Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Michael J. Doyle
  • Patent number: 5720428
    Abstract: A french fry scoop formed from a unitary blank of paperboard is provided with generally horizontally extending lower legs. The legs extend tangentially from the lower edges of the scoop and permit the filled scoop to be placed on a horizontal surface in slightly tilted, stable equilibrium. The scoop displays both economy in paperboard required and a pleasing rest position from which the consumer can withdraw product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventor: Kurt D. Jensen
  • Patent number: 5716473
    Abstract: A paperboard container of generally semi-rigid construction and formed from a unitary blank of paperboard folded in the general shape of a U. The interior surface of the container is coated with a thermoplastic polymer barrier layer, the container having a manually openable, normally closed pour spout at one upper edge portion, and also having a recessed or raised bottom. The container is particularly adapted for packaging granular, dry material such as corn flakes, pretzels, and the like. Due to its construction and the thermoplastic barrier layer, the usual inner pouch which contains dry cereal is omitted, thereby effecting savings in both material and in assembly of the final package. In one embodiment, an opening is provided for carrying the package, the opening located at the top of the container. In another embodiment one side wall of the panel is provided with an extension to serve as a reclosure flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventors: Robert L. Gordon, Katherine A. Swenson, David E. Stier, Theresa A. Bronk
  • Patent number: 5711419
    Abstract: A bottle carrier is formed of one or more panels of paperboard and includes a plurality of bottle neck receiving openings. The periphery of each opening is defined by the tips of a plurality of radially extending fingers, the tips engaging beneath a portion of an abutment associated with each bottle neck. Each finger is bent upwardly at about 45 degrees after insertion of a bottle into a respective opening. Each radial finger is provided at its widest portion with a base slit extending thouugh the paperboard. Another and intermediate slit is located about half way along the length of each finger, the intermediate slit also extending through the paperboard. These slits are of lesser width than that of their respective fingers and are parallel to each other and are at right angles to the length of the finger. The base slit permits bending of each finger upwardly upon bottle insertion, while the intermediate slit facilitates removal of each bottle from its respective opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Beales, Walter A. Krajci
  • Patent number: 5711475
    Abstract: A container fixant applicator configured to complement target fixing zones of a container. Caulk is introduced into a container, over portions of the container intended to be fixed. The caulk is activated, flowing between the target surfaces. The caulk cures, fixing the container. The wafer substantially retains its configuration during the fixing of the container. The wafer is configured so that it may not pass through the pour spout of a gable top-type container. Methods for producing and applying the container fixant applicator are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Richard A. Tedford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5706936
    Abstract: A bottle carrier is formed of one or more panels of paperboard and includes a plurality of bottle neck receiving openings. Each opening has a plurality of radially extending fingers whose ends engage beneath a portion of an abutment associated with each bottle neck. Each finger is bent upwardly at about 45 degrees after insertion of a bottle into a respective opening. Each radial finger is provided with a microcut line extending downwardly from its upper surface, each microcut line extending about 10-50% through the paperboard. The microcut lines weaken the radial fingers and facilitate removal of the bottles from the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventor: Linda A. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 5693373
    Abstract: A method of improving heat-seals for polyolefin polymers which are coated onto a paperboard substrate. The method obviates the need for use of a curable bonding agent. The materials are exposed to high energy radiation prior to formation of the heat seal to induce crosslinking of the poller and thereby increase the average molecular weight of same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Joe L. Kinsey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5691022
    Abstract: A release liner based stock for use as a carrier web including a paper substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface. A release agent is coating on the top of the upper surface. The unique soap-based acrylic layer discourages curling of the base stock release liner, fiber pick-off contamination from the uncoated side of the paper substrate, and maintains a consistent peel off force required for removing a label from the release liner and deploying it on a target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Gary H. Knauf
  • Patent number: 5690273
