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).

  • Patent number: 8424715
    Abstract: A waste container includes fixed handles integrally molded to an upper edge of the side wall. The waste container further includes a retractable handle pivotably mounted at a hinge at the upper edge of the side wall. The retractable handle is pivotable between an upright, use position above the fixed handles and a retracted position below the hinge adjacent the side wall. 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: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Cynthia R. Aiken, William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 8353402
    Abstract: A tray for storing and transporting bottles includes a plurality of spaced apart base walls each for supporting a bottle thereon. A plurality of interior columns extend upwardly between the base walls. Longitudinal dividers connect the interior columns. Lateral dividers connect the interior columns to side columns along side edges of the tray. The side columns have tapered mid-portions, such that upwardly-opening windows between side columns are contoured convexly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 8348088
    Abstract: The container includes a floor and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the floor. The floor includes a first panel spaced away from a second panel by a plurality of ribs connecting the first panel to the second panel. The ribs each circumscribe an opening through the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 8348086
    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: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Publication number: 20130001223
    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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Mauricio D. Cavalcante, John Bobel Zelek, William P. Apps, Ryan C. Meers
  • Publication number: 20120325125
    Abstract: A pallet assembly includes an upper deck having an upper panel portion from which a plurality of ribs extend downward. A plurality of channels are formed in an underside of the upper deck. The pallet assembly includes a plurality of columns below the upper deck. A plurality of reinforcement assemblies, including an inner reinforcement member, are each received within an outer case. The inner reinforcement members are received in the channels in the upper deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Ryan C. Meers, Kyle L. Baltz
  • Publication number: 20120266785
    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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: William P. APPS
  • Patent number: 8291839
    Abstract: A pallet according to one embodiment includes a deck and a plurality of columns extending downward from the deck. In order to increase the stability of the pallet on a fork, at least one alignment feature protrudes downward from the deck between the pair of columns. The alignment feature extends downwardly substantially less than the columns, such that the alignment feature does not contact the floor and does not significantly increase the weight of the pallet. In another feature, preformed foam inserts are inserted into the cavities of the columns and/or the alignment features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Sean T. Ogburn, William Mead, Ryan C. Meers
  • Patent number: 8291838
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Publication number: 20120240828
    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: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Gerald R. Koefelda, Cynthia R. Aiken
  • Publication number: 20120234837
    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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Publication number: 20120205263
    Abstract: A tray includes a base including a plurality of base walls each having a peripheral wall defining a container-receiving pocket therein. Adjacent pairs of the peripheral walls of the base walls are spaced apart to define low-profile lateral and longitudinal dividers. The base includes a generally horizontal upper divider wall connecting the peripheral walls. A plurality of side columns have outer walls extending up from upper portions of side walls and have inner walls extending down to the base. The side columns are arranged between spaced apart lower portions of the side walls. A pair of opposed end walls each include an upper bar and a lower bar extending between a pair of corner columns. A handle opening is defined between the upper bar and the lower bar. Each lower bar is connected to the base by an end inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 8230793
    Abstract: A nestable pallet includes an upper deck from which a plurality of feet extend downwardly. The upper deck includes an upper planar member and cross-ribs extending downwardly therefrom. The pallet is sturdy yet light weight and can be optionally provided with a reinforcement sheet secured to the lower ends of the ribs to provide a stronger, stiffer pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Publication number: 20120181289
    Abstract: A plastic keg includes a liner including a neck portion and a body portion. A lid having an opening is disposed at least partially over the liner. A retainer is secured to the neck portion of the liner and aligned with the opening in the lid, the retainer including external threads. A locking ring having internal threads is secured to the external threads of the retainer. The internal threads of the locking ring and the external threads of the retainer include a ratcheting mechanism permitting attachment of the locking ring to the retainer and inhibiting removal of the locking ring from the retainer, the locking ring contacting the lid. A beer keg valve assembly includes a port having a head portion having a convex upper surface and at least one leg extending downwardly from a lower surface. The leg includes a stop surface projecting radially outward further than the head portion. A piston defines an opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Wayne Matthew Hansen
  • Patent number: 8215244
    Abstract: A pallet has a top deck member and a bottom deck member. The top deck member has an upper surface, and a lower surface defined by a plurality of first cross-rib members. The bottom deck member has an upper portion and runners extending downwardly therefrom in a unitary construction. The upper portion has an upper surface defined by a plurality of second cross-rib members which correspond to the first cross-rib members and securely attached to mount the top and bottom decks to each other. The runners have a lower surface and extend transversely across the pallet in a parallel orientation, and also have a plurality of upright members and support members extending between the upright members and integrally formed therewith in a unitary construction. The plurality of second cross-rib members extend generally vertically from the top deck to the lower surface of the runners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 8210108
    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: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Publication number: 20120152789
    Abstract: A nestable crate for bottles includes a floor portion having a floor top surface, a floor bottom surface and a plurality of bottle support areas. A wall structure is connected to the floor portion and forms a containment area therewith. The wall structure has a peripherally extending upper band portion with an interior surface and an exterior surface, and also has a single-walled lower wall construction comprising adjacent column members which extend between the upper band the and floor portion. The wall structure includes sidewalls and end walls, and adjacent column members have curved facing surfaces extending inwardly into the containment area. The inner surface of the upper band portion, one of the plurality of bottle support areas, and the facing surfaces define a plurality of bottle receiving pockets extending around the periphery of the wall structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Robert V. Gruber
  • Patent number: 8191486
    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: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Gerald R. Koefelda, Cynthia R. Aiken
  • Publication number: 20120132662
    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: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Jon P. Hassell
  • Patent number: 8186534
    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: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps