Patents Examined by Robin Hylton
  • Patent number: 7950546
    Abstract: A substantially moisture tight container and lid assembly for storing and packaging moisture-sensitive items comprising an assembly with a container and a lid, the lid is attached by a hinge to an upper housing portion of the container, 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 lid portion has a lid base with an outer periphery that extends over at least a portion of the container portion, the lid base is provided with a skirt that depends downwardly from the base portion, the skirt is configured at a location on the base portion that allows the skirt to enter into a sealing relationship with the container portion, the lid includes a member that depends downwardly from the lid, the member is configured to abut at least a portion of the interior side of the container when the lid is in the closed pos
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: CSP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Giraud, Michel Zbirka
  • Patent number: 7946436
    Abstract: A molded plastic drinking sleeve for push-on assembly to a neck portion of a container according to a typical embodiment includes an annular body formed by an annular sidewall having a uniform taper from a first open end to an opposite second open end, the annular sidewall defining an open interior. The annular sidewall further includes a series of external threads and a roller abutment at the base of the threads for stopping the roller equipment used to help fabricate a metal closing cap that is designed to thread onto the plastic drinking sleeve. The cooperating metal container that receives the drinking sleeve includes a portion that is curled over the upper edge of the drinking sleeve. A free edge of the curled portion is embedded into the plastic of the drinking sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Rieke Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Laveault, Stephen E. Stalions, Brian R. Law
  • Patent number: 7946440
    Abstract: An elongated two-piece expandable sealing plug (20) that is adapted to sealingly close a marginal end portion of a hole or opening (22) provided in a body (21) broadly comprises: a cup-shaped member (23) having an annular open upper end, having an outer surface that is adapted to face toward a wall on the body surrounding the opening, and having an inner surface (38) that diverges radially outwardly in a direction toward the member upper end; and a head having an outer rim portion (25) mounted on the upper end marginal end portion of the member for rotation therewith, and having a central portion (26) arranged within, and secured to, the rim portion; wherein the member is adapted to be inserted (i.e., slidably and/or rotatively) into a marginal end portion of the body opening (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: KVT Koenig, LLC
    Inventor: Bhaumik H. Shah
  • Patent number: 7942281
    Abstract: A closure includes a plastic shell having a generally flat base wall, a peripheral skirt for mounting the closure on a container neck finish and an annular portion integrally connecting the skirt to the periphery of the base wall. A flexible resilient sealing liner is disposed on at least an inner surface of the annular portion. The annular portion has an inverted V-shape with an outer leg integrally connected to the skirt and an inner leg integrally connected to the periphery of the base wall such that the base wall is disposed axially beneath the annular connection between the inner and outer legs. The inner leg is resiliently flexible with respect to the outer leg upon engagement with an end of a container neck finish so as to flex the inner leg and the base wall outwardly with respect to the skirt and thereby draw the outer leg into engagement with an outer surface of the container neck finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Rexam Closure Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Bloom, Terry D. Patcheak
  • Patent number: 7942285
    Abstract: An easy open can lid comprises an outer multilayered portion folded into three layers and enclosing the panel portion from outside of the score line, and an inner multilayered portion folded into three layers and enclosing the panel portion from inside of the score line. A leading edge of an outer protection portion as a folding portion between the first and second outer layers is flush with or situated outside of the score line, and a leading edge of an inner protection portion as a folding portion between the second and third inner layers is flush with or situated inside of the score line. An opening width of an inner interspace between the first and second inner layers is wider than that of an outer interspace between the second and third outer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Daiwa Can Company
    Inventors: Wataru Hasegawa, Yoshihiko Matsukawa
  • Patent number: 7942284
    Abstract: An apparatus removes a tamper-evident seal from a mouth of a container and retains the tamper-evident seal to prevent any of the seal from falling into the container. The apparatus includes a body having a top surface and a bottom surface. A sidewall circumscribes the body and extends substantially perpendicularly from the top surface of the body. A first projection extends substantially perpendicularly from the top surface and is disposed radially inward from the side wall. The first projection includes a first tip, a first portion, and a second portion, wherein an indentation is defined between the first and second portions. The first portion is located between the body and the second portion. The second portion has a diameter that is wider than a diameter of the first portion. A plurality of second projections extend from the top surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Minimizim, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Alex H. Amanat, Paul H. Wunderlich, Douglas Hidding
  • Patent number: 7931167
    Abstract: A tamper evident cap adapted to close an opening on a vessel includes a main body having an outer circumference, a pull tab extending from the main body, and a flange, forms an annulus around the main body and connected to the main body. The flange includes an outer circumference that is larger than the outer circumference of the main body. It is essential to the present invention that the flange is made of a very thin layer of material. In addition, the flange includes at least a pair of perforation lines. Further, the tamper evident cap includes a bump in the pull-tab for enabling a person grasping the pull-tab, to obtain a firmer hold thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Snap Seals, Inc.
