Patents Examined by Shawn Braden
  • Patent number: 8210391
    Abstract: A container comprising a pail, removable cover, and a gasket disposed between the cover and the pail is disclosed. The pail has an angled bead at the proximal end of the pail and a plurality of satellite rings that extend circumferentially around the pail and form a wall junction with the pail. The wall junction has a substantially constant wall thickness. A bail ear is formed to connect at least two of the satellite rings to define an opening between the bail ear and the body. The pail also includes a shock absorbing wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: ROPAK Corporation
    Inventor: Frano Luburic
  • Patent number: 8205764
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a cap for a vessel for performing a multi-stage process for analyzing a sample, such as nested PCR or RT-PCR. In one embodiment, the cap comprises a body configured to be mated to the vessel to enclose a vessel interior, a cap cavity for holding reagents, and a cap cavity control portion that is adjustable with respect to the body between a first-stage position in which the cap cavity is enclosed and fluidicly isolated from the vessel interior and a second-stage position in which the cap cavity is fluidicly coupled with the vessel interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Cepheid
    Inventor: Ronald Chang
  • Patent number: 8206075
    Abstract: In certain aspects, a load lock chamber is provided that includes a body having at least one sealing surface wall including a sealing surface. The sealing surface wall has an opening adjacent the sealing surface adapted to input or output a substrate. The body further includes a plurality of side walls. The load lock chamber also includes a top coupled to the body. The top includes one or more openings that divide the top into a first portion and a second portion. The load lock chamber further includes one or more top sealing members adapted to cover each opening of the top. Each top sealing member absorbs a movement of the first portion of the top relative to the second portion of the top. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. White, Shinichi Kurita, William N. Sterling, Yoshiaki Tanase
  • Patent number: 8196766
    Abstract: The invention relates to a folding container (100) having a first and second side wall (11, 13), a roof (10), a floor (20) as well as a face end (12) and a back end, wherein the first side wall (13) and the second side wall (11) are slideable along the roof (10) and along the floor (20) respectively in such a manner that the lateral parts (11, 13) are slideable inward of the container (100) until they lie parallel to the floor (20). In order to offset friction losses in the longitudinal rails of folding containers (100), the invention proposes that the roof (10) and the floor (20) are provided with spaced longitudinal rails (14, 15, 16, 17) running parallel to one another for a roll guide of the first side wall (13) slideable on the roof (10) and for a roll guide of the second side wall (11) slideable on the floor (20), wherein in the longitudinal rails (14, 15, 16, 17) tension springs (30) are integrated which with a folded-out container (100) are tensioned and with a folded-up container (100) are relaxed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Oil Capital Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Ottmar A. H. Schrayvogel
  • Patent number: 8191726
    Abstract: A method of making an easy open end for a container includes steps of providing a can end blank having an end panel and forming the can end blank in a series of forming operations that are performed with specialized and unique tooling. The can end is preferably shaped during the forming operations so that a major portion of the end panel is curved. Specifically, the curvature is preferably such that a top surface of the major portion is generally concave and a bottom surface of the major portion is generally convex. The end panel is also preferably shaped and constructed so that the curved major portion will invert in shape upon the application of a sufficient predetermined pressure differential between the top and bottom surfaces. A method of testing a fill level of a sealed container is performed in reliance on this “cricketing” or “oil canning” effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Heinicke
  • Patent number: 8181566
    Abstract: A machine for making homemade ice-cream and similar having an outer casing, a mixing bowl housed inside the machine and projecting outwards of the casing, and a movable lid hinged to the casing and movable to and from an operating position in which it closes the top end of the bowl completely; the movable lid having a supporting arm which is hinged to the casing and is provided with a through opening positioned over the top end of the bowl when the supporting arm is in a lowered position, and a cover fixed to the supporting arm so as to be positioned closing the top end of the bowl when the supporting arm is in the lowered position; the cover having a cup-shaped body fixed upside down to the supporting arm with the bottom of the cup-shaped body located at the through opening, a threaded tubular sleeve which engages a through hole formed in the bottom of the cup-shaped body so as to project from the supporting arm on back through the through opening, and a lock nut screwed to the end portion of the tubular sle
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Valmar Global Vse Za Sladoled D.O.O.
