Patents by Inventor Donald Verna

Donald Verna has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8341912
    Abstract: A decorative shutter assembly including a plurality of main slats arranged in side-by-side relation, end pieces positioned at each end of the main slats and each including laterally spaced tongues spaced and sized to fit in their respective open ends of the main slats at a respective end of the main slats, and cross slat structures positioned in overlying relationship to seams formed between inboard ends of the end pieces and the respective ends of the main slats. The cross slat structures are removably secured to the end pieces and to the main slats so that, following delivery of the shutter assembly to a building site, the cross slat structures may be removed, the end pieces and main slats may be secured to a building surface utilizing fastener members, and the cross slats may be repositioned over the fastener members to conceal the fastener members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: Donald Verna, Richard C. Kruyer
  • Patent number: 8046919
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plastic molded shutter assembly that can be customized in size. A shutter of a standard length, or series of shutters of standard lengths are manufactured. A plurality of cuts are made in the shutter, removing a predetermined amount of material from the shutter. The end cap is replaced and fixedly secured to the remaining shutter, resulting in a single shutter of a desired length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Pinckney Molded Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Coughlin, Donald Verna, Richard C. Kruyer
  • Publication number: 20100058698
    Abstract: A decorative shutter assembly including a plurality of main slats arranged in side-by-side relation, end pieces positioned at each end of the main slats and each including laterally spaced tongues spaced and sized to fit in their respective open ends of the main slats at a respective end of the main slats, and cross slat structures positioned in overlying relationship to seams formed between inboard ends of the end pieces and the respective ends of the main slats. The cross slat structures are removably secured to the end pieces and to the main slats so that, following delivery of the shutter assembly to a building site, the cross slat structures may be removed, the end pieces and main slats may be secured to a building surface utilizing fastener members, and the cross slats may be repositioned over the fastener members to conceal the fastener members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: PINCKNEY MOLDED PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Donald VERNA, Richard C. KRUYER
  • Publication number: 20070193173
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plastic molded shutter assembly that can be customized in size. A shutter of a standard length, or series of shutters of standard lengths are manufactured. A plurality of cuts are made in the shutter, removing a predetermined amount of material from the shutter. The end cap is replaced and fixedly secured to the remaining shutter, resulting in a single shutter of a desired length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Timothy Coughlin, Donald Verna, Richard Kruyer
  • Publication number: 20070000856
    Abstract: An open top bakery tray that is stackable and nestable on trays of like design. The tray has a generally rectangular configuration including a bottom wall, end walls and sidewalls. One of the walls is cut away to define a merchandising window to facilitate the removal of materials from the tray and the viewing and inspection of such materials and the tray further includes a gate moveable between an open position in which the window is unobstructed to allow free access to the tray and a closed position in which the gate extends across the window to preclude the inadvertent displacement of merchandise from the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Pinckney Molded Plastics, Inc., a Michigan corporation
    Inventors: Donald Verna, Richard Kruyer
  • Patent number: 7059617
    Abstract: A dolly for transport of a rectangular member, such as a basket. The dolly is formed from corner members made of plastic material and having essentially hollow interiors to maintain a lightweight assembly. The corner members are interconnected by standard tubular members. The corner members are made of an upper and lower half element each having a channel therein so that when connected form a pathway for receiving the tubular members. The upper half element has an exposed surface for receiving a corner portion of the rectangular member to minimize shifting and other movement of the rectangular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Pinckney Molded Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Verna
  • Publication number: 20060070906
    Abstract: A tray for providing at least three levels of stacking between vertically adjacent trays includes a tray having four walls, a bottom, and an adjustment member. The adjustment member can be a pin. The tray includes multiple grooves, multiple extensions, multiple recesses, and multiple projections for engagement with another vertically adjacent stacked tray. The adjustment member in combination with the multiple grooves, multiple extensions, multiple recesses, and multiple projections define a first stacking level, a second stacking level, and a third stacking level, which is intermediate to the first stacking level and the second stacking level. An additional stacking level is defined when vertically adjacent stacked trays are rotated 90° with respect to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Pinckney Molded Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Verna, Richard Kruyer
  • Patent number: 6953116