    Inventor: James F Chmela
  • Patent number: 7926676
    Abstract: A press comprises a pressure vessel having an internal closure. The internal closure comprises a cover and a number of elements for transmitting forces in pressurized operation between the cover and the inner wall of the pressure vessel. Each element has a first contact surface adapted to fit a contact surface of the cover and a second contact surface adapted to fit a contact surface of the inner wall of the pressure vessel. The elements are movable away from the contact surface of the cover and the contact surface of the inner wall of the pressure vessel in the direction of the longitudinal center axis of the pressure vessel. A method is provided for opening a pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Avure Technologies AB
    Inventors: Carl Bergman, Gert Persson
  • Patent number: 7926675
    Abstract: The invention relates to a positional fixing of a tab on a sheet metal lid comprising a panel (10) and a seamable edge (12) surrounding said panel, suitable for attaching to a can body. On the panel (10), an openable area is defined by a weakening line (16), and outside said openable area (17), a tab (30,31,32,33) is provided at a mounting place (11). Said tab (30) comprises a grip portion (32), an opening portion (33), and an attaching portion (31), said latter being provided for attaching said tab substantially parallel with respect to said panel (10). Said tab (30) as attached is disposed with its opening portion (33) above said openable area (17). Close to at least one edge (31c) of the attaching portion (31), a strip-shaped projection (21a, 21b, 20) is shaped to protrude out of said panel (10), for limiting a pivoting movement (?) of said tab (30) around said mounting place (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ball Packaging Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Hajo Rieck, Richard Chalk, Martin Gray
  • Patent number: 7922033
    Abstract: A universal lid closure for underground landscape and other utility access boxes uses flexible tongues depending from the underside of the lid and adapted to engage the interior of the access box, which box may have any one of various constructions. In one embodiment, the tongues have a plurality of diametrically opposed pairs of locking detents, each pair defining a different vertical position, to engage an annular locking shoulder on the interior of the box to secure the lid in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Pentair Filtration, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Michael Kearby, John Cary Sofyanos, Jimmie Howard Wickham, Kumud Jacob Lugun, Gautam Gulati, Anurag Somit
  • Patent number: 7922024
    Abstract: A receptacle having a lid or door can be provided with a damper configured to slow the movement of the lid or door from the open position to its closed position. As such, the lid closes in a more aesthetically pleasing manner, for example, closing slowly enough so that it does not create an excessively loud noise when it closes. Additionally, the damper can be mounted to the base of the receptacle, thereby more securely mounting the damper within the receptacle. Additionally, the damper can be arranged to allow a liner within the receptacle to be held in an elevated position for simplifying a process of inserting or removing a trash bag into the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: simplehuman, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Yang, Joseph Sandor
  • Patent number: 7922017
    Abstract: A child-resistant package includes a container having an open mouth, a conical external surface around the open mouth that widens away from the mouth and a wall extending from the conical external surface. A closure has a base wall, and a peripheral skirt having a first portion adjacent to the base wall and a second portion removably connected to the first portion. An annular first wall extends from the base wall at a position radially inward from the skirt for spring/sealing engagement with the conical external surface of the container. A second wall extends from the base wall at a position radially inward from the first wall and, preferably, at an outward conical angle to the base wall. The second portion of the skirt and the wall on the container have interlocking elements that resist removal of the closure from the container in a child-resistant mode of operation absent a force against the first wall to disengage the interlocking elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Rexam Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Shingle, Maurice R. Gnepper
  • Patent number: 7909199
    Abstract: A receptacle lid assembly includes a receptacle that has an open top end and a closed bottom end respectively. The receptacle has a hollow chamber formed therein for receiving debris introduced into the receptacle. A receptacle lid is fitted over the top end of the receptacle. A mechanism maintains the lid in close proximity to the receptacle while the lid is detached from the receptacle, and the lid maintaining mechanism is directly connected to the lid and the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Christopher Cahill
  • Patent number: 7896185
