Patents Assigned to Sonoco Development, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20040226990
    Abstract: A composite container of paperboard has a polymeric film barrier layer on the inner surface thereof. A rolled bead is formed at a top end of the container and a membrane closure is bonded to the bead by a first heat seal material on the bead and a second heat seal material on the membrane. The heat seal materials preferably comprise ethylene acid copolymer such as methacrylic acid or acrylic acid, partially neutralized with zinc or sodium ions. A primer layer is disposed between the heat seal material on the bead and the polymer barrier layer of the container. The primer provides a high z-direction bond strength but is designed to fail in a shear tearing mode when peeling the membrane from the bead, such that the heat seal material on the bead is detached from the bead and remains attached to the membrane. The primer prevents tearing of the polymer barrier layer of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. Williams, Michael T. Drummond
  • Patent number: 6815022
    Abstract: One or more sheet material layers in a multi-layer laminated structure is reinforced by adhesive bridges that extend through openings in the layer and tie together the layers on either side of the reinforced layer. A plurality of openings are provided in the layer or layers to be reinforced. The openings are spaced apart and distributed over the surface of the layer. Accordingly, when the layer is incorporated into a multi-layer structure, the adhesive applied to the layer, or to the layers on either side thereof, is forced through the openings so that a continuous adhesive connection is formed between the layers on opposite sides of the reinforced layer via the adhesive bridges that extend through the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Renck, Stéphane Demare
  • Publication number: 20040202809
    Abstract: A process for extrusion blow molding an article, and an extrusion blow-molded article, in which a solid radially outwardly extending flange is blown into the tubular side wall of the article. A circumferentially extending groove is formed in the inner surface of the mold that molds the tubular side wall of the article. A parison of molten thermoplastic material is extruded and the parison is inflated by blowing to blow the parison against the walls of a mold. During inflation, the groove is filled by the molten thermoplastic material. The material that filled the groove forms a solid radially outwardly extending flange molded to the tubular side wall of the article. A portion of the article extending above the flange is severed in a single cutting step to form an article having an outward flange at its top end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kent Martin, Manson Drew Case
  • Publication number: 20040185205
    Abstract: A wound tube comprising at least two plies having a cold seal adhesive or cohesive layer for bonding the plies together. The plies are wrapped spirally about an axis to form a tube, which may then be cut to appropriate lengths. Once formed, the tubes may be used in a variety of applications including as cores for hygienic paper rolls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Johannes W. van de Camp
  • Publication number: 20040182500
    Abstract: There is provided a paperboard tube structure with an intermediate ply having cut-and-folded tabs to increase the effective thickness of the intermediate ply. The paperboard tube includes a plurality of paperboard plies wrapped one atop another about an axis with the intermediate ply positioned between an interior paperboard ply and an exterior paperboard ply. A plurality of cut-and-folded tabs are each created by a nonlinear incision in the intermediate ply that extends from a first endpoint to a second endpoint thereby creating a folding axis along a line from the first endpoint to the second endpoint. The tab is folded about the folding axis to overlie a region of the intermediate ply adjacent the folding axis. The tabs increase the effective thickness of the wall of the paperboard tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Wim van de Camp, Xiaokai Niu
  • Publication number: 20040170773
    Abstract: A packaging material, a method of making such a material, and a package made from such material, are disclosed. A substrate comprises at least one sheet of plastic material. An energy-curable coating is applied to one side of the substrate, which will be the outside of the eventual package. The energy-curable coating is cured by exposing it to an electron beam or other appropriate energy. A cold-seal cohesive coating is applied to the other side of the substrate. The package is formed by pressing together portions of the inside surface of at least one sheet of the material having the cold-seal cohesive coating on them to form a seal. Preferably, the cold-seal cohesive coating is applied only to those portions of the material that are to form seams in the eventual package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Huffer, Jeffrey M. Schuetz
  • Patent number: 6783623
    Abstract: A method of making a spirally wound dry bonded paperboard structure. The method includes adding a radio frequency active adhesive to the paperboard pulp stock during the paperboard fabrication process to first produce an RF active adhesive impregnated paperboard. The impregnated paperboard is then exposed to an RF energy field prior to or during winding, which activates the adhesive. The invention eliminates the need to apply a water-based adhesive to the paperboard prior to forming the structure, thereby reducing water migration into the paperboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy E. Morin, Krishnaraju Varadarajan
