Patents by Inventor Troy Merrell

Troy Merrell 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: 11702235
    Abstract: A packaging cushion is provided which has a bottom cushion piece, first and second side cushion pieces, a front cushion piece, a rear cushion piece, and a translated top cushion piece. The bottom cushion piece defines a void cavity and front entry portion. The first side cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece, and the second side cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and opposite the first side cushion piece. The front cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and may define an entry space adjacent to the front entry portion. The rear cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and opposite the front cushion piece. The translated top cushion piece extends from the rear cushion piece and is displaced from the void cavity. The packaging cushion at least partially covers six sides of a product housed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: EPE Industries USA Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Merrell, Matt Christy
  • Publication number: 20210403218
    Abstract: A packaging material is provided which is comprised of a plank of structural foam and a plurality of vertical interior voids defined in the plank. The ratio of the height of each interior void is between about 60% and about 65% of the height of the plank, and the diameter of each interior void is between about 55% and about 65% of the height of the void. Each interior void has a bottom portion defining a conical dome shape. The dome-shaped interior voids advantageously allow for the use of lower cost lower, lower density material to be used to archive the same performance as higher density, or higher cost materials. When the structural foam has a material density of 1.2# it exhibits properties of structural foam having a material density of 2.2#, and when the structural foam has a material density of 2.2# it exhibits properties of structural foam having a material density of 4.0#.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventor: Troy Merrell
  • Publication number: 20210206522
    Abstract: A packaging cushion is provided which has a bottom cushion piece, first and second side cushion pieces, a front cushion piece, a rear cushion piece, and a translated top cushion piece. The bottom cushion piece defines a void cavity and front entry portion. The first side cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece, and the second side cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and opposite the first side cushion piece. The front cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and may define an entry space adjacent to the front entry portion. The rear cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and opposite the front cushion piece. The translated top cushion piece extends from the rear cushion piece and is displaced from the void cavity. The packaging cushion at least partially covers six sides of a product housed therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Troy Merrell, Matt Christy
  • Patent number: 10960996
    Abstract: A packaging cushion is provided which has a bottom cushion piece, first and second side cushion pieces, a front cushion piece, a rear cushion piece, and a translated top cushion piece. The bottom cushion piece defines a void cavity and front entry portion. The first side cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece, and the second side cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and opposite the first side cushion piece. The front cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and may define an entry space adjacent to the front entry portion. The rear cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and opposite the front cushion piece. The translated top cushion piece extends from the rear cushion piece and is displaced from the void cavity. The packaging cushion at least partially covers six sides of a product housed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: EPE Industries USA Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Merrell, Matt Christy
  • Publication number: 20180339794
    Abstract: A packaging cushion is provided which has a bottom cushion piece, first and second side cushion pieces, a front cushion piece, a rear cushion piece, and a translated top cushion piece. The bottom cushion piece defines a void cavity and front entry portion. The first side cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece, and the second side cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and opposite the first side cushion piece. The front cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and may define an entry space adjacent to the front entry portion. The rear cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and opposite the front cushion piece. The translated top cushion piece extends from the rear cushion piece and is displaced from the void cavity. The packaging cushion at least partially covers six sides of a product housed therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Troy Merrell, Matt Christy
  • Publication number: 20170101246
    Abstract: Packaging systems and methods are provided in which a shipping bag has an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of cushion pieces are directly affixed to the inner surface, the outer surface, or both the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag by an adhesive. The cushion pieces may be dispersed at various locations inside or outside the shipping bag to protect a unit being packaged and arranged to achieve optimal load bearing for a unit being packaged. In exemplary embodiments, each cushion piece is located at an optimal location one or more of the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag relative to a unit being packaged. Each cushion piece can automatically locate itself at an optimal location on one or more of the inner and outer surface of the shipping bag relative to a unit being packaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventor: Troy Merrell
  • Patent number: 9045271
    Abstract: A cushioning device comprises a compressible dot having a top cushioning surface and a substantially flat attachment surface. The compressible dot is adapted to increase in density in correlation with increasing compression force exerted on the compressible dot. The top cushioning surface is adapted to increase in contact surface area in correlation with increasing compression force exerted on the compressible dot. A packaging system comprises a packaging container having an inner surface and a compressible dot having a top cushioning surface and a substantially flat attachment surface, the compressible dot being attached to the inner surface of the packaging container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: EPE Industries USA Inc
    Inventors: Ron Matheison, Troy Merrell
  • Publication number: 20130048534
    Abstract: A cushioning device comprises a compressible dot having a top cushioning surface and a substantially flat attachment surface. The compressible dot is adapted to increase in density in correlation with increasing compression force exerted on the compressible dot. The top cushioning surface is adapted to increase in contact surface area in correlation with increasing compression force exerted on the compressible dot. A packaging system comprises a packaging container having an inner surface and a compressible dot having a top cushioning surface and a substantially flat attachment surface, the compressible dot being attached to the inner surface of the packaging container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: EPE Industries, Inc. (U.S.A.)
    Inventors: Troy Merrell, Ron Matheison