Patents Examined by Fenn Mathew
  • Patent number: 9307851
    Abstract: A drinking straw and closure assembly for use with a container includes a straw element having an outer diameter. A decorative assembly includes a decorative element secured to an attachment sleeve. The attachment sleeve has an inner diameter adapted to fit over the outer diameter of the straw element. A straw support member is adapted for engagement with the straw element and with the container. A rotary closure member is adapted for engagement with the straw element and with the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Ashley Monique Rhodes
  • Patent number: 9309040
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable polymeric cover provides a safe, low cost way to cover a food service pan during food preparation, storage, cooking, transport and reheating. The food pan cover can have a closed top end having a first top edge and a second top edge and an open bottom end having a first bottom edge and a second bottom edge. A first side seal extends from the top end to the bottom end, and a second side seal extends from the top end to the bottom end. A gusset can be formed between the first top edge and the second top edge. The food pan cover can be formed from a single layer of heat-shrinkable polymeric material capable of withstanding a temperature of at least about 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: M & Q IP LEASING, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy L. Blucher, Michael D. Schmal, Ernest E. Bachert, Joseph A. Radosta
  • Patent number: 9309026
    Abstract: A wax melt assembly includes a plurality of first wax melts, a plurality of second wax melts and a melt retainer. The first wax melts each have a first property. The second wax melts each have a second property that is different than the first property. The melt retainer includes a first compartment, a second compartment and a retainer body. The first compartment retains the first wax melts. The second compartment retains the second wax melts. The retainer body can have a height that extends from a base to a top of the retainer body and can include a plurality of exterior side walls that extend the height of the retainer body. The retainer body can include a compartment separator that extends between the first compartment and the second compartment. The first compartment can include a first sub-compartment that retains one of the first wax melts, and a second sub-compartment that retains another of the first wax melts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Travis Propes
  • Patent number: 9302824
    Abstract: An improved beverage container lid includes a first drinking aperture near one lid edge and a second drinking aperture near the opposite lid edge. The second aperture may be sized to accommodate a straw. A rotating lid cover member in a first orientation reveals the first aperture and conceals the second aperture, in a second orientation seals both apertures and in a third orientation reveals the second aperture and conceals the first aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ETS EXPRESS, INC.
    Inventor: Sharon Eyal
  • Patent number: 9302830
    Abstract: A container or part of a container may comprise fragrance encapsulated in microcapsules configured to release fragrance emitting substance at at least one predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Ramsey, Peter Alan Young, Daniel A. Abramowicz
  • Patent number: 9302810
    Abstract: A tray, such as for baked goods, includes a base and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from side edges of the base. A front wall and a rear wall extend upward from a front edge and a rear edge of the base. The front wall and rear wall each have at least a portion that is shorter than the side walls. The front wall and rear wall each include an inner wall portion spaced inwardly of an outer wall portion. The front wall and rear wall each including at least one portion of reduced width at an upper edge of the front wall and the rear wall. The portion of reduced width accommodates the notches of a similar tray cross stacked thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Mauricio D. Cavalcante
  • Patent number: 9302839
    Abstract: A volumetrically efficient plastic hot fill container at least one vacuum panel defined by a vacuum panel area of a sidewall that is constructed and arranged to flex inwardly in order to accommodate volumetric shrinkage that may occur within the container as a result of the conventionally known hot fill process. Advantageously, at least a portion of the vacuum panel area of the sidewall is formed as a plurality of undulations. The undulations preferably have a horizontal component and provide an increased surface area to the vacuum panel area relative to what a flat surface would provide. As a result, the amount of volumetric shrinkage that may be accommodated through inward deflection of said vacuum panel area of said sidewall is increased relative to a flat surface would provide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9296543
    Abstract: A portable, durable, lightweight cooler system designed to maintain beverages, food, medical supplies, drugs, and other heat sensitive products at existing temperatures with substantially reduced heat gain or loss from the surrounding environment for extended periods of time, when no power source is available. This container is designed to greatly reduce radiant heat transfer along with conductive and convective heat transfer while diminishing decomposition effects of stored items and thus maintaining freshness. This system includes a cooler housing, a reinforced lid, a radiation reflective material application, and a system to remove air from the containment area, thus creating a vacuum within the cooler itself and sealing the lid to the cooler housing. Upon actuation of a vacuum release device, air is reintroduced into the containment area thus allowing the lid to be removed and the stored products be accessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: HEB Grocery Company, LP
    Inventors: Eric Newland Wooldridge, Daniel Bailey Jacobs
  • Patent number: 9296538
    Abstract: The invention includes a closure for a container. The closure includes a lid, a tab including a base, an end opposite the base, and a rivet. The rivet is disposed between the base and the end. The tab is fastened to the lid at the base and the rivet such that the rivet pulls away from the lid to form a hole in the lid when the end of the tab is moved away from the lid during the opening process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Ali El-Afandi
  • Patent number: 9295615
    Abstract: The removable cap for a feeding bottle is made from flexible plastics material with a smooth exterior surface which is soft to a baby's lips and chin and has an upstanding nipple open at the bottom and with an aperture at the top. The underside of the cap is provided with a plurality of spaced shallow indentations elliptical in shape and moulded into the plastics material. The indentations are arranged in concentric circles around the open end of the nipple and increase in length and width progressively from the innermost circle to the outermost circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: BB IPR Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Paul Tollman
