Patents Examined by Jim Foster
  • Patent number: 6615984
    Abstract: An article carrier and a blank for forming an article carrier for holding a plurality of articles, for example bottles. The carrier comprises a plurality of wall panels for forming a tubular structure. The wall panels include a pair of side wall panels, one of which is provided with a reinforcing tab hingedly connected thereto along an article-retaining edge of a first aperture for receiving an article. The reinforcing tab is folded to underlie the one side wall panel to provide a two-ply structure adjacent the article-retaining edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Alain Saulas, Jean-Michel Garnier
  • Patent number: 6615980
    Abstract: The packet (1) of cigarettes, wherein an outer wrapping (2) of cardboard or similar is covered with an overwrapping (3) of transparent material to which is integrally connected a portion (12) of magnetic tape (24) for recording data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: G. D. Societa′ per Azioni
    Inventors: Fiorenzo Draghetti, Eros Stivani
  • Patent number: 6612432
    Abstract: A case for holding a portable electronic device is disclosed which includes a body portion having a front panel, a rear panel, and two side panels. The body portion has a cavity formed by the front, rear, and side panels. The cavity has an open top end and an open bottom end. A top flap is releasably secured to the body portion within the cavity. A bottom flap is attached to and extends downwardly from the body portion. To cover the open bottom end of the cavity, the bottom flap is folded over the open end and releasably secured to the rear panel. When it is desired to cover the top open end of the cavity, the top flap is folded over the cavity and secured to the front panel of the body portion. The top flap may be adjusted so as to accommodate various types of portable devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: W. David Motson
  • Patent number: 6604629
    Abstract: An elongated packaging device is provided for packaging at least one disc-shaped item such as, for example, a recording media disc such as a CD, a CD-ROM or a DVD, together with other materials relating to such disc or otherwise in a stacked relationship. The packaging device includes a first member provided with a first chamber and a first opening, and a second member provided with a second chamber and a second opening for the storage of other materials in such second chamber. The first member may include an inner structure defining central support for the disc media by means of interaction of such inner structure with the annular opening at the center of the disc media, such that the disc media is allowed to rotate, while limiting the linear movement of the disc media both perpendicular to and parallel to the plane of the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Avecmedia, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandra Gordon, Charles W. Grimes, William L. Plumb
  • Patent number: 6604628
    Abstract: A wet tissue container (10) includes a container body (11), a lid (23) supported for turning on the container body (11) and a bottom wall (12) hermetically closing the open lower end of the container body (11). A rubber plate (50) is extended between the container body (11) and the lid (23). The wet tissue container (10) is held by a container holder (1). The container holder (1) has a back part (2) on which the bottom wall (12) is seated, guide parts (3, 4) of an L-shaped cross section that engage edge parts (12a, 12b) of the bottom wall (12) and edge parts (14a, 14b) of a flange (14) formed on the container body (11). A support part (5) to be inserted in a slot formed in a toilet paper holder (7) is connected to the back part (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Tanaka, Takeshi Bando, Hiroki Ishikawa, Emiko Inoue, Masaho Hayashi, Hiroshi Uematsu, Norikazu Shinogi, Toshihiko Uenishi
  • Patent number: 6604627
    Abstract: A device is provided in the form of a map of the United States to display a set of commemorative coins in relation to state geographic regions associated with the coins. A color-coded indexing system is set forth in a chart which associates the date of issuance of the coins, the chronology of issuance according to order of statehood, and the geographic state region represented by the coin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: New York Mint, Ltd.
    Inventor: Karen Kennedy
  • Patent number: 6604635
    Abstract: A recording medium holder for accommodating a recording medium which records information is disclosed. The recording medium holder has an accommodating member which forms a first accommodating region being capable of accommodating at least one sheet of the recording medium to be held and a second accommodating region being capable of accommodating at least one recording device for recording relevant data generated in relation to the processing of information by an information processing apparatus. The accommodating member includes a recording medium holding portion for positioning and holding the recording medium to be held in the first accommodating region and a recording device holding portion for positioning and holding the recording device to be held in the second accommodating region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Kutaragi, Teiyu Goto, Mariko Hino
  • Patent number: 6601700
    Abstract: A plunger storage unit includes a plunger head container having opposed sidewalls and a bottom wall to define an open ended enclosure. The open end of the enclosure is opened and closed by two opposed closure units pivotally mounted on opposed sidewalls of the plunger head container. A plunger support platform is suspended from the opposed closure units by spring arm platform supports which permit the platform to move toward the container bottom to close the closure units across the open end of the container in a closed position and away from the container bottom to open the closure units in an open position. The spring arm platform supports are formed to bias the closure units toward the closed position and to bias the closure units toward the open position before the platform reaches the extent of its travel toward or away from the bottom of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventors: Linda T. Rudnick, Edward Schambach
  • Patent number: 6601706
    Abstract: A package including absorbent articles and recloseable packaging. The packaging includes a flexible pocket having a hollow interior for said absorbent articles and an opening extending into the hollow interior for permitting an article to be withdrawn from the hollow interior. The packaging also includes a flap having a proximal end attached to the pocket and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The flap may be moved between an open position to permit an article to be withdrawn through the opening and a closed position to retain the articles in the pocket. The flap has a proximal width at the proximal end and a distal width at the distal end shorter than the proximal width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. McManus, Ann M. Nichols, Paul M. Simons
  • Patent number: 6601702
