Handle Is Of One-piece Construction With A Container Patents (Class 220/771)
  • Publication number: 20080156808
    Abstract: A container (210) for holding granular/powdered material and formed by a top wall (212), a bottom wall (214), a front wall (216), a rear wall (218), a first side wall (220), and a second side wall (222). A removable lid (D) is interiorly mounted with a scoop (32) and is hinged to a collar (300) that includes a sealing gasket (330). The collar (300) mounts to the walls of the container (210). A sealing wall 240 of the lid (D) cooperates with the gasket (330) to prevent the contents from spilling. The container (210) incorporates sealing features, a geometry for container wall junctions (50) and a junction congruent scoop (32) enabling easy access to the contents, and a strength improving receptacle (280) with indentations (290) that interlock with flex clips (310) of a J-shaped collar (300), and which accommodate wide tolerance variations between the collar (300) and receptacle (280).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: James P. Perry, Jeremy McBroom, Craig A. McCardell, David Compeau, Charles R. Schotthoefer, Frank S. Walczak, Jack E. Elder
  • Publication number: 20080156819
    Abstract: A plastic container for a particulate product such as coffee includes a base and a surrounding wall member upstanding therefrom. A top connects to the surrounding wall member and in a preferred embodiment includes a large opening sufficient to receive about a 5 inch cylinder therethrough. The surrounding wall member has a handle. In one embodiment, the handle includes a longitudinal pocket formed in the surrounding wall member adjacent the top. The longitudinal pocket extends parallel to the top and has a depth and shape for receipt of fingers of a user. Preferably, the surrounding wall member also includes a thumb receiving concavity above the pocket. For added strength, the pocket can include a central vertical brace. In another embodiment, the handle includes a pass-though opening in which the fingers of the user pass so as to substantially surround the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Leonard S. Scarola
  • Patent number: 7350657
    Abstract: A beverage container with a grip formed in side and bottom walls thereof. The grip includes a V-shaped groove on a side wall that receives a finger of a consumer (e.g., a thumb or set of fingers) and a recess formed in a bottom wall of the container to receive one or more other fingers of the consumer's hand. When gripped in this fashion a lower corner of the bottle may be located in the palm of the consumer's hand. The groove in the side wall is formed in the side wall sufficiently close to the bottom wall to allow the hands of most consumers to use the grip. The V shape points upward. Either side of the V can be used depending on whether the consumer wishes to grip with their right hand or their left hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Mott's LLP
    Inventors: John A. Eaton, William R. Eaton, Erica S. Nozato
  • Patent number: 7350658
    Abstract: A container includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes a shoulder that extends away from a neck of the container, and a grip portion. The grip portion defines an integral logo portion and is recessed within the top portion of the container. A waist or groove is provided on adjacent lateral sides of the grip portion and may include a lateral stiffening rib. The bottom portion of the container includes a plurality of vacuum panels that accommodate for internal forces tending to cause collapse of the vacuum panels during a hot-fill process. Any portion of the internal forces not accommodated by the vacuum panels in the bottom portion of the container is accommodated by an auxiliary vacuum panel, which is provided in the grip portion of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Bourque, Ralph T. Coley, Jr., Takao Iizuka, Masaaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7325687
    Abstract: An improved container for storing, dispensing and handling viscous and semi-viscous fluids such as paint and the like, having novel spout and other design features that enable substantially dripless dispensing and improved handling and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: The Sherwin-Williams Company
    Inventors: Michael H. Bravo, Craig M. Rowles, John P. Sullivan, David Markham, Mark W. Scott, Chris Van Buiten, Gregory J. Mascoli, Robert Slack, Corinna Lee
  • Patent number: 7296703
    Abstract: A polymer container suitable for hot-filling featuring a pinch-grip vacuum panel combination having a flexible-field and a generally ridged pinch-grip that accommodates vacuum related forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventor: Michael T Lane
  • Patent number: 7225939
    Abstract: A handleware container particularly useful for holding and dispensing liquid household products. The container includes a bottom wall panel; vertically oriented front, rear and opposing side wall panels; and a handle joining one of the side panels to form a gripping space; wherein the surface area of the front wall panel is larger than the surface area of the rear wall panel; and the gripping aperture is hidden from view by the front wall panel when the container is viewed orthogonal to the front wall panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Lorraine M. Casscles, Peter Bertolini, Robert Croft, Martin Short
  • Patent number: 7198164
