A package for a prolate spheroidal ball having a longitudinal axis. A back plate is disposed between a first end and a second end of the package. A first cradle extends from the back plate adjacent the first end, and is operative to receive a first portion of the prolate spheroidal ball along the longitudinal axis. A wing portion extends from the back plate adjacent the second end, and at least partially circumscribes the longitudinal axis of the prolate spheroidal ball. A flap portion extends from the wing portion and defines an end surface of the package. The longitudinal axis intersects the flap portion.

Delivering bags, for example, for delivering items and products purchased bye-commerce in so-called “grocery” tote bags to the respective purchasing customers is described. In one embodiment, a system includes a box and a plurality of bag protectors, each made of material having sufficient rigidity to protect a bag contained therein. In one embodiment, the bag protector has a bottom panel configured to support a bottom of the bag, and two side panels that are configured to extend from two opposing edges of the boom panel away from the bottom panel to form a generally tapering profile so as to meet each other adjacent an opening portion of the bag. The box is configured to receive a plurality of bag protectors, each protectively containing a bag therein. For example, given the generally tapering profile of the bag protectors, they may be placed alternately facing opposite directions in the box.

A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two side panels, two end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side panel. The machine includes a hopper station, a corner post forming station, and a plunger station. The method includes rotating the reinforcing panel assembly upwardly toward the first side panel as the blank is transported from the hopper station to the corner post forming station, forming a corner wall and a reinforcing end tab by folding reinforcing panels about fold lines as the blank is transported through the corner post forming station, rotating the side panels and the end panels to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel by directing the blank through the plunger station, and coupling the reinforcing end tab to an end panel to form the container.

A pizza slice container includes an upper member having an upper surface; a lower member having a bottom surface and at least one sidewall, the lower member attached to the upper member by at least one hinge, wherein the upper surface and the bottom surface are opposed. The upper member includes at least one retention spike extending from the upper surface of the upper member toward the bottom surface of the lower member. The lower member includes at least one retaining tab extending substantially perpendicular from a sidewall of the lower member; and at least one rib extending from the bottom surface of the lower member toward the upper surface of the upper member. The upper and lower members are movable with respect to one another between an open position and a closed position. Other embodiments of the pizza slice container, and methods for its use, are described herein.

An apparatus to display packaged products that includes a base that includes a bottom segment, at least two supporting segments, and a top segment, the top segment provided with a plurality of apertures and supported at least in part by the at least two supporting segments such that the bottom segment and the top segment are generally parallel; and at least two side portions, at least one of said side portions comprising a support column, the at least two side portions being generally perpendicular to the bottom segment and the top segment. Methods of assembling the apparatus are also provided.

A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material is provided. The blank includes a reinforcing panel assembly for forming a reinforcing corner assembly. The machine includes a hopper station for storing the blank in a substantially flat configuration and a forming station for forming the blank into the container. The forming station includes an initial forming station that rotates a first portion of the reinforcing panel assembly with respect to a second portion of the reinforcing panel assembly, and a secondary forming station having male and female forming members with shapes corresponding to an interior shape and an exterior shape of the reinforcing corner assembly, respectively. The male and the female forming members are configured to form the reinforcing corner assembly by compressing together the first and second portions of the reinforcing panel assembly.

A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two opposing side panels, two opposing end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side edge of a first end panel of the two end panels. The reinforcing panel assembly includes a corner panel extending from the first side edge of the first end panel, a first reinforcing side panel extending from a side edge of the corner panel, a second reinforcing side panel extending from a side edge of the first reinforcing side panel, a reinforcing corner panel extending from a side edge of the second reinforcing side panel, and an inner end panel extending from a side edge of the reinforcing corner panel. The corner panel and the reinforcing corner panel are configured, upon articulation of the blank, to be positioned into face-to-face relationship to form a corner wall of the container extending from a side edge of an end wall of the container to an end edge of a side wall of the container.

A crate is described in the form of a flap-adhesively-bonded box composed of cardboard having a bottom (1) and a shell (2) protruding from the bottom (1), which forms reinforced upper longitudinal edge sections by way of edge flaps (8) folded inward between the shell corners. To provide advantageous design conditions, it is proposed that the shell (2) have, at least on one side of the shell corners, attachment flaps (10, 11, 26), which are each bent inward according to crease lines (12, 13, 27), which are outwardly offset in relation to the edge (14) of the reinforced longitudinal edge sections, by 90° and are adhesively bonded to the opposite side of the shell corner, and the bottom (1) be provided in the region of the shell corners with recesses (17) adapted to the outline shape of a catch attachment (15) formed by the attachment flaps (10, 11, 26).

A box handling system is disclosed for use in an object processing system. The box handling system includes a box tray including a recessed area for receiving a box, and the recessed area includes a plurality of floor and edge portions for receiving the box that contains objects to be processed.

A package comprising a case defining a stowing volume, and a cover intended to close the stowing volume of the case, the case having a bottom and a peripheral rim which can adopt a stowed position in which it extends substantially parallel to the bottom and a use position in which it extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom. The case comprises a rigid element connected to the first panel and to the third panel by an elastic connection, the rigid element being movable between a storage position in which the rigid element is located near the bottom and a use position in which the rigid element is spaced from the bottom, the elastic connection tending to displace the rigid element from its storage position to its use position.