Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming thermoplastic containers having a male locking member. The apparatus includes a cavity defining a shape of the container, a stripper movable in a longitudinal direction relative to said cavity, and a retractable lock adjacent to an edge of the cavity. The retractable lock is movable in a transverse direction relative to the cavity between a retracted position and an unretracted position and movable in a longitudinal direction between a first position and a second position. The containers are formed through a process in which the apparatus is sequentially placed in a ready mode, lift mode, disengage mode, and back to the ready mode. In the ready mode, the retractable lock is placed in the unretracted position and first position in order to receive a sheet of plastic material and form a locking member thereon.

Abstract: A plastic container includes a lid and a base optionally connected to each other along a hinge. The lid includes a top wall having an integral sauce cup holder for engaging and suspending a sauce cup from the top wall above a bottom wall of the base. The sauce cup holder preferably includes a plurality of clips spaced equidistant from each other. These clips are spaced sufficiently apart such that they allow an upper peripheral rim of the sauce cup to be easily snapped into place with a top portion of the sauce cup immediately adjacent to the top wall of the lid.

Abstract: A corner protector for protecting a load of products stacked on a pallet. The corner protector includes an upper end and a lower end. The corner protector further comprises first and second panels hingedly connected to each other along a central fold line and disposed generally perpendicular to each other. Each of the first and second panels include an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer of the first panel forms a first hinged locking flap disposed generally perpendicular to a remainder of the first panel and the inner layer of the second panel forms a second hinged locking flap disposed generally perpendicular to a remainder of the second panel. The first and second locking flaps are located at approximately the same distance from the upper end and are engaged to one another to maintain the first and second panels generally perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A reclosable bag comprises a pair of opposing wall panels, a reclosable seal, and an optional tamper-evident partition. The pair of opposing wall panels are joined along a pair of opposing sides and a bottom bridging the opposing sides to create a receptacle space having a mouth end opposite the bottom. The reclosable seal extends along the mouth end, and includes first and second opposing reclosable elements and first and second fins extending downward from the respective reclosable elements. The reclosable elements are releasably engageable to each other. The first and second fins are connected to the respective opposing wall panels. The tamper-evident partition is located below the reclosable elements and forms a one-time breakable preferential area of weakness. The tamper-evident partition separates an interior of the bag from a first area bounded in cross-section by the tamper-evident partition, the fins, and the engaged reclosable elements.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of folding a honeycomb panel, the panel preferably comprising a honeycomb core having opposing face sheets. A slit is preferably cut through one face sheet and the underlying honeycomb core and a wedge is driven into the honeycomb panel at the location of the slit. The wedge crushes the honeycomb core to a preselected depth with a preselected angle whereby the crushed honeycomb core forms a hinge. The honeycomb panel can then be folded along the hinge in a direction opposite the intact face sheet.

Abstract: A catering container assembly for storing, transporting, and presenting food is presented having a tray and a domed cover. The tray has a base and side walls extending upwardly from said base. The domed cover has a top and cover walls extending downwardly from said top. The tray has a plurality of recessed platforms disposed adjacent its side walls while the domed cover has a plurality of indentations adjacent its cover walls. Each indentation abuts a respective one of the recessed platforms for transferring a force from the domed cover into said tray. Both the tray and domed cover preferably have stiffening elements joining and strengthening the side walls and cover walls, respectively. The tray is preferably hexagonal to allow for modular positioning. A bowl similar to the tray is also presented which has longer side walls for containing more food.

Abstract: A plastic container comprises a lid and a base. The lid includes a top wall and a lid side wall extending downward from the top wall. The base includes a bottom wall and a base side wall extending upward from the bottom wall. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the lid includes a first stepped flange extending laterally outward from a lower portion of the lid side wall, and the base includes a second stepped flange extending laterally outward from an upper portion of the base side wall. Internal portions of the respective first and second stepped flanges form a button latch for securing locking the container in a closed position. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the lid side wall includes a plurality of facets interconnected at corners.

Abstract: A thermoplastic bag structure and method for making and packaging thermoplastic bags such that their tops are easily identified and the bags are easily opened. The method for producing these bags begins with cutting a flattened thermoplastic tube into two portions. At least one of the two portions is then collapsed to form a sheet of material having a pair of thermoplastic layers, a straight folded bottom edge and a pair of top edges, at least one of which has a skewed-cut. Bag side structures are formed in the sheet of material at about bag-width distances apart. The bags are then folded a predetermined number of times, in a direction transverse to the bag side structures, so that the skewed-cut top edge(s) of each of the bags remains exposed.

Abstract: A reclosable package comprises opposing wall panels and a reclosable seal. The opposing wall panels are joined on three sides such as to create a receptacle space having a mouth at one end. The reclosable seal extends along the one end and including a first track and a second track. The first track includes a first reclosable element and a first fin portion extending downward from the first reclosable element toward the receptacle space. The first track is joined to one of the wall panels. The second track includes a second reclosable element and a second fin portion extending downward from the second reclosable element toward the receptacle space. The second track is joined to the other of the wall panels. The first and second reclosable elements are releasably engageable to each other. In one embodiment, the first and second fin portions are joined to each other along a one-time breakable preferential area of weakness to prevent tampering with the package prior to being opened.

