Patents by Inventor Bruce M. Mueller
Bruce M. Mueller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7303709Abstract: A molded article is produced by a method of compression molding employing a specially shaped billet of thermoplastic material which is positioned at a predetermined location in a predetermined orientation with respect to the mold cavity surfaces of a mold part. In a preferred embodiment, the billet has a generally egg shape and is located adjacent a mold surface defining a small mold cavity region between two larger cavity regions.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2004Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.Inventors: Bruce M. Mueller, Ben Nejad, Dieter F. Lay
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Publication number: 20040169307Abstract: A molded article is produced by a method of compression molding employing a specially shaped billet of thermoplastic material which is positioned at a predetermined location in a predetermined orientation with respect to the mold cavity surfaces of a mold part. In a preferred embodiment, the billet has a generally egg shape and is located adjacent a mold surface defining a small mold cavity region between two larger cavity regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2004Publication date: September 2, 2004Applicant: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.Inventors: Bruce M. Mueller, Ben Nejad, Dieter F. Lay
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Publication number: 20030205549Abstract: A closure structure includes a closure body having a deck and depending sidewall, and a dispensing orifice through said deck. A closure cap has a lid part attached by a hinge to the body, and a cover part frangibly connected to the lid part, on a side of the lid part opposite the hinge. The lid part is latched to the body at lateral positions located between the hinge and the cover part. The cover part covers a lifting lip extending from the lid part. Removal of the cover part exposes the lifting lip for lifting by the user to open the lid part from the closure body.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: John E. Harrold, Bruce M. Mueller, Richard A. Gross
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Patent number: 6631820Abstract: A closure structure includes a closure body having a deck and depending sidewall, and a dispensing orifice through said deck. A closure cap has a lid part attached by a hinge to the body, and a cover part frangibly connected to the lid part, on a side of the lid part opposite the hinge. The lid part is latched to the body at lateral positions located between the hinge and the cover part. The cover part covers a lifting lip extending from the lid part. Removal of the cover part exposes the lifting lip for lifting by the user to open the lid part from the closure body.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.Inventors: John E. Harrold, Bruce M. Mueller, Richard A. Gross
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Publication number: 20030116879Abstract: A molded article is produced by a method of compression molding employing a specially shaped billet of thermoplastic material which is positioned at a predetermined location in a predetermined orientation with respect to the mold cavity surfaces of a mold part. In a preferred embodiment, the billet has a generally egg shape and is located adjacent a mold surface defining a small mold cavity region between two larger cavity regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2001Publication date: June 26, 2003Applicant: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.Inventors: Bruce M. Mueller, Ben Nejad, Dieter F. Lay
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Publication number: 20020079282Abstract: A closure structure includes a closure body having a deck and depending sidewall, and a dispensing orifice through said deck. A closure cap has a lid part attached by a hinge to the body, and a cover part frangibly connected to the lid part, on a side of the lid part opposite the hinge. The lid part is latched to the body at lateral positions located between the hinge and the cover part. The cover part covers a lifting lip extending from the lid part. Removal of the cover part exposes the lifting lip for lifting by the user to open the lid part from the closure body.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2000Publication date: June 27, 2002Inventors: John E. Harrold, Bruce M. Mueller, Richard A. Gross
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Patent number: 6112951Abstract: A dispensing system for a container is provided in the form of a dispensing end structure defining a dispensing orifice and a surrounding attachment region. Subsequently, a dispensing valve is molded from a second material to include (a) a peripheral portion molded against, and bonded to, the end structure attachment region, and (b) a central portion that extends from the peripheral portion across the dispensing orifice.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.Inventor: Bruce M. Mueller
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Patent number: 5927566Abstract: A dispensing system for a container is provided in the form of a dispensing end structure defining a dispensing orifice and a surrounding attachment region. Subsequently, a dispensing valve is molded from a second material to include (a) a peripheral portion molded against, and bonded to, the end structure attachment region, and (b) a central portion that extends from the peripheral portion across the dispensing orifice.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 1996Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.Inventor: Bruce M. Mueller
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Patent number: 5839626Abstract: A closure is provided for a container having an opening. The closure includes a base for mounting to the container around the opening. A dispensing valve is disposed across the base and defines an orifice which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure within the container and closes to shut off flow therethrough upon removal of the increased pressure. An outer member is included on the base outwardly of the valve. The outer member defines at least one dispensing aperture and functions as a flow baffle and/or guard for protecting the valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1997Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Gross, Bruce M. Mueller
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Patent number: 5676289Abstract: A closure is provided for a container having an opening. The closure includes a base for mounting to the container around the opening. A dispensing valve is disposed across the base and defines an orifice which opens to permit flow therethrough in response to increased pressure within the container and closes to shut off flow therethrough upon removal of the increased pressure. A dispersion baffle is included on the base outwardly of the valve. The baffle defines a plurality of dispensing apertures.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 1996Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Gross, Bruce M. Mueller
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Patent number: 5642824Abstract: A closure is provided for a container opening. The closure includes a base for mounting to the container and a lid movable between a closed position and an open position. The lid and base are connected by a bistable, snap-action hinge structure of the type that includes a web having a central portion between two wider ends wherein an arcuate film hinge connects the base to the web along one side of the web between the ends and wherein an arcuate film hinge connects the lid to the web along another side of the web between the ends. The hinge structure includes an abutment surface located so that when the lid is in a closed position, the abutment surface extends adjacent the web's central portion from an elevation adjacent one of the film hinges to an elevation that is preferably adjacent or higher than the other film hinge. The abutment surface is contacted by the web's central portion as the lid is closed or opened whereby the position of the web is controlled.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1995Date of Patent: July 1, 1997Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.Inventors: John M. Hess, III, Nicholas J. Jelich, Bruce M. Mueller
