Patents Examined by Jeffrey Allen
  • Patent number: 9771191
    Abstract: Reversible lid (1) for a storage or reheating canister, comprising a first (2) airtight attachment means designed to cooperate with an upper edge (4) of a container (5) when the lid (1) is arranged along a first direction on the container (5) and a second (3) airtight attachment means designed to cooperate with said upper edge (4) of the container (5) when the lid is arranged in the reverse direction on the container (5), characterized in that the lid (1) comprises a two-way steam release mechanism (10), connecting the two opposite surfaces of the lid, and in that said two-way release mechanism (10) allows a flow to pass between the two surfaces of the lid (1) when the pressure difference between the two surfaces is greater than or equal to a value (P0), particularly when reheating food in a microwave oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Jorge Loaiza Alvarez, David Sanchez Grisales, Catalina Balseiro Botero, Stephane Plichon, Nicolas Nys
  • Patent number: 9771187
    Abstract: The lid includes a body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface includes a groove therein separating an inner portion and an outer portion. The lid also includes a flexible skirt integrally joined to and carried by the outer periphery edge of the body. The groove defines a flexible zone which permits the flexible skirt to flip between a first position and a second position. The method of using the lid includes the step of positioning the lid with the flexible skirt in a second position above an open end of a container. The method further includes the step of securing the lid and the container together by moving the flexible skirt from the second position to a first position to cause engagement of the flexible skirt with the container thereby forming a removable attachment and a substantial seal between the lid and the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: CORYTUS, LLC
    Inventor: Colin FitzSimons
  • Patent number: 9770540
    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. The canister includes a second vacuum source port located remotely from the lid so as to subject a space between the collapsible liner and the canister to a second vacuum commensurate to the vacuum applied to the interior of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: ALLEGIANCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas L. Michaels
  • Patent number: 9764882
    Abstract: A lockable cap is a security feature for a medical prescription bottle. There is a dial locking mechanism that is attached to the cap and the dial locking mechanism and the cap can be attached or removed from the bottle only when the user has the correct combination on the dial lock. When the combination is incorrect, a mechanism including a dog plate within a cap portion, is disengaged and the inner cap cannot be removed from the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Gatekeeper Innovation, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph C. Simpson
  • Patent number: 9751688
    Abstract: A foldable shipping container adjustable between an unfolded condition in which said container is suitable for use as a cargo container, and a folded condition for when said container is not being used to store or ship cargo. The foldable shipping container comprises a roof panel, a base panel, a door panel, a front panel, a right side panel, and a left side panel where the door panel and front panel are hingedly connected to the roof panel while the right side panel and left side panel are hingedly connected to the base panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Compact Container Systems LLC
    Inventors: Thomas K. Churbuck, Robert J. Kraft, Richard Rosmarin, David H. Rowe, James K. Williams, Joshua J. Kraft
  • Patent number: 9750398
    Abstract: A combined tube set for a disposable water bottle for an endoscope includes a cap with threads suitable for attachment to various water bottles. The combined tube set provides a first tube set for rinsing that includes an air and water tubes, air/water connector, and anchor. The combined tube set also provides a second tube set for irrigation that includes an irrigation connector, backflow valve(s), and flexible tubing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Medivators Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Steven Adams, Travis Henry Bendele, Don Byrne
  • Patent number: 9750358
    Abstract: A food receptacle (12), such as a child's food bowl, which can be secured to a flat surface by a suction base unit (10) is described. The suction base unit (10) is of low-profile and is adapted to be attached to a flat surface by a vacuum formed between a suction pad (14) in the suction base unit (10) and the flat surface. The food bowl (12) has a base (16) with a rim (18) adapted to rest on the flat surface to support the bowl (12) on the surface. The base (16) has a recess (20) adapted to receive the suction base unit (10) therein. Because the suction base unit (10) is of low profile it can be wholly contained within the base (16) of the bowl. A securing mechanism (22) is provided for releasably securing the suction base unit (10) within the base (16) of the food receptacle (12). In use, when the suction base unit (10) is attached to a flat surface and the receptacle (12) is secured thereto the rim (18) of the receptacle base (16) presses against the flat surface and supports the receptacle thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Little People Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventor: Robin Drummond Jagger
  • Patent number: 9745101
