Abstract: A lamp string holding container includes a bottom having four side panels to define a container in which inverted V-shaped ridges are provided with a plurality of lamp retaining holes spaced along the ridges to each receive therein a lamp. The container is made of a single sheet of paperboard by cutting and folding the paper blank.

Abstract: A carton includes a top panel, a pair of side panels foldably joined to and extending downwardly from the side edges of the top panel, and a strap handle formed in part from the top panel and in part from the side panels. The handle extends transversely across the top panel and is joined at its opposite end portions respectively to the side panels for movement between a stowed position and a raised position. When the handle is in the stowed position, the intermediate portion of the handle is disposed in the plane of the top panel whereas when it is in the raised position, the intermediate portion of the handle is bowed and disposed above the top panel. Each end portion of the handle has a foldable tab adapted to be pressed against an article within the carton and to thereby be folded to allow gradual stress increase in the handle when the handle is pulled upward from the stowed position.

Abstract: A CD wallet with an entrapped graphics sheet and dedicated to the storing of a particular CD corresponding to the graphics on the entrapped graphics sheet, together with a method for fabricating the dedicated CD wallet. The wallet is fabricated of flexible panels of thermoplastic sheet material, and the entrapped graphics sheet includes two parallel scores thereon and is preferably of greater rigidity than the plastic panels, permitting the plastic panels to bend along the scores on the entrapped graphics sheet to form a spine when the graphics sheet is folded along the scores.

Abstract: A compact disk holder for storing a compact disk. The holder can be molded as a single piece from pulp fiber material made from recycled paper products. The holder features a panel having a hub with an inner cavity allowing the hub to elastically deform radially inwardly to releasably hold a disk by its mounting hole.

Abstract: An article carrier which includes a handle connected to and extending between opposite side panels. End panels of the carrier are divided into halves by vertical fold lines, and the handle includes a fold line which lies in the same plane as the end panel fold lines. This construction allows a collapsed carrier to be squared up from a folded condition. The carrier may take the form of a wrap-around carrier having a top panel or an open-top basket-style carrier.

Abstract: A napkin (25) combined with a fast food container is placed on the plane portion (14) of the container and held in place by a sheet (18) which covers all or part of the napkin (25) and which extends beyond the napkin (25) at points permitting its attachment to the portion (14) of the container. This assembly constitutes the plane portion (32) of the container; when the container is being used, the napkin (25) stays in place until the consumer removes it from its housing consisting of the sheets (14) and (18) before eating. This concept is applicable to various existing containers.

Abstract: A Christmas tree storage and transport satchel adapted for use in association with a Christmas tree, the apparatus comprising: a tarp formed in a generally elliptical configuration with two end edges and a rounded central region therebetween, the tarp having an inner surface and an outer surface, each end edge including a plurality of grommets extending therealong, the tarp having a first side edge and a second side edge each including coupling devices, the outer surface of the tarp including a hand strap affixed thereto, in an operative orientation the tarp being wrapped around a Christmas tree with the coupling devices of each side edge being coupled together, a drawstring being positioned through the grommets of each end edge to enable users to close the edges by tightening the drawstrings so that debris from the Christmas tree does not escape from the apparatus.

Abstract: A case is disclosed for protecting small objects, such as glasses, by providing heat and breakage resistance. The case has an exterior pocket, with a drainage area; a protective case; and a liner. The exterior pocket consists a pocket flap, a body front, and a pair of gussets. The pocket flap is provided with closure means to secure the pocket flap to the body front. The protective case is a rigid, hollow, non-circular cylinder having one closed end and dimensioned to provide a friction fit within the pocket. The protective case can be formed from mirror image halves provided with sealing seams which extend at right angles to the cylinder and a first to break point. The liner is a hollow, non-circular cylinder manufactured from a non-abrasive, cushioning material approximately twice the length of the protective case. Optionally, the case is provided with a belt attachment loop to affix the case to a user's belt.

Abstract: A sterilizable flexible pouch package includes a non-woven barrier web, a perforated plastic intermediate web, and an imperforate plastic upper web. Line heat seals bonding the webs from a cavity into which sterilizing steam may enter after passing through the barrier and intermediate webs. The line heat seal bonding the upper and intermediate webs is of the delamination failure type. An access opening is provided for insertion of an object to be sterilized into the cavity after which the access opening is sealed, enclosing the object in the cavity. After sterilizing, the package is opened by peeling apart the upper web from the intermediate web which causes a delamination failure of the line heat seal. Preferred materials enable steam sterilization at temperature of 270.degree. F.

Abstract: A compact disk storage case having a positioning mechanism to eject or retract a compact disk. The compact disk storage container completely encloses the compact disk when in the retracted position and allows an appreciable amount of the disk to be available for easy removal of the compact disk when in the extended position. An ejection or positioning mechanism utilizing a bi-stable movement assembly based on compliant device technology is further provided. Two flexible and resilient members have fixed ends that are anchored on opposite sides of the housing of the compact disk storage container and moving ends that are pivotally connected to each other. The bi-stable movement assembly also has a means for holding the compact disk attached thereto and by utilizing the disclosed compliant mechanisms, the entire ejection mechanism can be injection molded as a single piece. The bi-stable movement assembly has two stable positions, one corresponding to an extended position, the other to a retracted position.

Abstract: There is provided an inflatable cushion inflated through a single inflation valve. A pair of inflated panels held in place by at least one tie strap connecting the panels rest beneath each end of the bottom of an article to be protected. The cushion has a pair of inflatable end chambers interconnected to the bottom panels and a pair of inflatable side chambers interconnected to the end chambers, which when inflated protect the ends and sides of the article. This is facilitated by internal openings which allow the inflated panels to easily bend underneath the ends of the article and around the corners. There are recesses at each corner which extend from each corner of one internal opening toward a peripheral edge of the cushion to provide a wedge-like portion of the side chambers. In one of the embodiments, an additional pair of internal openings facilitates a pair of top inflatable chambers interconnected to the end chambers to rest on the top of the article.

