Damper mechanisms are provided in conjunction with housings of various different appliances and are disposed at first positions at which the dampers effectively close off or seal the interior regions of the appliances within which various heated, refrigerated, or frozen environments have been established. Such damper mechanisms can be moved to second positions so as to permit food items to be inserted into, or extracted from, the various housings of the appliances, but will automatically return to their first positions so as to again close off or seal the interior regions of the appliances. In this manner, thermal energy is preserved whereby the appliances are enabled to operate at peak energy efficiency.

A container assembly includes a container body having a side wall encircling an axis, and a metal end for attachment to an upper edge of the side wall via heat-sealing. The outer peripheral region is shaped prior to application to the container body such that an annular channel is defined between an inner chuck wall and an outer chuck wall of the metal end. The metal end is pushed straight onto the side wall such that the upper edge of the side wall is received into the channel The surfaces of the side wall and the opposing surfaces of the chuck walls have heat-sealable material thereon. The metal end is heated to melt and fuse the heat-sealable layers, thereby sealing the metal end onto the side wall. The metal end is shaped such that the free edge of the outer chuck wall is not exposed.

A moisture-tight, re-sealable container is disclosed having a lid and body. The lid and body have a non-round seal that is substantially moisture tight when the lid is seated on the body, admitting less than 1000 micrograms per day of water to a package. A reinforcement stiffens or reinforces at least a portion of the seal against inward deflection along an axis defined by the minor diameter when the lid is seated on the body. Optionally the reinforcement is at least one spline subdividing the reservoir. A method of making dispensers for objects of varying length to customize particular dispensers to dispense such objects of a particular length is also disclosed.

In an aspect, a cap liner comprises a sintered fluoropolymer layer; and a backing layer; wherein the sintered fluoropolymer layer is in direct physical contact with the backing layer with no intervening layer located there between. In another aspect, a method of forming the cap liner of comprises plasma etching the sintered fluoropolymer layer to form a sintered plasma etched layer; and laminating the sintered plasma etched layer and the backing layer to form the cap liner.

A metal closure for containers comprising a capsule designed to be applied to an opening of a container and including a circular part from which extends a perimeter edge. The perimeter of the edge has a rounding or folding obtained by curling and has a series of deformations made in a radial direction towards the centre of the capsule for forming the seal.

A container assembly includes a container body having a side wall encircling an axis, and a metal end for attachment to an upper edge of the side wall via heat-sealing. The outer peripheral region is shaped prior to application to the container body such that an annular channel is defined between an inner chuck wall and an outer chuck wall of the metal end. The metal end is pushed straight onto the side wall such that the upper edge of the side wall is received into the channel. The surfaces of the side wall and the opposing surfaces of the chuck walls have heat-sealable material thereon. The metal end is heated to melt and fuse the heat-sealable layers, thereby sealing the metal end onto the side wall. The metal end is shaped such that the free edge of the outer chuck wall is not exposed.

A sterile packaged plant delivery system includes a container having an opening, an amount of growth medium, a plant, and cover. The amount of growth medium is disposed within an interior of the container and part of the plant is disposed within the growth medium. The cover seals the interior of the container thereby maintaining the plant within a sterile growth environment. In one example, the cover is a thin film seal. A user obtains the system, punctures the film seal, removes the plant from the interior of the container, and plants the plant in a growth environment outside of the container. The system provides a low-cost technique for delivering live plants to end consumers without fungus or bacteria as in typical soil growth and without having to apply costly antimicrobial agent. This eliminates the need for watering and maintenance of any kind while the plant remains in the container.

A recyclable woven laminated plastic bag having features that further prevent leakage of contents out of the bag, or infestation of organisms into the contents of the bag is provided. In various aspects the bag can be fabricated from a woven polyethylene, polypropylene, or combination thereof layer which can be laminated using polyethylene, polypropylene, or combination thereof resin with a film layer formed from polyethylene, polypropylene, or combination thereof, can form a sealed corner bag and/or a diagonal sealed bag, and can have one or more sides include graphics and/or printing. The bag can also provide a top end and/or a bottom end either or both of which provide a discrete area which may contain discrete graphics and/or printing.

A flip straw cup assembly having a container body, a lid that may be detachable and a straw assembly. The lid Includes a flip straw that is biased towards an extended position and retractable into a recess and securable by a flip lock. The straw assembly includes a straw body, a cap and a resealable seam extending the longitudinal length of the straw body that is adapted to open the straw body for cleaning.

Various forms of tabbed sealing members are described along with the laminates from which the sealing members are formed. In some forms, the tabbed sealing members may generally be formed from materials that may be processed using a single recycling stream. In one form, the tabbed seals do not include any metal foils, such as would traditionally be included in induction heated seals. Instead, the seals may be applied in other manners, such as using ultrasonic sealing, conduction heating, high frequency sealing/welding, pressure sensitive adhesives, and the like.