Abstract: An integrated picture frame and stand apparatus articulable from a blank of foldable material, and upon articulation, positionable and free standing on a support surface. The apparatus includes a face member, at least one back member, and a frame stand member that co-operate to maintain the picture in place within the frame while maintaining the frame in an upright position. The frame stand member may further include a locking wing member hingedly attached to the frame stand member and a base member, which upon articulation, and through the use of tabs and slots, restrain the positions of all cooperating elements to further maintain the device in its articulated orientation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shipping/display container which includes a tray portion having a bottom panel, two opposed end panels, and two opposed side panels One of the side panels comprises a float side panel and the other of the side panels comprises a rear side panel. The container further includes a cover portion attached to the container and disposed so as to engage the end panels and the side panels. More particularly, the front side panel includes a line of weakness defining a severable portion of the front side panel which extends in at least an intermediate portion downward to the lowermost edge of the front side panel. The severable portion includes a preformed aperture located adjacent to the lowermost edge of the front panel for initiating removable of the severable portion.

Abstract: A container apparatus and method of manufacture for same, in which the container includes an inner tube formed of plastics material, and an outer tube of one or more plies of material. The container is generally configured to lie flat, when in its unfilled condition. The container has a flat first end formed from flap members configured from one or more plies of the outer tube. The container is advantageously configured to enable opening of the first end of the outer tube to provide access to the inner tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for the packaging of articles, particularly fragile or other articles which must be hand packed. The apparatus includes an first cover member and a second cover member, each of the first and second cover members being formed from identical blanks which are erected and affixed in a partially raised state. Upon filing of one of the cover members with the articles to be packaged, a remaining side of that member is raised and the other cover member is warped onto the filled member, such that sidewalls of the filled cover member are distorted inwardly, while side corresponding sidewalls of the other cover member are distorted outwardly. A remaining unarticulated wall of sidewall of the other cover member is then folded down into place and affixed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a valved bag transported by a conveyor. The valved bag has a body with a longitudinal axis, a center of gravity, and a sealable valve. At least a portion of the sealable valve protrudes from the body in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the longitudinal access. The apparatus includes a conveyor for transporting the valved bag in a direction of travel substantially parallel to its longitudinal access. A stop member stops the transportation of the valved bag when the sealable valve is aligned with a sealing area. A ram member positions the valved bag to dispose at least a portion of the sealable valve into the sealing area. An ultrasonic horn and anvil engage and seal the sealable valve. The stop member is removed from the path of the sealed bag, allowing it to resume transportation along the conveyor.

Abstract: A bottom closure restrainment apparatus for palletized bulk bin containers towards the containment of various articles including bulk materials. A container fixedly attached to a pallet includes a bottom closure restrainment apparatus for aligning and maintaining the bottom flaps of the container in position relative to the pallet.

Abstract: A process for the packaging of fragile articles, such as processed foods articles. The fragile articles are receiving from a source and positioned in a staging area, prior to being placed, in a shock-free manner, upon an unerected container blank. The protective container is erected around the fragile articles, substantially without any contact or physical shock to the fragile articles, so as to preclude damage to the articles. The invention further includes an apparatus for accomplishing the process of packaging the fragile articles.

Abstract: A substantially recyclable shipping platform apparatus for supporting and transporting loads, in which the apparatus is easily disposable and recyclable after use. A plurality of substantially elongated pylons are attached between a top platform and a bottom panel to increase the integrity of the apparatus to more effectively support the load material placed upon the platform. The bottom panel is constructed with articulateable flaps which are used to secure the pylons to the bottom panel. Each of these flaps are configured to maximize contact with, and stability of, the pylons, and are further configured to correspond to the specific shape of the interior region of each respective pylon they are attached to. A tear strip may be embedded within the platform and/or bottom panel for purposes of reducing the overall size of the apparatus when disposal is desired.

Abstract: A shipping container apparatus is provided which, upon opening, may be converted to a display apparatus for items shipped and contained therewithin the shipping container. The convertible shipping container--display apparatus includes a cover configured for facilitated opening, to permit access to and viewing of the goods shipped and contained therein.

Abstract: A valve bag is provided having a self-closing feature, to preclude sifting losses after filling, but before the bag is fully sealed, while enabling the facilitated final secure closure of the bag.

Abstract: A rotatable reel apparatus for use in association with an axle and the like, for operably winding, storing, transporting and unwinding various windable materials. A core member, having an inner peripheral surface and an interior region, is operably sandwiched between a first and second corrugated paper platform member. The platform members include a spindle region, a plurality of core attachment flaps and a plurality of spaced apart apertures. Each of the apertures include distal edges and proximal edges wherein each of the proximal edges are operably positioned adjacent the peripheral surface of the core member, and each of the distal edges collectively serve to define the outer periphery of the spindle region. The core attachment flaps operably depend from each of the proximal edges of the spaced apart apertures and are folded inwardly toward, and into operable secured contact with, a corresponding portion of either the inner or outer peripheral surface of the core member.

