Patents Examined by Niki M. Kopsidas
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Patent number: 5657894Abstract: A closure device allows a welding rod container to be reclosed in an air and moisture tight manner after being opened. The device includes a frame member having an opening therein, and flanges extending downwardly from the frame member outer edges for secure attachment to the container. The opening is of sufficient size to allow a human hand to retrieve a welding rod from the open welding rod container while also helping to prevent contact of the hand with the dangerous sharp edges of the open container. A latchable lid member capable of fitting within the frame member and covering the opening therein is hingedly connected to the frame member such as by an internal or live hinge. The lid member is provided with a flanged bead extending along its outer edges capable of mating with a groove extending along the inner walls of the frame member.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1995Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Inventor: Larry J. Bowen
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Patent number: 5653354Abstract: A container system for flowable materials includes a frame having a bottom, front, rear, and at least one side. The frame includes a support tray disposed above the bottom and having a discharge chute. A pair of spaced apart tubes for receiving the forks of a forklift extend horizontally from the front to the rear of the frame below the support tray. The container system further includes a bag having a bottom portion adapted to rest on the support tray and having a discharge opening registered with the discharge chute. The bag has a flap that normally covers the discharge opening. A slide mechanism mounts at the side of the frame, transversely to the tubes, and is connected to the flap so as to peel it back to uncover the discharge opening and thereby dispense flowable material.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 1995Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: Noslo Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Gary L. Olson
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Patent number: 5653353Abstract: A unitary cap and collar construction for a bottle feeder having a nipple cap secured to a detachable collar which comprises a nipple, a single, flexible, integral tether line of sufficient length for an infant to feed from the nipple having one end engaged to a detachable collar having an opening for holding the feeder nipple which the collar is detachably connected to the bottle, and having an opposite end engaged to the cap for covering the nipple.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1995Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Inventors: Robin G. Otto, Jeffrey Otto
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Patent number: 5642831Abstract: A drinking container is provided having a liquid containing portion and a slidably displaceable sleeve member. The slidably displaceable sleeve member is located adjacent the liquid containing portion. The liquid containing portion has a bottom surface. The sleeve member has a sidewall and a bottom surface. The sleeve member in a first position has its bottom surface spaced apart from the bottom surface of the liquid containing portion a first distance, while the sleeve member in a second position has its bottom surface spaced apart from the bottom surface of the liquid containing portion a second distance. The drinking container preferably has an upwardly projecting wall having at least one engaging member. Additionally, the sleeve member has a plurality of channels formed in its sidewall. The drinking container is formed having a first wall member and a second wall member, such that the sleeve member is retained between the first and second wall members.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1995Date of Patent: July 1, 1997Assignee: National Packaging CorporationInventor: L. Grant Lynd
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Patent number: 5641087Abstract: A paint bucket having cylindrical side walls, a bottom, has two integrally-formed inclined rolling surfaces extending upward from the bottom and inward toward the center, which meet at a peak below the top rim and form rolling surfaces. The rolling surfaces are angled inward, the side walls are angled outward and the area underneath the rolling surfaces is hollow to allow multiple paint buckets to be stacked together.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1995Date of Patent: June 24, 1997Assignee: Steven P. Moffitt & John David Moffitt PartnershipInventor: Steven P. Moffitt
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Patent number: 5638980Abstract: A fluid storage safety device comprised of a pair of end portions. Each of the end portions has a concave end and a convex end. The convex end has an outer periphery. The outer periphery has a series of alternating abutted and recessed portions disposed thereon. The pair of end portions are adapted to be received within open end portions of a storage tank with the outer periphery of the convex end aligned with a peripheral outer edge of the open end portions of the storage tank. The pair of end portions are secured within the open end portions by welds at the meeting point of the outer periphery of the convex end and the peripheral outer edge of the open end portions of the storage tank.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1995Date of Patent: June 17, 1997Inventor: Joseph R. Parks
