Abstract: A portable canopy assembly for providing shade for outdoor events includes a mat that is foldable along pre-determined fold lines such that the mat forms a box. A plurality of stakes is each extendable through the mat at predetermined locations when the mat is folded to define the box. In this way each of the stakes penetrates a support surface for inhibiting the box from sliding on the support surface. A frame is provided and the frame is positionable between a collapsed position and a deployed position. The frame defines a half shell when the frame is positioned in the deployed position and the frame is positionable around the box when the mat is folded to define the box. A canopy is coupled to the frame such that the canopy extends partially over the box when the frame is positioned in the deployed for shading the box.

Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material is provided. The blank includes a reinforcing panel assembly for forming a reinforcing corner assembly. The machine includes a hopper station for storing the blank in a substantially flat configuration and a forming station for forming the blank into the container. The forming station includes an initial forming station that rotates a first portion of the reinforcing panel assembly with respect to a second portion of the reinforcing panel assembly, and a secondary forming station having male and female forming members with shapes corresponding to an interior shape and an exterior shape of the reinforcing corner assembly, respectively. The male and the female forming members are configured to form the reinforcing corner assembly by compressing together the first and second portions of the reinforcing panel assembly.

Abstract: A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container includes a bottom panel, two opposing side panels each extending from a side edge of the bottom panel, and two opposing end panels each extending from an end edge of the bottom panel. The blank also includes a foldover panel that is configured to lock the container in at least a partially formed position. The blank further includes a reinforcing panel assembly that includes an outer reinforcing corner panel extending from the first side panel, an outer reinforcing end panel extending from the outer reinforcing corner panel, an inner reinforcing end panel extending from the outer reinforcing end panel, an inner reinforcing corner panel extending from the inner reinforcing end panel, and an inner reinforcing side panel extending from the inner reinforcing corner panel.

Abstract: A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two opposing side panels each extending from a side edge of the bottom panel, two opposing end panels each extending from an end edge of the bottom panel, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side edge of a first side panel of the two side panels. The reinforcing panel assembly includes a corner panel extending from the first side edge of the first side panel, a first reinforcing end panel extending from a side edge of the corner panel, a second reinforcing end panel extending from a side edge of the first reinforcing end panel, an inner reinforcing corner panel extending from a side edge of the second reinforcing end panel, and an inner side panel extending from a side edge of the inner reinforcing corner panel.

Abstract: A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two opposing side panels each extending from a side edge of the bottom panel, two opposing end panels each extending from an end edge of the bottom panel, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side edge of a first side panel of the two side panels. The reinforcing panel assembly includes a corner panel extending from the first side edge of the first side panel, a first reinforcing end panel extending from a side edge of the corner panel, a second reinforcing end panel extending from a side edge of the first reinforcing end panel, an inner reinforcing corner panel extending from a side edge of the second reinforcing end panel, and an inner side panel extending from a side edge of the inner reinforcing corner panel.

Abstract: A foldable tray having a single sheet of material having lines of reduced resistance to bending separating a central base area and first through fourth side areas encircling the base area, the lines of reduced resistance to bending separating the first and second side areas being curved away from each other adjacent a first corner of the base area to cause the base area adjacent the first corner to curve upward when the first and second side areas are bent upward along their respective lines of reduced resistance to bending, each side area having cooperatively disposed fasteners adjacent the adjacent side areas for retaining the side areas when folded upward about the lines of reduced resistance to bending. a tab with an opening may be provided integral with one of the side areas for hanging the tray for storage or display. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A container comprising a box having a bottom wall, side walls and end walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, corner panels extending from either the end walls or the side walls and attached to outer faces of the side walls or the end walls, reinforcing panels extending from the side walls or the end walls and attached to inner faces of the end walls, a cover having an top wall and side walls and end walls extending downwardly from said top wall, the cover being placed over the box with the side walls and end walls of said cover extending outside of the box, and straps around the box and the cover and over the corner panels; and a blank for the box.

Abstract: A foldable tray having a single sheet of material having lines of reduced resistance to bending separating a central base area and first through fourth side areas encircling the base area, the lines of reduced resistance to bending separating the first and second side areas being curved away from each other adjacent a first corner of the base area to cause the base area adjacent the first corner to curve upward when the first and second side areas are bent upward along their respective lines of reduced resistance to bending, each side area having cooperatively disposed fasteners adjacent the adjacent side areas for retaining the side areas when folded upward about the lines of reduced resistance to bending a tab with an opening may be provided integral with one of the side areas for hanging the tray for storage or display. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an improved telescoping container, which is set up and collapsed flat quickly and easily, and is provided to the user in one integral piece, eliminating the necessity of a lid being assembled or maintained separately. An integral lid provides an improved amount of cushioning and strength, and does not enter the cubic volume of the container and thus reduce available storage space. In one embodiment of the invention the container gains strength from a double glued seam, having opposing edges sealed to one another with two tabs; alternatively one of the two tabs is sealed. The container sets up by having an inner portion telescope into an outer portion, and may be collapsed flat by pulling the inner portion back out of the outer portion. In one embodiment the ease of set up is further improved by forming the lid from a continuous sheet of material, so that the lid may be closed in one motion, rather than the sequence of steps required with other lids.

