Patents by Inventor Eric B. Ungrady
Eric B. Ungrady 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).
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Patent number: 11059213Abstract: A plastic container has a main body portion, a neck portion and a molded feature such as an anti-rotation lug adjacent to the neck portion. The molded feature has a volume that is less than a volume that would be defined by the maximum external dimensions of the feature. This reduces the shrinkage differential between the molded feature and the neck portion, which could otherwise cause sealing problems with a closure as a result of deformation of the neck portion. A method of blow molding a plastic container with a reduced volume of the molded feature is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, III, Matthew A. Russell, Hope Lee Townsend, Michael L. James
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Patent number: 10336503Abstract: Container includes a top portion, a body portion and a bottom portion. The body portion includes a front wall, a rear wall and first and second side walls, the first side wall disposed opposite the second side wall, opposing grip areas formed in the first and second side walls, a first circumferential rib disposed above the opposing grip areas and extending horizontally about an entire outer circumferential perimeter of the body portion, a second circumferential rib disposed below the opposing grip areas and extending horizontally about the entire outer circumferential perimeter of the body portion, at least one horizontal body rib disposed between and spaced circumferentially from the opposing grip areas, a first vertical strut formed in the first side wall and a second vertical strut formed in the second side wall, each strut disposed between the first and second circumferential ribs and spaced a distance from each grip area.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Eric B. Ungrady
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Publication number: 20190039277Abstract: A plastic container has a main body portion, a neck portion and a molded feature such as an anti-rotation lug adjacent to the neck portion. The molded feature has a volume that is less than a volume that would be defined by the maximum external dimensions of the feature. This reduces the shrinkage differential between the molded feature and the neck portion, which could otherwise cause sealing problems with a closure as a result of deformation of the neck portion. A method of blow molding a plastic container with a reduced volume of the molded feature is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, III, Matthew A. Russell, Hope Lee Townsend, Michael L. James
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Publication number: 20170015466Abstract: Container includes a top portion, a body portion and a bottom portion. The body portion includes a front wall, a rear wall and first and second side walls, the first side wall disposed opposite the second side wall, opposing grip areas formed in the first and second side walls, a first circumferential rib disposed above the opposing grip areas and extending horizontally about an entire outer circumferential perimeter of the body portion, a second circumferential rib disposed below the opposing grip areas and extending horizontally about the entire outer circumferential perimeter of the body portion, at least one horizontal body rib disposed between and spaced circumferentially from the opposing grip areas, a first vertical strut formed in the first side wall and a second vertical strut formed in the second side wall, each strut disposed between the first and second circumferential ribs and spaced a distance from each grip area.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2015Publication date: January 19, 2017Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, JR., Eric B. Ungrady
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Publication number: 20160059441Abstract: A plastic container has a main body portion, a neck portion and a molded feature such as an anti-rotation lug adjacent to the neck portion. The molded feature has a volume that is less than a volume that would be defined by the maximum external dimensions of the feature. This reduces the shrinkage differential between the molded feature and the neck portion, which could otherwise cause sealing problems with a closure as a result of deformation of the neck portion. A method of correcting a sealing problem in a plastic container by reducing the volume of the molded feature is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, LP.Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, Matthew A. Russell, Hope Lee Townsend, Michael L. James
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Patent number: 9211967Abstract: A plastic container has a main body portion, a neck portion and a molded feature such as an anti-rotation lug adjacent to the neck portion. The molded feature has a volume that is less than a volume that would be defined by the maximum external dimensions of the feature. This reduces the shrinkage differential between the molded feature and the neck portion, which could otherwise cause sealing problems with a closure as a result of deformation of the neck portion. A method of correcting a sealing problem in a plastic container by reducing the volume of the molded feature is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, Matthew A. Russell, Hope Lee Townsend, Michael L. James
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Patent number: 9102434Abstract: A plastic container that is adapted for adjustment to internal volumetric changes such as those that occur as a result of internal pressure and temperature changes during the hot-fill process includes a container body defining an internal space. The container body has at least one flexible panel defined therein, which includes an outer flexible panel portion and an inner flexible panel portion. The outer flexible panel portion has a shape when a pressure equilibrium exists between the internal space and ambient external pressure, and is further constructed and arranged to assume a shape of increased concavity when a sufficient underpressure exists in the internal space. The inner flexible panel portion is constructed and arranged to flex relative to the outer flexible panel portion in order to accommodate internal pressure changes within the container body. The inner and outer flexible panel portions accordingly work in tandem to permit efficient vacuum uptake in a hot-fill type container.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2009Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Justin A. Howell, Benton A. Lewis, Eric B. Ungrady, Sunil S. Shah
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Patent number: 8443995Abstract: A hot fill type plastic container includes a bottom portion and a main body having a vacuum uptake portion that is bounded by upper and lower horizontal grooves. The vacuum uptake portion has four side panel portions, and each of the side panel portions has at least one vertical groove defined therein. The vertical grooves are substantially centered with respect to the side panel portions. No surface features other than the vertical grooves are included on the side panel portions. The main body further includes upper and lower round portions that are respectively positioned above and below the vacuum uptake portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, Michael T. Kelly, Justin A. Howell, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.
