Patents by Inventor Richard C. Darr

Richard C. Darr 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: 11939104
    Abstract: A plastic container includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, at least one thread, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20240034507
    Abstract: A plastic container includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, at least one thread, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20240034508
    Abstract: A plastic preform includes a hollow body portion including a closed base portion and a lower portion and a lower portion extending upwardly from the closed bottom portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion, threads positioned below the dispensing opening, a tamper-evident formation having a lower surface and positioned directly below the threads, and a support flange having an upper surface and a lower surface and positioned below the tamper-evident formation. In an embodiment, the plastic preform is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a vertical distance from the lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the lower surface of the support flange is from 0.125 to 0.150 inches. Containers and methods for molding preforms and making containers are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: 11834222
    Abstract: A plastic preform includes a hollow body portion including a closed base portion and a lower portion and a lower portion extending upwardly from the closed bottom portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion, threads positioned below the dispensing opening, a tamper-evident formation having a lower surface and positioned directly below the threads, and a support flange having an upper surface and a lower surface and positioned below the tamper-evident formation. In an embodiment, the plastic preform is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a vertical distance from the lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the lower surface of the support flange is from 0.125 to 0.150 inches. Containers and methods for molding preforms and making containers are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: 11780634
    Abstract: A plastic container includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, at least one thread, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20230159210
    Abstract: A plastic preform includes a hollow body portion including a closed base portion and a lower portion and a lower portion extending upwardly from the closed bottom portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion, threads positioned below the dispensing opening, a tamper-evident formation having a lower surface and positioned directly below the threads, and a support flange having an upper surface and a lower surface and positioned below the tamper-evident formation. In an embodiment, the plastic preform is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a vertical distance from the lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the lower surface of the support flange is from 0.125 to 0.150 inches. Containers and methods for molding preforms and making containers are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20230150724
    Abstract: A container (210) for holding granular or powdered material and formed by a top wall (212), a bottom wall (214), a front wall (216), a rear wall (218), a first side wall (220), and a second side wall (222). A rotatably removable lid (D) is interiorly mounted with a scoop (32) and is pivotally hinged to a collar (300) that includes a sealing gasket (330). The collar (300) mounts to the walls of the container (210). A sealing wall 240 of the lid (D) cooperates with the gasket 300 to prevent the contents from spilling. The container (210) incorporates powder control features, a container wall junction (50) preferred geometry and congruent scoop (32) enabling convenient access to the contents, a tolerance variation accommodating and strength improving, J-shaped collar (300) and interlocking indentations (290) and flex clips (310), and a pressure controlling portion (350) that prevents unwanted deformation due to pressure differentials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: ABBOTT LABORATORIES
    Inventors: James P. PERRY, Craig A. MCCARDELL, Jeremy MCBROOM, David COMPEAU, Ashley A. GOHLKE, William J. HOOK, Katherine J. JORDAN, Frank S. WALCZAK, Peter B. CLARKE, J. Kevin CLAY, Richard C. DARR, Jack E. ELDER, Marc A. PEDMO, Charles R. SCHOTTHOEFER
  • Publication number: 20230122039
    Abstract: A plastic container includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, at least one thread, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: 11560250
    Abstract: A plastic container is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, at least one thread, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. In embodiments, the container may be comprised of PET, the weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening may be 3.0 grams or less, and/or the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange may be 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: 11554893
    Abstract: A container (210) for holding granular or powdered material and formed by a top wall (212), a bottom wall (214), a front wall (216), a rear wall (218), a first side wall (220), and a second side wall (222). A rotatably removable lid (D) is interiorly mounted with a scoop (32) and is pivotally hinged to a collar (300) that includes a sealing gasket (330). The collar (300) mounts to the walls of the container (210). A sealing wall 240 of the lid (D) cooperates with the gasket 300 to prevent the contents from spilling. The container (210) incorporates powder control features, a container wall junction (50) preferred geometry and congruent scoop (32) enabling convenient access to the contents, a tolerance variation accommodating and strength improving, J-shaped collar (300) and interlocking indentations (290) and flex clips (310), and a pressure controlling portion (350) that prevents unwanted deformation due to pressure differentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventors: James P. Perry, Craig A. McCardell, Jeremy McBroom, David Compeau, Ashley A. Gohlke, William J. Hook, Katherine J. Jordan, Frank S. Walczak, Peter B. Clarke, J. Kevin Clay, Richard C. Darr, Jack E. Elder, Marc A. Pedmo, Charles R. Schotthoefer
  • Publication number: 20210261284
    Abstract: A plastic container is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, at least one thread, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. In embodiments, the container may be comprised of PET, the weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening may be 3.0 grams or less, and/or the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange may be 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20200262600
