Abstract: A cup holder sidewall having a sidewall including a pair of recesses situated on opposite sides of a vertical midline, each of the recesses including at least one socket portion. A pair of handle elements adapted to be received wholly within the pair of recesses in the sidewall, each of the handle elements including at least one socket engaging portion received in the at least one socket portion of one of the recesses. The socket engaging portions being pivotable within the socket portions so as to permit the handle elements to be displaced from within the sidewall recesses to a position projecting outward from the sidewall sufficiently to permit the pair of handle elements to be grasped in one hand.

Abstract: A cap for dispensing material from a container defining an interior portion, including a housing capable of attachment to the container and including a translucent region, and defining an aperture, a first opening, and a second opening, and a spout member disposed through the aperture and defining a transfer compartment, having a first end and a second end and defining an inlet orifice at the first end and an outlet orifice at the second end, the spout member rotatably movable with respect to the housing between a first position where the inlet orifice is disposed to generally align with the first opening and communicate with the interior portion and the outlet orifice is disposed within and closed by the housing whereby material within the container may be transferred from the interior portion into the transfer compartment through the inlet orifice but material may not be dispensed from the container, and a second position where the inlet orifice is disposed within and closed by the housing and the outlet or

Abstract: A measuring/dispensing cap for a container comprising a peripheral side wall and a pivotable flip top movable between closed and open positions, the flip top mounted for pivotal motion about a horizontal hinge axis wherein the hinge axis separates a closure panel of the flip top from a push panel of the flip top; a first panel within the side wall having a first free edge in substantially vertical alignment with the hinge axis; a second weir panel having a weir edge extending parallel to and laterally spaced from the first free edge, thus establishing a weir opening, the closure panel and the weir panel along with a portion of the peripheral side wall defining a measuring chamber within the cap, adapted to receive contents of a container passing through the weir opening.

Abstract: A measuring dispensing cap for a container comprising a peripheral sidewall and a pivotable flip top supported on the peripheral sidewall for rocking movement about a hinge axis; the hinge axis separating a push panel portion of the flip top from a dispensing panel portion of the flip top; and wherein a measuring chamber is formed an area enclosed the peripheral sidewall underlying the dispensing panel portion; wherein the measuring chamber is defined by a portion of the peripheral sidewall, the dispensing panel portion, and by an angled weir panel extending from the peripheral sidewall downwardly and inwardly, terminating at a weir edge in substantial vertical alignment with the hinge axis, thereby creating a weir opening into the chamber; and wherein the flip top is formed with a depending flange which engages the weir panel edge when the flip top is opened to thereby close the weir opening.

Abstract: A measuring and dispensing spout is provided for use with a container having a panel with an opening therein. The measuring and dispensing spout includes a front face, a pair of side faces and a rear face, formed to provide an open-topped hopper. The spout is mounted within the opening of the panel for pivoting movement between open and closed positions. At least the front face of the open-topped hopper is of substantially transparent material with volumetric indicia thereon, to enable a user to visually confirm the amount of container contents within the spout, even when the spout is closed.

Abstract: Apparatus for testing the collapsibility of a plastic container, the container having a bottom, a peripheral side wall and an upper opening, the side wall formed with at least one peripheral fold line which, upon compression, facilitates telescoping of one portion of the container side wall into another portion of the container side wall, the apparatus comprising a base supporting a platform sized to receive a bottom portion of a container; a tool platen supported above the platform for reciprocating movement toward and away from the platform, the platen mounting a tool sized and shaped to engage the upper opening of the container; and a force gauge operatively attached to the platform for measuring force required to move the container from an upright, extended condition to a collapsed condition.

Abstract: A measuring dispensing closure for a container includes a hollow body having an opening therein, and a pivotable flip top. The flip top is mounted on the body for pivotal motion about a horizontal hinge axis between closed and open positions. The hollow body has an internal, part spherical weir panel located below the opening, with an edge extending parallel with the hinge axis thus establishing a weir opening between the weir edge and a peripheral portion of the opening, and defining, in cooperation with an underside portion of the flip top and a remaining peripheral portion of the opening, a measuring chamber within the closure. The flip top is also formed with a shut-off blade adapted to engage the weir edge when the flip top is in the open position.

Abstract: A measuring/dispensing cap adapted for attachment to an open, upper end of a container, the cap including a lid and a peripheral skirt extending downwardly from the lid, the lid pivotally secured to the skirt; a sifter panel integral with the skirt and separating the skirt into upper and lower sections, the upper section including a measuring chamber and the lower section including a screw thread for attaching the cap to the open upper end of the container. The sifter panel is formed to provide a flow opening on one side of a horizontal centerline extending across the cap, the flow opening defined in part by a first edge extending parallel to and spaced from the horizontal centerline. A rotatable weir dam panel overlies the sifter panel, the weir dam panel having a second edge which may be aligned with the first edge to enable substantially free flow of container contents through the flow opening.

