Aids To Manual Packing Patents (Class 53/390)
  • Patent number: 6513304
    Abstract: A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter
  • Patent number: 6508279
    Abstract: An automated pharmaceutical package machine fills a product package filling guide positioned above a solid pharmaceutical product package having a plurality of cavities corresponding to positions of the filling guide. The automatic filling machine includes a mechanism for vertically displacing the product package to be filled toward the filling guide. Various guide members or plates are utilized in order to pre-fill filling templates so that each of the cavities of a product package may be simultaneously filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Medical Technology Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Siegel, Stuart Bagley
  • Patent number: 6502368
    Abstract: A cover forming apparatus and method for forming and securing a sheet of material about a flower pot having an outer peripheral surface is provided. The cover forming apparatus includes a base, a stem protruding upwardly from the base and adapted to hold a plurality of stretch loops, and a former. The former has a bowl shaped configuration and an open upper end, a lower end, a sidewall extending from the open upper end to the lower end, and a pot opening. The sidewall has an outer surface and an inner surface with the outer surface having an upper inwardly tapered portion. The pot opening is sized to receive at least a portion of the flower pot together with the sheet of material such that upon disposing the flower pot into the pot opening with the sheet of material positioned between the upper end of the former and the flower pot causes the sheet of material to be formed about the outer peripheral surface of the flower pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephan Grether
  • Patent number: 6474043
    Abstract: A method for providing a decorative covering for a floral grouping. The method includes the step of providing a decorative covering assembly comprising a header assembly and at least one sheet of material detachably connected to the header assembly. The header assembly is secured to a holder assembly such that the decorative covering assembly is supported by the holder assembly and at least one sheet of material can be detached from the header assembly. At least one sheet of material is detached from the header assembly and is disposed about at least a portion of the floral grouping to provide a decorative covering for the floral grouping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Sonny K. Burnside
  • Patent number: 6470657
    Abstract: A portable film wrapping system comprises a push-cart having a vertical mast member and a film roll carriage movably mounted upon the vertical mast member. A lift cable connects the film roll carriage to a lift cable drum which is rotatably connected to a lift sprocket through a clutch mechanism, wherein the lift sprocket is rotatably connected to a drive wheel engaged with a floor surface over which the portable system is movable. When the clutch mechanism operatively connects the lift cable drum to the lift sprocket, the lift cable drum is rotated so as to wind the lift cable thereon and thereby continuously elevate the film roll carriage whereby spiral wrapping is achieved. When the clutch mechanism disconnects the lift cable drum from the lift sprocket, the lift cable is no longer wound upon the lift cable drum whereby the film roll carriage is maintained at a particular elevation so as to achieve concentric reinforcing wrapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Gale W. Huson, Hugh J. Zentmyer
  • Publication number: 20020148200
    Abstract: A method for transporting and displaying a floral grouping utilizing a shape sustaining floral holding material and a sheet of material. The method includes the steps of forming the sheet of material about at least a portion of the floral holding material with a forming device such that an upper end of the floral holding material remains substantially uncovered, and thereafter securing the sheet of material about the floral holding material with a band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventor: DONALD E. WEDER
  • Patent number: 6457296
    Abstract: A method of covering a pot wherein the cover is a flattened sleeve which comprises a base portion tapered to fit a pot and may have a skirt having an edge and having a lower end having excess material therein for forming a bottom. The cover may be bondingly connected to or crimped about the pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Publication number: 20020095915
    Abstract: A bag stuffer for an expandable bag has an insert that is movable from a collapsed orientation for enabling compact storage of an expandable bag containing the insert, to an expanded orientation for providing a commercial display of an expandable bag containing the insert. The insert includes one or two substantially rigid and substantially planar side panels and a bottom panel having opposite ends. The one or two side panels are connected to one or both of the opposite ends of the bottom panel at a hinge area containing a fold between the sides panels and the bottom panel. A biasing torsion spring, memory plastic at the hinge areas or leaf spring biases the insert toward the expanded orientation, the biasing force being applied in the hinge area for directly acting on the fold to bias the side panels away from the bottom panel and toward the expanded orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Maurice Hedaya
  • Patent number: 6408595
    Abstract: A microplate cover seal applicator comprising a downwardly spring-biased roller mounted in a pivotal arm which pivots the roller into and out of operative contact with the top face of a microplate. The lower face of the microplate is seated in a well formed in a horizontally moveable platen which is supported on a table-top frame. The platen is manipulated by a rotary handle to repetitively translate the platen in a horizontal forwards and back direction. Suction cups are provided at the base of the frame for temporarily affixing the frame to a work surface, such as a table top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Union Scientific Corporation
    Inventor: Mitchell A. Friedman
  • Patent number: 6402098
    Abstract: A support frame for a plastic bag with opposite handles has a horizontal rectangular base member in the form of a tray with four upstanding struts extending from sockets in the corners of the tray. Horizontal braces are frictionally secured between two each of the struts. The upper end of the struts terminate in U-shaped hooks that extend inwardly in a direction towards the space over the base member to permit a bag with separate upper handles and a body portion to have one each of its handles supported on opposite pairs of the hooks with the body portion suspended therebetween. A fresh bag reservoir is detachably secured to one of the pair of end most struts, and has an open top, and which does not enlarge the profile of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Underground Company, L.T.D.
