Patents Examined by Gilbert W. Reece
  • Patent number: 4941585
    Abstract: A baking pan having a multiplicity of baking units constructed by forming the baking units as individual pieces, disposing the pre-formed baking units within openings formed in a sheet material and securing the baking units to the sheet material. The means for securing the baking units to the sheet material comprises interlocking portions of the baking units with the sheet material to form an assembly of baking units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Ekco/Glaco Inc.
    Inventors: Wilbert K. Hare, Morris Kaufman, William M. Moroziuk
  • Patent number: 4936480
    Abstract: This fisherman's basket is designed to be supported on a bicycle rack of an automobile, so as to store bait, fish, meat and other articles that may be odorous and not desired in the interior of the automobile. Primarily, it consists of a frame with wire mesh openings that provide for ventilation of the interior of the basket. A ventilated cover is also provided that can be locked, and apertures are provided through the frame of the basket for receiving the bicycle support arms of the bicycle rack mounted on the automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Inventor: Mauricio C. Apostolo
  • Patent number: 4887734
    Abstract: Apparatus for opening and reclosing beverage cans in a first embodiment includes a tool having piercing and forming portions for opening an aperture in and shaping a flap depending from an end wall of a beverage can spaced a predetermined distance spaced substantially away from the cylindrical side wall of the can sufficient to permit the forming portion to displace the flap resulting from the piercing closely against the interior surface of the end wall of the can such that the interior surface surrounding the periphery of the aperture thus formed is substantially planar, and in a second embodiment includes a tool having a cylindrical piercing portion, the apparatus further including a plug carried on the tool for reclosing and sealing the aperture in the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Larsen
  • Patent number: 4883191
    Abstract: A keeper is disclosed for releasable attachment to a chain in order to support a gathered length of the chain at a safe, yet accessible overhead location above the ground surface. The keeper includes a tubular body which can be used to accumulate a length of chain. A finger at an upward, open end of the body may be releasably hooked between openings of adjacent links of the chain in order to suspend the keeper and the accumulated chain length at the selected elevation. The finger is preferably resilient or, alternatively, pivotal to facilitate disengagement of the keeper from the chain by simply pulling downwardly on the keeper handle. The keeper may be completely removed from the chain by pulling forcibly downward on the keeper to disengage the finger from the chain and allow the keeper and chain to move downwardly to the point where the keeper becomes completely disengaged from the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Inventor: Kean Christensen
  • Patent number: 4881654
    Abstract: A container with a centrally positioned opening in the bottom adapted to snap on to a button at the apogee of a cap and the combination of the container and cap. The container has a lid with a latch. The opening in the bottom is formed by two or more intersecting cuts, with a center portion at the intersection of the cuts removed to form a hole. This allows the tines formed by the intersecting cuts to deform to allow a button to be pushed through, thereby seating the box on the cap and when desired the container may be removed by the reverse procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Inventors: Jack Stazo, Joseph W. Whitmer
  • Patent number: 4880135
    Abstract: The invention relates to the installation of a vapor reduction and isolation system in a liquid storage tank. A flexible bellow divides the interior of the storage tank into two separate compartments: a closed liquid-vapor space and an externally vented space. Changes in liquid level, temperature, pressure, etc., are automatically compensated by extensions and contractions of the bellow, keeping the pressure in the tank constantly at atmospheric pressure without resort to venting to the atmosphere or to a carbon canister in the current vapor recovery system. The bellow is also used for sensing and controlling liquid level and for compensating for temperature and pressure changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Inventor: In-Meei Neou
  • Patent number: 4872583
    Abstract: A handle structure for a paint container, whereby the container can be safely held with one hand while dipping a brush into the container with the other hand. A threaded bolt means is actuable to draw a clamping component toward the handle structure for clamping the container securely to the handle structure. A section of the handle structure engages an outer side surface of the container to prevent the container from wobbling or deforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Inventors: Zdenek Zelenka, Lyn Zelenka
  • Patent number: 4872582
    Abstract: A weighted refuse container is set forth formed with a compartment formed within a false floor of the container. The compartment has threadedly formed thereto a removable container plug to enable the compartment to receive a quantity of fluid to counterweight and bias the container against tippage. Similarly, the lid of the container is formed with a removable compartment plug to receive a reduced quantity of fluid to minimize loss of the lid and container by wind action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Inventor: Gene L. Sipple
  • Patent number: 4867340
    Abstract: An upwardly open trash container having an outstanding horizontal rim terminating in a depending flange defines, with the container wall, downwardly facing bight surfaces. A layer of resilient adhesive material is bonded to the depending surfaces of the rim and flange for temporarily adhering to the top edge portion of a flexible trash can liner bag when manually placed in contact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Inventor: Thomas L. Byers
  • Patent number: 4862979
    Abstract: A hinged dust cover used in combination with an electronic balance whereby the cover converts to an air screen during weighing operations. In the fully closed position the cover protects the weighing pan and various controls and displays from the ingress of dust and other contaminants as well as inadvertent operation. In the fully open position full access by the balance's operator is available to the weighing pan and controls. In the cover's intermediate position, the cover forms an enclosure about the weighing pan thereby isolating the weighing pan and mass being weighed from dust and air movement while at the same time making the various controls fully available to the balance's operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Inventor: John S. Borchard
  • Patent number: 4863052
    Abstract: Portable containers suitable for use as disposable contaminated material containers are provided. The containers include a top closure including first and second closure flaps whereby the first closure flap has a central opening for filling the box and a handle member for holding it. The handle member can be inserted into a corresponding aperture of the second closure flap which protects the handle from being contaminated during use. The design also includes using an interior space defined by an internal open-ended container wrapped in a preferred thermoplastic bag. This feature enables the container to resist leakage of contaminated materials and the risk of puncture of the container by sharp objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Union Camp Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Lambert
