Patents Assigned to J. L. Clark, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130001228
    Abstract: Tamper-resistance is provided in spice container closures and containers through use of tamper-evident and/or tamper-resistant elements. A tamper evident closure includes a base, a cover, and a tamper strip, with the tamper strip being joined to the base and cover by a first hinge connecting the tamper strip to the base and a second hinge connecting the tamper strip to the cover. At least one dispensing port in the base is selectively coverable by a flap of the cover. The tamper strip is adapted to be manually torn away and fully released from the cover and base. The flap is hinged to the cover by a third hinge. In addition, or alternatively, a snap lock connection is formed between a container closure and the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Newberry, Joseph P. Valley, III
  • Patent number: 8317054
    Abstract: A server lid for a container with an integral tear strip tamper evident feature is presented. A tear strip for the tamper evident feature is molded as an adjunct to a base member which forms the closure. The tear strip is joined to the base by at least one frangible web, and hinges about the frangible web to overlie front edges of one or more flaps formed in the server lid. Ultrasonic welds connect the overlying tear strip to the flaps or adjacent the flaps for providing a tamper evident feature. The shape of the server lid provides stackability in that the base rim of the container will fit over the upper portion of the lid, including frangible webs to allow interfitting of one container bottom with the container closure of the next, to allow the containers to be stacked on a shelf without substantial danger of slipping or tipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventor: George Solowiejko
  • Patent number: 8317053
    Abstract: A container having a container lid and container bottom as well as a method of assembling the same is provided. In one aspect, the container lid and container bottom have cooperating locking catch portions that inhibit rotational motion therebetween. In one embodiment, the locking catch portion of the container lid is provided by a segment of a thread thereof. In another aspect, an attachment rib is provided by the container bottom that is interposed between adjacent threads. The attachment rib is used to axially engage a thread of the container lid when axially snapping the container lid to the container bottom. A method of assembling the container lid to the container bottom is provided that includes axially snap engaging the thread of the container lid with the attachment rib of the container bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Cronin, George Solowiejko, Joseph P. Valley, III
  • Patent number: 8292111
    Abstract: Tamper-resistance is provided in spice container closures and containers through use of tamper-evident and/or tamper-resistant elements. A tamper evident closure includes a base, a cover, and a tamper strip, with the tamper strip being joined to the base and cover by a first hinge connecting the tamper strip to the base and a second hinge connecting the tamper strip to the cover. At least one dispensing port in the base is selectively coverable by a flap of the cover. The tamper strip is adapted to be manually torn away and fully released from the cover and base. The flap is hinged to the cover by a third hinge. In addition, or alternatively, a snap lock connection is formed between a container closure and the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Newberry, Joseph P. Valley, III
  • Publication number: 20120261418
    Abstract: A container and method of opening a container are provided. The container includes a dispensing cartridge defining a storage cavity with an access opening. A blocking member is transitionable from a blocked state to an unblocked state relative to the access opening. The blocking member covers a greater portion of the access opening in the blocked state than in the unblocked state. The outer shell includes a piercing mechanism configured to transition the blocking member from the blocked state to the unblocked state. The method includes using the piercing mechanism to transition the blocking member from the blocked state to the unblocked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Cronin, Michael K. Basak
  • Publication number: 20120260612
    Abstract: A container of opening a container is provided. The container includes an outer shell slidably carrying a dispensing cartridge between open and closed states. A cooperating catch arrangement is operably interposed between the outer shell and the dispensing cartridge. The cooperating catch arrangement has a locked state that fixes the dispensing cartridge in the closed state relative to the outer shell and an unlocked state in which the dispensing cartridge is permitted to slide relative to the outer shell from the closed state to the open state. The cooperating catch arrangement is operable to be transitioned from the locked state to the unlocked state by resiliently reducing a width of the outer shell along a compression axis which resiliently expands a thickness of the outer shell along an expansion axis to disengage cooperating catch arrangement. A method of opening includes compressing the outer shell to disengage the cooperating catch arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: J.L. CLARK, INC.
    Inventor: Edward P. Cronin
  • Publication number: 20120228298
    Abstract: A container having a container lid and container bottom as well as a method of assembling the same is provided. In one aspect, the container lid and container bottom have cooperating locking catch portions that inhibit rotational motion therebetween. In one embodiment, the locking catch portion of the container lid is provided by a segment of a thread thereof. In another aspect, an attachment rib is provided by the container bottom that is interposed between adjacent threads. The attachment rib is used to axially engage a thread of the container lid when axially snapping the container lid to the container bottom. A method of assembling the container lid to the container bottom is provided that includes axially snap engaging the thread of the container lid with the attachment rib of the container bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: J.L. CLARK, INC.
    Inventors: Edward P. Cronin, George Solowiejko, Joseph P. Valley, III
  • Patent number: 8250975
    Abstract: A container is provided. The container includes a lid, a bottom and a compactor. The compactor is contained within the container and serves to collect, accumulate or compact any loose products within the container. The compactor and lid can mate such that rotation of the lid can transfer torque to the compactor to adjust a storage portion of the cavity of the container to collect, accumulate or compact the loose product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Cronin, Joseph P. Valley, III
  • Publication number: 20120193353
    Abstract: A closure formed from a pair of closure halves and methods of forming are provided. In one embodiment a closure having identical closure halves is provided. The first closure half includes a first male hinge portion and a first female hinge portion. The second closure half includes a second male hinge portion and a second female hinge portion. The second male hinge portion interfits with the first female hinge portion and cooperate to form a first hinge arrangement defining a first hinge axis. The second female hinge portion interfits with the first male hinge portion and cooperate to form a second hinge arrangement defining a second hinge axis. The first and second hinge axis are co-axial and the first and second closure halves rotate relative to one another via the first and second hinge arrangements about the first and second hinge axes between open and closed states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: J.L. CLARK, INC.
