Patents Examined by Stephen Cronin
  • Patent number: 5778954
    Abstract: A combination of a wallet and a pocket knife. The wallet has a plurality of sections which overlie each other when the wallet is folded. One of the sections has a pocket which removably and frictionally receives a pocket knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company
    Inventors: John Sullivan, Edward L. Jessup, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5779088
    Abstract: The seal for upward opening hollow containers consists of a substantially circular inside cover, whose rim has along part of its circumference a raised area rising at an angle to the cover plane; the underside of the inside cover is connected with a vapor diffusion barrier which is provided with a tear perforation in the area of an opening in the inside cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hornig
  • Patent number: 5779085
    Abstract: This invention is a new device that can be used to plug perforations in materials. This plug comprises a cylinder plug with a tapered bore partially extending through the plug from one end. A cylinder pin that is tapered substantially the same as the plug will fit in the plug after installation is complete. A shear flange surrounds the pin so that when the pin is installed in the plug, the shear flange is against a plug flange. The pin is adhered to the plug by means such as a thin layer of epoxy or glue which allows the pin and plug to be handled as a single component. The pin is designed so that while in this position, there is no significant radial expansion of the plug. The pin has a pattern of holes or grooves that extend the entire length of the pin in order to allow for the expansion of any trapped fluids in the bore of the plug. The pin can have a groove along the outer diameter to allow for easier handling of the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Kenneth Havlinek, Michele Tesciuba, Thomas D. MacDougall
  • Patent number: 5779087
    Abstract: An improved can closure device for the closing of easy-open metal can end walls including: a one piece closing tab having a central body, circumferential flange, annular sealing ring, semi-annular locking ring, semi-annular locking channel, tab opening strip, and a hole for attachment to a can end wall; an improved metal opening tab; an elongated attaching post/rivet; and a sealing channel provided in the sheet metal can end wall. The closing tab is co-mounted with and beneath the improved metal opening tab and minimally impacts the can opening function of the metal opening tab. The consumer opens the can in much the same way as he or she now does by using the existing metal opening tab. After the can is opened, the closing tab is rotated approximately 180 degrees, aligned with the can opening, and pushed downwardly into place to close the can, thus preventing loss of contents due to spillage, providing protection of the contents from dirt, sand, or insects, and retarding loss of carbonation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventors: Andrew J. Sharpe, Darryl J. Baker
  • Patent number: 5779073
    Abstract: A cap for the neck of a corked glass bottle constructed as a single piece by stamping a thin sheet of material having one or more layers. The sheet has at least one gas-impervious layer. The cap includes a planar portion, the lower surface of which contacts and remains unadhered to the upper surface of the neck. Depending from the periphery of the planar portion is an annular skirt. A heat-sensitive adhesive adheres the inner surface of the skirt to the annular outer surface of the neck upon heating. In a second embodiment, the adhesive layer covers the entire inner and lower surfaces of the cap. A disk is adhered to the inner surface to prevent the upper surface of the neck from contacting the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Societe Alsacienne d'Aluminium
    Inventor: Didier Milhomme
  • Patent number: 5775529
    Abstract: A decorating glass vessel is disclosed. In particular, It relates to a spherical shape decorating vessel filled with water. The glass vessel is disposed with an opening which has extended with a circular wall upward to a preset height. A soft cover can be inserted into the circular wall such that a frictional engagement is attained between the circular wall and the cover. The water facing surface of the cover is provided with an elevated surface. The other portion of the water facing surface except the elevated surface is provided with at least one thinner portion with thinner thickness. The thinner portion can be readily deformed to absorb the increased hydraulic pressure resulted from temperature gradient. Consequently, the water or air leakage resulted therefrom can be therefore avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Szu Wei Lo
  • Patent number: 5775561
    Abstract: A lightweight waterproof pouch for carrying personal objects such as cash, a watch, credit cards, a wallet, and the like in a wet environment and for keeping those objects safe and dry comprises an outer enclosure formed of flexible material, a removable, resealable, waterproof inner pouch liner for insertion into the outer enclosure, and a strap attached to the outer enclosure for holding the pouch around a wearer's body. The inner pouch liner forms a watertight compartment when closed for keeping the personal objects dry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Linda Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5775527
    Abstract: A closure cap with a tearable anti-tamper strip (3) have flaps (5) which extend radially inwards from the inside surface of the anti-tamper strip towards the cap base. With the closure cap in position on the container mouth, these flaps (5) engage beneath a circumferential bead (6) on the container mouth. In order to enhance the stability and resistance to bending of the flaps, their lateral edge areas (7) are directed inwards in such a way that, at least one position, they possess a lesser distance in relation to the cap axis than the flap centres (8). The facing surface (11) of the flaps (5) is directed towards the cap base (1) and is inclined towards the cap axis so that, on opening of the closure, the effective force (F) impinges on the centre of the flap relatively far out. The centre of the flaps (8) is here preferaly designed to be thicker than its lateral edge area (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Crown Cork AG
    Inventors: Udo Bosl, Michael Kirchgessner
  • Patent number: 5772067
