Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Michael L. Dunn
  • Patent number: 6395356
    Abstract: Regenerated cellulose food packaging film, including fibrous food casings which has modified cling properties for packaging sausage products. The cellulosic food casings have a fibrous reinforcement impregnated with regenerated cellulose composition which contains from about 0.01 to 2.5 weight percent of admixture of a viscose solution and a food grade cationic resin adhering agent and from about 0.001 to 2.5 weight percent of a protein. The film is prepared by impregnating a tubular fiber reinforcement with a viscose composition containing the resin and protein. The impregnating composition is applied in a single step by injecting the resin and protein into the viscose solution before being extruded into the fibrous web. This assures both even distribution of the polymeric adhering agent and protein in the web, as well as maintenance of a constant level of polymer and protein being applied during the coating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Teepak Properties, LLC
    Inventors: Pierre Wielockx, Luc Borgers
  • Patent number: 6387177
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a crystal with at least two segments, wherein adjacent segments differ by at least one characteristic. The different segments can, for example, be of different materials, or have a different doping agent. The method makes possible the manufacturing of segmented crystals with high crystal quality, and as planar joining surfaces between the individual segments as possible. This is achieved in that the segmented crystal is grown directly from the molten mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Forschunginstitut fur mineralische und metallische Werkstoffe Edelsteine/Edelmetalle GmbH
    Inventor: Lothar Ackermann
  • Patent number: 6379550
    Abstract: A method for capturing PSA and its molecular forms that may be in a fluid biological material including the steps of: preparing a chromatographic column by placing a thiophilic gel in a column where the thiophilic gel is formed from a water insoluble polymer where the surface of the gel is provided with thiophilic moieties that bind PSA in the presence of an adsorption liquid but that will release PSA upon elution with an eluting liquid, said thiophilic moieties comprising a two part structure wherein one part can be characterized as a hydrophilic electron acceptor and the other part is sulfur which acts as an electron donor; selecting a sample of a fluid biological material to be tested for PSA and its complexes; introducing the sample into the column; eluting the sample through the column; rinsing the column with adsorption liquid to remove materials that are unbound to the thiophilic gel; and capturing PSA and its complexes in eluted column fractions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Health Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Kailash C. Chadha, Eugene Sulkowski, Elzbieta Kawinski
  • Patent number: 6319501
    Abstract: A method for immunizing a human against hepatitis B virus comprising administering to the human a vaccine comprising a hepatitis B virus surface antigen, wherein included in the vaccine is one or more antigens of non-permitted variant sequences within residues S(139-147) of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Health Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Robert Neurath, Nathan Strick, Yasmin M. Thanavala, Michael W. Pride
  • Patent number: 6299917
    Abstract: A food casing that is a tubular film having an internal cellulose surface containing smoke components integrally blended with the cellulose. The invention further includes the method for making the food casing of the invention by blending smoke, usually in the form of an aqueous solution or dispersion of smoke components (liquid smoke), into viscose prior to formation of the viscose into a film by extrusion and regeneration. The food casing of the invention consistently transfers smoke flavor and color to contained food product, has reduced odor, is not sticky, does not gum up processing machinery, does not have degraded color and flavor as a result of exposure to acid or caustic, is easily shirred, deshirred and unrolled, does not yield odiferous dark sticky liquid in premoisturized casing packages and can be readily peeled from processed food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Teepak Investments, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Appleby
  • Patent number: 6260723
    Abstract: A package for flowable media and a snap lid which package and snap lid are both made from thermoplastic material, in which a collar-shaped head of the package surrounds a pouring aperture of the package, which collar-shaped head has a retaining ring on its outside, an inside annular surface, and an upper end having an edge with a snap catch, which upper end can be closed using the snap lid. The snap lid has a closing wall from which an annular sealing lip projects towards an inside of the package, and can be brought into contact with an inside surface of the edge in sealing engagement. The closing wall is provided with an outside catch for snap engagement with a snap catch of the edge of the head. The head of the package widens outwards and upwards at its edge, and both the inner surface of this edge and an outer surface of the sealing lip on the snap lid are curved convexly relative to each other. The invention also includes preforms for making the package of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Tetra-Laval Holdings & Finance
    Inventor: Lars Bergholtz
  • Patent number: 6250468
    Abstract: A tubular film package comprising a tubular film provided with a tear strip secured upon an outside surface of the film. The tear strip is defined by a longitudinal edge of the film and a heat seal joint provided in the film essentially parallel to the longitudinal edge. The film is further provided with at least one slit running from an end of the film to the heat seal line so that pulling of the strip away from the package commencing at the slit causes film to separate proximate the heat seal line thus opening the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Teepak Investments, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert John Huchel
  • Patent number: 6224751
    Abstract: A water purifying device that has a collecting jug for purified water, in which a funnel with a filter cartridge filled with purifying medium is fitted in a removable manner, the jug can be closed at the top with a lid. Grips for removing the lid are arranged on the lid, and an indicator is provided for indicating the exhaustion of the purifying medium. The indicator is inexpensive, easily readable and reliably functioning to show the state of exhaustion of the purifying medium. The indicator is secured in an aperture in the top surface of the lid, an indicator panel of which can be seen externally from above and which, by an electronic, battery driven circuit, shows only the respective state of time elapsed, without cooperating with separate signaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Brita GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Hofmann, Erik Fischer
  • Patent number: 6217874
    Abstract: A fat composition for cosmetic or pharmaceutical emulsion products, substantially consisting of a mixture of mono-, di- and triglycerides, wherein more than 90 weight % of the fatty acid residues incorporated in the glycerides contain 16-22 carbon atoms, produced from vegetable fats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Aarhus Oliefabrik A/S
    Inventor: Frank Johannsen
  • Patent number: 6200016
    Abstract: A baffle assembly for flow disruption comprising a glass coated baffle. A hollow end of the baffle engages with a connector. An interior tubular portion of the connector is glass coated and forms an interference fit with the glass coated hollow end of the baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Pfaudler-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Reinemuth, Franklyn J. Amorese
  • Patent number: 6199347
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing tops onto openings of packs arranged at a distance (m) from each other. The apparatus includes a first conveying means, e.g. a first conveyor, for intermittently conveying the packs in a first direction of travel through a row of at least three sealing stations spaced a machine pitch (m) from each other, and a transport apparatus, e.g. a second conveyor, for transporting the tops in a row behind each other and transversely to the first direction of travel, intermittently over the openings of packs located in the row of sealing stations. The transport apparatus includes a tops belt guided over drive rollers to which the tops are detachably attached behind each other using holding bridges. The tops are spaced a belt pitch (t) from each other and the tops belt is provided with positioning apparatus for properly positioning the tops over the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Michael Muller, Rolf Zierdt
  • Patent number: 6197744
    Abstract: A specific, unique, natural biological factor that has the capacity to abate one or more of the toxic effects of TNF. This factor may have therapeutic potential in one or more of the diverse disease states in which TNF is known to have a causative role. The unique, approximately 27 kDa protein is designated TIP-B1. TIP-B1, when purified and added back to TNF sensitive cells, effectively ablates TNF-induced cell lysis and TNF-induced apoptosis; cytolytic effects are central to many TNF-mediated actions. The invention includes a protein designated TIP-B1 purified to homogeneity. The protein has a molecular weight of about 27 kD. The protein is capable of inhibiting the action of TNF upon a cell, when said protein is introduced into extracellular medium surrounding the cell. The protein is free of sequences which interfere with normal cellular TNF binding sites and is free of sequences which directly bind to TNF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Health Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Erica Berleth, M. Jane Ehrke, Srikanth S. Nadadur, Hira Gurtoo, Alicia Henn, Enrico Mihich
  • Patent number: 6194138
    Abstract: An aqueous solution of gelatin used as a flushing liquid for blood cells, in particular erythrocytes, in order to give no changes in the blood cells or at most slight, quality-impairing changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: Rolf Zander
  • Patent number: 6190033
    Abstract: A glass coated gas dispersing impeller. The impeller comprises a hub, having a centrally located hole. The hole has a central axis and is sized for passage over a drive shaft having an essentially vertically extending longitudinal axis so that the central axis of the centrally located hole corresponds with the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The impeller has a plurality of angles and edges, all of which have a rounded configuration. The impeller further comprising a plurality of blades secured to the hub that extend radially outward from the central axis. Each of the blades has a leading concave surface and a trailing convex surface both of which are defined by a lower edge, an upper edge, an inner edge and an outer edge. The concave surface is configured so that the upper edge overhangs the lower edge. The blades may be connected to the hub directly or by intermediate connecting means such as a disk or arm integral with the hub and extending radially outwardly from the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Pfaulder, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne N. Rickman, Philip E. McGrath, Matthias Georg Heinzmann
