Patents by Inventor Kenneth F. Fultz

Kenneth F. Fultz 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).

  • Non-circular can end with corner-mounted tab and tooling and a conversion press for providing same
    Patent number: 7472575
    Abstract: A non-circular can end for a container having walls which form an opening includes a corner-mounted pull tab opener secured to a severable panel portion by an integral rivet. The corner-mounted opener facilitates easy opening of the can end. A pair of generally parallel bead recesses on either side of the integral rivet stiffen the severable panel portion in order to facilitate bending of the panel aft of the rivet to easily open the can end. The severable panel optionally further includes a mustache-shaped scoreline to reduce the amount of force required to lift the opener. Tooling and a conversion press for converting shells into the non-circular can ends are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory H. Butcher, Kenneth F. Fultz, Mark R. Mitchell, David A. Stradling, Greg S. Williams
  • Non-circular can end with corner-mounted tab and tooling and a conversion press for providing same
    Patent number: 7270246
    Abstract: A non-circular can end for a container having walls which form an opening includes a corner-mounted pull tab opener secured to a severable panel portion by an integral rivet. The corner-mounted opener facilitates easy opening of the can end. A pair of generally parallel bead recesses on either side of the integral rivet stiffen the severable panel portion in order to facilitate bending of the panel aft of the rivet to easily open the can end. The severable panel optionally further includes a mustache-shaped scoreline to reduce the amount of force required to lift the opener. Tooling and a conversion press for converting shells into the non-circular can ends are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory H. Butcher, Kenneth F. Fultz, Mark R. Mitchell, David A. Stradling, Greg S. Williams