Patents Examined by Christopher McDonald
  • Patent number: 5335847
    Abstract: A flat top thermoplastic coated container and blank including side edge panels, a front edge panel adaptable to being folded back onto itself and having an arcuate-shaped perforated line formed thereon, and a cover panel. The perforated line breaks upon the cover panel being opened to form a horizontal, arcuate-shaped pouring edge. The side edge panels are wider adjacent the cover panel than adjacent the front edge panel to effectively control film delamination upon the cover panel being opened and prevent seepage or "wicking" at the side seam upper edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Elopak Systems A.G.
    Inventor: Robert E. Lisiecki
  • Patent number: 5333781
    Abstract: A recloseable pouring spout structure for a wall of a product dispensing carton has a first wall panel connected to the carton at a first fold line. The first wall panel has a first aperture. There is a second wall panel connected to the carton at a second fold line generally parallel and opposite to the first fold line. The second wall panel lies interior to the first wall panel and has an opener tab therein defined by a leader edge that is generally parallel to the second fold line, a hinge line generally parallel to the leader edge and a pair of generally parallel opposed side edges extending between the hinge line and the leader edge. At least one locking tab is present on one of the side edges intermediate the leader edge and the hinge line. The locking tab extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the extension direction of the leader tab and is positioned to underlie and engage an edge of the first aperture when the locking tab is in the plane of the second wall panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Waldorf Corporation
    Inventor: Harry I. Roccaforte
  • Patent number: 5332111
    Abstract: A bottle uses a sleeve to stabilize it when in the inverted position. The sleeve in normally around the middle of the bottle when the bottle is upright. The bottle has a lock for the sleeve which is a thickened area of the bottle sidewall. When one wishes to invert the bottle, the lock is pushed inwardly and the sleeve is slid upward over the lock and its top edge is above the bottle top. The top edge is what provides a stable base to support the bottle when it is inverted. The sleeve is maintained in this extended position by the lock pressing against the sleeve due to the resiliency of the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Inventor: John H. Bowen
  • Patent number: 5328266
    Abstract: An extensible handle bag apparatus capable of being manufactured on conventional high-speed manufacturing equipment, wherein the handles of the bag apparatus are constructed from an extensible material which provide comfort to a person's hands when carrying the apparatus, as well as which provide substantial load carrying capabilities to the bag itself. One or more extensible handles are attached in a retracted position below the top peripheral edge of the bag until the handles are manually deployed by an individual making initial use of the fully constructed apparatus. The handles comprise a gripping member and two leg members operably attached to the gripping member. The handles further include attachment regions which are initially stretched, independent of the remainder of the handles so as to increase the surface area for adherence directly to the bag itself and/or to corresponding handle attachment patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Stone Container Corporation
    Inventor: Tommy L. Davis
  • Patent number: 5328089
    Abstract: A front loaded display carton is formed from a one-piece, cut and scored blank of paperboard or the like that is preglued and shipped to the user in a collapsed condition. The carton when squared is of essentially rectangular configuration with a display opening in the front wall and a product containing pocket located interiorly of the carton beneath the display opening. The product containing pocket is formed by internal walls known generally as header panels and stop panels which are cut from the one-piece blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventor: Hampton E. Forbes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5328265
    Abstract: A combination bag and napkin suitable for carrying meals and food items and convertible to a napkin for use while eating. The invention includes a pressure sensitive non-drying adhesive section which allows the napkin to be temporarily attached to one's clothing or dining surface while eating. The invention also uses the pressure sensitive non-drying adhesive to maintain the bag configuration. The bag converts to a napkin without the need for perforations or tear lines by detaching the adhesive and unfolding the bag. A specific fold pattern allows the napkin to be formed into a bag without wasted material or tearing of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: Nina Clooney
  • Patent number: 5326023
    Abstract: An easy-open, spiral wound container for packaging refrigerated dough products includes a spirally wound fibrous core layer, forming an unbonded spiral butt joint. The container also includes an inner liner layer and an outer label layer, each having a seam. The outer label layer is weakened along the butt joint to facilitate opening of the container. An end closure member seals an end of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Rice, Gregory P. Holl, Robert A. Strange
  • Patent number: 5326018
    Abstract: A container having a bottom panel of quadrilateral configuration includes side walls foldably joined to side edges of the bottom panel, end walls foldably joined to end edges of the bottom panel, web structure at each corner of the container which is foldably joined to ends of adjacent side and end walls together with a locking tab foldably joined to each end edge of each end wall and defining a locking slit arranged to cooperate with a fastening slit for holding the web structure in collapsed condition and for holding the carton side and end walls in set up condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Gary W. Baugus
  • Patent number: 5326175
    Abstract: A debris/storage bag that attaches with straps connected to at least two different sides of the bag. The straps are designed to attach to both fixed and variable distances. The debris/storage bag features: (1) a pocket or pockets attached preferably to the exterior of the bag; (2) a flap covering for the opening of the debris/storage bag that can be fastened to keep the contents of the bag from falling out; (3) elastic and non-elastic straps used in conjunction with adjustable fasteners to attach the debris/storage bag to a wide variety of objects with different size circumferences and varying distances between the top and bottom fastening positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventor: James E. Carter
  • Patent number: 5323886
    Abstract: A suitcase made in a rectangular configuration having a retractable handle assembly detachably fastened to one long side thereof, the retractable handle assembly having wheel holders fixed thereto at the bottom to hold two wheels by bolts and lock screws, a hollow base frame fastened to one short side thereof to hold a retractable bracket, and a tie strap having a middle part detachably fastened to an opposite short side of the suitcase and two hooks on two opposite ends thereof hooked on the retractable bracket to hold a case, etc., outside the suitcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventor: Shou-Mao Chen
