Patents Examined by James N Smalley
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11529641
    Abstract: A cap assembly for closing an opening in a vessel may include a stopper and a rigid cap adapted to fit over the stopper and onto a vessel. The stopper may include a polymer body adapted to fit an opening of the vessel and a tubular portion defining an internal passageway extending through the polymer body. The rigid cap may include a pressure based locking mechanism adapted to engage the vessel under a unidirectional force and a tamper evident feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitchell L. Snyder, Jason Osentoski, Gerald Mark Pennington
  • Patent number: 11530077
    Abstract: A closure for a container is provided with a top portion and a skirt depending from an outer periphery of the top portion. A generally circular rim extends downwards from the lower surface of the top portion. A liner is attached to the closure between an outer surface of the rim and an inner surface of the skirt. The liner is configured to provide a fluid tight seal for containers having varied neck dimensions and/or profiles. One or more projections extend into a space formed between the lower surface of the top portion, an inner surface of the skirt, and an outer surface of the rim, with the liner enveloping and being supported in the closure by the one or more projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Silgan White Cap LLC
    Inventors: Sungsuk Steve Kim, Timothy Graham Stephenson
  • Patent number: 11523665
    Abstract: A soft-store having a storage compartment for holding one or more articles. The soft-store has a main body that can be inserted into and seated in a crate. The soft-store has a plurality of walls that form a portion of the storage compartment, a top body that attaches to the main body and covers the storage compartment, and a pair of ancillary bodies. Each of the ancillary bodies has an end portion that rotatably attaches to the main body and an opposite end portion that rotates away from the main body to allow the ancillary bodies to be moved to a single-hand transport configuration. The main body includes an attachment mechanism that attaches the main body to the crate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Plano Molding Company, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Africa, Ryan R. Berger, Raymond R. Harpham, James H. Lua, Clark P. McCune, Ryan T. Olander, Emily K. Stokes, Sean W. Svendsen, John H. Whalen
  • Patent number: 11524825
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a lid component for use with a jar and a band. The jar and band may be a mason jar and a band for a mason jar. The lid component is made of an air-impermeable material and is dimensioned and configured to be releasably attachable to the jar by the band and to seal a wide mouth opening of the jar in an air-tight manner. The lid component comprises a one-way valve adapted to allow gas to escape from the jar while, at the same time, prevent air from entering the jar, when the lid component is releasably attached to the jar. The one-way valve comprises a bottom opening and a protruding top wall. The lid component further comprises a sealing wall that extends radially outwardly from the bottom opening. The sealing wall is substantially flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: MASONTOPS IP HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Bacher, Philip D. Baron
  • Patent number: 11519557
    Abstract: The method for producing a filled container of the present invention includes: providing a metal storage container, at least an inner surface of which is formed of a manganese steel and in which the inner surface has a surface roughness Rmax of 10 ?m or less; performing fluorination by bringing the inner surface of the storage container into contact with a gas containing at least one first fluorine-containing gas selected from the group consisting of ClF3, IF7, BrF5, F2, and WF6 at 50° C. or lower; purging the inside of the storage container with an inert gas; and filling the inside of the storage container with at least one second fluorine-containing gas selected from the group consisting of ClF3, IF7, BrF5, F2, and WF6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Central Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Akifumi Yao, Masakiyo Nagatomo, Shinya Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11518592
    Abstract: Described is a closing cap (1) for a container (2), which comprises a lateral wall (3) extending about an axis (Z) and a transversal wall (4) positioned at an end of the lateral wall (3), a separation line (5) being provided on the lateral wall (3) to form a retaining ring (301), which is configured to remain anchored to a neck (201) of the container (2) and extends up to a free edge (304), and a closing element (302) removably engageable with the neck (201), so as to open or close the container (2). The separation line (5) extends about the axis (Z) and is circumferentially interrupted to form in the lateral wall (3) a joining zone (305), which extends for a first angle (a), in which the retaining ring (301) and the closing element (302) are joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA
    Inventors: Vittorio Bassi, Alessandro Falzoni
  • Patent number: 11511925
    Abstract: Systems and methods for nesting product packaging with strainer inserts are provided. Product packaging systems may include, for example, a product container with a lid and with a strainer insert disposed within the container. In some embodiments, the strainer inserts may be snapped into place in a channel, groove, or other retention feature of the parent container, thus permitting coupling without the use of adhesives or fasteners. The strainer inserts, when coupled within the parent containers, may define a drainage volume in which product fluids may drain to maintain the product separately from the fluids, e.g., to prolong shelf-life of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Pianca Packaging LLC
    Inventor: Sameh Guirguis
  • Patent number: 11505370
    Abstract: The closure cap for a container comprises an internal skirt (16) comprising a bore (16b) provided with at least one helical screw thread (19) for screwing said cap onto the container, an external skirt (18) radially surrounding said internal skirt at least partially, and a front wall (14) from which said internal and external skirts extend. The cap is produced by moulding at least one synthetic material. At least one recess (30) is formed on an outer surface (16a) of the internal skirt, remaining axially away from a front end face (16c) of said skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: L'Oréal
    Inventors: Patrick Charnay, Thomas Boudot, Stéphanie Marcq, Laurence Gerard
  • Patent number: 11503949
    Abstract: A splatter protector including a hollow body having oppositely-directed first and second end portions. Each of the end portions may define a respective substantially circular end opening having an annular lip along the circumference thereof for engaging with upper edges of cooking vessels for mounting the splatter protector thereon, wherein the diameter of the end opening defined by the first end portion is greater than the diameter of the end opening defined by the second end portion. A kit including the splatter protector and a lid for covering at least one of the respective end openings defined by the first and second end portions of the splatter protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: LiQ Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Yalkut-Lubomirski, Eric Feigin-Lubomirski
  • Patent number: 11505373
    Abstract: A produce and foodstuff receptacle is disclosed containing a tamper evident locking mechanism to lock a separate lid and container. The receptacle has a fitted corner for allowing lid and container attachment in only one position. Lid and container matching connectors allow secure and reusable attachment. After locking, only a container tab is fully detached after the receptacle is initially opened to indicate use. The lid remains fully intact after opening and hides the detached container portion underneath a locking tab platform for protection against any perforated edges. Matching connectors allow re-sealing after initial opening of the locking mechanism. The lid also contains a lid lock ledge that matches with a container lock ledge that submerges the lid into the container. The locking tab platform allows re-opening of the lid and container after use and contains a hinge for flexibility of the platform during closing and opening of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Greener Shapes Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas C. Jackson
  • Patent number: 11497362
    Abstract: A device for covering a plurality of different sized robotic systems. The device can include a cover sized to at least partially fit over the robotic system; one or more sidewalls extended from the cover, wherein the one or more sidewalls is configured to removably engage with each of the plurality of different sized robotic systems; and one or more apertures in the cover and/or the one or more sidewalls. The one or more apertures are selectively positioned and sized so as to prevent obstructing the one or more onboard sensors of the respective robotic system when the device is in an assembled state with the respective robotic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Maniff Creations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Maniff, Francesca Maniff
  • Patent number: 11497331
    Abstract: Gaskets and beverage container systems and kits comprising gaskets. An exemplary gasket disclosed herein includes a gasket body comprising a generally cylindrical shape, at least two arcuate flanges positioned within a relative inside of the gasket body, the at least two arcuate flanges extending inward from the gasket body, and at least one gap existing between two arcuate flanges of the at least two arcuate flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: BruMate, INC.
    Inventor: Dylan M. Jacob
  • Patent number: 11498726
    Abstract: A package having a lid seated on a base where the edge of the seated lid is generally inaccessible, and where the edge is made accessible by a movement of a tamper-evident tab. The base and lid are configured so that opening of the tamper-evident tab locks the tab in the opened position. The inner edge of the tamper-evident tab is joined to the base by a hinge. The tamper-evident tab includes a protrusion that extends inwardly beyond the hinge. The lid includes a retention feature overlying the tamper-evident tab. The protrusion interacts with the retention feature to provide an audible indication when the tamper-evident tab is opened and to retain the tamper-evident tab in the opened position. The protrusion may be configured to lift the lid when the tamper-evident tab is in the opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Display Pack, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor D. Hansen, Andrew J. Blackmore, Elliott R. Eckert, Marc R. Meyer
  • Patent number: 11492181
    Abstract: A lug closure includes a central top panel, an annular channel outboard of the top panel, a downwardly extending skirt outboard of the channel, the skirt terminating at an inward curl that defines a curl height, and lugs formed in the curl. Each one of the lugs includes a body that extends radially inwardly from the skirt. The body includes a leading edge that merges into a leading portion of the curl. The leading edge tapers in thickness from the curl height to a minimum lug thickness and forms a leading edge vertical taper angle from horizontal between 6 and 15 degrees. A trailing edge merges into a trailing portion of the curl and the trailing edge tapers in thickness from the curl height to the minimum lug thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bart Sims, Galen German
  • Patent number: 11490751
    Abstract: Gaskets and beverage container systems and kits comprising gaskets. An exemplary gasket of a beverage container insulating system disclosed herein includes a gasket body comprising a generally cylindrical shape, a gasket opening, and an inner wall that faces a central axis of the gasket body, at least one set of protrusions positioned on the inner wall and extending radially inward toward the central axis of the gasket body, the first set of protrusions defining at least one pressure-alleviating gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: BruMate, INC.
    Inventor: Dylan M. Jacob