    Abstract: A hot-fillable blow molded plastic container having a finish with an opening; a base; a lower bumper transition; an upper bumper transition and a tubular dome. The upper bumper transition and lower bumper transition defines a label mounting region. The label mounting region includes a circumferential ring adjacent to the upper bumper transition a vacuum panel. The tubular dome can be between the upper bumper transition and the finish and can has a cross sectional shape that is substantially the same throughout. The tubular dome includes an upper bell and a lower bell separated by a peripheral waist that has a diameter less than that of the upper and lower bell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon Yourist, Angie Noll, Richard K. Ogg
  • Patent number: 7185777
    Abstract: A synthetic resin bottle has a grip assembled and fixed in an upright orientation to the center part of a concave region at the ear portion of a substantially cylindrical trunk portion of the bottle main body. A shoulder portion in the bottle main body has a lower circumferential wall with a truncated pyramid shape defined by a plurality of panels. A right/left center axis of a rear surface panel is placed at substantially at the center of the rear surface of the bottle main body. A center portion of each of the panels is formed as a protrusion having a convex shape gradually bulging outwards of the bottle main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Itokawa, Yoshinori Matsuo, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7185783
    Abstract: Outdoor and indoor debris receptacles that can be formed from molded plastic. The receptacles include an open upper end with a D-shaped configuration and a closed bottom end with a substantially circular bottom configuration. The receptacles can have a generally cylindrical shape and a flat side wall having a triangular tubular shape for allowing the receptacle to be laid on its side so that rakes and brooms can move debris fully into the D-shaped opening with ease. At least one handle located on the apex of the D-shaped opening allows the container to be easily lifted to a vertical standing position, and curved interior wall surfaces allow debris to easily slide toward the bottom of the container. Embodiments allow for different sizes of container, and extras such as lids, wheels and supports for tools. such as but not limited to rakes, hoes, and shovels to be carried and stored by the receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: David H. Miller
  • Patent number: 7182214
    Abstract: The container includes a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper portion extending upwardly from the sidewall. The upper portion includes at least one opening therein. An integral handle is also provided at least in part on the sidewall. A grip portion, as a finger grip, is provided on the upper portion of the container spaced from the handle to provide stability when handling or when dispensing contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, James C. Dorn, Richard A. Lovelace, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7168582
    Abstract: The container includes a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper portion extending upwardly from the sidewall. The upper portion includes at least one opening therein. Two label panels are provided on the container spaced from each other, one on the upper portion and one on the sidewall. An integral handle is also provided positioned at least in part on the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, James C. Dorn, Richard A. Lovelace, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7152755
    Abstract: A one-piece, molded plastic container (10) comprises a base (16) and a circumferential sidewall (20) extending upwardly from the base. The upper end (18) of the sidewall forms an open top of the container which is closed by a lid (19). A bail (14) for lifting and carrying the container is integrally molded with the container body in a mold (100). The ends of the bail attach to bosses (22a, 22b) integrally molded therewith into the container sidewall. The spacing of the bosses is less than 180° in one direction about the circumference of the container, so the container, when lifted by the bail, does not hang vertically. A base section (14b) of the bail has a substantially uniform thickness throughout the length of the bail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: United States Can Company
    Inventor: Frances T. Azzarello
  • Patent number: 7137521
    Abstract: A plastic container is provided. The plastic container has a base, a body extending upward from the base, a neck extending upward from the body, a finish extending upward from the neck and having an opening, an integral handle having a lower end attached to the body and an upper end attached to the neck, first and second chamfered corners integral with the body and extending upward from the base to the neck, and third and fourth chamfered corners integral with the body and extending upward from the base to a vertical position of the container adjacent the lower end of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Co., LP
    Inventor: Sheldon Yourist
  • Patent number: 7118002
    Abstract: A pinch grip type bottle-shaped container (10) has opposed finger-receiving recesses (11) at sidewall regions of a container main body part, respectively, to thereby form a grip part (G) of the container (10), by the entire region including the recesses and a back surface region of the body part between the recesses. The container according to the invention is provided, at bottom surfaces of the recesses that can be touched and held (11), with multiple projections (14) projecting inwardly or outwardly of the container, thereby improving mold-releasability after the molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Saito, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7108146
