Patents by Inventor Tara Denise Smith

Tara Denise Smith 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: 11419958
    Abstract: A multi-panel sterilization assembly that includes a barrier panel formed of a permeable material, barrier panel bolsters at or adjacent at least a portion of two edges of the barrier panel, a fold protection panel, and at least one panel attachment means. The barrier panel has a first end and a second end opposite the first end such that the barrier panel has a length that is the distance from the first end to the second end and a midpoint along the length generally delineating the barrier panel into a content receiving region and a content covering region. The barrier panel bolsters prevent the edges of the barrier panel from folding back onto itself, i.e. back towards the unfolded position, during unfolding of the barrier panel after sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: O&M Halyard, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. Bricker, Jeffrey J. Farmer, Melissa R. Gaynor, Shawn E. Jenkins, Mark T. Pamperin, Corinna Schwarz, Tara Denise Smith, Catherine J. Turnbow
  • Patent number: 9174782
    Abstract: A multi-panel sterilization assembly includes a barrier panel formed of a permeable material, a fold protection panel, and at least one panel attachment means. The barrier panel has a first end, an opposed second end, and a midpoint delineating the barrier panel into a content receiving region and a content covering region. Panel attachment means are located at or near edges of the barrier panel to identify the content receiving region. The fold protection panel has a proximal end and an opposed distal end. After the barrier panel is folded at or near the midpoint to bring its second end near its first end and its edges are brought together and secured by the panel attachment means to form a package, the fold protection panel folds at or near a pre-determined fold line to cover at least a portion of the edges of the folded barrier panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Avent, Inc.
    Inventors: Melissa R. Gaynor, Laureen C. Clark, Steven Scott Friderich, Alice Susan Gordon, Brian L. Gustin, Shawn E. Jenkins, Corinna Schwarz, Tara Denise Smith
  • Patent number: 8727957
    Abstract: A disposable flexible multi-panel sterilization assembly incorporating an integrated fastening system. The disposable flexible multi-panel sterilization assembly includes a barrier panel configured to be folded around content to be sterilized to form a package. The assembly further includes a fold protection panel having a proximal end adjacent the barrier panel and a distal end such that the distal end covers the one or more panel edges of the barrier panel after the barrier panel is in the folded configuration. The integrated fastening system is a barrier panel attachment means located on a portion of the barrier panel for securing one or more panel edges of the barrier panel in a folded configuration around content to be sterilized. The barrier panel attachment means are configured to secure the one or more panel edges in a folded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Tara Denise Smith, Melissa R. Gaynor
  • Publication number: 20140027499
    Abstract: A multi-panel sterilization assembly includes a barrier panel formed of a permeable material, a fold protection panel, and at least one panel attachment means. The barrier panel has a first end, an opposed second end, and a midpoint delineating the barrier panel into a content receiving region and a content covering region. Panel attachment means are located at or near edges of the barrier panel to identify the content receiving region. The fold protection panel has a proximal end and an opposed distal end. After the barrier panel is folded at or near the midpoint to bring its second end near its first end and its edges are brought together and secured by the panel attachment means to form a package, the fold protection panel folds at or near a pre-determined fold line to cover at least a portion of the edges of the folded barrier panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Melissa R. Gaynor, Laureen C. Clark, Steven Scott Friderich, Alice Susan Gordon, Brian L. Gustin, Shawn E. Jenkins, Corinna Schwarz, Tara Denise Smith
  • Patent number: 8623289
    Abstract: A non-reusable, locking container for sterilizing and storing surgical materials and presenting surgical materials in a sterilized condition. The non-reusable, locking sterilization container includes a tray, a lid, a permeable filter, a non-reusable lock and a frangible release that limit the container to only a single sterilization cycle or single use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Cesa, Laureen C. Clark, John K. Clay, Steven Scott Friderich, Sean P. Gorman, David Hernandez, Denise E. O'Connor, Corinna Schwarz, Tara Denise Smith, James Troy Starkey, Daniel P. Sterling
  • Patent number: 8485419
    Abstract: A multi-panel sterilization assembly includes a barrier panel formed of a permeable material, a fold protection panel, and at least one panel attachment means. The barrier panel has a first end, an opposed second end, and a midpoint delineating the barrier panel into a content receiving region and a content covering region. Panel attachment means are located at or near edges of the barrier panel to identify the content receiving region. The fold protection panel has a proximal end and an opposed distal end. After the barrier panel is folded at or near the midpoint to bring its second end near its first end and its edges are brought together and secured by the panel attachment means to form a package, the fold protection panel folds at or near a pre-determined fold line to cover at least a portion of the edges of the folded barrier panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Melissa R. Gaynor, Laureen C. Clark, Steven Scott Friderich, Alice Susan Gordon, Brian L. Gustin, Shawn E. Jenkins, Corinna Schwarz, Tara Denise Smith
  • Patent number: 8418872
    Abstract: A container for sterilizing and storing surgical materials and preserving surgical materials in a sterilized condition is provided. The container can include a lid and tray that may be used to contain an instrument basket for sterilization. The container has a lock that releasably holds the lid and tray together and that can rotate into a second position, after it is released, and non-releasably lock into the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Tara Denise Smith
  • Publication number: 20130020380
    Abstract: A multi-panel sterilization assembly includes a barrier panel formed of a permeable material, a fold protection panel, and at least one panel attachment means. The barrier panel has a first end, an opposed second end, and a midpoint delineating the barrier panel into a content receiving region and a content covering region. Panel attachment means are located at or near edges of the barrier panel to identify the content receiving region. The fold protection panel has a proximal end and an opposed distal end. After the barrier panel is folded at or near the midpoint to bring its second end near its first end and its edges are brought together and secured by the panel attachment means to form a package, the fold protection panel folds at or near a pre-determined fold line to cover at least a portion of the edges of the folded barrier panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Melissa R. Gaynor, Laureen C. Clark, Steven Scott Friderich, Alice Susan Gordon, Brian L. Gustin, Shawn E. Jenkins, Corinna Schwarz, Tara Denise Smith
  • Publication number: 20130001283
    Abstract: A multi-panel sterilization assembly that includes a barrier panel formed of a permeable material, a fold protection panel, and at least one panel attachment means and which further includes at least one reinforcement element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Steven Friderich, Alice Susan Gordon, Melissa Robyn Gaynor, Laureen C. Clark, Brian Lowell Gustin, Shawn Eric Jenkins, Corinna Schwarz, Tara Denise Smith
  • Patent number: 8261963
    Abstract: A multi-panel sterilization assembly that includes a barrier panel formed of a permeable material, a fold protection panel, and at least one panel attachment means. The barrier panel has a first end and a second end opposite the first end such that the barrier panel has a length that is the distance from the first end to the second end and a midpoint along the length generally delineating the barrier panel into a content receiving region and a content covering region. Panel attachment means are located between the first end and the midpoint of the barrier panel at a pre-determined position to identify the content receiving region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Inc.
