Patents by Inventor William P. Apps

William P. 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).

  • LOW DEPTH CRATE
    Publication number: 20150014200
    Abstract: A beverage crate include a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the sides of the base and a pair of end walls extending upward from ends of the base. The end walls each include a pair of spaced apart end columns A handle extends across the pair of spaced apart columns at each end wall. The height of the handle is aligned with a portion of the bottle having a reduced diameter. For example, some bottles have a tapered or contoured middle portion to facilitate grasping the bottle. This allows the handle to be positioned closer to the bottles, which reduces the overall length of the crate. The reduced length of the crate then permits a reduced width of the crate per the required ratio for cross-stacking. The reduced width then permits a full bottle capture on the bottom surface of the crate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Stackable low depth tray
    Patent number: 8893891
    Abstract: A tray for storing and transporting bottles includes a plurality of spaced apart base walls each for supporting a bottle thereon. A pair of opposed side walls and a plurality of interior columns are connected by a plurality of dividers. The dividers also connect the columns and the side walls to the base wall. Each divider includes a lower end having spaced apart pocket walls each connected to a different one of the base walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Crate with retractable wall
    Patent number: 8863971
    Abstract: A crate includes a base and a plurality of walls including a front wall. The front wall is movable between a retracted, open position and a closed position. In some embodiments, the front wall includes a frame, a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is hingeably connected to the frame and the second portion is hingeably connected to the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Mauricio D. Cavalcante, John Bobel Zelek, William P. Apps, Ryan C. Meers
  • Plastic beer keg
    Patent number: 8820571
    Abstract: A beer keg includes a container having a base and a wall extending upward from a periphery of the base. A liner within the container includes a base, sidewalls and a mouth. The base of the liner interlocks with the base of the container to prevent relative rotation therebetween. A valve is disposed over the mouth of the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Pallet assembly
    Patent number: 8770115
    Abstract: A pallet assembly includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes an upper deck for supporting items thereon and upper column portions extending downward from the upper deck. The upper column portions include a first upper column portion having a slot defined by a pair of slot walls. The lower portion includes a plurality of lower column portions including a first lower column portion. The first lower column portion includes a peripheral wall and a support structure having a pair of walls extending inward from the peripheral wall. One of the first upper column portion and the first lower column portion is received within the other, with the support structure received in the slot between the slot walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Sean T. Ogburn
  • Dumpster
    Patent number: 8770641
    Abstract: Several embodiments of plastic dumpsters with improved strength and durability are disclosed. In one embodiment, gussets connect pockets to bevel walls, connecting the side walls to front and rear walls of the dumpster. The bevel walls are stronger than the side walls of the dumpster. Other embodiments disclose gussets integral with front and rear walls of the dumpster for improved strength. Other embodiments disclose removable, separately formed sleeves that are secured to the sides of the dumpster to form pockets for receiving the forks of a truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Jon P. Hassell, William P. Apps
  • PALLET ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20140158025
    Abstract: A pallet includes a deck having columns supporting the deck. The deck includes a plurality of ribs extending downwardly from an upper sheet. A reinforcement sheet is secured to lower ends of the ribs. The reinforcement sheet is a coextruded sheet having a first material selected to bond well with the ribs and a second material selected for other improved physical properties. In the example disclosed herein, the second material is chosen for improved fire retardant properties. As one example, the reinforcement sheet can be vibration welded or hot plate welded to the lower ends of the ribs, thereby providing a strong weld between the reinforcement sheet and the ribs, which provides increased performance of the upper deck while the fire retardant layer of the reinforcement sheet provides fire retardant properties to one of the largest surfaces on the pallet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • NESTABLE CAN TRAY
    Publication number: 20140158576
    Abstract: A nestable can tray includes a base including a plurality of intersecting vertical rib portions. A plurality of horizontal wall portions are connected proximate lower ends of the vertical rib portions. A plurality of annular recesses are formed on an upper surface of the base for receiving lower ends of beverage cans. The tray further includes side walls including side columns extending upward from lower side wall portions at sides of the base. End walls include end columns at ends of the base. The side columns are configured to be partially receivable into side columns of an identical tray nested thereon and the end columns are configured to be partially receivable into end columns of the identical tray nested thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Margaret McCanless, William P. Apps, Kyle L. Baltz
  • Stacking crates
    Patent number: 8720688
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Jon P. Hassell, William P. Apps, Gerald R. Koefelda
  • Pallet
    Patent number: 8720692
    Abstract: A collapsible bin includes a base having a floor from which a plurality of spaced apart columns extend downwardly. A plurality of walls are hingeably connected to an upper surface of the base. A lid is securely received on upper edges of the walls when the walls are in the erected position. The lid can also be secured to the base when the walls are in the collapsed position. The bin is securely stackable in the collapsed and erected positions, with and without lids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • STACKABLE LOW DEPTH TRAY
