Patents Examined by Shian T. Luong
  • Patent number: 6840381
    Abstract: One or more unique hinges are provided within panels of a fragility packaging article for use in retaining one or more fragile articles within a container (e.g., a corrugated box). The unique hinges provide predicted deformation paths that assist in protecting one or more fragile items stored in the container. One of the unique hinges is a diamond shaped hinge that provides at least two predicted deformation paths. Other unique hinges of the present invention includes a gusset hinge, a step hinge, and a v-hinge, each of which provides at least one predicted deformation path. The predicted deformation paths reduce permanent deformation and provide for improved overall cushioning, thereby increasing protection of fragile items and significantly reducing damage that may occur to the fragile items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: RSVP Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Stephens
  • Patent number: 6837368
    Abstract: A compact disc container comprises a shell body and a plurality of disc pockets disposed in a hollow interior of the shell body. The shell body is provided in a left side and a right side with accordion pleats. The disc pockets are formed of a nonwoven middle layer and two plastic film outer layers. The middle layer and the two outer layers are joined at adjoining left edges and right edges with an outer fusion line and an inner fusion line. Located between the outer fusion line and the inner fusion line of one of the two outer layer is a slit. The disc pockets are fastened with the left side and the right side of the shell body such manner that the slit is corresponding to a tip of the accordion pleats, and that the outer fusion line is joined with a face of the accordion pleats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Inventor: Hsi-Chien Chang
  • Patent number: 6837373
    Abstract: A tool suspension device for pliers has a suspension board and a bracket. The suspension board has a front, a rear, a clip and a removable locking stub. The clip is mounted on the rear of the suspension board. The removable locking stub is attached to the front of the suspension board. The bracket is mounted on the front of the suspension board and has a U-shaped frame and clamping arms inside the frame. A tool slot is defined vertically through the frame and is adapted to hold a tool that is positioned head down. The removable locking stub prevents upward movement of the tool to prevent the tool from being easily pulled out of the tool slot to steal. The clip is used to hang the tool suspension device on a person's belt. Therefore, the tool suspension device is burglarproof and double-duty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Inventor: Hsin-Te Huang
  • Patent number: 6837375
    Abstract: The disk carrier with spindle comprises an outer shell including an upper portion and a lower portion that connect together to form a chamber to enclose disks and constrain a spindle in place in the chamber. The spindle further comprises elongated portions or partial cylinder sections joined by a hinge so that the spindle can be moved into a contracted position to freely pass through a central aperture of a disk or into an expanded position to contact the inner perimeter of the disk and secure the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Whalen, Michael S. Adams
  • Patent number: 6830153
    Abstract: The child-resistant blister pack for unit dosage forms has a blister film sheet with depressions therein, unit dosage forms within the depressions and a lidding sheet which overlies the depressions and which is secured to the film sheet so as to seal the unit dosage forms within the depressions. A network of lines of weakness in the pack define a plurality of dosage units. Each dosage unit includes one of said dosage forms and a peel region where part of the lidding sheet is not secured to the blister film sheet. Each peel region is disposed adjacent a respective one of the lines of weakness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: R. P. Scherer Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Stuart French, Malcolm Ronald Kidd
  • Patent number: 6827212
    Abstract: A device for holding scalpels or other instruments is provided. The device includes a non-fixed sterile body having at least one instrument mounting station that includes a holding portion for releasably holding the proximal end of a surgical or medical instrument while allowing access to the proximal end for grasping and removal of the instrument from the device by a user. The device has a recessed area for receiving the distal end of the instrument to facilitate preventing of inadvertent contact of the distal end by the user while the instrument is held by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventor: Brian K. Reaux
  • Patent number: 6823994
    Abstract: The present invention is a flow control/shock absorbing seal that will absorb the shocks transmitted to the liquids in a container during transportation to prevent leakage and maintain the separation of the liquid and the air chamber in the container and controls the rate of flow of the liquid from the container. The present invention allows the rate of flow of the liquid from the container to be predetermined and controlled economically and accurately. The present invention may also allow the forced ejection of the liquid from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Garry Tsaur
  • Patent number: 6823993
    Abstract: The storage device for decorative light strands is a storage unit designed to house strands of decorative lights such as those used for Christmas and other holidays. This unit provides a convenient means through which the lights can be safely stored without the strands breaking or becoming entangled. The storage device consists of a cylindrical receptacle with a locking lid featuring a handle and from which extrudes a cylindrical core. The strands of lights would be wound on to the core, which can be rotated when the handle on the lid is pushed downward and turned. A trio of hooks attached to the bottom of the core would ensure that the lights remained securely in place. Three elastic bands attached to the underside of the lid would be stretched across the lights and attached to the hooks to securely hold the lights. The lid would then be locked in place on the storage receptacle using incorporated locking clips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Nicole L. Cruze
  • Patent number: 6817471
    Abstract: A display container is disclosed having a pair of end caps coupleable to a central portion and a merchandising card extending between and secured in position by the end caps. The merchandising card capable of supporting an item to be sold. The central portion may be transparent to allow a consumer to see the item for sale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Brookstone Purchasing, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Harris, Rudy Woodard
  • Patent number: 6814230
    Abstract: The combination package or carrier for an optical disc comprising; a lower layer of flexible plastic material, an optical disc positioned on the lower layer and an upper layer sealed about the optical disc to the lower layer; an adhesive on an outer surface of the lower layer and a substrate, the package being fixed to the substrate with the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Inventor: John Innis
  • Patent number: 6802420