    Abstract: A vial and insert assembly includes a vial having an interior and an opening leading to the interior. The assembly further includes an insert configured to fit within the interior. The insert includes a first receptacle for housing a plurality of unused products and a second receptacle for housing a plurality of used products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: CSP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Freedman, William S. Abrams, John Belfance
  • Patent number: 9744738
    Abstract: A embossed sheet embossed with projections creating an intermittent support surface for food. The embossed sheet may be inserted into a food package after cooking the food on which the cooked food is to be supported. Alternatively, the embossed sheet may be placed onto or into a pan or directly onto an oven rack to support the food while cooking and/or after cooking. Alternatively, the embossed sheet may be formed into a food package. The embossed sheet may be prepared using a one-pass or two pass process using a platen press or a roll-to-roll press or a multi-stage one pass machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Smart Packaging, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Pugh, Merrill Jon Hansen
  • Patent number: 9738417
    Abstract: A tank rack apparatus provides a liquid storage tank. The tank includes a tank vessel having a top wall, bottom wall, side walls, and tank corners at the interface of each pair of adjacent side wall, each side wall defining a wall plane. A tank alcove provides a recess that is spaced away from a tank corner and inwardly from a tank wall plane. This inwardly spaced recess provides an alcove space having an alcove wall, an alcove top, and an alcove bottom. A sight glass gage is contained within the alcove space, below the alcove top and above the alcove bottom and inwardly of the tank wall plane. A screen occupies a position in or near the wall plane, the screen extending between a position next to alcove top and a position next to the alcove bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Danny Ness
  • Patent number: 9725208
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container assembly comprising a container part with a circumferential wall and a bottom wall, and a lid part comprising a connection portion for connection to a rim of said circumferential wall and a lid which is pivotably connected to said connection portion, said connection portion comprising an upper wall provided with an access opening which can be sealed with said lid, and said connection portion is provided with stacking provisions which enclose said access opening and which are complementary with stacking provisions at the bottom of said container part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: N.V. NUTRICIA
    Inventors: Merijn Dols, Alexander Josephus Maricus Van Puijenbroek, John Boyet Stevens
  • Patent number: 9717367
    Abstract: The present application relates to a vacuum flask assembly (1). The vacuum flask assembly (1) comprises a vacuum flask (2) with a push-button lid (5). The push-button lid (5) is movable between an open condition and a closed condition, in which a sealing actuator (15) of the lid (5) is elevated when the lid (5) is in its open condition and retracted when the lid (5) is in its closed condition. The vacuum flask assembly (1) further comprises a container part (21) which is locatable over the lid (5) and is mountable to the vacuum flask (2). When the lid (5) is in its open condition, the container part (21) is configured to act on the sealing actuator (15) as the container part (21) is mounted to the vacuum flask (2), so that the lid (5) is urged to move from its open condition into its closed condition. The present application also relates to a container (3) for a vacuum flask (2) and a baby bottle kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Marc Leendert Verwillegen
  • Patent number: 9718589
    Abstract: A container system includes a tub including a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall and side walls extending between the front wall and the back wall. A bottom extends between the front wall, back wall and side walls. A mouth structure includes a fastening feature configured for connecting to a lid. The mouth structure has an opening therethrough that provides access to a containing volume of the tub. A shoulder extends inwardly from the side walls to the mouth structure. A plurality of unitized doses of a detergent composition is located within the containing volume of the tub. A lid is connected to tub using the fastening feature. The lid has an open position for allowing user access to the containing volume and a closed position for preventing user access to the containing volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Christopher Robert Kopulos, Brian David Andres
  • Patent number: 9714121
    Abstract: Beverage container which can be used to bottle beverages in filling facilities and subsequently used in any setting where the consumer desires to have a convenient and fun approach to consuming a soft drink, and desires to have that soft drink cooled by ice and strained from the ice before consuming it. The disclosed beverage container can be made up of three pieces, a cap, dome and vessel. The pieces screw together using a double screw mechanism. The dome piece contains a strainer. The consumer can separate the dome from the vessel and add ice to the mixed beverage to cool the beverage prior to consumption, and can strain the ice from the beverage before drinking it directly from the top opening of the dome, after it has been resealed to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Mocktail Beverages Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Gamelli
