Patents Assigned to Sonoco Development, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6435436
    Abstract: A re-usable yarn carrier includes a tube having an annular recess formed in an outer peripheral surface adjacent one end of the tube. The annular recess defines a marking surface located radially inward from the outer peripheral surface. The marking surface includes markings, for example, colored bands, bar code or the like, for identifying at least one characteristic of the yarn wound onto the carrier. The marking surface may further include a knurled surface, slip-resistant coating, hooks or the like, for catching the yam at the start of the winding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Auten
  • Publication number: 20020110656
    Abstract: A flexible non-foil-based packaging material for retort packages comprises a three-layer lamination including a layer of metallized polyester providing a gas barrier function. An outer layer of polyester is laminated to one side of the layer of metallized polyester, and an inner layer of cast polypropylene is laminated to an opposite side of the layer of metallized polyester. In another embodiment, a two-layer lamination is provided having a metallized polyester outer layer laminated to a cast polypropylene inner layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis J. Bensur
  • Patent number: 6422455
    Abstract: A tubular container for expansible food products is provided according to the present invention that includes a flexible liner having opposed end portions secured to respective ends of a tubular body wall. The tubular body wall has opposed ends and inner and outer surfaces and comprises a wound strip of material having opposed side edges. An end closure is secured to each end of the tubular body wall and can hermetically seal the container. A vent hole may be formed through the body wall and the label by way of a laser for allowing the passage of air therethrough. The flexible liner is secured to the respective ends of the tubular body wall by way of an adhesive band between the liner and the inner surface of the tubular body wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenda J. Cahill, James W. Lowry
  • Patent number: 6418822
    Abstract: A cut-off apparatus for non-circular tubes includes an axially movable carriage supporting one or more cutter assemblies and a drive system for driving the carriage synchronously with an advancing tubes. The advancing tube is received over a cutting mandrel mounted for movement with the carriage. The one or more cutter assemblies are disposed within the mandrel and comprise radially movable knives that are extended outward so as to cut the tube from the inside. The knives are urged radially outwardly by a cam moved by a control rod disposed within the mandrel. A clamp assembly is mounted on the carriage radially outwardly of the tube aligned with a cutter assembly, and includes clamp members that move inwardly to clamp the tube from the outside to restrain the tube against radially outward movement when being cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Manson Drew Case
  • Patent number: 6419351
    Abstract: An improved plunger for a lithographic printing ink cartridge prevents air entrapment between the plunger and the ink when the plunger is pressed into the ink during cartridge assembly. The plunger bottom portion has a positive radius and a textured surface that facilitates the flow of air away from the center of the plunger toward the cartridge sidewall as the plunger is pressed into the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca A. Lawson, James W. Lowry, Keith R. Rea
  • Publication number: 20020088723
    Abstract: A shipping package for protecting a fragile item such as a sample vial comprises a crush-resistant inner container comprising a tube formed from spirally wound fibrous plies adhered together, and an outer container surrounding the inner container. The outer container comprises a semi-rigid can formed of fluid-impervious, flexible polymer and having a receptacle portion and a closure portion releasably fastenable to the receptacle portion so as to render the outer container substantially impervious to fluid outside the outer container. The inner container preferably has a liner of absorbent material. The outer container preferably is formed of polyethylene teraphthalate. The receptacle and closure portions of the outer container preferably are threaded so that the closure portion is screwed onto the receptacle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: James Lowry, Graeme Stuart Durban Boyd-Moss, Francisco P. Olano
  • Patent number: 6409078
    Abstract: A composite can having improved “green” strength is made by pattern printing adhesive onto the exterior label or cover such that the adhesive covers less than 100 percent of the surface of the label. The total amount of adhesive applied between the label and the paperboard body wall is thereby reduced, so that less moisture is added on to the paperboard relative to conventional can-making processes in which adhesive is flooded onto the entire surface of the label. A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an easy-open can, such as a dough can, having the adhesive applied with relatively denser coverage on the portion of the label that overlies the spiral butt joint that is formed between edges of the spirally wound paperboard body ply, and with relatively less dense coverage on other portions of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Krishnaraju Varadarajan
