Patents by Inventor Len Ekkert

Len Ekkert 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: 7175041
    Abstract: A cap/utensil combination having a cap having a cap top with an inner surface having at least a contact area thereof that is substantially smooth, and having at least one upwardly standing sidewall attached to the cap top, sidewall having an inner surface. The inner surface of the sidewall has a rib structure. A utensil has first and second points of contact with sections of the rib structure and at least partially along an axis of symmetry of the utensil and a third point of contact at least partially within a contact plane through the axis of symmetry, the contact plane being substantially perpendicular to a plane of the inner surface of the cap top. The three-points of contact ensure that the utensil is securely held within the cap, and yet is readily removable therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Publication number: 20060175281
    Abstract: A two-piece closure and tamper evident band assembly for use with a container neck having a peripheral bead is shown. The closure includes a top having a depending skirt. The skirt includes a break-away band frangibly connected to a bottom periphery of the skirt. The tamper evident band includes means for tearing and a lower ledge extending from a lower periphery of the band. The break-away band is positioned above the lower ledge. The closure and tamper evident band assembly is inserted onto the container neck, and when the closure is removed, the peripheral bead prevents the lower ledge and the tamper evident band from moving upward. As the closure moves up the container neck, the means for tearing tears the frangible connectors so that the break-away band and the tamper evident band remain positioned on the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Publication number: 20060118387
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanism, system and method for transferring closures. More specifically, the invention relates to a mechanism, system and method for transferring a closure from a first station, preferably a closure chute to a second station, preferably a closure chuck, through the use of a button with a lobe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventors: David Moore, Len Ekkert
  • Publication number: 20060102875
    Abstract: A closure that is able to prevent oxygen from entering the container upon which the closure is attached. Preferably, the closure is comprised of one piece wholly molded of plastic, oxygen scavenging or anti-oxidant compounds, and catalysts homogenously mixed therein. More preferably, the closure is a composition of polypropylene or high-density polyethylene with an oxygen scavenger and catalyst integrated within the polypropylene or high-density polyethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Publication number: 20060090671
    Abstract: A container is provided with an openable lid. The container includes a post disposed on the food container, a loop section adapted to engage the post and a breakable link adapted to secure the loop section to the openable lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Publication number: 20050035122
    Abstract: A cap/utensil combination having a cap having a cap top with an inner surface having at least a contact area thereof that is substantially smooth, and having at least one upwardly standing sidewall attached to the cap top, sidewall having an inner surface. The inner surface of the sidewall has a rib structure. A utensil has first and second points of contact with sections of the rib structure and at least partially along an axis of symmetry of the utensil and a third point of contact at least partially within a contact plane through the axis of symmetry, the contact plane being substantially perpendicular to a plane of the inner surface of the cap top. The three-points of contact ensure that the utensil is securely held within the cap, and yet is readily removable therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Publication number: 20040238553
    Abstract: A container has a container base and a container encloser. The container encloser includes a base ring, a hinged cover and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a stationary catch portion and a deflectable latch portion. The deflectable latch portion is sufficiently deflectable to allow the finger of a user to deflect the deflectable latch portion away from the stationary catch portion so that the hinged cover can be moved from a closed position to an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Gordon S. Lane, Michael Rodero, Jason Morenikeji, Len Ekkert, Bridget Zemlo
  • Publication number: 20020130101
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dual sealing closure for use with an associated container having a neck. The closure comprises two sealing arrangements for forming a dual seal between the closure and the neck of the associated container. The first sealing arrangement forms a first seal with the neck of the container at a first contact point and a second sealing arrangement forms a second seal with the neck of the container at a second contact point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Publication number: 20020125202
    Abstract: A closure and container combination having an anti-splash up element is provided. The container includes an annular projection about the neck of the container at a point below the closure-engagements and within the closure skirt, when the closure is engaged. The placement of the annular projection stops the splashing up of liquid and solid adulterating materials from reaching the mouth of the container and either the liner on the mouth of the container or the actual product within the container. The annular projection of the present invention protects the product from splash up occurring after container capping, during hot fill cooling and washing, during transportation and storage and while in use by the consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 6425492
