Flexible Hinge Patents (Class 220/837)
  • Patent number: 7886927
    Abstract: A container cover comprises a central dome, a peripheral rim portion surrounding the central dome, wherein the central dome extends upwardly from the peripheral rim portion, a skirt extending downwardly from an outer edge of the peripheral rim portion, and a plurality of grippers. Each gripper comprises a flange extending downwardly from a lower surface of the peripheral rim portion and at least two gripping fingers extending downwardly from the flange. The skirt and the grippers form a space for receiving an edge protrusion, for example a curled edge, of a container body. Each of the at least two fingers has a protrusion extending toward the skirt and the fingers are adapted to provide a gripping force to an edge protrusion of a container received in the space. The plurality of grippers are spaced from one another around the peripheral rim portion. The container cover may be combined with a container body having an edge protrusion at its opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Frey, Hartmut K. Geisselbrecht
  • Patent number: 7870980
    Abstract: A closure includes a flip-top member including an elongated flange, a base member including a curved flange extending from the base member, and a hinge to connect the flip-top member and the base member. The base member has an opening therein. A portion of the elongated member is configured to reside within the opening when the closure is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: McCormick & Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Tracie Lynn Clemons Wilson, Steven Gift
  • Patent number: 7823736
    Abstract: A plastic closure for receipt on a container includes a plastic ring having an internal recess adapted to be received by snap fit over an external crown or bead on the container neck finish such that the ring is retained against axial movement on the container neck finish. A plastic lid is coupled by a hinge to the ring, with the ring, the lid and the hinge being of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. The lid has a skirt that is adapted releasably to be snapped to the ring in a closed position of the lid over the ring. The lid skirt may have an external bead that is adapted to be received by snap-fit within an internal channel on the ring in the closed position of the lid over the ring, and a conical internal surface on the ring may be provided to guide the bead on the lid into the channel on the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Rexam Closure Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Darin M. Pugne, Edward A. Grant, Leonora M. Brozell
  • Publication number: 20100224646
    Abstract: A self desiccating container with a living hinge includes a container body made from a resin bonded sorbent and at least one attachment feature, and a container closure having a closure portion engageable with the container body to close the body and an attachment feature compatible with the attachment feature on the container body for securing the closure to the body, and a living hinge connecting the closure portion to the attachment feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: MULTISORB TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel A. Incorvia, Thomas H. Powers
  • Patent number: 7735699
    Abstract: A dispensing closure has a flow conduit that provides a sufficient flow restriction to prevent unwanted spurting of the product when the container is initially opened. The dispensing closure includes a closure body with an upper deck and a flow conduit extending through the upper deck. The flow conduit includes an entry orifice having an entrance axis and an exit orifice having an exit axis. The entrance axis is parallel to, but not co-linear with, the exit axis to provide a non-linear flow path from an interior of the closure to the exterior of the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Polytop Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Brannon, Clifford W. Skillin, Sergey Romanov
  • Patent number: 7735678
    Abstract: The invention relates to an outer container for holding an inner container in particular where the inner container has a sensitive product. The outer container comprises at least one of a moveable display board; retaining formations for retaining a hygroscopic element; or a stand for gripping the base of the inner container to retain it in an upright position. The invention also relates to a combination pack comprising the inner container retained in the outer container, particularly where the inner container holds a moisture sensitive product such as an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Loctite (R&D) Limited
    Inventors: Peter Rushe, Liam P. O'Dwyer, Geoffrey F. Seymour, David J. Gibson, Patrick Kealy
  • Publication number: 20100140285
    Abstract: Disclosed is an airtight container comprising: a container body having an opening portion and a flange formed along an outer circumference of the opening portion; and a lockable lid that is disposed to cover the opening portion of the container body and that has a locking wing at an edge, wherein the locking wing further comprises upper and lower supporting protrusions disposed on an inner surface of the locking wing at an interval that permits engagement of the flange between the upper and lower supporting protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Byung Il CHOI
  • Patent number: 7717281
    Abstract: A closure cap may include a base portion and a lid. The base portion may include a dispenser orifice. The lid may include a sealing stud arranged to be engaged in the dispenser orifice when the lid is closed. The sealing stud may comprise at least one portion in relief arranged to snap-fasten in the base portion. The sealing stud may also include an elastically deformable zone of increased deformability, in which at least part of the portion in relief may be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Gilles Baudin
  • Publication number: 20100072218
    Abstract: A blister package is provided including a blister for holding and dispensing articles. The blister package includes a backing and a blister defining an opening and having an integral, re-closable closure for selectively covering the opening. The closure may include snap elements that can be snap-fitted into notches in the blister for securely retaining the blister in a closed position. Optionally, the closure may joined to the blister by an integral, flexible fastener, which may be a strap and/or a living hinge. A method of packaging an article in a blister package includes: (a) forming a plastic blister, (b) forming an opening in the blister, and (c) forming a closure integral with the blister for covering the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: DISPLAY PACK, INC.
