Patents Examined by Nhan T. Lam
  • Patent number: 6000548
    Abstract: An improved drug delivery kit and method of packaging the same. The method includes providing a tray having first and second recesses for receiving a drug delivery device and drug cartridge respectively, and an opening in the tray within the second recess, placing the drug delivery device in the first recess, covering the tray with a sealable material, sealing the material to the tray so as to create a seal around the first and second recesses, so as to isolate the first recess from the second recess, sterilising the tray, and inserting the drug cartridge through the opening and into second recess. The opening is sized such that insertion of the drug cartridge through the opening and into the second recess elastically stresses the tray and removal of the drug cartridge from the opening irreversibly deforms the tray, thereby creating a tamper-proof drug delivery kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Elan Corporation, plc
    Inventor: Izrail Tsals
  • Patent number: 5996803
    Abstract: A portable infant products organizer comprising a flexible covering conforming in shape to an insert which is of rigid construction for insertion into a storage cavity of the covering and which may be removed from the cavity in order to visually observe the plurality of products carried on the insert. The insert includes a rigid bottom having upright supports for slidably accommodating at least a pair of panels. The outside surface of each panel includes a plurality of flexible clamps, studs, snaplock components or the like which are available for detachably receiving a multiplicity of infant care supplies or products. The storage insert further includes a central storage compartment separating the pair of panels for accommodating additional supplies such as towels, pads, etc. Handle members are provided on each of the respective panels so that the user may remove either one of the pair of panels from the insert while the insert is in the storage compartment of the covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: Patrick Thompson
  • Patent number: 5996779
    Abstract: A dental implant package for supplying a dental implant and healing screw without impacting the sterility thereof is disclosed. The package comprises an elongated tubular housing with an open first end and a closed second end for receiving the dental implant and a cap for closing the tubular housing. The cap has a retainer therein for holding a healing screw and is constructed and arranged so that the cap in the fully open position presents the healing screw and dental implant side-by-side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Lifecore Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Robert Klardie, Jeremy Matthew Huotari, Jean B. Christensen, Peter Bjork Swenson
  • Patent number: 5992621
    Abstract: A cigarette package comprising an outer container, and, within the container, a series of parallel elongated compartments each having dimensions suitable for holding only a single cigarette, the compartments each having walls formed by one or more pieces of non-combustible sheet material, such as metal foil. The compartments are such as to allow a cigarette to be removed from one end of a compartment and the butt of a smoked cigarette to be inserted into the same end of the compartment, the compartments being sufficiently narrow that a lighted butt or cigarette inserted into one of the compartments becomes extinguished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventors: Donald F. Grant, Earl P. Hoeg, Francis H. Stoyles
  • Patent number: 5988374
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disc cartridge container case enabling to assure protection of a disc cartridge and easily insert and remove the disc cartridge, as well as to constitute with various designs at reasonable cost. The disc cartridge container case includes: a frame body 15 constituted as a unitary block by a first and a second frame 12 and 13 opposing to each other and a connection frame 14 connecting the first and the second frames 12 and 13; and a first cover plate 16 and a second cover plate 17 inserted between the first and the second frames 12 and 13. The frame body 15 is formed from a synthetic resin having a shock resistance greater than that of the first and the second cover plates. The first and the second cover plates 12 and 13 are formed from a light-transmitting synthetic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takatsugu Funawatari, Shiuchi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5988369
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement pen-case device comprising a front clamp cover and a rear clamp cover, according to above architecture user not only could lay aside each kind of pens, but also lay up paper that could be more convenient to user for easy reading and operation. If add a magnet into present invention, it could absorb the scattered paper clip and pin; moreover, user also could put the clamp body at any absorbent place for flexible usage, meeting multi-purpose needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: CTS Computer Technology System Corp.