  • Patent number: 5323957
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, a flip top container of partially irregular hexagonal transverse cross section is formed from a unitary blank of paperboard or other stiff, foldable and resilient sheet material. In a second embodiment of the container, another unitary blank of paperboard is employed to form a cigarette container having the same partially irregular hexagonal transverse cross sectional shape, except that a panel having tongue which is reclosable after opening is employed in lieu of a flip top closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Paul D. Roosa
  • Patent number: 5318218
    Abstract: A reversible latching means for a recloseable container which has a plurality of tabs being deformed from a plane of the latching means in order to engage a plurality of notches on the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Roberts Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry J. Mattson
  • Patent number: 5316167
    Abstract: A container for a fuel tank having an access opening is provided with a closure which fits within a channel in the container to cover the access opening. An elongated bolt has a collapsible cylinder located between the bolt head and the top of the closure to hold the closure to the container. The cylinder is located about the shank of the bolt, and is collapsible above a selected threshold pressure. Under normal bolting conditions, the cylinder is rigid to provide sufficient force to maintain the closure against the tank. Should an abnormal pressure develop within the tank, the closure moves axially along the shank of the elongated bolt, crushing the cylinder and providing additional tank volume to absorb the increased fluid pressure. This reduces the likelihood of catastrophic failure of the closure and also reduces pressure stress on the other tank structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce F. Kay
  • Patent number: 5307849
    Abstract: A cover for the outdoor unit of a split-system air conditioner is disclosed having a flexible shroud and a resilient protective panel disposed in the top of the shroud to protect the top of the unit against damage from falling objects. The protective panel may be formed with a downwardly opening recess covered by a rigid insert panel to provide added protection for the air conditioner motor mount, vanes or grille, or to provide clearance for upwardly projecting parts. A rigid cap panel coextensive with the resilient panel may also be used. The protective panel is retained within the top of the shroud by a retainer skirt having an elastic free edge extending below the perimeter of the protective panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Dennis R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5305949
    Abstract: At least one sidewall panel of a pizza box blank is provided with at least one removable punch-out section. For disposing of the assembled (inter-folded) pizza box, the punch-out section is removed, and the assembled box is folded in half to diminish a major dimension thereof. Additionally, a series of weakening lines are provided which allow the punched out sidewall panel to deform inwardly, into the assembled box, for further facilitating easy folding for disposal in a trash receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: Gerald E. Linden
  • Patent number: 5303863
    Abstract: The invention is an improvement in a carton of the type having a compartment for multiple containers of beverage and means for holding a coolant such as ice in heat exchange relationship to containers, e.g., cans. In the improved carton, the holding means includes a plurality of panels in stacked relationship to one another in a repose position, i.e., when the carton is in the "as sold" configuration. In such configuration, the carton main compartment is of substantially conventional size to hold, for example, twelve or twenty-four 12 oz. cans of beverage. When the user desires to chill the cans (or keep them chilled), the panels are unfolded to a utility position to form an ice bin atop the compartment. Ice is poured into the bin and cans are cooled by direct contact with the ice. By first withdrawing plural cans from the compartment, pouring in ice and then nestling the withdrawn cans back into the bin-contained ice, many or all cans are in direct cooling contact with the ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Inventor: James D. Arasim
  • Patent number: 5301870
    Abstract: A paper scoop particularly suitable for use in concentrated detergent cartons. The scoop is formed from a blank of paperboard which includes a front panel, a bottom panel, a rear panel and two side panels on either side of the front panel. The side panels include handle apertures. When erected from the paperboard blank, the scoop can assume two positions: a flattened tubular position wherein the bottom panel is folded along a bisecting scoreline and an erected position wherein the bottom panel is snapped open whereby the bottom panel is disposed generally perpendicularly to the plane of the flattened scoop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Preston M. Smith, Dominic Marazita
  • Patent number: 5299733
    Abstract: Disclosed is a package formed from a one-piece wrapper, typically made of carrier board, that is folded around twenty-four cans or bottles including a top and bottom of the package having cuts or perforations that partially separate the package into two twelve-packs; each side of the package having at least one tear-strip aligned with the cuts or perforations that will complete the separation into two twelve-packs; and the top of the package having a second pair of tear-strips which will allow the two twelve-packs to be separated into four six-packs. The wrapper can be folded in such a manner that the two six-packs of each of the two twelve-packs is separated by a center divider in the wrapper. This divider has a perforated top end which is aligned with the tear-strips. The two sides of the divider are held together by an adhesive which allows the six-packs to be separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Container Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Elmer D. Werth
  • Patent number: 5297870
    Abstract: A bag for storing articles includes a pair of overlapping closure flaps. One of the flaps is water resistant. The other flap is a mesh flap which permits air to circulate into and out of the bag. One flap or the other can, at the user's discretion, be used to close the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Inventor: Henry H. Weldon
  • Patent number: 5295598
    Abstract: The present invention relates to drinking vessels and more particularly to drinking vessels having an arcuate bottom which will not allow the drinking vessel to be positioned atop a substantially planer surface unless a specially adapted coaster is utilized. The drinking vessel includes a body having an upper portion including an opening for receiving and dispensing liquids and a bottom having a substantially arcuate outer surface. The coaster includes a recessed area for fittingly receiving the arcuate bottom of the drinking vessel and optionally a groove for receiving a portion of a handle which projects from the drinking vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Inventors: David D. Gerlach, Michael V. Badalamente