Patents Examined by Nina K Attel
  • Patent number: 12138804
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for handling and manipulating packages in automated or semi-automated fashion and packages adapted for the same. The systems may include package-holding devices, package-manipulating devices, and package-detection components for locating packages or portions thereof in a three-dimensional space. The packages may include features that enable automated or semi-automated handling and manipulation thereof, such as different types of opening/closing mechanisms with different geometric structures that allow for holding, shifting, and manipulating the packages and/or portions thereof with the package-manipulating devices. The packages additionally or alternatively may include mechanical fasteners, magnets, and/or spring-biased opening/closing mechanisms for keeping the packages closed prior to manipulation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICES OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Julian Leland Bell, Stephens B. Woodrough, Jr., Justin Ashtiani
  • Patent number: 12084229
    Abstract: A recyclable woven laminated plastic bag having features that further prevent leakage of contents out of the bag, or infestation of organisms into the contents of the bag is provided. In various aspects the bag can be fabricated from a woven polyethylene, polypropylene, or combination thereof layer which can be laminated using polyethylene, polypropylene, or combination thereof resin with a film layer formed from polyethylene, polypropylene, or combination thereof, can form a sealed corner bag and/or a diagonal sealed bag, and can have one or more sides include graphics and/or printing. The bag can also provide a top end and/or a bottom end either or both of which provide a discrete area which may contain discrete graphics and/or printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: POLYTEX FIBERS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jacobo Bazbaz, Alberto Zaroli
  • Patent number: 12065284
    Abstract: A hinge is disclosed herein. Exemplary methods and systems for incorporating a hinge into a container to facilitate retention of the container in a given state are provided. A container having a hinge are described herein, wherein the hinge may include a first portion, a second portion, and a retention interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: KEEPCOOL USA LLC
    Inventor: Pierre Barlier
  • Patent number: 12049350
    Abstract: Enclosure assembly includes an outer box enclosure and a flexible, resealable enclosure that is disposed within the outer box enclosure. The resealable enclosure has a resealer formed by a single intermeshable closure member that is affixed to and wraps from a front side of the outer box enclosure, around at least one of side edge of the outer box enclosure, and onto a back side of the resealable enclosure. Prior to initially opening the resealable enclosure, the intermeshable closure member is uncoupled with itself. The intermeshable closure member is configured to couple with itself at a first area of the intermeshable closure member that is on the front side of the resealable enclosure and at a different, second area of the intermeshable closure member that is on the back side of the resealable enclosure to close the resealable enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
    Inventors: Komal Singh, Lars Wihlborg, Jose Septien, Eric Plourde
  • Patent number: 12043477
    Abstract: A method of disposing of a personal product includes providing a personal product disposal bag having a body with a water proof interior layer and an exterior layer composed of a material having an appearance of paper, the personal product disposal bag further having a flap extending from the body and to fold over an opening into the body to thereby seal off the body; inserting a personal product into the personal product disposal bag through the opening; sealing the flap closed via an adhesive such that the personal product is secured within the body; and placing the personal product disposal bag with the personal product into a trash bin; the personal product disposal bag prevents odor from escaping and visibly conceals the personal product by providing the appearance of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Inventors: Bernadette Ballesteros Barber, Don Randall Barber, II
  • Patent number: 12037178
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, provided is a bag-shaped container including a tubular film and at least one pair of engagement portions. The tubular film has an inner surface and an outer surface, and is folded in a manner that the outer surface configures both an inner surface of a bag body and an outer surface of the bag body. The at least one pair of engagement portions projects from the inner surface of the bag body, and engages with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: IDEMITSU UNITECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takumi Todaka
  • Patent number: 11999540
    Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with pressure sensitive adhesive printable paper products, such as labels, and their use with various substrates, such as packaging and containers, including food containers. This disclosure is also concerned with repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive printable paper products and their transformation into semi-permanent or permanent adhesive products with respect to such substrates. This disclosure is also concerned with food and drink containers, methods of making them and their use with removable or repositionable adhesive labels. More particularly, this disclosure is concerned with containers for food or drink having chemical functionality, such as in coatings, to facilitate the use of adhesive labels with such containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventors: Joel Van Boom, William R. Krahl
  • Patent number: 11999533
