Patents Examined by M. Moy
  • Patent number: 6612454
    Abstract: A module container has a main body, a tray, and a cover. The main body has a periphery flange and a plurality of block ribs. The tray has a panel and a pair of separation bars to form a cross, and the panel and the separation bars defining four chambers to receive four inner boxes. The cover has a plurality of click ribs to match the block ribs of the main body. The tray is disposed in the main body. The cover is disposed on the main body. The periphery flange of the main body blocks the cover. Each click rib engages with the corresponding block rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Yi-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 6612458
    Abstract: A double-wall fuel container of plastic material is composed of at least two shell portions which are welded together. The half-shell portions are each in the form of double-wall blow moldings, with a gap being kept free at least in a region-wise manner between the walls of the blow moldings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: SIG Kautex GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Balzer, Dieter Hess, Werner Daubenbuechel, Michael Pappert, Roger Stehr, Peter Kluesener
  • Patent number: 6612453
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multipurpose storage basket which is capable of unfolding without any separate tool and while not in use, folding in an easy manner, thereby making it easy to be kept and carried in more convenient manner. The storage basket comprises: a skeleton body (11) formed by surrounding a coil spring with a covering cloth; and a cloth (12) sewed on the skeleton body (11) in the unfolded shape of the skeleton body (11), whereby the storage basket takes a substantially cylindrical shape and capable of unfolding or folding by the elasticity of the coil spring without using any separate instrument and folding in an easy manner, thereby making it easy to be kept and carried in more convenient manner. Thus, the storage basket is provided with a cover 20 made of the same gauze material. Accordingly, the storage basket could be folded and fixed in an easy manner while not in use, thereby being kept even in a small area of space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Sedo Camping Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Choi Joo-Tai
  • Patent number: 6609626
    Abstract: An article holding device for a cooler for removably positioning on a cooler for transportation items with the cooler. The article holding device for a cooler includes a top panel having a peripheral edge. A peripheral panel is attached to and extends along the peripheral edge such that a front panel, a back panel, and a pair of side panels are defined. The top panel is positionable on a cover of a cooler such that the peripheral panel generally covers walls of the cooler. A plurality of pockets is attached to the peripheral panel. Each of the pockets has an opening facing upwardly toward the top panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventors: Gary Young, Jim Young, Ray Young, Danny Young
  • Patent number: 6609630
    Abstract: A leak-proof closure (10) for dispensing liquid beverages from a container. The closure (10) contains a outlet passage (14) which is open at both ends. Within outlet passage (14) there is a membrane (13) which denies communication between the interior of the container and the flow opening (15). When external suction is applied to the end of outlet passage (14), membrane (13) sealingly disengages from circumferential seal member (12). This allows the contained beverage to egress through the flow opening (15). When the external suction is removed, membrane (13) automatically sealingly engages with circumferential seal member (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventors: Mark A. Freeman, Timothy K. Stringer
  • Patent number: 6609629
    Abstract: A container having an external gutter located below a primary wiping surface or edge. Drips from the wiping surface to the exterior of the container accumulate in the gutter and drain back into the container through drain holes at the bottom of the gutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventor: John Lucey
  • Patent number: 6609627
    Abstract: A container comprising an inner thermoformed vessel (1) and an outer thermoformed vessel (2), arranged the one within the other. The side walls (9) of the outer forming (2) surround the side walls (10) of the inner forming (1). The outer side walls has inwardly projecting ribs (11), which abut the inner side walls (10) to maintain an air gap (12) between the formings, with the formings being centered with respect to each other. The air gap is present between the bases (13, 14) of the inner and outer formings, with the outer forming being provided with ribs in its base also. In use food in the container can be heated in a micro-wave oven until hot. The air gap separates a handler's fingers from direct thermal contact with the hot food so that the container remains comfortable to handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventor: Kevin William Joseph Clarke
  • Patent number: 6609625
