Patents by Inventor Thomas P. Hennessy

Thomas P. Hennessy 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: 20240425247
    Abstract: A closure includes a hinged sealing element including a top wall and a first skirt. The first skirt has a sealing formation allowing engagement of a mating sealing formation of a bottle. A second skirt has an attachment formation engageable with a mating attachment formation of the bottle. A plurality of frangible members is attached to each of the skirts. A pair of hinge members is attached between the first and second skirts. A biasing member is attached to the first skirt between the hinge members and extending downwardly from the first skirt to interact with a neck portion of the bottle such that the sealing formation of the first skirt and the mating sealing formation of the bottle are biased toward each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Gary L. Berge, Thomas P. Hennessy
  • Patent number: 12103742
    Abstract: A closure includes a hinged sealing element including a top wall and a first skirt. The first skirt has a sealing formation allowing engagement of a mating sealing formation of a bottle. A second skirt has an attachment formation engageable with a mating attachment formation of the bottle. A plurality of frangible members is attached to each of the skirts. A pair of hinge members is attached between the first and second skirts. A biasing member is attached to the first skirt between the hinge members and extending downwardly from the first skirt to interact with a neck portion of the bottle such that the sealing formation of the first skirt and the mating sealing formation of the bottle are biased toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Silgan White Cap LLC
    Inventors: Gary L. Berge, Thomas P. Hennessy
  • Patent number: 11827425
    Abstract: A closure includes a flip-top structure and a tamper-evident band. The flip-top structure is restricted from being opened because it interfaces against an underlying protrusion, such as a thread of a container's neck. To open the flip-top structure the closure is rotated with respect to the container neck. When the closure is rotated with respect to the container neck, the closure is configured such that the tamper-evident band breaks before the flip-top structure is permitted to rotate to an open position. Thus, the closure prevents accessing the container's contents until after the tamper-evident band is broken even with the addition of a flip-top structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Silgan White Cap LLC
    Inventors: Gary L. Berge, Thomas P. Hennessy
  • Publication number: 20230365305
    Abstract: A closure includes a hinged sealing element including a top wall and a first skirt. The first skirt has a sealing formation allowing engagement of a mating sealing formation of a bottle. A second skirt has an attachment formation engageable with a mating attachment formation of the bottle. A plurality of frangible members is attached to each of the skirts. A pair of hinge members is attached between the first and second skirts. A biasing member is attached to the first skirt between the hinge members and extending downwardly from the first skirt to interact with a neck portion of the bottle such that the sealing formation of the first skirt and the mating sealing formation of the bottle are biased toward each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Gary L. Berge, Thomas P. Hennessy
  • Patent number: 11753217
    Abstract: A closure includes a hinged sealing element including a top wall and a first skirt. The first skirt has a sealing formation allowing engagement of a mating sealing formation of a bottle. A second skirt has an attachment formation engageable with a mating attachment formation of the bottle. A plurality of frangible members is attached to each of the skirts. A pair of hinge members is attached between the first and second skirts. A biasing member is attached to the first skirt between the hinge members and extending downwardly from the first skirt to interact with a neck portion of the bottle such that the sealing formation of the first skirt and the mating sealing formation of the bottle are biased toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Silgan White Cap LLC
    Inventors: Gary L. Berge, Thomas P. Hennessy
  • Publication number: 20220112007
    Abstract: A closure includes a hinged sealing element including a top wall and a first skirt. The first skirt has a sealing formation allowing engagement of a mating sealing formation of a bottle. A second skirt has an attachment formation engageable with a mating attachment formation of the bottle. A plurality of frangible members is attached to each of the skirts. A pair of hinge members is attached between the first and second skirts. A biasing member is attached to the first skirt between the hinge members and extending downwardly from the first skirt to interact with a neck portion of the bottle such that the sealing formation of the first skirt and the mating sealing formation of the bottle are biased toward each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Gary L. Berge, Thomas P. Hennessy
  • Publication number: 20220106085
    Abstract: A closure includes a flip-top structure and a tamper-evident band. The flip-top structure is restricted from being opened because it interfaces against an underlying protrusion, such as a thread of a container's neck. To open the flip-top structure the closure is rotated with respect to the container neck. When the closure is rotated with respect to the container neck, the closure is configured such that the tamper-evident band breaks before the flip-top structure is permitted to rotate to an open position. Thus, the closure prevents accessing the container's contents until after the tamper-evident band is broken even with the addition of a flip-top structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Gary L. Berge, Thomas P. Hennessy
  • Patent number: 11214413
