Abstract: Article having a visual effect created by selectively varying the orientation of effect structures, such as effect pigments, within the walls of the article.

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: A blow molded article formed from a preform having an exterior surface including at least one etched region. The article includes a body portion including one or more walls surrounding an interior space. A cavity region corresponding to the etched region in the preform is disposed on a portion of the article outer surface and a non-cavity region is disposed adjacent the cavity region. The adjacent cavity and non-cavity regions form one or more visual effects and at least one of the one or more visual effects includes a portion having a 95% Delta E Value of at least 3.0.

Abstract: Methods of opening and adding expansion materials to containers made from flexible materials. The methods involve forming a partially completed container blank that may have four layers of flexible materials. The partially completed container blank may be opened by separating a portion of the first layer from a portion of the second layer by bending portions of the second, third, and fourth layers toward a first direction; and dosing the partially completed container blank, by adding an expansion material out of a dispenser and into a space disposed between a portion of the first layer and a portion of the second layer.

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: 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 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: A flexible package having first, second, and third flexible material layers, with the second flexible material layer being disposed between the first and third flexible material layers; a product receiving chamber having a product receiving chamber outer circumference defined by the first flexible material layer; a plurality of spaced first seals disposed around a package circumference, the first seals sealing the first, second and third flexible material layers together; a plurality of spaced second seals disposed around the product receiving chamber outer circumference, the second seals sealing the second and third flexible material layers together; a plurality of inner expansion chambers, each one of the plurality of chambers being defined between adjacent ones of the first seals; and a plurality of outer expansion chambers, each one of the plurality of chambers being defined between a second seal and an immediately adjacent first seal.

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 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 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 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 package also includes an external wrap surrounding at least a portion of the package to provide a relatively planar outwardly-facing surface.

Abstract: A container including a longitudinal overlapping seam extending from an end seam and a mold part line extending from the closed end of the container to the open end of the container. The container wall consists of a one-piece thermoplastic substrate.

Abstract: A container including an open end; a closed end opposing the open end; a container wall extending longitudinally between the closed end and the open end about a longitudinal axis; an end seam extending at least partially across the closed end; a longitudinal overlapping seam extending from the end seam, a portion of the overlapping seam extending longitudinally along the container wall from the closed end to a neck portion proximal the open end; a stretched label bonded to the container wall, wherein the stretched label includes a label substrate and ink; wherein a common one-piece distortion printed thermoplastic substrate forms both the closed end and the container wall.

Abstract: A container blank having an article handling feature for handling the container blank as well as the flexible packages made therefrom during manufacture, and method of making flexible packages using such a feature are described herein. Also described herein is an array of flexible packages containing a common article handling feature provided by such a method.

Abstract: A method for performing a task in registration with a discrete seal in at least one material is described herein. The method involves simultaneously forming a discrete seal and a fiducial/eye mark in the at least one material. The method includes providing a detection device; providing a unit operation mechanism; and performing an operation on the material(s) in registration with the discrete seal. The task performed in registration with the discrete seal is based upon the location of the eye mark that was simultaneously formed with the discrete seal. A method of making flexible containers using cutting to form the outer periphery of the packages is described herein. Also described herein are flexible containers and container blanks made by such a method.

Abstract: Flexible containers having removable portions, such as tear tabs.

Abstract: A method of forming a flexible container can include folding a web or sheet to define one or more gussets in one or more regions of the flexible container. The gusset can be a continuous gusset or can be an interrupted gusset, having a seal disposed in the gusset.

Abstract: A method of expanding a structural support volume of a flexible container can include dispensing a cryogenic fluid into at least one structural support volume and sealing the at least one structural support volume such that it has a closed volume prior to complete conversion of the cryogenic fluid into a gas and expansion of the structural support volume to a pressurized state. The flexible container includes a product volume and at least a portion of the structural support volume extends into the product volume when the structural support volume is expanded.

Abstract: In methods of making disposable, flexible containers for fluent products, methods of sealing the flexible containers when such containers include expansion materials, are disclosed. The methods include forming a partially completed container blank that has layers of flexible materials. The layered structure includes a first space for a fluent product, and a second space for an expansion material. The methods of sealing the flexible containers include adding an expansion material into the second space and pressing parts of at least some of the layers together to close off the second space.