Patents Examined by Stephen Cronin
  • Patent number: 5617969
    Abstract: In a safety lock for a container connection (3), at least two cams (9, 10) are arranged at the contacting surfaces of the container connection part (4) and lock part (5) and cooperate with a radially open groove (7) extending in the circumferential direction and with at least two axially parallel grooves (6 and 8) at the counterpart (5 or 4) in the manner of a bayonet catch. In order to obtain a safety lock system having a plurality of safe combination pairs which are absolutely safeguarded against interchanging, it is suggested that the combination pairs having a plurality of cams (9 and 10) and axially parallel grooves (6 and 8) at the container connection part (4) and at the lock part (5) have different circumferential (angular) distances (X1) from one another in the circumferential direction in a plurality of container connections of the same type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Schafer Werke GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Helmut Reichmann
  • Patent number: 5613616
    Abstract: A container lid has a depending insert having a thickness sufficient to have a groove formed in its peripheral edge, and a beverage container has an annular, radially inwardly extending protrusion formed in it that snaps into the groove when the insert is inserted into the container. The connection is so strong that the lid will not separate from the container even when the cup is filled with a beverage or food and inverted. The lid includes a peripherally positioned handle that enables facile removal of the lid, and the interconnection between the lid and the container includes a double seal that inhibits the risk of spillage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: Donald T. Monus
  • Patent number: 5611444
    Abstract: A device to indicate the application of a non-rotative force, having particular utility in recording the dispensing of a push-down activated aerosol medication dispenser. A non-rotative force on an outer cover is translated into a rotation of an indicator wheel relative to the outer cover by a set of flexible pawls engaged with a set of teeth. The pawls depress and thereby extend circumferentially when the applied force flexes them to effect a rotation of the teeth. Suitable means indicate the relative rotation of the teeth such as a window in the outer cover through which is visible indicia on the indicator wheel. The device may also include means to resist its operation by a child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Senetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gage L. Garby, Jeffrey T. Ballas
  • Patent number: 5609262
    Abstract: A child-resistant, tamper-evident closure for sealing an open-topped container having an external thread formed on a neck finish includes a combination of inner and outer caps where the inner cap includes a tamper-evident band which is connected to the remainder of the inner cap by a series of frangible elements. The inner cap further includes a series of folded ratchet-like tabs which are in a locked position behind an annular bead. The tabs are arranged so as to engage an annular lip on the neck finish. The outer cap snaps over the inner cap and includes a series of ratchet teeth which are directed toward the inner cap. The top surface of the inner cap includes a series of depressions which are sized and arranged for engagement with the series of ratchet teeth. The child-resistant arrangement permits the outer cap to turn relative to the inner cap in a counterclockwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Rieke Corporation
    Inventor: Stanley D. Trout
  • Patent number: 5605241
    Abstract: A device for controllably retaining a liquid to prevent spillage when the bottle is tilted or inverted for positioning the bottle to discharge the container's liquid contents into the intended orifice. The hydraulically operated plug forms an air tight seal with the smooth inner surface of the neck of the container, permitting the container to be inverted and positioned over the intended receptacle without releasing any fluid. Upon squeezing the flexible container, the lid is forced from the container by the hydraulic pressure exerted on the inner surface of the lid, permitting the liquid to pour freely from the container into the intended receptacle. A tether attaching the plug to an exterior location on the container allows the plug to fall clear of the stream of flow while preventing the plug from becoming lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Inventor: Rosemarie V. Imperioli
  • Patent number: 5603426
    Abstract: A stirrer lid for color cans on stirring machines, of the type having at a base thereof a frustoconical closure edge, having a main body (5), and including an annular ring (7) fastened to the base of the body and of being downward tapering frustoconical cross section with the ring (7) forming the closure edge of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: F.A.S.
