Patents Examined by Allan Stevens
  • Patent number: 9901199
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing lid is described and which includes a lid body defining a drinking aperture, and an internal cavity, and wherein the lid body cooperates with a drinking vessel for enclosing a source of a liquid to be consumed, and a fluid regulating plate is provided, and which movably cooperates with the lid body, and which further is operable to move along a path of travel from a first position which impedes the movement of the liquid to the drinking aperture, to a second position which allows liquid to move to the drinking aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Zak Designs, Inc.
    Inventors: Wade Maple, Jeff Steininger
  • Patent number: 9896263
    Abstract: A collapsible shipping container has a corner post located at each corner of a base frame. A respective stile of an end cover frame, which may support at least one door, is pivotally mounted on the base frame adjacent each corner post. Respective lifting members on each corner post and stile have curved abutment faces which engage when the stile is in the erected position, and a latch member releasably locks the stile in the erected position. The or each end cover frame may be provided with a spring—or winch system to assist in moving the end cover frame to the erected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Treck Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Weng Yew Leong
  • Patent number: 9889968
    Abstract: A cup/lid combination includes a sleeve disposed about an exterior surface of an open-top container for movement relative to the container. A first magnet is disposed adjacent to the open top for movement relative to the container. A link assembly coupled to the sleeve and to the first magnet causes the movement of the sleeve and the movement of the first magnet to be in opposing directions. A drinking lid disposed on the open top has a gravity-controlled closure element and a second magnet coupled to the closure element. The first and second magnets are positioned for magnetic interaction to thereby fix a position of the closure element when the sleeve is only subject to the force of gravity. The first and second magnets are positioned for no magnetic interaction when the movement of the sleeve opposes the force of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventors: Cory L Morewitz, Herbert Morewitz, II
  • Patent number: 9889963
    Abstract: A container of stacked moist wipes includes a dispenser housing. The housing defines top and bottom walls, first and second side walls, and first and second end walls. The walls collectively define an interior space, and the first end wall can be removed to provide access to the interior space via a refill orifice. The top wall includes a dispensing orifice through which wipes are extracted. A refill direction is generally perpendicular to a dispensing direction. In particular embodiments, the dispensing orifice is covered by a lid assembly. In certain embodiment, the first end wall includes a removable cap that has no permanent connection to the top wall, bottom wall, first side wall, or second side wall. In certain embodiments, the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, and a permanent layer of the second end wall are integrally molded with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Bechyne, Brian J. Brigham, Jereme N. Dumm, Scott A. Ternovits
  • Patent number: 9839426
    Abstract: A jaw restraint is provided to temporarily secure an anvil assembly relative to a cartridge assembly during shipping. The jaw restraint generally includes a body portion having an upper arm for releasably securing the anvil assembly and a lower arm for releasably securing the cartridge assembly. An inwardly projection is provided between the upper and lower arms. The anvil assembly is secured between the upper arm and the inwardly directed projection and the cartridge assembly is secured between the lower arm of the inwardly directed projection. One or more finger members extending proximally from the body portion may be provided to facilitate biasing the upper arm away from the lower arm to release the anvil and cartridge assemblies from the jaw restraint. The jaw restraint may be provided with structure for engagement with shipping packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Dino Kasvikis, Russell Estrella, David Farascioni, Gregory Pappas
  • Patent number: 9833938
    Abstract: A heat-set container that defines a longitudinal axis is disclosed that includes a finish and a sidewall portion extending from the finish. The container also includes a base portion extending from the sidewall portion and enclosing said sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity. The base portion has a plurality of contact surfaces for supporting the container. The plurality of contact surfaces are spaced away from each other about the longitudinal axis. Also, the container includes a central pushup portion disposed in the base portion and extending generally toward the finish. The central pushup portion is substantially centered on the longitudinal axis, and the central pushup portion is moveable in response to internal vacuum pressure to decrease the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Michael T. Lane, Walt Paegel
  • Patent number: 9828146