    Inventor: Jeou-En Hsu
  • Patent number: 5988390
    Abstract: A trailer shipping container having an exterior box for surrounding a portion of a trailer body with an upper portion of the trailer body extending upwardly out of the open end of the exterior box. Foam billets contoured to fit the shape of the lower corners of the trailer body are positioned in the bottom of the exterior box to support the trailer body and to support an interior box containing other trailer assembly components. The interior box is spaced above the floor of the exterior box and a pair of fork lift slots are provided near the bottom of the exterior box to permit the forks of a fork lift truck to contact the undersurface of the interior box to lift and maneuver the entire container. Corner slots at the upper end of the exterior box form inwardly projecting tabs to provide support and vertical alignment for the trailer body. The corner slots also locate and receive a cinch strap to tightly band the container to the trailer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Reese Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard McCoy
  • Patent number: 5984104
    Abstract: A protective carrier for a magnetic head magnetic head assembly includes a housing having buffering members attached to the housing. When the carrier is engaged with the magnetic head magnetic head assembly, the buffering members are rotated into the spacings between the magnetic heads so as to prevent direct physical contact of the magnetic heads. When the carrier is disengaged from the magnetic head magnetic head assembly, the buffering members are rotated out of the spacings between the magnetic heads. The carrier prevents collision of the magnetic heads during handling and transportation and consequently reduces production loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Read-Rite Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel P. Schott, Leong Tzeh Ren, Cheng Thim Seong
  • Patent number: 5979652
    Abstract: An element for hanging tools that have an SDS-shank wherein the hanging element includes a lug (1) and an elastically-deformable sleeve-like body (3, 30). Body (3, 30) includes at least one bulge or fold (12) that defines a clearance (20). Body (3, 30) also includes at least one protrusion (18) that engages a flute of the SDS-shank to retain the SDS-shank in body (3, 30). Clearance (20) allows body (3, 30) to deform when the SDS-shank is inserted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Rose Plastic, GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Rosler
  • Patent number: 5979645
    Abstract: A basket-style article carrier (10) with straight, non-stepped side walls (26, 72) and end walls (52/86, 112/122) wherein partition portions containing cell-forming partition straps (34a, 34b, 64a, 64b) are struck from a multiple-ply handle structure and are adhered to a central support member (104) which is also struck from the multiple-ply handle structure. The multiple-ply handle structure which includes handle panels (44, 46, 94, 96) lie within the perimeter of the side wall and end structure panels of the blank (16) for forming the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Holley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5979647
    Abstract: A disposable lid is used with a container has pre-stored additives such as sugar or cream. The base member has at least one compartment region which has a sealed outlet and a cover sealing the compartment region to prevent the additive from exiting the compartment region. When the cover is actuated, the outlet breaks open and allows the additive in the compartment region to flow into the container. The outlet in the base member projects from the base member and preferably has troughs formed in the outlet. The outlet is arranged under the cover, and when the cover is depressed the outlet opens at the troughs to allow the content to exit out of the compartment region. The cover is preferably made of a flexible material to permit the outlet to be depressed by applying pressure on the cover. The compartment region of the base member is formed by raised walls surrounding the compartment region, the cover being affixed to top of the raised wall to create an air tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Ki Su Han
  • Patent number: 5979646
    Abstract: A specialized tray system including a tray, the tray having front and rear walls parallel with each other and side walls parallel with respect to each other, an imperforate bottom coupling the lower ends of the walls and a top coupling upper ends of the walls. Six plastic removable supports are positionable within the apertures and adapted to receive smaller glasses for transportation by the specialized tray. The height of the trays being such that the lower surface of the flange will rest on the upper surface of the top while the lower surface of the insert will rest on the upper surface of the bottom. Each support having a rigid plastic exterior and flange with a foam plastic interior for gripping a smaller glass. A large opening is formed in the front wall adapted to receive associated objects such as straws, condiments and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Robert C. Strachan
  • Patent number: 5975298
    Abstract: A video cassette storage container formed as a one-piece member of polypropylene where the container has a smooth outer contour and configured sidewalls and hinge area to provide an extremely aesthetically pleasing and efficient storage container. The container further has square feet on one end thereof for endwise standing of the video storage container. The container also has a recessed front for easy opening where the recessed front is also arcuate or scalloped so as to extend inward into the container to assist in holding and centering video cassette tapes. The container also has ribs on the inner surface thereof which automatically centers the video cassette and its associated literature into the storage container during manual insertion of a cassette therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Alpha Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Sankey, Ronald M. Marsilio, James T. Weisburn, Ronald K. Burdett, Christopher G. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 5975297
