Patents by Inventor Joe Smelko

Joe Smelko 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: 7217454
    Abstract: A seal and method of manufacture is provided for sealing containers such as bottles, jars and the like. The seal (closure) can be formed with a lower sheetlike structure having a foam layer thereon. The lower structure can include foil and have a polymer layer, such as a PET layer thereunder A sealant layer can be provided under the bottom surface of the PET layer to bond the seal to a container opening. The polymer foam is advantageously polyethylene foam. Seals in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention also include a top portion, which can be only partially bonded (directly or indirectly) to the bottom portion, so as to leave a tab portion extended therefrom. The top portion is advantageously bonded from periphery to periphery of the bottom portion and at or slightly offset from the diameter (middle) of the bottom portion. The top portion is advantageously formed with polymer material, such as an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) layer, having a layer of PET bonded on the top thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Smelko, Marilyn Agnoluzzi
  • Publication number: 20050123737
    Abstract: A seal and method of manufacture is provided for sealing containers such as bottles, jars and the like. The seal (closure) can be formed with a lower sheetlike structure having a foam layer thereon. The lower structure can include foil and have a polymer layer, such as a PET layer thereunder A sealant layer can be provided under the bottom surface of the PET layer to bond the seal to a container opening. The polymer foam is advantageously polyethylene foam. Seals in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention also include a top portion, which can be only partially bonded (directly or indirectly) to the bottom portion, so as to leave a tab portion extended therefrom. The top portion is advantageously bonded from periphery to periphery of the bottom portion and at or slightly offset from the diameter (middle) of the bottom portion. The top portion is advantageously formed with polymer material, such as an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) layer, having a layer of PET bonded on the top thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Joe Smelko, Marilyn Agnoluzzi
  • Patent number: 6866926
    Abstract: A seal and method of manufacture is provided for sealing containers such as bottles, jars and the like. The seal (closure) can be formed with a lower sheetlike structure having a foam layer thereon. The lower structure can include foil and have a polymer layer, such as a PET layer thereunder A sealant layer can be provided under the bottom surface of the PET layer to bond the seal to a container opening. The polymer foam is advantageously polyethylene foam. Seals in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention also include a top portion, which can be only partially bonded (directly or indirectly) to the bottom portion, so as to leave a tab portion extended therefrom. The top portion is advantageously bonded from periphery to periphery of the bottom portion and at or slightly offset from the diameter (middle) of the bottom portion. The top portion is advantageously formed with polymer material, such as an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) layer, having a layer of PET bonded on the top thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Smelko, Marilyn Agnoluzzi