Patents Examined by Steven Pollard
  • Patent number: 6415941
    Abstract: A method of making a container assembly comprises the step of molding a container body over a portion of a plastic fixture. A plastic fixture is disposed in the mold. The mold has an inner surface defining an outer surface of a container. The fixture includes an opening and a portion having at least one ridge on a surface which is to be embedded in the body of the container. The fluid plastic material is disposed in the mold. The plastic material is then molded over the mold inner surface and the fixture surface thereby forming the container body. The plastic material contacts the ridge and melts or softens the ridge. The ridge is then deformed forming a locking engagement between the container body and the fixture. As the plastic material cools and hardens, the plastic container body partially engulfs the fixture to provide a secure seal between the fixture and container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Moeller Marine Products
    Inventor: O. C. Huse
  • Patent number: 6409041
    Abstract: A wall structure for a container includes at least one band member which extends at least partially across the length of the wall structure proximate an upper surface of the wall structure and oriented substantially parallel thereto. The band member has a wave-like cross-section with a plurality of first peaks, adjacent and opposing second peaks, and inclined members extending between the plurality of first and second peaks. The plurality of first peaks of the wave defines a first surface of the wall structure, and the opposing second peaks of the wave defines a second surface of the wall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Trenton M. Overholt, Gerald R. Koefelda, Roger S. Hsu
  • Patent number: 6409040
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle, having a wall (3) which is manufactured from plastic, in particular by injection molding, is provided on its inside with a permeation barrier (4). The permeation barrier (4) is manufactured from a material which is virtually impenetrable for fuel vapors. The permeation barrier (4) is composed of shell parts (5, 6) which are welded to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Markus Distelhoff, Karl Eck, Winfried Fröhlich, Dieter Keller, Justus Klöker, Knut Meyer, Ingo Mohr, Bernd Rumpf, Wolfgang Sinz, Rainer Moser
  • Patent number: 6405892
    Abstract: A thermally insulated beverage glass is provided as an insulated drinking glass made from glass with an interstitial space in the sides and bottom. The sides and bottom of the glass are double-walled, forming an interstitial space for insulating purposes. The interstitial space can be left filled with air, or filled with an insulating material such as Styrofoam®. The interstitial space not only reduces or eliminates condensation from forming on the exterior of the glass when filled with cold liquid on hot, humid days, but it also helps keep the liquid cooler. Alternately, when the glass is filled with hot liquid it also aids in keeping the liquid hotter, longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Ken Michael Volan
  • Patent number: 6405888
    Abstract: A collapsible container including a base member having a base edge portion and first detent portion and further including a wall member pivotably attached to the base edge portion and movable between an assembled and collapsed positions. The wall member includes a wall edge having a second detent portion for engaging the first detent portion when the wall moves between the assembled and collapsed positions. One of the first and second detent members includes a protrusion and an other of the first and second detent members includes an interference portion for engaging the protrusion when the wall member moves between the assembled and collapsed positions, thereby preventing the wall from falling freely to the collapsed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Trenton M. Overholt, William P. Apps, Gerald R. Koefelda
  • Patent number: 6405891
    Abstract: A rake storage device for storing a rake adjacent a sand trap of a golf course, and for selectively elevating the rake for use, includes an elongated container disposed underground in a substantially vertical orientation. The rake is removably received within the container. The device includes lifting means for elevating the rake out of the container and above the surface. The lifting means can include a rake receiver and a counter-weight operatively coupled together and movably disposed in the elongated container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventors: Warren J. Christensen, Jeffrey Christensen, Kip M. Colton, Stephen Matthew Haws, Michelle Elaine Lau, Janet Heidemarie Lehnardt, Kevin David Staples, Alaa Abu-Obeid, Len Pugh
  • Patent number: 6401963