  • Patent number: 9295349
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a vessel-lid combination includes a ceramic or glass vessel having an open top surrounded by a peripheral edge, a lid fabricated of a plastic material, and a seal structure. The lid is configured to attach to the open top by means of a latch or set of latches integrated with the lid, and the seal structure is configured to provide an air-tight seal between the lid and the peripheral edge of the vessel when the lid is attached to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Snapware Corporation
    Inventor: Justin Smyers
  • Patent number: 9295313
    Abstract: A skid plate for protecting a telescoping handle is described. The skid plate can include a cover body with a back section, a first sidewall section and a second sidewall section, and the cover body can define concave cavity to enclose therein portions of a telescoping base of the telescoping handle. The cover body can also include a plurality of spaced apart engagement members extending from the inner side of the cover body for engaging with the telescoping base. The plurality of engagement members can include attachment members and spacing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: LF CENTENNIAL LTD
    Inventors: Terrence P. Kinskey, Matthew G. Williams
  • Patent number: 9296539
    Abstract: Base includes an outer support wall, a support surface extending inwardly from the outer support wall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the support surface, a first radiused portion extending radially inward from the inner support wall and concave relative to the reference plane, a second radiused portion extending radially inward from the first radiused portion and convex relative to the reference plane, an intermediate surface extending radially inward from the second radiused portion and substantially parallel to the reference plane, a third radiused portion extending radially inward from the intermediate surface and convex relative to the reference plane, and a central portion disposed proximate the third radiused portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Lee Wright, Justin A. Howell, Travis A. Hunter, Romauld M. Philippe, Michael T. Kelly, Robert Waltemyer
  • Patent number: 9296294
    Abstract: Noise reduction baffle for a fuel tank comprising a lower carrier and an upper sliding part which can slide relatively to the carrier thanks to compression springs mounted on retainers, said lower carrier having a hollow foot comprising two vertical or inclined walls defining an open cavity of elongated shape having a longitudinal axis, said cavity comprising at least one rib making an angle with the longitudinal axis of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: INERGY AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS RESEARCH (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Pierre Jacob, Yohann L'Hermite, Herve Guillerme, Thibaut Prouveur, Laurent Guyotte
  • Patent number: 9295314
    Abstract: The present invention is direct to an item holding device having a container body and a flexible tail and method of use. The flexible tail, which is repositionable when sufficient force is applied, yet allows the invention to be reasonably fixed once configured, allows a user to attach the item holding device in locations unsuitable for traditional fastening mechanisms. The flexible tail facilitates the positioning of the item holding device within convenient reach of the user by enabling the user to wrap the flexible tail around a static structure or configure it to form a support stand for placement upon a surface. The flexible nature of the tail allows the tail to snugly conform to the shape of the attachment point, keeping the item holding device securely in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: David McClees
  • Patent number: 9290310
    Abstract: A container for holding contents includes a shell having a peripheral rim defining a substantially open top, a lid positioned on the shell, covering the substantially open top, and having a peripheral portion engaging the peripheral rim, and a liner disposed within the shell, conforming to the shape of the shell, and having peripheral ribbon secured to the lid forming a continuous seal between the liner and the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: CDF CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Sinn, Joseph Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9289083
    Abstract: A food container is divided into two compartments by a vertically extending partition wall. A user selects which of the two compartments will hold a food product and which compartment will receive inedible parts of the food product after edible part of the food product is consumed. A snap-on lid closes the container to retain the food product and discarded inedible parts inside the container. Flap openings in the lid allow access to the compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: Robert Lee
  • Patent number: 9289357
    Abstract: A bottle teat made of a soft elastic material, comprising: a hollow suction nipple, a circumferential mounting edge for fixation to the bottle opening of a drinking bottle, a hollow transition zone between the mounting edge and the suction nipple, and two drinking slots extending from the outer side to the inner side of the suction nipple in an end region of the suction nipple, which are aligned in parallel to each other and whose distance from each other decreases from the outer side towards the inner side of the suction nipple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: Eckhard Itzek
  • Patent number: 9290729
    Abstract: A disposable container for fluid having an inlet and an outlet is provided. The container has a vortex breaker having a solid surface adapted to initially direct fluid away from the outlet and then through the outlet positioned adjacent the container outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Morrissey, James E. Kelly, Jr., Dennis Wong, Steve Mello, Jean-Louis Weissenbach
  • Patent number: 9289040
    Abstract: A reversible tote bag comprising: a selectively openable and closable bag opening; a plurality of compartments, each having an interior storage area; a first exterior bag surface and a second exterior bag surface; wherein the first or the second exterior surface of each of the plurality of compartments may be selectively displayed by turning the tote bag inside out; s device for selectively opening and closing the tote bag opening; and, at least one device for toting the tote bag, wherein the plurality of compartments are attached to each other along a single line such that each compartment moves independently along the single top seam while attached to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: Lovette Appleton