Abstract: A lid for a collapsible container includes a body that is adapted to cover an opening in a collapsible container. The collapsible container includes a plurality of wall panels hingedly connected to articulate between a collapsed position and an expanded position that defines an upper lip, and the upper lip further defines the opening. The lid includes a peripheral groove disposed in a side of the body and the groove is configured to receive the upper lip of the collapsible container in the expanded position. A recess in the side of the body is disposed inwardly from the peripheral groove and the recess is formed to receive the collapsible container in a substantially parallel orientation with the body when the collapsible container is in the collapsed position.

Abstract: A vacuum sealer for packaging, sealing and storing items and a film cartridge for a vacuum sealer is disclosed. The vacuum sealer has a means to feed, form, seal and cut film bags for storing items. The vacuum sealer preferably includes a body, a top portion, a base portion, a film cartridge, a drive mechanism, a sealing and cutting mechanism and a vacuum/pump mechanism. The film cartridge is operatively positioned in a feed opening in a top portion of the vacuum sealer. The film cartridge houses film for forming film bags for use in the vacuum sealer. The film cartridge may have tubular film contained in a collapsed state or may have two film rolls which are brought together and sealed at the edges. The vacuum sealer may be used in a vertical orientation or optionally in a horizontal or angled orientation.

Abstract: A container includes a plurality of resilient wall panels. Each wall panel is connected to each adjacent wall panel at a hinged connection, and the wall panels are arranged so as to articulate at the hinged connections between a collapsed position and an expanded position defining a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and defining an upper lip. At least one of the hinged connections between adjacent side walls is an arched hinge. The container also includes a downwardly projecting bracket disposed proximate the upper lip on an exterior side of a side wall.

Abstract: A collapsible container includes a plurality of wall panels. Each wall panel is connected to each adjacent wall panel at a hinged connection, and the wall panels are arranged so as to articulate at the hinged connections between a collapsed position and an expanded position defining a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The collapsible container further includes a deformed portion on a side wall disposed across a hinged connection. The deformed portion projects toward an exterior of the collapsible container to releasably lock the hinged connection in a convexly bowed position when the collapsible container is in the expanded position.

Abstract: A collapsible container includes a plurality of wall panels, wherein each wall panel is connected to each adjacent wall panel at a hinged connection. The wall panels are arranged so as to articulate at the hinged connections between a collapsed position and an expanded position defining a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The collapsible container also includes an anti-fold lock that is disposed proximate to a hinged connection between first and second adjacent side walls. The first side wall includes at least two wall panels defining a diagonal hinge extending substantially between diagonally opposite corners of the side wall and the anti-fold lock is articulable into a locked position across the diagonal hinge.

Abstract: A container includes a plurality of wall panels. Each wall panel is connected to adjacent wall panels at hinged connections and the wall panels are arranged so as to articulate at the hinged connections between a collapsed position and an expanded position defining a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The container also includes a first latch that is configured to interlockingly engage when the wall panels are in the expanded position and a second latch that is configured to interlockingly engage when the wall panels are in the collapsed position.

Abstract: A closure assembly includes a slider for opening and/or closing an elongate closure mechanism including a pair of opposing closure members. The slider includes a first separator finger and a second separator finger, each of which is articulably connected to a hinge member. The first and second separator fingers extend between the closure members and may be articulated between a closing position, in which the separator fingers are adjacent each other, and an opening position, in which the separator fingers are laterally spaced from each other. In the opening position, the separator fingers urge the members apart. Closing bars and retention members may also be included to facilitate re-closing the closure members and retaining the slider in an operative position thereon.

Abstract: A slider for opening and closing first and second longitudinally elongate closure members including a body with at least one sidewall that defines a channel, side member articulably attached to the sidewall, wherein the side member is laterally displaceable about a hinge. Additionally, an engagement member is attached to the side member. The engagement member extends across at least one of the closure members and operationally engages at least one of the closure members.

Abstract: A pouch includes first and second opposing walls, a closure mechanism disposed between the opposing walls and at least one pleat disposed laterally across the pouch between the first and second side portions of the pouch, wherein the pleat is adapted to expand the pouch in a direction transverse to an axis of the opposing walls.

Abstract: A slider is provided that may be oriented on a closure assembly of a reclosable pouch to open and/or close the pouch. The slider includes a top portion and at least two side walls. A channel is formed between the side walls for receiving the closure assembly of the pouch therebetween. Internal to the slider are components that generally contain functionalities to assist in opening and/or closing the closure assembly depending on the direction of movement of the slider along the closure assembly.

Abstract: A reclosable pouch includes interlocking male and female closure elements having elongate hollow closure profiles. The male closure profile has a hollow shaft section, and the female closure profile has a channel with at least one hollow side. Alternatively, a set of hollow male closure profiles may also form one or more female closure profiles therebetween. A set of pleated grip strips may be disposed adjacent the closure elements to aid in opening a pouch. The closure elements and grip strips may be integral with pouch sidewalls, may be secured and/or separately extruded on to, for example, a polymer, directly to pouch sidewalls, or may be secured to backing strips to form a closure strip, which may subsequently be secured to pouch sidewalls.

