With Yieldable Retainer Patents (Class 206/591)
  • Patent number: 5570788
    Abstract: A packaging component having an inflatable peripheral portion and an interior portion having one or more non-inflatable regions which are shaped to conform to one or more portions of an end or a side of a product so that, when the component is inflated, the component fits firmly and snugly against an end or side of the product. A plurality of such components can be integrally formed in a selected pattern adjacent one another to fit firmly and snugly against the ends or sides of a plurality of products which are corresponding positioned adjacent one another. A pair of such components can also be hingedly connected in an integral fashion so that, when inflated, they can be folded together to enclose a product therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Air-Ride Packaging of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Batsford
  • Patent number: 5564561
    Abstract: Thermal insulator is formed by adding a sufficient quantity of water to a superabsorbent polymer in a flexible container to form a gel. The polymer is lightly crosslinked potassium polyacrylate. The gel-holding flexible container may then be wrapped around or otherwise positioned to envelop a vial containing a temperature-sensitive specimen. The gel-holding flexible container is an effective thermal insulator which protects the specimen from potentially harmful extremes of temperatures, and also cushions the specimen-containing vial against mechanical shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Scicor, Inc.
    Inventors: April M. Black, Benton J. Pittman, Karen L. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 5553444
    Abstract: A container for a PC card including a relatively hard base pivotably connected by a hinge to a cover. A resilient tray is positioned within the base. The cover can be kept in a closed position by a latch. An outer edge of the tray attaches to a peripheral lip on the base to form a bumper and a seal between the base and cover when the container is closed. The edge also prevents shear movement of the cover relative to the base when the container is dropped on a corner. The hinge and latch are inboard of the outer edge of the tray so that they aren't disturbed if the container is dropped. The tray includes a central receptacle that receives the PC card. Between the PC card receptacle and the outer edge of the tray there is formed a bellows-like member which tangents the cover and base and physically isolates the PC card receptacle from the cover and base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Shape Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Lovecky, Richard Rolfe, Alan B. Lowry, Robert Steller
  • Patent number: 5544473
    Abstract: A first embodiment of the envelope comprises an outer envelope forming an interior, and a packing material secured in the interior of the outer envelope and forming a pocket for receiving an article. This packing material is comprised of a flexible and expandable packing material forming a multitude of slits arranged to allow the packing material to be pulled into a three-dimensional shape in which the packing material cushions and protects the article inside the packing material. A second embodiment of the envelope of this invention comprises a plurality of sections connected together to form an interior for holding an article; and each of these sections is comprised of a flexible and expandable paper material forming a multitude of slits to allow the sections to be pulled into three dimensional shapes in which those sections cushion and protect the article in the interior of the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Prompac Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Maida, Joseph Sferlazza
  • Patent number: 5535888
    Abstract: A thermally insulating and cushioning inflatable and deflatable packaging for shipping or storing items, such as cold articles and the like, formed of thin film valve-inflatable chambers or envelopes preferably of high emissivity and low absorptivity coefficients material and provided with interior inflating-expandable honeycomb-like or cellular baffles adhered in collapsed or closed position to the interior walls of the inflatable chambers; and novel methods of making the same, including incorporating, outer shipping envelopes or bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Novus Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas P. De Luca
  • Patent number: 5515971
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting lamp bulbs such as a fluorescent tube includes a central housing assembly, a finger access port through which a finger can be inserted to partially push a retained fluorescent tube out of the apparatus is located on one end of the housing assembly and a first resilient or cushioning member located inside the housing adjacent the access port. A cap assembly is removably connected to a second opposed end of the central housing assembly. A compressible gripper assembly in the form of a resilient donut or ring is connected to an interior surface of the central housing assembly proximal to the first resilient member and has an uncompressed internal diameter which is less than an outer tube diameter of a fluorescent tube adapted to be retained in the apparatus by the gripper assembly. A filter member is provided coextensive with the access port between the first resilient member and the gripper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Inventor: Edward J. Segrest
  • Patent number: 5494152
    Abstract: A packaging system for storing and transporting detonating devices includes a plurality of subpack containers (12) disposed in an overpack container (24), the subpack containers being dimensioned and configured to contain therein a plurality of unsegregated detonating devices, and an overpack pad (26a) disposed in the overpack container between adjacent subpack containers. Alternatively, the system comprises at least one subpack assembly (10) including a subpack container having disposed therein a divider (14,16) defining a plurality of compartments in the subpack container, each compartment being sized to contain a plurality of unsegregated detonating devices. There is a subpack pad (18) disposed between adjacent compartments in each subpack container to limit the propagation of the detonation of one or more detonating devices and an overpack container (24) within which is disposed at least one subpack container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: The Ensign-Bickford Company