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Patent number: 5427260Abstract: A tamper-evident dispensing closure is provided with a base suitable for attachment to a container. The base has a deck defining a dispensing orifice and an anchor-receiving opening with an adjacent anchor-retention structure. A lid is provided to close the orifice and defines an aperture spaced from the dispensing orifice when the lid is seated on the base. A tamper-indicating element is provided with an anchor retained in the opening below the deck in the base. The element has a first segment extending from the anchor through the base opening, between the base and lid, and through the lid aperture. A second segment extends from the first segment and is disposed adjacent a portion of the lid to inhibit movement of the lid from the closed position. A first frangible connection joins the first and second segments at the lid aperture. Preferably, a second frangible connection joins the first segment to the anchor at the anchor-receiving opening in the base.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1994Date of Patent: June 27, 1995Assignee: Aptargroup, Inc.Inventors: Bruce M. Mueller, William O. Rowlands
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Patent number: 5379926Abstract: A dispensing closure is provided with a body having an outlet passage. A sleeve is mounted on the body for rotation relative to the body. The sleeve has a transverse deck defining a discharge passage for communicating with the body outlet passage as the discharge passage moves in an arc relative to the body. In one embodiment, a seal is provided between the sleeve deck and the body around the outlet passage and discharge passage. In a preferred embodiment, an actuator is mounted on the sleeve for rotation with the sleeve. Engaging structures are defined by the body and actuator for tilting actuator between a closed position and an open position while the actuator is rotated with the sleeve. The actuator includes engaging portions for engagement with drive members projecting upwardly from the body through openings in the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.Inventors: Bruce M. Mueller, Richard J. Daniels, John Elliott
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Patent number: 5279451Abstract: A dispensing closure is provided for a container and includes a base for being mounted to the container over the container opening. An actuator is mounted on the base and is tiltable between a closed position and an open position. A ring is mounted on the base for rotation relative to the base and actuator. The ring and base together cooperatively define a cam drive system for effecting the tilting of the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1992Date of Patent: January 18, 1994Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.Inventors: Bruce M. Mueller, Richard J. Daniels, John R. Nottingham, Dale A. Panasewicz, Guy E. Wilson
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Patent number: 5240155Abstract: A unitary article is provided in a form which can be reconfigured as a two-piece dispensing closure. According to the method, the unitary article is molded with frangible webs connecting a ring to a body so that the ring is axially offset from, but concentric with, the cylindrical wall of the body. Subsequently, the frangible webs are broken, and the ring is moved axially to a location concentric with the body cylindrical wall to form the assembled closure. In the assembled closure the body has a closed end and an open end suitable for mounting on a container. The cylindrical wall of the body defines a discharge passage for communicating with the container for dispensing the contents thereof. The ring defines a dispensing orifice and accommodates rotation between a dispensing position in which the passage and orifice are at least partially aligned and a closed position in which the passage is occluded by the ring.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1992Date of Patent: August 31, 1993Assignee: Seaquist ClosuresInventors: Bruce M. Mueller, Eldon W. Schaffer, II
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Patent number: 5008066Abstract: A container having a unitary hollow receptacle and closure is formed according to a process is which an injection molding step forms a preform of thermoplastic material having (1) a hollow body, (2) a closure base at one end of the hollow body to define an opening into the hollow body, and (3) a closure cover spaced from the closure base opening but connected to the closure base. The process further includes blow molding the preform hollow body to form the hollow receptacle so that it extends from the closure base and has a configuration different than the preform hollow body.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1989Date of Patent: April 16, 1991Assignee: Seaquist ClosuresInventor: Bruce M. Mueller
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Patent number: 4964539Abstract: A package is provided for dispensing at least two substances simultaneously in an adjacent relationship. The package includes a container having a plurality of separated storage compartments. The container has an outlet end with a peripheral outlet wall and at least one interior divider wall cooperating to define a plurality of discharge passages each communicating with a respective one of the compartments. The outlet wall has interior peripheral sealing surfaces that each define a portion of the inner periphery of a respective one of the discharge passages. Each divider wall has generally oppositely facing sealing surfaces that each define a portion of the inner periphery of a respective one of the discharge passages. A cover is provided for securement to the container over the outlet end.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1989Date of Patent: October 23, 1990Assignee: Seaquist ClosuresInventor: Bruce M. Mueller
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Patent number: 4962869Abstract: A toggle-acting dispensing closure which is resistant to inadvertent actuation during shipping and handling prior to purchase. A deformable resistance post is provided on the body of the closure and interferes initially with the pivoting of the actuator except when a substantially higher force than normally used to pivot the actuator is applied. After the first operation by applying the substantially higher force, the actuator may be operated by the application of a customary lower operating force to the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1989Date of Patent: October 16, 1990Assignee: Sequist ClosuresInventors: Richard A. Gross, Bruce M. Mueller
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Patent number: D356949Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1993Date of Patent: April 4, 1995Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.Inventors: Bruce M. Mueller, Robert D. Rohr
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Patent number: D385491Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1994Date of Patent: October 28, 1997Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.Inventors: Bruce M. Mueller, Richard A. Gross, Nicholas J. Jelich