Patents by Inventor Michael A. Freek
Michael A. Freek 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).
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Patent number: 7134569Abstract: A tear-back drink-through lid for a drinking cup sealingly engages the drinking cup at an annular mounting portion with a downwardly extending annular skirt. The tear-back section extends from the inner skirt to a hinge and has an outwardly extending raised protrusion. When the tear-back section is torn away from the lid and pivoted about the hinge, the raised protrusion is frictionally engaged by the end walls of the recess and retained within the recess. The recess further includes a straw slot formed therein defined by two sloping converging sidewalls extending from the upper surface the lid at different angles to form a frangible juncture at the deepest portion of the recess.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2005Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Fort James CorporationInventors: Michael A. Freek, Michael G. Thomas
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Patent number: 6948633Abstract: A drink-thru lid for a drinking cup including an annular mounting portion for sealingly engaging the drinking cup, wherein the annular mounting portion includes a downwardly extending annular skirt. The lid further includes a tear-back section extending from the annular skirt to a hinge portion located in a medial portion of the lid. The tear-back section includes a raised protrusion extending outwardly from an upper surface of the lid. A recess is further formed in a medial portion of the lid on the opposite side of the hinge portion from the raised protrusion, wherein the tear-back section may be torn away from the lid on its sides and pivoted about the hinge portion until the raised protrusion is received within the recess for holding said pivotal flap open. The raised protrusion and the recess are shaped such that the raised protrusion is frictionally engaged by the end walls of the recess.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2003Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: Fort James CorporationInventors: Michael Freek, Michael Thomas
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Publication number: 20050145626Abstract: A tear-back drink-through lid for a drinking cup sealingly engages the drinking cup at an annular mounting portion with a downwardly extending annular skirt. The tear-back section extends from the inner skirt to a hinge and has an outwardly extending raised protrusion. When the tear-back section is torn away from the lid and pivoted about the hinge, the raised protrusion is frictionally engaged by the end walls of the recess and retained within the recess. The recess further includes a straw slot formed therein defined by two sloping converging sidewalls extending from the upper surface the lid at different angles to form a frangible juncture at the deepest portion of the recess.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2005Publication date: July 7, 2005Applicant: Fort James CorporationInventors: Michael Freek, Michael Thomas
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Publication number: 20050100697Abstract: An injection blow-molded disposable tumbler is formed from a polymeric material and includes a fortified upper rim having a thickness greater than the adjacent sidewall. The tumbler may be formed of a variety of resinous materials and exhibits improved toughness and crush resistance as well as aesthetic qualities particularly desired by consumers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2004Publication date: May 12, 2005Inventors: Erland Sandstrom, Brigitte Weigert, Donald McCarthy, Michael Thomas, Michael Freek
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Patent number: 6866905Abstract: An injection blow-molded disposable tumbler is formed from a polymeric material and includes a fortified upper rim having a thickness greater than the adjacent sidewall. The tumbler may be formed of a variety of resinous materials and exhibits improved toughness and crush resistance as well as aesthetic qualities particulary desired by consumers.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1999Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Fort James CorporationInventors: Erland R. Sandstrom, Brigitte K. Weigert, Donald C. McCarthy, Michael G. Thomas, Michael A. Freek
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Publication number: 20040142132Abstract: An injection blow-molded disposable tumbler is formed from a polymeric material and includes a fortified upper rim having a thickness greater than the adjacent sidewall. The tumbler may be formed of a variety of resinous materials and exhibits improved toughness and crush resistance as well as aesthetic qualities particularly desired by consumers. In a particularly preferred embodiment, thick-walled polycarbonate tumblers are prepared from hydrolysis-stabilized polycarbonate compositions while minimizing molded-in stress. In still further embodiments, nanocomposites compositions are used to form the containers of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2003Publication date: July 22, 2004Inventors: Erland R. Sandstrom, Brigitte K. Weigert, Donald C. McCarthy, Michael G. Thomas, Michael A. Freek
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Publication number: 20040022977Abstract: An injection blow-molded disposable tumbler is formed from a polymeric material and includes a fortified upper rim having a thickness greater than the adjacent sidewall. The tumbler may be formed of a variety of resinous materials and exhibits improved toughness and crush resistance as well as aesthetic qualities particularly desired by consumers. In a particularly preferred embodiment, thick-walled polycarbonate tumblers are prepared from hydrolysis-stabilized polycarbonate compositions while minimizing molded-in stress. In still further embodiments, nanocomposites compositions are used to form the containers of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2003Publication date: February 5, 2004Inventors: Erland R. Sandstrom, Brigitte K. Weigert, Donald C. McCarthy, Michael G. Thomas, Michael A. Freek
