Patents by Inventor Gerald G. Gusavage

Gerald G. Gusavage has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • FILM/SUBSTRATE COMPOSITE MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20020015811
    Abstract: A composite useful for making trays for the packaging of food and the like is formed from foamed polystyrene and a film bonded to the polystyrene, the film including a bonding layer of a styrene butadiene copolymer, the bonding layer including at least about 25% by weight of butadiene. The composite may be thermoformed into articles such as trays for use in the packaging of food products, especially meat products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: GERALD G. GUSAVAGE, THOMAS A. HESSEN, TINA V. LORENZO, JOSEPH E. OWENSHY, HENRY G. SEHIRMER, JEFFRELY A. THOMAS, GLORIA G. TONEY, WALTER B. MUELLER
  • Foam and process for producing a carbon dioxide blowing agent
    Patent number: 5994420
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing thermoplastic foam, including:(a) melting a thermoplastic polymer to produce a polymer melt;(b) introducing a carbon dioxide blowing agent into the polymer melt;(c) adding to the polymer melt one or more additives selected from the group consisting of(1) polysiloxane, and(2) mineral oil; and(d) extruding and foaming the melted polymer melt, blowing agent, and one or more additives to produce thermoplastic foam.The resultant thermoplastic foam can be thermoformed into various foamed articles, such as foam packaging trays. The quality of foams made from a carbon dioxide blowing agent, and particularly 100% carbon dioxide, has been found to be substantially improved by adding one or more of the foregoing additives, i.e., polysiloxane, mineral oil and, optionally, polyolefin to the polymer melt during the extrusion and foaming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald G. Gusavage, Henry G. Schirmer, Thomas A. Hessen
  • Foam and process for producing foam using a carbon dioxide blowing agent
    Patent number: 5670552
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing thermoplastic foam, including:(a) melting a thermoplastic polymer to produce a polymer melt;(b) introducing a carbon dioxide blowing agent into the polymer melt;(c) adding to the polymer melt one or more additives selected from the group consisting of(1) polysiloxane, and(2) mineral oil; and(d) extruding and foaming the melted polymer melt, blowing agent, and one or more additives to produce thermoplastic foam.The resultant thermoplastic foam can be thermoformed into various foamed articles, such as foam packaging trays. The quality of foams made from a carbon dioxide blowing agent, and particularly 100% carbon dioxide, has been found to be substantially improved by adding one or more of the foregoing additives, i.e., polysiloxane, mineral oil and, optionally, polyolefin to the polymer melt during the extrusion and foaming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Gerald G. Gusavage, Henry G. Schirmer, Thomas A. Hessen
  • Recycling of barrier polystyrene foam scrap and barrier polystyrene foam containing recycled barrier polystyrene foam scrap
    Patent number: 5330596
    Abstract: A barrier foam tray contains recycled reclaim of barrier foam. The tray comprises a sheet of foamed polystyrene (PS) having laminated to it a flexible barrier film. The foamed polystyrene part can have admixed therein from 0.0001% up to 30% by weight of the flexible barrier film. The barrier film contains a barrier polymer such as ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH). The tray is made by grinding laminate scrap and extruding reclaim therefrom with virgin polystyrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Inventors: Gerald G. Gusavage, Thomas A. Hessen, Thomas R. Hardy, Henry G. Schirmer, Susan R. Flye
  • Recycling of barrier polystyrene foam scrap and barrier polystyrene foam containing recycled barrier polystyrene foam scrap
    Patent number: 5118561
    Abstract: A barrier foam tray contains recycled reclaim of barrier foam. The tray comprises a sheet of foamed polystyrene (PS) having laminated to it a flexible barrier film. The foamed polystyrene part can have admixed therein from 0.0001% up to 30% by weight of the flexible barrier film. The barrier film contains a barrier polymer such as ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH). The tray is made by grinding laminate scrap and extruding reclaim therefrom with virgin polystyrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Gerald G. Gusavage, Thomas A. Hessen, Thomas R. Hardy, Susan R. Flye, Henry G. Schirmer