Patents Examined by Elizabeth Volz
  • Patent number: 9010566
    Abstract: In one embodiment of a container protector the container protector comprises two opposing side skirts, two opposing end skirts, and a interior lip connected to both side skirts and end skirts. The container protector may also include one or more handle extension to facilitate use with a container having one or more handles. The container protector is designed to sealing fit around the top periphery of a container with the interior lip extending upward to prevent material within the container from flowing outward therefrom during transitions. Such transitions may be caused by heating, transportation, or other disturbances. The precise dimensions of the container protector will vary from one embodiment to the next, and the container protector may take any shape depending on the container for which it is designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Dennis L. Miller
  • Patent number: 9004309
    Abstract: A bucket stabilizer including a disk-shaped base with an annular wall having a top perimeter, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lower perimeter continuously disposed on the base. A plurality of securement tines are disposed on the inner surface proximal the top perimeter and are configured to removable secure a bottom portion of a five gallon mixer bucket. Right angled brackets configured to support the mixer bucket are disposed on the inner surface. A hemispherical opening configured to receive a user's foot to stabilize the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: George R. Gardner
  • Patent number: 9004306
    Abstract: A convertible storage container and methods are provided for the remediation of environmentally damaged articles. The container defines an interior chamber for receiving the environmentally damaged articles therein, the container having at least one container door for closing an access opening into the container. A conversion door is removably positionable with respect to the access opening so as to close the access opening with the container door in an opened condition. The conversion door includes a conversion door panel and a plurality of access ports through the door panel for connection of ducts to permit remediation of the environmentally damaged articles within the interior chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Pack-Rat Mini-Mover, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Platt, James Barbour, Shawn Potwin
  • Patent number: 8998013
    Abstract: A method includes placing at least one mold along outer edges of one or more first pieces of fabric. The method also includes forming free-standing flexible walls and a floor of a containment structure by depositing liquid-impervious material onto the at least one mold and the one or more first pieces of fabric. The floor is formed seamlessly with the walls. The method further includes forming flexible supports by depositing liquid-impervious material onto multiple second pieces of fabric connecting the floor and the flexible walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: TitanLiner, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua D. Hopkins, Damon Wade Cumba, Bernabe Cedillo, Graham D. Laing
  • Patent number: 8985382
    Abstract: A food container includes a base and a lid, and the lid may have a recess configured to receive a second container. The base may comprise a formed cavity that provides a bowl into which food or other items may be placed. The recess in the lid may receive a cup containing another item, such as a condiment or topping. The cup with the condiment or topping may be inserted into the recess, and removed from the recess, without removing the lid from the base. The lid and/or the base may be formed from any suitable materials, such as a transparent or non-transparent plastic material, and/or a compostable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Eco-Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Vernon, Wendell Simonson, Gabriel Collins
  • Patent number: 8985365
    Abstract: A container structure is disclosed. The container structure may include a container body and two movable supporting units. When the container body is used as a regular container, two movable supporting units has not been extended from the container body; and the covering rod, extending rod, connecting rods of the movable supporting units are conjugated with the horizontal supporting columns and connecting posts respectively to reinforce the structure of the container body, so that the reinforced container body can have a better status to sustain heavier weight. Furthermore, the movable supporting units can extend to expand the space of the container body to receive more items to reduce the transportation costs; and when the container is not used for storage purposes, the expanded space can be used for other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Syn Yao Enterprise Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Shan-Chi Chuang
  • Patent number: 8985381
    Abstract: A tank for storing fluid, especially hydrocarbons including low temperature liquefied natural gas. The tank comprises tank walls defining an interior tank space, wherein at least one beam is provided in the interior tank space having at least one beam end connected to the tank wall. The at least one recess is provided in the tank wall for receiving the beam end for anchoring to the tank wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Aker Engineering & Technology AS