    Abstract: A closure is provided for a container. The closure includes a base having a substantially cylindrical shape with a recessed area along a top perimeter of the base. The closure also includes a lid configured to close over and open off of the base. The closure further includes a tab that extends from a lower surface of the lid and includes a lip portion configured to fold back onto the tab and lock with the base when the lid is closed over the base. The tab detaches from the lid when opening the lid from the base after the lip portion is folded back onto the tab. A portion of the outer surface of the tab is visible through the at least one recessed area after the lid is closed over the base and remains partially visible after the tab has detached from the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventor: Stefan Loukov
  • Patent number: 9826852
    Abstract: The present invention disclosed a serving or display tray that comes in a minimally stored size when in its collapsed state, which allows huge amount of such tray to be transported and stored, at a relatively low cost. When it is ready for use, it can easily unfold into its pop-up state where the two top distal portions of the top layer are overlappingly connected to the underside of the corresponding fold-up walls of the bottom layer, providing good side support to the fold-up walls when food items, or other decorative subjects, are placed in the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventor: Connie Y. Lai
  • Patent number: 9756969
    Abstract: A dual-chambered drinking vessel includes a vessel body having at least one sidewall, a bottom and an open top defining an interior space, a flapper, and an actuator mechanism. The flapper is disposed within the interior space and is pivotally connected to an inner wall of the vessel body. The flapper is movable between a closed position in which the flapper divides the interior space into an upper chamber and a lower chamber and substantially prevents fluid communication between the upper chamber and the lower chamber, and an open position in which the upper chamber is in fluid communication with the lower chamber. The actuator mechanism is selectively actuatable to move the flapper from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventor: Joshua Vincent Civelli
  • Patent number: 9738395
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid storage system having an outer tank (e.g. an aircraft fuel tank) for containing a liquid (e.g. aircraft fuel), the outer tank enclosing a liquid storage space; an inner tank located within the outer tank and enclosing the liquid storage space; and at least one coupling element associated with the outer tank and the inner tank for maintaining the tanks in a spaced apart relationship; wherein the coupling element(s) is/are deformable such that, on application of a force to the inner tank, at least part of the inner tank moves relative to the outer tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventors: Nicholas John Martindale, Nicholas Park, Simon Anthony Jenkins, Andrew James Irwin, Christopher Steven Bingham, Chrisostomos Angelis Constantinou
  • Patent number: 9707422
    Abstract: A volatile liquid storage container has combustion resistance properties from a flexible sock or tube constructed of fire resistant fibers coupled to a neck of the storage container to prevent flame flash-back into the storage container. The storage container defines an enclosed volume having an orifice in the container material leading to a neck for pouring and filling the enclosed volume for exchanging the contents therein. The tube is elongated and surrounds a circumference of the orifice for engaging any ignition source entering through the orifice. The flexible nature of the tube or sock allows it to extend to an opposed interior surface of the enclosed volume, and ensures that the tube or sock is immersed in the fluid for encircling any ignition path to the volatile liquid without interfering with an ability to pour or refill the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Brian E. Elias, Robert G. Zalosh, Ali S. Rangwala
  • Patent number: 9701193
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ventilating device (2) for liquid containers (1), in particular for liquid containers (1) for an aqueous urea solution, including a housing (3) which can be mounted at an opening of the liquid container (1) and has a first opening (4) to the liquid container (1) and a second opening (5) to the surroundings of the liquid container (1), a diaphragm (6) which is arranged within the housing (3), is permeable to air, is impermeable to liquid and is configured in such a way that a deformation of the diaphragm (6) takes place by a pressure change in the liquid container (1), as a result of which the volume within the housing (3) within the diaphragm (6) changes, with the result that the displaced volume leaves the housing (3) via the second opening (5) to the surroundings of the liquid container (1). Furthermore, the invention relates to a liquid container (1) having a ventilating device (2) according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Timm Heidemeyer, Volker Treudt
  • Patent number: 9687115
    Abstract: A novel food serving and storage set including cover formed to be similar to and of realistic size, shape and color for the food in which it is covering, an accompanying complimentary receiving unit that has a vertical raised lip around its edge for the cover to fit exactly on top. The receiving unit has a flat peripheral area surrounding a depression in its center on which food may rest directly or indirectly. The food can rest on a separate removable disc which fits on top of the receiving unit in order to separate any elements in the receiving unit's depression (e.g. a cooling or warming element) from the food. Attached to the lower outer and upper inner rims of the cover and receiving unit respectively is a non-slip lining that creates an airtight seal allowing this system to store food for an extended time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventor: Dorothy Mai Win-Hall
