Patents Assigned to The Mead Corporation
  • Patent number: 6315123
    Abstract: A carton includes first and second overlapping panels and a lock for securing the panels together. The lock includes a locking tab and a retaining tab. The locking tab is joined at its one end edge to the first panel while the retaining tab defines a locking aperture and is connected at its one end edge to one end edge of the locking aperture. The locking tab is folded and received in the locking aperture. The retaining tab is folded and disposed at a folded position where the locking tab leans against the retaining tab. The respective free end edges of the locking and retaining tabs are disposed over the same side of the second panel. One of the locking and retaining tabs comprises a tongue projecting from its free end edge while the other tab is provided with a complementary notch or aperture for receiving the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Tamio Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6302320
    Abstract: A carrier 10 has a bottom wall (24), side walls (22, 26), a top wall (20), and end walls. At least one of the end walls is is a composite structure of multiple-ply construction. The composite end wall is made up of multiple end wall flaps (40, 42, 44, 46) in face-to-face relation with respect to one another with a hand-hole handle structure formed from hand-hole apertures (48, 48a, 48b, 49, 49a, 49b) in each of the flaps aligned over one another. In each end wall flap score lines (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86) extend from the respective ends of each aperture generally toward a corner of the flap. One of the score lines (62, 65, 82, 85) in each set extending from each aperture (48a, 48b, 49a, 49b) is coincident with a supplemental score line (25, 27) which extends from the end edge of the adjoining side wall (22, 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: James T. Stout
  • Patent number: 6299730
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring web defects along a moving web of paper involves determining a dimension of a web defect as the paper web moves along an established paper path in a machine direction. A distance from a side edge of the paper web to a location of the web defect is also determined as the paper web moves along the established paper path. A value indicative of a likelihood of paper web failure at the web defect is then established based at least in part upon both the determined dimension and the determined distance. A determination of whether to stop the moving paper web for repair of the web defect can then be made based at least in part upon the determined failure likelihood indicative value. An alternative technique involves establishing a plurality of paper web width regions. A dimension of a web defect is determined as the paper web moves along an established paper path in a machine direction. The web defect is categorized as falling into one of the established paper web width regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: David Broek, Dirk Everett Swinehart, Kevin Paul Connolly
  • Patent number: 6289651
    Abstract: Panel interlocking means secures together first and second panels in overlapping relationship. The first panel comprises a locking tab struck therefrom adjacent the free edge thereof The locking tab extends away from the free edge of the first panel and defines a first aperture in the first panel. The locking tab has a neck portion hinged at its base to the first panel and terminates in its shoulder portion. The second panel includes a second aperture struck therefrom adjacent the free edge thereof. The second aperture receives the locking tab such that when the panels are locked together, the free edge of the second panel is located along the locking tab between the base of the neck portion and the shoulder portion, and the locking tab is engaged with an edge of the first aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Philippe Le Bras
  • Patent number: 6287681
    Abstract: Wear resistant overlays for use in decorative laminates and laminates prepared therefrom comprising a web of cellulosic fibers having deposited on the surface thereof a layer of mineral pigment composite particles wherein said composite particles comprise mineral pigment particles embedded in a cured carrier material are disclosed. A process for forming an abrasion resistant overlay sheet which comprises forming a web of cellulosic fibers on a papermaking machine and applying a slurry including mineral pigment composite particles to the upper surface of the web on the papermaking machine wherein said mineral pigment composite particles comprise mineral pigment particles embedded in a cured carrier material is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: Mahendra Mehta, Amitabh Das, John Rourke
  • Patent number: 6276722
    Abstract: The invention provides a binder or portfolio for carrying looseleaf paper, books, school supplies, etc. wherein said binder includes an expandable gusset attached to the front and back covers of the binder. The covers of the binder are foldably attached to a central spine and the gusset is split into two sections running along the periphery of the inner sides of the covers. The gusset is provided with a means for releasable attachment such that when the front cover of the binder is folded over the back cover of the binder, the two sections of the gusset may be attached to one another, thereby securing the contents of the binder inside. Preferably, the gusset is made from an elastic material such as neoprene and the releasable means of attachment is a zipper-type closure. This construction of the gusset from an expandable material allows oversized objects such as larger textbooks to be placed in the binder without damaging the structural integrity of the gusset and the binder when the binder is fastened shut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Marc L. Moor
  • Patent number: 6273330
    Abstract: A beverage carton has a center panel, a left panel foldably connected to the center panel along a left fold line, a right panel foldably connected to the center panel along a right fold line, and a strap handle formed from the center, left and right panels. The strap handle extends transversely, instead of longitudinally, across the center panel between the left and right panels to absorb lifting forces in the side panels rather than end panels of the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Oliff, Aaron Bates, Ronald A. Baxter, John M. Holley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6270625
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing paper having colored stripes, the method comprising the steps of feeding a slurry to a distributor and delivering the slurry from the distributor to a headbox through a plurality of delivery lines. The delivery lines are coupled to the headbox at a plurality of locations spaced across the headbox in a crossmachine direction. The method further comprises the steps of selectively introducing a first coloring agent in at least two of the delivery lines to selectively color the slurry passing through the at least two delivery lines and depositing the slurry received by the headbox on a papermaking wire to form striped paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Krukonis, Charles E. Nelson, Mark R. Kleman
