Patents Represented by Attorney Daniel B. Ruble
  • Patent number: 8313051
    Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, mixing a molten composition are provided. The apparatus comprises a rotor with flow restrictors supported on its surface and supported within a bore of a casing. The mixer generates at least 100 modulating events as the molten composition flows over the flow restrictors to form a modulated composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Alan Stall, Carl Frauenpreis, Tatyana Samoylova, Hoseok Choung, Vladimir Sinani
  • Patent number: 8273447
    Abstract: A multilayer oriented film comprising at least one layer (a) comprising one or more polyesters and/or copolyesters characterized by a % of crystallinity higher than 15, an adjacent layer (b) comprising one or more polyolefin-based adhesive resins, and a layer (c) comprising one or more co-polyesters characterized by a % of crystallinity lower than 15, is positioned between said two layers (a) and (b) in such a way that one of the two principal surfaces of layer (c) is directly adhered to layer (a) and the other is directly adhered to layer (b). The presence of a co-polyester layer (c) of relatively low % crystallinity positioned between (co)polyester layer (a) and adhesive layer (b) remarkably increases the bond between the two layers (a) and (b) and prevents delamination problems in the oriented structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventor: Roberto Forloni
  • Patent number: 8206818
    Abstract: A multilayer film comprises first, second, and third layers. The second layer is directly adhered to the first and third layers. The first layer comprises at least about 40 wt % of one or more modified polyamides. The second layer comprises at least about 40 wt % of one or more unmodified polyamides. The third layer comprises at least about 40 wt % of one or more selected tie polymers. The film may comprise one or more UV light absorbers. The film has good intra-film bond strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Solomon Bekele, Michael D. Esakov
  • Patent number: 8205417
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for thermoforming a foamed polyester sheet of low crystallinity to produce a heat-resistant molded foam article (13). The process comprises the steps of heating a foamed polyester sheet (10) to a preforming temperature by contact with at least one heating plate and molding the heated foamed polyester sheet onto a non-heated mold (30). The present invention further relates to a process for manufacturing a package by thermoforming a foamed polyester sheet of low crystallinity to produce a heat-resistant molded foam container, loading a product (51) into said container and sealing or welding a film of thermoplastic material (61) onto said container to close it. The heat-resistant molded foam articles and the packages thus obtained are excellent in heat resistance and are not thermally distorted even when heated in a microwave or conventional oven. They are particularly useful for the packaging of food products for dual ovenable applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugenio Longo, Andrea Paci
  • Patent number: 8206796
    Abstract: An article comprises a first polylactic acid layer and a second layer directly adjacent the first layer. The second layer comprises any of ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer, ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate/glycidyl (meth)acrylate copolymer, and styrenic block copolymer. The article may be a shrink sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Slawomir Opusko, Paul A. Hughes, Michael L. Becraft, Larry B. McAllister
  • Patent number: 8114491
    Abstract: A film comprises a skin layer, a base layer, and an intermediate layer between the skin and base layers. The skin layer comprises polyester. The base layer comprises styrenic block copolymer having a styrene monomer content of at least about 50 wt. %. The intermediate layer comprises: (i) one or more polymers selected from alpha-olefin/cyclic-olefin copolymer and alpha-olefin/vinyl aromatic copolymer and (ii) one or more polymers selected from ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer and styrenic block copolymer having a styrene monomer content of at most about 50 wt. %. The film has a free shrink at 100° C. in at least one direction of at least about 10%. The film may be useful in shrink sleeve applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry B. McAllister, Jr., Slawomir Opuszko
  • Patent number: 7935401
    Abstract: A shrink film comprises a skin layer and a base layer. The skin layer may comprise polystyrene or modified polyester. The base layer may comprise alpha-olefin/cyclic-olefin copolymer or alpha-olefin/vinyl aromatic copolymer. The film has a free shrink at 100° C. of at least about 10%. The film is useful for shrink sleeve applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Slawomir Opuszko, Hubert J. Cook, Vincent W. Herran, Larry B. McAllister
  • Patent number: 7935301
    Abstract: A method of thermoforming comprises the steps of providing a film, heating the film, and forming the heated film onto a mold. The film comprises a propylene/ethylene copolymer skin layer having a melting point of from about 130° C. to about 150° C. and a interior polyamide layer having a melting point of from about 125° C. to about 230° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank M. Hofmeister, Bobby Ayers, Nathaneal R. Miranda, Cindy T. Price
  • Patent number: 7919161
    Abstract: A dual-ovenable tray useful for supporting a food product. The tray comprises a sheet having first and second layers comprising one or more polyamides. The first layer of the sheet forms the tray inside surface. Where the first layer has a melting point, the second layer has a melting point of at least about 210° C. and at least 20° C. greater than the melting point of the first layer. Where the first layer has a glass transition temperature of less than about 120° C. measured at a 50% relative humidity, the second layer has a melting point of at least about 210° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Cynthia Louise Ebner, Arthur Leroy Berrier
  • Patent number: 7914239
    Abstract: A conveyance system comprises a production machine for manufacturing a web of packaging cushions, a duct downstream from the production machine, a blower to provide an air flow through the duct to apply a conveyance force for conveying the web of packaging cushions, and a friction contact area downstream from the production machine and upstream from the duct entrance. The web of packaging cushions passes beneath and contacts the friction contact area to create a friction force opposing the conveyance force so that the conveyance force is not transmitted along the web of packaging cushions to the production machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventor: Paul Van Huis
