Patents by Inventor Mark J. Caires

Mark J. Caires 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: 10562436
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a portable dunnage bag inflator that provides a compact, pressurized source of air and that is easily mounted onto a movable cargo mover (such as a forklift truck or a pallet jack). Generally, the portable dunnage bag inflator includes an impellor-driven blower that, in operation, draws air at atmospheric pressure through an air intake grid or air inlet into the impellor and expels the air through an inflation hose. Since the portable dunnage bag inflator includes an impellor-driven blower, the pressure of the expelled air is higher than atmospheric pressure. This enables dunnage bags to be inflated to the desired specifications at point-of-use (e.g., during or after loading of cargo into a cargo container) and eliminates the need for a compressed air supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC
    Inventors: Peter P. Petrucci, Anthony K. Beard, Thomas A. Ketzer, Jeffrey Osisek, Mark J. Caires
  • Publication number: 20160368410
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a portable dunnage bag inflator that provides a compact, pressurized source of air and that is easily mounted onto a movable cargo mover (such as a forklift truck or a pallet jack). Generally, the portable dunnage bag inflator includes an impellor-driven blower that, in operation, draws air at atmospheric pressure through an air intake grid or air inlet into the impellor and expels the air through an inflation hose. Since the portable dunnage bag inflator includes an impellor-driven blower, the pressure of the expelled air is higher than atmospheric pressure. This enables dunnage bags to be inflated to the desired specifications at point-of-use (e.g., during or after loading of cargo into a cargo container) and eliminates the need for a compressed air supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Peter P. Petrucci, Anthony K. Beard, Thomas A. Ketzer, Jeffrey Osisek, Mark J. Caires
  • Publication number: 20150034196
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a portable dunnage bag inflator that provides a compact, pressurized source of air and that is easily mounted onto a movable cargo mover (such as a forklift truck or a pallet jack). Generally, the portable dunnage bag inflator includes an impellor-driven blower that, in operation, draws air at atmospheric pressure through an air intake grid or air inlet into the impellor and expels the air through an inflation hose. Since the portable dunnage bag inflator includes an impellor-driven blower, the pressure of the expelled air is higher than atmospheric pressure. This enables dunnage bags to be inflated to the desired specifications at point-of-use (e.g., during or after loading of cargo into a cargo container) and eliminates the need for a compressed air supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Peter P. Petrucci, Anthony K. Beard, Thomas A. Ketzer, Jeffrey Osisek, Mark J. Caires
  • Patent number: 6386247
    Abstract: A valve for a dunnage bag including an inner part having a flange that is laminated to the inside surface of the bag and an outer part having a flange that is laminated to the outside surface of the bag providing that the bag can be inflated/deflated by air passing through both parts and a hole in the bag. The outerpart is a bowl which is stretched away from the bag when the bag is being inflated and which collapses against opening in the inner part to seal the bag and prevent air loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventors: Helmut Richard Elze, Olaf Dietrich Elze, Mark J Caires
  • Patent number: 6220800
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing boxes of perishable products and providing that refrigerated air flows relatively uniformly through the stack. The apparatus is an elongated inflatable bag divided into sections by baffles, each section being inflatable independent of the other sections. The bag forms a roof over a corridor between two rows of stacks and a panel encloses one end of the corridor opposite the opposite end which is closed off by the cargo wall. Refrigerated air forced into the corridor at floor level at one end of the corridor is diverted through the stacks of boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventors: Olaf Elze, Helmut R Elze, Mark J. Caires