Patents by Inventor Willie F. Hatcher

Willie F. Hatcher 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: 20240132267
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2024
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, JR., Willie F. Hatcher, Michael T. Kelly
  • Patent number: 11905095
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: CO2PAC LIMITED
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher, Michael T. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20220396408
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, JR., Willie F. Hatcher, Michael T. Kelly
  • Patent number: 11420803
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher, Michael T. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20200399039
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher, Michael T. Kelly
  • Patent number: 10766683
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher, Michael T. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20190062026
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. PRITCHETT, JR., Willie F. HATCHER, Michael T. KELLY
  • Patent number: D631748
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Toshiki Kojitani, Willie F. Hatcher, Mark O. Borger, Justin A. Howell
  • Patent number: D847639
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher
  • Patent number: D847640
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher