Patents Examined by Gary E. Elkins
  • Octagonal bulk bin with self-locking gusset-fold bottom flaps
    Patent number: 7681781
    Abstract: An octagonal bulk bin has sidewalls, end walls and diagonal corner panels interposed between adjacent sidewalls and end walls. Bottom flaps are foldably joined to a bottom edge of the sidewalls, end walls, and diagonal corner panels, and gusset panels connect adjacent side edges of the bottom flaps, facilitating set up of the bulk bin and spacing flap cuts from the corners of the bin to minimize or eliminate initiation of tears in the vertical corners of the bin. A plastic pallet tray has an upstanding lip around its periphery, shaped and sized to closely receive the bottom end of the octagonal bin to reinforce the bottom end and facilitate handling of the bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Mark A. Wisecarver
  • Stackable corrugated box
    Patent number: 7681785
    Abstract: A stackable corrugated box made from a foldable blank comprising a base having two opposed first edges and second edges, wall portions extending from the first edges, side wall portions extending from the second edges. The wall portions comprise a first part connected to the base and a second part connected to the first part, provided with flaps. The first parts include crush and knife cut features capable of flexing outward. When the box is erected, the side wall portions are folded perpendicularly to the base and connected via the flaps to upwardly directed walls defined by the first and second parts also folded perpendicularly to the base. The upwardly directed walls are provided with projecting tabs, so that when the box is stacked on another similar box, the crush and knife cut features flex outward creating space for the tabs from the box placed below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Cascades Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Grigor
  • Double-walled paperboard cup
    Patent number: 7677435
    Abstract: Described is a double-walled heat-insulating paperboard cup which stacks with the aid of an upper stacking stopper. A particularly stable design is achieved by means of the embodiment of the upper stacking stopper, which results in good stackability and de-stackability of the cups. Furthermore a process is described which is applied for the manufacture of a cup of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: PTM Packaging Tools Machinery Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Werner Stahlecker
  • Carton with opening feature and blank
    Patent number: 7673789
    Abstract: A dispensing carton includes a dispenser section having a deformation pattern provided therein. The deformation pattern facilitates removal of the dispenser section during opening of the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick James DeBusk, Jean-Manuel Gomes
  • Package opening device
    Patent number: 7673788
    Abstract: The package opening device is an adhesive strip adapted for mounting on a cover of a package, the adhesive strip having a gripping member allowing the user to pull on the gripping member to tear at least a portion of the cover of the package. The package opening device includes a base strip having a proximal portion, a distal portion, an upper surface, and a lower surface. An adhesive layer at least partially covers the distal portion of the lower surface of the base strip, and the uncovered proximal portion forms the gripping member. Further, a release liner may be provided for covering the adhesive layer prior to application to the cover of the package. Alternatively, a plurality of adhesive strips may be provided, with the plurality of adhesive strips being joined together by a line, with user-generated tension in the line creating the tearing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventor: Mario Calabretta
  • Storage container
    Patent number: 7673787
    Abstract: Featured is a case storage container formed from cardboard material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventor: Chris Mittelstaedt
  • Self-mounting and collapsible tray, and procedure for the obtaining thereof
    Patent number: 7669754
    Abstract: The self-mounting and collapsible tray has a base (1), two side walls (2) and two end walls (3), as well as, in correspondence with each corner, a corner pillar which comprises at least four segments (41-44) separated by fold lines (4a-4c). The last segment (44) is affixed to the end wall so that at least one part of the last segment extends from one of the intermediate segments (43) and toward the center of the end wall, distancing itself from the corresponding corner of the tray. In addition, the tray comprises, in correspondence with each end wall (3), a transversal flap (5) constituted by at least one part of a prolongation of the end of the end wall which corresponds to the upper part of the end wall of the tray in the erect position, said transversal flap (5) having two ends (51), each folded over and affixed to an outside face of the corresponding side wall (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Videcart. S.A.