    Abstract: A drink vessel holder holds a drink vessel therein and allows a user to hold a plate of food and a drink vessel that is held within the drink vessel holder with the drink vessel holder resting on the plate and the user holding both the plate and the drink vessel holder with the same hand in order to allow the other hand to be used for enjoyment of the products being held. The drink vessel holder has a base member and a wall, which is generally arcuate in shape and is comprised of either a generally solid wall extending from one side of a slit to the other or is a plurality of fingers that extend between the two sides of the slit. An extension extends outwardly from the wall proximate the bottom of the base at the bottom of the slit, the top surface of the extension being generally concave for receiving a thumb of the user for holding the drink vessel holder on the upper surface of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventor: James M. Gibbar
  • Patent number: 6607091
    Abstract: A steam table pan made of ceramic is disclosed. The pan is generally rectangular, having a lower flange along one length of the rectangle, and an upper flange along the opposite length. When two such pans are placed side by side, the lower flange of the first pan fits snuggly in an interlocking position with the upper flange of the second pan. In this manner several such ceramic pans may be positioned side by side on a steam table or a similar serving bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Catalina China, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Gasbarro
  • Patent number: 6601728
    Abstract: A cup-enveloping sleeve of elongated configuration for creating a thermal barrier around the circumference of a beverage cup or container. The sleeve comprises a flexible body with opposed top and bottom edges, with arcuately spaced apart arrays of radially projecting ribs being formed on the body and extending continuously between the top and bottom edges. At least one additional array of reticulated radially inwardly extending projections are provided, and positioned between mutually adjacent pairs of rib arrays, with these projections being segmented to define circumferentially extending land areas between mutually adjacent segments of projections so as to permit the sleeve to engage a variety of conventional cup sizes, and also to provide space for advertising or instructive indicia. Engageable couplings are provided to convert the elongated sleeve to a frusto-conical configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventors: Raymond Newkirk, Stephen J. Flasch
  • Patent number: 6598757
    Abstract: Drink spout systems for use with drink containers. The drink spout systems are configured to easily pierce a drink container or a seal across an opening in the drink container to access the drink fluid contained within the drink container. The drink spout system may include a valve assembly to regulate the flow of the drink fluid through the drink spout. The drink spout system may additionally or alternatively include a valve assembly that is configured to prevent drink fluid from being unintentionally dispensed from the drink container, such as when the drink container is pierced by the drink spout system or when the drink container is tipped over or dropped. The drink spout system is particularly useful on aseptic drink pouches, aseptic drink boxes, drink bottles and other similar drink containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Acorn Bay, LLC
    Inventors: Scott H. Stillinger, Donald J. Panec
  • Patent number: 6588616
    Abstract: A wastepaper bin for a paper shredder includes a bottom portion member disposed with a wastepaper bin in a bucket shape and an elastic clamping device disposed adjacent to a top end area thereof; a top portion member slidably inserted onto the exterior portion of the bottom portion member is assembled by a unitarily molded peripheral wall and has a clamping device disposed in the area of a lower opening for retaining the elastic clamping device thereby fastening the top portion member on the bottom portion member; an unclamping device is disposed on the peripheral wall of the top portion member; a supporting device for supporting a main body of the paper shredder is disposed adjacent to the upper opening area of the top portion member; the wastepaper bin is capable of tremendously reducing the transportation and storage cost of the paper shredder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Inventor: Ming-Hui Ho
  • Patent number: 6588621
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a beverage bottle cooling method and apparatus comprising a container for containing ice and/or water that is adapted to have a commercial beverage bottle positioned substantially therein, wherein regular ice and/or water can be stored and sealed within the space between the bottle and container, to help keep the beverage inside cool. The space is preferably substantially sealed by a cap which is adapted with an opening and sealing ring that extends over the neck of the bottle, wherein the bottle can be held in substantial compression between the sealing ring and one or more supports extending substantially underneath the bottle. The supports preferably provide vertical and lateral support to the bottle, and substantially prevent the bottle in the cooling device from rotating, which enables the bottle lid to be easily opened and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Inventor: J. John Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 6588620
    Abstract: A knockdown, or collapsible, hamper including a frame formed from two generally U-shaped supports with bottom portions and upstanding members. The bottom portions are pivotally connected and positioned perpendicularly with respect to one another for assembly of the hamper. A plurality of rings are affixed to the frame and held in place by notches in the upstanding members of the U-shaped supports. A bag is positioned inside the frame and ring structure to complete the hamper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Home Products International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Thuma, Larry Hauser, Carla De Young, Edward John Rohr, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6585127