    Abstract: A molded plastic container, such as a five gallon pail, that includes a lid and main body that are selectively attachable to each other without a resilient gasket. The main body of the plastic container includes a flexible sealing finger formed along the top rim of the main body. The flexible sealing finger is received within a sealing chamber formed as part of the rim. The sealing chamber is defined by a gland seal such that when the lid is attached to the main body, both the flexible finger and the gland seal can deflect to create multiple sealing points between the flexible sealing finger and the sealing chamber. A latch ring is formed on the outer surface of the main body and engages a locking tab formed on the lid to hold the flexible finger in the sealing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: KW Plastics
    Inventors: Newton K. Campbell, Kenneth J. Reed, Michael N. Miller, David G. Packard
  • Patent number: 7891518
    Abstract: A wide-dispersal package cap includes a rim and a domed portion formed within the rim and mounted thereto. The domed portion includes a plurality of orifices each having an internal opening and an external opening relative to a thickness of the domed portion. The orifices are formed spaced apart from one another through the domed portion at an angle, such that the external opening of a particular orifice is off-set from the corresponding internal opening, to thereby enhance wide-dispersal of contents of a package to which the cap is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Tricorbraun Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Snyder, Scott Seanor Wolff
  • Patent number: 7891517
    Abstract: An opening assembly that provides a beverage can with the ability to be closed once opened. The opening assembly allows a user to open and close a beverage can while protecting the integrity of the can, thus providing an improved beverage can that has the ability to seal-in carbonation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Samantha Simmons
  • Patent number: 7886927
    Abstract: A container cover comprises a central dome, a peripheral rim portion surrounding the central dome, wherein the central dome extends upwardly from the peripheral rim portion, a skirt extending downwardly from an outer edge of the peripheral rim portion, and a plurality of grippers. Each gripper comprises a flange extending downwardly from a lower surface of the peripheral rim portion and at least two gripping fingers extending downwardly from the flange. The skirt and the grippers form a space for receiving an edge protrusion, for example a curled edge, of a container body. Each of the at least two fingers has a protrusion extending toward the skirt and the fingers are adapted to provide a gripping force to an edge protrusion of a container received in the space. The plurality of grippers are spaced from one another around the peripheral rim portion. The container cover may be combined with a container body having an edge protrusion at its opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Frey, Hartmut K. Geisselbrecht
  • Patent number: 7886923
    Abstract: A container stopper, and a manufacturing method therefor, capable of reliably preventing adverse influences of various smells entering from outside the container and absorption and adsorption of the flavor of the contents, as well as preventing adverse influences of a core such as cork. The container stopper comprising a core formed of an elastic material and having a liquid-contact surface and an outer peripheral surface continuous with the liquid-contact surface coated with a skin made of a synthetic resin, and the manufacturing method therefor. In the container stopper, the skin is made of a polyester resin or a synthetic resin having a polyester resin as a main component thereof, and the skin is bonded to the liquid-contact surface and the outer peripheral surface of the core through a bonding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignees: Suntory Holdings Limited, Uchiyama Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Takiko Nakada, Toshihiro Ueda, Hirofumi Fujiwara, Katsuya Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7878352
    Abstract: Disclosed is an opening device for a foil closure can be fitted to a container body. The device comprises a spout (4) with a removable disc (10) attached to a pull-ring (12). The disc (10) is secured to the spout (4) by means of a frangible region (30). A foil (8) is sealed to a raised land (34) on a base of the disc (10). The pull ring is mounted to the disc (10) by means of legs so that it applies a force on a peninsula (50) of the disc, thereby reducing the length of the arc over which an initial pulling force is dissipated when the initial tear is being initiated reducing the force required to tear the foil (8) by up to 40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Bapco Closures Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Henning von Spreckelsen, Peter Michael McGeough
  • Patent number: 7874447
    Abstract: A reclosable cup lid thermoformed from a polymeric material includes a domed member and a closure panel. The thermoformed domed member is provided with a sidewall and a top wall, the top wall having upper and lower surfaces and a drinking aperture at a periphery of the top wall. The top wall further defines a pair of engagement tracks depending from the lower surface of the top wall and also defines a post aperture disposed inwardly with respect to the drinking aperture. The closure panel has opposed engagement edges, an upper surface provided with a post projecting upwardly therefrom, and a drinking aperture sealing area. As assembled, the domed member and closure panel are configured such that the opposed engagement edges of the closure panel are slidingly mounted in the engagement tracks for generally radial displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Alois A. Schmidtner, Jonathan E. Rush