Patents by Inventor Robert C. Olsen

Robert C. Olsen 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: 11897679
    Abstract: A flexible container carrier and related method for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a plurality of flexible bands forming an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. A series of frangible lines of separation are provided between each container receiving opening so that removing a container from the package results in the separation of the frangible lines of separation defining the respective container receiving opening and thus the container and a respective band of the plurality of bands are removed from the package together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Rachell L. Slovik, Patrick R. Van Tholen, Robert C. Olsen, Christopher J. Samaras
  • Publication number: 20230382620
    Abstract: A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers. The carrier includes a planar sheet of a material and a plurality of container receiving apertures within the planar sheet and arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. Each of the plurality of container receiving apertures includes a central opening shape and a plurality of clefts radially extending in the planar sheet outward from the central shape to form a plurality of container friction flaps each adapted to extend along a side wall of a corresponding container of the plurality of containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Rachell L. Slovik, Christopher J. SAMARAS, Robert C. OLSEN, Michael P. CZARNECKI
  • Patent number: 11623804
    Abstract: A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers. The carrier includes a planar sheet of a material and a plurality of container receiving apertures within the planar sheet and arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. Each of the plurality of container receiving apertures includes a central opening shape and a plurality of clefts radially extending in the planar sheet outward from the central shape to form a plurality of container friction flaps each adapted to extend along a side wall of a corresponding container of the plurality of containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Rachell L. Slovik, Christopher J. Samaras, Robert C. Olsen, Michael P. Czarnecki, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220306363
    Abstract: A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a plurality of flexible bands forming an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. A generally rectangular shaped intermediate aperture is formed between each pair of container receiving apertures, wherein at least two sides of the intermediate aperture are concave, forming convex tabs protruding inward to the intermediate apertures. The resulting carrier is capable of unitizing a variety of containers in a tight multipackage with finger tabs to make carrying the multipackage much easier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Robert C. OLSEN
  • Patent number: 11434058
    Abstract: A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers includes a flexible sheet having two or more rows and multiple ranks of container apertures formed therein. The plurality of containers are each placed into a respective container receiving aperture and are thus unitized in a package. The flexible carrier further includes a plurality of handles corresponding with the multiple ranks, each handle formed at a periphery of the flexible sheet and a line of weakness formed between the transverse ranks. As a result of the described configuration, the flexible carrier is divisible into multiple sub-carriers, each unitizing a set of containers and each including a handle along a respective transverse edge of the resulting sub-carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Robert C. Olsen, Christopher J. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 11319129
    Abstract: A flexible container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a plurality of flexible bands that form an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. A handle is formed along each longitudinal edge of the array of container receiving apertures. Two or more sets of perforations are formed between each row of container receiving apertures and between center apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Robert C. Olsen
  • Publication number: 20220127052
    Abstract: A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers. The carrier includes a planar sheet of a material and a plurality of container receiving apertures within the planar sheet and arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. Each of the plurality of container receiving apertures includes a central opening shape and a plurality of clefts radially extending in the planar sheet outward from the central shape to form a plurality of container friction flaps each adapted to extend along a side wall of a corresponding container of the plurality of containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: ILLNOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Rachell L. SLOVIK, Christopher J. SAMARAS, Robert C. OLSEN, Michael P. CZARNECKI, JR.