  • Patent number: 6779750
    Abstract: A carrier tube includes a vacuum draw system for promoting receipt of a yarn tail end within a circumferential start-up groove of the tube. The draw system includes angled air-scoop openings extending through the tube wall adjacent the start-up groove to move air through the tube rotation. Each of the angled openings includes a narrowed venturi portion creating a zone of reduced pressure. The system further includes passages extending between the start-up groove and the narrowed portions of the air-scoop openings to connect the start-up groove to the reduced pressure of the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Couchey, Victor J. DesRosiers, James P. Stevens
  • Patent number: 6779751
    Abstract: A textile tube on which yarn is wound to form a pack comprises a body having a tubular body extending between opposed ends and an outer surface. At least one recessed score is defined proximate at least one end of the tube body. The recessed score has a substantially rectangular shape wherein the width of the recessed score is at least about five times the depth of the recessed score. As such, the recessed score provides more surface area for capturing yarn during a winding procedure. The recessed score also retains a substantially constant shape regardless of the moisture content of the tube, which is particularly advantageous when the tube body is formed of paperboard or other hygroscopic material. Methods of reconditioning the surface of the recessed score in order to improve the tube lifespan are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Tony F. Rummage
  • Publication number: 20040159983
    Abstract: A solid outwardly projecting flange is formed on the side wall of a blow-molded article by providing a blow mold having a circumferential groove that is filled by flowable thermoplastic during a blow cycle. The mold includes a heating system locally disposed adjacent the groove for heating the walls of the groove so as to heat the thermoplastic in this region, thereby reducing the viscosity of the thermoplastic so that it more-readily flows into and completely fills the groove. The mold can also include a cooling system disposed locally adjacent the groove for cooling the flange of the blow-molded article prior to ejection of the article from the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenan J. Clougherty
  • Patent number: 6776301
    Abstract: A cap with a way-one valve solves two distinct problems in the field of packaging materials that emit gasses, providing both a means to prevent a package from deforming under pressure built up inside the package, and a means to reseal the package. The cap comprises an inner wall extending downwardly from an inner portion of the top wall to define a cavity. An insert valve is mounted within the cavity, forming a seal with the inside wall. The upper surface of the insert valve, inner wall, and the top wall define a chamber with a gas escape path. A septum is disposed within the chamber, the septum seated on the insert valve and sealing one or more apertures in the insert valve. The septum is capable of at least partially unseating in response to force exerted by increased gas pressure acting through the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Birgitt Torres-White, David E. McKnight, Jon Trollen
  • Publication number: 20040144885
    Abstract: Wide ply gaps are intentionally introduced into one or more plies in a radially intermediate zone of the wall of a spirally wound tube. Each ply having wide ply gaps is narrower than the width that would ordinarily be employed at a given spiral winding angle to achieve a butt joint between adjacent edges of consecutive turns of the ply, and the ply is wound at that given spiral winding angle in such a manner that gaps are defined between the adjacent edges of the consecutive turns of the ply. The wide ply gaps have the effect of increasing the compliance of the intermediate zone of the tube wall in the radial direction. Such increased radial compliance has been found to improve the ID stiffness of the tube relative to a tube constructed of the same materials but having no ply gaps in the intermediate zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Yanping Qiu, Johannes W. van de Camp, Mark P. Burns, Xiaokai Niu, Cliff A. Bellum
  • Patent number: 6761675
    Abstract: A tubular composite container includes a paperboard body ply wrapped into a tubular shape, and a polymer film liner ply wrapped into a tubular shape and adhered to the inner surface of the body ply. The liner ply has a circumferential length when unwrapped and flat that is less than that of the body ply so that the liner ply is substantially uncompressed circumferentially. A strip of polymer film liner material is wrapped onto a mandrel and overlapping edge portions of the liner strip are heat sealed together by first preheating the liner strip to a temperature below the sealing temperature of the heat seal material on the edge portions of the liner strip, and then further heating the overlap region of the liner strip to at least the sealing temperature to cause heat sealing of the edge portions. A paperboard strip is coated on an inner surface with adhesive and is then wrapped about the liner and adhered thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Drummond, Alan Williams, Ray Adams
  • Publication number: 20040131809
