Aids To Manual Packing Patents (Class 53/390)
  • Patent number: 6026631
    Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6021623
    Abstract: A kit to sort out pills, tablets or capsules, which comprises a recessed support, a container-defining sheet designed to fit into the support, and a sealing sheet made of self-adhesive paper as having substantially the same dimension as the container-defining sheet, so as to close the same. Positioning elements are provided on the sealing sheet and on the support and/or the container-defining sheet in order to facilitate proper fixation of the sealing sheet on top of the container-defining sheet. A pill-sorting device made of two sliding panels with hollow bottomed recesses can be used to insert the pills into the containers of the container-defining sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Dispill Inc.
    Inventor: Michel Bouthiette
  • Patent number: 6016642
    Abstract: A method for covering a pot means, the cover is a flattened sleeve comprising a base portion sized to fit a pot and having an upper portion which is detachable leaving an upper edge and a closed bottom in the base, the base having drainage means therein. The cover may be bondingly connected to or crimped about the pot means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6009687
    Abstract: A plant package assembly, comprising a pot containing a floral grouping and a flexible sleeve having curved, circumferentially oriented detaching elements. The sleeve is positioned about the pot so that a lower portion of the sleeve closely surrounds and encompasses the pot, and an upper portion of the sleeve extends upwardly from the pot and substantially surrounds and encompasses the floral grouping contained within the pot. The upper portion of the sleeve is removable via the detaching elements, leaving a curved upper end of the lower portion which extends upwardly focusing attention on the upper portion of the floral grouping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l., Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6006496
    Abstract: A floral sleeve having an upper portion, a lower portion and a medial portion. The floral sleeve can be placed about a plant container such as a potted plant such that the lower portion contains the pot, and the upper portion surrounds the plant. When desired, the upper portion and lower portion can be detached, leaving the medial portion which can be attached to the pot forming a skirt extending from the upper end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6006495
    Abstract: An automatic bag-dispenser which includes a supply of bags (30) arranged flat in a stack (3), and two rotary devices (1, 2) which have parallel axes, are located adjacent each other and are covered with a non-slip material. The rotary devices (1, 2) rotate in counter-rotation at linear speeds which differ at their periphery. At least one of the rotary devices (1, 2) can come into contact with one of the two end bags (30) in the stack (3) in the region of the bottom (32) of the bag (30) such that it can be driven between the rotary devices (1, 2). At least one of the rotary devices (1, 2) has a central part which is not rotated and opposite which devices (4) for gripping the center part of the bag (30) are active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Inventors: Denis Varichon, Frederic Varichon
  • Patent number: 5987849
    Abstract: A decorative flower pot cover and method for producing same is disclosed wherein the decorative flower pot cover is provided with a multi-layered upper portion formed of a plurality of sheets of material wherein each sheet of material is provided with an opening therein adapted to receiver a lower potion of a flower pot such that, upon positioning the lower end of the flower pot through the openings in the sheets of material, a portion of the sheets of material are connected to a portion of a sidewall of the flower pot and the sheets of material forming the multi-layered upper portion of the decorative flower pot cover extend substantially independent of one another in an upwardly and outwardly angular direction from the sidewall of the flower pot so that an open upper end of the flower pot remains substantially uncovered by the decorative flower pot cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5979143
    Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5970684
    Abstract: A plate to facilitate the application of leverage forces onto the upper portions of a top line seal on a cereal bag in a carton, for example, whereby separating the upper bag portions and rupturing the seal can be effected by persons of limited manipulative strength as well as by those who encounter difficulty in opening such seals, whereby use of sharp implements is avoided. The plate includes a narrower slot for receiving the bag upper portions communicating with a wider central aperture whereat separating forces are applied. The plate is of sufficient width to permit the knuckles and fingers of the hand to bear against the plate for leverage when tearing the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Frances A. Talley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5955133
