Shrink Film Package (e.g., By Heat Or Vacuum) Patents (Class 206/497)
  • Patent number: 5837336
    Abstract: A film-wrapped article consisting of a rectangular product wrapped with a heat-shrinkable plastic film in intimate contact therewith, the upper and under edge portions of the film being overlapped and sealed together along the body of the wrap to form a seal. A part of the seal on one side of the article is formed as a weakly joined zone whose adhesion strength increases by continuous or stepwise gradations from an opening zone where the adhesion strength is the lowest toward the both ends of the article. The weakly joined zone is made up of joined and unjoined regions extending along the interface between the upper and under edge portions, in a repetitive pattern of the regions varying in adhesion strength with changes in the area ratio of the joined and unjoined regions. The wrap has a cut for unwrapping use made in the opening or neighboring zone of the upper edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Ichimura, Tatsuo Fujii
  • Patent number: 5834077
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable, biaxially-oriented, multilayer film has a first layer comprising an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a major DSC peak of less than 105.degree. C. The multilayer film has a free shrink, at 185.degree. F., of at least 80 percent, and all layers of the multilayer film are shrink-compatible with respect to one another. Preferably, the multilayer film has a second layer which is an oxygen barrier layer, and preferably both of the outer film layers are grease-resistant. Furthermore, the invention includes a bag comprising the multilayer film, as well as a packaged product having a package comprising the multilayer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Robert Babrowicz
  • Patent number: 5831652
    Abstract: A method and a member, by the provision of a simple structure, protect the elastic latch nail of an ink tank from external shocks, and/or prevent ink leakage from the ink tank. The ink tank protection member comprises a sealing tape 320 having a tab portion 325 needed for peeling it off, and an elastic latch nail fixing member 360 provided on the sealing tape to be nipped between the elastic latch nail 310 of the ink tank and the main body of the ink tank 350.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Hinami, Sadayuki Sugama, Hirofumi Okuhara
  • Patent number: 5826727
    Abstract: A shipping and display container, a generally C-shaped or L-shaped configuration enabling vertical orientation of an elongated motor driven tool is disclosed. The container allows access to the tool without destruction or manipulation of the shipping and display container. In addition, the tool may be utilized as a handle for carrying both the tool and container. The container has display surfaces adapted to receive point of sale display graphics while greatly increasing the viewing angle of consumers approaching the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Ryobi North America Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A. Fraser
  • Patent number: 5813540
    Abstract: A package (10) is disclosed including stacked, lower and upper trays (12, 14) each including end walls (22, 122) extending on opposite sides of a base panel (16, 116). The handgrips (26) of the end walls (22) of the lower tray (12) are aligned with the handgrips (126) of the end walls (122) of the upper tray (14) when it is stacked on the lower tray (12). The openings (38) in the ends of a shrunk film wrapper (36) are at least partially coincident with the upper peripheries of the handgrips (26, 126) for providing extra strength. Side walls (18, 118) are integrally connected to the base panels (16, 116) about fold lines (20, 120) and are secured to the end walls (22, 122) by tabs (28, 34, 128, 134). The trays (12, 14) are formed of paperboard and/or corrugated from one or more blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Douglas Machine Limited Liability Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Vollbrecht, Scott P. Leuschke
  • Patent number: 5813534
    Abstract: A package for an article such as a light bulb having an elongated sheet with two spaced ends. A layer of shrink wrap material overlies at least a portion of one side of the sheet and the layer of shrink wrap material is attached to the sheet at spaced intervals therealong. The ends of the sheet are secured to form a loop having an interior side and an exterior side with the shrink wrap layer being attached to the interior side of the loop. With an article placed within the interior side of the loop, upon application of heat to the shrink wrap material, the portions of the shrink wrap material unattached to the sheet at least partially engulf the article to thereby affix the article to the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Inventor: John A. Schamante
  • Patent number: 5797493
    Abstract: Plumbing fittings, such as joints, couplings, nipples, etc. are disposed within an opened topped container such that a plurality of the various fittings are disposed within the container. A transparent heat shrinkable film is shrunk onto the opened top container to removably secure the fittings therewithin. Each of the fittings has a removably adhered indicia bearing label secured thereto as well as the container, itself. In this way, the fittings can be sold within the package or may be removed therefrom for individual sales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: Thomas J. Watson
  • Patent number: 5788076
    Abstract: A package comprising a container having regular information on an outer surface thereof and a wrapper extending at least partially over the container surface and bearing information of which at least some is substantially identical to at least some of the regular information on the outer container surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Deborah Jane Simmons