    Inventor: Gregory C. Rosky
  • Patent number: 6385949
    Abstract: A packaging material comprising a plurality of cushioning members for cushioning an article in a container is provided. The cushioning members being formed by crumpling a flexible sheet of material into a globular configuration having a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids. The sheet of material has an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface having a bonding material disposed thereon such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6374577
    Abstract: A belt mounted support and a group of bags for support on the belt mounted support is used in the harvest of produce. The belt mounted support includes a tube and a belt mounting loop connected to the tube. A bag supporting rod is threaded through the tube to freely rotate with two hooked bag supporting ends. A group of bags is supported on the belt mounted support, each bag formed from perforate plastic sheet. Each individual bag has a front rectilinear panel, a rear and larger rectilinear panel, and a folded gusset at a bottom of the bag folded upward between the front rectilinear panel and the rear and larger rectilinear panel. Logo on the bags is formed from an outside of the bag to be read from an inside of the bag whereby the bag is manufactured in an inverted disposition with respect to the logo. The group of bags is registered one to another at a rear panel protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Bud Antle, Inc.
    Inventor: Leon P. Ventura
  • Patent number: 6363688
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a decorative covering for a flower pot. The method includes the step of providing a decorative covering assembly comprising a header assembly and at least one sheet of material detachably connected to the header assembly. The header assembly is secured to a holder assembly such that the decorative covering assembly is supported by the holder assembly and at least one sheet of material can be detached from the header assembly. At least one sheet of material is detached from the header assembly and is disposed about at least a portion of the flower pot to provide a decorative covering for the flower pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Sonny K. Burnside
  • Publication number: 20020035823
    Abstract: A fruit injector for squeezing a fruit segment into a container, particularly, a beer bottle. A channel shaped body includes a plunger and a compression member pivotally connected for movement to the body for compressing a fruit segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventor: Eric Segal
  • Patent number: 6345488
    Abstract: A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter
  • Patent number: 6327836
    Abstract: A decorative flower pot cover and method for producing same is disclosed wherein the decorative flower pot cover is provided with a multi-layered upper portion formed of a plurality of sheets of material wherein each sheet of material is provided with an opening therein adapted to receiver a lower potion of a flower pot such that, upon positioning the lower end of the flower pot through the openings in the sheets of material, a portion of the sheets of material are connected to a portion of a sidewall of the flower pot and the sheets of material forming the multi-layered upper portion of the decorative flower pot cover extend substantially independent of one another in an upwardly and outwardly angular direction from the sidewall of the flower pot so that an open upper end of the flower pot remains substantially uncovered by the decorative flower pot cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6321508
    Abstract: A plant packaging system and method comprising a combination of a protective upper portion and a decorative lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion for packaging a potted plant or a botanical item and a growing medium without a pot. The protective upper portion can be detached from the lower portion of the package system once the protective function of the upper portion has been completed. The sleeve may be provided without a detachable upper portion. The lower portion may have a skirt portion which has a non-linear upper peripheral edge. The lower portion may be tapered and may have a gusset in the lower end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6305147
    Abstract: A plant packaging system and method comprising a combination of a protective upper portion and a decorative lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion for packaging a potted plant or a botanical item and a growing medium without a pot. The protective upper portion can be detached from the lower portion of the package system once the protective function of the upper portion has been completed. The sleeve may be provided without a detachable upper portion. The lower portion may have a skirt portion which has a non-linear upper peripheral edge. The lower portion may be tapered and may have a gusset in the lower end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6301861
    Abstract: A method of wrapping a potted plant in a decorative cover wherein the cover is a flattened sleeve which includes a lower portion and an upper portion which are connected along a detaching element, for example, perforations. Upon opening of the sleeve, the lower portion of the sleeve defines and encompasses an inner retaining space and conforms to the outer surface of a pot. The potted plant is disposed in the inner retaining space of the lower portion of the sleeve such that at least a portion of the pot is covered by the lower portion of the sleeve. The lower portion of the sleeve is detachable from the upper portion by tearing along the detaching element forming an upper edge of the lower portion of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6279296
