Patents by Inventor Shawn A. Oakes

Shawn A. Oakes 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: 9266646
    Abstract: The present application provides a dispensing package for a number of articles therein. The dispensing package may include a tub and a reclosable lid enclosing the tub. The reclosable lid may include a dispensing aperture, one or more mating slots, and a spout flap forming a reclosable spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Shawn A. Oakes
  • Publication number: 20150314318
    Abstract: Systems and methods of dispensing a hot melt adhesive material that can be heated from a lower temperature flowable non-molten liquid state to a higher temperature molten liquid state, the systems and methods comprise: pumping with a pump the hot melt adhesive material in the lower temperature flowable non-molten liquid state into a supply conduit; passing the hot melt adhesive material through a heated thermal break in the supply conduit that allows free flowing movement of transitional non-molten and molten state material; heating the hot melt adhesive material in a heat exchanger connected to the heated thermal break to the higher temperature molten liquid state; and dispensing the hot melt adhesive material in the higher temperature molten liquid state from a dispenser in fluid communication with the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Corey D. Johnson, John S. Lihwa, Paul R. Quam, Steven R. Sinders, J. Shawn Oakes
  • Publication number: 20150272359
    Abstract: A reclosable cup lid that can include an upper surface having at least one recess formed therein, that is arcuate in shape. The reclosable cup lid can also include a tab configured to fit within the recess. The tab having an arcuate shape corresponding to the arcuate shape of the recess. The reclosable cup lid can also include an opening disposed within the recess to allow fluid flow therethrough. The tab can be adapted to move within the recess from a first position to a second position so that the opening is at least partially blocked when the tab is located in the first position and the opening is at least partially unobstructed when the tab is located in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Shawn A. Oakes
  • Publication number: 20150028046
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cutlery dispenser for dispensing wrapped cutlery. The cutlery dispenser may include a wrapped cutlery band comprising a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner. The cutlery dispenser also may include a nozzle assembly configured to allow the cutlery packets to be dispensed therethrough. The present disclosure also provides a method for dispensing wrapped cutlery. The method may include the step of providing a cutlery dispenser comprising a nozzle assembly and a wrapped cutlery band, wherein the wrapped cutlery band comprises a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner. The method also may include the step of dispensing the cutlery packets through the nozzle assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Shawn A. Oakes, Abby C. Case
  • Publication number: 20150028045
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cutlery dispenser for dispensing wrapped cutlery. The cutlery dispenser may include a case configured to expand from a compact configuration into an expanded configuration. The cutlery dispenser also may include a wrapped cutlery band disposed within the case and configured to be dispensed therefrom. The present disclosure also provides a method for dispensing wrapped cutlery. The method may include the step of providing a cutlery dispenser including a case and a wrapped cutlery band disposed within the case. The method also may include the step of expanding the case from a compact configuration into an expanded configuration. The method further may include the step of dispensing at least a portion of the wrapped cutlery band from the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Shawn A. Oakes
  • Patent number: 8701932
    Abstract: A utensil dispensing tray that cooperates with a dispenser. The tray includes at least one feature that causes the utensil, such as a knife, fork, spork, or spoon, to rotate from a first orientation to a second orientation for presentation as the utensil drops into the tray. The tray also includes one or more features that result in the utensil being consistently positioned in its second orientation within a dispensing area of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Reinsel, Jamison J. Float, Jay F. Perkins, Eric M. Krouse, Michael T. Kopczewski, Shawn A. Oakes
  • Publication number: 20140069930
    Abstract: The present application provides a dispensing package for a number of articles therein. The dispensing package may include a tub and a reclosable lid enclosing the tub. The reclosable lid may include a dispensing aperture, one or more mating slots, and a spout flap forming a reclosable spout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventor: Shawn A. Oakes
  • Patent number: 8556113
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an adapter suitable for use with cups and lids. In some embodiments, the adapter is designed so that a single lid with a predetermined diameter fits, by way of the adapter, with paper cups of different diameters. In some embodiments, an adapter including an inner diameter that corresponds to the upper diameter of the paper cup cooperates with the upper portion of the cup. The adapter also includes an outer diameter that corresponds to the predetermined diameter of the lid to ensure a secure fit between that particular sized cup and the plastic lid having a predetermined diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Joseph R. Pounder, Shawn A. Oakes, Margaret P. Hoks, Ann M. Andres
  • Publication number: 20130043272
    Abstract: A cutlery dispenser comprising a front cover, a housing, and a pushing assembly. The front cover further includes an opening and at least stop. The at least one stop is configured to cause a utensil, such as a knife, fork, spork, or spoon, to fan through the opening for retrieval by a user. The pushing assembly urges the utensils forward in the dispenser toward the stop and toward the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventor: Shawn A. Oakes
  • Publication number: 20120145728
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an adapter suitable for use with cups and lids. In some embodiments, the adapter is designed so that a single lid with a predetermined diameter fits, by way of the adapter, with paper cups of different diameters. In some embodiments, an adapter including an inner diameter that corresponds to the upper diameter of the paper cup cooperates with the upper portion of the cup. The adapter also includes an outer diameter that corresponds to the predetermined diameter of the lid to ensure a secure fit between that particular sized cup and the plastic lid having a predetermined diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Joseph R. Pounder, Shawn A. Oakes, Margaret P. Hoks, Ann M. Andres
  • Publication number: 20120048874
    Abstract: A container that is a cup portion having a maximum gauge of less than 35 mils provided with a bottom panel, a sidewall and a sealing brim which defines an annular cup sealing surface; and a lid having a maximum gauge of less than 35 mils with a sealing rim defining an annular lid sealing surface; wherein the cup portion and lid portion are thermoformed such that the annular cup sealing surface and the annular lid sealing surface cooperate to form a seal extending around the assembled container and wherein the container does not leak when tested using the Leak Test Method 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Shawn A. Oakes, Dean P. Swoboda
  • Publication number: 20110296693
    Abstract: A module of cutlery may include a plurality of utensils that include a formable material, wherein at least two of the utensils are separably coupled to one another via at least one of an adhesive and a common portion of the formable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Shawn A. Oakes
  • Publication number: 20110180562
    Abstract: A utensil dispensing tray that cooperates with a dispenser. The tray includes at least one feature that causes the utensil, such as a knife, fork, spork, or spoon, to rotate from a first orientation to a second orientation for presentation as the utensil drops into the tray. The tray also includes one or more features that result in the utensil being consistently positioned in its second orientation within a dispensing area of the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Reinsel, Jay F. Perkins, Jamison J. Float, Eric M. Krouse, Michael T. Kopczewski, Shawn A. Oakes
  • Publication number: 20060060578
    Abstract: A secure locking container and lid assembly, including a resilient plastic container and lid, are closed by snap-lock engagement of the lid in a locking groove in the interior of the container mouth making it virtually impossible to manually remove the lid without damaging the container assembly or the product therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: John Church, Nicholas Zompolas, Shawn Oakes
  • Patent number: D591104
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventor: Shawn A. Oakes
  • Patent number: D634577
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventor: Shawn A. Oakes
  • Patent number: D634974
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventor: Shawn A. Oakes
  • Patent number: D645339
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventor: Shawn A. Oakes
  • Patent number: D645737
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventor: Shawn A. Oakes
  • Patent number: D663581
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventor: Shawn A. Oakes