Abstract: A tote box is disclosed which incorporates a box, four corner enhancers and a top rail which is secured over the top edge of the erected walls of the box. The walls of the box are held together with the corner enhancers without the benefit of any mechanical fasteners such as rivets or the like. A multiple piece top rail is secured onto the box by hooks which engage tabs extending outwardly from the walls of the box. The top rail has a vertical lip which facilitates stacking multiple tote boxes.

Abstract: A tote box is disclosed which incorporates a box, four corner enhancers and a top rail which is secured over the top edge of the erected walls of the box. The walls of the box are held together with the corner enhancers without the benefit of any mechanical fasteners such as rivets or the like. The top rail is secured onto the box by a hook on the bottom edge of a channel side wall which engages tabs extending outwardly from the walls of the box. The top rail has a vertical lip which facilitates stacking multiple tote boxes.

Abstract: A reusable and returnable container for holding product therein during shipment and subsequently being returned generally empty of product for reuse comprises a body configured for being manipulated into an erected position for containing a product placed therein during shipment and for subsequently being manipulated into a collapsed position for reducing the size of the container for return. An integrated dunnage structure is coupled to the body and is operable for moving into an engagement position when the container body is erected to thereby engage a product placed in the container for shipment. The dunnage structure is further operable for moving into a relaxed position when the container body is collapsed so that the container and dunnage structure may be returned together for reuse. The container provides reusable dunnage which is usable with the container when it is shipped and subsequently remains with the container when it is returned for being reused when the container is again shipped.

Abstract: A reusable and returnable container for holding product therein during shipment and subsequently being returned generally empty of product for reuse comprises a body configured for being manipulated into an erected position for containing a product placed therein during shipment and for subsequently being manipulated into a collapsed position for reducing the size of the container for return. An integrated dunnage structure is coupled to the body and is operable for moving into an engagement position when the container body is erected to thereby engage a product placed in the container for shipment. The dunnage structure is further operable for moving into a relaxed position when the container body is collapsed so that the container and dunnage structure may be returned together for reuse. The container provides reusable dunnage which is usable with the container when it is shipped and subsequently remains with the container when it is returned for being reused when the container is again shipped.

Abstract: A non-disassembling partition assembly for insertion into a container for dividing the space inside the container into separated cells. The assembly comprises a plurality of first slotted partitions intersecting with a plurality of second slotted partitions to form a matrix. The matrix is held together in a non-disassembling collapsible relationship by a plurality of weldments at a plurality of intersections. Each weldment is formed by injection of molten plastic between opposed face plies of intersecting partitions at an intersection at a sufficiently high temperature, to at least partially melt the spacers betweeen the face plies of the intersecting partitions to create a weldment therebetween. The weldments are formed of a plastic which is preferably the same type of plastic as that from which the partitions are made in order to aid in the recyclability of the partition assembly.

Abstract: A sleeve pack to be used with a pallet base and cover to form a container for shipping bulk goods comprises four vertical walls arranged such that each vertical wall is orthogonal to two adjacent walls. At least one vertical wall of corrugated plastic is joined by an edge-to-edge butt welded seam. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a vertical wall panel having vertically oriented corrugations is edge-to-edge butt welded with a corner piece of corrugated plastic having horizontally oriented corrugations to form a continuous one ply sleeve pack. An alternative embodiment of the present invention is a double thickness, corrugated plastic sleeve pack in which one thickness has horizontal corrugations for side impact resistance and the other thickness has vertically oriented corrugations for increased stacking strength but with all seams butt welded.

Abstract: A nondisassembling partition assembly comprising a partition matrix made up of intersecting first and second slotted plastic partitions, each of the partitions having at least one slot. The slots of the partitions are engaged with each other at a plurality of intersections. The matrix is held together in a nondisassembling relationship by at least one parent weld formed by heating an edge of the partitions at one or more intersections with one or more heat sources until the intersecting partitions become molten, removing the heat source or sources from edge of the intersecting partitions and allowing the partitions to cool. The parent welds formed by this process permanently secure the partitions together in the nondisassembling relationship without the use of any material other than the partitions themselves.

Abstract: A sleeve pack for storing and shipping products comprises a body for containing said products having a top, a bottom and opposing sidewalls. The sidewalls of the body are generally flexible to provide an amount of give under a force applied thereto. A telescoping support bar is positioned in the body and spans between the opposing sidewalls for suspending products in the body. The support bar telescopes in length so that the sidewalls may flex inwardly and outwardly when force is applied thereto and further telescopes generally to its original length when the force is removed and the sidewalls return to their original shape. An embodiment of the invention utilizes a support bar mounting structure which functions as an edge rail protecting device.

Abstract: A nondisassembling partition assembly comprising a partition matrix made up of intersecting first and second slotted plastic partitions, each of the partitions having at least one slot. The slots of the partitions are engaged with each other at a plurality of intersections. The matrix is held together in a nondisassembling relationship by at least one parent weld formed by heating an edge of the partitions at one or more intersections with one or more heat sources until the intersecting partitions become molten, removing the heat source or sources from edge of the intersecting partitions and allowing the partitions to cool. The parent welds formed by this process permanently secure the partitions together in the nondisassembling relationship without the use of any material other than the partitions themselves.

