Patents Examined by Nhan T. Lam
  • Patent number: 5971144
    Abstract: The invention provides a container for at least one information carrier, particularly for CDs. Each information carrier has opposed major surfaces substantially defining a plane therebetween, and also has an outer edge which includes perimeter portions of both the major surfaces. The container comprises a first cover portion and a second cover portion rotatable relative to the first cover portion between a closed position and an open position. When the second cover portion is in the closed position, the first and second cover portions define a substantially enclosed information carrier storage volume. At least one information carrier holder is disposed within this storage volume, the holder comprising clamping elements on either side of a slot. The slot is capable of receiving a portion of the edge of the information carrier, so that the clamping elements releasably grip the information carrier along each of its major surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Joennes Hermuns Heiligers
  • Patent number: 5967308
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-compartment bag which provides for the separation of two substances until their desired intermixing. A specific application of this multi-compartment bag is for hot or cold chemical packs. The substances in the multi-compartment bag are separated by two breakable walls and a third compartment which together act as a barrier to migration of one substance into the second substance, which would reduce the shelf life and efficiency of the hot or cold chemical pack. The present invention's use of two breakable walls and a compartment, empty or containing an inert substance, separating two reactive substances, provides a longer shelf life, a high efficiency, more reliability and improved ease of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Michael L. Bowen
  • Patent number: 5967321
    Abstract: A facial tissue carton, which enables the user to elevate the clip of tissues within the carton as the tissues are removed from the carton, comprises a strip of material, such as a paper strip, which is fixed at one end of the carton and extends underneath the tissue clip. A free end of the strip passes out through the opposite end of the carton. To elevate the partially used clip in order to avoid "faltback", the user simply pulls on the exposed end of the strip and appropriately secures the end of the strip at the end of the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Clement Sigl
  • Patent number: 5967323
    Abstract: A cup cake riddle is provided including a base having a plurality of circular cut outs formed therein for supporting cup cakes therein. Next provided is a cover for releasably securing over the base to afford a hermetically sealed compartment in which the cup cakes reside. A handle is rotatably coupled to the cover for carrying purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Sussan Siragusa
  • Patent number: 5964350
    Abstract: An assembly of interconnected containers includes a plurality of containers each of which has an upper portion connected to a lower portion by a hinge or hinges with the upper portion having a pair of elongated generally parallel upwardly open channels. The container also has a pair of generally parallel generally downwardly projecting flanges structured to engage an upwardly open channel of an adjacent container and adjacent containers have either at least one of the channels engaged by a flange of an adjacent container or at least one of its flanges engaged in a channel of an adjacent container or both. The channels are preferably open at at least one end so as to permit relative sliding removal and insertion of the containers from and into the assembly. The channels are disposed closer to each other than are the flanges. In one embodiment the upper portion has the upper sidewalls diverging downwardly therefrom and the lower wall has a pair of lower sidewalls diverging upwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventors: Paul LaMarche, James McCarthy
  • Patent number: 5964352
    Abstract: The invention provides a carrier band of electronic parts, comprising: a band-type tape band 12, which has sprocket holes 13 and holes 14 at regular intervals; a one-side sticking tape 15, which is affixed to a back side of the tape band 12, wherein a sticking face of the tape is exposed from the holes 14 such that electronic parts A can be stuck at the sticking face of the tape and rolled up to a reel; and projecting portions 16, 16, which are formed in both side edges of a tape width direction of the holes 13 of the tape band 12 such that a distance between opposing pointed ends can be narrower than a width of the sticking tape 15, wherein both sides of the sticking tape 15 pushed up to an upper side of the holes 14 are supported by the projecting portions 16, 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Nissho Corporation
    Inventor: Ritsue Shoji
  • Patent number: 5964353
    Abstract: Carrier tape (12) is disclosed which absorbs kinetic energy and protects the leads (34, 34') of electronic circuit components (32) from bending or being otherwise damaged in an industry drop test. The components (32) are supported in pockets (22) by platforms (40) which are free of ridges extending above the bottoms of the components (32). The free ends of the leads (34) simultaneously engage ramp portions (42) of the pocket sidewalls (24) which are inclined upwardly and outwardly from the pocket bottoms (26) to center the components (32) in the pockets (22). The pockets (22) are of a size to sandwich the components (32) against the platforms (40) when the carrier tape (12) is in a stacked arrangement such as by being wound on a reel (58). The pocket bottoms (26) include undercuts (54) allowing the pocket bottoms (26) in an upper layer to sandwich two different components (32) in two circumferentially adjacent pockets (22) of the lower layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Ilinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Robert N. Hamlin