Abstract: A container and associated cap assembly includes a container body having an open upper end defined by an annular rim, the rim having a substantially horizontal uppermost edge surface and a radially outwardly and downwardly extending bevelled surface. The cap has a top wall, a radially outer depending skirt portion and a radially inner depending skirt portion. The skirt portions are connected radially by an internal cap surface which includes a first substantially horizontal surface portion extending radially away from the radially inner skirt; a second downwardly and outwardly inclined sealing surface portion, and a third radiused surface portion connected to the radially outer skirt. The second downwardly and outwardly inclined sealing surface is sealingly engageable with the bevelled surface of the annular rim such that the substantially horizontal uppermost edge surface is axially spaced from the cap top wall upon full threaded engagement between said cap and said container body.

Abstract: A collapsible, thin wall, plastic container includes a closed end, an annular peripheral side wall and an open end, the peripheral side wall including a plurality of annular steps or shoulders for enabling controlled axial collapse of the container to a compact, collapsed condition wherein a plurality of substantially concentric folds surround a remaining uncollapsed portion of the container; and a removable cap securable to the open end, the cap having a sealed chamber formed therein for holding a predetermined amount of foodstuff material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for blow-molding hollow articles from open-ended tubular bodies of thermoplastics material include dimensionally expanding the open end of the tubular body to accomodate a blow pin plate of preselected dimension and/or geometry. The expanded open end of the tubular member will thus be closed by the blow pin plate. Subsequent introduction of pressurized fluid (e.g., air) into the tubular body through the blow pin plate will cause the tubular body to conform to the female cavity which envelops the same. In such a manner, hollow articles having relatively large sized and/or irregular shaped openings may be fabricated utilizing blow-molding techniques.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for blow-molding hollow articles from open-ended tubular bodies of thermoplastics material include dimensionally expanding the open end of the tubular body to accomodate a blow pin plate of preselected dimension and/or geometry. The expanded open end of the tubular member will thus be closed by the blow pin plate. Subsequent introduction of pressurized fluid (e.g., air) into the tubular body through the blow pin plate will cause the tubular body to conform to the female cavity which envelops the same. In such a manner, hollow articles having relatively large sized and/or irregular shaped openings may be fabricated utilizing blow-molding techniques.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming foldable plastic products (e.g., chair mats) includes a forming station for forming thermoplastic material into a shaped body, and a slitting station for slitting the shaped body to form a slit having first and second slit segments which establish a flexible hinge to allow adjacent sections of said shaped body laterally of said slit to be folded into juxtaposed relationship with one another. The slitting station employs an especially configured blade that has portions respectively corresponding to the first and second slit segments so that the slit segments may be simultaneously formed in the shaped body.

Abstract: Apparatus and a related process for blow molding an ultra thin plastic film bag in which sufficient heat is generated in the process to form an effective heat seal or weld along an edge of the bag. The blow mold halves are provided with laterally aligned, outwardly extending projections intermediate upper and lower edges of vertical parting wall surfaces of the mold halves. The projections and cavities formed above and below the projections are configured so that the temperature of the plastic during blow molding and pinch off above the melting point of the plastic to heat seal an edge of the bag. The invention also provides an ultra thin film plastic bag formed with a heat sealed bottom seam.

Abstract: Extrudable anti-static polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compositions include a quaternary ammonium compound as an anti-static agent, and a barium-cadmium-zinc component as a stablizing agent. The barium-cadmium-zinc component has been found to be critically required in order for the compositions to be processable (e.g., via extrusion) while retaining their desired anti-static characteristics. Shaped articles (e.g., floor mats, door strippings, and the like) may be formed from the compositions of this invention, and use in environments where static-charge dissipation is desired (e.g., computer rooms, hospitals, and the like).

Abstract: A bag closure device includes a handle member, a clasp member connected at one of its ends to the handle member and having an opposite free end capable of being removably coupled to the handle member. Structure is provided which beneficially compresses, and hence closes, a portion of flexible bag therebetween. According to one embodiment, such structure may be in the form of a truncated V-shaped member associated with the handle member which compresses a region of the bag against a V-shaped trough associated with the clasp member. In another embodiment, such structure includes a circumferential boss segment which compresses the bag portion against an interior surface of an axially flexible strap member. In either embodiment, the captured bag is effectively prevented from slipping under its own weight during transport of the bag via the bag closure device.

Abstract: A container includes a substantially rigid upper container segment, a flexible bladder integral with, and depending from, the upper container segment, and a lower substantially rigid container segment attached to the upper container segment so that the flexible bladder is housed therein. The upper container segment presents a smooth exterior continuation of the lower container segment so that the two segments visually appear to be formed in a unitary manner. A foldable hanger may be provided integrally on the bottom wall of the container so as to facilitate the container's supported inversion. In one embodiment, the bladder is spaced from the container bottom wall so as to establish a sub-container therebetween. A self-closing dispensing cap is provided which includes a pair of resilient, flexible sealing lips which are defined in part by an elongated discharge slit. An overcap is also provided which includes additional sealing means for engaging the sealing lips when the overcap is in a closed position.