Patents Examined by Christopher J. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5145110
    Abstract: A flat, collapsible blank which is assembled to form a box of suitable thickness and sufficient rigidity. Four panels of the same size and shape are hinged serially. Each has folding end flaps with diagonally opposed tabs and opposing bevelled corners. Further, each end flap has a slot situated such that it cooperates with and is joined by the tab on the end flap of the adjacent panel. Hence, the interlocking box has interlapping end flaps which when taken together form the top and bottom panels of the box. Additionally, each corner tab has a meshed area on the exterior surface thereof, and each slot has a meshed area on the interior surface thereof, such that the two meshed areas cooperate. These meshed areas are used to add rigidity and support to the top and bottom panels when each end flap is folded in its configuration during use. The box can also be used by children as a toy or plaything, being large enough for them to climb into.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventor: Nicholas Terpstra
  • Patent number: 5141150
    Abstract: A tamper evident container is provided having a pouring spout which includes a shoot surface pivotally attached to a wall of the container. The shoot extends beyond and overlays an opening in the container wall to securely maintain the opening in the wall closed. The shoot includes a tip used to open the spout. A tamper evident sealing label overlays the spout and tip. The label includes a frangible sheet having an adhesive portion for attaching the label to the container surface and an adhesive free portion along a portion of an edge of a label. A tear line is provided across the label dividing the label into a first portion which includes the adhesive free portion and a second portion. The first portion overlays the tip of the spout and the second portion overlays the remaining portion of the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Seal Spout Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick A. Plaessmann
  • Patent number: 5125567
    Abstract: A carton with triple-thickness sidewalls formed from a one-piece unitary blank includes sidewalls and endwalls extending from a floor. Lid members extending from the endwalls cover the carton interior and arrangements for locking the lids in a closed position is provided. The sidewalls and endwalls are interlocked with a locking post arrangement to prevent pull-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Inland Container Corporation
    Inventor: Jack A. McClure
  • Patent number: 5125562
    Abstract: A multi-panel mailer assembly includes a single sheet having multiple adjoining panels separated by transverse fold lines. The mailer assembly is folded into an outgoing mailer unit along the transverse fold lines in an alternating or "fan fold" arrangement. First and second bands of adhesive secure the mailer unit together such that its information panels are contained between a mailer cover and mailer back panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Inventor: Bruce Bendel
  • Patent number: 5121877
    Abstract: A container for ripening of fruit during storage and shipment has a first portion defining vertically oriented first side surfaces and a second portion defining vertically oriented second side surfaces, the planes of the first side surfaces being offset from planes of the second side surfaces. The container is adapted to be stacked in a pallet load with other of the containers, with adjacent first side surfaces of adjacent containers in engagement for stable stacking of the containers, and adjacent second side surfaces of adjacent containers spaced apart in a manner to define a channel between the adjacent containers for circulation of ventilating air or gas to fruit contained within the containers and for removal of heat generated by respiration of the fruit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Chiquita Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Bodary, Stephen E. Moorman
  • Patent number: 5116290
    Abstract: This invention relates to a packaging container, and a preform therefor, which finds particular application in the packaging and protection of relatively soft products, such as fresh produce. The container comprises a pair of end web plates (12) formed with peripherally extending projections (20). A cover sheet (10) is wrapped about the peripheries of the web plates (12). The cover sheet (10) is folded along fold lines (16) and is formed with slots (18) through which the projections (20) on the web plates (12) may extend when the cover sheet (10) is wrapped about the web plates (12). The web plates (12) are formed with locking slots (26) into which the longitudinal edges (28) of the cover sheet (10) may be clipped to retain the cover sheet (10) in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Inventor: John A. Ross
  • Patent number: 5116105
    Abstract: Paper container device consists of a cuboid container body with a round hole made of aluminium foil paper and a sucking pipette having an extending portion with a sharp end. The round hole is disposed at the uppermost middle portion of the right side of the container body. The upper right folded triangle portion on the upper side is folded down and glued to the surface of the right side. the pipette is partly glued between the right folded triangle portion and the surface of the right side. The pipette together with the triangle portion can be torn apart and its sharp end can pierce through the aluminium foil into the container body for sucking out the drink in it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Inventor: Pi-Lien Hong
  • Patent number: 5105971
    Abstract: A reclosable container having a box-like configuration is provided with means for severing the front and side walls thereof along a strip spaced below the upper end thereof for defining a hinge portion in the back wall end to divide the carton into a lid and a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: American Packaging Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Hertenstein, Marcella S. Stevens, Harold R. Hartsel
