Patents Examined by Niki M. Kopsidas
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Patent number: 5735422Abstract: A molded thermoplastic multiple part container having a plurality of individual containers arranged about a central longitudinal axis to form fractional portions of the multiple part container and locking structure integral with the sidewalls of each individual container for locking together the individual containers about the central longitudinal axis to form a unitary multiple part container.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 1997Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Inventor: Randolph K. Binter
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Patent number: 5732840Abstract: A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck, comprising: a housing configured to be mounted in the filler neck and formed to include a sealing surface and a pressure-relief valve positioned to lie in the housing and provided with a nozzle-receiving portion and a sealing portion, wherein the nozzle-receiving portion is formed to include a nozzle-receiving opening sized to receive a pump nozzle during refueling of the fuel tank and the sealing portion is movable with the nozzle portion and relative to the housing between a closure-sealing position sealingly engaging the sealing surface and a pressure-relief position away from the sealing surface to define an opening to vent fuel vapor from the fuel tank when tank pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1995Date of Patent: March 31, 1998Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Inc.Inventor: Dean C. Foltz
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Patent number: 5732846Abstract: Hollow body made of metal or plastic with at least two axial chambers with a separation wall therebetween and with a watertight closure including a cap provided with filling and venting openings this cap having stoppers positively insertable in each chamber of the hollow body, with a piston plate filling the cross section of the respective chambers with a hollow spacing being present above these stoppers, and in connection with which the hollow space present between the piston plate and the cap is filled with an elastic permanently filling medium preferably based on plastic, and in the cap, provision is made for at least one overflow duct for the filling medium such duct in each case connecting one chamber with the other chamber by flowing above the top end of the separation wall.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1996Date of Patent: March 31, 1998Inventor: Hans-Heinz Helge
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Patent number: 5730694Abstract: A container made of thermoplastic material has a bottom, a lid and a wall that extends between the bottom and the lid. The wall is substantially less thick than the bottom and the lid and is designed as a film soldered along a longitudinal seam and welded to the bottom and the lid.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1996Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Assignee: Hagleitner Betriebshygiene Gesellschaft m.b.H. & Co. KGInventor: Hans Georg Hagleitner
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Patent number: 5722552Abstract: A collapsible container system for flowable materials includes a collapsible bag for holding the materials and a collapsible frame for supporting and retaining the bag. The collapsible frame includes top and bottom portions and a plurality of spaced apart upright members extending therebetween. The upright members each include a removable support portion that normally extends in a generally vertical direction and in supporting relation between the top and bottom portions. When all of the support portions are removed from supporting relation between the top and bottom portions the frame is collapsible and its height is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1995Date of Patent: March 3, 1998Assignee: Noslo Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Gary L. Olson
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Patent number: 5718349Abstract: A stopper for racking-off operations that comprises a body which is substantially mushroom-shaped, is made of plastics, and is constituted by a tubular cylindrical element adapted to enter the neck of a bottle and close it, and by a head having a larger diameter than the cylindrical element and being monolithic therewith. The stopper for racking-off operations furthermore comprises a container that extends substantially from the head in the opposite direction with respect to the cylindrical element, the container having an opening, at the head, that is connected to a duct passing therethrough and in turn also connected to the internal cavity of the cylindrical element and therefore, when installed, to the inside of the bottle.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1995Date of Patent: February 17, 1998Assignee: BBS S.r.l.Inventors: Bernardino Bernar, Pietro Bassan
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Patent number: 5715966Abstract: A skin covered lid consists of a substrate portion made from resin and a skin layer bonded onto the surface of the substrate portion. The substrate portion has a ceiling portion and side wall portions add also a boss for mounting a lock-plate. The side wall portions have a thickness generally larger than that of the ceiling portion and moreover have hollow portions and also have a hinge portion. The skin layer is fixed with its end portion contacting the side wall portion of the substrate portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1996Date of Patent: February 10, 1998Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akiyoshi Nagano, Shigeru Yabuya, Akira Azumi, Nobuyoshi Baba