    Abstract: A method for wrapping sandwich products that include a heel of bread and a crown of bread involves placing the heel of bread on a flat sheet of packaging wrap, placing the crown of bread on the packaging wrap adjacent one of the corners of the packaging wrap, dressing the heel and/or the crown of bread, and then carrying out various folding steps to produce a wrapped or packaged sandwich product. The folding steps include inwardly folding the corner of the packaging wrap on which the crown of bread has been placed together with the crown of bread to position the crown of bread on top of the heel of bread and with the corner of the wrap being positioned in overlying relation to the crown of bread. A second portion of the packaging wrap is then inwardly folded to lie adjacent the folded corner, a third portion of the packaging wrap is inwardly folded to lie adjacent the folded second portion, and then a fourth portion of the packaging wrap is inwardly folded to lie adjacent the folded third portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Debra D. Bowers, Jane L. Clough, Louann S. Mueller
  • Patent number: 5946887
    Abstract: A container and lid sealing apparatus comprising a frame structure including a sealing position, support beams, a shiftable container support which includes a container retainer and shiftable on drawer rails from a position for loading and unloading a container into and out of the retainer, to the sealing position for sealing a lid on the tray, the drawer rails being vertically depressible with the container support, when under vertical force, to move it down onto the support beams, an upper heater platen suspended above the tray support, and an air actuator actuable to force the upper heater platen downwardly with force onto a container and lid on the support. The force is equally distributed on all portions of the platen to seal a lid onto a container. A cam switch is positioned to be actuated by the support in the sealing position for controlled activation of an air logic system to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Oliver Products Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Lastovich, Perry R. DeYoung
  • Patent number: 5935686
    Abstract: The packaging wrapper consists of a film intended to be closed by at least one twist (22), including, on the internal side, a cold-sealing coating placed along two lengthwise strips (12, 14) on either side of the article to be packaged in order to retain the twists. The film additionally has at least one transverse additional strip (24), (26) of cold-sealing coating placed along one edge of the film (20) perpendicularly to the lengthwise strips (12, 14). The packaging process consists in closing the wrapper by virtue of the transverse strips (24), (26), along a direction parallel to the axis passing through the twists (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Transpac N.V
    Inventors: Eddy Daelmans, Raymond Vanoppre
  • Patent number: 5930979
    Abstract: A method of covering a pot means, the cover is a flattened sleeve which comprises a base portion sized to fit a pot and may have a non-linear upper edge defining a skirt and having a bottom having drainage means therein. The cover may be bondingly connected to or crimped about the pot means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5930982
    Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Soutpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5930978
    Abstract: A product such as a monitor is transferred by a transferring unit such as a conveyor, stopped at a working position, elevated to a packing position by an elevating unit, packed with packing material, such as with a vinyl cover, buffering materials and a box at the packing position, moved down to its original down position, and transferred to a subsequent process in the fabricating or process line. In addition, a cylinder is used for elevating the product to permit packing the product. A plurality of supporting bars are fixed to an elevating member installed at an end of a cylinder rod of the cylinder. Only the product, such as a monitor, loaded on a transferring member, such as a pallet, is moved up by the engaging operation of the supporting bars. For slidable insertion of the supporting bars, a plurality of insertion holes corresponding to the supporting bars are formed in the transferring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Il-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 5927048
    Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5921060
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a sheet of material about a pot and applying a band therearound. The apparatus includes a table assembly, a pedestal, a plurality of spreader fingers, a plurality of release wedges and a plurality of linkage assemblies. The table assembly is provided with an opening and the pedestal is mounted for reciprocating movement through the opening. The sheet of material is formed into a cover about the pot by placing the sheet of material and pot on the pedestal and urging the pot through the opening. The spreader fingers are radially movable between a retracted position within the opening and an expanded position wherein the spreader fingers are positioned outside the perimeter of the opening. Each of the release wedges is located on the table assembly at the perimeter of the opening along the line of movement of a corresponding one of the spreader fingers. The linkage assemblies and the shape of the pedestal cooperate to move the spreader fingers in response to movement of the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph G. Straeter
  • Patent number: 5906086
    Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5899049
