Patents Examined by Steven M. Pollard
  • Patent number: 6527137
    Abstract: A drinking mug with integral straw includes a cup-like vessel portion, and a straw portion having an internal passage joined in fluid communication with an interior volume of the vessel portion. The straw portion is preferably positioned in spaced apart relationship to the vessel portion, whereby the straw portion can be easily gripped for holding the mug during use. Notably, the straw portion includes a plurality of subdivisions in the internal passage arranged in series flow relationship, with each of the subdivisions including a pair of sections through which liquid can flow. Thus, as liquid is drawn through the straw portion from the vessel portion, the liquid flow is repeatedly subdivided and joined as liquid flows through the series of subdivisions. By formation of the present drinking mug from transparent plastic material, the flow of liquid from the vessel portion through the straw portion is readily visually apparent, thus enhancing enjoyable use of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Arrow Plastic Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Robert Kleckauskas, Bruce Ronner, Robert Giacolo, David W. Heidlauf
  • Patent number: 6516966
    Abstract: A highly adaptable mounting panel has a planar surface for supporting various devices including an electrical meter thereon. The planar surface is elevated from a surrounding flange, which may be operatively fastened to a wall or similar building structure. The surrounding flanges are beveled to interlock the panels together and extend the coverage of the planar surface to an area covered by two or any multiple of modules. Guides and selective reinforcements are provided to ensure simple, rapid and secure fastening between adjacent panels. Additional brackets are disclosed which permit the mounting panel to be used in conjunction with brick or stone siding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventor: Donivan A. Leonard
  • Patent number: 6315142
    Abstract: A portable terminal device, capable of improving the releasing property of fitting pieces of an upper case and a lower case at the time of disassembling the appliance, and lowering generation of deformation or crack of the main body by bend or twist while maintaining a sufficient fitting holding force. In the main body of the portable terminal device, a plurality of fitting pieces are provided each in an upper case and a lower case for holding and fixing with each other. The fitting pieces have a fitting horizontal surface to be substantially parallel for holding with each other when the upper case and the lower case are engaged. A part of the fitting horizontal surface of the fitting pieces of at least one of the upper case and the lower case has a fitting twisted surface twisted in the direction away from the fitting horizontal surface of the other fitting piece in the fitting pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Kitamura, Kazuhiro Konishi, Makoto Tamaru
  • Patent number: 6279768
    Abstract: An outdoor enclosure for an electrical device includes a channel-shaped base plate, a five sided cover, and a flush-mount plate. The flush-mount plate has an opening that makes the front wall of the cover visible. The flush-mount plate allows the enclosure to be mounted flush indoors through a commercial building or a residential dwelling gypsum wall. The flush-mount plate has holes that are aligned with the threaded cylinders of the cover through which machine screws may pass to secure the cover to the flush-mount plate. The cover has no front flanges, and the bottom wall of the cover has slots, which allow the base plate to slide into the cover. The cover side flanges have holes and slots for side mounting. Additional side flanges that are bent from the top wall cover the upper parts of the side flanges of the cover, and prevent water from entering the enclosure from the top. A rear flange that is bent from the top wall prevents water from entering the top of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony C. Mendoza, Henryk Dabrowski
  • Patent number: 6279770
    Abstract: A tray adapted to rest on bottles and also to receive bottles in cups in the upper side of the tray, several trays adapted to be stacked with intermediate trays, each cup thereby comprising a central flange ring having a vertical flange, the lower edge of which being adapted to rest on the supporter ring on a bottle standing on a lower tray, in such a way that the weight of the tray above, including bottles, is transferred to the bottles standing in a lower tray and further to this tray through the supporter ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventors: Georg Osbakk, Bjarne Lerum
  • Patent number: 6237798
    Abstract: A fuel filler cap for preventing loss thereof when fuel is filled into a fuel tank of a vehicle, the cap having a threaded stopper for being inserted at a tip end of a pouring pipe for tight sealing, a handle unit provided for rotating the threaded stopper and a lid unit extended from the handle unit for encompassing a periphery of the pouring pipe in a state where the threaded stopper is inserted into the pouring pipe, the cap comprising: a rotating unit rotatively mounted at a periphery of the lid unit; and a connecting string fixed at one end thereof to the rotating unit and fixed to a body panel in the fuel door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yeoun-Kwan Sung
  • Patent number: 6230917
