Patents by Inventor Craig E. Cappel
Craig E. Cappel 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: 10220986Abstract: Container includes a base, a cover, and a pull tab. The base has a bottom, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom, and a rim at an upper edge portion of the side wall. The cover has a closed condition and an open condition and an outer edge portion interengageable with the rim of the base when the cover is in the closed condition. The pull tab extends outwardly from at least one of the base or the cover. The pull tab having a deformable formation to be deformed when the cover is moved from the closed condition to the open condition, the pull tab remaining attached to the at least one of the base or the cover when moved from the closed condition to the open condition. Additional embodiments relate to a tamper evident feature for a container, and a method for containing product in a container.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2009Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: PACTIV CORPORATIONInventors: Frank A. Petlak, Scott W. Follansbee, H. Bernard Kirkland, Craig E. Cappel
-
Patent number: 8448413Abstract: A reclosable package includes a tray, a top sheet, and a fastener. The tray has a well for receiving contents and a peripheral flange surrounding the well. The top sheet is attached to the peripheral flange. The fastener has two interlocking members, one attached to the peripheral flange and the other attached to the top sheet. A tamper-evident feature located on the package prevents access to the fastener and is connected thereto by one or two lines of weaknesses. In one embodiment with one or two lines of weakness in the top sheet, the fastener remains adjacent to the tray's peripheral flange, which is intact after the tamper-evident feature is removed by tearing along these lines of weakness. In a second embodiment with two lines of weakness, the tamper-evident feature, comprised of portions of the peripheral flange and the top sheet, is torn from the package along both lines of weakness.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Reynolds Presto Products Inc.Inventors: Craig E. Cappel, Gary E. Rehwinkel, Russell J. Talbo, Johann Natterer
-
Patent number: 8439215Abstract: Foldable container including a base having a first base portion and an opposing second base portion. The base has a base surface free of hinge lines between the first base portion and the second base portion. A sidewall surrounds at least a portion of the base and extends generally upward from the base with a non-uniform height to define a compartment. A rim having a first rim portion and an opposing second rim portion is disposed proximate the top edge of the sidewall. At least one transition region is formed in the sidewall to allow the first base portion to pivot between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the container defines a plate. When in the closed position, the first base portion defines at least a portion of a cover relative to the second base portion. A packaged product is also provided, including a foldable container and a cover member removably attached to the rim of the foldable container in the open position to contain a product therein.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2010Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Pactiv LLCInventors: Mark R. Gartz, Jeff Hautzinger, James N. Gomoll, Craig E. Cappel
-
Publication number: 20110084068Abstract: Foldable container including a base having a first base portion and an opposing second base portion. The base has a base surface free of hinge lines between the first base portion and the second base portion. A sidewall surrounds at least a portion of the base and extends generally upward from the base with a non-uniform height to define a compartment. A rim having a first rim portion and an opposing second rim portion is disposed proximate the top edge of the sidewall. At least one transition region is formed in the sidewall to allow the first base portion to pivot between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the container defines a plate. When in the closed position, the first base portion defines at least a portion of a cover relative to the second base portion. A packaged product is also provided, including a foldable container and a cover member removably attached to the rim of the foldable container in the open position to contain a product therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Inventors: Mark R. Gartz, Jeff Hautzinger, James N. Gomoll, Craig E. Cappel
-
Publication number: 20110079536Abstract: A reclosable package includes a tray, a top sheet, and a fastener. The tray has a well for receiving contents and a peripheral flange surrounding the well. The top sheet is attached to the peripheral flange. The fastener has two interlocking members, one attached to the peripheral flange and the other attached to the top sheet. A tamper-evident feature located on the package prevents access to the fastener and is connected thereto by one or two lines of weaknesses. In one embodiment with one or two lines of weakness in the top sheet, the fastener remains adjacent to the tray's peripheral flange, which is intact after the tamper-evident feature is removed by tearing along these lines of weakness. In a second embodiment with two lines of weakness, the tamper-evident feature, comprised of portions of the peripheral flange and the top sheet, is torn from the package along both lines of weakness.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Inventors: Craig E. Cappel, Gary E. Rehwinkel, Russell J. Talbo, Johann Natterer