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liner for use with an associated closure of an associated container. The liner comprises a central portion that has a periphery. The periphery defines a central portion diameter. At lest six tabs extend from the periphery, and each tab has a tab height. Each of the at least six tabs is about 20° to about 40° in arcuate length, and the tab height is about 1 percent to about 3 percent of the central portion diameter. Each of the six tabs is equally spaced from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 6325227
    Abstract: A molded tamper-indicating closure for use with an associated container having a finish with an external thread formation and an annular locking collar located axially under the thread formation is disclosed. The locking collar has a circumference, the locking collar defining a locking collar cylindrical plane having a locking collar radius perpendicular to the circumference of the closure. The closure has a cap having a circular top wall portion and an annular skirt portion depending from said top wall portion, said skirt portion having an internal thread formed therein for engaging the container thread. The closure also has a plurality of frangible bridges depending from the skirt portion of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 6260722
    Abstract: A cap and container assembly can be opened and closed repeatedly and continue to achieve a good seal between the cap and the container. The good seal results from the engagement, of the container neck with cap protrusions, which temporarily deforms the shape of the container and/or the cap as the cap is secured to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 6257432
    Abstract: A cap and container assembly can be opened and closed repeatedly and continue to achieve a good seal between the cap and the container. The good seal results from the engagement, of the container neck with cap protrusions, which temporarily deforms the shape of the container and/or the cap as the cap is secured to the container, and from stopping surfaces which limit the extent of that deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 6250507
    Abstract: A locking closure for use with an associated container includes a closure cap having a top wall portion and a depending skirt portion depending from the top wall portion. The top wall portion further defines a dispensing region therein, and a door for covering the dispensing region. The door has a top surface and a bottom surface defining a thickness, and the door is connected to the top wall portion at a hinge region. The door is pivotable about the hinge region to traverse a path between an open condition and a closed condition. The closure includes a latch having a base portion integral with the top wall that extends generally transverse therefrom. The latch further includes a hook portion integral with the base portion, the hook portion extending from the base portion and intersecting the path defined by the door. The hook portion is spaced from the top wall and defines an engaging surface and a locking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 6158632
    Abstract: A closure is configured for sealing engagement with an associated container, and includes a recessed, hinged cover. The closure has a circular top wall portion defining an edge region. A channel is formed in the top wall portion extending to the edge region. The channel defines an open end and a closed end and is formed by a pair of side walls and a bottom wall. A dispensing opening is formed in the channel bottom wall. An annular skirt depends from the top wall portion at about the edge region and includes a container engaging portion for engaging the container. A cover is pivotally connected to the top wall portion for movement within the channel between an open position wherein the cover is pivoted away from the dispensing opening and a closed position wherein the cover overlies the dispensing opening and extends to about the channel open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 6126026
    Abstract: A molded closure for use with a container includes a top wall defining a generally planar inner surface and a skirt depending from the top wall generally perpendicular thereto. The skirt includes a container engaging member formed therein. The closure includes a retaining projection formed in the top wall contiguous with the inner surface and extending therefrom inwardly of the closure. The projection extends from the surface perpendicular thereto and defines at least a pair of mold binding surfaces perpendicular to the top wall surface. The binding surfaces are formed in facing relation to one another. The closure is formed in a heated state, and as the closure cools, at least the binding surfaces exert a binding force on the mold block at a location forming a part of the projection to momentarily retain the closure bound to the molding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 6039196
    Abstract: A child resistant closure is used with an associated container. The closures includes a closure cap having a circular top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion. The skirt portion has an edge region spaced from the top wall portion. The cap includes at least one pivotal release tab extending from the skirt portion and connected thereto by a connector. The connector extends between the tab and the skirt portion at about the edge region. The tab further includes a ratchet extending therefrom to engage the container. The closure is removed from the container by urging the release tab inwardly of the closure to disengage the ratchet from the container. The closure can include a tear away tamper-evident band overlying the release tab to provide visibly discernible evidence that the closure has been removed from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, INc.
    Inventors: Len Ekkert, Albert R. Miller, Bridgett Zemlo
  • Patent number: D445690
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: D466810
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: D479997
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Len Ekkert, Bridget Zemlo, Luther A. F. Little, Gerald Carlson, Gordon Lane, Michael Rodero