    Abstract: A storage bag has a first closure profile attached to a first side surface, with the first closure profile forming a lip between an interlocking member and an edge of the first closure profile. The bag also includes a second closure profile attached to the second side surface, with the second closure profile forming a lip between an interlocking member and an edge of the second closure profile. The lips of the first and second closure profiles are visually distinct colors or different shades of a color in order to aid the user in locating the lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Dais, Imtiaz A. Musaliar, Bunlim Ly, Jonathan David Horn, Pamela J. Weisenberger, Jose Porchia, Charles P. Althoff, Erica Eden Cohen
  • Patent number: 11897661
    Abstract: A bag that includes a first side sheet and a second side sheet, each of which are more than 80% by weight paper. The first side sheet includes an exteriorly oriented first pivotable flange that is distal to a first folded portion of the first side sheet. The interior facing surface of the panels of the first folded portion are bonded to one another. Optionally, the second side sheet includes an interiorly oriented second pivotable flange that is distal to a second folded portion of the second side sheet. The interior facing surface of the panels of the optional second folded portion are bonded to one another. A repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive is provided that releasably engages the first pivotable flange and the second side sheet or optional second pivotable flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Laurens Beelen
  • Patent number: 11866228
    Abstract: A child-resistant reclosable bag includes a container configured to retain one or more items within a product portion. A zipper is coupled to the container. The zipper is above the product portion. The zipper includes one or more primary seals, and one or more secondary seals at one or more defined locations. The one or more secondary seals at the one or more defined locations identify opening areas on the product portion. The opening areas are configured to be grasped and pulled apart to open the zipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Plourde
  • Patent number: 11858692
    Abstract: An alignment button for easy resealing of zipper bags is provided. One or more alignment buttons facilitate closure of resealable storage bags possessing zipper lock, zip fastener, or press seal closures, such as sandwich bags and plastic food storage bags. Each alignment button has a raised feature and a corresponding socket feature on opposing sides of the bag's seal or closure. When the two parts of each alignment button are pressed together, the socket feature captures an apex part of the raised feature and aligns opposing tracks of a zipper lock or seal for easy closure. One of more of the alignment buttons may be manufactured as an integral feature of the seal or closure, or may be located in a line or pattern, above or below the seal or closure. Likewise, multiple alignment buttons may be placed above and below the seal or closure in a pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventors: Donald G Webster, Holli Ruddell
  • Patent number: 11845588
    Abstract: A filling slit is formed in a first panel of web material of a flexible pouch enclosure formed from the first panel and an opposing second panel of the web material and having a resealable closing assembly having interlocking male and female members joined to a flange. After the flexible pouch enclosure is at least partially filled with a product through an opening in the first panel of the web material that is created by the filling slit, the filling slit is closed by sealing the first panel to the flange of the resealable closing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Steele, Christopher Ludwig, Eric Plourde
  • Patent number: 11840395
    Abstract: An inflatable insulation panel includes a bladder configured to contain air, plurality of tethers disposed within an interior cavity of the bladder, and at least one reflective film disposed within the interior cavity of the bladder. The bladder includes a first wall, a second wall opposite of the first wall, and perimeter walls extending between and connected to perimeter edges of the first and second walls. The first and second walls and the perimeter walls collectively defining the interior cavity of the bladder. The plurality of tethers extend between and are connected to interior surfaces of the first and second walls. The plurality of tethers limit movement of the first and second walls away from one another when the bladder is inflated. The at least one reflective film is disposed between the interior surfaces of the first and second walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Paul E. Krajewski, Taeyoung Han, Wonhee M. Kim
  • Patent number: 11814240
    Abstract: The valve comprises a fluid inlet and/or outlet duct (8) comprising a flowrate regulator element (9) and a seating (10) for said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct (8), said seating (10) including a surface (10b) adapted to be attached to a portion of an internal bag (4) made of flexible material in the container (1), and is characterised in that it comprises a cover (11) to protect said seating (10) and comprising a hole for access to said fluid inlet and/or outlet duct (8); said cover (11) comprising means (13, 14) for securing a protective wrapping (5) enveloping the internal bag (4) on said seating (10). The container is characterised in that it includes at least one valve (3a, 3b) for the injection and/or extraction of fluid, and in that a portion of said internal bag (4) made of flexible material is attached to the seating (10) of the inlet duct (8) of said valve (3a, 3b) and that a portion of the protective wrapping (5) for said internal bag (4) is held against said seating (10) by the cover (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: METABOL PACK, S.L.
