Patents Examined by Harry A. Grosso
  • Patent number: 8052000
    Abstract: A pallet includes a plurality of supports supporting a floor. The supports each include a plurality of columns integrally-molded with at least one runner and snap-fit to the floor. At least one wall is moveable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the floor. A hinge connecting the wall to the base includes a first axis and a second axis offset by the first axis. The hinge is locked when the wall is in the upright position to prevent rotation about the second axis but permit rotation about the first axis. A hinge assembly connects a door to the wall and includes a first hinge pin and a second hinge pin. The hinge assembly permits the door to open completely relative to the wall to a position at least substantially parallel to and adjacent the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 8047396
    Abstract: A composite pressure vessel comprised of an inner fluid tight liner and an outer reinforced polymer layer. An end boss comprising a short pipe section arranged through an opening of the vessel and extending to a lower end with an outwardly extending flange on the pipe section arranged between the outer layer and the inner liner, and a lid arranged at an upper end of the pipe section. The inner liner extends upwards through the opening of the pipe section to the lid with at least one gas tight seal interfacing against the inner liner. A pre-tensioning device is arranged on the outside of the inner liner, in a groove nearest to the lid and pipe section, around the upper end of the pipe section, which, regardless of the pressure in the vessel, presses the inner liner against the at least one gas tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Compressed Energy Technology AS
    Inventors: Peter Jenkins, Svein Are Lotveit, Gunnar Axelsson
  • Patent number: 8047397
    Abstract: A holder for to hold storage container(s) therein is disclosed. Each storage container has a lid with locking tabs or locking extension that hook underneath a protrusion around and near the top edge of the container to lock the lid to the container. The holder has a top with two downwardly extending sides with L-shaped extensions furthest from the top that create a ledge. The holder is attached to a surface. One or more containers with a lid locked thereto using the locking tabs or locking extensions are inserted into the holder and the underside of the locking tabs or locking extensions sit on the L-shaped extensions to support the container within the holder. There may be an interference fit between the container(s) with locked lid and the two downwardly extending sides that helps retain the container(s) within the holder and guarantees that two of the locking tabs are held in their locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: Theodore Mittet
  • Patent number: 8042703
    Abstract: A recycling center receivable on a supporting surface is provided. The recycling center includes first and second sidewalls. Each sidewall has a forward edge, a rearward edge, an upper edge and an inner surface such that the inner surfaces of the sidewalls define a recycle receiving chamber. A bag slide slidably is mounted within recycle receiving chamber. The bag slide is movable between a first retracted position wherein the bag slide is received within the recycle receiving chamber and an extended position wherein at least a portion of the bag slide projects from the recycle receiving chamber. A first bag retainer is pivotably mounted to the bag slide for receiving a first portion of upper end of a first bag thereon. The first bag retainer is pivotable between a first position and a second retaining position for supporting the first bag in an open configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Riverwest Engineering & Design, Inc.
    Inventor: Casey M. Dembowiak
  • Patent number: 8042706
    Abstract: A profile (2) comprises a rounded upper portion (6) and a lower portion (7) and is suitable for being fastened onto an edge (3) of a panel (4a) by means of fastening means (5). The lower portion (7) comprises a first wall (7a) suitable for mating with the panel (4a) and a second wall (7b) joining said first wall (7a) to said upper portion (6), thus defining a chamber (8) that is comprised between the first wall (7a) and the second wall (7b) and is suitable to enclose one end (10) of said fastening means (5). Thus, the profile accomplishes an anti-catching function. The present invention also relates to a method for fastening said profile (2) town edge (3) of a panel (4a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Dante Bertoni S.R.L.