    Inventors: Alain Krzywdziak, Daniel Parmenon
  • Patent number: 5598943
    Abstract: A container is provided for holding and carrying objects, including groceries, and for enabling those objects to better maintain their temperature. The container comprises an insulated body having a cavity which opens upward, a movable lid which can fit across the cavity's opening to close it, and a removable, relatively rigid, basket which fits within the cavity. The insulated body and basket has a size to enable two, but not three, standard grocery bags to stand up within the enclosed basket when the lid is shut. The basket has one or more handles which make it easy to remove its contents from the insulated body. The inside surfaces of the insulated body and the basket are tapered, so the basket can be easily withdrawn from the insulated body and so more than one basket can be stacked inside the insulated body. Space is provided between the basket and the insulated body for cooling packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: Theodore Markus
  • Patent number: 5598945
    Abstract: A spill-proof lid for use with a container for liquids includes a liquid chamber that has an outlet opening above and inlet opening below the plane of the lid. The chamber is constructed so that, as it extends from inlet to outlet, it travels from the outlet opening closely to the side of the cup to the bottom where it then crosses the bottom, up the other side and back to the inlet opening. The periphery of the lid is constructed to sealingly engage the upper edge of the container. Preferably, the outlet end of the liquid chamber has a mouthpiece formed thereon for ease of drinking. In the preferred embodiment of the lid, the liquid chamber is substantially a single-loop helix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: Mark S. Gracy
  • Patent number: 5595319
    Abstract: A reusable container unit for flowable materials, having enhanced puncture resistance and leak containment characteristics, and being readily handleable by conventional fork lift or the like equipment, comprising a substantially closed and continuous first wall providing a containment vessel for flowable material, a substantially closed and continuous second wall providing a protective shell surrounding the vessel and spaced therefrom over at least a major portion of the outer surface thereof to provide protective spacing therebetween, spacer elements positioned between the vessel and shell for substantially maintaining the spacing therebetween, at least one aperture in adjacent portions of each of the vessel and shell and adapted to provide one or more access ports for of the vessel, individual closure devices for each of the apertures, a tubular wall extending between and connecting the apertures forming each access port to provide a conduit for the flow of materials into and out of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Nuclear Containers, Inc., A Tennesse Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Householder, William M. Arnold, Charles S. Brewer
  • Patent number: 5593055
    Abstract: A tamper-evident, snap-on, screw-off closure is used with a specially shaped container neck. The neck has at least one first helical thread on a neck stretch portion, and at least one external ratchet tooth on a locking wall portion below the neck stretch. The closure has an upper skirt having at least one second helical thread mating with the first helical thread of the neck and a lower skirt with at least one internal ratchet tooth shaped and positioned to engage the external ratchet tooth when the closure is applied to the neck. The teeth formed on the skirt interior and neck exterior are arranged to provide at least one circumferentially extending stretch of the tamper-evident band where the teeth are not engaged. A line of weakness extending vertically through the disengaged stretch of the tamper-evident band is ruptured when the closure is unscrewed from the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Repp, William R. West, Daniel Luch
  • Patent number: 5590798
    Abstract: A cap and tube assembly comprising: a tube for containing a product. A nozzle at one end of the tube has a thin wall portion defining a diaphragm puncturable to provide a discharge opening for dispensing of products. The cap is engagable over the nozzle and has puncturing means depending inwardly from the top of the cap operable upon actuation of the cap relative to the nozzle to puncture the diaphragm. Rib means on the interior of the cap snugly embraces the nozzle during axial movement of the cap to ensure alignment of the piercing element with a diaphragm during the piercing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Wheaton Holding, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O'Connell
  • Patent number: 5590780
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a container having a body portion and a nozzle at one end of reduced cross-section, a closure cap engagable over the nozzle portion, at least one internal rib in the container adjacent the juncture of the body portion and nozzle extending downwardly into the body portion a predetermined depth whereby when container and cap are nested, and the cap portion of a first container cap assembly engages interiorly the body portion to a point where it abuts the ribs, there is defined a gap of predetermined axial distance between the lower edge of the body portion of the first container cap assembly and the transition shoulder between the body portion and nozzle of a second container cap assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Wheaton Holding, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. O'Meara
  • Patent number: 5590801
    Abstract: A lockable container is disclosed in combination with a U-shaped bicycle lock. The lock has a rigid U-shaped portion in which the open end is spanned by a rigid locking bar. The container comprises a body and a cap, both with channels thereon, which receive the parallel arms of the U-shaped portion and the locking bar therein. When the lock is locked, the cap cannot be removed from the container, so articles left therein are safe. A space between the bight of the U-shaped portion and the bottom of the container can be used to securely attach the combination to a suitably shaped permanent fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Neil Cohen
  • Patent number: 5586678
    Abstract: A bulk hopper tank assembly which has a bulk hopper tank containing an opening at the top end thereof wherein a lid assembly selectively covers the opening. The lid assembly includes a lid, a generally vertical arm extending along the exterior side of the bulk hopper tank, and a generally horizontal arm connecting the lid and the vertical arm. A lifter connects to the vertical arm and is moveable between a down position in which the lid covers the opening in the bulk hopper tank and an up position in which the lid is vertically above the opening in the bulk hopper tank. A handle connects to the vertical arm and is moveable to a plurality of positions between a first position in which the lid is in the vertical volume of the opening and a second position in which the lid is outside of the vertical volume of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: TIC United Corp.