    Abstract: A synthetic resin bottle with a handle of this invention comprises a biaxially drawn and blow-molded PET bottle and a handle, an injection-molded product of the same PET resin, which is fitted firmly to the bottle as an insert. The up-and-down property of the surfaces of the handle inserts, which come in contact with the PET bottle, is adjusted in response to the softening and drawing state of the PET preform that is deformed and molded into the bottle. This adjustment causes the friction resistance to be reduced between the handle inserts and the blow-molded PET bottle. The finely textured up-and-down pattern can be easily formed through the tests and adjustments by the surface treatment inside the mold cavity used for the injection molding of the handle. Thus, the optimum surface properties can be obtained in response to the bottle sizes and the handle shapes. Therefore, this invention requires no separate process, such as thermal crystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Itokawa, Yoshinori Matsuo, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7097060
    Abstract: Blow-molded containers such as the 1.75-liter size for liquor beverages have an everting grip problem. Using inwardly facing grip geometry, consisting of two convex surfaces that come together at an inward ridge, eliminates the problem. The combination of the two convex surface sidewalls further eliminates the need for lateral reinforcing ribs in both cold-fill and hot-fill containers. The curved sidewalls come together at an edge offset the central axis of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Penny, John A. Nievierowski, Jonathan P. Jarman
  • Patent number: 7097061
    Abstract: A container includes a hollow body having a finish extending from the body. The finish has an open end, at least one external thread for securement of a closure, and a pair of spaced external circumferential flanges on a side of the thread remote from the open end of the finish. A bale handle includes a ring having resilient internal tabs captured beneath the lower of the flanges remote from the open end of the finish, and a handle extending from the ring for carrying the container. The upper flange, which preferably has a greater outside diameter than the lower flange, has an undersurface that is free of obstruction from the bale handle and therefore is adapted to perform support functions for the container after attachment of the bale handle to the container finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Charles P. Simpson, Jr., Stephen R. Guerin, David P. Piccioli, Qiuchen Peter Zhang
  • Patent number: 7086548
    Abstract: A blow molded container has a planar pinched section formed between and connecting a top wall, a neck and a front handle end of the container with an anti-glug vent tube formed in the planar pinched section so as to extend through the pinched section and spaced by parts of the planar pinched section away from the neck, from the front handle end and from the top wall. The vent tube is substantially horizontal at the neck breaking through a vertical wall of the neck and has the other end breaking out through the top wall at the bottom of the downwardly extending section between the neck and the front handle end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Reliance Products Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Glenn Bartlett
  • Patent number: 7080748
    Abstract: A container made of thermoplastic synthetic resin having a central axis extending longitudinally, and having a body, wherein the body has a left and a right symmetrically relating to the central axis, each of the left and right is formed with a distortion-absorbing portion in response to a pressure change in the container, each of the distortion-absorbing portions is formed with a grip portion, and each of the grip portions includes a central portion of the left and the right, has an area an area smaller than an area of the distortion-absorbing portion, and has a depth larger than a depth of the distortion-absorbing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sasaki, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7080746
    Abstract: A bottle-shaped container according to the present invention is of pinch grip type and includes a container body having opposed recesses formed at sidewall regions of a main body portion of the container body, respectively, to thereby form a grip part of the container by an entire region of the main body portion between the recesses, including the back surface region. The bottle-shaped container further includes a pressure-reduction absorbing panel at the back surface region, having an upper end arranged at a height substantially coincident with that of an upper end of the grip part, and steps provided along the edges of the recesses forming the grip part, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Saito, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7036693
    Abstract: A paint container includes a body having a bottom, a plurality of side walls, and a top. An attachment mechanism is located proximate the top. A cap is configured to be secured to the attachment mechanism. A spout extends upward proximate the top and is at least partially surrounded by the attachment mechanism. A channel located between the attachment mechanism and the spout permits paint spilled into the channel to flow back into the paint container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Masterchem Industries LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Walsh, James N. McDerby, Jr., Norman Morfeld, Cynthia S. Sherrill, Stephen L. Crouse, Douglas W. Newman, Jeffrey A. Schutte, Mark Gilbertson, Scott G. Manke, Michael Brock
  • Patent number: 7032756
    Abstract: The present invention relates to containers, and more specifically, to plastic containers. The containers described herein may be applied to any use, but they are particularly useful for storing paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Inventor: Arun M. Wylie
