Patents Examined by Gary E. Elkins
  • Patent number: 7891543
    Abstract: A reclosable carton having a tuck flap that slides between a first gable panel and side gussets is provided. The tuck flap is coupled to a second gable panel along a line that is in alignment with a non-continuous free edge. The tuck flap includes a tuck flap width that is less than widths of the first and second gable panels. The tuck flap also includes a tuck flap score that is spaced apart from the line. The side gussets forming the gable angle include two perforated score lines intersecting a top of the carton at the non-continuous free edge. The perforated scores are connected to a first intersecting score by two die cuts, which are angled substantially 45 degrees from the first intersecting score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Abel, Gary L. Sotebeer
  • Patent number: 7891541
    Abstract: Featured is a storage container having a rectangular base with a front wall folded upwardly along a front edge of the rectangular base, a back wall folded upwardly along a back edge of the rectangular base, a outer cover panel extension to the front wall having a pair of widths and having a cover tuck flap, wherein each edge along the pair of widths in the outer cover panel extension has cutouts in a smooth shape, an inner cover panel extension to the back wall having a pair of widths folded along a top edge of the back wall, each edge along the pair of widths of the inner cover panel extension has cutouts in a smooth shape and a pair of end walls extending upwardly along a side edge of the rectangular base with a pair of grab areas allowing fingers extending towards outer cover panel passing over cutouts having the smooth shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Chris Mittelstaedt
  • Patent number: 7886958
    Abstract: A blank of sheet material for forming a container including automatically locking bottom panels is provided. The blank includes a pair of end panels, a pair of side panels and at least one corner panel that are interconnected. The corner panel extends between an adjacent end panel and side panel. The blank includes bottom end panels extending from the end panels and bottom side panels extending from the side panels. A first coupling tab is integral with a bottom end panel, and a second coupling tab is integral with a bottom side panel. The first coupling tab attaches to a bottom side panel, and the second coupling tab attaches to a bottom end panel. The coupling tabs upwardly direct the bottom panels when the container is moved to a flat position and downwardly direct the bottom panels when the container is moved from the flat position to an erected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Charles Smith
  • Patent number: 7883000
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a paperboard container having generally finger access or handhold openings forming carry handles in the end walls. The handhold openings are defined by two adjacent tapered punch-out panels aligned end-to-end and hinged at their outer ends to a respective end wall. When two adjacent tapered punch-out panels punched out they fold oppositely to one another and inwardly into the container in laterally spaced relation to one another on opposite sides of the respective openings. A tear-out panel in one end wall adjoins the associated hand hold openings and when removed forms a dispensing or pourable opening immediately below the associated hand hold openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Paper Co.
    Inventors: Gregg S. Sheffield, Peter F. Szeles
  • Patent number: 7883001
    Abstract: The disclosure indicates that the compression strength of a corrugated shipping crate can be increased through the use of horizontal panels adhered to the inside surface of the vertically fluted outer walls of the crate. The panels can comprise a layer of horizontally fluted single layer of double wall or triple wall corrugated, and a layer of vertically oriented double or triple wall corrugated. The crates' outer walls can be vertically fluted 1100 weight corrugated or less. The double wall vertically fluted corrugated, can be corrugated board have a weight in the range from 500 to 1100 pounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: David Goodrich
  • Patent number: 7882999
    Abstract: This invention is a paperboard box and a lid having a paper with a design placed on the outside surface. The paper is held in position by being glued to the inside of the finished carton. The box or lid has four squared corners. The finished decorative box has adhesive on the interior panels and may be shipped in flat form and erected at or near the point of use. Because the paper is thick it is difficult to form square corners on the box or lid. The box or lid has a paperboard web between a side panel and an end panel which is folded to make a square corner. It has been found that a slit can be cut in the paper bisecting the corner which will allow the paper to be folded without bunching and making an attractive square corner. Once the slit is cut in the paper the side and end panels can be folded to produce a square corner without any bulging paper. The bulging paper is not attractive as a gift-wrap box and also may prevent the locking of the corner as required to form a box and lid with square corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: Timothy A. Canning
