Patents Examined by Robert Stodola
  • Patent number: 9114911
    Abstract: A container may include a neck including an external surface and at least one handle retention feature with axially lower and upper handle retention surfaces. A handle for a container may include a collar including spaced apart container retention features having axially lower and upper container retention surfaces to cooperate with the corresponding handle retention feature of the container to prevent axial movement of the collar with respect to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Laib, Karl A. Reisig, Sorcha Sayers
  • Patent number: 9080724
    Abstract: An extruded beam element suitable for the construction of sandwich structures, comprises two parallel plates (2,3), each having a first part (2) and a second part (3), wherein the first parts of said plates (2) are connected by multiple webs, wherein at least two of said webs (1) are inclined with respect to the longitudinal plane (Y) perpendicular to the plates (2,3), and wherein the first parts (2) and the webs (1,5) form a relatively rigid portion of the beam element and the second parts (3) form a relatively flexible portion of the beam element, as well as sandwich panels and tanks comprising said beam elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Aker Engineering & Technology AS
    Inventors: Arne Barrett Sele, Björn Ake Klasén
  • Patent number: 9073151
    Abstract: A dissimilar material joint is formed by arranging a plurality of joint segments consecutively in a longitudinal direction. Each joint segment is formed by joining and integrating together a first member, an intermediate member, and a second member by explosive welding. A groove is formed in a joint end face of each joint segment, the joint end face being joined to another one of the segments, the groove spacing apart an end face of the first member and an end face of the second member from each other in a stacking direction. In the dissimilar material joint, the end faces of the respective first members of the joint segments that are adjacent to each other are joined together by welding, and the end faces of the respective second members of the joint segments that are adjacent to each other are joined together by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironori Okauchi, Yukichi Takaoka, Takumi Yoshida, Noriko Ohmichi, Mitsuo Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9016513
    Abstract: A splashguard is disclosed for use with a tank. The splashguard may include a main channel formed by an elongated base plate and side walls extending generally orthogonally from the elongated base plate by a first distance. The splashguard may also include a first end channel formed by a base plate and side walls extending generally orthogonally from the base plate by a second distance greater than the first distance. The first end channel may also be formed by an end wall extending generally orthogonally from the base plate by the second distance. The splashguard may further include a second end channel substantially identical to the first end channel. A first flow path may be maintained between the elongated base plate of the main channel and the base plate of the first end channel. A second flow path may be maintained between the elongated base plate of the main channel and the base plate of the second end channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Kulack, Nathanael McRostie, Michael Zolvinski
  • Patent number: 9016512
    Abstract: A storing container has a container body having a storage part and a bottom, the storage part having an opening in a distal end of the storage part, the bottom closing a basal end portion of the storage part, and a lid closing the opening in the distal end of the storage part. The storage part is made of a plastic film. The bottom is deformable between a first state and a second state. The bottom is convex in a direction from the distal end of the storage part to a basal end of the storage part in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Hosokawa Yoko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Ichikawa, Koki Abe
  • Patent number: 8998028
    Abstract: A container end (20) having a dispensing aperture (50) with a closed position, in which the dispensing aperture is sealed, and an open position, in which product may be dispensed through the aperture (50). The end (20) includes a flexible film (70), which has at least one tongue (75) anchored to the end (20) outside the periphery of the aperture (50) and having a free end, which is visible in the dispensing aperture once the aperture is opened. The free end of the tongue (75) is concealed when the aperture (50) is closed, but becomes visible to a user once the aperture (50) is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Ramsey, Sylvia Maria Farrow, Eleanor Rachel Ann Hyde
  • Patent number: 8991639