    Inventors: Marc R. Meyer, David H. Bult, Timothy J. Riegling, Andrew J. Blackmore
  • Publication number: 20100065561
    Abstract: A multiple chamber package is illustrated which includes two or more containers that are connected by a tear strip in which the tear strip is connected to each of the containers by a tear line. The container can be torn away from the tear strip to thereby provide a smaller package and as such may be more desirable for being carried around in one's pocket or otherwise. By connecting multiple containers together and using a tear strip, a large billboard area is also provided for marketing information to more easily convey information along about the contents of the package to the consumer. The overall package may be formed as a unit, single molded plastic component part with simple as opposed to complex molding techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Valley, III, Gordon E. VerWeyst
  • Publication number: 20100044381
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for article introduction, storage and dispensing from a reusable container in an efficient and high throughput manner are provided. The apparatus for storing and recovering content therefrom includes a plurality of arranged cells having a content ingress-egress point. The content ingress-egress point is pierceable to introduce content into the cell, self-closing and resealing to capture and seal content within the cell, and rupturable to discharge and recover content from the cell. Methods include piercing, capturing and discharging articles by providing a plurality of arranged cells having at least one article ingress-egress point, piercing the article ingress-egress point to introduce articles into the cell where the article ingress-egress point is adapted to self-close and self-seal to capture articles within the cell, and rupturing the article ingress-egress point to discharge and recover articles from the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: DANIEL M. GOLDMAN
  • Publication number: 20100044390
    Abstract: A biochemical container is provided, which can open a cover member shutting a container member and can release a tightly sealed condition, without a need for displacing the outer edge section of the cover member. In the present invention, an opening in an end of a container member 110 is openably and closably shut by a cover member 120. When an assisting-opening member 140 is pressed from the outside in such shut condition, the stress is changed to the opening direction by the changing-direction mechanism 150 to exert over the cover member 120. Consequently, the tightly sealed condition of the cover member 120 that shuts the container member 110 can be released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayao Tanaka, Yoshihiro Abe, Masao Ikeda, Tomokazu Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20100038274
    Abstract: A clam shell type container having an injection moulded base, an injection moulded lid, and a web interconnecting the base and lid, wherein the web is formed from an in-mould label. The in-mould label is preferably deposited into a mould that simultaneously forms the base and lid, with the label being deposited into the mould prior to the injection of molten material. Upon formation, the label extends contiguously into the base and lid and becomes integrally adhered with the walls of the base and lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: Alexander Segal
  • Patent number: 7661923
    Abstract: The invention provides a casing, equipment unit, fan unit and electronic equipment capable of easily implementing assembling, disassembling, attaching and so forth without using fixture components, tools, and so forth. The structure is made up of casing sections, hinge parts and a coupling part. The casing sections are made up of not less than two sections and enclosing a hosing space, and members for securing the housing space thereby. The hinge parts are members coupled with the casing sections and supporting each casing section. That is, not less than two casing sections couple the edge parts of each casing section, and bendably support each casing section. The coupling part is a member for restraining the casing sections positionally and maintaining and fixing the housing space. That is, the coupling parts detachably couple each casing section to hold the housing space on each casing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Naofumi Kosugi
  • CAP
    Publication number: 20090194501
    Abstract: A cap is provided which can be smaller in number of constituent elements, easy to manufacture with simple assembly operation, and of which cap cover can be smoothly opened with one hand for a long period of time. In the cap configured so that a pressing portion presses an opening/closing hinge of the cap cover backward to swing the cap cover in an open direction when a manipulation portion is pressed, a manipulation body includes an elastic connection rod arranged on a side of an outlet below a support, the manipulation portion is provided on a front end of the elastic connection rod, the pressing portion is provided on a rear end of the elastic connection rod, and the manipulation body is connected to the support via a deformable connection piece so as to allow a longitudinal movement of the manipulation body relative to the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Yasuhiro YAMANAKA, Takahiro FUJITA
