Patents Examined by Christopher Demeree
  • Patent number: 9505515
    Abstract: A packaging construction being formed by multi-layer board material includes a middle layer, a first outer layer attached to the middle layer and a second outer layer attached to the middle layer. The packaging construction defines a bottom side, a top side, and a plurality of side panels joining the bottom side and the top side so as to form a closed structure. At least one edge is defined between adjacent side panels. The packaging construction is arranged so that the second outer layer has a lower bending stiffness according to ISO 5628 than the first outer layer such that the board is outwardly bendable only in a direction towards which the second layer faces, and in that the packaging construction is formed with at least one side panel being curved and/or at least one edge being rounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SCA FOREST PRODUCTS AB
    Inventors: Magnus Vistrom, Rickard Hagglund, Folke Osterberg
  • Patent number: 9505518
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container and a blank for forming a container. In particular, the invention relates to a container for receiving a food product and having an improved hermetic seal to allow modified atmosphere packaging techniques to be used to extend the life of the container contents. The improved seal is achieved by avoiding or sealing gaps which can be present around the closure of the container. The container may comprise a container body with a plurality of walls formed by body panels of a folded blank such that each corner of the container opening is formed at the end of a fold line between two adjacent body panels of the blank. The invention also relates to a method for forming such a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: COLPAC LIMITED
    Inventors: Frank Mills, Samantha Moore
  • Patent number: 9499307
    Abstract: A storage bag includes first and second sidewalls that are directly connected, and a plurality of shift regions at bottom portions of the sidewalls. The bag can be moved about the shift regions such that the bag is shiftable between a flat configuration with the first and second sidewalls positioned adjacent to each other and a stand-up configuration with the first and second sidewalls separated from each other. In the stand-up configuration, the bag is shifted about the shift regions such that a substantially flat base is formed for the bag. The stand-up configuration is thereby achieved without a pleat being provided between the sidewalls at a bottom of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Porchia, Keegan E. Burggren, Brian C. Dais
  • Patent number: 9499308
    Abstract: Containers and methods for their manufacture are provided. Containers include first and second panels connected at first and second edges, a bottom panel connecting the first and second panels at a third edge, a panel area defined by a seal extending from the first edge and having a first aperture at a first corner of the container, and a pour feature disposed at least partially at a second corner diagonally opposite the first corner, wherein the bottom panel or the first edge comprises a gusset. Methods include forming such container and forming at least one aperture in the panel area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Printpack Illinois, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Kessler, Jr., Brenton Holloway, Mark Ronald Brogan
  • Patent number: 9499297
    Abstract: A package of multiple containers in a carton formed from a carton blank has a number of panels including a top panel, a bottom panel, opposed side panels and opposed end panels. The carton may include a dispenser defined by a dispenser tear line formed in one or more panels of the carton in which the dispenser tear line does not extend into the composite end panels nor does it remove corners from the panels. The dispenser may include a portion in the top panel of the carton and may also include a portion of the top panel and an adjacent side panel of the carton. In one aspect, the dispenser leaves the adjacent corners in the top panel of the carton intact thereby maintaining the structural integrity of the carton and the package containing the pouches or other containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignees: Mott's LLP, The C.W. Zumbiel Company
    Inventors: Darrell Bentley, Raymond L. Zacher
  • Patent number: 9499296
    Abstract: A carton for containing a cooked food product. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. A lid is positionable to at least partially close a top of the carton. A plurality of vent features are in at least one panel of the plurality of panels for at least partially maintaining product attributes of the cooked food product contained in the carton by at least partially venting the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen L. Mills, Mark P. Baker
  • Patent number: 9499294
    Abstract: Dual handle box designs, blanks for forming boxes by folding, collapsible and non-collapsible boxes formed thereby, and manufacturing methods therefor are disclosed. Preferably each handle is located on an opposite end of the box; is two-ply; defines an elongate hand opening for receiving fingers of a hand; defines an elongate tab opening for receiving a tab of a center handle, and that intersects the hand opening; and defines a recess for receiving and retaining a lid panel of the box. Furthermore, the boxes preferably have a waterproof or water-resistant coating applied and are used as ice coolers for beverages and food items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: THATBOX DESIGN, LLC
