Abstract: A combination liquid distillation unit and heater, where the distilled liquid is heated to an elevated temperature to effect distillation, and then stored and maintained at an elevated temperature in a hot liquid tank. Thermal communication between the distillation unit portion and the storage tank allow heat from the distillation unit to be recovered in the hot distilled liquid in the tank to be transferred back to the feed water and/or to help maintain the hot distilled liquid in the tank at an appropriate elevated temperature. A start-up chamber in the distillation unit stores a reservoir of feed liquid during periods of inactivity, and allows the hot distilled liquid in the tank to preheat this feed liquid so that the feed liquid boils more quickly upon start-up.

Abstract: A tray/shroud shipping container which is convertible to a display container upon removal of the shroud. The container is preassembled before being filled with packaged goods from two separate blanks which are joined together to form the container. The container is made from a tray blank for forming the tray and a shroud blank for forming the shroud. The shroud telescopes within the tray and is releasably secured within the tray and covers and protects the packaged goods. The container includes two diagonally opposing vertical fold lines which comprise two substantially parallel lines of weakness. The lines of weakness of each pair are spaced apart by distances least as great as the thickness of the container so that the container can be folded along the lines of weakness thereby collapsing the container to a generally flat condition.

Abstract: A snap lock, top opening package for powdered or granular products. The package includes a liner disposed within the interior compartment of the container. The liner has a front panel and two opposing side panels connected to the front panel, wherein the front and side panels are contiguous with the front and side walls of the container. The liner has a top edge which extends above the portions of the front and side walls below the tear-strip. The front panel has a locking flap extending across its top edge along a fold line. The locking flap extends outwardly from the package when the lid is opened and cooperates with a securing tab on the lid when the lid is closed. The securing tab extends along the interior of the front portion of the lid, wherein the locking flap and securing tab form a snap lock for the lid of the package.

Abstract: A package and a handle for the package both of which are made from paperboard for easy recycling. The package is generally rectangular and has apertures on opposing sides. The handle has an elongated body section extending between two ends, and two anchors in a substantially juxtaposed relation to each of the ends. The ends of the handle are inserted into the apertures on the package so that the anchors are disposed within the package. The anchors are made up of a securing tab and a barb. The securing tab is made from a length of the anchor which is secured to the end of the handle whereas the barb comprises a length of the anchor which is above the securing tab which is left unsecured to the end of the handle. The handle is such that when the package is lifted by the handle, the barbs extend above the top of the aperture and the securing tabs extend below the bottom of the aperture.

Abstract: A sift-resistant, reclosable carton for granular or powdered materials. The carton is a six-sided enclosure including opposed top and bottom walls, opposing front and back walls, and opposing end walls. Each end wall is comprised of an inner layer having a top edge abutting the top wall and an outer layer. The outer layer has a horizontal tear strip thereacross. The front wall has an inner layer having a top edge abutting the top wall and an outer layer. The outer layer has a horizontal tear strip thereacross which is integral with the tear strips of the end walls, forming one continuous tear strip. A glue flap is integrally attached to the top edge of the inner layer of the front wall along substantially its full length. The glue flap has a distal attachment portion and a proximal locking portion. The two portions are joined along a full length line of weakness. The distal attachment portion is secured to the inner surface of the outer layer of the front wall above the tear strip.

Abstract: A generally-flat bayonet handle is provided having an elongated handle section for gripping by the consumer. Extending from each terminus of the handle section is an elongated neck section having a width less than the width of the handle section. Respective ends of the bayonet handles are formed by barb heads attached to the neck sections. Each barb head has thereon at least two barbs which, when inserted into appropriately placed apertures on the sides of a soap or detergent powder carton, are ensnared on a lip of the apparatus and thereby maintain the engagement of the handle on the carton. The combination of the bayonet handle and the carton provide a novel soap or detergent powder package.

Abstract: A container for housing granular materials and a blank for forming the container. The container is a six sided enclosure including a top wall, a back wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and two end walls. The front wall has an inner layer and an outer layer. The outer layer has a transverse tear strip therein and is attached to the inner layer below this tear strip. A glue flap is attached to the interior surface of the top wall and also attached to the top edge of the inner layer of the front wall along a perforated cut line. This configuration prevents the granular material from migrating between the layers of the front wall during shipping. Each end wall is comprised of several layers. Included are two main layers which together have a top edge. A tear strip panel extension is attached to the main layers below the tear strip. An ear is attached to the tear strip panel extension above the tear strip and also attached to the top wall.

Abstract: A package having a handle for housing granular or similar products. The handle is a substantially flat strap handle which has a barb member on each end. The handle is inserted into two opposing openings in the side wall of the package. A section of the side wall adjacent each of the apertures includes a liner which separates the granular contents of the package from the area immediately surrounding the aperture. The liner is adapted to prevent the flow of granular contents out through the aperture. The package can be formed from a sleeve which, even with the handle inserted, is substantially flat. Also, with the package assembled the handle rests against the side wall of the package allowing shipping virtually as if the package did not have a handle.

Abstract: A reclosable dispensing package which has a thin plastic fitment mounted over a cutout area in a closure flap of a seal end carton when the carton is in flattened tubular form. The caliper of each flattened tubular sleeve is adjusted to approximately match that of the fitment-equipped closure flaps, the adjustment being effected in regions spaced from the fitment to provide areas of mutual contact on adjacent sleeves which serve to maintain the sleeves in parallel relationship when they are stacked in the hopper of packaging equipment. Such adjustment can be accomplished, for example, through the use of mutually opposed cartonboard embossments, or of thickened glue seams or by fluffing the outside score lines.

Abstract: A method for forming deep drawn highly oriented thin-walled thermoplastic articles including the steps of planarly supporting a sheet of at least partially crystalline thermoplastic polymeric material and establishing at least one differentially heated area within the sheet. The differentially heated area is to include an outer cool zone having a temperature range generally below the crystalline melt point of the thermoplastic material, a hot zone disposed within the outer zone having a temperature range generally above the crystalline melt point but below the complete melt point of the thermoplastic material, and an inner cool zone located centrally of the hot zone having a temperature range generally below the crystalline melt point of the thermoplastic material. The heated sheet is placed between a female mold unit and a forming mandrel with the inner cool zone generally axially aligned therewith.

Abstract: A moderator for cooking foods evenly in a microwave oven is described. The moderator is in the form of an enclosure having a fluid impervious outer layer. Attached to the inside surfaces of the outer layer is a liquid film forming layer which converts a dielectric fluid placed in contact with the layer into a thin liquid film which surrounds the cooking comestible.