Patents Represented by Attorney William D. Lee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5147594
    Abstract: This invention relates to extruding films made from vinylidene chloride copolymers. Specifically, this invention relates to a method for lowering the oxygen permeability and enhancing the thermal stability and enhancing the melt shear stability of packaging films having a layer of vinylidene chloride copolymer film by adding a processing aid such as an epoxy resin to vinylidene chloride copolymer of low molecular weight. The conventional stabilizer/plasticizer combination of epoxy resin and 2-ethyl-hexyl diphenyl phosphate may be employed with the vinylidene chloride copolymer. The layer of vinylidene chloride copolymer can be as thin as 0.18 mil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Moffitt
  • Patent number: 5145633
    Abstract: A container such as a jerry can can be produced with one or more handles molded with the blow molded body of the container. This invention eliminates the need for separate injection molded inserts. A first pair of molds, and a second pair of molds having a lower and upper section, are used in the apparatus to close a top portion and a bottom and/or draped portions of a standard parison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: George W. Hawkins, III
  • Patent number: 5142842
    Abstract: A film/foil panel comprises a substrate such as a thermoformed film; a first film/foil combination; an insulating material; a second film/foil combination; a top web in sealing relationship to the substrate; the film/foil combinations substantially enclosing therebetween the insulating material; and the insulating material and enclosing film/foil combinations disposed between and enclosed by the substrate and top web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Henry G. Schirmer
  • Patent number: 5139831
    Abstract: An impact resistant film suitable for medical solution pouches and the packaging of parenteral materials generally includes an interior layer of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer and outer layers of a propylene homopolymer or copolymer blended with a styrene ethylene butylene styrene copolymer. In some cases, a flexible copolyester may be substituted for one of the outer blend materials. Sacrificial layers may be optionally included on one or both outer surfaces of the film to improve processing. Additional interior layers of olefin polymers and copolymers such as EVA, and polymeric adhesive layers can also be included. At least one of the EVA or polymeric adhesive layers preferably includes a carbonate of an alkali metal. The flexible copolyester layer preferably includes a high molecular weight stabilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Walter B. Mueller
  • Patent number: 5118561
    Abstract: A barrier foam tray contains recycled reclaim of barrier foam. The tray comprises a sheet of foamed polystyrene (PS) having laminated to it a flexible barrier film. The foamed polystyrene part can have admixed therein from 0.0001% up to 30% by weight of the flexible barrier film. The barrier film contains a barrier polymer such as ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH). The tray is made by grinding laminate scrap and extruding reclaim therefrom with virgin polystyrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Gerald G. Gusavage, Thomas A. Hessen, Thomas R. Hardy, Susan R. Flye, Henry G. Schirmer
  • Patent number: 5110390
    Abstract: Laminated sheet material 9 comprises a laminate of a polyvinyl alcohol or other water-disintegratable film 12 with a thin coextruded film comprising a melt-bondable layer 15 and an impermeable layer 14. The laminate is odor impermeable but water disposable and so can be used to form a toilet-disposable ostomy bag by melt-sealing around the edges 10 between the facing melt-sealable surfaces 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Francesco Martini, Luigi Perazzo
  • Patent number: 5110677
    Abstract: A multilayer laminate comprises a machinable inner component perforated film, preferably of a propylene homopolymer or copolymer, a first outer component film bonded to one side of the inner component film, and a second outer component film bonded to the opposite side of the inner component film, each of the first and second outer component films providing high gas permeability and low moisture transmission and including a bonding layer of ethylene copolymers and an outer heat sealable layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Charles R. Barmore, Henry G. Schirmer
  • Patent number: 5110530
    Abstract: Striped films of the invention can have two or more preferably polymeric layers, of which at least one continuous or discontinuous layer includes a pigmented resin. The striped film is produced by modifying conventional coextrusion dies to restrict the flow of a pigmented melt stream. The result is a striped film useful for identifying the contents of a package made from the film, tamper evidence, counterfeit protection and verification of properties. The stripes can be of one or more colors, and vary in width and spacing. The pigment can be a material visible in ordinary light, or a material invisible in ordinary light but visible in e.g. ultraviolet light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Marvin R. Havens
  • Patent number: 5106688
    Abstract: The packaging of high profile, high abuse products, like bone-in meat cuts and/or fresh/processed fish, often results in vacuum loss, especially when the vacuum skin packaging (VSP) process is used. To reduce this problem a highly formable, highly abuse resistant film is provided wherein at least 25% of the total thickness comprises ionomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: John G. Bradfute, Claudio Freschi
  • Patent number: 5106545
