Patents by Inventor Eric Lawrence

Eric Lawrence 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: 20260044800
    Abstract: The novel invention provides methods and systems for automated production of merchandising displays. The displays can be assembled in whole, shipped in whole and filled with customer-selected products in customer-selected amounts, filled with criteria-selected products in criteria-selected amounts or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2025
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Applicant: THE HERSHEY COMPANY
    Inventors: Greg GRESSEL, Eric LAWRENCE
  • Patent number: 12499287
    Abstract: Product displays are used to hold and present products. A method of manufacturing a product display can include forming display unit and cartridge blanks for assembly into a product display that has been designed using a product display design model executed on a computing device. A dataset of standardized units is created and includes products, cartridges, and display units. The product display design model generates product display design options that specify geometric arrangements of cartridges within display units, where the cartridges are each associated with a product type. The geometric arrangements are based on inputs that include combinations of a target total product count, a target mix ratio, product types, and a product display type. Display unit blanks and cartridge blanks used to construct display units and cartridges of the product display are formed by a manufacturing device based on a generated product display design option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2025
    Assignee: THE HERSHEY COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence, Christopher P. Gantz, Gregory M. Gressel
  • Patent number: 12468994
    Abstract: The novel invention provides methods and systems for automated production of merchandising displays. The displays can be assembled in whole, shipped in whole and filled with customer-selected products in customer-selected amounts, filled with criteria-selected products in criteria-selected amounts or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2025
    Assignee: THE HERSHEY COMPANY
    Inventors: Greg Gressel, Eric Lawrence
  • Publication number: 20240034509
    Abstract: A product display container having a plurality of panels operatively connected to define an internal space operable to receive one or more packable product items therein and a plurality of corners in the internal space, and a plurality of reinforcement structures positioned in the internal space at the corners to provide resistance of the product display container to internal and/or external loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: THE HERSHEY COMPANY
    Inventors: Connor F. Anderson, Eric Lawrence
  • Publication number: 20230359966
    Abstract: The novel invention provides methods and systems for automated production of merchandising displays. The displays can be assembled in whole, shipped in whole and filled with customer-selected products in customer-selected amounts, filled with criteria-selected products in criteria-selected amounts or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: THE HERSHEY COMPANY
    Inventors: Greg GRESSEL, Eric LAWRENCE
  • Patent number: 11769048
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a single machine learned model that allows for ranking of entities across all of the different combinations of node types and edge types is provided. The solution calibrates the scores from Edge-FPR models to a single scale. Additionally, the solution may utilize a per-edge type multiplicative factor dictated by the true importance of an edge type, which is learned through a counterfactual experimentation process. The solution may additionally optimize on a single, common downstream metric, specifically downstream interactions that can be compared against each other across all combinations of node types and edge types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Parag Agrawal, Ankan Saha, Yafei Wang, Yan Wang, Eric Lawrence, Ashwin Narasimha Murthy, Aastha Nigam, Bohong Zhao, Albert Lingfeng Cui, David Sung, Aastha Jain, Abdulla Mohammad Al-Qawasmeh
  • Patent number: 11714926
    Abstract: Product displays are used to hold and present products. A method of manufacturing a product display can include forming display unit and cartridge blanks for assembly into a product display that has been designed using a product display design model executed on a computing device. A dataset of standardized units is created and includes products, cartridges, and display units. The product display design model generates product display design options that specify geometric arrangements of cartridges within display units, where the cartridges are each associated with a product type. The geometric arrangements are based on inputs that include combinations of a target total product count, a target mix ratio, product types, and a product display type. Display unit blanks and cartridge blanks used to construct display units and cartridges of the product display are formed by a manufacturing device based on a generated product display design option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: THE HERSHEY COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence, Christopher P. Gantz, Gregory M. Gressel
  • Publication number: 20230222254