    Inventors: Brian R. Sobczak, J. Donaldson Thomas
  • Patent number: 5492616
    Abstract: A protective envelope package is formed by folding an essentially flat blank along a midpoint and hinge area to form an essentially flat first panel and flat second panel. Upstanding from and along the top and bottom peripheral edges of the flat first panel are a plurality of annular receptacles. Upstanding from and along the top and bottom peripheral edges of the flat second panel are a like number of upstanding locking members, said upstanding locking members being adapted to engage said annular receptacles to maintain the envelope in a folded condition. A plurality of ribs disposed in a longitudinal and parallel conformation on the panels prevent compression of the flat first panel and flat second panel. The envelope package my be opened by exerting force downward on its peripheral edges so that the object retained therein is expelled without the user actually handling the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: C&C Manufacturing Ltd./Johnson & Johnson
    Inventors: Sanford L. Cook, Joseph N. Villa, Bruce B. Sawyer, Kenneth Gibbs
  • Patent number: 5480029
    Abstract: A packaging component which, in one preferred embodiment is made of a first generally rectangular plastic element and a second generally oval plastic element, each of such elements being inflatable and deflatable. A plastic coupling element couples the first and second elements and a valve is used to permit air under pressure to be supplied to, or to be released from, the first and second elements so that they can be inflated and deflated. The elements are preferably made of laminates of a polyurethane plastic material. A plurality of said components when inflated can be manipulated into suitable cushion configurations which can be placed, for example, at each corner of a product which product can then be placed in a container so that the components provide a snug fit of the product therein and protect the product during shipment or other handling thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Air-Ride Packaging of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Batsford
  • Patent number: 5477966
    Abstract: A packing device for semiconductor devices with lead terminals includes a packing box, partitions for separating a space in the packing box, and a cover. A conductive sponge used as a cushioned packing material is attached to the back surface of the cover. The semiconductor devices are placed in the packing box 3 with the lead terminals 2 facing upwardly. In this packed state, the conductive sponge is pressed against the lead terminals to collectively hold the semiconductor devices securely in the box. Thus, short-circuitting of the lead terminals is made to prevent gate of the semiconductor devices from breaking down as a result of electrostatic voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shogo Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5474177
    Abstract: A container for a silicon wafer chip includes a body having a bed for the chip, a plurality of posts defining a lateral perimeter for the chip, and a cap having fingers for maintaining the vertical position of the chip in the container. The bed is sloped from the outer wall to an inner line so that an edge of the chip only is supported on a shoulder. The container includes a sealing arrangement to keep moisture and particle contaminants from the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Capitol Vial, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Abrams, Ronald P. Supranowicz
  • Patent number: 5467875
    Abstract: A paper protector, using multiple sheets of paper, that can contain electronic goods, precision instruments or other objects requiring protection from shock, having a multiple structure provided with a primary blank (10) consisting of a central panel (11), which contacts the contained object M, inner panels (12), around the periphery of the central panel, which are set upright and surround the object, and first mid panels (13), which are folded outwardly from the extremities of the inner panels; and a secondary blank (20), consisting of a second mid panel (23) having a central opening of approximately the same form as the central panel, which surrounds the periphery of that opening and is positioned on either side of the first mid panels (13), and outer panels (24), which surround the exterior of the inner panels and are folded at an angle from the extremities of the second mid panel; and forming spaces (55) having a width equivalent to that of mid panels (13 and 23 ) and disposed between the inner and outer
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Inventor: Shizuo Sato
  • Patent number: 5398808
    Abstract: A buffer device for packings, including at least one base unit, each base unit constructed of an elongated, channel-like base frame and two supporting frames joined by the base frame, the base frame being formed by folding up a punched cardboard and, having a rectangular horizontal bottom wall and two vertical side walls raised from two opposite long sides of the horizontal bottom walls, each supporting frame being formed by folding up a respective punched cardboard and having a vertical side wall and a side matched rectangular box, the vertical side wall of either supporting frame being top notched and engaged into a mounting slot at either end of the base frame to block up either open end of the base frame permitting the horizontal bottom wall of the base frame to be supported on the rectangular box of either supporting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Umax Data System Inc.