Abstract: A glass substrate transport box which is easy to handle and transported and adapted to protect glass substrates is provided at drastically reduced production cost. At least the body of the box is a molded piece of resin foam with a foaming ratio of 3-30, e.g. polyolefin foam, which has grooves for supporting glass substrates on at least a pair of its opposed inside walls. Preferably the inside wall of the body has a relatively dense skin layer. The resin foam may contain an electrically conductive polymer or an antistatic agent.

Abstract: A wheel retaining device for retaining a plurality of replacement wheels. The wheel retaining device includes an elongate body dimensioned for insertion through apertures formed in the wheels and a retainer positioned proximate at least one of the opposite ends of the elongate body for retaining the wheels on the elongate body. The wheel retaining device further includes a display member for supporting the elongate body on a display.

Abstract: A torque transmitting, bicycle frame coupling (50) is provided which connects to the frame tubes (1, 11) of a bicycle. The coupling (50) replaces a portion of the tubes (1, 11) and has clutch teeth (3, 7) on their engaging faces. Installation of two such couplings (50) allows a standard bicycle with standard wheels to be temporarily divided into two pieces, leaving sheathed component cables attached, but removing then from the frame tubes (96, 98) through use of quick connect cable clips (74). Once divided, the bicycle fits in a case (100) with a combined height, width and girth measurement no larger than 62 linear inches and can then be put back together with no loss of original frame geometry or stiffness. Each coupling (50) is actuated, pulling the tubes (1, 11) together and joining them through use of specialized clutch teeth (3, 7) under compression provided by a threaded lug (2), a removeable-shoulder lug (9) with a removeable shoulder (4) and a threaded coupling nut (5).

Abstract: A blister pack, particularly adaptable for use with batteries, is designed to incorporate a space for holding an electronic article surveillance sensor. The package consists of a blister of clear thermoformed plastic which has a thermoformed recess which holds the displayed product. The blister is then heat-sealed to a paperboard backing card which forms the backing of the blister pack. In order to incorporate the sensor the cavity of the blister is made deeper so the product is spaced away from the cardboard blister. This space is filled by a thin thermoformed thermoplastic tray. The tray has a surface which engages and supports the product, such as batteries, and a second surface which engages the card and a third surface which is spaced from the batteries towards the card which supports the electronic article surveillance sensor out of engagement with the batteries.

Abstract: A container for holding and disinfecting invasive medical instruments, such as hypodermic needles and scalpels. The container includes a cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall defining an enclosure with an open upper end. A layer of sand is placed in the container to give the container stability. An open cell foam layer saturated with a disinfecting solution is placed on the sand layer to provide a disinfecting medium. A sealing membrane is positioned over the foam layer to prevent the fluid in the foam layer from escaping from the container. A fibrous cork layer is positioned on the membrane at the open end of the container. The medical instruments are inserted into the container through the cork layer and the sealing membrane such that a contaminated end of the instrument is positioned within the foam layer. The disinfecting fluid in the foam layer kills various viruses and germs, and the cork layer holds the instrument in place.

Abstract: A peel pad package is made up of a plurality of pads, each consisting of a multiplicity of sheets each of which has a strip of adhesive along an edge area, all of the pads being mounted on a backing sheet. The backing sheet itself has a strip of adhesive whereby the backing sheet can be mounted on a surface convenient to the place at which the sheets are to be used. The pads may be of the same or different sizes. The sheets of each pad are generally of the same color, but the colors of sheets of different pads may and preferably do differ. Preferably, at least some of the pads are made up of sheets large enough to be useful as placemarks, but small enough so that they do not get in one another's way when used on the margins of multiple pages. The strip of adhesive on these sheet is preferably narrow enough to fit between the margin of writing on a page or printing in a book, and the edge of the page. At least some of the pads can be of note size.

Abstract: A dental implant packaging system for contamination-free packaging, storage, transport and delivery of dental implants and related components. Various embodiments of the system as applied to a dental implant and its cover screw are shown in which a dental implant is housed in a transparent tubular capsule that is lined with a titanium sleeve which covers the head and part of the body of the implant, leaving the tail end exposed to view. The head is restrained in the opening into the capsule and a cap which closes the capsule also serves to hold the head in place.

Abstract: A multi-unit package formed from a one-piece wrapper folded around two groups of products. Each side of the package has cuts or perforations that partially separate the package into two sub-packages; each end of the package has at least one tear-strip aligned with the cuts or perforations; and the top of the package has a handle which allows the package to be carried. The wrapper can be folded so that the two sub-packages are separated by a center divider, having a perforated top. The two sub-packages may also be held together by an adhesive which allows the sub-packages to be separated. Once separated, a handle, hidden before separation, is available for carrying the second sub-package. Another multi-unit package has two sub-packages arranged side by side and conected by perforations in end flaps.

Abstract: Proposed is a novel casing for frame-supported pellicle used for dustproof protection of a photomask in the photolithographic patterning process for the manufacture of fine electronic devices. Different from conventional casings made from a plastic resin, the casing of the invention is characterized by the use of a unique permanently antistatic resin composition which is a resin blend consisting of 80-95% by weight of an ABS or acrylic resin and 20-5% by weight of a specific hydrophilic polymer. By virtue of the excellent antistatic behavior of the resin composition, the frame-supported pellicle encased in the casing is safe from the troubles due to deposition of dust particles during transportation and from contamination by the vaporized matter from the casing.