  • Patent number: 5779050
    Abstract: A package having a lid bonded to a support member with a heat-seal to enclose a product between the support member and lid. The lid is at least partially heat-shrinkable and has a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion, the first peripheral portion being heat-contracted toward the heat-seal to a greater degree relative to the second peripheral portion so that the second peripheral portion provides a tab which can be manually grasped for peeling the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Patrick N. Kocher, Robin D. Owens
  • Patent number: 5775848
    Abstract: Anchoring devices for securing diverse types of structures to the earth or soil, or to rock walls and formations, such as are frequently employed for anchoring gas and petroleum-product pipelines, guy-supported towers, utility poles, large-sized retaining walls and building foundations, among numerous other types of application. In order to render each of the above-described anchoring devices more user-friendly and compatible with the environment, while facilitating the installation thereof in the applicable bore holes, drilled holes or earth trenches, while also reducing the production and assembling steps required in the manufacture of the various anchoring devices, a suitable retentive encompassing packaging structure tightly encases each of the anchoring devices which will maintain the components of the respective anchoring devices in their assembled pre-installed and retracted condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Willis J. Blankinship, Daniel V. Hamilton, Stephen W. Odneal
  • Patent number: 5755326
    Abstract: A pack (10) of bottles (14) comprises a plurality of layers (12). Each layer (12) has its bottles (14) packed in a close packed side-by-side array, the array being hexagonal. The layers (12) are packed in a sleeve (18) of a plastics material. The sleeve (18) is selected to have a perimetral dimension slightly less than a peripheral dimension of each layer (12) such that the layers (12), once packed in the sleeve, are constrained against movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Metal Box South Africa Limited
    Inventor: James Michael O'Neill
  • Patent number: 5753456
    Abstract: An article adapted for holding a liquid sample for quantification of biological material in the liquid sample. The article includes a bag having an upper surface sheet and a lower surface sheet enclosing a volume therebetween. The bag has an upper opening through which the liquid sample can be poured into the volume in the bag. The bag also has a plurality of partitions configured to separate one or more portions of adequate sample in the bag. Also provided is a passage through which a liquid sample can be distributed throughout the volume in the bag. The bag is made of material which can be caused to form discreet non-permeable compartments for holding separate aliquots of the liquid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Idexx Laboratiories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Naqui, Mark W. Pierson, Thomas R. Weschler, Stephen C. Wardlaw, Michael P. Finnerty, Charles R. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 5750226
    Abstract: A multi-layer coextrusion blow molded plastic container adapted to be filled with a light-sensitive low acid liquid nutritional product and which container has a multilayer wall, of which at least three layers contain at least 1% but not more than 8% by weight of titanium dioxide, said titanium dioxide being responsible for reducing the extent of light transmission through said container by at least 99%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Richard Peter Macauley, Lewis Henry Sita, Elwood Lamar Stokesbury
  • Patent number: 5749466
    Abstract: A packaging structure for packaging a packaged article having a rectangular parallelpiped shape, such as a tape cassette accommodating case and a disc cartridge accommodating case includes an adhesive portion and at least one non-adhesive portion formed on a portion wherein one end of a film-shaped packaging material overlaps the other end of the film-shaped packaging material when the packaged article having a rectangular parallelpiped shape is packaged by the film-shaped packaging material. The packaged article is packaged by bonding the adhesive portion and the non-adhesive portion is left as an unwrapping start portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Seizo Seki
  • Patent number: 5741535
    Abstract: A package includes a protective band having a cavity for receiving a fragile food product unit. A wrap material is tightly secured around the food product unit and the protective band to form a package. The protective band may have alternating narrow segments and wide segments to ensure that the wrap material keeps the top and bottom extremities of the food product unit inside the protective band and spaced from the upper and lower edges of the wide segments of the protective band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Warnock Food Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan C. Cope, Donald G. Warnock
  • Patent number: 5735404
    Abstract: A merchandise package (1) for packing articles (40) having a packing part (3, 3') including a substantially transparent plastic shrink-packing film for containing therein at least an article (40) which is directed to the same direction, the packing part being contained and held between a mounting board (2) and a holding part ( 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kumakura, Tadashi Ono
  • Patent number: 5736231
