Patents by Inventor Ninh G. Pham

Ninh G. Pham 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: 6301901
    Abstract: A container useful for keeping food or beverages warm or cold includes a combination lid and tray door assembly. The lid and tray are both coupled to the container and to each other. The tray may be pivoted independently of the lid into a table top position and it may be separated from the container and used as a separate tray. The tray and lid are also pivotable together as an integral door assembly, and the lid is pivotable independently of the tray when the tray is removed or deployed as a table top. The overall height of the container is less than the overall length and the overall width so that the container has a low, stable center of gravity which permits it to be used on an unstable surface, such as an automobile seat, and so that the container does not obstruct movement or view of occupants of an automobile when it is used in an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Igloo Products Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Coffee, James J. J. Costello, Winthrop A. Eastman, Laurence R. Giles, Jonathan H. Godshall, Eve Heim-Grubb, Ninh G. Pham
  • Patent number: 6026647
    Abstract: A container useful for keeping food or beverages warm or cold includes a combination lid and tray door assembly. The lid and tray are both coupled to the container and to each other. The tray may be pivoted independently of the lid into a table top position and it may be separated from the container and used as a separate tray. The tray and lid are also pivotable together as an integral door assembly, and the lid is pivotable independently of the tray when the tray is removed or deployed as a table top. The overall height of the container is less than the overall length and the overall width so that the container has a low, stable center of gravity which permits it to be used on an unstable surface, such as an automobile seat, and so that the container does not obstruct movement or view of occupants of an automobile when it is used in an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Igloo Products Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Coffee, James J.J. Costello, Winthrop A. Eastman, Laurence R. Giles, Jonathan H. Godshall, Eve Heim-Grubb, Ninh G. Pham
  • Patent number: 5860281
    Abstract: A container useful for keeping food or beverages warm or cold includes a combination lid and tray door assembly. The lid and tray are both coupled to the container and to each other. The tray may be pivoted independently of the lid into a table top position and it may be separated from the container and used as a separate tray. The tray and lid are also pivotable together as an integral door assembly, and the lid is pivotable independently of the tray when the tray is removed or deployed as a table top. The overall height of the container is less than the overall length and the overall width so that the container has a low, stable center of gravity which permits it to be used on an unstable surface, such as an automobile seat, and so that the container does not obstruct movement or view of occupants of an automobile when it is used in an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Igloo Products Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Coffee, James J. J. Costello, Winthrop A. Eastman, Laurence R. Giles, Jonathan H. Godshall, Eve Heim-Grubb, Ninh G. Pham
  • Patent number: 5377882
    Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, discloses a closure device for a container and a container with such a device. The device has a body with a top fluid pour opening and with a top air vent opening. Preferably the air vent extends through a vent extension which projects downwardly from the body. A hinged lid releasably seals the fluid pour opening shut and the air vent shut. The lid is held within a top recess over the two openings and is, in one preferred embodiment, releasable by squeezing a container on which the device is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Inventors: Ninh G. Pham, Joseph A. Decker, Jr., Canh S. Bui
  • Patent number: 5228603
    Abstract: A device for preventing or minimizing spillage of liquid from an inverted container of liquid, and containers with such a device the device, in one embodiment, having a body for securement to the container, the body having a fluid channel therethrough through which the liquid can flow and a movable closure member which, if not held against the body, moves away from the fluid channel so that fluid flow is not impeded and which, if pressure is placed against it, is held against the body to prevent fluid flow. In one embodiment, an air vent is provided through the body to facilitate flow. Another embodiment provides a frangible cover for an opening of a container of liquid and a container with such a cover. Another embodiment provides a container with a closure adhesively attached sealingly across its opening, the cover secured in one area by adhesive so that it will separate from the container in that area upon the application of force to the cover permitting fluid flow from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventors: Ninh G. Pham, Joseph A. Decker, Jr., Guy L. McClung, III, Canh S. Bui
  • Patent number: 5105986
    Abstract: A device for preventing or minimizing spillage of liquid from an inverted container of liquid, and containers with such a device the device, in one embodiment, having a body for securement to the container, the body having a fluid channel therethrough through which the liquid can flow and a movable closure member which, if not held against the body, moves away from the fluid channel so that fluid flow is not impeded and which, if pressure is placed against it, is held against the body to prevent fluid flow. In one embodiment, an air vent is provided through the body to facilitate flow. Another embodiment provides a frangible cover for an opening of a container of liquid and a container with such a cover. Another embodiment provides a container with a closure adhesively attached sealingly across its opening, the cover secured in one area by adhesive so that it will separate from the container in that area upon the application of force to the cover permitting fluid flow from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Inventors: Ninh G. Pham, Joseph A. Decker, Jr., Guy L. McClung, III, Canh S. Bui
  • Patent number: 4696412
    Abstract: A hinge (16) pivotally connects a lid (14) to a body (12) of a container (10) for releasably holding the cover (14) at both open and closed positions. The hinge (16) has a pair of hinge leaves (22, 22A) and a boss (48) extending from one leaf (22) forms an outer cam surface having a pair of relatively flat cam portions (50, 52) on opposed sides of a high point (54) of the cam. The other leaf (22A) has a lip (42A) extending therefrom with the inner surface of the lip (42A) riding along the outer surface of the cam formed by the one leaf (22) to define a cam follower which forms a latch member. A high portion (54) of the cam by contacting the lip (42A) restrains movement of the cover (14) at both the open and closed positions thereof until an opening force of a predetermined magnitude is exerted against the cover (14) for moving the lip ( 42A) over the high portion (54) of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: Igloo Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald C. McGowan, Ninh G. Pham
  • Patent number: D400053
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Igloo Products Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Coffee, James J. J. Costello, Winthrop A. Eastman, Laurence R. Giles, Jonathan H. Godshall, Eve Heim-Grubb, Ninh G. Pham