Patents by Inventor Stanley J. Kopecky

Stanley J. Kopecky 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: 7563468
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chewing gum package made from an outer package containing one or more pieces of chewing gum. The package includes at least one disposal sheet to wrap chewing gum cuds for proper disposal. The presence of the disposal sheet serves as a reminder to the consumer to dispose of chewing gum cuds appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: James A. Bougoulas, William T. Boyd, Stanley J. Kopecky, Barbara L. Admans, Marco A. Garcia, Shai Altman, Nikolas J. Harte
  • Patent number: 7032754
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved product holding and dispensing package and an improved method for manufacturing, holding and storing products, especially consumable products. In an embodiment, a package for a consumable product is provided. The package includes a housing. A sheet is disposed inside the housing. A number of consumable products releaseably attach or adhere to the sheet. The products are configured within the housing so that a consumer can grasp and remove at least one of the consumable products from the sheet and the housing. In an embodiment, the sheet is attached to the housing and the products adhere to the sheet via a heat activated adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventor: Stanley J. Kopecky
  • Patent number: 6776288
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved product holding and dispensing package and an improved method for providing, holding and storing products, especially consumable products. The package includes a housing, a product insert and a wrapper that initially seals the outside of the housing. The housing includes an opening that enables a consumer to remove and reinsert the insert from and into the housing. When the consumer removes the insert from the housing, the consumer can remove one or more products from the insert. A compartment that holds the one or more removed products is constructed to hold its shape even after the product is removed so that the insert as a whole maintains its shape even when the insert is partially or substantially empty. The insert in a preferred embodiment slightly press-fits or biases against a number of the walls of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventor: Stanley J. Kopecky
  • Publication number: 20030080015
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved product holding and dispensing package. More specifically, the present invention provides a package and method by which a gum product can include information concerning giveaways, sweepstakes, contests, etc. In an embodiment, a gum package having giveaway information is provided. The gum package includes a body. The body defines opposing end walls. A tab attaches to the body, whereby a consumer can grasp the tab to remove one of the end walls. The removable end wall allows the consumer to remove a gum product from the body and also to view the giveaway information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Stanley J. Kopecky
  • Publication number: 20030080021
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved product holding and dispensing package and an improved method for providing, holding and storing products, especially consumable products. The package includes a housing, a product insert and a wrapper that initially seals the outside of the housing. The housing includes an opening that enables a consumer to remove and reinsert the insert from and into the housing. When the consumer removes the insert from the housing, the consumer can remove one or more products from the insert. A compartment that holds the one or more removed products is constructed to hold its shape even after the product is removed so that the insert as a whole maintains its shape even when the insert is partially or substantially empty. The insert in a preferred embodiment slightly press-fits or biases against a number of the walls of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Stanley J. Kopecky
  • Publication number: 20030080020
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved product holding and dispensing package and an improved method for manufacturing, holding and storing products, especially consumable products. In an embodiment, a package for a consumable product is provided. The package includes a housing. A sheet is disposed inside the housing. A number of consumable products releaseably attach or adhere to the sheet. The products are configured within the housing so that a consumer can grasp and remove at least one of the consumable products from the sheet and the housing. In an embodiment, the sheet is attached to the housing and the products adhere to the sheet via a heat activated adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Stanley J. Kopecky
  • Patent number: 6010724
    Abstract: A wrapper for housing chewing gum. The wrapper includes a substrate having a front and a back surface. The front surface includes a top edge, a first side edge, a bottom edge, a second side edge, and three areas of adhesive. A first area of adhesive is located along a portion of the front surface that is adjacent to the first edge and the top edge. A third area of adhesive is located along a portion of the front surface that is adjacent to the second side edge and the top edge. And a second edge of adhesive is located along a portion of the front surface that is in juxtaposition to, but not touching, the bottom edge. A stick of chewing gum and method of wrapping the stick of chewing gum are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr., Company
    Inventors: William T. Boyd, Stanley J. Kopecky, Patricia McCarren, Michael Shulski, Joseph G. Zurawski
  • Patent number: 6001397
    Abstract: A wrapper for housing chewing gum. The wrapper includes a substrate having a front and a back surface. The front surface includes a top edge, a first side edge, a bottom edge, a second side edge, and three areas of adhesive. A first area of adhesive extends along a portion of the front surface that is adjacent to the first edge. A third area of adhesive extends along a portion of the front surface that is adjacent to the second side edge. And a second edge of adhesive extends between the first and third areas of adhesive of a portion of the front surface that is in juxtaposition to, but not touching, the bottom edge. A stick of chewing gum and method of wrapping the stick of chewing gum are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: William T. Boyd, Stanley J. Kopecky, Patricia McCarren, Michael Shulski
  • Patent number: 5972392
    Abstract: A stick of chewing gum is provided as well as methods for manufacturing same. The chewing gum comprises a body constructed from a water soluble gum portion and a water insoluble base, the body including at least one embossed region. A wrapper substantially surrounds the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: WRICO Packaging
    Inventors: Stanley J. Kopecky, Barbara L. Admans
  • Patent number: 5510124
    Abstract: A method for providing single units of sugarless chewing gum and compositions so packaged. Individual pieces of chewing gum are provided which units will have a sufficiently long shelf life in order to allow the units to be sold and carried by a consumer even in environments that are detrimental to the stability of chewing gum, e.g., high temperature and humidity. To this end, a piece of chewing gum is provided that is substantially sugar free and that is surrounded by a wrapper, with at least a first portion of the wrapper being sealed to a second portion of the wrapper to create a sealed environment that houses the piece of chewing gum. The wrapper has a moisture vapor permeation rate of less than 0.10 g/100 in.sup.2 /24 hr at 100.degree. F., 90% RH as measured by ASTM method F1249-90. In an embodiment, the wrapper has an oxygen permeability that is less than 0.10 cc/100 in.sup.2 /24 hr at 1 ATM as measured by ASTM method D3985-81.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Stanley J. Kopecky, Daniela Zaluda, Christafor E. Sundstrom, Steven E. Zibell, William T. Boyd
  • Patent number: D479464
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventor: Stanley J. Kopecky
  • Patent number: D484046
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventor: Stanley J. Kopecky