    Abstract: System and method for packing loose fill materials in bags to form cushions for use in protecting articles in shipping cartons. The bags are produced from a length of flexible plastic tubing which is gathered or bunched to form a coil which is disposed about the outlet of a loose fill dispenser. A section of the tubing is pulled from the coil, and its lower end is closed to form a bag which is then filled with loose fill material dispensed through the outlet. Another section of tubing is then pulled from the coil, and the tubing is drawn together to close the upper end of the first section and the lower end of the second section. The closed ends are secured with tape, and the tubing is severed to separate the first section from the second. The cushions thus formed are placed in the shipping cartons with the articles, and in some embodiments are compressed and reexpanded in conformance with the contour of the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Free-Flow Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunter G. Fuss, Vladimir Yampolsky, Ronald N. Clazie
  • Patent number: 5893261
    Abstract: A device for sealing container openings which uniformly applies a stretch plastic film onto the openings to be sealed. The device comprises a support, preferably flat-shaped, having at least one hole, on which is placed the stretch plastic film, the film is held taut and adherent to the support by means of gluing, magnetic force, pressure, or a counter-pattern. The device can bear a mark or a recognition message, as well as a warning or an advertisement and can also be used for temporary sealing of containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignees: Leon Ribi, World Wide Sealing Corp.
    Inventors: Leon A. Ribi, Guido Ribi
  • Patent number: 5890351
    Abstract: A disposable bag making apparatus that comprises a container for holding an elongate flexible plastic tube. The container includes a first wall and an aperture in the first wall through which a free end of the compacted elongate tube can project. A cutter is formed on the container whereby any desired length of the tube can be pulled through the aperture and brought into contact with the cutter and severed to form various sized disposable bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Y. S. Kim
    Inventor: Akira Shiotari
  • Patent number: 5887407
    Abstract: A clothing protection apparatus for protecting clothing or the like during storage and transportation. The apparatus having a top attachment device to secure onto the top of a door thus allowing the user to easily manipulate the invention during use. A lower attachment device is provided to support a clothing hanger and the accompanying garment for positioning before a protective cover is to be installed. A disposable box is used as the primary housing for the protective covers. A common roll of protective covering is provided with perforations between each cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventor: Herbert E. Watkins
  • Patent number: 5884456
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling a blister package. The apparatus includes a packaging jig having a plurality of perimeter locating pins that are arranged to extend around the perimeter of the package when assembled on the jig. In a first aspect, the jig also includes an interior locating pin positioned inwardly from the perimeter locating pins to register a blister and possibly an article during assembly. In a second aspect of the invention, the jig further includes a plurality of exterior locating pins positioned outwardly from the perimeter locating pins to register an article to be packaged during assembly. The blister package is assembled by sequentially positioning the display cards, blister, and article on the jig such that the locating pins register the various components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Display Pack, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5884454
    Abstract: A method and trash bag assembly for collecting fallen leaves, lawn clippings, and trash when doing yard work and filling a trash bag with such material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: Floyd Steinmetz
  • Patent number: 5878547
    Abstract: A method of wrapping a floral grouping, preferably an orchid, with a wrapper which may be a sheet of material, a sleeve or a preformed pot cover. The wrapper is preferably constructed from a laminated material made up of at least a waxy layer and a support layer which are superposed upon each other and connected or laminated to each other. A second waxy layer may be connected or laminated to the other surface of the support surface. The waxy layer is made from a waxy material which may be a waxed paper or waxed tissue. The wrapped floral grouping may also contain a shredded material for cushioning the blooms of the floral grouping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5862650
    Abstract: A method of placing compressed insulation material into a container for subsequent removal includes selecting a group of packages of compressed insulation material to be put into the container, attaching a line to the group, where the line is attached substantially at the top of the group so that at least an upper segment of the group can be pulled out of the container by pulling the line and tipping over the upper segment, and placing the group into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Adams, John A. Gentle
