KARL KENNETH HOFFMAN
Pilots at Evanston Ave, Arlington Hts, IL

8082644, Dec 27, 2011

May 2, 2008

12/150984

Karl K. Hoffman - Arlington Heights IL, US
Steve Kaganovich - Northbrook IL, US
Thomas Roberts - Bolingbrook IL, US

Plitek L.L.C. - Des Plaines IL

B23P 19/04

292131, 531281

A system for applying pressure relief valves to packaging from a liner carrying adhesive backed pressure relief valves passing over a series of rollers in tension onto a peeler bar. There is a valve applicator unit proximate the peeler bar with a punch shaft and an applicator shaft with an applicator vacuum head. The liner is moved by a retraction unit including clamping members that alternately maintain the liner stationary under tension and pull the liner under tension to advance the liner carrying adhesive backed pressure relief valves. A supply reel for a roll of liner carrying adhesive backed pressure relief valves has a pair of spaced apart plates and a pair of rings with a non-stick coating positioned between each of the plates and the roll of liner. The plates, rings and roll of liner are compressed together by an adjustable retainer.

7637283, Dec 29, 2009

May 20, 2005

11/133914

Karl K. Hoffman - Arlington Heights IL, US

Plitek, L.L.C. - Des Plaines IL

F16K 15/14, A23K 1/18

137843, 137852, 220 892, 383103, 426118

The present invention creates a new rigid degassing valve. The valve of the present invention utilizes a relatively stiff support body in order to successfully vent gases, such as carbon dioxide, from within the packaging. Carbon dioxide may be created by organic products placed in the packaging which causes the package to expand. The valve of the current invention maintains its shape as the package becomes bloated and takes on a rounded shape due to carbon dioxide expended by the roasted coffee beans. The invention pertains to a pressure relief valve for use on packaging containers comprising a stiff support body mountable to a package surface defining an inner aperture wherein the stiff support body has a stiffness of between 300 grams and 800 grams; a flexible film having a top and bottom surface mounted to said stiff base and moveable between an open and closed position; a rail mounted on said stiff base permitting the flexible film to move between an open and closed position; in said open position said film is located above said aperture; in said closed position, said film covers said aperture; and wherein the stiff support body does not conform with any curvature of the packaging surface such that the flexible film may move between an open and closed position regardless of the curvature of the packaging surface.

2009016, Jul 2, 2009

Dec 27, 2007

12/005596

Karl K. Hoffman - Arlington Heights IL, US

B65D 90/34, B65D 33/01, F16K 15/14

426395, 383103, 220 891, 137859

An interior-mountable pressure relief valve for packages containing food products such as coffee that normally tend to out-gas. The relief valve of the present invention can be made by thermoforming a pocket of a barrier type of semi-rigid film that has a heat seal membrane on one side. An indent can be made in the bottom of this pocket to receive a filter medium that covers an aperture in the bottom of the pocket. The filter medium can be heat-staked to the pocket. A pressure relief valve known in the art containing a base layer, a pair of rails and a flexible membrane can be placed in the pocket. This valve and pocket assembly can be can be treated with a mesh membrane that is heat sealable to the seal side to prevent disassembly or contamination. The product can then be wound on a level wound spool for shipping to an end user. The end user can take the carrier tape and dispense it into a single piece dose and then heat seal the carrier to the inside wall of the package.

5561574, Oct 1, 1996

Aug 31, 1995

8/521614

Roger K. Engel - Schaumburg IL
Karl K. Hoffman - Arlington Heights IL

Plitek L.L.C. - Des Plaines IL

G11B 2303

360133

A feed stock for manufacturing lifters for disc cartridges, wherein the feed stock can be separated into individual lifters at an assembly station, the lifters to be applied inside the cartridge for pressing a cartridge liner against the disc at a location within the cartridge.

4620247, Oct 28, 1986

Jun 4, 1985

6/741171

Walter A. Papciak - Elmwood Park IL
Karl K. Hoffman - Arlington Heights IL
Roger Engel - Schaumburg IL
Adam Wieczorek - Chicago IL

Plicon Corporation - Elk Grove Village IL

G11B 5012, F16F 118

360 97

An improved spring structure for a micro floppy diskette is provided which utilizes a formed strip of relatively rigid plastic sheeting (preferably polyester) having at least two generally uniform wave crest regions with a trough therebetween which extend transversely across such strip. Micro floppy diskettes incorporating such spring structure display improved capacity to wipe surface portions of the flexible disk and have extended service lives.

