Patents by Inventor Robert E. Proudfoot

Robert E. Proudfoot 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: 20220297895
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a dispensing container includes a closure body detachably coupled to a co-injected valve. The closure body includes a main closure body coupled to a closure cap via a flexible hinge. The co-injected valve includes a valve head and a valve frame. The valve head includes a valve head portion with multiple valve head slits, a sleeve portion, and a peripheral sealing flange. The valve frame is permanently coupled to the valve head and includes a radial ledge and a radial wall that support the peripheral sealing flange of the valve head. The co-injected valve is fabricated via a two-step injection molding process. The first step includes fabricating the valve frame from a first injection material, and the second step includes fabricating the valve member from a second injection material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Robert E. Proudfoot, Terrence M. Parve
  • Patent number: 11377266
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a dispensing container includes a closure body detachably coupled to a co-injected valve. The closure body includes a main closure body coupled to a closure cap via a flexible hinge. The co-injected valve includes a valve head and a valve frame. The valve head includes a valve head portion with multiple valve head slits, a sleeve portion, and a peripheral sealing flange. The valve frame is permanently coupled to the valve head and includes a radial ledge and a radial wall that support the peripheral sealing flange of the valve head. The co-injected valve is fabricated via a two-step injection molding process. The first step includes fabricating the valve frame from a first injection material, and the second step includes fabricating the valve member from a second injection material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Silgan Specialty Packaging LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Proudfoot, Terrence M. Parve
  • Patent number: 10954034
    Abstract: A container for a retorting process includes a body. The body is configured to be coupled to a lid such that the lid and the body define an internal volume of the container. The body includes a lip, a wall, a support, a hinge, and an expansion panel. The lip is configured to be coupled to the lid. The wall is contiguous with the lip. The support is contiguous with the wall. The support is configured to interface with a surface to support the container on the surface. The hinge is contiguous with the support opposite the wall. The expansion panel is contiguous with the hinge. The hinge is configured to facilitate displacement of the expansion panel relative to the support to selectively increase the internal volume of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Gateway Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence M. Parve, Robert E. Proudfoot
  • Publication number: 20210016931
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a dispensing container includes a closure body detachably coupled to a co-injected valve. The closure body includes a main closure body coupled to a closure cap via a flexible hinge. The co-injected valve includes a valve head and a valve frame. The valve head includes a valve head portion with multiple valve head slits, a sleeve portion, and a peripheral sealing flange. The valve frame is permanently coupled to the valve head and includes a radial ledge and a radial wall that support the peripheral sealing flange of the valve head. The co-injected valve is fabricated via a two-step injection molding process. The first step includes fabricating the valve frame from a first injection material, and the second step includes fabricating the valve member from a second injection material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Gateway Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Proudfoot, Terrence M. Parve
  • Patent number: 10836541
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a dispensing container includes a closure body detachably coupled to a co-injected valve. The closure body includes a main closure body coupled to a closure cap via a flexible hinge. The co-injected valve includes a valve head and a valve frame. The valve head includes a valve head portion with multiple valve head slits, a sleeve portion, and a peripheral sealing flange. The valve frame is permanently coupled to the valve head and includes a radial ledge and a radial wall that support the peripheral sealing flange of the valve head. The co-injected valve is fabricated via a two-step injection molding process. The first step includes fabricating the valve frame from a first injection material, and the second step includes fabricating the valve member from a second injection material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Gateway Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Proudfoot, Terrence M. Parve
  • Publication number: 20190161245
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a dispensing container includes a closure body detachably coupled to a co-injected valve. The closure body includes a main closure body coupled to a closure cap via a flexible hinge. The co-injected valve includes a valve head and a valve frame. The valve head includes a valve head portion with multiple valve head slits, a sleeve portion, and a peripheral sealing flange. The valve frame is permanently coupled to the valve head and includes a radial ledge and a radial wall that support the peripheral sealing flange of the valve head. The co-injected valve is fabricated via a two-step injection molding process. The first step includes fabricating the valve frame from a first injection material, and the second step includes fabricating the valve member from a second injection material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Robert E. Proudfoot, Terrence M. Parve
  • Publication number: 20190152648
    Abstract: A container for a retorting process includes a body. The body is configured to be coupled to a lid such that the lid and the body define an internal volume of the container. The body includes a lip, a wall, a support, a hinge, and an expansion panel. The lip is configured to be coupled to the lid. The wall is contiguous with the lip. The support is contiguous with the wall. The support is configured to interface with a surface to support the container on the surface. The hinge is contiguous with the support opposite the wall. The expansion panel is contiguous with the hinge. The hinge is configured to facilitate displacement of the expansion panel relative to the support to selectively increase the internal volume of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Terrence M. Parve, Robert E. Proudfoot
