Abstract: Balloons and related components and manufacturing methods. Various embodiments provide balloons which define elastomeric balloon bodies and necks. The balloon bodies define body thicknesses and filled and unfilled internal volumes. Tension in the balloon bodies gives rise to internal pressures ulien the balloons are filled. The necks couple with the bodies and define neck thickness which differ from the body thicknesses. Various embodiments provide check valve for use with the balloons and/or various liquids. These check valves can comprise a ball that further comprises a generally spherical substrate of fine particles of a biodegradable material and a coating on the substrate. The coating can tie made of another biodegradable material. Combined, the coating and the generally spherical substrate form the check valve ball and possess a density differing from the water density.

Abstract: Balloons and related components and manufacturing methods. Various embodiments provide balloons which define elastomeric balloon bodies and necks. The balloon bodies define body thicknesses and filled and unfilled internal volumes. Tension in the balloon bodies gives rise to internal pressures when the balloons are filled. The necks couple with the bodies and define neck thickness which differ from the body thicknesses. Various embodiments provide check valve for use with the balloons and/or various liquids. These check valves can comprise a ball that further comprises a generally spherical substrate of fine particles of a biodegradable material and a coating on the substrate. The coating can be made of another biodegradable material. Combined, the coating and the generally spherical substrate form the check valve ball mid possess a density differing from the water density.

Abstract: Balloons and related components and manufacturing methods. Various embodiments provide balloons which define elastomeric balloon bodies and necks. The balloon bodies define body thicknesses and filled and unfilled internal volumes. Tension in the balloon bodies gives rise to internal pressures when the balloons are filled. The necks couple with the bodies and define neck thickness which differ from the body thicknesses. Various embodiments provide check valve for use with the balloons and/or various liquids. These check valves can comprise a ball that further comprises a generall) spherical substrate of fine particles of a biodegradable material and a coating on the substrate. The coating can be made of another biodegradable material. Combined, the coating and the generally spherical substrate form the check valve ball mid possess a density differing from the water density.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, etc. for making sandwiches. For instance, some systems comprise flowable-foodstuff bags and sandwich making apparatus. The apparatus comprise trays, presses, and drives. The trays hold bread while the presses press the foodstuff out of the bags. Moreover, the presses hold the bags in fixed relation to the trays. The drives operatively couple to the tray and press and drives the press and tray to spread the foodstuff on the bread. Some apparatus include features that fix/register the relative positions of the bag and tray. Those registration features can be bite-shaped. If desired, the bag and tray can be spaced apart from one another.

Abstract: Bags, pouches, and/or other packages. Pouches of embodiments comprise a pair of plies which are permanently sealed to each other along their edges. The plies and permanent seals define an internal cavity. Pouches of the current embodiment further comprise dispensers in communication with the internal cavities. A portion of each ply (of a particular bag) can be releasably sealed. In some embodiments, the pouches further comprise a (pivotable) spout. If desired, the spout can be configured such that its pivoting is gravity driven. The foodstuff pouches of embodiments can define a longitudinal axis wherein the spout defines a beveled surface further defining an acute angle with the longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the spout can further comprise a fitment glued to the plies. In some embodiments, the plies define a bite-shaped registration feature.

Abstract: Balloons and related components and manufacturing methods. Various embodiments provide balloons which define elastomeric balloon bodies and necks. The balloon bodies define body thicknesses and filled and unfilled internal volumes. Tension in the balloon bodies gives rise to internal pressures when the balloons are filled. The necks couple with the bodies and define neck thickness which differ from the body thicknesses. Various embodiments provide check valve for use with the balloons and/or various liquids. These check valves can comprise a ball that further comprises a generally spherical substrate of fine particles of a biodegradable material and a coating on the substrate. The coating can be made of another biodegradable material.