Patents by Inventor Noel M. Phillips

Noel M. Phillips 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: 6467624
    Abstract: A suspension package includes end panels that are pivotably mounted to a base at opposite ends of the base. A product restraint such as a hammock is stretched across the end panels, and side panels are pivoted to the base on respective sides of the product restraint. At least one of the side panels includes an upper panel that can be moved into position between the end panels to hold the end panels substantially at right angles with respect to the base and to maintain the product restraint in tension, thereby suspending a packaged product contained in the product restraint above the base and between the end panels. The side panels can be configured to perform this holding function, either along with the upper panel or instead of the upper panel. Alternatively, braces can be hinged to the end panels to extend perpendicularly to the end panels and the base and to contact the base to brace the end panels in the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: ADE, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis C. Lofgren, Frederic Vega, Noël M. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6119863
    Abstract: A suspension package includes end panels that are pivotably mounted to a base at opposite ends of the base. A product restraint such as a hammock is stretched across the end panels, and side panels are pivoted to the base on respective sides of the product restraint. At least one of the side panels includes an upper panel that can be moved into position between the end panels to hold the end panels substantially at right angles with respect to the base and to maintain the product restraint in tension, thereby suspending a packaged product contained in the product restraint above the base and between the end panels. The side panels can be configured to perform this holding function, either along with the upper panel or instead of the upper panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: ADE, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis C. Lofgren, Fred Vega, Noel M. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5823348
    Abstract: A suspension package includes a frame having first and second opposed ends. Two C-shaped product restraints are mounted to pivotable flaps at respective ends of the frame. The product restraints extend around three sides of a product being packaged, and outward rotation of the flaps shortens the effective length of the product restraints, thereby tensioning the product restraints and suspending the product in place in the frame. A simple mechanism is provided for allowing a user to adjust the effective length of the product restraints. Another suspension package applies suspension forces only to two opposed lateral sides of the product, avoiding contact with the top and bottom surfaces of the product. Tensioning flaps can be oriented to pivot along a line in a plane parallel either to the end or to the sides of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: ADE, Inc.
    Inventors: Noel M. Phillips, Tammy L. Stiles, Jennifer R. Harding, Lewis C. Lofgren
  • Patent number: 5722541
    Abstract: A suspension package includes a frame and a hammock. The hammock is tensioned by tensioning panels at each end of the frame. The lower edges of the frame include bottom panels that are secured together at two opposing corners such that the bottom panels automatically move to a side wall bracing position when the frame is squared. The tensioning panel 42 is sufficiently long to overlap each of the side walls in order to apply a substantial portion of loads from the hammock directly to the side walls and thereby reduce creasing at the end walls. The hammock is C-shaped in cross section and includes welded product-retention regions between the upper and lower portions of the hammock to prevent the product from sliding into contact with the end walls. Accessories are held in the hammock by a tubular accessory holder which is held in place on an end wall of the frame by an outer box. The suspension package is moved into and out of the outer box along a direction perpendicular to one of the sides of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Ade, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis C. Lofgren, Noel M. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5669506
    Abstract: A suspension package includes a base and first and second end panels. A hammock is stretched between the end panels, each of which is held in an operational position by a triangulating brace which extends from each end panel to the base and is removably secured to the base. Side panels are connected to the base to fold between a coplanar position and an operational position. When the side panels are in the coplanar position, the side panels and the base can be folded along a center fold to reduce tension on the hammock. Once a product is placed in the hammock, the side panels are moved to the operational position, perpendicular to the base. In the operational position the side panels prevent the base from folding along the center fold and thereby tension the hammock. The entire suspension package can be formed from a single piece of a suitable material such as corrugated paperboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Ade, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis C. Lofgren, Noel M. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5579917
    Abstract: A suspension package includes a frame and a hammock. The hammock is tensioned by tensioning panels at each end of the frame. The lower edges of the frame include bottom panels that are secured together at two opposing corners such that the bottom panels automatically move to a side wall bracing position when the frame is squared. The tensioning panel 42 is sufficiently long to overlap each of the side walls in order to apply a substantial portion of loads from the hammock directly to the side walls and thereby reduce creasing at the end walls. The hammock is C-shaped in cross section and includes welded product-retention regions between the upper and lower portions of the hammock to prevent the product from sliding into contact with the end walls. Accessories are held in the hammock by a tubular accessory holder which is held in place on an end wall of the frame by an outer box. The suspension package is moved into and out of the outer box along a direction perpendicular to one of the sides of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: ADE, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis C. Lofgren, Noel M. Phillips