Patents by Inventor Michael T. Drummond

Michael T. Drummond 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: 5494215
    Abstract: An easy-open container has a spirally-wound paperboard bodywall layer, interior barrier liner layer and outer label layer forming an easy-open seam extending spirally between the ends of the container. A feature is provided for directionally-orienting tearing of the label layer to remove either the entire label layer or just that portion of the label layer which is in bridging relationship to the easy-open spiral seam to allow opening of the container along the spiral seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Drummond, Calvin G. Hill, Richard M. Lowman, Jr., William C. Suski, Rodney W. Roberts, James W. Lowry
  • Patent number: 5487506
    Abstract: An easy-open container has a spirally-wound bodywall layer, interior barrier liner layer and outer label layer forming an easy-open seam extending spirally between the ends of the container and which is provided with an improved reinforcing and tear strip extending along the easy-open spiral seam. This reinforcing and tear strip is formed by overlapped edge portions of the label layer extending through and out of the spiral seam of the container and being folded-over onto the outside of the bodywall layer and under the label layer. Low strength bonding is provided between the overlapped label layer edge portions and high strength bonding is positioned between the superimposed label layer and folded-over a liner layer edge portion and between the superimposed label layer and bodywall layer for allowing easy starting and stripping of the reinforcing and tear strip along the spiral easy-open seam without the necessity of removing the entire label layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Drummond, Calvin G. Hill, Richard M. Lowman, Jr., William C. Suski, Rodney W. Roberts, James W. Lowry
  • Patent number: 5482205
    Abstract: An easy-open container has a spirally-wound paperboard bodywall layer, interior barrier liner layer and outer label layer forming as easy-open seam extending spirally between the ends of the container. Easy-opening of the container is enhanced by the provision of pull tabs formed by superimposed and bonded longitudinal edge portions of the bodywall layer and label layer and an easy-open panel formed by diverging lines of score cuts formed in the bodywall layer to initiate and aid in easy-opening of the container along the spiral seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Drummond, William C. Suski, Calvin G. Hill, James W. Lowry, Rodney W. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5251809
    Abstract: The invention provides spirally wound easy-open containers which comprise a spirally wound body wall having overlapped edges and which have capabilities and benefits associated with conventional butt jointed containers. The overlapped edges of the body wall define an easy-open seam extending helically between the ends of the container. A temporary adhesive between the overlapped edges of the body wall releasably adheres the overlapped edges of the body wall together and allows for opening of the container along the helical, easy-open seam. The easy-open containers provided according to the invention can be readily manufactured with only slight modifications to the conventional manufacturing process. Nevertheless, the easy-open containers of the invention can provide for material savings in container label construction and can allow for vacuum packaging of food products such as dough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Drummond, General Taylor, W. Gerald Gainey
  • Patent number: 5076440
    Abstract: The invention is directed to easy-open containers for products such as dough which have an easy-open seam extending helically between the end of the container body. A helically wound outer label of flexible sheet material in strip form has at least one longitudinal edge folded onto and bonded to the main body of the label to thereby provide a reinforced longitudinal edge portion of the outer label comprising at least two layers of the flexible sheet material. The reinforced longitudinal edge portion of the outer label is positioned in bridging relation to the easy-open seam of the bodywall to thereby maintain the easy-open seam closed and provide a peel strip for exposing the easy-open seam for opening of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventor: Michael T. Drummond