Patents Examined by James N Smalley
  • Patent number: 11639250
    Abstract: A closure is configured to mount on a container to close an open mouth formed in the container. The closure includes a lid and an outer layer coupled to the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Berry Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Gift, John A. Vassallo, Thomas A. Genovese
  • Patent number: 11633056
    Abstract: A non-spill drinking container assembly having a container with an open upper portion and closed lower portion. A collar may be removably attached to the upper portion of the container and may have an upper surface with a contour. A seal may be removably attached to the collar and cover the contour of the upper surface of the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MUNCHKIN, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Bryan Dunn, Mark A. Hatherill, Kevin Douglas Johnson, Matthew Joseph Saxton
  • Patent number: 11628972
    Abstract: A container lid and base assembly includes lid and base stacking features, as well as base chamfers that align with vents provided in the lid. When a plurality of the container assemblies is stacked, the lid and base stacking features nest with each other, while the chamfers align with corresponding vents in the stacked assemblies so that none of the vents is blocked by a next-higher container assembly. The stacking features can be centrally located, and the vents can be peripherally located. A plurality of the container assemblies can have differing sizes and/or shapes, while including mutually compatible stacking features, thereby enabling container assemblies of differing sizes to be stacked without blocking any of the vents thereof. The vents can be holes or ā€œCā€ vents. The lid and/or base can be manufacturable by thermoforming. The lid and base can be separate, or joined by a hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Waddington North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell L. Simms, II
  • Patent number: 11618621
    Abstract: One embodiment of a vertical tube (26) for an improved tamper-evident container having no threads which descends from the underside of a cap (12) and is permanently adhered to a receiving cylindrical, threadless body neck (50) on the top of the body (10). A tape (46) is adhered to the underside of the lid (14) and runs towards the front of the cap where the opening is located, extends down to a plateau (22) where it runs back towards the rear, hinged (18) end of the cap. The tape breaks apart when the lid is opened for the first time. The cap and lid are clear and see-through which allows the customer to see if the tape is torn apart and know whether the product has been tampered with or not. Other embodiments are described and shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Richard John McCormick
  • Patent number: 11619074
    Abstract: A security device for mounting over the neck of a bottle having an exterior lip has outer cap structure including an annular housing portion (16) for location about the neck of a bottle and an end cap portion (18) at one end of the annular housing portion. A claw member (14) is slidably mounted to the outer cap structure for movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the annular housing portion between operative and inoperative positions. A latch mechanism (60) releasably secures the claw member in the operative position. The claw member has a plurality of resiliently deformable elongate claws (52a, 52b) for engagement with the neck of a bottle to which the device is mounted when the claw member is in the operative position. The claw member comprises at least two sets of claws (52a, 52b) of different lengths. The latch mechanism (60) may be a magnetically-releasable latch enabling the device to be removed using a magnetic key. The device may incorporate a RF or RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventors: Omar Yasin, Chao Han
  • Patent number: 11618620
    Abstract: A cap protector for protecting a cap on a container includes a plurality of axial fins extending from a common point. Each axial fin includes a body extending between an inner edge and an outer edge, and a cap-engaging lip defined on the inner edge that is configured to selectively engage a cap of a container. The plurality of axial fins may be movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position, wherein in the engaged position the cap-engaging lip of each of the plurality of axial fins engages the cap of a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Michael P. Robinson, II
  • Patent number: 11612259
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vessel which accommodates a metal element in its base, wherein the vessel comprises a lower recess in the base which accommodates the metal element, wherein the metal element is bonded to the base by means of a transparent adhesive at the bottom of the recess and is embedded by a transparent plastic which fills up a remaining area of the recess. The invention further relates to a method for producing a vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: MAGLASSX GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Fritz
  • Patent number: 11613413
    Abstract: A package assembly enables a user to adjust package assembly volume and includes a first (static or dynamic) package body and a second dynamic package body. The first package body has an upper body rim. Each dynamic package body provides a dynamic lid volume and has a rim-receiving groove, a lid wall, and at least one resilient portion. The rim-receiving groove is removably attachable to the upper body rim for defining a dynamic package assembly volume with the package body when in a closed configuration with the first package body. The resilient portion extends intermediate the lid wall and the rim-receiving groove and is resiliently actuable intermediate (a) a relaxed configuration for defining a maximum package assembly volume when in the closed configuration and (b) an actuated configuration defining a minimum package assembly volume in the closed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Resolute Patents, LLC
    Inventor: Pavel Savenok
  • Patent number: 11603238
