Patents by Inventor Donald E. Wilcox

Donald E. Wilcox 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: 10822162
    Abstract: A shipper bag having at least one fluid chamber to facilitate fluid-assisted container evacuation from a product discharge zone of a product chamber. The product chamber is formed by at least one inner ply, and the least one fluid chamber disposed between the at least one inner ply and at least one second ply. The at least one fluid chamber has at least one seam connecting the at least one inner ply to the at least one second ply such that, when in the inflated state, the at least one seam comprises a first seam that extends from a location proximate the product discharge zone to a location proximate a location opposite the discharge zone. The bag may have two or more fluid compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: A.R. Arena Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron McGonnell, Donald E. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20200198880
    Abstract: A collapsible, reusable plastic container that can be used for the storage and transportation of produce, having dimensions optimized for such storage and transportation and for folding down of the container. The container may also have a novel footprint for “six-down” stacking. The container may also be designed to provide increased ventilation to its contents during storage and transport. The container may also have a sample door with a clip for easy access to the produce contained in the container when it is stacked among other containers. The container may also have a latch system to secure its endwalls and sidewalls in an erected configuration during storage and transport. The container may also have lead-in in its dimensions to facilitate stacking and de-stacking of containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Donald E. Wilcox, Charles S. Arena
  • Patent number: 10336530
    Abstract: A disassembleable, reusable plastic container that can be used for the manufacture, storage and transportation of cheese products. The container may utilize wrap-around interlocks. The endwalls of the container may be flexible to allow the container to undergo minimal deformation when filled with cheese products. The container may also have a recessed pressboard that allows for increased capacity in the container. The container may also utilize positive corner interlocks that minimize unintentional disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: A.R. Arena Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Wilcox, Charles S. Arena
  • Patent number: 10273052
    Abstract: A container having walls, one having a projection including a hook and an exterior surface opposite the hook having an external contact location, the hook extending away from the contact surface, the contact location disposed interiorly of the hook. The container includes a door, and a latch coupled to the door by a spring. The latch comprises a catch and a binding arm, and has a contact surface positioned to fit the projection between the catch and contact surface. The latch has a locked position in which the catch and hook maintain the door in the closed position, and an unlocked position in which the door is movable. The spring biases the latch into the locked position. Sufficient pressure on the latch overcomes the biasing to achieve the unlocked position, to allow the open position to be attained. When in the locked position, the contact surface faces the contact location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventor: Donald E. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20190039822
    Abstract: A shipper bag having at least one fluid chamber to facilitate fluid-assisted container evacuation from a product discharge zone of a product chamber. The product chamber is formed by at least one inner ply, and the least one fluid chamber disposed between the at least one inner ply and at least one second ply. The at least one fluid chamber has at least one seam connecting the at least one inner ply to the at least one second ply such that, when in the inflated state, the at least one seam comprises a first seam that extends from a location proximate the product discharge zone to a location proximate a location opposite the discharge zone. The bag may have two or more fluid compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: A.R. Arena Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron McGonnell, Donald E. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10118727
    Abstract: A container having an interior, comprising a base and four walls. One of the walls having an opening allowing access to the interior. The one of the walls having an at least one catch along a lateral side disposed a wall intermediate location. A door having a rigid upper portion and a rigid lower portion coupled together by a first hinge at a door intermediate location which is positioned at or above the wall intermediate location. The door having at least one rigid latch extending from the upper portion to a location below the door intermediate location when the door is in an unflexed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Inventors: Donald E. Wilcox, Charles S. Arena
  • Patent number: 10065763
    Abstract: A container comprising walls. A first wall has a latch connected thereto by a flexible arm at a first lateral end. The latch comprises i) a latch body connected to the flexible arm and resiliently, outwardly movable, the latch body having an interior surface sloped to partially face a second lateral end of the first wall, and ii) a stop contact having a contact surface resiliently movable relative to the latch body. The stop contact is connected to the latch body at a location outward of where a stop contacts the contact surface. A second wall comprising a stop is located at the first lateral end, and is movable on a hinge. The stop is aligned to contact the contact surface as the second wall is rotated from an erected arrangement and to contact the interior surface as the second wall is rotated from the collapsed arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Arena Packaging, LLC
    Inventor: Donald E. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20180072455
    Abstract: A container comprising walls. A first wall has a latch connected thereto by a flexible arm at a first lateral end. The latch comprises i) a latch body connected to the flexible arm and resiliently, outwardly movable, the latch body having an interior surface sloped to partially face a second lateral end of the first wall, and ii) a stop contact having a contact surface resiliently movable relative to the latch body. The stop contact is connected to the latch body at a location outward of where a stop contacts the contact surface. A second wall comprising a stop is located at the first lateral end, and is movable on a hinge. The stop is aligned to contact the contact surface as the second wall is rotated from an erected arrangement and to contact the interior surface as the second wall is rotated from the collapsed arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventor: Donald E. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20180072454
