Patents by Inventor Karen M. Chiera

Karen M. Chiera 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: 7571835
    Abstract: A bag-in-box beverage container and dispenser is provided, incorporating an outer shell fabricated preferably from corrugated paperboard material, and a plurality inner liquid containing bags, fabricated from a suitable plastic material. The carton includes ready assembly features, as well as at least one internal ramp structure for prompting flow of liquid toward a plurality of dispensing apertures disposed in the outer shell. A recessed handle structure is also provided, as are alternative embodiments of the internal ramp structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Webb LeRon Hill, Karen M. Chiera, Robert James Crosland
  • Patent number: 7389909
    Abstract: A bag-in-box beverage container and dispenser is provided, incorporating an outer shell fabricated preferably from corrugated paperboard material, and an inner liquid containing bag, fabricated from a suitable material. The carton includes ready assembly features, as well as an air cell structure for creating an air space for insulating hot liquids contained within the container. An easy opening feature is provided, to permit direct access to the inner liquid containing bag, and a recessed handle structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: R. James Crosland, Karen M. Chiera
  • Patent number: 7007825
    Abstract: A bag-in-box beverage container and dispenser is provided, incorporating an outer shell fabricated preferably from corrugated paperboard material, and an inner liquid containing bag, fabricated from a suitable material. The carton includes ready assembly features, as well as an internal ramp structure for prompting flow of liquid toward the dispensing device of the bag and the dispensing aperture of the outer shell. A recessed handle structure is also provided, as are alternative embodiments of the internal ramp structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: R. James Crosland, Dan C. Dickerson, Karen M. Chiera, Oscar B. Rochefort
  • Publication number: 20040089672
    Abstract: A bag-in-box beverage container and dispenser is provided, incorporating an outer shell fabricated preferably from corrugated paperboard material, and an inner liquid containing bag, fabricated from a suitable plastic material. The carton includes ready assembly features, as well as an internal ramp structure for prompting flow of liquid toward the dispensing aperture of the outer shell. A recessed handle structure is also provided, as are alternative embodiments of the internal ramp structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: R. James Crosland, Dan C. Dickerson, Karen M. Chiera, Oscar B. Rochefort
  • Publication number: 20030234284
    Abstract: Bliss-type containers fabricated from paper, paperboard and/or corrugated paperboard are provided, having one or more regions of weakness to facilitate manual reduction of the used containers into substantially flattened configurations for facilitated recycling thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventor: Karen M. Chiera
  • Patent number: 6568586
    Abstract: A foldable cardboard food box (10) includes a base (16), a back wall (28), a cover (34), a front wall (46), a dip tray panel (54), a support wall (64), and base side wall assemblies (74) that are constructed such that upon folding the box provides a food receptacle (12) and a dip tray section (14) with a dip tray panel (54) supported by side wall vertical edge junctions (108) that are spaced rearward from the front wall (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Domino's Pizza PMC, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. VanEsley, Karen M. Chiera
  • Patent number: 6253993
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self-erecting container formed from the rapid deployment of flattened, partially articulated and/or pre-glued blanks into an articulated orientation, for the facilitated containment and dispensing of fluid articles. The self-erecting container comprises a bottom panel, two end panels, two side panels, and a pair of corner panels joining each end panel to each side panel. One of each pair of corner panels is affixed to one of opposed side or end panels, forming a container pocket having a substantially collapsed orientation. Upon raising of the end or side panels, respectively, the corner panels cause the respective side or end panels to be automatically be raised relative to the bottom panel, and the container pocket prompted to a substantially upright and expanded orientation. The container further comprises a fluid article holding bag attached to a nozzle, which is inserted into at least one aperture in one of the bottom, end and side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Stone Container Corporation
    Inventors: Michael M. Lloyd, Jeffrey S. James, Kerry Donavon Wellner, Karen M. Chiera, Kenneth J. Zion
  • Patent number: 6155479
    Abstract: Self-erecting containers, for forming, from folded, flattened, partially articulated and pre-glued blanks, containers having prismatic container enclosures, are provided. Pairs of corner panels join end panels to side panels. One of each pair of corner panels is affixed to one of opposed side or end panels, so that upon raising of the end or side panels, respectively, the corner panels cause the respective side or end panels to be automatically be raised relative to the bottom panel. The containers may include one or more top panels, with top support panels associated with the end, side or top panels, for supporting and locating the one or more top panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Stone Bridge Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Donavon Wellner, Jeffrey S. James, Karen M. Chiera, Kenneth J. Zion
  • Patent number: D751416
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Scholle Corporation
    Inventors: Herman L. Halverson, III, Karen M. Chiera, Jessi C. Hoover, Kenneth L. Wehling
  • Patent number: D752992
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ScholleIPN Corporation
    Inventors: Herman L. Halverson, III, Karen M. Chiera, Jessi C. Hoover, Kenneth L. Wehling
  • Patent number: D752993
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ScholleIPN Corporation
    Inventors: Herman L. Halverson, III, Karen M. Chiera, Jessi C. Hoover, Kenneth L. Wehling