    Inventor: Valentino Orrigoni
  • Patent number: 8038030
    Abstract: A floor-cleaning machine which can be driven over the floor, includes a driven brush for sweeping the floor to be cleaned. The brush picks up dirt and debris from the floor and carries it, assisted by forced air flow, in an overhead motion and through a transfer duct to a pair of dirt containers in the form of buckets located side-by-side at the rear of the machine. A manual linkage at the rear of the machine moves a pivoted carrier frame which holds the dirt containers, between a raised use position in which the upper rims of the dirt containers are sealed to the machine for collection of debris, and a lowered access position for removal of the containers. Each container is independently accessible for emptying, and includes a bail-type handle pivotally attached such that a bucket, the opening of which faces forwardly and upwardly in the use position, extends generally horizontal when removed, to avoid spillage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hako-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Peters, Heinrich Katenhusen
  • Patent number: 8038028
    Abstract: An additional containment system for a fluid containment vessel includes an outer section, an inner section, and a monitoring system. A plurality of independent and distinct zones of interstitial space are positioned between the outer section and the inner section. The monitoring system is connected to and separately monitors a pressure in each of the zones. A divider plate is attached to both the inner section and the outer section and divides a first zone from a second zone. Upon detecting a leak, the monitoring system provides an indication as to the leak being in the outer section or in the inner section, and upon detecting a leak, the monitoring system also provides an indication as to which of the zones the leak is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Holdings Co.
    Inventor: Troy Alan Brown
  • Patent number: 8033415
    Abstract: A structure of an opening section of a fuel tank, which is capable of detaching a tank cap without damaging positioning projections provided in the tank cap. The opening section has a cylindrical portion extending outwardly from a tank main body, and a metallic annular tank cap engaging member having a plurality of engaging holes is attached to the cylindrical portion. A plurality of engaging claw parts of a metallic annular attaching member are engaged in the engaging holes of the tank cap engaging member to hold the tank cap with the attaching member and the tank cap engaging member. The tank cap has tank cap positioning projections, and the tank cap engaging member has positioning holes for insertion of the tank cap positioning projections, and at least one engaging claw part and at least one engaging hole are respectively made longer in a circumferential direction than remaining engaging claw parts and remaining engaging holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: FTS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Shimoda, Hiroaki Suganuma
  • Patent number: 8033414
    Abstract: An odor-containment system for use with a flexible bag and a receptacle for holding waste items includes a body configured to be connected to the receptacle for holding waste items, the body providing a passageway through the body, and a plurality of sealing members attached, directly or indirectly, to the body and disposed across the passageway, the sealing members being disposed adjacent to each other in a static, closed position of the system such that a flexible bag inserted between the sealing members will be forced closed, where the body is configured to cover an opening of the receptacle for receiving the waste items, where the sealing members are attached to the body such that the sealing members can separate from each other to permit one of the waste items to be inserted between the sealing members, and where the sealing members are biased toward the static, closed position with the sealing members adjacent to each other such that when a waste moves out from between the sealing members, the sealing m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Carl J Conforti
  • Patent number: 8033408
    Abstract: An enclosure which has a lead-through for passing a rod-like element through a wall of the enclosure, and a grommet for sealing a rod-like element to a wall of an enclosure, the grommet having a passage for passing the rod-like element therealong through the grommet and the passage having its walls adapted to fit around the rod-like element. The grommet includes a first recess adapted to match at least a rim of a cutout in the enclosure; a second recess, adapted to receive a clamping element which is adapted to secure and seal the rod-like element to the grommet by applying a radial compression to the rod-like element; one split face, which establishes an openable route between the exterior of the grommet and the passage, the split face being provided with sealing elements for an axially directed and radially directed alignment and sealing of the split face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Ensto Finland Oy
    Inventors: Keijo Mäkelä, Timo Tuomisto, Reijo Mattila
  • Patent number: 8028851
    Abstract: A container clearly indicates that it has been opened after a store clerk loads food into the base of the container and closes a covering of the container onto the base. The covering (16) includes a peripheral cover portion (22) that becomes fixed to a peripheral base portion (32) when the clerk initially closes the container. To thereafter open the container, a person forcefully lifts a tab (30) on the covering to tear the covering along a long tear line (26) that separates the peripheral cover portion (22) from a lid (24) formed by a radially inner covering portion. The base (12) is fixed to the peripheral covering portion (22), and together they form a base device (40). After the lid has been torn free of the peripheral covering portion, the lid can be closed and latched to the base device and then can be easily opened again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: PWP Industries
    Inventors: Terry Vovan, Jose Enriquez
  • Patent number: 8025177
    Abstract: A joint compound container including a body having a generally trough shape formed from two opposing planar side walls separated from one another by a planar floor, and opposing end walls. The container also includes a reinforcing band attached to the body and configured for reinforcing each of the side walls and the end walls where the reinforcing band is displaced from an upper edge of the body only by a distance sufficient to define a scraping edge extending upwardly beyond an upper edge of the reinforcing band and where the scraping edge is formed by the upper edge of the body and supported by the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: United States Gypsum Company
    Inventors: Robert Bruno, Matthew Earle Myers
  • Patent number: 8025175
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a cooking surface and a wall depending from the cooking surface. The wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. A handle is adjacent the exterior surface. The handle has a first surface adjacent the wall and a second surface opposite the first surface. A rivet is disposed through the interior surface, the exterior surface, and the first surface of the handle. The second surface of the handle is unpierced by the rivet. The rivet is bonded with a mating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kurt Coyne, Alfred Alexander Arlic, II
  • Patent number: 8025173
    Abstract: A collapsible liner for use in a canister of a medical fluid collection system is disclosed. The liner includes a flexible bag extending longitudinally between a top portion opposite a closed bottom portion, and at least one support element connected to the bag and disposed generally laterally relative to a length of the bag. When an interior of the bag is subjected to a vacuum, the at least one support element limits an extent of lateral collapse while permitting longitudinal collapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Allegiance Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas L. Michaels
  • Patent number: 8011528
    Abstract: A laterally expandable receptacle wherein a greater volume of items, such as trash, linen, laundry, recyclables, grain, and the like, may be contained as compared to conventional receptacles. Side walls and/or corners of the receptacle may comprise resilient expansion means allowing for beneficial lateral displacement. The resilient expansion means may be selected from a variety of structures including, at least one pleat, an accordion configuration, at least one slit, at least one aperture, an expandable material, an expandable material covering at least one aperture, flexible cords, and all legal equivalents thereof. The receptacle of the present invention may further comprise a pressure release means to eliminate a vacuum seal from forming between the receptacle and an optional replaceable liner therein. The receptacle of the present invention may still further comprise a stabilization means for providing a necessary stabilizing force against the receptacle during liner removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Ray Wright
  • Patent number: 8011525
    Abstract: A plastic container for a child-resistant package, including a sidewall with an outer surface, a deflectable release cantilevered from the outer surface and deflectable toward the outer surface, and deflection limiting elements carried by the deflectable release to limit deflection of the release. The deflection limiting elements include laterally spaced lugs transversely extending toward the sidewall outer surface from the deflectable release and having portions normally spaced from the sidewall outer surface, such that deflection of the release brings the portions of the lugs into abutment with the sidewall outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Rexam Healthcare Packaging Inc.
    Inventor: Philip J Robinson
  • Patent number: 8006862
    Abstract: A holder, a system and/or a method insulate and/or support a cup. A handle assists a consumer in drinking a beverage from the cup. A cover, a liner and a spine are assembled to form the holder. The cover and the liner are attached to form a pocket for holding the spine. The handle is rigidly attached to the spine. A rigidity of the spine may support a wall of the cup. A force placed on the cup when using the handle is distributed by the spine around the wall of the cup to reduce a likelihood of failure and/or of deformation of the cup. The cover, the liner and the spine retard heat transfer to and/or from a beverage in the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: ITUS, LLC
    Inventor: Debra Leslie
  • Patent number: 8006863
    Abstract: The present invention is a square-shaped product container having a bail pivotally attached to an upper portion of opposite corners of the container. A mating lid for the container is formed which mates with a top portion of the container and has a tab which extends outward and downward from a sealing lip on the lid. The tab on the lid and the bail on the container work in conjunction when a user pulls downward on the bail and upward on the tab to easily pull the tab corner of the lid upward away from the container. Then, the remaining portion of the lid sealed to the container easily follows with forces upward on the lid and downward on the bail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Wells Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: David D. Albrecht
  • Patent number: 7988012
    Abstract: A joint compound container has two opposing end walls, and a body having a generally trough shape formed from two planar side walls separated from one another by a planar floor. The body is affixed to the end walls. Each of the side walls shares a respective common radiused edge with the floor of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: United States Gypsum Company
    Inventors: Robert Bruno, Matthew Earle Myers
  • Patent number: 7980414
    Abstract: A produce packaging system incorporates a container having ample top ventilation enabling efficient ingress of cooling water into container to cool produce contained inside. The container also having a sloped bottom for draining water toward a bottom vent and out of the container during hydrocooling. The system also includes a cooling box configured for holding the containers in an upright orientation enabling inflow of cooling water into the containers and out of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sambrailo Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Cadiente, Mark Sambrailo