  • Patent number: 5852916
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a flower pot cover or sleeve by automatically delivering a sheet of material to a forming mold, automatically forming the sheet about the mold, and removing the formed cover from the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Patent number: 5842321
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for filling a plurality of vials, and for securing respective caps on each vial securely mounting a plurality of caps on, and filing with a substance, a plurality of vials. A guidance apparatus is provided that has a guide member with a T-shaped track mounted thereon and an traverse carriage having a T-shaped channel formed therein. The traverse carriage further includes two opposingly spaced and offset apertures for receiving the substance therethrough. The two opposingly spaced and offset apertures are each in axial alignment with one of the plurality of vials at the set points as the traverse carriage is slid along the guide member for filing two of the plurality of vials at each of the set points with the substance. A capping apparatus is also included that has two opposingly spaced side walls, and a track mounted between the base and side walls for slidably receiving the plurality of vials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Advanced Mechanical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dallas Hurl Jones
  • Patent number: 5836141
    Abstract: A capsule handling system is formed of a loader component and an opener/encapsulater component. The system can handle different sized capsules, and has interchangeable parts so that a compounding pharmacist can conveniently produce a variety of distinct filled capsules, on the order of a prescribing medical professional to meet the unique needs of patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Professional Compounding Centers of America, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Sundberg
  • Patent number: 5826410
    Abstract: The tool 10 of the present invention includes in its mid-portion a handle or gripping portion 12. Extending outwardly in opposite directions from the gripping portion are a pair of spaced transition portions 14 and 16 each respectively terminating in a pair of tapered portions 18 and 19. The tapered portions 18 and 19 extend to a box engagement portion at each end 20 and 22. Each box engagement portion includes a transversely extending tapered portion 24 and 26 each of which terminates in a respective edge 28 and 29, and respective hook portions 30 and 32. It will be apparent that the transverse portion 20 is smaller than the transverse portion 22 to allow opening of smaller boxes with the end where transverse portion 20 is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: Larry A. Galen
  • Patent number: 5816023
    Abstract: A method for covering a pot means, the cover is a flattened sleeve comprising a base portion sized to fit a pot and having an upper portion which is detachable leaving a non-linear upper edge and a closed bottom in the base. The cover may be bondingly connected to or crimped about the pot means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5813200
    Abstract: A packaging and disposal system for sealing waste and related materials within flexible plastic tubing for odorless and sanitary disposal. Improvements in the latch, including the addition of a transverse mounted latch spring, and improvements in the support retention springs serve to increase the ability of the device to operate efficiently and effectively and reduce the potential of accidental spills or other exposure of the waste package. The latch requires two independent motions to actuate and incorporates a transversely mounted latch spring. The reduced cross-sectional area of the retention spring design concentrates force applied to the package to increase the effective holding ability of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Mondial Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Charles J. Jacoby, John R. Hickman, Michael J. Gallo
  • Patent number: 5806278
    Abstract: A dispenser for wrapped packages each containing an article and having an edge. The dispenser includes a housing defining a package receiving chamber, the housing including (i) a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, (ii) a first end longitudinally spaced from a second end and (iii) a first opening defined at the second end for removal of the packages. A biasing member is secured to the housing and positioned within the package receiving chamber. The biasing member is adapted to urge the packages in a first longitudinal direction toward the second end. An aligning member is secured to the housing and positioned adjacent the first opening, and a cutting member having a cutting edge is secured to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Guy R. Shelledy
  • Patent number: 5806416
    Abstract: A device designed to compress yard debris such as leaves, bush trimmings, and grass clippings inside a plastic trash bag without damaging the structural integrity of the plastic bag during the loading or filling process and during the compression cycle. This invention consist of four individual component parts; a hollow, smooth cylinder opened at both ends with a pair of handles at one end; a durable attachable bottom which caps one end of the cylinder; a plastic trash bag; and a flat, sturdy and durable piston which will fit inside the cylinder and which is used to compress loaded yard debris. The invention is assembled by placing the ridged, hollow cylinder inside a plastic trash bag and securing this elongated bag to the upper end of the cylinder with an elastic bungee cord of specific dimension and tension. The bottom is secured to cap off one end of the cylinder by use of two elastic bungee cords which are attached to the two handles of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventors: James A. Cerniglia, Mary A. Cerniglia-Mosher