    Abstract: A beverage container lid comprising a body having drinking hole and an air hole, and a slide-seal automatic Open and Close retention mechanism that comprises a sealing arm pivotally connected to the body, a movement and position retention linkage structured and operable to move the sealing arm between an Opened and a Closed position, a control mechanism slidingly disposed within the body and operably connected to the movement and position retention linkage such that movement of the control mechanism will control movement of the sealing arm between the Opened and Closed positions, and a biasing device structured and operable to exert constant force on the sealing arm, such that force exerted by the biasing device in combination with the structure and operation of the movement and position retention linkage will selectively retain the sealing arm in the Opened position and in the Closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
    Inventors: Hongbin Ma, Hao Bai, Michael Merwin, Christopher Vincent
  • Patent number: 11597569
    Abstract: A can for containing a liquid has a top end having a dispense area defined by a first score line and a pull tab coupled to the top end by a rivet. The pull tab has a puncturing end for breaking the first score line and pushing into the interior of the can without detaching the dispense area to open a dispense aperture. A vent area is defined by a second score line and positioned on the opposite side of the rivet. The first and second score lines are separated by at least one torsion stripe of the can top material for acting as a hinge by torsion upon lifting the actuating end of the pull tab. As the dispense aperture is opened by pushing the dispense area into the interior of the can, a vent aperture is opened by pulling the vent area outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV S.A.
    Inventor: Christopher Neiner
  • Patent number: 11591140
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a cup having a brim forming an opening into an interior region of the cup. The container also includes a lid configured to mount on the brim of the cup to close the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Berry Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Eickhoff, Braxton J. Bragg, Jeffrey A. Mann
  • Patent number: 11591139
    Abstract: A lid for an insulated container comprises a flexible gasket configured to facilitate a seal between the lid and an inner wall of the insulated container, and further configured to expand into an interior compartment of the insulated container responsive to a vacuum developing in the interior compartment. A diaphragm chamber is situated opposite the flexible gasket from the interior compartment when the lid is fully engaged with the insulated container. One or more air channels couple the diaphragm chamber to an exterior of the lid. The development of a vacuum in the interior compartment of the insulated container draws a force on the flexible gasket, thereby reducing pressure in the diaphragm chamber. The negative pressure in diaphragm chamber is back-filled with external air, which enters the lid via the air channels. The lid may then be removed without excessive vacuum forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: KLEAN KANTEEN, INC.
    Inventors: Richard John Adams, Jr., Joshua James Birkle, James M. Osgood
  • Patent number: 11583056
    Abstract: The present utility model discloses a replaceable cosmetic bottle, comprising a bottle body and a bottle cap that covers the bottle body, wherein the bottle body comprises an outer bottle and an inner container which are detachably connected; the outer bottle comprises a first threaded connection portion and a second threaded connection portion which are vertically connected, and the second threaded connection portion is in threaded connection with the bottle cap; the inner container comprises a vertical ring boss; and the inner container is arranged in an inner cavity of the outer bottle, and the vertical ring boss is in threaded connection with the first threaded connection portion. According to the present utility model, the inner container can be conveniently replaced, thereby effectively saving costs and conforming to the idea of energy conservation and environmental protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: APR BEAUTY GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Jun Shen, Min-Yan Zheng, Fengying Fu
  • Patent number: 11565854
    Abstract: What is described here is a closing cap (1) for a container (2), in particular for a container (2) intended to contain pressurised beverages. The cap comprising a lateral wall (3) extending around an axis (Z) and a transversal wall (4) positioned at one end of the lateral wall (3), a separating line (5) being provided on the lateral wall (3) to define a retaining ring (301), which extends as far as a free edge (304) and is configured to internally engage with a locking ring (206) of a neck (201) of the container (2), and a closing element (302) removably engageable with the neck, so as to open or close the container. The cap comprises an inner thread structure, positioned on the inside of the lateral wall (3) of the closing element (302) to engage with an outer thread structure of the neck (201) and to removably couple the closing element (302) to the neck (201) of the container (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA
    Inventor: Alessandro Falzoni
  • Patent number: 11560263
    Abstract: A valve for a lid of a fluid vessel includes a valve body having an adapter portion coupling first and second opposite ends of the valve body. The first and second ends are rotatably fixed to each other and have an angle formed therebetween. The adapter portion is configured to be rotatably coupled to the lid about a first axis. The first end of the valve body is configured to be coupled to a button for rotating the first end about the first axis. The valve includes a stopper coupled to the second end of the valve body and configured to cover an opening in the lid. The stopper is configured to be separated from the opening when the first end of the valve body is rotated in a first direction about the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Olympia Tools International, Inc.
