Patents Examined by Robin Hylton
  • Patent number: 7398891
    Abstract: A cover structure for a water bag inlet comprises: a base, a locking for mounting at the outer periphery of the base, and a cover for mounting on the base. An extension and a locking rim are respectively provided at two ends of the base. A groove is formed at the periphery of the base and is provided with locking blocks at an appropriate position. The locking ring is provided with locking sockets for combining with the locking blocks, and an opening at a pre-determined position of the inner rim of the locking ring, while a fastener is provided at respective ends and can be mounted with a cap, which has a switch at one end surface. Accordingly, the cover can be firmly combined with the base or freely detached to alter its assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Shih-Sheng Yang
  • Patent number: 7387214
    Abstract: A package includes a closure for attachment to a container. The closure has a skirt with a plurality of internal lugs and an internal surface. The container has a sidewall terminating in an open end and having a plurality of external projections. The plurality of external projections include sets of child-resistant and non-child-resistant projections. The child-resistant projections have undersides with notches for receiving the plurality of internal lugs of the closure, and the non-child-resistant projections have substantially flat undersides for locating against the plurality of internal lugs of the closure. The sidewall also has an external surface located axially between the plurality of external projections and the open end for engagement with the internal surface of the closure for sealing the package and for resiliently biasing the closure away from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Rexam Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Shingle
  • Patent number: 7374054
    Abstract: A vial closure device, a sample vial incorporating such a vial closure device, and certain methods of using such a vial and closure device. The vial and closure device are intended to contain a gaseous sample or a headspace gas present above a liquid or solid material, so that the gaseous sample or headspace gas can be conveniently analyzed, typically by means of an autosampler connected to an analytical instrument such as a mass spectrometer. Mass spectrometric methods of determining the isotopic concentration of hydrogen and oxygen comprised in aqueous samples contained in vials fitted with such closure devices are disclosed. The vial closure device comprises a hollow body member locatable in the mouth of a vial, and a first seal for making a substantially gas-tight seal between the exterior of said hollow body member and said vial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventor: Timothy Graham Brockwell
  • Patent number: 7367465
    Abstract: A closure cap and method of making the same wherein an annular or ring-shaped gasket is injection molded onto the inner surface of a cap shell formed of plastic or metal. The annular or ring-shaped gasket includes radially extending tabs integrally formed therewith, one of said tabs being formed at a location wherein the plastic melt is fed to an annular gasket-forming channel in a mold core and another of said tabs being formed at the location wherein plastic melt is discharged from said channel. Preferably, said other tab includes a cold well formation which communicates with the annular gasket through a connecting portion of reduced cross-sectional area with respect to the cross-sectional areas of both the gasket and the cold well formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Silgan Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: James Taber, Stephen B. Kras
  • Patent number: 7364360
    Abstract: A packaging system consisting of a sealable bag with an optional exterior pocket and an integral handle fastened across the top side that allows for the horizontal storage and transport of food products and other goods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventors: Craig A. Urman, Martin Reall
  • Patent number: 7357271
    Abstract: An insulated container includes a bottom and four walls connected to the bottom; a top which fits on the four walls; a portion of the top is pivotally mounted so as to be opened to provide access to the insulated container through a first opening; a portion of one of the four walls is pivotally mounted so as to be opened to provide access to the insulated container through a second opening; wherein the first and second openings are contiguous to provide a combined access area to the container that extends across both the top and the one of the four walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Tegrant Diversified Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Hase, David A. Arnold, Allen Polowinczak
  • Patent number: 7357273
    Abstract: A container unit includes a container body having a ledge unit on the bottom thereof. A lid is slidably stored on the ledge unit and is thus stored with the container body and is readily available for use when needed. The container body also has air vent slits defined therein near the top rim thereof and the lid covers these vents when in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Inventors: Trent L. Lutz, Mary E. Young-Lutz
  • Patent number: 7350666
    Abstract: A drinking spout for beverage cans, bottles, cups or handheld containers that temporarily hold a drinking fluid (beverage), which can be carbonated or a hot drink under pressure and which is closed off by the spout. Spilling of the fluid held therein is prevented during awkward drinking situations such as in cars while driving, walking or other less controlled drinking conditions. The fluid in the container, remains under pressure while permanent access is possible through the spout. The spout comprises a suction piece that is leak tight attached to a valve housing which holds a spring, a centrally perforated inverted membrane and a valve. When suction is applied to the spout, the inverted membrane moves downwards thereby opening the valve against the internal pressure of the bottle or container and allowing fluid to pass to the mouth. When the suction stops, a spring closes the valve. Air venting is provided, through the same valve, when the internal gas pressure drops below the atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventor: Jan Essebaggers
  • Patent number: 7344039
    Abstract: A tamper indicating closure according to the present invention includes a top wall and a skirt depending from the top wall. A tamper indicating band is connected to the skirt along a frangible line. The tamper indicating band includes a ring and at least one tab, the at least one tab having a bi-stable geometric shape. In particular, the tab includes a pair of extending members angled toward one another and connected by a transverse member. The shape of the tab allows it to be molded in a downward orientation and later folded to a stable, upward orientation without reheating or otherwise resetting the tab. The tab also includes a tab extension arranged on at least one of the transverse member and at least one extending member of at least one tab and extending in a direction of extension of the extending members from at least one tab, the tab extension configured to engage at least one container profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick L. Bixler, Doug Coners, Don Rochow, David F. Krueger
  • Patent number: 7341160
    Abstract: A reclosable package includes a tray, a top sheet, and a fastener. The tray has a well for receiving contents and a peripheral flange surrounding the well. The top sheet is attached to the peripheral flange. The fastener has two interlocking members, one attached to the peripheral flange and the other attached to the top sheet. A tamper-evident feature located on the package prevents access to the fastener and is connected thereto by one or two lines of weaknesses. In one embodiment with one or two lines of weakness in the top sheet, the fastener remains adjacent to the tray's peripheral flange, which is intact after the tamper-evident feature is removed by tearing along these lines of weakness. In a second embodiment with two lines of weakness, the tamper-evident feature, comprised of portions of the peripheral flange and the top sheet, is torn from the package along both lines of weakness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventors: Craig E. Cappel, Gary E. Rehwinkel, Russell J. Talbo, Johann Natterer
  • Patent number: 7337917
    Abstract: A seal for a container, the seal having a base panel with multiple upwardly projecting protuberances on the base panel spaced so as to define recesses complementary to the protuberances for reception of the protuberances within the recesses of a duplicate inverted seal and for selective interlocking engagement of the seals to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Dart Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Hanno Kortleven
  • Patent number: 7331479
    Abstract: A locking cap and container is provided for a container having an opening surrounded by a neck with container threads thereon that are sized and located to threadingly engage cap threads formed on a skirt of the cap. A shaped distal end is formed on a distal end of the container threads and a barb is formed on the distal end of the cap threads. A resilient locking tab extends from the container, and is located below the shaped distal end and spaced apart from the shaped distal end a distance sufficient to allow passage of the barb beyond the shaped distal end but sufficiently close to resiliently urge the barb into overlapping rotational alignment with the shaped end. The shaped end is configured to lockingly engage the barb when the tab holds them in alignment. Pushing down on the cap pushes the thread against the locking tab and allows disengagement of the barb from the shaped distal end and movement of the barb past the shaped distal end to unlock the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Rexam Delta Inc.
