Patents Examined by Elizabeth J Volz
  • Patent number: 11235924
    Abstract: An article of manufacture for providing a secure desktop item receptacle according to the present invention is disclosed. The container is made of a hollow container, an attaching base coupled to a bottom surface of the hollow container for attaching the container to a desktop, and a four point star shaped opening through a top surface of the hollow container providing access to the inside volume of the hollow container. The attaching base includes a suction cup attachment device on a bottom surface of the attaching base, and a support pedestal coupled between the suction couple attachment device and the hollow container. The hollow container has a spherical shape, a tall goblet shape, and a tall octagon shape. The four point star opening has a cross shape, a narrow arm shape, and a diamond shape. The container may be made of is made of rubber, silicone, plastic, metal and glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventor: Philip Krieg
  • Patent number: 11235695
    Abstract: A liquid tank including an internal network of cells. The cells are configured such that in use, movement of liquid between adjacent cells of the network of cells is prevented or retarded such that under conditions of liquid movement within the tank, kinetic energy transferred from the liquid to the tank wall is reduced as compared with the case where no cells are present. The tank is useful in the context of road tankers, for example, and can lessen the chance or completely prevent the vehicle from overturning on a corner due to shifting of the liquid load carried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventor: Bradely John Carpenter
  • Patent number: 11225361
    Abstract: A closure for a container includes a cap connected to a retaining ring. The cap includes a cover and a skirt. A plurality of concentric threads are disposed on an inside surface of the skirt. The plurality of threads includes at least a first thread at a first level and a second thread at a second level. The first thread is comprised of at least a first thread segment separated from a second thread segment by a first space. The second thread is comprised of at least a third thread segment separated from a fourth thread segment by a second space. A plurality of latch segments includes a first latch segment separated from a second latch segment by a third space. The first space, the second space, and the third space at least partially overlap in along a radial direction of the cap to provide a flex point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: BLACKHAWK MOLDING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Hidding, Jeffrey S. Davis, Thomas M. Urie
  • Patent number: 11213147
    Abstract: A drink cup includes a body formed to include an interior region providing a fluid-holding reservoir and a brim. The brim is coupled to the body to form an opening into the interior region. The body includes a floor and a side wall that extends away from the floor. The drink cup further includes a body-strengthening system coupled to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: David Y. O'Nan, Brad A. Ruminer, Jeffrey A. Mann
  • Patent number: 11208236
    Abstract: A nestable and stackable straight wall tote with an expandable bottom is provided. The tote includes a bottom wall connected to each of a first end wall, a second end wall, a first side wall and a second side wall by an expandable and collapsible linking portion. The expandable and collapsible linking portions allows for expanding the bottom portion of the tote outward to enable the tote to either stack on a like tote when expanded or nest with a like tote (when collapsed. The tote can include a lock mechanism in the bottom to keep the walls in an expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: ORBIS Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Guy Nussbaum
  • Patent number: 11192687
    Abstract: A container lid is provided herein having structurally reinforcing ribs therein. The ribs increase the strength of the lid across a central region thereof. Specifically, the lid can have an outer perimeter and the ribs can be spaced inwardly from the outer perimeter. The inwardly spaced ribs can provide a distinct look for consumer differentiation. Additionally, the ribs can be arcuate so that they generally follow a curvature of the outer perimeter of the lid. As such, a label region within the lid central region is preserved, while the lid is still strengthened by the ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC
    Inventors: Michele M. Dziaba, Andrew Thomas Tilton, Jeffrey A. Johnson, Joseph M. Miskovic
  • Patent number: 11186118
    Abstract: A paint can caddie, including a can receiving portion to receive a base and at least a portion of an outer circumference of a paint can therein, and a paint storing portion circumferentially disposed around the can receiving portion to receive paint spilled from the paint can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventor: Lowell Hughes
  • Patent number: 11167448
