Patents by Inventor Matthew E. Zacherle

Matthew E. Zacherle 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: 20210002010
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying an engagement collar to a group of articles, which includes an application area defining a horizontal support surface for receiving a group of articles, a horizontal press plate positioned above the support surface and mounted for vertical movement relative to the support surface, and an actuation assembly operatively connected to the press plate for moving the press plate relative to the support surface to apply an engagement collar to the group of articles positioned on the support surface within the application area, wherein the actuation assembly includes an actuation lever that is located below the press plate and in front of the application area to provide an ergonomic work environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Lihn L. Kooc, Matthew E. Zacherle
  • Patent number: 10836550
    Abstract: A top engaging carrier includes a main panel which has an aperture for receiving a portion of an article. The main panel includes an annular series of tabs formed around the aperture. The aperture defines a first edge of each of the tabs of the annular series. The tabs are hingedly connected to the main panel such that they yield out of the plane of the main panel when an article is received in the aperture. One of the tabs of the annular series is defined at least in part by a first cutline extending from the aperture into the main panel. The first cutline separating at least a portion of the one tab from an adjacent tab. The main panel also includes a second cutline. The second cutline defines a portion of a second edge of each of the one tab and the adjacent tab, wherein the second edge opposes the first edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew E. Zacherle
  • Publication number: 20200339330
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a package system comprising: at least one secondary packaging container or carrier (790; 1090; 1190; 1290) holding at least one primary container (‘B’); a tertiary packaging carton (10; 90; 110; 310; T) holding the at least one secondary packaging container; and a blank (110; 1110; 1210; 1310; 1410; 1510; 1610; 710; 810) for forming the carrier (790; 1090; 1190; 1290). The blank comprising atop or bottom panel which is asymmetrical in shape about a centre axis of the top or bottom panel. The top or bottom panel by itself providing a single-layer top or bottom wall when a carton is erected from the blank. A first free side edge of the blank extends transversely with respect to the centre axis, at least a part of the first free edge being symmetrical about a point of symmetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Craig W. Buscema, Fred S. Foushee, Bradford J. Walling, Matthew E. Zacherle
  • Patent number: 10800572
    Abstract: A convertible carrier includes first and second carrier units (101A, 101B). The first carrier unit includes a first side panel (114A) and a first medial panel (110A) disposed opposed to the first side panel. The second carrier unit includes a second side panel (114B) and a second medial panel (110B) disposed opposed to the second side panel. The first and second medial panels are in a face-contacting arrangement to form a medial wall disposed between the first and second side panels. The first and second medial panels are retained in the face-contacting arrangement by at least one hinged connection (149, 161) between the first and second medial panels and by at least one removable joint. The removable joint is formed in part from part (162A) of the first medial panel and in part (162B) from part of the second medial panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Ekaterina V. Gaidaeva, Caleb S. Loftin, Matthew E. Zacherle
  • Publication number: 20200187690
    Abstract: A paper-based container lid comprises a top wall, a side wall connecting to the top wall, and a sealing channel formed on the side wall for sealingly engaging a rim of the container and securing the lid to the container, wherein the top wall and the side wall are preferably formed from separate blanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Joel C. PANEK, Wade HARRIS, Bhagwandat MOHAN, Rune K. HARALDSSON, Matthew E. ZACHERLE, Jeremy D. MOWERY
  • Publication number: 20200189816
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carton for packaging one or more articles, a blank for forming the carton and a method of packaging articles. The carton comprises a plurality of primary panels including a pair of bottom lap panels (12, 20) secured together to allow the primary panels to form walls of a tubular structure. An upper end closure structure partially closes an end of the tubular structure. The upper end closure structure comprises a lower edge that defines at least in part a window for exposing to view contents (B) of the carton. The upper end closure structure comprises a top end closure flap (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) having a handle opening defined therein and a pair of side end closure flaps (26a, 26b, 34a, 34b). The side end closure flaps comprise an outer surface and an inner surface opposing the outer surface. The outer surface of each of the side end closure flaps comprises a glue area (G1, G2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventor: Matthew E. Zacherle
  • Publication number: 20200172310
