Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Czarny

Jeffrey Czarny 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: 11524819
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tray having a base connected to a plurality of sidewalls each of which extends away from the base and terminates at a rim, said tray defining a volume with an opening circumscribed by said rim, said rim comprising a press-fit sealing feature; a ring-shaped lid comprising a complimentary press-fit sealing feature configured to mate with said press-fit sealing feature; a product disposed in said volume wherein said product surface comprises at least one contour; and a flexible film, said flexible film spans said opening and adheres to the at least one contour of the product, and said flexible film is secured to said tray between said press-fit sealing feature of the rim and said complimentary press-fit sealing feature of the ring-shaped lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: THE HILLSHIRE BRANDS COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven W. Morris, Jeffrey Czarny, Mary Lou Resh
  • Publication number: 20220332448
    Abstract: A package for retaining a food item includes a tray with a base connected to at least one sidewall. The sidewall extends away from the base to a rim to define an inner chamber. The tray is made of a fluid impermeable material to retain fluids in the inner chamber. The package also includes a shelf made of the fluid impermeable material that is removably supported in the inner chamber such that the shelf is spaced apart from the base of the tray to permit an absorbent pad to be positioned therebetween. The shelf is configured to support the food item in the inner chamber separated from the absorbent pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: The Hillshire Brands Company
    Inventors: Steven MORRIS, Jeffrey CZARNY, Steven CLARKE, Mark JONES, Nick HARDING
  • Publication number: 20220242648
    Abstract: A microwavable food packaging can be configured to absorb fluid. The packaging can include a first sheet and a flexible second sheet. The first sheet can include a first polymeric layer. The first sheet can define an upper portion of a food pocket. The flexible second sheet can include an absorbent layer. The absorbent layer can include a paper-based side and a polymer-based side. The paper-based side can include paper fibers, define a bottom of the food pocket and be configured to absorb fluid released from food disposed within the food pocket. The first polymeric layer can be bonded to the polymer-based side through the paper-based side to form a non-hermetic seal, the non-hermetic seal enabling passage of moisture therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: The Hillshire Brands Company
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Cichowski, Jeffrey A. Czarny
  • Patent number: 11401059
    Abstract: A package for retaining a food item includes a tray with a base connected to at least one sidewall. The sidewall extends away from the base to a rim to define an inner chamber. The tray is made of a fluid impermeable material to retain fluids in the inner chamber. The package also includes a shelf made of the fluid impermeable material that is removably supported in the inner chamber such that the shelf is spaced apart from the base of the tray to permit an absorbent pad to be positioned therebetween. The shelf is configured to support the food item in the inner chamber separated from the absorbent pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: THE HILLSHIRE BRANDS COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven Morris, Jeffrey Czarny, Steven Clarke, Mark Jones, Nick Harding
  • Publication number: 20200115076
    Abstract: A package for retaining a food item includes a tray with a base connected to at least one sidewall. The sidewall extends away from the base to a rim to define an inner chamber. The tray is made of a fluid impermeable material to retain fluids in the inner chamber. The package also includes a shelf made of the fluid impermeable material that is removably supported in the inner chamber such that the shelf is spaced apart from the base of the tray to permit an absorbent pad to be positioned therebetween. The shelf is configured to support the food item in the inner chamber separated from the absorbent pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: The Hillshire Brands Company
    Inventors: Steven MORRIS, Jeffrey CZARNY, Steven CLARKE, Mark JONES, Nick HARDING
  • Publication number: 20190002169
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tray having a base connected to a plurality of sidewalls each of which extends away from the base and terminates at a rim, said tray defining a volume with an opening circumscribed by said rim, said rim comprising a press-fit sealing feature; a ring-shaped lid comprising a complimentary press-fit sealing feature configured to mate with said press-fit sealing feature; a product disposed in said volume wherein said product surface comprises at least one contour; and a flexible film, said flexible film spans said opening and adheres to the at least one contour of the product, and said flexible film is secured to said tray between said press-fit sealing feature of the rim and said complimentary press-fit sealing feature of the ring-shaped lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: The Hillshire Brands Company
    Inventors: Steven W. Morris, Jeffrey Czarny, Mary Lou Resh
  • Publication number: 20180273277
    Abstract: A microwavable food packaging can be configured to absorb fluid. The packaging can include a first sheet and a flexible second sheet. The first sheet can include a first polymeric layer. The first sheet can define an upper portion of a food pocket. The flexible second sheet can include an absorbent layer. The absorbent layer can include a paper-based side and a polymer-based side. The paper-based side can include paper fibers, define a bottom of the food pocket and be configured to absorb fluid released from food disposed within the food pocket. The first polymeric layer can be bonded to the polymer-based side through the paper-based side to form a non-hermetic seal, the non-hermetic seal enabling passage of moisture therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: The Hillshire Brands Company
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Cichowski, Jeffrey A. Czarny
  • Patent number: 9988200
    Abstract: A packaged food product includes a bottom receptacle having a lower portion defining an interior and an upper portion extending about the upper periphery of the interior; a food product provided within the interior; a top film sealed to the upper portion of the bottom receptacle via a seal portion extending substantially along the upper periphery of the interior and comprising at least one substantially straight side. The seal portion may be configured to release steam at approximately the midpoint of the substantially straight side of the seal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: The Hillshire Brands Company
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Cichowski, Jeffrey A. Czarny
  • Publication number: 20130302475
    Abstract: A packaged food product includes a bottom receptacle having a lower portion defining an interior and an upper portion extending about the upper periphery of the interior; a food product provided within the interior; a top film sealed to the upper portion of the bottom receptacle via a seal portion extending substantially along the upper periphery of the interior and comprising at least one substantially straight side. The seal portion may be configured to release steam at approximately the midpoint of the substantially straight side of the seal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: The Hillshire Brands Company
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Chichowski, Jeffrey A. Czarny
  • Publication number: 20100142864
    Abstract: A packaging for a food product configured to be easily openable includes a film substantially surrounding the food product and formed from a sheet having a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side, a seam formed by the first longitudinal side overlapping and bonding to the second longitudinal side, a tab extending beyond the seam from one of the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side, and at least one tear initiator provided in the film adjacent the tab, the at least one tear initiator defining a starting point for a tear path, the tear path extending generally perpendicularly from the seam
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Czarny
  • Publication number: 20100067832
    Abstract: A packaging for a food product that is configured to be easily openable includes a film substantially surrounding a food product and formed from a sheet having a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side, and a seam formed by the first longitudinal side overlapping and bonding to the second longitudinal side. The film may be formed to have directional tear properties generally perpendicular to the seam, the directional tear properties defining at least one tear path in the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Czarny, Jason S. Fournier, Erin Scheffler, Laura Micale Gilbert, Britton Craig Walters, Rutger Thiellier, Jonathan Honor
  • Publication number: 20080008792
    Abstract: Microwave packaging for a food product, as well as methods of its making and using, are disclosed. The microwavable food product packaging comprises a bottom wall, at least one side wall, and a floating divider positioned above the bottom wall and within the at least one side wall to at least partially define a bottom region and a top region. The floating divider includes a microwave interactive material and is movable relative to the bottom wall and/or side wall. The may also include one or more vents to allow passage of fluids between the first region and the second region (e.g., oils, fats, and/or other juices from one food product and steam, water vapor, and/or other gases from the other food product).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: James Mills, Jeffrey Czarny, Daniel Reynolds
  • Patent number: D654373
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sara Lee Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Czarny