Patents by Inventor Thomas Stoneberg

Thomas 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).

  • Publication number: 20230382609
    Abstract: A flow control closure is provided. The closure having a body member with a base wall, a body skirt, and a spout extending from the base wall away from the body skirt; a lid member with a top wall and a lid skirt, the lid member being movable between an open position and a closed position, the top wall having a seal positioned to engage the spout when the lid member is in the closed position; and a hinge member that joins the lid member with the body member. The spout can include an orifice with an outer profile having a first diameter and an inner profile having a second diameter, the orifice can include one or more uvulas that partially obstructs the first diameter. The flow control closure can be molded as one unitary piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Stoneberg, Ryan Joseph Magee
  • Patent number: 11718454
    Abstract: A flow control closure is provided. The closure having a body member with a base wall, a body skirt, and a spout extending from the base wall away from the body skirt; a lid member with a top wall and a lid skirt, the lid member being movable between an open position and a closed position, the top wall having a seal positioned to engage the spout when the lid member is in the closed position; and a hinge member that joins the lid member with the body member. The spout can include an orifice with an outer profile having a first diameter and an inner profile having a second diameter, the orifice can include one or more uvulas that partially obstructs the first diameter. The flow control closure can be molded as one unitary piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Stoneberg, Ryan Joseph Magee
  • Patent number: 10494164
    Abstract: A dispensing system provides for the delivery of a contained substance sealed in a Dispensable Containment Vessel (DCV) into a target container, which can contain another substance. The dispensing system includes a dispensing adaptor (Dispensing System) that couples the DCV to the target container so substances can be transferred between the containers without escaping or contacting the user. When the DCV is activated from a secure conformation into a dispensing conformation, the dispensing adaptor sealably engages the target container and portions of the dispensing adaptor place stress on a barrier, which frangibly tears along defined tearing paths to form vents or flaps that are forced apart against the dispensing adaptor, allowing the contents of the DCV to enter the target container. The dispensing conformation also facilitates the efficient mixture of substances and allows them to travel between the containers to flush residual DCV contents into the target container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Fifth Third Bank, an Ohio Banking
    Inventors: Darren Nickerson, Thomas Stoneberg, Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 10457475
    Abstract: The invention provides an assembly for dispensing portioned amounts of materials from a container, while keeping the undispensed portions stored within the container, and displaying the dispensed portions for consumption. The cap assembly includes a body member which can reversibly engage the container, and a cap member that transfers predetermined volumes of articles from the interior of a container to a serving vessel that is accessible by an individual consumer, while leaving the remainder of the articles within the container and unavailable to a consumer. The relative position of the body and cap members block or unblock a passageway for dispensing articles through a mouth of the container. The cap member can be used multiple times to dispense additional volumes of articles from the container as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Nickerson, Thomas Stoneberg
  • Patent number: 10457453
    Abstract: The invention relates to child-resistant closure systems including a container, closure, and a resilient deformable liner positioned therebetween. The container and closure include mechanisms for engaging each other when the closure system adopts a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the liner adopts a moderately non-flat profile and covers a mouth of the container. The closure can include a deflection rib and a highly curved top panel; when a pushing movement of sufficient force is applied to the closure, the closure system transitions from the locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. At this time, the deflection rib deforms a central portion of the liner, and the highly curved portion of the top panel engages the mouth of the container; this action can cause an outer portion of the liner to contact the highly curved portion and transition to a highly curved profile mimicking the profile of the top panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: PHOENIX CLOSURES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Stoneberg, David Anderson
  • Publication number: 20190241330
    Abstract: The invention relates to child-resistant closure systems including a container, closure, and a resilient deformable liner positioned therebetween. The container and closure include mechanisms for engaging each other when the closure system adopts a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the liner adopts a moderately non-flat profile and covers a mouth of the container. The closure can include a deflection rib and a highly curved top panel; when a pushing movement of sufficient force is applied to the closure, the closure system transitions from the locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. At this time, the deflection rib deforms a central portion of the liner, and the highly curved portion of the top panel engages the mouth of the container; this action can cause an outer portion of the liner to contact the highly curved portion and transition to a highly curved profile mimicking the profile of the top panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas STONEBERG, David ANDERSON
  • Patent number: 10336512
