Patents by Inventor Gregory Branch
Gregory Branch 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).
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Patent number: 10029401Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to relates to foamed thermoplastic material objects and articles of manufacture having an internal layered cellular structure, as well as to methods of making the same. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a multi-layer foamed polymeric article of manufacture, comprising: a non-laminated multi-layer thermoplastic material sheet, wherein the multi-layer thermoplastic material sheet has first and second discrete outer layers sandwiching a plurality of discrete inner foamed layers, and wherein the two outer layers and plurality discrete inner foamed layers are integral with one another. The thermoplastic material may be a semi-crystalline polymer such as, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PLA (polylactide), polyhydroxy acid (PHA), thermoplastic urethane (TPU), or blends thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignees: Dart Container Corporation, The University of WashingtonInventors: Krishna Nadella, Gregory Branch, Vipin Kumar, Michael Waggoner
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Patent number: 9884440Abstract: Disclosed herein are roll fed air heated flotation ovens and related thermoforming systems, assemblies, and machines that enable the corrugation-free expansion of a gas impregnated thermoplastic web passing through an oven chamber (without use of a pin-chain assembly), as well as to related methods. In an embodiment, a gas impregnated thermoplastic web is conveyed and expanded through an elongated air heated oven chamber, wherein the elongated oven chamber includes a plurality of downwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the upper portion of the oven chamber, and a plurality of upwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the lower portion of the oven chamber, but staggered apart from the downwardly directed heated air nozzles such that the gas impregnated thermoplastic material web undulates in an up and down wavelike fashion, thereby minimizing sagging, bagging, puckering, and/or buckling of the web.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Dart Container CorporationInventors: Gregory Branch, Krishna Nadella
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Publication number: 20160354955Abstract: Disclosed herein are roll fed air heated flotation ovens and related thermoforming systems, assemblies, and machines that enable the corrugation-free expansion of a gas impregnated thermoplastic web passing through an oven chamber (without use of a pin-chain assembly), as well as to related methods. In an embodiment, a gas impregnated thermoplastic web is conveyed and expanded through an elongated air heated oven chamber, wherein the elongated oven chamber includes a plurality of downwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the upper portion of the oven chamber, and a plurality of upwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the lower portion of the oven chamber, but staggered apart from the downwardly directed heated air nozzles such that the gas impregnated thermoplastic material web undulates in an up and down wavelike fashion, thereby minimizing sagging, bagging, puckering, and/or buckling of the web.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: GREGORY BRANCH, KRISHNA NADELLA
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Patent number: 9427903Abstract: Disclosed herein are roll fed air heated flotation ovens and related thermoforming systems, assemblies, and machines that enable the corrugation-free expansion of a gas impregnated thermoplastic web passing through an oven chamber (without use of a pin-chain assembly), as well as to related methods. In an embodiment, a gas impregnated thermoplastic web is conveyed and expanded through an elongated air heated oven chamber, wherein the elongated oven chamber includes a plurality of downwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the upper portion of the oven chamber, and a plurality of upwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the lower portion of the oven chamber, but staggered apart from the downwardly directed heated air nozzles such that the gas impregnated thermoplastic material web undulates in an up and down wavelike fashion, thereby minimizing sagging, bagging, puckering, and/or buckling of the web.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2012Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Dart Container CorporationInventors: Gregory Branch, Krishna Nadella
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Patent number: 8568125Abstract: Disclosed herein are roll fed air heated flotation ovens and related thermoforming systems, assemblies, and machines that enable the corrugation-free expansion of a gas impregnated thermoplastic web passing through an oven chamber (without use of a pin-chain assembly), as well as to related methods. In an embodiment, a gas impregnated thermoplastic web is conveyed and expanded through an elongated air heated oven chamber, wherein the elongated oven chamber includes a plurality of downwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the upper portion of the oven chamber, and a plurality of upwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the lower portion of the oven chamber, but staggered apart from the downwardly directed heated air nozzles such that the gas impregnated thermoplastic material web undulates in an up and down wavelike fashion, thereby minimizing sagging, bagging, puckering, and/or buckling of the web.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2009Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: MicroGREEN Polymers Inc.Inventors: Gregory Branch, Krishna Nadelia
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Publication number: 20130065981Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to relates to foamed thermoplastic material objects and articles of manufacture having an internal layered cellular structure, as well as to methods of making the same. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a multi-layer foamed polymeric article of manufacture, comprising: a non-laminated multi-layer thermoplastic material sheet, wherein the multi-layer thermoplastic material sheet has first and second discrete outer layers sandwiching a plurality of discrete inner foamed layers, and wherein the two outer layers and plurality discrete inner foamed layers are integral with one another. The thermoplastic material may be a semi-crystalline polymer such as, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), PEN (polyethylene napthalate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PLA (polyactide), polyhydroxy acid (PHA), thermoplastic urethane (TPU), or blends thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Inventors: Krishna Nadella, Gregory Branch, Vipin Kumar, Michael A. Waggoner