  • Publication number: 20220017278
    Abstract: A flexible container carrier and related method for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a plurality of flexible bands forming an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. A series of frangible lines of separation are provided between each container receiving opening so that removing a container from the package results in the separation of the frangible lines of separation defining the respective container receiving opening and thus the container and a respective band of the plurality of bands are removed from the package together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Rachell L. SLOVIK, Patrick R. Van Tholen, Robert C. Olsen, Christopher J. Samaras
  • Publication number: 20210237955
    Abstract: A flexible container carrier 10 for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a plurality of flexible bands 20 that form an array of container receiving apertures 30, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. A handle 40 is formed along each longitudinal edge of the array of container receiving apertures. Two or more sets of perforations 50 are formed between each row of container receiving apertures and between center apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Robert C. OLSEN
  • Patent number: 10683151
    Abstract: A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers within a plurality of corresponding container receiving apertures formed in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks and a handle extending parallel to the rows of container receiving apertures. The handle is connected at attachment points along the carrier and corresponding thickened sections are included along the bands opposite the connection points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Robert C. Olsen
  • Publication number: 20190276211
    Abstract: A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers within a plurality of corresponding container receiving apertures formed in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks and a handle extending parallel to the rows of container receiving apertures. The handle is connected at attachment points along the carrier and corresponding thickened sections are included along the bands opposite the connection points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Robert C. Olsen
  • Publication number: 20190177066
    Abstract: A flexible container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a plurality of flexible bands forming an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. At least one of a handle and a panel is formed adjacent the array of container receiving apertures. A diamond shaped aperture is formed between each pair of container receiving apertures, wherein each side of each diamond shaped aperture is parallel to a portion of an adjacent container receiving aperture. The resulting carrier is capable of unitizing a variety of containers in a tight multipackage using less material than existing container carriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Robert C. OLSEN
  • Patent number: 10301092
    Abstract: A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers within a plurality of corresponding container receiving apertures formed in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks and a handle extending parallel to the rows of container receiving apertures. The handle is connected at attachment points along the carrier and corresponding thickened sections are included along the bands opposite the connection points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Robert C. Olsen
  • Patent number: 9957093
    Abstract: A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers within a plurality of corresponding container receiving apertures wherein each container receiving aperture is stretched around a perimeter of a corresponding container and positioned under a flap extending downward from the corresponding container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Olsen
  • Publication number: 20180111735
    Abstract: A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers within a plurality of corresponding container receiving apertures formed in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks and a handle extending parallel to the rows of container receiving apertures. The handle is connected at attachment points along the carrier and corresponding thickened sections are included along the bands opposite the connection points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Robert C. OLSEN
  • Publication number: 20170158403
    Abstract: A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers includes a flexible sheet having two or more rows and multiple ranks of container apertures formed therein. The plurality of containers are each placed into a respective container receiving aperture and are thus unitized in a package. The flexible carrier further includes a plurality of handles corresponding with the multiple ranks, each handle formed at a periphery of the flexible sheet and a line of weakness formed between the transverse ranks. As a result of the described configuration, the flexible carrier is divisible into multiple sub-carriers, each unitizing a set of containers and each including a handle along a respective transverse edge of the resulting sub-carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Robert C. OLSEN, Christopher J. LUDWIG
  • Patent number: 9669977
    Abstract: A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers within a plurality of corresponding container receiving apertures formed in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks that includes three rows of container receiving apertures and a handle extending parallel to the three rows of container receiving apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Olsen, Leslie S. Marco
  • Patent number: 9573745
    Abstract: A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers that include a shoulder and a relatively narrower waist. The flexible carrier includes a flexible sheet having two rows of container receiving apertures formed therein. The plurality of containers are each placed into a respective container receiving aperture around the waist and are thus unitized in a package. The flexible carrier may further include an integrated handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Olsen
  • Patent number: 9475629
    Abstract: A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers includes a flexible sheet having a row of container-receiving apertures formed therein. The flexible carrier further includes a handle integrated with respect to the flexible sheet. A package is formed by inserting a plurality of containers, each within a respective container-receiving aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Olsen
  • Patent number: 9434521
    Abstract: A generally continuous string of container carriers typically forming a package of fan-folded container carriers wherein the generally continuous string of container carriers include a flexible web forming a plurality of container receiving apertures arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks defining a single container carrier. Each container receiving aperture in an inner rank includes a different length than each container receiving aperture in an outer rank and a generally triangular shape having a generally arcuate base and a pair of concave sides that taper toward a center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Olsen