    Abstract: A method of wrapping a potted plant in a decorative cover wherein the cover is a flattened sleeve. Upon opening of the sleeve, the sleeve has a bottom which may be closed, and the sleeve is sized to fit a pot. The potted plant is disposed within the inner retaining space of the open sleeve, and the pot is positioned on the bottom of the sleeve such that the sleeve covers at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot to provide the decorative cover for the potted plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6269611
    Abstract: A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, William F. Straeter
  • Patent number: 6266942
    Abstract: A chest including a box for holding a plurality of rolls of paper. It includes a tray at the front for holding extra items, slidable between an inner position and an outer position. A roller and pressure shoe are operable for advancing linear lengths of paper from the rolls through a slit formed at the front of the box. The chest includes a hinged lid, on the swinging edge is a cut-off knife. Troughs are provided for holding the rolls of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Inventor: John McClorey
  • Patent number: 6265887
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a fixture for mounting a pin grid array device. The fixture includes a base plate and a first support plate movably mounted to the base plate. The first support plate has a hole therein for receiving a pin on the pin grid array device. The hole has a longitudinal axis in a first direction. A contact is positioned in the hole a drive mechanism moves the first support plate in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction to move the contact. The contact engages the pin of the pin grid array device to establish electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis R. Barringer, Drew R. Horvath, Roger Ray Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6260335
    Abstract: A Christmas tree cart comprised of a hollow cylindrical tree holder mounted on wheels or a skid and having a handle and mechanical device to pull the tree into the cylinder to compress the tree limbs and carry the tree and upon removal of the tree from the cylinder the tree is baled with twine or netting using an integral baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventor: Edward Frank Helinski
  • Patent number: 6237307
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manually applying stretch film to palletized loads or products comprises a vertically upstanding mast member, a horizontally extending static boom member connected to the mast member, a horizontally extending orbiting boom member rotatably connected to the static boom member, and a vertically extending downright member connected to the orbiting boom member. A carriage assembly carrying a roll of stretch film is movably mounted upon the downright member in a counterbalanced manner, and an operator handle is fixed upon the carriage assembly so as to enable an operator to manually push the carriage assembly, the downright member, and the orbiting boom member in a circular locus around a wrapping station at which a palletized load or product is disposed for wrapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh J. Zentmyer, Gale W. Huson
  • Patent number: 6212856
    Abstract: A method of wrapping a potted plant in a decorative cover wherein the cover is a flattened sleeve which includes a lower portion and an upper portion which are connected along a detaching element, for example, perforations. Upon opening of the sleeve, the lower portion of the sleeve defines and encompasses an inner retaining space and conforms to the outer surface of a pot. The potted plant is disposed in the inner retaining space of the lower portion of the sleeve such that at least a portion of the pot is covered by the lower portion of the sleeve. The lower portion of the sleeve is detachable from the upper portion by tearing along the detaching element forming an upper edge of the lower portion of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6195963
    Abstract: A method for covering a pot, the cover is a flattened sleeve comprising a base portion sized to fit a pot and having an upper portion which is detachable leaving an upper edge and a closed bottom in the base. The cover may be bondingly connected to or crimped about the pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6192657
    Abstract: A method of covering a pot, the cover is a flattened sleeve which comprises a base portion tapered to fit a pot and may have a skirt having an edge and having a lower end having excess material therein for forming a bottom. The cover may be bondingly connected to or crimped about the pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6192659
    Abstract: A packaging material comprising a plurality of cushioning members for cushioning an article in a container is provided. The cushioning members being formed by crumpling a flexible sheet of material into a globular configuration having a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids. The sheet of material has an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface having a bonding material disposed thereon such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6189290
    Abstract: A method of covering a pot, the cover is a flattened sleeve which comprises a base portion sized to fit a pot and may have a non-linear upper edge defining a skirt and having a bottom having a drainage means therein. The cover may be bondingly connected to or crimped about the pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6173552
    Abstract: A plant cover, comprising a base formed from a sheet of material, said base having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface, an opening intersecting the upper end forming an inner peripheral surface and a retaining space, a skirt formed from a sheet of material, said skirt connected to the upper end of the base, and expansion means formed integrally with the base, the expansion means comprising an excess of material, the expansion means permitting the base to expand and contract to both closely encompass and follow the contours of a pot. Methods of using a plant cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6173553
    Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6151869
    Abstract: A wrapping material for wrapping hamburgers or other food items is provided, the wrapping material having a bonding material disposed on either an upper surface or a lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6145274
    Abstract: A plant package assembly, comprising a pot containing a floral grouping and a flexible sleeve having curved, circumferentially oriented detaching elements. The sleeve is positioned about the pot so that a lower portion of the sleeve closely surrounds and encompasses the pot, and an upper portion of the sleeve extends upwardly from the pot and substantially surrounds and encompasses the floral grouping contained within the pot. The upper portion of the sleeve is removable via the detaching elements, leaving a curved upper end of the lower portion which extends upwardly focusing attention on the upper portion of the floral grouping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Internaional, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6145283
    Abstract: An apparatus for air and liquid-tight packing of objects for disposal, such as sanitary towels, disposable nappies, hypodermic needles and other hospital wastes comprises a pair of supply rolls of mutually adhesive foil strips. The side edge of the foil strips are urged towards each other to seal the respective side edges together while a transport system engages the side edges and moves the foil strips through the apparatus. A pressing system includes a pair of substantially flat elements, at least one of which is rotatable, which extend substantially over the width of the foil strips and guide the strips together capturing and sealing an object to be packed therebetween, and sealing the foil strips together across their width after passage of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: CWS International AG
    Inventors: Gideon Noordenbos, Frederic A. Montijn
  • Patent number: 6134862
    Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for presenting and orienting a box (B) in order to enable articles to be removed or stored. The apparatus is characterized by the fact that it comprises a pair of parallel hinged arms (4) which are extended by a pivoting box support (5), the hinged arms (4) being movable both ways between a low position and a high position, in both of which positions the support (5) is substantially horizontal, thereby enabling the box (B) to be placed on the support (5) or to be removed therefrom, the arms moving via an intermediate position in which the support (5) is inclined relative to the horizontal and facilitates access to the inside of the box (B) to remove said articles or to put them into place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Atlas S.A.
    Inventor: Luc Francois
  • Patent number: 6128890
    Abstract: The Invention provides a waste storage device comprising a main body and a lid, the main body including a waste aperture inlet arranged to receive a storage bag, the lid comprising storage bag severing means movably mounted thereon and a formation arranged to hold the storage bag against movement relative to the lid when the lid is in a closed position, for operation of the severing means, in which the lid is movably fastened to the main body between said closed position and an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Sangenic International Limited
    Inventor: Robert Firth
  • Patent number: 6115994
    Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6112503
    Abstract: A method for covering a pot means, the cover is a flattened sleeve comprising a base portion tapered and sized to fit a pot and having an upper portion which is detachable and having drainage means in the bottom. The cover may be bondingly connected or crimped about the pot means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6109002
    Abstract: An apparatus protects a bag so that waste may be compacted into the bag. The apparatus includes a shield having an upper shield opening and a lower shield opening, and a base that is constructed so that it may be secured, in a releasable fashion, to the lower shield opening. The shield separates the bag from compacted waste. The base cooperates with the shield to support the bag and its contents. The shield is placed almost entirely into the bag, the lower opening of the shield being secured to the base at an interface. Compacted waste rests on the bottom of the bag, which may be supported by the base. When the bag has become filled with waste, the shield is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventor: James K. McCabe
  • Patent number: 6098377
    Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.,
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6094885
    Abstract: A device is provided for assisting in the removal of articles from a first conveying system into a container and for reorienting the container for loading onto a second conveying system. The device comprises a base; a platform pivotally connected to the base, and an actuating mechanism configured to operatively pivot the platform. The platform has a panel and a lip operatively configured to cooperatively support and retain the container in a substantially inclined position substantially adjacent to the first conveying system for facilitating loading of articles into the container. The actuating mechanism pivots the platform and thus the container such that the panel assumes a substantially horizontal position for loading the container onto the second conveying system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Payless ShoeSource, Inc.