  • Patent number: 5802807
    Abstract: A versatile apparatus for quickly and easily filling bags of sand, dirt, or other particulate material which includes a scoop mounted on a lower frame and upwardly extending handles which are braced to the lower frame in use. A latch is provided to detachably secure a bag to the scoop during filling. The entire apparatus can be compactly folded for storage, including relocation of ground wheels and push handles to minimize external size. The invention includes a simplified form for light duty usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: Melvin C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5797248
    Abstract: A capsule filling device includes a manually operated system of dispensing specific quantities of pharmaceutical or other suitable substance into capsules. A desired quantity of pharmaceutical is placed in a capsule by using interchangeable plates with set volumes of wells to measure specific quantities of pharmaceutical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Willem Wassenaar
    Inventors: Michael Hetherington, William Wassenaar
  • Patent number: 5797245
    Abstract: A bag storage device for automatically receiving wet umbrellas installed for example, in a bag storage device at the entrances of hotels, stores, buses, trains and the like for receiving a wet umbrella in a bag which is simply arranged and securely takes an umbrella in the receiving bag. The receiving bag is loaded in the main body of the device and an opening operation member for opening a receiving opening end of the receiving bag is arranged so that the insertion opening is opened by rotating the opening operation member with the point of the umbrella. The umbrella is automatically and easily taken into the bag without using a motor. Thus, the present invention can provide an extremely practical device which can be used where there is no electric power source as well as can reduce the manufacturing cost, without possibilities that an electric cord will become a hindrance and that an electric leak will occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Muraharu Seisakusho, Niikura Scales Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Murakami
  • Patent number: 5791121
    Abstract: An apparatus is adapted to attach a plastic carrier sheet about the upper edge of a plurality of containers to secure them together as one unit for easier carrying. The apparatus includes a base portion which properly positions the containers below a lower plate that is slidably mounted to vertical supports. A plurality of engagement means, secured to the lower plate, have a plurality of fingers which are adapted to grasp a discrete generally conical member. A release mechanism secured to the lower plate releases the conical members from the engagement fingers onto the upper surface of the containers to allow the carrier sheet to be fitted onto the conical members. The carrier sheet is then fitted onto the containers by lowering the lower plate causing the fingers to force the carrier sheet over the conical member and onto the upper portion of the container. The lower plate is raised and lowered by a lifting mechanism mounted to the lower plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Inventor: Bayne Bernier
  • Patent number: 5787689
    Abstract: A bag discharge constriction apparatus and method are disclosed in which the extent to which an opening in a bag is constricted is adjustably varied to control the discharge of material from the bag. The apparatus has a first control bar and a second control bar, each defining at least one angular relationship in a corresponding plane. Also disclosed is a means for moving at least one control bar in its associated plane toward and away from the other control bar. The control bars are disposed in opposing configuration such that the combination of the angular relationships forms a predetermined confined shape between the control bars. It is into this predetermined confined shape that the neck of the bag to be constricted is placed and the bars are then moved toward or away from each other to constrict or open the neck of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Spiroflow-Orthos Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Dearing
  • Patent number: 5784862
    Abstract: Device for the packing under vacuum of products contained in flexible bags in plastic material, creates around the opening of the bag, an airtight chamber connected to a removable air suction devices. Welding devices are suitable to weld the bag walls along a line beyond the chamber, in order to seal the bag after creating the vacuum inside it through the suction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: Maina Germano
  • Patent number: 5784858