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Patent number: 5715969Abstract: A health care product container having a generally rectangular cross section and closed at one end by a bottom wall molded integrally with the container vessel. The other end is provided with a filling opening which corresponds to the cross section of the container, and which is closed by a closing part. The container has an internal partition integral with the container vessel, parallel with one of its side walls, and dividing the container into first and second compartments. Each compartment is closed at one end by said bottom wall and being open at its other end. The closing part is so designed that it sealingly closes the first compartment at its one end, but leaves access to the second compartment, the sealed compartment being a product containing compartment provided with a dispensing opening closable by a stopper. The second compartment is closed by a lid hinged to the closure part or to the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1995Date of Patent: February 10, 1998Assignee: Ferrosan A/SInventors: S.o slashed.ren Seerup, John Seeberg
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Patent number: 5702022Abstract: The positioning compartments of a bottle crate are divided in a transverse direction by transverse dividing elements which include supporting projections with hollows halfway up, and dividing tongues which project downwards in an elastically deformable manner below them. Arranged opposite the supporting projections, on an outer wall, are supporting fingers. If the bottle crate is placed on one of the outer walls while containing bottles, each lower bottle tilts about a support formed by the supporting fingers, the bottom of the bottle being displaced in the process against the respective outer wall, and each upper bottle is likewise tilted, about a support formed by the hollows, into a position in which it is secured against sliding out of the respective positioning compartment, this tilting movement involving deformation of the respective dividing tongue. Each dividing tongue is located between the respective bottles at all times and prevents them from banging against one another.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1996Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Schoeller-Plast S.A.Inventor: Hans Umiker
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Patent number: 5702021Abstract: A locking construction of an electric connection box having an upper casing and a lower casing, comprising: a locking claw which is provided on an outer surface of a first side wall of one of the upper and lower casings; an engageable portion which is provided on an inner surface of a second side wall of the other of the upper and lower casings such that the locking claw is brought into engagement with the engageable portion in a direction for fitting the first side wall into the second side wall; an L-shaped projection which is provided on the outer surface of the first side wall in the vicinity of the locking claw and includes a base portion and a bent portion; and a groove which is formed on an open end of the second side wall such that the base portion of the projection is inserted into the groove in the direction for fitting the first side wall into the second side wall; wherein when the base portion of the projection has been inserted into the groove, the second side wall is gripped between the bent porType: GrantFiled: August 9, 1995Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.Inventor: Hirokazu Ito
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Patent number: 5702016Abstract: A Braun tube for a projection television receiver in which homogeneity of luminance in the peripheral portion of a screen is obtained by setting the screen width-to-length ratio to 16:9 with the curvature radius of the long side is less than that of the short side when the fluorescent surface is viewed from the outer circumference of a panel so that the main axis of the light incident to the peripheral portion of the screen is refracted more toward the center portion of the screen than the other portion thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1994Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.Inventor: Dug Gyu Jang
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Patent number: 5700689Abstract: In an apparatus for making compost, which apparatus comprises a preferably upwardly tapering container (1), which is adapted to be vented at its top and has an upper charging opening (4), which can preferably be closed by a cover (3) and which serves to receive the material to be composted, also a lower discharge opening (7), which can preferably be closed by a flap (6) and which permits the compost to be taken out, a plurality of lower ventilating openings (9), which extend through the container wall (5), and a plurality of air-guiding elements (10), which are provided on the inside surface of the container wall (5) and serve to guide the supply air, which enters through the ventilating openings (9) and flows along the inside surface of the container wall (5). The air guiding elements (10, 12, 13, 15) on the inside surface of the container wall (5) define a flow passage labyrinth, which the air flow along the container wall (5).Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1995Date of Patent: December 23, 1997Inventor: Heinrich Wuster
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Patent number: 5699922Abstract: A container closure system includes a plurality of equally circumferentially distributed pins extending outwardly from the tubular neck of the container near the opening. A detachable cap consists of nested inner and outer cap members. The inner cap member is dimensioned to receive the container neck and includes a plurality of sidewall openings for receiving the pins. The outer cap member has a plurality of locking wedges disposed on its inner surface. The inner and outer cap members are assembled so as to permit mutual rotation. Thus, when the cap is emplaced over the open end of the container, the pins are received in the openings to thereby inhibit mutual rotation between the inner cap member and the container. Then, a twist of the outer cap member in a clockwise direction brings the ramp portion of each locking wedge into engagement with one of the pins, thereby drawing the cap and the tubular member together to effect a secure closure.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1996Date of Patent: December 23, 1997Assignee: MHD CorporationInventor: Claude J. Harding
