Abstract: A folding support device and methods for constructing and using the same are provided by the present invention. A foldable support member contains a series of hinge sections and support and stress limiting members. Construction is provided enabling the device to safely collapse and stow while traveling, but to unfold and provide a gripping tension on both a support member and a support device in a reliable manner. Force analysis is provided securing the item in an upright way via a force transfer generated by the supported weight itself.

Abstract: A carrier is in a generally three dimensional trapezoid-like configuration. The carrier has a closed square lower bottom. The carrier has an open square upper top. The carrier has four planar trapezoidal side walls.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carrier device for the simple and secure transportation of objects, in particular flower containers, in a vehicle. As disclosed, the carrier device comprises a plurality of panels which when folded in a specific manner, form a device for securing an object. In addition, the device comprises notches for securing itself using a conventional seatbelt of a vehicle. Consequently, the device prevents the object from moving by holding the top of the object and surrounding the sides of the object. The device itself is then held stationary by placing a conventional seatbelt around the device, positioning the seatbelt in notches located in pre-determined location on the device. The design of the carrier device allows for the object to be some distance from the back of the seat and, as a result, prevent damage to the object.

Abstract: An inflatable cup holder secures a variety of beverage container sizes and shapes. The cup holder includes a shell having an inner wall defining an internal bore, the inner wall having an aperture therein. An inflatable bladder adjacent to the aperture extends through the aperture and reduces the bore volume upon pressurization. An inflation device for pressurizing the bladder is located within the shell. A manual or air compressor inflation device operation are contemplated. A pressure release valve in full communication with the bladder prevents bladder inflation above a pre-selected threshold and also is activated to release a beverage container from the inventive cup holder.

Abstract: The cylindrical container is made of paper and has a rim, a seam along the vertical dimension thereof and an overlap in that seam. The bottom end of the container has a twisted and flattened tuft of paper. A fold is provided around the rim. This fold encloses the overlap crosswise for retaining the shape of the container. The paper container is usable as a seedling pot. There is also provided a hand tool for manually forming these paper containers. This hand tool comprises a cylindrical body having a diameter, a closed end and an open end, and a handle mounted to the closed end. The hand tool also has a cavity extending inside the cylindrical body from the open end, where the tuft of paper is pushed in during the forming of the bottom end of the container. There is also provided a method for forming paper containers using the hand tool.

Abstract: A shopping caddy system including a multi-compartmented caddy and a plurality of collapsible bags that fit into the compartments of the caddy. The caddy is preferably collapsible so that its end panels and intermediate dividers form a stack. The end panels of the caddy can preferably folded downward to provide extra support when the endmost caddy compartments are not occupied. The caddy and bags are preferably sized and shaped to allow close engagement between the caddy and the bags when the caddy is in the open position and the collapsible bags are in the open position.

Abstract: A disposable plastic back pack is formed from a thin sheet of plastics material. The sheet has a generally rectangular body portion that has a top edge, a bottom edge, and ends, and an elongated tail portion divided into two sections. The disposable back pack also includes a second sheet of thin plastic material that is generally rectangular in shape. The body portion is folded over onto itself at its ends forming a longitudinal flap extending from the top edge to the bottom edge, and the tail sections are folded over the folded body portion so that the distal ends of the tail sections are aligned with the top edge of the body portion. The second sheet of plastics material is then placed adjacent to and aligned with the unfolded side of the body portion of the first sheet of plastics material.

Abstract: A foldable and reusable bib including a flat relatively stiff sheet having a long axis and a width. The flat sheet includes a transverse fold line, transverse to the long axis and extending across the width of the sheet, thereby dividing the sheet into upper and lower portions. The upper portion is defined by two side edges and a top edge, where the top edge has an arcuate section disposed about the long axis and forming part of an aperture in the flat sheet. The each upper portion side edges slopes and extends from the transverse fold line to the tope edge. In another embodiment, the upper portion includes a plurality of angled fold lines proximate each side edge to form a backward folding wing section. Preferably, either bib is made from a recyclable material such as a corrugated paper product.

Abstract: A disposable plastic back pack is formed from a substantially rectangular sheet of plastic material folded over onto itself and heat sealed at its top and bottom to form a pouch. Plastic strips are attached at their ends to the top and bottom of the pouch to provide shoulder straps and a pocket for personal items is provided on the side of the pouch that is worn against a user's back. The side of the back pack facing away from a wearer is printable with promotional indicia that can easily be seen since it is worn at or just below eye level.

Abstract: A box doubles as a shipping carton and a dispensing container for light weight roof fasteners. The box has two end walls, each with a channel-shaped perforation therein. Top flaps connected to the end walls along respective foldlines are formed with cutouts. The cutouts in each top flap align with the perforation in the associated end wall when the top flap is folded over into facing contact with the end wall. The perforations and cutouts are offset from vertical centerlines of the end walls and top flaps. The perforations are punched out to create tabs that are pushed through the top flap cutouts, and to simultaneously produce openings in the end walls. A long strap is inserted through the cutouts and openings and looped under the box. A person can carry the box and roof fasteners in it by slinging the strap over his shoulder.

Abstract: A box, or carton, for carry-out restaurant foods, includes a collapsible box body formed out of cardboard. Upper and lower straps are anchored to the box side walls and the box end walls to span the box corners. These straps can be pulled away from the box walls to form loops for retaining or stabilizing beverage containers located in corner areas of the box. The straps engage the cups near the upper and lower edges of the cups, so that the cup is effectively restrained against tipping or sliding. The box is provided with a cardboard carrying handle that can be folded into the box when it is desired to fold the box walls into a flat package suitable for storage or shipment.

Abstract: The glass holding device comprises a cylindrical portion (1) and a bottom portion (2), and the cylindrical portion (1) is provided with a hole (3) for inserting a finger of a user. The glass holding device is made of a sheet material, which is water proof, flexible and capable of being holded. The glass holding device is very inexpensive, and accordingly, it may be disposable. It can be stored after it is fabricated while it is folded and stacked one over the other. Thus, the space for storing the device can be minimum. A user using the glass holding device can simultaneously carry a glass and a plate for meal by his or her single hand during a stand-up dinner party. The glass holding device is applicable for holding various types of glasses.

Abstract: An improved food spill catching device (10) with folded straps (12) mounted in a tray portion 10c for attaching the device around the neck of a person is described. The device is preferably provided by forming the straps 12 and trays (10b and 10c) separately as preforms (20 and 30) which are then assembled and formed into the device.

Abstract: A unitary folding serving tray (24) includes a base (4), first (6) and second (10) sidewalls and first (14) and second (18) end walls extending upwardly from the base and defining an interior region (42). The sidewalls are connected to the base along first (8) and second (12) fold lines. The first end wall is connected to the first sidewall along a third fold line (16). The base and a portion of the first sidewall extends outwardly past the first end wall to define a portion of the base having a drink container opening (46). The external base portion (44) is supported in a cantilevered fashion by a portion (48) of the first sidewall which also extends externally of the interior region. The end walls have downwardly extending hook like portions (34, 56) sized to permit the tray to be hung from the edge of a car window (40). The first sidewall is connected to the second end wall by hook and notch fastener elements (30,32).

Abstract: A portable beverage container carrier for an automotive vehicle is formed of a single sheet of flat, stiffened material, such as cardboard, formed with creases to create a rectangular floor, a front, a back and sides. A pair of arms extend laterally from the front and back and are adaptable for insertion into slots in the sides. The arms terminate in hook and loop fabric fasteners which are engageable with mating fabric fasteners on the inside surfaces of the side panels. The front, back and sides can thereby be folded up from the floor panel to form a tray. The front and sides are provided with reinforcement flaps that are foldable inwardly to reinforce the structure of the tray. One of the side flaps is formed with an articulated intermediate panel having apertures therein to receive accessories, such as straws and plastic eating implements. The sheet of stiffened material is formed with a detachable section that can be folded into a dihedral to form an adjustable brace.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a container system (10) which is adapted to be removably coupled to the body (20) of a user (22). The container system (10) includes a container housing (24) and a cover member (48) having a cut-out portion (60) which is adapted to be contiguously mounted around the neck of the user. The container system (10) includes a releasable coupling mechanism (64) having a strap member (66) which is passed around the neck (62) of the user (22) and is of adjustable length to accomodate differing sized users (22). In this manner, there is provided a container system (10) which is disposable by the user (22) after use and is releasably secured in an adjustable manner around the neck (62) of the user (22) to perform a bib-like function and serve as a temporary table or tray for the objects being used.

Abstract: A box, particularly suited to enclose a food or beverage when closed, and when opened to support the food or beverage as a suspended tray from a two point harness around the neck, by providing a food carrying base, reinforcing sides to stiffen the base against folding, and the top of the box being of a stiffened material having a length significantly longer than the height of the box, so that when folded in reverse, it forms an antitilt base when the box is suspended at two points adjacent the line or fold between the top and the base by a single strap around the neck of a wearer.

Abstract: A selectively reinforced paperboard carton having areas of reinforcement formed by impregnating the uncoated paperboard carton blank in patterned areas with a polyisocyanate which reacts with hydroxyl groups within the paperboard to form a cured polyurethane reinforcement. The preferred polyisocyanate is polymethylene polyphenylisocyanate.

Abstract: A document and cylindrical receptacle holder apparatus (10) for a tractor or the like. The holder apparatus (10) includes a sheet of material bent to form at the front end of a sidewall (12), a front end support wall (14), substantially parallel to but offset from the sidewall (12). The sidewall (12) is further bent along a bottom portion to form a bottom wall (16) perpendicular to the sidewall (12). The side and bottom walls (12,16) cooperate with a first wall (22) of the vehicle to form an upwardly opening compartment. The sidewall (12) is bent at a back end to form a back end support wall (18). A front end support wall (14) and the back end support wall (18) cooperate to retain the holder apparatus (10) in position. The holder apparatus (10) further includes a cylindrical member (20) suitably attached to the back end support wall (18) and the sidewall (12).

Abstract: A protective packaging material includes a sheet of laminated, formed, fluted paper board having a flexible sheet material attached thereto. The flexible sheet is laminated to and follows the contours of the laminated formed paper board. The flexible sheet material extends beyond at least one edge of the fluted laminated paper board sheet a distance sufficient to gather and tie off the flexible sheet material once the fluted laminated paper board is positioned around the object to be protectively packaged.