Compaction Package

Abstract

Provided is a compaction package that includes a flexible film portion and a heat shrink film portion coupled to part of the flexible film portion. The compaction package has a bottom, a sidewall, and an open top that together define a hollow interior space adapted to receive and contain a granular material. In a first configuration prior to exposure to a heat source sufficient to raise the temperature of the compaction package to a certain critical heat shrink temperature, the interior space of the compaction package has a first volume. In a second configuration after exposure to the heat source, the interior space of the compaction package has a second volume that is less than the first volume.

1 . A compaction package comprising:
 a flexible film portion;   a heat shrink film portion coupled to said flexible film portion;   wherein said flexible film portion and said heat shrink film portion define a container adapted to contain a granular material, said container having a bottom, a perimeter wall, and an open top.   
   
   
       2 . The compaction package according to  claim 1  wherein said heat shrink film portion is coupled to said flexible film portion by a coupling means selected from the group consisting of adhesive and heat welding. 
   
   
       3 . The compaction package according to  claim 1  wherein said bottom is rectangularly shaped. 
   
   
       4 . The compaction package according to  claim 1  wherein said bottom is circularly shaped. 
   
   
       5 . The compaction package according to  claim 1  wherein said heat shrink film portion is biased to shrink in a transverse direction across said heat shrink film portion when said compaction package is heated to a critical heat shrink temperature. 
   
   
       6 . The compaction package according to  claim 1  wherein said heat shrink film portion is biased to shrink in a longitudinal direction along said heat shrink film portion when said compaction package is heated to a critical heat shrink temperature. 
   
   
       7 . The compaction package according to  claim 1  wherein said heat shrink film portion is biased to shrink in both a transverse direction across said heat shrink film portion and in a longitudinal direction along said heat shrink film portion when said compaction package is heated to a critical heat shrink temperature. 
   
   
       8 . The compaction package according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat shrink film portion is configured in a shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular, isosceles trapezoidal, and “T” shaped said “T” shaped shrink film portion having a vertical part and a horizontal part. 
   
   
       9 . The compaction package according to  claim 1  wherein said heat shrink film portion comprises a film selected from the group consisting of polyolefine, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) 
   
   
       10 . The compaction package according to  claim 1  wherein said perimeter wall comprises:
 a front coupled to a first sidewall;   a back coupled to said first sidewall and coupled to a second sidewall opposing said first sidewall, said second sidewall being coupled to said front.   
   
   
       11 . The compaction package according to  claim 10  wherein said heat shrink film portion is coupled to said flexible film portion at one or more of said front, back, first side, and second side. 
   
   
       12 . The compaction package according to  claim 10  wherein said shrink film portion is coupled to said flexible film portion at one or more side corner edges where said front couples to said first sidewall, said back couples to said first sidewall and couples to said second sidewall and where said second sidewall couples to said front. 
   
   
       13 . The compaction package according to  claim 1 , wherein said flexible film portion includes one or more discontinuous parts, and wherein said heat shrink film portion is interposed between and coupled to edges of said one or more discontinuous parts of said flexible film portion. 
   
   
       14 . A compaction package comprising:
 a flexible film portion;   a heat shrink film portion coupled to said flexible film portion, wherein said heat shrink film portion is biased to shrink in a transverse direction when said compaction package is heated to a critical heat shrink temperature;   wherein said flexible film portion and said heat shrink film portion define a flexible container adapted to contain a granular material and having a bottom, a perimeter wall, and an open top; and   wherein said compaction package has a first configuration prior to exposure of said compaction package to a heat source and a second configuration after exposure of said compaction package to said heat source, said second configuration of said compaction package having a volume that is less than the volume of said first configuration of said compaction package.   
   
   
       15 . The compaction package according to  claim 14  wherein said heat shrink film portion is configured in a shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular, isosceles trapezoidal, and “T” shaped said “T” shaped shrink film portion having a vertical part and a horizontal part. 
   
   
       16 . The compaction package according to  claim 14  wherein said heat shrink film portion is coupled to said flexible film portion by a coupling means selected from the group consisting of adhesive and heat welding. 
   
   
       17 . A compaction package comprising:
 a flexible film portion;   a heat shrink film portion of rectangular shape and coupled to said flexible film portion, wherein said heat shrink film portion is biased to shrink in one or more of a transverse and a longitudinal direction when said compaction package is heated to a critical heat shrink temperature;   wherein said flexible film portion and said heat shrink film portion define a flexible container adapted to contain a granular material and having a bottom, a perimeter wall, and an open top; and   wherein said compaction package has a first configuration prior to exposure of said compaction package to a heat source and a second configuration after exposure of said compaction package to said heat source, said second configuration of said compaction package having a volume that is less than the volume of said first configuration of said compaction package.   
   
   
       18 . The compaction package according to  claim 17  wherein said heat shrink film portion is configured in a shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular, isosceles trapezoidal, and “T” shaped said “T” shaped shrink film portion having a vertical part and a horizontal part. 
   
   
       19 . The compaction package according to  claim 17  wherein said heat shrink film portion comprises a film selected from the group consisting of polyolefine, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). 
   
   
       20 . The compaction package according to  claim 17  wherein said perimeter wall comprises:
 a front coupled to a first sidewall;   a back coupled to said first sidewall and coupled to a second sidewall opposing said first sidewall, said second sidewall being coupled to said front.; and   a back coupled to said first sidewall and coupled to a second sidewall opposing said first sidewall, said second sidewall being coupled to said front; and   wherein said shrink film portion is coupled to said flexible film portion at one or more side corner edges where said front couples to said first sidewall, said back couples to said first sidewall and couples to said second sidewall and where said second sidewall couples to said front.