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Patent number: 5687819Abstract: This portfolio (10) includes a fixed panel (14) and a sliding panel (12), with at least one storage area (16), and an attachment (18) between the sliding panel (12) and the fixed panel (14) to permit the sliding panel (12) to be moved outwardly from a retracted position to an extended position relative to said fixed panel (14) yet remain attached to the fixed panel (14) so that articles can be organized, stored and carried on the panel (12) in the portfolio (10) in the retracted position. The storage areas (16) may include self-closing pockets (40-46) that shut automatically when the sliding panel is retracted.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1995Date of Patent: November 18, 1997Assignee: American Trading and Production CorporationInventors: Glenn R. Lodge, Lynne Johnson
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Patent number: 5680956Abstract: A pizza pan receives and bakes a pizza to produce a hearth-baked texture and appearance. The pizza pan comprises a base with a plurality of perforations therethrough, the perforations being disposed in first and second perforation regions. The perforation density in the first region, disposed toward the center of the pan, is greater than the perforation density of the second region, disposed toward the outside of the pan, to allow greater transmission of heat to the center of the pizza. A continuous, non-perforated rim extends circumferentially around the base of the pan to form an obtuse angle of intersection therewith. The pan evenly transmits baking heat through the base to the food product being prepared, resulting in consistent texture, appearance and doneness throughout the entire product.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1995Date of Patent: October 28, 1997Assignee: Pizza Hut, Inc.Inventors: Steve Woodward, Patricia Scheibmeir, Deborah McDaniel, Valerie Proctor
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Patent number: 5680948Abstract: A receptacle has a bottom and an articulated sidewall structure which is capable of being collapsed and positioned flat on the bottom and, to enhance the static and dynamic load capacity and for simplified handling in transport, includes sidewall retention elements arranged on a bottom frame which engage matching retention recesses in the sidewall structure when it is erected and mounted on the bottom of the receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1994Date of Patent: October 28, 1997Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Lothar Schmidt, Michael W. Luib
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Patent number: 5680952Abstract: A container (e.g., drawn and ironed) with modified end constructions is disclosed. In one embodiment, the end piece which is seamed onto the sidewall of the container body includes a push-down tab for opening the container. This tab includes at least one engagement section which is offset in relation to the center of the push-down tab and which is for interfacing with the consumer's finger (e.g., thumb) in a manner which facilitates a more effective opening of the push-down tab. The engagement section curves upwardly progressing toward the perimeter of the tab and therefore may be characterized as a generally ramped surface. In one embodiment, two such engagement sections are utilized and ramp upwardly in generally opposite directions. The integral end of the container body also includes a multi-stage center panel or dome for allowing stacking of filled containers.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1995Date of Patent: October 28, 1997Assignee: Ball CorporationInventor: Howard Curtis Chasteen
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Patent number: 5678726Abstract: A measuring vial for automatically determining correct number of fluid aliquots to be mixed with other materials such as dental alginate impression powders comprises a cylinder having an extended recess, an outlet port in the recess, the outlet port being at the height of the meniscus height of the desired quantity of fluid, any excess fluid being lost through the outlet port until the correct quantity is determined. A finger in the recess over the outlet blocks loss of fluid where desired.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1995Date of Patent: October 21, 1997Inventor: Don D. Porteous
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Patent number: 5676276Abstract: A buffet table food pan having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls extending upwardly from a bottom panel. A top flange extends outwardly from the walls. The flange is in sealing engagement with the buffet table when it is placed therein. The flange has a notch defined at each end, so that a space is defined between the flange and the table. The space defines a ledge which can be grabbed, or under which utensils can be placed for the purpose of lifting the pan or removing the pan from the table.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1995Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Assignee: Carlisle FoodService Products, IncorporatedInventors: David J. Zielinski, Steven R. Lawson
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Patent number: 5676273Abstract: A device for closing a cover onto a container, wherein the cover and the container each have a protruding flanged edge which come to lie against each other in the closing position and wherein a hook-shaped cam connected to the cover co-acts with a counter-cam connected to the container for the purpose of locking the cover onto the container, wherein both flanged edges have continuous slotted holes in a corresponding pattern, wherein a wedge-shaped hand-tool can be placed into two mutually registering holes in the flanged edges to turn the cover in relation to the container, such that the hook-shaped cam connected to the cover comes into engagement with the counter-cam, whereby with a simple tool all locks are placed simultaneously in or out of engagement during closing or release of the cover.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1995Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Assignee: Wiva Verpakkingen B.V.Inventors: Godefridus Hubertus Johannes Jonkers, Stephanus Franciscus Schilthuizen