Patents Examined by Gary Elkins
  • Patent number: 9617032
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bakery box including an outer box and an insert removably positioned within the outer box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventors: Tim Wooten Gamble, Kathi Levine
  • Patent number: 9617030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blank and a box obtained from such a cardboard or corrugated-cardboard blank, comprising a succession of four leaves that are connected together in pairs by first folding lines, specifically two end leaves that are separated by two intermediate leaves, and comprising on each side a set of rectangular flaps. One intermediate leaf comprises at least one opening adjacent to a first folding line joining to an end leaf, the adjacent end leaf comprising, on its peripheral edge opposite the first folding line, at least one tab which has a shape complementary to the opening, is located in line with the opening and is connected to the leaf by a second folding line parallel to the first folding lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: OTOR
    Inventor: Pierre-Henri Guardiola
  • Patent number: 9617031
    Abstract: A foldable liquid retaining bowl made from a single sheet of flexible material and a pair of standard fastening devices. The sheet of material is capable of being folded into a bowl form with a base and four side walls without needing to be cut or otherwise modified. The side walls are held together on each end by the fastening device such as a glued joint. The sheet of material is treated on at least one side with a water resistant coating. The folded bowl form is capable of being folded flat for storage and or transport. A preferred embodiment includes the sheet of material being made of Kraft paper coated with Polylactide acid (PLA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Carol Jean Piechocinski
  • Patent number: 9604751
    Abstract: A divider that has a die-cut board that is grease resistant coated on both sides and is scored to define a plurality of alternative valley and peak folds. There is at least one perforated line that passes through all of the valley and peak folds. The divider may taper at its sides from the peak folds to neighboring ones of the valley folds. Two perforated lines may be provided to sever the tapers from the sides to leave the sides substantially reside in parallel planes with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FC Meyer Packagaing LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Arthur Baryshyan
  • Patent number: 9604754
    Abstract: A hermetically-sealing opening dispensing lid made of injected plastic material for foodstuff packages of solid, dry, powdered or grain products is made up of a movable body hinged to a frame by means of a hinge, the frame is secured to the package by perimeter ridges and ultrasonic welding or by an edge which goes through the wall of the package and joins an inner counter frame, the movable body is made up of two lateral walls with retaining elements which act on tabs placed at the top of the frame, a front wall with a hinged gripping flange, an upper bridge and a lower bridge, the lid is provided with racks spaced from the lateral walls which cooperate with a second pair of tabs, and the bridge may contain a set of parallel ribs preventing the products from going through the movement zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Lubuag Ltd.
    Inventor: Luis Burgos Agudo
  • Patent number: 9604767
    Abstract: A carton includes a top panel, a first side panel and a slot handle. The slot handle includes a line of separation extending across the top panel at a location spaced from the longitudinal center of the top panel. The slot handle includes a lifting edge spaced from the line of separation and disposed on one side of the line of separation. The slot handle further includes a first stress relief mechanism provided in the first side panel. The first stress relief mechanism includes a frangible line having a linear stem section that is acutely angled relative to a notional line normal to the hinged connection between the top panel and the first side panel. The stem section is angled away from the lifting edge and terminating in an arcuate stop at a location spaced below the hinged connection on the one side of the line of separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Brandon L. Ramsuer
  • Patent number: 9604752
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a box with lid which allows easy access to and removal of the product contained at the bottom or bottoms of the box, said box comprising at least one body (1) provided with cutting and folding lines demarcating a first central sector (10) forming the bottom of the body (1), and a pair of end sectors (11) corresponding to the larger sides of the body (1); further comprising a lid (2) also provided with cutting and folding lines demarcating a second central sector (3) forming the upper surface of the lid (2), and a pair of side sectors (4) corresponding to the larger sides of the lid (2), said second central sector (3) having a transverse perforated line (7) and two side perforated lines (8) to allow opening the entire lid (2) or part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Agro Sevilla Aceitunas, S.C.A.
    Inventor: Carlos Marcelino Mateos Garcia
  • Patent number: 9598202
    Abstract: A carton for containing a flowable material. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises at least a top panel. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels. The at least two end flaps comprise a top end flap foldably connected to the to panel. An integrated handle comprises a handle panel extending in the top panel and into the top end flap and a handle closure at least partially in face-to-face contact with at least the top panel. The handle panel overlaps at least a portion of the handle closure, and the handle closure at least partially forms a barrier in the top panel adjacent the handle panel for at least partially preventing flowable material from exiting the carton at the integrated handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Oliveira, Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 9598228
    Abstract: A carrier, such as a food carrier, may include a single sheet of material having a base section, a first end flap connected to the base section at a first end, the first end flap including first and second slots, a second end flap connected to the base section at a second end, the second end flap including third and fourth slots, a first lower section connected to the base section along a first line and including first and second tabs, a second lower section connected to the base section along a second line and including third and fourth tabs, a first upper section connected to the first lower section along a third line, a second upper section connected to the second lower section along a fourth line, wherein the single sheet of material is configured for arrangement in a flat configuration in which the single sheet of material is a substantially flat layer, and an assembled configuration in which the first and second end flaps are substantially perpendicular to the base section, the first tab engages the fir
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Brothers Donuts LLC
    Inventors: Mitchell P. Magdovitz, Brett N. Magdovitz
  • Patent number: 9592942
    Abstract: A carton has panels including a top panel (12/20), a base panel (16), a first side panel (14) and a second side panel (18) forming a tubular structure. One of the panels includes a handle structure (h) defined in it. The handle structure includes a first pair of folding structures (R, R) each having at least one first fold line (X, Y, Z) defining a first edge of a handle strap and a second pair of folding structures each having at least one second fold line defining a second edge of the handle strap. Each of the at least one first fold lines and the at least one second fold lines is defined, at least in part, in the one of the panels, wherein the carton includes a mandrel panel (22) disposed in face contacting relationship with the inner surface of the one (20) of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Bradford J. Walling
  • Patent number: 9586716
    Abstract: A carry handle (33) for carrying a pizza box or cake box or other boxed food product is made of inexpensive disposable paper or cardboard and comprises a pair of strap portions which generally are parallel to each other and in a side-by-side relationship and are joined to each other by a fold line (17). The strap portions can be twisted about the fold line (17) into a cross like configuration. A pizza box can then be placed on the cross like configuration. The strap portions are longer than the width of the pizza box and can therefore be lifted up and over the pizza box and connected together to form a reliable carry handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Matthew Flatley
  • Patent number: 9567129
    Abstract: The invention relates to a package for enclosing a liquid food product. The package comprises an area having a tactile pattern for at least for indicating intended user grip and/or enhancing décor graphics. The invention also relates to a blank, a reel of blanks and a method of generating the tactile pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Allen Wong, Hanna Lejon, Pál Lövendahl, Guido Wiener, Per-Göran Heide, Anders Grim, Joachim Bjurenheim
  • Patent number: 9567131
    Abstract: Containers are provided which provide controlled dispensing for items such as saltshakers. Such containers can be produced in a simple and economical manner and can be adapted to different types of products, such as different types of salt. Such containers are particularly useful for dispensing fine salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TACOM S.A.
