Patents by Inventor Steven R. Rinehart
Steven R. Rinehart 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).
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Publication number: 20230382573Abstract: An apparatus for packaging of loose product includes a loading station, a box forming station and an uploading station. The loading station includes moveable chutes in spaced apart relation. Each chute has an open top, an open upstream end, and an open downstream end. The open top is configured to receive loose product while moving along a first feed path. The box forming station is operable to partially erect boxes in spaced apart relation with first and second open sides and align the first open side of each box with the downstream end of a corresponding chute while moving along a second feed path. The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path operable to move loose product from the chute into the boxes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Barry S. SMITH, Steven R. RINEHART, Danielle R. CRAWFORD
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Patent number: 11724839Abstract: The method includes covering a first opening of at least one first chute using a lid, delivering air from a pressurized air source into the at least one first chute, and advancing at least one first plunger through a first end of the at least one first chute to transfer a product through a second end of the at least one first chute and into a first open side of at least one first box.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Barry S. Smith, Steven R. Rinehart, Danielle R. Crawford
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Publication number: 20220167667Abstract: A sleeve operable to at least partially contain a cylindrical article, the sleeve including opposing planar side panels; bowed dust flaps extending upwardly from said side panels; front and back panels, each having rounded, upper corner portions; and overlapping top panels in superposing relation to upper portions of said bowed dust flaps, said overlapping top panels being mutually secured, whereby said bowed dust flaps are retained in a bowed condition that conforms with said rounded upper panel portions of said front and back panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2022Publication date: June 2, 2022Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Scott FATH, Ryan J. SOUSA, Steven R. RINEHART
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Patent number: 11252998Abstract: The package includes a first sleeve, the first sleeve including, a first front panel and a first back panel that oppose each other, a first side panel and a second side panel that oppose each other, and at least one first top panel that at least partially assists in closing a first end of the first sleeve. A respective free edge of the first front panel, the first back panel, the first side panel and the second side panel collectively define a first opening at a second end of the first sleeve. The first front panel, the first back panel, the first side panel and the second side panel collectively form a first rounded corner and a second rounded corner on the first end of the first sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Scott Fath, Ryan J. Sousa, Steven R. Rinehart
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Publication number: 20200315249Abstract: The package includes a first sleeve, the first sleeve including, a first front panel and a first back panel that oppose each other, a first side panel and a second side panel that oppose each other, and at least one first top panel that at least partially assists in closing a first end of the first sleeve. A respective free edge of the first front panel, the first back panel, the first side panel and the second side panel collectively define a first opening at a second end of the first sleeve. The first front panel, the first back panel, the first side panel and the second side panel collectively form a first rounded corner and a second rounded corner on the first end of the first sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Scott FATH, Ryan J. SOUSA, Steven R. RINEHART
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Publication number: 20200290758Abstract: The method includes covering a first opening of at least one first chute using a lid, delivering air from a pressurized air source into the at least one first chute, and advancing at least one first plunger through a first end of the at least one first chute to transfer a product through a second end of the at least one first chute and into a first open side of at least one first box.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Barry S. SMITH, Steven R. RINEHART, Danielle R. CRAWFORD
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Patent number: 10694780Abstract: A sleeve operable to at least partially contain two cylindrical articles in side-by-side or back-to-back relation, the sleeve including first and second openings or a single opening in a bottom thereof and the first and second cylindrical articles contained within the sleeve such that portions of the first and second cylindrical articles are exposed outside the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Scott Fath, Ryan J. Sousa, Steven R. Rinehart
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Patent number: 10683110Abstract: A method of filling packaging with pouches of product comprises conveying a plurality of spaced apart chutes along a first feed path. Each chute is loaded with pouches of product at a chute loading station. Erect boxes are conveyed along a second feed path to a chute unloading station wherein the second feed path is substantially parallel to the first feed path at the chute unloading station. The pouches of product are transferred from the chutes into interior spaces of the erect boxes at the chute unloading station as the chutes move along the first feed path and the erect boxes move along the second feed path. The chutes are returned to the chute loading station to be filled with pouches of product.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2017Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Barry S. Smith, Steven R. Rinehart, Danielle R. Crawford
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Publication number: 20190116877Abstract: A sleeve operable to at least partially contain two cylindrical articles in side-by-side or back-to-back relation, the sleeve including first and second openings or a single opening in a bottom thereof and the first and second cylindrical articles contained within the sleeve such that portions of the first and second cylindrical articles are exposed outside the sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Scott Fath, Ryan J. Sousa, Steven R. Rinehart