    Abstract: Product displays are used to hold and present products. A method of manufacturing a product display can include forming display unit and cartridge blanks for assembly into a product display that has been designed using a product display design model executed on a computing device. A dataset of standardized units is created and includes products, cartridges, and display units. The product display design model generates product display design options that specify geometric arrangements of cartridges within display units, where the cartridges are each associated with a product type. The geometric arrangements are based on inputs that include combinations of a target total product count, a target mix ratio, product types, and a product display type. Display unit blanks and cartridge blanks used to construct display units and cartridges of the product display are formed by a manufacturing device based on a generated product display design option.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: ERIC LAWRENCE, CHRISTOPHER P. GANTZ, GREGORY M. GRESSEL
  • Patent number: 11687857
    Abstract: The novel invention provides methods and systems for automated production of merchandising displays. The displays can be assembled in whole, shipped in whole and filled with customer-selected products in customer-selected amounts, filled with criteria-selected products in criteria-selected amounts or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: THE HERSHEY COMPANY
    Inventors: Greg Gressel, Eric Lawrence
  • Patent number: 11299313
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a shipping and display container which can be formed from one or more blanks folded and formed according to a method for creating the container. A portion of the blank forming the front wall can be formed from two stacked, joined layers including an interior and an exterior blank layer. The exterior blank layer includes top flaps and bottom flaps, the top flaps being significantly smaller in height compared to the bottom flaps such that when the container is formed, the top flaps form a bearing surface along the border of the container, on which a second container may be stacked, while defining a central window that displays the interior contents of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: The Hershey Company
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence, Katelyn R. Rocheleau, Gregory Gressel
  • Publication number: 20220083853
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a single machine learned model that allows for ranking of entities across all of the different combinations of node types and edge types is provided. The solution calibrates the scores from Edge-FPR models to a single scale. Additionally, the solution may utilize a per-edge type multiplicative factor dictated by the true importance of an edge type, which is learned through a counterfactual experimentation process. The solution may additionally optimize on a single, common downstream metric, specifically downstream interactions that can be compared against each other across all combinations of node types and edge types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Parag Agrawal, Ankan Saha, Yafei Wang, Yan Wang, Eric Lawrence, Ashwin Narasimha Murthy, Aastha Nigam, Bohong Zhao, Albert Lingfeng Cui, David Sung, Aastha Jain, Abdulla Mohammad Al-Qawasmeh
  • Publication number: 20210357836
    Abstract: The novel invention provides methods and systems for automated production of merchandising displays. The displays can be assembled in whole, shipped in whole and filled with customer-selected products in customer-selected amounts, filled with criteria-selected products in criteria-selected amounts or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: The Hershey Company
    Inventors: GREG GRESSEL, ERIC LAWRENCE
  • Publication number: 20210130033
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a shipping and display container which can be formed from one or more blanks folded and formed according to a method for creating the container. A portion of the blank forming the front wall can be formed from two stacked, joined layers including an interior and an exterior blank layer. The exterior blank layer includes top flaps and bottom flaps, the top flaps being significantly smaller in height compared to the bottom flaps such that when the container is formed, the top flaps form a bearing surface along the border of the container, on which a second container may be stacked, while defining a central window that displays the interior contents of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: The Hershey Company
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence, Katelyn R. Rocheleau, Gregory Gressel
  • Patent number: 9694949
    Abstract: An airtight container for storing comestibles and other articles is disclosed that includes a bottom container portion having a bottom seal section, a top container portion having a top seal section, the top seal section engaged with the bottom seal section to form a container seal at a circular interface, an opening in the top portion, the opening recessed from an outer surface of the top portion and a lid door movably secured to the top portion in which the lid door is configured to selectively engage the opening to form an access seal and in which the top container portion is configured to promote laminar flow across the top portion outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Hershey Company
    Inventors: William J. Hendricks, Jonathon K. Markey, Eric Lawrence, Michael J. Van Driest
