Theodore J Kovacic

US Patent:

52808440, Jan 25, 1994

Filed:

Oct 8, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/958670

Inventors:

Richard H. Kaufman - Chappaqua NY
Theodore J. Kovacic - Bedford NY
Hideyoshi Okita - Huntington Beach CA
Martin M. Bestwick - Norwalk CT
Andrew T. Kostanecki - Darien CT
Robert H. Brainard - Danbury CT
Partick B. Nolan - Norwalk CT

Assignee:

Kraft General Foods, Inc. - Northfield IL

International Classification:

B65D 3900

US Classification:

220710

Abstract:

Unitary beverage containers and methods of filling thereof are disclosed where the beverage container includes a main body and a filling conduit extending from the top thereof which is closed off after filling. In embodiments with a separate straw, an attaching mechanism removably attaches the distal end of the flexible straw to the top of main body and closes the aperture in the distal end. The attaching mechanism includes a short hollow bridge extending from the aperture which is broken during removal of the flexible straw to uncover the aperture prior to use. The hollow bridge is connected to a hollow chamber member which is otherwise isolated fluidly from the container volume. A concavity is provided at the top in which a mouthpiece at the distal end of the straw is received. In some preferred embodiments, the filling conduit extends from the top of the main body, and from adjacent the mouthpiece or from the mouthpiece itself. In another embodiment, the filling conduit acts as a beverage conduit and mouthpiece for both filling and ultimate drinking by the consumer.

US Patent:

53852648, Jan 31, 1995

Filed:

Jun 12, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/898114

Inventors:

Richard H. Kaufman - Chappaqua NY
Theodore J. Kovacic - Bedford NY
Hideyoshi Okita - Huntington Beach CA
Martin M. Bostwick - Norwalk CT
Andrew T. Kostanecki - Darien CT
Robert H. Brainard - Danbury CT
Patrick B. Nolan - Norwalk CT

Assignee:

Kraft General Foods, Inc. - Northfield IL

International Classification:

B65D 2546

US Classification:

220710

Abstract:

A unitary beverage container includes a main body defining a container volume. A flexible straw is fluidly connected at a proximal end with the volume adjacent the bottom of the main body. The flexible straw includes a series of segments which provide bending diaphragms. The straw also includes a distal end which is preferably in the form of a planar hollow mouthpiece having vertical wings and a central aperture therein with the mouthpiece is located adjacent the top of the main body. The segments of the straw near the bottom are strengthened and a curved portion of the straw has wedge shaped segments. An attaching mechanism removably attaches the distal end of the flexible straw to the top of main body and closes the aperture of the distal end. The attaching mechanism includes a short hollow bridge extending from the aperture at the distal end of the flexible straw which is broken during removal of the flexible straw to uncover the aperture prior to use. The hollow bridge is connected to a hollow chamber which is otherwise isolated fluidly from the container volume.

US Patent:

51882507, Feb 23, 1993

Filed:

Jun 5, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/893612

Inventors:

Theodore J. Kovacic - Bedford NY
Richard H. Kaufman - Chappaqua NY
Martin M. Bostwick - Norwalk CT
Donald C. Crescenzi - Killingsworth CT
William H. Valls - Harwinton CT
Thomas Bucaccio - Westmount, CA

Assignee:

Kraft General Foods, Inc. - Northfield IL

International Classification:

A61J 106

US Classification:

215 32

Abstract:

A one-piece soft plastic bottle includes a generally cylindrical bottom portion and a tapered upper portion having a flexible tapered bellows at an upper end thereof. A short tapered top tapers outwardly and upwardly from the tapered bellows and includes a top end with a small aperture therein. A closure for the central aperture extends above the top end and is broken away by the user to expose the central aperture. The closure includes a cylindrical extension and large wings extending laterally and downwardly therefrom. Extending from the cylindrical extension is a filling tube which is crimped after filling to close the filling tube.