    Abstract: A two-piece, lockable, wedge-shaped container is disclosed which includes a tray portion having upstanding peripheral walls, the front wall of which is higher than the other side walls, and a sleeve portion having a top wall for covering the tray, a smaller bottom wall and a front opening. When fully inserted into the sleeve, the tall front wall of the tray deforms the sleeve top wall and front opening as it passes therethrough, and prevents the tray from being removed from the sleeve thereby locking the tray and sleeve together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Dopaco, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon Whitnell
  • Patent number: 6209743
    Abstract: A collapsible container with four side panels (15,16,17,18) all permanently connected to a base (1) by links (11,41) allowing the panels (15,16,17,18) to be moved between an upstanding condition on the base (1) where they are retained by engagement of bottom panel flanges (40) with channels (13,14) on the base (1) and can be coupled by coupling means (19,23) releasably secured by securing means (21,22) thereby to form an enclosure and allowing the container to be collapsed by folding down the panels (15,16,17,18) into an overlying relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Ladislav Stephan Karpisek
  • Patent number: 6076691
    Abstract: A mounting box 30 for mounting an electrical connector 40 laterally to a cross tube 32 of a trailer hitch 34. Walls 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50 enclose the body. An opening 52 of the box 30 is closed by two walls 39 and 37 of the cross tube. The electrical cable extends through a first end wall 44 through a cut out 69. The cable is connected to a connector 40 that is mounted through an opening 68 in the end wall 42. The sections 282 and 284 in proximity to the v-shaped notches 54 and 56 adjacent the open side 52 are trimmable to change the shape of the notches into semi-circular notches 154 and 156.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: MascoTech Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob S. Belinky, David L. Rogers
  • Patent number: 6059139
    Abstract: A functional configuration for the bottom of containers and other objects needing the characteristic of being able to stand upright on a horizontal surface that facilitates their submersion into ice and other particles. This invention is comprised of a number of arc shaped arms (10) that start at the center of the bottom of a container or other object and extend outward to the edge. The arms (10) have a top surface that is parallel to a horizontal plane. There is a cutaway portion for particle dispersal (16) that is formed by the meeting of the surfaces that extend from the concave (12) and convex sides (14) of adjacent arms. The surface extending from the convex side of an arm (14) is set at an angle to the horizontal plane that is greater than the surface extending from the concave side (12) of the adjacent arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventor: Randall L. Landreneau
  • Patent number: 6000572
    Abstract: A console box for storing small articles includes a box body, an outer lid pivotally mounted for opening and closing the box body and an inner lid disposed between the box body and the outer lid. The box body has a first space for storing small articles. The outer lid pivots within a first angle with respect to the box body. The outer lid is box-shaped and has a second space inside. The inner lid has a third space for storing other small articles. The inner lid is located in the second space of the outer lid when the outer lid is closed. The inner lid pivots in accordance with the movement of the outer lid to a second angle that is smaller than the first angle with respect to the box body. The box body according to the present invention may have a stopper for limiting a maximum opening angle of the outer lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichiro Kako, Shigeru Yabuya, Minoru Shibata, Masahiro Ono
  • Patent number: 5924593
    Abstract: A paint brush wiper which can telescope outwardly to accommodate paint containers of various sizes and having a clamping mechanism that may be rotated to accommodate attachment to various arcuate portions of the rim. The paint brush wiper may be used with a variety of paint containers including metal paint cans, plastic paint cans, and paint pails. The wiper may be telescoped inwardly upon a central section and the clamping mechanisms may be rotated 180.degree. to allow nesting the wiper within dead spaces between nested paint containers for shipping or storing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventors: James Leonard Rutledge, Jr., John Kenneth Rutledge
  • Patent number: 5897015
    Abstract: A disc shaped container (2) comprising a body portion (4) and a lid (6) which is a press fit on the body portion (4); the body portion (4) having a base (8), a circumferential side wall (10) and a groove (12) in an outer face (14) of the side wall (10); the lid (6) having a top (16) and a circumferential side wall (18); the container (2) being such that the side wall (18) of the lid (6) overlaps the side wall (10) of the body portion (4) when the lid (6) is on the body portion (4); and the body portion (4) and the lid (6) both being made of a plastics material such that the side wall (18) of the lid (6) is pressable into the groove (12) in the outer face (14) of the side wall (10) of the body portion (4) in order to cause the lid (6) to separate from the body portion (4) with a sliding action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Courtaulds Packaging Limited
    Inventor: Mark Sheahan
  • Patent number: 5897016
