Patents Examined by Jeffrey Allen
  • Patent number: 9869427
    Abstract: Containment berms (40) for the collection of hazardous materials are provided which include a floor (42) with an upstanding, continuous, foldable sidewall (44) to define and internal zone (46) for receiving and holding hazardous materials. The sidewall (44) may be supported by means of external support structure (48) and/or internal support structure (50). The support structures (48, 50) each include a plurality of support leg assemblies (52, 52a) which are secured to sidewall (44) and are pivotal about respective upright axes (66, 66a, 150) and are pivotal from retracted positions close to the sidewall (44) to deployed positions extending from the sidewall (44) and substantially perpendicular thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Andax Industries LLC
    Inventors: Patrick F. McAtarian, Mark McAtarian
  • Patent number: 9868252
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of assembling a container including an inner tube contained within an outer tube. The method includes providing an outer tube, providing a spacing element adjacent the open top of the outer tube and inserting an inner tube within the outer tube. The spacing element provides for venting of air from between the inner and outer tubes through the top of the container during assembly thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Judith Reichenbach, Jay White, Dimitrios Manoussakis
  • Patent number: 9862541
    Abstract: A trash receptacle attachment for helping to collect debris. The trash receptacle attachment includes a housing having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a hollow interior volume. The outlet portion is configured to be received within a trash receptacle, wherein mounting brackets attached to the exterior of the housing and are configured to removably mount to an opening of the trash receptacle to support the outlet portion within the trash receptacle. The inlet portion extends above the opening of the trash receptacle when the outlet portion is supported within the trash receptacle, wherein the inlet portion includes a funnel-like shape and is widened relative to the outlet portion. Debris is inserted into the inlet portion and the debris passes through the housing and the outlet portion thereof, into the interior of the trash receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Joseph Fritch
  • Patent number: 9850000
    Abstract: An equipment dry bay is provided. The equipment dry bay includes at least one partition that subdivides the equipment dry bay into a plurality of compartments, wherein the at least one partition includes a plate, and at least one flame arrestor positioned within the plate and providing vapor and fluid communication between a first compartment and a second compartment of the plurality of compartments, the at least one flame arrestor configured to vent combustion gases in the first compartment into the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Tracy Lee Tweet, Michael Kent Dove
  • Patent number: 9853430
    Abstract: A plug with which the opening of a hole can be covered through a one-touch operation in which a plugging member is pressed against a plate is provided. A plugging member having a size sufficiently large enough to cover the hole created in the plate of which the opening is to be covered is provided with a protruding portion in bridge form that is formed by making a part of the member protrude from the rear surface of the plugging member, the support plate lies in the gap between the bottom surface of the protruding portion and the rear surface of the plugging member where the support plate is formed of an elastic material and extends in the direction from left to right so that the two ends protrude to the outside from the outer periphery of the plugging member so as to be able to be bent between fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: Tsuyako Shibata
  • Patent number: 9851476
    Abstract: A container assembly includes a bottle that may contain an object. A magnifying unit is positionable within the bottle. Thus, the magnifying unit may magnify the object contained within the bottle thereby facilitating the object to be seen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: Traci Cole
  • Patent number: 9834374
    Abstract: Composite panel for air cargo containers including a fire resistant, closed cell foam core, a skin attached to at least one surface of the core formed by fire resistant fibers in a matrix resin, wherein the panel will contain an internal fire with temperatures of up to 1500° F. for a period of at least 4 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Composite Structures, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas R. Pherson
  • Patent number: 9827168
    Abstract: A beverage container system for babies through small children has a thermally insulated outer container which is sized to receive a standard baby bottle and hold it therein with a retainer securable to hold a standard baby bottle. A cap may be positioned over the baby bottle nipple system to protect the nipple. The retainer and standard baby bottle may be removed. An adapter may be thereupon attached to the outer container which can be used with other beverage accessories such as a sippy cup, straw spout and drink tube spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventors: Cameron Honarvar, Yuen Seung Hung
  • Patent number: 9821928
