Abstract: A method of packaging articles and packaged article assemblies disclosed includes inflating a body such as a latex balloon or a bag with a drawstring preferably by evacuating the air in a chamber surrounding the body while the body is supported and sealed at the fill opening. An initial selected quantity of packaging particles are placed inside the inflated body followed by placing the article therein. The body is collapsed around the particles which distributes them in a substantially uniform layer surrounding the article from all sides and applies compressive forces inwardly from all sides to cushion the article in the body. Another method involves expanding an outer body, placing packaging particles in that body, collapsing that outer body and placing a second body in the outer body followed by expansion of the two and putting a fluid and article in the inner body and sealing the bodies closed.

Abstract: A method of packaging articles and packaged article assemblies disclosed includes inflating a body such as a latex balloon or a bag with a drawstring preferably by evacuating the air in a chamber surrounding the body while the body is supported and sealed at the fill opening. An initial selected quantity of packaging particles are placed inside the inflated body followed by placing the article therein. The body is collapsed around the particles which distributes them in a substantially uniform layer surrounding the article from all sides and applies compressive forces inwardly from all sides to cushion the article in the body. Another method involves expanding an outer body, placing packaging particles in that body, collapsing that outer body and placing a second body in the outer body followed by expansion of the two and putting a fluid and article in the inner body and sealing the bodies closed.

Abstract: Inflating apparatus and method disclosed has a base preferably mounted on the side of a gas-filled tank and located approximately at or below waist level. A balloon is mounted on a mounting sleeve on the base. The balloon is mounted so that an end section of the neck portion is expanded and everted back over a top lip of the mounting sleeve to form an air-tight connection with the mounting sleeve and the neck portion extends down through the sleeve. If a coating material is desired on the outside of the balloon the coating material is initially placed inside the balloon, the balloon is mounted on the top of the sleeve and turned inside out by being passed down through the mounting sleeve before inflation. A fill plug is pressed down against an end section of the balloon on top of the mounting sleeve to form an air-tight seal and gas under pressure is selectively passed into the balloon. A size gauge indicates when the balloon is a selected size.

Abstract: A multiple-shelf storage container disclosed has a pair of opposed shelf-supporting, lightweight inner side panels with each made of a thin, molded plastic, one-piece body and a plurality of lightweight shelves made of a material similar to the side panels and supported by shelf-supporting wall portions of the side panels to slide between retracted and extended positions. The inner side panels are preferably mounted to the inside of side walls of a box-like outer shell. Each shelf has a recessed portion in the shape of the article being supported to enable a stack of the articles to be supported thereon. The shelves move to an extended position for displaying and access to the supported articles such as thin film balloons.