    Inventor: Carlos Aguilar Monforte
  • Patent number: 11807438
    Abstract: A flexible packaging laminate is formed to have a built-in opening and reclose feature by forming the laminate as a two-part structure having an outer structure joined in face-to-face relation with an inner structure. Score lines are formed in both structures to enable an opening to be formed through the laminate by lifting an opening portion (e.g., a flap or the like) of the two structures out of the plane of the laminate. The score line through the outer structure defines a larger opening than the score line through the inner structure, such that a marginal region of the outer structure extends beyond the edge of the opening portion of the inner structure. A pressure-sensitive adhesive is used to re-adhere the marginal region to an underlying surface of the inner structure adjacent the opening through the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Charles Hebert, Scott William Huffer, Barry Roland Reese, John A. Prizzi
  • Patent number: 11794954
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging unit (1) for a plurality of individual products (20) combined into a group (2), comprising a plastic bag which accommodates the group (2) of individual products (20) and at least one stiffening element (3, 4, 5) arranged in the plastic bag or around the plastic bag, wherein the at least one stiffening element (3, 4, 5) covers and/or accommodates at least one of the plurality of individual products at least in some sections and wherein the at least one stiffening element (3, 4, 5) is produced from a material having a higher stiffness than the plastic bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: OPTIMA nonwovens GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Schmetzer, Georg Pfeifer, Klaus Griessmayr
  • Patent number: 11787615
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bag (3) having a filling space for bulk material, which filling space is delimited by a lower base (4), a circumferential wall (6), and an upper filling space closure (8) facing away from the lower base (4). The bag has at least one tear-open strip (10) for exposing an opening area (12) of the bag (2), which is delimited by an upper weakening line (14) and a lower weakening line (16), wherein both weakening lines (14, 16) extent parallel to the upper filling space closure (8), and the upper weakening line (14) is positioned between the upper filling space closure (8) and the lower weakening line (16). The bag (2) has a longitudinal seam (18) extending transversely with respect to the upper filling space closure (8). The upper and the lower weakening line (14, 16) begin in the area of the longitudinal seam (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Bischof + Klein SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Waldemar Repp, Reinhard Bergmann, Frank Heermann, Carsten Michel, Christoph Reinker, Uwe Wiegand, Rolf zum Dohme, Jürgen Sundermann
  • Patent number: 11787626
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible big bag (10) provided for carrying liquid or liquid based material, stored therein, in a vehicle chassis or in a container, and having a first layer (101) which defines a closed volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: LIKUA ENDUSTRIYEL AMBALAJ MALZM. SAN. VE TIC. LTD. STI
    Inventor: Yusuf Kohen
  • Patent number: 11779090
    Abstract: A multi-purpose folding bag system with a handle, having the form of a decorating element-keyring, consisting of the main body of cylindrical shape, at the one end of which there is a detachable head, which when detached, allows the net bag located in the storage place of the main body to unfold, and when it is then fitted to the other end of the main body, an anatomical handle is created for the easy and safe transport of the items placed into the net bag. Following its use, the net bag is repositioned within the storage place, whereas the detachable head is attached to the free end of the main body which again acquires the form of a decorative element-keyring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: Sofia Chousou, Georgios Stamopoulos
  • Patent number: 11766103
    Abstract: A tote bag including an outer shell defining a sidewall, wherein the outer shell also includes multiple shoulder straps, wherein the shoulder straps also include hand straps, and wherein the shoulder straps are configured to remain above a plane of the base of the bag when the tote bag is carried by the hand straps is disclosed. An inner bottom liner and the outer shell form a storage compartment with an opening configured to allow access to the storage compartment. Further, a semi-rigid base configured to keep the tote bag upright is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: YETI Coolers, LLC
    Inventors: Roy Joseph Seiders, Dustin Bullock