    Abstract: A closure system can include a body member, cap member, and flexible hinge member joining the body and cap members. The hinge member includes a pair of hinge portions with an opening between them. The hinge portions can include substantially planar segments of uniform thickness, providing hinge portions with uniform thickness along their lengths when the closure system is in open and closed configurations. When the closure system is fully opened, the hinge portions can extend axially between the body and cap members when viewed from above, the substantially planar segments can include end segments that are substantially coplanar to each other and a central segment that occupies another plane parallel to that occupied by the end portions, giving the central portion of the hinge portion an elevated orientation relative to its end portions, or the appearance of a hump when viewed from the side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: PHOENIX CLOSURES, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Stoneberg
  • Publication number: 20190100361
    Abstract: A closure system can include a body member, cap member, and flexible hinge member joining the body and cap members. The hinge member includes a pair of hinge portions with an opening between them. The hinge portions can include substantially planar segments of uniform thickness, providing hinge portions with uniform thickness along their lengths when the closure system is in open and closed configurations. When the closure system is fully opened, the hinge portions can extend axially between the body and cap members when viewed from above, the substantially planar segments can include end segments that are substantially coplanar to each other and a central segment that occupies another plane parallel to that occupied by the end portions, giving the central portion of the hinge portion an elevated orientation relative to its end portions, or the appearance of a hump when viewed from the side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas STONEBERG
  • Publication number: 20190031424
    Abstract: The invention provides an assembly for dispensing portioned amounts of materials from a container, while keeping the undispensed portions stored within the container, and displaying the dispensed portions for consumption. The cap assembly includes a body member which can reversibly engage the container, and a cap member that transfers predetermined volumes of articles from the interior of a container to a serving vessel that is accessible by an individual consumer, while leaving the remainder of the articles within the container and unavailable to a consumer. The relative position of the body and cap members block or unblock a passageway for dispensing articles through a mouth of the container. The cap member can be used multiple times to dispense additional volumes of articles from the container as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Darren Nickerson, Thomas Stoneberg
  • Publication number: 20170259982
    Abstract: A dispensing system provides for the delivery of a contained substance sealed in a Dispensable Containment Vessel (DCV) into a target container, which can contain another substance. The dispensing system includes a dispensing adaptor (Dispensing System) that couples the DCV to the target container so substances can be transferred between the containers without escaping or contacting the user. When the DCV is activated from a secure conformation into a dispensing conformation, the dispensing adaptor sealably engages the target container and portions of the dispensing adaptor place stress on a barrier, which frangibly tears along defined tearing paths to form vents or flaps that are forced apart against the dispensing adaptor, allowing the contents of the DCV to enter the target container. The dispensing conformation also facilitates the efficient mixture of substances and allows them to travel between the containers to flush residual DCV contents into the target container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Darren Nickerson, Thomas Stoneberg, Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 7988004
    Abstract: A dispensing closure having a tamper evident device. The closure having a spout positionable between an open position and a closed position relative to a closure base. An overcap with a tamper indicating band having an anti-rotational mechanism interacting with the closure base. The closure base has a plurality of projecting flanges engaging the tamper indicating band. The projecting flanges of the closure base curve towards the spout of the dispensing closure. The tamper indicating band of the overcap is supported interiorly by the spout in both the open position and closed position of the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Rexam Closures and Containers Inc.
    Inventors: J. Nathan Marret, Thomas Stoneberg, Troy Tacke
  • Publication number: 20080035674
    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: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Stoneberg, William Schmeisser
  • Publication number: 20080011703
    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: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: William Schmeisser, Thomas Stoneberg
  • Publication number: 20070205229
    Abstract: A closure for a container adapted to contain a liquid comprising: (a) a base adapted to be attached to an opening of a fluid container, the base including a conduit extending therethrough that is adapted to be in fluid communication with fluid contents of the fluid container when attached to the opening of the fluid container, and the base further including a spout guide defining at least a portion of the conduit and having an annular deck extending inwardly from an inner circumferential surface of the base, defining an orifice in fluid communication with the conduit; (b) a spout mounted to the spout guide for reciprocation between an open position and a closed position, the spout including a plug having a leading end adapted to allow fluid flow through the orifice when the spout is in the open position; and (c) a discrete sealing member coupled to at least one of the spout and the base, adapted to be at least partially displaced to provide a fluidic seal between at least one of the spout and the base to seal
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: William Schmeisser, Thomas Stoneberg
  • Publication number: 20050040190
    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: September 15, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Stoneberg, Terry Kubitz, Dennis Tortorella
  • Patent number: D869279
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: PHOENIX CLOSURES INC
    Inventor: Thomas Stoneberg