Abstract: A non-disassembling partition assembly for insertion into a container for dividing the space inside the container into separated cells. The assembly comprises a plurality of first slotted partitions intersecting with a plurality of second slotted partitions to form a matrix. The matrix is held together in a non-disassembling collapsible relationship by a plurality of weldments at a plurality of intersections. Each weldment is formed by injection of molten plastic between opposed face plies of intersecting partitions at an intersection at a sufficiently high temperature, to at least partially melt the spacers between the face plies of the intersecting partitions to create a weldment therebetween. The weldments are formed of a plastic which is preferably the same type of plastic as that from which the partitions are made in order to aid in the recyclability of the partition assembly.

Abstract: A reusable and returnable container for holding product therein during shipment and subsequently being returned generally empty of product for reuse comprises a body configured for being manipulated into an erected position for containing a product placed therein during shipment and for subsequently being manipulated into a collapsed position for reducing the size of the container for return. An integrated dunnage structure is coupled to the body and is operable for moving into an engagement position when the container body is erected to thereby engage a product placed in the container for shipment. The dunnage structure is further operable for moving into a relaxed position when the container body is collapsed so that the container and dunnage structure may be returned together for reuse. The container provides reusable dunnage which is usable with the container when it is shipped and subsequently remains with the container when it is returned for being reused when the container is again shipped.

Abstract: A naturally degradable and recyclable static-dissipative packaging material has a layer of relatively rigid paperboard laminated to at least one film of permanently static-dissipative glassine or cellophane. Containers, and dividers and pads used in the containers, are formed from this composite material to protect packaged articles sensitive to electrostatic discharge. The permanently static-dissipative film of glassine or cellophane is electrostatically volume dissipative, so as to prevent an electrostatic charge from being held and then discharged when articles are inserted into, and/or removed from the containers. A metallized internal surface of the laminated glassine or cellophane forms a Faraday cage around a packaged article. For metallized or unmetallized embodiments, with either one or two films of glassine or cellophane, all the components of this packaging material are considered biodegradable and repulpable.

Abstract: A collapsible partition assembly comprising a set of parallel longitudinal dividers and a set of parallel transverse dividers intersecting at a plurality of intersections. Each of the longitudinal dividers has a series of evenly spaced slots which extend downwardly from a top edge of the longitudinal divider to approximately the middle of the longitudinal divider. Each transverse divider has a series of evenly spaced slots, each slot extending upwardly from a bottom edge of the transverse divider to approximately the middle of the transverse divider. The slots of the longitudinal and transverse dividers engage with one another at the intersections. Dividers are secured to each other at each intersection by a securement bead which extends from a point proximate the top edge of the intersection to proximate the bottom edge of the intersection. The intersecting dividers create four angles. The securement bead runs along one angle and permits the partition assembly to be collapsed and recycled.

Abstract: An improved tote box construction is disclosed which incorporates a unitary top rail which can be secured along the top edge of the erected walls of the tote box without the benefit of any mechanical fasteners such as rivets or the like. The unitary top rail is secured onto the tote box by a hook on the bottom edge of a channel side wall which engages downwardly folded tabs on the top edge of the walls of the tote box. The unitary top rail has a vertical lip which facilitates the stacking of multiple tote boxes according to the present invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inexpensively but effectively packaging electrostatic sensitive products by sandwiching the product between opposing plies of an electrostatic discharge protective film while at the same time securing the edges of the plies between two opposing parts of a package so that the product is suspended by the plies within the package. A stretchable, heat shrinkable, static discharge protective film surrounds and encloses each of the opposing package parts in order to provide the suspending plies to suspend the product.

Abstract: A multiple-ply anti-static paperboard having a layer of relatively rigid material to which at least one ply of permanently anti-static/static-dissipative material is applied. Containers, as well as dividers and pads for containers, are made of such multiple-ply board materials. The permanently anti-static/static-dissipative layer prevents a static charge from being created when articles are inserted into or removed from the containers and prevents paperboard or other dust from contacting and adversely affecting the packaged article.

Abstract: A multiple-ply anti-static paperboard having a layer of high-carbon content fiberboard sandwiched between two plies of anti-static material, the anti-static material being an anti-static plastic or low-carbon content paperboard. Dividers and pads made of such multiple-ply paperboard are used to form a plurality of walled cells within a container, each of the cells completely enclosing a packaged article susceptible to electrostatic discharge. The conductive layer forms a Faraday cage to electrostatically shield the packaged article, and the anti-static layer prevents conductive dust from contacting and adversely affecting the packaged article, as well as protecting the packaged article against the generation of static electricity internally of the container.

Abstract: A six-walled container for protecting electronic goods contained therein from damage due to electrostatic discharge, which container has four side walls and a pair of top and bottom closure walls formed by flaps of said side walls and an electrostatic discharge pad having a central portion on one side of one of said closure walls and a pair of end portions extending between the flaps of that one closure wall to the opposite side of that same closure wall.