    Abstract: A keg (10) for a pressurized fluid is formed of a main body part (11), to respective open ends of which are secured upper and lower ends parts (14, 12), each of the three parts being an injection moulding of thermoplastics material and connected together by welding. Around an internal surface of the main body part (11) is an integral continuous planar flange (21) which serves to resits outwards pressure on the body when the keg is pressurized, in use, the flange defining a large central opening (22) in the interior of the keg. Ribs (25) are formed integrally with the internal body surface and flange, and extend around the flange between respective pairs of first openings (23) through the flange, smaller second openings (24) being aligned with, and disposed at the inner end of the respective ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Keg Services Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Simon Courtenay Wheaton
  • Patent number: 5890614
    Abstract: A system comprised of trays is disclosed for converting a bucket to an organized receptacle for storing, carrying and dispensing tools and small parts or objects. Each of the trays is configured substantially as a modified circle so that it can be stacked neatly within the bucket. Each tray has partitions which divide the tray into compartments. Each tray has a partially recessed handle in the center of each tray in a configuration enabling them to be grasped readily by the fingers of a user, even when the tray is filled. Each individual tray is thereby readily removable. The trays can be stacked so that they are either recessed within the tray laying beneath it or can rest on the top edge thereof. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the trays are provided in variable vertical dimensions with at least two of the upper trays having a pie-shaped wedge removed therefrom thereby providing for the storage of vertically elongated articles therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: Michael Dancyger
  • Patent number: 5890613
    Abstract: A modular cooler construction comprised of a series of various-sized containers interlocked together to provide versatility for various capacities of food storage as may be desired; axillary drawer structures are likewise supplied and interlocked with the primary containers to provide for meat and dry ice storage and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: Warren Bret Williams
  • Patent number: 5881908
    Abstract: An insulated container (12) for carrying goods such as fish is provided. The insulated container (12) includes a cover (14) and an open-topped box (16). The box (16) includes a bottom (26), two end walls (22, 24), and two bowed side walls (18, 20). Fillets lie in the corners where the bowed side walls and bottom meet. Longitudinal drainage ribs (40) extend along the bottom (26) between transverse platforms (42, 44). Indentations (28, 30, 32, 34) formed on the outer surface of the bowed container (12) define regions for receiving straps. The indentations are aligned with transverse platforms (42, 44), which provide reinforcement. The top of the end walls and the side walls include lips that mate with a depression located about the periphery of the cover (14). Bottom depressions (56, 58) ease the lifting of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Premier Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Michael Hays, Sam K. Ammar
  • Patent number: 5878902
    Abstract: An improved tank configuration includes a die employed to stamp a formed member. The formed member may be used as the bottom head for a portable liquid container, and is constructed so that all welding is eliminated in the corner portions of the container. A trim machine is employed to remove uneven edges from the formed part. The invention is particularly useful in constructing sloped bottom tanks of increased depth. By the present invention, a stamped configuration is provided in which a draw formed tank bottom is formed so as to allow complete and full drainage of the tank bottom. The bottom head is finish trimmed to exact dimensions so as to facilitate assembly to the shell of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Custom Metalcraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry W. Cowan, Jeffrey K. Felton
  • Patent number: 5873482
    Abstract: A tamper-evident closure for a container is provided. The container is formed with means at its open upper end for making a snap fit locking connection with a cover. The container has a peripheral flange with a skirt section that surrounds and is spaced radially from the container's side wall, and the cover has a depending skirt that extends down around the upper end of the container and has a free bottom edge that lies immediately adjacent to the flange. The flange has an outer surface that is flush with the adjacent portion of the outer surface of the skirt, so that essentially the flange appear to be a continuation of the skirt. As a consequence the closure formed by the cover (lid) and the container is resistant to opening by a small child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Plastican, Inc.
    Inventor: Rino Conti
  • Patent number: RE36214
    Abstract: A cargo container comprising a container body defining an interior cargo space, a flexible and expandable liner secured inside the container body, a bulkhead positioned in the container body and held against the liner, and bracing apparatus to brace the bulkhead in the cargo container. A first embodiment of the bracing apparatus includes a plurality of vertical beams connected to a floor of the container body, horizontally spaced apart and vertically extending upward against the bulkhead; and a multitude of cross beams connected to the vertical beam to held hold those beams upright. A second embodiment of the bracing apparatus includes a plurality of upwardly extending straps and a plurality of laterally extending straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Inventors: Victor T. Podd, Sr., Victor I. Podd, Jr., Stephen D. Podd