    Abstract: Packages and methods for protecting oxygen-sensitive products from damage or degradation due to oxygen contamination are provided. The packages contain at least two oxygen scavenging materials having different oxygen scavenging properties, arranged so that oxygen contamination from different sources is effectively eliminated. Preferred packages contain at least one oxygen scavenging material to effectively absorb head space oxygen, and at least one oxygen scavenging material to effectively absorb ingress oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: David E. McKnight
  • Publication number: 20040121891
    Abstract: A machine and process for forming a container are disclosed. In one method, at least one layer forming the container is directed to a first cutting device, which forms a cut at least partially through the at least one layer. A downstream second cutting device forms a cut at least partially through the at least one layer, such that the cuts cooperate to form a cut substantially the width of the at least one layer. By only cutting a portion of the at least one layer with the first cutting device, the machine can pull or direct the at least one layer therethrough, while the second cutting device cuts the remaining portions of the at least one layer so that the individual containers can be easily formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Manson Drew Case
  • Publication number: 20040118904
    Abstract: A container for protectively encapsulating a product, such as a perishable food product, during shipment and display. The container includes a tubular body constructed of a composite sheet material and defining a receptacle for receiving the food product. An outer surface of the body defines an edge surrounding an entrance of the receptacle. An end closure abuts the edge of the tubular body so as to extend over the entrance. Extending over the end closure and the outer surface of the body is a film sleeve that serves to secure the end closure to the body. An adhesive can be used to seal the film sleeve to the end closure and body so as to hermetically seal a juncture between the end closure and the body. A score line on the film sleeve facilitates opening of the container while extending only partially through the film sleeve to preserve its barrier properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Thor Versluys
  • Patent number: 6752264
    Abstract: A pouch includes multiple chambers for separate containment of liquid components or liquid and dry components. A fitment having a bore is secured at an end of the pouch. The fitment also includes passages extending from a lower portion of the bore to the chambers to provide for fluid transfer therebetween. A closure includes a cap threadedly engaging an upper portion of the bore and a plug received by a lower portion of the bore to close the passages and prevent fluid transfer between the chambers. The plug including a breakable stem for separation between the plug and the cap. Engagement between the cap and the bore without the plug providing for mixture components within the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Thor Versluys
  • Patent number: 6743492
    Abstract: A laminate for coffee packaging is defined. The laminate includes an inorganic gas barrier layer, a strength layer, and an energy cured coating. The laminate provides as good or better barrier properties as a conventional laminate for coffee packaging. However, the laminate of the present invention has non-migratory, “reacted-in” slip agents. Further, the new laminate is more economical to produce than is the conventional laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Bray, David E. McKnight
  • Publication number: 20040103369
    Abstract: The present invention provides a library file having a plurality of object-oriented functions for displaying data in tabular form via a web-browser. A separate display file is created that calls out desired functions from the library file in order to display a table having desired attributes. Importantly, the present invention allows multiple tables having different formatting and functionality to be displayed on the same web page. Further, the present invention allows a table to be defined having a body with independent formatting from that of at least one of a header and a footer of the table, such that when the table is displayed, the body is scrollable, while the header and footer remain fixed. The present invention also allows for defining borders and fonts, editing, and navigation within the table. Further, changes made to the table may be stored in a log for use in updating a remote database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Robertson, Richard Range
  • Patent number: 6739500
    Abstract: A tubular container for fragile products is provided according to the present invention that includes a flexible end closure that moves inwardly against the products when vacuum is applied during packaging for providing cushioning support to the products. The flexible end closure is secured to an end of a tubular body wall having opposed ends and inner and outer surfaces and comprises a wound strip of material. A flexible liner having opposed end portions is secured to respective ends of the tubular body by way of an adhesive band between the liner and the inner surface of the tubular body wall. The flexible liner thus has a free medial portion between the end portions which moves inwardly against the products when vacuum is applied. A vent hole may be formed through the body ply and an outer label by way of a laser for allowing the passage of air therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Gentile, Veronique Sins, J. Mark Morrow, James W. Lowry, Kenan Clougherty