Abstract: A packaging system comprises a rolled-up bag generally assuming a spiraled configuration and defining an inflatable chamber therein adapted to be at least partially filled with a filler medium, such as pressurized air. A pouch is secured on the bag for retaining an article within the confines thereof. The bag is adapted to be pre-placed within a closeable box and the article then placed in the pouch, or, alternatively, the article can be placed in the bag, the bag rolled-up and then placed in the box. The bag is then inflated to at least substantially encapsulate and support the pouch and article within rolled-up portions of the bag.

Abstract: Bag for use by divers for transporting articles under water, including valves for controlling the buoyancy of the bag under water. An essential consideration is that this transportation shall take place while the articles are kept dry, for example tools or materials to be used in diver operations. According to the invention a receptacle (10) for articles to be transported, constitutes a buoyancy chamber, and is provided with at least one unidirectional valve (15, 16, 18) for buoyancy control, as well as a watertight closure, preferably a zipper (4) for an opening to the receptacle (10).

Abstract: An inflatable pool comprises a base sheet and a hollow inflatable wall having its bottom end heat sealed to the edge of the base sheet. The wall includes a pair of first sheets sealed together at first seal seams forming a plurality of compartments, and a pair of second sheets sealed to the compartments at second seal means and also the top edges of the second sheets are sealed together forming the envelope of the wall. The construction of the wall of the inflatable pool is stronger and stiffer and the outer surfaces of the wall are flatter and smoother than that of conventional inflatable pools.

Abstract: A line throwing bag comprising a bag with a sidewall, an open end, a closed end formed by an end wall, and an interior compartment with sufficient size to loosely receive a plurality of folds of a central portion of a line. The line has a first end portion fixedly attached to the bag and extending through an aperture in the bag end wall with a loop positioned exterior of the bag for grasping by the person to be rescued. A looped second end portion extends through the bag open end and is positioned exterior of the bag for grasping by the person throwing the bag. A weight is fixedly attached to the bag end wall and weighs a sufficient amount to carry the bag forward when thrown for a distance substantially equal of the length of the line central portion and to gradually play the line out of the bag under the rearward drag created by holding the second line end portion stationary.

Abstract: An inflatable beverage insulator for receiving a beverage container for keeping the beverage container in a thermally protected environment, including a container receptacle for receiving the beverage container with such container receptacle including a jacket portion and a base portion formed integrally therewith, with the jacket portions and base portions forming a pneumatically secure cavity which, by means of inflating members, permits the inflation of the cavity to permit the thermal insulation of the beverage container so disposed in the container receptacle.

Abstract: An inflatable pool which comprises a base sheet and a hollow-shaped inflatable wall having its bottom end heat-sealed to the edge of the base sheet. The wall is provided with outer heat seal seams and inner heat seal seams which are extending axially and dividing the wall into a plurality of elongated air compartments intercommunicated and structurally interconnected. The outer heat seal seams are staggered with respect to the inner heat seal seams and the upper portion of the wall is a continuous seal free portion.

Abstract: There is provided an article for use by persons lying on the ground at the sea or like locations.The device serves as a head rest for the reposing person and as a sun shade. When not in use as stated, the device serves as a carrying bag.

Abstract: A flexible container comprises a receptacle divided into two chambers by an openable, fluid-tight barrier formed between the interior surface of the receptacle and the exterior surface of a hollow member contained in the receptacle. The barrier is maintained closed by a removable sealing band applied around the exterior of the receptacle. The removal of the band allows the wall surface of the receptacle to separate from the exterior surface of the hollow member, thereby opening a passage between the two chambers.

Abstract: In an iris-stop arrangement for stopping-off a duct the secondary bag has a contact length with the duct of at least 0.7 times its diameter. The apparatus is such that the point where the inflation neck of the bag meets the remainder of the bag can adopt a position not substantially in front of the secondary bag support member. Thus the bag has improved functional grip on the duct and does not suffer severe flexing at the neck when it moves back to rest against the support member. Preferably the portion of the bag which contacts the duct in use is a single layer of fabric thick while the ends of the bag, which have to withstand the bag inflation pressure unsupported, are two layers thick. In this way the bag can have good performance characteristics while only needing a relatively small insertion hole in the side of the duct.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for in-process storage of a stack of molded discs which is comprised of a rigid base member and inflatable tubular member attached to the base member which can be inflated so as to hold the stack of discs placed on the base member securely in position and protected from physical damage during storage.

Abstract: A flexible inflatable container is closed at one end and open at its other end. A closure strap is secured to the bag adjacent the open end and is arranged to be wrapped around and close this open end after inflating the bag. This closure strap is associated with another strip of material secured to the bag for forming a handle at this end of the bag. The other end of the bag has a base strip secured peripherally around the bag and has flexible strips secured thereto to form handles at this end of the bag. The bag is sufficiently elongated from end to end so as to carry a person lying crosswise thereon for riding a wave in the surf.

Abstract: A container for fragile articles, such as musical instruments, includes an outer cover of scuff-resistant fabric which is compartmentalized to receive cooperating and similarly sized and shaped, shock-absorbing, inflatable, insert having finger-like elements, pneumatically interconnected to each other thru a header and also connected with an inflatable end-cover portion the latter cooperating with an end cover portion of the outer container cover to envelope the fragile article and protect it from shock and possible destruction in transit; the inflatable insert being easily removed for repair or replacement in the event of a puncture.