  • Patent number: 7021486
    Abstract: A drinking flask cap is a convenient, three-position, push-pull lid. The top of the lid forms a drinking basis, and the drinking basin can be sealed with a hygienic cap. The cap can be removed and placed on the bottom of the flask for convenient storage and provides a stable base for the flask. A bottle portion of the flask is preferably made from a molded plastic material and can be provided with a finger hold such that the flask can be drunk from in a manner similar to a coffee cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Pacific Market, Inc
    Inventor: Gary A. Hurlbut
  • Patent number: 7004342
    Abstract: A container includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes a shoulder that extends away from a neck of the container, and a grip portion. The grip portion defines an integral logo portion and is recessed within the top portion of the container. A waist or groove is provided on adjacent lateral sides of the grip portion and may include a lateral stiffening rib. The bottom portion of the container includes a plurality of vacuum panels that accommodate for internal forces tending to cause collapse of the vacuum panels during a hot-fill process. Any portion of the internal forces not accommodated by the vacuum panels in the bottom portion of the container is accommodated by an auxiliary vacuum panel, which is provided in the grip portion of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Bourque, Ralph T. Coley, Jr., Takao Iizuka, Masaaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7000794
    Abstract: A container for storing a fluid incorporates an overflow region. The overflow region is located above the desired fill line of the container and preferably terminates in the same plane as the opening of the fill spout. In this manner, the amount of fluid filled in the container can be maximized while still providing the desired air space for shipping purposes. Incorporating structural features into the body of the blow-molded container eliminate the use of external cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Creative Edge Design Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Soehnlen, Gregory M. Soehnlen
  • Patent number: 6983862
    Abstract: A plastic container and lid assembly for storing liquid coating materials including a container and a lid. The container has a body with a bottom wall, at least four sidewalls and a neck. The neck defines a wide mouth opening and including threads for receiving mating threads on the lid. The lid also has a plurality of lugs, preferably two lugs, extending radially from the lid and terminating at or before the lugs extend beyond the container sidewalls when the lid is in sealed engagement with the container. The body also has an integral handle for lifting the container and the container neck supports a bail-type handle also for lifting said container. The integral handle and bail-type handles do not extend beyond the container sidewall. The container and lid assembly having an effective packing footprint and an effective packing volume which substantially conforms to the effective packing footprint and the effective packing volume of a conventional metal paint can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: The Sherwin-Williams Company
    Inventors: John R. Nottingham, John Spirk, Dale A. Panasewicz, Nick E. Stanca, Robert Iredell, IV, Dennis M. Futo
  • Patent number: 6964347
    Abstract: A handy bottle is capable of absorbing deformation strain caused by variation of capacity, is easy to lift and carry because of its recessed portions for gripping and is excellent in dropping strength and capable of not buckling while maintaining moldability and lightweight property. Typically, the handy bottle has recessed portions for gripping on both sides of a body portion thereof and a shape in diametric cross section of the recessed portions is almost bilaterally symmetrical to a line connecting deepest portions of the recessed portions and a central axis of the body portion. The process for producing the handy bottle allows movable inserts capable of molding the recessed portions for gripping to be on standby in predetermined positions and allows the movable inserts to proceed toward the deepest portions of the recessed portions for gripping in the course of blow molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisya, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Miura
  • Patent number: 6910596
    Abstract: A liquid storage bottle is provided with a generally cylindrical liquid storage chamber and an integral handle. A well is formed in the liquid storage chamber to accommodate the handle. The walls of the well are configured to prevent water from pooling thereon, and to allow a cleaning fluid to reach all inside surfaces of the bottle. The handle is configured for ease of cleaning the bottle. In one exemplary embodiment, the handle is closed-off from the liquid storage chamber. In another exemplary embodiment, the handle is configured to allow a water-safe cap easily to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Inventor: Harry M. Herckner
  • Patent number: 6896943
    Abstract: A method of forming a container (10) from bi-axially orientable plastics material and having an integral handle formed from a stem (15); said method comprising: (a) forming a preform (26, 36) having a neck portion and an expandable portion (12) below the neck portion (11), said neck portion including a locating ring (14) above the expandable portion and a solid stem (15) of orientable thermoplastics material projecting from or near the neck portion or immediately below it and moulded integrally therewith, and (b) performing a blow moulding operation on said preform to expand the expandable portion to form the body of the container. Also disclosed is a container (10) manufactured from a two stage injection stretch blow moulding process, said container including a graspable handle affixed at at least a first point to said container so as to form an enclosed area between the handle and the container and through which the fingers of a human hand may be passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: B & R Industries Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Glenn Robert Beale
  • Patent number: 6827233
    Abstract: A bucket has an upper opening and an interior cavity, a floor having a rear portion and a front portion within the body, and a handle extending upwardly from a first side the body. The handle has a gripping member and a pair of side portions that define a receiver opening, and the handle does not materially extend over the receiver opening. The body is eccentrically weighted by a weight member attached to the first side of the body so that the bucket is balanced when suspended by the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventor: Phillip F. Scallate
  • Patent number: 6802431
    Abstract: The invention is a plastic, molded paint tray (used in conjunction with roller applicators) with a handle integral to the body, a spout at the reservoir end of the tray, and inclined ribbing on the incline of the tray extending onto the floor of the paint reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Indigo Wind Films Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Allen Schinkel
  • Publication number: 20040182871
    Abstract: A coconut shell basket is another craft and work of art. People who see coconut baskets don't believe they are made from coconut shells. In the future they will be seen at craft shows for sale. They will be mixed with many other crafts in china cabinets and will be an object of interest, and will not be made anywhere else. They can also be hung on Xmas trees, and have handles painted different colors; red, white and blue. Some handles will be painted a dark walnut color to blend in with bottom color of coconut shell baskets. Some baskets will get white handles to match white base color of PVC white base, or white ring on base of some coconut baskets. Wood based coconut baskets will be painted and touched up dark walnut color to match other parts of coconut baskets. Baskets vary in shades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: Leonard James Whyte
  • Patent number: 6761282
    Abstract: The invention provides a plastic container that comprises the container body with an integral handle and lid. The container body has a sidewall which terminates in an upwardly facing rim defining a surface to which a sealing member such as a sheet of plastic or aluminum foil can be adhesively bonded. A pair of hinge supports are integrally molded with the container body and each has an upper hinge end which is in alignment with the rim of the container. The handle has a central hand grip portion and a pair of legs each of which is hinged to the hinge support and molded integrally therewith. A pair of hinges defined by plastic ligaments of reduced thickness are both aligned with the top of the rim between one of the supports and the legs of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: Dennis C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6749075
    Abstract: A container includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes a shoulder that extends away from a neck of the container, and a grip portion. The grip portion defines an integral logo portion and is recessed within the top portion of the container. A waist or groove is provided on adjacent lateral sides of the grip portion and may include a lateral stiffening rib. The bottom portion of the container includes a plurality of vacuum panels that accommodate for internal forces tending to cause collapse of the vacuum panels during a hot-fill process. Any portion of the internal forces not accommodated by the vacuum panels in the bottom portion of the container is accommodated by an auxiliary vacuum panel, which is provided in the grip portion of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Bourque, Ralph T. Coley, Jr., Takao Iizuka, Masaaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6730004
    Abstract: A blow-moldable container, having a centrally located, generally tubular handle spanning a central recess has improved balance and ergonomics over existing blow-molded containers. Such a balanced container has great utility as a handheld freeweight, or as a container for pourable substances. An integrally molded base allows our container to be stood upright on end like a regular bottle. Products may be marketed in such containers under the premise that the consumer automatically acquires a freeweight by purchasing the product. The inclusion of fitably engageable contours on its top and bottom surfaces makes such a container stackable with others of its kind, for ease of packaging, shipping, and storage. A graduated set of handheld fillable freeweights may thus be compactly stored without a special rack. Since blow-molding offers great economy of production for sufficiently large numbers of containers, the average person will now be able to afford an entire graduated set of freeweights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Douglas Spriggs Selsam
  • Patent number: 6705468
    Abstract: A organizer assembly for providing a user with a convenient organizer for cat grooming and litter box supplies. The organizer assembly includes a base that has a bottom surface, a top surface and a peripheral edge that extends between the top and bottom surfaces. A peripheral wall is attached to and extends upwardly from the top surface. A handle is attached to the base. A pair of containers, each has a bottom wall and perimeter wall attached to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall, each of the containers is positionable in the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Inventor: Antonia R. Hall
