Abstract: An inflation feature for a shipping package, an inflation rig assembly for inflating a shipping package, and a method of inflating a shipping package. The method includes providing an inflation feature and an inflation rig assembly with corresponding alignment features, positioning the inflation feature of a shipping package, in an uninflated state, on to the inflation rig assembly in a first position, moving the inflation rig assembly to a second position, such that the shipping package is in fluid communication with an expansion material source, and inflating the shipping package to an inflated state.

Abstract: Laser marked articles having a predetermined feature marked onto a wall that is either user readable, machine readable, or both. Also, methods of making the marked articles by laser marking.

Abstract: Laser marked articles having a predetermined feature marked onto a wall that is either user readable, machine readable, or both. Also, methods of making the marked articles by laser marking.

Abstract: Blow molded articles having a predetermined feature incorporated into the wall provided by variations in the thickness of the wall of the article corresponding to a predetermined pattern etched into the preform from which the article was formed. Also, etched preforms for making blow molded articles and methods for making such preforms and articles.

Abstract: Processes for laser marking articles having a predetermined feature marked onto a wall that is either user readable, machine readable, or both. Also, methods of making the marked articles by laser marking.

Abstract: Laser marked articles having a predetermined feature marked onto a wall that is either user readable, machine readable, or both. Also, methods of making the marked articles by laser marking.

Abstract: Method of making a blow molded article from a preform including: a) providing a preform of a thermoplastic material having a plurality of effect structures each having an effect surface having a normal with an orientation, the preform having a body with one or more walls and an opening, wherein at least a portion of the one or more walls of the preform has a three-dimensional pattern of cavities and/or protrusions thereon; and b) blow molding the preform to form a blow molded article, wherein the step of blow molding the preform changes the orientation of the normal of at least some of the effect surfaces of the effect structures to create a visual effect in at least one wall of the blow molded article.

Abstract: A shipping package and method of making a shipping package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The method includes providing one or more sheets of flexible material, joining the sheet(s) to form an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped, one or more expansion chambers, and an article retrieval feature. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir.

Abstract: Package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir. The inner sheet of the package includes a shrinkable material that can be activated to immobilize articles disposed in the article reservoir.

Abstract: Methods of making vents in containers made from flexible materials, including forming vent openings in a first flexible material, forming vent stand-offs on a second flexible material, and combining the flexible materials to form a vent passage for the flexible container.

Abstract: A package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir. The inner sheet of the package includes a shrinkable material that can be activated to immobilize articles disposed in the article reservoir.

Abstract: A blow molded article having a body portion that includes one or more walls surrounding an interior space. The one or more walls have an article inner surface, an article outer surface, and a wall thickness. At least a portion of the one or more walls includes one or more effect structures each having an effect surface normal having an orientation. Further there is a first region including a plurality of first effect structures having a first Average Normal Orientation, a second region including a plurality of second effect structures having a second Average Normal Orientation which is different from the first Average Normal Orientation, and a visual effect resulting from the difference between the first Average Normal Orientation of the effect structures in the first region and the second Average Normal Orientation of the effect structures in the second region.

Abstract: Article having a body portion including one or more walls surrounding an interior space. The one or more walls have an inner surface, an outer surface, a wall thickness, a transparent portion, and one or more aesthetic regions having oblong voids provided between the inner surface and the outer surface within an outermost 70% of the wall, and the one or more aesthetic regions are provided in a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A non-durable flexible container can include a first film wall including a first portion comprising at least one first structural support member defined in the first film wall, and a second portion that is free of a structural support member. The container can further include a second film wall including at least one second structural support member defined in the second film wall, wherein at least a portion of the first structural support member is adjacent to at least a portion of the second structural support member to define a seam region, and a side of the seam region defines an edge of the non-durable flexible container. The container can also include a closed produce volume defined between first and second film walls; and a seam projecting outwardly from the seam region at an intersection of the first and second film walls.

Abstract: Blow molded articles having a predetermined feature incorporated into the wall provided by variations in the thickness of the wall of the article corresponding to a predetermined pattern etched into the perform from which the article was formed. Also, etched performs for making blow molded articles and methods for making such performs and articles.

Abstract: Package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir. The inner sheet of the package includes a shrinkable material that can be activated to immobilize articles disposed in the article reservoir.

Abstract: A shipping package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped and one or more expansion chambers. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir.

Abstract: A container formed of a common one-piece thermoplastic substrate. The container has an overlapping seam having an overlap magnitude. At a location that is five times the overlap magnitude away from the overlapping seam, the container wall has a container wall Opacity less than about 50%. At a corresponding position along the overlapping sea, the overlapping seam has a seam Opacity that is less than 200% of the container wall Opacity.

Abstract: A package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped, one or more expansion chambers and an article retrieval feature. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir.

Abstract: A shipping package and method of making a shipping package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The method includes providing one or more sheets of flexible material, joining the sheet(s) to form an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped, one or more expansion chambers, and an article retrieval feature. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir.