Patents by Inventor Robert J. Croft

Robert J. Croft 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: 9173530
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a multi-component composition such as an oral care composition. The apparatus comprises a plurality of compartments, each containing a respective component of an composition, an orifice communicating with the plurality of compartments, and a common electrical drive mechanism for simultaneously dispensing the respective components from the plurality of compartments through the orifice. The electrical drive mechanism may comprise a single motor. Each compartment may include a respective piston for extruding a respective component of the composition from the apparatus, the pistons of the plurality of compartments being driven by a common gear mechanism coupled to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter J. Fallat, II, Lester R. Greer, Jr., Robert J. Croft, Martin C. Short
  • Publication number: 20130264358
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a multi-component composition such as an oral care composition. The apparatus comprises a plurality of compartments, each containing a respective component of an composition, an orifice communicating with the plurality of compartments, and a common electrical drive mechanism for simultaneously dispensing the respective components from the plurality of compartments through the orifice. The electrical drive mechanism may comprise a single motor. Each compartment may include a respective piston for extruding a respective component of the composition from the apparatus, the pistons of the plurality of compartments being driven by a common gear mechanism coupled to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter J. Fallat II, Lester R. Greer, Robert J. Croft, Martin C. Short
  • Publication number: 20020063140
    Abstract: A flexible container for storing fluid includes a body and a neck portion. The body has a hollow interior and is formed of at least one flexible sheet. The neck portion is integral with the body and is formed of the flexible sheet. The neck portion defines a discharge passage between the hollow interior of the body and an opening. The discharge passage of the neck portion has a width in a range of 0.25-0.50 in. when sides of the flexible sheet are flat against one another at the neck portion, and a length between the body and the opening in a range of 0.37-0.62 in. With this design, fluid having a viscosity and a density around that of water will be discharged at an optimum discharge angle and discharge pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: ROBERT J. CROFT, MARTIN C. SHORT, JIM WARNER
  • Patent number: 6367670
    Abstract: A container cap for attachment to the threaded neck of a container from which a liquid is to be dispensed, which includes a base portion having a circular upper face and a depending skirt, with the skirt being threaded on an interior surface to lockingly engage the container neck. The upper face of the container has a triangular-shaped opening extending therethrough with an integral upstanding pour spout extending around the perimeter of the pour spout. The sidewalls of the pour spout converge toward one edge of the upper face and are joined by a curve of small radius to form a tip, with the other end of the sidewalls being joined by a curve of substantially larger radius. The upper ends of the sidewalls are curved outwardly and have an outwardly extending rib at the tip portion of the pour spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Jim F. Warner, Robert J. Croft, Martin Short, Insun Yun
  • Patent number: 6227441
    Abstract: A food storage container has a generally rigid tubular sleeve with a generally constant cross-sectional shape along the length thereof and with first and second open ends. A flexible inner storage bag is located within the generally rigid tubular sleeve for storing a food product, and, most preferably, for storing potato chips or other food chips. A generally rigid sleeve includes a first tab adjacent the first open end of the outer sleeve formed by cutting a corner of the outer sleeve and folding the cut corner inward and a second tab adjacent the second open end of the outer sleeve formed by cutting a corner of the outer sleeve and folding the cut corner inward. These first and second tabs retain the inner storage bag within the sleeve. The tabs can be manually moved aside to access the inner bag and thus the food contents therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Sagel, Robert J. Croft
  • Patent number: 6074677
    Abstract: A vacuum packed food container has a vacuum packed inner bag and a clear or transparent outer container body. The inner bag within the container body has a food product therein. The food product is preferably a food chip, such as a potato chip or a masa based chip. A lid is detachably connected to the container body. The lid covers an opening that leads to the interior of the inner bag. The inner bag has a vacuum therein that draws the bag against the food product therein. When the lid is detached from the container body, the vacuum within the inner container is released while the vacuum in an air space around the inner bag is maintained such that the inner bag expands outward by atmospheric pressure entering the inner bag and moves towards the inner surface of the outer container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Croft
  • Patent number: D436040
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Jim F. Warner, Robert J. Croft, Martin Short, Insun Yun
  • Patent number: D436861
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Sagel, Robert J. Croft
  • Patent number: D437221
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Sagel, Robert J. Croft
  • Patent number: D439838
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Sagel, Robert J. Croft
  • Patent number: D446445
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Croft, Martin C. Short, Jim Warner
  • Patent number: D447693
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Nestec, S.A.
    Inventors: Jim F. Warner, Robert J. Croft, Martin Short
  • Patent number: D448667
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Societe de Produits Nestle, S.A.
    Inventors: Jim F. Warner, Robert J. Croft, Martin Short, Sergio Gedanke, Insun Yun
  • Patent number: D560487
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Boettcher, Patricia L. Sullivan, Bradley G. Weed, Bryan Pieratt, Robert J. Croft, Martin C. Short, Goeran Jerstroem, Agnete Enga, Allen Zadeh
  • Patent number: D423849
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Croft, James F. Warner, Norman D. Poisson, Insun Yun
  • Patent number: D426153
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Sagel, Robert J. Croft
  • Patent number: D426773
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Jim F. Warner, Robert J. Croft, Martin Short
  • Patent number: D427065
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Sagel, Robert J. Croft
  • Patent number: D429647
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Nestec S. A.
    Inventors: Jim F. Warner, Robert J. Croft, Martin Short, Sergio Gedanke, Insun Yun
  • Patent number: D435440
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Croft, Martin C. Short, Jim Warner