  • Patent number: 6264796
    Abstract: A diffuser section for use in a headbox, the diffuser section comprising a plurality of hollow diffusers, each diffuser having an outlet and an inlet that is shaped as a polygon. The plurality of diffusers are arranged such that the inlet of each the diffusers abuts against an adjacent diffuser inlet such that there are generally no gaps therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen G. Simmons
  • Patent number: 6260755
    Abstract: A handle structure for a carton is formed within a panel having a opposing side edges and opposing end edges that intersect to form corners of the handle panel, the handle structure. A strap member is integrally conjoined with the handle panel and extends between the end edges. Opposing strap edges are substantially disjoined from the handle panel. The strap member includes a substantially centrally disposed region wherein opposing central strap edge segments of the opposing strap edges are substantially parallel to and mediate the opposing side edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Bates, James R. Oliff, John M. Holley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6261020
    Abstract: A binder for receiving and retaining loose leaf papers including a cover, a binding mechanism coupled to the cover, and a hole punch mechanism coupled to the cover. The hole punch mechanism includes a base and a handle movable relative to the base. The handle includes a set of protrusions and the base includes a set of openings aligned with the protrusions such that each protrusion can be received in a corresponding opening to punch a hole in a sheet of paper. The base includes a top portion and a bottom portion forming a cavity therebetween for receiving the punched holes. The top portion is removable to provide access to the cavity, and the holes are formed in the top portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Jon R. Wyant
  • Patent number: 6247585
    Abstract: A carrier for a plurality of articles arranged in at least two rows, includes substantially parallel first and second side walls, substantially parallel first and second end walls interconnecting the side walls, and a medial partitioning structure extending between and connected to the first and second end walls. The medial partitioning structure is disposed between and substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and includes first and second longitudinal partition panels disposed at least in part in face-to-face contacting relationship. The carrier further includes first and second transverse partition panels formed from the first and second longitudinal partition panels respectively. The first transverse partition panel is foldably connected to the first longitudinal partition panel and extends to the first side wall. The second transverse partition panel is foldably connected to the second longitudinal partition panel and extends to the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Holley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6223892
    Abstract: A carton and carton blank for forming a carton of the top gripping type for accommodating a plurality of containers, for example bottles, which carton is tubular in structure and comprises a first panel having a plurality of apertures, each of which has at least one foldable retention tab which operatively engages the underside of the radially protruding part of a container present in the aperture wherein a brace tab is connected to one of said retention tabs and is disposed between a pair of adjacent containers to minimize relative movement between those containers and wherein a free edge of said brace tab operatively engages the underside of the radially protruding part of one of said adjacent containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Martinus C. M. Bakx
  • Patent number: 6213286
    Abstract: A carton feeder has a plurality of suction-cup stations for engaging cartons. A valve mechanism which includes a rotating valve, a stationary valve and a change-over valve selectively applies vacuums to different ones of the plurality of suction-cup stations such that particular combinations of suction-cup stations can be activated or deactivated to engage particular sizes and styles of cartons. Changeover of the application of vacuum is accomplished by changing the alignment of vacuum apertures in the changeover valve and vacuum apertures in the stationary valve with respect to another whereby a first alignment provides vacuum to a first combination of suction-cup stations and a second alignment provides vacuum to a second combination of suction-cup stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: Johnny J. Hunter, Will L. Culpepper
  • Patent number: 6210281
    Abstract: A pair of concentrically mounted drive shafts are rotatable with respect to one another. Each drive shaft engages and drives at least one endless chain upon which lugs are mountable. A driven power shaft directly drives one of the drive shafts. The other drive shaft has a coaxially-mounted gear wheel that intermeshes with a pinion wheel that is rotatable and is interconnected with the driven power shaft such that when the pinion wheel is inhibited from rotating power is delivered from the driven power shaft through the locked pinion gear to the gear wheel and drive shaft affixed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn Robinson, Will L. Culpepper
  • Patent number: 6202920
    Abstract: A blank for forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles includes a series of hingably interconnected top, first side, bottom and second side panels for forming an open ended sleeve capable of receiving articles. The top and bottom panels are similarly non-rectangularly shaped substantially to correlate with the cross-sectional shape of the array of articles in a plane parallel to the top and bottom panels. Each side panel has a plurality of panel portions including a pair of opposite end panel portions and at least one medial panel portion. The panel portions of each side panel are foldably interconnected by fold regions. Each side panel is adapted to be folded so as to put its end and medial panel portions into at least three different planes to conform with the respective shapes of the top and bottom panels. The blank further includes a pair of gussets provided for each side panel. Each gusset includes two hingably interconnected gusset panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Auclair
  • Patent number: D439840
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Alain Saulas
  • Patent number: D446241
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Moor
  • Patent number: D448799
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Marc L. Moor
  • Patent number: D451133
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Marc L. Moor