    Abstract: A can end has a public side and an opposing product side. A circumferential curl is located about a center axis and defines an outer perimeter of the can end. A circumferential wall extends downwardly from the curl. A circumferential, generally U-shaped countersink extends radially inwardly from the circumferential wall relative to the center axis and upwardly. A center panel extends radially inwardly from the countersink relative to the center axis and has a displaceable tear panel defined by frangible score and a hinge segment on the public side and a tab fixed to the public side which has a nose portion overlying a portion of the displaceable tear panel. A circumferential panel joins the countersink with the center panel and has a first panel radius joined to a second panel radius by a short wall extending upwardly and inwardly. The circumferential panel has a bead formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: REXAM BEVERAGE CAN COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall G. Forrest, Michael R. Gogola
  • Patent number: 9814338
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a storage assembly having a housing; a storage compartment disposed within the housing having an opening; a cover pivotally coupled to a rotational pivot assembly for substantially covering the opening in a closed position and allowing access to the storage compartment in an open position wherein the cover is capable of actuation between the open position and the closed position through the rotational pivot assembly; and a catcher having a flexible membrane coupled to the cover wherein the catcher is constructed and arranged to eject debris that falls between the cover and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Douglas J. Amick, Kenton L. West
  • Patent number: 9814332
    Abstract: An anchoring device having directional release and attachment capability includes a lower base member and an upper movable member. The movable member is wholly or partially nested within the base member and movable relative thereto. The movable member includes a gripping region not covered by the base member for intentional manipulation and lifting of the movable member. A seal member is configured to engage an external reference surface and form a substantially airtight seal therewith that defines a controlled pressure zone between the seal member and the reference surface. A communication port can be opened and closed via actuation of the movable member to selectively vent or isolate the controlled pressure zone. A protective member covers one or more areas of the movable member not covered by the base member and not part of the gripping region in order to prevent unwanted venting of the communication port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventor: Israel Harry Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9809366
    Abstract: Stackable trays for jugs, stacked arrangements and stacking methods are disclosed. A tray has a first surface to support a bottom of one or more jugs, and could include jug receiving cells. A collar could extend downwardly from a second surface opposite the first surface and have at least one notch sized to receive a portion of a handle of a respective jug located beneath each jug receiving cell. Load transfer to the handles of the jugs below the second surface could be provided by load transfer structures, such as the collars in one embodiment, which extend from the second surface to engage the jugs. A stacked arrangement includes multiple layers of jugs with a respective stackable tray between adjacent layers of the multiple layers. The trays could thus be used in stacking or otherwise arranging jugs in multiple layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: PARMALAT CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Sidney Scott Prince, Lee Scott Hoover, Antonino Cugliari
  • Patent number: 9808101
    Abstract: A lid assembly for a beverage container having a lid housing, a seal assembly and a trigger member. The seal assembly has a drink seal to close the drink aperture. The seal assembly is rotatedly connected to the lid housing and movable between a use position and a cleaning position to allow the drink aperture to be open for cleaning. The trigger member is connected to the lid housing and is capable of engaging the seal assembly in the use position, but it cannot engage the seal assembly in the cleaning position. Additionally, a trigger lock is connected to the lid housing to prevent engagement of the seal assembly by the trigger member when the trigger lock is locked. The trigger lock may also contain a visual indicator to indicate that the lock is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: IGNITE USA, LLC
    Inventors: Joe Y. Chiou, David Joseph, Paul Hurley
  • Patent number: 9802729
    Abstract: A blow molding method includes a primary blow molding step that molds a preform (200) in a primary blow mold (300A) that includes a primary temperature control section (330) to obtain an intermediate molded article (202), a shrinkage step that discharges blow air from the intermediate molded article to shrink the intermediate molded article, and a secondary blow molding step that blow-molds the intermediate molded article (204) that has shrunken in a secondary blow mold that includes a secondary temperature control section (430) to obtain a final molded article. The primary blow molding step cools a first intermediate molding region of the intermediate molded article that follows a neck using a first primary temperature control section, and the shrinkage step shrinks a second intermediate molding region of the intermediate molded article of which the temperature is controlled by a second primary temperature control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: NISSEI ASB MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Usami, Hiroyuki Tsukamoto, Kazuyuki Yokobayashi, Yoichi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 9801483
