The invention features a reinforcement element including a continuous paper strip having a first side and a second side, a first adhesive composition disposed on at least one of the first side and second side.

The invention further features a paper reinforced tape including a continuous paper strip, a continuous paper backing layer and a first adhesive composition disposed between the continuous paper strip and the continuous paper backing layer thereby adhering the continuous paper strip to the continuous paper backing layer.

The paper reinforced tapes and reinforcement elements of this invention have improved repulpability, recyclability, compostability and biodegradability. Further, these reinforcement elements and paper reinforced tapes, despite being predominately paper, unexpectedly provide excellent container reinforcement properties and further can be used as opening tapes, closing tapes and carrying handles.

The invention features a reinforcement element including a continuous paper strip having a first side and a second side, a first adhesive composition disposed on at least one of the first side and second side.

The invention further features a paper reinforced tape including a continuous paper strip, a continuous paper backing layer and a first adhesive composition disposed between the continuous paper strip and the continuous paper hacking layer thereby adhering the continuous paper strip to the continuous paper backing layer.

The paper reinforced tapes and reinforcement elements of this invention have improved repulpability, recyclability, compostability and biodegradability. Further, these reinforcement elements and paper reinforced tapes, despite being predominately paper, unexpectedly provide excellent container reinforcement properties and further can be used as opening tapes, closing tapes and carrying handles.

A tie article has a substantially elongated configuration having opposed first and second longitudinal edges. The tie article includes a base layer, a cover layer, a closure device, an adhesive and an extension. The base layer includes a central segment and two arm segments, each of the arm segments extending from opposing sides of the central segment. The cover layer overlaps the base layer. The closure device is sandwiched between the base layer and the cover layer so that the base layer and cover layer are bonded together around the closure device. The adhesive is disposed on the central segment of the base layer. The extension is of either or both of the base layer and cover layer and extends beyond at least one of the first and second longitudinal edges. A method is described for attaching a second item to a first item with a tie article.

A removeable band for confining a stack of cutlery pieces. The band can include a body having a first surface and a second surface that oppose one another, the body being an elongated strip of fiber-based material. A coating can be disposed on at least a portion of the first surface of the body, and an adhesive section can be disposed on at least a portion of the coating. The adhesive section can be configured to adhere to the second surface of the body when a first end and a second end of the body at least partially overlap to form a continuous band.

A tie article has a substantially elongated configuration having opposed first and second longitudinal edges. The tie article includes a base layer, a cover layer, a closure device, an adhesive and an extension. The base layer includes a central segment and two arm segments, each of the arm segments extending from opposing sides of the central segment. The cover layer overlaps the base layer. The closure device is sandwiched between the base layer and the cover layer so that the base layer and cover layer are bonded together around the closure device. The adhesive is disposed on the central segment of the base layer. The extension is of either or both of the base layer and cover layer and extends beyond at least one of the first and second longitudinal edges. A method is described for attaching a second item to a first item with a tie article.

The container includes an ink well and a base for the ink well. The ink well has a side defining an open top. It also has a bottom surface. The base includes a base wall configured to receive the well. The base wall has an upper section surrounding and engaging the well side proximate the open top of the well. It also has a lower section extending downwardly from the upper section. The lower base wall section includes at least one set of spaced legs. The spaced legs define a recess adapted to receive a leg of another similarly shaped container in order to interlock the containers in various arrangements.

A securing device (10) for securing a first object (320) relative to a second object (322) includes a device body (12) having a cross-sectional area, and which is formed from a material so that the device body (12) exhibits elongation of between six hundred percent and eight hundred percent. A ratio of the elongation (in percent) to the cross-sectional area (in square millimeters) is between approximately 5:1 and 10:1. The device body (12) is also formed from the material so that the device body (12) exhibits a tensile strength of between four thousand five hundred kPa and nine thousand three hundred kPa. A ratio of the tensile strength (in kPa) to the cross-sectional area (in square millimeters) is between approximately 50:1 and 85:1. The material that forms the device body (12) has an average kinetic coefficient of friction of between approximately 1.35 and 1.60 relative to itself. The material that forms the device body (12) can include thermoplastic elastomers, and can further include styrene.

Specialized flexible connectors are provided with testable integrity. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of tension load bearing fibers within such a flexible connector are individually testable by specialized computer hardware and software. In some embodiments, healing of such specialized flexible connectors is carried out (e.g., autonomously, by hardware connected with or integral with the flexible connector). In some embodiments, healing fluid passages or voids are included within such flexible connectors, which accept and drain healing fluid. In some embodiments, such healing fluids may include healing particles and a carrier fluid. In some such embodiments, such healing particles are charged. And, in some embodiments, materials comprised in such fibers, or which define at least part of such passages or voids, are provided with a charge opposite from a charge of such particles.

A low profile, wrappable spacer and method for maintaining a pair of elongate members in fixed, spaced relation to one another is provided. The wrappable spacer includes a flexible elongate body having oppositely facing inner and outer faces extending along laterally spaced, lengthwise extending edges between opposite ends. The inner face has an adhesive surface. At least one member extends between the edges transversely to the lengthwise extending edges. The member extends outwardly from the adhesive surface, wherein the adhesive surface is configured for adhesion to at least one of the member, the elongate members or the outer face.

The invention features a reinforcement element including a continuous paper strip having a first side and a second side, a first adhesive composition disposed on at least one of the first side and second side.

The invention further features a paper reinforced tape including a continuous paper strip, a continuous paper backing layer and a first adhesive composition disposed between the continuous paper strip and the continuous paper backing layer thereby adhering the continuous paper strip to the continuous paper backing layer.

The paper reinforced tapes and reinforcement elements of this invention have improved repulpability, recyclability, compostability and biodegradability. Further, these reinforcement elements and paper reinforced tapes, despite being predominately paper, unexpectedly provide excellent container reinforcement properties and further can be used as opening tapes, closing tapes and carrying handles.