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Patent number: 6627278Abstract: An injection blow-molded disposable tumbler is formed from a polymeric material and includes a fortified upper rim having a thickness greater than the adjacent sidewall. The tumbler may be formed of a variety of resinous materials and exhibits improved toughness and crush resistance as well as aesthetic qualities particularly desired by consumers. In a particularly preferred embodiment, thick-walled polycarbonate tumblers are prepared from hydrolysis-stabilized polycarbonate compositions while minimizing molded-in stress. In still further embodiments, nanocomposites compositions are used to form the containers of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2000Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Fort James CorporationInventors: Erland R. Sandstrom, Brigitte K. Weigert, Donald C. McCarthy, Michael G. Thomas, Michael A. Freek
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Publication number: 20030178426Abstract: A drink-thru lid for a drinking cup including an annular mounting portion for sealingly engaging the drinking cup, wherein the annular mounting portion includes a downwardly extending annular skirt. The lid further includes a tear-back section extending from the annular skirt to a hinge portion located in a medial portion of the lid. The tear-back section includes a raised protrusion extending outwardly from an upper surface of the lid. A recess is further formed in a medial portion of the lid on the opposite side of the hinge portion from the raised protrusion, wherein the tear-back section may be torn away from the lid on its sides and pivoted about the hinge portion until the raised protrusion is received within the recess for holding said pivotal flap open. The raised protrusion and the recess are shaped such that the raised protrusion is frictionally engaged by the end walls of the recess.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2003Publication date: September 25, 2003Applicant: JAMES RIVER CORPORATION OF VIRGINIAInventors: Michael Freek, Michael Thomas
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Publication number: 20030108695Abstract: A method of making a disposable tumbler includes: injection molding a polyethylene terephthalate resin in an annular mold cavity defined by an injection mold wall and a core to form a resinous parison on the core; separating the parison from the injection mold wall by moving the parison on the core away from the mold wall; moving the parison on the core into alignment with a blow-mold; and expanding the parison by directing a pressurized fluid to its interior such that the parison separates from the core and expands to the surface of the blow mold to form the tumbler, wherein the parison is radially expanded by a factor of at least about 2.6 at its base to form the tumbler. Typically, the parison is radially expanded at its base by a factor of from about 2.6 to about 3.25 to form the tumbler; whereas preferably the parison is expanded by a factor of from about 2.7 to about 2.9.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Michael A. Freek, Ottavio Di Minno, Dan Weissman, Erland R. Sandstrom, David H. Hollenberg
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Patent number: 6505753Abstract: A drink-thru lid for a drinking cup including an annular mounting portion for sealingly engaging the drinking cup, wherein the annular mounting portion includes a downwardly extending annular skirt. The lid further includes a tear-back section extending from the annular skirt to a hinge portion located in a medial portion of the lid. The tear-back section includes a raised protrusion extending outwardly from an upper surface of the lid. A recess is further formed in a medial portion of the lid on the opposite side of the hinge portion from the raised protrusion, wherein the tear-back section may be torn away from the lid on its sides and pivoted about the hinge portion until the raised protrusion is received within the recess for holding said pivotal flap open. The raised protrusion and the recess are shaped such that the raised protrusion is frictionally engaged by the end walls of the recess.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1999Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Fort James CorporationInventors: Michael Freek, Michael Thomas
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Patent number: 6047851Abstract: An injected blow molded container for use with a removable lid member is disclosed. The container has a circular base and a sidewall extending from the outer circumference of the base to the upper rim of the container. The upper rim of the container having a tapered lip that both securely attaches the lid member as well as providing for the easy removal of the lid. A method for the manufacture of the injected blow molded container having a tapered lip is also disclosed. In addition a mold assembly to be used in the manufacture of the injection blow molded containers is disclosed. The mold assembly includes a moveable core that engages with an injection mold assembly and a blow mold assembly to form the containers of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 1997Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Assignee: Fort James CorporationInventors: Michael Freek, Michael Thomas
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Patent number: 5947323Abstract: A drink-thru lid for a drinking cup including an annular mounting portion for sealingly engaging the drinking cup, wherein the annular mounting portion includes a downwardly extending annular skirt. The lid further includes a tear-back section extending from the annular skirt to a hinge portion located in a medial portion of the lid. The tear-back section includes a raised protrusion extending outwardly from an upper surface of the lid. A recess is further formed in a medial portion of the lid on the opposite side of the hinge portion from the raised protrusion, wherein the tear-back section may be torn away from the lid on its sides and pivoted about the hinge portion until the raised protrusion is received within the recess for holding said pivotal flap open. The raised protrusion and the recess are shaped such that the raised protrusion is frictionally engaged by the end walls of the recess.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1996Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Fort James CorporationInventors: Michael Freek, Michael Thomas