    Abstract: A light-shielded photosensitive material roll equipped with adapters is provided in which a photosensitive material sheet, which has been unwound once, can be wound up again smoothly. The photosensitive material roll, which can be mounted in a predetermined machine, includes: (a) a hollow, cylindrical winding core; (b) an elongated photosensitive material sheet wound-up on the winding core; (c) an annular member including a cylindrical portion inserted in an opening of the core, and a flange portion extending in a radial direction from one end of the cylindrical portion; (d) a ring-shaped light-shielding sheet disposed between the annular member flange portion and the core; and (e) an adapter including an adapter tube portion inserted into the annular member cylindrical portion, and an adapter flange portion extending in a radial direction from one end of the adapter tube portion. The light-shielding sheet is partially adhered to the adapter flange portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masafumi Fukugawa, Nobuhiko Kashiwagi, Taisuke Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 6799678
    Abstract: A packaging system for CDs, DVDs, software disks and the like is provided which includes a base, an upright body having a pocket for receiving and holding CDs, DVDs, software disks and the like, and an elongate member connected to the base. The base and upright body are constructed and communicate with each other such that the packaging system has a collapsed position which it is in when it is shipped or stored, and a display position. The elongate member has a construction such that it is capable of enfolding the base thereby providing additional protection during shipping and added space for advertising or printing thereon. The elongate portion may include a spine hingedly connected between panels for displaying information when the packaging system is placed on retail shelves or stored. The upright body may also include a pocket with an edge that has upper and lower openings and opposing ends which terminate in small holes for allowing easy insertion of a CD, DVD, software disks or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Dalton Marketing LLC
    Inventor: Michael T. Sherman
  • Patent number: 6799677
    Abstract: A retaining device for a disc-shaped item of recorded media includes at least one arm that projects through the central opening of the disc with a locking finger that engages the upper edge of the disc. The disc is released when the user pushes downwardly on the retaining device to collapse the arm through the central opening of the disc to release the disc. The downward force on the device forces portions of the retaining device below the bottom wall of the container. When the downward force is released, the arms engage the lower inner edge of the disc and hold the disc on top of the retaining device. The invention also provides a disc-holding page that snaps into the lid of the container to allow a second disc to be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Nexpak Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald M. Marsilio, James M. Byrne
  • Patent number: 6789665
    Abstract: A pouch for tobacco and smoking items and accessories includes first and second outside panels that are attached at an edge and are foldable relative to each other between an open position and a closed condition. A first pocket panel on the first outside panel and a second pocket panel on the second outside panel. A separate pouch for storage of tobacco or other materials which pouch is detachably attached, e.g. by a hook and loop fastening to the first panel. A double-loop, item support attached to the second pocket panel. The double-loop is formed from a single piece of elastic material which is secured to the second pocket panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Mark Joseph Staiano
  • Patent number: 6783000
    Abstract: A portable disc holder comprises a frame member 1 adapted to circumferentially surround a disc at the disc's edges and being at least partially in contact therewith to restrain planar movement of the disc when held in the frame member, the frame member 1 including flange means 7, 8 for preventing or inhibiting planar movement of the disc, and remote from the flange means 7, 8 on a generally opposite portion of the frame member 1 a resiliently moveable means 7, 8 adapted to restrain planar movement of an adjacent edge portion of the disc when the disc is mounted in the frame member 1, the resiliently moveable flange means 7, 8 permitting entry of the disc into the frame member 1 following resilient deformation of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventors: Robin James Price, Christian Egner
  • Patent number: 6779665
    Abstract: A biological sample collection and storage kit s disclosed that includes a plurality of biological sample storage devices, a plurality of biological sample collection devices configured to collect biological samples for placement into the sample storage devices, identification devices for identifying the contents of the sample storage devices, and a housing including a base portion and a lid portion forming an interior cavity therebetween for accommodating the plurality of biological sample storage devices, the plurality of biological sample collection devices and the identification devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventor: Henry Bolanos
  • Patent number: 6779659
    Abstract: A hub for holding a disc-shaped item of recorded media includes a plurality of holding arms that engage the central opening of the disc-shaped item of recorded media to hold the item in a holding position. The hub also includes lifting arms that engage the inner lower edge of the disc-shaped item of recorded media to force the item upwardly with respect to the holding arms. The holding arms and lifting arms extend from opposite portions of a base member which may be in the form of a circular outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Nexpak Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald M. Marsilio, Dennis D. Belden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6776286
    Abstract: A system for conserving a liquid substance (L) in a flexible receptacle (1), the substance being liable to be degraded and/or contaminated on contact with ambient air. The system includes a solid insert (3) whose outer envelope substantially matches the inside shape of the receptacle (1) in which the insert is immersed at least in part. The insert has bactericidal and/or chemical, especially antioxidant, activity and provides protective treatment by making contact with substance (L) over a large interchange area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Rexam Sofab
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Bougamont, Pascal Hennemann
  • Patent number: 6776281
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a jewelry box, and more particularly to a jewelry box that may be used as a display and storage case by a retailer, and then converted into a picture frame which holds photographs or pictures by a customer. A storage box is provided having first and second lid sections. Together the lid sections define a case body. The case body has an interior cavity which receives an item of jewelry. A hinge means is oriented along an horizontal axis for pivotably connecting the first and second lid sections for opening and closing the case body. An interior frame border is insertable within the interior cavity of the first lid section so that when the hinge means is oriented along a vertical axis, the interior frame border secures a picture within the first lid section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph Ovadia
  • Patent number: 6769549
    Abstract: An embossed carrier tape includes a plurality of device pockets (device holes) in which electronic devices are held one by one; and support portions each of which is formed at a surrounding area of each of the device pockets. The support portions are of step-shaped on which the electronic devices are put and supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Susaki