Patents by Inventor Michael Robert Howley

Michael Robert Howley 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: 9016483
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing and displaying packages. The invention discloses a self-adjusting shelf comprising a sled coupled to a track, and at least two product supports located in a plane above the track. The product supports are aligned substantially parallel to the track and are coupled to the track. Packages rest upon the product supports. The sled slides along the length of the track. The sled urges, via either gravity or a biasing device, the sled forward against downstream packages. Thus, when one package is removed, the sled forces the remaining packages to the front of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Robert Howley
  • Publication number: 20120118840
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing and displaying packages. The invention discloses a self-adjusting shelf comprising a sled coupled to a track, and at least two product supports located in a plane above the track. The product supports are aligned substantially parallel to the track and are coupled to the track. Packages rest upon the product supports. The sled slides along the length of the track. The sled urges, via either gravity or a biasing device, the sled forward against downstream packages. Thus, when one package is removed, the sled forces the remaining packages to the front of the shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: FRITO-LAY NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Robert HOWLEY
  • Patent number: 7886919
    Abstract: A improved product display adaptable to standard gondola systems. The display increases the retail sales space available by providing for the recovery of unused space traditionally existing below the original base deck of the display. This display comprises a new free-standing base deck to replace the original base deck. The free-standing base deck positionally registers in the space where the original base deck was located. The free-standing base deck rests directly on the floor surface beneath the product display thus reclaiming the unused space beneath the original base deck. The display includes an additional member for maintaining the product display's base brackets parallel to assist in retaining and positionally registering the free-standing base deck, and an additional member for maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the product display's base brackets by covering the exposed portions that were once hidden by the original base deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Marcus Battaglia, Jr., Michael Robert Howley, Reggie Wayne Stubblefield
  • Publication number: 20070267375
    Abstract: An improved product display adaptable to standard gondola systems. The improvement increases the retail sales space available by providing for the recovery of unused space traditionally existing below the original base deck of the display. This improvement comprises a new free-standing base deck to replace the original base deck. The free-standing base deck positionally registers in the space where the original base deck was located. The free-standing base deck rests directly on the floor surface beneath the product display thus reclaiming the unused space beneath the original base deck. The improvement includes an additional means for maintaining the product display's base brackets parallel to assist in retaining and positionally registering the free-standing base deck, and an additional means for maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the product display's base brackets by covering the exposed portions that were once hidden by the original base deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Joseph Marcus Battaglia,, Michael Robert Howley, Reggie Wayne Stubblefield
  • Patent number: D544250
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Barbara Sue Daugherty, Michael Robert Howley, Gregory Thomas McIntee, Subriana McFadden Pierce
  • Patent number: D544251
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Barbara Sue Daugherty, Michael Robert Howley, Gregory Thomas McIntee, Subriana McFadden Pierce
  • Patent number: D623439
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Scott Daniel, Janelle Anderson Hottinger, Karl Gregory Flowers, Michael Robert Howley
  • Patent number: D623440
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Scott Daniel, Karl Gregory Flowers, Janelle Anderson Hottinger, Michael Robert Howley