Only One End Of Retained Receptacles Engaged Patents (Class 206/153)
  • Patent number: 6038709
    Abstract: A toilet plunger holder and cover including a cylindrical base coextensive in height with the plunger elastomeric head and a cover for the base with a narrow tubular portion that covers and is coextensive in length with the plunger handle. Partitions and a deodorizing substance holder are molded integrally with the base bottom wall, and these partitions hold the plunger head above the bottom wall for drying. The entire holder receives a rigid decorative overlay that is connected to the holder cover so the overlay and cover are removed as a unit from the base. In one embodiment, the holder cover is made of a ceramic material with an elastomeric bumper that prevents damage to the ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventor: Dorothy M. Kent
  • Patent number: 5992427
    Abstract: A combination of a support and a take-up element includes a container with a partial lid and an element for taking up the product. The take-up element is contained within the support, which is rigid and arranged so as to ensure the repeated removal and repositioning of the take-up element within this rigid support and the protection of the take-up element from the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Jacques Playe
  • Patent number: 5992617
    Abstract: Storage devices for paint rollers, paint roller covers, and paint brushes. The storage devices for the paint rollers and paint roller covers are cylindrical containers, having a lid, which are flared outwardly at their upper portions and have a foam insert at the bottom for forming a spongy seal with the painting implement. The container for the cover has a core in it over and around which the roller cover fits. The paint implement holder may be a foam insert which is sized to fit inside of a paint can, e.g. a one or a five gallon can. The foam inserts have openings for receiving one or more paint implements. Alternatively, the paint brush holder is a rectangular-shaped container having a foam insert fitted to its upper portion. The exterior of the insert is sized to fit the container. The insert has an opening for holding a paint brush collar to allow the bristles to be in the container without touching the bottom. The insert keeps the brush wet and from drying out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventors: Robert Lincoln Couch, Ronald Norman Couch
  • Patent number: 5960946
    Abstract: A tray and lid for storing unused paint and/or wet paint rollers. The tray has a plurality of pivot points which mount a lid to one end of the tray. The tray has snap latches at the sides for securing the lid to the tray in an air tight manner, and in addition a resilient seal is provided between the tray and the lid and extends around the perimeter of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Gary D. Gramlich
  • Patent number: 5958150
    Abstract: A device for storing and cleaning a toilet plunger includes an open-topped container and a lid having two lid-halves with each lid-half having an interior surface and an exterior surface. An internal closure mechanism having two closure members is disposed within the lid with one closure member projecting from the interior surface in each lid-half. Each closure member has at least one bumper/lever member. Each bumper/lever member has a curved member having a curved portion for engaging a side wall of a toilet plunger cup and a linear member having a linear portion for engaging a toilet plunger cup end wall. Preferably each closure member has a pair of bumper/lever members with a cross member joining them. The container has a base having upstanding walls, a base top having base raised portions and base lowered portions, a base top surface and an opposing bottom surface. A counterweight is preferably disposed under the bottom surface. The container walls have a portion defining a pour spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventors: Nancy G. Borger, Gary A. Borger
  • Patent number: 5944253
    Abstract: A sleeve style carton for a bottle matrix where the bottles may be either of the short neck type or the long neck type. The carton includes body corner flaps that are wrapped around the bodies of the corner bottles of the matrix. Preferably each body corner flap is of a height not substantially greater than the height of a bottle's label and is positioned so as to substantially overlie that corner bottle's label when the carton is filled with the bottle matrix. This allows label indicia to be provided on each body corner flap that simulates that portion of the bottle's label indicia visible when the bottle's label is viewed on the bottle in front plan view, thereby making it appear to a casual observer that the bottle's label itself is being viewed in front plan view when the bottle matrix is in the carton regardless of the rotational position of the corner bottles relative to the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: The C. W. Zumbiel Co.
