Patents by Inventor Charles Duane Mullins

Charles Duane Mullins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method for packaging fiber material
    Patent number: 9598184
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • PACKAGES, PACKAGING SYSTEMS, METHODS FOR PACKAGING AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING
    Publication number: 20140182247
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Packages, packaging systems, methods for packaging and apparatus for packaging
    Patent number: 8671652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • APPARATUS FOR FORMING A BALE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES
    Publication number: 20120167785
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for forming a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces. Also described is a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces, which can be safely stacked vertically for transportation and storage purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Kenneth Wayne Martin, David Weldon Thompson, Paul Ross Hammes, Kenneth Alan Lewis, Lori Ballard Larkins
  • Method and apparatus for forming a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces
    Patent number: 8156862
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for forming a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces. Also described is a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces, which can be safely stacked vertically for transportation and storage purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Kenneth Wayne Martin, David Weldon Thompson, Paul Ross Hammes, Kenneth Alan Lewis, Lori Ballard Larkins
  • PACKAGES, PACKAGING SYSTEMS, METHODS FOR PACKAGING AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING
    Publication number: 20110203228
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Packages, packaging systems, methods for packaging and apparatus for packaging
    Patent number: 7958696
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • PACKAGES, PACKAGING SYSTEMS, METHODS FOR PACKAGING AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING
    Publication number: 20100236194
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A BALE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES
    Publication number: 20100199864
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for forming a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces. Also described is a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces, which can be safely stacked vertically for transportation and storage purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Kenneth Wayne Martin, David Weldon Thompson, Paul Ross Hammes, Kenneth Alan Lewis, Lori Ballard Larkins
  • Packages, packaging systems, methods for packaging and apparatus for packaging
    Patent number: 7739857
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Method and apparatus for forming a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces
    Patent number: 7730832
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for forming a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces. Also described is a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces, which can be safely stacked vertically for transportation and storage purposes. The apparatus comprises upper and lower platens having a protruding surface for compressing the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of a compressible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Kenneth Wayne Martin, David Weldon Thompson, Paul Ross Hammes, Kenneth Alan Lewis, Lori Ballard Larkins
  • Packages, packaging systems, methods for packaging and apparatus for packaging
    Patent number: 7306093
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, III, Gregory Kyle Nelson
  • Packages, packaging systems, methods for packaging and apparatus for packaging
    Publication number: 20040159658
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Ray McLaughlin, Charles Duane Mullins, Charles Clifton Sanders, Hillard Birdell Smithers, Gregory Kyle Nelson