  • Patent number: 7556162
    Abstract: A hinged guarantee closure is produced by being injection moulded in the closed state, i.e., with a guarantee seal. The closure is injection moulded with an associated ring member for connection to the container on which the closure is to be used. The ring member is separated from the rest of the closure by an axial gap which is spanned by a hinge portion and a guarantee connection. The closure comprises a cap with an integral closing member for cooperation with an opening in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Inventor: Svein Myhre
  • Patent number: 7537130
    Abstract: A food-cooking apparatus having a bowl and a drainer configured to be substantially the same size for stacking one of the bowl and the drainer within the other, and attaching means for movably attaching the drainer and the bowl to one another to move from a retaining position wherein one of the drainer and the bowl is stacked within the other to a flipping position wherein the drainer and the bowl are facing each other, and the rims of the bowl and the drainer are sealingly compressed against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Inventors: Avia Annemarie Lee, Anthony Alphanso Lee
  • Publication number: 20090127281
    Abstract: The present invention is a closure capable of being applied to an existing container structure in order to form a releasable closure thereon. The closure includes base formed of a flexible material having an adhesive disposed on one side thereof in order to attach the closure to the exterior of a container. The closure also includes a flap secured at one end to the base opposite the adhesive which can be selectively adhered to the base over an opening formed in the base by a releasable adhesive disposed on the base or on the flap. The closure can conform to the shape of the exterior surface of the container to which it is secured and can be used with an aperture formed in the exterior of the container in alignment with the opening in the base to selectively dispense material from the interior of the container through the closure attached to the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Charles P. Hickey
  • Publication number: 20090101646
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid storage and dispensing system includes a closure configured with a spout that is releasably coupled to a body. The body has a base integrally formed with a front region, a back region, and two side regions that form a cavity for storage of a substance. For placement of a product label, the front region is relatively flatter than the two side regions and the back region, and the front region slopes inwardly from the base such that the front region faces upwardly when the base is placed on a horizontal surface. Each of the two side regions includes an indentation proximate the opening and aligned with a longitudinal axis passing through the center of body. The indentations form a handle for grasping the body while dispensing the substance. The front region and the indentations form a volume in the upper portion of the body that is less than the lower portion of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: WhiteWave Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Paul, Edmund L. Farmer
  • Patent number: 7510095
    Abstract: A system includes a container including a sidewall and a closure plane attached to the side wall and including an opening, a neck region on the sidewall being adjacent to the closure plane. The system also includes a closure including a cap closure with a fitment adapted to fit in the opening, a circumferentially depending outer skirt adapted to secure the closure to the neck region of the container, and a hinge attached to the cap closure and the circumferentially depending outer skirt. A method for sealing a closure on a container includes pivoting the closure about a hinge towards a closure plane and engaging a fitment with an opening to provide a friction fit. A method for opening a container having a closure includes disengaging a fitment from an opening and pivoting the closure about a hinge away from a closure plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Comeau, Drew McNary
  • Publication number: 20090008395
    Abstract: The invention concerns a packaging cassette for reagent carriers, which is characterized by a base housing containing connected adjacent compartments for reagent carriers, wherein the compartments are separated from one another by partitions and are opened individually, each compartment having its own sealing cover which enables the compartment to be re-sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Sattler, Reinhold Kramer
  • Patent number: 7322493