-
Patent number: 7878355Abstract: Foldable container including a base having a first base portion and an opposing second base portion. The base has a base surface free of hinge lines between the first base portion and the second base portion. A sidewall surrounds the base and extends generally upward from the base to define a compartment. A rim having a first rim portion and an opposing second rim portion is disposed proximate the top edge of the sidewall. At least one transition region is formed in the sidewall to allow the first base portion to pivot between an open position and a closed position, When in the open position, the container defines a plate. When in the closed position, the first base portion defines at least a portion of a cover relative to the second base portion. A packaged product is also provided, including a foldable container and a cover member removably attached to the rim of the foldable container in the open position to contain a product therein.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2009Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Mark R. Gartz, Jeff Hautzinger, James N. Gomoll, Craig E. Cappel
-
Patent number: 7878356Abstract: Foldable container including a base having a first base portion and an opposing second base portion. The base has a base surface free of hinge lines between the first base portion and the second base portion. A sidewall surrounds at least a portion of the base and extends generally upward from the base with a non-uniform height to define a compartment. A rim having a first rim portion and an opposing second rim portion is disposed proximate the top edge of the sidewall. At least one transition region is formed in the sidewall to allow the first base portion to pivot between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the container defines a plate. When in the closed position, the first base portion defines at least a portion of a cover relative to the second base portion. A packaged product is also provided, including a foldable container and a cover member removably attached to the rim of the foldable container in the open position to contain a product therein.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2009Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Mark R. Gartz, Jeff Hautzinger, James N. Gomoll, Craig E. Cappel
-
Patent number: 7854339Abstract: Foldable container including a base having a first base portion and an opposing second base portion. The base has a base surface free of hinge lines between the first base portion and the second base portion. A sidewall surrounds at least a portion of the base and extends generally upward from the base with a non-uniform height to define a compartment. A rim having a first rim portion and an opposing second rim portion is disposed proximate the top edge of the sidewall. At least one transition region is formed in the sidewall to allow the first base portion to pivot between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the container defines a plate. When in the closed position, the first base portion defines at least a portion of a cover relative to the second base portion. A packaged product is also provided, including a foldable container and a cover member removably attached to the rim of the foldable container in the open position to contain a product therein.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Mark R. Gartz, Jeff Hautzinger, James N. Gomoll, Craig E. Cappel
-
Publication number: 20100276419Abstract: Foldable container including a base having a first base portion and an opposing second base portion. The base has a base surface free of hinge lines between the first base portion and the second base portion. A sidewall surrounds at least a portion of the base and extends generally upward from the base with a non-uniform height to define a compartment. A rim having a first rim portion and an opposing second rim portion is disposed proximate the top edge of the sidewall. At least one transition region is formed in the sidewall to allow the first base portion to pivot between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the container defines a plate. When in the closed position, the first base portion defines at least a portion of a cover relative to the second base portion. A packaged product is also provided, including a foldable container and a cover member removably attached to the rim of the foldable container in the open position to contain a product therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2009Publication date: November 4, 2010Inventors: Mark R. Gartz, Jeff Hautzinger, James N. Gomoll, Craig E. Cappel
-
Publication number: 20100276478Abstract: Foldable container including a base having a first base portion and an opposing second base portion. The base has a base surface free of hinge lines between the first base portion and the second base portion. A sidewall surrounds at least a portion of the base and extends generally upward from the base with a non-uniform height to define a compartment. A rim having a first rim portion and an opposing second rim portion is disposed proximate the top edge of the sidewall. At least one transition region is formed in the sidewall to allow the first base portion to pivot between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the container defines a plate. When in the closed position, the first base portion defines at least a portion of a cover relative to the second base portion. A packaged product is also provided, including a foldable container and a cover member removably attached to the rim of the foldable container in the open position to contain a product therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2010Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: PACTIV CORPORATIONInventors: Mark R. Gartz, Jeff Hautzinger, James N. Gomoll, Craig E. Cappel