  • Patent number: 9714054
    Abstract: An exemplary approach for protecting floorings in containers may utilize a first ledger attached to an upper portion of a first support beam associated with a foundational base assembly. A portion of the first ledger may protrude outward in a first horizontal direction from the upper portion of the first support beam. A second ledger may be attached to an upper portion of a second support beam next to the first support beam. A portion of the second ledger may protrude outward in a second horizontal direction from the upper portion of the second support beam. The second horizontal direction may face the first horizontal direction. A support panel may be placed on top of the portion of the first ledger and the portion of the second ledger. The support panel may have a length proximate to a distance between the first support beam and the second support beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Triton Container International Limited
    Inventors: Henry Eugene Heacox, H. Keith Hunt, Ricky Alleson Cribbs
  • Patent number: 9708107
    Abstract: A drink bottle may include a container and a lid having an open-top channel with a spout and a spout cover disposed within the channel. Each of the spout and the spout cover are movable in opposite directions between a stowed and configurations. The spout may include a projection that frictionally engages the sidewall to control a rate of movement of the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: IGNITE USA, LLC
    Inventors: Sami El-Saden, Daniel M. Wodka, Robert C. Coon, Paul D. Hurley
  • Patent number: 9708098
    Abstract: A receptacle has at least one elastomeric sidewall with a contoured non-linear shape defining a container with a predetermined volume for housing a substance to be contained. The at least one sidewall includes a substance-contacting surface. The receptacle is fully reversibly eversible to transform between a first stable conformation with the substance-contacting surface facing inward and a second stable conformation with the substance-contacting surface facing outward allowing for facile cleaning and drying of the substance-contacting surface. The at least one elastomeric sidewall possesses sufficient structural strength to stand upright in the first and second stable conformations without extraneous support. The receptacle can include a cap and an attachment joint for securing the cap to the elastomeric receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: flipsi ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stephen Plott, Christopher John Plott
  • Patent number: 9707881
    Abstract: A tank for transporting fluids on a truck chassis includes a front wall, side walls, a back wall, a top, and a floor. Interior stairs extend from the floor to an opening in the top to allow stair access into the interior with integrated safety handrails on the fill port cover. Stair toe kicks act as internal transverse baffles to help control fluid motion and surging. The stairs also act as a structural stiffener between longitudinal baffles. Horizontal baffles assist in controlling fluid motion and surging. Formed baffles provide strength and stiffness. A baffle interlocking system improves joint integrity and aids manufacturing. Formed outer skins provide structural strength for the tank. Ports located in front and rear bulkheads may be used for tank ventilation or, depending on local safety codes, as secondary access points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Western Technology Services International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Reynolds, Scott Taylor
  • Patent number: 9694937
    Abstract: A component carrying tray includes a bottom plate on which a component is stacked, and a projection. The projection has a main body and a regulator. The main body is hollow and has a tapering shape. The regulator is formed in the main body and extends in a direction perpendicular to the carrying surface and contacts a side surface of the component to regulate the component carried on the carrying surface. The bottom plate has a through hole so that when the component carrying tray is stacked on an additional component carrying tray, a projection of the additional component carrying tray comes into the hollow part of the main body. An opening is formed in the projection and configured to avoid, when the component carrying tray is stacked on an additional component carrying tray, interference between the projection and a regulator of the additional component carrying tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shugo Nakayama, Takashi Arai, Mikio Nakasugi, Fumikazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9688446
    Abstract: A connecting structure is provided for connecting a first member and a second member, wherein the first member comprises a connecting upright portion and a plurality of locking flanges provided to extend outwards along the circumferential direction of the outer face of the connecting upright portion, while the second member comprises a connecting side-wall portion that overlies the connecting upright portion and a plurality of locking projections provided to extend inwards from the inner face of the connecting side-wall portion. The bottom faces of the locking flanges distend downwards in a convex curved shape and, when the second member is overlaid on the first member and rotated, the upper faces of the locking projections are guided with sliding contact along the convex curved bottom faces of the locking flanges and stopped at the lowermost position of the convex curved bottom faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventor: Kohei Nakamura