Abstract: A merchandising device includes bottles arranged in a row, a track for supporting the row of bottles, a support rack for supporting the track, and a stopper provided at the front end of the track to engage the leading bottle in the row. Each bottle has a cap and an integrally formed annular neck flange. The bottles are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along a path defined by the track and are removable from the track through the front end of the track. The track is inclined downwardly toward the front end, and thereby the bottles are allowed to gravity feed toward the front end along the path. The stopper prevents the leading bottle from exiting the front end until removal thereof is desired. The leading bottle when at the front end is suspended in a vertical position. The stopper includes an engaging element disposed at the front end for movement transversely of the path as well as of the leading bottle, and a spring for urging the engaging element transversely into the path.

Abstract: A backpack for carrying a laptop computer comprising: flexible front, rear, bottom and side panels the interior surfaces of which define the interior of the backpack, wherein the side panel extends along each side and across the top of the backpack and the front, rear and side panels are joined together along their perimeters; a compartment for storing a laptop computer in the interior of the backpack; a first closure means extending longitudinally along the side panel and transversely across the top to control access to the compartment; at least one adjustable interlocking assembly joined to the backpack so as to bridge the first closure at the bottom half of the backpack whereby pivotal separation of the first closure along the side and the top panels is restricted to a predetermined interval when the closure means is opened; and a pair of adjustable shoulder straps connected to the exterior of the rear panel for carrying the backpack.

Abstract: A bottle dispenser has a gate mechanism to maintain the foremost one of the track-supported bottles substantially vertical. The dispenser includes an elongate track defining a longitudinally extending pathway, a support structure, and a stopper provided at the front end of the track. The track supports a row of flanged bottles such that the bottles are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the pathway and removable from the pathway through the front end of the track. The support structure supports the track such that the track is inclined toward its front end whereby the suspended bottles are allowed to gravity feed toward the front end when the leading bottle in the row is removed from the track. The stopper engages with the leading bottle to prevent its accidental removal through the front end.

Abstract: A carton has a bottom, side walls and top. A strap handle is attached to both sidewalls and extends over the top. The handle fits into slots that extend from the side wall into the top. The handles are attached to the side wall below these slots. The ends of the slots have enlarged areas that retain the handle as it extends through the slot. The enlarged areas can be any number of different shapes.

Abstract: A multi-compartment container for packaging a plurality of articles such as bottles, comprises two or more compartment units and a frangible connecting portion. Each compartment unit comprises a base panel, opposed side panels, opposed end panels and a top panel. Certain adjacent panels of the compartment units partly provide the frangible connecting portion so that removal of the connecting portion causes at least partial separation of the units and provides access for removal of the articles contained in the units. Upon removal of the connecting portion, at least a part of each panel of each compartment unit remains intact.

Abstract: A bottom wall is formed from a plurality of bottom panels having unjoined adjacent edges. Side walls are formed from a plurality of side panels. Each side panel is foldably joined along a bottom edge to one of the bottom wall panels. Reinforcing posts are formed in the side walls by sets of reinforcing post panels. Each set of reinforcing post panels has a plurality of post panels foldably joining one another and foldably joined between side wall panels adjacent the unjoined edges of the bottom panels. An end closure is formed at each end of the carton by end panels foldably joined to end edges of the bottom and side wall panels and secured in face-to-face overlapping relationship.

Abstract: A package includes a plurality of cylindrical beverage cans (10) arranged into at least two tiers with a carton disposed around the cans. A paperboard divider panel (30) is disposed between and in contact with the cans of adjacent tiers. The divider panel includes a plurality of apertures (32), each of the apertures having a generally circular edge concentric with the cylindrical axis of upper and lower cans and having a diameter (D4) smaller than the base of the upper can. The divider panel further includes a substantially circular embossment (38) concentric with each of the apertures, the embossment having an outer diameter generally equal to the diameter of the top flange of the lower can.

Abstract: An article carrier for packaging a one-row group of bottles is disclosed. The carrier comprises opposed top and bottom walls hingably interconnected by a pair of opposed side walls to form a tubular structure. The top wall is adapted to be disposed over the tops of articles in a row. The bottom wall has article receiving apertures for receiving the necks of the articles respectively. The side walls are adapted to be disposed alongside the necks of the articles such that at least a portion of the neck of each articles is hidden from view. The carrier further comprises article retaining means disposed intermediate the top and bottom walls such that the tops of the articles are retained between the top and bottom walls of the carrier.