    Inventors: Charles A. Miller, Norbert Hoell
  • Patent number: 5941379
    Abstract: A toilet rim cleaning apparatus and method. The toilet rim cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head which soaks in cleaning solution while not in use. This cleaning head includes material which is substantially absorbent. When utilized to clean the rim of a toilet bowl, the absorbent nature of the cleaning head permits excess fluid to be removed from the cleaned surfaces. The shape of the cleaning head is configured to conform to the shape of at least a portion of the rim of a toilet bowl, which facilitates the cleaning motion around the rim and allows a significant amount of the rim to be efficiently and effectively cleaned. One preferred embodiment of the shape of the cleaning head resembles an "L" shape. Another embodiment resembles a "U" shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Steven Barardo
  • Patent number: 5924566
    Abstract: A decorative and functional plunger caddy device for storing a toilet plunger in the bathroom. The caddy device is transported by opening the door of the caddy device, inserting a toilet plunger into the caddy device and securing the door of the device so that the user may lift and carry the caddy device by holding the exposed handle of the toilet plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventor: Paul Stephen Gibbs
  • Patent number: 5924567
    Abstract: A reusable toothbrush storage cap for protecting bristles of a toothbrush is manufactured entirely as a single integral piece of molded plastic. The reusable toothbrush storage cap includes a bristle compartment and a hinged cover which are connected by a living hinge. The bristle compartment is defined by a bottom wall having vent/drain holes and an end wall, a front wall, and longitudinal sidewalls extending upward from the bottom wall. The living hinge is located at a top edge of the end wall and is connected to an end edge of the cover for the cap. The longitudinal sidewalls extend perpendicularly from the front wall to a transition location, and bend towards one another from the respective transition location to the end wall. The reusable toothbrush storage cap includes a first latching mechanism along the perpendicularly extending portion of the first longitudinal sidewall and a second latching mechanism along the perpendicularly extending portion of the second longitudinal sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Tess Corporation
    Inventor: John V. Wenum
  • Patent number: 5915552
    Abstract: A paint roller protective device for a paint roller including a roller portion having a diameter, a handle and a shaft having an inner end connected to the handle and an outer end, the roller portion rotatably mounted on the shaft. The paint roller protective device includes (a) an elongated shell including an end wall, side walls extending from the end wall, an open end for receiving said roller portion, and an inner diameter selected to provide a clearance between the roller portion and the walls of the shell when the roller portion is inserted in the shell; (b) a cap for covering at least a portion of the open end of the shell, the cap including holder means for engaging and holding a portion of said handle when the roller portion is inserted in the shell and the cap is placed over said open end, such that the roller portion remains substantially free of the walls of the shell; and (c) attachment means for detachably attaching the cap to the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventors: Min J. Kim, Do N. You
  • Patent number: 5890588
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a combined toilet bowl cleaning brush and storage container system. The brush is provided with a disk shaped wall which rests on an internal sealing ledge of the container. A entry deterent latching system is provided above the disk shaped wall to hold the wall in place and seal the container. A plurality of steps are required to unlatch the brush prior to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen B. Leonard, Gary F. Prokop, William A. Lee
  • Patent number: 5884757
    Abstract: A beverage-containing article carrier includes a supporting frame and a release strip member. The supporting frame member contains a first set of openings having a diameter which is larger than the necked portion of bottles retained in the carrier. The release strip is releasable relative to the supporting frame and covers a portion of the first openings. The release strip further includes a plurality of arc-like recess portions, which combines to form with the uncovered portions of the first openings, a set of second openings having a diameter sized to retain the necked portion of a beverage-containing article, such as a bottle or can. Preferably, the second openings each include a set of retaining tabs, whereby removal of the release strip causes at least one of the tabs to be removed, allowing a predetermined number of articles to drop through the first openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: John F. Prince
  • Patent number: 5878876
    Abstract: A carrier for holding and transporting a plurality of bottles includes a top panel, a bottom panel, and two side panels extending between said top and bottom panels to form a sleeve through which the bottles extend. When the carrier is formed to carry six or more bottles, the top panel has at least two rows of outboard apertures which are adapted to receive the bottles to engage the bottles to retain the bottles in the carrier. The bottom panel extends between the side panels and also includes at least two rows of outboard surrounding apertures which are aligned with, but radially offset from the outboard apertures of the top panel, such that the centers of the bottom panel outboard apertures are closer to the side panels than are the outboard apertures of the top panel. If the carrier includes inboard apertures in the top and bottom panel, the inboard apertures of the top and bottom panel are preferably concentric with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Eco-Pak Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard T. Galbierz, Michael A. Galbierz