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Patent number: 5638983Abstract: A sleeve pack to be used with a pallet base and cover to form a container for shipping bulk goods, the sleeve pack comprising four continuous vertical sidewalls arranged in a rectangular configuration, at least one of the sidewalls having at least one vertically oriented flute rod inserted between two faces of corrugated plastic and within one flute of at least one wall for improved strength. The flute rod has an upholding means on the top of the flute rod for preventing the flute rod from falling through the flute of the sleeve pack sidewall. A channel shaped retainer covers and is secured to the upper portion of the sidewalls containing flute rods in order to secure the flute rods between the two faces of plastic of the sidewall and prevent the flute rods from falling out of the flutes when the sleeve pack is inverted. The upholding means of the flute rods are supported by vertically oriented corrugations between the face plies of the sidewalls.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1995Date of Patent: June 17, 1997Assignee: Bradford CompanyInventor: Donald J. Bazany
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Patent number: 5638981Abstract: Tableware in the form of a plate is provided with a conventional food-receiving surface, which food-receiving surface is formed with a hollowed out recess which is sized to snugly receive the bowl of a spoon or fork. The hollowed out recess is operable to locate the edge of the bowl of the eating utensil at or below the food-receiving surface of the plate so that food can be smoothly slid from the plate onto the utensil bowl. The handle of the utensil rests on the edge of the plate when the utensil bowl is disposed in the plate recess so that a person is able to use only one hand to position the utensil properly on the plate; sweep food into the utensil bowl with the same hand; and to pick up the utensil with the same hand to consume the food in the utensil bowl. A plate which is configured with the utensil-receiving recess enables one to use only one hand to consume food from the plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1996Date of Patent: June 17, 1997Assignee: Kathryn CraneInventors: Kathryn Crane, Walter Gillis
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Patent number: 5634559Abstract: A package tray configured for use with at least one other such tray in forming reclosable enclosed packages includes a recess portion having an upper edge, a flange portion projecting from the upper edge and having upper and lower sides, at least one snap fastener of a first type located on the flange portion, and at least one snap fastener of a second type located on the flange portion in spaced relationship to the at least one fastener of the first type. Each of the first and second type fasteners is configured to be fastenable on both said upper and lower sides of said flange portion to opposing fasteners of like package trays. The first and second type fasteners are disposed on the flange portion so that when multiples of the package trays are placed in vertically stacked relationship, at least one opposing pair of the fasteners on adjacent trays engage each other to secure the trays together in one of a nested and an opposing relationship.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1995Date of Patent: June 3, 1997Assignee: Plastofilm Industries, Inc.Inventors: Douglas E. Foos, Todd O. Buck, Richard L. Partlow, Jr.
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Patent number: 5626256Abstract: A mixing bowl of generally ellipsoidal configuration having an elliptical upwardly domed base, upwardly and outwardly arcing side wall, and an upper ellipse-defining rim. The rim is surrounded by an outwardly and downwardly inclined flange varying in width from one end of the rim whereat a pour spout is defined to a maximum width at the other end of the rim whereat a gripping and nesting recess is defined.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1995Date of Patent: May 6, 1997Assignee: Dart Industries Inc.Inventor: Frederik J. Onneweer
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Patent number: 5626253Abstract: Apparatus for storing and dispensing bulk materials such as sand, gravel and coke and which has at least one base emptying aperture. The apparatus includes a frame formed in the general shape of a box and a container formed in the general shape of a box for vertical movement within the frame. The frame includes at least one vertical strut at each corner connected by horizontal struts and four metal side plates. The container includes a guide attached at each corner formed to slide along the corresponding vertical strut at that corner. A plurality of roof-shaped webs are connected to and extend between the metal side plates extending along the length of the frame and are positioned to provide an aperture between adjacent roof-shaped webs.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: May 6, 1997Inventor: Gerhard Schutz
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Patent number: 5622293Abstract: A container for liquids formed of a flexible tubular member which has a pair of ends. The ends are connectable to form a loop. One of the ends has an opening to permit access to the liquid carried in the container.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1995Date of Patent: April 22, 1997Inventor: Michael LeFevre
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Patent number: 5615787Abstract: A condition indicating child-resistant closure having an inner cap captivated within an outer cap wherein the caps are freely rotatable relative to each other when the closure is in the child-resistant mode, and are interconnected to each other for removal from a container when the closure is in the non-child-resistant mode. An indicating post is connected to the top wall of the inner cap and is adapted to be contained wholly within a space between the inner and outer caps and therefore not visible when the closure is in the child-resistant mode, the post being extendable through the top wall of the outer cap and therefore visible when the closure is in the non-child-resistant mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1995Date of Patent: April 1, 1997Inventor: Glenn H. Morris, Sr.