    Abstract: A tray having prestress sections including a domed shaped bottom and a merchandising window. The window includes a surface parallel to the dome shaped bottom. When the tray is subjected to a load, the dome and the surface of the merchandising window become substantially planar. The front of the tray also includes vertically extending corners that are angled inwardly toward one another from an outer top end to an inner lower end when the tray is empty. When the tray is loaded, the corners deflect toward a vertically extending parallel relationship with respect to one another. The corners adjacent the rear of the tray are fixed relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Pinckney Molded Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Verna, Richard C. Kruyer
  • Patent number: 6886710
    Abstract: A multi-purpose tray including a front, a back, a first side, a second side, and a bottom. The tray can include beams extending from the front of the tray and slots defined in the back of the tray. When two trays are stacked in opposite directions with respect to one another, the beams are received by the slots. The tray also includes a domed bottom. The domed bottom has a convex profile with respect to the interior of the tray and can include transverse ribs or longitudinal ribs. The tray also includes drain apertures positioned along the front and back of the tray. The drain apertures can enhance cleaning of the tray by communicating fluid from channels defined by the front and back. The tray also includes a stop for projection for limiting sliding movement of a top tray relative to a bottom tray when two trays are stacked in a similar orientation with respect to one another. The tray also includes handles in the first and second side and a gripping portion on one of the first and second handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Pinckney Molded Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Verna, Douglas T. Cox, Douglas Hood
  • Publication number: 20030205495
    Abstract: A tray having prestress sections including a domed shaped bottom and a merchandising window. The window includes a surface parallel to the dome shaped bottom. When the tray is subjected to a load, the dome and the surface of the merchandising window become substantially planar. The front of the tray also includes vertically extending corners that are angled inwardly toward one another from an outer top end to an inner lower end when the tray is empty. When the tray is loaded, the corners deflect toward a vertically extending parallel relationship with respect to one another. The corners adjacent the rear of the tray are fixed relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Donald Verna, Richard C. Kruyer
  • Publication number: 20030205877
    Abstract: A tray having prestressed sections including a domed shaped bottom and a merchandising window. The window includes a surface parallel to the dome shaped bottom. When the tray is subjected to a load, the dome and the surface of the merchandising window become substantially planar. The front of the tray also includes vertically extending corners that are angled inwardly toward one another from an outer top end to an inner lower end when the tray is empty. When the tray is loaded, the corners deflect toward a vertically extending parallel relationship with respect to one another. The corners adjacent the rear of the tray are fixed relative to one another. A stackable dolly supports stackable trays for allowing movement of stacked trays from one location to another on casters or wheels connected to the stackable dolly. The dollys are stackable with respect to one another when not in use. Each dolly can have recessed notches to receive the casters or wheels of an adjacent upper stacked dolly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Donald Verna, Richard C. Kruyer, Douglas Cox
  • Publication number: 20030183549
    Abstract: A multi-purpose tray including a front, a back, a first side, a second side, and a bottom. The tray can include beams extending from the front of the tray and slots defined in the back of the tray. When two trays are stacked in opposite directions with respect to one another, the beams are received by the slots. The tray also includes a domed bottom. The domed bottom has a convex profile with respect to the interior of the tray and can include transverse ribs or longitudinal ribs. The tray also includes drain apertures positioned along the front and back of the tray. The drain apertures can enhance cleaning of the tray by communicating fluid from channels defined by the front and back. The tray also includes a stop for projection for limiting sliding movement of a top tray relative to a bottom tray when two trays are stacked in a similar orientation with respect to one another. The tray also includes handles in the first and second side and a gripping portion on one of the first and second handles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Donald Verna, Douglas T. Cox, Douglas Hood
  • Patent number: RE44754
    Abstract: A multi-purpose tray including a front, a back, a first side, a second side, and a bottom. The tray can include beams extending from the front of the tray and slots defined in the back of the tray. When two trays are stacked in opposite directions with respect to one another, the beams are received by the slots. The tray also includes a domed bottom. The domed bottom has a convex profile with respect to the interior of the tray and can include transverse ribs or longitudinal ribs. The tray also includes drain apertures positioned along the front and back of the tray. The drain apertures can enhance cleaning of the tray by communicating fluid from channels defined by the front and back. The tray also includes a stop for projection for limiting sliding movement of a top tray relative to a bottom tray when two trays are stacked in a similar orientation with respect to one another. The tray also includes handles in the first and second side and a gripping portion on one of the first and second handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Pinckney Molded Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Verna, Douglas T. Cox, Douglas Hood