Patents Examined by Christopher McKinley
  • Patent number: 8678215
    Abstract: A container for containing a flowable substance includes a container body, a substantially elliptical opening in the container body, and a resealable closure affixed over the opening. The container body defines an internal cavity that is adapted to contain the flowable substance therein. The opening is adapted to allow the flowable substance to flow therethrough. The resealable closure is adjustable between an open position, where the flowable substance can flow through the opening, and a closed position, where the closure obstructs the opening to prevent the flowable substance from flowing through the opening. When the closure is in the open position and the container is substantially filled with the flowable substance, the flowable substance can flow through the opening without interrupting airflow through the opening when the container is tilted over a range of tilt angles of approximately 35 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Steiger, Machelle D. Stockwell
  • Patent number: 8672159
    Abstract: A hollow vacuum packaging product in which a ring includes threads distributed around its periphery, and between which a sealing cap enters into engagement when the hollow product is opened/closed. In an evacuated closed condition of the hollow product, the sealing cap is configured to enter into engagement only in an interval between two consecutive threads, or in plural such consecutive intervals, but not in all of the intervals. Such a hollow product may be, as an example, a thermoplastic bottle or jar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Emballage
    Inventor: Philippe Moreira
  • Patent number: 8662335
    Abstract: A system including transportable all-terrain berm for receiving and retaining fluid. The berm includes flexible impervious sheeting generally formed of a coated fabric. The sheeting is shaped to include a floor area surrounded with opposed end and side wall sections forming a containment area. The end and side walls include adjacent their outer edges spaced retaining and support members. The berm includes a plurality of A-frame braces arranged in vertical positions about the flooring for supporting the end and side wall sections. Stabilizer members are engaged with the upper ends of adjacent braces. The retaining and support members are engaged with the brace members and the stabilizer members holding the end and side walls in generally elevated positions and in engagement with the braces forming the containment area. A bladder for containing and dispensing fluid may be located in the containment area, in which case the berm protects against bladder spillage while providing structural support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Basic Concepts, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward W. Van Romer
  • Patent number: 8662337
    Abstract: A waste storage device is provided including a waste storage cassette receiving chamber for receiving a cassette rotatable within the chamber and containing tubing for enveloping waste. The device further includes a waste inlet and a throat area therebetween, wherein a releasable gripping assembly is provided in the throat area and arranged for actuation between a released configuration defining an aperture for passage of waste therethrough and a gripping configuration defining a restriction in the throat area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sangenic International Limited
    Inventors: Graham Keith Lacy, Nicholas Gerald Fitton, Benjamin Douglas Vinal Cramp, Julian Swan
  • Patent number: 8657141
    Abstract: The cartridge includes a storage chamber for the reception of one or more filler materials and a neck which contains a discharge passage for each filler material. A shock absorbing element extends about the neck and is connected at one end to the neck. A closure cap is connected to the shock absorbing element or cartridge by a hinge to selectively open and close the discharge passage(s). When in the closure position over the discharge passage(s), the closure cap is recessed within and spaced from the shock absorbing element to avoid being loosened by an impact force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sulzer Mixpac AG
    Inventor: Sasan Habibi-Naini
  • Patent number: 8651314
    Abstract: A foam tank structure includes a foam tank, a bag and a foam tube, in which the foam tank is equipped with a manhole and a hole cover, and the upper and lower tank walls are individually placed with a foam injection hole, an inlet opening and a drain opening; the bag is integrated with the hollow bag body within the foam tank, and the upper and lower ends individually connect with a foam injection hole, particularly, the bag has double bag walls forming interlayer space therebetween, and plural anti-wear items integrate within the interlayer space; and the foam tube is installed within the bag and connects the foam injection hole of the foam tank, and plural open-apertures are placed at the tube wall; thereby providing a foam tank structure which improves the durability and operating life of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: I Hsing Lin
  • Patent number: 8646638
    Abstract: Foldable container comprising a bottom plate, side plates and first hinges for connecting the side plates to the bottom plate, and a roof plate that is can be raised from the side plates, wherein the roof plate connects to opposite side plates by inter-positioned connecting rods, and wherein each connecting rod has at a first extremity a second hinge that connects to a side plate and at a second extremity opposite to said first extremity is slidably connected to said roof plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Technische Universiteit Delft
    Inventors: Robert A. Buskermolen, Kimmo Eggers, Arthur Vincent Marius Meijers, Gunawan Kusuma Koesdianto
  • Patent number: 8640899
    Abstract: A vial is closed by a stopper. The stopper is provided with arrangements allowing, in a first position, the filling of the vial with a liquid through an opening and, in a second position, the sealed and definitive closure of said opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Eskiss Packaging
    Inventor: Victor Palusci
  • Patent number: 8622234
    Abstract: A packaging container comprises an openable outer case and a bag for packaging a resin material in the outer case. The bag is partially turned back at fold portions so that part of the bag is turned inside out, and at least part of the out-turned part is fixed as a fixing part to any part other than the bag. The inner surfaces of the bag at the fold portions are placed in contact with each other, forming a contact portion, to seal the resin material. The contact portion is placed in correspondence with an openable part of an opening flap of the outer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Showa Denko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Koide, Shotaro Itami, Soh Hatakeyama, Hidekazu Kanbara, Shigeki Teruoka
  • Patent number: 8622235
