubular body ply, a liner ply adhered to the inner surface of the tubular body ply and a label ply adhered to the outer surface of the body ply. The composite container also includes at least one circumferential score line in the multi-ply composite tube through the label ply and the body ply. The container and method overcome limitations imposed by conventional composite containers by providing a composite container which provides for easy opening, better consumer access, resealability, storage for left over food product, and easier consumer recycling.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to tubular, non-round composite paperboard container bodies having at least one wall portion defined by radially inverse curvature, and at least a second wall portion that is outwardly curved. In one preferred embodiment, the container body includes at least two body wall portions of inverse curvature, which are positioned in an opposed relationship. The two opposed body wall portions having inverse curvature provide an integral handle allowing easy grasping of the container body by the hand of a consumer, i.e. by the opposed thumb and fingers of a consumer.

Abstract: A multi-ply composite container for consumer products with at least one region of weakened strength and method for manufacturing same is provided. The composite container includes a multi-ply composite tube having a tubular body ply, a liner ply adhered to the inner surface of the tubular body ply and a label ply adhered to the outer surface of the body ply. The composite container also includes at least one circumferential score line in the multi-ply composite tube through the label ply and the body ply. The container and method overcome limitations imposed by conventional composite containers by providing a composite container which provides for easy opening, better consumer access, resealability, storage for left over food product, and easier consumer recycling.

Abstract: A multi-ply composite container for consumer products with at least one region of weakened strength and method for manufacturing same is provided. The composite container includes a multi-ply composite tube having a tubular body ply, a liner ply adhered to the inner surface of the tubular body ply and a label ply adhered to the outer surface of the body ply. The composite container also includes at least one circumferential score line in the multi-ply composite tube through the label ply and the body ply. The container and method overcome limitations imposed by conventional composite containers by providing a composite container which provides for easy opening, better consumer access, resealability, storage for left over food product, and easier consumer recycling.

Abstract: A reversible overcap for an adjustable volume container for consumer products is provided. A first side of the overcap includes a radially extending surface and an annular rim extending outwardly therefrom for engaging a retaining rim of the adjustable volume container. A second side of the overcap includes an annular member that is adapted to frictionally engage the exposed end of the remaining portions of the container that are formed by separating a portion of the container from the remaining portion of the container. The reversible overcap of the present invention is thus a multi-functional end closure and forms part of a completely self-contained adjustable volume container for consumer products that continuously accommodates the volume of the food product in the container.

Abstract: A tubular container for expansible food products is provided according to the present invention that includes a flexible liner having opposed end portions secured to respective ends of a tubular body wall. The tubular body wall has opposed ends and inner and outer surfaces and comprises a wound strip of material having opposed side edges. An end closure is secured to each end of the tubular body wall and can hermetically seal the container. A vent hole may be formed through the body wall and the label by way of a laser for allowing the passage of air therethrough. The flexible liner is secured to the respective ends of the tubular body wall by way of an adhesive band between the liner and the inner surface of the tubular body wall.