Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Stoneberg

Thomas C. Stoneberg 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: 8608001
    Abstract: A two shot dispensing closure wherein the spout and base component of the closure is molded in a first molding step and a repositionable cap is molded over at least the spout of the closure in a second molding step. The cap may be molded in the closed position over the spout to provide a fluidic seal between the cap and spout. The cap is repositionable between a closed position closing off an aperture of the spout and an open position thereby opening the aperture of the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas C. Stoneberg, William C. Schmeisser
  • Patent number: 7887731
    Abstract: A method of molding a container closure providing selective fluid communication between an interior of a fluid container and an exterior environment, the method comprising: (i) configuring and closing a mold having a first cavity negatively defining a base of a container closure that includes a spout and a container mount, where the spout and container mount cooperate to define a conduit therethrough in fluid communication with an outlet orifice of the spout; (ii) injecting a first material into the first cavity to mold the base; (iii) cooling the first material in the mold to impart at least minimal rigidity to the base; (iv) reconfiguring at least a portion of the mold to define a second cavity adjacent to the first material, the second cavity negatively defining a cap covering the outlet orifice of the spout; (v) injecting a second material into the second cavity to mold the cap over the outlet orifice; (vi) cooling the second material in the mold to impart at least minimal rigidity to the cap; and (vii) r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Rexam Closures and Containers Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Schmeisser, Thomas C. Stoneberg
  • 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: 6547102
    Abstract: A swivel top closure including a base and a top affixed to the base, the top being movable with respect to the base along the horizontal plane in swivel-like motion between a closed position in which the top fully covers an opening in the base to an open position in which the top uncovers the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Courtesy Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas C. Stoneberg
  • Patent number: 6478184
    Abstract: A two piece hinged closure for a container. The closure includes a base installed on the container and a hinged cap positioned on the base. The hinge of the cap includes a caming tab and the base includes a caming surface against which the tab moves when the cap is moved between its closed and open positions to retain the cap in said open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Courtesy Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Berge, Thomas C. Stoneberg
  • Patent number: 6474515
    Abstract: A closure for a bottle. The closure includes a spout neck attached to the bottle and a cap rotatably positioned on the spout neck. The spout neck may have a sealing lip and the cap may have an internal vent and an internal body portion. The sealing lip of the spout neck and the body portion of the cap align to seal the bottle when the cap is in a first position. The sealing lip of the spout neck and the circular vent of the cap align so as to vent the bottle when the cap is turned to a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ladina, Thomas C. Stoneberg, Gary L. Berge
  • Publication number: 20020148863
    Abstract: A swivel top closure including a base and a top affixed to the base, the top being movable with respect to the base along the horizontal plane in swivel-like motion between a closed position in which the top fully covers an opening in the base to an open position in which the top uncovers the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: Courtesy Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas C. Stoneberg
  • Publication number: 20020096532
    Abstract: A two piece hinged closure for a container. The closure includes a base installed on the container and a hinged cap positioned on the base. The hinge of the cap includes a caming tab and the base includes a caming surface against which the tab moves when the cap is moved between its closed and open positions to retain the cap in said open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Courtesy Corporation.
