Patents by Inventor John Gelardi

John Gelardi 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: 7752758
    Abstract: A system for storing and opening encased articles, such as those wrapped in a protective seal, provides a combined container and seal cutting apparatus. The container is configured to store at least one removable article encased within a protective seal. The seal cutting apparatus includes a receiving channel and a cutting member which extends into the receiving channel. The receiving channel is configured to receive at least a portion of the seal while the cutting member is configured to cooperatively cut the seal portion as it is inserted into and translated along the channel. The cutting apparatus may be permanently or temporarily attached to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Gelardi
  • Publication number: 20100163561
    Abstract: A dispensing container (300) includes a cavity (110) for storing products (310), an inner wall (122), and an outer wall (200). Each of the inner wall (122) and the outer wall (200) include an opening (130, 220). The inner wall (122) and the outer wall (200) can be positioned relative to one another such that the openings (130, 220) align or misalign. The dispensing container (300) is thereby placed in an open condition or a closed condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: MEAD WESTVACO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeremy D. Mowery, John A. Gelardi
  • Publication number: 20100133140
    Abstract: A dispensing container is provided, the container including an outer shell comprising a top, a bottom, sidewalls extending between the top and bottom, and two ends, at least one end being open; an inner tray, slidably received within the outer shell, comprising at least one storage compartment adapted for storage of a plurality of units of a product to be dispensed, and comprising at least one depressible detent, the detent comprising a raised surface that abuts the outer shell; wherein, in a closed configuration, the detent holds the inner tray within the outer shell, and wherein the at least one detent may be depressed by pressure to allow the inner tray to slide relative to the outer shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Ryan A. Bailey, John A. Gelardi
  • Patent number: 7708138
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a package for holding multiple media discs, comprising, a plurality of media disc trays is provided, each tray having a side hinging surface. The trays are arranged into a stack, such that their respective side hinging surfaces line up with each other to form a composite hinging surface. A label is positioned over the composite hinging surface. The label is affixed to the composite hinging surface, such that the label provides a hinge between each tray in the stack and at least one adjacent tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Gelardi, Rune K. Haraldsson
  • Publication number: 20100084424
    Abstract: Disclosed is a package for storing a product, such as smokeless tobacco, which includes, inter alia, a container that has opposing upper and lower surfaces, and a container sidewall that extends between the upper and lower surfaces to define an interior for storing a plurality of products. The upper surface of the container has an apex intermediate a first region and a second region and the container sidewall defines an opening sized and configured to release at least one of the products. The package also includes an outer cover having an upper section and a cover sidewall depending from the upper section. The outer cover is configured to retain the container and selectively seal the opening. The container pivots about the apex to transition between open and closed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: John Gelardi
  • Patent number: 7644823
    Abstract: A package (10) is described that includes a sleeve (12) having at least one end defining an opening. The sleeve further includes at least one pair of locking tabs (18) extending therefrom, each locking tab including a locking edge, each locking tab being folded inwards into the opening. The package further includes a rigid end cap (14, 16) dimensioned to fit closely within the opening, the end cap including a rim (30, 32) designed so that, when the end cap is inserted into the opening, the rim engages the sleeve end and prevents the end cap from being inserted further into the opening. The end cap further includes a channel (22, 24) for receiving the pair of locking tabs, the channel having a ledge (34, 36) that engages the locking edge of each locking tab to prevent the end cap from being removed from the sleeve opening. Another described package provides a release mechanism for allowing an end cap to be removed without causing damage to the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Gelardi, Richard Mazurek
  • Publication number: 20090266837
    Abstract: A container for dispensing a product is provided, the container including an outer casing body having a cavity; a dispensing tray adapted for sliding movement within the cavity of the outer casing body between a closed and locked position and a dispensing position, the dispensing tray having an internal storage compartment for storage of a plurality of units of a product to be dispensed, a dispensing window, and a stop for engaging the outer casing body to prevent removal of the dispensing tray from the cavity; and a locking mechanism for releasably locking the dispensing tray in the cavity, the locking mechanism including protrusions projecting from the outer casing body into the cavity and positioned adjacent to a moveable flap formed in the outer casing body, and recesses carried by the dispensing tray and positioned to engage the protrusions when the dispensing tray is in the closed and locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: John A. Gelardi, Caleb S. Loftin
  • Patent number: 7591372
    Abstract: A package has a sliding blister card and a locking sleeve made from a base and a top. The card is made from conventional blister dose packaging material, with blisters formed in a single layer plastic top holding medicaments on a sealing paper, board, or foil layer. The top and base form a closed case, open along one end. The blister card is slid into the sleeve until detent(s) engage aperture(s). Appurtenant(s) adjacent to the detent(s) urge the blister card to engage the detent(s) at the card's receiving aperture. Pressing on release disengages the card and detent by warping the card to move the aperture away from the detent so that the card may be slid through the open end of the sleeve. Reverse pressure easily slides the blister card back into the containment element without manipulation of parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Gelardi, Ken Bertram, Ricky N. Williams, David L. Bolognia
  • Publication number: 20090230130
