Patents Represented by Attorney Thomas C. Feix
  • Patent number: 7131289
    Abstract: A container is disclosed which can include a container base having a cavity therein, a thermal source disposable in the cavity of the base, an insert being insertable within the cavity of the base such that the insert is in close proximity to the thermal source, and a cover. The cover and the insert can define a sealable compartment for the storage of food items. In other embodiments, the cover can be engageable directly with the base to define a storage compartment. The thermal source can act as either or both a heater and a cooler to help maintain the food items stored in the container at a desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: Kara Lenee Harl, Anand Ramanujam, Timothy E. Kozikoski
  • Patent number: 7097063
    Abstract: A plate container with detachable cover is disclosed. The container includes a base in the form of a plate and a cover. The plate and the cover include first and second closure portions, respectively, which are engageable with each other to maintain the cover in a secure position relative to the base and also forms a substantially leak-proof seal. The cover can include gripping tabs for facilitating the separation of the cover from the base and permit container venting. The plastic container is suited for microwave cooking, machine dishwashing, and freezer use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: Edward Tucker, Al Savicki
  • Patent number: 7097066
    Abstract: A plate container with detachable cover is disclosed. The container includes a base in the form of a plate and a cover. The plate and the cover include first and second closure portions, respectively, which are engageable with each other to maintain the cover in a secure position relative to the base and also forms a substantially leak-proof seal. The cover can include gripping tabs for facilitating the separation of the cover from the base and permit container venting. The plastic container is suited for microwave cooking, machine dishwashing, and freezer use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: Edward Tucker, Al Savicki
  • Patent number: 7080429
    Abstract: A container (120) includes a closure device (121). The closure device includes interlocking fastening strips (130, 131) and a slider (132) slidably disposed on the fastening strips for facilitating the occlusion and deocclusion of the fastening strips. The slider includes first and second side portions (140, 142) and a top portion (144). The first side portion (140) includes pivot arms (158, 168). The pivot arms (158, 168) include shoulders (156, 166). The second side portion (142) includes pivot arms (152, 162). The pivot arms (152, 162) include shoulders (150, 160). The pivot arms (152, 158, 162, 168) create a pivot point for the shoulders (150, 156, 160, 166) that prevents the slider (132) from being removed from the fastening strips in the vertical Z axis (106). The shoulders move into the fastening strips when an upward force (180) is applied in the Z axis (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventor: Alan F. Savicki, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7077796
    Abstract: Provided is a plastic bag including a live elastic strip that, in the elastic strip's normal condition, contracts thereby constricting an opening of the bag to assist in retaining the bag to an object. The elastic strip includes a first region that is continuously attached to a sidewall of the bag between a first side edge and a second side edge of the bag and a second region that remains unattached to the sidewall. The attached region does not contract but instead forces the portion of the sidewall to which it is attached to pucker into a serpentine path. The unattached region does contract causing the portion of the sidewall to which it is adjacent to bunch together. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a plastic bag that involves stretching a live elastic tape and continuously attaching a region of the stretched tape to a web of plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: John Rusnak, Jeff Shoemaker, Amit Shah, Scott O'Hara
  • Patent number: 7017240
    Abstract: A container (120) includes a closure device (121). The closure device includes interlocking fastening strips (130, 131) and a slider (132) slidably disposed on the fastening strips for facilitating the occlusion and deocclusion of the fastening strips. The slider includes a separator (133) that facilitates the deocclusion of the fastening strips. The container includes a seal (129) to provide a leak-proof closure by facilitating the occlusion of the closure device (121) after the slider (132) has been moved in the occlusion direction (114) and reached the end of the fastening strips. The seal (129) includes a curved portion that further facilitates the leak-proof closure. Additionally, a tactile indication that the closure device (121) has been fully occluded is given as the separator (133) passes over the seal (129). Similarly, an audible indication may also be provided. The seal may be accomplished by heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing or adhesives that attach the sidewalls together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventor: Alan F. Savicki
  • Patent number: 7004632
    Abstract: A storage bag for food products with a venting structure to expel excess air trapped inside the bag after the bag has been closed or sealed. After the excess air is removed, the venting structure is covered and sealed to prevent air from re-entering the bag or other objects from entering the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: Peter Hamilton, Michael Borchardt, Rebecca Giesfeldt, Kenneth S. McGuire
  • Patent number: 6996879
    Abstract: The closure device includes interlocking fastening strips and a slider. The fastening strips include a flange portion that engages a separator on the slider. The flange portion angles inwardly toward the separator. The flange portion is altered at the closing end of the fastening strips to prevent the slider from opening the fastening strips a the closing end. The flange portion may be altered by flattening the flange portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventor: Alan F. Savicki
  • Patent number: 6994469
    Abstract: A retaining element for use with elastic sheet material is disclosed. In one form, the sheet material can be provided as a bag having first and second side walls. The retaining element can be in the form of an elastic strip attached to one of the side walls. The retaining strip can comprise a heat-unstable activatable material such that it can be applied to the bag in a deadened condition wherein the strip is set and subsequently heated to transition to an activated condition wherein the retaining element is elasticized to provide an elasticized article which can have a shirred appearance. The retaining element can have various configurations and can be activated by various methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: Greg William Sleight, Amit Shah, John Rusnak, Jack Melvan, Timothy LaRocque
  • Patent number: 6981299
