Patents by Inventor Robert H. Brainard

Robert H. Brainard 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: 5437389
    Abstract: A unitary beverage container includes a main body defining a container volume. A flexible straw is fluidly connected at a proximal end with the volume adjacent the bottom of the main body. The flexible straw also includes a distal end in the form of a hollow mouthpiece having a central aperture therein with the mouthpiece is located adjacent the top of the main body. In many configurations of the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece includes a cylindrical base portion from which levers extend. An attaching mechanism removably attaches the mouthpiece of the flexible straw to the top of main body and closes the aperture of the mouthpiece. The attaching mechanism includes a short hollow bridge extending from the aperture at the distal end of the flexible straw which is broken during removal of the flexible straw to uncover the aperture prior to use. The hollow bridge is connected to a hollow chamber which is attached to the top. A concavity in which the mouthpiece is received is provided at the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Kraft Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Kaufman, Theodore J. Kovacic, Hideyoshi Okita, Martin M. Bostwick, Andrew T. Kostanecki, Robert H. Brainard, Patrick B. Nolan
  • Patent number: 5385264
    Abstract: A unitary beverage container includes a main body defining a container volume. A flexible straw is fluidly connected at a proximal end with the volume adjacent the bottom of the main body. The flexible straw includes a series of segments which provide bending diaphragms. The straw also includes a distal end which is preferably in the form of a planar hollow mouthpiece having vertical wings and a central aperture therein with the mouthpiece is located adjacent the top of the main body. The segments of the straw near the bottom are strengthened and a curved portion of the straw has wedge shaped segments. An attaching mechanism removably attaches the distal end of the flexible straw to the top of main body and closes the aperture of the distal end. The attaching mechanism includes a short hollow bridge extending from the aperture at the distal end of the flexible straw which is broken during removal of the flexible straw to uncover the aperture prior to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Kaufman, Theodore J. Kovacic, Hideyoshi Okita, Martin M. Bostwick, Andrew T. Kostanecki, Robert H. Brainard, Patrick B. Nolan
  • Patent number: 5353955
    Abstract: Unitary beverage containers include a main body defining a container volume. A flexible conduit or straw is fluidly connected at a proximal end with the volume adjacent the bottom or top of the main body. The conduit or straw also includes a distal end which is preferably in the form of some shape of hollow mouthpiece having a central aperture therein with the mouthpiece is located adjacent the top of the main body. A connection or closing mechanism removably attaches a hollow member to the distal end of the flexible straw or conduit and closes the aperture of the distal end. The mechanism includes a short hollow bridge extending from the aperture at the distal end of the flexible straw or conduit which is broken during removal of the hollow member to uncover the aperture prior to use. The hollow member is otherwise isolated fluidly from the container volume. A indentation in which the mouthpiece and hollow member are received is provided at the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Kaufman, Theodore J. Kovacic, Hideyoshi Okita, Martin M. Bostwick, Andrew T. Kostanecki, Robert H. Brainard, Patrick B. Nolan
  • Patent number: 5280844
    Abstract: Unitary beverage containers and methods of filling thereof are disclosed where the beverage container includes a main body and a filling conduit extending from the top thereof which is closed off after filling. In embodiments with a separate straw, an attaching mechanism removably attaches the distal end of the flexible straw to the top of main body and closes the aperture in the distal end. The attaching mechanism includes a short hollow bridge extending from the aperture which is broken during removal of the flexible straw to uncover the aperture prior to use. The hollow bridge is connected to a hollow chamber member which is otherwise isolated fluidly from the container volume. A concavity is provided at the top in which a mouthpiece at the distal end of the straw is received. In some preferred embodiments, the filling conduit extends from the top of the main body, and from adjacent the mouthpiece or from the mouthpiece itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Kaufman, Theodore J. Kovacic, Hideyoshi Okita, Martin M. Bestwick, Andrew T. Kostanecki, Robert H. Brainard, Partick B. Nolan
  • Patent number: D303760
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: General Foods Corporation
    Inventor: Robert H. Brainard
  • Patent number: D307543
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: General Foods Corporation
    Inventors: George Mileos, Robert H. Brainard
  • Patent number: D309566
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: George Mileos, Robert H. Brainard
  • Patent number: D327006
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin M. Bostwick, Andrew T. Kostanecki, Robert H. Brainard
  • Patent number: D337518
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin M. Bostwick, Andrew T. Kostanecki, Robert H. Brainard
  • Patent number: D337724
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin M. Bostwich, Andrew T. Kostanecki, Robert H. Brainard
  • Patent number: D349418
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Kostanecki, Robert H. Brainard
  • Patent number: D349455
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Kostanecki, Robert H. Brainard, Richard H. Kaufman
  • Patent number: D351993
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Kaufman, Theodore J. Kovacic, Hideyoshi Okita, Martin M. Bostwick, Andrew T. Kostanecki, Robert H. Brainard, Patrick B. Nolan