-
Publication number: 20100279840Abstract: The present invention relates to a process used for packaging a product in a web of material that has a zipper attached thereto. The process includes providing a web of material having first and second edges and a zipper including first and second interlocking members. The first and second interlocking members of the zipper are interlocked together. The first interlocking member of the zipper is attached to the web at an intermediate portion of the web between the first and second edges of the web. The second interlocking member has an attachment region that is facing away from the web. One edge of the web is folded away from the zipper and toward the other edge of the web. Unit operations are performed on the zipper to create zipper segments from the zipper while the zipper is exposed. Each of the zipper segments is associated with an individual food package made from the web.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2010Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Toby R. Thomas, Alexander R. Provan, Craig E. Cappel, Larry E. Benedict, Gerald R. Winiecki
-
Publication number: 20100276418Abstract: Foldable container including a base having a first base portion and an opposing second base portion. The base has a base surface free of hinge lines between the first base portion and the second base portion. A sidewall surrounds the base and extends generally upward from the base to define a compartment. A rim having a first rim portion and an opposing second rim portion is disposed proximate the top edge of the sidewall. At least one transition region is formed in the sidewall to allow the first base portion to pivot between an open position and a closed position, When in the open position, the container defines a plate. When in the closed position, the first base portion defines at least a portion of a cover relative to the second base portion. A packaged product is also provided, including a foldable container and a cover member removably attached to the rim of the foldable container in the open position to contain a product therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2009Publication date: November 4, 2010Inventors: Mark R. Gartz, Jeff Hautzinger, James N. Gomoll, Craig E. Cappel
-
Publication number: 20100224630Abstract: Container includes a base, a cover, and a pull tab. The base has a bottom, a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom, and a rim at an upper edge portion of the side wall. The cover has a closed condition and an open condition and an outer edge portion interengageable with the rim of the base when the cover is in the closed condition. The pull tab extends outwardly from at least one of the base or the cover. The pull tab having a deformable formation to be deformed when the cover is moved from the closed condition to the open condition, the pull tab remaining attached to the at least one of the base or the cover when moved from the closed condition to the open condition. Additional embodiments relate to a tamper evident feature for a container, and a method for containing product in a container.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2009Publication date: September 9, 2010Inventors: Frank A. Petlak, Scott W. Follansbee, H. Bernard Kirkland, Craig E. Cappel
-
Patent number: 7779605Abstract: A unit operation station for use in a web processing machine comprising: a shuttle system including an input roller for receiving a web and an attached zipper, an output roller and a the connecting element for maintaining the input roller and the output roller in a fixed position relative to each other; a plurality of stations performing distinct operations for mechanically altering the attached zipper, one of the plurality of stations including a slider-insertion mechanism for placing a slider onto the zipper; a web path located beyond the input roller and including the plurality of stations; a driver for providing reciprocating movement to the shuttle system to cause intermittent movement of the web and the attached zipper along the web path; wherein the output roller releases the web and the attached zipper at a rate substantially equal to a continuous input feed rate of the web and the attached zipper, and wherein the shuttle system moves at a speed substantially equal to the continuous input/output feedType: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Toby R. Thomas, Alexander R. Provan, Craig E. Cappel, Larry E. Benedict, Gerald R. Winiecki
-
Publication number: 20090127371Abstract: The present invention relates to a process used for packaging a product in a web of material that has a zipper attached thereto. The process includes providing a web of material having first and second edges and a zipper including first and second interlocking members. The first and second interlocking members of the zipper are interlocked together. The first interlocking member of the zipper is attached to the web at an intermediate portion of the web between the first and second edges of the web. The second interlocking member has an attachment region that is facing away from the web. One edge of the web is folded away from the zipper and toward the other edge of the web. Unit operations are performed on the zipper to create zipper segments from the zipper while the zipper is exposed. Each of the zipper segments is associated with an individual food package made from the web.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: May 21, 2009Inventors: Toby R. Thomas, Alexander R. Provan, Craig E. Cappel, Larry E. Benedict, Gerald R. Winiecki