    Abstract: A container having an interior, comprising a base and four walls. One of the walls having an opening allowing access to the interior. The one of the walls having an at least one catch along a lateral side disposed a wall intermediate location. A door having a rigid upper portion and a rigid lower portion coupled together by a first hinge at a door intermediate location which is positioned at or above the wall intermediate location. The door having at least one rigid latch extending from the upper portion to a location below the door intermediate location when the door is in an unflexed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Donald E. Wilcox, Charles S. Arena
  • Patent number: 9771178
    Abstract: Resin pallets having a deck and a base, where the deck and base are joined by an interlock, which is optionally reversible, are described. Methods of making such pallets by assembling the pallets by interlocking parts to form the pallets, in an optionally reversible method, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: A.R. ARENA PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Donald E. Wilcox, Charles S. Arena
  • Publication number: 20170183126
    Abstract: A container having walls, one having a projection including a hook and an exterior surface opposite the hook having an external contact location, the hook extending away from the contact surface, the contact location disposed interiorly of the hook. The container includes a door, and a latch coupled to the door by a spring. The latch comprises a catch and a binding arm, and has a contact surface positioned to fit the projection between the catch and contact surface. The latch has a locked position in which the catch and hook maintain the door in the closed position, and an unlocked position in which the door is movable. The spring biases the latch into the locked position. Sufficient pressure on the latch overcomes the biasing to achieve the unlocked position, to allow the open position to be attained. When in the locked position, the contact surface faces the contact location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventor: Donald E. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20160039600
    Abstract: A disassembleable, reusable plastic container that can be used for the manufacture, storage and transportation of cheese products. The container may utilize wrap-around interlocks. The endwalls of the container may be flexible to allow the container to undergo minimal deformation when filled with cheese products. The container may also have a recessed pressboard that allows for increased capacity in the container. The container may also utilize positive corner interlocks that minimize unintentional disengagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Donald E. Wilcox, Charles S. Arena
  • Publication number: 20160039598
    Abstract: A collapsible, reusable plastic container that can be used for the storage and transportation of produce, having dimensions optimized for such storage and transportation and for folding down of the container. The container may also have a novel footprint for “six-down” stacking. The container may also be designed to provide increased ventilation to its contents during storage and transport. The container may also have a sample door with a clip for easy access to the produce contained in the container when it is stacked among other containers. The container may also have a latch system to secure its endwalls and sidewalls in an erected configuration during storage and transport. The container may also have lead-in in its dimensions to facilitate stacking and de-stacking of containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Donald E. Wilcox, Charles S. Arena
  • Publication number: 20150147112
    Abstract: Resin pallets having a deck and a base, where the deck and base are joined by an interlock, which is optionally reversible, are described. Methods of making such pallets by assembling the pallets by interlocking parts to form the pallets, in an optionally reversible method, are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Donald E. Wilcox, Charles S. Arena
  • Publication number: 20130180437
    Abstract: Resin pallets having a deck and a base, where the deck and base are joined by an interlock, which is optionally reversible, are described. Methods of making such pallets by assembling the pallets by interlocking parts to form the pallets, in an optionally reversible method, are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: A.R. ARENA PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Donald E. Wilcox, Charles S. Arena
  • Patent number: 6467652
    Abstract: A disposable bag for a liquid shipping container has a multi ply region arranged to be inflated as the bag empties in such a way as to form a sump at the bag bottom for discharge of pumpable material from the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: A. R. Arena Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Wilcox, William E. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 6427873
    Abstract: A bag is modified to include an air input port that allows inflation of an interply region of the bag. As the interply region inflates, an inner ply rises and becomes an advancing wall, raising the bulk material level in the bag and inclining the bottom of the bag, while pulling excess material away from a drain region of the bag. In another embodiment, the bag is made with half the initial number of layers folded in half to create the upper and lower plies and the non-fold edges are bonded. Where corner drain ports are used, the bag can be arranged so that an interlayer bond parallel to the fold is parallel to a diagonal of a tote in which the bag sits and so that the interlayer bond is opposite the drain port to enhance bag evacuation. An additional optional feature of the invention is the inclusion of an integral filling conduit or snout on the top of the bag, a mouth of which acts as a fill port to ease filling of the bag. Junctures can be created in the interply region to guide its inflation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: A. R. Arena Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20020056725
    Abstract: A disposable bag for a liquid shipping container has a multi ply region arranged to be inflated as the bag empties in such a way as to form a sump at the bag bottom for discharge of pumpable material from the sump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Donald E. Wilcox, William E. Wheeler
  • Patent number: D841328
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Inventor: Donald E. Wilcox
  • Patent number: D872836
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: A.R. Arena Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David Nowicky, Donald E. Wilcox