    Inventors: Hsi-Chin Chen, Ching-Song Wang
  • Patent number: 5386911
    Abstract: Two or more pairs of packing spacers support objects within a shipping container in a floating arrangement that absorbs shock and vibration and protects the object from impact damage. Each packing spacer is comprised of rigid frames enclosed in stretchable membranes (22) which are held in position by collars (20) having off-center slots which form the frame assembly (18). These assemblies may be reversed or inverted in relation to each other thereby providing multiple spacing options to accommodate a variety of object shapes and sizes within a single size container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Inventor: Thomas M. Payne
  • Patent number: 5385238
    Abstract: A cushion for placement into a shipping container comprises a bottom panel, a side panel foldably joined to the side edge of the bottom panel, a top panel foldably joined to the upper end of the side panel and disposed in a spaced parallel relation to the bottom panel, a support panel foldably joined to the top panel, the support panel being disposed in a spaced parallel relation to the side panel, an anchor flap foldably joined to the lower end of the support panel and secured to the bottom panel in a flat face contacting relation, the anchor flap extending from the lower end of the support panel in a direction away from the side panel, and a retaining flap for holding the cushion in a set-up condition. The cushion may be collapsed such that the top panel, the support panel and the anchor flap are disposed in the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: Gary D. Lancaster, Greg A. Hutcheson
  • Patent number: 5360108
    Abstract: A housing for protecting hand held electronic devices having buttons or controls thereon from damage due to impacts or falls. The housing is made of an elastomer, preferably polyurethane, PVC, or latex, and having a shore number in the range of A10-A30 shores, which is flexible and stretchable to substantially three times its normal size. The housing has a base and four sides, wherein two of the four sides are substantially long and parallel to each other, and the other two of the four sides are substantially shorter than the long sides and parallel to each other as well. On at least one of the substantially shorter sides, there is located a transverse slot of a predetermined length for passage of signals from the electronic device to a receptor if needed. On at least one of the two long parallel sides there is located a transverse groove of predetermined length. A multiplicity of cylindrical projections are located on one side of the base and integral with the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: SEDI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giovanni Palma Alagia
  • Patent number: 5351830
    Abstract: A sealed bag of a pliable multi-layered barrier film substantially impervious to air is partially filled with generally spherically closed cell foam plastic particles deformable under a pressure of less than about 0.2 atmospheres. A bag for use in a typical camera is typically 2 to 3 inches wider and longer than the inside of the case and filled with particles from about 1/16 to 1/4 of an inch in diameter. When flattened uniformly, the bag with the particles inside is about 1/2 an inch in thickness. The bag is placed inside a camera case or the like of smaller dimensions than the bag, e.g. 14.times.6 inches when the pressure in the bag is atmospheric and relieved through an air tube. One or more objects are then depressed into the upper surface of the bag which deforms about them until about a single layer of particles is underneath the object and the particles surround the objects up to about an inch or an inch and a half in depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Ambico, a division of Recoton, Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Bender, Douglas J. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 5351829
    Abstract: A packaging component which, in one preferred embodiment is made of a first generally rectangular plastic element and a second generally oval plastic element, each of such elements being inflatable and deflatable. A plastic coupling element couples the first and second elements and a valve is used to permit air under pressure to be supplied to, or to be released from, the first and second elements so that they can be inflated and deflated. The elements are preferably made of laminates of a polyurethane plastic material. A plurality of the components when inflated can be manipulated into suitable cushion configurations which can be placed, for example, at each corner of a product which product can then be placed in a container so that the components provide a snug fit of the product therein and protect the product during shipment or other handling thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Air-Ride Packaging of America
    Inventor: Charles A. Batsford
  • Patent number: 5348157
    Abstract: Inflatable packaging cushion (100).According to the invention, the inflatable cushion includes:an external peripheral edge (101) adapted to the shape and to the dimension of a packing receptacle,at least one internal opening (102, 102') capable of receiving at least one object to be packaged,a plurality of recesses (103, 103') extending from each internal opening towards the peripheral edge, the recesses delimiting in pairs wedging parts (104, 105, 106, 107, 104', 105', 106', 107') capable of coming into contact with the object, zones for preferential pivoting (108) of the wedging parts being defined between the recesses and the peripheral edge, the wedging parts being able to pivot during the inflating about the preferential pivoting zones in order to vary the size and/or the shape of each internal opening and to adapt it to objects of different sizes, whilst exerting a holding pressure on the object or objects.Application to the packaging of objects of different sizes and/or shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Ateliers de Conceptions et D'Innovations Industrielles
    Inventor: Michel Pozzo
  • Patent number: 5341934