    Abstract: The invention relates to a preform (1) for a container (2) made of plastic, wherein the preform (1) comprises a body part (3) comprising a wall having a thickness (e1) which extends along a longitudinal axis (X) and which is connected, via a periphery (8), to a closed bottom part (5) which has an apex (10). According to the invention, the bottom part (5) has ribs (11) which each extend from the apex (10) of the bottom part (5) to the periphery (8) so as to form a star, and a substantially triangular zone (12) arranged between two adjacent ribs (11) and a portion (8a) of the periphery (8) has a thickness (e3) which is less than the thickness (e1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: SOCIÉTÉ D'EXPLOITATION DES SOURCES ROXANE
    Inventor: Stéphane Texier
  • Patent number: 11161686
    Abstract: A collapsible intermodal container includes first and second opposing parallel side walls, and an upper wall and a lower wall. The container has an erected configuration in which the upper wall extends from an upper end portion of the first side wall to an upper end portion of the second side wall, and the lower wall extends from a lower end portion of the second side wall to a lower end portion of the first side wall. In a collapsed configuration, the upper wall extends downwardly from the upper end portion of the first side wall to the lower end portion of the first side wall, and the lower wall extends upwardly from the lower end portion of the second side wall to the upper end portion of the second side wall. Front and rear end assemblies close front and rear ends of the container in the erected configuration and are engageable with the second side wall to secure the first side wall with respect to the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Spectainer Pty Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Oliver Press, Robert Bruce Tiller, Stephen Richard Hill, Daniel Graham Salmon, Lior Hershkovitz
  • Patent number: 11155406
    Abstract: A lid opener for interconnection with a waste container with a handle and a lid the lid opener is provided with a lever dimensioned to pivotally couple with the handle. The lid opener is further provided with a cord coupled with a force portion of the lever. A load portion of the lever is dimensioned to extend underneath the lid, whereby downward force applied to the cord causes the lever to pivot about the handle and open the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Something From Nothing LLC
    Inventor: Kim Cyril John Lavigne
  • Patent number: 11148869
    Abstract: A water resistant tote box is provided. The tote box includes a base, longitudinally extending sidewalls, laterally extending end walls, and a two-piece lid. The base includes a concave lower surface that matches a convex upper surface of the lid, for preserving the structural integrity of the convex upper surface when stacking a like tote box thereon. The two-piece lid includes a pair of lid halves including a rear end hingedly attached to the sidewalls and a free end including interlocking flaps that are securable via a line of connection. Drain troughs disposed on the walls are in fluid communication with drain channels disposed on the lid, enabling moisture to flow off the top of the tote box. Drain gutters disposed on the lid halves are configured to direct moisture, permeating the line of connection, towards the walls. In this way, the tote box has a synergistic effect of resisting water by directing moisture away from the top of the tote box and preventing moisture from leaking into its interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Richard Dunlap
  • Patent number: 11142396
    Abstract: A container includes a base and a wall disposed about and attached to the base. The wall defines a rim spaced from the base, as well as a compartment extending between the base and the wall. A lid having an inner surface and an outer surface is coupled to the wall for covering the compartment. The container has a diverter bar for separating the compartment into at least two sections in a first position. The diverter bar has a body that extends between body ends, with the body releasably engaging the wall in the first position. A retainer attaches to the lid for receiving the diverter bar and securing the diverter bar to the lid to define a storage position. A lip extends outwardly from the body whereby the lip engages the retainer in response to the diverter bar being in the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: HMS Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Janet M. Sofy, Michael E. Brown, Todd M. Lajewski
  • Patent number: 11111050
    Abstract: A pillar shaped container for storing a granulated powder. The container has a sidewall having a cylindrical upper portion, a continuously concave curved intermediate portion and a cylindrical lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: MEAD JOHNSON NUTRITION COMPANY
    Inventors: Robin P. Wiggins, Johanna Kahn
  • Patent number: 11103095