  • Patent number: 6394385
    Abstract: A tubular or ring-shaped core for winding pressure-sensitive tape has a paper board body and a release-coated outermost ply formed of a strip of polymer film having a release coating on its outer surface and a tacky adhesive layer on its inner surface. The strip is wound onto the core with one edge of the strip folded outwardly away from the core so as to expose the tacky adhesive layer on the folded edge. This folded edge is overlapped by the opposite edge of the strip, thereby placing the tacky adhesive layers on the two edges in contact with each other. A firm bond between the overlapping edges is achieved by the adhesive-to-adhesive contact. In a preferred embodiment, the overlapping edge of the strip overlaps slightly beyond the folded edge onto the unfolded outer surface of the strip. This unfolded portion is treated to promote adhesion of the overlapping edge thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Rhodes, Krishnaraju Varadarajan, Richard K. Mims
  • Patent number: 6383592
    Abstract: A film bag is disclosed for containing articles, such as candies, food and other items. The film bag is made from a laminate that includes an inner layer and an outer layer with printed indicia formed on it. The outer layer includes a fixed portion which is attached to the inner layer with a permanent adhesive. The outer layer also includes a removable sticker portion which is substantially coplanar with the fixed portion. The removable sticker portion is attached to the inner layer with a pressure sensitive adhesive. Preferably, at least part of the pressure sensitive adhesive on the removable portion is separated from the permanent adhesive on the fixed portion by a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Lowry, Jeffrey M Schuetz, Krishnaraju Varadarajan
  • Patent number: 6378763
    Abstract: A container having a window for viewing the product contained therein and an associated method of manufacture is provided. The container is constructed of at least one body ply and a liner ply. The body ply defines at least one aperture therethrough such that when the body ply is wrapped into a tubular shape the aperture forms a window through the body ply into the container. The liner ply extends across the aperture in the body ply and has a sufficiently low opacity that allows the product in the container to be viewed through the window. The liner ply provides a moisture and gas barrier inside the container around the product. The container may include a label ply. The label ply defines at least one aperture therethrough. The cutting of the at least one aperture in the label ply is registered. The body ply defines at least one aperture therethrough corresponding to the at least one aperture in the label ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Nelson, James L. Lowry
  • Patent number: 6367626
    Abstract: A Clearview packaging assembly for containing an irregular shaped appliance such as a washer or dryer is provided. The assembly comprises a clamshell-like framework placed around the appliance and wrapped tightly in transparent film. The framework includes a hinged top cap, front corner posts glued to the front portion of the top cap, rear corner posts glued to the rear portion of the top cap, front and rear bottom pieces glued to the lower ends of the corner posts, and a basiloid piece glued to the two rear corner posts. The top cap and the basiloid piece cooperate to form a three-layer thick basiloid handling flange to facilitate basiloid lifting of the packaging assembly with the appliance contained therein. The top cap has triangular shaped side walls that, along with the front corner posts, maintain the structural integrity of the package and prevent trapezoiding during basiloid handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: David B. Muyskens
  • Patent number: 6360909
    Abstract: A closure for sealing a product container. The closure includes a body, a frangible seal and a lid. The body includes a flange which projects downward from the seal and a skirt which projects upward from the seal. The flange is engagable with the interior surface of the container and the skirt retains a reclosable lid in its closed position. The frangible seal covers an opening in the body and has a tear strip which is defined by a pair of spaced-apart grooves. An integral finger grip is located at one end of the tear strip. The finger grip has a pair of upwardly-angled gripping tabs which are attached to the tear strip by a spacer. The lid is tethered to the skirt and includes a lifting tab. The tether and the lifting tab are located in respective notches in the upper edge of the skirt when the lid is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike Bridge
  • Patent number: 6352605
    Abstract: A three-dimensional laminated structure and method for making same are provided. The method involves die-cutting a plurality of sheets, including cutting through the sheets around part of the periphery of selected sections, aligning and bonding the sheets, and forming the selected sections out-of-plane with a forming tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Hunt
  • Patent number: 6350500
