Patents by Inventor Sharon Juntunen

Sharon Juntunen 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: 10647488
    Abstract: A transportable container for flowable bulk goods includes a bottom support and a stretch wrap spirally wrapped around the bottom support and extending vertically in relationship to the bottom support. Bulk goods are disposed within the stretch wrap and at least of portion of the bulk goods are disposed in direct contact with the stretch wrap to squeeze the bulk goods together and generate hoop forces for stabilizing the bulk goods in the transportable container. The transportable container has a shape that varies radially in vertical relationship to the bottom support for adjusting the hoop forces vertically along the transportable container. The varied shape of the transportable container can be, for example, tapered, hour-glass shaped, or pumpkin shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KELLOGG COMPANY
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen
  • Publication number: 20170152090
    Abstract: A transportable container for flowable bulk goods includes a bottom support and a stretch wrap spirally wrapped around the bottom support and extending vertically in relationship to the bottom support. Bulk goods are disposed within the stretch wrap and at least of portion of the bulk goods are disposed in direct contact with the stretch wrap to squeeze the bulk goods together and generate hoop forces for stabilizing the bulk goods in the transportable container. The transportable container has a shape that varies radially in vertical relationship to the bottom support for adjusting the hoop forces vertically along the transportable container. The varied shape of the transportable container can be, for example, tapered, hour-glass shaped, or pumpkin shaped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen
  • Publication number: 20120318790
    Abstract: A transportable container for flowable bulk goods includes a bottom support and a stretch wrap spirally wrapped around the bottom support and extending vertically in relationship to the bottom support. Bulk goods are disposed within the stretch wrap and at least of portion of the bulk goods are disposed in direct contact with the stretch wrap to squeeze the bulk goods together and generate hoop forces for stabilizing the bulk goods in the transportable container. The transportable container has a shape that varies radially in vertical relationship to the bottom support for adjusting the hoop forces vertically along the transportable container. The varied shape of the transportable container can be, for example, tapered, hour-glass shaped, or pumpkin shaped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen
  • Patent number: 8276347
    Abstract: A transportable container for flowable bulk goods is formed by disposing an outer wrap around a bottom support and a portion of a vertically spaced slip frame former. One of the slip frame former and the bottom support moves vertically relative to other in response to the fill level of the bulk goods. As bulk goods are added to the transportable container, the position of the slip frame former is radially adjusted to modify the shape of the transportable container. As the fill level increases in the transportable container, previously disposed portions of outer wrap are disengaged from the slip frame former to squeeze the filled portions of the transportable container. Additional portions of outer wrap are disposed around a portion of the slip frame former to maintain the transportable container for receiving bulk goods as the previously disposed portions of outer wrap are disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen
  • Publication number: 20120217185
    Abstract: A transportable container for flowable bulk goods is formed by disposing an outer wrap around a bottom support and a portion of a vertically spaced slip frame former. One of the slip frame former and the bottom support moves vertically relative to other in response to the fill level of the bulk goods. As bulk goods are added to the transportable container, the position of the slip frame former is radially adjusted to modify the shape of the transportable container. As the fill level increases in the transportable container, previously disposed portions of outer wrap are disengaged from the slip frame former to squeeze the filled portions of the transportable container. Additional portions of outer wrap are disposed around a portion of the slip frame former to maintain the transportable container for receiving bulk goods as the previously disposed portions of outer wrap are disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen
  • Patent number: 8191341
    Abstract: A transportable container for flowable bulk goods is formed by vertically spacing a slip frame former from a bottom support. An outer wrap is disposed around the bottom support and a portion of at least one former wall to initially form the transportable container prior to the addition of the bulk goods into the transportable container. At least one of the slip frame former and the bottom support moves vertically relative to other in response to the fill level of the bulk goods. As the fill level increases in the transportable container, previously disposed portions of outer wrap are disengaged from the slip frame former to squeeze the filled portions of the transportable container and lock together the bulk goods disposed in the transportable container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen
  • Patent number: 8104520
    Abstract: A method of forming a transportable container of bulk goods begins by placing the distributing end of a hopper over the open top of a bunched bag. Bulk goods are dispensed from the distributing end of the hopper through the open top of the bag to establish a level of bulk goods in the bag. The hopper moves vertically relative to the closed base of the bag during the dispensing of bulk goods from the distributing end of the hopper to maintain vertical spacing between the distributing end of the hopper and the level of bulk goods in the bag. A hopper fill level is maintained in the hopper during the dispensing of bulk goods from the hopper. An outer wrap is spirally wrapped around the bag while filling the bag to form the transportable container. The outer wrap is maintained near the level of bulk goods in the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen, Stanley Davis, Clark Kreider
