Patents Examined by Mickey Yu
  • Patent number: 9084668
    Abstract: A sterile packaging system having an inner sterile dome-shaped tray and cover and an outer sterile-on-inside-only, bowl-shaped tray for accommodating the inner sterile dome-shaped tray and cover, the bowl-shaped tray having an annular rim and a cover over the annular rim, the outer bowl-shaped tray having at least two gripping surfaces extending from an outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ideal Implant Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert S. Hamas
  • Patent number: 9079601
    Abstract: A carton has hand holes in opposite walls and a spacer panel inserted between stacked articles in the carton. The spacer panel has cut outs in its opposite ends positioned behind the hand holes to provide space for inserting the fingers. The hand holes and spacer panel facilitate lifting, carrying and manipulating the carton. The spacer panel has width and length dimensions to fit within the interior width and length dimensions of the carton and reinforces the carton to reduce damage when the carton is dropped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard D. Faber, Kenneth Buss, Alex D. Bevier, Brian K. Jambois, Adam P. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9072423
    Abstract: A disposable debris collection apparatus that is operable to collect debris from either a horizontal surface or a vertical surface. The disposable debris collection apparatus further includes a body stored in a first position within a container. The body is planar in manner and operable to be dispensed in portions from said container to be folded into at least a first section and a second section so as to collect debris. The body further includes a first and second adhesive strip proximate the front edge of the body wherein the first and second adhesive strip are parallel and extend the entire longitudinal length of the body. A plurality of longitudinal seams are formed on said body proximate a rear edge wherein the plurality of longitudinal seams are operable to facilitate the configuring of said body into a second position so as to collect debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Inventor: Jack Columbano
  • Patent number: 9073681
    Abstract: A container is provided with a flange defining a container opening that may help expunge food product as the film and seal head comes down on the container flange. The flange of the container opening has a predetermined angle. The container flange with its sealing surface generally deflects or angularly pivots when sealed with the film during the sealing process. The container flange and film may push product contamination from the sealing surfaces inwardly into the container. The flange may be continuous about the periphery of the container opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Silgan Plastic Food Containers Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Huels, William Krone, James Lucken, Huy Thach
  • Patent number: 9073683
    Abstract: A carton for containing at least one article. The carton comprises a plurality of panels at least partially forming an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a top panel. The carton comprises an article protection flap foldably connected to at least one panel of the plurality of panels. The article protection flap is moveable between a first position that is substantially parallel to the top panel and a second position wherein the article protection flap is folded relative to the top panel. The at least one access feature in the top panel is for positioning the article protection flap from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Murdick Holley, Jr., Mark Baldino, Raymond S. Kastanek
  • Patent number: 9073663
    Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton has a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. A plurality of end flaps is respectively foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels. The plurality of end flaps is at least partially overlapped with respect to one another to thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton. The carton has a handle formed in at least one of the plurality of end flaps. A reinforcing insert can comprise a central panel, a first end flap, and second end flap foldably connected to the central panel. The central panel at least partially overlaps the top panel, the first end flap is positioned for contact with at least one of the plurality of containers, and the second end flap is positioned for reinforcing the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Murdick Holley, Jr., Michael R. Schmal, Mark Baldino
  • Patent number: 9073678
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a cold cohesive packaging system using tear resistant tape includes a top sheet having an interior surface and at least one top cohesive region defined on the interior surface; a bottom sheet having a bottom interior surface and at least one bottom cohesive region defined on the bottom interior surface; at least one strip embedded in the top sheet or the bottom sheet, the at least one strip being resistant to tearing; and a cohesive, wherein the cohesive is applied in liquid form and adheres as a film to the at least one top cohesive region and the at least one bottom cohesive region, where the cohesive is capable of permanently bonding the top sheet to the bottom sheet when a pressure is applied, and wherein the cohesive comprises a latex-based cohesive with a viscosity of no more than 450 centipoise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Inventor: Shane Mikula
  • Patent number: 9067720
    Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a container for storing a contact lens where the container comprises a sealed removable lid configured to retain liquid within the container previous to unsealing and opening the sealed removable lid. The apparatus can also include a contact lens cradle configured to cradle a contact lens placed thereon and a lifting mechanism connected to the contact lens cradle and the sealed removable lid that lifts the contact lens cradle from a storage position within the container to a dispensing position above the container in response to opening the sealed removable lid of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Larry L. Howell, Spencer P. Magleby, Holly C. Greenberg, Samuel E. Wilding
  • Patent number: 9066611
    Abstract: A jewelry organizer includes a generally rectangular-shaped body surrounded with a cover and a plurality of securing members attached to the cover at a top surface of the generally rectangular-shaped body. The plurality of securing members are uniformly spaced apart along an entire length of the top surface of the generally rectangular-shaped body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Inventor: Tina Bailey
  • Patent number: 9068735
    Abstract: A magnetic retainer includes a body, a magnetic member, a plate and a light unit. The body has a space for receiving objects and the magnetic member is connected to the bottom of the body to attract the objects. The plate has a concaved portion for receiving the objects and is rotatably connected to the body. When the light unit is rotated to a first position relative to the plate, the light emitting member faces outside of the plate. When the light unit is rotated to a second position relative to the plate, the light emitting member faces the concaved portion of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Inventor: Man-Chi Chang