    Abstract: A shock absorbing packing device comprised of a product carrier and a base made by folding up respective corrugated boards into respective shapes and then connected together for holding storage items within a carton, the base having projecting strips respectively inserted into transverse grooves of the product carrier so that an open storage chamber is defined within a middle portion and two opposite side portions of the product carrier and the projecting strips of the base and supported above two longitudinal flaps of the base for keeping storage items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun T. Hsu
  • Patent number: 5325967
    Abstract: A packaging device formed of substantially rigid material, comprising a container, such as a cardboard carton, with a sheet of substantially rigid material, such as cardboard, fastened inside some distance above the bottom, with a perforation through the sheet, in which an article of goods to be packaged is wrapped inside of a flexible membrane, such as a plastic bag, with the free ends of the membrane drawn downwards through the perforation and pulled tightly and wrapped around at least one edge of the sheet and fastened with a staple through the membrane and the sheet of substantially rigid material which causes the goods to be held tightly against the sheet in the proximity of the perforation to protect the goods against damage due to rough handling of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventor: Juanita A. Gonzales
  • Patent number: 5323896
    Abstract: An article packaging kit, system and method which system includes a flat, corrugated, cardboard sheet material having a central horizontal fold line and two vertical fold lines to define a base and two end portions. The system includes a flexible plastic sleeve or tube which loosely fits about a portion of the base of the sheet material in the flat condition. The sheet material moves between a horizontal line folded position when an article to be packaged is inserted within the sleeve and a flat, article hugging, immobilizing position when the end portions are folded upwardly causing the base portion to become flat. The system includes optionally inserting the immobilized article on the folded sheet material into a packaging or shipping container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventor: W. Charles Jones
  • Patent number: 5316146
    Abstract: A transport container for transporting fragile articles, such as test tubes or vials, which is able to accommodate vials of various sizes. The transport container protects the contents from forces or impact shocks associated with transport, thus preventing breakage of the vials. The transport container comprises a first body member including a spring for providing an axial bias force to a vial supported therewithin for restraining movement of the vial in a first axial direction and for urging the vial toward a second body member for proper seating therein. The second body member includes a plurality of positioning vanes which provide a yieldable restraint in a second axial direction and in the radial direction. The first and second body members are connected to form a releasable, liquid-tight seal and joint therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Ulster Scientific, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Graff
  • Patent number: 5295297
    Abstract: In surface packaging of thin resin packages such as resin molded memory ICs or the like, cracks of the package occur frequently at a solder reflow step where thermal impact is applied to the package because the resin has absorbed moisture before packaging.To solve this problem, the devices are packaged moisture-tight at an assembly step of the resin molded devices where the resin is still dry, and are taken out from the bags immediately before the execution of surface packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wahei Kitamura, Gen Murakami, Kunihiko Nishi
  • Patent number: 5287968
    Abstract: Two or more packing spacers support an object within its shipping container in a floating arrangement that absorbs shocks, and flexion and torsion of the container due to shipping and handling loads. Each spacer is a structure with a frame-window covered with a flexible membrane of high tensile strength. The object is frictionally held between the membranes. The spacers are shaped and dimensioned to match the internal geometry of the container and to determine the space between the membranes occupied by the object. Spacers with large contact areas between their membranes and the object can hold and cushion objects of very high densities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation
    Inventor: Louis H. Ridgeway
  • Patent number: 5259507
    Abstract: A twin-pocket package provides a cushioned support for articles to be protected from impacts encountered during shipping and handling. Each pocket is formed between a resilient film and a foldable panel. The pockets have mouths that simultaneously expand or contract upon movement of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Squire Corrugated Container Corp.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Smith
  • Patent number: 5242049
    Abstract: A case for a disc cartridge comprises a cover, and a case body having the cover rotatably attached thereto and having on its bottom wall integrally formed a plurality of resilient hold members for resiliently holding a disc cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Mizuno, Shinkichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5228568
    Abstract: A wafer basket having a detachable wafer press means on the back face of the top lid, which resilient press strips are bent and capable of temporarily changing the bent angles in response to external shocks such that the free end of each press strip at which each strip presses on the wafer stays immobile with respect to the edge of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Ogino, Toshitsugu Yajima
  • Patent number: 5226543
    Abstract: The invention provides a unitary packaging structure for a shock sensitive article. The packaging structure includes a platform portion which includes a platform portion adapted to support the article, and a sidewall structure of preferably flexible material forming an enclosure around the platform portion. The sidewall structure includes an inboard wall being integral with the platform portion, and an outboard wall maintained in spaced relationship from the inboard wall by a bridge section, the inboard wall being relatively shorter than the outboard wall so that the platform portion is held a specified cushion distance above a lower edge of the outboard wall. Shock limiting formations are formed in the sidewall structure for restricting the movement of the platform portion toward the lower edge of the outboard wall upon shock loading of the platform portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignees: Plastofilm Industries, Inc., Roberts, Stephens, Van Amburg Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Foos, Thomas Stephens