  • Patent number: 5845776
    Abstract: A box-top carrier includes a top panel, a bottom panel spaced from the top panel, and two side panels extending between the top and bottom panels. The carrier is provided with a release mechanism to facilitate removal of bottles from the carrier. The top panel has apertures through which the bottle necks extend and a plurality of slits extending from an edge of the apertures to define a plurality of tabs around the apertures. The bottom panel has a plurality of apertures which are generally concentric with the top panel apertures. The top and bottom panel apertures are formed in an array having at least two columns of at least two spaced apart rows. The release mechanism includes pairs of tear lines in the top panel extending from the edges of the top panel to slits of the top panel apertures. The pairs of tear lines include two spaced apart tear lines which define tear strips extending between the top panel apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Eco-Pak Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard T. Galbierz, Michael A. Galbierz
  • Patent number: 5836322
    Abstract: A device for storing and cleaning a toilet plunger includes an open-topped container and a lid having two lid-halves with each lid-half having an interior surface and an exterior surface. An internal closure mechanism having two closure members is disposed within the lid with one closure member projecting from the interior surface in each lid-half. Each closure member has a curved member for engaging a side wall of a toilet plunger cup and a linear member for engaging a toilet plunger cup end wall. The container has a base having upstanding walls, a base top having grooves, a base top surface and an opposing bottom surface. A counterweight is preferably disposed under the base top surface. The container walls have a portion defining a pour spout. The container and the lid are dimensioned for enclosing both the toilet plunger cup and a portion of the toilet plunger handle. The remainder of the toilet plunger handle protrudes through a hole in the lid when the toilet plunger is in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventors: Nancy G. Borger, Gary A. Borger
  • Patent number: 5820185
    Abstract: A paperboard carrier device for retaining a plurality of containers is disclosed. The carrier device is made from a paperboard blank (10) and has a base (16) with apertures defined therein for receiving the necks of the respective containers, two side walls (19,20) hingedly connected to opposed side edges of the base, the side walls being angled with respect to the base and extending toward one another, and two handle panels (23,24) hingedly connected to each one of the respective side walls. A plurality of reinforcing flaps (34) are defined in the side walls and the handle panels, the reinforcing flaps being hingedly attached to each one of the side walls along an edge (32), respectively. The reinforcing flaps are folded against the side walls in use, and have a length greater than half of the width of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Jean-Manuel Gomes
  • Patent number: 5806704
    Abstract: A vacuum lid for a round thermoplastic paint container that includes a domed lid (20) with a valve cavity (22), a circumferential lip (38), and a peripheral flange (40). An O-ring (42) is positioned between the lip and flange to seal the container. A pair of lifting tabs (44) hold the lid onto the container by snapping into place onto the container's top lip (24). A one-piece unitary resilient valve (48) is located in the valve cavity and a vacuum pump (56) is attached to the valve. Air is evacuated from the covered container to prevent drying of the paint and utensils stored inside. The pump, in the manual form, is stored in brackets (66) on the surface of the lid, as well as a roller handle extension (70) retained in like brackets (68) for the convenience. One or more hooks (62) are mounted within the lid to hang wet brushes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Richard W. Jamison
  • Patent number: 5797410
    Abstract: A new clear view wash shield for washing a paint roller and permitting viewing of the washing operation. The inventive device includes first and second transparent shield halves, with each half having a generally flat portion and a semi-cylindrical raised portion within each flat portion. The raised portions form a cylindrical housing for a paint roller when the shield halves are connected together. One of the semi-cylindrical raised portions includes a flexible water inlet flap thereon through which water from a spray nozzle is introduced into the cylindrical housing. The shield halves include interfitting projections and grooves for connecting the shield halves together, and each shield half includes a semi-cylindrical handle portion. The handle portions form a handle housing for enclosing the handle of the paint roller when the shield halves are connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: Steven C. Gates
  • Patent number: 5772015
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a combined toilet bowl cleaning brush and storage container system. The brush is provided with a disk shaped wall which rests on an internal sealing ledge of the container. A latching system is provided above the disk shaped wall to hold the wall in place and seal the container. There is also a slip ring which unlatches the brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Musiel, Ronald G. Cramer
  • Patent number: 5762193
