Patents Examined by James M Van Buskirk
  • Patent number: 8870012
    Abstract: The present invention is a flip-up pop-tab in which a partially detachable portion of a lid of a can is separated from the can and hinged away from the opening created in the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventor: Gilbert P. Stengel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8863974
    Abstract: A column assembly for supporting a floating roof used with a storage tank for containing a volatile fluid, including an inner pipe, an outer pipe securable to the floating roof to extend below and generally perpendicular to the roof, the outer pipe surrounding and being movable axially on the inner pipe with a generally annular space defined between them, a pin extendable transversely through the overlapping walls of the inner and outer pipes to releasably fix the axial position of one pipe relative to the other, and a cylindrical sleeve seal having an upper part to slidably engage the inner pipe outer surface, a lower part bore surface to engage the top end outer surface of the outer pipe, and a radially inward extending rib situated axially between the upper and lower parts and extending transversely across and closing the top end of the annular space between the pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mohammed A. Ben Afeef
  • Patent number: 8863967
    Abstract: A pouring port of a container for liquid at one end of which a rubber stopper allowing the penetration of an injection needle therethrough is embedded, wherein: the pouring port is formed by welding a port part, at least the innermost layer of which forming the discharge channel thereof comprises a resin containing a COP-based resin as the main component, with a stopper body part, which holds the rubber stopper and comprises a resin containing a COP-based resin as the main component, via the resin layers containing the respective COP-based resins as the main component; and at least the resin constituting the stopper body part contains a rubber component in an amount of not more than 30% by mass, or has, in the main chain, a molecular structure represented by general formula (1) [wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer equal to or greater than 1] and contains a PE-based resin in an amount of 30% by mass or less, and/or contains an a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fujimori Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toyoaki Suzuki, Koichi Miura
  • Patent number: 8844728
    Abstract: A container formed from a blank of sheet material includes, in an exemplary embodiment, opposing side walls, a front end wall, a back end wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall. An opening lip extends from a portion of the bottom of the front wall. Perforation lines extend diagonally from each end of the lip. Each perforation line extends to a side wall. Each side wall includes a perforation line extending from one of the front wall perforation lines to the upper corner of the sidewall adjacent the back end wall. Access holes are located in each side wall adjacent to the side wall perforation line. Another perforation line extends the width of the back end wall and intersects each of the perforation lines of the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott James, Matthew Kiev Swenson, Paul Michael Connolly, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8833586
    Abstract: Closures having an integrated flip top handle for use with liquid containers and for carrying the liquid containers include an end wall, a skirt wall depending from the end wall, an outlet opening associated with the end wall, and a pivot hinge mount for pivotally mounting a flip top to the closure. The closure also includes the flip top pivotally supported by the pivot hinge mount. The flip top includes a closing member that closes the outlet opening when the flip top is in a first position, a pivot support member extending from the closing member to the pivot hinge mount and pivotally attached to the pivot hinge mount, and a carrying member extending from the closing member on a same side of the closing member as the pivot support member with a distal end that extends at least as far as the pivot hinge mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Runway Blue, LLC
    Inventors: David O. Meyers, Steven M. Sorensen
  • Patent number: 8833589
    Abstract: A container which includes a base (12) that can hold food and a lid (14) that closes on the base, which clearly indicates if the lid has been opened after a clerk loaded food into the base and closed the lid. The base and lid each have trapping portions (20, 22) and pull-open portions (24, 32) with a tear-tab, or tear-open barrier (80). To close the lid, a clerk projects a tab (30) on the pull-open portion of the lid through a slot (26) in the pull-open portion of the base, and then presses down the entire trapping portion of the lid into the trapping portion of the base. The lid cannot be lifted up because the tear-open barrier (80) forming the top wall of the slot lies over the tab. To open the container, a person must tear the barrier so he/she can pull up the tab 30 and open the lid. The fact that the barrier has been torn is obvious.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Pactiv Packaging Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Vovan
  • Patent number: 8827110
    Abstract: The handle end portions are attached to the tray by separate connectors. The tray has spaced openings to receive the connectors. Each connector has an anchor-shaped section which is received in a tray opening and a section which engages a handle end portion. The anchor-shaped section has arms which flex to permit the connector to be received in the tray opening and thereafter return to their extended position to cooperate with the tray to securely attach the connector to the tray and prevent free rotation of the connector. The handle engaging section includes a hook-shaped member which is received an opening in the handle end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Texpak, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Franzone, Jr., John Sperling
  • Patent number: 8827074
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a case for an electronic device. Other embodiments of related cases and methods of providing and using the same are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Belkin International, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Law, Oliver Duncan Seil, Juliana S. Hung
  • Patent number: 8813958
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal glass package box, which includes a box body, a plurality of mounting sections mounted inside the box body, and cushioning devices respectively mounted to the mounting sections. The cushioning devices each include a cushioning section and a receiving section connected to the cushioning section. The cushioning section includes an air pocket. The receiving section forms a receiving channel corresponding to the respective mounting section in order to mount the cushioning device in the box body. The liquid crystal glass package box provided by the present invention uses an air pocket to serve as a cushioning section mounted inside the box body to provide effective cushioning to liquid crystal glass for protecting the liquid crystal glass from damage during shipping. The raw material used is economic so as to effectively lower down the material cost. The structure is simple and is easy to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yicheng Kuo, Shihhsiang Chen, Gang Yu, Jiahe Cheng, Zhilin Zhao
  • Patent number: 8813988
    Abstract: A cap (23) for a container closure or closure plug comprises a cap top (24), attachment means (24) under the cap top and securingly engageable with a given container closure or closure plug; a frangible connection (30) between the cap top and the attachment means designed, in use, to be broken upon removal or attempted removal of the cap from said container closure or closure plug and a permanent connection (31) between the cap top and the attachment means which, upon breaking of the frangible connection, retains the cap top and the attachment means connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Greif International Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Sébastien Yves Adolphe Ledemeney
  • Patent number: 8807386
    Abstract: An accessory for a drinking vessel is disclosed as including a body (102) with a passageway allowing air or liquid to pass through, the body including a first wall (104a) and a second wall (104b) which are opposite to each other, and a valve (110) in the passageway, the valve (110) including a first valve member (110a) and a second valve member (110b), in which both the first and second valve members (110a, 110b) are integrally formed with the first and second walls, and each of the first and second valve members (110a, 110b) includes respectively a first surface (111a, 111c) and a second surface (111b, 111d) which are opposite to each other, in which the first surfaces of the first and second valve members face generally a first direction, and the second surfaces of the first and second valve members face generally a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, and the first valve member is deformable between a first configuration in which at least part of the second surface of the first valve
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Great Fortune (HK) Limited
    Inventor: Chi Shing Lam
  • Patent number: 8783454
    Abstract: A wrapped container of consumer goods includes a container, at least one bundle of consumer goods housed within the container and wrapped in an inner liner, an outer wrapper wrapped around the filled container, and at least one adhesive label removably mounted on a separate carrier element. The carrier element is provided inside the outer wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventor: Zsolt Igo
  • Patent number: 8783495
    Abstract: A can end for a beverage container has a circumferential curl positioned about a longitudinal axis, a wall extending downwardly from the curl, a strengthening member joined to the wall, and a center panel joined to the strengthening member and extending radially inwardly relative to longitudinal axis. A rivet is located at a center position of the center panel. A frangible score has terminal ends located on a common side of the rivet. The terminal ends are separated by a non-frangible hinge segment. A displaceable tear panel is defined by the frangible score and the non-frangible hinge segment. A non-detachable tab has a nose and a lift end. The nose overlies a portion of the displaceable tear panel. A deboss groove is located on the public side of the center panel and extends downwardly in a direction towards the product side. The deboss groove is located adjacent the score line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Rexam Beverage Can Company
    Inventor: Randall G. Forrest
  • Patent number: 8770422
    Abstract: An adapter plate for a container unit that can be coupled to at an additional container unit to form an intermodal container having the approximate dimensions of a standard ISO container. The intermodal container can be handled by a medium tactical vehicle with a load handling system. The container unit has first and second substantially parallel corner posts, an upper frame support extending between first ends of the corner posts, a lower frame support extending between second ends of the corner posts, and a connection block disposed adjacent the second ends of the corner posts. The adapter plate is disposed adjacent the connection block. A proximal end of the adapter plate is connected to the connection block and positioned generally flush with an outer facing surface of the connection block. A distal end of the adapter is angled to connect to an outer surface of the lower frame support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mobile Medical International Corporation
    Inventors: Philip T. Cantin, Rick A. Cochran, Justin M. White
  • Patent number: 8763836
    Abstract: A container includes a sealing system coupled to an interior surface of the container's lid or cover. The sealing system includes a rotatable latch that, when rotated, cooperates with a number of gears to and a cam assembly formed in the lid to actuate a number of arms or links. In one embodiment, some of the arms extend approximately radially from a driven gear and operate to move an engagement member of the sealing assembly into contact with a complementary engagement member coupled to a base portion of the container. This engagement, in turn, compresses a seal or gasket located between the lid portion and the base portion of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Becklin Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis M. Becklin
  • Patent number: 8757381
    Abstract: A sealing sheet for closing a container-defining sheet having a top surface comprising a given number of spaced apart cavities embossed therein, each of the cavities being upwardly opened and defining a container surrounded by a flange. The sealing sheet includes a top layer having a lower surface covered with pressure sensitive adhesive glue, and a bottom layer having an upper surface detachably fixed to the lower surface of the top layer by pressure sensitive adhesive glue. The bottom layer being peelable from the lower surface of the top layer to allow fixation of the sealing sheet onto the top surface of the container-defining sheet in order to close the containers defined in the same. The sealing sheet also includes an additional layer that is tearable into additional elements that are foldably attached on top of each of the containers and on which additional information may be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: 9155-0020 Quebec Inc.
