Patents by Inventor Tesfahun Y. Mengistu

Tesfahun Y. Mengistu 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: 9428299
    Abstract: A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat position and a deployed position is provided. The container includes a first blank of sheet material for forming side walls of the container, and a second blank of sheet material for forming a bottom wall of the container. The first blank having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, a top edge and a bottom edge. The first blank includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, a fourth side panel, a fifth side panel, and a sixth side panel wherein each of the side panels are coupled across a fold line. The first blank also includes end flaps extending from the bottom edge of each of the side panels wherein at least two of the end flaps includes a tab joint. The second blank having a plurality of side edges equal to a number of side panels of the first blank, each side edge having a width substantially equal to a width of the side panels of the first blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventors: Tesfahun Y. Mengistu, Thomas D. Graham, John Thomas Yoder, IV
  • Patent number: 9181025
    Abstract: A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat configuration and a deployed configuration is provided. The container includes a plurality of side walls formed from a first blank and a bottom wall formed from a second blank. Each side wall has an end flap extending from a bottom edge of the first blank. The bottom wall is coupled to a first end flap extending from a first side wall of the first blank, and is foldable along a fold line for selectively moving the container from a deployed configuration into a substantially flat configuration. A second end flap extends from a second side wall adjacent the first side wall, and a third end flap extends from a third side wall adjacent the second side wall. The second and third end flaps support the second blank in uncoupled communication when the container is in the deployed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Tesfahun Y. Mengistu, John Thomas Yoder, IV
  • Publication number: 20150203240
    Abstract: A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat position and a deployed position is provided. The container includes a first blank of sheet material for forming side walls of the container, and a second blank of sheet material for forming a bottom wall of the container. The first blank having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, a top edge and a bottom edge. The first blank includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, a fourth side panel, a fifth side panel, and a sixth side panel wherein each of the side panels are coupled across a fold line. The first blank also includes end flaps extending from the bottom edge of each of the side panels wherein at least two of the end flaps includes a tab joint. The second blank having a plurality of side edges equal to a number of side panels of the first blank, each side edge having a width substantially equal to a width of the side panels of the first blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Tesfahun Y. Mengistu, Thomas D. Graham, John Thomas Yoder, IV
  • Patent number: 8991684
    Abstract: A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat position and a deployed position is provided. The container includes a first blank of sheet material for forming side walls of the container, and a second blank of sheet material for forming a bottom wall of the container. The first blank having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, a top edge and a bottom edge. The first blank includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, a fourth side panel, a fifth side panel, and a sixth side panel wherein each of the side panels are coupled across a fold line. The first blank also includes end flaps extending from the bottom edge of each of the side panels wherein at least two of the end flaps includes a tab joint. The second blank having a plurality of side edges equal to a number of side panels of the first blank, each side edge having a width substantially equal to a width of the side panels of the first blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Tesfahun Y. Mengistu, Thomas D. Graham, John Thomas Yoder, IV
  • Publication number: 20140339292
    Abstract: A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat configuration and a deployed configuration is provided. The container includes a plurality of side walls formed from a first blank and a bottom wall formed from a second blank. Each side wall has an end flap extending from a bottom edge of the first blank. The bottom wall is coupled to a first end flap extending from a first side wall of the first blank, and is foldable along a fold line for selectively moving the container from a deployed configuration into a substantially flat configuration. A second end flap extends from a second side wall adjacent the first side wall, and a third end flap extends from a third side wall adjacent the second side wall. The second and third end flaps support the second blank in uncoupled communication when the container is in the deployed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Tesfahun Y. Mengistu, John Thomas Yoder, IV
  • Patent number: 8814031
    Abstract: A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat configuration and a deployed configuration is provided. The container includes a plurality of side walls formed from a first blank. The first blank includes a plurality of side panels extending in series along a plurality of substantially parallel fold lines and at least one slot defined within at least one side panel of the plurality of side panels. The container further includes a bottom wall coupled to the plurality of side walls, wherein the bottom wall is formed from a second blank. The second blank includes a plurality of side edges and at least one tab extending form at least one side edge. The at least one tab is configured to be inserted into the at least one slot to construct the container. The second blank is coupled to the first blank at at least the at least one slot and the at least one tab for forming the bottom wall of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Tesfahun Y. Mengistu, John Thomas Yoder, IV
  • Publication number: 20100230479
    Abstract: A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat configuration and a deployed configuration is provided. The container includes a plurality of side walls formed from a first blank. The first blank includes a plurality of side panels extending in series along a plurality of substantially parallel fold lines and at least one slot defined within at least one side panel of the plurality of side panels. The container further includes a bottom wall coupled to the plurality of side walls, wherein the bottom wall is formed from a second blank. The second blank includes a plurality of side edges and at least one tab extending form at least one side edge. The at least one tab is configured to be inserted into the at least one slot to construct the container. The second blank is coupled to the first blank at least the at least one slot and the at least one tab for forming the bottom wall of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Tesfahun Y. Mengistu, John Thomas Yoder, IV
  • Patent number: 7381176
    Abstract: A machine for making a reinforced, collapsible bulk bin assembly is provided. The machine includes a body blank feeding device for providing a body blank from a stack of body blanks, an erecting device for partially erecting the body blank, and a bottom insertion device for inserting a partially folded bottom blank into the partially erected body blank. The machine also includes first fingers for attaching major flaps of the body blank to the bottom blank, second fingers for attaching minor flaps of the body blank to major flaps of the body blank after the body blank has been collapsed, and a strapping device for simultaneously applying a plurality of straps to an exterior surface of the body blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, John Thomas Yoder, IV, Tesfahun Y. Mengistu
  • Publication number: 20080070769
    Abstract: A machine for making a reinforced, collapsible bulk bin assembly is provided. The machine includes a body blank feeding device for providing a body blank from a stack of body blanks, an erecting device for partially erecting the body blank, and a bottom insertion device for inserting a partially folded bottom blank into the partially erected body blank. The machine also includes first fingers for attaching major flaps of the body blank to the bottom blank, second fingers for attaching minor flaps of the body blank to major flaps of the body blank after the body blank has been collapsed, and a strapping device for simultaneously applying a plurality of straps to an exterior surface of the body blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, John Thomas Yoder, Tesfahun Y. Mengistu
  • Publication number: 20080067221
    Abstract: A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat position and a deployed position is provided. The container includes a first blank of sheet material for forming side walls of the container, and a second blank of sheet material for forming a bottom wall of the container. The first blank having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, a top edge and a bottom edge. The first blank includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, a fourth side panel, a fifth side panel, and a sixth side panel wherein each of the side panels are coupled across a fold line. The first blank also includes end flaps extending from the bottom edge of each of the side panels wherein at least two of the end flaps includes a tab joint. The second blank having a plurality of side edges equal to a number of side panels of the first blank, each side edge having a width substantially equal to a width of the side panels of the first blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Tesfahun Y. Mengistu, Thomas D. Graham, John Thomas Yoder