Abstract: A method of making a thermally insulated shipper for a temperature sensitive payload is provided. The shipper comprises vacuum insulated panels located between inner and outer molded shells.

Abstract: A two piece, easy-to-assemble hutch for shipping and displaying items is provided. The hutch comprises two laterally opposing, hinged sidewalls, one or more elongated horizontal front panels, a rear wall and shelves made of two halves. The hutch is moveable between a first position in which each shelf is folded up against itself and a second position in which each shelf forms a substantially planar load supporting surface.

Abstract: A double bag vacuum insulation panel for use in a temperature assured shipper made in a steam chest molding machine is provided. The double bag VIP comprises a porous core, a heat sealable inner envelope and an outer bag. The inner envelope is made from a substantially gas impermeable first material having a first thickness and defines an interior having a pressure of less than or equal to about 30 millibar. The outer bag is made from a substantially gas impermeable second material having a second thickness. The outer bag encapsulates the inner envelope. The double bag vacuum insulation panel has an R value of at least about 28 hr-ft2-° F./BTU-in and the R value drops less than about 10% after being exposed to a temperature of up to 95 degrees C. for up to 7 seconds.

Abstract: In flexible package, a one-way valve may include a substrate forming a portion of the flexible package and having at least one inlet score, a top sheet having at least one outlet score and secured thereto by an adhesive to define a valve chamber in which the substrate and the top sheet are not permanently adhered to each other, and a liquid film within the valve chamber and adhering the top sheet to the substrate within the valve chamber until a pressure differential exists causing gases to pass through the one-way valve. The inlet scores and the outlet scores may be non-linear, or may be linear scores that are not parallel to each other to prevent the scores from collapsing on themselves and preventing gas flow when the package buckles.

Abstract: A method of forming a higher density bale of waste paper from two or more lower density bales of waste paper includes positioning the lower density bales intact and in side-by-side relationship with respect to each other, moving them to a compression zone, and compressing the bales together in the compression zone to form a higher density bale. The higher density bale can then be strapped to maintain its higher density configuration and shape. Thus, a larger tonnage of waste paper in bales can be loaded into a shipping container for transport. A rebaler for carrying out the method includes side feed and side retrieval of bales, significantly improving over traditional top feed machines.

Abstract: A retortable container is formed with an opening formed defined by a projecting rim. The rim includes an external surface and securing structure formed thereon. A flexible membrane is sealed to the rim and closes the opening. A closure is provided having a molded plastic tubular ring and a separately formed molded plastic disk. The tubular ring includes an overlapping flange at a top and directed inwardly towards an inwardly positioned open area. The skirt includes an engagement structure for securing the closure to the external surface of the rim. The disk is separately attached to the ring within the open area after the retort process is applied to the sealed bottle.

Abstract: A fold open face seal package is provided. The package may comprise a one or two-piece thermoformed blister adhered to a backing card. In the one piece embodiment upper and lower portions of the blister are connected by one or more hinges. In the two-piece embodiment the blister is cut into upper and lower pieces which are adhered to the backing card. The package may be opened by folding the backing card back along a bend line and then reclosed for later use.

Abstract: A two piece, easy-to-assemble hutch for shipping and displaying items is provided. The hutch comprises two laterally opposing, hinged sidewalls, one or more elongated horizontal front panels, a rear wall and shelves made of two halves. The hutch is moveable between a first position in which each shelf is folded up against itself and a second position in which each shelf forms a substantially planar load supporting surface.

Abstract: A fold open face seal package is provided. The package may comprise a one or two-piece thermoformed blister adhered to a backing card. In the one piece embodiment upper and lower portions of the blister are connected by one or more hinges. In the two-piece embodiment the blister is cut into upper and lower pieces which are adhered to the backing card. The package may be opened by folding the backing card back along a bend line and then reclosed for later use.

Abstract: A flexible walled package formed from a multiple layer laminate and having an external recloseable pocket for holding a scoop or other item is provided. The pocket has a back panel formed from part of an inner layer and a front panel formed from part of a scored outer layer. Outside the perimeter of the pocket the inner layer and the outer layer are adhered together with permanent adhesive. Inside the pocket perimeter the inner layer and the outer layer may be adhered together with pressure sensitive adhesive to close the pocket.

