Patents by Inventor Terry E. Kubitz

Terry E. Kubitz 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: 7143911
    Abstract: A closure for a liquid container comprising a base including a conduit extending therethrough, the base further including a substantially tubular spout guide and a plug positioned radially within the tubular spout guide, and a substantially annular spout mounted to the tubular spout guide for reciprocation between an open and a closed position, the spout including an annular wall and an annular deck extending radially inwardly from an upper end of the annular wall forming a central orifice, where the plug includes a leading end and an annular, outer seal surface that is received within, and blocks the central orifice when the spout is in the closed position and that is removed from the central orifice when the spout is in the open position, and where at least a substantial portion of the outer circumferential seal surface of the plug is axially recessed with respect to the tubular spout guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Creative Packaging Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Stoneberg, Terry E. Kubitz, Dennis J. Tortorella
  • Patent number: 6871764
    Abstract: A closure includes: (a) a base attached to an opening of a container, a conduit extending therethrough in fluid communication with contents of the container, a tubular spout guide defining a portion of the conduit, an annular deck extending radially inwardly from an inner circumferential surface of the base defining a central orifice in fluid communication with the conduit,;and (b) an annular spout mounted to the tubular spout guide for reciprocation between an open position and a closed position, the spout including (1) an annular wall and (2) a plug positioned radially within the annular wall; the plug has annular, outer circumferential seal surface that is received within, and plugs the central orifice of the deck; a portion of the seal surface of the plug is axially recessed or flush with the annular wall of the spout; the seal surface has either a cylindrical shape or a frustoconical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Creaive Packaging Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Stoneberg, Terry E. Kubitz, Dennis J. Tortorella
  • Publication number: 20040129741
    Abstract: A closure for a beverage container includes: (a) a base adapted to be attached to an opening of a liquid container, where the base includes a conduit extending therethrough that is adapted to be in fluid communication with liquid contents of the liquid container, where the base further includes a substantially tubular spout guide defining at least a portion of the conduit, and where the base further includes an annular deck extending radially inwardly from an inner circumferential surface of the base defining a central orifice in fluid communication with the conduit; and (b) a substantially annular spout mounted to the tubular spout guide for reciprocation at least between an open position and a closed position, the spout including (1) an annular wall and (2) a plug positioned radially within the annular wall; where the plug has annular, outer circumferential seal surface that is received within, and plugs the central orifice of the deck when the spout is in the closed position and that is removed from the ce
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas C. Stoneberg, Terry E. Kubitz, Dennis J. Tortorella
  • Patent number: 6070750
    Abstract: A reinforced container, particularly of thin gauge metal, is encircled by a thermoplastic sleeve which is shrunk thereabout for applying a radial squeezing force to give the container adequate axial strength for withstanding the axial compressive pressures of conventional filling and closing machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: Terry E. Kubitz
  • Patent number: 5328063
    Abstract: A closure cap which can be manipulated to dispense container contents end enables venting of any excess pressure which may build up within the container when the closure is in a fully closed position including a central post, a cap body reciprocally mounted on and about the periphery of the post and having an aperture including an inner periphery which cooperates with the post to form a variable opening therebetween including a fully closed position and a plurality of dispensing positions for dispensing the contents of the container at a plurality of different rates and a venting mechanism for enabling any excess pressure from within the container to exhaust through the cap to the exterior of the container upon reaching a predetermined pressure within the container when the cap is positioned in the fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Creative Packaging Corp.
    Inventors: James M. Beck, Terry E. Kubitz
  • Patent number: 5297688
    Abstract: A closure for sealing a rim of an open mouth of a container including a substantially cylindrical end cap closed at a first end thereof by a top surface, open at a second opposite end thereof and including an annular side wall having a predetermined width extending between the first and second ends, the top surface including a first inside surface facing the interior of the end cap and a second exterior surface facing the exterior of the end cap, a first flexible seal member connected to and depending a predetermined distance from the first inside surface of the top surface proximate the annular side wall for cooperative sealing engagement with an outer edge of the container rim and for inhibiting outward distortion of the container rim, and a second flexible seal member connected to and depending a predetermined distance from the first inside surface of the top surface and within the confines of the first seal member for sealing engagement with an inner edge of the container rim and for inhibiting inward dis
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Creative Packaging Corp.
    Inventors: James M. Beck, Terry E. Kubitz, Alex Kutaj
  • Patent number: 5219100
    Abstract: A closure for a container opening including a closure body having a predetermined configuration, external periphery and a first aperture formed therethrough, a member for connecting the closure body about the container opening, a cover member reciprocally mounted about a portion of the external periphery of the closure body, the cover member including a first lid member hingedly connected thereto for rotation with respect to the cover member and the closure body and closing engagement with the first aperture, and a first locking member for releasably retaining the first lid member a predetermined distance away from the first aperture to maintain the first aperture in an uncovered condition during dispensing of the container contents, the first locking member including at least one engagement wing integral with the first lid member for engaging a portion of the closure body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Creative Packaging Corp.
    Inventors: James M. Beck, Terry E. Kubitz, Alex Kutaj
  • Patent number: 5215204
    Abstract: A closure for a container having a tamper evident band which remains on the container after the closure is removed including a substantially cylindrical end cap closed at a first end thereof by a top surface, open at a second opposite end thereof and including an annular side wall having a predetermined length extending between the first and second ends, an annular band having a first side positioned proximate the second open end of the end cap, a plurality of severable bridge members connecting the first side of the annular band to the second open end of the end cap at a plurality of predetermined positions about the periphery of the annular band and the end cap thereby forming between the bridge members a plurality of slits extending between the first side of the annular band and the second end of the end cap, a member for affixing the annular band to the container and a tether member connected between the first side of the annular band and the second open end of the end cap for providing limited movement b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Creative Packaging Corp.
    Inventors: James M. Beck, Terry E. Kubitz, Alex Kutaj
  • Patent number: 5129531
    Abstract: A closure assembly for a container including a cap and an engagement member for releasably connecting the cap to the container to cover an opening in the container with the cap. A tamper evident membrane surrounds the periphery of the cap and includes a connecting member for releasably joining the membrane about the periphery of the cap in a breakaway manner. A release tab is provided, integrally formed with the membrane, in a breakaway manner on a portion of the membrane. Release of the tab from the membrane enables the same to extend outwardly from the membrane so as to be grasped and pulled by a user to sever the connecting member and peel off the remaining portion of the tamper evident membrane to enable removal of the cap from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Creative Packaging Corp.
    Inventors: James M. Beck, Terry E. Kubitz
  • Patent number: D464263
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Stokely-Van Camp, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy M. White, Terry E. Kubitz, Gary L. Berge