    Abstract: A material and method for making the material for shrink wrapping articles is disclosed. The material includes an outer shrinkable, stretchable film which is bonded to an inner layer consisting of a nonwoven fabric. A block copolymer hot melt adhesive is used to secure the film layer to the nonwoven fabric layer. The adhesive layer includes an additive which releases a vapor, such as a vapor corrosion inhibitor, which protects and/or treats the product wrapped by the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Transhield Technology Co., LLC
    Inventor: Gregory L. Todt
  • Patent number: 5730295
    Abstract: A shrink wrap or stretch wrap pallet system including a pair of end panels arranged and configured so as to mount on opposite sides of a package, effectively connecting a base pallet and a top panel. The end panels themselves are spaced from the perimeter of the package. The end panels have vertical edges which extend beyond the perimeter of the package, thereby defining a plane between respective end panels, the plane serving to space the wrap, which lies substantially therein, from the package. The end panels are conveniently sized and shaped to fit within the area of the base pallet, intermediate panels and top panel thereby providing a relatively compact return package. Side panels may be provided to supplement the end panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: T.H.E.M. International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Darby
  • Patent number: 5720093
    Abstract: A method of building outdoor furniture in which the components being a plurality of patio squares (24), hollow tubes (28), 90 degree elbow joints (30), 45 degree elbow joints (30a), 22.5 degree elbow joints (30b), tee joints (32), end caps (34), braces (36), hinges (38), screws (40), bolts (42), washers (44) and nuts (46) can be assembled together to construct a lawn chair (48), a table (72) or a lounge chair (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventor: James Herbert Yoder, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5701999
    Abstract: A protective shipping and storage package for appliances, including a polymeric foam protective base cap for being fitted onto a base of the appliance and a polymeric foam protective top cap for being fitted onto a top of the appliance opposed to the base. A plurality of protective side panels are provided for being positioned on opposite side walls of the appliance and interconnecting the base and top caps. The side panels have opposite ends for respectively engaging and cooperating with the base cap and top cap to form a protective package around the appliance. A retaining shroud is positioned on and extends around the appliance and the assembled top cap, base cap and plurality of side panels for securing the protective package in its protective position around the appliance. The shroud may be a shrink-wrap type of plastic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Modern Polymers, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Allan Phillips, II, Jeffery Edward Myers, Robert Bradley Elmore
  • Patent number: 5685420
    Abstract: A composite or secondary packaging arrangement for the containment of hydrophilic contact lenses in a sterile aqueous solution. More specifically disclosed is a composite or secondary packaging arrangement wherein pluralities of disposable hydrophilic contact lenses possessing different optical characteristics or prescriptions are contained in one or more specific packaging arrays which are then collectively housed in separate paired box-like compartments or carton structures in a preselected customized manner so as to provide specified or essentially measured supplies of differing contact lenses for prescribed use in both eyes of a consumer over a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wallace Anthony Martin, Kornelis Renkema, Victor Lust
  • Patent number: 5685428
    Abstract: A unitary package comprising a plurality of individual inner packages juxtaposed with each other at one or more interfaces. At least some inner packages are wrapped in a wrapper and are peripherally disposed along at least first and second outside walls of the unitary package, defining these first and second outside walls. A first sheet of material having at least one line of weakness is juxtaposed with the first outside wall and interconnects all peripherally disposed inner packages by engaging each of them. Preferably, a second sheet of material is juxtaposed with the second outside wall interconnecting all peripherally disposed inner packages. Preferably, both sheets of material have a self-registering pattern of a plurality of lines of weakness running in both mutually perpendicular directions and comparatively closely spaced such that there is a high probability that at least one of these lines is positioned at the interface of the individual inner packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Dennis Michael Herbers, John Paul Erspamer, William Paul Dirksing
  • Patent number: 5676245
    Abstract: A packaging kit for the immobilization of an article to be shipped, which kit comprises a base sheet of selected width and length sufficient to hold the article being packaged, the base sheet characterized by a horizontal fold line extending substantially across the base sheet, which permits the base portion to be folded inwardly to receive an article to be packaged on the base sheet. The sheet has a pair of spaced-apart opposite end portions having two or three parallel spaced-apart fold lines perpendicular to the horizontal central fold line, the fold lines adapted to move the end portions between a generally flat position and a folded V-shape or Z-shape position. The base sheet has at least two pairs of spaced-apart aligned notches on either side of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: William Charles Jones
