Patents by Inventor William J. Shankland

William J. Shankland 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: 8650839
    Abstract: A closure having a device for lifting a liner from a container opening. The lifting device being a finger projecting from a hinge connection within the closure. The hinge connection is positioned from a depending skirt of the closure. The hinged finger disengages the liner from a sealing engagement with the container while engaging along substantially the same annulus spaced from the liner edge. A plurality of the hinged fingers may be used for the lifting device. The closure may be used in various retort and aseptic applications, as well as provide for tamper indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Clayton L. Robinson, Randall G. Bush, William J. Shankland, Kiran M. D'Silva, Louis John Marsella, Gary V. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 8251236
    Abstract: A closure having a device for lifting a liner from a container opening. The lifting device being a finger projecting from a hinge connection within the closure. The hinge connection is positioned from a depending skirt of the closure. The hinged finger disengages the liner from a sealing engagement with the container while engaging along substantially the same annulus spaced from the liner edge. A plurality of the hinged fingers may be used for the lifting device. The closure may be used in various retort and aseptic applications, as well as provide for tamper indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Clayton L. Robinson, Randall G. Bush, William J. Shankland, Kiran M. D'Silva, Louis John Marsella, Gary V. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 8109396
    Abstract: A bi-injected closure is provided which includes a gripping area molded on the exterior of the closure through a bi-injection technique. As a result of the closure having a high frictional material positioned on the exterior of the closure, the slide area acts to allow the closure to move freely and unrestricted in material handling machinery without the gripping material restricting movement of the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Rexam Healthcare Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: Clayton Robinson, William J. Shankland
  • Patent number: 8100277
    Abstract: A peelable seal having one or more layers for sealing containers by heat sealing may include a stiffening structure, a foil portion, and a sealant structure. The stiffening structure of the seal includes an outer periphery or overhanging portion which extends beyond the rim of a neck of a container thereby allowing the peelable seal to be loosened from the container by flicking the overhanging portion of the peelable seal with a portion of the hand and without the need to pinch the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignees: Rexam Closures and Containers Inc., Momar Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Randall G. Bush, William J. Shankland, Louis J. Marsella
  • Patent number: 7815061
    Abstract: A push and turn child resistant closure is provided which includes a combined over cap and under cap, the under cap freely rotational within the over cap and the combined closure installed on the container. For removal of the combined closure, both downward and counter-clockwise rotational force is applied to the over cap, the rotational force imparted on the under cap more readily by utilization of a friction ring at the engagement area between the over cap and the under cap while also having an outer gripping ring of highly frictional material making it much more easily rotatable and graspable by a user. The use of a highly frictional material more readily imparts rotational force on the under cap when utilized as depicted herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Rexam Closures and Containers
    Inventors: Clayton Robinson, William J. Shankland
  • Patent number: 7780024
    Abstract: A self peelable seal having one or more layers for sealing containers by heat induction, conduction, or other means and having a stiffening structure. A portion of the seal is axially retained within a closure thereby allowing the peelable seal to be loosened from the container neck by placing a lifting force on the seal with the closure upon removal of the closure from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignees: Rexam Closures and Containers Inc., Momar Industries LLC
    Inventors: Louis J. Marsella, Randall G. Bush, William J. Shankland
  • Patent number: 7644843
    Abstract: A dispensing system having a reverse taper dispensing orifice seal. The reverse tapered seal depends from a lid of a flip-top closure providing a sealing engagement with a dispensing spout of the flip-top closure body when in a closed position. As the dispensing spout may have a variety of shapes, the reverse tapered seal is shaped to conform to the irregularities of the contacted surfaces of the dispensing spout. The decreasing thickness of the reverse tapered seal decreases the complexity of the molding process as well as minimizing the weakening or breaking of the seal during removal from the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Rexam Closures and Containers Inc.
    Inventors: Randall G. Bush, Gary V. Montgomery, William J. Shankland
  • Patent number: 6889857
    Abstract: A closure for a fitment is provided with an outer side wall extending downwardly therefrom and spaced from an inner sealing ring wherein the outer side wall adjacent the top wall is provided with a plurality of spaced inwardly extending ribs, adapted for embedding into a lip at the outlet of a fitment neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Rexam Medical Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Francois, William J. Shankland, Chris W. Winstead, C. Edward Luker
  • Publication number: 20030146185
    Abstract: A closure for a fitment is provided with an outer side wall extending downwardly therefrom and spaced from an inner sealing ring wherein the outer side wall adjacent the top wall is provided with a plurality of spaced inwardly extending ribs, adapted for embedding into a lip at the outlet of a fitment neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: James A. Francois, William J. Shankland, Chris W. Winstead, C. Edward Luker
  • Patent number: 6279766
    Abstract: A safety closure including a top wall, a side wall depending from the top wall, and a locking tab projecting outwardly from the side wall, the locking tab having a reinforced end integrally connected to the side wall and a free end connected to the side wall by a biasing strap, wherein the reinforced end of the locking tab inhibits movement of the free end of the locking tab in at least an upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Rexam Medical Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: Narda A. Jones, Todd E. Mathes, Jeffrey C. Minnette, Gary V. Montgomery, William J. Shankland
  • Patent number: 5890609
    Abstract: Tamper indicating closure and container assembly which prior opening of the assembly is indicated by exposing projections formed integrally with the closure with such projections remaining concealed in the originally closed position of the assembly. The tamper indicating features are associated with a pouring spout on a gable-top container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Rexam Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Shankland
  • Patent number: 5722547
    Abstract: Tamper indicating closure and container assembly which prior opening of the assembly is indicated by exposing projections formed integrally with the closure with such projections remaining concealed in the originally closed position of the assembly. In one embodiment the tamper indicating features are associated with the label on the container and in another embodiment of the invention the tamper indicating features are associated with a pouring spout on a gable-top container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Rexam Closures Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Shankland