Patents by Inventor Kelly R. Fitzwater

Kelly R. Fitzwater 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: 11524830
    Abstract: Various blanks are provided for forming sleeves, containers, and other constructs for heating, browning, and/or crisping of a food item in a microwave oven, and for holding and/or transporting the food item after heating. The various blanks, sleeves, containers, and other constructs may include a removable portion defined by one or more lines of disruption that enable the removable portion to be separated from the remainder of the blank, sleeve, container, or other construct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventor: Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 11198534
    Abstract: A reinforced package comprising a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a front panel and a back panel disposed opposite to the front panel. The carton can comprise a bottom wall foldably connected to the front panel along a first curved fold line and to the back panel along a second curved fold line. The reinforced package further can include a bag at least partially attached to the carton. The bag can be at least partially defining an interior space for holding a product. The carton can be positionable in a non-erect position and in an erect position. At least the bottom wall and the first curved fold line can be configured to retain the carton in the erect position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond S. Kastanek, Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 10737824
    Abstract: A carton for holding a product in a liner. The carton includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels including a front panel, at least one rear panel, and at least one side panel. At least one end flap is foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels. The at least one side panel includes at least one expansion feature for transitioning the carton between a first configuration and a second configuration. The at least one expansion feature is foldably connected to the front panel and the at least one rear panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Kelly R. Fitzwater, Raymond S. Kastanek
  • Publication number: 20200239184
    Abstract: A reinforced package comprising a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a front panel and a back panel disposed opposite to the front panel. The carton can comprise a bottom wall foldably connected to the front panel along a first curved fold line and to the back panel along a second curved fold line. The reinforced package further can include a bag at least partially attached to the carton. The bag can be at least partially defining an interior space for holding a product. The carton can be positionable in a non-erect position and in an erect position. At least the bottom wall and the first curved fold line can be configured to retain the carton in the erect position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Raymond S. Kastanek, Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 10562687
    Abstract: A package for holding a product. The package can comprise a carton and a bag. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton and a dispenser for accessing the interior of the carton. The dispenser can comprise at least one dispenser flap at least partially closing a top of the carton. The bag can be at least partially disposed in the interior of the carton, and the bag can comprise a dispenser feature that is accessible via the dispenser in the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Felicia A. Pinkstone, Bradley J. Burke, Kelly R. Fitzwater, Tony Hancock
  • Publication number: 20200010258
    Abstract: Various blanks are provided for forming sleeves, containers, and other constructs for heating, browning, and/or crisping of a food item in a microwave oven, and for holding and/or transporting the food item after heating. The various blanks, sleeves, containers, and other constructs may include a removable portion defined by one or more lines of disruption that enable the removable portion to be separated from the remainder of the blank, sleeve, container, or other construct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventor: Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 10501227
    Abstract: A carton for containing a product. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a first end panel, a first side panel, a second end panel, and a second side panel. At least one top flap is respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels. The at least one top flap at least partially forms a closed top end of the carton. A reclosable lid is positionable between an open position and a closed position. The reclosable lid comprises a central panel that is foldably connected to the at least one top flap. The reclosable lid can be downwardly folded relative to the at least one top flap in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Kelly R. Fitzwater, Weston R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10457466
    Abstract: Various blanks are provided for forming sleeves, containers, and other constructs for heating, browning, and/or crisping of a food item in a microwave oven, and for holding and/or transporting the food item after heating. The various blanks, sleeves, containers, and other constructs may include a removable portion defined by one or more lines of disruption that enable the removable portion to be separated from the remainder of the blank, sleeve, container, or other construct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventor: Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Publication number: 20190241337
    Abstract: A package for holding a product. The package can comprise a liner for at least partially receiving the product and at least partially wrapping around the product. The package further can comprise a construct wrapped at least partially around the liner. The construct can comprise a first portion and a second portion, the first portion at least partially overlapping and engaging the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Kelly R. Fitzwater, Karen L. Mills, Raymond S. Kastanek
  • Patent number: 10294001
    Abstract: A package for holding a product. The package can comprise a liner for at least partially receiving the product and at least partially wrapping around the product. The package further can comprise a construct wrapped at least partially around the liner. The construct can comprise a first portion and a second portion, the first portion at least partially overlapping and engaging the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Kelly R. Fitzwater, Karen L. Mills, Raymond S. Kastanek
  • Publication number: 20190039802
    Abstract: A package for holding a product. The package can comprise a carton and a bag. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton and a dispenser for accessing the interior of the carton. The dispenser can comprise at least one dispenser flap at least partially closing a top of the carton. The bag can be at least partially disposed in the interior of the carton, and the bag can comprise a dispenser feature that is accessible via the dispenser in the carton.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Felicia A. Pinkstone, Bradley J. Burke, Kelly R. Fitzwater, Tony Hancock
  • Patent number: 10124947
    Abstract: A package for holding a product. The package can comprise a carton and a bag. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton and a dispenser for accessing the interior of the carton. The dispenser can comprise at least one dispenser flap at least partially closing a top of the carton. The bag can be at least partially disposed in the interior of the carton, and the bag can comprise a dispenser feature that is accessible via the dispenser in the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Felicia A. Pinkstone, Bradley J. Burke, Kelly R. Fitzwater, Tony Hancock
  • Patent number: 10023349
    Abstract: A reinforced package comprising a carton and a bag attached to the carton. The bag has an open top and a sealed bottom portion, and the carton comprises features to reinforce the shape of the formed package and allow access to the contents of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventor: Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 9975305
    Abstract: A canister for holding one or more products. The canister includes a canister body having a first layer and a second layer laminated to the first layer. The canister body has a bottom end having a bottom panel offset from the bottom of the canister and a top end sealed with a lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Thomas Strand, Norman L. Jesch, Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Publication number: 20180134439
    Abstract: A carton for holding a product in a liner. The carton includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels including a front panel, at least one rear panel, and at least one side panel. At least one end flap is foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels. The at least one side panel includes at least one expansion feature for transitioning the carton between a first configuration and a second configuration. The at least one expansion feature is foldably connected to the front panel and the at least one rear panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Kelly R. Fitzwater, Raymond S. Kastanek
  • Patent number: 9771176
    Abstract: A reinforced package comprising a carton comprising a plurality of panels that can comprise a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel. A bag can be attached to the carton and can have an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product. The carton can be positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased. The carton can support the bag in the erect position and can have retention features for retaining the carton in the erect position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond S. Kastanek, Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Publication number: 20170267400
    Abstract: A carton for containing a product. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a first end panel, a first side panel, a second end panel, and a second side panel. At least one top flap is respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels. The at least one top flap at least partially forms a closed top end of the carton. A reclosable lid is positionable between an open position and a closed position. The reclosable lid comprises a central panel that is foldably connected to the at least one top flap. The reclosable lid can be downwardly folded relative to the at least one top flap in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Kelly R. Fitzwater, Weston R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9758275
    Abstract: A reinforced package for holding a product. The reinforced package comprises a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and at least one bottom panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel. A bag can comprise an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product. The bag can be at least partially received in the interior of the carton. The carton is positionable in a non-erect position and in an erect position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly R. Fitzwater, Scott Thomas Strand
  • Patent number: D800553
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: D859147
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventor: Kelly R. Fitzwater