  • Patent number: 6698606
    Abstract: A blow-molded plastic container is provided suitable for hot-filling under pressurize-fill conditions, and under gravity-fill conditions. The container includes opposing handgrips within panels, which lack hinges and thus do not function as conventional vacuum panels as the inward deformation is spread beyond the panels. The hand grip includes a distal, relatively stiffened portion formed by a sidewall that forms a thumb piece and a proximal, relatively un-stiffened portion the smooth merges into a cylindrical sidewall of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Constar International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Deubel, Satya Kamineni, Philip G. Kraft, Richard G. Kraft
  • Patent number: 6695163
    Abstract: A water bottle with an integrally molded handle in which the opening defined by the handle has a contour that corresponds substantially to the contours of the fingers of the hand when the bottle is held during use. The bottle can include a series of ribs and furrows approximately matching the contour of the insides of the fingers that allow the user to securely grip the bottle during use. In a second embodiment the integrally molded handle is attached by a fluted arrangement and can be extended from or collapsed to the sides of the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Richard M. Michalowski
  • Patent number: 6672468
    Abstract: A plastic bottle is disclosed, which comprises a cylindrical sidewall having a predetermined thickness, an upper mouth-forming portion, a neck extending from this mouth-forming portion, a dome-shaped portion between the neck and one axial end of the cylindrical sidewall, a lower bottom-forming base extending from the other axial end of the cylindrical wall, all about a central axis. The bottle also has at least three substantially vertical exterior ribs that are substantially uniformly angularly spaced from each other about the axis on the neck, and these ribs have maximum cross-sectional radial dimensions along the axis generally greater than said predetermined thickness. The ribs reinforced the neck and distribute forces resulting from impact of a localized force to the mouth-forming portion towards the dome-shaped portion and cylindrical sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: PVC Container Corporation
    Inventors: K. Lee Mount, Paul Melia, David S. Clelland
  • Publication number: 20030121926
    Abstract: A liquid container for a comestible product such as milk or juice includes a base having a substantially planar region, a top surface having a substantially planar region parallel to the substantially planar region of the base and having a pour spout. A sidewall is integrally formed with and extends between the base and top surface, and includes a structural load distributing feature that transfers loads from the top surface to the base. A handle is interposed between the base and top surface and integrally formed with the base, top surface, and sidewall. The containers can be arrayed into units and stacked on top of one another. A first flexible material such as a shrink wrap holds the individual containers together and a second flexible material maintains the stacked array of containers together so that cases that typically hold the containers can be eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: CREATIVE EDGE DESIGN GROUP, LTD.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Soehnlen, Dale Panasewicz, Lawrence A. Becks
  • Patent number: 6581796
    Abstract: A trash receptacle includes an upper rim, four sidewalls, and a lid. The trash receptacle includes a pair of recessed channel portions disposed in opposite sidewalls. A pair of handles are disposed in each of the channel portions. The channel portions each include a bottom channel wall and channel sidewalls. The lid also serves as a collar for the bottom of the trash receptacle 100. The interior of the channel portion has an upper, rounded portion which leads smoothly to the bottom channel wall. A label can be provided on the side of the trash receptacle. The structure of the trash receptacle serves to prevent development of a vacuum between the walls of the trash receptacle and the trash bags. The trash receptacle 100 is adapted to receive trash bags or plastic liners, and has improved resistance to formation of a vacuum between the walls of the trash receptacle and the trash bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: Les Pilkinton
  • Patent number: 6581795
    Abstract: A container for holding foods comprises a base member (1); a cover member (3) which is connected to the base member (1) by releasable locking engagement; a first recessed carrying handle (20) provided on a lower side of the base member (1); and a second recessed carrying handle (11) provided on an upper side of the cover member (3). To achieve a substantially flat support surface for both the base member (1) and the cover member (3), the first and second carrying handles (20, 11) are integrated with and recessed into the contour of the base member (1) and of the cover member (3), respectively, such that each of the base member (1) and the cover member (3) have substantially flat surface portions so that the container will rest stably on a flat support surface such as a table in both the upright and inverted positions of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Leifheit AG
    Inventors: Rolf Günter Schülein, Frank Bruchschmidt
  • Patent number: 6575321