    Abstract: An indicia tab construction for a paperboard food wrapper or container. In one embodiment a peripheral indicia tab is foldable about a lateral axis to assume one of two configurations, and is held in a folded configuration by a cohesive layer. In a second embodiment each of a plurality of peripheral indicia tabs is foldable about respective aligned axes and is also held in folded configurations by respective cohesive layers. In a third embodiment one or more foldable indicia tabs are attached to the periphery of one half of a foldable food wrapper, each tab provided with a legend or other indicia normally viewable. These tabs may be, selectively, folded so as to uncover other legends or indicia, normally covered, on the other wrapper half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Kurt D. Jensen
  • Patent number: 5660322
    Abstract: A carton for a package of photographic film, such as instant film. The carton is formed of a unitary paperboard blank coated on both sides by a thermoplastic barrier film. The thermoplastic functions as an adhesive when acted upon by heat and pressure, thus sealing portions of the blank together. Each of four corners of the carton includes a gusset folded in such a manner as not to present a raw paperboard edge to the interior. The construction yields an air tight, liquid tight package with an oxygen barrier, and obviates the requirement of many similar packages that the photographic film be separately wrapped in a protective foil or film prior to being placed in a carton. Three embodiments of the carton are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventor: Kurt D. Jensen
  • Patent number: 5655707
    Abstract: A carton formed from a unitary blank of paperboard, the carton exhibiting particular utility as a wrapper or container for food products, such as sandwiches. A sandwich may be formed on the wrapper before folding and forming the wrapper into a carton. Or the sandwich may be made and then placed on the wrapper blank, with two opposite ends of the blank then pulled upwardly around the sandwich. Each end is coated with a layer of cohesive material on one surface, these two surfaces being adhered together to form an upper rib of two thicknesses of paperboard, the end walls of the container then being easily manually formed. The cohesive material has the property of sticking only to itself and the coated ends are readily separated and readily reclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventor: Kurt D. Jensen
  • Patent number: 5636785
    Abstract: A gable top type paperboard carton for juices and other pourable product which may attack the integrity of seals is formed with a pour spout fitment attached to one of the two sloping roof panels. The carton is formed so as to exhibit a rectangular cross section transverse to its longitudinal (vertical) axis, to thereby yield a gable top whose sloping roof panels extend upwardly from the narrower carton side walls. In use, the consumer grasps the two widest side walls of the carton by the thumb and one or more other fingers. This is in distinction to grasping the narrower carton sides, which would entail a wider finger grasp or span. The carton includes a V pocket forming panel in a first gusset, the V pocket receiving a V forming point or wedge on the second gusset. A similar V forming pocket and V point may be located on opposite bottom closure panels. Either V forming pocket may be of paperboard or of barrier film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventors: Roderick W. Kalberer, Clarence R. Thompson, Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 5636771
    Abstract: A frangible pour spout construction is improved by the addition of reinforcing webs at the upper plug portion. These webs function to localize the upward pulling force to thereby concentrate the rupture force at the frangible connection between the upper plug and lower pour spout portions. This insures that the pulling force is concentrated so that the frangible connection will rupture prior to the entire fitment being pulled off of the container to which the fitment is secured. The upper plug, later to function as a cap or stopper for the lower spout portion, is provided with a pull ring. The entire construction is die molded, as for example of polyethylene, with the pull ring being molded substantially at 90.degree. from its flat or storage position. A pair of lugs carried by the upper plug holds the pull ring down in its storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Gordon, Roderick W. Kalberer
  • Patent number: 5626285
    Abstract: An otherwise conventual paperboard blank for forming a gable top carton is provided with a cutout at a bottom corner of the first sidewall forming panel of a five panel blank. The bottom portions of the blank are conventionally folded to form a carton bottom end closure. The sideseam panel is tapered at one end due to a previous skiving operation. After localized heating of certain panel surfaces and upon folding the blank to initially form a tube, with the sideseam forming panel overlying an edge portion of the first panel (conventional procedures), the cutout coincides with the removed portion of the sideseam panel which forms the tapered end, to thus prevent unwanted adhesion between the first panel and the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Tedford, Jr., Joseph Blackman
  • Patent number: 5618628
    Abstract: A relaxed sol-gel composition and a coated substrate article which is produced therefrom. A tetrafunctional alkoxide silicate is hydrolyzed in an aqueous solution together with a Lewis acid or metal chelate catalyst with optional protic acid until a viscosity of 2600-3200 cps is obtained to form a crosslinked sol-gel polymer composition. The polymer is relaxed by diluting it with water or water plus alcohol optionally containing a Lewis acid or metal chelate until a viscosity of about 1 cps is obtained while not depolymerizing the polymer. The relaxed polymer has substantially no visible polymer particles. The relaxed polymer composition is uniformly coating a substrate and dried without requiring an in-situ curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Raymond A. Volpe
  • Patent number: 5605278
    Abstract: A carton for a package of photographic film, such as instant film. The carton is formed of a unitary paperboard blank coated on both sides by a thermoplastic barrier film. The thermoplastic functions as an adhesive when acted upon by heat and pressure, thus sealing portion sof the blank together. Each of four corners of the carton includes a gusset folded in such a manner as not to present a raw paperboard edge to the interior. The construction yields an air tight, liquid tight package with an oxygen barrier, and obviates the requirement of many similar packages that the photographic film be separately wrapped in a protective foil or film prior to being placed in a catron. Three embodiments of the carton are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Kurt D. Jensen
  • Patent number: 5588587
    Abstract: A package for either conventional oven or microwave heating of refrigerated or frozen foodstuffs includes an outer paperboard container and an inner food carrying tray or dish. The bottom of the plastic tray rests on the container bottom. The dish is flanged, the flange provided with one or more ears extending downwardly and sandwiched between container side walls. The dish flange is polygonal, having one or more edges abutting respective one or more interior walls of the container. A portion of the top cover of the container is removed by ripping along tear lines. The tear or ripping lines yield four triangular corner sections on the remaining, unripped container top cover, these sections overlying portions of the tray flange. This arrangement prevents the tray from being removed from the container through the top cover access opening defined upon ripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventors: David E. Stier, Katherine S. Liquori
  • Patent number: 5573111
    Abstract: A bottle carrier having a central or upper panel of paperboard and at least one lower panel or layer. Each panel has a plurality of bottle neck receiving openings. The periphery of each opening of each panel is defined by the tips of a plurality of radially extending fingers, the tips of the fingers of the upper panel engaging beneath a portion of an abutment associated with each bottle neck. Each finger is bent upwardly at about 45 degrees after insertion of a bottle into a respective opening. Each upper panel radial finger is provided at its widest portion with a base slit extending through the paperboard. Another and intermediate slit is located about half way along the length of each upper panel finger, the intermediate slit also extending through the paperboard. The base slit permits bending of each finger upwardly upon bottle insertion, while the intermediate slit facilitates removal of each bottle from its respective opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventors: Robert L. Gordon, Linda A. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 5565110
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the operation of a vacuum drum filter. A hollow and perforated shower roll is located at the top of a vacuum drum apparatus for drying and cleaning paper pulp. The interior of the shower roll is provided with a liquid distribution pipe having a plurality of spaced openings therealong, the pipe also having a substantially vertically extending dam which extends radially to adjacent the lower interior surface of the shower roll. In operation, rotation of the vacuum drum in a vat of paper pulp to be dewatered results in the continuous formation of layer of pulp on its exterior surface, the layer being compressed by the shower roll at the nip between the vacuum roll and the shower roll. Concurrently, the shower roll discharges or exudes water onto and into the pulp layer at the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventors: C. Lamar Brady, Gary E. Keller
  • Patent number: 5553772
    Abstract: A clamshell type container is formed from a unitary blank of paperboard. The central portion of the crown of the carton is convex upwardly and the crown carries inwardly concave opposite side walls. The four corners of the crown are each provided with triangular gussets to permit slight deformation of the crown both upon stacking of the open cartons and upon closing the crown down onto the lower tray part of the carton. The tray side walls are curved or recessed downwardly so as to form line contact with a respective crown side wall, such contact defining a seal and inhibiting warm air loss when a warm foodstuff is placed in the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventor: Kurt D. Jensen
  • Patent number: 5553704
    Abstract: A stackable can carrier is formed from a unitary paperboard blank. The carrier compensates for stacking problems caused by smaller diameter tops and bottoms on present cans, the latter termed 202 cans which have a tendency to rock with respect to each other when stacked. An otherwise conventional can carrier is provided with foldable, lateral flaps having pairs of cuts lines which define ears. The latter are glued to the carrier top surface. The flaps overlie respective can top receiving openings in the carrier less than one half of the diameter of the can openings. Upon stacking of the carriers and cans therein for storage or for display, the carrier provides improved stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventors: Robert L. Gordon, Linda A. Bernstein