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Patent number: 8377548Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to relates to foamed thermoplastic material objects and articles of manufacture having an internal layered cellular structure, as well as to methods of making the same. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a multi-layer foamed polymeric article of manufacture, comprising: a non-laminated multi-layer thermoplastic material sheet, wherein the multi-layer thermoplastic material sheet has first and second discrete outer layers sandwiching a plurality of discrete inner foamed layers, and wherein the two outer layers and plurality discrete inner foamed layers are integral with one another. The thermoplastic material may be a semi-crystalline polymer such as, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), PEN (polyethylene napthalate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PLA (polyactide), polyhydroxy acid (PHA), thermoplastic urethane (TPU), or blends thereof.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignees: MicroGREEN Polymers Inc., University of WashingtonInventors: Krishna Nadella, Gregory Branch, Vipin Kumar, Michael A. Waggoner
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Publication number: 20120267814Abstract: Disclosed herein are roll fed air heated flotation ovens and related thermoforming systems, assemblies, and machines that enable the corrugation-free expansion of a gas impregnated thermoplastic web passing through an oven chamber (without use of a pin-chain assembly), as well as to related methods. In an embodiment, a gas impregnated thermoplastic web is conveyed and expanded through an elongated air heated oven chamber, wherein the elongated oven chamber includes a plurality of downwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the upper portion of the oven chamber, and a plurality of upwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the lower portion of the oven chamber, but staggered apart from the downwardly directed heated air nozzles such that the gas impregnated thermoplastic material web undulates in an up and down wavelike fashion, thereby minimizing sagging, bagging, puckering, and/or buckling of the web.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: MicroGREEN Polymers Inc.Inventors: Gregory Branch, Krishna Nedella
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Publication number: 20110081524Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to relates to foamed thermoplastic material objects and articles of manufacture having an internal layered cellular structure, as well as to methods of making the same. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a multi-layer foamed polymeric article of manufacture, comprising: a non-laminated multi-layer thermoplastic material sheet, wherein the multi-layer thermoplastic material sheet has first and second discrete outer layers sandwiching a plurality of discrete inner foamed layers, and wherein the two outer layers and plurality discrete inner foamed layers are integral with one another. The thermoplastic material may be a semi-crystalline polymer such as, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), PEN (polyethylene napthalate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PLA (polyactide), polyhydroxy acid (PHA), thermoplastic urethane (TPU), or blends thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: MICROGREEN POLYMERS, INC.Inventors: Krishna Nadella, Gregory Branch, Vipin Kumar, Michael A. Waggoner
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Publication number: 20090321974Abstract: Disclosed herein are roll fed air heated flotation ovens and related thermoforming systems, assemblies, and machines that enable the corrugation-free expansion of a gas impregnated thermoplastic web passing through an oven chamber (without use of a pin-chain assembly), as well as to related methods. In an embodiment, a gas impregnated thermoplastic web is conveyed and expanded through an elongated air heated oven chamber, wherein the elongated oven chamber includes a plurality of downwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the upper portion of the oven chamber, and a plurality of upwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the lower portion of the oven chamber, but staggered apart from the downwardly directed heated air nozzles such that the gas impregnated thermoplastic material web undulates in an up and down wavelike fashion, thereby minimizing sagging, bagging, puckering, and/or buckling of the web.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Inventors: Gregory Branch, Krishna Nadelia
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Publication number: 20060284331Abstract: A solid state foaming process permits the use of up to 100% recycled pre- and post-consumer polymer for the manufacture of foamed polymer material and thermoformed foamed polymer articles. The process enables the optional formation of integral unfoamed skins of controllable depth and crystallinity on foamed polymeric materails suitable for a wide variety of applications. Because this process does not alter the underlying chemistry of the material all scrap from the manufacturing process may be reused without additive to form new foamed polymeric materials and articles.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2004Publication date: December 21, 2006Inventors: Gregory Branch, Trevor Wardle
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Publication number: 20060257606Abstract: This invention provides packages and containers produced by a solid state method for the manufacture of foamed polymeric material. The packages are suitable for pre-cooking or sterilization, insulated transport, cooking vessel, reheating, and storage of food. The gas impregnated thermoforming (GIT) process includes interleaving an article of raw polymeric material with a gas channeling means; exposing the article to a non-reacting gas at elevated pressure to achieve a desired concentration of gas within the polymer, thereby forming a partially gas-saturated article, separating it from the gas channeling means, then decompressing, foaming and forming it at a temperature below the material's melt temperature; and finally trimming it to produce a finished foamed polymeric material and recycleable scrap solid state process foamed polymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2004Publication date: November 16, 2006Inventors: Gregory Branch, Wiley Gunter
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Publication number: 20050203198Abstract: A solid state process utilizes gas impregnation to enhance thermoforming of thermoplastic material. If the gas is plasticizing, the article is thereby plasticized for thermoforming. In some embodiments, the invention provides foaming the polymer prior to or during thermoforming by creating high levels of dissolved gas during gas exposure. Foaming may proceed spontaneously upon decompression from gas pressure, or foaming may be enhanced by heating the polymer sheet near to or above the polymer's glass transition temperature, thereby producing plasticized foamed polymer for thermoforming. When objects of unfoamed polymer are desired, foaming may be suppressed by thermoforming gas saturated articles under gas pressure. This process may be used to enhance the thermoforming performance of articles that have been previously foamed, including articles foamed by prior art processes. In some embodiments, polymer is sufficiently plasticized so that it may be thermoformed without heating.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2005Publication date: September 15, 2005Applicant: MICROGREEN POLYMERS, INC.Inventors: Gregory Branch, Trevor Wardle