    Inventors: Hans J. Rosch, Steven R. Beck
  • Patent number: 5586676
    Abstract: A drinking container cap is provided having an exterior surface, and an interior surface, with the interior surface having a stirrer depending downwardly therefrom. Preferably the interior surface has formed thereon a stirrer receptacle, with the stirrer receptacle itself being generally cylindrical. The stirrer mechanically engages with the stirrer receptacle, and is detachable therefrom. The stirrer receptacle has an inner and an outer surface, with an indentation in its inner surface. The stirrer has a shank end and a terminal end, with the shank end having a bulged area which engages with the indentation, and the terminal end having a bowl portion. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the stirrer receptacle has two notches formed therein, and the stirrer has two projections extending outwardly from the shank end, with the notches being on opposite sides of the stirrer receptacle and the projections being on opposite sides of the stirrer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: National Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: L. Grant Lynd
  • Patent number: 5586671
    Abstract: A package suitable for storing and dispensing potentially dangerous materials. The package is resistant to opening by children but readily openable by adults, particularly adults having impaired manual dexterity of their hands and/or fingers. The package includes a bottle having a finish portion. The finish portion has a platform with at least one resiliently deformable pushtab secured to the platform. The resiliently deformable pushtabs contain a vertical extensions which engage the interlocking pawls on the innermost surface of the closure skirt when the closure is fully assembled onto the finish portion. To remove the closure, the opposed pushtabs must be depressed prior to unscrewing to the closure to disengage the pushtab extensions from the interlocking pawls on the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Hewin N. Thomas, Jack E. Haney, Peter W. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 5582308
    Abstract: A cap is fixed to a cylindrical neck of a vessel and is provided with a pilfer-proof packaging mechanism that can definitely verify whether the cap has been opened. The cap includes a resin cap body formed in a cylindrical shape with a top and a resin pilfer-proof ring that is fixed to a bottom portion of the cap body so as to be exposed from the cap body. The pilfer-proof ring is cut at a portion to be a spiral-like strip once the cap has been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Kishi, Hiroyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5582317
    Abstract: A reclosable, container and a method of forming and assembling the roclosable container is provided. A cup forms an interior and a top opening to provide access to the interior and a lid is releasably connected to the cup to selectively close the top opening and to form a seal with the cup to seal the interface or connection between the lid and the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Kraft Jacobs Suchard R&D, Inc.
    Inventor: Horst F. Wermund
  • Patent number: 5579936
    Abstract: A dual cap lining for bi-directional venting comprising a substantially shaped, laminated or secured, fluid-impermeable, gas-permeable material bottom layer congruent with a container opening, and having an extruded and cast polyethylene material top layer which is provided with channels on the lower surface of the top layer, and the material of construction of the laminated bottom layer is gas-permeable such that the dual lining allows bi-directional gas flow therethrough, for gases which have built-up in the interior of the connected container to safely escape by venting from the interior of the container to the external ambient atmosphere through openings existing between the spiral screw threads of the cap closure and threads of the container neck, and the reverse venting to equilibrate for relatively increased external pressure, without passage of solid or liquid material from the interior of the container through the lining to the closure and to the exterior of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: The Clorox Company
    Inventors: Stephen M. Costa, William P. Sibert, G. Edward Campbell
  • Patent number: 5579944
    Abstract: A multi-layer gasket for providing a seal between a mounting cup and a container comprising a middle layer of rigid plastic material and inner and outer layers of softer plastic material. The middle layer supports the inner and outer layers, which provide sealing surfaces with the mounting cup and the container bead. A gasketed mounting cup comprising a panel, a skirt integral with and depending from the periphery of the panel, wherein the skirt is outwardly flared to form an annular channel for receiving a container bead that defines the container opening and a multi-layer gasket positioned in the channel portion of the mounting cup, which gasket comprises a middle layer of rigid plastic material, an inner layer of soft plastic material adjacent the channel of the mounting cup and an outer layer of soft plastic material for engaging the container bead. The middle layer is preferably high density polyethylene or polypropylene and the inner and outer layers are preferably linear low density polyethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Precision Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Hafner, Timothy O'Toole