Patents Examined by Gary E. Elkins
  • Carton handle
    Patent number: 7331506
    Abstract: A carton handle comprising a first base portion; a second base portion; a pair of retaining flanges which are extended outwardly on each side of the first and the second base portions; a connecting portion connecting the first and second base portions and a ring structure with a U-shape joined on top of the second base portion. First and second base portions are molded to have a generally rectangular shape and dimensions of an aperture in a carton wall such that, upon insertion in an aperture, the first and second base portions are movable to respective positions wherein the retaining flanges lie contiguous with one surface and the opposite surface of the carton wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hannspree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chuan Lai, Yang Tsao Lung
  • Carton with top dispensing feature
    Patent number: 7331507
    Abstract: A carton with a new type of dispenser that is placed midway between the ends of the carton adjacent a fold line between the top panel and adjoining side panel. The dispenser is designed so that it is slightly larger than the diameter of the bottom ends of from two to three containers. Said dispenser may have a push tab or starting flap to aid in commencing tearing the dispenser flap open. A coupon may be located on the inside or outside of the dispenser flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Sutherland, Raymond R. Spivey, Sr., Glen R. Harrelson
  • Paperboard carton with a new type of dispenser
    Patent number: 7328834
    Abstract: A carton for carrying a plurality of cans in at least three rows having a dispenser flap that is easily removed from the end of the carton to expose a dispenser which has a bottom of a sufficient height from the bottom panel to prevent containers in the bottom row from rolling out, but less than the diameter of a container in the bottom row. The top of the dispenser is at a height from the bottom panel that is equal to diameter of a can contained in the carton plus the distance that is substantially less than the diameter of a can, such height being sufficient to prevent any container in the middle row from automatically rolling out of the dispenser when opened, but allowing a person to grasp and pull out the container in the middle row that is adjacent to the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen R. Harrelson
  • Package
    Patent number: 7325720
    Abstract: A package formed from a cardboard blank having crease lines and wall panels, bottom flaps forming a bottom of the package and top flaps, namely short-side flaps and long-side flaps, folded and heat sealed together to form the top of the package. One of the long-side flaps has at its free end a seal tab, which is provided with a heat seal adhesive and is sealed against the opposite long-side flap. The seal tab has a smaller length than the width of the package for enabling it to be brought down into the top of the package for re-closing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Forpacknings/AB Nord-Emballage
    Inventors: Ulf Jeppsson, Niilo Poyhonen
  • Portable food dispenser
    Patent number: 7325718
    Abstract: A portable food dispenser includes one or more containers. A first container is capable of being only partially opened to provide access to food or a second container. The second container includes a cover that can be opened to provide access to food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: LBP Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Cook, Kurt Wolf
  • Gable-top package for pourable food products
    Patent number: 7325719
    Abstract: A gable top package for pourable food products comprising a gabled top portion including a front sloping top wall and a back sloping top wall joined together at a top transversal seal, wherein the gabled top portion includes a pair of lateral flaps adjacent to respective end portions of the top transversal seal and folded out of the package top volume available for the food product and delimited by the front and back sloping top walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Lars-Erik Palm
  • Folding box with fold-down attachment flap
    Patent number: 7316343
    Abstract: A sealable folding box in the shape of a parallelepiped or cube with attached bottom and cover flaps and an attachment flap—is provided with an attachment recess—is that is arranged on an edge of the folding box body that extends between these flaps. To this end, the folding-box body—seen in the lengthwise direction of the matrix—has a sealing flap on one end and a combination section on the other end. The combination section consists of an inside area and at least one outside area, whereby the inside area is an attachment flap—provided with an attachment recess—while the outside area is used to attach the combination section to the side wall with which it is in contact. With the invention, a folding box is provided that can be handled simply and reliably in production, storage and filling, that encloses the contents largely dust-tight and that can be marketed stacked or suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignees: Schering AG, Carl Edelmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sabine Leifeld, Michael Fuchs
  • Belt mounted tool holder
    Patent number: 7314153
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tool holder for mounting to a user's clothing article, such as a belt or pants pocket. The tool holder includes a first and second support members connected to each other and configured and dimensioned for receiving and hooking around the belt with the first and second support members disposed on opposite sides of the belt. A tool holding member is mounted to one of the support members and is configured for holding a tool. The support members are preferably of an injection-molded material. Also, the support members can be constructed as separate pieces that engage each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: EZ Hook, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Musarella, Steve Hnatowicz
  • Handled container
    Patent number: 7314158
    Abstract: A container blank comprising a bottom wall having two opposed pairs of sides. One dimension of the bottom wall is the distance between one pair of the sides. Walls are attached to each of the sides. The heights of the walls are substantially equal. A closure member and handle member are attached to the walls attached to one pair of sides. There is a hand hole in each of the handle members. At least one of the closure members has a length greater than one-half the bottom wall dimension, and the combined length of the closure members is greater than the bottom wall dimension. A closure panel is attached to each of the walls attached to the other pair of sides. Attachment flaps are attached to the sides of each of the closure panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: David J. McKenna, Sr., Jeffrey M Gardner
  • Two piece paper cup and sidewall blank therefor
    Patent number: 7311243
    Abstract: A two-piece cup is formed by a sidewall member having an upper edge, a lower edge, a pair of opposite side edges, a front surface and a back surface with the opposite side edges overlapped and sealed along an overlapped side seam, and a bottom member sealed along the lower edge of the sidewall member. The upper edge of the sidewall member is curled into a continuous rim. Upper corners of the sidewall member are formed with a plurality of parallel score lines extending inwardly from each side edge immediately beneath the upper edge, the score lines overlapping in the side seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Paper Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Daryl R. Konzal