    Abstract: A tray held by a stair adaptor for securing the tray either on a stairwell or on a work bench. A first slidable arm and a second slidable arm each have an adaptor leg extending downward therefrom, wherein the first adaptor leg and the second adaptor leg are sized to be accommodated within a pair of parallel clamping members of a workbench. The first slidable arm and the second slidable arm include a mating member upstanding therefrom, the mating member shaped substantially similar to a shape of each of the slots on an underside of a tray body and configured to slidably engage with at least one of the slots, wherein the first slidable arm penetrates the right side of the stair adaptor and the second slidable arm penetrates the left side of the stair adaptor to level and secure the tray body on a stairway or workbench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Steven R. Kells
  • Patent number: 8967421
    Abstract: A container base and tray has a container securing portion and a tray or tote portion. The container securing portion secures a container, such as a paint container, to the base and allows a user to transfer the container base and tray (when the container is secured thereto) by way of the container handle. The container securing portion and the tray or tote portion may comprise a single component or may comprise separate, connectable, components. In one embodiment, the tray may secure containers having different sized bases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventors: Debra Starkey-Johnson, Duane Marks
  • Patent number: 8950623
    Abstract: A drink-through lid for a beverage container. The lid provides a drink outlet that allows liquid to fill a drink well base, from which a consumer may sip a beverage similar to using a cup or mug. The base is sized and shaped to sealingly engage the opening of the beverage container. A hollow raised lip portion is provided, and it has an exterior portion extending upwardly from the base. An outer lip portion is provided, with interior portion sloping downwardly and inwardly. A drink well base may have a sloped floor extending upwardly from a peripheral side along the lower end portions. At least one drink outlet is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Vaporpath, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas H. Fleming
  • Patent number: 8944277
    Abstract: A food processing vat is provided with a vent that can be automatically cleaned in place, without requiring manual cleaning by a technician or removal of the vent from the vat. A nozzle is mounted to at least one of the vent and the vat and has an opening(s) that is posited with respect to the vent to direct cleaning fluid into the vent. The vent may include a canister that concentrically surrounds at least a portion of a vent tube that is fluidly connected to the vat, which collects cleaning fluid and/or condensate from gas that enters or exits the vat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cheese & Whey Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Isenberg, John E. Zirbel
  • Patent number: 8919599
    Abstract: A fuel tank is provided having a plastic container with a cavity for holding fuel. Inner and outer plates are arranged on opposite wall regions of the plastic container. A reinforcement device is arranged between opposite wall regions of the fuel tank and comprises a tension/compression strut extending through the inner plates, wall regions, and outer plates. Axial securing means are provided on free ends of the tension/compression strut. The reinforcement device further comprises a spring device bearing against the inner plates. The reinforcement device is configured to absorb both compressive forces and tensile forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Andreas Menke
  • Patent number: 8910822
    Abstract: A method of sealing a first part to a second part of an enclosure. The first part is a metal extrusion having a channel-shaped cross-section and the second part is a light-transmissive plate, together forming the enclosure. An electrical light source located in the enclosure shines light through the light-transmissive plate. The sealing method includes placing an elongate seal member into a groove of a first part of the enclosure, extending along the groove, and inserting an edge of a second part of the enclosure into the groove of the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Defond Components Limited
    Inventor: Man Yin Arthur Newton Chu
  • Patent number: 8875932
    Abstract: A front load refuse container made according to this invention has its four walls integrally formed out of a single piece of sheet metal. To form the walls, the single sheet is welded along a single vertical seam to form a circular-shaped ring. The circular-shaped ring is subjected to a swaging process that produces a rectangular-shaped ring with rounded corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: J. Daniel Hankey
  • Patent number: 8870011
    Abstract: A refillable container system includes an outer container configured to receive an inner container from a first side, the inner container configured to be inserted into the outer container, and an outer cover configured to receive an inner cover from a first side for avoiding deterioration of the sealing properties caused by wear of a closure, soiling of the cover, and contaminating of a refilled content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: DB Design GmbH
    Inventors: Karen Hammer, Dominic Bakic
  • Patent number: 8863976
