Patents by Inventor Robert S. Konefal

Robert S. Konefal 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: 8757407
    Abstract: A package that has both child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation. A container has an end with an open mouth surrounded by a container wall with a central axis and at least one first lock element extending radially outwardly from the wall. A closure includes an annular base wall having inner and outer peripheral edges. A cylindrical skirt extends from the outer peripheral edge of the base wall, and at least one second lock element is disposed on the skirt. A projection extends axially from the inner peripheral edge of the base wall in a direction opposite from the skirt. The projection has an annular sidewall spaced radially inwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Rexam Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Konefal, Steven R. Wolfe, John M. Shingle
  • Patent number: 7891509
    Abstract: A package having child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation includes a plastic container having a cylindrical finish and at least one external thread on the finish spaced from the open end of the finish. An external circumferentially extending first engagement element is provided on the finish between the external thread and the open end of the finish, and has an outside diameter that is less than that of the external thread. A manually deflectable release element is externally cantilevered from the finish on a side of the thread remote from the open end. A plastic closure has a base wall and a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for engagement with the at least one external thread on the finish in a child-resistant mode of operation. There is at least one locking lug on the skirt for releasable engagement with the release element on the container in the child-resistant mode of operation. An annular wall extends from the base wall in a direction opposite from the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Rexam Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Konefal
  • Patent number: 7185776
    Abstract: A package includes a closure that is applied to a container. The closure includes a base wall having a cylindrical skirt depending therefrom. Locking lugs and cam lugs extend in a radially inward direction from the skirt. As the closure is applied down on the container, the locking lugs engage notches formed in the undersides of the projections and internal cam surfaces on the cam lugs engage external cam surfaces formed on projections disposed around the open end of the container. As a downward force is applied to the closure onto the container, the internal cam surface travels axially downwardly over the external cam surface, thereby causing the cylindrical skirt to spread radially outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S Konefal
  • Patent number: 7165692
    Abstract: A child-resistant closure and container package includes a container having an open end surrounded by a cylindrical wall with a central axis, a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the wall adjacent to the open end, notches on undersides of the projections, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced flexible resilient spring elements extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of the cylindrical wall and angularly disposed between the projections. A closure includes a base wall, a cylindrical skirt extending from the base wall to an axial edge spaced from the base wall, a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs extending radially inwardly from the skirt, and a circumferentially continuous annular wall extending axially from the base wall coaxially with and spaced radially inwardly from the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Konefal, Steven R. Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20040178165
    Abstract: A closure and container package includes a container having an open end surrounded by a cylindrical wall with an inside surface, at least one first lock element extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the wall adjacent to the open end, and a circumferential bead extending radially inwardly from the inner surface around the mouth. The closure includes a base wall, a cylindrical skirt extending from a peripheral edge of the base wall, and at least one second lock element on the skirt. An annular wall extends axially from the base wall in a direction opposite from the skirt. The annular wall is spaced radially inwardly from the peripheral edge of the base wall, and a circumferential bead extends radially outwardly from the annular wall at a position spaced from the base wall. The closure is secured to the container in a child-resistant mode of operation with the lock element on the container releasably engaged with the lock element on the closure skirt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Robert S. Konefal, Steven R. Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20040178164
    Abstract: A package having child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation includes a plastic container having a cylindrical finish and at least one external thread on the finish spaced from the open end of the finish. An external circumferentially extending first engagement element is provided on the finish between the external thread and the open end of the finish, and has an outside diameter that is less than that of the external thread. A manually deflectable release element is externally cantilevered from the finish on a side of the thread remote from the open end. A plastic closure has a base wall and a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for engagement with the at least one external thread on the finish in a child-resistant mode of operation. There is at least one locking lug on the skirt for releasable engagement with the release element on the container in the child-resistant mode of operation. An annular wall extends from the base wall in a direction opposite from the skirt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventor: Robert S. Konefal
  • Patent number: 6327770
    Abstract: A child resistant package which includes a container having an open end and multiple threads on the external surface of the container adjacent the upper end. A closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt has an inner surface formed with single or multiple threads corresponding in number to the multiple threads on the container for engaging the threads on the container. A deflectable release element is formed integrally on the container. The release element includes an integral axially deflectable lug extending upwardly toward the open end of the container. The closure has at least one locking lug on the skirt of the closure, the number of locking lugs preferably corresponding to the number of threads on the container and closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Konefal, Noel T. Vander
  • Patent number: 6039195
    Abstract: A child resistant package which includes a container having an open end and multiple threads on the external surface of the container adjacent the upper end. A closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt has an inner surface formed with single or multiple threads corresponding in number to the multiple threads on the container for engaging the threads on the container. A deflectable release element is formed integrally on the container. The release element includes an integral axially deflectable lug extending upwardly toward the open end of the container. The closure has at least one locking lug on the skirt of the closure, the number of locking lugs preferably corresponding to the number of threads on the container and closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Konefal, Noel T. Vander
  • Patent number: 5899348
    Abstract: A child resistant package which includes a container having an open end and single or multiple threads on the external surface of the container adjacent the upper end. A closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt has an inner surface formed with single or multiple threads corresponding in number to the multiple threads on the container for engaging the threads on the container. A deflectable release element is formed integrally on the container. The release element includes an integral axially deflectable lug extending upwardly toward the open end of the container. The closure has at least one locking lug on the skirt of the closure, the number of locking lugs preferably corresponding to the number of threads on the container and closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Konefal, Noel T. Vander
  • Patent number: 5662945
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming plastic hollow articles such as containers which includes a turret that includes an upper head and a lower head, each of which supports circumferentially spaced sets of core rods. The heads are rotated about a vertical axis and also are moved upwardly and downwardly about the vertical axis for positioning the core rods within the cavities of upper injection mold and upper blow mold and a lower set of injection and a lower set of blow molds. Each mold has an upper half and a lower half. The lower half of the upper mold is mounted in fixed position and the upper half of the lower mold is mounted in fixed position. The upper half of the upper mold and the lower half of the lower mold are movable axially vertically toward and away from their respective fixed mold halves to close about parisons on the core rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Konefal
  • Patent number: 5552105
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming plastic hollow articles such as containers which includes a turret that includes an upper head and a lower head, each of which supports circumferentially spaced sets of core rods. The heads are rotated about a vertical axis and also are moved upwardly and downwardly about the vertical axis for positioning the core rods within the cavities of upper injection mold and upper blow mold and a lower set of injection and a lower set of blow molds. Each mold has an upper half and a lower half. The lower half of the upper mold is mounted in fixed position and the upper half of the lower mold is mounted in fixed position. The upper half of the upper mold and the lower half of the lower mold are movable axially vertically toward and away from their respective fixed mold halves to close about parisons on the core rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Konefal
  • Patent number: 5385466
    Abstract: A face block (10) for an injection blow molding machine of the type used in producing thermoplastic containers. The face block has a lateral series of openings (14) extending axially therethrough, and each opening receives an end portion of an elongate tubular core rod (16). The core rod has an annular bushing (18) secured to the end portion that is received in the opening, and the opening is sized to permit radial movement of the annular bushing therein to permit the core rod to move relative to the face block. The annular bushing has an annular recess (18a) in an end surface thereof and the recess carries an elastomeric O-ring (20) which sealingly engages an inturned annular flange (14a) at the rear of the opening. The core rod is axially positioned relative to the annular flange to maintain the O-ring in sealing engagement therewith by a U-shaped retainer (22) which is secured to the front of the face block. The retainer has legs (22a, 22b) which engage a recess (16a) in the outside of the core rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Konefal