    Inventor: Cecil Wilson
  • Patent number: 11554893
    Abstract: A container (210) for holding granular or powdered material and formed by a top wall (212), a bottom wall (214), a front wall (216), a rear wall (218), a first side wall (220), and a second side wall (222). A rotatably removable lid (D) is interiorly mounted with a scoop (32) and is pivotally hinged to a collar (300) that includes a sealing gasket (330). The collar (300) mounts to the walls of the container (210). A sealing wall 240 of the lid (D) cooperates with the gasket 300 to prevent the contents from spilling. The container (210) incorporates powder control features, a container wall junction (50) preferred geometry and congruent scoop (32) enabling convenient access to the contents, a tolerance variation accommodating and strength improving, J-shaped collar (300) and interlocking indentations (290) and flex clips (310), and a pressure controlling portion (350) that prevents unwanted deformation due to pressure differentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventors: James P. Perry, Craig A. McCardell, Jeremy McBroom, David Compeau, Ashley A. Gohlke, William J. Hook, Katherine J. Jordan, Frank S. Walczak, Peter B. Clarke, J. Kevin Clay, Richard C. Darr, Jack E. Elder, Marc A. Pedmo, Charles R. Schotthoefer
  • Patent number: 11548699
    Abstract: A sift-resistant dispensing closure is disclosed. The sift-resistant dispensing closure includes a base, a lid, and a hinge connecting the lid to the base. The base contains a circular end wall, a cylindrical skirt extending downward from the periphery of the end wall, and a sift deck elevated from the upside of the circular end wall. The sift deck contains a deck surface surrounded by a first snap bead and a first sealing surface, and pouring holes formed on the deck surface. The lid contains a second snap bead and a second sealing surface that are formed on the underside of the lid and engage with the first snap bead and first sealing surface, respectively, to form a seal around the sift deck when the lid is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Barry Michael Daggett
  • Patent number: 11548727
    Abstract: An embodiment of a box is configured to be transformed to include a tapered structure configured such that when the transformed box is inserted into the receptacle, the tapered structure provides a universal fit. An embodiment of an extender is formed by steps including providing a single piece of material having a first edge and a second edge and forming, by cutting the single piece of material, at least one top extension extending from at least one wall and at least one bottom extension extending from the at least one wall such that the at least one top extension is foldable to abut the at least one wall. A method for collecting waste materials includes providing a receptacle and a box, and disrupting the extender. An embodiment of an extender comprises a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, and a fourth wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Christopher E. Boyea
  • Patent number: 11540611
    Abstract: A refill container removably stored in a cosmetic compact includes: a main body being open at an upper part thereof and having a housing space inside thereof, an upper end sealing protrusion part, a lateral sealing protrusion part provided at an outer surface of the inner wall, and an outer wall being provided outside the inner wall with a predetermined gap therebetween; and a mesh fabric cover having a cylindrical first vertical extension part combined with the inner wall and the outer wall by being inserted into a gap provided therebetween such that an inner surface of the first vertical extension part is in close contact with the lateral sealing protrusion part, and a first rim part provided at an upper end of first vertical extension part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: Yong-jun Lee, Jin-gee Kim
  • Patent number: 11541818
    Abstract: A storage device 1 includes: a case member 2; a lid member 3 configured to change between a closed position, an opened position, and a half-opened position; a fin member 4 configured to be pivotally supported on the second end portion 32 of the lid member 3; a cover member 5 configured to be positioned so as to be fixed relative to the case member 2, and to be disposed backward of the lid member 3 on the back side; and an urging member 80. When the lid member 3 changes between the half-opened position and the opened position, the projecting tooth portions 46 of the fin member 4 are in sliding contact with the recessed groove portions 55 of the cover member 5 by urging force of the urging member 80.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Fukui