Abstract: A shipping container apparatus for goods, convertible for use as a display apparatus for the goods. A tray, which holds and displays the goods, has a bottom panel member and at least one tray wall member, which includes at least one integrated separable member. A lid is releasably attached to the tray for covering the goods during shipping. The lid at least one lid wall member positionable over at least a portion of the tray wall member. The lid wall member includes at least one flap member, which is moveable from a substantially closed position to a substantially open position. The flap member of the lid means is positionable over and attachable to at least a portion of the frangibly integrated separable member. Attachment of the flap member of the lid means to a frangibly integrated separable member maintains the lid means and tray means attached to each other as an integrated shipping container.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting an article in shock-isolating, spaced relation to the walls of a container is provided. A support wall and a plurality of lateral support members define a partial enclosure for receiving the article. Corner support members secure the support wall and the lateral support members in the configuration defining the enclosure. Spacer support members extend from the lateral support members to position the article receiving enclosure in spaced relation away from the walls, the top and the bottom of the container, to provide shock-isolation for protecting the article supported, capped and at least partially received by the apparatus.

Abstract: A substantially tubular bag for containing materials and protecting same against moisture and fine particle contamination, and having improved resistance to breakdown of structural integrity during loading and handling. At least one outer layer forms an outer tube member, while at least one inner layer forms an inner tube member. The at least one inner layer is formed from a substantially moisture and fine particle-impermeable material. An inner seal closes an end of the inner tube member. Outer closure means are arranged across the end of the outer tube member substantially adjacent to the inner seal. The end of the bag is folded to isolate the inner seal, and the outer closure means is affixed in place against one side of the bag, so as to prevent shock and disruption of the inner seal during loading and/or handling of the bag.

Abstract: A multi-station filling apparatus and process for filling bulk containers while simultaneously enabling the deployment and staging of at least one empty container while at least one other container is being filled. The apparatus includes a container filling station operably positioned adjacent a substantially elevated filling chute, a container deployment station, a rotatable carriage and an automatic apparatus controller. The container deployment station is spaced apart from the container filling station so that an operator can attach an empty container thereat either prior to, or during, filling of another container at the container filling station--while avoiding physical exposure to any mechanisms, such as conveyors, associated with the container filling station. The rotatable carriage, which automatically rotates an empty container from the container deployment station toward and into the empty container filling station, includes an outer frame member and displaceable inner frame members.

Abstract: A scoring apparatus for use in imparting scores in paper products to reduce the occurrence of random yielding upon folding. The scoring apparatus includes a scoring member and a paper products platform member and is operably associated with a power source for forcing at least the scoring member, and the paper products into contact with one another. The scoring member includes a scoring profile having a scoring bead member for imparting scores in paper products and an integrated shoulder for partially crushing and weakening a portion of the paper products on one side of the resulting score line. The scoring apparatus creates a desired score line with a substantially weakened portion on one side of the score line, with a substantially unweakened portion on the other side of the score line--to substantially reduce the random yielding of the paper products during the folding of those paper products along the score line.

Abstract: A substantially recyclable shipping platform apparatus for supporting and transporting loads, in which the apparatus is easily disposable and recyclable after use. A plurality of substantially elongated pylons are attached between a top platform and a bottom panel to increase the integrity of the apparatus to more effectively support the load material placed upon the platform. The bottom panel is constructed with articulateable flaps which are used to secure the pylons to the bottom panel. Each of these flaps are configured to maximize contact with, and stability of, the pylons, and are further configured to correspond to the specific shape of the interior region of each respective pylon they are attached to. A tear strip may be embedded within the platform and/or bottom panel for purposes of reducing the overall size of the apparatus when disposal is desired.

Abstract: An extensible handle bag apparatus capable of being manufactured on conventional high-speed manufacturing equipment, wherein the handles of the bag apparatus are constructed from an extensible material which provide comfort to a person's hands when carrying the apparatus, as well as which provide substantial load carrying capabilities to the bag itself. One or more extensible handles are attached in a retracted position below the top peripheral edge of the bag until the handles are manually deployed by an individual making initial use of the fully constructed apparatus. The handles comprise a gripping member and two leg members operably attached to the gripping member. The handles further include attachment regions which are initially stretched, independent of the remainder of the handles so as to increase the surface area for adherence directly to the bag itself and/or to corresponding handle attachment patches.

Abstract: An erectable container apparatus constructed from a substantially square blank of material for use in releasably storing various articles therewithin. The apparatus includes a plurality of side panels each having an inner edge attached to a base portion, an outer edge attached to a corresponding top flap member, and a left and right edge. The left and right edges are operably positioned at acute angles relative to the respective inner edges to which they intersect so as to provide substantially upright and inwardly sloping side panels upon articulation of the erectable container apparatus toward and into its fully articulated orientation. Locking elements are operably associated with at least two of the top flap members for releasably locking the erectable container apparatus in a fully erected orientation, as well as to releasably maintain the top flap members and the inwardly sloping side panels in a base and article covering orientation.