  • Patent number: 5964345
    Abstract: The typical rigid cigarette packet consists of a box-like container with one open top end that can be exposed and closed by rotating a lid hinged to a rear edge of the container; the contents of the packet are restrained by a separate "U"-shaped frame element of which a first portion is anchored to the container and a second portion projects through the open top end and into the closed lid. To advantage, a front section of the first portion of the frame element incorporates a set of transverse stiffening ribs near the open top end of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: G. D S.p.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Gamberini
  • Patent number: 5960950
    Abstract: A fishing rod and reel assembly carrying case having two (2) elongated housing sections attached along one elongated edge thereof by a pivotal connection, such as one or more hinges. The interior of each of the two (2) elongated housing sections includes a cavity into which a fishing rod and reel assembly can be placed and one of the elongated housing sections includes one or more tackle box compartments having dividers positioned therein and pivotally attached cover portions which cover and retain fishing tackle and other fishing equipment therein. The two (2) elongated housing sections can be closed upon each other and latched in this position to form an elongated fishing rod and reel assembly carrying case having an integral handle portion to carry the enclosed fishing rod and reel assembly carrying case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Meeker R & D, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul K. Meeker, Antonieta M. Giner, Enrique R. Giner
  • Patent number: 5957286
    Abstract: A tool box includes an upper frame with a transparent cover mounted thereto and a lower frame with a base member connected to the bottom thereof, a first recess defined in one of the sides of upper frame which is defined by two end walls so that a locking device is movably received in the first recess. The locking device has a flexible plate extending therefrom and a hook extending form the bottom thereof. A second recess is defined in the top surface of the lower frame and a slot defined through the top surface so that the hook is movably engaged with the slot. The flexible plate is urged against to the second end wall when the locking device is shifted to open the cover and will return to its original position by the flexible plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventor: Chiu-Fu Ho
  • Patent number: 5954203
    Abstract: The present invention provides a clam shell packaging arrangement having a base 12 which defines a receiving area 23. A cover 14 is further provided which engages in a sealing snap fit arrangement with the base 12. The base 12 and the cover 14 are connected by an integral living hinge 16 which includes a first hinge element 18 connected to the base 12 and a second hinge element 20 connected to the cover 14. The bottom wall of the base 12 defines a plurality of upwardly extending integral plastic bubbles 57. The cover 14 defines a plurality of cooperating downwardly extending integral plastic bubbles 59. The bubbles 57, 59 are resilient enough to cradle a product and flexible enough to secure the product in its position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Allegiance Corporation
    Inventor: Lance Emilio Marconi
  • Patent number: 5950835
    Abstract: A honeycomb protector for protecting the corners and edges of articles during shipping comprising a honeycomb panel foldable between a flat position and a folded position. The panel includes a honeycomb core sandwiched between top and bottom face sheets. The top face sheet includes a slitted segment defining a hinge about which the panel can be folded. In the folded position, the panel includes an impact absorbing corner comprising a region of the panel where the partition walls of the honeycomb core converge towards the top face sheet and the hollow-cell faces of the core abutting the top face sheet are laterally flattened and compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Tenneco Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Moser, Robert E. Jaegers, Raymond A. Kowalski
  • Patent number: 5947295
    Abstract: A liner dispenser for a waste container having a waste container floor and a waste container side wall with an upper rim, for removably securing to the waste container floor, includes a cylindrical and substantially rigid dispenser shell having a shell side wall, a shell top wall with a liner dispensing opening and a shell bottom wall which forms a lower corner with the shell side wall, and which is bowed outwardly to present a convex surface to abut the waste container floor and elevate the lower corner for ease of grasping with user finger tips during dispenser removal, and a device for removably securing the shell bottom wall to the waste container floor. The liner dispenser preferably additionally includes several interconnected waste container liners enclosed within the dispenser shell, each liner having a liner closed end and a liner open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Matthew Lutin