    Abstract: A closure includes a hinged sealing element including a top wall and a first skirt. The first skirt has a sealing formation allowing engagement of a mating sealing formation of a bottle. A second skirt has an attachment formation engageable with a mating attachment formation of the bottle. A plurality of frangible members is attached to each of the skirts. A pair of hinge members is attached between the first and second skirts. A biasing member is attached to the first skirt between the hinge members and extending downwardly from the first skirt to interact with a neck portion of the bottle such that the sealing formation of the first skirt and the mating sealing formation of the bottle are biased toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Silgan White Cap LLC
    Inventors: Gary L. Berge, Thomas P. Hennessy
  • Patent number: 11214414
    Abstract: A closure includes a flip-top structure and a tamper-evident band. The flip-top structure is restricted from being opened because it interfaces against an underlying protrusion, such as a thread of a container's neck. To open the flip-top structure the closure is rotated with respect to the container neck. When the closure is rotated with respect to the container neck, the closure is configured such that the tamper-evident band breaks before the flip-top structure is permitted to rotate to an open position. Thus, the closure prevents accessing the container's contents until after the tamper-evident band is broken even with the addition of a flip-top structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Silgan White Cap LLC
    Inventors: Gary L. Berge, Thomas P. Hennessy
  • Publication number: 20210078773
    Abstract: A closure includes a flip-top structure and a tamper-evident band. The flip-top structure is restricted from being opened because it interfaces against an underlying protrusion, such as a thread of a container's neck. To open the flip-top structure the closure is rotated with respect to the container neck. When the closure is rotated with respect to the container neck, the closure is configured such that the tamper-evident band breaks before the flip-top structure is permitted to rotate to an open position. Thus, the closure prevents accessing the container's contents until after the tamper-evident band is broken even with the addition of a flip-top structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Gary L. Berge, Thomas P. Hennessy
  • Publication number: 20210024260
    Abstract: A closure includes a hinged sealing element including a top wall and a first skirt. The first skirt has a sealing formation allowing engagement of a mating sealing formation of a bottle. A second skirt has an attachment formation engageable with a mating attachment formation of the bottle. A plurality of frangible members is attached to each of the skirts. A pair of hinge members is attached between the first and second skirts. A biasing member is attached to the first skirt between the hinge members and extending downwardly from the first skirt to interact with a neck portion of the bottle such that the sealing formation of the first skirt and the mating sealing formation of the bottle are biased toward each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Gary L. Berge, Thomas P. Hennessy
  • Patent number: 6382440
    Abstract: A closure includes a plurality of decorative display elements arranged at regular intervals around an outside surface of the closure, the decorative display elements, and gaps between the display elements, serving as engagement locations for a chuck to rotate the closure. According to one aspect of the invention, the display elements are peaked upwardly from an open bottom end of the closure, having wider base ends than distal ends, and the gap formed between the elements is tapered in a downward direction. In one embodiment, the display elements are stepped in profile having different levels of raised planes providing a three dimensional decorative display. The regularly spaced decorative elements also provide an enhanced gripping surface for the fingers of a consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Alcoa Closure Systems International
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Brant, Richard Laveault, Thomas P. Hennessy, Chon Tsai
  • Patent number: 6079592
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for creating a blended stream of articles, such as for use in connection with product promotions and the like. The invention contemplates that first and second streams of discrete promotional articles are blended so that the resultant stream includes articles at a predetermined ratio. The present invention facilitates creation of a blended product stream comprising all winning promotional articles with differing values, with subsequent formation of a blended article stream comprising winning and non-winning promotional articles. Precise and cost-effective introduction of the winning and non-winning promotional articles into the marketplace can thus be effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Alcoa Closure Systems International
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hennessy, Michael E. Corcoran, Michael D. Dennis, Michael E. Albertson, Richard A. Laveault
  • Patent number: D438800
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Alcoa Closure Systems International
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Brant, Richard Laveault, Thomas P. Hennessy, Chon Tsai
  • Patent number: D457431
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Alcoa Closure Systems International
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Brant, Richard Laveault, Thomas P. Hennessy, Chon Tsai
  • Patent number: D465731
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Alcoa Closure Systems International
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Brant, Richard Laveault, Thomas P. Hennessy, Chon Tsai
  • Patent number: D479338
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hennessy, Kimberly M. Smoak
  • Patent number: D915199
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Silgan White Cap LLC
    Inventors: Gary L. Berge, Thomas P. Hennessy