Patents by Inventor Gerald Hutchinson

Gerald Hutchinson 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).

  • Publication number: 20070087131
    Abstract: Coated articles may comprise one or more coating layers, including water resistant coatings. A method comprises applying such coating layers by treating the article substrate by one or more methods selected from flame treatment, corona treatment, ionized air treatment, plasma air treatment and plasma arc treatment and dip, spray or flow coating. Additionally, a method comprises injection molding a first substrate material to form an article, treating the article surface by one or more methods selected from flame treatment, corona treatment, ionized air treatment, plasma air treatment and plasma arc treatment, and overmolding the article substrate with one or more barrier materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Gerald Hutchinson, Robert Lee, Said Farha, Sriram Tharmapuram
  • Publication number: 20060292323
    Abstract: Coated articles may comprise one or more coating layers, including water resistant coatings. A method comprises applying such coating layers by dip, spray or flow coating. The methods can make coated containers, preferably comprising polyethylene terephthalate, from coated preforms. In some methods, the aqueous solutions, dispersions, or emulsions are substantially or completely free of VOCs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Gerald Hutchinson, Robert Lee, Said Farha, Sriram Tharmapuram
  • Publication number: 20060159797
    Abstract: Disclosed is a preferred apparatus and method of molding preforms having a crystalline or semi-crystalline neck finish. The apparatus is an injection mold for producing preforms, which are then molded into plastic bottles and containers, such as for containing beverages and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Lee, Gerald Hutchinson
  • Publication number: 20060157896
    Abstract: Disclosed are plastic preforms and containers in which the materials in the neck, neck finish and/or neck cylinder are at least partially in the crystalline state and the body is primarily in the amorphous or semi-crystalline state. This structure in a preform enables the preform to be easily blow molded by virtue of the amorphous material in the body, while maintaining dimensional stability in hot-fill applications. In addition, the amorphous inner surface of the neck finish stabilizes the post mold dimensions allowing closer molding tolerances than other crystallizing processes. The crystallized outer surface of the preform supports the amorphous structure during high temperature filling of the container. Physical properties are also enhanced as a result of this unique crystalline/amorphous structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Lee, Gerald Hutchinson
  • Publication number: 20060073298
    Abstract: An extruded blow molded bottle comprises a neck portion and a body portion. The body portion comprises a first inner layer and a second layer. The first inner layer comprises a first material selected from a group consisting of polyester, phenoxy type thermoplastics, phenoxy-polyolefin thermoplastic blends, and combinations thereof. The second layer comprises a second material selected from a group consisting of virgin PET, recycled PET, PETG, foam, polypropylene, polyester, polyolefins, phenoxy type thermoplastic, phenoxy-polyolefin thermoplastic blends, regrind scrap materials, and combinations thereof. The second material is different from the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Gerald Hutchinson, Robert Lee, Said Farha
  • Publication number: 20060073294
    Abstract: In preferred embodiments methods and apparatuses can produce articles that have formable material. The articles may be mono and multilayer. The articles can be formed by various methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Gerald Hutchinson, Robert Lee, Said Farha
  • Publication number: 20060065992
    Abstract: In preferred embodiments methods and apparatuses can produce articles that have formable material. The articles may be mono and multilayer. The articles can be formed by various methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Gerald Hutchinson, Robert Lee, Said Farha
  • Publication number: 20060051451
    Abstract: Disclosed is a preferred mold design for producing plastic, molded preforms, which may be blow-molded into a container of a final, desired shape. A preferred mold includes a temperature control system for maintaining the preform mold at a desired temperature. The temperature control system can pass fluid through channels within the preform mold to cool plastic that is injected into the preform mold. In some arrangements, a mold comprises a neck finish mold, the neck finish mold comprising high heat transfer material positioned to transfer heat away from melt within a mold cavity of the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Gerald Hutchinson, Robert Lee, Heinrich Feichtinger
  • Patent number: 6939591
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for making articles made of polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), having coated directly to at least one of the surfaces thereof one or more layers of thermoplastic material with good gas-barrier characteristics. In one preferred method and apparatus, preforms are injection molded, barrier-coated immediately thereafter, and remain on a mold portion for a time to speed cooling of the completed preform. Preferably the barrier-coated articles take the form of preforms coated by at least one layer of barrier material and the containers are blow-molded therefrom. Such barrier-coated containers are preferably of the type to hold beverages such as soft drinks, beer or juice. The preferred barrier materials have a lower permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide than PET as well as key physical properties similar to PET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Plastics Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Hutchinson, Robert A. Lee
  • Publication number: 20050053739
    Abstract: Preferred embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for making articles made of polyester, preferably virgin polyethylene terephthalate (PET), having coated directly to at least one of the surfaces thereof one or more layers of recycled or post-consumer PET and one or more layers of a material with good gas-barrier characteristics, preferably silicon oxide. Preferably, the recycled PET layer comprises about 25% to about 50% of the entire material content. Preferably the articles take the form of preforms and the containers are blow-molded therefrom and the barrier layer is subsequently applied. The preferred barrier materials have a lower permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide than PET. In addition, the neck of the preforms and bottles is at least partially in the crystalline state and the body is primarily in the amorphous or semi-crystalline state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Lee, Gerald Hutchinson
  • Publication number: 20040247735
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for making articles made of polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), having coated directly to at least one of the surfaces thereof one or more layers of thermoplastic material with good gas-barrier characteristics. In one preferred method and apparatus, preforms are injection molded, barrier-coated immediately thereafter, and remain on a mold portion for a time to speed cooling of the completed preform. Preferably the barrier-coated articles take the form of preforms coated by at least one layer of barrier material and the containers are blow-molded therefrom. Such barrier-coated containers are preferably of the type to hold beverages such as soft drinks, beer or juice. The preferred barrier materials have a lower permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide than PET as well as key physical properties similar to PET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Gerald A. Hutchinson, Robert A. Lee
