Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Vicik

Stephen J. Vicik 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: 4865780
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable, multilayer film suitable for use in fabricating bags for packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats. The multilayer film has a first outer layer of a first ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a core layer of a barrier film including a polyvinylidene chloride vinylchloride copolymer containing between about 70 weight percent and about 90 weight percent vinylidene chloride, and a second outer layer of a second ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The multilayer film is preferably made by co-extrusion of the layers, and then it is biaxially stretched. After biaxial stretching, the multilayer film is irradiated to a dosage level of between 2 megarads and 3 megarads and heat-sealed in the form of a bag. The bag has improved toughness properties and heat-sealing characteristics and is not significantly discolored by the irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Lustig, Jeffrey M. Schuetz, Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4863769
    Abstract: Heat-shrinkable films suitable for packaging food articles such as frozen poultry, primal meat cuts, and processed meat products. In one embodiment, the film may be a biaxially stretched monolayer film of a very low density polyethylene copolymer. In another embodiment, the film may be a biaxially stretched multilayer film comprising a first outer layer of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a core layer of a barrier film such as a polyvinylidene chloride copolymer or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, and a second outer layer comprising a blend of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and a very low density polyethylene copolymer. The multilayer film is preferably made by coextrusion of the layers. The films for fabricated into bags useful for the aforementioned purposes. The bags have improved toughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Lustig, Nancy M. Mack, Jeffrey M. Schuetz, Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4857408
    Abstract: An irradiated four layer meat-adherable heat shrinkable film comprising an ionomer first layer, a second layer of anhydride adhesive-EVOH blend, a third layer of EVOH-amide polymer blend, and a fourth layer of anhydride adhesive-EVOH blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4857399
    Abstract: A four layer shrink film comprising an ethylene-propylene random copolymer as a meat contact first layer, a blend of anhydride-modified ethylene copolymer adhesive and EVA as an inner core second layer, a blend of EVOH and amide polymer as a barrier third layer, and a blend of anhydride- modified ethylene copolymer adhesive and EVA as an abuse fourth layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4851290
    Abstract: An irradiated three layer thermoplastic film for holding hot-filled foods during the succeeding cold water tumble-chilling and further refrigerating steps, comprising a nylon 6.12 or nylon 6.66 core layer, and outer layers comprising a blend of 50-75% polyethylene or EVA, and 25-50% polyethylene-modified adhesive or EVA-modified adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4828891
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable multilayer film suitable for use in fabricating bags for packaging primal and subprimal meat cuts. The multilayer film has a first outer layer of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a first core layer of an oxygen barrier material, a second core layer of a polyurethane, and a second outer layer of a linear low density polyethylene. The multilayer film is preferably made by coextrusion of the layers, and then it is biaxially stretched. After biaxial stretching, the multilayer film is preferably irradiated to a dosage level of between 3 megarads and 8 megarads, and is then heat-sealed in the form of a bag. The bag has improved toughness properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Lustig, Jeffrey M. Schuetz, Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4758463
    Abstract: An irradiated three layer heat-shrinkable plastic film for cook-in applications comprising a core layer of EVOH and Nylon blend as an oxygen barrier, and first and second outer layers each comprising a blend of EVA and ethylene vinyl acetate-anhydride functionality compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Vicik, Gary A. Rejniak
  • Patent number: 4740400
    Abstract: A transparent heat shrinkable, multilayer film comprising:(a) at least one layer comprising a vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer; and(b) at least one layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer; and(c) a sufficient amount of a dioxazine violet pigment to provide a film which retains an aesthetically acceptable violet appearance despite exposure to elevated temperatures and/or irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Lustig, Stephen J. Vicik, John A. Ransford
  • Patent number: 4737391
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable, multilayer film suitable for use in fabricating bags for packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats. The multilayer film has a first outer layer of a first ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a core layer of a barrier film as previously described comprising a polyvinylidene chloride vinyl chloride copolymer containing between about 70 weight percent and about 90 weight percent vinylidene chloride, and a second outer layer of a second ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The multilayer film is preferably made by co-extrusion of the layers, and then it is biaxially stretched. After biaxial stretching, the multilayer film is irradiated to a dosage level of between 2 megarads and 3 megarads and heat-sealed in the form of a bag. The bag has improved toughness properties and heat-sealing characteristics, and is not significantly discolored by the irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Lustig, Jeffrey M. Schuetz, Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4734327
    Abstract: An irradiated three layer heat shrinkable plastic film comprising an EVOH - Nylon core layer as an oxygen barrier, a first outer layer comprising a blend of EVA and C6-C8 olefin type LLDPE, and a second outer layer comprising EVA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4714638