US Patent:

54373891, Aug 1, 1995

Filed:

Oct 8, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/958408

Inventors:

Richard H. Kaufman - Chappaqua NY
Theodore J. Kovacic - Bedford NY
Hideyoshi Okita - Huntington Beach CA
Martin M. Bostwick - Norwalk CT
Andrew T. Kostanecki - Darien CT
Robert H. Brainard - Danbury CT
Patrick B. Nolan - Norwalk CT

Assignee:

Kraft Foods, Inc. - Northfield IL

International Classification:

B65D 2500

US Classification:

220710

Abstract:

A unitary beverage container includes a main body defining a container volume. A flexible straw is fluidly connected at a proximal end with the volume adjacent the bottom of the main body. The flexible straw also includes a distal end in the form of a hollow mouthpiece having a central aperture therein with the mouthpiece is located adjacent the top of the main body. In many configurations of the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece includes a cylindrical base portion from which levers extend. An attaching mechanism removably attaches the mouthpiece of the flexible straw to the top of main body and closes the aperture of the mouthpiece. The attaching mechanism includes a short hollow bridge extending from the aperture at the distal end of the flexible straw which is broken during removal of the flexible straw to uncover the aperture prior to use. The hollow bridge is connected to a hollow chamber which is attached to the top. A concavity in which the mouthpiece is received is provided at the top.

US Patent:

53539559, Oct 11, 1994

Filed:

Oct 8, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/958396

Inventors:

Richard H. Kaufman - Chappaqua NY
Theodore J. Kovacic - Bedford NY
Hideyoshi Okita - Huntington Beach CA
Martin M. Bostwick - Norwalk CT
Andrew T. Kostanecki - Darien CT
Robert H. Brainard - Danbury CT
Patrick B. Nolan - Norwalk CT

Assignee:

Kraft General Foods, Inc. - Northfield IL

International Classification:

B65D 2500

US Classification:

220710

Abstract:

Unitary beverage containers include a main body defining a container volume. A flexible conduit or straw is fluidly connected at a proximal end with the volume adjacent the bottom or top of the main body. The conduit or straw also includes a distal end which is preferably in the form of some shape of hollow mouthpiece having a central aperture therein with the mouthpiece is located adjacent the top of the main body. A connection or closing mechanism removably attaches a hollow member to the distal end of the flexible straw or conduit and closes the aperture of the distal end. The mechanism includes a short hollow bridge extending from the aperture at the distal end of the flexible straw or conduit which is broken during removal of the hollow member to uncover the aperture prior to use. The hollow member is otherwise isolated fluidly from the container volume. A indentation in which the mouthpiece and hollow member are received is provided at the top.

US Patent:

D3506940, Sep 20, 1994

Filed:

Jun 5, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/894716

Inventors:

Theodore J. Kovacic - Bedford NY
Richard H. Kaufman - Chappaqua NY
Martin M. Bostwick - Norwalk CT
Donald C. Crescenzi - Killingsworth CT
William H. Valls - Harwinton CT
Thomas Bucaccio - Westmount, CA

Assignee:

Kraft General Foods, Inc. - Northfield IL

US Classification:

D 9434

US Patent:

D3473902, May 31, 1994

Filed:

Jun 5, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/894717

Inventors:

Theodore J. Kovacic - Bedford NY
Richard H. Kaufman - Chappaqua NY
Martin M. Bostwick - Norwalk CT
Donald C. Crescenzi - Killingsworth CT
William H. Valls - Harwinton CT
Thomas Bucaccio - Westmount, CA

Assignee:

Kraft General Foods, Inc. - Northfield IL

US Classification:

D 9539

US Patent:

D3519937, Nov 1, 1994

Filed:

Oct 17, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/776439

Inventors:

Richard H. Kaufman - Chappaqua NY
Theodore J. Kovacic - Bedford NY
Hideyoshi Okita - Huntington Beach CA
Martin M. Bostwick - Norwalk CT
Andrew T. Kostanecki - Darien CT
Robert H. Brainard - Danbury CT
Patrick B. Nolan - Norwalk CT

Assignee:

Kraft General Foods, Inc. - Northfield IL

US Classification:

D 9337