Patents Examined by Bryon Gehman
  • Patent number: 9883916
    Abstract: A surgical sponge counter includes a unitary molded plastic sponge tray defining a plurality of wells each sized to hold a lap sponge. Each well has a ledge defining a recess below the sponge for collecting fluid once the sponge is replaced in the tray. A needle counting receptacle tray may be nested within the sponge tray above the sponges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Variamed LLC
    Inventor: David Sellers
  • Patent number: 9878823
    Abstract: A display package for a consumer product includes a base, a surround window positioned upon the base, and a top cover positioned upon the surround window. Each of the front, back, and two opposed side walls include a respective edge defining an upper perimeter of each of the walls and each of the front, back, and two opposed side walls include a respective edge defining a lower perimeter of each of the walls, wherein these upper and lower edges are constructed such that when the surround window is positioned upon the base and the top cover is positioned upon the surround window the front exposed surface area is greater than the back exposed surface area and wherein when the surround window is removed from between the base and top cover, the edges of the top cover are constructed to mate in a close fitting relationship with the edges of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Chanda Janese Davis, Raniele Janine Jago
  • Patent number: 9878529
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disposable container for holding food or for decorative purposes. The disposable container has a surface with an adhesive layer to removably detach the disposable container from the surface of another disposable container, to form a stacked configuration with multiple disposable containers. The disposable container can also contain a fragrance or non-toxic insect repellent on a surface or in the adhesive layer, which can release the fragrance or non-toxic insect repellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventor: Charlotte Arce
  • Patent number: 9881820
    Abstract: A pod for exchanging consumable parts with a process module includes a base plate having a front side, a back side, and first and second lateral sides. A first support column is disposed on the first lateral side proximal to the front side. A second support column is disposed on the second lateral side proximal to the front side. A third support column is disposed on the first lateral side proximal to back side and a fourth support column is disposed on the second lateral side proximal to the back side. Each of the support columns includes a plurality of support fingers distributed lengthwise and directed inward. A first hard stop column is disposed parallel to the third support column and a second hard stop column is disposed parallel to the fourth support column. A shell structure connected to the base plate is configured to enclose the first, second third and fourth support columns, top plate and first and second hard stop columns and includes a front opening disposed on the front side of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Wong, Damon Tyrone Genetti, Derek John Witkowicki, Alex Paterson, Richard H. Gould, Austin Ngo, Marc Estoque
  • Patent number: 9872545
    Abstract: A durable, accessory cover assembly for a computing device, such as a cellular phone or a tablet computer. The accessory cover includes a frame, a first covering portion, and a second covering portion. The first covering can be composed of a wear-resistant material, such as leather; whereas, the second covering can be composed of a pliable particulate-absorbing material, such as microfiber. The first covering can be configured to seamlessly cover an external bottom surface of the frame, four external lateral surfaces of the frame, and four internal later surfaces of the frame, as well as an overlap region of an internal top surface of the frame. The second covering can be configured cover a majority of the surface area of the internal top surface of the frame, where it abuts the first covering along an annular region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jared A. Sartee, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Adam K. Eschner, Julio C. Quintero, Harry W. Smith, IV
  • Patent number: 9874427
    Abstract: A container for packaging and storing ammunition units in tubes. A unit cargo includes such containers. A method for packaging and storing such containers. T-shaped detonation protections are introduced to separate adjacent tubes in order to prevent mass detonation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Per Karlsson, Thomas Widlund, Magnus Rådman
  • Patent number: 9872754
    Abstract: A package for an orthopedic device is disclosed. The package includes inner and outer packaging and preferably allows for accessibility of the orthopedic device without direct handling by hand. Methods of utilizing such packaging are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Stryker European Holdings I, LLC
    Inventors: Inka Tuechsen, Christian Heizmann
  • Patent number: 9871550
    Abstract: A protective enclosure for an electronic device includes a cushion layer and a structural layer. The cushion layer covers the back surface and side surfaces of the installed electronic device. The structural layer is disposed over the cushion layer and includes a back portion, a right side portion, and a left side portion. The structural layer includes a thinned region on the back portion. The thinned region has a thickness that is less than the thickness of the remainder of the back portion of the structural layer. The thinned region of the structural layer allows a section of the protective enclosure to bend away from the back surface of the electronic device for installation and removal of the electronic device from the protective enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Otter Products, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin W. Witter, Matthew S. Krajec, Patrick J. Nelson, Paul N. Walker, Thomas D. Boileau
