Patents by Inventor Bryant Edwards

Bryant Edwards 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).

  • Patent number: 4005245
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to improvements in plastic preforms adapted for telescopic association with a complementary smooth surfaced mandrel such as is used in conventional plastic blow molding machines. More particularly, the present invention contemplates a novel type of plastic preform as herein, which comprises an elongate hollow plastic member, the inner surface of which in the aggregate conforms generally with the shape defined by the smooth peripheral surface of a complementary mandrel. The inner peripheral surface of the hollow plastic member or preform below the rim portion presents a plurality of circumferentially spaced surface portions adapted for initial direct impingement with restricted areas of the peripheral surface of a complementary smooth surfaced mandrel, the spacing between the said surface areas of impingement providing passageways extending generally longitudinally throughout substantially the entire longitudinal extent of the plastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1977
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Bryant Edwards
  • Patent number: 3994655
    Abstract: A molding machine into which nested stacks of preforms or parisons at ambient temperatures are loaded, which denests and applies the preforms individually onto complementary shaped mandrels in the machine. The preforms are made of a thermoplastic material, such as polystyrene, and the mandrels of the molding machine are internally heated to heat each parison as the machine is intermittently rotated. The mandrels are circumferentially mounted about a carriage in the machine and the carriage rotates about a horizontal axis. When viewing the machine at the side at which the carriage rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the preforms are individually applied to the mandrels at the 3 o'clock position by a loading mechanism. From the 3 o'clock position around and to the 6 o'clock position each preform is being heated on its mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bryant Edwards, Martin A. Baer, Walter C. Diener, Arne R. Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 3966382
    Abstract: The process and apparatus for use in the injection-blow molding of relatively thin walled thermoplastic articles with accurately controlled wall thicknesses. Also, the sub-process and apparatus for use in the blow molding of certain nestable thermoplastic preforms into non-nestable relatively thin walled containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1976
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Bryant Edwards
  • Patent number: 3957415
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for converting, by reshaping, thin-walled nestable plastic containers into non-nestable container products wherein the nestable container is telescopically mounted on and releasably locked to a complementary male mold member, the nestable container thereafter being heated to a predetermined temperature to permit ready deformation thereof, and subsequently expanded against the non-nestable inner wall configuration of a mold cavity by differential fluid pressure to form non-nestable container products. In order to mold uniform container products by a continuous molding operation, the nestable plastic container is held in fixed relation relative to the male mold member in the vicinity of its open mouth where the container is insulated from heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1976
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Bryant Edwards
  • Patent number: 3947205
    Abstract: Reshaping of a nestable plastic container of substantially uniform wall thickness into a non-nestable container of substantially uniform wall thickness by substantially uniform radial and axial enlargement thereof. The nestable plastic container is heated below its rim portion to a predetermined temperature where the nestable container is readily deformable, the thus heated nestable container then being fixedly supported in a mold cavity having a non-nestable inner wall configuration, and subsequently expanding the nestable container against the non-nestable inner wall configuration of the mold cavity by differential fluid pressure to form a non-nestable container product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Bryant Edwards
  • Patent number: 3934725
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to nestable type articles, and more particularly to nestable containers designed to counteract the jamming or wedging of telescopically associated or stacked containers. The invention is particularly useful for one-piece thin-walled plastic containers of the type used in vending machines and comprises a unique wall formation for urging or guiding adjacent identical containers in a nested stack into different rotational positions to insure a positive and substantial stacking abutment between adjacent containers. An embodiment of the present invention disclosed herein includes a one-piece, thin-walled plastic container having a sidewall diverging generally upwardly from the bottom, said container being equipped with novel stacking means comprising upper internal and lower external circumferential stacking sections formed by a series of axially spaced abutments and recesses. The abutments and recesses extend generally axially and radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Bryant Edwards