1. A bulk packaging support structure for supporting a radially flexible container during filling comprising:
a first foldable member;
a second foldable member for releasibly engaging said first foldable member to form the support structure, each of said first and second foldable members including a bottom portion having an upwardly facing surface and a side portion directly connected to said bottom portion along a primary fold line;
each of said side portions of said first and second foldable members including a first wall section extending between a top and a bottom and being directly connected to and disposed substantially perpendicular to said bottom portion along said primary fold line and wherein said first wall section of said first foldable member and said first wall section of said second foldable member are spaced and parallel to one another, a second wall section extending between a top and a bottom and being directly connected to said first wall section along a secondary fold line extending between the top and bottom and perpendicular to said primary fold line, said second wall section being moveable about said secondary fold line for substantially encircling the radially flexible container;
said upwardly facing surface of said second foldable member and the bottom of said second wall section of said second foldable member defining a gap for receiving said bottom portion of said first foldable member to form the support structure and wherein the bottom of said second wall section of said second foldable member is movable over said upwardly facing surface of said first foldable member for substantially encircling the radially flexible container.
2. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upwardly facing surface of said bottom portion of said first foldable member defines an edge disposed opposite said primary fold line of said first foldable member and said edge of said bottom portion of said first foldable member contacts said second foldable member adjacent said primary fold line of said second foldable member.
3. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said side portions further include a third wall section extending between a top and a bottom and being directly connected to said first wall section opposite said second wall section along a secondary fold line extending between the top and bottom and perpendicular to said primary fold line, said third wall section being moveable about said secondary fold line for substantially encircling the radially flexible container.
4. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein said gap for receiving said bottom portion of said first foldable member is further defined by said upwardly facing surface of said second foldable member and the bottom of said third wall section of said second foldable member and wherein the bottom of said third wall section of said second foldable member is movable over said upwardly facing surface of said first foldable member for substantially encircling the radially flexible container.
5. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said side portions further include a fourth wall section extending between a top and a bottom and being directly connected to said second wall section opposite said first wall section along a secondary fold line extending between the top and bottom and perpendicular to said primary fold line, said fourth wall section being moveable about said secondary fold line for substantially encircling the radially flexible container.
6. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said gap for receiving said bottom portion of said first foldable member is further defined by said upwardly facing surface of said second foldable member and the bottom of said fourth wall section of said second foldable member and wherein the bottom of said fourth wall section of said second foldable member is movable over said upwardly facing surface of said first foldable member for substantially encircling the radially flexible container.
7. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said side portions further include a fifth wall section extending between a top and a bottom and being directly connected to said third wall section opposite said first wall section along a secondary fold line extending between the top and bottom and perpendicular to said primary fold line, said fifth wall section being moveable about said secondary fold line for substantially encircling the radially flexible container.
8. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein said gap for receiving said bottom portion of said first foldable member is further defined by said upwardly facing surface of said second foldable member and the bottom of said fifth wall section of said second foldable member and wherein the bottom of said fifth wall section of said second foldable member is movable over said upwardly facing surface of said first foldable member for substantially encircling the radially flexible container.
9. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 7 further including punch-out portions defined in at least one of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth wall sections of said first and second foldable members for retaining the radially flexible container.
10. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 1 further including first and second tabs pivotally connected to said bottom portion of said second foldable member along first and second tab lines for extending perpendicular to said primary fold line to assist in the handling of the support structure.
11. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second foldable members are paperboard.
12. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second foldable members have a same shape.
13. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bottom and side portions of said first and second foldable members are generally rectangular.
14. A foldable member for a bulk packaging support structure and supporting a radially flexible container during filling comprising:
a foldable member including a bottom portion having an upwardly facing surface and a side portion directly connected to said bottom portion along a primary fold line;
said side portion including a first wall section extending between a top and a bottom and being directly connected to said bottom portion along said primary fold line, a second wall section extending between a top and a bottom and being directly connected to said first wall section along a secondary fold line extending between the top and bottom and perpendicular to said primary fold line, said second wall section being moveable about said secondary fold line for substantially encircling the radially flexible container;
said bottom portion of said foldable member and the bottom of said second wall section of said foldable member defining a gap capable of receiving a bottom portion of a second foldable member.
15. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 14 wherein said side portion further includes a third wall section extending between a top and a bottom and being directly connected to said first wall section opposite said second wall section along a secondary fold line extending between the top and bottom and perpendicular to said primary fold line, said third wall section being moveable about said secondary fold line for substantially encircling the radially flexible container.
16. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 15 wherein said gap being capable of receiving the bottom portion of the second foldable member is further defined by said bottom portion of said foldable member and the bottom of said third wall section of said foldable member.
17. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 15 wherein said side portion further includes a fourth wall section extending between a top and a bottom and being directly connected to said second wall section opposite said first wall section along a secondary fold line extending between the top and bottom and perpendicular to said primary fold line, said fourth wall section being moveable about said secondary fold line for substantially encircling the radially flexible container.
18. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 17 wherein said gap being capable of receiving the bottom portion of the second foldable member is further defined by said bottom portion of said foldable member and the bottom of said fourth wall section of said foldable member.
19. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 17 wherein said side portion further includes a fifth wall section extending between a top and a bottom and being directly connected to said third wall section opposite said first wall section along a secondary fold line extending between the top and bottom and perpendicular to said primary fold line, said fifth wall section being moveable about said secondary fold line for substantially encircling the radially flexible container.
20. The bulk packaging support structure as set forth in claim 19 wherein said gap being capable of receiving the bottom portion of the second foldable member is further defined by said bottom portion of said foldable member and the bottom of said fifth wall section of said foldable member.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of forming a gum-like electrolyte composition, the method comprising:
generating a wax emulsion;
adding at least one electrolyte to the wax emulsion to obtain an electrolytic wax emulsion;
adding a polymer solution to the electrolytic wax emulsion to obtain a mixture, wherein the polymer solution comprises a polymer and a solvent; and
removing the solvent from the mixture to obtain a gum-like electrolyte composition.
2. (canceled)
3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the wax emulsion comprises:
combining a wax with a surfactant; and
agitating the wax and the surfactant to obtain the wax emulsion.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the combining a wax with a surfactant comprises combining a wax selected from the group consisting of paraffin, paraffin wax, soy wax, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, montan wax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, beeswax, polyethylene wax, and maleated hydrocarbons.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the combining a wax with a surfactant comprises combining a surfactant selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol), a lithium dodecyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, a sucrose distearate, a sucrose monostearate, a phosphatidylethanolamine, a polyacrylic acid, a polyethylacetate, a dimethylacrylamide, an n-isopropylacrylamide, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polyethyleneimine, sorbitan, an alkyl polyglycoside, a sorbitan ester, a methyl glucoside ester, an amine ethoxylate, a diamine ethoxylate, a polyglycerol ester, an alkyl ethoxylate, an alcohol that has been polypropoxylated, an alcohol that has been polyethoxylated, an arginine methyl ester, an alkanolamine, an alkylenediamide, an alkyl ester sulfonate, an alkyl ether sulfonate, an alkyl ether sulfate, an alkali metal alkyl sulfate, an alkyl sulfonate, an alkylaryl sulfonate, a sulfosuccinate, an alkyl disulfonate, an alkylaryl disulfonate, an alkyl disulfate, an alcohol polypropoxylated sulfate, an alcohol polyethoxylated sulfate, a taurate, an amine oxide, an alkylamine oxide, an ethoxylated amide, an alkoxylated fatty acid, an alkoxylated alcohol, an ethoxylated fatty amine, an ethoxylated alkyl amine, a betaine, a modified betaine, an alkylamidobetaine, a quaternary ammonium compound, an alkyl propoxy-ethoxysulfonate, an alkyl propoxy-ethoxysulfate, an alkylaryl-propoxy-ethoxysulfonate, and any derivative thereof.
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. The method of claim 3, wherein agitating the wax and the surfactant comprises agitating via at least one of ultrasonication, high-pressure homogenization, and microfluidization.
9.-12. (canceled)
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the adding the at least one electrolyte comprises adding an electrolyte having at least one lithium salt.
14. (canceled)
15.-27. (canceled)
28. A gum-like electrolyte composition comprising:
a malleable material comprising a mixture of:
at least one wax particle;
at least one electrolyte; and
a polymer matrix comprising at least one polymer,
wherein the wax particle and the electrolyte are dispersed in the polymer matrix.
29. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 28, wherein the at least one wax particle is at least substantially encased by the at least one electrolyte to form at least one core-shell particle.
30.-31. (canceled)
32. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 28, wherein the at least one wax particle is selected from the group consisting of paraffin, paraffin wax, soy wax, polypropylene, polyethylene, montan wax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, beeswax, polyethylene wax, and maleated hydrocarbons.
33. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 28, wherein the at least one wax particle comprises a surfactant.
34. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 33, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol), a lithium dodecyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, a sucrose distearate, a sucrose monostearate, a phosphatidylethanolamine, a polyacrylic acid, a polyethylacetate, a dimethylacrylamide, an n-isopropylacrylamide, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polyethyleneimine, sorbitan, an alkyl polyglycoside, a sorbitan ester, a methyl glucoside ester, an amine ethoxylate, a diamine ethoxylate, a polyglycerol ester, an alkyl ethoxylate, an alcohol that has been polypropoxylated, an alcohol that has been polyethoxylated, an arginine methyl ester, an alkanolamine, an alkylenediamide, an alkyl ester sulfonate, an alkyl ether sulfonate, an alkyl ether sulfate, an alkali metal alkyl sulfate, an alkyl sulfonate, an alkylaryl sulfonate, a sulfosuccinate, an alkyl disulfonate, an alkylaryl disulfonate, an alkyl disulfate, an alcohol polypropoxylated sulfate, an alcohol polyethoxylated sulfate, a taurate, an amine oxide, an alkylamine oxide, an ethoxylated amide, an alkoxylated fatty acid, an alkoxylated alcohol, an ethoxylated fatty amine, an ethoxylated alkyl amine, a betaine, a modified betaine, an alkylamidobetaine, a quaternary ammonium compound, an alkyl propoxy-ethoxysulfonate, an alkyl propoxy-ethoxysulfate, an alkylaryl-propoxy-ethoxysulfonate, and any derivative thereof.
35. (canceled)
36. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 28, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, polyvinylidene difluoride, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, and any derivative thereof.
37. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 28, further comprising at least one lithium salt.
38. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 37, wherein the at least one lithium salt is selected from the group consisting of lithium perchlorate, lithium terafluoroborate, lithium hexafluorophosphate, lithium hexafluoroarsenate, and lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide.
39.-43. (canceled)
44. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 42, wherein the at least one lithium salt is selected from the group consisting of lithium perchlorate, lithium terafluoroborate, lithium hexafluorophosphate, lithium hexafluoroarsenate, and lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide.
45. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 28, wherein the electrolyte further comprises at least one sodium salt.
46. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 45, wherein the at least one sodium salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium perchlorate, sodium sulphate and sodium nitrate.
47.-50. (canceled)
51. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 28, wherein the electrolyte comprises a combination of at least one lithium salt and at least one sodium salt.
52.-85. (canceled)
86. A gum-like electrolyte composition comprising:
a malleable material comprising a polymer matrix having dispersed therein a wax particle; an electrolyte; and a surfactant.
87. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 86, wherein the wax particle is selected from the group consisting of paraffin, paraffin wax, soy wax, polypropylene, polyethylene, montan wax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, beeswax, polyethylene wax, and maleated hydrocarbons.
88. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 86, wherein the polymer matrix comprises a polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, polyvinylidene difluoride, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, and any derivative thereof.
89. The gum-like electrolyte composition of claim 86, wherein the polymer matrix further comprises at least one lithium salt.
90. A method of forming a gum-like electrolyte composition, the method comprising:
forming a wax emulsion by combining a wax and a surfactant under agitation;
adding an electrolyte to the wax emulsion to obtain an electrolytic wax emulsion;
adding a polymer solution to the electrolytic wax emulsion to obtain a mixture, wherein the polymer solution comprises a polymer and a solvent; and
removing the solvent from the mixture to obtain a gum-like electrolyte composition.
91. The method of claim 90, wherein forming the wax emulsion comprises agitating the wax and the surfactant by an agitation method selected from the group consisting of ultrasonication, high-pressure homogenization, and microfluidization.
92. The method of claim 90, wherein adding the electrolyte to the wax emulsion comprises adding an electrolyte having at least one lithium salt.