Patents by Inventor Colin Ford

Colin Ford 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).

  • Publication number: 20110259916
    Abstract: A package includes a carton having an access opening that is for providing access to the interior of the carton. The package further includes a flexible bag that is positioned in the interior of the carton, and a spigot that is operatively connected to the bag for selectively dispensing flowable material from the bag. A holder is cooperatively associated with the spigot and the carton for holding the spigot so that the spigot is simultaneously proximate the access opening of the carton and disposed at least partially within the interior of the carton, so that access to the spigot is at least temporarily restricted in a manner that at least temporarily restricts any dispensing of flowable material from the bag by way of the spigot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Raymond Rudolph Spivey, SR., Patrick DeBusk, Colin Ford
  • Patent number: 7994456
    Abstract: A construct for supporting a food item includes a plurality of divider walls and a plurality of base panels. The divider walls are spaced from one another along a length of the construct. Each base panel is located between a pair of adjacent divider walls and connecting the adjacent divider walls. A microwave energy interactive element may overlie a surface of the construct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Ford, Daniel J. Keefe
  • Publication number: 20110168698
    Abstract: A construct for supporting a food item comprises a plurality of divider walls and a plurality of base panels. The divider walls are spaced from one another along a length of the construct. Each base panel is located between a pair of adjacent divider walls and connecting the adjacent divider walls. A microwave energy interactive element may overlie a surface of the construct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Colin FORD, Daniel J. Keefe
  • Patent number: 7695421
    Abstract: A carton feeding system for feeding a series of cartons into selected flights of a carton conveyor is disclosed. The carton feeding system generally includes a rotary feeder having a series of carton feeding assemblies rotated thereabout. The carton engaging assemblies are attached to a gearing system or mechanism that controls the operating angle of the carton engaging assemblies as they engage or pick the cartons from a magazine or supply. Thereafter, the cartons are erected within the flights of a carton conveyor moving beneath the rotary feeder as the carton engaging elements are carried about their path of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin Ford
  • Publication number: 20100064636
    Abstract: A flat blank carton is provided for packaging articles or products. The flat blank carton includes a base, a top, and a rear panel, hingedly connected to one another, and pairs of upper and lower side flaps hingedly attached to the top and base panels, respectively. The upper and lower side flaps include locking projections and corresponding locking recesses that are brought into mating, locking engagement as the top panel is folded over the base panel. After loading with products, the front end flaps of the cartons can be sealed to close the cartons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Colin Ford
  • Publication number: 20080101798
    Abstract: The invention relates to improvements to full-duplex bi-directional opto-electrical transducers, primarily for use in radio-over-fiber installations, such as remote-antenna installations for cellular radio apparatus. The transducer is of the kind based on an electroabsorption modulator, and the first improvement consists in biasing it by means of a constant-current source rather than conventionally by directly setting a bias voltage. With appropriate selection of the EAM, a preset constant current source is considered adequate, but its setting may be adjusted to operating conditions by a control algorithm if found desirable. A second improvement consists in increasing the effective load impedance of the EAM by using an inductive load that forms a tuned circuit with the internal capacitance of the EAM, resonant at a frequency in the operating range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Healey, Paul Townsend, Colin Ford
  • Publication number: 20080067169
    Abstract: Various packages for heating a food item therein are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Terrence Lafferty, Scott Middleton, Timothy Bohrer, Colin Ford
  • Publication number: 20080000199
    Abstract: A continuous motion packaging system for packaging a series of articles in cartons as the cartons are moved along a carton conveyor. A series of selector wedges engage and form groups of articles received on the cartons, which are folded or wrapped about the articles as the cartons are moved forwardly along a packaging path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Colin Ford
  • Publication number: 20070295623
    Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of containers. The carrier has panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carrier. The panels comprise at least one bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels. A divider flap is foldably attached to the back panel and the front panel. The side panels, the back panel, the divider flap, and the front panel are arranged to at least partially define at least two container-receiving spaces of the interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Kirsten Brand, Colin Ford
  • Publication number: 20070277480
    Abstract: A continuous motion packaging system for packaging a series of articles in cartons as the cartons are moved along a carton conveyor. A series of selector wedges engage and form groups of articles received on the cartons, which are folded or wrapped about the articles as the cartons are moved forwardly along a packaging path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventor: Colin Ford
  • Publication number: 20070257416
    Abstract: A carton feeding system for feeding a series of cartons into selected flights of a carton conveyor is disclosed. The carton feeding system generally includes a rotary feeder having a series of carton feeding assemblies rotated thereabout. The carton engaging assemblies are attached to a gearing system or mechanism that controls the operating angle of the carton engaging assemblies as they engage or pick the cartons from a magazine or supply. Thereafter, the cartons are erected within the flights of a carton conveyor moving beneath the rotary feeder as the carton engaging elements are carried about their path of travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventor: Colin Ford