    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 strip includes a heat seal layer facing the body ply that is formed of a heat-sealable material, and the inner surface of the liner ply that contacts the mandrel is formed of a hard polymer material whose melting temperature is substantially higher than the sealing temperature at which the heat-sealable material softens and seals to itself. One edge portion of the liner ply is folded inward toward the mandrel, the liner ply is wrapped onto the mandrel such that the folded edge portion overlaps an opposite edge portion of the liner ply, and the heat seal layer on the folded edge portion is heat sealed to the opposite edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Drummond, Alan Williams, Gerald Gainey
  • Publication number: 20020014523
    Abstract: A sealed composite container for products is provided having a paperboard body ply with a liner ply adhered on the inner surface thereof. One end of the container is rolled outwardly to form a rim and exposing the inner surface of the liner ply, which comprises a heat sealable composition. A lid for the container, also having a layer of heat sealable composition, is placed adjacent to the exposed heat sealable composition of the container liner and heat sealed thereto. The heat seal has both an inner and an outer bead formed on either side of the heat sealed area, wherein the inner bead comprises a larger amount of the heat seal compositions than the outer bead. A method and apparatus for forming the heat seal is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Applicant: Sonoco Development Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Drummond, Alan D. Williams, Floyd H. Boatwright, Jeffrey M. Schuetz
  • Patent number: 6334391
    Abstract: An improved ink cartridge dispensing valve system for use with a printing press ink cartridge is provided. The valve system works on the same principle as a ball valve to automatically dispense ink when subjected to pressure. The valve system includes an attachment post and an attachable nozzle. The attachment post is an integral part of the dispensing end of the ink cartridge and is recessed so that the cartridge can be easily shipped without damaging the attachment post. The attachable nozzle fits over the attachment post and opens or closes depending on whether pressure is placed on it by the ink in the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith R. Rea, Patrick B. Keese
  • Patent number: 6309717
    Abstract: Composite paperboard container constructions, providing optimized axial crush strength, and related properties, are formed of one, two, or three structural paperboard plies that are arranged to form a layered body wall having a cross-section of the construction in the ordered structure, high compression strength paperboard layer\low compression strength paperboard layer\high compression strength paperboard layer. Preferably, the container body is formed of one or two structural plies and at least one structural ply is a multiple layer paperboard having both high compression strength and low compression strength paperboard layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Yanping Qiu, Patrick Trevanion, Yiming Wang, Terry D. Gerhardt, Glenda Cahill, Richard Skiff
  • Patent number: 6302321
    Abstract: A sealed composite container for products is provided having a paperboard body ply with a liner ply adhered on the inner surface thereof. One end of the container is rolled outwardly to form a rim and exposing the inner surface of the liner ply. A lid is heat sealed to the rim of the container. The dual-layer sealant composition layer of the lid comprises a base layer, such as high density polyethylene, and an adjacent frangible layer, such as ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, the frangible layer being operatively positioned for heat sealing to the rim of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry R. Reese, Jeffrey M. Schuetz, Alan D. Williams
  • Patent number: 6296600
    Abstract: A multi-ply tubular container for products is provided having a first ply wrapped into a tubular shape and having an inner surface and a second ply wrapped into a tubular shape and having an outer surface positioned in face-to-face contact with the inner surface of the first ply. At least one of the first and second plies is a body ply formed of fibrous paperboard. A foamed adhesive is placed between the inner surface of the first ply and the outer surface of the second ply. The foamed adhesive reduces moisture contact with the paperboard body ply and results in increased container strength and lower manufacturing costs. The foamed adhesive is preferably a foamed aqueous adhesive. The foamed adhesive may be a substantially pure resin adhesive or a mixture of a resin and at least one filler. The two plies may comprise a paperboard body ply and a liner ply adhered together using a foamed adhesive placed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Drummond, Alan D. Williams
  • Patent number: 6290091
    Abstract: A substantially cylindrical beverage container holder manufactured from a sheet of recycled pressed paper pulp is provided. The sheet is die cut form a blank having large and small opposing substantially rectangular sides connected by a bottom portion. The large side has a center panel and two glue flaps attached to the center panel by vertical fold lines. The bottom portion is substantially circular to conform to the shape of a beverage can and has fold lines that allow the blank to be folded so that the two rectangular sides are brought together in facing relationship. The large side glue flaps are glued to the small side to form a flat holder having vertical edges. The holder is opened by gently squeezing along the vertical edges, thereby creating an open top end for receiving a beverage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Allen Ray Bell