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Patent number: 5615788Abstract: A container safety cap having an internal structure and an external structure for sealing an end of a container, vessel or conduit, for example. A safety seal is placed across a surface formed from the internal and external structures. Movement of either structure will cause the seal to break and indicate a violation of the integrity of the seal. The external structure will, in a closed position, force hooks of the internal structure into a groove of the container being sealed. Movement of the external structure into an open position will allow removal of the internal structure, together with the external structure, from the container being sealed. The container can be resealed by having the internal structure of the cap fitted onto the container, followed by displacement of the external structure to lock the hooks of the internal structure in place.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1995Date of Patent: April 1, 1997Inventor: Constancio Larguia
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Patent number: 5598941Abstract: A hot-fillable, blow-molded container has a grip panel structure which resists inverting when the container is filled with a hot liquid and after the container has been capped. The container and grip panel structure retain their aesthetic appearance and their structural integrity through use by the consumer.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1995Date of Patent: February 4, 1997Assignee: Graham Packaging CorporationInventors: Frank E. Semersky, John W. Tobias
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Patent number: 5593037Abstract: A stackable bin includes two spaced apart side walls, and a rear wall connecting rear edges of the side walls together. The side walls and rear wall are slightly inclined inwardly with respect to a vertical plane. A bottom wall is connected to lower portions of the side walls and rear wall and a central partition wall is connected with the bottom wall and rear wall to define first and second compartments open at front ends thereof. A channel extends parallel to and in alignment with the partition wall, and is formed at an underside of the bottom wall, for receiving an upper edge of a partition wall of a another stackable bin, for a supporting stackable arrangement therewith. Vertically oriented ribs are provided on outer surfaces of the side walls, for further supporting the stackable bin on the upper edges of side walls of the other stackable bin, and for increasing structural rigidity of the side walls.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1995Date of Patent: January 14, 1997Inventor: Abraham Ohayon
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Patent number: 5593008Abstract: A dual purpose case fulfilling the function of a case, which also can be a temporary seat. This has been achieved by making the longest side of the base considerably shorter than the height of the case. Thus, it is possible to sit on the case, when it is standing on its base, without bending the knees in an uncomfortable way. The lid of the case has been formed so that sitting on it will be reasonably comfortable. The construction of the handle on the lid facilitates the change-over from conveying to sitting without special arrangements; only placing the case on a flat surface. When the case is carried with its longest dimension perpendicular, it will be a very small obstacle in crowded situations, as compared to current cases.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1995Date of Patent: January 14, 1997Inventor: Thorsten Magnusson
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Patent number: 5590802Abstract: A salvage drum has a container body and circular lid which are sealed together by a clamp that secures an outwardly extending lip on the container body to an outwardly extending lip on the circular lid. The container body has a plurality of spaced outwardly extending vertical ribs adjacent the body lip and the circular lid has an outwardly extending protective shoulder which is arranged such that the clamp is protected from impact with the ground regardless of tipping over or dropping of the salvage drum. The clamp is also easily stored on and held on the container body ready for use in sealing of the salvage drum.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1995Date of Patent: January 7, 1997Assignee: Eagle Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Donald J. Mitchell
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Patent number: 5582296Abstract: A stackable tray comprising a body formed of rigid plastics material and consisting of a bottom wall integrally formed with opposite side walls and opposite front and rear walls; the front wall, at least, defines an access area to allow removal of articles from the bottom wall when the tray is in a superposed stacked relationship with similarly constructed trays; the front wall has an upper edge defining an enclosed tubular section extending from side wall to side wall to reinforce the tray when in a stacked relationship with similarly constructed trays and to counteract sagging of the bottom wall due to weight of articles placed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1994Date of Patent: December 10, 1996Assignee: IPL Inc.Inventors: Maurice Beauchamp, Michel Lanoue
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Patent number: 5580037Abstract: A food preparation and serving plate (10) is provided which assists a disabled user in preparing and consuming food items placed thereon. The plate (10) includes a planar top surface (20) surrounded by a sidewall (50). A bottom surface (30) parallel to and beneath the top surface (20) includes a non-slip pad (40) thereon to secure the plate (10) to an underlying support surface. The sidewall (50) includes an overhang (60) on a portion of the sidewall (50) which includes a lip (62) which assists the user in loading a utensil, such as a spoon (S), with small food items. The top surface (20) includes a fulcrum (70) spaced above the top surface (20). The fulcrum (70) is utilized along with a knife (K.sub.1) to provide leverage in cleaving food items into bite-sized morsels. A tip (T) of the knife (K.sub.1) is placed under the fulcrum (70) and then a handle (H) of the knife (K.sub.1) is forced downward with a blade (B.sub.1) of the knife (K.sub.1) between the handle (H) and the tip (T) driving into the food item.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1994Date of Patent: December 3, 1996Inventor: Rex W. Gore