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: 10266299
    Abstract: A plastic preform is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a closed bottom portion, a lower portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, a tamper-evident formation, threads, and a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 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, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.500 inches or less. Containers and methods for molding preforms and making containers are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: 10214311
    Abstract: A plastic container includes 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 tamper-evident formation, threads, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 2.3 grams or less; a vertical distance from the lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to a top of the dispensing opening is 0.30 or less; and/or the container may be filled with a beverage. In embodiments, the volume of the container may be at least 500 ml. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: 10214312
    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, a tamper-evident formation, 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 is comprised of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a volume of the container is at least 500 ml, and/or the weight of the neck portion is 2.3 grams or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20180297738
    Abstract: A plastic container includes 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 tamper-evident formation, threads, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 2.3 grams or less; a vertical distance from the lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to a top of the dispensing opening is 0.30 or less; and/or the container may be filled with a beverage. In embodiments, the volume of the container may be at least 500 ml. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20180297737
    Abstract: A plastic preform is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a closed bottom portion, a lower portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, a tamper-evident formation, threads, and a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 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, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.500 inches or less. Containers and methods for molding preforms and making containers are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20180297739
    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: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20180297740
    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, a tamper-evident formation, 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 is comprised of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a volume of the container is at least 500 ml, and/or the weight of the neck portion is 2.3 grams or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: 10023345
    Abstract: A plastic container is provided that includes a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion; and a closure. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, threads, a tamper-evident formation, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less; and the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: 9850019
    Abstract: A plastic preform is provided that includes a closed bottom portion; a lower portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, threads, a tamper-evident formation, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less; and the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.580 inches or less. A container and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20170326768
    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 and further allows each mold cavity/core pin combination in a mold half to be unique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas Bruce ZEIK, Richard C. Darr, Thomas J. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20170326767
    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 and further allows each mold cavity/core pin combination in a mold half to be unique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas Bruce ZEIK, Richard C. Darr, Thomas J. Simpson
  • Patent number: 9738409
    Abstract: A plastic container is provided that includes a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion; and a closure. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, threads, a tamper-evident formation, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less; and the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: 9731850
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing a filled plastic container includes an actuator, a base unit including a heating surface, and a dispensing device or nozzle. The actuator includes a body portion and a holding/securing member configured to hold or secure a portion of the container. In embodiments, the actuator is configured to apply a force or pressure on the container to contact the base unit, the base unit is configured to receive a base portion of the container, the heating surface is configured to convey energy or heat to a portion of the base portion of the container, and the dispensing device or nozzle is configured to introduce an inert gas into the container. Methods for providing a filled plastic container and providing a thin-walled plastic container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Guy Delage, Richard C. Darr, Marc A. Pedmo
  • Publication number: 20170225820
    Abstract: A plastic container is provided that includes a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion; and a closure. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, threads, a tamper-evident formation, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less; and the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20170121048
    Abstract: A plastic container is provided that includes a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion; and a closure. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, threads, a tamper-evident formation, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less; and the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20170101210
    Abstract: A plastic preform is provided that includes a closed bottom portion; a lower portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, threads, a tamper-evident formation, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less; and the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.580 inches or less. A container and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20170096268
    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: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    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
  • Patent number: 9522759
    Abstract: A plastic container is provided that includes 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, a tamper-evident formation, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the volume of the container is at least 500 ml; the weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less; and the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: D803061
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Darr
  • Patent number: D808277
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventor: Richard C. Darr