    Abstract: A container assembly suitable for holding pressurized content includes a plastic container and a base cup. The plastic container may include a including a rounded base portion, and the base cup may be connected to the container and configured to support the plastic container. In embodiments the plastic container and the base cup are comprised of plastic, and may be comprised of substantially the same recyclable plastic material. In embodiments, the base cup may be thermoformed, and/or the container assembly may be comprised of 80% or more, by weight, of PET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Miguel Vieira, Alain Dessaint, Laurent Degroote, Richard C. Darr
  • Patent number: 10695966
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for molding workpieces usable for consumer products. The workpieces may be injection molded with a cavity formed by a core pin and have an undercut, such as internal threads, in the cavity. The apparatus has a drive system with a stripper plate mounted for alternatingly forward and retracting axial movement. The stripper plate is axially driven and drives a stripper sleeve barrel cam and a core pin base barrel cam, each having respective cam followers. The respective motions of the cam followers are superimposed on a stripper sleeve insert, which drives a core pin sleeve. The core pin sleeve is subjected to responsive three dimensional motion, allowing an internally threaded workpiece to be unscrewed from the core pin sleeve. The system does not require separate drives for the core pin sleeve, a single stripper plate drive being sufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Douglas Bruce Zeik, Richard C. Darr, Thomas J. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20200198859
    Abstract: A container (210) for holding granular or powdered material and formed by a top wall (212), a bottom wall (214), a front wall (216), a rear wall (218), a first side wall (220), and a second side wall (222). A rotatably removable lid (D) is interiorly mounted with a scoop (32) and is pivotally hinged to a collar (300) that includes a sealing gasket (330). The collar (300) mounts to the walls of the container (210). A sealing wall 240 of the lid (D) cooperates with the gasket 300 to prevent the contents from spilling. The container (210) incorporates powder control features, a container wall junction (50) preferred geometry and congruent scoop (32) enabling convenient access to the contents, a tolerance variation accommodating and strength improving, J-shaped collar (300) and interlocking indentations (290) and flex clips (310), and a pressure controlling portion (350) that prevents unwanted deformation due to pressure differentials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: ABBOTT LABORATORIES
    Inventors: JAMES P. PERRY, CRAIG A. MCCARDELL, JEREMY MCBROOM, DAVID COMPEAU, ASHLEY A. GOHLKE, WILLIAM J. HOOK, KATHERINE J. JORDAN, FRANK S. WALCZAK, PETER B. CLARKE, J. KEVIN CLAY, RICHARD C. DARR, JACK E. ELDER, MARC A. PEDMO, CHARLES R. SCHOTTHOEFER
  • Publication number: 20200147855
    Abstract: An injection blow molding system including a core pin, a neck ring, and a blow mold. The injection blow system may be configured to form a preform on the core pin and to blow mold the formed preform on the core pin to form a container. In an embodiment, the core pin includes a poppet that is configured to be disposed in a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. A method for forming a preform and container on a core pin is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Marc A. Pedmo, Andrew Fischer, Michael J. Sainato, David Greig, Matt Kinkoph, Richard C. Darr
  • Patent number: 10583969
    Abstract: A container (210) for holding granular or powdered material and formed by a top wall (212), a bottom wall (214), a front wall (216), a rear wall (218), a first side wall (220), and a second side wall (222). A rotatably removable lid (D) is interiorly mounted with a scoop (32) and is pivotally hinged to a collar (300) that includes a sealing gasket (330). The collar (300) mounts to the walls of the container (210). A sealing wall 240 of the lid (D) cooperates with the gasket 300 to prevent the contents from spilling. The container (210) incorporates powder control features, a container wall junction (50) preferred geometry and congruent scoop (32) enabling convenient access to the contents, a tolerance variation accommodating and strength improving, J-shaped collar (300) and interlocking indentations (290) and flex clips (310), and a pressure controlling portion (350) that prevents unwanted deformation due to pressure differentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: ABBOTT LABORATORIES
    Inventors: James P. Perry, Craig A. McCardell, Jeremy McBroom, David Compeau, Ashley A. Gohlke, William J. Hook, Katherine J. Jordan, Frank S. Walczak, Peter B. Clarke, J. Kevin Clay, Richard C. Darr, Jack E. Elder, Marc A. Pedmo, Charles R. Schotthoefer
  • Publication number: 20200039679
    Abstract: A plastic container is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, at least one thread, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. In embodiments, the container may be comprised of PET, the weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening may be 3.0 grams or less, and/or the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange may be 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20200002035
    Abstract: Plastic containers and arrangements of reduced diameter plastic containers, including PET containers, are disclosed. In an embodiment, a plastic container arrangement is provided that includes a plurality of reduced diameter plastic (e.g., PET) containers arranged in a side-by-side configuration, wherein the ratio of a maximum outside diameter to container height is at least 0.30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventor: Richard C. Darr
  • Patent number: 10457437
    Abstract: A plastic container is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, threads, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. In embodiments, the container may be comprised of PET, the weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening may be 2.3 grams or less, and/or the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange may be 0.450 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: 10322538
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for molding workpieces usable for consumer products. The workpieces may be injection molded with a cavity formed by a core pin and have an undercut, such as internal threads, in the cavity. The apparatus has a drive system with a stripper plate mounted for alternatingly forward and retracting axial movement. The stripper plate is axially driven and drives a stripper sleeve barrel cam and a core pin base barrel cam, each having respective cam followers. The respective motions of the cam followers are superimposed on a stripper sleeve insert, which drives a core pin sleeve. The core pin sleeve is subjected to responsive three-dimensional motion, allowing an internally threaded workpiece to be unscrewed from the core pin sleeve. The system does not require separate drives for the core pin sleeve and further allows each mold cavity/core pin combination in a mold half to be unique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Douglas Bruce Zeik, Richard C. Darr, Thomas J. Simpson