    Abstract: A lockable media storage box and lock and key combination includes a box having a base and a lid hingedly connected to the base and movable between opened and closed positions. A lock is attached to the box that prevents the box from being opened until the lock is removed with a key or until the lock is destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Nexpak Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Byrne, Dennis D. Belden, Jr., Ronald K. Burdett, Nicholas M. Sedon
  • Patent number: 6601701
    Abstract: A lockable media storage box and lock and key combination includes a box having a base and a lid hingedly connected to the base and movable between opened and closed positions. A lock is attached to the box that prevents the box from being opened until the lock is removed with a key or until the lock is destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Nexpak Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis D. Belden, Jr., Ronald K. Burdett, Nicholas M. Sedon
  • Patent number: 6598737
    Abstract: A suture dispenser box is provided that has an angled design such that the suture dispenser box may be received in at least two differently formatted storage racks. The suture dispenser box has a plurality of panels including at least two panels that have approximately a parallelogram shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Rudnick
  • Patent number: 6598741
    Abstract: An elongated packaging device is provided for packaging at least one disc-shaped item such as, for example, a recording media disc such as a CD, a CD-ROM or a DVD, together with other materials relating to such disc or otherwise in a stacked relationship. The packaging device includes a first member or wafer having an annular first chamber and a first opening for access into such first chamber and an annular protective element for closing such first opening and sealing the first chamber, and a second member or container having a second chamber and a second opening for access into such second container for the storage of a beverage in such second chamber, which second chamber is closed by a cover having an opening at the center thereof for the insertion of a straw. The first member has a cylindrical inner structure defining central support for the disc media and defining a device for penetrating the cover opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Avecmedia, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandra Gordon, Charles W. Grimes
  • Patent number: 6598745
    Abstract: A blister card label form has a first sheet and a second sheet each having first and second major surfaces. A film material is disposed between the first sheet and the second sheet. The first sheet is provided with removable portions and a permanent adhesive on its second major surface. The film material is provided with a temporary adhesive on its second major surface which permits portions of the first sheet to be selectively removed without removing portions of the second sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Sticky Business, LLC
    Inventors: Martin M. Bolnick, Richard S. Bolnick
  • Patent number: 6598742
    Abstract: A lockable media storage box and lock and key combination includes a box having a base and a lid hingedly connected to the base and movable between opened and closed positions. A locking mechanism is movable between locked and unlocked positions to lock and unlock the container. The lock includes lock pins that slide through aligned lock holes in the base and the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Nexpak Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis D. Belden, Jr., Ronald K. Burdett, Michael S. Jaeb, Ronald M. Marsilio, Nicholas M. Sedon, James M. Byrne
  • Patent number: 6595367
    Abstract: An elongated extruded plastic corner post for protecting a packaged product. The corner post comprises two elongated legs joined along an inner corner and forming a spring-like profile. The spring-like profile compresses to absorb lateral shocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: James Baechle
  • Patent number: 6595366
    Abstract: Package for storing a food item, such as pizza. The package includes a bottom on which the foot item is supported and a lid that closingly engages the bottom. The lid includes a plurality of elements that project downward from the lid toward the bottom in a pattern corresponding to an intended pattern of food slices. The ribs help to strengthen the package, hold the foot item in place inside the package, prevent migration of toppings from slice to slice, and may form indentations in the food item that serve as a template for cutting slices when the food item is removed from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: PWP Industries
    Inventor: Dean R. Brown
  • Patent number: 6595364
    Abstract: Point-of-sale display apparatus for a plurality of flag designs comprises a generally flat back panel having a bottom edge portion and an upper edge portion. A flag retaining means is fastened to the back panel and defines a plurality of loops sized to accommodate a rolled flag in each of the loops. The loops are preferably comprised of elastic material. The upper edge portion may be generally triangular shaped with the apex of the triangle defining a point from which the display apparatus can be hung. The display apparatus also includes a clear, plastic enclosure shaped to accommodate the display apparatus within the enclosure. The display apparatus is used to display for sale a plurality of flag unfurlers and a variety of flag designs, and doubles as a convenient and effective storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventors: Anthony Palermo, Jr., Robert H. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6588592
    Abstract: A package for enclosing a plurality of sheets. The package comprises a pouch adapted to receive the plurality of sheets, a leader, and a closure member. The pouch comprises a leading end and a trailing end opposite the leading end. The trailing end is open to receive the plurality of sheets. The trailing end is folded back at least once to form a closure flap to light-tightly close the pouch. The leader is disposed at the leading end of the pouch and is folded back onto the pouch. The closure member includes a first end affixed to the leader, a second end affixed to the closure flap, and a rupturable portion disposed adjacent the first end. When the rupturable portion is ruptured, the first end separates from the closure member and adheres to leader while the remaining portion of the closure member adheres to the closure flap by the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas F. Falls, Walter A. Brink, Connie L. Magnuson, Friedrich Ueffinger
  • Patent number: RE38221
    Abstract: A container for creating a microenvironment is disclosed. The container includes a shell, a door and a plurality of supports having a unique design which are used to securely retain items, such as silicon wafers, in a spaced apart parallel relationship. The supports are removable. An electrical path is provided to ground the supports. Kinematic coupling structures are also provided for positioning the container on a surface so as to, for example, properly align the door with the port of a wafer processing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Gregerson, Gary Gallagher, Brian Wiseman