Patents by Inventor Robert L. Sutherland

Robert L. Sutherland 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: 11325764
    Abstract: A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a bottom panel, a top panel, and a side panel. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels. The at least two end flaps can at least partially form a closed end of the carton, and the at least two end flaps can comprise a first end flap foldably connected to at least one panel of the plurality of panels at a first fold line and a second end flap foldably connected to the at least one panel at a second fold line. The second fold line is oblique relative to the first fold line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond R. Spivey, Sr., Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 10766663
    Abstract: A divider for dividing at least two layers of articles in a package. The divider comprises a central panel, and at least one article attachment flap foldably connected to the central panel. The at least one article attachment flap is for attaching the divider to at least one of the articles as the divider and the articles are formed into the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Neil Lettre, Robert L. Sutherland
  • Publication number: 20180346180
    Abstract: A divider for dividing at least two layers of articles in a package. The divider comprises a central panel, and at least one article attachment flap foldably connected to the central panel. The at least one article attachment flap is for attaching the divider to at least one of the articles as the divider and the articles are formed into the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Neil Lettre, Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 10077131
    Abstract: A divider for dividing at least two layers of articles in a package. The divider comprises a central panel, and at least one article attachment flap foldably connected to the central panel. The at least one article attachment flap is for attaching the divider to at least one of the articles as the divider and the articles are formed into the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Neil Lettre, Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 10023372
    Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton comprises a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton and a dispenser comprising a dispenser panel. The dispenser panel is at least partially defined by a tear line extending in at least one panel of the plurality of panels. The dispenser panel can be at least partially removable from the carton to create a dispenser opening. The carton also can comprise a handle for grasping and carrying the carton. The handle comprises a handle feature extending in at least the dispenser panel, and at least a portion of the handle can be removable from the carton with the dispenser panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond S. Kastanek, Mark Baldino, Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 9708112
    Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of articles. The carrier comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a first top panel foldably connected to a second top panel and a back panel. The second top panel can be oblique with respect to the first top panel and the back panel. A crown retention feature can be in the back panel adjacent the first top panel for at least partially receiving a top portion of a first article of the plurality of articles. A crown receiving opening can be in the second top panel spaced apart from the first top panel for at least partially receiving a top portion of a second article of the plurality of articles so that the top portion of the second article extends at least partially through the crown receiving opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Sutherland, Mark Zammit, Colin P. Ford, Kevin T. May
  • Publication number: 20160272393
    Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton comprises a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton and a dispenser comprising a dispenser panel. The dispenser panel is at least partially defined by a tear line extending in at least one panel of the plurality of panels. The dispenser panel can be at least partially removable from the carton to create a dispenser opening. The carton also can comprise a handle for grasping and carrying the carton. The handle comprises a handle feature extending in at least the dispenser panel, and at least a portion of the handle can be removable from the carton with the dispenser panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Raymond S. Kastanek, Mark Baldino, Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 9415915
    Abstract: A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a bottom panel, a top panel, and a side panel. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels. The at least two end flaps can at least partially form a closed end of the carton, and the at least two end flaps can comprise a first end flap foldably connected to at least one panel of the plurality of panels at a first fold line and a second end flap foldably connected to the at least one panel at a second fold line. The second fold line is oblique relative to the first fold line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond R. Spivey, Sr., Robert L. Sutherland
  • Publication number: 20160221737
    Abstract: A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a bottom panel, a top panel, and a side panel. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels. The at least two end flaps can at least partially form a closed end of the carton, and the at least two end flaps can comprise a first end flap foldably connected to at least one panel of the plurality of panels at a first fold line and a second end flap foldably connected to the at least one panel at a second fold line. The second fold line is oblique relative to the first fold line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Raymond R. Spivey, SR., Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 9387968
    Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of articles. The carrier includes a plurality of panels including at least a bottom panel. A retention tab can be for engaging at least a portion of an article of the plurality of articles and can be foldably connected to at least the bottom panel adjacent an opening in at least the bottom panel. The retention tab can include a distal portion foldably connected to a first proximal portion along a first fold line and to a second proximal portion along a second fold line. The first fold line can be spaced apart from the second fold line. The distal portion can be generally spaced apart from the bottom panel for engaging at least a bottom portion of the at least one article, and each of the first and second proximal portions can extend from the bottom panel to the distal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Zammit, Robert L. Sutherland, Kevin T. May