    Abstract: A cap system for use with a beverage container that has automatic opening and closing capability is provided. A buoyant sliding cover is maintained partially within a casing or housing device in the cap and partially within the container itself. When the container is tilted to a drinking position, buoyancy forces act on the cover and force it to slide, thereby exposing an opening in the cap and allowing for the consumption of the liquid. When the container is returned to an upright, non-drinking position, a spring mechanism, built into the casing and attached to the sliding cover, acts to force the cover to a closed position, thereby covering the opening in the cap and preserving the integrity of the liquid inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventor: Herbert Morewitz, II
  • Patent number: 5769258
    Abstract: Disclosed is a closure means for a pressure vessel, said pressure vessel comprising a body portion and a lid portion, the closure means comprising: securing means attached to the lid portion for releasably securing the body and lid portions together to form a subtantially gastight enclosure, the securing means permitting a limited degree of movement between the body and lid portions from a sealing position to a venting position when the pressure within the vessel exceeds the external pressure by a predetermined amount thereby permitting venting of excess pressure, the closure means comprising biasing means acting to bias movement of the body and lid portions from the venting position to the sealing position after venting of excess pressure, and pressure vessels comprising said closure means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Pewter (No. 2) Limited
    Inventors: Ronald Arthur Harrison, Angus George Peacock
  • Patent number: 5769254
    Abstract: A container neck (14) and a container closure comprises a first thread (15) on one of the neck and the closure, a complementary second thread on the other of the neck and the closure such that the closure is moveable from fully disengaged from the neck to fully closed by turning the closure relative to the neck by less than 360.degree., at least one stop formation (17,18) carried by said one of the neck (14) and the closure, and stop means on said other of the neck and the closure engageable with the stop formation or at least one of the stop formations to hold the closure in a closed position on the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Beeson and Sons Limited
    Inventors: Roger Milner King, Roger Edwin Powell, Rodney George Offley
  • Patent number: 5769261
    Abstract: A covered food serving pan is provided having a food pan from which a flange with tab retainers extends, and a cover with tabs extending from an edge. These tabs engage tab retainers on a flange of the food pan and allow the cover to rotate with respect to the food pan. A method is provided for attaching a cover to a food serving pan by sliding the tabs toward the tabs retainers and engaging them with the tab retainers, rotating the cover about the tab retainers along a first axis of rotation, translating the cover in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, and again rotating the cover about the axis of rotation until the open end of the pan is covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Gaffney, Alan J. Schommer, William C. Heimerl, Michael L. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 5769263
    Abstract: A promotional closure for use with an associated container includes a plastic closure cap having an inwardly recessed, circular top wall portion defining a compartment and a depending annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion. A circumferential lip formed in the closure cap generally at about a periphery of the compartment, defines a circumferential channel-like recess adjacent to the compartment. The closure further includes a removable, circular cover member adapted to cover the compartment by insertion into the circumferential recess. The cover has a pair of circumferentially opposed tab-like, releasable engaging members which are adapted to be received in the circumferential recess to retain the cover in place in the cap over the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Alcoa Closure Systems International, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell D. Willingham, David W. Smith, David L. Cerny, Stephen W. McBride
  • Patent number: 5769213
    Abstract: A device for carrying an article such as a pen, pencil, eyeliner, nail file, flashlight, and the like, includes a flat, rigid base sized and configured to fit within a credit card slot of a wallet or purse so that a peripheral edge zone remains exposed exteriorly of the slot, and a receptacle formed along the peripheral edge zone of the base for releasably capturing the article thereon and defining a handle to facilitate removal of the device from the card slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Inventor: Philip Chatterton
  • Patent number: 5765705
    Abstract: A child resistant closure including a container and a cap. The container includes a body portion defining a chamber, and a hollow neck extending from the body portion. The cap is formed to fit around the neck and includes a base portion and a lid portion connected to the base portion with a hinge. At least one first engagement portion extends from a lever portion attached to the base portion, and is positioned to engage at least one second engagement portion that is integrally formed in the lid portion. The engagement portions are located off set from a location diametrically opposite the hinge. The closure is in a locked position when the first engagement portion engages the second engagement portion. The closure is moved to an unlocked position when the lever portion is pushed inwardly to disengage the first engagement portion from the second engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Poly-Seal Corporation
    Inventor: Donald P. Deubel
  • Patent number: 5762219
    Abstract: A plastic screw cap for closing a container, including a cup composed of a disk-like portion and a cylindrical wall that protrudes from the rim of said disk-like portion and has an internal thread that is adapted to engage a corresponding thread of the container, the cap further comprising an annular lip that protrudes from the disk-like portion concentrically with respect to the cylindrical wall, the annular lip acting as a shoulder for a sealing liner, so that the liner, when the cap has been applied to the container, frontally and externally engages the rim of the mouth of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola S.c.r.l.
