Patents Examined by George E. Lowrance
  • Patent number: 5031774
    Abstract: A molded, stackable and nestable beverage can tray having tapered side walls and end walls, contoured window openings in both the side walls and end walls, and having contoured window openings in both the side walls and end walls to snugly contain the cans is disclosed. The bottom length and width dimensions of the tray are less than the sum of the diameters of rows of cans placed in the tray. Trays according to the invention have a 3:2 length-to-width ratio for cross-tying stacks, and have a tray bottom design having generally diamond-shaped standoffs projecting downwardly from the bottom of the tray to lock onto the tops of the cans contained in the tray immediately beneath the can tray. The trays include can bottom seating rings capable of receiving and centering cans having a range of bottom diameter dimensions. Trays according to the invention have side walls and end walls which are tapered at an angle of preferably 10.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Paper Casepro
    Inventors: Peter M. Morris, Robert C. Allabaugh
  • Patent number: 5016795
    Abstract: A dental paste dispensing apparatus includes a molded plastic cup having an open mouth defined by a rim and has an interior for containing dental paste material. A locking mechanism is disposed within the interior for preventing the dental paste material contained therein from rotating with a rotating applicator which is dipped into the paste to obtain an appropriate amount for professional application to the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventor: Paul D. Porteous
  • Patent number: 5014868
    Abstract: The holding device for containers includes a receptacle member having a capacity which will accommodate a predetermined size range of containers. A selected container is held in the receptacle member by biasing members that are detachably secured to the receptacle member. The biasing members include a flap portion that resiliently bears against the container to detent the container in the receptacle. If a different container is not compatible with the biasing members, a second set of compatible biasing members can be interchanged with the first set. Since the biasing members are detachably secured to the receptacle member, the receptacle member can be formed of a plastic having one Durometer level and the biasing members can be formed of a plastic material having another Durometer level. Each Durometer level is selected to fulfill the optimum desired characteristics of the receptacle and biasing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: CCL Custom Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary P. Wittig, Tom Burpee
  • Patent number: 5014867
    Abstract: Container structure provided at the bottom, on its front and back side, with small beams and with beams mounted in a lateral direction, whereby at least on the neighborhood of twistlocks, which are provided on four corners of a container, at least on small cross-beams, a reinforcement profile is provided, whereby said reinforcement profile is substituted by a buffer block, which at the under side and following a vertical cross-section, has at least one inclined plane, in such a manner that by a setting down of a container on another container, said twistlock of a container slides along said inclined plane of said container to be set down without deforming said inclined plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Tates
    Inventor: Jean Van Melle
  • Patent number: 5012949
    Abstract: Fire resistant tank apparatus is adapted for transportation and for installation above-ground to receive and dispense a liquid hydrocarbon or hydrocarbons, or the like, and includes a metallic tank having a lightweight wall structure, including an upright side wall or walls, a top wall and a bottom wall; first port structure on the top wall defining access porting to the tank interior; second support beneath the bottom wall to support the tank at an installation site; and fire resistant synthetic resinous material applied as a coating to the outer side or sides of the tank walls, and hardened to define a relatively lightweight shell enclosing the tank, the shell extending into adjacency with the first and second structures, the shell having thickness between about 1/4 inch and 1 inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: LRS, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. McGarvey, Jerry E. Buffalini
  • Patent number: 5009314
    Abstract: The invention concerns assemblies or displays of plastic bottle carriers. Bottle carriers are assembled for palletization or display on an assembly plate having upstanding prongs which fit into corresponding sockets in the base of adjacent bottle carriers. The prongs and sockets are such that when the assembly is subjected to lateral pressure, for example, by palletizing machinery each prong is gripped in its socket so that the bottle carriers and the plate are an assembled unit. Preferably when no under lateral pressure, the prongs are freely slidable in the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Saepter Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventor: Raymond C. Arthurs
  • Patent number: 5007231