    Inventor: Chantel Hebert
  • Patent number: 8746494
    Abstract: Disclosed is a synthetic resin container provided with an inverting, foldback bottom wall that can maintain a stable, self-supporting position while being able to minimize the amount of residual contents, and that can be formed by blow-molding, etc., and maintain the favorable producibility or low cost of the past. The synthetic resin container is provided with a bottom wall that forms the bottom of the container, and a drum section that is united to the perimeter of the bottom wall and forms a filling space M for contents on the inside, and is a synthetic resin container wherein a raised bottom is formed by inverting and folding back said bottom wall toward said drum section. Said drum section has a lower peripheral wall that touches or approaches the outer wall part of said bottom wall and forms a self-supporting base by the inversion and folding back of said bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayakawa, Yoshiharu Kitamura, Kazuo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8733582
    Abstract: A cup (22) includes a base (26) and a wall (30) with an integral straw (36). A lid (24) includes a flange (52) for mating with the cup (22) to establish an assembled position of the drinking assembly (20). The lid (24) defines an orifice (66) aligned with the integral straw (36) in the assembled position, and a flexible straw (68) is disposed within the orifice (66). The flexible straw (68) has a nipple portion (70) extending to an inlet end (72) disposed in abutting relationship with the integral straw (36) in the assembled position to establish a compression fit between the flexible straw (68) and the integral straw (36). The lid (24) is also stackable with identical lids (24) and includes a cavity (60) extending between first and second ends (62, 64). The orifice (66) is disposed about one of the ends (64) and the cavity (60) has an open portion (90) disposed about the other of the ends (62) for receiving a nipple portion (70) of the identical lid (24) being stacked in alternating relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventors: David Fioritto, Domenic Belcastro
  • Patent number: 8720729
    Abstract: A foil made of two plastic films and an adhesive layer laminating the two films together, wherein the first plastic film has a first side and a second side and comprises punctures therebetween. The foil is of a dual peel-seal type such that the first plastic film realizes a first peel-able seal within the foil at its first side in the form of an adhesion peel seal in an open state and/or in the form of a cohesion peel seal in a sealed state, and wherein the adhesive layer leaves open the punctures such that gas can penetrate through the punctures in-between the two films towards the first peel-able seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Mondi AG
    Inventors: Gyula Madai, Jan-Torsten Vollmer, Melinda Budai, Michael Seeber, Bernhard Mumelter
  • Patent number: 8701885
    Abstract: A container set which connects and packages a plurality of containers with a package sheet is provided, wherein at least one container has a shape in which a plurality of large-width portions having a larger width in a connecting direction as compared with the other portions are formed on respective sides of a small-width portion having a smaller width than the large-width portion, with the small-width portion therebetween; the package sheet has a plurality of tubular portions which are shrunk along an outer shape of the containers and which individually store the containers; and, in the tubular portions, a connecting portion is formed between adjacent tubular portions at least at a part of the tubular portion corresponding to the large-width portion, and the tubular portions which oppose each other are separated from each other at the small-width portion, with no connecting portion formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Seal International, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernst Christiaan Koolhaas