    Abstract: A sheet that cooperates with a traditional ring carrier to create a package that covers openable ends of unitized substantially similar cans. The ring carrier unitizes an array of cans into longitudinal ranks and transverse rows. The sheet contains an array of longitudinal, substantially parallel pairs of slits corresponding with the arrayed cans. The corner slits are substantially curved and promote a positive corner wrap at the corner end of the slit. A slit transversely adjacent the corner slit is curved and a slit longitudinally adjacent to the corner slit is straight for most of its length. Two integral flaps extend transversely with respect to the sheet and are folded with respect to the remaining portion of the sheet through an angle greater than 90.degree.. Clipping the sheet onto the array of cans unitized by the ring carrier creates an assembled package. Portions of the sheet adjacent each pair of slits engage a portion of the chime of each corresponding can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Leslie S. Marco
  • Patent number: 5740908
    Abstract: A device for displaying, and protecting from use prior to sale, a hairbrush. The device is formed from a sheet of material, with a larger rectangular portion encircling most of the bristles of the hairbrush, and a small rectangular portion having a hole therein for receiving the handle of the hairbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Goody Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Anzalone
  • Patent number: 5709301
    Abstract: Storage devices for paint rollers, paint roller covers, and paint brushes. The storage devices for the paint rollers and paint roller covers are cylindrical containers, having a lid, which are flared outwardly at their upper portions and have a foam insert at the bottom for forming a spongy seal with the painting implement. The container for the cover has a core in it around which the roller cover fits. The lid, which can be either a screw down or a friction fit lid, has a foam insert on its underside to form a spongy seal with the upper part of the roller cover. The container for the roller and the lid, which must be a friction fit lid, each have a semicircular opening lined with a gasket. The mating of the container and the lid result in the formation of a circular opening through which the handle of a roller frame can extend. The paint brush holder is a rectangular-shaped container having a foam insert fitted to its upper portion. The exterior of the insert is sized to fit the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventors: Robert Lincoln Couch, Ronald Norman Couch
  • Patent number: 5706936
    Abstract: A bottle carrier is formed of one or more panels of paperboard and includes a plurality of bottle neck receiving openings. Each opening has a plurality of radially extending fingers whose ends engage beneath a portion of an abutment associated with each bottle neck. Each finger is bent upwardly at about 45 degrees after insertion of a bottle into a respective opening. Each radial finger is provided with a microcut line extending downwardly from its upper surface, each microcut line extending about 10-50% through the paperboard. The microcut lines weaken the radial fingers and facilitate removal of the bottles from the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventor: Linda A. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 5695050
    Abstract: A multi-package carrier device having a strip of a relatively high coefficient of friction material along an inner portion of the carrier. A high coefficient of friction, "tactile," material is applied to an encircling aperture style multi-package carrier device made from a relatively low coefficient of friction thermoplastic base material sheet. A strip of the tactile material is applied along one side of the base material of the multi-package carrier. The base material containing the tactile material is then cut into multi-package carriers such that the tactile material traverses a center portion of a container contacting surface of the multi-package carrier. The multi-package carrier is applied to a plurality of containers. After the multi-package carrier is applied to the containers, the tactile material between the rows of containers is in close contact with an upper portion of the container sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: William N. Weaver
  • Patent number: 5690214
    Abstract: A device that stores and sanitizes toothbrushes in individual storage pockets in a vessel containing a sanitizing solution. Each storage pocket is formed in the top surface of the vessel in such a manner that the storage pocket is partially filled with sanitizing solution and in normal use, the pocket is sealed from the sanitizing fluid contained in the main vessel. When the sanitizing solution has served its useful life in the pockets of the vessel, the vessel is overturned, the used sanitizing liquid in each of the pockets is dumped out by over-turning the vessel. The vessel is then returned to its normal orientation, and the top of the vessel is raised slightly to allow the top of each pocket to slightly separate from the lower portion of each pocket to allow the sanitizing liquid in the vessel to flow into each pocket to replenish the sanitizing fluid in each pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Innoversions International Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Morgan Gaines, Brenda Lynn Bjelan
  • Patent number: 5687838
    Abstract: An article carrier for packaging a one-row group of bottles is disclosed. The carrier comprises opposed top and bottom walls hingably interconnected by a pair of opposed side walls to form a tubular structure. The top wall is adapted to be disposed over the tops of articles in a row. The bottom wall has article receiving apertures for receiving the necks of the articles respectively. The side walls are adapted to be disposed alongside the necks of the articles such that at least a portion of the neck of each articles is hidden from view. The carrier further comprises article retaining means disposed intermediate the top and bottom walls such that the tops of the articles are retained between the top and bottom walls of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Martinus C. M. Bakx
  • Patent number: 5687444