    Inventor: Fiorenzo Parrinello
  • Patent number: 5762215
    Abstract: A cap (1) for a container having a screw threaded opening comprising an inner part (3) in the form of a screw threaded cap, an outer part (2) the inner part (3) being axially displaceable relative to the outer part (2) and biased therefrom between an unlocking and locking position, resilient biasing means (17) between the inner and outer parts, a boss (6), and engagement means (15) adapted to engage with the boss upon (6) depression of the outer part (2), such that turning the cap will unscrew it from the container wherein one of the boss (6) or engagement means (15) is located on the top surface of the inner part (3) and the other is located on the inner top surface of the outer part (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Glaxo Wellcome
    Inventor: Brian Leslie Ogden
  • Patent number: 5762217
    Abstract: The resin cap of this invention comprises a cap proper provided with a skirt portion and a continuous ring member provided so as to cover the outer surface of the skirt portion of the cap proper. A plurality of axially extending cuts are circumferentially spaced in the skirt portion of the cap proper, and the skirt portion of the cap proper and the ring-like member are separated via a cutting surface, but are integrally formed via a plurality of frangible bridge portions or connecting portions upwardly or downwardly of the cutting surface. The outer surface of the skirt portion of the cap proper and the inner surface of the ring-like member are intimately adhered at a portion of the cutting surface. This cap can form a sealing structure having sealing reliability, and can be opened without using any particular tool. Furthermore, it has excellent tamper-evident characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Japan Crown Cork Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Ohmi, Tateo Kubo, Mitsuo Kumata
  • Patent number: 5762218
    Abstract: A plastics seal for a bottle having a beaded rim comprises a sealing cap (3), which comprises a circular flat cover plate (2) and on the underside (4) of which are provided an outer ring (5), which, in the locking position, embraces the bottle neck, and an inner sealing ring (6) which abuts at least regionally against the inner circumference of the bottle opening in the manner of a tight cap, the two rings (5, 6), which are arranged substantially concentrically relative to the central longitudinal axis (7), being integrally moulded on to the cover plate (2). The inner sealing ring (6) is provided on its inner side (10, 10') which is opposite the contract surface (9; 9') with a plurality of reinforcing ribs (11) which extend substantially parallel relative to the central longitudinal axis (7) and are designed to be shaped parts (12; 12'; 12"; 12'"; 12"") which at least regionally provide a flexible supporting engagement for the inner sealing ring (6) when disposed in the sealing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Franz Rossberg
    Inventor: Werner Sachau
  • Patent number: 5762226
    Abstract: Disclosed is the combination of a steam table pan for keeping food warm and a cover for lifting and carrying the pan. The pan is of the type including a container portion, a pair of side edges and a pair of end edges. All of the edges protrude away from the container portion and one of the end edges includes a downwardly-turned lip. The cover has a pair of side channels, each for engaging a respective side edge of the pan, and each side channel includes an upper member, an edge panel extending downwardly from the upper member, and a lip extending inwardly from the edge panel. The upper member and the lip of each of the side channels are spaced apart by a first dimension. In the improvement, the cover includes an end channel having an upper component, an end panel extending downwardly from the upper component, a ledge extending inwardly from the end panel and a stop extending upwardly from the ledge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Polar Ware Company
    Inventors: Jerome K. Baltus, Gene H. Jentink, Brian J. Siehr, Lee W. Wolf