    Abstract: An easily-opened container includes a container body with an opening portion and a lid cooperating with the opening portion. The lid has a central lid portion and a peripheral portion located outside this lid portion and sealingly and permanently fixed to the opening portion for closing the container. The central lid portion and the peripheral portion are separated from one another by a weakened portion which extends in the circumferential direction of the opening portion and at least partially around the opening portion. In a restricted region, the opening portion is provided with a recess located beneath the weakened portion. A stripping unit with fulcrum-effect is pivotally supported in a support region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: PLM AB
    Inventor: Ole Ingemann
  • Patent number: 4998622
    Abstract: A plastic pail (23) and a plastic lid (22) are constructed at their rims so that the lid securely seals and catches in. Pockets to receive a carrying handle are part of a cylindrical ring (28) which surrounds the pail wall concentrically. This ring is drawn down arcuately at two diametrically opposite points (25), so that it is possible to grip and remove the lid (23) there, and a circular alignment of pails stacked nested without lids is simultaneously possible by this means.In a particular construction the recesses formed by the arcuately down-drawn parts of the ring are covered by tear-off bridges (40) which are fastened to the ring radially outside the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Inventor: Alfred Drack
  • Patent number: 4998639
    Abstract: A locking member is disclosed for use in a fuel tank assembly of the type having a pressurizable tank with an aperture and having a plurality of retaining lugs transversely extending along the periphery of the tank aperture. A fuel sender assembly having a first portion disposed within the aperture and a second portion having a plate-like shoulder in mating contact with an external tank surface. A seal element is disposed between the tank and the fuel sender assembly in an annular groove provided in the external tank surface intermediate the aperture and the retaining lugs. The locking member comprising a locking ring having an aperture through which a portion of the fuel sender assembly extends, the locking ring having a generally planar lower surface in mating contact with an upper surface of the plate-like shoulder of the fuel sender assembly and having a plurality of tabs corresponding to the plurality of retaining lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Solvay Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Seizert, James R. Osborne
  • Patent number: 4998638
    Abstract: A can has a film which is stretched on the inside of an end plate thereof so as to be deflectable in and out of contact with the end plate so that the can which has heated contents packed and sealed therein can be prevented from deformation caused as the contents cool down. The above-mentioned can is manufactured by overlaying the end plate and the film one on top of the other and then unitarily securing the end brim of the can body and the peripheral edge portion of the end plate to each other by double seaming, with the film disposed on the inside of the end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Nihon Seikan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seizi Kawamata
  • Patent number: 4997289
    Abstract: Here is disclosed an overtape-sealed comprising a paper tube, having longitudinally opposite open ends one and/or both of which is covered and sealed with a twofold overtape wherein the overtape is bonded to the paper tube with adhesive having penetrated the outermost layer of the paper tube so that a release resistance established between the overtape and the outermost layer of the paper tube is higher than a release resistance of an inner layer not penetrated by said adhesive with respect to said outermost layer and thereby unsealing of the paper bag can occur along a boundary between the outermost layer and the inner layer or along the inner layer itself of the paper bag in proximity of said boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Ohishi Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Sasaki, Kaoru Teshima
  • Patent number: 4995525
    Abstract: A container with an opening and having two flexible stretchable cords attached to the upper edges of the container. The central areas of the cords may be releasably attached together over the opening by means of a fastener. When the cords are not attached together, each cord may be stretched over a corner holding means located at or near the corner of the container that is between the ends of that cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Inventor: Lawrence L. Kehrer
  • Patent number: 4993582
    Abstract: A gusseted double-walled box is formed of a parison that is draped and blow molded according to the following process. A blow molding parison (10) being draped around a generally rectangular mold part (12) is spread from its extruded cylindrical shape into a generally rectangular shape (14), as it descends from an extrusion head (11). Before the open bottom (20) of the parison reaches a clamp (25) on the mold part, a jet of air is blown downward through the open bottom to draw in the parison's side and end regions (21 and 22 respectively). This reduces the size of parison (10) and helps it fit within the clamp and also forms the end regions (22) of the parison into a pair of opposed pleats (23) extending inward from the ends of the pinch-off line when clamp (25) closes. Further descending of the parison unfolds the pleats into gussets (24) extending toward corner regions (27) of mold part (12) so that the parison can drape around the mold part corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: John D. Brush & Co., Inc.