  • Patent number: 5667071
    Abstract: One package for photographic film (PF) has five cassettes (3), which respectively contain the photographic film (PF). Five cylindrical watertight cases (2) respectively contain the cassettes (3). Heat shrinkable film (7, 25, 30, 57) is disposed around the five watertight cases (2), and shrunken by heat for collectively covering the five cassettes (3). The shrinkable film (7, 25, 30, 57) has shrinkability from 40 to 63% when heated at 140.degree. C. for 10 seconds, and has thickness from 35 to 50 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Nakagoshi, Hiromi Shimura, Ikuo Katsumata, Osamu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5664671
    Abstract: A combination container includes a first container containing a beverage and presenting a base, a second container containing an edible solid and presenting an upper surface engaged with the base of the first container, and a band of heat-shrunk material surrounding the containers on either side of the joint therebetween for coupling the containers into a unitary package. In preferred forms, the heat-shrunk material forms a channel at the joint between the containers to facilitate gripping of the package and the channel is perforated to allow detachment of containers from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Inventor: Greydon Wesley Nedblake, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5664281
    Abstract: A suntan lotion applicator (10) which comprises a structure (12) for holding a specific amount of suntan lotion (14) poured out from a suntan lotion bottle (16). A component (18) for grasping, by the hands (20) of a person (22), extends from the suntan lotion holding structure (12). The suntan holding structure (12) can be maneuvered to reach hard to reach areas of the body of the person (22) to apply the suntan lotion (14) thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Inventor: Diana L. Pelfrey
  • Patent number: 5637364
    Abstract: A container for a photographic film wherein the container body is made of a thermoplastic resin and a roughened face having a height of 0.001 to 5 .mu.m is formed on the inner peripheral wall portion, and a container for a photographic film, container for a photographic film can be produced without the occurrence of bursting pop sound, bottom sink mark and buckling, small decrease of impact strength and transparency, is excellent in wear resistance and slipping character, and can shorten molding cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mutsuo Akao, Koji Inoue
  • Patent number: 5632439
    Abstract: A one-piece blank which is folded to provide a shroud is used in conjunction with a bottom tray and securing mechanism to form a display case for enclosing an array of packages. The one-piece blank or shroud formed thereby includes a central top panel and a pair of side panels hinged thereto so that when the side panels are bent along the hinge lines to form the shroud the side panels are located adjacent respective opposed side faces of the array of packages. The blank or shroud also includes a pair of opposed projecting portions hinged to each side panel with a central hinge line therein to define a reinforcing panel and a leg panel so that when the reinforcing panels of each pair of projecting portions are bent back onto the associated the side panel the leg panels are bent perpendicular to the reinforcing panels to come together and to form a leg which is inserted laterally into the side face of the array of packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Kraft Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Yucknut, Panagiotis Kinigakis
  • Patent number: 5630510
    Abstract: A solid ink jet nugget is contained in a first sleeve having opposite open ends and a flap at one open end movable into the sleeve towards the other open end. A second sleeve is placed about the first sleeve with its opposite ends directed generally at right angles to the direction of the open ends of the first sleeve. The second sleeve is then heat-shrunk on the first sleeve to close the open ends of the first sleeve. Prior to loading into an ink jet apparatus, the second sleeve is removed and the flap is pushed into the first sleeve against the nugget to discharge the nugget from the open end and into the ink jet apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: Walter C. Lamb, Jr., Leonard E. Westgate
  • Patent number: 5624031
    Abstract: A tray-type package for receiving a series of articles is constructed from a blank which enables the user to vary the size of the horizontal surface on which the articles are placed. The blank includes a bottom panel and a series of side walls which are interconnected with the bottom panel via connection structure which defines a series of fold locations, and the user selects the appropriate fold location according to the size of articles being packaged such that, when a predetermined number of articles are placed on the tray, the outer articles are in close proximity to, or engage, the tray side walls. When the tray side walls are folded at the different fold positions, the position of the adjacent side wall ends varies, and retainer structure is interposed between the side wall ends which accommodates such variation and which secures the side walls together. The retainer structure is an extension section formed on one of the side walls which overlaps the other side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Green Bay Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Fowler, Charles E. Wood
  • Patent number: 5615772