    Inventor: Valter Jej{hacek over (c)}i{hacek over (c)}
  • Patent number: 8181818
    Abstract: Secure product container 10 has opposed closure shells 10P and 10A forming product chamber 10C. The shells may be separated into an open accessible state (see FIG. 1A), in which the closure shells are uncaptured and product 10G is accessible. The closure shells may be placed together in a closed state along closure interface 12C (see FIG. 1B), in which the closure shells are captured to enclose the product. A closure capture between the closure shells holds the shells in the closed state. Closure capture 26 has a secured condition (see FIG. 2B) in which the closure shells are captured together in the closed state, and a released condition (see FIG. 2A) in which the closure shells may be uncaptured in the accessible state. Capture release device 12 on active shell 10A is pressure responsive for releasing the closure capture from the secured condition into the released condition when pressurized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: PopPack, LLC
    Inventors: William S. Perell, David Z. Dytchkowsky
  • Patent number: 8181806
    Abstract: A collapsible container that in the assembled configuration provides for a predetermined central space protected by six walls that are perpendicularly mounted with respect to each abutting wall and in the e collapsed configuration occupies minimum space. A bottom wall is provided with a predetermined umber of hinge knuckles with a central through opening through which pins are passed. Parapets of different heights are provided to raise the knuckles to predetermined heights that will clear the stacked up thickness of the folded walls. The height of the front, rear and the two side lateral walls is determined by the width of the bottom wall which in turn will also determine the width and height of the front and rear walls. A handle is removably mounted to the top wall, protruding toward the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Edgar Hidalgo Vargas
  • Patent number: 8172268
    Abstract: A work vehicle has a plurality of wheels including a first wheel and a fuel tank disposed upwardly of the first wheel. The fuel tank includes a first portion which is located higher than the highest point of the first wheel in a side view and which also is overlapped at least partially with the first wheel in a top view; a second portion disposed forwardly of the highest point of the first wheel and extending downwardly from the first portion so as to extend lower than the highest point of the first wheel, the second portion being in fluid communication with the first portion; and a third portion disposed rearwardly of the highest point of the first wheel and extending downwardly from the first portion so as to extend lower than the highest point of the first wheel, the third portion being in fluid communication with the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Komorida, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Eiji Satou
  • Patent number: 8167157
    Abstract: A box is collapsible in such a manner that it can form a flat stack of panels, each of which corresponds to one side of the box. When the box is configured as a flat stack of panels, it is relatively compact and, therefore, easy to store. When the collapsible box is configured as a box, it is sturdy and strong. The collapsible box has latching elements that can temporarily connect adjacent sides of the box to one another. Typically, a person can latch and unlatch the latching elements with his or her hand. The box is typically transparent and, therefore, well suited for displaying ornamental items, such as ornate hats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Ziva Shalomoff
  • Patent number: 8157120
    Abstract: An improved cup structure includes a cup body having an inner cup and an outer cup, with a space disposed between the inner cup and the outer cup. In the cup body, bottoms of the inner and outer cups are connected by an extension rod having an ornament; one end of the extension rod is adhered to an outer bottom of the inner cup and placed in the outer cup with the inner cup. Edges of the inner and outer cup are melted together, and glue is filled from an aperture at the bottom at the outer cup to secure the other end of the extension rod and the ornament within the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: Jack Worth Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Mei Yang
  • Patent number: 8157130
    Abstract: In a gas cartridge, inside of a metal made outer can 1 is arranged with a metal made inner bag 2 charged with a fuel gas G1. A space between the outer can 1 and the inner bag 2 is charged with a compression gas G2 for pressing to crush the inner bag 2 in accordance with consumption of the fuel gas G1. Pertinent positions on an inner side of the outer can 1 are provided with deformation introducing members P1 through P7 for producing an initial deformation for introducing a deformation of the inner bag when a press force of the compression gas G2 is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keijiro Murayama, Katsuhiko Murayama, Jyunichi Tamura, Masakazu Konishi
  • Patent number: 8141269