  • Patent number: 5223121
    Abstract: A protective carton for a substantially flat product such as an electrical printed circuit board includes not only parallel rectangular exterior top and bottom panels, parallel rectangular exterior side panels, and parallel rectangular exterior end panels but also rectangular interior top and bottom panels and at least a pair of rectangular interior end panels. Each of the interior end panels forms an acute angle with respect to the interior bottom panel in order to clamp the product securely in place on the interior bottom panel. Each interior end panel is formed by lateral extensions of the interior top and bottom panels, with the lateral extensions of the interior top panels locking the lateral extensions of the interior bottom panel in place. The entire carton may be made of a material such as corrugated cardboard in order to minimize cost and facilitate eventual disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Inventors: Robert G. Dickie, Michael J. Phillips, Brian J. Walters
  • Patent number: 5221005
    Abstract: A restraining device (10 or 10a) adapted for holding slide carriers (14) immovable in magazines includes a top wall panel (34), at least two horizontal pleated panel sections (36a-36d), and a bottom wall panel (38) all joined together to define a hollow bellows-type structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Hayward
  • Patent number: 5207327
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for packaging an item, the apparatus comprising a single sheet of material comprised of a pliable padding substance. The sheet of material comprises at least one first cut, each at least one first cut being partway through the depth of the sheet of material. Each at least one first cut keeps at least one member attached to the sheet of material and allows each at least one member to rotate in a first direction about a first axis defined by material remaining at said first cut. The first cut keeps each at least one member attached to the sheet of material, and the at least one member rotates in a first direction to define a first pad adjacent to the item. The apparatus further comprises an orifice defined by the rotation of each at least one member, said orifice of suitable size to hold the item snugly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventor: Theodore A. Brondos
  • Patent number: 5197606
    Abstract: A cushioning member comprises top and bottom spaced parallel panels and a pair of spaced parallel side panels foldably joined to the bottom panel along fold lines. The top panel includes a pair of panel portions foldably joined respectively to the side panels along fold lines. The panel portions overlap each other and are secured together in a flat face contacting relation. Teh fold lines are parallel to one another, and thereby the cushioning member may be collapsed along the fold lines. A retaining flap is provided to hold the cushioning member in a squared, set-up condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Inventor: Gary D. Lancaster
  • Patent number: 5184727
    Abstract: A modular supporting structure for positioning and supporting a product within an outer packing container, is disclosed. The product to be supported has predetermined external dimensions, and the outer packing container forms a chamber of predetermined internal dimensions. The supporting structure is formed from a plurality of modules, each module in turn comprising an air bladder for receiving and retaining air. The air bladder has a first compartment and a second compartment that are in fluid communication one with the other via a restrictive air passage that limits the rate of flow of air therebetween, thus providing physical damping for the product being supported by the modules. There is a connecting portion in the form of a flange, which is attached to the air bladder, that allows the modules to be interconnected one with another. When the modules are connected one to another, a product-receiving socket is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Intepac Technoligies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Dickie, Brian J. Walters
  • Patent number: 5183159
    Abstract: A reusable container for packaging objects for shipping is disclosed. The container comprises a pair of outer frame members having a clamshell configuration in which the two frame members are connected by a reclosable hinge. The container has removable insert trays which each fit into one of the frame members, each insert tray having a resilient film covering the well portion of the tray. The insert trays are each designed to interfit tightly into one of the frame members to form the complete package. When the package is closed, the resilient film stretches around an object to be shipped thereby suspending it in the interior of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: United Foam Plastics
    Inventors: Robert J. Hojnacki, Daniel C. Pearson, Gerard K. Brucker, Michael J. Gober, Daniel J. Shaw, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5160075
    Abstract: A compact case for retaining a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles has two internal open-ended pockets which retain skis in side-by-side reversed orientations with their bindings nested. Mechanisms are secured to the case between the pockets to engage the bindings of the skis to prevent displacement along the pockets, and structures bear on the skis when the case is closed to press the skis into the pockets. Sets of clips retain the poles in spaced-apart planes located between the skis. The poles are oriented in a compressed X configuration (in side view) crossing over proximate to the bindings of the skis with their basket-bearing ends directed inwardly into the space between the skis and with the handle of each pole inset longitudinally from both the handle and the basket of the other pole. The exterior of the case is molded with forward and rear sets of parallel alternating grooves and ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: EDI Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Jerry Moscovitch