    Abstract: A first object of the invention is to insure that medication filled syringe equipment can be kept sterile at all stages until use, is protected against malicious unauthorized use, can be packaged in a simpler way and can protect the medication to be in a stable form. A second object of the invention is to insure that an additional liquid such as an anesthetic, another medication in liquid form or a solubilizer can be aspirated by medication filled syringe equipment in an aseptic appropriate manner before injection. To attain these objects, the equipment of the invention comprises barrel 1, needle attaching portion 2 fitted with cap 11, plunger rod 22, and sealing device 31 as tube 32 of a heat-shrinkable film that is slipped over the area from the cap 11 through the barrel 1 to the basal head 23 of the plunger rod 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Seikagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Seikagaku Corporation)
    Inventor: Masateru Naganuma
  • Patent number: 5605230
    Abstract: A container, such as the type having a base portion, and an upper neck portion, a shoulder portion between the neck and base portion and a removable closure applied to the neck portion in a sealed relation therewith, is provided with an anti-counterfeit multi-layer label construction. The multi-layer construction includes a label which is adhesively applied to the back side of a container. A printed indicia is provided on the front side of the label so as to be readable by the customer upon removal of an overlying sleeve which is placed over the label. The sleeve is in the form of a protective film which is heat shrunk into a conforming, sealed relationship around the container and which covers at least a portion of the label. A release coat is provided over the underlying printing. A background coat is provided over the release coat so as to cover the underlying printing. Top indicia is provided on the background coat with a varnish thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: ELR, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Marino, Jr., John L. Gordon, Jr., Richard J. St. Hilaire
  • Patent number: 5591468
    Abstract: A package and a method for making a package which allows for the central processing of fresh red meat is disclosed which includes a tray, a first film enclosing the product within the tray and a second film, which is removed at retail, enclosing the first film. The first film and the second film are sealed to the inner periphery and the outer periphery, respectively, of the single flange of a conventional foamed or nonfoamed tray. The first film is a heat shrinkable film which is sealed to the inner periphery of the flange forming a first seal, trimmed outboard of the first seal, thereby forming an excess portion of the first film outboard of the first seal, and then subjected to a sufficiently high temperature to shrink the excess portion and thereby expose a sealing area on the outer periphery of the flange. The second film is then sealed to the sealing area on the outer periphery of the flange, forming a second seal such that the second film encloses the first film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Henry W. Stockley, III, Art T. Krebs
  • Patent number: 5590779
    Abstract: A tamper-evident packaging system for shipping and viewing valuable items. A two component rigid plastic container provides a cavity for containing the item and a filler material with a transparent area in the container wall for viewing the item. A tamper-evident thin-film tape is wrapped about the container to hold the container components together and a shrink wrap plastic coating is applied to the container and tamper-evident tape to enhance the tamper-evident function of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: John L. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 5576037
    Abstract: A shrink bag having an integral carrying handle is provided that includes an extended skin portion of the bag of a heat shrinkable thermoplastic material and having a carrying hole in the skirt portion with an essentially continuous heat seal around its margin, the carrying hole having a configuration which helps to distribute stress and substantially eliminates tear propagation. The bag is particularly adapted for packaging whole turkeys and the like and, to this end, the integral carrying handle is preferably located at the breast containing end of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Donald B. Moore, Jr., Jeffrey D. Gebauer, John P. Carson
  • Patent number: 5556674
    Abstract: Heat-shrinkable coextrudate thermoplastic film packaging materials, well suited for the packaging of any one or more of a wide variety of articles, e.g., canned goods, and readily torn in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the machine direction thereof, e.g., by the provision of a tab or pull member thereon, are shaped from(a) at least one layer of a polyolefin; and(b) at least one layer of a copolymer selected from among ionic copolymers of:(1) .alpha.-olefins of the formula R--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl radical having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, with(2) .alpha., .beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and(3) optionally, an additional monoethylenically unsaturated comonomer; with the proviso that from 10% to 90% of the carboxylic acid functions of such copolymer are ionized by neutralization by means of metallic ions distributed over the copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Sodap
    Inventor: Daniel Meilhon
  • Patent number: 5551563