    Abstract: A dispensing closure for a container comprising a closure body adapted to be mounted on the container. The closure body has a dispensing orifice and a sealing cap. A pair of adjacently spaced living hinges connect the sealing cap to the closure body for movement between an open and a closed position. The closure body and sealing cap have sealing elements that provide a complete peripheral seal between the sealing cap and the closure body when in the closed position. The sealing cap has a camming lug located between the living hinges, and contacting the sealing elements on the closure body without impairing the integrity of the sealing elements, and further provides a snap-action to the movement of the sealing cap from the open to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Polytop Corporation
    Inventor: Clifford Skillin
  • Patent number: 7314150
    Abstract: A dispensing closure for a container includes a closure body, a cap and a hinge body joining the cap to the body. The closure body includes an upper wall having an orifice and further includes an upper skirt depending from the upper wall, and a lower skirt depending from the upper skirt. The lower skirt has a diameter larger than the upper skirt. The cap has an upper wall and a wall flange depending therefrom. A first living hinge joins a first end of the hinge body to the lower skirt. The hinge body is movable from an open position to a closed position in mating relation with the upper skirt. The hinge body and upper skirt are formed with complementary surfaces to provide a flush outer surface contour when mated together. The hinge body and upper skirt further include mating formations to secure the hinge body with the upper skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Polytop Corporation
    Inventor: Clifford W. Skillin
  • Patent number: 7246716
    Abstract: A disposable cup lid for placement onto the rim of a drinking cup has a cover portion having a drinking access port and a condiment opening, a rim portion, a reclosable and tearable fold-back condiment tab, a hinge, a post and a recess. The cup lid is structured in such a manner that when the condiment opening is not in use, the condiment opening is reclosable by the condiment tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Amhil Enterprises
    Inventor: Terry Durdon
  • Patent number: 7225947
    Abstract: The spout seal for combipacks consists of a bottom part (2) and a hinged lid (1) attached to it for opening and closing the seal. The bottom part (2) is fused onto a combipack with its level bottom side. It has a circular, upward-projecting overhang (11), which forms a pouring spout. The inside of the overhang (11) is open. The lid (1) forms a mold (21) that bulges out upwards on it when swiveled open, which forms a level top side that form-fits into the clearance opening (9) surrounded by the projecting lip (11) in the bottom side of the bottom part (2) when swiveled shut. This level top side either lies flush with this bottom side of the bottom part (2) or projects downward from this bottom side by up to 0.5 mm. This top side of the bulge (21) is bonded with the punched-out spot in the combipack or fused with the sealing foil of a combipack exposed through punching. When swiveling the lid (1) open, the sealing foil is cleanly torn out in the entire clearance section of the bottom part (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: SIG Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Markus Leuenberger, Jochen Kraus
  • Patent number: 7073679
    Abstract: A closed injection moulded plastic closure (20) having a first closure part and a second closure part (22). The first closure part is connected to the second closure part by snap-on hinged connection. The first and second closure parts have no main hinged connection with each other, but are connected to one another by two connecting elements and four hinged connections bordering the two connecting elements on nonadjacent sides. Coupling elements may serve as an original warranty seal for indicating opening for the first time. If required, a catch and a counter-element serve as a locking mechanism and prevent unintentional opening of the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Creanova AG
    Inventors: Louis Lagler, Rudolf Rentsch
  • Patent number: 6910623
    Abstract: A substantially paperboard container for releasably dispensing contents contained therein is convertible from a substantially sealed orientation to a substantially open, dispensing orientation and back to the substantially sealed orientation. The paperboard container comprises a tubular container member, a bottom member and a top member, with the top member being telescopically received within the container member to seal the top member to the container. The top member is pivotable about the hinge portion and is pivotable to the sealed orientation to substantially reseal the container member. The lid is fabricated in whole or in part, from plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Noel G. Stewart, L. David Fielder
  • Patent number: 6910584
    Abstract: A display box including a base tray and lid, the lid being connected to the base tray by a hinge element formed integrally with the lid. The hinge element includes a formed flexible hinge portion having inner and outer webs extending between the lid and base tray across an offset between their rear walls. It also includes a rigid hinge portion that lies adjacent to the inner face of the base tray's rear wall, and is attached to a tray insert via a tab. The arrangement is such that, at closure, the lid sits flush on the base tray, and such that the lid can remain in an open position inclined to the vertical, with the flexible hinge portion taut and the lower end of the lid rear wall abutting the outer face of the base tray rear wall. This allows an item to be displayed in the box in an attractive and pleasing manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Henderson McPherson Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Terry Newth