  • Patent number: 5947294
    Abstract: A flat tablet case (A) is assembled by joining together a bottom half case (30) having the shape of a rectangular tray and a top half case (10) having the shape of a rectangular tray. A plurality of studs (21 to 25) are formed on the inner surface of the top half case (10), and a plurality of sockets (41 to 45) are formed on the inner surface the bottom half case (30). A hinged cap (50) is formed integrally with the bottom half case (30) in a section of the side wall (31) excluding corners. The hinged cap (50) is provided on its opposite side surfaces with projections (53, 54) which are engaged with and disengaged from cap holding structures (35, 36) formed on the bottom half case (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Omata, Yuji Sugiyama, Mikiko Suzuki, Hisashi Aizawa
  • Patent number: 5947283
    Abstract: A fan blade display package includes a first and second overlying transparent shells. Each shell has a major dimension and a minor dimension. A recess is formed in each shell for receiving and conforming to at least a first fan blade. The recesses are disposed in offset relation relative to at least one of the dimensions, so that portions of fan blades in each recess are exposed and may be visually perceived through each of the shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: John C. Marshall
  • Patent number: 5947271
    Abstract: This invention discloses a valise for storing delicate articles including an enclosure for storing the delicate articles, wherein the enclosure is at least partially surrounded by a layer of material of high thermal capacity and at least partially surrounded by a layer of material of high thermal resistance, wherein the layer of material of high thermal capacity is interposed between the enclosure and the layer of material of high thermal resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Aaron Follman
  • Patent number: 5944174
    Abstract: A multi-packaging device for carrying a plurality of containers. A panel is configured with an array of three-pointed apertures that are each engageable with a container neck portion. Each of the three-pointed apertures is formed by two longitudinal elongated openings and one lateral elongated opening in the panel, with extremities of the longitudinal elongated openings positioned along a longitudinal fold line of the panel. Side flaps are positioned adjacent to the fold line on either longitudinal side of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Leslie S. Marco
  • Patent number: 5944186
    Abstract: In a roll photosensitive material package composed of a roll photosensitive material scroll and a light shielding side member provided to each side of the roll photosensitive material scroll, the light shielding side member has a surplus portion projecting from the outer circumferential surface of the roll photosensitive material scroll, and the surplus portion is bent at the edge of the outer circumferential surface, folded at plural points and superimposed on the outer circumferential surface. The folded superimposed sections 0 of the surplus portion are composed of peak creases and bottom creases, the peak creases are superimposed around the bottom creases and the folded superimposed sections are provided with a substantially equal pitch, and a direction of each bottom crease has an inclination angle .alpha. to the axis of the core, when the peak creases are superimposed around the bottom creases, a direction of each peak crease has an inclination angle .beta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Shigekazu Sakai, Manabu Watanabe, Manabu Toyonaga
  • Patent number: 5944181
    Abstract: A holder for a disk having a central opening and front and back surfaces includes a base having a planar panel and formed with a segmented generally conical projection; and a pedestal projecting forwardly from the base on a pedestal axis. The pedestal includes a central button having radially outwardly projecting retainers, and axially extending stems that are integrally formed as button segments with corresponding ones of the retainers. A laterally spaced pair the arms connected to each of the stems support the button portion in cantilevered relation to the base, the arms sloping radially inwardly and axially forwardly from the panel of the base, the arms collectively having an extended position for retaining the disk by engagement of the front surface by the retainers proximate a central opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Finest Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwok Din Lau
  • Patent number: 5944180
    Abstract: A storage case for a flat circular Niger such as a compact disc includes a plastic box that has top and bottom walls and a front end which in open so that the flat circular maker may be inserted into the box between the top and bottom walls. A spring member inside the box adjacent its rear wall has one part that is fixedly secured to the box, and a movable part that when released can directly engage the peripheral edge of the flat circular member. The movable part of the spring member is normally stored in a retracted position behind a rib that extend inwardly from the top wall of the box. The top wall has a flexible portion behind the rib which is downardly depressible for releasing the movable part of the spring member so that it will then engage the compact disc and eject it from the open front end of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventors: Lawrence Robert Koh, Arthur Mark Feuerborn, David John Feuerborn