  • Patent number: 4863057
    Abstract: A secure container system comprising a first container with a second container mounted thereon, the container having adjacent sides that are complementary to one another. The first container includes a pair of spaced channels and the second channel includes opposite flanges which engage the channels for mounting the second container on the first. The first container has a door which, when closed, includes an extended portion comprising a stop for selectively preventing lateral movement of the second container relative to the first. When the door is opened, the second container may be laterally removed from its mounting on the first container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Sage Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul H. Hanifl, John J. Newton, Jr., Donald J. Mosior
  • Patent number: 4860912
    Abstract: An improved collapsible shipping container adapted to conform to the configuration of a storage area in an aircraft fuselage. The container includes a removable dome-shaped roof element supported by a pair of combination side wall and door elements, which are detachably secured along the continuous lower edges thereof to a slip sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Inventor: Julius B. Kupersmit
  • Patent number: 4850503
    Abstract: An easy openable closure device for a packaging container, comprising an outer layer, for instance injection moulded of plastics, and an inner layer possibly comprising several sublayers and such that it gives the closure device a specific characteristics as to welding possibilities, gas barrier and light barrier. A first tearing denotation is arranged in the outer layer and merges into a second tearing denotation under a tangentially acute angle, said second denotation extending circumferentially around the closure device. At both sides of the circumferential tearing denotation, the inner layer is sealed to or connected to the outer layer. In the outer layer there is arranged an element having a portion for penetrating the first tearing denotation in the outer layer inside the said sealing region. The strength of the second tearing denotation is lower than the sealing strength between the layers and the latter strength is higher than the tearing strength of the inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: AB Akerlund & Rausing
    Inventor: Lennart Larsson
  • Patent number: 4848570
    Abstract: A sharps disposal system includes a holding chamber and a collecting chamber. The open bottom of the holding chamber is closed off by a bottom cover plate as sharps are accumulated. The bottom cover plate is confined by a locked articulated safety door which prevents accidental premature opening of the bottom of the holding chamber. When the accumulated sharps are to be removed from the holding chamber, the articulated safety door is unlocked and slid in a track from the bottom of holding chamber to the front wall. The collecting chamber is then inserted into the bottom of the holding chamber. The open top of the collecting chamber has a track holding a top cover plate. The top cover plate interlocks with the holding chamber bottom cover plate, and the two cover plates are withdrawn as a unit to allow the accumulated sharps to drop into the collecting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Multimedia Marketing, Inc.
    Inventor: John Gosciniak
  • Patent number: 4848574
    Abstract: A container (10) for computer floppy diskettes (D) and the like includes a body portion (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) open at the top and a cover (16) attached to the body portion (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) by a hinge assembly (45) which limits the movement of the cover (16) such that when it is fully open, it extends generally vertically upward thereby not unnecessarily using space. The container (10) is provided with file dividers (29) which are arcuately movable therein. Upon closure of the cover (16), if one or more of the dividers (29) is in the way, a camming surface (44) carried by cover (16) engages the divider (29) and swings it out of the way so that complete closure can be effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent W. Murphy, Charles W. Craft, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4844287
    Abstract: A double-walled leak containment system for an underground storage tank is provided. The underground storage tank is surrounded, in order, by an inner polymeric containment layer, a liquid transmissive textile, and an outer polymeric containment layer. The outer polymeric containment layer is advantageously formed by spray coating the textile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Inventor: Delmar D. Long
  • Patent number: 4844286
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a large heavy gauge, chemically resistant plastic covering formed into a sac, having a closed bottom end and an opened top end, with the bottom end secured between two separate sections of a two-piece base platform provides secondary containment for leakage of toxic chemicals from heavy drums encased in the covering. The two-piece base platform includes a flat top downwardly convexed upper section positioned inside the covering at the closed bottom end which holds the covering securely by closely fitting a concaved center in a rounded bottom section of the base platform. The upper section of the base has a cover protecting rolled edge. Should a drum encased in the covering develop a leak, the spill is confined inside the covering protecting the surrounding area from contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Inventor: Clifford L. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 4844243
    Abstract: The present invention is a tray for holding multiple individual confectionery items in a pleasing array for use in displaying the confectionery items. The tray is composed of a number of cavities, and possesses attachment points which, when connected by flexible bands, cause the tray to bulge creating an elevated platform on which the confectionery items can be displayed by being placed in the cavities. Empty cavities can be filled with confectionery items or filler segments which can be also pleasingly decorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Inventor: Delores Stiles
  • Patent number: 4844274
    Abstract: A pressure vessel assembly includes a pressure vessel with a vessel wall having a connection stub with a stub wall. A thermal protector for the connection stub in the form of a first tube extends substantially parallel to the stub wall. The first tube has an inner surface, one end disposed at the stub wall and another free end extending into the pressure vessel. Brackets are disposed on the inner surface of the tube between the other free end and the stub wall. A second tube extends into the connection stub beyond the one end of the first tube. The second tube has slits formed therein defining prongs therebetween connected to the brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Zvonimir Sterk