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for increasing the orientation rate during manufacturing a heat-shrinkable (oriented) polymeric film including: (a) introducing a pro-rad agent to a cross-linkable polymer by blending the cross-linking agent with the cross-linkable polymer, (b) extruding the blended cross-linkable polymer, (c) subjecting the extruded polymer to irradiation, (d) orienting the extruded polymer in at least one direction, and (e) recovering an oriented polymeric film, wherein (f) both the original amount of pro-rad agent and the dosage of irradiation are to an extent sufficient to provide an amount of cross-linking effective to accomplish an increased orientation rate during the orientation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Warren
  • Patent number: 5096761
    Abstract: A masking film suitable for masking during electrostatic spray painting is disclosed. In one embodiment the masking film is made from an acid copolymer/quaternary amine mixture which is permanently antistatic. The acid copolymer is a copolymer of (i) a major amount by mol % of an alpha-olefin of the formula RCH.dbd.CH.sub.2 wherein R is H or C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl, and (ii) a minor amount by mol % of an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. The quaternary amine is of the formula [(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4)N].sup.+ [X].sup.- wherein R.sup.1 is selected from H, aryl, or C.sub.1 to C.sub.50 alkyl optionally having one or more non-contiguous C.dbd.O or NHC.dbd.O or --S-- or --O-- in the carbon chain, or the same as R.sup.2 ; each of R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 is the same or different and selected from H, C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more OH or from --(R.sup.5 --O).sub.a --H where a is an integer from 1 to 10 and R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: William P. Roberts, Charles R. Morgan, Marvin R. Havens
  • Patent number: 5089073
    Abstract: A multilayer laminated film useful in chub packaging comprises a core film comprising a biaxially oriented film, and an outer hot blown film bonded to each of the opposing surfaces of the core layer, at least one of the films including a layer of an oxygen barrier polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Henry G. Schirmer
  • Patent number: 5088268
    Abstract: A vacuum chamber has its cover 11 adjustable in height by way of two rams 37 and 38 which lift a chamber cover ceiling 39 relative to a sidewall assembly 35, with the agency of an equalizing cylinder 41 to ensure identical lifting and lowering of the ceiling. During adjustment, an inflatable seal 33 around the periphery of the ceiling 39 is relaxed to allow the sliding movement and then after adjustment the seal 33 is re-inflated to ensure complete sealing between the ceiling 39 and the sidewall assembly 35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Werner Gunter
  • Patent number: 5089352
    Abstract: Described is the presence of both a chemical cross linking agent and irradiation such as electron beam irradiation, in the manufacturing process for making an oriented, i.e. heat-shrinkable, polymeric film. The presence of both results in an amount of cross-linking that is effective to accomplish an increased orientation rate during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Steven B. Garland, Thomas C. Warren
  • Patent number: 5086924
    Abstract: In order to reduce splitting in a perforated, heat shrinkable, thermoplastic bags made from seamless tubing, rather than employ needle punched perforations, it has been discovered that slits cut by a knife blade will surprisingly reduce the splitting when a product, such as a meat product, is cooked within the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co. - Conn.
    Inventor: Timothy T. Oberle
  • Patent number: 5087462
    Abstract: Discoloration of meat products due to oxygen starvation in stacked packages is significantly reduced by applying a textured surface to the bottom of the packages. A discrete textured film may be adhered to a tray or supporting member, or the tray or supporting member may itself be textured at its bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn
    Inventors: Solomon Bekele, Allen C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5084324
    Abstract: A micro-bubble laminate is made by drawing a heated thermoplastic film through the perforations of a perforated substrate laminated to the film. The bubbles may then be trapped by laminating an additional thermoplastic layer to the laminate construction. This laminate may be used in producing air cushioning or bubble laminates, and the inventive process avoids the intricate and expensive machinery typically used in the production of air cushioning materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Henry G. Schirmer
  • Patent number: 5079051
    Abstract: Disclosed is an oriented, heat-shrinkable, packaging film having a layer of polyamide or polyester. The film has a high shrink energy and high modulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Steven B. Garland, Donald J. d'Entremont
  • Patent number: 5076436
    Abstract: In a vacuum skin package wrinkles and weak spots are avoided by providing a tray as the support or backing member rather than a flat sheet, the angle of the walls as they diverge outwardly being 91.degree. to 160.degree.. Especially useful is such a package when provided with a lid for stacking purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Ermanno Bortolani, Enzo Vassarotti
  • Patent number: 5075143
    Abstract: A multi-layer film useful in vacuum skin packaging and other vacuum packaging applications, and having a combination of good implosion resistance, formability and high oxygen barrier characteristics, includes a core layer having an oxygen barrier material, intermediate layers of EVA or other ethylene homopolymer or copolymers, polymeric adhesive layers which bond the intermediate layers to respective surfaces of the core layer, a first outer heat-sealable layer, a second outer heat resistant layer, and two moisture resistant layers disposed between respective outer and intermediate layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Solomon Bekele