Patents by Inventor Kenneth C. Smith

Kenneth C. Smith 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).

  • Publication number: 20250382116
    Abstract: A container includes a container body of a corrugated paper material. The container body defines a tray and a clamshell lid hinged to the tray for movement between a closed position wherein the clamshell lid and tray enclose an interior space of the container body and an open position wherein the clamshell lid is clear of a top opening of the tray for access to the interior space. The tray includes a bottom panel. The clamshell lid includes a top panel defining a top window opening therethrough. In the closed position, the top window opening is opposite from the bottom panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2025
    Publication date: December 18, 2025
    Inventors: David G. COUTURE, Maureen Ann ARMSTRONG, Kenneth C. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20250296725
    Abstract: A container includes a container body of a corrugated paper material. The container body defines a tray and a clamshell lid hinged to the tray for movement between a closed position wherein the clamshell lid and tray enclose an interior space of the container body and an open position wherein the clamshell lid is clear of a top opening of the tray for access to the interior space. The tray includes a bottom panel defining a bottom window opening. The clamshell lid includes a top panel defining a top window opening. The top window opening and the bottom window opening are separated from one another by corrugated paper material of the container body. In the closed position, the top window opening is opposite from the bottom window opening. A transparent film is connected to the container body, covering over at least one of the window openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2025
    Publication date: September 25, 2025
    Inventors: David G. COUTURE, Maureen Ann ARMSTRONG, Kenneth C. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20250162776
    Abstract: A top engaging carrier (90; 190) comprises an engaging panel (12; 112) with at least one article retention structure (RT1, RT2). The article retention structure (RT1, RT2) comprises a plurality of tabs (40, 42, 44, 46, 70, 72, 74, 76; 140, 142, 144, 146, 170, 172, 174, 176; 240, 246, 276; 340, 346, 376) disposed about an article receiving aperture (A1, A2). The plurality of tabs comprises a first pair of article-engaging tabs (40, 46; 140, 146; 240, 246; 340, 346) separated by a separation element. The separation element extends from the aperture toward a corner of the engaging panel (12; 112). The corner is defined by an intersection between a first fold line (13, 15; 113A, 115A; 213, 215; 313A, 315A), hingedly connecting an end panel (14, 16; 114A/114B, 116A/116B) to the engaging panel (12; 112), and a second fold line (17, 19; 117A, 119A; 217, 219; 317A, 319A), hingedly connecting a side panel (18, 20; 118A/118B, 120A/120B) to the engaging panel (12; 112).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventors: Kenneth C. SMITH, Jeffrey S. JAMES, Jonathan LYON
  • Publication number: 20250162777
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, an article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490) for packaging one or more articles (B) and a blank (10; 110; 210; 310; 410) for forming the carrier. The article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490) comprising a top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) and a skirt structure surrounding and extending from the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412). The skirt structure comprises a plurality of panels (14, 16, 18, 20, 24A, 24B, 28A, 28B; 114A, 114B, 116A, 116B, 118A, 118B, 120A, 120B, 124A, 124B, 128A, 128B; 214, 216, 218, 220; 314, 316, 318, 320, 324A, 324B, 328A, 328B; 414A, 414B, 416A, 416B, 418A, 418B, 420A, 420B, 424A, 424B, 428A, 428B) which include at least a first pair of opposing panels (PA1, PB1, PA2, PB2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventors: Jean-Michel GARNIER, Phillippe DEROUAULT, Kenneth C. SMITH, Jonathan LYON, Jeffrey S. JAMES, Matthew E. ZACHERLE, Emma WINGERD
  • Publication number: 20230365321
    Abstract: A packaging system includes a packaging container including a lower wall and an opposed pair of sidewalls. The packaging system also includes a brace configured to extend between and to be coupled to the opposed pair of sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: David G. Couture, Kenneth C. Smith, Michael L. Karpeichik
  • Publication number: 20230271744
    Abstract: A container includes a pair of horizontal walls, a plurality of vertical walls, and a corner wall. The corner wall extends between an adjacent pair of the vertical walls at an oblique angle. The container also includes a corner-support flap connected to the corner wall and one of the horizontal walls. The corner-support flap holds the corner panel at the oblique angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Kenneth C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20230053426
    Abstract: A packaging system includes a container defining an internal volume. The container includes a container body and a lid hingedly connected to the container body. The packaging system further includes a dunnage panel received in the internal volume of the container. The dunnage panel includes a plurality of discontinuous lines of weakness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Jonathan LYON, Jeffrey S. James, Kenneth C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220306334
    Abstract: A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container, the blank including, a bottom panel, two opposing end panels, each end panel extending from an end edge of the bottom panel, two opposing outer side panels, each outer side panel extending from a side edge of the bottom panel, and an inner side panel extending from each top edge of one outer side panel of the two outer side panels and an outer side panel extending from each top edge of the one of the inner side panels, wherein each inner side panel includes a central portion, a corner portion extending from each side of the central portion, and an inner end portion extending from a side of each of the corner portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventor: Kenneth C. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20220212832
    Abstract: A display system for containing and displaying product includes a tray portion and a hood portion. The tray portion includes a bottom panel, and the hood portion includes a top panel and at least one glue flap panel disposed adjacent to the top panel. The display system is convertible from a shipping configuration in which the tray and hood portions cooperate to form an enclosed carton, into a display configuration in which the hood portion is separated completely from the tray portion. The display system is configured to be transitioned from the shipping configuration to the display configuration by breaking an adhesive connection between the at least one glue flap panel and the tray portion and lifting the hood portion away from the tray portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Kenneth C. SMITH, Jeffrey H. CHAPMAN
  • Patent number: 11312527