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Publication number: 20130075354Abstract: A plastic container has a main body portion, a neck portion and a molded feature such as an anti-rotation lug adjacent to the neck portion. The molded feature has a volume that is less than a volume that would be defined by the maximum external dimensions of the feature. This reduces the shrinkage differential between the molded feature and the neck portion, which could otherwise cause sealing problems with a closure as a result of deformation of the neck portion. A method of correcting a sealing problem in a plastic container by reducing the volume of the molded feature is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: ERIC B. UNGRADY, MATTHEW A. RUSSELL, HOPE LEE TOWNSEND, MICHAEL L. JAMES
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Publication number: 20120111824Abstract: A hot fill type plastic container includes a bottom portion and a main body having a vacuum uptake portion that is bounded by upper and lower horizontal grooves. The vacuum uptake portion has four side panel portions, and each of the side panel portions has at least one vertical groove defined therein. The vertical grooves are substantially centered with respect to the side panel portions. No surface features other than the vertical grooves are included on the side panel portions. The main body further includes upper and lower round portions that are respectively positioned above and below the vacuum uptake portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, Michael T. Kelly, Justin A. Howell, Raymond A. Pritchett, JR.
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Patent number: 7976767Abstract: A preform for use in blow molding a plastic container is disclosed herein. The preform has an open end and closed end, and a body adapted to form a body of the container when the container is blow molded. The preform further includes a finish having a top surface, an inner wall having circumferentially-spaced thin segments alternating with thick segments, and an outer wall wherein the thin segments exist entirely in the finish and extend towards the open end of the body of the preform. The thick segments do not extend to the top surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2006Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, Sunil S. Shah, Michael P. Wurster
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Patent number: 7900796Abstract: A container that includes a hollow body having at least a first exterior wall and a recess defined in the first exterior wall A tab is formed integrally with the exterior wall and located in the recess. The tab does not extend substantially beyond the recess. Removal of the tab forms an opening in the first exterior wall of the container.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2007Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, Larry Taylor
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Publication number: 20110011825Abstract: A plastic container that is adapted for adjustment to internal volumetric changes such as those that occur as a result of internal pressure and temperature changes during the hot-fill process includes a container body defining an internal space. The container body has at least one flexible panel defined therein, which includes an outer flexible panel portion and an inner flexible panel portion. The outer flexible panel portion has a shape when a pressure equilibrium exists between the internal space and ambient external pressure, and is further constructed and arranged to assume a shape of increased concavity when a sufficient underpressure exists in the internal space. The inner flexible panel portion is constructed and arranged to flex relative to the outer flexible panel portion in order to accommodate internal pressure changes within the container body. The inner and outer flexible panel portions accordingly work in tandem to permit efficient vacuum uptake in a hot-fill type container.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2009Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Justin A. Howell, Benton A. Lewis, Eric B. Ungrady, Sunil S. Shah
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Patent number: D632180Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2009Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Justin A. Howell, Benton A. Lewis, Eric B. Ungrady, Sunil S. Shah
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Patent number: D652731Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2010Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Eric B. Ungrady, Michael T. Kelly, Justin A. Howell
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Patent number: D652734Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Graham Packaing Company, L.P.Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, Justin A. Howell, Luis Carvallo, Hassan Mourad, Mark Borger
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Patent number: D720992Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2012Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventor: Eric B. Ungrady
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Patent number: D814935Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventor: Eric B. Ungrady
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Patent number: D894739Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventor: Eric B. Ungrady
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Patent number: D905559Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2019Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, Sheldon Yourist