Patents by Inventor Walter D. Keefe, Jr.

Walter D. Keefe, Jr. 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: 10407207
    Abstract: A shipping container convertible into a display configuration at a point of sale comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and end walls all of which are foldably joined to one another to form an interior space to receive product having a predetermined height. Each of the respective side walls includes a respective pair of spaced apart slots formed therein. Each of the end walls includes a respective minor top flap being foldably joined thereof. The respective minor top flaps include a pair of locking tabs each of which is engaged with the corresponding slots. A headspace is formed within the interior space of the container so as to compensate for the height of the products when the container is flipped on its side for displaybility at the point of sale and permits a user to remove product from various layers of containers stacked upon one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Walter D. Keefe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10183778
    Abstract: A shipping container convertible to a display container formed from a one-piece blank of sheet material. The container comprises an inner front panel, a bottom panel, a back panel, a top panel, and an outer front panel connected in series at respective first, second, third, and fourth fold lines. Inner front side flaps joined to the inner front panel and back side flaps joined to the back panel extend along lateral sides of the container. Bottom side flaps joined to the bottom panel overlap the inner front side flaps and the back side flaps. Top side flaps joined to the top panel overlap an outer surface of at least the back side flaps. Outer front side flaps joined to the outer front panel overlap outer surfaces of the top side flaps and the bottom side flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Walter D. Keefe, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180305069
    Abstract: A shipping container convertible to a display container formed from a one-piece blank of sheet material. The container comprises an inner front panel, a bottom panel, a back panel, a top panel, and an outer front panel connected in series at respective first, second, third, and fourth fold lines. Inner front side flaps joined to the inner front panel and back side flaps joined to the back panel extend along lateral sides of the container. Bottom side flaps joined to the bottom panel overlap the inner front side flaps and the back side flaps. Top side flaps joined to the top panel overlap an outer surface of at least the back side flaps. Outer front side flaps joined to the outer front panel overlap outer surfaces of the top side flaps and the bottom side flaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Walter D. Keefe, JR.
  • Patent number: 9738413
    Abstract: A convertible case for shipping and displaying packages of a food product includes a body formed from a first blank of a cardboard material and a hood formed from a second blank of a cardboard material. The first blank is foldable into a six-sided rectangular body and filled, using automatic or manual production processes, into a shipping configuration assembly having a front with a partially open region and a removable portion with a glue area, a back having a partially open region and a removable portion having a glue region, a left side, a right side, a top having a left panel and a right panel that are each shaped to provide a logo area and defining a partially open region between the logo areas, and a bottom having one or more selectively removable vent panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC
    Inventors: Laura G. Humphrey, Amelia S. Presher, Christopher W. Dunkle, Walter D. Keefe, Jr., Joseph Stallings
  • Publication number: 20170174389
    Abstract: A shipping container convertible into a display configuration at a point of sale comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and end walls all of which are foldably joined to one another to form an interior space to receive product having a predetermined height. Each of the respective side walls includes a respective pair of spaced apart slots formed therein. Each of the end walls includes a respective minor top flap being foldably joined thereof. The respective minor top flaps include a pair of locking tabs each of which is engaged with the corresponding slots. A headspace is formed within the interior space of the container so as to compensate for the height of the products when the container is flipped on its side for displaybility at the point of sale and permits a user to remove product from various layers of containers stacked upon one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventor: Walter D. Keefe, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170021961
    Abstract: A convertible case for shipping and displaying packages of a food product includes a body formed from a first blank of a cardboard material and a hood formed from a second blank of a cardboard material. The first blank is foldable into a six-sided rectangular body and filled, using automatic or manual production processes, into a shipping configuration assembly having a front with a partially open region and a removable portion with a glue area, a back having a partially open region and a removable portion having a glue region, a left side, a right side, a top having a left panel and a right panel that are each shaped to provide a logo area and defining a partially open region between the logo areas, and a bottom having one or more selectively removable vent panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC
    Inventors: Laura G. Humphrey, Amelia S. Presher, Christopher W. Dunkle, Walter D. Keefe,, JR., Joseph Stallings
  • Patent number: 7748604
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a blank foldable material that may be configured to form a container. When formed, the container is self-locking and includes air cell structure that allows for a container with a constant outside volume to have a variable inside volume. The air cell structure container functions to prevent telescoping of vertically stacked container and for strength and stability. The container may be partially assembled for shipping and hand set into final assembly as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Walter D. Keefe, Jr., David J McKenna
  • Patent number: 7717324
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a blank of foldable material configurable to form a container. When formed, the container includes a removable top portion of panel assemblies that converts the container from shipping container to a display container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Walter D Keefe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7708187
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a blank foldable material that may be configured to form a container. When formed, the container is self-locking and includes air cell structure that allows for a container with a constant outside volume to have a variable inside volume. The air cell structure containers functions to prevent telescoping of vertically stacked container and for strength and stability. The container may be partially assembled for shipping and hand set into final assembly as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Walter D. Keefe, Jr., David J McKenna
  • Publication number: 20090084833
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a blank of foldable material that is configurable to form a container. When formed, the container includes air cell structures that allow for the container with a constant outside volume to have a variable inside volume. The air cell structure of this container functions to prevent telescoping of vertically stacked containers for strength and stability. The relative size of the panels used in forming the air cell portion from one container to the next is variable to allow for a single outside volume, but differing inside volumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Weyerhaeuser Co.
    Inventors: Walter D. Keefe, JR., Richard G. Wachter
  • Publication number: 20090084706
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a blank of foldable material configurable to form a container. When formed, the container includes a removable top portion of panel assemblies that converts the container from shipping container to a display container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Weyerhaeuser Co.
    Inventor: Walter D. Keefe, JR.
  • Patent number: 6789726
    Abstract: The present invention includes a unique multi-purpose blank and resulting container for packing, shipping and displaying a product at a point-of-purchase. The container includes two substantially similar display units hingedly connected to one another along a detachable hinge line. The container holds products in a horizontal or vertical orientation. Additionally, the first display unit may be separated from the second display unit along the hinge line. Consequently, the display units may also be placed side-by-side, stacked vertically, or displayed singularly. A removable H-divider separates the first display unit from the second display unit and provides additional structural support. Additionally, an optional closure panel may be included to cover the display units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Walter D. Keefe, Jr., Nicholas A. Philips
  • Patent number: 6749106
    Abstract: In accordance with the aspects of the present invention, an improved container locking arrangement for a single piece blank and container is disclosed. The present invention includes a blank or a container including a bottom panel with first and second bottom sidewall panels, front and rear opposing wall panels, and first and second box corner locking constructions. Engagement of the corner locking constructions hingedly controls the relative position of the bottom sidewall panels. The corner locking constructions form first and second angled sidewall panels. Sidewall panel tabs disposed on an edge of the angled sidewall panels engage slots on the front wall panel to lock the first and second sidewall panels and the front wall panel in an assembled position. A top panel is hingedly configured to cover the bottom panel, thereby closing the container. First and second top panel flaps engage the first and second corner locking constructions to lock the top panel relative to the bottom panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Walter D. Keefe, Jr., Nicholas A. Philips
  • Patent number: 5702054
    Abstract: A paperboard container is formed from a single piece with appropriate cuts, score lines and slots to become, when in the erected condition, a food container for holding food items such as pizzas. Top and bottom panels are provided as are appropriate side panels. Front angled corners are constructed where triangular panels and upstanding tabs create a receiving pocket for accepting the locking flap hinged to the top closure panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Philips, Walter D. Keefe, Jr.