Patents by Inventor Richard C. Stephens
Richard C. Stephens 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).
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Publication number: 20240116677Abstract: A cooler insert partition is provided for a container having a hard-walled internal chamber surface. The partition has a spanning matrix and a peripherally extensive margin that defines a dimensionally variable boundary that follows the tapered chamber wall, functions as a wiper, and is deformable in at least one of (a) in-plane compression; and (b) out-of-plane deflection. The margin forms an edge of the spanning matrix. The partition is insulated, and is softer and more flexible than the hard-walled chamber surface. The periphery is thinner in cross-section than the spanning matrix and has a smaller specific flexural modulus. The partition has articulated panel sections. The partition is made from a single polymeric monolith that has been cut and formed. In use the partition is progressively re-positioned in the chamber to minimize dead air space as container contents are removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2022Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Richard C. STEPHENS, Kenneth MACALINO
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Publication number: 20230099766Abstract: A container assembly has a cup-shaped container, a lid body, a spout, a spout cover, and a spout cover securement, or lock. The lid body has a depending periphery that releasably mounts to the cup-shaped container. The lid body has a matrix extending within the periphery. The spout seat is located eccentrically and inwardly of the periphery. It has a root and a tip. The spout cover is movably mounted to the spout cover seat. When closed, the spout cover seals the spout. The lock moves between a first position and a second positon. In the first position the lock keeps the spout cover sealed to the tip. In the second position the spout cover securement permits motion of said spout cover to open. The lid is stackable on other lids. The container assembly cup comes in several forms, the different forms being mutually stacking.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Tommy HAWES, Kenneth BERTOLI, Richard C. STEPHENS, Brandon Lee STROUD
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Patent number: 11518583Abstract: A container assembly has a cup-shaped container, a lid body, a spout, a spout cover, and a spout cover securement, or lock. The lid body has a depending periphery that releasably mounts to the cup-shaped container. The lid body has a matrix extending within the periphery. The spout seat is located eccentrically and inwardly of the periphery. It has a root and a tip. The spout cover is movably mounted to the spout cover seat. When closed, the spout cover seals the spout. The lock moves between a first position and a second positon. In the first position the lock keeps the spout cover sealed to the tip. In the second position the spout cover securement permits motion of said spout cover to open. The lid is stackable on other lids. The container assembly cup comes in several forms, the different forms being mutually stacking.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Inventors: Tommy Hawes, Kenneth Bertoli, Richard C. Stephens, Brandon Lee Stroud
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Publication number: 20220297919Abstract: A soft-sided insulated container that has a rigid closure. The rigid closure has a first closure interface that is a passive friction fit in which one part wipes another. The rigid closure has a second closure interface that is an active closure in which a mechanical device, such as a latch or clamp, is used positively to energize a closure between different parts of the closure. The container has a vent. The latch operates to close the vent. The soft-sided insulated container has a soft-sided external casing, and a rigid internal liner that includes a mating rigid lid. There is a releasable securement that holds the liner in engagement with the casing, but that can be released to permit the casing to be extracted from the liner. The releasable securement is a one-way passively engageable securement.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventors: Richard C. STEPHENS, William KEARNS, Evan R. OLANDER, Yongbing GUO
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Patent number: 11434052Abstract: A soft-sided insulated container that has a rigid closure. The rigid closure has a first closure interface that is a passive friction fit in which one part wipes another. The rigid closure has a second closure interface that is an active closure in which a mechanical device, such as a latch or clamp, is used positively to energize a closure between different parts of the closure. The soft-sided insulated container has a soft-sided external casing, and a rigid internal liner that includes a mating rigid lid. There is a releasable securement that holds the liner in engagement with the casing, but that can be released to permit the casing to be extracted from the liner. The releasable securement is a one-way passively engageable securement.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Inventors: Richard C. Stephens, William Kearns, Evan R. Olander, Yongbing Guo
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Patent number: 11401099Abstract: A soft-sided insulated container that has a rigid closure. The rigid closure has a first closure interface that is a passive friction fit in which one part wipes another. The rigid closure has a second closure interface that is an active closure in which a mechanical device, such as a latch or clamp, is used positively to energize a closure between different parts of the closure. The soft-sided insulated container has a soft-sided external casing, and a rigid internal liner that includes a mating rigid lid. There is a releasable securement that holds the liner in engagement with the casing, but that can be released to permit the casing to be extracted from the liner. The releasable securement is a one-way passively engageable securement.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Inventors: Richard C. Stephens, William Kearns, Evan R. Olander, Yongbing Guo
