Patents by Inventor Steven A. Brucker

Steven A. Brucker 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).

  • Publication number: 20230348157
    Abstract: Various enhancements of tabbed seals are provided herein with enhanced grasping functionality. Such enhancements include an oversized tab structure for increasing the overall surface area of the tab. In some forms, the tab has been configured such that the overall gripping tab is larger, but a portion thereof is temporarily adhered to the lower laminate, such as during seal and/or cap installation. Instead, the gripping tab includes a small free portion and then a second, temporarily bonded portion that can either release or rupture, permitting the overall grippable portion of the tab to be large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, Steven A. Brucker
  • Patent number: 11724863
    Abstract: Various enhancements of tabbed seals are provided herein with enhanced grasping functionality. Such enhancements include an oversized tab structure for increasing the overall surface area of the tab. In some forms, the tab has been configured such that the overall gripping tab is larger, but a portion thereof is temporarily adhered to the lower laminate, such as during seal and/or cap installation. Instead, the gripping tab includes a small free portion and then a second, temporarily bonded portion that can either release or rupture, permitting the overall grippable portion of the tab to be large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Selig Sealing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, Steven A. Brucker
  • Patent number: 11708198
    Abstract: Various enhancements of tabbed seals are provided herein with enhanced grasping functionality. Such enhancements include an anti-slip coating, a polymer adhesive layer, embossing, increasing the thickness of the tab, and/or increasing the overall surface area of the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Selig Sealing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, Steven A. Brucker
  • Publication number: 20210292060
    Abstract: Various enhancements of tabbed seals are provided herein with enhanced grasping functionality. Such enhancements include an anti-slip coating, a polymer adhesive layer, embossing, increasing the thickness of the tab, and/or increasing the overall surface area of the tab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, Steven A. Brucker
  • Publication number: 20210292059
    Abstract: Various enhancements of tabbed seals are provided herein with enhanced grasping functionality. Such enhancements include an oversized tab structure for increasing the overall surface area of the tab. In some forms, the tab has been configured such that the overall gripping tab is larger, but a portion thereof is temporarily adhered to the lower laminate, such as during seal and/or cap installation. Instead, the gripping tab includes a small free portion and then a second, temporarily bonded portion that can either release or rupture, permitting the overall grippable portion of the tab to be large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, Steven A. Brucker
  • Patent number: 11059644
    Abstract: Tabbed sealing members with a robust tab structure having additional support under the tab and at a tab pivot or hinge joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Selig Sealing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Cassidy, Steven A. Brucker, Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, John J. Brown
  • Publication number: 20200140176
    Abstract: Tabbed sealing members with a robust tab structure having additional support under the tab and at a tab pivot or hinge joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen P. Cassidy, Steven A. Brucker, Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, John J. Brown
  • Patent number: 10556732
    Abstract: Tabbed sealing members with a robust tab structure having additional support under the tab and at a tab pivot or hinge joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Selig Sealing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Cassidy, Steven A. Brucker, Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, John J. Brown
  • Publication number: 20180079576
    Abstract: Tabbed sealing members with a robust tab structure having additional support under the tab and at a tab pivot or hinge joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen P. Cassidy, Steven A. Brucker, Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, John J. Brown
  • Patent number: 9834339
    Abstract: A seal laminate for closing a mouth of a container is provided. The seal laminate includes a heat seal layer, a structural base support layer and upper and lower dimensional stable layers. The heat seal layer bonds the laminate to a rim surrounding the container's mouth. The structural base support layer may be comprised of a pulp, paper, cardboard, chipboard, paperboard, or cellulose based material having a moisture content of about 3 to about 6 percent and is positioned above the heat seal layer. The upper and lower dimensionally stable layers are disposed above and below the structural base support layer and are sized to balance the vertical forces on the structural base support layer upon exposure to about 60 percent or greater relative humidity. The upper and lower dimensionally stable layers have a water vapor transmission rate of about 1.5 g/100 in2/24 hours or below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Selig Sealing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Brucker, Eric Clark
  • Patent number: 9278793
    Abstract: A sealing member or inner seal for a sealing to a rim of a container is described herein that is capable of initially providing sealing for the container and subsequently for providing a dispenser or dispensing feature having a cleanly formed opening or other passage therethrough for dispensing container contents. The sealing members or inner seals herein are constructed from flexible sheets or laminates defining one or more integrated or preformed dispensing feature(s) or element(s) for dispensing contents from the container. The one or more integrated dispensing feature(s) or element(s) are initially covered on both sides to be exposed for use upon removal of a portion of the sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SELIG SEALING PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, Steven A. Brucker