  • Patent number: 6808820
    Abstract: Preferred embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for making articles made of polyester, preferably virgin polyethylene terephthalate (PET), having coated directly to at least one of the surfaces thereof one or more layers of recycled or post-consumer PET and one or more layers of a material with good gas-barrier characteristics, preferably silicon oxide. Preferably, the recycled PET layer comprises about 25% to about 50% of the entire material content. Preferably the articles take the form of preforms and the containers are blow-molded therefrom and the barrier layer is subsequently applied. The preferred barrier materials have a lower permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide than PET. In addition, the neck of the preforms and bottles is at least partially in the crystalline state and the body is primarily in the amorphous or semi-crystalline state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Plastics Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert A. Lee, Gerald A. Hutchinson
  • Publication number: 20040187444
    Abstract: Disclosed are flexible pouches including a process for manufacturing said pouches from preforms. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing and filling said pouches wherein the preform/pouch is handled via the neck portion throughout the production line. In one embodiment, the filled pouch is further dressed, decorated, or inserted into a rigid outer container, for example a box. In a preferred embodiment, the production line is a modified version of the type commonly used for handling rigid containers, such as those used to manufacture and fill soft drinks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Gerald A. Hutchinson, Robert A. Lee
  • Publication number: 20040151937
    Abstract: Disclosed is a preferred mold design for producing plastic, injection molded preforms, which may be blow-molded into a container of a final, desired shape. A preferred mold includes a combination of hardened material components and high heat transfer material components to provide a mold having good wear characteristics, for a sufficiently long useful life, and to enable rapid cooling of the injected preform, in order to reduce the cycle time of an injection and cooling cycle. In some arrangements, the hardened materials may form a portion of the preform cavity thereby slowing the rate of cooling in those areas and inducing a semi-crystalline or crystalline structure in the cooled preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Gerald A. Hutchinson, Robert A. Lee
  • Publication number: 20040131871
    Abstract: Disclosed are coated fiber-containing articles, including paper, paperboard, and molded fiber, and methods for preparing such articles. A preferred method comprises heating paperboard containing a polymeric binder to a temperature sufficient to remove at least some moisture from the paperboard; applying an aqueous dispersion or solution of at least one water-dispersible or water-soluble polymer to the paperboard product; heating the paperboard to at least partially cure the water-dispersible or water-soluble polymer; and cooling the paperboard to at least 160° F. to reduce the tackiness of the cured water-dispersible polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Robert A. Lee, Gerald A. Hutchinson, Charles P. Klass
  • Publication number: 20040071885
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for making coated articles with one or more layers by dip, spray or flow coating. In one aspect, this invention relates to an apparatus and method for making coated containers, preferably comprising polyethylene terephthalate, from coated preforms. In preferred embodiments, the apparatus and method permit the coated container or preform to be made in an energy-efficient manner that reduces the danger of coating damage and thus increases the efficacy of the final container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Gerald A. Hutchinson, Robert A. Lee
  • Publication number: 20040013833
    Abstract: Disclosed are compatibilized polymer blends comprising polyester, polyamide and a compatibilizer. Such compatibilized polymer blends, in preferred embodiments, are fabricated into monolayer or multilayer preforms and/or containers. Containers comprising such blends exhibit good gas barrier properties against gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, have a good appearance and may be used as containers for a wide variety of consumer products, including beverages, edibles and cosmetics. In multilayer containers comprising one or more layers of the compatibilized polymer blend and one or more layers of PET or PET-containing copolymers, the present containers have greatly improved impact delamination resistance as compared to those formed using uncompatibilized blends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Robert A. Lee, Gerald A. Hutchinson, Said Farha, Sriram Tharmapuram
  • Patent number: 6676883
    Abstract: This invention relates to articles made of polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), having coated directly to at least one of the surfaces thereof one or more layers of thermoplastic material with good gas-barrier characteristics, and novel methods of making such articles. Preferably the barrier-coated articles take the form of preforms coated by at least one layer of barrier material and the containers blow-molded therefrom. Such barrier-coated containers are preferably of the type to hold beverages such as soft drinks, beer or juice. The preferred barrier materials have a lower permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide than PET as well as key physical properties similar to PET. The materials and methods provide that the barrier layers have good adherence to PET, even during and after the blow molding process to form containers from preforms. Preferred barrier coating materials include poly(hydroxyamino ethers).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Plastics Technologies
    Inventors: Gerald A. Hutchinson, Robert A. Lee
  • Publication number: 20030220036
    Abstract: Disclosed are laminates and coated materials, such as coated paper, and methods for making same utilizing hydroxy-phenoxyether polymers. In preferred embodiments, the laminates and coated materials of this invention are recyclable and/or are made, at least in part, from recycled materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Robert A. Lee, Gerald A. Hutchinson, Basharat A. Nazir, Charles P. Klass
  • Publication number: 20030219555
    Abstract: This invention relates to articles made of polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), having coated directly to at least one of the surfaces thereof one or more layers of thermoplastic material with good gas-barrier characteristics, and novel methods of making such articles. Preferably the barrier-coated articles take the form of preforms coated by at least one layer of barrier material and the containers blow-molded therefrom. Such barrier-coated containers are preferably of the type to hold beverages such as soft drinks, beer or juice. The preferred barrier materials have a lower permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide than PET as well as key physical properties similar to PET. The materials and methods provide that the barrier layers have good adherence to PET, even during and after the blow molding process to form containers from preforms. Preferred barrier coating materials include poly(hydroxyamino ethers).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Gerald A. Hutchinson, Robert A. Lee