8522926, Sep 3, 2013

Aug 16, 2006

11/504947

Karl K. Hoffman - Arlington Heights IL, US
Steve Kaganovich - Northbrook IL, US
Thomas J. Roberts - Bolingbrook IL, US

Plitek, L.L.C. - Des Plaines IL

F16N 13/22, B05B 13/02, B31B 1/84, B65B 61/00

184 153, 118325, 493213, 531281, 53410, 53434

A lubricant applicator unit for pressure relief valves for a system for applying pressure relief valves to packaging during a packaging process, including a vacuum applicator for temporarily separating layers of the valve when the lubricant is applied. A pressurized nozzle sprays or atomizes the lubricant into the valve opening. Graphite suspended in liquid silicone is used as the lubricant; it is recirculated in a reservoir to keep the graphite in suspension. Optical sensors check for valves before the entrance to, and after exit from, the vacuum applicator.

5511883, Apr 30, 1996

Dec 29, 1994

8/366020

John Clark - Hoffman Estates IL
Karl Hoffman - Arlington Heights IL

Plitek, L.L.C. - Des Plaines IL

B65D 3314

383 22

A hang tab for hanging packages from a display rack having a lower portion secured to the package and an upper portion extending above the package, the upper portion having an aperture therethrough for hanging the package and an adhesive layer covered by a release layer for re-securing the package after first use. For re-sealing the package, the release layer is removed, the package is folded-over across an open top end and the adhesive layer is secured to a lower body area of the package.

2013004, Feb 28, 2013

Aug 31, 2011

13/199486

Karl K. Hoffman - Arlington Heights IL, US
Keith P. Hoffman - Rolling Meadows IL, US
Robert C. Larsen - Bartlett IL, US
Douglas A. Wielunski - Bartlett IL, US

B65D 90/32, F16K 15/00

220 891, 137511

A self contained one-way pressure relief valve for application to product packaging that does not require the addition of a sealing lubricant. Atop a base with an opening extending through is an adhesive-like material layer, and a dry strap of a silicone or other release film coated membrane, all of which are of gas impervious materials. The release coated material layer covering the opening with the release film in contact with the adhesive-like material creating a surface attraction between the release film and the adhesive-like material. An intermediate layer of gas impervious material with an opening extending through provides for including a gas pervious filter material layer that may be for fine particulates or liquid proof.

2012024, Oct 4, 2012

Mar 30, 2012

13/435808

Karl K. Hoffman - Arlington Heights IL, US
Tom Roberts - Bolingbrook IL, US
Steve Kaganovich - Northbrook IL, US
Clay Ladd - Lafayette NY, US
Arthur A. Sagy - Guttenberg NJ, US

B65B 13/02, B30B 9/30

100 2, 100 8

A system for applying a tin-tie, from a supply of tin-ties releaseably adhered along the length of a liner, with the tin-tie length generally aligned along a length of packaging moving in a first direction includes a tamp applicator for extending and retracting along a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction. The tamp applicator includes a magnet for carrying the tin-tie after it is released from the liner by a peeler, an air assist for aid in releasing and positioning the tin-tie, and a recess and edge for positioning the tin-tie. Part of the tamp applicator carrying the released tin-tie is also moveable in the same first direction, allowing travel in the same first direction as the moving packaging material when putting the tin-tie on the moving packaging material. A spring biases the part to return in a third direction opposite the first direction.

7611557, Nov 3, 2009

Mar 24, 2005

11/088678

Karl K. Hoffman - Arlington Heights IL, US

Plitek, LLC - Des Plaines IL

B01D 53/04, B01D 53/22

553856, 553854, 55524, 96135, 96153, 96154, 422171, 422177, 426113, 426116, 426237, 219735, 2202031, 220245, 2203671, 220745, 454184, 454192, 360 9702

A reversed pressure relief valve that is used in connection with a computer hard disk drive so as to vent pressurized gases contained within the disk drive while not permitting debris to enter the drive mechanism or the valve. More specifically, the present invention is a reversed direction valve which includes at least one passageway defined by at least a lifter ring, a dry strap, a pressure sensitive adhesive (“PSA”)/body film and a filter media.