A soft-sided insulated container assembly is made of a flexible wall structure that is movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position. In one variation of the deployed position it resembles a tote-bag; in another variation of folding the deployed position corresponds to a generally box-like shape. The container includes a self-inflating wall structure that has an inner layer or skin, an outer layer or skin, and a resilient, open-cell insulating layer trapped between the two skins. A valve governs the ability to take in or to expel air. The outer layer may be thicker and more robust that the inner layer, the better to resist abrasion or punctures. The inner layer may be reflective. There may be a removable internal liner. That liner may be transparent.

Described is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) payload receiving apparatus that may be secured to a side of a structure, such as a human residence, and positioned such that a UAV can deliver a payload into the UAV payload receiving apparatus without the UAV having to land or navigate into an area that includes objects that could be harmed by the UAV and/or harm the UAV. The UAV payload receiving apparatus may include a plurality of securing members for securing the UAV payload receiving apparatus to the structure. A top frame is coupled to the securing members, positioned in a substantially horizontal direction when the UAV payload receiving apparatus is secured to a structure, and forms an opening of a size sufficient for a payload to pass through when the payload is released by a UAV positioned above the UAV payload receiving apparatus. The UAV payload receiving apparatus also includes a payload retainer, such as a net or bag, that is coupled to and extends in a downward direction from the top frame. The payload retainer receives and retains a payload that is placed in the UAV payload receiving apparatus.

A collection bag is for receiving a collected material and an emptying opening configured in a specific shape for the collection bag which has a receiving space defined by a woven cloth. The receiving space is defined by outer edges of the collection bag. The woven cloth is at least partially air-permeable. The receiving space has an inlet opening for a blower air flow supplying the material and a closable emptying opening for removing the material. The receiving space opens into a tubular outlet section, the open end thereof forming the emptying opening. In a closed position of the outlet section, the receiving space or the emptying opening is closed. In an open position, the receiving space is connected to the surroundings via the emptying opening. In its open position, the outlet section protrudes from the bag and, in its closed position, the outlet section is located inside the bag.

A fabric bulk bag and a method for constructing the same, the bag including a continuous sidewall, a top portion, and a bottom, all defining a bulk storage space therein; the bottom further comprising eight sides which define an octagonal shape having an enlarged footprint so that the bag wall is sewn to the bottom in less time than a round shaped bag, yet when filled stands more upright with less tendency to lean than the current square shaped bags thereby providing a safer more dependable stacking bulk bag. In the method of producing the fabric bulk bag, the bag is constructed in less time than the prior art round bottom bags, uses less wall fabric than prior art square bottomed bags and when constructed and filled, supports itself more stable on a floor or pallet because it provides substantially more base for the product to rest on. In other embodiments, the bag would be multi-sided with greater than four sides.

A removable storage box cover having a bottom wall having a fore edge, at least two sidewalls having upper edges, fore edges, and defining a rectangular internal cavity, and a lid hingedly coupled to one of the at least two sidewalls, wherein the lid includes an upper wall portion having lateral side edges and a sidewall portion having lateral side edges and a lower edge separating the lateral side edges of the sidewall portion of the lid. The cover also includes a first track spanning the perimeter of the exposed edges of the at least two side walls and bottom wall and a second track spanning the perimeter of the exposed edges of the lid, wherein the lid, sidewalls and bottom wall are operable to be joined together in a watertight relationship with one another to enclose a box and be opened to insert or remove a box.

Thermoplastic films include intermittent stretched regions that are visually distinct from un-stretched regions. The stretched regions can be white, opaque, and non porous. The thermoplastic films with visually-distinct stretched regions can be formed into bags for use as trash can liners or food storage. Additionally, methods of stretching thermoplastic films to create non-porous, white, and opaque stretched regions include incrementally stretching a film of a thermoplastic material and a voiding agent.

A fabric bulk bag and a method for constructing the same, the bag including a continuous sidewall, a top portion, and a bottom, all defining a bulk storage space therein; the bottom further comprising eight sides which define an octagonal shape having an enlarged footprint so that the bag wall is sewn to the bottom in less time than a round shaped bag, yet when filled stands more upright with less tendency to lean than the current square shaped bags thereby providing a safer more dependable stacking bulk bag. In the method of producing the fabric bulk bag, the bag is constructed in less time than the prior art round bottom bags, uses less wall fabric than prior art square bottomed bags and when constructed and filled, supports itself more stable on a floor or pallet because it provides substantially more base for the product to rest on. In other embodiments, the bag would be multi-sided with greater than four sides.

A vertical bag-making/filling/packaging machine includes: a top folding portion which forms a first fold by folding one of sides of a band-shaped film into a Z shape; a bottom folding portion which folds a center of the film so that side edges of the film face each other; a first pleat guide which pulls a first pleat of the first fold upright; a spout portion-forming portion which forms a spout portion between the side edges of the film; and a second pleat seal portion which forms a second pleat by heat-welding the side edges of the film together so as to make the film into a tube shape.

A method, apparatus and system is provided for both (1) decreasing electrostatic discharges to reduce the potential for incendiary discharges caused by electrostatic charges in flexible containers such as flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs) and (2) decreasing the induction on isolated conductors nearby the container to reduce the potential for incendiary discharges from the isolated conductors.

A collapsible utility bucket system includes a bucket, a compartment member, a frame hinge, and a sack. The bucket has a frame defining a central volume. The frame includes a base member, a plurality of poles, and a rim. The compartment member is coupled to the bucket and also has a base member, a plurality of poles, and a rim. The frame hinge in is communication with a pole of the bucket and a pole of the compartment member to permit the pivoting of the compartment member about the bucket between set positions. The compartment member pivots so as to rest adjacent to different sides of the bucket at each set position. The sack is configured to couple to a rim of at least one of the bucket and the compartment member and hold assorted items.