Patents by Inventor Michael Ray McLaughlin

Michael Ray McLaughlin 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).

  • Patent number: 9598184
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Publication number: 20140182247
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Patent number: 8671652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Publication number: 20110203228
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Patent number: 7958696
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Publication number: 20100236194
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Patent number: 7739857
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Patent number: 7306093
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Publication number: 20040159658
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Patent number: 6161050
    Abstract: A numerically controlled milling machine is used to mill the surface of a coined spinnerette after punching and before broaching the holes in the spinnerette. A probe is mounted on the milling machine to obtain data points on the bumpy surface of the coined spinnerette. The low points in predetermined areas off of the protuberances on the bumpy surface of the coined spinnerette are detected. Splines connecting the low points in, e.g., concentric rings if the holes in the finished spinnerette will be in rings, are used to generate a representation of the finished surface. A spiral tool path is obtained using the representation of the finished surface and G-codes are generated to control the milling machine to move a tool along the tool path. After the coined spinnerette has been milled, conventional finishing, including broaching is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Ernest Edward Jessee, Michael Ray McLaughlin, Timothy Martin Pinto, James Emmett Grant, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5751011
    Abstract: A system for accurately determining the relative location of countersinks formed in a predetermined pattern in a spinnerette blank, accurately positioning a punching tool, in turn, over each countersink and, in turn, punching accurately positioned holes in the spinnerette blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Timothy Martin Pinto, Ernest Edward Jessee, Leland Manfred Savage, Vijay Somabhai Patel
  • Patent number: 5733079
    Abstract: A numerically controlled milling machine is used to mill the surface of a coined spinnerette after punching and before broaching the holes in the spinnerette. A probe is mounted on the milling machine to obtain data points on the bumpy surface of the coined spinnerette. The low points in predetermined areas off of the protuberances on the bumpy surface of the coined spinnerette are detected. Splines connecting the low points in, e.g., concentric rings if the holes in the finished spinnerette will be in rings, are used to generate a representation of the finished surface. A spiral tool path is obtained using the representation of the finished surface and G-codes are generated to control the milling machine to move a tool along the tool path. After the coined spinnerette has been milled, conventional finishing, including broaching is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Ernest Edward Jessee, Michael Ray McLaughlin, Timothy Martin Pinto, James Emmett Grant, Jr.