  • Patent number: 5104035
    Abstract: A carton having a tubular body with a pair of opposed sidewalls and a pair of opposed endwalls, with end panels and side panels for a closure extending therefrom. At least one end panel is hinged to an endwall and has a free edge defining a pair of spaced notches with a retention flap therebetween, thereby forming a pair of locking tabs, one at each free corner of the end panel. At least one hinged tab is struck out from each side panel. The hinged tab includes a tab hinge line and a double-ended severing line extending to spaced apart portions of the tab hinge line so as to form a tab which is swingable out of the plane of the side panel, thereby exposing a locking edge of the side panel formed by the severing line. The locking tabs of the end panel deflect the hinge tabs into the interior of the carton to form recesses in the side panels into which the locking tabs are inserted so that the locking edge of the tab engages the locking edge of the side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Inland Container Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Rosenbaum, II
  • Patent number: 5102234
    Abstract: A medical specimen bag is made of three or more overlying sheets of clear pliable plastic material joined along three common edges to make at least two separate pockets open along a fourth edge of the sheets. One of the sheets includes an adhesive flap foldable against the exposed fourth edges of the remaining sheets for sealing all the pockets. The sealed end of the bag is torn off to regain access to all pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Inventor: Abner Levy
  • Patent number: 5097958
    Abstract: A blank and carton and method of carton construction for packaging ice cream or the like. The blank includes a front, bottom, rear, cover and closure flap hingedly connected in the order named. Each front bottom rear cover and closure flap includes right and left end flaps hingedly connected to its respective panel. Membrane flaps are hingedly connected to the right and left end flaps of the bottom panel for forming a lip when the carton is constructed to prevent the accidental escape of liquid from the interior of the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Somerville Packaging, A Division of Paperboard Industries
    Inventors: Patricia Josephs, Sherry Arnold
  • Patent number: 5088643
    Abstract: The polymer coated exterior of a paperboard container used to package liquid products is selectively treated with a flame or corona to raise the surface tension in the areas which are intended to accept ink while eliminating or canceling any surface treatment in the region where a pour spout fitment is to be bonded to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Westvaco Company
    Inventors: Stephen L. Frazier, James A. Hiller
  • Patent number: 5083699
    Abstract: In a paperboard food container, especially the clamshell type used in the fast food industry, a releasably interlocking means between the container and a lid. The interlocking means includes a slot formed in the container which not only leaves a continuous, coplanar shoulder around the circumference of the container which allows complete sealing with a lid structure, but additionally provides a tab which extends above the slot, allowing the lid structure to have either a flange extending under the container tab or, in addition to the flange, a tab inserting into the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Pressware International, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Bulcher
  • Patent number: 5080233
    Abstract: A gable-top container including a weakened line formed in one of the facing surfaces of the first and second upper rib panels to induce controlled delamination of one of the first and second upper rib panels during opening of the pouring spout, to reduce the force required to open the pouring spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Gregory R. Wyberg
  • Patent number: 5056709
    Abstract: A paperboard carton of multiple compartments and leakproofness for packaging separate food items is provided. Adjacent side panels and bottom panels merge to form the corners. Diagonal divider panels extend from the corners to the opposite side panel and along the bottom panels. A pair of gusset panels are provided to reinforce the corners and to connect the side panels. Each gusset panel extends from a side panel and the adjacent divider panel. The gusset panels are overlapped and folded around the corner and sealed with thermoplastic adhesive against the adjacent side panel. The divider panel is doubled forming an inverted V. The two divider panels provide miror image triangular compartments and a trapezoidal central compartment. A cover hinged along the side panel of the central compartment between the reinforced corners is sealed to the carton along sealing flanges to close and complete the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Kliklok Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Cargile, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5042713
    Abstract: A reusable shipping container is formed of corrugated plastic material and includes shallow, open-ended, rectangular boxes forming a bottom and a cover. The end walls and side walls of the container are formed of inner and outer sheets of corrugated plastic material in the shape of rectangular panels. The corrugations of the panels extend vertically when the container is assembled. A total of six panels form the box, two of the opposing panels form ends of the container, and on each side, two equal-sized panels are used. The panels for the sides each have a length which is less than the length of the end panels. Corrugated plastic hinge members permit the side panels to fold inwardly to overlie one another, between the first and second end panels, in a storage position of the container member; so that the container may be placed inside the base or the top for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Kiva Container, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald T. Stafford