    Inventors: Arne Sele, Kåre Dybwad, Michal Stanislaw Przybylski
  • Patent number: 8985383
    Abstract: A plastic container with a rim and a lid, the rim and lid each having channels which, upon installation, produce a liquid-tight fit by means of three complementary pairs of projections from the walls of the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: KW Container
    Inventors: N Kenneth Campbell, Darren Scholl, Keith Rukvina
  • Patent number: 8985379
    Abstract: A beverage container holder is provided, consisting of an elongated body having a planar upper support surface having alternative engagement mechanisms on opposing ends thereof. At one end an aperture is formed, having an elongated ledge-like support that extends downwardly to a horizontally-extending terminus that underlies a portion of the aperture to receive and retain a beverage container—both cylindrical and goblet-shaped. At an opposing end and at a midpoint of the planar upper support surface, a pair of apertures cooperates with the thumb and fingers of a user's hand, to position and secure a food plate against an upper surface of the beverage container holder. The thumb and fingers extend through the apertures from a position below the holder, and in gripping the food plate, the user is also grasping the holder—which in turn may be carrying a beverage container held within the beverage-receiving aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Ronald G. Evans
  • Patent number: 8985363
    Abstract: A food/drink container includes a receptacle, a lid removably secured to the receptacle and a handle movably coupled to the container such that the handle may move between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, at least a portion the handle is disposed below the receptacle and in the second configuration, at least a portion of the handle is rotatable with respect to receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Domenic T. Gubitosi, David Shapiro, Charlie Smith
  • Patent number: 8985360
    Abstract: A cap for a drain hose and a plurality of bottles with different opening sizes is provided. The cap includes a main body and an extension body. The main body includes a main sleeve, a sleeve for drain hose and a leakage-proof part, wherein the main sleeve is for engaging with a first bottle, the sleeve for drain hose is for engaging with the drain hose, and the leakage-proof part is for closely sealing the opening of the first bottle. The extension body is formed integrally with the main body and extends outwardly from the main body, the extension body including an extension sleeve for engaging with a second bottle, the opening size of the second bottle being larger than the opening size of the first bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Yen-An Chen
  • Patent number: 8985373
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a plastic container having a container wall provided with a barrier foil, comprising the following steps: forming a foil body from a barrier foil, the shape of which corresponds to at least part of the container wall of the plastic container to be produced, arranging the foil body in an injection mold, applying a first plastic layer onto a first side of the foil body that corresponds to an inner side or outer side of the plastic container, and applying a second plastic layer onto a second side of the foil body that corresponds to an outside or inside of the plastic container, and to a plastic container comprising a container wall having a barrier foil, wherein the barrier foil is arranged centrally between an inner side and an outer side of the plastic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Netstal-Maschinen AG
    Inventors: Rüdiger Grings, Armin Gölles
  • Patent number: 8985378
    Abstract: A cosmetic compact having an expansive base member containing a series of upwardly-facing product wells to accommodate one or more cosmetic items, the compact further having a cover member, and having a shuttle piece interposed between the base member and cover member. The various parts have cooperating slide components for permitting relative movement of the members in four opposed directions. A versatile, four way slide compact construction is thus made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Charles Chang
  • Patent number: 8978909
    Abstract: Disclosed is a closure device for a container, which seals an opening (6) that opens at the top of a container (2) and has a rim (7) on its periphery. The closure device comprises a seal member (8) that is to cover the opening (6) on the top of the container (2), and a synthetic resin cap (9) that is to press the seal member (8) against the upper surface of the rim (7). The seal member (8) comprises a flange (10) to be mounted on the upper surface of the rim (7). The cap (9) comprises a top wall (15), a cylinder part (16), and a locking part (18). The top wall (15) is to be disposed above the flange (10). The cylinder part (16) hangs down from the outer circumference of the top wall (15). The locking part (18) is disposed on the inner surface of the cylinder part (16). After the cap (9) is pushed down, the locking part (18) locks at the under surface of the rim (7). The upper surface of the flange (10) has a compressible projection (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kakutani, Norikazu Miyamoto, Tomohito Shirai, Katsushi Maeda, Eiji Yao
  • Patent number: 8973774