    Abstract: A container and lid sealing apparatus comprising a frame structure including a sealing position, support beams, a shiftable container support which includes a container retainer and shiftable on drawer rails from a position for loading and unloading a container into and out of the retainer, to the sealing position for sealing a lid on the tray, the drawer rails being vertically depressible with the container support, when under vertical force, to move it down onto the support beams, an upper heater platen suspended above the tray support, and an air actuator actuable to force the upper heater platen downwardly with force onto a container and lid on the support. The force is equally distributed on all portions of the platen to seal a lid onto a container. A cam switch is positioned to be actuated by the support in the sealing position for controlled activation of an air logic system to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Oliver Products Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Lastovich, Perry R. DeYoung
  • Patent number: 5782059
    Abstract: A method for covering a pot means, the cover is a flattened sleeve comprising a base portion sized to fit a pot and having an upper portion which is detachable leaving an upper edge and a closed bottom in the base. The cover may be bondingly connected to or crimped about the pot means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5765339
    Abstract: A container receives and stores soiled items through valving structure that receives a soiled item through a normally open input opening and releases the soiled item to the container through a normally closed output opening after closing the normally open input opening and opening the normally closed output opening while preventing odors inside the container from escaping to the region outside the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventor: Thomas A. Garland
  • Patent number: 5765338
    Abstract: A package bag expanding device includes a box and a pivotable cover which has a hole defined therethrough. A frame includes two first rods and a second rod respectively extending laterally therefrom. At least one package bag has two holes defined therethrough, a recess defined in an upper edge thereof and an opening defined therein below the holes. The two first rods extend through the two holes and the second rod is received in the recess. A pressing mechanism is fixedly disposed to one of two side walls of the box and includes an arm pivotally connected thereto which has a distal end rested on a periphery defining the opening of the package bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventor: Hung-Wen Tsai
  • Patent number: 5761880
    Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5758472
    Abstract: A plant package assembly, comprising a pot containing a floral grouping and a flexible sleeve having curved, circumferentially oriented detaching elements. The sleeve is positioned about the pot so that a lower portion of the sleeve closely surrounds and encompasses the pot, and an upper portion of the sleeve extends upwardly from the pot and substantially surrounds and encompasses the floral grouping contained within the pot. The upper portion of the sleeve is removable via the detaching elements, leaving a curved upper end of the lower portion which extends upwardly focusing attention on the upper portion of the floral grouping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5752371
    Abstract: A bag loading device for sorting and storing in bags various medicaments and the like having a plurality of independently pivotable elongated funnels arranged longitudinally in two parallel rows. The funnels can be positioned for easy placement of a collecting bag on the discharge end and pivoted to disposed the bag underneath the funnel and secure it for filling--all within a framed unit which allows for multiple bags simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Inventor: Joel N. Mosley
  • Patent number: 5740658
    Abstract: A method of covering a pot means, the cover is a flattened sleeve which comprises a base portion sized to fit a pot and may have a non-linear upper edge defining a skirt and having a closed bottom. The cover may be bondingly connected to or crimped about the pot means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5740657
    Abstract: A method for covering a pot means, the cover is a flattened sleeve comprising a base portion tapered and sized to fit a pot and having an upper portion which is detachable and having a closed bottom. The cover may be bondingly connected or crimped about the pot means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5737903
    Abstract: A newspaper recycling disposal system that stacks and bundles used newspapers while eliminating need for using ties to tie the used newspapers to form bundles wherein the bundles are compatible with pulping processes used for recycling the used newspapers at paper mills, by virtue of eliminating the ties that are incompatible, and thereby eliminating contaminates which require labor and time to remove which reduces the value of the used newspapers that have been bundled. The system includes a generally circular-cylindrically-shaped container, a replaceable and circular-cylindrically-shaped rigid sleeve, and a circular-cylindrically-shaped mesh bag. The replaceable and circular-cylindrically-shaped rigid sleeve sits replaceably in the generally circular-cylindrically-shaped container and has the used newspapers stackable therein and has an open and circular-shaped top that forms an open mouth that receives the used newspapers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Thomas Minutillo