Patents by Inventor Walter J. Strasser

Walter J. Strasser 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: 11718439
    Abstract: A polymeric container formed from a preform and configured for storing a commodity under pressure. A base of the container includes a standing ring configured to support the container upright when the standing ring is seated on a planar standing surface. A curved diaphragm of the base extends from the standing surface to a center of the base. A plurality of dimples are defined by the base and are evenly spaced apart along the standing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: AMCOR RIGID PACKAGING USA, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Woloszyk, Walter J. Strasser
  • Publication number: 20210362903
    Abstract: A polymeric container formed from a preform and configured for storing a commodity under pressure. A base of the container includes a standing ring configured to support the container upright when the standing ring is seated on a planar standing surface. A curved diaphragm of the base extends from the standing surface to a center of the base. A plurality of dimples are defined by the base and are evenly spaced apart along the standing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Mark WOLOSZYK, Walter J. STRASSER
  • Patent number: 10189597
    Abstract: A one-piece plastic container including a base portion. A gate area is at an axial center of the base portion. A plurality of feet are radially spaced apart about the axial center. Each strap of a plurality of straps is arranged between neighboring feet. Each one of a plurality of fillet areas is arranged between one of the plurality of feet and straps on opposite sides thereof. A cumulative strap surface area is defined by a total surface area of the plurality of straps, the gate area, and half a total surface area of the plurality of fillet areas. A cumulative foot surface area defined by a total surface area of the plurality of feet and half the total surface area of the plurality of fillet areas. The base portion has a ratio of cumulative foot surface area to cumulative strap surface area in the range of 2.4-2.8:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Amcor Rigid Plastics USA, LLC
    Inventors: Walter J. Strasser, Mark Woloszyk, Guizhang Zheng, Theodore F. Eberle, Pankaj Kumar, Nitin Gulati
  • Publication number: 20160297558
    Abstract: A one-piece plastic container including a base portion. A gate area is at an axial center of the base portion. A plurality of feet are radially spaced apart about the axial center. Each strap of a plurality of straps is arranged between neighboring feet. Each one of a plurality of fillet areas is arranged between one of the plurality of feet and straps on opposite sides thereof. A cumulative strap surface area is defined by a total surface area of the plurality of straps, the gate area, and half a total surface area of the plurality of fillet areas. A cumulative foot surface area defined by a total surface area of the plurality of feet and half the total surface area of the plurality of fillet areas. The base portion has a ratio of cumulative foot surface area to cumulative strap surface area in the range of 2.4-2.8:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Walter J. STRASSER, Mark WOLOSZYK, Guizhang ZHENG, Theodore F. EBERLE, Pankaj KUMAR, Nitin GULATI
  • Patent number: 9394072
    Abstract: A plastic container including an upper portion, a base, a plurality of surface features, and a substantially cylindrical portion. The upper portion has a mouth defining an opening into the container. The base is movable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container thereby decreasing the volume of the container. The plurality of surface features are included with the base and are configured to accommodate vacuum forces. The substantially cylindrical portion extends between the upper portion and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Terry D. Patcheak, David Downing, Frederick C. Beuerle, Walter J. Strasser, Christopher Howe, Luke A. Mast
  • Patent number: 8727152
    Abstract: A container may employ an upper portion defining a mouth, a shoulder portion formed with the upper portion and extending away from the upper portion, a bottom portion forming a base, a sidewall extending between and joining the shoulder portion and the bottom portion, and a plurality of smooth surfaced vacuum panels formed in the sidewall, which may be separated by one or more strengthening grooves. The vacuum panels and/or the container in a profile view may form an hourglass shape. The container may also employ a sidewall utilizing three smooth, grooveless, vacuum panels, which may form a triangle in cross-section. The vacuum panels may be concave inward toward a central vertical axis of the container and have an hourglass shape when the container is viewed in a side view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Walter J. Strasser, Bradley S. Philip, Richard J. Steih, Richard K. Rangler, Brad Caszatt, John B. Simon
  • Publication number: 20140061211
    Abstract: A plastic container including an upper portion, a base, a plurality of surface features, and a substantially cylindrical portion. The upper portion has a mouth defining an opening into the container. The base is movable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container thereby decreasing the volume of the container. The plurality of surface features are included with the base and are configured to accommodate vacuum forces. The substantially cylindrical portion extends between the upper portion and the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Terry D. Patcheak, David Downing, Frederick C. Beuerle, Walter J. Strasser, Christopher Howe, Luke A. Mast
