Patents by Inventor Suzanne Whitfield Clark

Suzanne Whitfield Clark 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: 20230286718
    Abstract: A tier sheet includes a deck having a support surface. A plurality of walls extend downward to define lower recesses for receiving the upper ends of containers therebelow. In one embodiment, the tier sheet is a single thermoformed sheet and includes a plurality of upper recesses formed in the deck, each upper recess defined between an outer wall and a column. In another embodiment, the tier sheet is injection molded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventor: Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Patent number: 11685583
    Abstract: A tier sheet includes a deck having a support surface. A plurality of walls extend downward to define lower recesses for receiving the upper ends of containers therebelow. In one embodiment, the tier sheet is a single thermoformed sheet and includes a plurality of upper recesses formed in the deck, each upper recess defined between an outer wall and a column. In another embodiment, the tier sheet is injection molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Patent number: 11618604
    Abstract: A beverage crate includes a base having opposed end edges and opposed side edges. A pair of end walls extending upward from the end edges of the base. A pair of side walls extend upward from the side edges of the base. Each of the side walls includes an upper band portion connected to the base by inwardly-offset columns. The upper band portions each include at least one upper peak protruding upwardly and at least one complementary recess aligned below the at least one upper peak. The upper band portions each include at least one lower peak protruding downwardly and at least one complementary recess aligned above the at least one lower peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Shelby Frances Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark, William P. Apps, Crystal Y. Parra, Jon P. Hassell
  • Publication number: 20220402643
    Abstract: A crate includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the sides of the base and a pair of end walls extending upward from ends of the base. The end walls each include a pair of spaced apart end columns that act as partial spacers between the three adjacent bottles at that end. The handles are aligned offset from the center of the end wall. The handles are each aligned with one of the end columns so they can be aligned (e.g. centered) between adjacent bottles to provide more space for a user's hand. The handles may extend from one end column, over the other end column to the corner column. In the embodiment shown, the handles may be each offset toward a different side wall to provide better balance of the weight of the crate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Patent number: 11352181
    Abstract: A beverage crate include a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the sides of the base and a pair of end walls extending upward from ends of the base. The end walls each include a pair of spaced apart end columns. A handle extends across the pair of spaced apart columns at each end wall. The height of the handle is aligned with a portion of the bottle having a reduced diameter. For example, some bottles have a tapered or contoured middle portion to facilitate grasping the bottle. This allows the handle to be positioned closer to the bottles, which reduces the overall length of the crate. The reduced length of the crate then permits a reduced width of the crate per the required ratio for cross-stacking. The reduced width then permits a full bottle capture on the bottom surface of the crate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Publication number: 20220041355
    Abstract: A tier sheet includes a deck having a support surface. A plurality of walls extend downward to define lower recesses for receiving the upper ends of containers therebelow. In one embodiment, the tier sheet is a single thermoformed sheet and includes a plurality of upper recesses formed in the deck, each upper recess defined between an outer wall and a column. In another embodiment, the tier sheet is injection molded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventor: Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Patent number: 11174072
    Abstract: A tray includes a base. A first pair of opposing walls extend upwardly from the base. A second pair of opposing walls extend upwardly from the base. At least one high stack indicia and at least one low stack indicia are located on at least one of the first pair of walls and the second pair of walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Suzanne Whitfield Clark, Jon P. Hassell, Dane Gin Mun Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 11111064
    Abstract: A tier sheet includes a deck having a support surface. A plurality of walls extend downward to define lower recesses for receiving the upper ends of containers therebelow. In one embodiment, the tier sheet is a single thermoformed sheet and includes a plurality of upper recesses formed in the deck, each upper recess defined between an outer wall and a column. In another embodiment, the tier sheet is injection molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Publication number: 20210139199
    Abstract: A tray includes a base having an upper support surface and a central portion extending downward to define a lowermost surface of the tray. The base includes a peripheral portion recessed relative to the central portion. A pair of opposed first walls extend along opposed first edges of the base. A pair of opposed second walls extending along opposed second edges of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Brian Robert Guerry, Sydney Marie Ogawa-Garcia, Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Publication number: 20210009304
