Abstract: A drainable ostomy pouch includes a collection portion and a drain chute extending from the collection portion having a discharge opening for permitting emptying of contents from the pouch. The drain chute is foldable between an open condition in which the drain chute is extended from the collection portion, and a closed condition in which the drain chute is folded towards the collection portion; and a pocket for receiving at least a portion of the drain chute when the drain chute is in its closed condition.

Abstract: An air valve for a poly bag that permits the escape of air from the bag as it is filled by a filling tube. The air valve consists of a plurality of slitted openings in one top corner of the bag and a valve flap mounted in the poly bag near the slitted openings that closes and seals the openings as filling material engages and moves the flap.

Abstract: One describes a package, particularly for packing industrial products, comprising a product-holding body provided with a through-bore, a grip region associated to the body and a flow controlling and interrupting valve associated to the through-bore, the valve comprising an elongate and through-bored body of flexible material, the body being fixed by means of at least its first end portion to the through-bore, the second end portion of the body, opposed to the first portion, extending outwardly of the thorough-bore and being foldable over the elongate body into the bore, so as to enable one to close the valve. The present package permits partial consumption of the product and the correct application, through the valve, thus enabling one to use the product partly and rationally, without wasting it. It also avoids leakage of the packed product, which is of great importance when toxic and polluting products are packed.

Abstract: A method for loading a bulk cargo into a flexible expandable liner. The liner has a body defining an inlet opening and an interior for holding the cargo. An inlet chute is connected to the liner body and extends through the inlet opening. The method includes the step of opening the inlet chute to form a tubular shaped passageway which passageway is in communication with the interior and exterior of the liner. Then conducting bulk cargo through the tubular passageway into the interior. Raising the gas pressure in the interior of the body to force the inlet chute against the liner body and thus close off the chute and inlet opening.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for performing image data compression. Initially, a two-dimensional block of image data in a spatial domain is transformed by a transform coder, resulting in a two-dimensional array of activity coefficients in a frequency domain. The array is then serialized and quantized, yielding a one-dimensional array of coefficients with a leading coefficient and an original trailing coefficient. Next, a portion of the array is selected by choosing a new trailing coefficient based on a setable ratio of the energy of the new short array to the energy of the original array. Lastly, an end-of-block symbol is appended after the new trailing coefficient, and the selected portion of the array is encoded using an entropy coder. The invention allows image data to enjoy enhanced compression with good image fidelity, and allows image fidelity to degrade gracefully in trade for higher degrees of image compression.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a flexible bag comprises an inner bag for storing product having a top end region provided with a channel flap. The flap comprises a flexible pouring spout closed above by a folded portion of the inner bag and closed below by a seal. In another embodiment, a flexible bag comprises an inner bag for storing product having a top end region and a channel flap connected thereto. The channel flap comprises a flexible pouring spout. The channel flap and inner bag are provided with juxtaposed die cut openings which define a flow inlet for the pouring spout.