  • Patent number: 9862520
    Abstract: A package for a prolate spheroidal ball having a longitudinal axis. A back plate is disposed between a first end and a second end of the package. A first cradle extends from the back plate adjacent the first end, and is operative to receive a first portion of the prolate spheroidal ball along the longitudinal axis. A wing portion extends from the back plate adjacent the second end, and at least partially circumscribes the longitudinal axis of the prolate spheroidal ball. A flap portion extends from the wing portion and defines an end surface of the package. The longitudinal axis intersects the flap portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard S. Fan
  • Patent number: 9856075
    Abstract: Provided is a reusable tie down storage case including a housing having a tie down storage area and first and second strap storage areas, at least one tab in the tie down area for engaging a tie down, a first movable flap covering the first strap storage area to prevent removal of a first strap, and a second movable flap covering the second strap storage area to prevent removal of the second strap. The reusable case can be used as a retail package and as a reusable case after purchase to hold the tie downs in the case without an additional fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Winston Products, LLC
    Inventors: Winston H. Breeden, III, Curtis P. Taylor, Matthew G. Hanson, Ryan Chepla, Colleen Kurniawan, David Drabousky
  • Patent number: 9850062
    Abstract: Packaging with a double collar lid may be used for any type of consumer product, including electronic devices. The packaging includes a base, a tray disposed within the base, and a lid comprising an outer portion and a first inner collar. The tray is configured to support an electronic device to be raised relative to a bottom of the base with an available area for the electronic device disposed above a top of the base. The first inner collar is configured to constrain the position of the electronic device within the available area such that when the lid is removed from the base the electronic device is framed by the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Ricardo Alba Mariano
  • Patent number: 9849366
    Abstract: A collapsible carrying case cover for use with board sports equipment having an expanded configuration and a fully collapsed configuration is described. The collapsible carrying case cover includes a cover that is configured to completely cover a bottom surface and edges of the board sports equipment and partially cover a top surface of the board. A peripheral edge continuously extends around the periphery of the cover and forms a channel that houses an elastic cord. The elastic cord is configured to draw the peripheral edge inwardly when in assembled relation to the board sports equipment. The cover may be held in place by a hook and loop type strap. The collapsible carrying case cover also includes a plurality of carrying handles and straps to facilitate multiple carrying modes. The collapsible carrying case cover is collapsible into a fully collapsed configuration when in unassembled relation to the board sports equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: David Thornbury
  • Patent number: 9848682
    Abstract: With respect to cases for laptop computers, and the like and, an improvement comprises pair of opposing strap guides through which elastic side retention straps are respectively journaled to prevent the straps from interfering with the closure of the case. A case according to the invention comprises top and bottom covers hinged in the rear of the case, and a closure mechanism such as a zipper is for closing the top and bottom covers. Right and left elastic retaining straps respectively connect the top and bottom portions of the case, and the right and left elastic retaining straps pass through respective strap guides, each attached to the inner surface of the top portion of the case, to prevent the retaining straps from being caught in the hinged portions of the computer or the closure mechanism as the case is closed. Each elastic retaining strap may twist between the bottom cover of the case and each strap guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventors: Mark Zadvinskis, Adam Ostroff
  • Patent number: 9840363
    Abstract: A base platform carrying a plurality of lower rail members on an upper surface. A pair of opposing laterally spaced end plates engaging the lower rail members. A series of lower positioning teeth formed in the lower rail members. A series of complementary lower connecting teeth included on the end plates engaging the lower positioning teeth. A plurality of upper rail members carried by the end plates. A series of upper positioning teeth formed in the upper rail members. A series of complementary upper connecting teeth included on the end plates engaging the upper positioning teeth of the upper rail members securing the end plates to the upper rail members. The series of upper and lower connecting teeth provide for the end plates to be repositionable along at least a portion of the upper and lower rail members to adjust spacing between the end plates to accommodate various roll sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Marshane Corp.