Abstract: A resilient prestressed honeycomb structure comprises a honeycomb core having a plurality of abutting partition walls forming opposed hollow-cell faces defining planar surfaces and a face sheet secured to one of the planar surfaces. The partition walls or the face sheet is air-permeable, and at least one of the hollow-cell faces has been compressively deformed laterally along its planar surface to provide a substantially continuous cushioned face portion. The cushioned face portion is sufficiently resilient to cushion substantially all surfaces of a body in contact therewith. When one of the hollow-cell faces is compressively deformed, the air-permeable partition walls or the air-permeable face sheet allows air to flow therethrough.

Abstract: A honeycomb protector for protecting the corners and edges of articles during shipping comprising a honeycomb panel foldable between a flat position and a folded position. The panel includes a honeycomb core sandwiched between top and bottom face sheets. The top face sheet includes a slitted segment defining a hinge about which the panel can be folded. In the folded position, the panel includes an impact absorbing corner comprising a region of the panel where the partition walls of the honeycomb core converge towards the top face sheet and the hollow-cell faces of the core abutting the top face sheet are laterally flattened and compressed.

Abstract: A molded foam container having a number of elongated horizontal side vents formed on its upper sidewalls. The container is designed to maintain the quality of food items packaged therein by venting moisture from the container and inhibiting contaminants from entering the container. The container may be stacked without blocking the vents.

Abstract: A modified atmosphere packaging method creates a modified atmosphere in a package including an inner package and an outer package. The inner package is composed at least partially of a polymeric material substantially permeable to oxygen, while the outer package is composed of a polymeric material substantially impermeable to oxygen. After a food product such as raw meat is placed within the inner package, the inner package is flushed with a desired mixture of gases to substantially remove oxygen from the inner package. The flushed inner package is then sealed and inserted into the outer package without sealing the outer package. Next, the outer package is flushed with the desired mixture of gases to substantially remove oxygen from the outer package. After flushing the outer package, the outer package is sealed. An oxygen scavenger is provided in the package to substantially absorb any residual oxygen within the package.

Abstract: A two- or three-piece barrel container for bulk flowable products and a method of assembling the two- or three-piece barrel container. The two-piece barrel container consists of a body portion and a bottom cap. The body portion includes a plurality of side panels and a plurality of top flaps integrally attached to the top of the side panels. The top flaps are adapted to be folded relative to each other to form a top of the container. The bottom cap includes a plurality of bottom flaps hingedly attached to a bottom hub. The bottom flaps are adapted to be folded upwardly and secured to the bottom end of the container and provide structural support to the bottom end of the container. The three-piece barrel container is similar to the two-piece container except that it includes a body portion, a bottom cap and a separate top cap with a plurality of top flaps adapted to be folded inwardly to form the top of the container.

Abstract: A bottom-fillable, bottom-gusseted bag including a bag-forming structure having first and second opposing body panels joined along a pair of opposing transverse seals and an offset bottom-gusset extending between the transverse seals. The bag-forming structure includes an open end opposite the offset gusset. The offset gusset includes first and second gusset panels foldably connected to each other and foldably connected to the respective first and second body panels. The second gusset panel extends beyond the first gusset panel to provide a protruding trim portion. A zipper is attached between the first and second body panels along the open end. A slider is slidably mounted to the zipper for opening and closing the zipper. A transverse slit is disposed proximate to a fold line foldably connecting the second gusset panel to the second body panel and provides a fill opening through which a product can be inserted into the bag-forming structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming specially-configured handles in a plurality of interconnected plastic bags traveling in a longitudinal direction. The plastic bags are interconnected along transverse lines of weakness spaced at bag-length distances apart. The apparatus and method comprise using a rotary anvil and a rotary cutting die. The rotary anvil has a first axis of rotation. The rotary cutting die is disposed adjacent to the rotary anvil and has a second axis of rotation substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation. The rotary cutting die includes a rotatable cylindrical shaft, a blade shell mounted on the shaft, and a generally W-shaped blade formed on the blade shell. The blade has a base portion and a pair of substantially linear opposing legs, and the base portion has an inverted, V-shaped configuration. The opposing legs extend upwardly relative to the base portion and outwardly relative to each other.

Abstract: An iron-based oxygen scavenging packet is set forth in which the rate of uptake of oxygen is increased by virtue of the presence of an oxygen uptake accelerator such as water which is introduced into the packet. Methods of increasing the rate of oxygen absorption by the iron-based oxygen scavenging packet are also set forth.

Abstract: A multilayer, thermoplastic stretch wrap film containing at least three polymeric film layers and comprised of an inner polymeric layer. The inner polymeric layer comprises a blend of a low polydispersity polymer and either a high pressure low density polyethylene resin, a very low density polyethylene resin or a combination thereof. The low polydispersity polymer has a polydispersity of from about 1 to about 4, a melt index (I.sub.2) of from about 0.5 to about 10 g/10 min., and a melt flow ratio (I.sub.20 /I.sub.2) of from about 12 to about 22. The high pressure low density polyethylene resin has a melt index of from about 1 to about 10 g/10 min., and a density of from about 0.9 to about 0.935 g/cm.sup.3. The very low density polyethylene resin has a melt index of from about 0.5 to about 5 g/10 min., and a density of from about 0.880 to about 0.912 g/cm.sup.3. The stretch wrap film may include a first layer and a second layer.