  • Publication number: 20140284331
    Abstract: A sealing member or inner seal for a sealing to a rim of a container is described herein that is capable of initially providing sealing for the container and subsequently for providing a dispenser or dispensing feature having a cleanly formed opening or other passage therethrough for dispensing container contents. The sealing members or inner seals herein are constructed from flexible sheets or laminates defining one or more integrated or preformed dispensing feature(s) or element(s) for dispensing contents from the container. The one or more integrated dispensing feature(s) or element(s) are initially covered on both sides to be exposed for use upon removal of a portion of the sealing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, Steven A. Brucker
  • Publication number: 20140158691
    Abstract: A seal laminate for closing a mouth of a container is provided. The seal laminate includes a heat seal layer, a structural base support layer and upper and lower dimensional stable layers. The heat seal layer bonds the laminate to a rim surrounding the container's mouth. The structural base support layer may be comprised of a pulp, paper, cardboard, chipboard, paperboard, or cellulose based material having a moisture content of about 3 to about 6 percent and is positioned above the heat seal layer. The upper and lower dimensionally stable layers are disposed above and below the structural base support layer and are sized to balance the vertical forces on the structural base support layer upon exposure to about 60 percent or greater relative humidity. The upper and lower dimensionally stable layers have a water vapor transmission rate of about 1.5 g/100 in2/24 hours or below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Steven A. Brucker, Eric Clark
  • Patent number: 8746484
    Abstract: A sealing member or inner seal for a sealing to a rim of a container is described herein that is capable of initially providing sealing for the container and subsequently for providing a dispenser or dispensing feature having a cleanly formed opening or other passage therethrough for dispensing container contents. The sealing members or inner seals herein are constructed from flexible sheets or laminates defining one or more integrated or preformed dispensing feature(s) or element(s) for dispensing contents from the container. The one or more integrated dispensing feature(s) or element(s) are initially covered on both sides to be exposed for use upon removal of a portion of the sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Selig Sealing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, Steven A. Brucker
  • Publication number: 20130020324
    Abstract: A sealing member or inner seal for a sealing to a rim of a container is described herein that is capable of initially providing sealing for the container and subsequently for providing a dispenser or dispensing feature having a cleanly formed opening or other passage therethrough for dispensing container contents. The sealing members or inner seals herein are constructed from flexible sheets or laminates defining one or more integrated or preformed dispensing feature(s) or element(s) for dispensing contents from the container. The one or more integrated dispensing feature(s) or element(s) are initially covered on both sides to be exposed for use upon removal of a portion of the sealing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, Steven A. Brucker
  • Patent number: 5871112
    Abstract: An innerseal is provided for sealing against the lip of a container opening under a cap. The innerseal includes a resiliently-compressible porous synthetic backing layer which fits within the cap, a foil layer, and a wax layer which initially holds the foil and backing layers together. Preferably, a heat-activatable adhesive layer is disposed against the foil layer. The cap is tightened so that the foil layer is pressed against the lip of the container opening. Then, heat is applied to melt the wax and to activate the adhesive layer. This molten wax is absorbed into the synthetic backing layer so that the backing layer and foil layer are separatable by a twisting of the cap. The synthetic backing layer provides improved strength and liquid resistance characteristics over pulpboard type seals, and is cuttable with less dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Selig Sealing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Giles, Steven A. Brucker, William J. Bennington
  • Patent number: 5860544
    Abstract: A tamper-evident heat induction liner for sealing a container includes at least four stacked layers and exhibits improved resistance to moisture migration. A heat seal polymer layer is provided for induction bonding against a container opening. A moisture-impermeable foil layer is secured against the polymer layer opposite the container opening. Tear-resistant backing layer is provided, and is secured to a low cohesive strength layer which is disposed between the backing layer and the foil layer. The low cohesive layer splits when the backing layer is lifted, leaving the foil layer and polymer layer with a portion of the split low cohesive strength layer covering the container opening in a tamper-evident, rupturable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Selig Sealing Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven A. Brucker
  • Patent number: 5702015
    Abstract: A seal for a container is provided with a method of manufacturing the same. The seal has a unitary pull-tab portion having with a pull-tab formed therein. A layer of polyester film preferably is secured to the unitary member over the pull-tab. A foil seal portion preferably is secured to the pull-tab portion and constructed for securing around the opening of the container. The pull-tab portion preferably is formed of a first layer of a plastic material fused to a second layer of the plastic material by extruding the one onto the other with a release layer therebetween such that an unfused portion of the first layer forms the pull-tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Selig Sealing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Giles, William Bennington, Steven Brucker