Patents by Inventor William Apps

William Apps 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: 20080067097
    Abstract: A nestable display crate for bottle carriers having a floor and a wall structure with that is designed to reveal the labels on the bottle carriers. The wall structure is of double thickness and comprises a lower wall portion adjacent the floor and a plurality of integrally formed contoured upper wall portions extending upward from the lower wall portion. The wall structure is hollow throughout allowing the contoured upper wall portions to be received within the lower wall portion of a crate nested thereabove. The contoured upper wall portions are tapered to be smaller in cross section at the top and larger near the lower wall portion to enable easy nesting and to avoid nested crates from becoming wedged together due to interference. The upper wall portions are in the shape of gear teeth that are spaced along the opposing sidewalls and endwalls of the crate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventor: William Apps
  • Publication number: 20070246393
    Abstract: A portable storage container that both stacks and nests with similar containers includes a plurality of walls extending upwardly from a floor. At least one bail member is moveable between a plurality of positions for supporting the similar containers at varying heights. The bail member is moveable between a low nest position and a high nest position. In the low nest position, minimal clearance between the floors of the stacked containers is provided, and the stacked containers have the lowest overall height. In the high nest position, a ledge protruding outwardly from an outer surface of a wall of the upper container is supported on a support portion of the bail arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Jon Hassell, William Apps, Matthew Dannenfeldt
  • Publication number: 20070221593
    Abstract: A rack for securing containers includes a plurality of bays into which one or more containers are received. An expandable, inflatable chamber is disposed adjacent each bay and selectively expands into the chamber to secure the containers within the bay. When installed on a vehicle, a pump may be activated automatically based upon a vehicle operating state or whenever the door is closed. Activation of the pump inflates the expandable chambers, thereby locking containers in place in the bays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventor: William Apps
  • Publication number: 20070194023
    Abstract: A collapsible container includes a plurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one wall has a support for supporting a second container thereon. The support is pivotably mounted to or integrally formed with an upper end portion of at least one wall. The pivotably mounted support includes a support structure that is pivotable between a support position where it is partially supported on an adjacent wall and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the wall can be pivoted downward onto the base, with a portion of the support passing through a channel formed on the interior of the adjacent wall. The integrally formed support includes a support structure that is at least partially received within a support channel formed in the base when the container is in the collapsed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: William Apps, Mauricio Cavalcante
  • Publication number: 20070095692
    Abstract: A collapsible container includes a plurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one wall has a support pivotably and slidably mounted to an upper end portion thereof. The support is pivotable between a support position where it is partially supported on an adjacent wall and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the wall can be pivoted downward onto the base, with a portion of the support passing through a channel formed on the interior of the adjacent wall. As the wall is pivoted to the upright position, the support is automatically deployed into the support position by its engagement with the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventor: William Apps
  • Publication number: 20070095842
    Abstract: A collapsible container includes a plurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one wall has a support pivotably mounted to an upper end portion thereof. The support is pivotable between a support position, where it is partially supported on an adjacent wall and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the wall can be pivoted downward onto the base, with a portion of the support passing through a channel formed on the interior of the adjacent wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventor: William Apps
  • Publication number: 20070062420
    Abstract: A reinforced pallet includes a pallet body having a plurality of flexible support arms, each integrally molded adjacent one of the plurality of channels formed in the pallet body. Each of the flexible support arms is configured to flex outward away from the channel upon insertion of an elongated reinforcement member into the channel and to subsequently return to its own deformed position in the channel, thereby retaining the reinforcement member in the channel. In this manner, the reinforcement members can be inserted and locked in the pallet body in a single motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: William Apps, Sean Ogburn, Roger Hsu, Steven Trieb, Christopher Gab, Jeffrey Hentges
  • Publication number: 20070056874
    Abstract: A tray includes a floor and a pair of opposed side walls, each having a cutout, one of which is larger to form the dropside. A pair of bail members are pivotably and slidably secured to opposed end walls. The bail members are supported by the end walls at a plurality of selected heights. The bail member is arranged to provide structural support to the dropside of a similar tray stacked thereon. The stiffness of the support is increased by the design of the bail member, which has a support portion with an elongated cross section. The elongated cross section is maintained in a vertical orientation when the bail member is in any of the stacking positions. In this manner, the dropside can have a large cutout without deflecting substantially during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: William Apps, Cynthia Meissen
  • Publication number: 20070029338
    Abstract: A waste container includes a handle rotatably mounted on the side wall. The handle includes a first grip at an outer end of a short arm and a second grip at the outer end of a long arm. The handle is rotatable relative to the waste container, between a first position where the first grip extends a first distance above an upper edge of the side wall of the waste container and a second position where the second grip extends a second distance above the upper edge of the side wall, with the second distance being substantially greater than the first distance. In this manner, the handle can be moved to the proper location for either pulling the waste container on its wheels or for emptying the waste container into the hopper of a truck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Cynthia Aiken, William Apps, Roger Hsu
  • Publication number: 20060272556
    Abstract: A pallet includes a deck and a plurality of outer supports extending downwardly from the deck. An inner support and a pair of outer supports extend downwardly from the deck between the outer supports. A plurality of keg top receiving recesses are formed in the bottoms of the inner and outer supports. The recesses partially define a center portion and a pair of outer portions therebetween in the inner support. The center portion and the pair of outer portions are the lower most surfaces of the center portion and are contained in a plane in which the lower most surfaces of the outer supports are also contained, and which plane is generally parallel to the upper surface of the deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventor: William Apps