    Abstract: A beverage crate includes a base having opposed end edges and opposed side edges. A pair of end walls extending upward from the end edges of the base. A pair of side walls extend upward from the side edges of the base. Each of the side walls includes an upper band portion connected to the base by inwardly-offset columns. The upper band portions each include at least one upper peak protruding upwardly and at least one complementary recess aligned below the at least one upper peak. The upper band portions each include at least one lower peak protruding downwardly and at least one complementary recess aligned above the at least one lower peak.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Shelby Frances Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark, William P. Apps, Crystal Y. Parra, Jon P. Hassell
  • Patent number: 10836534
    Abstract: A tray includes a base having an upper support surface and a central portion extending downward to define a lowermost surface of the tray. The base includes a peripheral portion recessed relative to the central portion. A pair of opposed first walls extend along opposed first edges of the base. A pair of opposed second walls extending along opposed second edges of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Brian Robert Guerry, Sydney Marie Ogawa-Garcia, Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Patent number: 10759563
    Abstract: A nestable crate includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base, and a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base. The side walls and end walls include an upper band portion and a lower portion connecting the base to the upper band portion. A center structure extends from one of the end walls to the other of the end walls. The center structure includes a plurality of center column portions extending down to the base. The center structure further includes an upper handle portion partially defining a handle opening therebelow. The upper handle portion includes spaced-apart handle side walls defining openings upward of the crate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Suzanne Whitfield Clark, William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 10703527
    Abstract: A beverage crate includes a base having opposed end edges and opposed side edges. A pair of end walls extending upward from the end edges of the base. A pair of side walls extend upward from the side edges of the base. Each of the side walls includes an upper band portion connected to the base by inwardly-offset columns. The upper band portions each include at least one upper peak protruding upwardly and at least one complementary recess aligned below the at least one upper peak. The upper band portions each include at least one lower peak protruding downwardly and at least one complementary recess aligned above the at least one lower peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Shelby Frances Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark, William P. Apps, Crystal Y. Parra, Jon P. Hassell
  • Publication number: 20200156817
    Abstract: A crate for storing containers includes a plurality of walls and a base connected to the plurality of walls. The base includes a plurality of recessed areas each having a first container contact surface spaced from a second container contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventor: Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Publication number: 20190248533
    Abstract: A beverage crate includes a base having opposed end edges and opposed side edges. A pair of end walls extending upward from the end edges of the base. A pair of side walls extend upward from the side edges of the base. Each of the side walls includes an upper band portion connected to the base by inwardly-offset columns. The upper band portions each include at least one upper peak protruding upwardly and at least one complementary recess aligned below the at least one upper peak. The upper band portions each include at least one lower peak protruding downwardly and at least one complementary recess aligned above the at least one lower peak.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Shelby Frances Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark, William P. Apps, Crystal Y. Parra, Jon P. Hassell
  • Patent number: 10322838
    Abstract: A crate for storing containers includes a plurality of walls and a base connected to the plurality of walls. The base includes a plurality of recessed areas each having a first container contact surface spaced from a second container contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Patent number: 10231538
    Abstract: A collapsible shelving unit includes a support base, a first side wall extending upwardly from one side of the base, and a second side wall extending upwardly from an opposite side of the base. Each of the first and second side walls are comprised of a plurality of rigid panels connected to each other with at least one hinge such that the rigid panels are moveable between a display position where the panels extend vertically to form the first and second side walls and a stowed position wherein at least two of the rigid panels at least partially overlap each other. A plurality of shelves are supported by the first and second side walls such that the shelves can be selectively removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: John B. Zelek, Suzanne Whitfield Clark, Ryan C. Meers
  • Patent number: 10138019
    Abstract: A top cap for a tray includes an upper surface for supporting goods and a lower surface including an attachment portion for locating the top cap relative to an upper portion of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Suzanne Whitfield Clark, Jon P. Hassell, Dane Gin Mun Kalinowski, Glenn Rindfleisch
  • Patent number: D843111
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark, Shelby Frances Apps
  • Patent number: D869164
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark, Shelby Frances Apps