    Abstract: A device for cleaning paint brushes or the like comprises a container (1) for a cleaning fluid and a plurality of wiping elements (2) projecting upwardly substantially from the bottom of the container. Each wiping element of at least a part of the wiping elements has one or more scraping edges along at least a part of its length, said scraping edges being adapted to cooperate with the paint brush to be cleaned. This is for example obtained in that each wiping element has a polygonal, preferably rectangular cross section at its end adjacent the bottom and tapers from the bottom. Thereby these wiping elements have sharp edges operating as scraping edges when the paint brush to be cleaned is moved along the wiping elements, so that an excellent cleaning action is obtained. The device can be part of an assembly which further comprises a refuse container and a cover for closing the refuse container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Inventor: Johannes Cornelis Hakker
  • Patent number: 5667070
    Abstract: The bottle carrying device 11 has a base 16 and angled side walls 19, 20 with handle portions 23, 24 secured by panel 26. Cuts are made in the base 16 so as to form flaps 28 which are hingedly connected to the side walls 19, 20. The flaps 28 together with edges 32 of cap holes 31 engage below the neck shoulder 15 of a bottle 12 to retain the bottle in the device 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Emili Requena Miret
  • Patent number: 5661865
    Abstract: A cleaner for cleaning the compressible media portion of a fluid transfer member including an apertured liquid holding receptacle, the aperture of which is provided with a flexible rim adapted to compress the media portion therefrom when passed therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: Glyn W. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 5660273
    Abstract: A tray having wells or depressions therein for holding a medicament or material and an applicator for applying the medicament or material. The applicator well has one open end from which a portion of the applicator extends. A cover seals the medicament or material well and the applicator well and a portion of the applicator. In one embodiment, the cover is a thin sheet or film that adheres or is heat sealed to substantially the entire surface of the tray. The portion of the applicator extending beyond the applicator well is used to facilitate the removal of the cover whereby the extended portion of the applicator acts as a lever to pry the cover form the body of the tray. Additionally, packaging material required to form the tray can be substantially lessened in those cases where the applicator that is relatively large in comparison with the amount of material to be packaged. Therefore, a larger applicator that is easy to use is associated with the material without unnecessary packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Centrix, Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Discko, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5645167
    Abstract: A paint brush container with improved fastener means comprises a pair of tray-shaped members connected together by a hinge. A fastener means for the trays comprises protrusions on one of them and mating openings provided through the other tray, where the length of the openings is longer than the width of the protrusions. As the hinge may wear and develop play, the trays may become out of their initial alignment. However, the extended length of the fastener openings easily receives the protrusions to provide a snap latch that maintains the container in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Inventor: Keith Conrad
  • Patent number: 5645164
    Abstract: This invention relates to a one-piece and closeable paint roller tray with attached cover, where the paint tray body may securely accommodate a standard sized paint tray liner. The paint tray body is also designed to accommodate paint tools, such as a standard paint brush and a paint roller with handle, within said tray body, when the paint tray invention is in the closed position, with the attached paint tray cover positioned over the paint tray body. Said paint tray is also designed to accommodate said paint tools, on the sloped rollout platform and out of the paint well, with the handle of each tool protruding from two orifices in the front of the paint tray, and when the paint tray is in use. The sloped rollout platform of the paint tray invention has a paint flow channel embedded within said platform, and said channel is designed to also function as stable paint tray legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Inventor: Homer Douglas Hocking
  • Patent number: 5611431
    Abstract: A wrap-around carrier for packaging three rows of beverage cans or other related articles. A reinforcing strip having clip-type support panels at either end is glued to the underside of the top panel of the carrier. The support panels assist in supporting the end cans of the middle row to prevent the end cans from falling out of the open ends of the carrier and also provide a two-ply handle construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Randall L. Harris
  • Patent number: 5601186
    Abstract: A package containing food tubs having connecting flanges. The flanges are angled at the corners so that an opening is formed between the flanges of four adjacent tubs. A carrier includes slots in side panels through which adjacent tub flanges extend and a finger hole in the top panel overlying the opening between the flanges. This enables the package to be lifted from beneath the flanges adjacent the finger hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: Neal Van Hine, Frederick Naumann
  • Patent number: 5590776
