Patents Examined by Robin Hylton
  • Lid with a filter and the filter therefor
    Patent number: 7284676
    Abstract: A lid for a cup is provided with a filter fitted into a sipping hole which filters solid objects, such as tea leaves, mixed into the beverages so that pure beverage can be drunk. In the preferred embodiment, the filter component is a coil spring 14 having hooking parts 20, 21 on the both ends thereof. In another embodiment, the filter component is a grid in an elastic body 56 which is snap-fitted into the sipping hole by the side edges thereof fitting into grooves formed at its ends. The filtered liquid can be drunk by filtering the substances (such as tea-leaves and herbs) inside of the cup 11 through this filter component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Inventor: Shiho Dantani
  • Snap-hinge closure with tamper-evident lid and method of making
    Patent number: 7281638
    Abstract: A tamper evident hinge type closure includes, as is conventional in such closures, a body portion, a lid portion and a hinge portion. Advantageously, at least one tamper evident band is provided so as to mechanically secure the lid portion to the body portion at a position that is distal from the hinge. The tamper evident band, which is designed to break upon initial opening of the closure by a consumer, is preferably integral with both the body portion and the lid portion, so as to ensure more reliably than was possible with interlocking mechanical tamper evident structures that the closure may not be opened without defeating the tamper evident band. A process for making the improved closures is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Obrist Closures Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Valentin Hierzer, Rick Gaiser, Gordon Beth
  • Bottle cap having tear tab and sealing bead
    Patent number: 7281636
    Abstract: A bottle cap includes a top and a skirt depending from the top, the skirt having a bottom edge, a locking bead radially extending inward from an interior of the skirt intermediate the top and the bottom edge, a tear tab extending downward from the bottom edge, a first tear line proximate the tear tab and extending upward along the skirt from the bottom edge across the locking bead and terminating at a terminus adjacent to or below the perimeter. The first tear line is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cap. The first tear line and the longitudinal axis define a radially extending plane P. The bottle cap also includes a second tear line proximate the tear tab and spaced from the first tear line. An upper portion of the second tear line extending through the plane P and between the terminus and the longitudinal axis. A method of using the bottle cap is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Sungsuk Steve Kim, Daniel Luch
  • Removable cover assembly with pivoting covers and hoisting pins
    Patent number: 7278546
    Abstract: A removable cover assembly for a refuse container has a frame with pivotable plastic covers and retractable hoisting pins, which can be utilized using the same hoisting apparatus as is used for the refuse container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Inventor: Paul Williams
  • Easy open feature for reclosable bags having a longitudinal fin seal
    Patent number: 7261468
    Abstract: A reclosable plastic bag (38) having a fin seal (35) which provides a weakness area (23, 80, 81, 84, 86) that extends into at least one side of the fin seal (35). Perforation axes (19, 20) for opening the reclosable plastic bag (38) may be aligned with the weakness area (23, 80, 81, 84, 86). A method of making the bag is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Schneider, Nigel Knight, Stanley Piotrowski, Patricia I. Norek, Jeffrey Griffin, David J. Matthews
  • Lockable bag with plastic zipper closure and zipper closure clip
    Patent number: 7255477
    Abstract: A locking bag includes an envelope with a single opening defined between a pair of side wall edges. A pair of plastic zipper portions are disposed on opposite sides of the single pair of side wall edges. A zipper closure clip is slidably attached to the single pair of side wall edges at one corner of the opening of the bag. The zipper closure clip is adapted to clamp the two portions of the plastic zipper together when the zipper closure clip is slid along the opening of the bag. The two plastic zipper portions include suitable means to make the closing of the opening permanent. In one embodiment, the zipper closure is removable from the bag after the bag is permanently closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Bemis Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Arnell
  • Reclosable system for flexible packages having interlocking fasteners
    Patent number: 7249887
    Abstract: A reclosable flexible package includes a reclosure having flanges joined at their upper ends to interlockable fastener tracks. The lower ends of the reclosure flanges are joined together with one of the reclosure flanges being joined to a side panel of the flexible package by a peel seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Panagiotis Kinigakis, Kenneth Pokusa, Orestes Rivero
  • Single point hinge for a container
    Patent number: 7246714
    Abstract: A single point hinge and a method of thermoforming a plastic container including a single point hinge include a lid, a tray, a single point hinge connecting the lid and the tray. The single point hinge includes an angle formed by a lid chamfer and a tray chamfer. The single point hinge further includes a lid well adjacent to the lid chamfer and a tray well adjacent to the tray chamfer, and the lid connects to the lid well and the tray connects to the tray well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Anchor Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Satya Garg, Brent Riales, David Smith, Tim Cimmerer
  • Reclosable container lid
    Patent number: 7246715
    Abstract: A reclosable lid 310 for a container holding a flowable substance has a cover 312 and a rotatable element 50 rotatably supported by the cover 312. The cover 312 has an opening 28 and a slot 30 located in a top wall 14 of the cover 312. The cover 312 also has a tab 323 extending outward from a portion of the cover 312. The rotatable element 50 has at least one aperture 78 and an actuator 54 that is accessible through the slot 30. The element 50 is moveable by manipulation of the actuator 54 between a first position wherein the aperture 78 is misaligned with the opening 28, and a second position wherein the aperture 78 is aligned with the opening 28. The cover 312 has at least one support member 102 extending radially inward from an inner surface 100 of the cover 312, wherein the support member 102 rotatably supports the element 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Solo Cup Operating Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Alan Smith, Dawn Ellen Huston, Warren Giles Wiedmeyer, Stephen William Sullivan, Rich Matthew Chin, Mohammed Maqsood Ahmed, John Stewart Gitschlag, David Raymond Langelan, Rajendra Ranjitbhai Chauhan, William Edward Hurst, James Tam Joines, Jr., Kevin Ray Smith, Mark Gerald Anhalt, Bryce G. Rutter, Brian C. Bone, Heath A. Doty, Richard Michael Sandusky
  • Disposable cup lid with condiment tab
    Patent number: 7246716
    Abstract: A disposable cup lid for placement onto the rim of a drinking cup has a cover portion having a drinking access port and a condiment opening, a rim portion, a reclosable and tearable fold-back condiment tab, a hinge, a post and a recess. The cup lid is structured in such a manner that when the condiment opening is not in use, the condiment opening is reclosable by the condiment tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Amhil Enterprises
    Inventor: Terry Durdon
  • Bag with flap for bag-in-box container system
    Patent number: 7244064
    Abstract: A bag for storing material in liquid or particulate form, comprising four side walls and top and bottom walls that are integral extensions of the four side walls, is characterized by an additional single or multi-ply sheet that overlies and is sealed to one side of said bag, said sheet material being adapted to be partially separated from itself so as to form a flap at the top end of the bag that can be gripped for use in supporting the bag as it is being drained of its contents via a drain located at the bottom end of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: CDF Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph J. Sullivan, Jr.
  • Snap-on screw-off closure with retaining member for tamper-indicating band
    Patent number: 7228979
    Abstract: A closure is provided with a thread configuration adapted for snap-on or screw-on application to a container neck finish. The closure is optionally provided with at least one member attached to the tamper-indicating ring which cooperates with the arcuate projection to assist in breaking said tamper indicating ring during removal of the closure from the container neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: International Plastics and Equipment Corp.
    Inventor: Charles J. Long, Jr.
  • Plastic capsule for hermetically closing large bottles
    Patent number: 7228980
    Abstract: The plastic capsule, especially for large-volume bottles for use in dispensers, includes an openable zone (4) which is accessible from the outside and closed by a cap (3) is externally protected by a disc (5) which is made in a single piece with the capsule. The cap (3) is peripherally connected to the openable zone by easy-break ribs (6) and also by a thin annular skin (6a) which hermetically closes an annular space existing between the upper surface (1a) of the capsule and the disc (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Bormioli Rocco & Figlio S.p.A.
    Inventor: Emilio Morini
  • Trash can assembly and improvements thereto
    Patent number: 7225943
    Abstract: A trash can assembly has a shell having an enclosing wall that defines a periphery. The assembly has a lid fitted over the top of the shell, and a foot pedal positioned adjacent the bottom of the shell, with a portion of the foot pedal positioned inside the periphery of the shell. The assembly also includes a link assembly coupling the foot pedal and the lid. The assembly can also include a liner defining a container body, the liner fitted inside the shell and having an indent provided on the container body. A handle mechanism has a link strip that has a hooked end, with the hooked end engaging the indent to lift the liner from inside the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Simplehuman LLC
    Inventors: Frank Yang, Joseph Sandor
  • Beverage container for holding a compact disc
    Patent number: 7219813
    Abstract: A beverage container (1) includes a cup-type compartment (2) having an opening (3) and a cover (4) to be placed on the opening (3), the cover (4) having an inner component (5) and an outer component (6) detachably connected to the inner component (5), between the inner component (5) and the outer component (6) connected to the inner component (5) a cavity (7) being formed for receiving at least one object (8), the cavity (7) includes two main surfaces (9, 10) being parallel to one another. It is characterized by that the two main surfaces (9, 10) of the cavity (7) are at an angle of 0°<?<90° to an opening plane (11) formed by the opening (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: DOCdata Germany Berlin Optical Disc GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Weiss, Juergen Gaspar
  • Aseptic packaging for foods and systems and methods for aseptically packaging foods
    Patent number: 7217033
    Abstract: Flexible packages for use in an aseptic filling and sealing apparatus and systems incorporating the packages and apparatus. The packages are formed of a flexible material and include an openable line so that the package can be opened, filled and sealed with a product under aseptic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Fres-co System USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Pritchard
  • Resealable moisture tight containers for strips and the like
    Patent number: 7213720
    Abstract: A container and cap assembly for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items comprising an assembly with a container and a cap, a portion of the cap includes a lid that is attached by a hinge to the cap portion, the container has a container base, and a sidewall depending upwardly from the base, a top container surface extends inward from the sidewalls, the top container surface is provided with an opening that permits access to the interior of the container, the cap portion has a base portion with an outer periphery that extends over at least a portion of the container portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: CSP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Giraud
  • Zipper with pre-activated peel-seal
    Patent number: 7207718
    Abstract: A reclosable fastener assembly (10) for use in the manufacture of a plastic bag (30). The fastener assembly (10) includes a zipper (18) with a seal feature on a web flange (24) extending from an interlocking member (26) of a profile (28) of the zipper (18). The web flange (24) is bent at a lower portion of the web flange (24) upward to the interlocking member (26). At the lower portion, an interior face (32) of the web flange (24) is sealed to an opposite interior face (33) to form a flange seal (31). The bend (35) of the lower portion includes a weakness area (34) which, in concert with the flange seal (31), acts as a barrier and a tamper-evident feature. After the flange seal (31) is initially tom open, the weakness area (34) may be torn open to access the plastic bag (30). A method for making a reclosable plastic bag (30) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc. M
    Inventor: Zdenek Machacek
  • Dual cover system with clamping closure mechanism
    Patent number: 7204384
    Abstract: In a cover of a container for a dual cover system, wherein the cover and container have both either a round or a polygonal shape with a seal arranged between the container and the cover and wherein the cover includes at least two clamping closure mechanisms operable by an operating structure arranged in the center of the cover and having operating arms extending to the clamping closure mechanisms for synchronous operation thereof, each clamping closure mechanism includes an outwardly extending elbow lever structure with an upper pivotal support bearing on the cover and a lower pivotal support bearing mounted on a support arm movable up and downwardly by the operating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Lehning, Michael Monz
  • Disposable cup lid with reclosable and resealable condiment tab
    Patent number: 7175042
    Abstract: A disposable cup lid for placement onto the rim of a drinking cup is provided. The cup lid comprises a cover portion having a drinking access port and a condiment opening, a rim portion, and a flexible arm having a sealing member. The cup lid is structured in such a manner that when the condiment opening is not in use, the condiment opening is sealably closed by the sealing member of the flexible arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Amhill Enterprises
    Inventor: Terry Durdon