    Inventors: Greg McCurry, David Greene
  • Patent number: 9839488
    Abstract: A disposable bag for maintaining sterility of a medical instrument having a detection mechanism and cable extending from the detection mechanism, wherein the bag comprises: a pair of flexible sheets comprised of a polymeric material, the pair of sheets being arranged in parallel to each other and sealed along opposing lateral sides that extend longitudinally from a top end to a bottom end, the cable having a selected length such that upon insertion of the detection mechanism through the enclosed interior chamber of the bag, the cable extends longitudinally through the open bottom end, the bag being adapted to be attached to at least a portion of the cable that extends from the detection mechanism downstream toward the open bottom end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventor: Richard Ma
  • Patent number: 9840106
    Abstract: A comic book case includes a base and a cover configured to compress and secure a comic book in place under frictional pressure such that the book cannot easily shift or slip within the case. Prior art cases that included walls surrounding the top, bottom and side edges of a book typically allowed some free movement or slippage of the book between the walls. This movement or slippage could result in damage such as curling or crinkling of the edges of the book if the case were exposed to a physical shock, such as by being dropped. The base includes a raised base platform and the cover includes a depressed cover platform, which extends towards the base platform to create a space within which the book is securely held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew Aaron Nelson, Harshen Patel, Joseph R Yanarella, Jr., Stephen Lam
  • Patent number: 9833696
    Abstract: A lockable wagering chip container is disclosed which includes a case, a drawer, and a lock mechanism. The case includes a case top, a case bottom, two case sides, and two case ends. The case top includes a through-hole and at least one of the two case ends is open. The drawer includes a drawer top, a drawer bottom, two drawer sides, and two drawer ends. The drawer bottom, two drawer sides, and two drawer ends partially enclose a drawer interior configured to hold a plurality of chips; the drawer top is open. At least one of the drawer ends includes a chip slot configured to accept a chip inserted when the drawer is in a closed position. The lock mechanism is positioned within the case and configured to secure the drawer in the closed position until the lock mechanism is released by a key inserted into the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: CHIP LOCKER LLC
    Inventor: Eric Brown
  • Patent number: 9827664
    Abstract: A tool box includes a housing defining a front opening, a rear opening and an accommodation chamber in communication with the front opening and the rear opening to open to the outside; a swing seat pivotally mounted in the housing within the accommodation chamber and providing a storage rack at the bottom side, multiple insertion slots at the top side and a retaining block, a first baffle plate mounted in the housing at a front side relative to the storage rack, a second baffle plate mounted in the housing at a rear side relative to the insertion slots, a push-button, the swing seat to be biased relative to the housing to an access position when the user pushes a push-button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GOOD YEAR HARDWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsai-Ching Chen
  • Patent number: 9820543
    Abstract: A grooved case construction selectively encases and displays an electronic device, and includes a grooved device-holding mechanism and either a panel assembly or a kickstand element made structurally cooperable with the device-holding mechanism. The device-holding mechanism is sized and shaped to removably receive an electronic device, and provides an anterior device-receiving section and a posterior component interface. The posterior component interface includes at least one, but preferably a plurality of component-receiving grooves for providing a grooved pattern. Both the panel assembly and the kickstand couple to the posterior component interface via the grooved pattern and may be so coupled in any number of orientations for providing the user with any number of options for displaying the device-holding mechanism. When outfitted with a panel assembly, a cover panel may selectively either cover the anterior device-receiving section or provide support for the device-holding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: WORLD RICHMAN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edison Huang, Sararut Sirichai, Iordanka Koleva Mulhern
  • Patent number: 9815615
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple seat shipping container (100) that includes a bottom base structure (101) configured to attach one or more first seats (120), a forward wall (103) with a lower portion (103a) pivotally attached to a forward side of the bottom base structure, a top wall (104) pivotally attached to an upper portion (103b) of the forward wall, the top wall configured to attach one or more second seats (121), and a rear wall (105) attached to a rear side of the bottom base structure. The multiple seat shipping container is configured to fold into a box shape configuration such that the one or more second seats are suspended from the top wall adjacent to the one or more first seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Zodiac Seats US LLC
    Inventor: Travis D. Doolittle