-
Patent number: 7506488Abstract: Methods are provided for making slider-operated fasteners for use in reclosable plastic bags using at least a double index and dual unit operations. The methods involve forming two preseals, forming two notches within the preseals, applying two sliders into the previously formed notches, and applying two end stops proximate the previously applied sliders by having the various stations perform their respective functions, either simultaneously or at generally the same time, on different parts of the fastener spaced approximately at a double index. Also provided are methods of producing finished bags by applying the slider-operated fastener to a flat web of plastic film and conveying the web to a vertical or a horizontal form-fill-seal machine.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Toby R. Thomas, Nathan A. Kolovich, Craig E. Cappel, Timothy W. Pistner, Alexander R. Provan
-
Patent number: 7478512Abstract: The present invention relates to a process used for packaging a product in a web of material that has a zipper attached thereto. The process includes providing a web of material having first and second edges and a zipper including first and second interlocking members. The first and second interlocking members of the zipper are interlocked together. The first interlocking member of the zipper is attached to the web at an intermediate portion of the web between the first and second edges of the web. The second interlocking member has an attachment region that is facing away from the web. One edge of the web is folded away from the zipper and toward the other edge of the web. Unit operations are performed on the zipper to create zipper segments from the zipper while the zipper is exposed. Each of the zipper segments is associated with an individual food package made from the web.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2007Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Toby R. Thomas, Alexander R. Provan, Craig E. Cappel, Larry E. Benedict, Gerald R. Winiecki
-
Patent number: 7341160Abstract: A reclosable package includes a tray, a top sheet, and a fastener. The tray has a well for receiving contents and a peripheral flange surrounding the well. The top sheet is attached to the peripheral flange. The fastener has two interlocking members, one attached to the peripheral flange and the other attached to the top sheet. A tamper-evident feature located on the package prevents access to the fastener and is connected thereto by one or two lines of weaknesses. In one embodiment with one or two lines of weakness in the top sheet, the fastener remains adjacent to the tray's peripheral flange, which is intact after the tamper-evident feature is removed by tearing along these lines of weakness. In a second embodiment with two lines of weakness, the tamper-evident feature, comprised of portions of the peripheral flange and the top sheet, is torn from the package along both lines of weakness.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2002Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Craig E. Cappel, Gary E. Rehwinkel, Russell J. Talbo, Johann Natterer
-
Patent number: 7228608Abstract: Methods are provided for making slider-operated fasteners for use in reclosable plastic bags using at least a double index and dual unit operations. The methods involve forming two preseals, forming two notches within the preseals, applying two sliders into the previously formed notches, and applying two end stops proximate the previously applied sliders by having the various stations perform their respective functions, either simultaneously or at generally the same time, on different parts of the fastener spaced approximately at a double index. Also provided are methods of producing finished bags by applying the slider-operated fastener to a flat web of plastic film and conveying the web to a vertical or a horizontal form-fill-seal machine.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2004Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Toby R. Thomas, Nathan A. Kolovich, Craig E. Cappel, Timothy W. Pistner, Alexander R. Provan
-
Patent number: 7200911Abstract: Methods are provided for making slider-operated fasteners for use in reclosable plastic bags using at least a double index and dual unit operations. The methods involve forming two preseals, forming two notches within the preseals, applying two sliders into the previously formed notches, and applying two end stops proximate the previously applied sliders by having the various stations perform their respective functions, either simultaneously or at generally the same time, on different parts of the fastener spaced approximately at a double index. Also provided are methods of producing finished bags by applying the slider-operated fastener to a flat web of plastic film and conveying the web to a vertical or a horizontal form-fill-seal machine.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2004Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Toby R. Thomas, Nathan A. Kolovich, Craig E. Cappel, Timothy W. Pistner, Alexander R. Provan