    Abstract: Modular tray and methods of using the modular tray to support various items by securing the modular tray to a structure in a cantilevered-type arrangement. The modular tray may include one or more of a junction member, a tray member, a cover member, a cylinder member, and a clamping unit. The modular tray can be secured to a structure with the clamping unit or the cylinder member so that one or more of the junction member, tray member, and cylinder member are cantilevered from the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Michael A. Martinez
  • Patent number: 11077987
    Abstract: A storage container having a locked position is disclosed, and includes a housing defining a cargo volume and an axis of rotation, a tubular member, a plurality of shelves, and a plurality of dividers. The tubular member is positioned along the axis of rotation and within the cargo volume of the housing. The tubular member defines one or more slots aligned with the axis of rotation. The shelves each define one or more engagement features that are each shaped to engage with a corresponding slot of the tubular member. A radially extending space is defined between a pair of shelves positioned directly adjacent to one another. The dividers that are each secured within a corresponding radially extending space when the storage container is in the locked position. Each of the shelves is configured to slide along the corresponding slot of the tubular member to adjust a volume the individual compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Tushar R. Gawade, Biswajit Tripathy, Sujit Venugopal, Rajiv M. Nagarkatti
  • Patent number: 11072462
    Abstract: A pan includes a base, a sidewall, and a lip. The sidewall extends from and around a first periphery of the base. The base and the sidewall cooperatively define a cavity. The lip extends from and at least partially along a second periphery of an end of the sidewall opposite the base. The lip has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the lip is configured to engage a third portion of a second pan when the pan and the second pan are in a nested arrangement such that engagement between the first portion of the lip and the third portion of the second pan forms an air gap between the pan and the second pan when in the nested arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Theresa Mayer, Kristin Blada, Maximilian James Casler
  • Patent number: 11072492
    Abstract: A bin assembly including a receptacle or a receptacle-crown. The receptacle or receptacle-crown includes at least one wall defining an interior space, a mouth in communication with the interior space that is defined by an upper end of the at least one wall, a rim extending outward and downward from the mouth that includes at least one horizontally convex portion below the mouth, and an aperture in the at least one horizontally convex portion of the rim configured to receive an edge portion of a liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: TBUCK GLOBAL LLC
    Inventor: Thomas K. Buck
  • Patent number: 11059663
    Abstract: A improved shipping container and related methods are embodied by a removable shell that exposes cargo for safe and easy loading and unloading of the cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventor: Derrick Morgan
  • Patent number: 11053050
    Abstract: A liquid container is screwed to tighten and seals strongly, and wherein torque reduction for opening the cap is controlled to prevent loosening the cap, preservation of a tightly-sealing property is improved, and content leak is prevented. The container includes: a body having a male screw on the mouth-neck section rising from the surface; and an anti-loosening cap having a female screw engaging with the male screw and a buffer seal material on the inner side of a top plate, a flange protruding from an open end portion of an outer cylinder skirt extending from the top plate, a resin cushion material protrusion on the flange and attached onto the outer surface of the flange, a height difference of the top plate inner surface to the protrusion top is larger than a height difference from a container opening end face of the mouth-neck to an outer surface portion and protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: AICELLO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshimichi Kutsuna, Go Ota
  • Patent number: 11045029
    Abstract: A fitted coaster for a beverage container. The coaster may include a base and a first sidewall extending substantially perpendicularly from the base, the first sidewall, comprising: a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge; and a first top edge and a first bottom edge opposite the first top edge. The coaster may also include a second sidewall extending substantially perpendicularly from the base, the second sidewall, comprising: a third lateral edge and a fourth lateral edge opposite the third lateral edge; and a second top edge and a second bottom edge opposite the second top edge, wherein the first lateral edge is attached to the third lateral edge and wherein the second lateral edge is attached to the fourth lateral edge. The coaster may further include a first notch disposed along the first bottom edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventors: Austin Gray, Steven Eggleston