    Inventor: George F. Arp
  • Patent number: 4993554
    Abstract: A beverage case that can be nested or stacked is disclosed. The beverage case has two later sides of full height and two longitudinal sides. The longitudinal sides extend upwardly from the bottom of the case to a height less than one-half the height of the lateral sides, and have central panel sections of a length greater than the length of the lateral sides. The central panel sections each have an intermediate recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Spectrum International, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Box
  • Patent number: 4993585
    Abstract: A thermoplastic case which has an interlocking bottom peripheral edging (20) with a lobe (26) on the outside surface to which a vacuum formed bottom (28) has been conformed completely enveloping the lobe creating a structural bond for fastening the two parts together. A lid edging (30) and case lid (38) are formed in the same manner completing the case. A resilient cord (46) may be added to assure the seal between the edgings and a bonding agent in the form of cement (50) or tape (52) may be employed to complete a hermetic seal for the case. Webbing (56) may optionally be added formed integrally with the edging for suspending articles within the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Inventor: William McMahon
  • Patent number: 4993583
    Abstract: A display container includes a receptacle housing defining an enclosure therein, the receptacle housing including a front wall, rear wall, side walls and a bottom wall, the receptacle housing including an upper opening through which articles can be deposited into and removed from the enclosure; the front wall having a downwardly and inwardly extending incline so that articles deposited in the enclosure are compactly and orderly arranged therein; bump-like separators on the bottom wall and grip-like separators at the front portion of the opening for separating elongated articles deposited in the enclosure and extending from the bottom wall out of the opening; and an L-shaped securing assembly at the upper part of the rear wall for supporting the display container on a vertical slat board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Coats & Clark
    Inventor: Lee R. Chasen
  • Patent number: 4989751
    Abstract: The invention relates to a storage tank comprising an endless wall formed of a plurality of overlapping panel members with at least one endless support strap extending substantially horizontally around the endless wall, wherein each panel member comprises a loop having an endless support strap extending therethrough.The invention also relates to a substantially flat panel member comprising a plurality of upright raised ribs and an integral loop arranged to receive, in use, a substantially horizontal support strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Interlok Limited
    Inventor: Graham Gillett
  • Patent number: 4989993
    Abstract: A bottom filled, top gusset plastic bag (10, 106) includes a pair of flexible ear handles (24, 26 or 130, 132). The handles include circular hand-receiving openings (76 or 134) and have circular outlines and circular transition regions (78, 80 or 136, 138) are provided between the ear handles (24, 26 or 130, 132) and attached base portions of the handles. The circular hand-receiving openings (76 or 134) and the curved transition regions (78, 80 or 136, 138) function to distribute weight forces substantially across the full width of each side of a filled bag (10, 106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Inventor: Delbert J. Barnard
  • Patent number: 4988003
    Abstract: A stackable set of tray carrying units is disclosed wherein each unit has a floor member and a ceiling member. Each of the floor and ceiling members has downwardly extending feet, and the ceiling member also has upwardly extending split posts. The floor and ceiling members are connected together by vertical beams having upper and lower I-beam extensions which frictionally engage with the respective feet of the ceiling and floor members. The stacking arrangement is such that each of the split posts of the ceiling member is sized to frictionally fit within one of the feet of a floor member assembled on top of the ceiling member, with the web of the lower I-beam extension of a beam in an upper one of such units having an interference fit with the space defined by the split post of a lower one of such units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: A-Bee Syndicate, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Spitzer, Paul F. Siegel
  • Patent number: 4988011
    Abstract: Generally there is provided an exterior tank shell, typically of aluminum composition, having as an interior shell a layer of a stiff and strong material, such as aluminum oxide or a fiber/resin composite, applied to the inside surface of the shell. A thermally conductive mesh filler insert is fitted within the tank and secured to the inner shell layer with adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Safetytech Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Fenton, Robert Brandt