Abstract: An arrangement for interconnecting first and second objects, comprises a connector element and an anchoring element which are formed on the first object and a connector aperture and an anchoring aperture defined in the second object. The connector element extends from the first object along a notional line. The anchoring element is disposed at a distance along the notional line from the connector element, and extends parallel to the connector element. The anchoring aperture is disposed at a distance along the notional line from the connector aperture. The connector element is received in the connector aperture and disposed at an engaged position where the connector element engages the periphery of the connector aperture. Within the connector aperture, the connector element is movable along the notional line between the engaged position and a disengaged position.

Abstract: A collapsible basket-type article carrier has end walls joined at the ends of opposing side walls. A portion of the side wall is cut-away to form bands for engaging articles. Riser panels extend inwardly of the end walls. A handle structure extends between the end walls and riser panels. A center cell partition extends from each respective side wall to the handle structure. The corner formed at each intersection of the carton's side and end walls is bevelled. In like manner, the corner formed at each intersection of a band of the center cell and the side wall portion thereof is bevelled. Support tabs join either the riser panels or end walls to the bottom wall of the carrier. The bottom wall of the carrier is bifurcated. Bottles are loadable upwardly through the open bottom of the carrier. In collapsed condition the carrier has a shearable nick members strategically located upon cut lines between the side wall and center cell at the bevelled corner tabs.

Abstract: A carrier is provided for a brick-type container. The brick includes interconnected side and end walls, and an upper closure structure having folded portions overlapping and extending downwardly along a portion of each of the end walls. The carrier includes a top wall panel, a pair of side wall panels foldably connected to the top wall panel, and a pair of retention strips substantially vertically disposed and extending between the side wall panels. Each of the retention strips defines an upper free edge spaced from the top wall panel. The retention strips are foldably connected to the side wall panels, whereby the side wall panels and the retention strips together surround the brick and the free edges engage a lowermost end of the folded portions of the upper closure structure of the brick.

Abstract: A method and apparatus employs a measurement device placed on an automatic control valve to test the speed of response of the control valve and any lost motion created by or within any mechanical linkage or connection used to automatically actuate the valve. A chain link clamp is attached between the valve shaft and a device for measuring the movement of the valve stem of the control valve to provide positive movement indication.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading containers into basket-style bottom-loading carriers has a container infeed conveyor; a divider for segregating the containers into columns; a container meterer for metering each of the columns of containers into groupings of a predetermined number of containers; a container conveyor for engaging the last container in each grouping of containers; container gripper conveyors having container grippers for maintaining the container groupings; a carrier infeed supplier; a carrier feeder for removing carriers from the carrier infeed supplier; a carrier timer-transport assembly for receiving carriers from the carrier feeder and initiating transport of the carriers in synchronous parallel motion above the containers; a gripper assembly for opening the carriers by grasping and pulling outwardly with respect to a centerline of the carriers the bottom panels; a declination belt assembly having a downwardly-declining pair of opposing elongated endless belt pairs in face contacting relationship f

Abstract: A flap-folding device for use in a packaging machine comprises a rotational disc, drive means for rotating the disc in synchronization with movement of a blank and articles to be packaged in the blank, a pair of blank-engaging fingers pivotally mounted on the disc to fold flaps on the blank, and actuating means for pivotally moving the fingers. The actuating means comprises a radial member mounted on the disc for reciprocating movement along the radius of the disc, cooperating means for moving the radial member along the radius in response to rotation of the disc, and means for converting reciprocating movement of the radial member into pivotal movement of the fingers.

Abstract: A partially open wrap-around type carrier is combinable with a tray portion to form a composite carrier. The wrap-around carrier has a central panel flanked by opposing end panels and opposing side panels. One end panel is an end handle panel having hand-hole apertures for forming a handle. Connecting web/gussets respectively connect the end and side panels. One of the connecting webs/gussets includes a web/gusset handle panel wherein the web/gusset handle panel may be folded over into face contacting relationship with the end handle panel to form a multi-ply handle. The hand holes in the end handle panel and in the web/gusset handle panel may be configured to provide handles of different configurations.