Patents by Inventor James A. Sonon

James A. Sonon 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: 7993088
    Abstract: A storage system for storing products is provided that includes a frame having a first side and a second side opposite the first side and a dynamic support carried by the frame. A mover assembly is carried by the frame and is configured to engage an area of a product at rest on the dynamic support. The mover assembly moves the product along the dynamic support relative to the frame from a first location near the first side to a second location near the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: The Kroger Co.
    Inventors: James A. Sonon, Alex W. Myers, Gary Van Hoagland
  • Patent number: 7588404
    Abstract: A container handling apparatus for use in loading and transporting a container from a first location to a second location is provided. The container handling apparatus includes a mast and support structure for supporting the container thereon. The support structure is vertically positionable relative to the mast. The container handling apparatus also includes a container interlocking member including an engaging portion for use in releasably engaging a container. The container interlocking member is horizontally positionable relative to the support structure and configured to provide a pivot axis about which the container can pivot relative to the interlocking member when engaged with the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: The Kroger Co.
    Inventor: James A. Sonon
  • Patent number: 7520390
    Abstract: A container for transporting articles and displaying articles includes a set of joined walls capable of forming an enclosed configuration where an interior volume is enclosed by the joined walls with each of the joined walls in their respective closed positions. The container is convertible to a display configuration where access to the interior volume is provided. The set of joined walls includes a bottom, a top moveable relative to the bottom and sides moveable relative to the bottom. In converting from the enclosed configuration to the display configuration, the top moves relative to the bottom to provide a first access opening to the interior volume and at least one side moves relative to the bottom to provide a second access opening to the interior volume. The second access opening extends from the bottom to the first access opening, and at least one other side remains in its closed position to form a first edge of the second access opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: The Kroger Co.
    Inventor: James A. Sonon
  • Publication number: 20070108083
    Abstract: A display for displaying a product for customer selection at a retail location is provided. The display includes a plurality of stacked trays carrying product, each tray comprising a bottom and a fronting member. The fronting member of the trays is configured to move relative to the bottom to move the product along the bottom toward an end of the bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventor: James Sonon
  • Publication number: 20060243726
    Abstract: A container handling apparatus for use in loading and transporting a container from a first location to a second location is provided. The container handling apparatus includes a mast and support structure for supporting the container thereon. The support structure is vertically positionable relative to the mast. The container handling apparatus also includes a container interlocking member including an engaging portion for use in releasably engaging a container. The container interlocking member is horizontally positionable relative to the support structure and configured to provide a pivot axis about which the container can pivot relative to the interlocking member when engaged with the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventor: James Sonon
  • Publication number: 20060213150
    Abstract: A method for product handling includes filling a reusable container at a facility with a pre-selected amount of product. The container is sized and configured for display at a retail location and includes a set of joined walls where some of the walls are configured to move relative to a bottom wall of the container. The set of joined walls move relative to the bottom wall to convert the container between an enclosed configuration enclosing an internal volume and a display configuration providing a side access opening and a top access opening to the internal volume such that the side and top access openings allow product to be removed from the container. The container is converted to the enclosed configuration by closing at least one of the top and side access openings to the container through which the container was filled with the pre-selected amount of product by moving at least one wall of the set of joined walls of the container relative to the bottom wall of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventor: James Sonon
  • Publication number: 20060213807
    Abstract: A container for transporting articles and displaying articles includes a set of joined walls capable of forming an enclosed configuration where an interior volume is enclosed by the joined walls with each of the joined walls in their respective closed positions. The container is convertible to a display configuration where access to the interior volume is provided. The set of joined walls includes a bottom, a top moveable relative to the bottom and sides moveable relative to the bottom. In converting from the enclosed configuration to the display configuration, the top moves relative to the bottom to provide a first access opening to the interior volume and at least one side moves relative to the bottom to provide a second access opening to the interior volume. The second access opening extends from the bottom to the first access opening, and at least one other side remains in its closed position to form a first edge of the second access opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventor: James Sonon
  • Publication number: 20060204354
    Abstract: A storage system for storing products is provided that includes a frame having a first side and a second side opposite the first side and a dynamic support carried by the frame. A mover assembly is carried by the frame and is configured to engage an area of a product at rest on the dynamic support. The mover assembly moves the product along the dynamic support relative to the frame from a first location near the first side to a second location near the second side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: James Sonon, Alex Myers, Gary Hoagland