    Inventors: Melissa R. Gaynor, Laureen C. Clark, Steven Scott Friderich, Alice Susan Gordon, Brian L. Gustin, Shawn E. Jenkins, Corinna Schwarz, Tara Denise Smith
  • Publication number: 20120202000
    Abstract: A multi-panel sterilization assembly that includes a barrier panel formed of a permeable material, barrier panel bolsters at or adjacent at least a portion of two edges of the barrier panel, a fold protection panel, and at least one panel attachment means. The barrier panel has a first end and a second end opposite the first end such that the barrier panel has a length that is the distance from the first end to the second end and a midpoint along the length generally delineating the barrier panel into a content receiving region and a content covering region. The barrier panel bolsters prevent the edges of the barrier panel from folding back onto itself, i.e. back towards the unfolded position, during unfolding of the barrier panel after sterilization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Eric T. Bricker, Jeffrey J. Farmer, Melissa R. Gaynor, Shawn E. Jenkins, Mark T. Pamperin, Corinna Schwarz, Tara Denise Smith, Catherine J. Turnbow
  • Publication number: 20120152957
    Abstract: A container for sterilizing and storing surgical materials and preserving surgical materials in a sterilized condition is provided. The container can include a lid and tray that may be used to contain an instrument basket for sterilization. The container has a lock that releasably holds the lid and tray together and that can rotate into a second position, after it is released, and non-releasably lock into the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Tara Denise Smith
  • Publication number: 20120152289
    Abstract: A container for sterilizing and storing surgical materials and preserving surgical materials in a sterilized condition is disclosed herein. The container includes a lid, liner and in many embodiments, a frame. The lid and liner are desirably disposable and recyclable after a single use while the frame should be reusable many times. The liner and optionally the lid is substantially transparent so that a user can inspect the instruments while the container is closed without compromising the sterile nature of the inside of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Tara Denise Smith, Joseph A. Cesa, Corinna Schwarz, Jeffrey J. Farmer, Sean P. Gorman, Marion L. Ladd, Emily A. Reichart, Dwayne J-K Jackson
  • Publication number: 20120079795
    Abstract: A disposable flexible multi-panel sterilization assembly incorporating an integrated fastening system. The disposable flexible multi-panel sterilization assembly includes a barrier panel configured to be folded around content to be sterilized to form a package. The assembly further includes a fold protection panel having a proximal end adjacent the barrier panel and a distal end such that the distal end covers the one or more panel edges of the barrier panel after the barrier panel is in the folded configuration. The integrated fastening system is a barrier panel attachment means located on a portion of the barrier panel for securing one or more panel edges of the barrier panel in a folded configuration around content to be sterilized. The barrier panel attachment means are configured to secure the one or more panel edges in a folded configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Tara Denise Smith, Melissa R. Gaynor
  • Publication number: 20110033137
    Abstract: A multi-panel sterilization assembly that includes a barrier panel formed of a permeable material, a fold protection panel, and at least one panel attachment means. The barrier panel has a first end and a second end opposite the first end such that the barrier panel has a length that is the distance from the first end to the second end and a midpoint along the length generally delineating the barrier panel into a content receiving region and a content covering region. Panel attachment means are located between the first end and the midpoint of the barrier panel at a pre-determined position to identify the content receiving region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Melissa R. Gaynor, Laureen C. Clark, Steven Scott Friderich, Alice Susan Gordon, Brian L. Gustin, Shawn E. Jenkins, Corinna Schwarz, Tara Denise Smith
  • Publication number: 20100154353
    Abstract: A non-reusable, locking container for sterilizing and storing surgical materials and presenting surgical materials in a sterilized condition. The non-reusable, locking sterilization container includes a tray, a lid, a permeable filter, a non-reusable lock and a frangible release that limit the container to only a single sterilization cycle or single use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph A. Cesa, Laureen C. Clark, John K. Clay, Steven Scott Friderich, Sean P. Gorman, David Hernandez, Denise E. O'Connor, Corinna Schwarz, Tara Denise Smith, James Troy Starkey, Daniel P. Sterling