  • Patent number: 6783029
    Abstract: A tube provided with a head and a skirt having an orthogonal cross section of particular shape in which the largest inscribed circle has a diameter D. The head, which is designed for fixing of a rigid closure, is provided with a circular cylindrical wall extending towards the inside of the tube and enclosing an orifice concentric to the inscribed circle and having a large diameter, typically more than 0.8D, and takes up substantially the internal volume of the skirt end over a height less than D, preferably less than D/3. The invention is further directed to a closure element, in particular a convenience closure, adapted for fixing substantially irreversibly on the tube head, comprising a base having an external outline matching the shape of the orthogonal cross section of the tube skirt, and a skirt having a diameter in the range of 0.5D to 0.9D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Cebal S.A.
    Inventor: Bernard Schneider
  • Patent number: 6761283
    Abstract: The invention provides a container for viscous dressing products that includes a jar and a closure or lid. The lid may be hingedly attached to the container so as to remain attached to the jar after opening. The container provides protection for the viscous dressing product during packaging, shipping, handling, retail display and consumer use, and also makes the viscous dressing readily accessible to the consumer. The container preferably includes a shelf or wiper on the closure to permit the consumer to swipe a serving utensil on the shelf to remove excess viscous dressing product from the utensil. The jar is preferably provided with improved handling characteristics as compared with prior art jars of circular cross section. In the preferred embodiments, the shape of the jar as viewed in plan is generally oval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheryl M. Gilliam, Anne Bucher
  • Publication number: 20040111836
    Abstract: A coordinated multi axis hinge arrangement provides a snap action between stable open and closed states. When the hinges operate between the stable open and closed states across a dead center position, resilient forces imparted by torsionally rigid connecting elements (33.1, 33.2) of the hinge to adjacent hinge parts such as body and lid elements are transferred by coupling or transmitting areas (45.1, 45.2) adjacent the bending regions (34.1-34.4) or film hinges to remote resilient deformation energy storage areas (40.1-40.3). As the inge passes a dead center position, this energy is in turn supplied and returned to the rigid connecting elements to impart snap action to the closure. The closure may be cast as a single piece of plastic material and may be cast in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Louis Lagler, Rudolf A. Rentsch
  • Publication number: 20040112896
    Abstract: A container with a hinged lid with a rotating function. The lid can be rotated on the hinge to store the lid under the container without detaching the lid from the container while in storage. The hinge is located at the midsection of a flexible extension extending from one side of the lid to the side of the container. The user can rotate the lid on its hinge up to 360 degrees, without detaching the lid. The user can rotate the hinge at a 180-degree angle the lid from its normal closing position to place the lid under the container for easy storage or for food service. Thus the lid never becomes separated from its matching container and therefore the user always has the appropriate lid for the container, and does not have to search for an appropriate lid with each use of a container. The container is made of a durable plastic and is dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer and microwave safe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Christopher Lewis
  • Patent number: 6732873
    Abstract: A lid for a container is provided generally comprising a main body and a door having a flip section pivotally connected to a push section, the push section pivotally connected to the main body. The main body includes a recess that defines a pivot wall. The flip section is positioned to engage the pivot wall and rotate relative to the push section in response to downward pressure on the push section. A detent mechanism is used to control opening the door in at least two stages. In the first stage, the detent mechanism substantially fixes the push section in a closed position, and in the second stage substantially fixes the push section in an open position. In one embodiment, the floor of the recess is sloped to increase container space and limit flexure of the push section of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: J.L. Clark, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Bried, George Solowiejko, Gary D. Johnson, C. Alan Peet, Philip M. Baerenwald, Michael A. Yarbro