  • Patent number: 7980386
    Abstract: The lifting system includes a lifting portion and a hinging portion for lifting a conveyor The lifting portion is fixed to a structure and extends from the structure to mate with the conveyor at a lifting point. The lifting portion moves the conveyor vertically upward and downward at the lifting point with no horizontal movement at the lifting point. The hinging portion is pivotally connected to the conveyor at a conveyor pivot and extends from the conveyor to engage the structure. The hinging portion is further pivotally connected to the structure to allow for controlled movement in an arced path at the conveyor pivot of the conveyor. The controlled movement of the conveyor along the arced path at the conveyor pivot varies the angular position of the conveyor and maintains the position of the conveyor over the transportable container as the lifting portion moves the conveyor vertically at the lifting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen, Stanley L. Davis, Stanley L. Davis, II
  • Patent number: 7921624
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a transportable container for bulk goods. A bag is placed through a former opening of a slip frame former which surrounds a portion of the bag. The bag receives the bulk goods from a feed source. A stretch wrap is disposed radially about a bottom support and a portion of the slip frame former to initially form the transportable container. At least one of the slip frame former and the bottom support moves relative to other in response to the fill level of the bulk goods in the bag. During filling, the slip frame former is maintained at a position surrounding the fill level of the bulk goods in the bag. As the fill level increases in the bag, previously disposed portions of stretch wrap are disengaged from the slip frame former to squeeze the filled portions of the bag and lock together the bulk goods as additional portions of stretch wrap are disposed around the slip frame former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen
  • Publication number: 20100051618
    Abstract: A transportable container for flowable bulk goods is formed by vertically spacing a slip frame former from a bottom support. An outer wrap is disposed around the bottom support and a portion of at least one former wall to initially form the transportable container prior to the addition of the bulk goods into the transportable container. At least one of the slip frame former and the bottom support moves vertically relative to other in response to the fill level of the bulk goods. As the fill level increases in the transportable container, previously disposed portions of outer wrap are disengaged from the slip frame former to squeeze the filled portions of the transportable container and lock together the bulk goods disposed in the transportable container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen
  • Publication number: 20100025192
    Abstract: The lifting system includes a lifting portion and a hinging portion for lifting a conveyor The lifting portion is fixed to a structure and extends from the structure to mate with the conveyor at a lifting point. The lifting portion moves the conveyor vertically upward and downward at the lifting point with no horizontal movement at the lifting point. The hinging portion is pivotally connected to the conveyor at a conveyor pivot and extends from the conveyor to engage the structure. The hinging portion is further pivotally connected to the structure to allow for controlled movement in an arced path at the conveyor pivot of the conveyor. The controlled movement of the conveyor along the arced path at the conveyor pivot varies the angular position of the conveyor and maintains the position of the conveyor over the transportable container as the lifting portion moves the conveyor vertically at the lifting point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen, Stanley L. Davis, Stanley L. Davis, II
  • Publication number: 20090308486
    Abstract: A method of forming a transportable container of bulk goods begins by placing the distributing end of a hopper over the open top of a bunched bag. Bulk goods are dispensed from the distributing end of the hopper through the open top of the bag to establish a level of bulk goods in the bag. The hopper moves vertically relative to the closed base of the bag during the dispensing of bulk goods from the distributing end of the hopper to maintain vertical spacing between the distributing end of the hopper and the level of bulk goods in the bag. A hopper fill level is maintained in the hopper during the dispensing of bulk goods from the hopper. An outer wrap is spirally wrapped around the bag while filling the bag to form the transportable container. The outer wrap is maintained near the level of bulk goods in the bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen, Stanley Davis, Clark Kreider
  • Publication number: 20090301036
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a transportable container for bulk goods. A bag is placed through a former opening of a slip frame former which surrounds a portion of the bag. The bag receives the bulk goods from a feed source. A stretch wrap is disposed radially about a bottom support and a portion of the slip frame former to initially form the transportable container. At least one of the slip frame former and the bottom support moves relative to other in response to the fill level of the bulk goods in the bag. During filling, the slip frame former is maintained at a position surrounding the fill level of the bulk goods in the bag. As the fill level increases in the bag, previously disposed portions of stretch wrap are disengaged from the slip frame former to squeeze the filled portions of the bag and lock together the bulk goods as additional portions of stretch wrap are disposed around the slip frame former.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Dave Ours, Sharon Juntunen