Patents by Inventor William P. Apps

William P. Apps 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).

  • Fire retardant pallet assembly
    Patent number: 10532852
    Abstract: A pallet assembly includes an upper portion including an upper deck and a plurality of upper column portions extending downward from the upper deck. A lower portion includes a plurality of lower column portions extending upward and a plurality of runners connecting the plurality of lower column portions. An upper reinforcement member is between an upper surface of the lower column portions and a lower surface of the upper deck. A lower reinforcement member between a lower surface of the upper column portions and an upper surface of the runners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Christopher N. Gab
  • Lift and pallet
    Patent number: 10479661
    Abstract: A pallet lift includes a pair of outer tines movable between an expanded position spaced outward away from inner tines and a retracted position adjacent the inner tines. The inner and outer tines are supported by wheels at locations spaced away from the lift mechanism. A pallet includes a plurality of nestable feet that open outwardly of the pallet to reduce the footprint. A second pallet includes a side wall extending downward from side edges of the pallet to define an opening adjacent outer feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Philip A. King, Jon P. Hassell, William P. Apps, Dane Gin Mun Kalinowski
  • HALF PALLET
    Publication number: 20190308769
    Abstract: A half pallet includes a deck having opposite front and rear edges and opposite end edges. The end edges are shorter than the front and rear edges. End supports below the deck are adjacent end edges of the deck. The deck extends forward and rearward of the end supports. Each of the end supports includes a front edge recessed from the front edge of the deck and a rear edge recessed from the rear edge of the deck. Each end support prevents entry of a fork tine between the front edge of the end support and the rear edge of the end support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Mariel Rezende, Brian Robert Guerry
  • COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER
    Publication number: 20190270545
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a container includes a base and a lower wall section extending upward from the base. One or more upper wall sections are stacked on the first wall section. A pair of flanges may extend perpendicularly from outer edges of the lower wall section and the upper wall sections. An upper door may be hingeably connected to one of the flanges of the second wall section. A lower door may be hingeably connected to one of the flanges of the lower wall section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Derick Foster
  • BEVERAGE CRATE
    Publication number: 20190248533
    Abstract: A beverage crate includes a base having opposed end edges and opposed side edges. A pair of end walls extending upward from the end edges of the base. A pair of side walls extend upward from the side edges of the base. Each of the side walls includes an upper band portion connected to the base by inwardly-offset columns. The upper band portions each include at least one upper peak protruding upwardly and at least one complementary recess aligned below the at least one upper peak. The upper band portions each include at least one lower peak protruding downwardly and at least one complementary recess aligned above the at least one lower peak.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Shelby Frances Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark, William P. Apps, Crystal Y. Parra, Jon P. Hassell
  • Stackable low depth tray
    Patent number: 10377529
    Abstract: A tray for storing and transporting bottles includes a plurality of base walls each for supporting a bottle thereon. A plurality of interior columns extend upwardly between the base walls. Longitudinal dividers connect the interior columns. Lateral dividers connect the interior columns to side columns along side edges of the tray. At least one band extends along the side edges of the tray connecting the side columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • FIRE RETARDANT PALLET ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20190135485
    Abstract: A pallet assembly includes an upper portion including an upper deck and a plurality of upper column portions extending downward from the upper deck. A lower portion includes a plurality of lower column portions extending upward and a plurality of runners connecting the plurality of lower column portions. An upper reinforcement member is between an upper surface of the lower column portions and a lower surface of the upper deck. A lower reinforcement member between a lower surface of the upper column portions and an upper surface of the runners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Christopher N. Gab
  • COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER
    Publication number: 20190071234
    Abstract: A collapsible container includes a base having a base wall with a plurality of support surfaces separated by a longitudinal drainage channel and a plurality of lateral drainage channels intersecting the longitudinal drainage channel. The drainage channels are lower than the support surfaces. The base wall does not include any openings therethrough, so the drainage channels retain fluid leaking from products or packages in the container. The base may further include a plurality of troughs proximate edges of the base. The plurality of troughs are lower than the drainage channels. Walls are pivotably mounted to the base and are pivotable between an upright position and a collapsed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Jon P. Hassell
  • CRATE WITH RETRACTABLE WALL
    Publication number: 20190023485
    Abstract: A crate includes a base and a plurality of walls including a front wall. The front wall is movable between a retracted, open position and a closed position. In some embodiments, the front wall includes a frame, a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is hingeably connected to the frame and the second portion is hingeably connected to the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Mauricio D. Cavalcante, John Bobel Zelek, William P. Apps, Ryan C. Meers
  • COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER
    Publication number: 20180327138
    Abstract: A container includes a base and a wall secured to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. The wall including a recess and a pair of pins projecting into the recess. A hinge member is pivotably secured to the pins in the recess in the wall. The hinge member includes a pair of opposed bases connected by a plurality of curved walls. The bases each include an aperture receiving one of the pair of pins in the recess. In one embodiment, the hinge member pivotably secures the wall to the base. In another embodiment, the hinge member pivotably secured the wall to another wall such that the wall can pivot 270 degrees to leave that side of the container completely open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Travis J. Englert, William P. Apps, Dane Gin Mun Kalinowski
  • Pallet assembly
    Patent number: 10118731
    Abstract: A pallet includes fire retardant coatings to improve the overall fire performance of the pallet. First, the coatings may be used in combination with fire retardant additives in the plastic material of the pallet in order to reduce the amount of additives, thereby reducing cost and improving the structural performance of the pallet. Alternatively or additionally, the fire retardant coatings may be placed inside the pallet. This eliminates the chance that the fire retardant coating will get worn off during use. For example, the coating could be placed between the reinforcement sheet and the deck or runners, within the columns, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Christopher N. Gab
  • Pallet assembly
    Patent number: 10099813
    Abstract: A pallet includes an upper portion having an upper surface for supporting containers thereon. A first plurality of recesses in the upper surface have a first lower support surface spaced from the upper surface. A plurality of legs extend downwardly from the upper portion. The upper portion includes an overhang extending outward from one of the plurality of legs extending along each side of the pallet. In a disclosed method, containers are nested in a predetermined location on an upper surface of the pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Suzanne Whitfield Clark, Dane Gin Mun Kalinowski, William P. Apps
  • Crate with retractable wall
    Patent number: 10077152
    Abstract: A crate includes a base and a plurality of walls including a front wall. The front wall is movable between a retracted, open position and a closed position. In some embodiments, the front wall includes a frame, a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is hingeably connected to the frame and the second portion is hingeably connected to the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mauricio D. Cavalcante, John Bobel Zelek, William P. Apps, Ryan C. Meers
  • REINFORCED DUMPSTER
    Publication number: 20180257858
    Abstract: A container includes a base and a plurality of walls extending upward from the base to define a container interior. A pair of opposed side walls extend inward from one of the plurality of walls to an inner wall to define a recess on an exterior of the container. A pair of inner supports are disposed in the interior of the container. The inner supports abut the side walls. A grab bar is connected to the pair of inner supports and extends from one of the side walls to the other of the side walls across the recess. The inner supports are part of a reinforcement frame that includes an upper portion encircling upper edges of the plurality of walls below a lip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Shelby Frances Apps, Jon P. Hassell, William P. Apps
  • REINFORCED PALLET
    Publication number: 20180257813
    Abstract: A pallet assembly includes an upper deck having an upper panel portion from which a plurality of ribs extend downward. A plurality of channels are formed in an underside of the upper deck. The pallet assembly includes a plurality of columns below the upper deck. A plurality of reinforcement assemblies, including an inner reinforcement member, are each received within an outer case. The inner reinforcement members are received in the channels in the upper deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Ryan C. Meers, Kyle L. Baltz
  • CRATE
    Publication number: 20180244422
    Abstract: A crate includes a base and a pair of end walls that extend upward from the base. A pair of side walls extend upward from the base between the pair of ends walls. A band extends along the pair of end walls and the pair of side walls. The band includes at least one first partial geometric shape formed in the band adjacent a top edge of the band aligned with at least one second partial geometric shape located adjacent a bottom edge of the band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Suzanne Whitfield Clark, William P. Apps, Jon P. Hassell
  • Stackable low depth tray
    Patent number: 10029824
    Abstract: A crate includes a base, a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base, and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base between the end walls. Each side wall includes a plurality of side columns extending upward from the base to a side band. The side wall and the end wall include an upper band connected to the base by a plurality of columns. The upper band includes at least one upper window formed therethrough. The side wall includes an upper edge having a curved center peak, troughs on either side of the center peak and end peaks proximate either end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ryan C. Meers, William P. Apps, Margaret McCanless
  • Beverage crate
    Patent number: D831962
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Shelby Frances Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark, William P. Apps, Crystal Y. Parra, Jon P. Hassell
  • Nestable beverage crate
    Patent number: D843111
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark, Shelby Frances Apps
  • Nestable beverage crate
    Patent number: D869164
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark, Shelby Frances Apps