    Inventor: Jack S. Oh
  • Patent number: 7311218
    Abstract: There is provided a re-closable closure for a container, wherein the re-closable closure includes a tamper-evident band that provides a stacking surface and stacking step for the stacking of another container and that provides clearance for a membrane lid to seal the opening of the container. The tamper-evident band is connected to a central portion of the closure by a frangible connecting member. The tamper-evident band engages a top edge of the container to connect the closure to the container. After the band has been removed from the central portion and the membrane lid has been removed from the container, the central portion may be connected to the container to re-close the opening of the container. The central portion includes a plug portion that fits into the opening to reseal the container after the initial opening of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Krishnaraju Varadarajan
  • Patent number: 7303089
    Abstract: An improved fuel cap and filler tube assembly for a fuel tank is provided. A spring-biased resilient and compressible closure member in the fuel cap seats inside an inlet opening of the filler tube when the fuel cap is secured to the filler tube. The filler tube includes an anti-siphon elbow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: Russell D. Keller
  • Patent number: 7303088
    Abstract: A tamper-evident closure includes a body adapted to mount on a container, a cap, and a hinge coupled to the body and to the cap. A tamper-evident tear strip is coupled to the cap to retain the cap temporarily in a fixed position relative to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Sawyer, Ryan Davidson, Robert C. Weilminster, Frederick R. Middlestadt
  • Patent number: 7299937
    Abstract: A device for closing a container and a container equipped with such a device, wherein the device includes: a first portion forming a closure element; a second annular portion positioned around a neck; a third portion forming a tamper-evident tab linking the first portion to the second portion, and which is connected to the first and second portions by frangible means so that the tamper-evident tab must be removed upon first use so as to release the closure element; and storage means for allowing the insertion of the tamper-evident tab therein once the tamper-evident tab has been separated from the first and second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Gregory Antier, Georges Adabachian
  • Patent number: 7299941
    Abstract: A seal mountable to the rim of an open mouth container the seal including a resiliently flexible central panel separately formed from and intimately bonded to a substantially rigid peripheral mounting ring adapted to snap-mount to the rim of the container with the central panel being selectively flexible both inward and outward relative to the interior of the container for the accommodation of both overfilled and underfilled conditions through a variation in the head space beneath the mounted seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Dart Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph McMahon, III, Dimitri M. C. J. Backaert, Brent E. D'Alessio, David Daud Kusuma, Johan M. J. K. Mortier, John E. Sumter, Raymond Joseph Trudeau
  • Patent number: 7299940
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of the bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed. Preferably, the beverage preparation and bag storage apparatus is sized and shaped to be seated on the lip of a container to cover the mouth of the container. The apparatus includes a bag retention structure that is open and alterable such that at least a portion of the beverage bag may be drawn within and thereby retained in a position elevated above the beverage so that the beverage can be sampled and consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container and the bag or bags retained within the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Mighty Leaf Tea
    Inventors: Jill Portman, Gary Shinner
  • Patent number: 7296700
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for metering a liquid nutritional supplement provides a liquid dispenser having a body that contains a predetermined number of single dosages of the liquid nutritional supplement, a cap, such as a child-resistant cap, coupled to a neck portion of the body, and a dosage cup coupled to the cap. The dosage cup has at least four axial shoulders on an inside surface thereof that each has an engaging surface adapted to engage axial ridges of the cap. The dosage cup is coupled to the cap such that a force that is greater, by a predetermined amount, than the weight of the dosage cup is required to remove the dosage cup from the cap, and providing the dosage cup with an indicator adapted to indicate one of the single dosages of the liquid nutritional supplement to be consumed by a user for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Remington Health Products, L.L.C.
    Inventors: William E. Steele, IV, Phillip D. Livingston, Clarence D. Zierhut
  • Patent number: 7287662
    Abstract: An externally threaded closure plug for tightly closing off the internally threaded opening in shipping and storage containers such as drums, pails and the like. The plug is formed as a cup having a bottom wall and threaded cylindrical sidewall terminating in a circumferentially enlarged rim. Immediately beneath the rim of the plug is a gasket seat defined by the undersurface of the plug rim, the plug sidewall and an annular gasket retaining lip lying in a plane parallel to the undersurface of the plug rim. In use, the plug is screwed into and out of a container wall opening, having an internally threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, the sealing gasket being compressed between the unthreaded opening portion and the plug gasket seat and lying in close proximity to the internal thread. The gasket seat acts to prevent interengagement of the sealing gasket and the opening internally threaded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: American Flange & Mfg. Co., Inc
    Inventors: Cornelis R. Van De Klippe, Herman P. Kars