Patents by Inventor Melanie Kobelka

Melanie Kobelka 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: 20230041727
    Abstract: A container has a top and a bottom endcap, a bottle sandwiched therebetween, and one or more bands coupling the top and bottom endcaps and the bottle. The bottle receives therein a flexible bladder. At least one of the top and bottom endcaps has a pair of opposing parallel surfaces, one of which has a protrusion extending therefrom and the other one of which has a recess therein at a location corresponding to that of the protrusion. A valving structure demountably engages with a neck portion of the bottle and has (i) a coupling valve assembly having two channels in fluid communication with the bottle and the bladder for injecting gas thereinto and dispensing liquid therefrom, respectively, and (ii) a twist-lock casing receiving therein the coupling valve assembly and removably coupled to the bottle's neck portion. The twist-lock casing has a structure for safely depressurizing the bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Bob Stockton, Melanie Kobelka
  • Publication number: 20230030669
    Abstract: A container has a top and a bottom endcap, a bottle sandwiched therebetween, and one or more bands coupling the top and bottom endcaps and the bottle. The bottle receives therein a flexible bladder. At least one of the top and bottom endcaps has a pair of opposing parallel surfaces, one of which has a protrusion extending therefrom and the other one of which has a recess therein at a location corresponding to that of the protrusion. A valving structure demountably engages with a neck portion of the bottle and has (i) a coupling valve assembly having two channels in fluid communication with the bottle and the bladder for injecting gas thereinto and dispensing liquid therefrom, respectively, and (ii) a twist-lock casing receiving therein the coupling valve assembly and removably coupled to the bottleā€™s neck portion. The twist-lock casing has a structure for safely depressurizing the bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Bob Stockton, Melanie Kobelka
  • Patent number: 11479404
    Abstract: A container has a top and a bottom endcap, a bottle sandwiched therebetween, and one or more bands coupling the top and bottom endcaps and the bottle. The bottle receives therein a flexible bladder. At least one of the top and bottom endcaps has a pair of opposing parallel surfaces, one of which has a protrusion extending therefrom and the other one of which has a recess therein at a location corresponding to that of the protrusion. A valving structure demountably engages with a neck portion of the bottle and has (i) a coupling valve assembly having two channels in fluid communication with the bottle and the bladder for injecting gas thereinto and dispensing liquid therefrom, respectively, and (ii) a twist-lock casing receiving therein the coupling valve assembly and removably coupled to the bottle's neck portion. The twist-lock casing has a structure for safely depressurizing the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: FIRST ELEMENT PACKAGING INC.
    Inventors: Bob Stockton, Melanie Kobelka
  • Publication number: 20220112023
    Abstract: A container has a top and a bottom endcap, a bottle sandwiched therebetween, and one or more bands coupling the top and bottom endcaps and the bottle. The bottle receives therein a flexible bladder. At least one of the top and bottom endcaps has a pair of opposing parallel surfaces, one of which has a protrusion extending therefrom and the other one of which has a recess therein at a location corresponding to that of the protrusion. A valving structure demountably engages with a neck portion of the bottle and has (i) a coupling valve assembly having two channels in fluid communication with the bottle and the bladder for injecting gas thereinto and dispensing liquid therefrom, respectively, and (ii) a twist-lock casing receiving therein the coupling valve assembly and removably coupled to the bottle's neck portion. The twist-lock casing has a structure for safely depressurizing the bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Bob Stockton, Melanie Kobelka
  • Publication number: 20180022594
    Abstract: A fluid container system comprises a bottle having bellows and being moveable from an extended position to dispense the fluid to a compressed position with a smaller internal volume than when in the extended position. The fluid container may also include a bladder housed within the bottle for storing the fluid; a valve demountably engageable to the bottle and the bladder, and the valve is capable of being closed to prevent the flow of the fluid and gas, or opened to dispense the fluid and gas. The fluid container may also comprise top and bottom endplates that support the bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: FIRST ELEMENT PACKAGING INC.
    Inventors: Chris Randall, Melanie Kobelka, Chris Hurlburt