Patents Examined by Madison L Wright
  • Patent number: 7988011
    Abstract: A gardener's waste can includes a frusto-conical container having a flexible sidewall, a closed bottom end and an open top end defining a circular rim. An arcuate hinge is formed in the sidewall of the container. The hinge has opposite ends respectively intersecting the rim of the container and is arranged such that, when the sidewall of the container is laid against the ground, a hinged portion of the sidewall connected to the hinge and disposed between the two ends thereof swings inwardly into the container and lies generally flat against the ground so that leaves, cuttings on the ground are easily swept over the flat portion of the container sidewall and into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventor: Raul Guevara
  • Patent number: 7980412
    Abstract: A container or package for pizzas, made of thermoplastic material, including a cover (1) and a dish or plate (2), wherein the cover (1) has a plurality of first holes (8) arranged centrally and a plurality of second holes (6) arranged along its circumference or circular edge (or in the neighborhood of the latter). Several radial channels (11) interconnect these two pluralities of holes (6 and 8). Preferably, the container (1, 2) is transparent; thereby allowing to recognize the kind of food it contains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Gruppo Pluripack s.r.l.
    Inventor: Giulia Belleggia
  • Patent number: 7971747
    Abstract: A closure has a body and a lid is molded with the body. A utensil, such as a scoop or spear, is integrally formed with the closure body, and connected to the closure body via frangible connections. The lid includes a utensil-receiving structure for releasably holding the utensil, once it is initially broken away from the closure body, such that the utensil can be attached to the closure lid for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures L.L.C.
    Inventors: Corinne M. Blomdahl, Timothy M. Mazurkiewicz, John M. Wisniewski
  • Patent number: 7971739
    Abstract: A closure for a container with a cap connecting to a neck of the container has at least one cutter edge placed around a central axis internal of the neck. The edge cuts through a closure film as axially displaced on a holding sleeve, which is held centrally by the cap with a flexible skirt. The holding sleeve contains a component for mixing with the contents of the container. A screw cap holds an initial non-puncturing position and, a stop position after additional screwing on, at which the film is punctured. The cap remains permanently on the neck of the container, and includes a pouring opening. In the stop position, the container contents flow toward the pouring opening. When the screw cap is back into its initial position, flow to the pouring opening is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Rainer Ammann
  • Patent number: 7967164
    Abstract: A leakage containment device for containing leakage from an oil tank supplying oil to a heating system includes a container including a bottom wall and a perimeter wall being coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define an interior space. An upper edge of the perimeter wall defines an upper open end of the container to permit an oil tank to be placed in the interior space. A lid is hingedly coupled to the upper edge of the perimeter wall. The lid selectively closes the upper open end of the container when the lid is in a closed position over the upper open end. The lid is pivoted away from the upper open end to permit access to the upper open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: Fulton T. Mountain
  • Patent number: 7967163
    Abstract: A pre-filled disposable container has a rigid tubular body, a flexible bag positioned within the rigid tubular body, a cap, and a base sealing element. The rigid tubular body has an open-ended top and an open-ended bottom. The flexible bag has a top portion with a dispensing aperture, a bottom portion, and an outwardly extending annular flange. An annular retaining ring is adapted to lock the outwardly extending annular flange of the flexible bag against a top rim of the rigid tubular body. The cap is adapted to fit over the top portion of the flexible bag. A tear strip removably connects the cap and the annular retaining ring. The base sealing element is adapted to engage the open-ended bottom of the rigid tubular body to seal a vacuum aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: George E. Martin
  • Patent number: 7967161
    Abstract: A shipping container liner system for use in the shipping of bulk flowable products is described. The system comprises a specially adapted shipping container liner that is self-supporting without the need of rear-mounted rigid supportive bars to retain the liner within the shipping container during filling and discharge. The system comprises an arrangement of interior support baffles operating in conjunction with a plurality of exterior anchor straps adapted to distribute the cargo load throughout the length of the liner. A specialized hopper for unloading the bulk material is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: Arthur M. Townsend
  • Patent number: 7963415
    Abstract: A building design of container-drum is described that includes a lid (10) positioned at the top and at the base of a container-drum (20) and this lid (10) matches the shape of the container-drum's body (20) and has a surface with a circular projection (101) and an orthogonal projection of the rim (102) around the edge of the container-drum's body (20) and this surface (101) has a lowered hub (103) and concentric guides (104) in order to fit the fastening belts (30) and these concentric guides come off of the central hub (103), having cavities and spoked reinforcements (105) set in between the guides (104) with the lid (10) having rims on the top surface with a beveled region (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignees: Linpac Pisani Ltda, Rigesa Cellulose Papel E Embalagens Ltda
    Inventors: Marcelo Perucci, Paulo Francisco Webber
  • Patent number: 7959028
    Abstract: An improved lid for beverage containers which facilitates access to the container's contents, enhances the user's sensory perception of the contents and boosts the overall drinking experience without being removed, is disclosed and claimed. The lid of the invention achieves its objectives by combining multiple sensory elements to simultaneously enhance the user's sensory responses. The sensory elements allow the passage of liquid and vapor, the conduction and convection of heat and the visual perception of color, level and movement of the beverage. The invention integrates multiple elements of a press and lock on a beverage container lid. The shape of the lid provides a thin rim simulating the thickness of a lidless cup or a non-disposable mug or cup. The lid provides a well deep enough to avoid contact between the nose and the lid in the drinking position, thereby allowing the user's head to remain more upright while drinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: Richard J. Leon
  • Patent number: 7959021
    Abstract: An air inlet is mounted in a baby bottle and has a valve and an air-inlet tube. The valve has a body, an outer ring and an inner ring. The body has a chamber, multiple separating blocks and multiple liquid channels. The separating blocks are formed on the body and each has a vent. The liquid channels are formed through the body between the separating blocks and communicate with the chamber. The outer ring is formed around the chamber to separate the chamber and the vents. The inner ring is formed on an inner end of the body around the vents and has multiple air inlets. The air-inlet tube is mounted detachably on the inner ring of the valve. Therefore, liquid flows through the liquid channels and the chamber, but air flows through the air inlets and the vents to the air-inlet tube to ensure smooth operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: Hsiao-Chen Liang