Abstract: A method of forming a higher density bale of waste paper from two or more lower density bales of waste paper includes positioning the lower density bales intact and in side-by-side relationship with respect to each other, moving them to a compression zone, and compressing the bales together in the compression zone to form a higher density bale. The higher density bale can then be strapped to maintain its higher density configuration and shape. Thus, a larger tonnage of waste paper in bales can be loaded into a shipping container for transport. A rebaler for carrying out the method includes side feed and side retrieval of bales, significantly improving over traditional top feed machines.

Abstract: A package integrity feature for a recloseable package is provided. The recloseable package may be made from a laminate film and may comprise a scored inner layer having a machine direction and a scored outer layer laminated together with both permanent adhesive and pressure sensitive adhesive to form a recloseable flap that covers an opening in a package body. The package integrity feature may be a strip of material cut into the inner layer of the laminate film in such a way that the strip breaks when the package is opened, leaving one end of the strip attached to the package body and the opposite end attached to the recloseable flap.

Abstract: A two piece, easy-to-assemble hutch for shipping and displaying items is provided. The hutch comprises two laterally opposing, hinged sidewalls, one or more elongated horizontal front panels, a rear wall and shelves made of two halves. The hutch is moveable between a first position in which each shelf is folded up against itself and a second position in which each shelf forms a substantially planar load supporting surface.

Abstract: A breakdown spool having a hollow barrel and separate flange members is provided. The barrel ends define an insertion section for movement into a central recess positioned within the support surface of the flanges. The central recess includes an outer peripheral wall having an inside diameter closely dimensioned with an outside diameter of the barrel wall. The insertion sections on the ends of the barrel and the central recess of each flange having first and second engagement elements for releasably securing the flanges to the axial ends of the barrel. The engagement elements have different structural forms. Interconnecting alignment elements are provided to fix the relative position of the axial end of the barrel with respect to the central recess of the flange and to align the respective first and second engagement elements on the insertion section and the peripheral wall around the perimeter of the central recess.

Abstract: A flexible container that can be affixed to a vertical surface such as a shower wall is provided. The container comprises a wall and a substrate affixed to the wall. The substrate may define a plurality of integrally formed recesses that can create a suction fit with the vertical surface.

Abstract: A container that can function both as a shipper and as a retail display is provided. The container comprises a tray and a lid. Upon delivery to the retail site, the lid can be removed and used as a display base. The tray is mounted to the lid and secured thereto with locking tabs.

Abstract: A clamshell package includes a base section having a triangular shape and first and second storage sections pivotally attached to the base section by first and second hinges, respectively. The storage sections have storage section flanges extending outward and terminating at storage section flange outer edges defining an outer perimeter of the clamshell package. When the storage sections are closed, the storage section flanges face and engage out to the storage section flange outer edges.

Abstract: A display hutch is provided that can be made from three components adhered together to form a flat compact structure suitable for shipping. The compact structure can be positioned upright and converted into the display hutch by pushing down on support halves or by rotating inwardly side shelf panels and front shelf panels.

Abstract: A package is provided for storing and dispensing consumable goods. The package includes a container base having a defined interior volume for retaining a quantity of consumable goods and an open top end for dispensing the goods. A lid is formed to overlap with the top end of the base. The lid defines a portion volume that is less than the retaining volume of the base. Structures are provided for retaining the lid on and releasing the lid from the top end of the base.

Abstract: A sound reducing shroud for use with an appliance or other machine is provided. The shroud comprises a body made from foam. The body has a sidewall having a discontinuous circumference, a first vertical end and an opposing second vertical end. The body can be resiliently flexible so that the body is re-configurable between an open position in which the first vertical end and the second vertical end are spread apart to accommodate installation of the shroud around the machine, and a closed position in which the first vertical end and the second vertical end mate to form a seam. Alternatively, the body can comprise a first half shell and a second half shell that fit together to make a shroud around the machine. The first half shell and the second half shell can be designed to snap fit together, or can be held together using fasteners or strapping.