    Abstract: A carrier is provided for carrying a plurality of bottles such as, but not limited to, long-necked glass bottles or PET bottles. The carrier includes a top panel and at least one side panel. The top panel has a first ply defining an array of surrounding apertures and a second ply below the first ply defining an array of container receiving apertures which are concentric with the surrounding apertures of the first ply. A plurality of slits extending radially from each container receiving aperture of the second ply to define tabs which engage a bottle's chime and hold the bottle in the carrier. The fold point for the tabs is defined by the surrounding apertures. The carrier can be formed as a box-top or sleeve carrier having a bottom panel defining openings which are concentric with the apertures in the top panel. The box-top carrier holds the bottles in tight formation and in contact with each other to prevent the bottles from impacting each other to prevent damage to the bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventors: Richard T. Galbierz, Michael A. Galbierz
  • Patent number: 5566820
    Abstract: A mop package for use with a mop including a mop head and a handle pivotally connected to the mop head. The package includes a body portion for receiving the mop head and a biasing portion connected to the body portion. The biasing portion includes an aperture for receiving the handle of the mop and is formed with a triangular configuration which facilitates biasing the mop head to an orientation where it is substantially parallel to the handle of the mop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Vining Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy E. Deaton
  • Patent number: 5553704
    Abstract: A stackable can carrier is formed from a unitary paperboard blank. The carrier compensates for stacking problems caused by smaller diameter tops and bottoms on present cans, the latter termed 202 cans which have a tendency to rock with respect to each other when stacked. An otherwise conventional can carrier is provided with foldable, lateral flaps having pairs of cuts lines which define ears. The latter are glued to the carrier top surface. The flaps overlie respective can top receiving openings in the carrier less than one half of the diameter of the can openings. Upon stacking of the carriers and cans therein for storage or for display, the carrier provides improved stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventors: Robert L. Gordon, Linda A. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 5540363
    Abstract: A container for temporarily holding and storing a wet paintbrush will maintain the paintbrush in a useful condition for a limited period of time up to several days. The container has the shape of a hollow, substantially rectangular box. The container is formed from two shallow, rectangular members that are hingedly attached to each other along respective longitudinal edges of the rectangular members. The two shallow members open so as to allow positioning a paintbrush therein, and the shallow members can be closed upon each in clam shell fashion to close the container. An opening is provided in the top wall of the container to allow the handle of a paintbrush to extend from the container. Each shallow member has a layer of closed cell foam material positioned along the inside of the upper wall of the shallow member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Ronald W. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5538133
    Abstract: There is provided a package (10) for a plurality of cans (11). The package incorporates an inner blank (13) which incorporates pairs of arcuate cuts which are pressed over and engage below the can rims. An outer blank (14) is adhered to the inner blank (13) and hinged side panels (25, 27) are wrapped around the cans and the other side panels (26, 28) are adhered to them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey Campbell, Keith Brimble, Mark A. Fisher
  • Patent number: 5533617
    Abstract: A storage container, for a paint roller sleeve, has a flexible resilient tubular housing for removably storing the sleeve therein. The tubular housing has a sealed end and an open end distal the sealed end. A chamber is located in the tubular housing to receive the sleeve. There is an inner wall, surrounding the chamber, in the tubular housing. A plurality of sleeve retaining bosses are attached to the inner wall at preselected points. At least one circumferential paint wiping ridge is formed on the inner wall. There is an outer wall on the tubular housing. At least one anti-rotational stacking member is attached to the outer wall. The anti-rotational stacking member has a rectangular circumferential outer surface. A sealing cap is removably attached to the open end of the tubular housing and there is an indicia surface on a top surface of the sealing cap. The sealing cap may be threadingly attached to or snapped onto the open end of the tubular housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventor: Valerie R. Von Flatern
  • Patent number: 5511654
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a swab and swab shield assembly which is especially useful for applying cosmetics. The assembly is seen to comprise a swab having a wad at one end and preferably a protective cover or shield for the wad which can be removeably sealed to the swab so that the shield protectively enshrouds the wad. The swab, which is particularly useful as a cosmetic article is seen to comprise an elongate rod with a relatively smooth surfaced wad secured at one end, which wad is preferably a wax-coated, fibrous material onto which is applied a daubable material such as a sample of a cosmetic, such as for example a shade of lipstick, blush and/or eye shadow. The shield for the wad is annular and is preferably slidably moveable along the elongate rod between a first position protectively enshrouding the wad and an axially displaced position along the swab handle wherein the wad can be exposed for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Calis Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel de la Rocha
  • Patent number: 5503267