  • Patent number: 6729497
    Abstract: A paintball container comprises a body 12 and a lid 14. The lid 14 is hinged to the body 12 at one side, and has a tab 42 at the other side to facilitate opening of the container. The body 12 has a guard 26 formed on it adjacent to the tab 42 on the lid. The guard is substantially U-shaped and bounds a recess 30 into which a user can insert their thumb to pull up the tab 42 to release the lid. The guard 26 prevents accidental opening of the lid, for example when the container is being removed from a harness in which it is being carried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: NPF Limited
    Inventors: John Ronald Rice, Mark Andrew Walker
  • Patent number: 6637628
    Abstract: A liquid container with at least one opening and a closure having a graspable lug for opening the closure. The closure includes at least one lever arm for controlling the opening operation, with the lever arm's free end bearing against a the container during the opening operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Höser
  • Patent number: 6634060
    Abstract: A coordinated multi axis hinge arrangement provides a snap action between stable open and closed states. When the hinges operate between the stable open and closed states across a dead center position, resilient forces imparted by torsionally rigid connecting elements of the hinge to adjacent hinge parts such as body and lid elements are transferred by coupling or transmitting areas adjacent the bending regions or film hinges to remote resilient distortion or deformation energy storage areas. As the hinge passes a dead center position, this energy is in turn supplied and returned to the rigid connecting elements to impart snap action to the closure. The closure may be cast as a single piece of plastic material and may be cast in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Creanova, AG.
    Inventors: Louis Lagler, Rudolf Rentsch
  • Patent number: 6634525
    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: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    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, Corrina Lee
  • Patent number: 6631820
    Abstract: A closure structure includes a closure body having a deck and depending sidewall, and a dispensing orifice through said deck. A closure cap has a lid part attached by a hinge to the body, and a cover part frangibly connected to the lid part, on a side of the lid part opposite the hinge. The lid part is latched to the body at lateral positions located between the hinge and the cover part. The cover part covers a lifting lip extending from the lid part. Removal of the cover part exposes the lifting lip for lifting by the user to open the lid part from the closure body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Harrold, Bruce M. Mueller, Richard A. Gross
  • Publication number: 20030168451
    Abstract: Methods of making one-piece lidded containers are described along with containers made by such methods. In one embodiment, the method entails providing a first length of thermoplastic material and a second length of thermoplastic material where a portion of the two lengths of thermoplastic material are brought into an overlapping or abutting orientation to provide a juncture of thermoplastic material. The juncture of thermoplastic material is subsequently secured. The one-piece lidded container is completed by forming a first container and a corresponding lid on the first and second lengths of thermoplastic material. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: Timothy Bohrer
  • Patent number: 6572909
    Abstract: A plastic container has a base and a lid hinged together by a hinge. The hinge has a series of relatively thick sections joined together by a series of relatively thin sections. The thin sections are sufficiently thin to be severed upon an initial folding of the hinge. The thick sections are sufficiently thick to remain at least partially intact during the initial folding. The container may be filled with product and closed with the hinge becoming partially severed and weakened and may be later opened with the hinge becoming completely severed to separate the base and the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: De Ster Corporation
    Inventors: Terry Steven Bagwell, W. John Squire
  • Patent number: 6548808
    Abstract: An optical sensor holder to detect only the light beam coming through a window by a sensor unit without increasing the number of component parts and without complicated assembling procedure, comprising: an opening to accommodate the photo sensors on its backside; a holder main unit made of synthetic resin and having a window so that the sensor unit faces toward outside at upper portion on front side; a cover unit made of synthetic resin and mountable on the opening to cover the sensor unit; and an arm made of synthetic resin and integrally molded between tip of the holder main unit and tip of the cover unit so that it is flexible and can be bent between tip of the holder main unit and tip of the cover unit, and when it is bent, the cover unit can be moved between the upper portion of the holder main unit and the opening of the holder main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Ozawa