    Abstract: A system for storing and opening encased articles, such as those wrapped in a protective seal, provides a combined container and seal cutting apparatus. The container is configured to store at least one removable article encased within a protective seal. The seal cutting apparatus includes a receiving channel and a cutting member which extends into the receiving channel. The receiving channel is configured to receive at least a portion of the seal while the cutting member is configured to cooperatively cut the seal portion as it is inserted into and translated along the channel. The cutting apparatus may be permanently or temporarily attached to the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: John Gelardi
  • Patent number: 7588149
    Abstract: A container includes a slidable tray and a locking sleeve. The tray is a conventional blister package, with blisters formed therein. The tray includes a slot and the sleeve includes a stop that extends through the slot to prevent the tray from sliding out of the sleeve. The sleeve includes detents that engage with holes in the tray to lock the tray in multiple positions. Manipulating a biaser releases the detents from the holes, thereby allowing the tray to slide within the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Gelardi
  • Publication number: 20090218362
    Abstract: A package comprising an outer sleeve with an inner void having a push-release locking mechanism positioned therein, and a tray for receiving articles that is pivotally connected to the outer sleeve, in which the push-release locking mechanism includes a means for locking and a means for spring loading, each located between the tray and the outer sleeve; and a method for releasing the tray from the outer sleeve, are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: Mead Westvaco Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Gelardi
  • Publication number: 20090194452
    Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and method for attaching a removable and reusable electronics component to a to a slide card that can be preprinted with electrical traces for the purpose of collecting data on pill expression. A removable and reusable electronics component can be coupled with a slide card incorporating preprinted electrical traces, using a hub like plastic seating component attached to and through the slide card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Hession, Kevin Ellis, Michael Weston, Caleb Loftin, John Gelardi, Rune Haraldsson
  • Publication number: 20090178941
    Abstract: A package for holding one or more media cartridges includes a tray, which has at least one latch for engaging the one or more media cartridges. The tray can have one or more receptacles defined therein for accepting each of one or more media cartridges. Each receptacle is preferably contoured to substantially follow a contour of the media cartridge(s). Each receptacle includes at least one resilient latch defined in the wall of the tray, associated with each of the one or more receptacles. The at least one latch is configured and adapted to engage a first edge of a media cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: John A. Gelardi, James Kostyun
  • Publication number: 20090159473
    Abstract: Disclosed is a media package that includes a media tray assembly and a protective cover. The media tray assembly includes at least one media-carrying component and a first latching element. The protective cover is configured to receive the media tray assembly and has a second latching element that engages the first latching element, thereby securing the media tray assembly with the protective cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Roth, John A. Gelardi
  • Publication number: 20090057185
    Abstract: A blister pack (10) includes a blister segment (12) and a tool (T1, T2), both integrally formed with a tray (Y). The blister segment (12) has a blister bubble (14) at least partially surrounded by a blister flange (F). Substrate (16) serving as a gate (18) covers the opening of the blister bubble (14). The tool (T1, T2) is adapted for puncturing the substrate gate (16/18) to gain access to the interior of the blister bubble (14). A blister segment (12) is configured and has reinforcing features (40, 34) so that it may serve as the tool (T1, T2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: John Gelardi, William Rigby
  • Publication number: 20090064213
    Abstract: A container to hold optical disk media is described, incorporating disc locking arms to loosely retain discs when the container is open, and securely retain discs when the container is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Mead Westvaco Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Gelardi
  • Publication number: 20090045078
    Abstract: A lockable container includes a lockable sleeve and a slideable platform. The slideable platform can be stored in the lockable sleeve. The sleeve and the slideable platform can each have one or more of an engaging mechanism and a receiving mechanism, with reciprocal engaging mechanisms and/or receiving mechanisms being included at the other element. A release button can be included in the sleeve to disengage the engaging mechanism from the receiving mechanism. A deactivation tool can be provided that selectively prevents the engaging mechanism from engaging the receiving mechanism. The tool can be a stand-alone part, or can be joined to a jacket or a deactivation clip. The jacket can be slideably attached to the sleeve, and the deactivation clip can be inserted into or clipped onto the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: John Gelardi, Timothy Freeze
  • Publication number: 20090025962
    Abstract: Taught herein is an electronic module expansion bridge (115). In an exemplary embodiment, the bridge (115) includes a flexible mounting plate (155). In contact with the mounting plate (155) is a conductive lead (160) with at least one first contact area (165) and at least one second contact area (170). The bridge (115) is configured to connect an electronic module (110), at the first contact area (165), to a conductive trace (125) that is in contact with a substrate (105) at the second contact area (170). In one embodiment, a substrate (105) is used to form a package (100) for enclosing one or more articles. An electronic module (110) is positioned in the package (100) and connected to the conductive trace (125) via the bridge (115). In an alternative embodiment, the bridge (115) is extended to form an inner sleeve to enclose or otherwise cover or protect the electronic module (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: John A. Gelardi
  • Publication number: 20080290110
    Abstract: A dispenser (10) includes a container (12) and a dispensing cap (14) that is attached to an open end (30) of the container (12). The dispensing cap (14) includes a base portion (40) that defines a compartment (74) for receiving a quantity of items from the container (12) and a rotating portion (42) that includes an ejecting fin (92). The rotating portion (42) can rotate such that the ejecting fin (92) can contact a quantity of items in the compartment (74) so as to dispense the quantity of items through an open end of the compartment (74).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: John A. Gelardi, Jeremy Mowery
  • Patent number: D598670
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Gelardi, James Kostyun, Kenny Freitag