Abstract: A plastic container for a particulate product has a footprint and includes a base and at least two and preferably four sides upstanding therefrom which generally define a container main interior volume. A top connects to the sides and includes a large opening which is closed by a lid. One side includes a pass-through handle located therein having a generally vertical segment which may define a hollow cavity in communication with the main interior volume. The opening of the top is sufficiently large to extend over a portion of the hollow cavity; or is sufficiently wide to receive about a 5? diameter cylinder therethrough, and has a ratio of a minimum span to a bottom diagonal of at least about 2:3. A shoulder between the top and sides has an angle of less than about 40°. The handle is configured and sized for easy grasping and holding.

Abstract: A plastic container for a particulate product has a footprint and includes a base and at least two and preferably four sides upstanding therefrom which generally define a container main interior volume. A top connects to the sides and includes a large opening which is closed by a lid. One corner includes a pass-through handle located therein having a generally vertical segment which may define a hollow cavity in communication with the main interior volume. The opening of the top is sufficiently large to extend over a portion of the hollow cavity; or is sufficiently wide to receive about a 5? diameter cylinder therethrough, and has a ratio of a minimum span to a bottom diagonal of at least about ?. A shoulder between the top and sides has an angle of less than about 40°. The handle is configured and sized for easy grasping and holding.

Abstract: A rigid container for a particulate product with enhanced top load support includes an interior volume formed by a base, a surrounding wall member upstanding from the base, and an opening formed in a top. A particulate product, such as coffee, is provided in the interior volume, and is provided in sufficient quantity to fill the interior volume up to a predetermined minimum headspace. The predetermined minimum headspace is that headspace which produces a top load ratio of at least 3:1; where the top load ratio is defined as a ratio of the top load force sufficient to cause a 0.30? deflection in the container when filled to the top load force sufficient to cause a 0.30? deflection in the container when empty. In a preferred embodiment, the container is made of plastic and includes a flexible closure attached to the top and spanning the top opening.

Abstract: A food package is provided having two different food products disposed within a common flexible film wrapper. A portion of the flexible film wrapper adjacent a first of the food products is adapted to at least partially shield microwave radiation from the first food product to a greater degree than the second food product when both are heated together in the film wrapper in a microwave oven.

Abstract: A method for designing or producing a coffee container system includes the step of constructing a sample of a coffee container system, where the container system includes a main container, a lift-off top, and a seal mechanism for the opening between the lift-off top and the container. Thereafter, oxygen ingress into the container system is measured when the lift-off top is in place and the seal mechanism is in operation. A sealing effectiveness of the seal mechanism is then modified to achieve a desired oxygen ingress for the container system, so that container systems housing coffee and having the modified seal mechanism providing the desired oxygen ingress can be manufactured. In addition, a method for retarding oxygen ingress into coffee contained in a container system is provided by infusing the coffee with a high molecular weight gas compatible with the coffee during manufacture of the finished coffee container system.

Abstract: A container comprises a container body and a lid. The lid has a top and a skirt and an outer layer of material softer than the skirt is adhered to the outer surface of the skirt. The outer layer may have a thickness of at least 20 mils and may be molecularly bonded to the skirt. Advantageously, the outer layer covers substantially the entire surface of the skirt. The lid may be formed using a two-shot injection molding process in which the lid is formed in a first step and the outer layer of a softer material is formed on the skirt of the lid during the second step of the two-shot injection molding process. In addition, the container body includes one or more grippable surfaces as areas of relatively higher coefficients of friction.

Abstract: A multi-compartment microwaveable food container and, in particular, a microwaveable container having at least two compartments with different degrees of shielding to provide different energy inputs to food products contained therein while being heated in a microwave together at the same settings. At least one compartment of the container contains an in-mold label or other type of shielding with microwave-reflective areas to provide the desired shielding properties to the food product contained therein. Additionally, a lid component can also contain an in-mold label or other type of shielding to provide further shielding of the compartment. The two or more food compartments may contain various degrees of shielding provided by complete or partial in-mold labels or other types of shielding.

Abstract: A multi-compartment microwaveable food container and, in particular, a microwaveable container having at least two compartments with different degrees of shielding to provide different energy inputs to food products contained therein while being heated in a microwave together at the same settings. At least one compartment of the container contains an in-mold label or other type of shielding with microwave-reflective areas to provide the desired shielding properties to the food product contained therein. Additionally, a lid component can also contain an in-mold label or other type of shielding to provide further shielding of the compartment. The two or more food compartments may contain various degrees of shielding provided by complete or partial in-mold labels or other types of shielding.

Abstract: A rigid container for a particulate product with enhanced top load support includes an interior volume formed by a base, a surrounding wall member upstanding from the base, and an opening formed in a top. A particulate product, such as coffee, is provided in the interior volume, and is provided in sufficient quantity to fill the interior volume up to a predetermined minimum headspace. The predetermined minimum headspace is that headspace which produces a top load ratio of at least 3:1; where the top load ratio is defined as a ratio of the top load force sufficient to cause a 0.30? deflection in the container when filled to the top load force sufficient to cause a 0.30? deflection in the container when empty. In a preferred embodiment, the container is made of plastic and includes a flexible closure attached to the top and spanning the top opening.

Abstract: A plastic container for a particulate product such as coffee includes a base and a surrounding wall member upstanding therefrom. A top connects to the surrounding wall member and in a preferred embodiment includes a large opening sufficient to receive about a 5 inch cylinder therethrough. The surrounding wall member has a handle. In one embodiment, the handle includes a longitudinal pocket formed in the surrounding wall member adjacent the top. The longitudinal pocket extends parallel to the top and has a depth and shape for receipt of fingers of a user. Preferably, the surrounding wall member also includes a thumb receiving concavity above the pocket. For added strength, the pocket can include a central vertical brace. In another embodiment, the handle includes a pass-though opening in which the fingers of the user pass so as to substantially surround the handle.

Abstract: A plastic container for a particulate product includes a base and a surrounding wall member upstanding therefrom which generally define a container main interior volume. A top connects to the surrounding wall member and includes a large opening sufficient to receive about a 5 inch cylinder therethrough. The surrounding wall member includes a pair of pinch pockets having a lateral opening separation W which is not greater than about 2.5 inches and/or a lateral minimum separation C of not greater than about 2.0. In some embodiment, a thumb receiving cavity is provided above the pinch pockets. The pinch pockets are configured and sized for easy grasping and holding of the container.

Abstract: A container and container system are provided to reduce a loss of coffee aroma ingredients from a roasted coffee. The container includes a main body having walls made of a laminate of plastics materials. Contained in the main body is a roasted coffee which naturally releases aromatic ingredients. The laminate includes an outer or structural layer and a thin inner barrier layer, with the inner layer being in close proximity or in contact with the roasted coffee. The body has an Aroma Retention Effectiveness (ARE) of the aromatic ingredients of less than about 30%. Preferably, the outside plastic layer is HDPE, the inner barrier layer is EVOH, and the roasted coffee is fresh roast and ground coffee or roasted whole coffee beans. A method for reducing a loss of aroma ingredients is also disclosed. In accordance with the method, a main body of a container unit is made which includes an outer layer and an inner barrier layer.

Abstract: A process for producing polymers in a gas phase reactor by continuously introducing a stream of monomer and gas into a polymerization zone while maintaining the temperature within the polymerization zone below the dew point temperature of at least one monomer present in said polymerization zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the cleaning of plastic flakes to be recycled. Water is added to the plastic flakes and high shear agitator is provided so that dirt, paper and other contamination are removed from the surface of the plastic flakes. The contaminant containing water is then separated from the cleaned plastic flakes. Batch and continuous embodiments of the present invention are disclosed.

Abstract: A core-shell resin particle composed of a mixture of rubber and inert material with a core containing a majority of rubber while the shell contains a majority of inert material.