  • Reclosable carton
    Patent number: 7306135
    Abstract: A carton that can be opened and incrementally reduced in size and reclosed is provided. A horizontal tear line is provided in a main panel of the carton and is connected to a diagonal tear line in each side panel that extends upwardly and crosses to the other main panel. When these tear lines are torn the carton is reduced in size by that increment. A reclosable top is formed in a main panel by two fold lines that extend across that panel. A gusset fold line in each side panel that extends from each tear line downwardly to a main panel allows the top panel and closing flap of the carton to be closed. This carton may have several sections that can be incrementally reduced in size and reclosed as items are removed from the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. DeBusk, Colin P. Ford
  • Handled container
    Patent number: 7306136
    Abstract: A container has opposed pairs of parallel walls. There are closure members attached to the upper side of one pair of walls which extend downwardly into the container. Handle members attached to the closure members. The handle members are contiguous in the formed container and have aligned hand holes. The upper sides of the handle members are below or at the top of the container. Closure panels are attached to the upper sides of the other pair of walls. The closure panels are attached to the first pair of walls and are over the closure and handle members. The closure panels form an opening to grasp the hand holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: David J. McKenna, Jeffrey M. Gardner
  • Handled container
    Patent number: 7306137
    Abstract: A container blank comprising four walls. The first and third walls are one pair and the second and fourth are another pair. The heights of the walls are substantially equal. A closure member and handle member are attached to each of the walls of one pair of walls. There is a hand hole in each of the handle members. At least one of the closure members has a length greater than one-half the width of one of the walls of the other pair of walls, and the combined length of the closure members is greater than the width of one of the walls of the other pair of walls. A closure panel is attached to each of the other pair of walls. Attachment flaps are attached to the sides of each of the closure panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: David J. McKenna, Jeffrey M. Gardner
  • Handled container
    Patent number: 7303114
    Abstract: A three part container having a bottom wall and two walls in one part, and a wall in each of the other parts. The heights of the walls are substantially equal. A closure member and a handle member are attached to the walls in each of the other parts. There is a hand hole in the handle member. At least one of the closure members has a length greater than one-half the width of one of the walls of the one part, and the combined length of the closure members is greater than the width of one of the walls of the one part. A closure panel is attached to each of the walls of the one part. Attachment flaps are attached to the sides of each of the closure panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: David J McKenna, Sr., Jeffrey M Gardner
  • Cupcake crate
    Patent number: 7303115
    Abstract: A cupcake carrier for organizing and protecting cupcakes during storage and transit includes a container formed of a singled sheet of planar material and having flaps folded in assembly to form an upwardly opening cavity carrying an insert tray formed of a single sheet of planar material and having circular openings for lightly compressively holding the cupcakes in a grid array. The insert is sized smaller than the base of the container to provide slots about the periphery. The container includes a hinged lid having flaps that enter the slots in the closed position to reinforce the outer walls and prevent inner movement of the flaps during transit and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: Lee Anne McClymont
  • Folding box
    Patent number: 7303116
    Abstract: This invention relates to a folding box comprising a flexible sheet consisting of a single layer of boxboard. The inventive box comprises: adjacent portions having the same total surface area ash that of the rigid sides; a lateral flange which is fixed to the opposing adjacent portion, said sheet defining a tubular configuration, and—two flanges, namely an upper flange and a lower flange, which are used to fix the lids to the rest of the box in a permanent manner. The sides of the box opposite the aforementioned flanges are provided with holes which are used to mount pins, the ends of which are housed in holes in the inner parts of the lids, and said pins hold the lids in position when the box is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Artesania Cervera, S.L.
    Inventor: Eduardo Cervera Cunill
  • Container
    Patent number: 7299968
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a container, which comprises an inner part (3) for accommodating objects, in particular screws or the like, and an outer part (2) which surrounds the inner part (3) in the closed state of the accommodating container. In this case, the inner part (3) can be entirely accommodated by the outer part (2) and is connected via a closure tab (4), which is formed on the inner part (3), to the outer part (2) in such a manner that the closure tab (4) is fastened to the end of an outer side of the outer part (2), and the closure tab (4) can be severed by a tear-off strip (6), so that the inner part (3) can be released from the outer part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Altenloh, Brinck, & Co. GmbH & KG
    Inventors: Ralf Mittmann, Wolfgang Elsenheimer
  • Shipping container
    Patent number: 7296730
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shipping container, a paper tube, an end cap and a method. The shipping container includes a tube and an end cap. The tube has a cylindrical body and an open end. The cylindrical body has a mounting opening formed therein adjacent to the open end. The end cap includes a circular sidewall that is adapted to be received by the open end of the tube such that either the circular sidewall is surrounded by the cylindrical body or the cylindrical body is radially surrounded by the circular sidewall. The circular sidewall includes a projection that extends away from the circular sidewall and into the mounting opening so as to releasably secure the end cap to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Erdie End Caps, LLC
    Inventor: Jason S. Erdie
  • End cap for paper tube
    Patent number: 7296729
    Abstract: The present invention provides an end cap in combination with a paper tube. The paper tube has one or more inwardly extending flaps at an open end. The end cap has a bottom wall and a sidewall that extends from a peripheral edge of the bottom wall. The end cap receives and engages the inwardly extending flaps when the end cap is disposed in the open end of the paper tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Erdie End Caps, LLC
    Inventor: Jason S. Erdie
  • Carton with removable corner portion
    Patent number: 7296731
    Abstract: A carton having a dispensing feature adapted for permitting the removal of articles from within the carton. To erect the carton, a plurality of panels are connected together to define an end of the carton. At least one removable portion is provided in the erected carton and is defined by an endless tear line. The endless tear line includes multiple portions defined in the top wall, one side wall, and end flaps extending from the top wall and the one side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jean Michel Auclair, Diego Rovere, Patrick Blin, John Holley, Jr.