Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Minnette

Jeffrey Minnette 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: 9090391
    Abstract: An improved container provides a container body and a closure. In some embodiments, a scooping utensil retainer is disposed on the closure. The scooping utensil retainer includes opposing flanges protruding from the closure surface. A flange rib protrudes from the first flange into the flange gap, extending from the closure surface to the distal end of the flange. A tapered retainer gap is provided between flanges for resiliently clamping the handle of a scooping utensil. In some embodiments, the closure can include an annular ridge shaped for engaging a downwardly extending skirt on a like container when two like containers are vertically stacked. In some embodiments the container body includes an in-mold label affixed to a substantially straight side wall, the in-mold label covering at least about 95% of the exterior surface area of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Robin P. Wiggins, Jeffrey Minnette, Randall Julian
  • Patent number: 8794458
    Abstract: A container for storing matter provides a container body having a resilient flange protruding outward therefrom to form a seal between the container body and a mating closure. The resilient flange is deflected by the inner surface of the mating closure to form a first releasable seal between the closure and the container body. The resilient flange includes an aspect ratio of length divided by thickness. A second releasable seal is formed in some embodiments between the upper edge of the side wall and the closure when the mating closure is positioned on the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Robin Wiggins, Jeffrey Minnette, Randall Julian
  • Patent number: 8646361
    Abstract: A device of opening container closures of the type including a circular seal to container opening and a continuous, circular flange and the container including an opening with an inner wall, such as is commonly found in paint containers is provided. The device for opening container closures includes an elongated handle portion connected to an opener portion. The opener portion extends from a first end of the handle portion and includes a pry edge located at a free end thereof. The opener portion further includes an inner cam surface defined by a first radius from a center of rotation for the opening device. The inner cam surface is provided on an upper surface of the opener portion and extends from the pry edge toward the first end of the handle portion. The opener portion also includes an eccentric outer cam surface defined by a second radius from a second center of rotation for the opening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey Minnette, Randall Julian
  • Publication number: 20130134057
    Abstract: An improved container provides a container body and a closure. In some embodiments, a scooping utensil retainer is disposed on the closure. The scooping utensil retainer includes opposing flanges protruding from the closure surface. A flange rib protrudes from the first flange into the flange gap, extending from the closure surface to the distal end of the flange. A tapered retainer gap is provided between flanges for resiliently clamping the handle of a scooping utensil. In some embodiments, the closure can include an annular ridge shaped for engaging a downwardly extending skirt on a like container when two like containers are vertically stacked. In some embodiments the container body includes an in-mold label affixed to a substantially straight side wall, the in-mold label covering at least about 95% of the exterior surface area of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Robin Wiggins, Jeffrey Minnette, Randall Julian
  • Patent number: 8376179
    Abstract: An improved container provides a container body and a closure. In some embodiments, a scooping utensil retainer is disposed on the closure. The scooping utensil retainer includes opposing flanges protruding from the closure surface. A flange rib protrudes from the first flange into the flange gap, extending from the closure surface to the distal end of the flange. A tapered retainer gap is provided between flanges for resiliently clamping the handle of a scooping utensil. In some embodiments, the closure can include an annular ridge shaped for engaging a downwardly extending skirt on a like container when two like containers are vertically stacked. In some embodiments the container body includes an in-mold label affixed to a substantially straight side wall, the in-mold label covering at least about 95% of the exterior surface area of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Horton, Robin Wiggins, Jeffrey Minnette, Randall Julian
  • Publication number: 20110315586
    Abstract: An improved container provides a container body and a closure. In some embodiments, a scooping utensil retainer is disposed on the closure. The scooping utensil retainer includes opposing flanges protruding from the closure surface. A flange rib protrudes from the first flange into the flange gap, extending from the closure surface to the distal end of the flange. A tapered retainer gap is provided between flanges for resiliently clamping the handle of a scooping utensil. In some embodiments, the closure can include an annular ridge shaped for engaging a downwardly extending skirt on a like container when two like containers are vertically stacked. In some embodiments the container body includes an in-mold label affixed to a substantially straight side wall, the in-mold label covering at least about 95% of the exterior surface area of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: MEAD JOHNSON NUTRITION COMPANY
    Inventors: Tomas C. Horton, Robin Wiggins, Jeffrey Minnette, Randall Julian
  • Publication number: 20110315650
    Abstract: A container for storing matter provides a container body having a resilient flange protruding outward therefrom to form a seal between the container body and a mating closure. The resilient flange is deflected by the inner surface of the mating closure to form a first releasable seal between the closure and the container body. The resilient flange includes an aspect ratio of length divided by thickness. A second releasable seal is formed in some embodiments between the upper edge of the side wall and the closure when the mating closure is positioned on the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: MEAD JOHNSON NUTRITION COMPANY
    Inventors: Tomas C. Horton, Robin Wiggins, Jeffrey Minnette, Randall Julian
  • Publication number: 20100229689
    Abstract: A device of opening container closures of the type including a circular seal to container opening and a continuous, circular flange and the container including an opening with an inner wall, such as is commonly found in paint containers is provided. The device for opening container closures includes an elongated handle portion connected to an opener portion. The opener portion extends from a first end of the handle portion and includes a pry edge located at a free end thereof. The opener portion further includes an inner cam surface defined by a first radius from a center of rotation for the opening device. The inner cam surface is provided on an upper surface of the opener portion and extends from the pry edge toward the first end of the handle portion. The opener portion also includes an eccentric outer cam surface defined by a second radius from a second center of rotation for the opening device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Jeffrey Minnette, Randall Julian
  • Publication number: 20070176071
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel packaging clip for retaining a plurality of containers. The clip comprises a rectangular frame made of a resilient material and having length and width dimensions. The rectangular frame has a plurality of circular apertures having open mouths and two arms adjacent to and forming the open mouths. The number of arms is one more than the number of circular apertures. The circular apertures have inner diameters that are substantially equivalent to the diameters of the containers to be retained by the clip. The open mouths of the circular apertures are positioned along the length dimension of the frame so that the mouths open in only one direction. Additionally, the open mouths of the circular apertures are smaller than the inner diameter of the circular apertures and smaller than the diameter of the containers to be retained by the clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Ronald Borchardt, Jeffrey Minnette, Clayton Robinson, Randall Julian