Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Premark Packaging LLC

John A Rometty

Jeffrey W O'Hara

Lloyd W Lenig

Jeffrey W O'hara

Nancy L Roach

Timothy B Pearson

James A Haberstroh

Robert J Nix

Jason R Nasiatka

Joseph J Gardner

Mitchell Snyder

Jeffrey W O'HARA

A rigid packaging container having an integral locking assembly is a rigid U-board having a bottom wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, the bottom wall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall forming a channel. The first and second sidewalls each have a cut therethrough, forming a first channel section and a second channel section. An integral tab in the first sidewall of each of the first channel section and the second channel section is configured to form an integral locking assembly which may be pushed inwardly or pulled outwardly to secure the first channel section at an angle relative to the second channel section.

Corner lock board

A four-sided, clam-shell-like container is formed from a preformed, rigid U-shaped cross-section. The U-shaped member has a base wall and opposing side walls. The base and side walls and the intersection of the base and side walls are rigid. The base wail has a thickness having a slot is formed therein. The slot extends longitudinally along a length of the base wall and is formed in an inner surface thereof into the thickness of the base wall. The slot defines base wall sections adjacent and connected to one another by a portion of the thickness of the base wail. The base wall portions and the side walls adjacent thereto are foldable inward along the slot so as to form a four-sided, generally rectangular shaped cross-section container such that ends of the side walls are near one another and are foldable outward for stacking and storing the U-shaped members.

Four-sided container

A high density nesting packaging container has first and second preformed, rigid U-shaped members each having a U-shaped cross-section. The U-shaped members are configured to fit into one another to form a rectangular cross-section container. Each of the U-shaped members has a base wall and opposing side walls, the intersection of the base and side walls being rigid. The base wall has a thickness. A narrow slit is formed in the base wall, extending longitudinally along the base wall and formed from an inner surface of the wall into the thickness of the base wall. The base wall is foldable along the slit so as to form a generally W-configuration cross-section. The thus W-configuration, U-shaped members are nestable with each other. When the U-shaped member is unfolded to the U-shaped cross-section, the opposing surfaces formed by the slit abut one another to maintain the crate in the U-shaped cross-section.

Nestable rigid U-crates

A high density nesting packaging element is a preformed, rigid U-shaped member. The U-shaped member has a base wall and upstanding opposing side walls, in which the intersection of the base and side walls is rigid. The base wall has a thickness and a narrow slit is formed in the base wall, extending longitudinally along the base wall. The slit is formed from an inner surface of the wall into the thickness of the base wall. The base wall is foldable along the slit so as to form a generally W-shaped configuration cross-section. When folded into the W-shaped configuration, the members are nestable with each other. When the member is unfolded to the U-shaped cross-section, the opposing surfaces formed by the slit abut one another to maintain the member in the U-shaped configuration.

A packaging container for a load having a projection such as a nailing fin is made from two rigid U-boards. An inner U-board supports the weight of the window/door frame while preventing the nailing fin from having contact, directly or indirectly, with the ground or sides of the fin crate. The nailing fin provides one supporting wall for the inner U-board while a second, outer U-board provides a second supporting wall. Both walls prevent the inner U-board from spreading out or collapsing under the weight of the window/door. The inner U-board is formed as a continuous element or as discrete elements. The nailing fin is incorporated into the fin crate to form a support member and part of the packaging container.

Apparatus and method for packaging a load having projections

A packaging container has a heavy duty integrated handle. The container is formed from a rigid unit of generally U-shaped cross-section having a main body portion with a generally flat bottom wall and upstanding, opposing sidewalls, wherein the bottom wall is reinforced with reinforcing material. Reinforced hand openings are formed in the reinforced bottom wall, configured for a user to insert a hand for use as the handle for the packaging container.

Heavy duty handle U-board

A single piece edge protector for curved and curvilinear-shaped objects includes a preformed, rigid, laminated U-board having a bottom wall, and a first sidewall, and a second sidewall which include preformed angled cuts. The preformed cuts are formed at about 15 degrees from a plane perpendicular to the bottom wall. Each sidewall of the edge protector is a mirror-image of the other such that a preformed cut on the first sidewall is directly across from a preformed cut on the second sidewall. A plurality of preformed cuts form both V-shaped openings and a plurality of trapezoid-like legs on the first and second sidewalls. Each leg may have a similar surface area or a different surface area as an adjacent leg along the length of the edge protector. The edge protector is configured to follow a curvilinear perimeter of about 135 degrees and may include an end cap closure.

Single piece edge protector for curved objects

A cutting tool for strap includes a fixed element and a movable element pivotally operably connected to one another. The fixed element has a body, a grip extending from an end of the body and an anvil. The anvil has a cutting edge. A pivot region is defined between the cutting edge and the grip. The movable element has a body, an enclosed handle and a cutting head. The cutting head defines a cutting edge. A pivot region is defined between the cutting edge and the handle. The movable and fixed elements are operably connected at their respective pivot regions. A cutter guard having a flange is disposed to overlie a portion of the fixed element anvil to provide an opening between the flange and the anvil to place the strap during a cutting operation.

Cutting tool for a strap

A clearing and reloading assembly is configured for use with a strapping machine of the type having an infeed arrangement at about a strap material inlet to the machine, a feed assembly and a chute, the strapping machine defining a strap material holding region between the infeed arrangement and the feed assembly. The strapping machine is configured to receive first and second courses of associated strap material, position, tension and seal the strap material around a load. The clearing and reloading assembly includes a body, a driven wheel and a bearing element opposite of the driven wheel. The bearing element and the driven wheel define a strap path therebetween. A strap cutter is disposed for movement into and out of the strap path. A first peripheral portion of the driven wheel is configured to define a gap between the first portion and the bearing element such that the strap material can slip therebetween. A second peripheral portion of the driven wheel is configured such that the strap material is gripped between the second portion and the bearing element, and a third peripheral portion of the driven wheel is configured such that the strap material is pinched between third portion and the bearing element. The cutter is movable into the strap path to sever the strap material.

Strapping machine with automatic strap clearing and reloading

A time-out indicator is adapted for use in a pneumatic strapping tool for tensioning a strap around a load, adhering the strap onto itself, and cutting a feed end of the strap. The strapping tool has a cylinder housing, a piston disposed within a cylinder in the cylinder housing, a pneumatic weld motor operably connected to the piston, a vibrating weld element operably connected to the piston for contacting the strap and adhering the strap onto itself. A pneumatic module is mounted to the cylinder housing to provide compressed gas to the cylinder housing and the pneumatic weld motor. The time-out indicator includes a sleeve fitted into an opening in the module. The opening is disposed above and in communication with the cylinder. The sleeve defines a central, longitudinal opening. An indicator is biasedly mounted in the sleeve and disposed for contact with the piston. The indicator reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position and indicates a cycle of the strapping tool as an in-cycle state in which the cylinder is under pressure, pressurizing the piston to urge the weld element into contact with the strap and a timed-out state in which the piston is not pressurized.

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Barrington, IL, United States of America

John A Rometty