The present invention relates to a collation of packages. The collation of packages comprises a plurality of individual packages, each package comprising a pair of opposing first faces, a pair of opposing second faces, and a pair of opposing end faces. The packages are arranges in rows in which each package is aligned in a face-to face orientation such that a first face of a package faces a first face of an adjacent package within a row, and a second face of a package in a row faces a second face of a package in an adjacent row, and a first face of a package at the end of each row is exposed. The tap is adhered to the packages across their end faces and is positioned so as to couple packages in adjacent rows together, and packages within the same row together. The tape is also adhered to said exposed first faces of the packages at the end of each row so as to extend across the exposed first faces of adjacent packages.

A method for strapping a group of packages, in particular for products of the cigarette industry, with a strip of packaging material, wherein the packages are brought together to form a cuboid group and are then strapped with at least one strip of packaging material. The at least one strip of packaging material is provided on one side with a preferably continuous layer of adhesive, and the group of packages is completely strapped with the at least one strip of packaging material, wherein the layer of adhesive is brought into direct contact with the packages of the group.

An adhesive tape with a backing layer is longitudinally folded upon itself, creating an approximately 180-degree angle at each of two ends of the tape, and a first longitudinal section of multiple layers of the adhesive tape and a second longitudinal section of multiple layers of the adhesive tape such that the first section is positioned above and parallel to the second section. The folding does not crease the tape at either end of the tape. The first longitudinal section and second longitudinal section are maintained in contact or close proximity via a piece of tape, clip, rubber band, or other means, such that the adhesive tape is maintained in a flat profile. The adhesive tape in its flat profile can then be easily inserted into a United States first class letter-sized mailing envelope.

A binding tape which has sound deadening properties, can suppress layer separation, and is also excellent in abrasion resistance. The binding tape includes a substrate layer made from a non-woven fabric, and an adhesive layer, wherein the substrate layer includes at least two types of fused sections having different shapes. The fused sections are preferably formed by thermally fusing fibers of the non-woven fabric by a heat embossing. Further, the binding tape preferably has a scrape abrasion resistance repetition number of 100 times or more.

Contact lens packaging (2) includes two or more individual, sealed blister packs (1) coupled together by a connecting label (5), which includes a uni-axial shear polymer film (6). The connecting label (5) is arranged and oriented such that the tear direction of the polymer film (6) is parallel to a line (A) bisecting adjacent blister packs (1). Methods of binding together two or more blister packs (1) are also described.

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 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 connector for coupling an object to a substrate has a first flexible member coupled with a second flexible member. The first and second flexible members have corresponding first and second upper regions, and first and second lower region that define first and second intermediate regions. The first upper region is coupled with the second upper region, while the first lower region is coupled with the second lower region. Through this coupling, the first intermediate region is movable relative to the second intermediate region. To minimize damage to the substrate during removal, the first and second flexible members are configured so that application of a normal force, when coupled with the substrate, causes at least the first upper region to form a critical angle sufficient to peel the connector from the substrate. The normal force is generally normal to and in a direction away from the substrate.

A food carrying system comprises a plurality of food service items including at least one container and optionally one or more plates, drink carriers, and/or trays. At least one of the food service items includes opposing strap openings formed in an edge, encircling flange, or opposed flange handles thereof. A support band encircles the stack, passing through the strap openings, and ends thereof are affixed together to stabilize the stack and in embodiments providing a hand-hold for carrying the stack. The band can further extend through a strap opening provided in a separate handle, so that the stack can be carried using the handle. Strap openings can be provided on lids and/or bases of the containers. Strap openings can be closed ovals, or can be C-shaped, having open outer edges. Band ends can be joined by adhesive, hook-and-loop, knot tying, stapling, snaps, buttons, etc.

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.