    Abstract: A lid member includes a tubular section housed inside an opening section, an external flange section closing the tubular section and extending therefrom across an outer boundary, and a seal-member mounting section extending downward from the edge of the external flange section and having a seal member. A flange-equipped sleeve includes a sleeve section attached to a neck section and an internal flange section extended from the sleeve section across the outer boundary and attached to an inner wall of the tank body. The flange-equipped sleeve contains a resin having a higher heat-resistant temperature than a resin constituting the tank body. When the lid member closes the opening section, the tubular section is housed inside the sleeve section. The external flange section contacts the top of the neck section and the sleeve section. An inner circumference of the seal member is attached to the outer boundary of the neck section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Isayama, Kotaro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8857641
    Abstract: A molded plastic tank, optionally a septic tank, for containing liquid, comprises two injection molded plastic half tanks that have concave exterior walls and integral flanges, and that nest within each other for shipment or storage. Lengthwise ends of the half tanks have grips, for manual or machine lifting of the half tank from the top of a concave-down stack of half tanks, and for then assembling whole tanks. A sling is used to machine lift one or several half tanks by attachment to the grips or to lifting lugs at the top of the half tank. A corrugated septic tank having spaced apart access port regions has a grid of ribs in the exterior top valley corrugations and running across the access port region, to provide strength during testing and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Infiltrator Systems Inc
    Inventors: Roy E. Moore, Jr., Paul R. Holbrook, Bryan A. Coppes, Nimish Gandhi
  • Patent number: 8833587
    Abstract: A reusable beverage cup comprising a container, a lid having an opening and adapted to fit on the container, and a rotatable member on the lid having a plug that is adapted to locate in the opening when the rotatable member is in a first position on the lid, wherein the plug and opening are similar in shape and sealingly close the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: KeepCup Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Abigail Forsyth, Jamie Forsyth
  • Patent number: 8813992
    Abstract: A method for collecting organic waste in a collection bag, the method including a) disposing the collection bag within a volume of a collection device, the collection device having a side wall enclosing the volume and defining a top opening and bottom opening wherein a plurality of vertically extending air channels are formed between the collection bag and the side wall responsive to a structure extending into the volume from the side wall interacting with the collection bag; b) supporting a bottom of the collection bag on a bottom joined to the side wall with the bottom including one or more bottom orifices communicated to the vertically extending air channels; and c) retaining an opening of the collection bag in an open configuration at the top opening with one or more top orifices formed around the opening and communicated to the vertically extending air channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Genimex Jersey Ltd.
    Inventors: David Dennys Chitayat, Heather Tomasetti, Pieter Schouten
  • Patent number: 8807368
    Abstract: A series of vessels includes first, second, and third vessels. The first vessel includes a first bottom wall and a first coupling feature formed on a bottom surface of the first bottom wall. The second vessel includes a second bottom wall, a second coupling feature, and a third coupling feature. The second coupling feature is formed on a top surface of the second bottom wall and is configured to engage with the first coupling feature to form a first mated pair. The third coupling feature is formed on a bottom surface of the second bottom wall. The third vessel is sized larger than the second vessel and includes a third bottom wall, a fourth coupling feature, and a fifth coupling feature. The fourth coupling feature is formed on a top surface of the third bottom wall and is configured to engage with the third coupling feature of the second vessel to form a second mated pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard P. Riedel
  • Patent number: 8807357
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bottle assembly is presented including forming/constructing a body portion having a single dividing wall extending therein and forming/constructing a first chamber for holding a first liquid, the first chamber configured to connect to a first orifice. The method also includes forming/constructing a second chamber for holding a second liquid, the second chamber configured to (i) connect to a second orifice and (ii) continuously abut the first chamber via the single dividing wall being fixed relative to the first and second chambers. The method also includes forming/constructing a weight distribution mechanism configured to be placed entirely within the body portion of the bottle assembly for counterbalancing the first liquid against the second liquid, the weight distribution mechanism traveling, in its entirety, in a substantially semi-circular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Theodosios Kountotsis