    Abstract: Waste container including a base defining a waste-receiving compartment, a lid movably attached to the base and movable between a first position covering a waste insertion opening and a second position in which it does not obstruct the waste insertion opening and a support portion including an aperture through which a bag is placed into the compartment. An obstruction mechanism includes an actuator and an obstruction member having at least one part that selectively engages with the bag at a location below the support portion. The actuator is manually and/or automatically rotatable to cause rotation of the obstruction member between a first position in which the obstruction member is in a first plane not obstructing insertion of waste into the bag and a second position in which the obstruction member is in a second plane obstructing insertion of waste into the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: David M. Stravitz
  • Patent number: 8960478
    Abstract: A food and condiment container having a first storage space for a food item and a second storage space for a condiment. The container includes a paperboard carton and an appliqué fold-out pocket affixed thereto and moveable between open and closed positions for receiving a condiment The pocket includes a front panel, a back panel, and first and second side panels extending therebetween. The back panel is joined to the carton, and the front panel is joined to the back panel along a portion thereof to hinge forward from the back panel. The side panels are connected between the front and back panels and are collapsible along a crease extending the vertical length of the side panels. Prior to use, the appliqué pocket remains flush with the carton and is opened along a perforation line to form a storage space for a condiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Caleb C. Crye
  • Patent number: 8939303
    Abstract: A knock down wood box system is a storage container system that is provided with an initial easily transportable disassembled configuration that is constructed into a sturdy assembled configuration without tools or adhesives. The knock down wood box system creates an enclosable storage compartment that can be collapsed when not in use such that it inhabits a much smaller amount of space. The knock down wood box system accomplishes this through the use of a plurality of panel sections that are particularly arranged to a plurality corner clips. The knock down wood box system in the assembled configuration may also serve as a decorative piece. Resultantly, it is also an object of the knock down wood box system to create a box that is aesthetically pleasing to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Peter Y Sibbett
  • Patent number: 8925759
    Abstract: In one embodiment of a container protector the container protector comprises two opposing side skirts, two opposing end skirts, and a interior lip connected to both side skirts and end skirts. The container protector may also include one or more handle extension to facilitate use with a container having one or more handles. The container protector is designed to sealing fit around the top periphery of a container with the interior lip extending upward to prevent material within the container from flowing outward therefrom during transitions. Such transitions may be caused by heating, transportation, or other disturbances. The precise dimensions of the container protector will vary from one embodiment to the next, and the container protector may take any shape depending on the container for which it is designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Dennis L. Miller
  • Patent number: 8919603
    Abstract: A detachable handle for a child's sippy cup. The sippy cup includes a cup portion and a lid portion coupled to the cup portion. The lid portion includes a drinking spout having apertures. The detachable handle includes a ring portion that engages the lid and/or the cup portion, and a pair of grasping portions that extend axially and radially away from the ring portion. Hook portions are radially aligned with, and extend axially opposite the grasping portions, and are engageable with an upper surface of the lid portion. Moving the grasping portions radially inwardly causes the hook portions to move radially outwardly for disengagement from the upper surface and removal of the handle from the sippy cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Learning Curve Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian M. Greene
  • Patent number: 8910818
    Abstract: The invention relates to a universal closure device (1) for openings (2) of sample containers (3) having different cross-sections (4). The closure device (1) comprises a shaft part (6) extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis (5) and a plurality of sealing elements (12, 16), which are disposed in the region of an outer surface (9) of the shaft part (6) and are intended for applying to an inner lateral surface (11) of the sample container (3) to be closed, wherein said lateral surface faces the longitudinal axis (5). The sealing elements (12, 16) arranged on the shaft part (6) are arranged in succession in a circumferential plane and in the circumferential direction of the shaft part (6). At least one supporting element (31, 33) is arranged and extends between the sealing element (12, 16) and the outer surface (9) of the shaft part (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: STIWA Holding GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Heiml