Patents by Inventor Robert D. Stoolmaker

Robert D. Stoolmaker 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: 8777033
    Abstract: A plastic container and closure, and system and method of making the same. Container can include a solid bottom end, an outer sidewall extending from solid bottom end, a shoulder portion extending from outer sidewall, and neck portion extending from shoulder portion, forming an open end of container. Solid bottom end includes a circumferential heel portion having a plurality of radially asymmetrical projections and recesses disposed on an outer periphery of the heel portion, the plurality being configured to increase heel portion rigidity while maintaining substantially uniform material thickness. Shoulder portion forms an angle with a plane perpendicular to the container central axis. At an angle of 50° a desirable failure mode may be achieved where the yield strength of the shoulder portion is balanced against that of the heel portion and the outer sidewall to maximize the top load strength of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Lawrence Korpanty, Kevin D. Himes, John E. Denner, David B. Clements, Robert D. Stoolmaker, Thomas J. Atkinson
  • Publication number: 20120102880
    Abstract: A plastic container and closure, and system and method of making the same. Container can include a solid bottom end, an outer sidewall extending from solid bottom end, a shoulder portion extending from outer sidewall, and neck portion extending from shoulder portion, forming an open end of container. Solid bottom end includes a circumferential heel portion having a plurality of radially asymmetrical projections and recesses disposed on an outer periphery of the heel portion, the plurality being configured to increase heel portion rigidity while maintaining substantially uniform material thickness. Shoulder portion forms an angle with a plane perpendicular to the container central axis. At an angle of 50° a desirable failure mode may be achieved where the yield strength of the shoulder portion is balanced against that of the heel portion and the outer sidewall to maximize the top load strength of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Lawrence Korpanty, Kevin D. Himes, John E. Denner, David B. Clements, Robert D. Stoolmaker, Thomas J. Atkinson
  • Patent number: 7988002
    Abstract: A plastic container and closure and method of making the same. The container can include a solid bottom end, an outer sidewall extending from the solid bottom end, and a neck portion extending from the outer sidewall to create an open end of the container. The neck portion may have a spout portion having an aperture formed therein. The spout portion can be inverted to form a flange receptacle. The closure can include a sealing portion which includes a first receptacle, a spring portion that includes a second receptacle, and a planar center area configured in the center of the closure and extending inward from the spring portion. The container may be filled with a product and the closure secured to the container, over the open end, to create a primary seal and a secondary seal. When the closure is secured to the container, the spring portion can exert a sealing pressure against the neck portion of the container to create the primary seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John E. Denner, David B. Clements, Robert D. Stoolmaker
  • Publication number: 20080128380
    Abstract: A plastic container and closure and method of making the same. The container can include a solid bottom end, an outer sidewall extending from the solid bottom end, and a neck portion extending from the outer sidewall to create an open end of the container. The neck portion may have a spout portion having an aperture formed therein. The spout portion can be inverted to form a flange receptacle. The closure can include a sealing portion which includes a first receptacle, a spring portion that includes a second receptacle, and a planar center area configured in the center of the closure and extending inward from the spring portion. The container may be filled with a product and the closure secured to the container, over the open end, to create a primary seal and a secondary seal. When the closure is secured to the container, the spring portion can exert a sealing pressure against the neck portion of the container to create the primary seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: John E. Denner, David B. Clements, Robert D. Stoolmaker