    Abstract: A champagne glass set in the present invention has a container, a positioning plate and a plurality of glass pieces as main components. The positioning plate has a ring groove disposed at its bottom and a pan-like supporting surface provided with a plurality of holes and inserting recesses disposed therein. The glass pieces can be inserted in centralization into the holes of the supporting surface and placed on the container after being poured with champagne. Moreover, if the positioning plate is taken out of the container and directly placed on a top surface of a table, bottoms of holding stems of the glass pieces can be inserted into the inserting recesses of the supporting surface of the positioning plate and stood erect in the positioning plate with steadiness. Therefore, the champagne glass set is convenient in use, steady in placement without falling, occupied little space, and easy to be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Heng-Te Yang
  • Patent number: 6585304
    Abstract: A yard-leaf caddy has a container floor (1) that is rectangular. Hinged to an aft edge is an aft wall (2) that pivots down forwardly to a storage mode and up rearwardly to a containment mode. Hinged to the front edge is a ramp wall (4) that pivots down forwardly to a ramp mode, that pivots up rearwardly to the containment mode, and that pivots down rearwardly to the storage mode. Hinged to the first-side edge (6) is a first side wall that pivots down second-sidewardly to the storage mode, and that pivots up first-sidewardly to the containment mode. Hinged to the second-side edge is a second-side wall (8) that pivots down first-sidewardly to the storage mode, and that pivots up second-sidewardly to the containment mode. Wheels (10, 11) are positioned to rotate proximate opposite sides of the aft edge. Included in the container floor is an outlet valve (14) for bottom emptying. Handle apertures (21) are included in the ramp wall, the first side wall, the second side wall and the aft wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventors: John D. Boozer, Carolyn B. Boozer
  • Patent number: 6581811
    Abstract: A container (20) for a flowable material for carrying on a person. The container includes an elongate vessel (22) for containing the flowable material, the vessel including a first end (24), a second end (26) and a longitudinal axis. The vessel is bendable so that the first end and the second end can be brought toward each other. Further, the vessel is deformable axially to alter the length and volume of the vessel. A sealable inlet (28) is provided for introducing the flowable material into the vessel (22), while a sealable outlet is provided for expelling the flowable material from the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: Simon Schillaci
  • Patent number: 6579141
    Abstract: This invention relates to drinks receptacles and novelty attachments for drinks receptacles, particularly suitable for containing drinks for children. According to one embodiment of the invention there is provided a novelty attachment 60 for a drinking vessel 51 comprising a housing 61 defining a cavity 68, an inlet 70 to the cavity 68 and an outlet 73 from the cavity 68 spaced from the inlet 70, and a moveable member 63 mounted within the cavity 68, said member 63 moving when suction or pressure is applied to the outlet 73, wherein the cavity 68 has a first portion 65 and a second portion 67, the inlet 70 being attached to said first portion 65, the outlet 73 being attached to said second portion 67 and the moveable member 63 being located within the first portion 65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Spearmark International Ltd.
    Inventor: Richard Bayliss
  • Patent number: 6575322
    Abstract: A special container is sized and adapted to store windows that are used in a soft top vehicle, such as a Jeep Wrangler® land vehicle. The container stores the windows in a safe and secure manner and can be placed in the vehicle so the removed windows will be accessible in the event they must be replaced. The container includes two openings that accommodate rear seat anchors, such as in a Jeep Wrangler®.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventor: Larry J. Brown, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6571981
    Abstract: The present invention 10 is a sipper cup for children composed of a disposable material with a molded hinge 18 that connects the container body 16 and cling lid 14 of the present invention. The hinge 18 serves the user by providing easy opening and closing of the cup 16, for filling or refilling purposes. The cling lid 14 prevents the beverage contained therein from easily spilling and is outfitted with a sipping tip 20 with aperture 26 therein. The cling lid 14 attaches to the container body 16 via a locking flange 22 and locking recessed channel 24 that fit into and mate with one another. The sipping tip 20 minimizes the amount of liquid spilled if spilling conditions such as knocking over or dropping the cup 16 occur, making this device ideal for children. An alternative embodiment discloses a non-slip insulating sleeve 32 for placement round the container body 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventor: Joey L Rohlfs