Patents by Inventor Thomas Brink

Thomas Brink 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: 11827430
    Abstract: A tray for holding at least one food product includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, the plurality of panels including a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and cooperating to form a rim extending outwardly from the plurality of panels, and locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps, the at least one male locking feature at least partially inserted through at least one female locking feature in a respective panel of the plurality of panels to reinforce the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Brink, Elliot Hithersay
  • Publication number: 20230339670
    Abstract: A carton for holding and dispensing at least one article, the carton including a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton and including a top panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, and at least one back panel, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and forming at least one closed end of the carton, and a dispenser for accessing the interior of the carton, the dispenser including a plurality of dispenser flaps at least partially separably connected to the top panel such that the dispenser is reconfigurable between a first configuration, in which the plurality of dispenser flaps is foldably connected to the top panel, and a second configuration, in which one or more of the dispenser flaps is separated from the top panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Brink, Scott Thomas Strand, Matthew R. Kearns
  • Publication number: 20230322435
    Abstract: A tray for holding one or more articles includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior space of the tray, the plurality of panels including a bottom panel, at least one lower side panel, at least one upper side panel, and at least one end panel, and a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of panels forms a plurality of separably connected tray portions such that the tray is separable into respective tray portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Brink
  • Publication number: 20220144475
    Abstract: A tray for holding at least one food product, the tray includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, the plurality of panels including a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and cooperating to form a rim extending outwardly from the plurality of panels, and reinforcement features for supporting the rim, the reinforcement features including at least one reinforcement tab extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels and contacting a portion of a respective end flap of the plurality of end flaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew R. Kearns, Thomas Brink, Scott Thomas Strand, Elliot Hithersay
  • Publication number: 20220144476
    Abstract: A tray for holding at least one food product includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, the plurality of panels including a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and cooperating to form a rim extending outwardly from the plurality of panels, and locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps, the at least one male locking feature at least partially inserted through at least one female locking feature in a respective panel of the plurality of panels to reinforce the rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Brink, Elliot Hithersay
  • Publication number: 20220144477
    Abstract: A method of forming a tray for holding at least one food product includes obtaining a blank having a plurality of panels including a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, and reinforcement features. The method further includes folding the plurality of panels at least partially around an interior of the tray, folding the plurality of top end flaps to form a rim extending from the plurality of panels when the tray is formed from the blank, and activating the reinforcement features to maintaining an integrity of the rim such that at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps is biased downward to maintain an outward arrangement from a respective panel of the plurality of panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas Brink
  • Publication number: 20220144490
    Abstract: A tray for holding at least one food product includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, the plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and cooperating to form a rim extending outwardly from the plurality of panels, and denesting features comprising at least one denesting tab extending into the interior of the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Brink, Matthew R. Kearns, Raymond S. Kastanek, Scott Thomas Strand, Joseph C. Walsh
  • Publication number: 20120043321
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging blank and container having an integral reclosable pour spout which provides enhanced seals, and promotes accurate placement of the pour spout during construction. The blank provides a pour spout assembly having a skewed fold line that facilitate folding operations and promotes accurate positioning of the pour spout, a detachable access tab that promotes sealing and provides tamper evidence, and a novel pour spout assembly that promotes directional and controlled pouring of articles. The invention further relates to a container formed from the blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Caraustar Custom Packaging Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Brink, Dale Whittington