Patents Assigned to Packaging Corporation of America
  • Patent number: 7172110
    Abstract: A container for transporting meat, produce, and other goods contains a bottom wall, side walls, and end walls. The end walls include hinged platform structures movable between a closed position and an open position. The closed position enables stable stacking of multiple containers and the open position allows easy access to the interior of the container for loading and unloading. The hinged platforms further add stability to the container walls when in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventor: Keith A. Jackson
  • Patent number: 7081077
    Abstract: A stackable produce container is formed from a flat one-piece blank, typically of corrugated paper stock. The container has reinforced corners and is divided into compartments by transverse ribs which provide resistance to bulging under load and when exposed to high humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventors: James D. Southwell, Keith A. Jackson
  • Patent number: 7080736
    Abstract: A container for distribution and display of goods is convertible from a first configuration for distribution into a second configuration for display. The conversion is accomplished by removing a front cover panel. The front cover panel may be attached to the container using a variety of methods, including a perforated score line, a tear-away strip, adhesives, tapes, or a combination of these methods. When the front cover panel is removed for retail display, an access opening is uncovered, allowing users to easily view and access the contents of the container. The front cover panel may further cover graphics and text provided along the front of the container so that the graphics and text are not marred or otherwise damaged during distribution. In addition, the front cover panel may be provided with distribution information thereon, which is unimportant to an end user such as a retail customer and is easily removed for display of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventors: Keith A. Jackson, Joseph P. Schomisch
  • Patent number: 6808107
    Abstract: A container for transporting meat, produce, and other goods contains a bottom wall, side walls, and end walls. The end walls include hinged platform structures movable between a closed position and an open position. The closed position enables stable stacking of multiple containers and the open position allows easy access to the interior of the container for loading and unloading. The hinged platforms further add stability to the container walls when in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventor: Keith A. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6676012
    Abstract: A stackable produce container is formed from a flat one-piece blank, typically of corrugated paper stock. The container has reinforced corners and is divided into compartments by transverse ribs which provide resistance to bulging under load and when exposed to high humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventors: James D. Southwell, Keith A. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6604675
    Abstract: The present invention provides a stackable open-top container for use in shipping, storing and retail display of produce and other articles. The produce container contains a bottom wall, two side walls and two end walls. The ledges of the side walls of the present invention contain opposed concave curved scores. The produce container is formed by folding the side walls to the outside to achieve structural rigidity. The produce container of the present invention provides for full graphical coverage on all visible surfaces by use of a one-piece blank that is color coated/printed on only one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventor: James D. Southwell
  • Patent number: 6581772
    Abstract: A container has a bottom panel, side walls, and end walls, with the bottom panel having recesses for accepting stacking tabs The side walls are provided with stacking tabs which are tapered inwardly so as to align with the recesses in the bottom panel of a second container. The inwardly tapered tabs allow for easy stacking without the tabs being deformed when containers are stacked atop one another. To improve strength, the side and end walls are disposed approximately at right angles to the bottom panel. Multiple plies of material are used along the container walls to increase container strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventor: Carl M. Noland
  • Publication number: 20020179481
    Abstract: A container has a bottom panel, side walls, and end walls, with the bottom panel having recesses for accepting stacking tabs The side walls are provided with stacking tabs which are tapered inwardly so as to align with the recesses in the bottom panel of a second container. The inwardly tapered tabs allow for easy stacking without the tabs being deformed when containers are stacked atop one another. To improve strength, the side and end walls are disposed approximately at right angles to the bottom panel. Multiple plies of material are used along the container walls to increase container strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventor: Carl M. Noland
  • Patent number: 6481619
    Abstract: A produce container comprises a bottom wall, a pair of opposing side walls, a front wall, and a back wall. The front and back walls are reinforced along their tops by partial rollovers, each of which comprises two flanges—a center flange and a major flange—hingedly attached to the wall being reinforced. Each rollover is formed by first folding the center flange slightly away from the major flange and then folding the major flange downward toward the corresponding wall. Folding the major flange captures the center flange and at the same time forms doubled, indexed stacking tabs whose tops are formed along the axis about which the major flap is folded. The corners where the side walls and front and back walls join are reinforced by corner structures, with the corner structures extending along a portion of each of the joining walls so that the corners are reinforced along each wall with at least two layers of vertically-corrugated paperboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventor: Keith A. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6375068