  • Publication number: 20170088329
    Abstract: A container (10) is provided for storing and distributing items. The container (10) includes a cover (12) and a tray (50) which are complimentary in shape and configured so that the tray (50) can be retained within the cover (12). The container (10) has a fully closed position in which a tray top opening (44) is fully contained within an internal volume of the cover (12) and a fully open position in which at least one cover retention element engages the tray (50) to resist further outward movement of the tray (50) from the internal volume. The cover (12) and tray (50) both preferably have curved shape that allows the container (10) to be more comfortably transported in a clothing pocket. The tray (50) and cover (12) preferably cooperate to form a moisture barrier to preserve items contained within the tray (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: The Hershey Company
    Inventors: William J. Hendricks, Eric Lawrence, Jonathon Markey
  • Patent number: 9397502
    Abstract: A system and method for proportioned power distribution in arrays of power converters are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method includes distributing a node-specific transfer function to each node of a plurality of nodes via a communication bus. Each node includes a power converter, and nodes of the plurality of nodes are electrically connected in series. Each node-specific transfer function enables each node to contribute a positive impedance to a total impedance of the plurality of nodes. The computer-implemented method further includes coordinating a setting of a parameter of each node-specific transfer function to regulate a common bus current across the plurality of nodes, and assigning to each node an electrical characteristic based on a parameter of each node-specific transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Steve Weir, Eric Macris, Eric Lawrence
  • Patent number: 9386775
    Abstract: A dough forming apparatus comprising a lower support frame, a lower pressing platen coupled to the lower support frame, and an upper pressing platen assembly positioned above the lower pressing platen. The upper pressing platen assembly further comprises a backing structure, an upper backing platen coupled to the backing structure, and a pressing plate removably coupled to the upper backing platen by vacuum or electromagnetic means. Means for heating the pressing plate, and shims for adjusting the flatness of the pressing surface are provided. A conveyor supported by the lower support frame is positioned to pass between the lower pressing platen and the upper pressing platen assembly. A method of adjusting the apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Lawrence Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Lawrence
  • Publication number: 20160052681
    Abstract: An airtight container for storing comestibles and other articles is disclosed that includes a bottom container portion having a bottom seal section, a top container portion having a top seal section, the top seal section engaged with the bottom seal section to form a container seal at a circular interface, an opening in the top portion, the opening recessed from an outer surface of the top portion and a lid door movably secured to the top portion in which the lid door is configured to selectively engage the opening to form an access seal and in which the top container portion is configured to promote laminar flow across the top portion outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicant: THE HERSHEY COMPANY
    Inventors: William J. HENDRICKS, Jonathon K. MARKEY, Eric LAWRENCE, Michael J. VAN DRIEST
  • Patent number: 8746133
    Abstract: A dough forming apparatus comprising a lower support frame, a lower pressing platen coupled to the lower support frame, and an upper pressing platen assembly positioned above the lower pressing platen. The upper pressing platen assembly further comprises a backing structure, an upper backing platen coupled to the backing structure, and a pressing plate removably coupled to the upper backing platen by vacuum or electromagnetic means. Means for heating the pressing plate, and shims for adjusting the flatness of the pressing surface are provided. A conveyor supported by the lower support frame is positioned to pass between the lower pressing platen and the upper pressing platen assembly. A method of adjusting the apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Lawrence Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Lawrence
  • Publication number: 20140153813
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a dough pressing system includes means for coupling a cover to a pressing platen, wherein the cover can reduce the wear caused to the pressing platen by the heat and pressure used to process one or more products. The cover optionally can be configured to be removably attached to the pressing platen with vacuum pressure. In some implementations, one or more spacers are placed between the cover and the pressing platen. The thickness of the spacers can adjust the thickness and diameter of products processed by the pressing platen. For example, to increase uniformity among products pressed together in a press cycle, the spacers can have different thicknesses that correspond with the location of the spacer in the pattern of dough balls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Lawrence Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: Eric LAWRENCE