Patents Represented by Attorney Tom J. Hall
  • Patent number: 8329276
    Abstract: The present invention relates to peelable resealable multilayer films which include at least a first thermoplastic layer of an anhydride-modified polyolefin, a second thermoplastic layer of an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer and a third thermoplastic layer of a tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive. The bond formed between a second layer of ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer and a third layer of a tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive creates a peelable resealable interface having a first interfacial peel strength, A, and a second interfacial peel strength, B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventor: Tara Kay Cruz
  • Patent number: 8283011
    Abstract: The present invention relates to peelable resealable multilayer films which include at least a first polymer layer, a second polymer layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive in direct contact with and bonded to both the first and third layers. The bond formed between the second and third layers includes a peelable resealable interface having a first interfacial peel strength, A, and a second interfacial peel strength, B. The peelable resealable interface includes a first interfacial peel strength, A, having a value of less than 3500 gram-force/inch (1350 newton/meter) as measured in accordance with ASTM F-904-98 test method when the films of the present invention are peeled from a second thermoplastic film to which the film has been heat-sealed. The second interfacial peel strength, B, has a value of at least 400 gram-force/inch (154 newton/meter) as measured in accordance with ASTM F-904-98 test method when the films are peeled from and re-adhered to a second film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Tara Kay Cruz, Kevin Philip Nelson
  • Patent number: 8266873
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to vacuum skin packaging laminates. The laminates include a first film, a second film, an adhesive bonding the first film to the second film, and an adhesive-free interfacial section between the first and second films. The laminate is adapted to provide substantially horizontal first film-surface above the product for displaying product markings and a thermoformable second film-surface for conforming to the shape of the product. The present invention also is directed to vacuum skin packages formed from such laminates, and methods of packaging a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Otacilio Teixeira Berbert, Douglas Mark Latreille
  • Patent number: 8242185
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an adhesive composition comprising a crosslinkable acrylic copolymer, a multi-functionalized crosslinkable oligomer and a photoinitiator wherein the composition exhibits excellent wet out characteristics as reflected in a tan delta value of at least 0.5, preferably greater than 0.5, more preferable greater than 0.8 as measured at 20° C. resulting from a first curing stage, and improved stiffness and temperature resistance as reflected in a storage elastic modulus of at least 300,000 Pa at 20° C. and a shear adhesion failure temperature of at least 425° F. (218.3° C.) at 1 Kg/in2 (0.155 Kg/cm2), respectively, which result from a second sequential curing stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Morgan Adhesives Company
    Inventors: Timothy Michael Smith, Gary Allan McMaster
  • Patent number: 8147934
    Abstract: An easy-open package formed from a peelable thermoplastic laminate and adapted to peel open, whereby the manually tearing the package causes a removable strip to form thereby exposing a product enclosed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventor: Otacilio Teixeira Berbert
  • Patent number: 8119211
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bag-on-valve assembly comprising a valve stem and a flexible bag which is affixed to the valve stem and encapsulates a portion of said valve stem therein. The bag comprises a sealable thermoplastic film which is free of foil and is adapted to have an Tensile Energy to Break value of at least 150 in*ft-lbs in both the machine direction and transverse directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Edward Taylor, John Kenneth Nettekoven
  • Patent number: 8110259
    Abstract: Food packaging articles, food packaging films, and food packaging methods comprising a myoglobin blooming agent that promote or preserve the desirable appearance of food products are provided. The food contact layer of the packaging films comprises a myoglobin blooming agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan G. Siegel, Kevin Philip Nelson
  • Patent number: 8047368
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to vacuum skin packaging laminates. The laminates include a first film, a second film, an adhesive bonding the first film to the second film, and an adhesive-free interfacial section between the first and second films. The laminate is adapted to provide substantially horizontal first film-surface above the product for displaying product markings and a thermoformable second film-surface for conforming to the shape of the product. The present invention also is directed to vacuum skin packages formed from such laminates, and methods of packaging a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Otacilio Teixeira Berbert, Douglas Mark Latreille
  • Patent number: 8029893
    Abstract: Non-shrink, forming and nonforming thermoplastic webs comprising a myoglobin blooming agent on a food contact surface are useful for packaging fresh meat and other products to fix a desirable color on the surface of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan G. Siegel, Otacilio Teixeira Berbert, Kevin Philip Nelson, Gregory Robert Pockat
  • Patent number: 8000006
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rear-projection screen which encompasses 1) a flexible light-diffusive first film having a substantially smooth first surface and an opposing substantially smooth second surface, and comprising a wax-free amorphous thermoplastic matrix having a plurality of light-diffusing particles dispersed therein and which is lens-free; and 2) an opposing flexible light-absorption second film having a first surface and an opposing second surface, and comprising a thermoplastic matrix having a plurality of light-absorbing particles dispersed therein, wherein the first and second films are adapted to be 3) bonded together in direct contact with each other and then, affixed as a laminate to one or more transparent rigid substrates or 4) affixed individually to a transparent rigid substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Morgan Adhesives Company
    Inventors: Daniel Perotti, Guy Siraux
  • Patent number: 7993560
    Abstract: A process includes introducing a base polymer into an extruder, heating to a temperature sufficient to form a polymer melt, introducing a liquid such as water including an additive with mixing and subsequent vaporization and venting of the liquid to produce an extrudate having a uniform distribution of preferably uniformly small additive particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Philip Nelson, Dan G. Siegel
