Abstract: A bag comprises an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The upper chamber comprises an inlet end defining an inlet opening. The lower chamber defines a lower chamber interior volume less than the upper chamber interior volume. A strainer is between the bottom end of the upper chamber and the top end of the lower chamber. The strainer places the upper chamber interior volume in fluid communication with the lower chamber interior volume. The bag wall may define an outlet port. A filter patch may be attached to the bag wall to cover the outlet port. The filter patch may be adapted to entrap airborne particles having a diameter of one micron or greater carried by air passing from the bag interior volume through the filter patch. The bag may be useful in enhancing the detectability of and in reducing the exposure to contaminants that may be present in mail deposited in the bags.

Abstract: This invention relates to packaging apparatus and a method which enables bags of different widths and lengths to be produced so as to enable products of varying sizes to be packaged in those bags.

Abstract: A foam-in-place dispenser and a porous tip therefore having a frusto-conical face, wherein an outermost rim of the tip extends beyond the discharge end of the dispenser.

Abstract: A laminate for use as a floor underlayment material includes a film disposed on at least one surface of an expanded foam web. The foam web includes a plurality of ribs projecting from one surface of the web in a length direction thereof so as to define a corrugated surface. The film is disposed on the surface of the foam web opposite the corrugated surface. The film is preferably formed from a high density polymer so as to enhance the moisture barrier properties of the laminate. When installed between a subfloor and finish flooring, the laminate defines channels which enable moisture emanating from the subfloor to be directed out from the flooring system.

Abstract: A packaging structure useful as retention and suspension packaging. The packaging structure comprises a frame and a film connected to the frame. The film comprises first and second layers. The first layer is an outer layer of the film and comprises polyethylene polymer having a density of at least about 0.910 g/cc. The first layer comprises no more than about 20% of the total thickness of the film. The second layer comprises ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of less than about 0.910 g/cc. The film has an elastic recovery in each of the transverse and longitudinal directions of at least about 60% measured according to ASTM D5459-95 at 100% strain, 30 seconds relaxation time, and 60 second recovery time.

Abstract: A metallic laminated gusseted insulated bag includes a front and rear wall each having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge; first and second side walls; a bottom member; and a means for hermetically closing the bag; wherein the front and rear walls are joined along their respective lateral edges to the first and second side walls; either or both of the side walls and bottom member are gusseted; and the front and rear walls are joined along their respective bottom edges to the bottom member; and the front and rear walls each include an outer ply including a metallic foil or metallic coated web, and an inner ply having an inner and outer surface, including a thermal insulating layer; the metallic foil or metallic coated web being adhered to the outer surface of the inner ply.

Abstract: The invention provides a packaging container including a box adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the box including a plurality of side panels and a bottom arranged to define a storage compartment and an opening, the storage compartment being accessible through the opening when the box is in the open configuration. A first flap and a second flap form a first pair of opposing flaps, each of the first and second flaps being attached to a corresponding side panel and adapted for folding across at least a portion of the opening when the box is in the closed configuration. The box includes a second pair of opposing flaps, each flap of the second pair of opposing flaps being attached to a corresponding side panel and adapted for folding across at least a portion of the opening when the box is in the closed configuration.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus includes a pair of rolls forming a nip through which two web portions are passed with an item to be packaged between the web portions. The rolls include resiliently compliant roll portions that deform to accommodate the thickness of the item, and the roll portions press the web portions to seal them together in peripheral regions surrounding the item and to center the item between the webs in the thickness direction. The apparatus also includes side seal devices that traverse inwardly toward the item to seal the webs together close to the item's opposite side edges to prevent the item from laterally shifting. The web portions may have cohesive disposed on their facing surfaces such that the web portions adhere to each other with pressure but tend not to adhere to the packaged item or other surfaces.

Abstract: A laminate for use as a thermal insulating material includes a layer of a metal laminated to an expanded foam web. The foam web is formed with a plurality of ribs projecting from one surface of the web in the length direction thereof. The metal layer is laminated to the free edges of the ribs so as to define a plurality of closed channels extending in the length direction of the laminate. The metal layer may include a layer of a polymer to facilitate adherence of the metal layer to the foam web.

Abstract: An internal gear set comprising an inner rotor having a number of radially projecting cylindrical tooth members engaging a conjugate internally toothed outer rotor. The latter has one more tooth than there are tooth members on the inner rotor and is mounted eccentrically to the inner rotor so that the rotors move conjugately relative to one other.