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Publication number: 20210188494Abstract: A soft-sided insulated container that has a rigid closure. The rigid closure has a first closure interface that is a passive friction fit in which one part wipes another. The rigid closure has a second closure interface that is an active closure in which a mechanical device, such as a latch or clamp, is used positively to energize a closure between different parts of the closure. The soft-sided insulated container has a soft-sided external casing, and a rigid internal liner that includes a mating rigid lid. There is a releasable securement that holds the liner in engagement with the casing, but that can be released to permit the casing to be extracted from the liner. The releasable securement is a one-way passively engageable securement.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Richard C. STEPHENS, William KEARNS, Evan R. OLANDER, Yongbing GUO
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Publication number: 20210188521Abstract: A soft-sided insulated container that has a rigid closure. The rigid closure has a first closure interface that is a passive friction fit in which one part wipes another. The rigid closure has a second closure interface that is an active closure in which a mechanical device, such as a latch or clamp, is used positively to energize a closure between different parts of the closure. The soft-sided insulated container has a soft-sided external casing, and a rigid internal liner that includes a mating rigid lid. There is a releasable securement that holds the liner in engagement with the casing, but that can be released to permit the casing to be extracted from the liner. The releasable securement is a one-way passively engageable securement.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Richard C. STEPHENS, William KEARNS, Evan R. OLANDER, Yongbing GUO
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Publication number: 20210171248Abstract: A container assembly has a cup-shaped container, a lid body, a spout, a spout cover, and a spout cover securement, or lock. The lid body has a depending periphery that releasably mounts to the cup-shaped container. The lid body has a matrix extending within the periphery. The spout seat is located eccentrically and inwardly of the periphery. It has a root and a tip. The spout cover is movably mounted to the spout cover seat. When closed, the spout cover seals the spout. The lock moves between a first position and a second positon. In the first position the lock keeps the spout cover sealed to the tip. In the second position the spout cover securement permits motion of said spout cover to open. The lid is stackable on other lids. The container assembly cup comes in several forms, the different forms being mutually stacking.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Tommy HAWES, Kenneth BERTOLI, Richard C. STEPHENS, Brandon Lee STROUD
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Patent number: 9010842Abstract: Proposed is an aerodynamic drag and noise reduction device for a vehicle roof rack, particularly ski rack. The device comprises an add-on aerodynamic drag and noise reduction device in the form of a hollow parabolic-shaped container having a smoothly rounded closed front or leading side, an interior portion accessed from the rear side of the device for accommodating an object such as a ski rack in order to reduce aerodynamic drag and noise generated while the vehicle to which it is attached is in motion, and to protect the object, e.g. ski rack, from the elements whether the vehicle to which it is attached is in motion or not, and a mechanism for mounting and securing the disclosed device to the article carrier, e.g. ski rack. The front closed side of the device can be used for carrying graphic information such as advertisement, logo, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2013Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Inventors: Warren R. Webster, Richard C. Stephens
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Publication number: 20150069783Abstract: Proposed is an aerodynamic drag and noise reduction device for a vehicle roof rack, particularly ski rack. The device comprises an add-on aerodynamic drag and noise reduction device in the form of a hollow parabolic-shaped container having a smoothly rounded dosed front or leading side, an interior portion accessed from the rear side of the device for accommodating an object such as a ski rack in order to reduce aerodynamic drag and noise generated while the vehicle to which it is attached is in motion, and to protect the object, e.g. ski rack, from the elements whether the vehicle to which it is attached is in motion or not, and a mechanism for mounting and securing the disclosed device to the article carrier, e.g. ski rack. The front closed side of the device can be used for carrying graphic information such as advertisement, logo, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventors: Warren R. Webster, Richard C. Stephens
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Patent number: 8061159Abstract: A soft sided insulated container assembly includes a first portion having an insulated, soft sided external wall structure, and an internal, substantially rigid molded plastic receptacle mounted therein. It has a cover structure that includes a reinforcement member for engaging a land region of the molded receptacle, thereby tending to yield an interface tending to have a sealing relationship. The container may also include a thermal storage element, and the container may have an accommodation for receiving the thermal storage element.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2005Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: California Innovations Inc.Inventors: Melvin S. Mogil, Mark J. Greenstein, Michael Ramundi, Andrius S. Birutis, David W. Sagan, Evan R. Olander, Richard C. Stephens
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Patent number: D414913Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1997Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Inventors: Lee A. Katz, Richard C. Stephens