  • Patent number: 7874477
    Abstract: A carton with a new dispenser that can be opened by a pull tab with this dispenser flap being placed in a corner of the top panel of the carton so that it is adjacent to the tops of the small necks of the bottles for easy opening and removal or for opening and reclosing. The dispenser flap is held in position by resistant tear lines but can be easily removed by an attached pull tab that is loosely connected to the top panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Sutherland, Raymond R. Spivey, Sr., Glen R. Harrelson
  • Patent number: 7874476
    Abstract: A container (1) for the transport of a foodstuff comprises an upper and a lower container half (2, 3) which are interconnected for pivoting between a closed and an open position (4). Each container half comprises a flat bottom and/or cover wall (5, 6), from which side walls (7, 8, 9, 10) extend essentially obliquely upwards or downwards and outwards to the respective other container half (2, 3). In order to improve the thermal insulation with containers of this nature and at the same time to achieve increased stability, in particular with containers made from paper, cardboard or the like, the bottom and/or cover wall (5, 6) is formed double-walled at least in places. A one-part blank (40) is provided for the manufacture of a container of this nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Seda S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianfranco D'Amato
  • Patent number: 7870992
    Abstract: A container (100) generally includes an outer shell (102, 108), wherein at least a portion of the outer shell includes a moisture-resistant barrier (902). The container further includes at least one insulating member (104, 106) disposed within the outer shell and having a cellulose-based substrate substantially encapsulated in a polymeric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Paper Co.
    Inventors: William N Schille, Michael J Smith, Glen Wickett
  • Patent number: 7870995
    Abstract: A foldable packaging which may include a liquid-resistant paperboard form that is foldable to provide an attractive stackable container that resists water leakage, can be assembled without fastening hardware and has concealed gussets. The packaging can be folded into overlapping flaps and wings which are folded and interlocked to define a generally trapezoidal packaging which can receive a variety of different pot sizes and types. The die cut pattern forming the packaging can be of a universal shape but formed in a variety of different sizes to accommodate different sized potted plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Multi Packaging Solutions
    Inventors: Dennis M. Kaltman, Richard C. Thibault, John R. Widener, Carol J. Moore
  • Patent number: 7870993
    Abstract: A carton for packaging articles can be carried and unloaded in an upright condition. The carton is formed as an elongated tubular structure with opposed open ends. An end wall partially closes the first open end. At least one edge of the end wall is free from the tubular structure so as to define an open region therebetween that facilitates grasping the end wall for removal of the end wall to reveal the articles for dispensing. A handle formed from at least one aperture is positioned proximate to the detachable end wall to facilitate carrying of the carton in an upright condition with the dispensing end up. An end flap is hingedly connected to the tubular structure includes a second aperture that is reinforcingly aligned with the first aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Bradford J. Walling
  • Patent number: 7866539
    Abstract: The invention refers to a container for transporting cooled goods, comprising an inner container for receiving the cooled goods and an outer container surrounding the inner container. The inner container contains a thermally insulating material and has an outer surface on which outer ribs are arranged. The outer ribs generate spaces between the inner container and the outer container. The outer container has a plurality of ventilation holes for ventilating the spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gottfried Senftner, Peter Wigand
  • Patent number: 7866538
    Abstract: An apparatus includes container. The container includes a polygonal bottom panel comprising of N sides, N sidewalls and N flaps. Each flap is located between two adjacent sidewalls. The flaps are capable of unfolding to increase the volume of the container. N is a positive integer greater than two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Foxnum Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Chieh Liao, Chun-Hua Wang, Un-Chi Show, Chih-Chien Tsai, Chau-Lin Chang
  • Patent number: 7861916
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a method of manufacturing containers such as shipping, display and display ready packaging, for example, and resulting containers and associated preassemblies and blanks are provided, which, when utilized, result in preassemblies that are more easily, reliably and quickly assembled into fully assembled containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: York Container Company