  • Patent number: 9061776
    Abstract: An elongated sheet for a medicine packaging bag is provided. The sheet can be folded centrally in a width direction and a medicine introduced between its two-folded halves. The sheet can be thermal-bonded along an entire width ahead of and behind the medicine and along an entire length of open edge portions of the two-folded halves, thus forming the medicine packaging bag. A number of fine tearing cuts can be formed in a portion beginning at a distance (t) from an end edge of the open edge portions in a longitudinal direction of the sheet. A tearing cut-less portion can be formed between the cut portion and the end edge of the open edge portions. The tearing cut-less portion inhibits tears caused by tension through the cut when the sheet is drawn out. The bag can be easily torn by hand due to the cut portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: YUYAMA MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi Kurose, Eiji Sadamori
  • Patent number: 9056243
    Abstract: Puzzles that are packaged in assembled form and in a generally flat configuration are described herein. The puzzle package includes one or more flattened box components that provide support backing to the assembled puzzle. The box components have removable portions that provide structural rigidity to the puzzle pieces and are removable to transform the box components into a container for the puzzle pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Pigment & Hue, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Kurtz
  • Patent number: 9057180
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a vacuum tank door. The apparatus comprises a circular flange attached to a door panel of a vacuum tank, a horizontal crossbar connected to the center of the door panel and a lifting assembly. The lifting assembly comprises an upper linkage arm, a lower linkage arm, and a hydraulic cylinder. Activation of the hydraulic cylinder causes the linkage assembly to move downwards pulling on the horizontal crossbar and pulling the vacuum tank door towards the tank. Activation of the hydraulic cylinder also causes a connection point of the lower linkage arm and the upper linkage arm to move over-center of the connection between the lower linkage arm to the to the tank creating a tight seal between the vacuum tank door and the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Cody L. Sewell
  • Patent number: 9055833
    Abstract: A drinking mouthpiece comprising a resilient body through which fluid flows from a rear opening through to a front opening, the body having a contoured longitudinal upper profile for lying against a portion of the palate of a mouth and a contoured longitudinal lower profile for lying against a tongue; wherein a forward end of the mouthpiece near the front opening has a cross-sectional profile that tapers to two opposing sides of the mouthpiece, and also has a bulging area on the lower profile that provides a reference point against which the tongue can lie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Smilestraw Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Julia McKinley Anderson
  • Patent number: 9049912
    Abstract: A portable container for transporting and storing a plurality of perishable items including food and beverage items, having a heat-resistant outer tubular member with double-layered insulation in an adjacent inner tubular member to accommodate a plurality of perishable items and to sustain the prescribed temperature of such food and beverage items and to promote longevity thereof. The portable container optionally includes a plurality of external compartments and has removable endcaps enclosing both ends thereof. Each endcap is conveniently removed from a tubular end and then used as a cup for drinking a plurality of beverage items or used as a dish for eating a plurality of food items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Inventor: Marsha A. Normand
  • Patent number: 9045263
    Abstract: A child-resistant closure includes a body with a base and a lid, the closure having a locked position in which the lid is held in a closed position and an unlocked position in which the lid is released and can be moved to an open position. The sidewall has one or more pressing pads for moving the closure to the unlocked position. The or each pad is supported on the sidewall by force insulating links which restrict lateral spreading of forces into the sidewall during inward deflection of the pad(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Obrist Closures Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Jamie Fox, Darren John Mears, Stephen Faragher
  • Patent number: 9038840
    Abstract: A multi-compartmented food storage device having a top hermetic storage compartment, a bottom hermetic storage compartment and a central hermetic storage compartment that is interposed there between. Each of the top and bottom compartments being hingedly secured to the central compartment along an upper and lower end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventor: Kurt Umholtz
  • Patent number: 9038844
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a container (2) and a pouch (1). The container and pouch is preferably mutually shaped so that the pouch fits tightly into the container. The container comprises a closure (5) for closing the container and preferably being adapted to maintain the pouch in an open state in a position where its opening is facing upwardly. In addition, the closure comprises a lid (7), allowing re-closable access to the contents stored in the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Petar Varbanov
  • Patent number: 9033147
    Abstract: A holder is for supporting a portable electronic device, including at least one sheet. A base portion, a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion formed on the at least one sheet. The base portion, the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion are parallel with each other and folded relative to each other. A latching piece is formed on the base portion, the latching piece having a bendable portion. The first supporting portion is folded relative to the base portion, and the second supporting portion is folded relative to the first supporting portion until the second supporting portion is held by the latching piece, the base portion, the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion cooperatively form a three-dimensional structure that can support the portable electronic device at an angle relative to the at least one sheet without collapsing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Chueh Lee
  • Patent number: 9033149
    Abstract: A catheter assembly including an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end has at least one drainage opening. A hydrophilic coating is provided on at least a portion of the elongate end of the catheter. A fluid containing member is provided and is either arranged on the elongate member or within a separate area of the container. The fluid containing member contains sufficient hydrating fluid to hydrate the coating of the catheter. A container contains the elongate member and the fluid containing member and incorporates at least one foil layer to prevent evaporation of the hydrating fluid. A method of using the catheter includes inserting a catheter into a user's body and draining fluid from the user's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Terry