  • Patent number: 9868572
    Abstract: A closure includes a body having an open bottom formed of a skirt that defines an outer periphery of the body and an end wall defining a body dispensing aperture and a raised body portion providing a closed barrier. The closure also includes a cover coupled to the end wall of the body and having a cover dispensing aperture, the cover being rotatably movable relative to the body between a dispensing position with the cover dispensing aperture substantially aligned with the body dispensing aperture, and a closed position with the cover dispensing aperture substantially aligned with the raised body portion, wherein the cover dispensing aperture includes one or more dividers defining sub-apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: GATEWAY PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventors: William C. Vogel, Terrence M. Parve, Robert E. Proudfoot
  • Publication number: 20160376078
    Abstract: A closure includes a body having an open bottom formed of a skirt that defines an outer periphery of the body and an end wall defining a body dispensing aperture and a raised body portion providing a closed barrier. The closure also includes a cover coupled to the end wall of the body and having a cover dispensing aperture, the cover being rotatably movable relative to the body between a dispensing position with the cover dispensing aperture substantially aligned with the body dispensing aperture, and a closed position with the cover dispensing aperture substantially aligned with the raised body portion, wherein the cover dispensing aperture includes one or more dividers defining sub-apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: Gateway Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Vogel, Terrence M. Parve, Robert E. Proudfoot
  • Patent number: 9475623
    Abstract: A closure includes a body having an open bottom formed of a skirt that defines an outer periphery of the body and an end wall defining a body dispensing aperture and a raised body portion providing a closed barrier. The closure also includes a cover coupled to the end wall of the body and having a cover dispensing aperture, the cover being rotatably movable relative to the body between a dispensing position with the cover dispensing aperture substantially aligned with the body dispensing aperture, and a closed position with the cover dispensing aperture substantially aligned with the raised body portion, wherein the cover dispensing aperture includes one or more dividers defining sub-apertures, and wherein each of the one or more dividers includes a flat top surface and extends away from the flat surface to form a pointed bottom edge that projects toward the open bottom of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GATEWAY PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventors: William C. Vogel, Terrence M. Parve, Robert E. Proudfoot
  • Publication number: 20150114964
    Abstract: A closure includes a body having an open bottom formed of a skirt that defines an outer periphery of the body and an end wall defining a body dispensing aperture and a raised body portion providing a closed barrier. The closure also includes a cover coupled to the end wall of the body and having a cover dispensing aperture, the cover being rotatably movable relative to the body between a dispensing position with the cover dispensing aperture substantially aligned with the body dispensing aperture, and a closed position with the cover dispensing aperture substantially aligned with the raised body portion, wherein the cover dispensing aperture includes one or more dividers defining sub-apertures, and wherein each of the one or more dividers includes a flat top surface and extends away from the flat surface to form a pointed bottom edge that projects toward the open bottom of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: GATEWAY PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventors: William C. Vogel, Terrence M. Parve, Robert E. Proudfoot
  • Patent number: 8955705
    Abstract: A closure is provided that is configured to fit over a mouth of a receptacle to form a container. The closure includes a body having an open bottom formed of a skirt that defines an outer periphery of the body and an end wall defining at least one body dispensing aperture. A cover has two or more cover dispensing apertures and is rotatably coupled to the body and movable between a dispensing position with at least one of the cover dispensing apertures aligned with the body dispensing aperture, and a closed position. A handle has segments extending between each of the cover dispensing apertures, and one or more cover position stops provide a tactile or an audible indication when the cover is moved to either of the dispensing position or the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Gateway Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Vogel, Terrence M. Parve, Robert E. Proudfoot
  • Publication number: 20130248529
    Abstract: A closure is provided that is configured to fit over a mouth of a receptacle to form a container. The closure includes a body having an open bottom formed of a skirt that defines an outer periphery of the body and an end wall defining at least one body dispensing aperture. A cover has two or more cover dispensing apertures and is rotatably coupled to the body and movable between a dispensing position with at least one of the cover dispensing apertures aligned with the body dispensing aperture, and a closed position. A handle has segments extending between each of the cover dispensing apertures, and one or more cover position stops provide a tactile or an audible indication when the cover is moved to either of the dispensing position or the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: William C. Vogel, Terrence M. Parve, Robert E. Proudfoot
  • Patent number: D679181
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Gateway Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Vogel, Terrence M. Parve, Robert E. Proudfoot
  • Patent number: D714144
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Gateway Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Vogel, Terrence M. Parve, Robert E. Proudfoot
  • Cap
    Patent number: D920113
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Gateway Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Vogel, Terrence M. Parve, Robert E. Proudfoot, Ryan J. Gundrum