    Abstract: A container includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes a shoulder that extends away from a neck of the container, and a grip portion. The grip portion defines an integral logo portion and is recessed within the top portion of the container. A waist or groove is provided on adjacent lateral sides of the grip portion and may include a lateral stiffening rib. The bottom portion of the container includes a plurality of vacuum panels that accommodate for internal forces tending to cause collapse of the vacuum panels during a hot-fill process. Any portion of the internal forces not accommodated by the vacuum panels in the bottom portion of the container is accommodated by an auxiliary vacuum panel, which is provided in the grip portion of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Bourque, Ralph T. Coley, Jr., Takao Iizuka, Masaaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6564959
    Abstract: A bottle-type plastic container includes a container body and an opening at one end of the container body for allowing liquid contents to be charged into the container and discharged therefrom. The container body has surface portions, which are recessed inwards and opposed to each other to define a grip region therebetween. The recessed surface portions are each defined by at least two shoulder-like steps that are engageable with consumer's fingers when the container is held by hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Saito, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 6540132
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to tubular, non-round composite paperboard container bodies having at least one wall portion defined by radially inverse curvature, and at least a second wall portion that is outwardly curved. In one preferred embodiment, the container body includes at least two body wall portions of inverse curvature, which are positioned in an opposed relationship. The two opposed body wall portions having inverse curvature provide an integral handle allowing easy grasping of the container body by the hand of a consumer, i.e. by the opposed thumb and fingers of a consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Lowry, Steve Gendreau
  • Publication number: 20020195471
    Abstract: A plastic container and lid assembly for storing liquid coating materials including a container and a lid. The container has a body with a bottom wall, at least four sidewalls and a neck. The neck defines a wide mouth opening and including threads for receiving mating threads on the lid. The lid also has a plurality of lugs, preferably two lugs, extending radially from the lid and terminating at or before the lugs extend beyond the container sidewalls when the lid is in sealed engagement with the container. The body also has an integral handle for lifting the container and the container neck supports a bail-type handle also for lifting said container. The integral handle and bail-type handles do not extend beyond the container sidewall. The container and lid assembly having an effective packing footprint and an effective packing volume which substantially conforms to the effective packing footprint and the effective packing volume of a conventional metal paint can.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: John R. Nottingham, John Spirk, Dale A. Panasewicz, Nick E. Stanca, Robert Iredell, IV, Dennis M. Futo
  • Patent number: 6491185
    Abstract: A container, capable of construction from polymeric injection molding, comprising a plug and ring closure, the plug having first and second locking arms for extending into the ring, each locking arm having a locking tab located adjacent to a distal end for selectively securing the plug within the ring when the locking tabs reside within an undercut of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: United States Can Company
    Inventors: Francis T. Azzarello, Rodolfo Q. Raymundo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6464095
    Abstract: The storage chest of the present invention comprises: a box portion having opposed front and rear walls, a pair of opposed side walls; and a floor attached to the front, rear and side walls to form a storage cavity; and a lid pivotally interconnected with the rear wall. The lid includes: a generally planar top panel; and a front panel merging with and extending generally perpendicularly to the top panel. The front panel includes a recess formed by a horizontally disposed face and a vertically disposed face positioned below and merging with the horizontally disposed face. The top panel and front panel are integrally formed from a unitary member of substantially constant thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Delta Consolidated Industries
    Inventor: Richard A. Samsel
  • Patent number: 6454110
    Abstract: A biaxial stretching bottle in which a pair of carrying handles are provided oppositely constituted on both sides of a neck portion in such a manner as to be bent freely, and the biaxial stretching bottle having the carrying handle with a structure which can improve durability strength of a base portion and a connection structurally. A pair of U-shaped carrying handles, which a handle grip portion and an arm portion of both sides are formed integrally, are connected to and formed on both ends of the base portion constituted by overhang pieces formed on the symmetrical positions of both sides of the neck portion. Brackets are constituted unitarily across the lower surface of the vicinity of both ends of the base portion and a side surface of the neck portion and stoppers are projected and arranged on the upper surface of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: A. K. Technical Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Setsuyuki Takeuchi, Nobukuni Ibe, Yukio Yanagimachi