  • Patent number: 5158173
    Abstract: A material for use in containers for explosive media and a material for use n containers for absorbing the dynamic shock of an explosion and prevent sympathetic detonation of adjacent explosive device in which the material is a relatively lightweight, porous, shock absorbing material mixed with a binder to provide a castable composite. A storage container receives the cast filler and is thereby hindered from being subjected to destruction from sympathetic detonation due to donor detonation within the storage container or a proximate storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Carl C. Halsey, Sharon L. Berry
  • Patent number: 5145069
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a packaging method. It also relates to a packaging bolster and to a packaging line employing the method of the invention. The bolster of the invention, adapted particularly to the method of the invention, includes at least one flexible base material or support of elongated shape and indefinite length, intended to be trimmed to the dimension required at the packaging site, the base material carrying spacer elements for spacing apart the product to be packaged at predetermined positions. The bolster is remarkable in that the base material includes at least two films weldable in such a way as to make cushions or bulges filled with a swelling agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Bull S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Vilas Boas, Andre Fromion
  • Patent number: 5135111
    Abstract: A rectangular holder (1) has two main walls (2,3) and three side walls (4,5,6) and is open at a fourth side (7) and comprises a clamping member (11) for clamping a cassette in the holder (1), which clamping member is situated at the location of at least one side (4) adjacent the open side and is made of an elastic material. The clamping member has an internal cavity substantially at the location which projects into the holder interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Anton Stoger
  • Patent number: 5096104
    Abstract: A ski carrier is in the form of a generally rigid tube having a front nose and a rear cap interconnected by a body portion. A divider is located in the body portion to form at least two compartments. A set of skis would be mounted in one of the compartments in such a manner as to maintain the bindings out of contact with the inner wall of the tube. This is accomplished by having supports located in the front nose and rear cap for the skis. The ski poles would be in the other compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: John G. Wirth
  • Patent number: 5095626
    Abstract: In surface packaging of thin resin packages such as resin molded memory ICs or the like, cracks of the package occur frequently at a solder reflow step where thermal impact is applied to the package because the resin has absorbed moisture before packaging.To solve this problem, the devices are packaged moisture-tight at an assembly step of the resin molded devices wherein the resin is still dry, and are taken out from the bags immediately before the execution of surface packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wahei Kitamura, Gen Murakami, Kunihiko Nishi
  • Patent number: 5076435
    Abstract: A packaging for food comprises a bottom portion, a lid portion and a product holder for the reception of individual pieces. In order to improve and stabilize the outward appearance of the packaging, the product holder is equipped with a peripheral edge section, which extends past the free rim of the bottom portion and has a slant sloping in the direction of the bottom portion and supports the lid portion. The lid portion is provided with a transition slant, which matches the slope of the slant of the product carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Ludwig Schokolade GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt H. Drews, Werner Hunninghaus
  • Patent number: 5044496
    Abstract: A case consisting of a cover and a case body adapted to mate to form a space for holding a given object has an outside and/or inside layer made wholly or partly of a thermoplastic elastomeric resin. The outside layer is formed of a thermoplastic elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of styrenic, olefinic, esteric, urethanic, polybutadienic, and vinyl chloride type thermoplastic elastomeric materials, and the inside layer is formed of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polymethyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polystyrene, polybutylene terephthalate, high-impact polystyrene and the like, or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kimio Tanaka, Haruo Shiba
  • Patent number: 5033614
    Abstract: Resilient material elongate cloth strips are inserted into a tubular cue stick section enclosing, supporting and protecting tube with the elongate cloth strips folded over the smaller diameter end of the cue stick section for initial insertion into the enclosing protective tube. Adhesive is used within both ends of the tube to hold the cloth in place when inserted therein along with a tube end plug and a decorative liner within the tube through a substantial length thereof. The larger, or butt end, of the cue stick section extends outward to the exterior of the tube within which the cue stick is a snug holding fit. Two, and in some instances three, cloth strips are used to give adequate resilient cushioning support to the smaller end of the cue stick section and single layer resilient cushioning support toward the larger end of the cue stick section. A typical cloth well suited for this use with the desired resilient compressability factor is various wool felt fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Inventor: John W. Hager
  • Patent number: 5005694
    Abstract: A detonating cord transport package wherein a continuous length of a metal jacket detonating cord is installed on a plurality of separator-support members such that the detonating cord is formed in a plurality of loops on each separator-support member with the two end portions of each loop being in proximity to each other. In the preferred embodiment, the two end portions of each loop engage each other and cross each other as seen in a given view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Goex, Inc.