    Abstract: A container (120) includes a closure device (121). The closure device includes interlocking fastening strips (130, 131) and a slider (132) slidably disposed on the fastening strips for facilitating the occlusion and deocclusion of the fastening strips. The slider (132) includes a top portion (140) and first and second side portions (142, 144). The slider additionally includes shoulders that merge into the first and second side portions and prevent the slider from being disengaged from the fastening strips. The slider includes long length front shoulders (150, 156) and long length rear shoulders (162, 164) in conjunction with shorter length front shoulders (152, 154) and shorter length rear shoulders (160, 166). If an upward force (180) is applied to the slider (132), the longer length shoulders are designed to remain engaged with the fastening strips when the side portions of the slider are forced to flex outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventor: Alan F. Savicki, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6953542
    Abstract: A closure device for a thermoplastic bag which includes two opposing, longitudinally extending interlockable male and female fastening strips having respective male and female closure elements or profiles that are deformed to interdigitate and produce an audible clicking sound and or tactile effect that is perceptible to the touch as the closure device is opened and closed. Interdigitation of the two profiles is achieved by cold forming the profiles while interlocked. The shape of the cold form is a stepped deflection of both profiles so that their shapes are generally congruent. The stepped deflections provide a change in the occlusion and peel force of the interlocking closure device thereby resulting in an audible clicking or popping sound as the closure device is opened and closed and a tactile effect that is perceptible to the touch as the closure device is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventor: Ronald J. Cisek
  • Patent number: 6939042
    Abstract: Provided is a plastic bag including a live elastic strip that, in the elastic strip's normal condition, contracts thereby constricting an opening of the bag to assist in retaining the bag to an object. The elastic strip includes a first region that is continuously attached to a sidewall of the bag between a first side edge and a second side edge of the bag and a second region that remains unattached to the sidewall. The attached region does not contract but instead forces the portion of the sidewall to which it is attached to pucker into a serpentine path. The unattached region does contract causing the portion of the sidewall to which it is adjacent to bunch together. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a plastic bag that involves stretching a live elastic tape and continuously attaching a region of the stretched tape to a web of plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: John Rusnak, Jeff Shoemaker, Amit Shah, Scott O'Hara
  • Patent number: 6928702
    Abstract: The closure device (121)includes a first fastening strip (130), a second fastening strip (131), and a slider (132) adapted to be slidably disposed on the fastening strips. The slider (132) facilitates the occlusion of the fastening strips when moved towards a first end thereof. A first detent (137) is located at the first end of the fastening strips. The slider (132) includes a housing having a first flexible portion (216) for engaging the first detent (137) when the slider (132) is moved to the first end of the fastening strips. The first flexible portion (216) and detent (137) prevent removal of the slider (132) from the first end of the fastening strips (130, 131) in the longitudinal X axis (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: Alan F. Savicki, Jeffrey S. Stiglic
  • Patent number: 6925688
    Abstract: The closure device includes interlocking fastening strips. The closure device may include a slider slidably disposed on the fastening strips for facilitating the occlusion and deocclusion of the fastening strips. The fastening strips include a first color for facilitating visual confirmation of occlusion of the fastening strips. The visible indication of occlusion will be observed from the top of the closure device. If the fastening strips are properly occluded, then the first color will not be visible by viewing the top of the closure device. The first color will be observed from the top of the closure device when the bag is deoccluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventor: Alan F. Savicki
  • Patent number: 6910599
    Abstract: The present invention consists of an inexpensive tight sealing plastic container suited for microwave cooking, top-shelf dishwashing and freezer use. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the container is provided with two compartments, one large and one small. The container utilizes a dual cut-back closure device of which the retaining bead of the container bottom maintains the container top in a secure position. The inside dimensions of the container top are slightly larger than the container bottom in both compartments. The difference in sizes provides an interference fit and forms a substantially leak proof seal along the inside perimeter of both compartments of the container. The container top provides at least one gripping tab, which facilitates the separation of the container top from the container bottom and permit container venting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: Edward Tucker, George Lueken, Luke Gross, Mark Cruz, Jack F. Melvan
  • Patent number: 6895641
    Abstract: The closure device (121) includes a first fastening strip (130), a second fastening strip (131), a slider (132) adapted to be slidably disposed on the fastening strips. The slider (132) facilitates the occlusion of the fastening strips when moved towards a first end thereof. A first detent (137) is located at the first end of the fastening strips. The slider (132) includes a housing having a protrusion (5300) for engaging the first detent (137) of the fastening strips when the slider (132) is moved to the first end of the fastening strips. The protrusion (5300) and detent (137) prevent removal of the slider (132) from the first end of the fastening strips (130, 131) in the longitudinal X axis (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventor: Alan F. Savicki
  • Patent number: 6883210
    Abstract: The closure device (121) includes a first fastening strip (130) and a second fastening strip (131) arranged to be interlocked over a predetermined length. The first fastening strip (130) includes a first offset (169). A slider (132) slidably engages the first and second fastening strips (130 131). The slider (132) includes a first shoulder (240) and a second shoulder (242). The first shoulder (240) and the second shoulder (242) define a slot (270). The first offset (164) prevents removal of the slider (132) from the fastening strips (130, 131) through the slot (270) in a vertical Z axis (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventor: Alan F. Savicki
  • Patent number: D505596
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: Edward B. Tucker, Alan F. Savicki, Greg F. Sutthiwan, Robert Croft, Martin Short, Insun Yun, Sergio Gedanke, Kevin Lindberg, James Warner
  • Patent number: D519327
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: Edward Tucker, Lawrence John Racana
  • Patent number: D527502
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: Max Yoshimoto, Lea Kobeli, Maaike Evers