Patents by Inventor Stephen P. Wilcox

Stephen P. Wilcox 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: 9221565
    Abstract: A method of sealing a package containing a food product is provided. The method comprises applying a lid to a non-planar flange surrounding a periphery of the food package. The method comprises supporting at least a portion of the non-planar flange and progressively sealing the lid to the supported portion of the non-planar flange by applying pressure at one or more tangent points against the lid and the flange using a sealing member having a pressure applying surface that rotates about an axis of rotation and one of radially varies relative to the axis of rotation and the axis of rotation reciprocates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC
    Inventor: Stephen P. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20150129594
    Abstract: Food packages comprising a tray with a cover sealed about a surrounding flange of the tray are provided, where the flange is non-planar. The flange can have a planar leading edge and a planar trailing edge that lie in planes angled relative to each other. Side edges of the flange extending between the leading and trailing edges can include non-planar segments in addition to planar segments. A recloseable feature can also be provided with the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald H. Exner, Adam Lloyd, Stephen P. Wilcox, Jo-Ann Clark, Vincenzo Disavino, Leonard S. Scarola, Paul Anthony Zerfas
  • Publication number: 20150096270
    Abstract: A method of sealing a package containing a food product is provided. The method comprises applying a lid to a non-planar flange surrounding a periphery of the food package. The method comprises supporting at least a portion of the non-planar flange and progressively sealing the lid to the supported portion of the non-planar flange by applying pressure at one or more tangent points against the lid and the flange using a sealing member having a pressure applying surface that rotates about an axis of rotation and one of radially varies relative to the axis of rotation and the axis of rotation reciprocates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Stephen P. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 6110512
    Abstract: Packaging for food products is provided which combines a flexible pouch within a stand-up tent-style carton which effects display of the product in an upright orientation within a divided merchandiser. The carton has a non-uniform width. The bottom portion of the carton is narrower than the top portion of the carton, as a result of which the carton, and thus the entire package, complies with a very strict display face dimension limit of the merchandiser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Kraft Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur C. Teasdale, Stephen P. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 6063416
    Abstract: Packaging for food products is provided which combines a flexible pouch with a tent-style paperboard carton which effects display of the product in an upright orientation, such as suspended from a merchandiser peg. The flexible pouch has a folded-over mouth portion which provides a folded width that is less than the width of the tent-style carton and preferably also less than the width of the pouch along its unfolded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Kraft Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur C. Teasdale, Stephen P. Wilcox