Abstract: An expanded cellular ethylenic polymer product is provided from an irradiated, noncross-linked linear ethylenic polymer. Linear ethylenic polymers can be irradiated at ambient conditions sufficient to introduce branching in the polymer in the absence of detectable cross-linking as indicated by the absence of gels. The irradiated linear ethylenic polymer is compatible with highly branched low density polyethylene and, when mixed therewith, produces a resin having a single broad based melting temperature range as determined by direct scanning calorimetry, which indicates that the polymers in the mixture have similar crystallization behavior suitable for producing low density foams by extrusion foaming. The linear polymers can be obtained from recycled shrink wrap film. Low densities of from 0.7 to less than 4 pcf can be achieved. The foams typically have improved tear resistance as compared to previous products prepared from low density polyethylene, at comparable low densities.

Abstract: A foam formed from ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer having a melt index of greater than 1 gram/10 minutes and a vinyl acetate content ranging from about 5 to about 25 weight percent.

Abstract: An extruded thin sheet foam is disclosed prepared from a polyolefin resin in which the blowing agent comprises a blend of from about 1 to 25% by weight of carbon dioxide and the balance of C3 to C4 VOCs. Thin foam sheets produced with the blowing agent age about twice as fast as foams prepared with VOCs, are remarkably stable, and can be produced at high throughputs.

Abstract: A system for heating and dispensing foam-in-bag packaging bags comprises a housing that rotatably supports a roll of a continuous web of interconnected foam-in-bag packaging bags, and at least one heater for heating bags to an elevated temperature prior to the bags being dispensed from the housing. A heated bag is dispensed and is detached from the web, and is then manipulated to mix foam precursor chemicals contained in separate compartments in the bag to begin a foam-forming reaction in the bag.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure There is provides a multi-layer conductive/insulation pad is provided having a first polymer layer, a conductive layer such as a thin foil of metal or a metallized thermoplastic film laminated to the first polymer layer, a second polymer layer laminated to the side of the conductive layer opposite the side of the first polymer layer, and a first bubble wrap layer. The first bubble wrap layer is laminated to the side of the second polymer film opposite the conductive layer. Optionally, a protective heavy-duty polymer layer is laminated to the first bubble wrap layer on the opposite side of the second polymer layer. In another embodiment the multi-layer construction of pad of the first embodiment has added thereto a third polymer layer laminated to the side opposite the first layer of bubble wrap and a second layer of bubble wrap laminated to the third polymer layer on the side opposite the first bubble wrap.

Abstract: A composite material wherein one or more backing materials are disposed in generally contiguous relation to an insulating material. Methods for forming composite materials comprising securing one or more backing materials to an insulating material such that the backing materials are in generally contiguous relation to the insulating material. Methods for using the composite materials of the present invention wherein a structure is wrapped with a composite material of the present invention.

Abstract: A device for rotating a web material roll supported on a reel shaft having a pair of ends. The rotating device includes a female drive member coupled to one end of the reel shaft and defining an opening having a non-circular perimeter, such as a square opening. Also included is a male drive device having a rotatably powered drive shaft having an end that is congruent to the non-circular perimeter of the opening in the female drive member. The non-circular perimeter allows the reel shaft, and web material roll, to be positively rotated during unwinding. A telescoping assembly of the male drive device is capable of extending the drive shaft into the opening so as to allow co-rotation of the shaft and female member. An optional roll supporting cart may be employed to rotatably support the web material roll when aligning the male and female drive members.

Abstract: There is provided a multi-layered foamed article. The foam article has a layer of foam material on either side of an inner peel layer disposed roughly in the middle of the foam. The portion of the foam in closest proximity to the peel layer is subjected to the greatest amount of heat during extrusion forming mostly large open cell foam. The foam near the surface of the multiplayer foam article is cooled by the atmosphere or contact with cooling surfaces and comprises mostly small closed-cell foam. There is also provided a method for making a multi-layer foamed article by co-extruding an inner peel layer sandwiched between two expanded layers of a foam material. Each of the expanded foam layers on either side of the peel layer of the article is easily peeled or stripped from the peel inner layer and the multi-layer article is converted into a foamed article with absorbing characteristics on one side and non-absorbing characteristics on the other side.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser generally includes a housing and a valving rod disposed in and movable within the housing, the valving rod including a central bore, at least one inlet for receiving a cleaning fluid composed of a solvent and a gas, and one or more outlet ports in fluid communication with the bore, wherein the outlet ports are capable of directing cleaning fluid radially outwards from the bore and against an interior surface of the dispenser to facilitate the removal of at least a portion of any fluid product or derivatives thereof that may be in adherence with such interior surface.

Abstract: A foam and method for making such foam includes a blend of a low density polyethylene and a higher density ethylene polymer. The ethylene polymer has a density ranging from greater than 0.94 to about 0.97 grams/cubic centimeter and a melt flow index of greater than 10 g/10 minutes, and may include at least one member selected from ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, ethylene homopolymer, and blends thereof.