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Patent number: 10159276Abstract: A sleeve operable to at least partially contain two cylindrical articles in side-by-side or back-to-back relation, the sleeve including first and second openings or a single opening in a bottom thereof and the first and second cylindrical articles contained within the sleeve such that portions of the first and second cylindrical articles are exposed outside the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2018Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Scott Fath, Ryan J. Sousa, Steven R. Rinehart
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Publication number: 20180160729Abstract: A sleeve operable to at least partially contain two cylindrical articles in side-by-side or back-to-back relation, the sleeve including first and second openings or a single opening in a bottom thereof and the first and second cylindrical articles contained within the sleeve such that portions of the first and second cylindrical articles are exposed outside the sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2018Publication date: June 14, 2018Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Scott Fath, Ryan J. Sousa, Steven R. Rinehart
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Publication number: 20180105295Abstract: A method of filling packaging with pouches of product comprises conveying a plurality of spaced apart chutes along a first feed path. Each chute is loaded with pouches of product at a chute loading station. Erect boxes are conveyed along a second feed path to a chute unloading station wherein the second feed path is substantially parallel to the first feed path at the chute unloading station. The pouches of product are transferred from the chutes into interior spaces of the erect boxes at the chute unloading station as the chutes move along the first feed path and the erect boxes move along the second feed path. The chutes are returned to the chute loading station to be filled with pouches of product.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Smith S. Barry, Steven R. Rinehart, Danielle R. Crawford
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Patent number: 9918493Abstract: A sleeve operable to at least partially contain a cylindrical article, the sleeve including opposing planar side panels; bowed dust flaps extending upwardly from said side panels; front and back panels, each having rounded, upper corner portions; and overlapping top panels in superposing relation to upper portions of said bowed dust flaps, said overlapping top panels being mutually secured, whereby said bowed dust flaps are retained in a bowed condition that conforms with said rounded upper panel portions of said front and back panels.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Scott Fath, Ryan J. Sousa, Steven R. Rinehart
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Patent number: 9845169Abstract: An apparatus for packaging of loose product includes a loading station, a box forming station and an uploading station. The loading station includes moveable chutes in spaced apart relation. Each chute has an open top, an open upstream end, and an open downstream end. The open top is configured to receive loose product while moving along a first feed path. The box forming station is operable to partially erect boxes in spaced apart relation with first and second open sides and align the first open side of each box with the downstream end of a corresponding chute while moving along a second feed path. The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path operable to move loose product from the chute into the boxes.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2012Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Barry S. Smith, Steven R. Rinehart, Danielle R. Crawford
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Publication number: 20150076013Abstract: A sleeve operable to at least partially contain a cylindrical article, the sleeve including opposing planar side panels; bowed dust flaps extending upwardly from said side panels; front and back panels, each having rounded, upper corner portions; and overlapping top panels in superposing relation to upper portions of said bowed dust flaps, said overlapping top panels being mutually secured, whereby said bowed dust flaps are retained in a bowed condition that conforms with said rounded upper panel portions of said front and back panelsType: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Scott Fath, Ryan J. Sousa, Steven R. Rinehart
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Patent number: 8915365Abstract: A sleeve operable to at least partially contain a cylindrical article, the sleeve including opposing planar side panels; bowed dust flaps extending upwardly from said side panels; front and back panels, each having rounded, upper corner portions; and overlapping top panels in superposing relation to upper portions of said bowed dust flaps, said overlapping top panels being mutually secured, whereby said bowed dust flaps are retained in a bowed condition that conforms with said rounded upper panel portions of said front and back panels.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Altria Client Services Inc.Inventors: Scott Fath, Ryan J. Sousa, Steven R. Rinehart
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Publication number: 20140262869Abstract: A sleeve operable to at least partially contain a cylindrical article, the sleeve including opposing planar side panels; bowed dust flaps extending upwardly from said side panels; front and back panels, each having rounded, upper corner portions; and overlapping top panels in superposing relation to upper portions of said bowed dust flaps, said overlapping top panels being mutually secured, whereby said bowed dust flaps are retained in a bowed condition that conforms with said rounded upper panel portions of said front and back panelsType: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Scott Fath, Ryan J. Sousa, Steven R. Rinehart
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Patent number: D723387Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Altria Client Services, Inc.Inventors: Scott A Fath, Ryan J Sousa, Steven R Rinehart
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Patent number: D782326Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Scott A Fath, Ryan J Sousa, Steven R Rinehart
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Patent number: D806565Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2017Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Scott A Fath, Ryan J Sousa, Steven R Rinehart