Abstract: A slider for opening and closing a mouth of a thermoplastic pouch includes first and second sidewalls. A third wall connects the first and second sidewalls and is transverse to the first and second sidewalls. A compressible gripping material is disposed on at least one of the first and second sidewalls.

Abstract: A reclosable pouch includes interlocking male and female closure elements having elongate hollow closure profiles. The male closure profile has a hollow shaft section, and the female closure profile has a channel with at least one hollow side. Alternatively, a set of hollow male closure profiles may also form one or more female closure profiles therebetween. A set of pleated grip strips may be disposed adjacent the closure elements to aid in opening a pouch. The closure elements and grip strips may be integral with pouch sidewalls, may be secured and/or separately extruded on to, for example, a polymer, directly to pouch sidewalls, or may be secured to backing strips to form a closure strip, which may subsequently be secured to pouch sidewalls. Another reclosable closure element for a container such as a polymer pouch has a male closure profile including a hollow shaft.

Abstract: A resealable closure mechanism includes first and second closure strips. The first closure strip includes a plurality of discontinuous closure elements and the second closure strip includes a plurality of discontinuous closure elements. One or more of the discontinuous closure elements of the first closure strip randomly engages one or more of the discontinuous closure elements of the second closure strip.

Abstract: A reclosable pouch includes interlocking male and female closure elements having elongate hollow closure profiles. The male closure profile has a hollow shaft section, and the female closure profile has a channel with at least one hollow side. Alternatively, a set of hollow male closure profiles may also form one or more female closure profiles therebetween. A set of pleated grip strips may be disposed adjacent the closure elements to aid in opening a pouch. The closure elements and grip strips may be integral with pouch sidewalls, may be secured and/or separately extruded on to, for example, a polymer, directly to pouch sidewalls, or may be secured to backing strips to form a closure strip, which may subsequently be secured to pouch sidewalls.

Abstract: A collapsible storage device includes a collapsible container and a lid for the container. The container includes a plurality of resilient wall panels and a hinge portion connecting each adjacent pair of wall panels. The container may be foldably converted between a substantially flat collapsed position and a substantially rectangular prismatic expanded position by articulating the wall panels about the flexible hinges. At least one of the hinge portions is arched to latch the container in the expanded position. The lid may be used to cover the container in the expanded position and receive the container in the collapsed position.

Abstract: A crimp press for forming indentations in a pouch closure strip includes a guide track adapted to receive interlocked closure strips attached to a web and carrying a slider. The crimp press includes a reciprocating die having an adjustable stroke located over the guide track. The interlocked closure strips, web, and slider are fed through the guide track a predetermined distance and then indexed while the reciprocating die impacts the interlocked closure strips thereby imparting the desired indentations onto the closure strips. The process may then be repeated. A second crimp press for forming periodically spaced indentations in a pouch closure strip includes a pair of opposing die wheels between which the closure strip is passed. The die wheels include raised die surfaces and recessed slider cutouts and rotate in synchronized motion to form the indentations in the closure strips. The slider cutouts allow a slider on the closure strips to pass between the die wheels without being damaged.

Abstract: A pouch includes pouch walls and a pair of opposed closure strips attached to the pouch walls and which open and close the pouch. A slider is movable between first and second ends of the closure strips. Movement of the slider toward the first end opens the pouch and movement of the slider toward the second end closes the pouch. A plurality of indentations is formed in one of the closure strips, and the plurality of indentations is disposed only adjacent the second end.

Abstract: A reclosable pouch includes a closure assembly that comprises first and second closure profiles disposed on first and second side panels, respectively. A handle is provided that comprises discrete first and second handle sections. Each handle section has an opening in a central portion thereof. The first handle section is attached only to the first side panel at an area below the first closure profile and the second handle section is attached only to the second side panel at an area below the second closure profile. By providing the handle sections in such a manner, the first and second handle sections exert substantially more force on an internal side of the first and second closure profiles, respectively, than on an external side of the respective closure profiles.

Abstract: A container lid includes a recess that rotatably houses a dial. The dial may be manufactured from the material of the package in which the lid is sold, or the package in which an item being stored in the container is sold. The dial includes a handle that is pivotable between a stowed position folded into an upper surface of the dial and an operative position pivoted away from the upper surface of the dial. In a first disclosed example, the dial includes information displayed thereon, while the lid includes a pointer that generally points toward the recess. To point to a particular information on the dial, the dial can be rotated until the pointer generally points to the particular information on the dial. In a second disclosed example, the lid includes information displayed thereon around the recess, while the dial includes a pointer that points radially outward.