    Abstract: The insulated container and insert are formed of relatively soft and flexible panels having relatively thick cores of thermal insulation captured between thin impervious sheets. The outer container has a closable top, and the insert has an open top. The insert is about half the height of the outer container, allowing ice or other cooling material, beverage cans and/or bottles, etc., to be placed in the bottom of the outer container with the insert resting thereon for the carriage of food therein. As the outer bottom surface of the insert will be moist from contact with ice or the like therebelow, the outer container includes a drop down panel that may be lowered for placement of the insert thereon to preclude contamination of the bottom of the insert with loose sand or the like. Additional carrying handles and straps are provided, as well as outer pockets on the outer container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Glen R. Suchecki
  • Patent number: 8622238
    Abstract: A rotatable pull-tab assembly for a beverage container having a handle member which is displaceable from a storage position to a seal plate opening position, a seal plate opener which causes a seal plate of a beverage container to open upon displacement of the handle member, and a cover plate member which substantially covers an opening of a beverage container when the rotatable pull-tab assembly is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: John Kaper
  • Patent number: 8616402
    Abstract: A bowl includes a main bowl portion and an ancillary portion or trough integral with the side of the bowl that is shaped to receive cereal or other food as a staging location before the food is maneuvered into the main bowl portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Edward A. Andrews
  • Patent number: 8613369
    Abstract: The retainer includes a coupling pair with a lid portion and a bottle portion. The lid portion is anchored to a lid. The bottle portion is anchored to a bottle. The lid and bottle are removably attachable in a manner opening and closing access into an interior of the bottle. With the lid portion affixed to the lid and the bottle portion affixed to the bottle, the coupling pair can be utilized to secure the lid to the bottle in a position leaving the opening of the bottle clear. In one form the lid portion and bottle portion exhibit magnetic attraction thereto, such as by having one part of the coupling pair in the form of a magnet and the other part in the form of a ferromagnetic material. In one embodiment the entire outer surface of the bottle is formed of ferromagnetic material with the lid portion being a magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Inventor: Stephen M. Kitto
  • Patent number: 8613190
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure vessel consisting of a housing and an insulating layer lining the inner surface of the housing. The housing is formed from a fiber composite material which has a high mechanical and thermal resistance and the insulating layer is formed from a gas-tight silicone elastomer, with the housing and the insulating layer being bonded to each other. The invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of such pressure vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: MT Aerospace AG
    Inventors: Bernd Murawski, Helmut Maierhofer
  • Patent number: 8608017
    Abstract: A disposable child's drinking cup has a lid with a drinking spout defining multiple open holes sized to resist leakage in the absence of suction, such as by the development of surface tension at the holes, and to allow flow when suction is applied. The holes are formed during molding of the lid. An inner contour of a groove of the lid and an outer contour of the cup body rim are selected to provide a slight snap fit of the lid onto the cup body, to provide a secure seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Learning Curve Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Connors, Jr., David E. Medeiros, George S. Dys, James J. Britto, John A. Hession
  • Patent number: 8602255
    Abstract: A socket connector packaging includes a main body and a cover. The main body includes a first sidewall and a pivot positioned on the first sidewall. The cover includes a second sidewall, a coupling portion and a stop portion. The coupling portion and the stop portion are positioned on the second sidewall and opposite to each other. The pivot is placed over the coupling portion, thereby making the cover to be rotatable relative to the main body through the pivot. The stop portion is configured for preventing the cover from further rotating when the pivot contacts with the stop portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Jun Song, Yong-Zhao Huang
  • Patent number: 8602238
    Abstract: A drink bottle may include a container and a lid connected to the container. The lid may include a spout and a spout cover. Each of the spout and the spout cover may be moved in opposite directions between a stowed configuration and a dispensing configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ignite USA, LLC
    Inventors: Sami El-Saden, Blair E. Miller, Daniel M. Wodka, John W. Phillips
  • Patent number: 8584890
    Abstract: A multiple-opening container is configured to facilitate the simultaneous opening of two or more material containing compartments, thus allowing for the material contents within the multiple containing compartments to be suitably mixed upon pouring into another container. As a result of the simultaneous opening and pouring ability facilitated by the multiple-opening container, the time for mixing of multiple materials, such as beverages, fluids, powders or other like contents, can be suitably reduced. In addition, the de-carbonization and/or deterioration or other side affects caused from pre-mixing of the contents can be eliminated. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, engagement portion can comprise a snap clip and a ring portion configured for sealed coupling to a material containing compartment. Second compartment can be suitably filled within beverages or other materials, and then positioned within the container portion and sealed or otherwise coupled by the engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas C. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8579136
    Abstract: Limited flow cups are provided which deliver a metered amount of fluid to a user during a drinking motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Reliant Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Burke, Richard M. Davis, Gerald Melsky, David Porat, Jerry Porter
  • Patent number: 8573424
    Abstract: A container, particularly a beverage bottle, can be closed in a bottle opening of a bottle body with a closure made of a plastic material or glass. A fixing element is detachable fastened to the bottle body and holds the closure in the bottle opening. Such a bottle closure solves the problems involving, in particular, wine bottles and which arise when otherwise common bottle cork stoppers are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Alcoa Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Dubs, Jürgen Soldan, Karl Matheis