Patents Examined by Kareen Rush
  • Patent number: 9090382
    Abstract: A thermoformed article having two or more parts (125, 130) is provided. A first part is formed from a first thermoplastic material and a second part (130) is formed from a second thermoplastic material. The first and second materials are mutually incompatible. One of the parts (130) has one or more projections (131) and the other part (125) has one or more corresponding cavities (126a) into which the projections are formed. In which the mouth of the or each cavity is narrower than at least part of the or each projection such that the shape of the or each projection allows withdrawal from but resists reinsertion into the or each cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Obrist Closures Switzerland GmbH
    Inventor: Patrick Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9079087
    Abstract: An adapter device that enables smaller drinking cups to fit within larger drinking cups by adjusting the circumference of the smaller cups at or near the small cup rim. Alternately, a sleeve on the smaller cup sidewall allows it to rest nearly flush inside a larger cup for multi-levels of alcohol consumption. These devices can be removed for reuse and/or collected during game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Inventor: Gary P. Topolosky
  • Patent number: 9073672
    Abstract: A storage container includes a jar and a cap removably connected to the jar. The jar has a cavity defined by a first base and a first wall extending upwardly from the first base. A first alignment indicator is disposed on an outer surface of the first wall. A cap is removably connectable to the jar. The cap has an upper portion connected to a lower portion by a connecting member. The lower portion has a second base and a second wall extending downwardly therefrom. A second alignment indicator is disposed on an outer surface of the second wall of the lower portion. The first and second alignment indicators are aligned to substantially prevent misalignment of the cap with respect to the jar when connecting the cap to the jar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sarah Laperriere, Michael Rzasa, Armand Montminy, Rodd Ruland
  • Patent number: 9067716
    Abstract: Cap can include a cap body mountable to a container. A main bore is disposed in the cap body. A movable component holder can include a lower end, an upper end, and a space sized and configured to contain a dispensable component. A cover is installable on the upper end of the component holder. A removable strip is at least one of arranged between a portion of the upper end of the component holder and an upper surface of the cap body, has an upper end removably connected to a portion of the upper end of the component holder, has a lower end contacting or arranged adjacent a portion of the cap body, and integrally formed with the upper end of the component holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignees: VIZ Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Cronin, Vlad Moise, Mike Burgess, Russell J. Kroll
  • Patent number: 9061788
    Abstract: A reduced-weight container or vessel for storage, transportation and processing gases and liquids under pressure has a plurality of hollows formed in the outer wall, resulting in a reduced weight without compromising the structural integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: MATERIALS & ELECTROCHEMICAL RESEARCH CORP.
    Inventors: Mark D. Veksler, Raouf O. Loutfy, Eugene M. Wexler
  • Patent number: 9061801
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a cap having a first portion made of a plastic material and forming a bottom for covering a container neck and a protective side wall for surrounding the container neck, and a second portion made of a flexible material that is compatible with the plastic material of the first portion and separate from the plastic material of the first portion, the second portion being annular and consisting of a flexible seal, which projects from the bottom toward the interior of the side wall and which is welded to the first portion. Thus, the manufacture of the stopper by molding includes injecting a flexible material to produce the flexible annular seal and then the movable portions of the mold are placed such that the flexible material is in a groove that is set back from the planar surface of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: BERICAP
    Inventor: Anne-Cécile Ropelé
  • Patent number: 9056709
    Abstract: The side container includes one oblong under-frame; one oblong upper-frame; corner posts be installed on the four corners between under-frame and upper-frame; top surface panel, front end panel, back end panel and two side panels installed on the corner posts. The side panel has two side doors. At least one turnable locking bar should be installed on the upper area of the side door, and a latch hook should be installed on the bottom area of each locking bar. Cam keepers will be fixed on the under-frame. There is a cant hook installed between two permanent seats. When the under-frame is in a horizontal position, the cant hook is located above the latch hook. The side container can be fully open on an oblong side, while the side doors and the under-frame can still be securely locked, when the under-frame deforms downward during a full load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Container Providers International APS
    Inventor: Zhixiang Zhao
  • Patent number: 9050242
    Abstract: An infant bottle cap provides a means for storing powdered infant formula which is then installed upon a conventional baby bottle. The device comprises a cap attachment which attaches to the bottle and an internal cavity which separates the nipple from the powdered formula. The cap attachment is hollow, allowing for the storage of formula inside said cap. The top surface of the cap further comprises a hinged and latching lid for filling the cap with powdered formula and pouring the formula into water within the bottle when ready for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Inventors: Gillian Mooney, Brian Mooney
  • Patent number: 9051104
    Abstract: A composite container (10) comprising a rectangular cuboidal rigid outer-container (20) comprising a top and a bottom surface (21,22) connected by four side walls (23), and a single compressible, rigid inner-container (30) for containing a pourable product, said inner-container having a basis weight of from 150 g/m2 to 700 g/m2, and said inner container comprising a top (31), a bottom (32), and a closable opening (33) located at said top. The inner-container (30) comprises at least one zone (34) having a circular cross-section and at least two zones (35) having a non-circular cross-section, whereby said at least two zones (35) having a non-circular cross-section are in contact with the inner surface of said outer-container (20). The at least two zones (35) having a non-circular cross-section are separated by said at least one zone (34) having a circular cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Marc Heirman, Daniël Achiel Camiel Wardenier
  • Patent number: 9046183