    Inventors: Billy F. Davis, Michael P. Hancock, Scott L. Hayes
  • Patent number: 4997087
    Abstract: A lamp wrapper is formed from a blank having four side wall panels and a joint forming flap interconnected by a set of spaced, substantially parallel fold lines and adapted to form a tubular sleeve. An axial central partition is formed by a partition flap formed in part from and foldably connected to a first top wall panel and adhesively connected at its opposite end to a second partition flap formed from and foldably connected to a second wall panel located on the opposite side of the wrapper to the first panel. The partition is evenly spaced from opposite longitudinal ends of the sleeve and functions to separate the base ends of a pair of light bulbs packaged in the sleeve. In a second embodiment the second wall panel is extended and is foldably connected to yet another wall panel which in turn is connected to a second top panel which connects to the first top panel and defines a second sleeve in side by side relationship with the first sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: MacMillan Bloedel Containers
    Inventor: Achim R. Lorenz
  • Patent number: 4954385
    Abstract: A carton pad having a bottom portion with dimensions essentially corresponding to a base area of a carton and having several tabs which, on a respective substantially straight side thereof, are joined to the bottom portion and are otherwise free and can bend out of a plane of the bottom. The straight sides of the respective tabs are arranged substantially perpendicular to a direction in which a row of tabs extends, with the row of tabs being divided at a center thereof in the longitudinal direction, into two mutually mirror-symmetrically arranged halves. Furthermore, a gabled roof-shape support of variable gable angle is provided, with one roof edge thereof engaging in a tab from one of the halves of the row of tabs, and the other roof edge thereof engaging in a tab of the other, mirror-symmetrically arranged row of tabs, so that the roof edges are supported upon the substantially straight sides of the tabs that are connected to the bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Haarkosmetik and Parfumerien
    Inventor: Heinz Samann
  • Patent number: 4938360
    Abstract: A receptacle having a cover with a seal located between the cover and receptacle and flexible fins located on the interior of the receptacle and cover. The fins are deflected and the seal depressed in response to an article being squeezed between the cover and receptacle upon fastening the cover to the receptacle. External flexible finned protectors are provided for external corners and edges of an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignees: Robert S. Wallace, Jack Bauman
    Inventor: Robert S. Wallace
  • Patent number: RE33446
    Abstract: A detonating cord transport package wherein detonating cord is installed on a plurality of separator-support members so as to provide crossover locations at frequent intervals at which crossover locations there is incorporated means for stopping any detonation that occurs, with the result that such detonation will be confined to a relatively short length of detonating cord and will also be confined to the container in which the detonating cord transport package is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Pengo Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: David V. Levey, Sr., deceased
  • Patent number: RE33970
    Abstract: The cushioning device is used on remote control television equipment and includes a stretchable resilient elastomeric block of natural or synthetic rubber or plastic. The block has closed sides and bottom and a top with an open cavity therein which in one instance is a slit adapted to receive and releasably grip one or more remote control television panels inserted therein at or below the top of the block. When so inserted, the combination of the cushioning device and panel(s) forms the improved assembly. The block also has an opening in one side to allow passage of wires and/or radio signals from the remote control panel(s) in the block to the television equipment. The control panel(s) can be one or more remote channel selectors, volume and on-off selectors and video tape television controls. A pocket is also provided in another side of the block in one embodiment to releasably receive a television channel program guide. The block may also have removable top dust lid and cushioned feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventor: Les I. Butler