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carton (90) for packaging one or more articles(IO) and to a blank (10) for forming the carton. The carton comprises a plurality of panels (12,14,16,18,20,22) for forming walls of the carton including: a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls. The top wall (14,22) comprises a handle structure (H). The handle structure comprises at least one hand aperture (A1,A2) defined in the top wall. At least one primary fold line (39a,39b,49a,49b) is formed in the top wall and extends from a region of the at least one hand aperture towards at least one of the corners of the top wall. A diagonal severance line (47a, 47b, 57a, 57b) is formed in the top wall inwardly of and spaced from the at least one corner for separating the at least one primary fold line from the at least one corner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew T. PEELER, Matthew E. ZACHERLE, Bradford J. WALLING
  • Publication number: 20200143711
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, a product tag and a blank for forming the product tag. An aspect of the invention provides a package comprising a display card mounted to a product. The display card comprises a front panel, a rear panel and a pair of easel panels. The pair of easel panels together with at least one of the front and rear panels form a first tubular structure for information display. The product comprises at least one arm and the display card comprises at least one second tubular structure mounted to the at least one arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew E. Zacherle, Cullen B. Rosenbriend
  • Publication number: 20200140170
    Abstract: A package for packaging an article provides a package including a display card and tape measure mounted thereto. The display card includes a front panel, a rear panel and a pair of easel panels. The pair of easel panels form part of a tubular structure of an easel stand upon with the package may rest. The tape measure may include a tape and a tang mounted to an end of the tape, with the tape partially extended from a housing such that the tang engages with the one of the easel panels such that the extended portion of the tape is displayed. Another aspect of the invention provides a blister for mounting an article to a carrier in the form of a display card. The blister functions as a receiver for receiving a portion of an article, such as a hook mounted to the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Linh L. Kooc, Cullen B. Rosenbrien, Matthew E. Zacherle
  • Publication number: 20200140169
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, a product carrier, clip and a blank for forming the product carrier. An aspect of the invention provides a package comprising a display card and a clip. An article is mounted to the display card by the clip. The display card comprises a front panel and a rear panel. The clip comprises a front wall and opposed side walls. The clip together with at least one of the front and rear panels forms a tubular structure for receiving a part of the article. The article comprises at least one limb. The article is mounted to the display card by the at least one limb which extends through the tubular structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew E. Zacherle, Cullen B. Rosenbrien
  • Publication number: 20200087043
    Abstract: A carrier for packaging one or more articles, includes outer walls (12, 16, 18, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b) which define an interior of the carrier. An intermediate wall (30a, 30b) at least partially segregates the interior of the carrier in a first direction. A partition structure (50a, 52a) divides the interior of the carrier in a second transverse direction. The partition structure is struck, at least in part, from one (16) of the outer walls. The partition structure is configured and arranged to be automatically erected in the interior of the carrier in response to unfolding a flat collapsed folded blank when the carrier is erected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew E. Zacherle, Bradford J. Walling
  • Patent number: 10582787
    Abstract: A paper-based container lid comprises a top wall, a side wall connecting to the top wall, and a sealing channel formed on the side wall for sealingly engaging a rim of the container and securing the lid to the container, wherein the top wall and the side wall are preferably formed from separate blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: PTM PACKAGING TOOLS MACHINERY PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Joel C. Panek, Wade Harris, Bhagwandat Mohan, Rune K. Haraldsson, Matthew E. Zacherle, Jeremy D. Mowery
  • Patent number: 10577160
    Abstract: Carton (90) containing a plurality of containers (C) includes a dispenser defined by a dispenser (80) pattern (40) extending through the carton's first side panel (14), top panel (16), second side panel (18), and exiting end panel (84). The dispenser (80) is at least partially separable along the dispenser pattern (40) to form an opening into an interior of the carton (90). The dispenser pattern (40) includes first and second tear lines (51, 52) on first and second side exiting end flaps (32, 36) that extend downwardly toward one another from opposite sides of the exiting end panel. The first and second end dispenser patterns do not extend completely across respective first and second side exiting end flaps but stop short of an outer edge of respective first and second side exiting end flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew E. Zacherle
  • Publication number: 20200039714
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carton (90) for packaging one or more articles (B) and a blank (10) for forming the carton. The carton may have at least one display window (W, DW1, DW2) for presentation of an article therein. The carton comprises a plurality of panels forming walls of a tubular structure including a top wall (16), a first side wall, a base wall, and a second side wall. The carton comprises an end closure structure for partially closing an end of the carton (90). The end closure structure comprises a top end closure flap (30a) hingedly connected to the top wall. At least one side end closure flap is hinged to a corner panel by a first fold line. The corner panel is hinged to one of the first and second side walls by a second fold line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew T. Peeler, Matthew E. Zacherle
  • Publication number: 20200010255
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a top engaging carrier formed from a paperboard substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, with a polymer film laminated onto the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew E. Zacherle, Rahul Bhardwaj, Linh L. Kooc, Bradford J. Walling
  • Patent number: 10479578
    Abstract: A carrier for packaging one or more articles, includes outer walls (12, 16, 18, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b) which define an interior of the carrier. An intermediate wall (30a, 30b) at least partially segregates the interior of the carrier in a first direction. A partition structure (50a, 52a) divides the interior of the carrier in a second transverse direction. The partition structure is struck, at least in part, from one (16) of the outer walls. The partition structure is configured and arranged to be automatically erected in the interior of the carrier in response to unfolding a flat collapsed folded blank when the carrier is erected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew E. Zacherle, Bradford J. Walling
  • Publication number: 20190300231
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an article carrier for packaging a plurality of flanged articles, a blank for forming the article carrier. The article carrier comprises a plurality of primary panels for forming a tubular structure and defining an interior thereof. The plurality of primary panels includes a first panel and a second panel opposing the first panel. The article carrier further comprises a partition structure for dividing the interior into two or more article-receiving cells. The partition structure is formed from the first panel and comprises a lateral partition panel. The lateral partition panel is hingedly connected at a proximal end to the first panel by a proximal end fold line and is hingedly connected at a distal end to a glue panel by a distal end joint. The distal end joint between the lateral partition panel and the glue panel comprises a twistable strip extending between and joined with the lateral partition panel and the glue panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew E. Zacherle, Andrew T. Peeler
  • Publication number: 20190276180
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carton (90) for packaging one or more articles (B). The carton (90) comprises a plurality of panels (12, 14, 16, 18) for forming a tubular structure. The plurality of panels comprises: a first side wall panel (12); a first end wall panel (14); a second side wall panel (16); and a second end wall panel (18). A first handle structure (H) is defined in a first one of the plurality of panels (12). The first handle structure (H) comprises a severance line (60) defining at least in part a handle opening. A first end closure panel (22b) forms, at least in part, a top wall (22b/24b/26b/28b) which at least partially closes an upper end of the tubular structure and is hingedly connected to the first one of the plurality of panels (12) by a first hinged connection (23b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Matthew E. Zacherle
  • Publication number: 20190248557
    Abstract: The invention provide a package system comprising: at least one secondary packaging container (95) holding at least one primary container (‘B’); and a tertiary packaging carton (57; 157) holding the at least one secondary packaging container (95). The at least one secondary packaging container (95) is of the basket carrier style having an open-topped structure and comprises a base wall (78/80); opposed first and second side walls (14, 18); opposed first and second end walls (12, 16); and a medial handle structure (20/22) connected to the first and second end walls (12, 16) and disposed between the first and second side walls (14, 18). Additionally, at least one corner structure (14a) is disposed between the first side wall (14) and the first end wall (12) of the secondary packaging container (95). At least one corner structure (43a) is also disposed between the first side wall and the first end wall of the tertiary packaging carton.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. James, Matthew E. Zacherle
  • Patent number: 10377523
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carton for packaging one or more articles. The carton includes a tubular structure having a plurality of outer walls defining an interior volume for receiving one or more articles. The carton includes an inner end closure flap hinged to a first one of the plurality of outer walls and an outer end closure flap hinged to a second one of the plurality of outer walls. The outer end closure flap at least partially overlies the inner end closure flap. The carton includes an automatically erecting article retaining structure hingedly connected to the outer end closure flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: David T. Hayslette, Bradford J. Walling, Matthew E. Zacherle