    Inventor: Donn J. Costanzo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9493268
    Abstract: A carton (8) has a top wall (120), end walls and a strap carrying handle (16). The carrying handle (16) includes a strap section (72, 74) that is formed at least partially in a top wall (120) of the carton (8). The strap section (72, 74) is deployable above the top wall (120) and is attached to each end of the carton (8). The carrying handle (16) further includes a handle structure (6) affixed to the underside of the strap section (72, 74). The handle structure (6) includes a series of foldably interconnected panels that is foldable into a substantially tubular structure having three or more sides disposed at least partially beneath the strap section (72, 74) of the carrying handle (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Caleb Sutherland Loftin, Matthew Earl Zacherle
  • Patent number: 9487323
    Abstract: A packaging box where a body part has a bottom plate, first side plates erecting from one opposed edges of the bottom plate and second side plates erecting from other opposed edges and is provided with an opened upper surface. A pair of inner flaps are connected to upper edges of the first side plates through fold lines and folded inside. A pair of outer flaps are connected to upper edges of the second side plates through fold lines, and folded inside and overlapped with the pair of inner flaps to close the opened upper surface. Each of the pair of inner flaps is provided with a first engaging part. Each of the first side plates is provided with a first engaged part, which may engage with the corresponding first engaging part when the pair of inner flaps are folded and overlapped with the outsides of the first side plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 9469431
    Abstract: A box having two opposed end panels having handholds, two opposed side panels, and a bottom, assembled to form a box having an opening for receiving contents therein, the box including a top panel for closing the opening, the top panel being hingedly connected to a side panel, and including a pair of closure flaps extending from the side of the top panel, the closure flaps positioned to be inserted into the handholds when the top panel is positioned to close the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Fellowes, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Benigni, Paul Connolly, Matthew Swenson, Mark Sommerlot, Jerry Klaus, Marie Klaus
  • Patent number: 9469432
    Abstract: A container formed from a blank and a method for constructing the container are described. The container includes a bottom wall, two end walls, each end wall including at least an end panel emanating from an end edge of the bottom wall, and two side walls, each side wall including at least a side panel emanating from a side edge of the bottom wall. The container further includes a reinforcing panel assembly emanating from a first end edge of a first side panel of a first side wall, including an outer reinforcing panel, an intermediate reinforcing panel, and an inner reinforcing panel, wherein the outer reinforcing panel is positioned in a substantially face-to-face relationship with the intermediate reinforcing panel, the intermediate reinforcing panel being coupled to a first end panel of a first end wall, and the inner reinforcing panel being in a face-to-face relationship with the first side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventor: Ray Aguirre
  • Patent number: 9463895
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a box (30, 31) and a blank (1) made of corrugated cardboard sheet material having a polygonal cross section, including side walls (3, 4, 5, 6), an upper wall forming the top of the box and a lower wall forming the bottom of the box. The top of the box comprises at least one cut-out convex portion (26) in the upper wall, and the bottom comprises portions (18) which have a perforated surface having a complementary shape to the said convex portions, situated directly above the latter and arranged so as to be fitted into the convex portions of the box below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Otor
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Moreau, Sebastien Jacomelli, Quentin Serre de Lourtioux
  • Patent number: 9463896
    Abstract: A package for holding an article, the package includes a liner and a construct attached to the liner. The liner includes an interior space for holding an article. The construct includes a plurality of panels that at least partially reinforce at a portion of the liner. The plurality of panels includes a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a bottom panel. The construct further includes a dispenser comprising dispensing features in at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel for allowing removal of the article from the package. The dispensing features include a dispenser panel at least partially defined by a tear line in the construct and for being at least partially removed to form a dispenser opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 9452861