    Abstract: An innovative technology for composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) has been developed which significantly increases cost effectiveness, increases reliability, and reduces weight over state-of-the-art COPVs. This technology combines an innovative thin liner made of a metal having a high modulus of elasticity and a high ductility, a high-performance composite overwrap and a high-performance film adhesive at the overwrap/liner interface. The metal liner can be fabricated from readily available titanium alloy sheet and plate using a combination of spin forming and machining to fabricate components and electron-beam welding for tank assembly. The composite overwrap is filament-wound onto an adhesive-covered titanium liner and the overwrap and adhesive are co-cured in an oven to yield an integrated tank structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ellis C. Seal, Norman C. Elfer, Torben Brandt, Robert O. Edman
  • Patent number: 6401955
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a container assembly comprising a first container unit and a second container unit. The first container unit is used to receive articles. The two container units are connected by fastener members. The first container unit is spaced apart from the second container unit to define a distance for isolation. The second container unit has a transversely corrugated section formed on a lower portion of the container unit to allow the user to easily hold the container assembly, to strengthen the support of the container assembly and to increase the capacity of the container assembly. In consideration of convenience and environmental protection, after the container assembly is used, the two container units can be separated. The first container unit can be thrown away, and the second container unit can be used again to connect to a new first container unit. The container assembly is therefore economic and convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Chun-Tse Yang
  • Patent number: 6401960
    Abstract: A low depth bottle crate includes a peripheral wall of uniform height, the peripheral wall including a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls. A longitudinal interior partition extends between the end walls and a plurality of transverse interior partitions extend between the side walls to thereby create a plurality of bottle receiving pockets within the peripheral wall. A crate bottom is connected to the peripheral wall, an upper surface of the crate bottom formed to include a bottle supporting platform for each of the bottle receiving pockets. A plurality of interior columns are located at intersections of the transverse partitions and the longitudinal partition, each interior column having an interior surface facing radially into each of four of the bottle receiving pockets that surround each of the interior columns, the surface having a pair of vertically extending interior convex ribs adapted to provide support for a bottle loaded into the respective pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Norseman Plastics Limited
    Inventor: Roy Hammett
  • Patent number: 6401966
    Abstract: A plastic pressure vessel structure includes a diaphragm mounted in a plastic outer barrel for dividing the plastic outer barrel into an upper chamber containing a liquid, and a lower chamber containing a pressurized gas, and a plastic inner barrel fully mounted in the lower chamber. In such a manner, the wall of the inner barrel and the wall of the lower chamber are overlapped with each other, such that capillary pores of the wall of the inner barrel and capillary pores of the wall of the lower chamber are arranged in a staggered manner, thereby reducing the capillary action, so as to provide a tight sealing effect in the lower chamber, thereby preventing the pressurized gas contained in the lower chamber from leaking outward, and thereby preventing the pressure contained in the lower chamber from being reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Fu Chung Tsai
  • Patent number: 6398059
    Abstract: The molded component is formed by mixing or laminating a barrier resin (A) having a solubility parameter (calculated from the Fedors' equation) of more than 11 and a thermoplastic resin (B) having a solubility parameter (calculated from the Fedors' equation) of not more than 11. The molded component has excellent gasoline barrier properties and also excellent performance in thermal fusion properties and mechanical strength. The fuel container provided with such a molded component is significantly improved with regard to leakage of fuel from the molded component portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nahoto Hayashi, Yasuhiko Haneda, Hiroyuki Shimo, Keizo Michihata, Hitoshi Tachino
  • Patent number: 6398054
    Abstract: A collapsible container including a base having a first pair of opposed upstanding members and a second pair of opposed upstanding members, and also including a first pair of opposed side walls each pivotably attached to the base and orientable between an assembled position and a second position. Each of the first pair of opposed side walls has a recess which mates with and receives a corresponding one of the first pair of opposed upstanding members when in the assembled position. The container further receive a second pair of opposed side walls each pivotably attached to a corresponding one of the second pair of opposed upstanding members and also orientable between an assembled position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Co.