    Abstract: The present invention provides a stackable open-top container for use in shipping, storing and retail display of produce and other articles. The produce container of the present invention contains a bottom wall, two side walls, and two end walls. The concave ledges of the side walls contain curved scores. Each side wall contains two panels, each of which contains a mirrored curved score and two minor flaps. The curved scores cause the side walls to go into tension and create stacking shoulders for other containers. The minor flaps of the side walls surround the end walls to increase structural rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventors: Keith A. Jackson, James D. Southwell
  • Patent number: 6302323
    Abstract: The present invention provides a stackable open-top container for use in shipping, storing and retail display of produce and other articles. The produce container contains a bottom wall, two side walls and two end walls. The ledges of the side walls of the present invention contain opposed concave curved scores. The produce container is formed by folding the side walls to the outside to achieve structural rigidity. The produce container of the present invention provides for full graphical coverage on all visible surfaces by use of a one-piece blank that is color coated/printed on only one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventor: James D. Southwell
  • Patent number: 6286753
    Abstract: The present invention provides a stackable open-top container for use in shipping, storing and retail display of produce and other articles. The produce container of the present invention contains a bottom wall, two side walls, and two end walls. The concave ledges of the side walls contain curved scores. Each side wall contains two panels, each of which contains a mirrored curved score and two minor flaps. The curved scores cause the side walls to go into tension and create stacking shoulders for other containers. The minor flaps of the side walls surround the end walls to increase structural rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventors: Keith A. Jackson, James D. Southwell
  • Patent number: 6223978
    Abstract: A quickly and easily erected octagonal package for round items such as pizza, cakes and pies includes a top and a bottom. The bottom includes a front wall, a rear wall and a pair of side walls. The side walls are foldably connected to the front and rear walls by bridging panels at corners of the package. The connection provided by the bridging panels allows the bottom and all its walls to be erected quickly and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventor: Shawn P. Drager
  • Patent number: 6008556
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a seal device for an energy conversion device which has a rotating shaft supported by bearing assemblies containing lubrication. The seal device inhibits migration of the lubrication from a first portion of the shaft near the bearing assembly to a second portion of the shaft near electronic circuitry. The seal device includes a seal mounting structure which separates the first portion of the shaft from the second portion of the shaft. The seal mounting structure has a shaft receiving surface through which the shaft is placed. A groove is located in the shaft receiving surface and a seal is secured in the groove by various means and remains stationary with respect to the rotating shaft. The seal has an inner segment that surrounds the periphery of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventor: Dennis C. Ramthun
  • Patent number: 5733618
    Abstract: The present invention provides biaxially oriented polystyrene composition film and container made of such biaxially oriented film. The films are useful in that they are clear and have improved room and low temperature impact strength. The films include from about 0.1 to about 1.4 weight percent rubber particles, based upon the total weight of the composition. The average diameters of the rubber particles are from about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventors: Peter C. Kwong, Arun Menawat, Park Ng, Kelvin T. Okamoto
  • Patent number: 5643664
    Abstract: The present invention provides film methods of using and methods of preparing a biaxially oriented polystyrene composition. The compositions are useful in that they are clear and have improved room and low temperature impact strength. The compositions include from about 0.1 to about 1.4 weight percent rubber particles, based upon the total weight of the composition. The average diameters of the rubber particles are from about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventors: Peter C. Kwong, Arun Menawat, Park Ng, Kelvin T. Okamoto
  • Patent number: 5628427
    Abstract: A disposable cooking pan formed from a single sheet of metal comprises a bottom panel, a continuous wall panel, and a continuous rim. The continuous wall panel encompasses the bottom panel and extends upwardly and outwardly from the bottom panel. The continuous wall panel forms a first pair of opposing side walls, a second pair of opposing side walls, and four corners bridging the first and second pairs of side walls. The continuous rim encompasses an upper edge of the continuous wall panel and projects laterally outwardly therefrom. The first pair of side walls define sections of curved surfaces of respective first imaginary cones having respective first imaginary points located below a level of the bottom panel. The second pair of side walls define sections of curved surfaces of respective second imaginary cones having respective second imaginary points located below the level of the bottom panel. The four corners define sections of curved surfaces of respective imaginary cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventor: Thomas J. Hayes
  • Patent number: D378180
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hayes, Thomas T. Taber, Michael J. A. Sagan
  • Patent number: D384862
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hayes, Thomas T. Taber, Michael J. A. Sagan
  • Patent number: D392884
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventor: Thomas J. Hayes