    Inventors: Gary Berge, Thomas C. Stoneberg
  • Patent number: 6338425
    Abstract: A dispensing closure for a product container including a base positioned on the container and a cap operable on the base between a closed and an open position. The base includes an upstanding plug engageable within an aperture formed in a top platform of the cap to seal the aperture when the cap is moved to closed position on the base. An annular generally U-shaped sealing flange is formed on the aperture and depends below the top platform of the cap. The flange moves into compression engagement with the plug when the cap is in its closed position so as to seal the contents of the container and prevent product and/or carbonated gas leakage therefrom until the cap is moved to open position. Also disclosed is an overcap positioned over the cap. The internal configuration of the overcap is in substantial conformity with the external configuration of the cap so that the cap can be moved to its opened and/or closed positions by movement of the overcap and without touching the external surface of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Courtesy Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Berge, Thomas C. Stoneberg
  • Patent number: 6299027
    Abstract: A push valve dispensing closure including a base mountable to the mouth of a container, a valve mounted within the base and a cap cooperatively engaged upon the base for rotational movement of the valve relative to the base between locked and unlocked positions, and, in the unlocked position, between a first closed position and a second open position with respect to the base. The base is formed with a product dispensing channel having a wall with a generally conical-shaped cross-sectional configuration and the valve has depending spring-action circumferential flange segments formed thereon for cooperative engagement with the conical-shaped wall. The cap includes a discharge orifice closed by a panel on the valve with rotation of the cap relative to the valve, after movement of the valve to the unlocked position, opening the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Courtesy Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Berge, Thomas C. Stoneberg
  • Patent number: 6299038
    Abstract: A dispensing closure of three separately formed interlocking components including a container mountable base with a central post mounting a spout for vertical movement thereon between a closed position with a post mounted plug sealing within a spout aperture, and a second open position with the plug remote from the aperture, movement of the spout relative to the post and plug being achieved by a sleeve rotatably mounted on the base and engaged with the spout for rotation of the spout with the sleeve and, through cooperating engagement of the spout with the post, for longitudinal adjustment of the spout relative to the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Courtesy Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Schmeisser, Thomas C. Stoneberg, Gary Berge
  • Patent number: 6269982
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a product from a body having a pivot flange formed on the external surface thereof. A trigger is mounted on the pivot flange to be pivotal thereupon by a user's hand wrapped about the body with the user's finger digits positioned on the trigger. A product engaging platform is mounted upon a screw gear positioned within the body and is movable to dispense the product from the body when the screw gear is turned by pivotal movement of the trigger and engagement thereof against the screw gear. The product to be dispensed may be retained in a cartridge which is removable and replaceable within the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Courtesy Corporation
    Inventors: Walter J. Kreiseder, Thomas C. Stoneberg, William C. Schmeisser
  • Patent number: 6213351
    Abstract: A push body valve closure to dispense product retained in a container. The closure includes a base affixed to the mouth of the container and a cap cooperatively engaged upon the base and movable between a first closed position and a second opened position with respect to the base. The base is formed with a product dispensing channel having a wall with a generally conical-shaped cross-sectional configuration and the cap has a depending spring-action circumferential flange formed on the interior surface thereof for cooperative engagement with the conical-shaped wall. The cap is normally disposed in its closed position but is movable to the open position upon application of a force thereon to move the cap with the spring-action circumferential flange engaged against the conical-shaped wall. Upon removal of the force applied to the cap, the cap returns to its closed position by the force of the spring-action flange against the conical-shaped wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Courtesy Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas C. Stoneberg, Gary Berge
  • Patent number: 6135329
    Abstract: A dispensing closure for a container, the closure including a universal base for use with either a twist operational cap or a cap which is operational on the same base by pull/push operation. The universal base includes helical grooved channels to receive drive threads formed on the inner facing surface of a twist operational cap. The helical grooved channels do not interfere with operation of a pull/push cap when such cap is employed, as an alternative to a twist cap, for use on the same universal base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Creative Packaging Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Stoneberg, Gary Berge, Tom L. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 6116477
    Abstract: A two piece hinge closure including a base and a separately formed cap. The cap includes an attachment ring and a hinge connecting the cap to the ring. The base has an upstanding spout surrounded by a circular channel formed in the base. The ring is adapted to be secured in the channel to hold the cap securely on the base, with the cap being pivotal with respect to the base about the hinge connected to the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Courtesy Corporation
    Inventors: Walter J. Kreiseder, Thomas C. Stoneberg, Gary Berge
  • Patent number: D451021
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Courtesy Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Berge, Thomas C. Stoneberg
  • Patent number: D567649
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Borkowski, Thomas C. Stoneberg
  • Patent number: D573878
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Rathbone, Matthew R. J. Jackson, Ujjaini Mitra-Shah, Thomas C. Stoneberg