    Inventors: Trenton M. Overholt, William Patrick Apps, Gerald R. Koffelda
  • Patent number: 6398066
    Abstract: A gripping handle assembly for securely lifting a container, includes a handle having a first portion and a second portion, which is formed at a predetermined angle to the first portion. The second portion includes a first and a second face and a slot formed therethrough. A grasping arm is pivotally attached to the second face of the second portion, and a release arm is pivotally attached to the first face of the second portion. A grasping arm control rod passes through the slot and operably couples the grasping arm to the release arm, and a spring pivots an end of the grasping lever away from the second face. The assembly further includes a scabbard, which receives the second portion of the handle and is secured to the container. The scabbard includes a recess, and the grasping arm engages the recess to secure the handle to the scabbard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel A. Mullins
  • Patent number: 6398053
    Abstract: The invention relates to a collapsible container liner comprising side walls defining an interior space said liner having an upper and a lower portion, at least one of said walls (15) comprising an opening communicating with at least one discharge tube (14) being incorporated in the lower portion of said liner, said discharge tube or discharge tubes (14) being fitted with releasable sealing means (114), said sealing means being accessible and releasable from the outside of said discharge tube, said sealing means surrounding and tightening said discharge tube in its closed position, said sealing means providing access to the interior of the liner when released. Due to the relatively simple technical provisions of the embodiment of the invention, the possibility of utilising a closed-system discharge of a loaded liner is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Caretex A/S
    Inventor: Hans Erik Thornsen
  • Patent number: 6398061
    Abstract: A holder for a beverage container, typically a can or a bottle, to provide supplemental cooling to the beverage. The holder includes support ridges, pedestal, or other support means to support the bottom of the can or bottle above the holder bottom to create a space for an ice or an ice and water cooling medium. A sealing means between the holder and the beverage container permits the container and the holder to be tipped for drinking without spilling the ice or ice and water used to provide the cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: O&D Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott B. Duff, Carlos E. Ortiz
  • Patent number: 6398056
    Abstract: A molded tray for holding beverage cups within a range of shapes and sizes is disclosed. The tray has a cup-holding socket proportioned to securely hold inserted cups and prevent them from tipping or falling out of the tray. The cup-holding socket of the tray has stabilizing shoulders and stabilizing walls. The stabilizing walls extend downwardly from the stabilizing shoulders and terminate at a point above the socket floor, creating an opening between the socket floor and the stabilizing wall. The size of the opening is defined as a fraction of the depth of the cup-holding socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Huhtamaki Company Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Letourneau, Eric Brown
  • Patent number: 6398060
    Abstract: A protective cover for protecting inner surfaces of cookware includes a non-selfsupporting surface that substantially overlies the inner surfaces. The protective cover may also include a handle portion attached to the non-selfsupporting surface that defines a handle opening for receiving a handle of the cookware and securing the protective cover to the cookware. Alternatively, the protective cover may include a non-selfsupporting enclosure defining an opening for receiving the cookware and protecting the inner surfaces and the outer surfaces of the cookware by substantially overlying the inner and outer surfaces thereof. A closure assembly for closing the opening of the non-selfsupporting enclosure is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: John K. Apostolides
  • Patent number: 6390317
    Abstract: A modular quick-fit system for electrical devices includes a base plate, adapted to be anchored to a wall or any another support, and one or more electrical devices, each including a casing adapted to be associated with the base plate. The system includes a means for the temporary engagement of the casing with the plate, which allows to associate the body with the plate without using tools and to temporarily support the casing on the plate, and stable retainers adapted to permanently and detachably anchor the body to the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Palazzoli S.p.A.
    Inventor: Angelo Polloni
  • Patent number: 6390325
    Abstract: The invention is a tank trailer which can be towed to location. It is generally rectilinear, although the roof slopes at the back end, where the stairs are. The stairs enable the top of the tank to be accessed by personnel without having to clamber over the piping assembly mounted low on the end of the tank The dual staircases also enable personnel to safely move from tank to tank when several of them are parked alongside each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventor: Ricardo Gonzales
  • Patent number: 6386383
    Abstract: A collapsible container (10) includes a plurality of sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) movable from a collapsed storage position to a shipping position extending upwardly from a bottom (19) to top extremities to define a closed compartment. The container assembly (10) is characterized by the buckles (28) disposed on the interior of the sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) and the roof (20) to prevent access thereto in the shipping position. Each buckle strap (24) has a fixed end (30) secured to the interior of one of the sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) by a rivet (32) and each of the tie straps (26) extends from an attached end (36) attached by rivets (38) to flaps (23) depending from the roof (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: F. X. Coughlin Co.
    Inventor: Robert A. Roudonis