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable, multilayer film suitable for use in fabricating bags for packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats. The multilayer film has a first outer layer of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a core layer of a barrier film comprising vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer, and a second outer layer of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The multilayer film is preferably made by co-extrusion of the layers, and then it is biaxially stretched. After biaxial stretching, the multilayer film is irradiated to a dosage level of between 1 megarad and 5 megarads and heat-sealed in the form of a bag. The bag has improved storage stability characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Lustig, Jeffrey M. Schuetz, Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4675364
    Abstract: The melt index is reduced and the rheology is modified in ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers used in the manufacture of films, by the addition of a crosslinking agent to the copolymer. This allows the use of more readily available raw materials and improves the stability of the bubble during stretching of tubular films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Churma, Elwood D. Latimer, Jr., Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4547413
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable film suitable for use in fabricating bags for packaging frozen poultry. The film composition comprises a resin mixture of between about 75 and about 95 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of from at least about 1.7 to about 5.0 weight percent, and having a melt index of from at least about 0.15 to about 0.35 decigram per minute; and between about 5 and about 25 weight percent of a polyethylene material selected from the group consisting of: (a) high density polyethylene having a melt index of between about 0.15 and about 0.70 decigram per minute, and a density of between about 0.94 and about 0.96 grams per cubic centimeter, and (b) low pressure-low density polyethylene having a melt index of between about 0.3 and about 3.0 decigrams per minute, and a density of between about 0.915 and about 0.925 gram per cubic centimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Lustig, Jeffrey M. Schuetz, Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4515745
    Abstract: The melt index is reduced and the rheology is modified in ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers used in the manufacture of films, by the addition of a crosslinking agent to the copolymer. This allows the use of more readily available raw materials and improves the stability of the bubble during stretching of tubular films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Churma, Elwood D. Latimer, Jr., Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4447480
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable film suitable for use in fabricating bags for packaging frozen poultry. The film composition comprises a resin mixture of between about 80 and about 95 weight percent of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of from at least about 1.7 to about 4.5 weight percent, and having a melt index of from at least about 0.15 to about 0.35 decigram per minute; and between about 5 and about 20 weight percent of a polyethylene material selected from the group consisting of: (a) high density polyethylene having a melt index of between about 0.15 and about 0.70 decigram per minute, and a density of between about 0.94 and about 0.96 grams per cubic centimeter, and (b) low pressure low density polyethylene having a melt index of between about 0.3 and about 3.0 decigrams per minute, and a density of between about 0.915 and about 0.925 gram per cubic centimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Lustig, Jeffrey M. Schuetz, Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4357376
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable multilayer film suitable for use in the packaging of primal meat cuts wherein the first outer layer comprises a blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, propylene-ethylene copolymer, and 1-butene-ethylene copolymer; a core layer comprising a vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer; and a second outer layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce E. Nattinger, Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4348437
    Abstract: A flexible biaxially stretched multilayer film including a layer having a thickness of at least about 0.5 mil and comprising a blend of a polyurethane polymer and an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, wherein the weight fraction of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer in the blend does not exceed 0.40, the film having been subjected to a biaxial stretching in the range of from about 12 to about 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1982
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Lustig, Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4329388
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable multilayer film suitable for use in the packaging of a frozen poultry, includes a first outer layer comprising a blend of a propylene-ethylene copolymer having a high isotactic molecular structure with less than about 6% by weight ethylene and having a melt flow of from about 1.5 to about 18 decigrams per minute; a (butene-1)-ethylene copolymer having a high isotactic molecular structure with less than about 10% by weight being ethylene and having a melt flow of from about 0.1 to about 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Vicik, William J. Kohler, James O. Funderburk, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4296156
    Abstract: A flexible biaxially oriented multilayer film includes at least one layer having a thickness of at least about 0.5 mil and consisting essentially of an aromatic polyurethane, the film having been subjected to a biaxial stretching in the range of from about 12 to about 18, preferably about 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Lustig, Stephen J. Vicik
  • Patent number: 4293664
    Abstract: A stretchable monolayer film adapted for packaging and cooling poultry, consists essentially of a blend of an ionomer and an elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Lustig, Stephen J. Vicik