    Inventor: Anita Ranhotra
  • Patent number: 6088997
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a decorative covering for a floral grouping. The method includes the step of providing a decorative covering assembly comprising a header assembly and at least one sheet of material detachably connected to the header assembly. The header assembly is secured to a holder assembly such that the decorative covering assembly is supported by the holder assembly and at least one sheet of material can be detached from the header assembly. At least one sheet of material is detached from the header assembly and is disposed about at least a portion of the floral grouping to provide a decorative covering for the floral grouping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Sonny K. Burnside
  • Patent number: 6089001
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to sequentially capture the lead bottle from a row of bottles in a multi-pocketed bottle indexing wheel means, and sequentially rotate and push pocketed bottles from said index wheel means to an inclined traying means, automatically collecting said bottles in a gravity compressed hexagonal pattern within said inclined traying means. Inclined traying means includes a means for trayed bottle removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Inventor: Richard F. Hurst
  • Patent number: 6070388
    Abstract: A device for opening a series of bags in a stack. The device comprises a rotatable element having a substantially circular cross section. This element rotates and grabs a front side of the bag. Attached to the rotatable element is a first drive mechanism for rotating the element. In addition, a sensor is attached to the first drive mechanism. The sensor reads when the rotatable wheel grabs the bag. A second drive mechanism is connected to the first drive mechanism. This second drive mechanism drives the wheel into and back away from the bag stack. In this way, when the rotatable element rotates and moves into the bag, it grabs the bag. Next, it wraps the bag around the element so that the bag trips the sensor. The sensor triggers the motor to stop the element from rotating. In addition, the sensor signals the second drive mechanism to move the element away from the bag stack, to open the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Eezzer Corp.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Zerlin, Richard Ackerman, Stewart Senator
  • Patent number: 6067779
    Abstract: A packaging material comprising a plurality of cushioning members for cushioning an article in a container is provided. The cushioning members being formed by crumpling a flexible sheet of material into a globular configuration having a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids. The sheet of material has an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface having a bonding material disposed thereon such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6058676
    Abstract: A lid guide ensures that a lid is accurately positioned and oriented when it is lowered over and placed onto a tray used to hold electronic devices, for example, for transport between different stages in the manufacturing process, thereby helping to prevent damage to the devices that might otherwise result from physical contact with a lid that is placed onto the tray in a haphazard manner. A lid guide may have one or more openings, each of which may be keyed to restrict the tray and the lid to a single rotational orientation. In addition, channels may be provided in opposing walls of each opening in the lid guide to enable a technician to hold either a tray or a lid between a thumb and a finger when placing the tray onto the lid guide or the lid onto the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce C. Abraham, James F. Dormer, Patrick J. Drummond, Daniel Kern
  • Patent number: 6052972
    Abstract: A sleever apparatus includes an inner member with a central passage through which an item to be sleeved is passed. An outer member surrounds the inner member and defines a space between the members for holding a supply of containment material, which is preferably plastic sleeving. The apparatus has a handle which allows a user to hold the apparatus and walk the apparatus along the length of the item to be sleeved. As the user passes the item through the sleever apparatus, the containment material exits through a slit at one end of the apparatus in order to contain the item. The sleever apparatus may be formed of disposable materials, such as cardboard, and may be intended for a single use application. Alternatively, the sleever apparatus may be comprised of more permanent materials such as PVC or fiberglass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Westinghouse Savannah River Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Rea, Roger A. Brown
  • Patent number: 6026630
    Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6026631
    Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder