Patents by Inventor Stephen E. Woerz

Stephen E. Woerz 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: 6270820
    Abstract: A process for making a dry, stable intermediate pet food including meat includes the steps of combining a plurality of ingredients specified by a basal pet food formula, wherein the plurality of ingredients includes a slurry of meat, mixing the plurality of ingredients to form a basal mixture, extruding the basal mixture, cutting the extruded basal mixture into flakes, and drying the flakes to a moisture content of less than about 10% by weight. In one embodiment, to make a finished pet food composition, the flakes are shipped for final processing to a processing facility having finishing equipment including grinding, extruding and coating equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Ralston Purina Company
    Inventors: Cathryn (Kati) Fritz-Jung, Bhajmohan (Ricky) Singh, Sandeep Bhatnagar, Gary J. Woodward, Karl L. Kettinger, Donald R. Speck, Jill A. Stoll, Stephen E. Woerz, Peifang Zhang
  • Patent number: 4469547
    Abstract: Improved spin-bonding apparatus is disclosed for connecting a synthetic plastic end closure member to a composite container body wall, including an axially displaceable spinner member that is operable to an axially extended position in which it is rotated relative to the stationary mandrel by the rotatably driven spindle when the mandrel and spindle are in an initial axially spaced condition. The spinner member continuously supports the inner periphery of the sealing fin as the mandrel and spindle are displaced axially together toward their adjacent spin-bonding condition, whereby the sealing fin is protectively supported prior to positive spin bonding thereof to the synthetic plastic inner liner of the container body wall. The stationary mandrel is provided at its free end with a unitary sizing portion having a closely toleranced cylindrical surface for causing the free extremity of the container body wall to have a circular configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: Boise Cascade Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald L. Mitchell, Stephen E. Woerz, Thomas J. Setty
  • Patent number: 4411726
    Abstract: A composite container is disclosed having a synthetic plastic end closure member spin-bonded to the thermoplastic synthetic plastic inner liner layer of a composite container body wall. The synthetic plastic end closure member includes annular downwardly depending inner fin and outer chime portions which are concentrically spaced to define therebetween an annular groove. One of the body and end members is rotated relative to the other member when they are in spaced vertical alignment, whereupon the members are axially displaced together to wedge the upper end of the body member into the annular groove of the end closure member. During this spin bonding process, the fin portion of the end closure member is supported against radial inward deflection, whereby the spinning frictional engagement between the fin portion of the end closure member and the inner liner layer of the body member causes softening and subsequent bonding of the fin portion to the inner liner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: Boise Cascade Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen E. Woerz, Travis K. Canup
  • Patent number: 4402451
    Abstract: A composite container is disclosed having a synthetic plastic end closure member spin-bonded to the thermoplastic synthetic plastic inner liner layer of a composite container body wall. The synthetic plastic end closure member includes annular downwardly depending inner fin and outer chime portions which are concentrically spaced to define therebetween an annular groove. One of the body and end members is rotated relative to the other member when they are in spaced vertical alignment, whereupon the members are axially displaced together to wedge the upper end of the body member into the annular groove of the end closure member. During this spin bonding process, the fin portion of the end closure member is supported against radial inward deflection, whereby the spinning frictional engagement between the fin portion of the end closure member and the inner liner layer of the body member causes softening and subsequent bonding of the fin portion to the inner liner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Boise Cascade Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen E. Woerz, Travis K. Canup
  • Patent number: 4375969
    Abstract: An improved composite container is disclosed including a tubular fibrous body wall having at its upper end a reversely curled portion the upper extremity of which is radially inwardly compressed in such a manner as to form an annular external locking projection by means of which a synthetic plastic closure cap may be fastened to close the container. Preferably the closure member is connected with the container by a tearable tamperproof connection including a radially inwardly directed annular rib that is locked beneath the annular body projection to maintain the closure cap on the container. A method is also disclosed for forming the container body, including the steps of radially outwardly curling the upper end of the body member, radially inwardly compressing the upper extremity of the reversely curled portion, and mounting a synthetic plastic snap-type closure member on the compressed curled end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1983
    Assignee: Boise Cascade Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen E. Woerz
  • Patent number: 4353761
    Abstract: A composite container is disclosed having a synthetic plastic end closure member spin-bonded to the thermoplastic synthetic plastic inner liner layer of a composite container body wall. The synthetic plastic end closure member includes annular downwardly depending inner fin and outer chime portions which are concentrically spaced to define therebetween an annular groove. One of the body and end members is rotated relative to the other member when they are in spaced vertical alignment, whereupon the members are axially displaced together to wedge the upper end of the body member into the annular groove of the end closure member. During this spin bonding process, the fin portion of the end closure member is supported against radial inward deflection, whereby the spinning frictional engagement between the fin portion of the end closure member and the inner liner layer of the body member causes softening and subsequent bonding of the fin portion to the inner liner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: Boise Cascade Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen E. Woerz, Travis K. Canup
  • Patent number: 4299350
    Abstract: An improved composite container is disclosed including a tubular fibrous body wall having at its upper end a reversely curled portion the upper extremity of which is radially inwardly compressed in such a manner as to form an annular external locking projection by means of which a synthetic plastic closure cap may be fastened to close the container. Preferably the closure member is connected with the container by a tearable tamperproof connection including a radially inwardly directed annular rib that is locked beneath the annular body projection to maintain the closure cap on the container. A method is also disclosed for forming the container body, including the steps of radially outwardly curling the upper end of the body member, radially inwardly comressing the upper extremity of the reversely curled portion, and mounting a synthetic plastic snap-type closure member on the compressed curled end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1981
    Assignee: Boise Cascade Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen E. Woerz
  • Patent number: D509438
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Nestec Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen E. Woerz