Abstract: A reinforced container includes four exterior panels and four supports. Three of the supports are integrally connected to two exterior panels that are positioned to form an edge of the container. The supports can be secured to the interior sides of the exterior panels. The reinforced container can be made from folding a single sheet of corrugated fiberboard.

Abstract: A tray-like, shallow carton (9) has angled corners and struts (34, 40) that reinforce the load bearing capacity of the carton. End closure flaps (20, 22, 24/25, 26/27) which become end walls of the carton have a pair of closure tabs (42) and sealing tabs (44) that cover and seal the angled corners of the carton (9). The carton (9) may be formed from a rectilinear blank (8) that contains all of the elements of the carton within the rectilinear perimeter of the blank (8). In another embodiment, a blank (208) and carton (209) have a corner structure which includes a tucking tab (248) lying between closure (242) and sealing (244) tabs. In the erected carton (209) the tucking tab (248) and closure tab (242) are pushed into the recess of each respective corner.

Abstract: A tote (10) is disclosed in its preferred form including a tubular body formed from four side panels (12-15) preferably of identical construction and including top and bottom panels (16, 18) preferably of construction. The side panels (12-15) each include flaps (26, 28) extending from the opposite side edges (22, 24) of a central portion (20). The flaps (26, 28) overlap and are secured to the central portion (20) of the adjacent side panels (12-15) and extend in two, nonparallel directions from the corners of the tubular body defined by the side edges (22, 24) to create a V-shaped corner post at each corner of the tubular body. A pleat is formed in each of the central portions (20) of the side panels (12-15) to increase compression strength and rigidity of the side panel (12-15).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for opening the bolt of a fastener, inserting an end cap D-ring, or quality tag. The method and apparatus comprises using a first clamp configured to receive therein a fasteners, a second clamp being configured to engage a latch or bolt of the fasteners, a robot gripper and control means to effect the opening of the fastener, the insertion of an end of a chain into the fastener and the closing of the fastener. The movement of the latch or bolt knob is coordinated with the movement of the fastener such that the forces acting on the bolt knob are substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the bolt in the fastener.

Abstract: A collapsible, self-standing, liquid resistant, drinking cup formed from a unitary blank of uncoated paperboard and having a bottom wall member and a pair of side wall members that are interconnected at their side edges and that have certain lower edges joined to the bottom wall member and other lower edges disposed below the bottom wall member to support the erected cup on a horizontal surface.

Abstract: A paperboard carton is formed from a single blank of generally rectangular shape which is cut and scored along lines which provide corner panels at the four corners and middle panels separated from the corner panels along one pair of opposite sides of the blank by two laterally spaced pairs of two laterally spaced cut lines connected at their inner ends by an angularly directed cut line, and along the other pair of opposite sides of the blank by two laterally spaced pairs of two laterally spaced score lines which define between them an angle corner panel. The inner ends of the middle panels are defined by score lines which, together with the angle cut lines, define the peripheral margin of a central bottom panel. The middle panels form the ends and sides of the carton.

Abstract: An octagonal carton formed from an integral prescored blank having a bottom wall with at least three side walls attached thereto. An opposite pair of the side walls include diagonal corner wall structures which are foldable with the side walls to form diagonal corner walls. The lid is attached to the third wall and is foldable over the two opposite side walls and secured to a fourth side wall attached to the bottom wall or secured by a wall on the lid edge to the bottom wall to form the fourth side wall. The lid and fourth wall structures include various securing structures to secure the carton when erected.

Abstract: A casket and method for manufacture are disclosed according to which a shell or base, having outwardly flared walls, is constructed of corrugated fiberboard by a technique in which a planar sheet of corrugated fiberboard is cut to form a blank having interconnected portions corresponding to the areas of the flared side and end walls. A domed lid is also provided, being formed of corrugated fiberboard with a reinforcing marginal frame, provision being made for utilization of the lid either as a single unitary piece or as a split lid having two halves.

Abstract: A filter assembly includes a casing having a support panel to support the filter element and upstanding walls extending around the periphery of the casing. The corners between the walls are reinforced by a pair of tabs extending, each extending from a respective one of the walls and co-operating with the other wall to provide a double layer of reinforcement. The walls are inclined to the support panel to permit nesting of the casings during transport.