Abstract: A container (20) for carrying fragile and delicate items, such as cameras, instruments, or the like, comprises a soft or rigid casing and an inner inflatable envelope (34) made of a resilient air-impermeable material. The inner envelope (34) is removable and is inserted into a space formed between the inner surface of the container (20) and a permanent liner (32) which is attached to the casing, leaving an opening for inserting the inflatable envelope into said space. The container is equipped with a pump for inflating the inner envelope (34). The pump is made in the form of a rubber bulb (42) with a check valve (44), a manually operated air release valve (46), and an automatic safety valve (48). This container can be embodied in the form of a suitcase, a briefcase, a wig tote, etc. It protects its contents from rough handling and accidental dropping by the energy-absorbing effect of the inflatable envelope and by the tight holding effect provided by the variable inflatability of the envelope.

Abstract: A bag construction comprising an outer casing portion having a plurality of flexible outer walls, an inflatable bladder removably received in the casing portion, and preferably also a pocket element or the like for receiving articles in the bag and positioning them adjacent the bladder. The inflatable bladder acts to effectively cushion and protect the articles contained in the pocket element and hence the bag can be utilized for transporting relatively fragile articles, such as bottles containing cosmetics and the like in the pocket element. The bladder is inflatable from the exterior of the bag and it is removable from the casing portion to permit the use of the bag without the bladder and to facilitate the cleaning of the bag.

Abstract: A container (10) for the pressure tight packaging of articles, in particular tennis balls, is described which consists of a multiple layer foil (12) which is matched at least substantially to the shape of the articles to be packaged and is closed by welded seams (26, 28, 30). The multiple layer foil embraces at least one layer of a gas impermeable material, and at least one layer of a strength giving material with at least the layer which forms the interior surface of the container being weldable. At least one part of the weld seams is formed without overlapping by welding together the interior surfaces of the container. The non-overlapped weld seams are folded-back onto the body of the container and secured to the body of the container by a tape (32) or by an adhesive strip (FIG. 4).

Abstract: An inflatable dunnage bag is formed by a flat, flexible triangular envelope constructed of heavy kraft paper and a sealed inner plastic liner which is inflatable through a valve. The bag is used for shoring load by standing it upright with its base topmost, horizontally oriented, and positioned adjacent the top of the load and its apex positioned contiguous to the bottom perimeter of the load.

Abstract: A variable-volume receptacle, especially for use as a compensating receptacle in heating systems. The receptacle includes two membrane-like sheets of rubber or synthetic material; the sheets have the same surface areas, and are placed against one another. The edges of the sheets are bound together by a peripheral U-shaped strip which is attached to both sides. The novel edge connection is considerably more durable than the conventional overlap connection, and as a result of not being susceptible to the otherwise constant danger of tearing due to having been folded, the connection also has a much longer life than do the heretofore known overlap connections.

Abstract: An inflatable container having an inflatable peripheral side wall formed by inner an outer essentially concentric cylindrical members to define an essentially annular thermal insulating inflatable air space. The inflatable container includes two inflatable end walls, each watertight sealed to respective ends of the inflatable peripheral side wall in order to define a closed, watertight cylindrical enclosure. The inflatable container includes along a linear top portion thereof, a zipper mechanism attached to opposed linear edges of the peripheral side wall for permitting access into the cylindrical cavity defined by the container. Proper radial spacing of the inner and outer cylindrical sheets of the peripheral side wall is maintained by a plurality of individual point attachments therebetween which maximize the effective insulating surface area of the side wall, while simultaneously improving the structural rigidity in the linear and transverse directions.

Abstract: A carrying bag convertible to a flat mat includes a rectangular body member of flexible foldable material and an arrangement of fold lines and fasteners which enables the body member to be used alternately as a flat mat or a relatively compact, compartmented carrying bag, the arrangement further allowing selective joining of a plurality of such body members, when in the flat mat configuration, to establish an integral, extended flat mat assembly.

Abstract: To provide improved protection for a fragile or delicate article in the event that an inflated packaging structure in which the article is disposed for transportation is punctured there is provided a light weight, simple and inexpensive inflatable packaging structure in which an inflatable inner liner attached within an outer envelope comprises two inflatable zones each incorporating a plurality of inflatable cells, with the cells of one of the zones alternating with the cells of the other zone. Thus, with the inner liner inflated and the fragile or delicate article disposed between two superposed layers of the liner the article is still substantially protected by the inflated cells of one of the zones even if the other zone is punctured.

Abstract: A tubular web has a bottom which is tightly sealed to enable pressurizing of the bag, the bottom including a first band of thermosetting glue imprinted across the length of the web at the interior of the tube. A second band and a third band of thermosetting glue are imprinted on the tube at the exterior thereof in registry with the ends of the first band and jointly extend across a rear panel. The tube has a turned up bottom defined by a fold along a line extending centrally along the imprinted bands, each portion of the thermosetting glue bands being thermally fused only to other portions of such bands in contact therewith. In one embodiment, there is a second fold along a second line spaced from the turned up bottom which defines an area between the second line and the turned up bottom, such area being joined by glue to the back panel.

Abstract: A tamper evident packaging for contaminatable products. The packaging includes inner and outer gas-tight containers. In one embodiment, the inner container has only one flexible wall and the outer container has only one flexible wall. The inner and outer containers are each pressurized with gas above atmospheric pressure to inflate their flexible walls. In another embodiment of the invention, both walls of each of the inner and outer containers are flexible. The capsules, pill and the like to be protected are located inside the inner container and the inner container is positioned inside the outer container providing a package which is difficult to tamper with and will clearly show evident of tampering both through appearance and characteristic feel to the would be purchaser.

Abstract: A bag device A is disclosed having a waterproof enclosure D contained within an outer case B having a cover flap C which fastens over a closure 18 by means of a yieldable fastener 20, 22 to seal an article within enclosure D in a generally airtight waterproof environment. Air entrapped therein provides buoyancy and a safety fastener E maintains the closure 18 sealed should cover flap C become unfastened under pressure such as when fallen upon during whitewater boating.