  • Patent number: 6177386
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lubricant which can be used as a mandrel lubricant with a content of 75 to 90 wt. % of graphite and contains 1 to 10 wt. % of a phosphate. Said lubricant can also contain 1 to 4 wt % alkali silicate, 1 to 10 wt. % bentonite, 0.5 to 1 wt. % silico-phosphate and common solid lubricants. Said lubricant is preferably used as an aqueous suspension with a solid content of 20 to 40 wt. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Chemische Fabrik Budenheim Rudolf A. Oetker
    Inventor: Norbert Aurin
  • Patent number: 6177158
    Abstract: A tubular film for encasing food. The tubular film comprises a material which has been regenerated from a viscose solution. The tubular material is longitudinally stretched by from +8 to +40 percent and transversely stretched by from −20 to +40 percent while wet and the stretch is maintained during drying, said transverse stretch and longitudinal stretch being sufficient to obtain a surface area increase of at least 10 percent from the point of regeneration. In general, the tubular material has a wall thickness of from about 60 to about 90 percent of the same tubular material except without the combined stretch. The invention also includes the method for making the tubular material by stretching the regenerated tubular material while wet and maintaining the stretch during drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Teepak Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark van der Bleek, David Pohl
  • Patent number: 6171668
    Abstract: An improved white food casing comprising regenerated cellulose containing titanium dioxide pigment in a weight ratio of less than 0.5 to regenerated cellulose in the casing and containing from about 0.3 to about 1.2 milligrams per square meter of casing of a water insoluble violet pigment. The titanium dioxide pigment and violet pigment are uniformly dispersed in the regenerated cellulose without agglomeration. The food casing usually has an optical density at least as high as a similar food casing containing fifteen percent more titanium dioxide pigment and no violet pigment. The food casing desirably contains titanium dioxide in an amount of less than 15 and preferably less than 13 grams per square meter of food casing. The invention also includes an improved method for making a white food casing comprising cellulose regenerated from viscose having titanium dioxide incorporated therein; wherein the improvement comprises uniformly dispersing titanium dioxide pigment into viscose at a ratio of less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Teepak Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Richard Ocheltree, Bret Alan Trimmer
  • Patent number: 6164440
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor for individual units which comprises a frame (1) with an upper guide for at least a first rod (2) conveyed and held on said guide and with further rods (3) which also extend on the upper guide or a guide parallel thereto at a distance below the upper guide substantially parallel to the first rod (2). Strip material (4) mounted on the rods forms, between the rods (2, 3) held in the guides, loops which act as receiving pockets (5) for individual units (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Conteyor Multibag Systems N.V.
    Inventor: Theodorus J P M Van Bree
  • Patent number: 6139026
    Abstract: A sealing gasket for sealing a flange face, especially a flange face that may be sensitive to uneven application of pressure or that cannot be provided with any sort of flange retaining means comprising a sharp angle in the flange surface. The gasket includes at least a metal ring, a reinforced fluoropolymer sheet, an O ring and a fluoropolymer protective shield. The metal ring is defined by inside and outside circumferences, by widely separated outwardly directed parallel surfaces that in turn define maximum thickness of the ring, by narrowly separated parallel surfaces defining opposing depressed portions in the ring and by opposing shoulders. Each of the widely separated parallel surfaces is covered by at least one reinforced fluoropolymer sheet having inside and outside surfaces positioned so that the inside surface of the sheet faces and covers at least one of the widely separated parallel surfaces and so that the outside surface faces outwardly. The gasket includes at least two O rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Pfaudler, Inc.
    Inventors: Morris E. Gruver, III, Franklyn J. Amorese, Eugene A. Priebe
  • Patent number: 6120861
    Abstract: A tubular film for encasing food. The tubular film comprises a material which has been regenerated from a solution of cellulose in a solvent comprising carbon disulfide. The tubular material is longitudinally stretched by from 8 to 30 percent and transversely stretched by from -3 to +10 percent while wet and the stretch is maintained during drying, said transverse stretch being less than 75 percent of the longitudinal stretch, to obtain a longitudinal crystalline orientation. In general, the tubular material has a wall thickness of from 75 to 90 percent of a tubular material which is identical except for being longitudinally unstretched. The invention also includes the method for making the tubular material by stretching the tubular material while wet and maintaining the stretch during drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Teepak Investments Inc.
    Inventors: Mark van der Bleek, David Pohl