Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Norbert E Wrobel

John R David

Curtis L Larson

Eugene L Baratto

Thomas L Nelson

James M Peck

Joseph F Garvey

Gerald W Johannsen

A pretaped container blank which may be quickly and easily formed into a three-dimensional container without the need for additional components or tools. The container blank includes (i) a plurality of interconnected panels, and (ii) a plurality of closure flaps including a carrier flap hingedly connected to at least one of the panels. The tape structure is attached to the container blank and includes (i) a release surface on the carrier flap, and (ii) a length of closure adhesive tape extending over substantially the entire length of the release surface and a distance across the panel or flap to which the carrier flap is connected sufficient for the tape to remain attached to the container blank upon removal of that length of the tape from the release surface. Several embodiments of container blanks and tape structures are disclosed.

Pretaped container blanks

A self-contained container assembly which may be quickly and easily formed into a three-dimensional container without the need for additional components or tools which includes a container blank and a tape structure. The container blank includes (i) a plurality of laterally interconnected panels, and (ii) a set of closure flaps hingedly connected to the longitudinal ends of the panels at one end. The tape structure is attached to the container blank and includes (i) a release surface extending longitudinally along a first of the closure flaps from proximate the panel to which the closure flap is connected to proximate the distal end of the closure flap, and (ii) a length of closure adhesive tape extending over substantially the entire length of the first closure flap--in overlapping relationship to the release surface--and a distance across the panel to which the first closure flap is connected sufficient for the tape to remain attached to the container blank upon removal of that length of the tape extending across the first closure flap.

A protective packaging container for encasing an article therein has air impermeable inner and outer walls. The inner wall defines a pouch for reception of the article, and the inner and outer walls are bonded together to define a hermetic chamber therebetween. Within the chamber, a mass of resilient compressible material is disposed, assuming a first compressed state when a reduced atmospheric pressure is maintained in the chamber. The resilient material assumes a second expanded state when the material is exposed to atmospheric pressure, when the chamber hermetic seal is breached. Upon expansion, the resilient material urges the inner wall about the article and provides an impact-absorbing cushion about the article. In one embodiment, a relatively inflexible protective panel member is provided on each side of the packaging container within the chamber between the resilient compressible material and the outer wall. Thus, expansion of the resilient material urges each protective panel outwardly against the outer wall to provide an impact resistant shield about the article.

Packaging container

A pad of wire identification labels comprising a relatively stiff rectangular pad backing and a multiplicity of layers of a pressure sensitive adhesive tape on the pad backing. A narrow band of a release liner is similarly adhered to the pressure sensitive adhesive surface of each layer of tape along one edge and the layers of tape and the release liner are slit into a multiplicity of long, narrow, parallel strips defining the individual labels. Each of the narrow label strips has a multiplicity of the same indicia spaced along its length.

Wire identification label pad

A wire-marking clip applicator includes a holder which carries a number of wands, each carrying a unique set of marked C-shaped clips that can be individually dispensed onto a wire from a flared shoe at the end of each wand. Such clip-dispensing wands have been used for the same purpose in the prior art, but the holder makes it possible for the first time to mark a wire with differently numbered clips without picking up, using, and laying down a wand. The holder preferably is formed with a central longitudinal passage into which a wire to be marked can be inserted if one end of the wire is disconnected, thus positioning every flared shoe close to the wire for quickly and easily transfering clips onto the wire.

Wire-marking clip applicator

A multiple tape dispenser for wire marker tape consisting of a plurality of identical tape dispensers secured together coaxially. Each tape dispenser is generally cylindrical and has an arcuate hinged door which in its closed position forms part of the circumferential edge wall of the housing. Tape wound on a core in the housing has its free end folded back over an arcuate area beneath the free end of the arcuate door with the adhesive side of the tape adhering to the underside of the door such that when the door is opened the tape peels from the back side of the door and stands up for easy access by the user.

Growing community of inventors

Marine-on-the-St. Croix, MN, United States of America

Norbert E Wrobel