Patents by Inventor Richard B. Hurley

Richard B. Hurley 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: 20210130059
    Abstract: Packaging systems for shipping bottles of varying sizes are disclosed. In embodiments, the packaging system includes a top packaging piece and bottom packaging piece, each formed as a molded piece. The top packaging piece includes a plurality of tapered cavities, each sized to receive the neck of one of the bottles. The bottom packaging piece includes a corresponding plurality of tapered cavities, each sized to receive the bottom of one of the bottles. The center packaging piece is formed from a single sheet of flat material such as cardboard, and is folded in upon itself to form a spacer between the top and bottom packaging pieces. The center packaging piece includes a plurality of apertures corresponding to the cavities in the top and bottom packaging pieces to pass through each bottle from the top to bottom packaging pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Western Pulp Products Company
    Inventors: Richard B. Hurley, Thomas J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7584852
    Abstract: A bottle shipping protector employs a flexible flange member adapted to move as biased against a bottle to accommodate a wide variety of bottle configurations for shipping with minimal movement of the bottle relative to the shipping protector, minimizing abrasion of the bottle labels and capsules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Western Pulp Products Co.
    Inventors: Sean M O'Brien, Richard B Hurley, Mark W Betts
  • Publication number: 20080197037
    Abstract: A bottle shipping protector employs a flexible flange member adapted to move as biased against a bottle to accommodate a wide variety of bottle configurations for shipping with minimal movement of the bottle relative to the shipping protector, minimizing abrasion of the bottle labels and capsules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: WESTERN PULP PRODUCTS CO.
    Inventors: SEAN M. O'BRIEN, RICHARD B. HURLEY, MARK W. BETTS
  • Patent number: 7318526
    Abstract: An overhang edge shipping protector is provided that may allow for enhanced protection of an overhang edge during shipping of an item having an overhang edge. The overhang edge shipping protector may include an overhang cavity, one or more side lands and a buttress, all of which may be capable of absorbing and transferring energy from an adverse impact force to more suitable and sturdy locations of the item, such as the sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Western Pulp Products Company
    Inventors: Scott J. Seelye, Richard B. Hurley, Richard D. Hurley, Melvin K. Kelsey, Randy A. Laws, Mark W. Betts
  • Patent number: 7003808
    Abstract: The present invention includes a hat having a dome portion that substantially matches a person's head and a bill portion that is integrated with the dome portion. The dome portion and the bill portion are formed from a slurry of fibrous pulp material and has a substantially rigid structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Western Pulp Products Company
    Inventors: Scott S. Seelye, Richard B. Hurley, Mark W. Betts
  • Patent number: 6820743
    Abstract: A shipping tray for bottles or other such fragile vessels suitably containing liquids therein employs a two-sided configuration with bottle receiving cradles and top and bottom stop members to prevent the bottle from sliding out of the tray. Shock absorbing members are provided about the perimeter of the tray, as well as a perimeter groove. Indentations at spaced locations on the tray perimeter function as shock absorbing spring members, and further allow displaced air to escape as the tray is lowered into a close fitting carton. The indentations further provide grip access to enable easy removal of a tray from within a close fitting carton. Both sides of a tray are functional, such that a series of trays may be packed with bottles with the trays in top side up or bottom side up configurations. A stack of trays nest together when not in use, for compact storage. When configured to receive wine bottles, the tray accepts multiple bottle shapes therein with adequate protection to each bottle style.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Inventors: Richard D. Hurley, Richard B. Hurley
  • Publication number: 20040181849
    Abstract: The present invention includes a hat having a dome portion that substantially matches a person's head and a bill portion that is integrated with the dome portion. The dome portion and the bill portion are formed from a slurry of fibrous pulp material and has a substantially rigid structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Scott J. Seelye, Richard B. Hurley, Mark W. Betts
  • Patent number: 6629608
    Abstract: A corner protecting device of vacuum molded paper fiber wherein the device is molded onto a porous mold form, the mold form having valleys about twice the width of the material thickness when molded causing the material at the two sides of the valleys to merge and form columnar-like lands connected by rebounding arch-shaped material thus producing a complex resistance to crushing. Splitting is reduced by undulating tunnel configurations, bottom flanges and a dome shaped peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Western Pulp Products Co.
    Inventors: Richard B. Hurley, Thomas J. Taylor, Scott S Seelye, Mark W. Betts
  • Publication number: 20030070951
    Abstract: A shipping tray for bottles or other such fragile vessels suitably containing liquids therein employs a two-sided configuration with bottle receiving cradles and top and bottom stop members to prevent the bottle from sliding out of the tray. Shock absorbing members are provided about the perimeter of the tray, as well as a perimeter groove. Indentations at spaced locations on the tray perimeter function as shock absorbing spring members, and further allow displaced air to escape as the tray is lowered into a close fitting carton. The indentations further provide grip access to enable easy removal of a tray from within a close fitting carton. Both sides of a tray are functional, such that a series of trays may be packed with bottles with the trays in top side up or bottom side up configurations. A stack of trays nest together when not in use, for compact storage. When configured to receive wine bottles, the tray accepts multiple bottle shapes therein with adequate protection to each bottle style.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Richard D. Hurley, Richard B. Hurley
  • Publication number: 20030038054
    Abstract: A corner protecting device of vacuum molded paper fiber wherein the device is molded onto a porous mold form, the mold form having valleys about twice the width of the material thickness when molded causing the material at the two sides of the valleys to merge and form columnar-like lands connected by rebounding arch-shaped material thus producing a complex resistance to crushing. Splitting is reduced by undulating tunnel configurations, bottom flanges and a dome shaped peak.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Richard B. Hurley, Thomas J. Taylor, Scott S. Seelye, Mark W. Betts
  • Patent number: 6290057
    Abstract: A bottle shipping structure made of molded fiber having two tray portions. The first portion is folded along a hinge line, and placed within a carton, defining multiple bottle receiving portions for engaging the bottle heel portions, maintaining the bottles in spaced positions away from the bottom and sides of the trays, as well as maintaining the bottles in spaced relation to each other. The second portion is folded along a hinge line and placed within the carton, over the top, neck ends of the bottles. Neck engaging finger members grab the bottle necks and limit movement thereof. Centrally within the bottle receiving portions, the bottles are held spaced away from contact with the tray portions, to prevent the likelihood of the bottle labels from becoming damaged by abrasion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Western Pulp Products Co.
    Inventor: Richard B. Hurley