    Abstract: A device for holding sockets includes a body with two rails formed to two sides thereof and a plurality of connecting members are slidably mounted to the rails. A head member is disengagably engaged to the body so as to attach the device to a user's belt. Each of the connecting members has a socket mounted thereto. The body further has a retaining member formed thereto so that a ratchet tool is removably retained by the retaining member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Jui-Chien Kao
  • Patent number: 5975300
    Abstract: A combination of a carton and a plurality of containers. The carton comprises first and second parallel spaced-apart side walls. First and second parallel spaced-apart end wells adjoin the first and second side walls to form a four sided enclosure having a bottom side and top side. The first and second side walls and the first and second end walls form a bottom wall closure extending over the bottom side. The first and second side walls and the first and second end walls extend over the top side forming a top closure to provide a six-sided enclosed space. A first insert is disposed in the enclosed space and extends over the bottom closure and is supported by the bottom closure. A plurality of containers is disposed within enclosed space and engages the first insert. A second insert overlies and engages the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Gregory W. Gale
  • Patent number: 5975294
    Abstract: A single-piece cardboard sheet into which slots and tabs are strategically cut to permit its folding into a carton for packaging a pair of western spurs. The unfolded carton is substantially symmetrical with respect to both its major and minor axes and comprises a bottom section from which two pairs of largely equal structural segments (a front and a back section) project outwards along the longitudinal axis. A cut at the boundary between the bottom section and each of these structural segments defines an extension sufficiently large to support the tips of the sides of the two spurs. The front section of the cardboard carton contains a cut that defines a substantially rectangular tab and a corresponding opening suitable for passing the sides of two spurs therethrough. The top of the front section also contains a hanging slot suitable for receiving the hook of a display rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Eastwest International (Taiwan) Enterprises
    Inventor: Chang Hsi-Chang
  • Patent number: 5975306
    Abstract: A kit combination for use by a commercial salesperson known as a "roving peddler," which kit has an economical design yet is of sufficient size to hold all of the necessary items for operating a business related to providing a nail-polishing service. The kit consists of a first component container shaped like a box having a specially designed internal locking mechanism, a second container shaped like a cylindrical bag, and a carrying strap affixed to the first component container. The carrying strap also has a pair of connecting rings for attaching the second component container thereto. An optional third component is a storage pillow that permits the peddler to store personal items and that also acts as a seat for the peddler while the service is being provided. The first component is a box having a box bottom with a fixed tray attached therein, and a box cover with a swivelly-attached tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Phillip M. Napier
  • Patent number: 5975295
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for holding and selectively positioning medical needle and syringe assemblies. The device comprises the combination of a housing and a retainer insert interconnectible therewith. The retainer insert is provided with a plurality of retainer holes formed thereon for receiving and frictionally retaining a needle cap extensible through respective ones thereof. Each respective needle cap retained thereby is oriented such that when the needle portion of a needle/syringe assembly is placed therewithin, the assembly is maintained in fixed position. Following use, the contaminated needles are removed from the device and disposed of via conventional means while the needle caps remain frictionally retained within the retainer insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Richard B. Diamond
  • Patent number: 5971145
    Abstract: A crush resistant cartridge case comprises a case shell having left and right halves. Each halve of the case shell contains a rigid insert having a flat portion with a rib extending substantially around the perimeter of the flat portion. The rigid inserts in the left and right halves of the case shell come together when the case shell is closed and provide resistance against crushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Iomega Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Patterson, Brian R. Schick, Edward L. Rich
  • Patent number: 5971155
    Abstract: A quickly accessible and fillable plastic bag unit includes a spacer unit having two layers, and a plastic bag having front and back walls which are joined together, and a pair of complementary separable zipper halves which are provided respectively on the front and back walls and which are spaced apart from the spacer unit at a predetermined distance. The plastic bag unit has an aperture unit formed through an intermediate portion of the spacer unit, two narrower outer uncut spaces which are respectively adjacent to the longitudinal sides of the plastic bag and which connect the spacer unit to the front and back walls, and two wider inner uncut spaces which are respectively adjacent to the aperture unit and which connect the spacer unit to the front and back walls. Each of the outer uncut spaces and an adjacent inner uncut space cooperatively define therebetween a slit line having a length which is longer than those of the uncut spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Chen-Chi Chen
    Inventor: Ching-Chung Liang