  • Patent number: 9376230
    Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton comprises a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton and a dispenser comprising a dispenser panel. The dispenser panel is at least partially defined by a tear line extending in at least one panel of the plurality of panels. The dispenser panel can be at least partially removable from the carton to create a dispenser opening. The carton also can comprise a handle for grasping and carrying the carton. The handle comprises a handle feature extending in at least the dispenser panel, and at least a portion of the handle can be removable from the carton with the dispenser panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond S. Kastanek, Mark Baldino, Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 9359093
    Abstract: A package for holding a plurality of articles. The package has panels that cooperate to at least partially form an interior of the package. The panels comprise a top panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel, and at least one end panel foldably connected to the top panel. At least one opening is in the top panel for at least partially receiving at least a portion of one of the articles. At least one retention flap is foldably connected to the top panel adjacent the at least one opening. The at least one retention flap has a free edge for engaging at least one article of the plurality of articles. The at least one retention flap is at least partially defined by at least one J-shaped cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Coltri DePaula, Robert L. Sutherland
  • Publication number: 20160152374
    Abstract: A divider for dividing at least two layers of articles in a package. The divider comprises a central panel, and at least one article attachment flap foldably connected to the central panel. The at least one article attachment flap is for attaching the divider to at least one of the articles as the divider and the articles are formed into the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Neil Lettre, Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 9284090
    Abstract: A divider for dividing at least two layers of articles in a package. The divider comprises a central panel, and at least one article attachment flap foldably connected to the central panel. The at least one article attachment flap is for attaching the divider to at least one of the articles as the divider and the articles are formed into the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Lettre, Robert L. Sutherland
  • Publication number: 20150239628
    Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of articles. The carrier comprises a plurality of panels comprising at least a bottom panel. A retention tab can be for engaging at least a portion of an article of the plurality of articles and can be foldably connected to at least the bottom panel adjacent an opening in at least the bottom panel. The retention tab can comprise a distal portion foldably connected to a first proximal portion along a first fold line and to a second proximal portion along a second fold line. The first fold line can be spaced apart from the second fold line. The distal portion can be generally spaced apart from the bottom panel for engaging at least a bottom portion of at least one article, and each of the first proximal portion and the second proximal portion can extend from the bottom panel to the distal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Mark Zammit, Robert L. Sutherland, Kevin T. May
  • Publication number: 20150191284
    Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of articles. The carrier comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a first top panel foldably connected to a second top panel and a back panel. The second top panel can be oblique with respect to the first top panel and the back panel. A crown retention feature can be in the back panel adjacent the first top panel for at least partially receiving a top portion of a first article of the plurality of articles. A crown receiving opening can be in the second top panel spaced apart from the first top panel for at least partially receiving a top portion of a second article of the plurality of articles so that the top portion of the second article extends at least partially through the crown receiving opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Robert L. Sutherland, Mark Zammit, Colin P. Ford, Kevin T. May
  • Patent number: 9073682
    Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a bottom panel, a first side panel comprising a first lower side panel and a first upper side panel, a second side panel comprising a second lower side panel and a second upper side panel, a top panel, a first end panel, and a second end panel. A dispenser pattern defines a dispenser section at least in the first upper side panel, the top panel, the second upper side panel, and one of the first end panel and the second end panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick James DeBusk, Raymond Rudolph Spivey, Sr., Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 9010620
    Abstract: A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises at least one top panel and a reinforcement panel. A single phase handle extends in the at least one top panel and the reinforcement panel. The single phase handle can comprise at least one grip portion extending adjacent a handle opening on one side of the at least one grip portion. The handle opening can comprise a first opening in the at least one top panel and a second opening in the reinforcement panel. The second opening can be generally aligned with the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Sutherland, Raymond S. Kastanek, Raymond R. Spivey, Sr., Neil Lettre
  • Patent number: 8985433
    Abstract: A carton for carrying a plurality of articles includes a top panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, and a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel. The carton further includes a handle in at least the top panel. The handle comprises at least one handle flap foldably connected to the top panel at an arcuate fold line. The at least one handle flap is at least partially defined by a cut spaced apart from the arcuate fold line and extending across the top panel and into at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel. The at least one handle flap comprises at least two arcuate cuts for facilitating positioning of the at least one handle flap, each of the arcuate cuts comprises an end that is proximate to and spaced apart from the cut line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 8925720
    Abstract: A package for holding a plurality of containers. The package has a top panel and side panels. The package has retention features for retaining the containers and reinforcement features for reinforcing the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Sutherland, Colin P. Ford