  • Patent number: 8616395
    Abstract: A container body and base being lightweight structures designed to accommodate vacuum forces either simultaneously or in sequence. The container body and base each absorb a significant percentage of the vacuum. By utilizing a lightweight base design to absorb a portion of the vacuum forces enables an overall light-weighting, design flexibility, and effective utilization of alternative vacuum absorbing capabilities on the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Terry D. Patcheak, David Downing, Frederick C. Beuerle, Walter J. Strasser, Christopher Howe, Luke A. Mast
  • Patent number: 8596479
    Abstract: A one-piece plastic hot-fill container may employ a shoulder portion, a base portion and a sidewall portion, which may be integrally formed with and extend from the shoulder portion to the base portion. The sidewall portion may generally be in an hourglass shape and employ a plurality of arched contour ribs and a plurality of arched contour lands that may alternate along a longitudinal length of the sidewall portion. An outside diameter of an upper body portion is greater than an outside diameter of a lower body portion, which may form a hand grip area. The arched contour ribs may further employ an upper flat wall, a lower flat wall, and an inner curved wall joining the upper and lower walls, which together may form an angle of about 60 degrees, and move in response to hot-fill product contraction within the container or top load forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: John B. Simon, Walter J. Strasser, Anna C. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 8308006
    Abstract: A hot-fill container may have a shoulder portion, body portion, bottom portion, and numerous strengthening grooves and a thin-walled, flexible, bag-like, collapsible portion in the body portion. The collapsible portion may be located between the strengthening ribs. The container structure may also employ one or more vacuum panels in the body portion that may lie between the collapsible portion and the bottom portion. The vacuum panels and the collapsible body portion may move toward a central vertical axis when the container is subjected to an internal vacuum pressure. Strengthening grooves may border the collapsible body portion, which may be circular in pre-vacuum cross-section but polygonal in post-vacuum cross-section. Part of the collapsible portion may be concave inward toward a central vertical axis of the container while part of the collapsible portion may move away from the central vertical axis. Vertical columns may support the collapsible portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: John A. Nievierowski, Patricia M. Maslak, Walter J. Strasser, Luke A. Mast, Frederick C. Beuerle
  • Patent number: 8113369
    Abstract: A blow molded container has a neck portion defining a mouth. The neck portion leads into a shoulder portion and a bottom portion forms a container base. A sidewall portion connects the shoulder portion and the bottom portion and employs a first pair of opposing convex vacuum panels and a second pair of opposing convex vacuum panels. The first pair of opposing convex vacuum panels is larger in surface area than the second pair of opposing convex vacuum panels. A vertical column at each corner of the container joins the first pair of opposing vacuum panels to the second pair of opposing vacuum panels. A structural convex arch resides above and below each convex vacuum panel. Each of the vertical columns are molded into the structural convex arches. Vacuum initiator grooves may be molded into the first and second pair of opposing vacuum panels to control vacuum panel movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Luke A. Mast, Walter J. Strasser, David Downing, Frederick C. Beuerle
  • Patent number: 8047390
    Abstract: A plastic container includes an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into the container. A shoulder region extends from the upper portion. A sidewall portion extends between the shoulder region and a base portion. The base portion closes off an end of the container. A vacuum panel region defined in part by at least two vacuum panels. Each of the vacuum panels are movable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container resulting from heating and cooling of its contents. The vacuum panel region occupies an area outboard of the sidewall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Walter J. Strasser, Steve P. Barker
  • Publication number: 20110186538
    Abstract: A container may employ an upper portion defining a mouth, a shoulder portion formed with the upper portion and extending away from the upper portion, a bottom portion forming a base, a sidewall extending between and joining the shoulder portion and the bottom portion, and a plurality of smooth surfaced vacuum panels formed in the sidewall, which may be separated by one or more strengthening grooves. The vacuum panels and/or the container in a profile view may form an hourglass shape. The container may also employ a sidewall utilizing three smooth, grooveless, vacuum panels, which may form a triangle in cross-section. The vacuum panels may be concave inward toward a central vertical axis of the container and have an hourglass shape when the container is viewed in a side view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: WALTER J. STRASSER, Bradley S. Philip, Richard J. Steih, Richard K. Rangler, Brad Caszatt, John B. Simon
  • Patent number: 7891513