    Inventor: Troy Little
  • Patent number: 7857197
    Abstract: A handle includes highly flexible locking tabs at opposite ends. Each of the opposed ends includes a generally triangular tab with a longitudinally extending slit aligned with the longitudinal axis of the handle for allowing the triangular tab to deflect for ease of insertion into an aperture in a tray or pot. The handle ends also include a secondary locking tab which is spaced in alignment with the longitudinally extending slit inwardly of the generally triangular tab. The locking ends include inwardly extending slots which define shoulders which engage a side of the tray or pot opposite the triangular tab for stabilizing the end of the handle in its locking engagement with the tray or pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: The John Henry Company
    Inventor: Eric A. Rosendall
  • Patent number: 7854371
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention feature a stackable tray storage container suitable for holding fruit and food. The stackable tray storage container has a rectangular base having a first rectangular shape with a pair of base widths and a pair of base lengths, a pair of end walls having a second rectangular shape extending upward foldably attached along opposite base widths connecting each end wall to the rectangular base and having a corresponding pair of cutouts along each fold along the base widths forming a pair of tray handle interlocks, a corresponding pair of handle extensions foldably attached along a top edge of each end wall and a pair of walls extending upward foldably attached along opposite base lengths and having a third rectangular shape, wherein each of the walls along the length have a pair of foldably attached flaps that fold inward and attach to the pair of end walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventor: Chris Mittelstaedt
  • Patent number: 7854372
    Abstract: A rectangular box closure clip engages the two top flaps of a shipping container holding them securely without damaging the carton enabling the boxes to be reused without the need for being reformulated. The closure clip includes a pair of lower surfaces and a pair of upper surfaces interconnected by a central web that extends substantially throughout the length of the clip. The edges of the two upper surfaces are set back to facilitate insertion into the box. In a second embodiment, a vertically extending endstop is provided to prevent a box stacked atop the clip from sliding axially relative thereto. In still a third embodiment, a recess allows a binder strap to be installed around the clip to retain it in place. A programmable, scanable chip may be incorporated into the closure clip to facilitate tracking and/or to tamper-proof the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventor: John A Bartone, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7854370
    Abstract: A collapsible container includes a plurality of wall panels. Each wall panel is connected to each adjacent wall panel at a hinged connection, and the wall panels are arranged so as to articulate at the hinged connections between a collapsed position and an expanded position defining a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The collapsible container further includes a deformed portion on a side wall disposed across a hinged connection. The deformed portion projects toward an exterior of the collapsible container to releasably lock the hinged connection in a convexly bowed position when the collapsible container is in the expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Turvey, Brian C. Dais, Sanjay Dhall
  • Patent number: 7854373
    Abstract: A packing box for headphones has a body. The body has an inner chamber, at least one opening, at least one lid and a window. The opening is defined through the body and communicates with the inner chamber. The lid covers the at least one opening. The window is defined through the body, communicates with the inner chamber and has at least one curved edge. The curved edge displays operational characteristics of the headphones. Potential buyers can quickly discern the operational characteristics of the headphones from the curved edge of the window. Therefore, the correct headphones for buyers' particular needs can be selected quickly and accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: OBO PRO.2 Inc.
    Inventor: Hsien-Ta Chen
  • Patent number: 7850063
    Abstract: A tamper evident envelope is disclosed which includes sealing strips located within the seams of the envelope. Each strip is formed by two clear plastic strips secured together. One of the clear plastic strips includes a groove and a dye located within the groove whereby the dye is sealed between the two clear plastic strips. When a seam is separated, the sealing strip is damaged thereby releasing the dye onto the adjacent portions of the envelope and providing visual evidence that the seam was opened. A second embodiment is disclosed where the dye is omitted and separation of the secured clear plastic strips results in damage to the envelope providing visual evidence of tampering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventor: Cheynetta L. Boone