  • Patent number: 7927679
    Abstract: The present invention relates to peelable resealable multilayer films which include at least a first polymer layer, a second polymer layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive in direct contact with and bonded to both the first and third layers. The bond formed between the second and third layers includes a peelable resealable interface having a first interfacial peel strength, A, and a second interfacial peel strength, B. The peelable resealable interface includes a first interfacial peel strength, A, having a value of less than 3500 gram-force/inch (1350 newton/meter) as measured in accordance with ASTM F-904-98 test method when the films of the present invention are peeled from a second thermoplastic film to which the film has been heat-sealed. The second interfacial peel strength, B, has a value of at least 400 gram-force/inch (154 newton/meter) as measured in accordance with ASTM F-904-98 test method when the films are peeled from and re-adhered to a second film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Tara K. Cruz, Kevin P. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7879419
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional microstructure on a flat surface of a support, comprising the application of a first flat and uniform layer of silicone on said surface of support and the application on the first layer of silicone of a second three dimensionally microstructured layer of silicone, said first layer and second layer of silicone become integrally connected to thus form a common three-dimensional microstructure ensuring anti-adhesive properties distributed regularly on the surface of the support, so that any flexible surface of substrate, in particular a surface of adhesive deposited on said layers of silicone will be microstructured by inverse replication of the three-dimensional microstructure formed by the two layers of silicone, where said layers of silicone are fixed by hardening by heating or by exposure to an ultraviolet or electronic radiation, or a combination thereof, applications thereof and films, notably self-adhesive films, such as those microstructured by said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Morgan Adhesives Company
    Inventor: Robert Ghislain Stocq
  • Patent number: 7867531
    Abstract: Heat shrinkable, oxygen barrier, packaging films, methods of packaging and packages are provided having a myoglobin blooming agent to provide, promote, enhance or maintain a desirable coloration on the surface of a myoglobin-containing meat product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Robert Pockat, Thomas Andrew Schell, Dan G. Siegel, Kevin Philip Nelson, Otacilio Teixeira Berbert
  • Patent number: 7841633
    Abstract: A article-handling device includes a means of rotation, a vacuum conduit, and a first vacuum manifold, each rotatably mounted onto a stationary support shaft. The device further includes a second vacuum manifold affixed to the first vacuum manifold and a non-rotatable control valve which is operational synchronized with the rotation means to provide both vacuum pressure and atmospheric pressure independently to each of the first and second vacuum manifolds. Each of the vacuum manifolds comprises one or more tubular suction shafts each having a suction cup affixed thereto. The suction shafts of each vacuum manifold are spatially arranged such that at least a first suction shaft of the first vacuum manifold is substantially parallel to a first suction shaft of the second vacuum manifold thereby enabling the suction shafts to function as a paired unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Thomas Nankervis, Kenneth Eugene Nowak, Paul Edward Wegner
  • Patent number: 7762047
    Abstract: Packaging apparatus and method for inserting food articles into a bag of comparable size. The apparatus has a conveyor that orients the product along a longitudinal axis and delivers the food article to a tray disposed below the conveyor so the product drops from the conveyor and onto the tray. The tray and conveyor move at speeds selected so the product maintains its longitudinal orientation as it drops from the conveyor into the product tray. A bag scoop holds the bag mouth open while the tray carrying the product advances into the bag. A product stripper moves into a position behind the bagged product after passage of the tray so that when the tray returns to its start position, the stripper butts against the end of the product and holds the product while the tray slides out of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Stackley, Steve John Schult, David Lawrence Zuleger, Kenneth Eugene Nowak
  • Patent number: 7628391
    Abstract: A taped bag feeder having a housing with a bag guide positioned thereon, a drive mechanism, a first reel and second reel for supplying an assembly of imbricated taped bags to a packaging operation. The assembly of imbricated taped bags having a pair of tape strands connected to the first and second reels which are rotated by the drive mechanism thereby advancing the assembly. The first and second reels being disposed on a face of the bag feeder parallel to and spaced from a longitudinal axis defined by an upstream end and downstream end of the bag guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lawrence Zuleger, Steven John Schult, Kenneth Eugene Nowak
  • Patent number: 7504142
    Abstract: Film laminates for packaging applications having at least two polymer layers which are formed together as a coextruded blown film such that the first polymer layer is a surface layer relative to the film and comprises a heat-sealable material having a melt index of at least 20 g/10 min. The present invention further provides food packages formed from these film laminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher John Harvey
  • Patent number: 7493742
    Abstract: The present invention provides an assembly for controlling the rotational movement of a die wheel in packaging machinery and includes a first component operationally interconnected to both the die wheel and camshaft, and a second component physically connected to both the first component and the framework of the packaging machine wherein the second component is detachably mounted to the framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Edward Wegner
  • Patent number: 7422782
    Abstract: The present invention describes a multilayer film suitable for use in packaging applications comprising at least a polymeric first layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface wherein the polymeric first layer comprises a heat-sealable, water-insoluble polyester; a polymeric second layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface and comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive, wherein the second surface of the polymeric second layer is in contact with the first surface of the polymeric first layer and forms a peelable/resealable bond therebetween; and a third layer in contact with the first surface of the polymeric second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Haedt, Paul J. Sheridan, Joseph J. Michels, Lynn M. Nett