  • Patent number: 9689531
    Abstract: A composite pressure container for fluids includes a pressure container, a boss (1), and a coupling or valve member (5) fitted in an opening in the boss. The pressure container includes an inner fluid-tight liner layer (4) and a pressure supporting layer (3) formed by winding fiber-reinforcement onto the liner layer. The boss is positioned in a central opening of the pressure container. The structure of the boss comprises a depressurization passage for preventing build-up of internal pressure inside the boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: HEXAGON RAGASCO AS
    Inventors: Rune Ulekleiv, Per Vidar Hamnvik
  • Patent number: 9676548
    Abstract: A container for holding product therein during shipment and being returned for reuse has guides containing generally L-shaped slotted tracks having horizontal and vertical portions. A plurality of dunnage supports extend between the tracks. Dunnage is suspended by the dunnage supports. The dunnage supports have narrowed portions engaged with the slotted tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Bradford Company
    Inventors: Judson A. Bradford, Allen L. Burns, Matthew S. Sanger, Brian T. Dobrinski, Eric S. Bruinsma, Timothy A. Bublitz
  • Patent number: 9650204
    Abstract: An egg package having a bottom part having egg receiving compartments and a cover part hinged to the bottom part. Ends of the cover part each have a pair partially ovoid portions and a concave middle section between them. A continuous curved surface extends from one partially ovoid portion through the concave middle section to the other partially ovoid portion. A substantially planar rim may be located at each end above, in front of and to the rear of the partially ovoid portions. A retaining projection on the bottom part may engage an edge of an aperture in the cover part. A label may cover the outer surfaces of the ends. An interface between the cover part and the bottom part may decline, back to front. The front of the cover part may have a lower downwardly convex edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: BRØDRENE HARTMANN A/S
    Inventors: Nick Buckley, Hans Erik Roth
  • Patent number: 9637305
    Abstract: A container system for use with a forklift, includes a plurality of containers, each container including side and end walls and having interlocking structure cooperatively arranged whereby adjacent containers are connectable to each other and a base secured relative to each container. The base is dimensioned to support the container and being adapted to couple with the blade of the forklift to permit placement and transport of the containers in an interlocked relation thereof. Each container may be collapsible to facilitate storage thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventors: David Fredette, Thomas Fredette
  • Patent number: 9635778
    Abstract: A modular protective housing structure for a rack includes a bottom portion of the rack having a plurality of rollers installed thereon; the module protective housing structure including a chassis having a base and an outer cover configured to surround the base thereon; the outer cover having a front opening; and a front door panel pivotally attached to the base; the front door panel configured to cover onto the front opening and placed on a ground; the front door panel having a plurality of slanted ribs attached to the ground; wherein when the front door panel is placed on the ground, the rack slides into the chassis from the ground along the front door panel, and positions of the slanted ribs are arranged corresponding to positions of the rollers. Therefore, effects of cost saving and supporting ability of the front door panel are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: AIC INC.
    Inventors: Kun-Sheng Tsai, Yong-Cong Chen
  • Patent number: 9629406
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a package for packaging a hair product having a plurality of hair strands which include curls. More particularly, the package includes first and second package sections engageable with one another for positioning the hair product therebetween. The first package section includes at least one first portion having a first curved shape, while the second package section includes at least one second portion having a second curved shape which substantially corresponds to the first curved shape. When the first and second package sections are engaged with one another, the at least one first curved portion and the at least one second curved portion are positioned in close proximity with one another so as to contain at least one set of the curls of the hair product therebetween for maintaining the shapes of the at least one set of the curls of the hair product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Shake-N-Go Fashion, Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Kim, Peter Ough, Hye Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 9624026
    Abstract: The removable dispensing cover for tissue boxes includes an oblong dispensing cover detachably mounted to a top of a tissue box. A pull tab extends from one end of the dispensing cover for selective grasping by a user for subsequent removal of the dispensing cover from the tissue box to access the tissues. An elongate dispensing thread has a portion thereof attached to the bottom of the dispensing cover, and a dispensing strip is attached to the remaining portion of the dispensing thread. The dispensing strip is attached a top tissue sheet contained in the tissue box, so that as the dispensing cover is removed from the top of the tissue box, the top tissue is also pulled along, ready for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Abdulrahman Saleh Al-Heraibi