  • Patent number: 7678841
    Abstract: A method of increasing the gas transmission rate of a packaging film comprises providing a packaging film that comprises at least about 0.001 weight % of fullerene material selected from spherical fullerenes, bowl-shaped fullerenes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, carbon nanocones, and carbon nano-onions. The packaging film is exposed to an amount of radiation energy effective to increase the oxygen transmission rate of the packaging film by at least about 100 cc (STP)/m2. day (1 atm, 0% RH, 23° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Grah
  • Patent number: 7673564
    Abstract: A lined tray may be made by printing on a film an ink comprising from about 15 to about 50 weight percent binder resin selected from ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, polyamide polymers, polystyrene polymers, and acrylic polymers. The printed film is laminated to a tray substrate to form a lined tray substrate, so that the outermost ink surface of the printed film is directly adhered to the tray substrate. The lined tray may be formed into a tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wolf, T. Brad Zix
  • Patent number: 7645505
    Abstract: A multilayer film comprises first, second, and third layers. The second layer is directly adhered to the first and third layers. The first layer comprises at least about 40 wt % of one or more modified polyamides. The second layer comprises at least about 40 wt % of one or more unmodified polyamides. The third layer comprises at least about 40 wt % of one or more selected tie polymers. The film may comprise one or more UV light absorbers. The film has good intra-film bond strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Solomon Bekele, Michael D. Esakov
  • Patent number: 7608312
    Abstract: A printed antifog packaging film incorporates a cured reactive ink system or a cured reactive varnish system. The reactive ink system includes a radiation-cured ink or a cured thermoset ink. The reactive varnish system includes a radiation-cured varnish or a cured thermoset varnish. The cured reactive ink or varnish reduces the tendency of the antifog film to form a ghost condensate image of the printed image after the film has been unwound from a roll form and subjected to conditions that form moisture condensation on the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc A. Edlein, Milton Bowen, Ram K. Ramesh
  • Patent number: 7585528
    Abstract: A package for containing a product such as meat. The package includes top and bottom opposing flexible chamber sheets. These sheets are sealed together in a selected chamber seal zone to define a watertight chamber portion that is capable of containing the product. A hollow frame circumscribes the chamber portion. The frame supports the chamber portion when the frame is inflated. The need for a rigid tray may be eliminated by the inventive package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Isabella Ferri, Riccardo Palumbo, Stefano Santagostino, Andrea Granili, Carmen Roveda
  • Patent number: 7517569
    Abstract: A film comprises a barrier layer including PVdC or EVOH, a skin layer, and an intermediate layer comprising at least about 50% of propylene/ethylene copolymer. The film has at least about 10% free shrink in at least one direction at 85° C. The film is useful in making barrier shrink bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie G. Kreitman, Mendy J. Mossbrook, Michael Broadus
  • Patent number: 7504158
    Abstract: A dual ovenable film having a first layer comprising one or more polyamides and a second layer comprising one or more polyamides. The first layer forms the first outer surface of the film. The second layer has a melting point of at least about 210° C. The film is capable of forming a water-containing package by providing two 4 inch by 6 inch sheets of the film each having four perimeter sides, placing the sheets in superimposed, coextensive arrangement having the first layers of the films in contact with each other, and heat sealing three perimeter sides of the sheets together using a ?-inch wide sealing bar at a temperature of 290° F., a dwell time of 0.5 seconds, and a sealing pressure of 40 psig to form an open pouch having heat seals along three of the four perimeter sides. The open pouch can be filled with 100 milliliters of distilled water at a temperature of 73° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Leroy Berrier, Cynthia Louise Ebner
  • Patent number: 7399515
    Abstract: Another object of the present invention is therefore a process for the preparation of a carpet comprising an upper fibrous layer, an intermediate thermoplastic protective laminate and a polyurethane foam layer wherein the polyurethane foam layer is formed on the surface of the protective laminate which is hot bonded to the upper fibrous layer characterized in that said protective laminate comprises a first outer layer which is facing the upper fibrous layer comprising an ethylene homo- or copolymer, a core layer comprising a polyamide and a second outer layer comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernhard Thele
  • Patent number: 7335327
    Abstract: A method of shrinking a film comprises the steps of providing a shrink film and exposing the film to an amount of radiation energy effective to activate the shrink characteristic of the film. The film comprises one or more thermoplastic polymers and at least about 0.001 weight % of single-walled carbon nanotube material based on the weight of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Grah, Marvin R. Havens
  • Patent number: 7273142
    Abstract: A system for conveying a string of packaging cushions includes a machine capable of manufacturing the string and a conveyor adapted to transport the string. The conveyor has an inlet end to receive the string and an outlet end to deliver the string of packaging cushions. The inlet end of the conveyor is higher than the cushion outlet elevation of the machine. At least one pair of rolls are adapted to lift the string of packaging cushions from the machine through the nip of the rolls to the conveyor inlet elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Paul Van Huis, Kerry McKinley, Robert A. White, Jr., Michael Charney