    Abstract: A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two opposing side panels, and two opposing end panels. Each side panel extends from a side edge of the bottom panel, and each end panel extends from an end edge of the bottom panel. Each end panel includes at least one major stacking extension extending from a top edge thereof. The blank further includes a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side edge of a first end panel of the two end panels. The reinforcing panel assembly includes an inner end panel having a minor stacking extension extending from a top edge thereof. The minor stacking extension is configured to align with a respective major stacking extension to form a stacking tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Charles Smith
  • Patent number: 9434501
    Abstract: A container and a method of forming a container having a locking closure and a method of forming the locking closure. The container includes bottom, side and top walls and at least one of the walls being an opening wall formed of panels which provide an opening to an interior of the container and which overlap to provide the locking a closure of the opening wall. In a closed condition of the container, a bottommost panel of the opening wall is partially overlapped by adjacent panels of the opening wall and a topmost panel of the opening wall located opposite the bottommost panel partially overlaps the adjacent panels and the bottommost panel. A tab of the bottommost panel is lifted upwardly to partially overlap the topmost panel to form the locking closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: YORK CONTAINER COMPANY
    Inventor: Troy Little
  • Patent number: 9434502
    Abstract: A packing box for display comprising a top plate adapted to surround the top surfaces of items disposed in the packing box; a bottom plate adapted to surround the underside surfaces of the items; a left plate adapted to surround the left surfaces of the items; and a right plate adapted to surround the right surfaces of the items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: CJ Cheiljedang Corporation
    Inventor: Eun Jin Park
  • Patent number: 9434504
    Abstract: A reclosable food container is provided. The container has a body for storing a food product. The body has a side wall extending between a closed bottom end and a top end including an access opening. The body has a lid including a collar surrounding the body, the collar having a plurality of panels extending therefrom. The collar is movable relative to the body in a direction between a first position wherein the panels overlie and restrict access to the opening and a second position. The second position is closer to the bottom end of the body than the first position. The panels permit access to the opening and are configured to shift in an outwardly direction during contact with the top end of the body during movement of the collar from the first position toward the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC
    Inventors: Thad J. Fisher, Charles W. Halgren, Kyle Gati
  • Patent number: 9428299
    Abstract: A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat position and a deployed position is provided. The container includes a first blank of sheet material for forming side walls of the container, and a second blank of sheet material for forming a bottom wall of the container. The first blank having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, a top edge and a bottom edge. The first blank includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, a fourth side panel, a fifth side panel, and a sixth side panel wherein each of the side panels are coupled across a fold line. The first blank also includes end flaps extending from the bottom edge of each of the side panels wherein at least two of the end flaps includes a tab joint. The second blank having a plurality of side edges equal to a number of side panels of the first blank, each side edge having a width substantially equal to a width of the side panels of the first blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventors: Tesfahun Y. Mengistu, Thomas D. Graham, John Thomas Yoder, IV
  • Patent number: 9422077
    Abstract: A rectangular storage container comprises four parts, two of which are releasably coupled to each other to respectively form a bottom section and a top section such that, when assembled together, the bottom section and top section can move telescopically with respect to each other in a first dimension, and the respective two parts that are attached to form the bottom section and top section can additionally move with respect to each another in a second dimension, to enable adjustment of the volume of the storage container in two dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Fabiano Malara
  • Patent number: 9422079
    Abstract: A selectively frangible shipping carton for storing and shipping goods comprises at least one side wall joining a top wall and a bottom wall. A path of weakness extends around a periphery of the carton through at least a portion of the side wall. The path of weakness enables a user to manually separate the carton into at least two portions: an upper portion including the top wall and a lower portion including the bottom wall. A pair of lines of weakness extends upwardly relative to the path of weakness and terminates at or adjacent the top wall. A grip flap defined in the side wall between the pair of lines of weakness, the grip flap being graspable by the user when separating the carton into the at least two portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Watson Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: John Bitner