  • Publication number: 20070246460
    Abstract: A construct for supporting a food item comprises a plurality of divider walls and a plurality of base panels. The divider walls are spaced from one another along a length of the construct. Each base panel is located between a pair of adjacent divider walls and connecting the adjacent divider walls. A microwave energy interactive element may overlie a surface of the construct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Colin Ford, Daniel Keefe
  • Publication number: 20070194093
    Abstract: A flat blank carton is provided for packaging articles or products. The flat blank carton includes a base, a top, and a rear panel, hingedly connected to one another, and pairs of upper and lower side flaps hingedly attached to the top and base panels, respectively. The upper and lower side flaps include locking projections and corresponding locking recesses that are brought into mating, locking engagement as the top panel is folded over the base panel. After loading with products, the front end flaps of the cartons can be sealed to close the cartons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventor: Colin Ford
  • Publication number: 20070187471
    Abstract: A carton for containing a bag having dispensable material therein. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a first end panel, a second end panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. At least two end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels. The end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton. A closure removably attached to the carton having an aperture for receiving at least a portion of the bag to close the bag and seal the material held therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Colin Ford
  • Publication number: 20070164091
    Abstract: A carton has a handle that allows a user to carry the carton when closed, and that extends to allow a user to carry the carton when the carton is in an open configuration. The carton includes gusseted end panels that create a partially closed bottom receptacle in the opened carton.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: James Fogle, Jean-Manuel Gomes, Colin Ford
  • Patent number: 7225930
    Abstract: A combination shipping and dispensing carton for carrying pouches which can be converted into side-by-side dispensers for dispensing pouches in their upright position on the shelves of stores. The carton has a bottom panel, top panel and adjoining side panels and flaps for closing the ends of the carton. The carton has a pair of tear lines extending through one side panel and a fold line extending in the other side panel which are interconnected so that when the tear lines are torn the carton can be formed into side-by-side dispensers by folding the fold line. This shipping carton carries the pouches in two rows with the tops of the pouches in each row meeting near the center of the carton and overlapping so that the length of the carton is less than two times the length of a pouch. The length of the carton can be from approximately the length of a pouch to one and half times the length of a pouch, depending upon the configuration of the pouches and how full they are filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Ford, Raymond Spivey
  • Publication number: 20070074997
    Abstract: A combination shipping and dispensing carton for carrying pouches which can be converted into side-by-side dispensers for dispensing pouches in their upright position on the shelves of stores. The carton has a bottom panel, top panel and adjoining side panels and flaps for closing the ends of the carton. The carton has a pair of tear lines extending through one side panel and a fold line extending in the other side panel which are interconnected so that when the tear lines are torn the carton can be formed into side-by-side dispensers by folding the fold line. This shipping carton carries the pouches in two rows with the tops of the pouches in each row meeting near the center of the carton and overlapping so that the length of the carton is less than two times the length of a pouch. The length of the carton can be from approximately the length of a pouch to one and half times the length of a pouch, depending upon the configuration of the pouches and how full they are filled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: Colin Ford, Raymond Spivey
  • Publication number: 20060266815
    Abstract: A blank is shown that includes a removable portion that can be separated from an enclosed carton to create an opening. The remainder portion of the carton can be bisected by a fold or other tear line to allow the carton to be folded or “cracked” into approximately equal halves. These halves can then be oriented vertically to allow for display either on a retailer's shelf or a hanging display. Reinforcing strips can be provided on either end or in the middle for additional structural support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Andrea Coltri-Johnson, Colin Ford, Franck Vidal
  • Publication number: 20060243783
    Abstract: A package includes a carton having an access opening that is for providing access to the interior of the carton. The package further includes a flexible bag that is positioned in the interior of the carton, and a spigot that is operatively connected to the bag for selectively dispensing flowable material from the bag. A holder is cooperatively associated with the spigot and the carton for holding the spigot so that the spigot is simultaneously proximate the access opening of the carton and disposed at least partially within the interior of the carton, so that access to the spigot is at least temporarily restricted in a manner that at least temporarily restricts any dispensing of flowable material from the bag by way of the spigot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Raymond Spivey, Patrick DeBusk, Colin Ford
  • Publication number: 20060207906
    Abstract: A lid can be attached to a top of a microwaveable container. The lid can be made from paperboard, hard paper, and other materials, and can serve to cover an open top of the microwaveable container to prevent the contents of the container from splattering during heating. After heating, the lid also provides a surface by which a consumer can safely handle the heated container. The top panel of the lid can have smooth, continuous and uninterrupted surface, without creases or joints, that is suitable for advertising and product information and graphics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: James Fogle, Colin Ford