  • Patent number: 7950540
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing containers for receiving and preserving biological specimens comprising a plug that comprises at least one connecting means such that, after interlocking with the apparatus, access to contents of the apparatus necessarily brings about a physical transformation that is irreversible and can be ascertained by the naked eye of the container, and not of the plug, which physical transformation consists, e.g., but not necessarily, of a rupture or a tear of this means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Nicolas Bara
  • Patent number: 7946442
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a clasp for securing a man-way cover in a vessel. The clasp can include a hinged member. Generally, the hinged member has a first position for securing the man-way cover and a second position for unsecuring the man-way cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Chad A. Perrott
  • Patent number: 7942282
    Abstract: A retainer for securing together upper and lower shipping containers includes interconnected upper and lower retaining members each adapted to be inserted into a hole in a corner piece of a respective one of the upper and lower shipping containers, and at least one swing member disposed inside the lower retaining member. The upper retaining member has a top end aligned with a bottom end of the lower retaining member along an axial line of the retainer. The swing member includes a lower pivot portion connected pivotally to the lower retaining member, and an upper engaging portion which is proximate to the axial line in a non-engaging position and when the axial line of the retainer is substantially vertical, and which moves away from the axial line in an engaging position when the axial line of the retainer is inclined and non-vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Global Investment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jen-Yao Hung
  • Patent number: 7938283
    Abstract: Systems and methods for protected transportation of agricultural commodities are provided. The protected transportation is accomplished through the use of a thin, lightweight hermetic liner inside a shipping container. The liner is sealed at a first end and open at a second end, and the liner is positioned within the shipping container with the sealed first end at a back end of the shipping container and the second open end at a front, open end of the shipping container. A top portion of the liner is held to the ceiling of the shipping container via an attachment mechanism or via inflation of the liner and/or ribs in the liner. The bagged or bulk commodity is introduced through the open end and into the liner. The liner is then hermetically sealed, and the container is closed. After shipping, the agricultural commodity may be removed by unsealing the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Grainpro, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Villers, Tom de Bruin, Shlomo Navarro
  • Patent number: 7938363
    Abstract: An emergency opening device for an overhead locker with a housing and a lowerable shell includes a connecting element which is connectable to a retention system operatively coupling the housing to the lowerable shell. The emergency opening device also includes a locking device adapted to move from a locked position in which the locking device is coupled with the connecting element to an unlocked position in which the locking device is uncoupled from the connecting element to release the lowerable shell from the retention system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Anton Benkart, Tobias Gauggel, Oleg Graf, Michael Klug, Georg Schuon
  • Patent number: 7938285
    Abstract: A wood chip soaking apparatus has a fluid holding base container having end walls suited for supporting at least one, and suitably two, or even more, wood chip baskets in the container for pre-soaking the wood chips to be added to a barbeque heat source. Wood chips are preferably supported in the base container on handles projecting from the wood chip baskets. The base container preferably is provided with elevated side walls for supporting the wood chip baskets in an elevated position after soaking for draining the fluid from the baskets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Charcoal Companion Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven Raichlen, Charles Adams
  • Patent number: 7931165
    Abstract: A portable carrier for storing and displaying rolled blueprints and other construction documents (“Carrier”). The Carrier includes a compact storage case with an opening for the passage of flexible backing material and documents. A cylindrical roller, mounted inside of the compact storage case, rotates axially to allow unfurling and retracting of flexible backing material. Means for unfurling and retracting the flexible backing material are provided, utilizing a retracting handle and a manual retractor cap respectively. Means for attaching and detaching display documents are provided using Velcro® Brand material affixed to the top of the flexible backing material and mating document Velcro® Brand fastening strips attached to the backs of the display documents. Documents are held down during display using a document fastener assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: Channon C. Croy
  • Patent number: 7931164
    Abstract: A foldable portable container is described. The container end walls are hinged to the floor of the container and are attached to the roof by a hinged slide mechanism whereby vertical displacement of the roof causes the simultaneous folding or unfolding of the opposing container end walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: Christopher G. Krohn
  • Patent number: 7922001
    Abstract: A container having complementary walls that provide 180 nest/stack functionality. Opposing walls, despite being dissimilar, include outer contact surfaces that provide consistent, rigid contact with arms of a storage and retrieval system. One end wall of the container includes alternating inner and outer portions. The other end wall of the container includes complementary alternating inner and outer portions. The outer surface of at least one of the inner portions of one end wall includes a plurality of ribs providing a contact surface. The outer surface of at least one of the outer portions of the opposite end wall has a plurality of ribs extending outwardly to an end wall face. The ribs of the one wall and the end wall face of the opposite wall provide similar contact surfaces for arms of an automated storage and retrieval system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Ryan C. Meers
  • Patent number: 7922023
    Abstract: An apparatus for receiving and storing a soiled item has a container and a cover, which can be rotated about spindles. The cover comprises a casing in which a movable body can move to and fro. The moveable body is placed inside a compartment at the closed end of a flexible holder. A soiled item can be put inside the casing and subsequently the cover can be rotated around spindles. The moveable body will fall downwards under the force of gravity, pushing the soiled item inside the container. The flexible holder is fixed inside the casing with a firm closed elastic band at the location of the rim of its open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Combicraft Enterprises Inc. (HK)
    Inventor: Johan Dommerholt