    Abstract: A one-piece plastic container includes a body defining a longitudinal axis and having an upper portion, a sidewall portion and a base portion. The base portion defines a plurality of feet extending therearound. The base portion defines a contact diameter ratio of approximately 70-74% and a contact length ratio of approximately 20-23% for a plastic container having a volume capacity of approximately one (1) liter (1000 cc). According to additional features, the one-piece plastic container can have a nub defined on the base portion. For a one-piece plastic container having a volume capacity of approximately one (1) liter (1000 cc), the nub has a diameter of approximately 3-7 mm (0.12-0.28 inch), the base portion defines a contact area ratio of approximately 23-25%, and each foot defines corner transition portions each having a fillet radius of approximately 4-10 mm (0.16-0.39 inch).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Ravi Mody, Darrin Nicholson, Theodore F. Eberle, Walter J. Strasser
  • Publication number: 20110017700
    Abstract: A container body and base being lightweight structures designed to accommodate vacuum forces either simultaneously or in sequence. The container body and base each absorb a significant percentage of the vacuum. By utilizing a lightweight base design to absorb a portion of the vacuum forces enables an overall light-weighting, design flexibility, and effective utilization of alternative vacuum absorbing capabilities on the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Terry D. Patcheak, David Downing, Frederick C. Beuerle, Walter J. Strasser, Christopher Howe, Luke A. Mast
  • Publication number: 20100155359
    Abstract: A one-piece plastic hot-fill container may employ a shoulder portion, a base portion and a sidewall portion, which may be integrally formed with and extend from the shoulder portion to the base portion. The sidewall portion may generally be in an hourglass shape and employ a plurality of arched contour ribs and a plurality of arched contour lands that may alternate along a longitudinal length of the sidewall portion. An outside diameter of an upper body portion is greater than an outside diameter of a lower body portion, which may form a hand grip area. The arched contour ribs may further employ an upper flat wall, a lower flat wall, and an inner curved wall joining the upper and lower walls, which together may form an angle of about 60 degrees, and move in response to hot-fill product contraction within the container or top load forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: John B. Simon, Walter J. Strasser, Anna C. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20100155360
    Abstract: A blow molded container has a neck portion defining a mouth. The neck portion leads into a shoulder portion and a bottom portion forms a container base. A sidewall portion connects the shoulder portion and the bottom portion and employs a first pair of opposing convex vacuum panels and a second pair of opposing convex vacuum panels. The first pair of opposing convex vacuum panels is larger in surface area than the second pair of opposing convex vacuum panels. A vertical column at each corner of the container joins the first pair of opposing vacuum panels to the second pair of opposing vacuum panels. A structural convex arch resides above and below each convex vacuum panel. Each of the vertical columns are molded into the structural convex arches. Vacuum initiator grooves may be molded into the first and second pair of opposing vacuum panels to control vacuum panel movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Luke A. Mast, Walter J. Strasser, David Downing, Frederick C. Beuerle
  • Publication number: 20100006533
    Abstract: A hot-fill container may have a shoulder portion, body portion, bottom portion, and numerous strengthening grooves and a thin-walled, flexible, bag-like, collapsible portion in the body portion. The collapsible portion may be located between the strengthening ribs. The container structure may also employ one or more vacuum panels in the body portion that may lie between the collapsible portion and the bottom portion. The vacuum panels and the collapsible body portion may move toward a central vertical axis when the container is subjected to an internal vacuum pressure. Strengthening grooves may border the collapsible body portion, which may be circular in pre-vacuum cross-section but polygonal in post-vacuum cross-section. Part of the collapsible portion may be concave inward toward a central vertical axis of the container while part of the collapsible portion may move away from the central vertical axis. Vertical columns may support the collapsible portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: AMCOR LIMITED
    Inventors: John A. Nievierowski, Patricia M. Maslak, Walter J. Strasser, Luke A. Mast, Frederick C. Beuerle
  • Publication number: 20090014407
    Abstract: A plastic container includes an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into the container. A shoulder region extends from the upper portion. A sidewall portion extends between the shoulder region and a base portion. The base portion closes off an end of the container. A vacuum panel region defined in part by at least two vacuum panels. Each of the vacuum panels are movable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container resulting from heating and cooling of its contents. The vacuum panel region occupies an area outboard of the sidewall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Walter J. Strasser, Steve P. Barker
  • Patent number: D600122
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Walter J. Strasser, Richard J. Steih, Christopher LaBombarbe, Dwayne Gannon, David Downing