    Abstract: A display system for containing and displaying product includes a tray portion and a hood portion. The tray portion includes a bottom panel, and the hood portion includes a top panel and at least one glue flap panel disposed adjacent to the top panel. The display system is convertible from a shipping configuration in which the tray and hood portions cooperate to form an enclosed carton, into a display configuration in which the hood portion is separated completely from the tray portion. The display system is configured to be transitioned from the shipping configuration to the display configuration by breaking an adhesive connection between the at least one glue flap panel and the tray portion and lifting the hood portion away from the tray portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: WESTROCK SHARED SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Smith, Jeffrey H. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20210331826
    Abstract: A display system for containing and displaying product includes a tray portion and a hood portion. The tray portion includes a bottom panel, and the hood portion includes a top panel and at least one glue flap panel disposed adjacent to the top panel. The display system is convertible from a shipping configuration in which the tray and hood portions cooperate to form an enclosed carton, into a display configuration in which the hood portion is separated completely from the tray portion. The display system is configured to be transitioned from the shipping configuration to the display configuration by breaking an adhesive connection between the at least one glue flap panel and the tray portion and lifting the hood portion away from the tray portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Smith, Jeffrey H. Chapman
  • Patent number: 11083204
    Abstract: A package for raw dough products is disclosed that includes a tray defining an interior storage space, and a collapsible baking pad having an upper surface configured to support a plurality of raw dough products and adapted for movement between a nested condition dimensioned for placement within the interior storage space of the tray for shipping and a flattened condition separated from the tray for baking the raw dough products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: WESTROCK SHARED SERVICES, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210214141
    Abstract: A bag-in-box packaging includes an outer box, a collapsible inner box disposed within an interior of the outer box, and a dispensing tap coupled to the inner bag. The outer box includes a side wall, a tap access feature formed in the side wall, and a removable top wall. The top wall includes overlapping first and second top flaps. The first top flap is hingedly connected to a front side of the side wall along a first tear line. The second top flap is hingedly connected to a rear side of the side wall along a second tear line. The rear side of the side wall is disposed opposite the front side. The top wall is separable from the side wall along the first and second tear lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventor: Kenneth C. SMITH
  • Patent number: 10981711
    Abstract: A bag-in-box packaging includes an outer box, a collapsible inner box disposed within an interior of the outer box, and a dispensing tap coupled to the inner bag. The outer box includes a side wall, a tap access feature formed in the side wall, and a removable top wall. The top wall includes overlapping first and second top flaps. The first top flap is hingedly connected to a front side of the side wall along a first tear line. The second top flap is hingedly connected to a rear side of the side wall along a second tear line. The rear side of the side wall is disposed opposite the front side. The top wall is separable from the side wall along the first and second tear lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Smith
  • Patent number: 10822137
    Abstract: A blank for forming a container includes a bottom panel, end panels, and side panels. A first divider panel assembly is defined within the bottom panel and an end panel and includes an upper panel defined within the end panel and an inner panel defined within the bottom panel. The upper panel is configured to be at an angle to the end panel, and the inner panel is configured to be at an angle to the bottom panel in an erected configuration. Second and third divider panel assemblies are defined within the bottom panel and a side panel. The second and third divider panel assemblies include an upper panel defined within the side panel and an inner panel defined within the bottom panel. The panels of the second and third divider panel assemblies are configured similarly to the panels of the first divider panel assembly in the erected configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Smith
  • Patent number: 10815022
    Abstract: A retail ready cardboard package for shipping and displaying carded products is disclosed, which includes interior support struts having longitudinally extending lateral rail portions that have a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart transverse slots formed therein for accommodating and retaining the carded products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Pinocchio Z. Cline, Kenneth C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200189788
    Abstract: A retail ready cardboard package for shipping and displaying carded products is disclosed, which includes interior support struts having longitudinally extending lateral rail portions that have a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart transverse slots formed therein for accommodating and retaining the carded products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Pinocchio Z. Cline, Kenneth C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200068904
    Abstract: A package for raw dough products is disclosed that includes a tray defining an interior storage space, and a collapsible baking pad having an upper surface configured to support a plurality of raw dough products and adapted for movement between a nested condition dimensioned for placement within the interior storage space of the tray for shipping and a flattened condition separated from the tray for baking the raw dough products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Kenneth C. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20190367210
    Abstract: A lidded container includes a tray and a hingedly attached lid. The tray includes a locking panel hingedly connected to a front tray wall. The lid includes corner gussets disposed on the interior surfaces of a lid front wall. When the lid is placed on the tray to close it, the locking panel is reverse folded against either the interior or exterior surface of the tray front wall. In this configuration, angled edges defined by the lid corner gussets mate with complementary angled edges of the locking panel to lock the removable lid to the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20190315512
    Abstract: A lidded container includes a tray and a removable lid. The tray includes first and second locking panels hingedly connected to respective first and second tray side walls. The lid includes corner gussets disposed on the interior surfaces of first and second lid side walls. When the lid is placed on the tray to close it, the first and second locking panels are reverse folded against the exterior surfaces of the first and second tray side walls. In this configuration, angled edges defined by the lid's corner gussets mate with complementary angled edges of the first and second locking panels to lock the removable lid to the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Smith, Craig W. Buscema