Patents by Inventor Gary Norton

Gary Norton 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: 7690518
    Abstract: A rack includes a loading chute into which products are loaded in a generally horizontal face-down orientation, and a dispensing chute defining a dispensing aperture at the front side of the rack. A cam is disposed at the rear end of the loading chute to tilt a product into an upright orientation and to position the upright product with the front face facing forward. The cam also slopes downwardly in a lateral direction so as to move the upright product onto the rear end of the dispensing ramp with the front face still facing forward. The product slides down the dispensing ramp and is stopped by a stop positioned adjacent the dispensing aperture. By virtue of the rack's design, facilitated by the specially designed cam, the upright product is positioned with its front face facing forward such that a consumer can view any indica thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Fincher, David Fraser, Gary Norton
  • Publication number: 20090020550
    Abstract: A rack includes a loading chute into which products are loaded in a generally horizontal face-down orientation, and a dispensing chute defining a dispensing aperture at the front side of the rack. A cam is disposed at the rear end of the loading chute to tilt a product into an upright orientation and to position the upright product with the front face facing forward. The cam also slopes downwardly in a lateral direction so as to move the upright product onto the rear end of the dispensing ramp with the front face still facing forward. The product slides down the dispensing ramp and is stopped by a stop positioned adjacent the dispensing aperture. By virtue of the rack's design, facilitated by the specially designed cam, the upright product is positioned with its front face facing forward such that a consumer can view any indica thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Rick Fincher, David Fraser, Gary Norton