    Abstract: The present invention includes packaging units which include a generally rigid support base having a bottom wall having edges, side walls and corners. Each side wall extends upwardly from an edge and each corner extends upwardly from an intersection of two edges. Generally cylindrical objects are arranged in an assembly on the support base in at least one vertical column or horizontal row. Each object has a top end, bottom end and side extending therebetween, a portion of which can contact the support base. The assembly is free of walls between the objects of the assembly. A generally rigid lid has a top wall, edges and corners. Each edge of the lid has a side wall extending downwardly therefrom and each corner extends downwardly from an intersection of two edges. Each corner of the support base is adjacent to or connected to a corresponding corner of the lid or by corner protectors extending between the corresponding corners of the support 14 base and lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Lesley M. Allen
  • Patent number: 5552170
    Abstract: Distortion of a heat shrinkable cook-in package in a hot air cooking medium is substantially reduced or eliminated by the use of a high sustained shrink force cook-in film as the casing for the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Martindale Nelson
  • Patent number: 5551557
    Abstract: A method for establishing a shelf life for getters is provided. The getter absorbs one or more gasses. One type of getter that can be used is desiccant to absorb moisture. The getter is sealed in a container that is impervious to the gas that is to be absorbed by the getter. The gas impervious container is placed within a gas previous first enclosure, which is positioned in a sealable second enclosure. A gas sensitive article is also located within the sealable enclosure. The sealable enclosure is sealed about the first enclosure and the article. The getter is activated to absorb any gas within the sealed enclosure by rupturing the container through the first and second enclosures. The second container retains the ruptured first container and the exposed getter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Convey, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray G. Brooks, Charles J. Corris
  • Patent number: 5531327
    Abstract: A shrink wrap or stretch wrap pallet system including a pair of end panels arranged and configured so as to mount on opposite sides of a package, effectively connecting a base pallet and a top panel. The end panels themselves are spaced from the perimeter of the package. The end panels have vertical edges which extend beyond the perimeter of the package, thereby defining a plane between respective end panels, the plane serving to space the wrap, which lies substantially therein, from the package. The end panels are conveniently sized and shaped to fit within the area of the base pallet, intermediate panels and top panel thereby providing a relatively compact return package. Side panels may be provided to supplement the end panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: T.H.E.M. Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Darby
  • Patent number: 5527062
    Abstract: An air bag apparatus for impact protection in motor vehicles comprises a unit, which is adapted to be installed so as to be concealed behind an exit opening provided in the front part of the passenger compartment and comprises an air bag, a gas generator, and a housing, which accommodates the air bag and the gas generator. To protect the air bag the opening in the housing is closed by a film which is attached to the outside surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Kolbenschmidt Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 5518892
    Abstract: An article adapted for holding a liquid sample for quantification of biological material in the liquid sample. The article includes a bag having an upper surface sheet and a lower surface sheet enclosing a volume therebetween. The bag has an upper opening through which the liquid sample can be poured into the volume in the bag. The bag also has a plurality of partitions configured to separate one or more portions of adequate sample in the bag. Also provided is a passage through which a liquid sample can be distributed throughout the volume in the bag. The bag is made of material which can be caused to form discreet non-permeable compartments for holding separate aliquots of the liquid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Idexx Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Naqui, Mark W. Pierson, Thomas R. Weschler, Steven C. Wardlaw, Michael P. Finnerty, Charles R. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 5518119
    Abstract: According to the present invention, in overwrapping an object to be packaged, the object is wrapped with a packaging material in such a manner as to form a tubular shape, which packaging material is heat-sealable on both sides thereof and, as required, has heat shrinkability or gas-barrier properties; the overlap portion of the packaging material is heat-sealed in a lap seal fashion: and an opening portion formed at each end of the lap seal line is heat-sealed. The lap-heat-sealed portion of the package thus obtained has a satisfactory strength with liquid leakage prevented, and the unevenness of this portion is inconspicuous. Further, respective sealed portions at both ends of the package exhibit a good appearance because of the absence of a folded portion. The resulting package is excellent in seal strength and appearance and hence highly valuable on a commercial basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Kohjin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masumi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5515973
    Abstract: A system of wrapping and securing together the components of a bulk package including a bottom tray element and a top cap element with an integral web of plastic material. The plastic material, while in a rope-like configuration, is looped about only a single pair of diagonally opposed corners of each of the top cap element and bottom tray element. The tail or terminal end of the web is secured in place by being positioned between a wrap convolution and the bulk package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: James River Paper Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Sharp