    Abstract: An expandable and collapsible enclosure is provided for a garment refreshing appliance. The appliance has at least either a top or a bottom rigid housing structure. The enclosure comprises a wall structure extending substantially an entire height of the enclosure. The wall structure is made of a flexible material. An opening is provided in the wall structure through which garments can be introduced into or removed from the enclosure. A zipper is attached at the opening to selectively open and close the opening. A snap attachment mechanism is located at either or both of the top and a bottom of the wall structure for securing the wall structure to the top and/or bottom rigid housing structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: George F. Seiffert, Timothy J. Hicks, Shawn Oltz, Wesley Traylor, Floyd Jackson
  • Patent number: 8141740
    Abstract: A portable container system having a container body, including an external housing of a durable material and an internal liner constructed of a crystalline ceramic material is provided. A portion of the internal liner extends above the external housing through an open-ended housing cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Patricia Agnello
  • Patent number: 8137784
    Abstract: A housing with a first main wall and a second main wall which each extend perpendicularly of a temperature gradient, and auxiliary walls connecting both main walls and extending parallel to the temperature gradient, wherein the auxiliary walls connect with ribs to the main walls, and a filling placed in the housing and able to withstand pressure forces, wherein the pressure within the housing is reduced to a value at which no heat transfer of any significance takes place, and wherein the housing is manufactured from metal, wherein a strip of the auxiliary wall contacting a rib is welded to the main wall, and that a welding strip is welded onto the weld. With mere welding of a sufficiently thin metal foil it is practically impossible to obtain a weld of sufficient quality. With a sandwich weld it is possible to obtain a sufficiently strong and reliable welded connection, even when a very thin metal foil is used as auxiliary wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Level Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Wessel Bart Veltkamp
  • Patent number: 8123149
    Abstract: A molded plastic mixing station housing for mixing water and chemical for car wash applications comprises a generally right hexahedron having a deep top recess which visually divides the housing into parallel spaced apart towers. A cylindrical mixing reservoir is recessed into the front of the housing such that a Hyrominder can be mounted in the top recess to overlie the open top of the mixing reservoir. A stand-off welt wraps around the entire housing just below the vertical center line to provide a stand-off feature for both wall mounting as well as the mounting of a control panel on one of the side surfaces of the housing. Mounting bracket slots are provided in the four upper corners of the housing for both wall mounting and control panel mounting. A deep recess runs down the back side to provide space for an overflow tube. The housing is preferably rotocast from high density polyethylene and may be color coded to match with the supply for a particular chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Belanger, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Tognetti, Mark D. Morin
  • Patent number: 8100283
    Abstract: A dunnage structure comprising a partition matrix made up of folded partitions, each of the partitions having two plies fused together in select locations. The partitions may be made by folding a partition blank and securing a portion of the folded partition blank to itself in predetermined locations. Passages extend through portions of the partitions to allow multiple partitions to be secured together using connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Bradford Company
    Inventors: Calvin D. Nyeboer, William J. Vroon
  • Patent number: 8100285
    Abstract: Containers suitable for use in food cooking, food serving and food storing are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Danielle Aseff
  • Patent number: 8096439
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery, such as a 12 Volt battery that is recharged by a solar panel, is placed into a container system that includes an enclosure, having a top portion that is open and a bottom portion that is open, that is substantially buried underground. A sleeve, having a bottom portion that is open and a top portion that is closed, is lowered into the enclosure such that air is trapped inside the top portion of the sleeve when water collects against the enclosure. The trapped air prevents flood water from rising high enough to contact terminals of the battery. When flood conditions subside, the water drains out the bottom portion of the container system into the ground. Additionally, a ridge around the bottom of the sleeve makes it easier to insert the sleeve into the enclosure because the ridge slides over the dirt and debris, but the ridge scrapes and removes unwanted dirt and debris from the enclosure whenever the sleeve is removed to access the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Sivert G. Fogerlie
  • Patent number: 8087534
    Abstract: A cryogenic storage tank having an inner vessel disposed within an outer vessel. The fluid flow lines that extend from the interior of the inner vessel to the exterior of the outer vessel have both corrugated- and non-corrugated portions. The corrugated portions advantageously facilitate the bending of the fluid flow lines into a desired orientation while the non-corrugated portions provide rigidity and stiffness for the fluid flow lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventors: Jader Matos Da Silva, Rainer Immel