  • Patent number: 6530500
    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: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    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: 6511568
    Abstract: Copolymers of ethylene and alpha olefins that have been formed by the polymerization reaction in the presence of a single site catalyst, such as a metallocene, are used to form collapsible dispensing containers and/or components thereof. Blends of the copolymers with propylene polymers are disclosed and used to form a body wall layer or a collapsible dispensing container head having good bond strength with a body wall layer formed of an ethylene polymer. Methods for improving the adhesion between collapsible dispensing container components, such as between body wall layer formed of an ethylene polymer and another body wall layer formed of a propylene polymer, or between a body wall layer formed of an ethylene polymer and a collapsible dispensing container head formed of a propylene polymer, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Pechiney Plastic Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Eckstein, Johnny Q. Zheng, Mark E. Nordness, Keith D. Lind, George H. Walbrun, Gregory K. Jones, Gregory J. Seeke, Ronald J. Dembowski, Douglas J. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6488187
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a sifter dispensing cap base for attachment to a package containing material to be dispensed, including: a vertical cylindrical shell portion; a web portion covering an upper end of the vertical cylindrical shell portion; the web portion including a flap, opening of the flap permitting access to the material; and the flap including a living hinge disposed along one edge thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Brent River Packaging Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Sheffler, Thomas J. Dolan, Timothy Callahan
  • Publication number: 20020148886
    Abstract: A composite container for the storage of material. The composite container including a carton body constructed to define a enclosure. The enclosure coated on one surface with a heat sealable material. Secured to the coated surface of the enclosure is a cap portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Miess
  • Patent number: 6460712
    Abstract: A closure structure is provided for a container that has an opening to the container interior. The closure structure includes a closure base for extending around the container opening. A lid is provided on the closure base and is connected to the base by a hinge web. The hinge web has a first end connected to the closure base, a second end connected to the lid, and two sides which each extends between the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly A. Smith, Charles E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6460718
    Abstract: A plastic cap has one or more hinged flaps that cover openings in the cap, as well as a stepped sealing ring against which the top of a plastic bottle seals. The sealing ring is stepped, much like the rows of seats in a circular stadium. This stepped arrangement permits the cap to be used with many different bottle rim diameters and automatically corrects any ovality of the bottle rim by forcing it to flex into a more circular shape as it engages the steps of the stepped ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Gateway Plastics Incorporated
    Inventor: William C. Vogel
  • Publication number: 20020104843
    Abstract: A closure structure is provided for a container that has an opening to the container interior. The closure structure includes a closure base for extending around the container opening. A lid is provided on the closure base and is connected to the base by a hinge web. The hinge web has a first end connected to the closure base, a second end connected to the lid, and two sides which each extends between the first and second ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Kelly A. Smith, Charles E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6412664
    Abstract: A cap for use in dispensing viscous liquids from containers without the accompaniment of lower viscosity liquid present in the container. The cap has a top portion with an outside surface and an inside surface and an elongated conduit formed at a pre-determined angle. The elongated conduit has an outlet and an inlet. The outlet is situated either eccentrically or concentrically on the outside surface of the top portion such that at least one point on the circumference of the top portion is greater than 10 millimeters from the edge of the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventors: Floyd Wolff, Steven Wolff
  • Patent number: 6409403
    Abstract: A glue stick product allows a user to hold the product in a natural pen-like orientation when applying glue to a substrate. The product has a cap which is separable along a mating line offset from perpendicular at about 35° with the upper part of the cap connected to the lower part by means of a live hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Manco, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael T. Woos