  • Patent number: 5511664
    Abstract: The outer surface of an article is covered with a wrapping film, and both ends of the wrapping film are lap-welded by heating, so that a body seal section is created. A removal tab is created at a position close to the longitudinal end thereof by slits that are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and cut parallel to each other along the marginal line of the body seal section on an upper overlapping film of the wrapping film. A perforated section is created and extended in line with one of the slits that constitute the removal tab in such a way that it crosses an imaginary continuation from this slit and departs from another imaginary continuation from the remaining slit. The end of the removal tab is picked up with fingers, and the fingers are moved in a direction of an arrow A, and the wrapping film is torn up from the slits. A split from one of the slits reaches the perforated section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Aramaki, Makoto Sato
  • Patent number: 5510165
    Abstract: A partly-overlapped portion of a sheath film is meltbonded by heat to provide a seal which a user can tear open with ease. A heat sealing area of the sheath film is halftone printed to reduce the bonding area, thereby decreasing the bonding strength. A tearing portion is provided along the heat seal which is printed so that it has a bonding strength which gradually increases along the tear part until it reaches the bonding strength of the remainder of the heat seal. A curl section having minimal bonding strength relative to the tearing portion of the heat seal is induced to curl up using heat treatment to allow the user to grasp the sheath film at the tear part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Seizo Seki
  • Patent number: 5499711
    Abstract: In order to be able to ship and, later, display a plurality of tools, each of which has a handle and a shaft, a foldable container formed of sheet material is disclosed which is defined by a plurality of walls, including at least a side wall and a top wall having a plurality of openings therein. The openings include a plurality of first openings each formed to receive the shaft of one of the tools and to support the tool with the handle positioned thereabove and including a plurality of second openings each formed to receive the handle of one of the tools and to support the tool with the shaft positioned thereabove. With these features of construction, the container further includes a display panel extending to a point above the top panel and, preferably, the container is a generally rectangular box, and the openings include holes and cutouts arranged in alternating fashion in at least two rows parallel to the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Inventor: Burton Kozak
  • Patent number: 5495944
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sealed tamper-evident container. The container comprises: a bottle having a side wall portion and an open mouth portion; a cap connected to the bottle mouth portion; a frangible label connected to the bottle side wall portion; a wrapper having an upper portion that overlies the cap and a lower portion that overlies the bottle and at least a portion of the label so that the cap is sealably fixed to the bottle; and means for securing the wrapper lower portion with the frangible label. The wrapper upper portion is removable from the container and the cap so that the cap can be separated from the container. Removal of the wrapper lower portion ruptures the frangible label; the label rupture serves as a visible indicia of the removal of the wrapper bottom portion from the bottle, and thus alerts the consumer to possible tampering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Burroughs Wellcome Co.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Lermer
  • Patent number: RE35567
    Abstract: Linear low density polyethylene is used in multiple layer, molecularly oriented films. Novel blends of linear low density polyethylene with ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer are disclosed, and used in molecularly oriented multiple layer films. Bags made from the multiple layer films are especially useful for shrink packaging, and particularly for shrink packaging of meats having large cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventor: David L. Newsome
  • Patent number: RE35976
    Abstract: There is disclosed a pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system for use to clean the cylinders of printing machines. The system includes a pre-soaked fabric roll saturated to equilibrium with low volatility organic compound solvent which is wrapped around a cylindrical core having open ends to form a roll. The saturated, wrapped fabric roll is inserted in a heat-sealable or heat-shrinkable and heat-sealable plastic sleeve, the sleeve being to intimate contact with the fabric roll after being subjected in heat-sealing or heat-shrinking and heat-sealing, thus permitting transporting and storage of the system until use without detrimentally affecting the cleaning ability of the fabric roll.The system may also include a slotted canister in which the saturated wrapped roll is inserted before it is placed into the plastic sleeve and heat-sealed or heat-shrunken and heat-sealed thereon or end caps inserted in the open ends of the core.A method for making the system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Baldwin Graphic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Gasparrini, Walter H. Cano