    Inventors: Pedro Teixidor Casanovas, Fernando Manuel Canales Cañas
  • Box flap locking system
    Patent number: 7669753
    Abstract: The invention provides a foldable box design having a box flap locking system, comprising: a first flap having an edge with a generally trapezoidal shaped tab cut therein, wherein said generally trapezoidal shaped tab is defined by two inwardly projecting grooves; and a second flap that locks with the first flap, wherein the second flap includes an edge with a second generally trapezoidal shaped tab cut therein, and wherein said second generally trapezoidal shaped tab is defined by two outwardly projecting grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Norampac Schenectady, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas West
  • Carton with hinged lid
    Patent number: 7669755
    Abstract: A blank capable of being formed into a carton to define a volume for receiving articles is provided. The carton includes a lid formed hingedly connected at a fold at one end and including a line of weakening to facilitate separation of the lid from the main body of the carton. The volume can accommodate introduction of ice or other substance with and/or between the articles and the lid can be hinged between open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Leslie Smalley
  • Shipping containers with stacking support structures
    Patent number: 7665654
    Abstract: Shipping containers having stacking support structures are provided. The shipping containers or cartons, are provided with three-panel inner support structures, in which the three panels form either triangular- (delta-) shaped cross-sections or L shaped cross-sections. In addition, the shipping containers or cartons, are provided with first outer support panels, and one or two second outer support panels. The shipping containers or cartons may be provided with no lid, one lid panel with closure panels for affixation to the end panels, or two lid panels, each with closure panels for affixation to the end panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael B. McLeod
  • Hot food container
    Patent number: 7661580
    Abstract: Described is a food container made from a single piece of material. The food container includes a front and rear panel joined by opposite sides and a bottom. The rear panel includes a flap cover with a pair of locking members and the front panel includes a flap and a pair of cut-outs on opposite sides thereof wherein the cut-outs are configured to secure the locking members so that the flap is positioned beneath the flap cover when the container is closed. The disclosed container allows for the quick and efficient collection of food product without the food product being touched by human hands. The container, having closure means, acts as a measuring device such that the size of portions is consistent. The closure means also maintains the temperature of the food product, allows for later storage of food product and prevents food product from unintentionally spilling from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Inventor: Edward Bazan
  • Packing box
    Patent number: 7661578
    Abstract: A packing box includes four walls, a bottom support, a cover and plates. The walls, the bottom support and the cover cooperatively define a space for accommodating items to be packed therein. The bottom support is formed with the walls for supporting the items packed in the space. The cover is configured for closing the packing box. The plates are disposed in the space and are formed by folding a cardboard extension from one or more of the walls. The plates separate the space into compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignees: Preimer Image Technology(China) Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming Li
  • Dispensing package
    Patent number: 7658317
    Abstract: There is provided a paperboard carton for receiving articles in two or more layers separated by a divider pad which is secured relative to an end panel arrangement at one end of the carton. The carton has a top panel, a base panel and a pair of opposite sides. One of the side panels has a removable portion adjacent one end which when removed defines a roll out aperture for article removal when the carton is lying on said one end panel arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Zoe Claire Wilkins
  • Packing container and assembling method thereof
    Patent number: 7658316
    Abstract: A packing container includes: an outer case; a partition member disposed inside the outer case; and a pair of holding plates connected to upper edges of a pair of side plates of the outer case and inserted into the inside of the outer case, the pair of holding plates holding the partition member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawashita
  • Tool bag which can be carried next to the body of a person
    Patent number: 7658307
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tool bag which can be carried next to the body of a person, the tool bag comprising at least one receiving element for at least one tool. The inventive tool bag respectively comprises a three-dimensional flexible safety chord for each tool associated with a receiving element. The chord can be fixed to the associated tool, and can be fixed to the tool bag in such a way that it can be extracted and automatically retracted by means of an extracting and retracting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: ZYRUS Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Patente I KG
    Inventor: Klaus Peter Skupin
  • Packages, blanks for making packages and associated methods
    Patent number: 7658318
    Abstract: Cartons are formed from two or more continuous webs that can individually or concurrently provided with cuts, scores, or other lines of disruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Walsh, Robert L. Conatser, Raymond S. Kastanek, Kelly R. Fitzwater, Weston R. Wilson
  • Backpack with incorporated gun scabbard
    Patent number: 7654426
    Abstract: A method of forming a backpack with an integral gun scabbard has been devised whereby the user has a convenient place for the storage and carriage of a rifle, shotgun, or other long gun type of firearm, and simultaneously can store and carry a variety of other sundry cargo while moving about. The backpack is devised in such a way as to permit easy and rapid access to and retrieval of said firearm from the storage. It is equipped with dual padded shoulder straps. In an ideal embodiment, a waist belt is included to facilitate the stabilization of the scabbard when the firearm is being withdrawn, as well as to contribute to the load bearing functions of the backpack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventor: Glen Richard Eberle
  • Octagonal bulk bin with self-locking webbed bottom flaps
    Patent number: 7654440
    Abstract: An octagonal bulk bin has sidewalls, end walls and diagonal corner panels interposed between adjacent sidewalls and end walls. Major bottom flaps are foldably joined to a bottom edge of the sidewalls, minor bottom flaps are foldably joined to a bottom edge of the end walls, and diagonal bottom flaps are foldably joined to a bottom edge of the diagonal corner panels. A cut separates each major bottom flap from an adjacent diagonal bottom flap, and a web panel connects adjacent side edges of the minor bottom flaps and diagonal bottom flaps. According to one aspect of the invention, each diagonal bottom flap, web panel, and portion of an adjacent major bottom flap are crushed. According to another aspect of the invention, differently shaped notches in a free edge of the minor flaps form locking tabs that are engaged in slots near a free edge of the major flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: International Paper Co.
    Inventors: Benjamin W. Quaintance, Mark A. Wisecarver
  • Airplane carton
    Patent number: 7654441
    Abstract: A food container has an airplane configuration provided by a cardboard-like sheet having a plurality of spaced fold lines defining a number of panels that are folded along the lines and assembled to provide an airplane-like body having food compartments therein. The panels that extend to the tail of the fuselage are especially configured to provide a unitary tail fin and associated stabilizer that present the tail configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Kid Stuff Marketing, Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Billen
  • Reinforced bulk bin and methods for making same
    Patent number: 7651024
    Abstract: A reinforced bulk bin, and methods for making same, wherein a collapsible bulk bin, preferably fabricated from paper, paperboard and/or corrugated paperboard, is provided with a reinforcing plastic sleeve, which is placed on the bin while in its collapsed configuration. When in place, and prior to the bin being deployed, the sleeve is under tension. When the bin is deployed, the sleeve exerts restraining force, distributed over the surfaces of the side walls of the bin. The sleeve may be positioned on the collapsed bin either manually or mechanically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: James Watson Barner