Patents by Inventor Stephen H. Witt

Stephen H. Witt 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: 7703626
    Abstract: Conventional adhesive and contact welding methods for holding the paperboard and plastic components of a composite closure together present a number disadvantages and do not lend themselves easily to mass production. The present invention describes two novel approaches, firstly the pre-assembly heating of the closure components with directed hot air to partially melt the thermoplastic surfaces and allow the parts to be immediately assembled sealingly and, secondly, a novel construction of plastic and paperboard composite closure in which the plastic rim is of a two-piece snap-fit constructions which firmly grips the top panel of the paperboard lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventor: Stephen H. Witt
  • Patent number: 6772901
    Abstract: A tamper-resistant, tamper-evident composite lid is disclosed for use with containers having a peripheral lip formation around the opening thereof, such as an ice cream container. The closure member comprises integral outer and inner cylindrical ring portions which present at their upper peripheral margin a downwardly stepped annular ledge formation for adhesively receiving a paperboard or other flexible cover panel. The inner ring portion presents a plurality of resiliently deformable teeth extending upwardly and inwardly from its lower peripheral margin configured to lockingly engage with the lip of the container for sealing. The inner ring is circumscribed by a rupturable line of weakness which ruptures upon any attempt to prise off the lid, providing evidence of tampering. The container is legitimately opened by manually tearing away the bottom portion of the inner ring along its line of weakness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Stanpac Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen H. Witt
  • Publication number: 20020170914
    Abstract: A tamper-resistant, tamper-evident composite lid is disclosed for use with containers having a peripheral lip formation around the opening thereof, such as an ice cream container. The closure member comprises integral outer and inner cylindrical ring portions which present at their upper peripheral margin a downwardly stepped annular ledge formation for adhesively receiving a paperboard or other flexible cover panel. The inner ring portion presents a plurality of resiliently deformable teeth extending upwardly and inwardly from its lower peripheral margin configured to lockingly engage with the lip of the container for sealing. The inner ring is circumscribed by a rupturable line of weakness which ruptures upon any attempt to prise off the lid, providing evidence of tampering. The container is legitimately opened by manually tearing away the bottom portion of the inner ring along its line of weakness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Stephen H. Witt
  • Patent number: 5875908
    Abstract: A one piece molded push on tamper resistant closure suited for reusable bottles such as rnilk bottles comprises a cap portion and a latch ring portion connected thereto by frangible tabs. Rupture of the tabs serves to detach the cap portion to permit its removal from the bottle, while simultaneously opening the latch ring portion to permit it to be removed laterally from about the neck of the bottle. The closure may also include a pull tab disposed on the cap portion to provide a levered fore for rupturing the frangible tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Stanpac Inc
    Inventors: Stephen H. Witt, Miles Colin Keller
  • Patent number: 5514442
    Abstract: A sealing member for a container has a membrane, e.g., aluminum foil, and a first sheet, e.g. polyester, part of which is bonded to the membrane. The other part of the sheet is free, so as to form a tab having one of a number of possible profiles, to enable the sealing member to be detached as a single unit. At least part of the periphery of the tab is within the periphery of the membrane, to facilitate grasping of the tab. The first sheet and the membrane or foil may have a common periphery where they are bonded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Stanpac, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Galda, Brian M. Klassen, Stephen H. Witt
  • Patent number: 5433992
    Abstract: A sealing member for a container has a membrane, e.g. aluminum foil, and a first sheet, e.g. polyester, part of which is bonded to the membrane. The other part of the sheet is free, so as to form a tab, to enable the seal to be detached. The seal can be attached to the neck of a bottle by a hot melt adhesive. The sheet and membrane can be stamped from a compound sheet and be of the same size. The composite portion can extend up to a line extending across a major portion of the membrane, or in another embodiment it covers a major portion of the membrane. Alternatively, the first sheet and the membrane can have a substantially common periphery in the separated portion of the sealing member forming the tab. A further embodiment provides for a sealing member that is entirely planar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Stanpac Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Galda, Brian M. Klassen, Stephen H. Witt
  • Patent number: 5261990
    Abstract: A method of making an elongate strip for the production of a sealing member includes, as a first step, applying a plurality of strips of a first adhesive to one of a membrane and a first sheet, the membrane and the first sheet are then bonded together so that composite portions are formed where they are bonded together by the strips of the first adhesive, and separated portions are formed where the membrane and the first sheet are free from one another. The other side of the membrane is then coated with an additional layer of adhesive, for example a hot melt bonding material. Then, sealing members can be cut from the resultant composite elongate strip, with each sealing member having a composite portion in which the membrane and the first sheet are bonded together and a separated portion in which the membrane and the first sheet are free of one another. The free portion of the first sheet then forms a tab, for removal of the sealing member, in use, after it has been bonded to the lip of a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Stanpac Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Galda, Brian M. Klassen, Stephen H. Witt
  • Patent number: 5217790
    Abstract: An elongate strip, from which sealing members can be cut, has an elongate membrane and a first sheet. A first layer of adhesive is provided in the form of a series of elongate portions extending along the length of the strip and bonding the membrane and the first sheet together. An additional layer of adhesive is provided on the other side of the membrane. This enables sealing members to be cut from the elongate strip comprising a composite portion in which the membrane and first sheet are bonded together by the first layer of adhesive and a free portion in which the first sheet is separate from the membrane and forms a tab. In use, the additional layer of adhesive on the membrane is used to bond the sealing member to lip of a container, and the tab can then be used to remove the sealing member to open the container. The first layer of adhesive bonds the first sheet of the membrane together so strongly in the sealing member that they can be removed as a unit from such a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Stanpac Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Galda, Brian M. Klassen, Stephen H. Witt
  • Patent number: 5119964
    Abstract: A closure for a container has two parts, namely an inner sealing member and an outer cap. The inner sealing member has a tab extending down between a bottle neck and a depending side wall of the cap. The tab is folded around the cap wall to form an upwardly extending portion. A patch of adhesive secures this tab portion to the cap. This prevents unauthorized removal of the cap and provides visible and external evidence of any tampering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Inventor: Stephen H. Witt
  • Patent number: 4961986
    Abstract: A sealing member for a container has a membrane, e.g. aluminum foil, and a first sheet, e.g. polyester, part of which is bonded to the membrane. The other part of the sheet is free, so as to form a tab, to enable the seal to be detached. The seal can be attached to the neck of a bottle by a hot melt adhesive. The sheet and membrane can be stamped from a compound sheet and be of the same size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Stanpac Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Galda, Stephen H. Witt