    Abstract: In one form, a vent apparatus includes an inlet frame, a venting member, and a retainer member. The venting member includes a mounting portion, a weakened area or burst slit, and a domed portion. The mounting portion of the venting member is secured between the inlet frame and the retainer member. The retainer member includes vent retainer portions or tab portions that extend over the burst slit. The vent apparatus is configured to burst when an inlet pressure exceeds a predetermined level, where the tab portions will bend away and the venting member will bend past the tab portions to relieve the pressure. The inlet frame is configured to support against a vacuum pressure acting in the opposite direction, with the tab portions generally free from the load caused by the vacuum pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Oklahoma Safety Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Alan Goodyear, Adam Marcus Lorenz
  • Patent number: 9045264
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container (1) having a cover (2) which is connected to the container (1) by at least two hinge arrangements (3) so that it can be opened and closed about a pivot axis (a) relative to the container (1). For permanent attachment of the cover to the container each hinge arrangement (3) comprises: a hinge gudgeon (4) disposed on the cover (2) with a casing section (5) formed in some sections in a dish shape on which a web (6) extending in the direction of the pivot axis (a) is formed; and a slot (7) introduced into the upper edge region of the container (1) and extending in the direction of the pivot axis (a) for receiving the casing section (5) formed in some sections in a dish shape, wherein the extent (b) of the casing section (5) together with the web (6) measured in the direction of the pivot axis (a) is greater than the extent (c) of the slot (7) measured in the direction of the pivot axis (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: FRITZ SCHAEFER GMBH
    Inventor: Volker Pils
  • Patent number: 9044113
    Abstract: A container jacket is provided having a perimeter portion, the perimeter portion having a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a plurality of eyelets formed adjacent the first lateral edge, and a second plurality of eyelets formed adjacent the second lateral edge, the perimeter portion forming an interior volume for receipt of a container therein in a deployed condition of the container jacket, and an interconnecting element. The interconnecting element extends to and between the first plurality of eyelets and the second plurality of eyelets, the interconnecting element being operable to maintain the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge within a predetermined spacing of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventor: William Gabriel Hargett
  • Patent number: 9045279
    Abstract: Floating roof storage vessels including a vapor emission reduction system designed to be inserted into deck leg apertures, when the legs have been removed during hydrocarbon storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Kinder Morgan Operating LP C
    Inventor: Wayne Eggemeyer
  • Patent number: 9045280
    Abstract: A collapsible cargo container is disclosed wherein end walls are pivoted into the container when empty and locked against the roof, and then side walls buckle via hinges into a folded configuration. The folded configuration is achieved easily with a modified spreader without the need to otherwise disassemble or deconstruct the container, leaving no loose parts or tools. The cargo container preferably constructed with an improved light weight panel that facilitates loading of the container while improving strength and reducing weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventors: Alexander R. Bellehumeur, Le Bui, Minh Bui
  • Patent number: 9048643
    Abstract: A box made of plastic or any other rigid material that is designed to store a multi-socket extension and excess cables. The box includes a frame, top cover, bottom cover, and inner tray. The covers are installed over the frame using sliding tracks. The inner tray is installed in the frame and serves as a partition between the box's upper part and lower part. First, the inner tray is installed in the frame. The bottom cover is then assembled. The multi-socket extension is placed on the inner tray. The excess cables are now placed inside the box preferably in the space beneath the inner tray and the box is closed with the top cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventor: Israel Blazberg
  • Patent number: 9038841
    Abstract: A tamper-evident closure for a container comprises two or more parts and is movable from a first position to a second position in an opening event, the movement to the second position generating two or more gaps between and/or within the parts, the closure further comprising means for preventing closing of the gaps whereby to confirm the opening event has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Obrist Closures Switzerland GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Donald Meiklem McPherson
  • Patent number: 9033168
    Abstract: A plastic container is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, a tamper-evident formation, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the dispensing opening has an inner diameter that is at least 22 mm, and the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: 9033182
    Abstract: A compensation tank for hydraulic motor vehicle brake systems, including a tank housing having at least one pressure medium chamber which can be filled with pressure medium via a filler neck, and a cap which can be fastened to the filler neck by a threaded connection having a cap thread and a tank thread. The cap and the tank housing each have a respective stop, which stops permit a predetermined positioning of the cap in relation to the tank housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Christoph Schiel, Peter Tandler, Hans-Jürgen Neumann, Swen Ottmann, Werner Krebs, Stephan Schlicht
  • Patent number: 9027778
    Abstract: A receptacle configurable for the removal of air or atmosphere from a container while preventing solids and liquids from entering a means for removing the air. The receptacle comprising a container, a first standoff and an air-permeable support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Christopher Slawinski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9027775
    Abstract: A lock ring for securing a lid to a container has a ring shaped body with a first end and a second end. A clamping pin is exposed near the first end and a lever is connected near the second end and has a hook thereon configured to engage the clamping pin. The lever is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The hook is configured to selectively engage the clamping pin and draw the first and second ends to one another with the lever moved to the closed position and capable of disengaging the clamping pin the lever in the open position. The body, lever, and lock pin are integrally formed of a one-piece unitary structure and the lever is connected via a living hinge to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Container International, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard P. Brandt