    Inventors: Edward P. Cronin, George Solowiejko, Charles R. Jones, JR., Phil Baerenwald
  • Patent number: 8215482
    Abstract: A tobacco container is provided. The tobacco container includes a lid, a container body and an insert in the form of a liner. The liner releasably connects the lid to the container body. Each of the lid and container body receive and connect to the liner. The liner can include a compression lip that is deformed when the liner is connected to the container body. The liner connects the container body and lid to one another without the two components contacting each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Cronin, Joseph P. Valley, III, Gregg Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8181810
    Abstract: A container and a lid for a container or container is provided. The container includes a lid and container body to which the lid is attached. The container may further include a storage compartment attached to the end of the container body. The lid includes a lid body defining a drinking aperture providing access to a central cavity of the container. The lid includes a snap closure pivoting relative to the lid body between an open position permitting fluid to pass through the drinking aperture, a first closed position with a portion of the snap closure is only biased against, but not engaged with, the lid body to prevent fluid to pass through the drinking aperture and a second closed position wherein the snap closure is engaged with the lid body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Jones
  • Patent number: 8113377
    Abstract: A server lid for a container with an integral tear strip tamper evident feature is presented. A tear strip for the tamper evident feature is molded as an adjunct to a base member which forms the closure. The tear strip is joined to the base by at least one frangible web, and hinges about the frangible web to overlie front edges of one or more flaps formed in the server lid. Ultrasonic welds connect the overlying tear strip to the flaps or adjacent the flaps for providing a tamper evident feature. The shape of the server lid provides stackability in that the base rim of the container will fit over the upper portion of the lid, including frangible webs to allow interfitting of one container bottom with the container closure of the next, to allow the containers to be stacked on a shelf without substantial danger of slipping or tipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventor: George Solowiejko
  • Publication number: 20110204073
    Abstract: A push and flip lid for a container is provided. The lid includes a lid body, an opening, a door, and first and second pivot supports. The lid body has a top and a skirt. The skirt depends downwardly from the top and extends around a periphery of the top. The opening is formed through the lid body. The door is arranged over the opening and connected to the lid body. The door has a push section and a flip section connected by a hinge. First and second pivot supports on the lid body are separated by the opening. The opening extends between the first and second pivot supports and engages the door at first and second discrete locations, respectively. As such, the flip section pivots about the hinge in response to downward pressure applied to the push section to uncover the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: J.L. CLARK, INC.
    Inventors: Edward P. Cronin, George Solowiejko
  • Patent number: 7954664
    Abstract: A push and flip lid for a container is provided. The lid includes a lid body, an opening, a door, and first and second pivot supports. The lid body has a top and a skirt. The skirt depends downwardly from the top and extends around a periphery of the top. The opening is formed through the lid body. The door is arranged over the opening and connected to the lid body. The door has a push section and a flip section connected by a hinge. First and second pivot supports on the lid body are separated by the opening. The opening extends between the first and second pivot supports and engages the door at first and second discrete locations, respectively. As such, the flip section pivots about the hinge in response to downward pressure applied to the push section to uncover the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Cronin, George Solowiejko
  • Patent number: 7934615
    Abstract: A container including a base, a cover, a dispensing port, and a slider is provided. The base has a bottom, front and back walls, and a pair of side walls defining a lower portion of a storage area. The cover has a top including a generally rectangular recess, front and back walls, and a pair of side walls defining an upper portion of the storage area. The cover is operably coupled to the base to enclose the storage area. The dispensing port passes through the top of the cover within the recess. The slider is disposed within the recess, operably coupled to the cover, and moveable within the recess from a closed position where the dispensing port is covered to an open position where the dispensing port is uncovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg Hoffman, Edward P. Cronin, George Solowiejko
  • Patent number: 7845519
    Abstract: Tamper-resistance of spice container closures and containers is provided through use of tamper-evident and tamper-resistant elements. A spice container package includes a container, a closure and a tear strip, with the tear strip being joined to the closure by a first hinge, and joined to the container by a second hinge. The container includes a side wall. The closure includes a base and a cover, with the base including at least one dispensing port and the cover including at least one flap removably covering the at least one dispensing port. The first hinge connects the tear strip to the cover of the closure. The closure and the container may be integrally molded together as a single plastic component piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Newberry, Joseph P. Valley, III
  • Publication number: 20100270301
    Abstract: A spice container and method of making same is provided. The spice container includes a plastic container body and a plastic lid ultrasonically welded to an open end of the container body. The method of making the spice container includes molding the container body from plastic as a one-piece construction. However, during molding, prior to cooling, the container body has a rectangular outer periphery proximate a closed end and an outer periphery at an opposite end having at least one side that bows radially outward. After molding and after cooling, the outer periphery proximate the opposite end has a generally rectangular shape as the bowed side cools and shrinks to a generally straight side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: J.L. CLARK, INC.
    Inventors: Edward P. Cronin, George Solowiejko
  • Patent number: D651923
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward P. Cronin
  • Patent number: D653127
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Cronin, Robert H. Krauch, Jr.
  • Patent number: D673450
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Cronin, George Solowiejko, Joseph P. Valley, III