    Publication number: 20140110303
    Abstract: A crate includes a base, a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base, and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base between the end walls. Each side wall includes a plurality of side columns extending upward from the base to a side band. The side wall and the end wall include an upper band connected to the base by a plurality of columns The upper band includes at least one upper window formed therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Ryan C. Meers, William P. Apps, Margaret McCanless
  • STACKABLE LOW DEPTH TRAY
    Publication number: 20140102933
    Abstract: A crate includes a base, a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base, and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base between the end walls. Each side wall includes a plurality of side columns extending upward from the base to a side band. Each side band includes a logo portion having a protruding portion protruding upward relative to an upper edge of the side band. Each side band further includes a curved recess formed in a lower edge of the side band, the curved recess complementary to the protruding portion of the logo portion. The protruding portions of the logo portions are offset in opposite directions from a center of the side walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Ryan C. Meers, William P. Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Stackable low depth tray
    Patent number: 8636142
    Abstract: A tray includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls and a plurality of interior columns between the side walls. A plurality of dividers connect the interior columns to one another and to the side walls. Side columns project upward from the side walls. The side walls include an upper portion and a plurality of spaced-apart lower portions, thus reducing the weight of the tray while maintaining the stability of the tray. Optionally, the base could include a plurality of base walls connected by co-planar vertical ribs. The dividers include upper wall portions extending continuously between interior columns and/or an interior column and a side column and/or an interior column and an end column. The dividers include spaced apart lower wall portions each connected to one of the vertical ribs connected adjacent base walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • DUMPSTER
    Publication number: 20140001783
    Abstract: Several embodiments of plastic dumpsters with improved strength and durability are disclosed. In one embodiment, gussets connect pockets to bevel walls, connecting the side walls to front and rear walls of the dumpster. The bevel walls are stronger than the side walls of the dumpster. Other embodiments disclose gussets integral with front and rear walls of the dumpster for improved strength. Other embodiments disclose removable, separately formed sleeves that are secured to the sides of the dumpster to form pockets for receiving the forks of a truck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Jon P. Hassell
  • NESTABLE PALLET
    Publication number: 20140000493
    Abstract: A nestable pallet includes a deck having an upper panel, a lower panel and a plurality of ribs extending perpendicularly from the upper panel to the lower panel. The upper panel further includes a plurality of openings for receiving feet of a similar pallet when nested. The lower panel further includes a plurality of feet extending downward from the deck, each foot having a cavity defined therein lined within one of the plurality of openings in the upper panel. Each cavity is configured to receive a foot from a similar pallet when nested therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Gerald R. Koefelda, Cynthia R. Meissen
  • Stackable low depth tray
    Patent number: 8517203
    Abstract: A tray includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending along side edges of the base and a pair of opposed end walls extending along end edges of the base. A central lateral divider extends between the side walls. The central lateral divider has a width approximately twice a width of the side walls to permit cross stacking. The central lateral divider includes a pair of spaced-apart divider walls and at least one center rib between the divider walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Nestable pallet
    Patent number: 8448583
    Abstract: A nestable pallet includes a deck having an upper panel, a lower panel and a plurality of ribs extending perpendicularly from the upper panel to the lower panel. The upper panel further includes a plurality of openings for receiving feet of a similar pallet when nested. The lower panel further includes a plurality of feet extending downward from the deck, each foot having a cavity defined therein lined within one of the plurality of openings in the upper panel. Each cavity is configured to receive a foot from a similar pallet when nested therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Gerald R. Koefelda, Cynthia R. Aiken
  • Pallet assembly
    Patent number: 8448584
    Abstract: A pallet assembly includes a top deck having a top deck upper surface and a top deck lower surface and also having a first predetermined fire retardancy. A bottom deck having a bottom deck upper surface and a bottom deck lower surface, and also having a second predetermined fire retardancy. A column extending between the top deck and bottom deck, the column having an other fire retardancy lower than at least one of the first and second fire retardancies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Dumpster
    Patent number: 8449008
    Abstract: Several embodiments of plastic dumpsters with improved strength and durability are disclosed. In one embodiment, gussets connect pockets to bevel walls, connecting the side walls to front and rear walls of the dumpster. The bevel walls are stronger than the side walls of the dumpster. Other embodiments disclose gussets integral with front and rear walls of the dumpster for improved strength. Other embodiments disclose removable, separately formed sleeves that are secured to the sides of the dumpster to form pockets for receiving the forks of a truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Jon P. Hassell
  • Tray
    Patent number: D714060
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Ryan C. Meers, William P. Apps, Suzanne Clark Lane