Patents by Inventor Richard O. Wahler

Richard O. Wahler 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: 5970767
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metallic can body that is shaped distinctively in order to enhance its visual presentation to consumers includes, in one embodiment, steps of providing a can body blank that has a sidewall that is of a substantially constant diameter; providing a mold unit that has at least one mold wall that defines a mold cavity conforming a desired final shape of the can body; positioning the can body blank within the mold cavity; and supplying a pressurized fluid into the mold cavity so that the can body blank is forced by pressure against the mold wall, causing the can body blank to assume the desired final shape of the can body. Axial compression is preferably applied to the can body blank in order to reduce internal stresses during molding of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Hartman, Zeev W. Shore, James J. Tang, Anton A. Aschberger, Michael R. Gogola, William O. Irvine, Ralph J. Trnka, Richard O. Wahler, Robert A. Winkless, Richard Mark Orlando Golding, David Harvey
  • Patent number: 5960659
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metallic can body that is shaped distinctively in order to enhance its visual presentation to consumers includes, in one embodiment, steps of providing a can body blank that has a sidewall that is of a substantially constant diameter; providing a mold unit that has at least one mold wall that defines a mold cavity that is shaped generally like the can body blank, the mold wall having a pattern formed therein that corresponds to a desired final shape of the can body; positioning the can body blank within the mold cavity; and supplying a pressurized fluid into the mold cavity so that the can body blank is forced by pressure against the mold wall, causing the can body blank to assume the desired final shape of the can body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Hartman, Zeev W. Shore, James J. Tang, Anton A. Aschberger, Michael R. Gogola, William O. Irvine, Ralph J. Trnka, Richard O. Wahler, Robert A. Winkless
  • Patent number: 5832766
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metallic can body that is shaped distinctively in order to enhance its visual presentation to consumers includes, in one embodiment, steps of providing a can body blank that has a sidewall that is of a substantially constant diameter; providing a mold unit that has at least one mold wall that defines a mold cavity conforming a desired final shape of the can body; positioning the can body blank within the mold cavity; and supplying a pressurized fluid into the mold cavity so that the can body blank is forced by pressure against the mold wall, causing the can body blank to assume the desired final shape of the can body. Axial compression is preferably applied to the can body blank in order to reduce internal stresses during molding of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Hartman, Zeev W. Shore, James J. Tang, Anton A. Aschberger, Michael R. Gogola, William O. Irvine, Ralph J. Trnka, Richard O. Wahler, Robert A. Winkless, Richard Mark Orlando Golding, David Harvey
  • Patent number: 5746080
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metallic can body that is shaped distinctively in order to enhance its visual presentation to consumers includes, in one embodiment, steps of providing a can body blank that has a sidewall that is of a substantially constant diameter; providing a mold unit that has at least one mold wall that defines a mold cavity that is shaped generally like the can body blank, the mold wall having a pattern formed therein that corresponds to a desired final shape of the can body; positioning the can body blank within the mold cavity; and supplying a pressurized fluid into the mold cavity so that the can body blank is forced by pressure against the mold wall, causing the can body blank to assume the desired final shape of the can body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Hartman, Zeev W. Shore, James J. Tang, Anton A. Aschberger, Michael R. Gogola, William O. Irvine, Ralph J. Trnka, Richard O. Wahler, Robert A. Winkless
  • Patent number: 5071302
    Abstract: This relates to the double seaming of an end unit to a metal can body where the end unit is of the full opening, easy opening type incorporating a pull tab for the purpose of initiating a rupture followed by pull out of an end panel of the end unit. Most specifically, the end unit is of an oblong rectangular or generally other than round outline so as to have a fixed orientation with respect to a double seam forming double seaming chuck. By having a fixed relationship between each end unit and the double seaming chuck and the pull tab with respect to the configuration of the end unit, it is possible to form a notch in the underside of the double seaming chuck to clear the pull tab. This permits the pull tab to have a force applying nose thereof positioned closely adjacent to a chuck wall of the end unit so that it may overlie a score line or weakening line formed in the chuck wall radius between the chuck wall and the end panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Wahler