    Abstract: A carrier for articles such as beverage cans of the type that grip the top portions of the cans so as to suspend them from the carrier. The upper ends of the cans extend through apertures in the bottom panel of the carrier, and the chimes or lips of the cans are engaged by support tabs surrounding the aperture. Glue flaps foldably connected to one of the support tabs at each aperture overlie the upper ends of the cans and are glued to the top panel. An opening in the support tab includes an edge which functions as the support edge. In addition, the bottom panel finger holes have a straight transverse inner edge connected to a cover tab along a score line. Spaced arcuate score lines in the bottom panel cause the intervening segments of the bottom panel to buttress the inner edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 5476170
    Abstract: A bottle carrier includes a tubular structure including a base wall and a top portion disposed above the base wall, neck-gripping edges provided for the top portion to engage the underside of a peripheral neck projection of a bottle, and shoulder-gripping flaps provided for the base wall to engage and press down on the shoulder of the bottle. The top portion of the tubular structure has an upper aperture for receiving the neck of the bottle whereas the base wall has a lower aperture for receiving the shoulder of the bottle. The upper and lower apertures are disposed in vertical alignment with each other. Due to the shoulder-gripping flaps, the carrier is urged upward even when in a displayed condition, and thereby the neck-gripping edges are pressed against and kept in firm engagement with the underside of the peripheral projection without vertical play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Claudia Weber
  • Patent number: 5452799
    Abstract: A carrier especially suited for carrying beverage cans. The carrier is comprised of a top panel connected to support panels which contain slots for receiving the can chimes. In addition, short side panel flaps connected to the support panels and end panel flaps connected to the top panel assist in holding the cans in place. Webs foldably connected to the side panel flaps and to extensions of the end panel flaps cause the end panel flaps to be automatically drawn into place. The side panel flaps, the webs and the end panel extensions are glued together to hold the carrier in locked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 5415278
    Abstract: A carrier for articles such as beverage cans of the type that grip the top portions of the cans so as to suspend them from the carrier. The upper ends of the cans extend through apertures in the bottom panel of the carrier, and the chimes or lips of the cans are engaged by locking tabs surrounding the aperture. One of the tabs of each aperture is foldably connected along the fold line connecting the bottom panel to the adjacent side panel, and the fold lines connecting the top panel to the side panels include slits through which portions of the can chimes protrude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 5363870
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning and reforming a brush which contains a base and a cover removably attached to said base. The cover is a laminated structure containing a top wall, an intermediate layer, and a bottom wall. Each of the top wall and the bottom wall contains at least three orifices, and least two of which differ from at least one of the other. The intermediate layer contains elastmeric material and at least three orifices, each of which is smaller than any of the orifices in the top wall or the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: RKS Marketing Corporation
    Inventor: Roger L. Doyon
  • Patent number: 5355999
    Abstract: A clip-type carrier especially suited for carrying beverage cans. The carrier is comprised of a panel having slots in a folded, wedge-shaped inner support section and in outer support sections for receiving the can chimes. In addition, short side panels and end panels assist in holding the cans in place. Webs foldably connected to end panel flaps and to extensions of the side panels cause the end panel flaps to snap into place. The end panel flaps, the webs and the side panel extensions are glued together to hold the carrier in locked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 5351816
    Abstract: A neck clip bottle carrier having angled side panels of two-ply construction. The lower edges of openings in the side panels engage the underside of bottle flanges to support the bottles. The inner and outer plies of the side panels contain tear lines which are aligned with and overlie each other. The tear lines extend at an angle to the vertical from the lower edge of the side panels to a point on the lower support edge of the nearest bottle neck opening. Severance of overlying tear lines in a side panel permits the associated bottle to be removed through the side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Sutherland, James C. Fogle
  • Patent number: 5351817
    Abstract: A clip-type carrier especially suited for carrying beverage cans. The carrier is comprised of a panel having slots in folded, wedge-shaped inner support sections and in outer support sections for receiving the can chimes. The inner support sections are connected to rib sections which are foldably connected, forming a two-ply vertical rib extending up from the bottom of the wedge. Glue flaps extending from the rib are adhered to the carrier panel to maintain the carrier in locked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 5351815
    Abstract: A neck clip carrier comprised of two carrier units separated by a handle structure. Each carrier unit is comprised of a bottom panel and two angled side panels. The bottom panels and side panels contain openings for receiving two bottles, the lower edge of the side panel openings engaging the underside of the bottle flanges to support the bottles. The handle structure comprised of spaced panels hinged together at their upper edges, and the bottom and side panels of the carrier units are of two-ply construction. Tear strips may be provided in the plies of the outer side panels to facilitate access to the bottles. The carrier is formed from a single blank of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Fogle, Robert L. Sutherland