    Abstract: A beverage holder configured to accommodate drinking vessels of different sizes and that can be secured on a resting surface includes a hollow tubular body with an open end, a closed end opposite the open end, at least one projection along the inner surface of the hollow tubular body spaced from the closed end, and a removable insert configured to seat within the hollow tubular body against the at least one projection such that the removable insert is spaced from the closed end. The beverage holder may also include at least one suction cup extending from the exterior surface of the closed end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Binky Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Alene D'Alesio
  • Patent number: 9796506
    Abstract: A device that assists with equalizing air pressure within a bottle with the atmospheric air pressure as liquid is being poured from the bottle and includes one or more relatively short air tubes. The air tubes are situated with an upper inlet rim of the air tubes located flush with or relatively near the bottle rim. Whether an insert or integrated into the manufacture of a container, the one or more air tubes that extend partially into the container allow air to pass into the container as the liquid exits the container. The pressure equalizer not only minimizes or prevents the common glugging effect, but it allows liquid from a bottle to be poured smoothly at any angle and orientation. A cap incorporating a detachable pressure equalizer is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: PAHA DESIGNS, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Meager
  • Patent number: 9797518
    Abstract: A pressure medium container for a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system. A pressure medium container is provided including a container casing the interior of which can be filled with a pressure medium via a filler pipe and is closed off by a closure cap fixed to the filler pipe. A sealing element made from an elastomeric material is provided between the filler pipe and a bottom of the closure cap. The sealing element has a valve which rests on a support pedestal arranged on the closure cap is closed in a non-actuated initial state and reaches an opened actuated state under the control of differential pressure, whereby a pressure is equalized between an interior of the pressure medium container and an ambient atmosphere. Direction-dependently, the valve has different valve opening resistances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Swen Ottmann, Hans-Jürgen Neumann, Werner Krebs, Stephan Schlicht, Christoph Schiel
  • Patent number: 9790025
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a trash can assembly (e.g., a receptacle configured to receive refuse, recyclable materials, or otherwise), and related methods, are provided. Some embodiments of the trash can assembly include a body component and a lid configured to move between an open position and a closed position. In some variants, the lid can be moved between the open and closed positions by a power operated driving mechanism, such as a motor and/or other drivetrain components. In certain embodiments, the trash can assembly includes a clutch mechanism to facilitate manual operation of the lid while inhibiting or preventing damage to the motor and/or other drivetrain components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: simplehuman, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Yang, David Wolbert, Joseph Sandor, Kenneth Yen, Orlando Cardenas, Michael Basha, Christopher Fruhauf
  • Patent number: 9791200
    Abstract: A portable cooler includes a cooler body formed of an insulating shell defining an interior storage section, an insulated cooler lid coupled to the cooler body, and a storage structure formed within the insulated cooler lid for storing one or more plates. The plates can be stored in a recessed portion of the insulated lid, which may include a groove or removable lip to retain the plates. A utensil storage structure is provided to store one or more utensils. Sharp utensils may include safety mechanisms to inhibit unwanted removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Ryan Grepper
  • Patent number: 9783359
    Abstract: The invention relates to a double-walled cup (1) which comprises an inner and an outer wall as well as a cup opening on its upper end and a bottom part on its lower end. The outer wall is substantially produced from paper, cardboard or the like. The object of the invention is to improve said double-walled cup (1) in such a manner that it can be more rapidly and simply produced and assembled and to reduce the structural stability of the double-walled cup while maintaining its corresponding thermal insulating properties. For this purpose, the inner cup providing the inner wall is inserted into the outer cup (3) providing the outer wall and is secured therein or thereto in an especially detachable manner. The inner cup (2) is produced from an at least fluid-tight plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Seda S.P.A.
    Inventor: Gianfranco D'Amato