    Inventor: Francesco Riva
  • Patent number: 9567130
    Abstract: The present invention provides a carton for a bag in box packaging. The carton has the overall configuration of a rectangular parallelepiped, with two pairs of opposing sidewalls and an upper end portion and a lower end portion, together defining a cavity for receiving a liquid holding bag. In the lower end portion there are a first pair of opposing flaps and a second pair of opposing flaps. The carton further has an opening extending through one sidewall in the lower end portion for dispensing liquid from a bag positioned inside the cavity. According to the invention the first pair of opposing flaps are foldable into an open position, in which the flaps extend outwards from the cavity to form a pair of legs. The legs are interlockable with a flap of said second pair of flaps so as firmly to fix the position of the legs with regard to the carton. The leg-forming flaps support the carton in an elevated position with respect to a surface thus facilitating dispension of liquid through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Metsä Board Oyj
    Inventors: Cyril Drouet, Alan Li
  • Patent number: 9555917
    Abstract: A gable top packaging container has a plurality of upstanding side walls including a first side wall, a front wall, a rear wall and a second side wall, wherein the front wall connects to a front gable panel and the back wall connects to a back gable panel, both extending up to a sealed top fin, the first side wall connects to a first side gable panel, and the second side wall connects to a second side gable panel, wherein the walls are separated by crease lines extending in a longitudinal direction of the packaging container, characterized in that the front wall is continuous with the front gable panel, and the back wall is continuous with the back gable panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Allen Wong, Claudia Leidinger, Christopher Scales, Kristian Jacobsson, Kim Walltin, Ola Wall, Torbjörn Hedberg
  • Patent number: 9546015
    Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a first side panel, a bottom panel, a second side panel, a first top panel, and a second top panel. The bottom panel comprises a first portion and a second portion. The carton comprises a first proximal side end flap, a first distal side end flap, a second proximal side end flap, a second distal side end flap, a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first portion of the bottom panel, and second bottom end flap foldably connected to the second portion of the bottom panel. The first distal side end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second distal side end flap, the first bottom end flap is in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap, and the second bottom end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Coltri-Johnson, Jean-Manuel Gomes, Edward W. Jones
  • Patent number: 9540132
    Abstract: Embodiments of a reusable stackable shipping box are provided herein. The reusable stackable shipping box may be reused and cleaned without causing harm to the integrity of the box. In addition, the box is slightly tapered in shape such that the box may be stacked upon and within other boxes for ease in shipping and organization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventor: Jim E. Lee
  • Patent number: 9533790
    Abstract: A foldable box with a base and a sidewall extending from the base is provided. The sidewall includes an upper edge forming an opening into the box. The box further includes a first flap foldably attached to the upper edge of the sidewall and a second flap foldably attached to the upper edge of the sidewall opposite the first flap. A pair of side flaps are each foldably attached to the upper edge of the sidewall on opposite sides of one another. Each of the side flaps include a side flap slit. Each of the first flap and the second flap include a handle hole formed through an upper portion, and at least one tab extending from an upper edge. At least one of the first flap and the second flap include a flap slit. The tabs are formed to fit and secure within the side flap slits in an extended position and the flap slit in a stackable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Southern Champion Tray, LP
    Inventor: Sarah N. Williams
  • Patent number: 9527621
    Abstract: In a liquid container with easy opening of a spout thereof in accordance with the present disclosure, the spout may be more easily opened due the inner non-adhered faces of the proximal and distal wings of the spout. Further, in accordance with the present disclosure, the spout may be more easily opened due the outer non-adhered faces of the distal wings. Thus, the damage of the distal and proximal wings may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Il Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 9527642
    Abstract: A carton (90) for packaging one of more articles (A) comprising a plurality of walls including a top wall (16), a first side wall (14), a second side wall (18), a first end wall (22a, 24a, 26a, 28a), a second end wall (2b, 24b, 26b, 28b) and a bottom wall (12), the carton having an access device (D) for accessing said one or more articles, the access device comprising a plurality of primary lines of severance (36a, 34a, 32a, 30a, 36b, 34b, 32b, 30b) which are defined in the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall and the top wall so as to define a detachable corner (C) of the carton, wherein the access device comprises a fold line (40) extending transversely across the top wall for enabling folding of the detachable corner when in a partially detached condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon L. Ramsuer, Nathaniel B. Ball