  • Publication number: 20060260976
    Abstract: A pallet includes a plurality of supports supporting a floor. The supports each include a plurality of columns integrally-molded with at least one runner and snap-fit to the floor. At least one wall is moveable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the floor. A hinge connecting the wall to the base includes a first axis and a second axis offset by the first axis. The hinge is locked when the wall is in the upright position to prevent rotation about the second axis but permit rotation about the first axis. A hinge assembly connects a door to the wall and includes a first hinge pin and a second hinge pin. The hinge assembly permits the door to open completely relative to the wall to a position at least substantially parallel to and adjacent the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventor: William Apps
  • Publication number: 20060236904
    Abstract: A pallet assembly includes an upper deck and a lower deck spaced by a plurality of columns. The weight of the pallet is reduced without significant reduction in strength by providing only a single cross beam in each of the upper and lower reinforcement members and orienting them perpendicular to one another. The reinforcement members are minimized for weight reduction and for improved performance in heat tests. The peripheral rail of the upper reinforcement member is reduced such that it rests on only an inwardly open recess on an inner corner of each of the corner columns. This reduces the size and weight of the upper reinforcement member, while still providing support to the upper deck. Additionally, the peripheral rails of both the upper and lower decks are reduced in length such that either ledge does not directly support them while the pallet is stored on a rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: William Apps, Justin Smyers, Trenton Overholt
  • Publication number: 20060231555
    Abstract: A collapsible container includes a plurality of collapsible walls, each pair of adjacent walls connected by a latch. Each latch can be selectively actuated from contact with the latch both from inside and the outside of the container, and further by inwardly directed forced to the outside of the wall first to collapse. Preferably, the latch includes a recess into which the adjacent wall is disposed when the latch is in the latched position. Preferably, the latch is unlatched by flexing the latch away from the adjacent wall by application of force on an inner release surface, inward of the recess or by actuation of an outer release surface, outward of the recess, or by the application of an inwardly directed forced to the walls that are first to collapse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: Justin Smyers, William Apps
  • Publication number: 20060231449
    Abstract: A portable storage container that both stacks and nests with similar containers includes a plurality of walls extending upwardly from a floor. At least one bail member is moveable between a plurality of positions for supporting the similar containers at varying heights. The bail member includes a support portion and two arms extending transversely from the support portion. A projection extends laterally from between axial ends of each arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: Jon Hassell, William Apps
  • Publication number: 20060169620
    Abstract: A low depth tray for bottles is provided which includes a first pair of opposed walls, a second pair of opposed walls attached to the first pair of opposed walls to form a wall structure, and a base attached to the wall structure. At least one interior column projects upwardly within the wall structure, where the interior column has a height less than the height of bottles loaded in the tray. A plurality of interior divider walls of double-walled construction project upwardly from the base and extend between the one or more interior columns and the wall structure. Together, the divider walls, interior columns, base, and outer wall structure define a plurality of bottle retaining pockets, where each pocket includes at least one divider wall and is sized to receive a single bottle therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventor: William Apps
  • Publication number: 20060113210
    Abstract: A stacking crate for bottles has a plurality of tapered pylons extending upward from a periphery of a floor. A rib extends downwardly in the interior of a cavity in each pylon. Each pylon further includes a slot in an upper surface of the pylon substantially aligned with the rib. When similar crates are nested, the ribs in the pylons of one crate will rest in the slots in the upper surface of the pylons of the lower crate, thus permitting the crates to be nested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Jon Hassell, William Apps, Gerald Koefelda
  • Publication number: 20060108372
    Abstract: A storage container has a floor and two pairs of opposed walls extending upwardly from the floor. Included is a bail member having bail ends mountable to one of the pairs of walls, and movable among nest and stack positions. Also included are mounting portions on one of the pairs of walls for receiving the bail ends. Mounting portions include an opening defining a plurality of pivot axes about which the bail member pivots, each axis oriented at substantially similar heights above the floor. When bail ends are positioned at one pivot axis, bail member is movable between the nested and a first stack positions. When bail ends are positioned at an other pivot axis, bail member is oriented in the second stack position. To move the bail member between first and second pivot axes, the bail member is raised upwardly within the opening and moved around an interference portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Cynthia Aiken, William Apps
  • Publication number: 20060065567
    Abstract: A portable storage container that both stacks and nests with similar containers includes a plurality of walls extending upwardly from a floor. At least one bail member is moveable between a plurality of positions for supporting the similar containers at varying heights. The bail member includes at least one rib extending radially outward. A similar container stacked on the bail members of the container will interlock with the at least one rib, thereby preventing lateral movement of the upper container relative to the lower container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Jon Hassell, Justin Smyers, William Apps
  • Publication number: 20060032414
    Abstract: A reinforced pallet assembly having a first pallet deck and a second pallet deck. Each of the decks has an outer member and an intermediate member, each outer member and intermediate member having a one of a pair of mating cross-rib surfaces which are mounted together to define box-beam sections within each pallet deck. Also included is an elongate reinforcement member which is disposed between the outer member and the intermediate member of the second pallet deck for providing stiffness thereto. Further included is a plurality of columns which extend between the intermediate members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventor: William Apps
  • Publication number: 20060032413
    Abstract: A pallet for use with a fork lift includes a top deck, a mid-top member and a base. The top deck has a plurality of ribs extending downwardly and a plurality of column-receiving recesses formed on the underside thereof. The base includes a plurality of columns projecting substantially vertically and received within the recesses of the top deck. Snap-tabs secure the columns to the deck. A generally planar mid-top member is secured to the plurality of ribs on the deck and has a plurality of openings into which are received the plurality of columns. The mid-top member is sandwiched between the ribs of the top deck and shoulders formed on the outer periphery of the columns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Sean Ogburn, William Apps, Robert Gruber, Jeffrey Wilkerson