IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,410,005
Granted Patent B2
US 12,410,005 · App. 18/367,436 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Cassette for dispensing pleated tubing

Inventors: Kevin Douglas Johnson (Tarzana, CA); Steven Bryan Dunn (Beverly Hills, CA)
Assignee: MUNCHKIN, INC.
B65F1/0006B65F1/062B65F2210/1675B65F2240/132
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,410,005
App. No.
18/367,436
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cassette to dispense a pleated tubing. The cassette includes a circular body having an annular channel housing and a pull tab and pull strip. At least one wall has an upper end with a lip disposed thereon. An annular cover is attached to the lip at the upper end defining a gap over the annular body. A tubing is disposed within the annular channel housing and withdrawn from the gap. At least one of a plurality of apertures is provided at a lower end of the annular channel housing. The apertures are adapted to be aligned with a projection extending upward from within a container.

Claims (36)

1. A cassette to dispense a pleated tubing, comprising:

a body having a channel housing formed by an outer wall, an inner wall, and a bottom wall;

a cover attached to the body that defines a gap over the body;

a pull tab attached to a pull strip and positioned atop the gap;

a tubing disposed within the channel housing and withdrawn from the gap; and

a plurality of apertures, of which at least one aperture having a gusset shape no internal walls projecting into the channel housing and extending from a first end at the bottom wall to a second end at the inner wall of the body adapted to align with and receive a projection extending upward.

2. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture provides an opening through the lower end of the body.

3. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pulls tabs and pull strips positioned in series and separated by a plurality of rip gaps and tear bridges.

4. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 1 , wherein the tubing is elevated to allow a mating projection to be inserted into the at least one aperture without substantial interference from the tubing.

5. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture is disposed concentrically about the body and extends from at least one of the outer wall, the bottom wall or the inner wall.

6. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture is adapted to mate with a keying mechanism disposed within a container to control the angular rotation of the cassette.

7. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture is adapted to align with and receive the projection extending upward from a container.

8. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture is adapted to align and receive a projection extending upward from an adapter ring disposed within a container.

9. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 1 , wherein a lip extends downwards from the outer wall past a point of intersection with the bottom wall, and wherein at least one concentric downward projection is disposed on the bottom wall.

10. A cassette to dispense a pleated tubing, comprising:

a body having a channel housing formed by an outer wall, an inner wall, and a bottom wall;

a cover defining a gap over the body;

a tubing disposed within the channel housing and withdrawn from the gap;

a plurality of pull tabs attached to a plurality of pull strips and positioned in series atop the gap; and

a plurality of apertures, of which at least one aperture with a gusset shape is having no internal walls projecting into the channel housing, and disposed in a lower end of the body, and extending from a first end at the bottom wall to a second end at the inner wall of the body;

wherein the at least one aperture provides an opening through a lower end of the body adapted to receive an alignment projection extending upward.

11. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 10 , wherein the at least one aperture is adapted to receive more than one alignment projections to control the rotation of the cassette.

12. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 10 , wherein the alignment projection extends upward from a waste container.

13. A cassette to dispense a pleated tubing, comprising:

a body having a channel housing;

a cover attached to the body that defines a gap over the body;

a tubing disposed within the channel housing and withdrawn from the gap; and

a plurality of pull tabs attached to a plurality of pull strips and positioned in series atop the gap and separated by a plurality of rip gaps and tear bridges; and

a plurality of apertures, of which at least one aperture having a gusset shape with no internal walls projecting into the channel housing, and disposed in a lower end of the body and adapted to receive a mating projection extending upward.

14. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 13 , wherein the at least one aperture provides an opening through the lower end of the body.

15. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 13 , wherein the at least one aperture extends from a first end at a bottom wall to a second end at an inner wall of the body.

16. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 13 , wherein the pleated tubing is elevated to allow the mating projection to be inserted into the at least one aperture without substantial interference from the pleated tubing.

17. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 13 , wherein the at least one aperture is disposed concentrically about the body and extends from at least one of an outer wall, a bottom wall or an inner wall.

18. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 13 , wherein the mating projection is a keying mechanism disposed within a container to control the angular rotation of the cassette.

19. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 13 , wherein the at least one aperture is adapted to align with and receive the mating projection extending upward from a container.

20. The cassette to dispense a pleated tubing recited in claim 13 , wherein the at least one aperture is adapted to align and receive the mating projection extending upward from an adapter ring disposed within a container.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2025
From: JOHNSON, KEVIN DOUGLAS; DUNN, STEVEN BRYAN
To: MUNCHKIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 072050/0772 →
Continuity (12)
Continuation In Part 29893055 · May 24, 2023
Continuation In Part 17889367 · Aug 16, 2022
Continuation 17066349 · Oct 8, 2020
Continuation In Part 16542015 · Aug 15, 2019
Continuation 16041689 · Jul 20, 2018
Continuation 14939588 · Nov 12, 2015
Continuation In Part 14736192 · Jun 10, 2015
Continuation 13688139 · Nov 28, 2012
Continuation 29435445 · Oct 24, 2012
Provisional Application 62912567 · Oct 8, 2019
Provisional Application 62078915 · Nov 12, 2014
Related Publication 20240002145A1 · Jan 4, 2024
References Cited (5)
US 7743588B2 · Webb · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 10696476B2 · Morand · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20020162304A1 · Stravitz · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 20080272140A1 · Mowers · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20170233182A1 · Chakravarthy · 2017 [cited by examiner]