Patents by Inventor Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.

Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr. 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: 20240132267
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2024
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, JR., Willie F. Hatcher, Michael T. Kelly
  • Patent number: 11905095
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: CO2PAC LIMITED
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher, Michael T. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20230249867
    Abstract: Plastic container comprises a container body having a bottom portion, a sidewall portion and an upper portion, with a chamber defined therein. The bottom portion includes a support surface and a variable dynamic base portion. The sidewall portion includes a lower circumferential groove ring, an upper circumferential groove ring, and a pair of longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally therebetween to define a front sidewall segment and a rear sidewall segment. The rear sidewall segment comprises a waist groove extending circumferentially between the pair of longitudinal grooves to define an upper rear sidewall segment and a lower rear sidewall segment, wherein one of the upper rear sidewall segment or the lower rear sidewall segment includes two vacuum panels with a rigid longitudinal support therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, JR.
  • Patent number: 11661229
    Abstract: Plastic container comprises a container body having a bottom portion, a sidewall portion and an upper portion, with a chamber defined therein. The bottom portion includes a support surface and a variable dynamic base portion. The sidewall portion includes a lower circumferential groove ring, an upper circumferential groove ring, and a pair of longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally therebetween to define a front sidewall segment and a rear sidewall segment. The rear sidewall segment comprises a waist groove extending circumferentially between the pair of longitudinal grooves to define an upper rear sidewall segment and a lower rear sidewall segment, wherein one of the upper rear sidewall segment or the lower rear sidewall segment includes two vacuum panels with a rigid longitudinal support therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220396408
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, JR., Willie F. Hatcher, Michael T. Kelly
  • Patent number: 11420803
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher, Michael T. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20210130031
    Abstract: Plastic container comprises a container body having a bottom portion, a sidewall portion and an upper portion, with a chamber defined therein. The bottom portion includes a support surface and a variable dynamic base portion. The sidewall portion includes a lower circumferential groove ring, an upper circumferential groove ring, and a pair of longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally therebetween to define a front sidewall segment and a rear sidewall segment. The rear sidewall segment comprises a waist groove extending circumferentially between the pair of longitudinal grooves to define an upper rear sidewall segment and a lower rear sidewall segment, wherein one of the upper rear sidewall segment or the lower rear sidewall segment includes two vacuum panels with a rigid longitudinal support therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Graham Packing Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, JR.
  • Patent number: 10899493
    Abstract: Plastic container comprises a container body having a bottom portion, a sidewall portion and an upper portion, with a chamber defined therein. The bottom portion includes a support surface and a variable dynamic base portion. The sidewall portion includes a lower circumferential groove ring, an upper circumferential groove ring, and a pair of longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally therebetween to define a front sidewall segment and a rear sidewall segment. The rear sidewall segment comprises a waist groove extending circumferentially between the pair of longitudinal grooves to define an upper rear sidewall segment and a lower rear sidewall segment, wherein one of the upper rear sidewall segment or the lower rear sidewall segment includes two vacuum panels with a rigid longitudinal support therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200399039
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher, Michael T. Kelly
  • Patent number: 10766683
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher, Michael T. Kelly
  • Patent number: 10336503
    Abstract: Container includes a top portion, a body portion and a bottom portion. The body portion includes a front wall, a rear wall and first and second side walls, the first side wall disposed opposite the second side wall, opposing grip areas formed in the first and second side walls, a first circumferential rib disposed above the opposing grip areas and extending horizontally about an entire outer circumferential perimeter of the body portion, a second circumferential rib disposed below the opposing grip areas and extending horizontally about the entire outer circumferential perimeter of the body portion, at least one horizontal body rib disposed between and spaced circumferentially from the opposing grip areas, a first vertical strut formed in the first side wall and a second vertical strut formed in the second side wall, each strut disposed between the first and second circumferential ribs and spaced a distance from each grip area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Eric B. Ungrady
  • Publication number: 20190062026
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. PRITCHETT, JR., Willie F. HATCHER, Michael T. KELLY
  • Publication number: 20180186500
    Abstract: Plastic container comprises a container body having a bottom portion, a sidewall portion and an upper portion, with a chamber defined therein. The bottom portion includes a support surface and a variable dynamic base portion. The sidewall portion includes a lower circumferential groove ring, an upper circumferential groove ring, and a pair of longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally therebetween to define a front sidewall segment and a rear sidewall segment. The rear sidewall segment comprises a waist groove extending circumferentially between the pair of longitudinal grooves to define an upper rear sidewall segment and a lower rear sidewall segment, wherein one of the upper rear sidewall segment or the lower rear sidewall segment includes two vacuum panels with a rigid longitudinal support therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, JR.
  • Patent number: 9969520
    Abstract: A hot-fillable container that is cylindrical in shape. The container may have two ribs. A top rib is located in the top bumper and a bottom rib is located in the bottom bumper. Both the top and the bottom ribs have depth that is deep enough so that the container may withstand the hot-fill process and increase its top load ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Gill, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Travis A. Hunter
  • Patent number: 9896254
    Abstract: A round, hot fillable plastic container includes an upper portion defining an opening; a bottom portion; and a main body portion having a plastic sidewall that has a plurality of vacuum panels defined therein. The main body portion has a generally hourglass shape with a central portion that is narrower than upper and lower portions thereof. The hourglass shape optimizes grippability of the container. Grippability is optimized further by the presence of indentations that are formed between columns that define the hourglass shape and pillow portions that are provided for finger support. The indentations permit a consumer to gain finger traction and purchase with respect to the container body, even when a label is positioned between the container body and the user's fingers. The main body portion further has a first groove defined in the upper portion thereof, a second groove defined in the lower portion thereof and a third groove that is defined in the central portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170015466
    Abstract: Container includes a top portion, a body portion and a bottom portion. The body portion includes a front wall, a rear wall and first and second side walls, the first side wall disposed opposite the second side wall, opposing grip areas formed in the first and second side walls, a first circumferential rib disposed above the opposing grip areas and extending horizontally about an entire outer circumferential perimeter of the body portion, a second circumferential rib disposed below the opposing grip areas and extending horizontally about the entire outer circumferential perimeter of the body portion, at least one horizontal body rib disposed between and spaced circumferentially from the opposing grip areas, a first vertical strut formed in the first side wall and a second vertical strut formed in the second side wall, each strut disposed between the first and second circumferential ribs and spaced a distance from each grip area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, JR., Eric B. Ungrady
  • Patent number: 9511890
    Abstract: An extrusion blow molded plastic container includes a main body portion, a finish portion, and a continuous ledge. The finish portion defines an opening, and includes an upper surface and an outer surface that defines a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners when viewed in transverse cross-section. The shape of the finish portion when viewed in transverse cross-section is smaller than the shape of the main body portion. The continuous ledge is defined between the outer surface of the main body portion and the outer surface of the finish portion. The ledge has a first width, adjacent to one of the rounded corners of the finish portion, that is greater than a second width that is not adjacent to one of the rounded corners of the finish portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Gill, Edward J. Roubal, III, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Larry M. Taylor, Jeffrey Snyder
  • Patent number: D847639
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher
  • Patent number: D847640
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher
  • Patent number: D982445
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Mark D. Schneider