Patents by Inventor Colin P. Ford

Colin P. 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).

  • Patent number: 7762395
    Abstract: Carrier packages are constructed to tightly secure articles within the packages. The carrier packages include end webs that partially close the ends of the packages and retain articles within the carrier package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Sutherland, Colin P. Ford
  • Patent number: 7748603
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Fogle, Jean-Manuel Gomes, Colin P. Ford
  • Publication number: 20100078337
    Abstract: A package for holding a plurality of containers. The package has a top panel and side panels. The package has retention features for retaining the containers and reinforcement features for reinforcing the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Robert L. Sutherland, Colin P. Ford
  • Patent number: 7677387
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirsten Laura Brand, Colin P. Ford
  • Publication number: 20100018156
    Abstract: A packaging system utilizes two sides of a loading carousel, which reduces both the height and footprint of the packaging system. Mass and inertia are also reduced, allowing higher operational speeds. The loading carousel receives opened cartons on a first side and lowers them over product groups on a second side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Colin P. Ford
  • Patent number: 7631474
    Abstract: A packaging system utilizes two sides of a loading carousel, which reduces both the height and footprint of the packaging system. Mass and inertia are also reduced, allowing higher operational speeds. The loading carousel receives opened cartons on a first side and lowers them over product groups on a second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin P. Ford
  • Publication number: 20090266872
    Abstract: Carton blanks are disclosed for accommodating articles therein to form packages. A packaging system for packaging articles within blanks is capable of packaging a wide variety of packaging configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: James C. Fogle, Colin P. Ford
  • Publication number: 20090101526
    Abstract: A package for holding a plurality of containers. The package has a top panel and side panels. The package has retention features for retaining the containers and handle features for grasping and lifting the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Sutherland, Colin P. Ford
  • Patent number: 7503447
    Abstract: A turner/divider system for turning and separating or dividing a flow of product packages from a packaging machine that includes a turning section and a dividing section. A series of guide tracks extend along the turning section and guide a series of slats on which the product packages are being conveyed laterally across their path of travel so as to cause rotation or turning of the product packages. A reject system further monitors the incoming product packages moving along the turning section and causes rejected product packages to be diverted to a reject lane while non-rejected packages proceed along the turning section for turning. The turned product packages are then separated into a series of lanes as they are moved along the divider station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin P. Ford
  • Patent number: 7503157
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin P. Ford
  • Publication number: 20080245035
    Abstract: A packaging system utilizes two sides of a loading carousel, which reduces both the height and footprint of the packaging system. Mass and inertia are also reduced, allowing higher operational speeds. The loading carousel receives opened cartons on a first side and lowers them over product groups on a second side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin P. Ford
  • Publication number: 20080229713
    Abstract: A packaging system utilizes two sides of a loading carousel, which reduces both the height and footprint of the packaging system. Mass and inertia are also reduced, allowing higher operational speeds. The loading carousel receives opened cartons on a first side and lowers them over product groups on a second side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin P. Ford
  • Patent number: 7407087
    Abstract: A carton that can be opened and incrementally reduced in size and reclosed is provided. A horizontal tear line is provided in a main panel of the carton and is connected to a tear line in each side panel that extends across to the other main panel. When these tear lines are torn, the carton is reduced in size by that increment. A reclosable top is formed in a main panel by two fold lines that extend across that panel. This carton may have several sections that can be incrementally reduced in size and reclosed as items are removed from the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. DeBusk, Colin P. Ford
  • Patent number: 7401453
    Abstract: A packaging system utilizes two sides of a loading carousel, which reduces both the height and footprint of the packaging system. Mass and inertia are also reduced, allowing higher operational speeds. The loading carousel receives opened cartons on a first side and lowers them over product groups on a second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin P. Ford
  • Patent number: 7392630
    Abstract: A packaging system utilizes two sides of a loading carousel, which reduces both the height and footprint of the packaging system. Mass and inertia are also reduced, allowing higher operational speeds. The loading carousel receives opened cartons on a first side and lowers them over product groups on a second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin P. Ford
  • Publication number: 20080135544
    Abstract: Various packages for heating a food item therein are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Terrence P. Lafferty, Scott W. Middleton, Timothy Henry Bohrer, Colin P. Ford
  • Publication number: 20080011581
    Abstract: A turner/divider system for turning and separating or dividing a flow of product packages from a packaging machine that includes a turning section and a dividing section. A series of guide tracks extend along the turning section and guide a series of slats on which the product packages are being conveyed laterally across their path of travel so as to cause rotation or turning of the product packages. A reject system further monitors the incoming product packages moving along the turning section and causes rejected product packages to be diverted to a reject lane while non-rejected packages proceed along the turning section for turning. The turned product packages are then separated into a series of lanes as they are moved along the divider station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventor: Colin P. Ford
  • Patent number: 7316103
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin P. Ford
  • Patent number: 7306135
    Abstract: A carton that can be opened and incrementally reduced in size and reclosed is provided. A horizontal tear line is provided in a main panel of the carton and is connected to a diagonal tear line in each side panel that extends upwardly and crosses to the other main panel. When these tear lines are torn the carton is reduced in size by that increment. A reclosable top is formed in a main panel by two fold lines that extend across that panel. A gusset fold line in each side panel that extends from each tear line downwardly to a main panel allows the top panel and closing flap of the carton to be closed. This carton may have several sections that can be incrementally reduced in size and reclosed as items are removed from the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. DeBusk, Colin P. Ford
  • Publication number: 20070241017
    Abstract: Carrier packages are constructed to tightly secure articles within the packages. The carrier packages include end webs that partially close the ends of the packages and retain articles within the carrier package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Robert L. Sutherland, Colin P. Ford