Patents by Inventor Mark Rule

Mark Rule 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: 20020183970
    Abstract: A computer assisted method and system for accurately predicting CO2 shelf-life of polyester containers for carbonated beverages utilizes computer models, which take in to account all relevant physical and chemical parameters. The computer models permit a container designer to readily and accurately predict CO2 shelf-life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: Mark Rule
  • Patent number: 6465066
    Abstract: A packaged potable liquid, such as bottled water, wherein the liquid has little or no plastic off-taste. The packaged liquid includes a closure wherein the closure shell or the liner within the closure comprises a plastic matrix and an organic slip agent dispersed in the plastic matrix, the slip agent being substantially fully ethylenically saturated and the closure or the liner being substantially free of an ethylenically unsaturated compound. The packaged liquid also includes a container which is desirably substantially free of an ethylenically unsaturated compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Mark Rule, James Ellison Shepherd, Colin Beveridge, Homaira Naseem
  • Publication number: 20020136808
    Abstract: A process for reducing acetaldehyde concentration in beverages contained in polyester-based packaging, wherein oxygen permeation into the container is reduced or eliminated. The polyester contains an oxidation catalyst active for the oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetic acid. A composition comprising a polyester and said oxidation catalyst. A polyester-based container comprising said oxidation catalyst, and a bottled beverage having a polyester-based container comprising an oxidation catalyst active for the oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: Mark Rule
  • Patent number: 6319576
    Abstract: A method for increasing the crystallization rate of a crystallization polyester comprises incorporating into the polyester an effective amount of a hyperfunctional nucleation agent. The hyperfunctional nucleating agent comprises a plurality of functional groups and form stable nuclei around which the polyester crystallizes. The hyperfunctional nucleating agent facilitates faster crystallization and formation of many small crystallites. Methods of making articles such as containers with polyesters are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Mark Rule, Yu Shi
  • Patent number: 6279505
    Abstract: A coated plastic container provides for low permeability to gases and vapors. A method and system for coating plastic containers includes applying a thin inorganic oxide layer to the external surface of the containers with plasma-assisted vacuum vapor deposition. For example, the coating can include silica which is bonded to the external surface of the container. This coating is flexible and be can be applied regardless of the container's internal pressure or lack thereof. The coating firmly adheres to the container and possess an enhanced gas barrier effect after pressurization even when the coating is scratched, fractured, flexed and/or stretched. Moreover, this gas barrier enhancement will be substantially unaffected by filling of the container. A method of recycling coated plastic containers and a method and system for packaging a beverage using the coated containers are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: THe Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: George Plester, Horst Ehrich, Mark Rule, Herbert Pickel, Heinz Humele
  • Patent number: 6274212
    Abstract: A method for decreasing acetaldehyde content of melt processed polyester comprising combining with melted polyester an organic additive compound which scavenges acetaldehyde from the polyester without imparting discoloration to the polyester. The organic additive compound comprises at least two hydrogen substituted heteroatoms bonded to carbons of the organic additive compound such that the organic additive compound is reactive with acetaldehyde in the polyester to form water and a resulting organic compound comprising an unbridged five or six member ring including the at least two heteroatoms. The reduced acetaldehyde content polyester is particularly useful for making containers such as for packaging beverages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Mark Rule, Yu Shi, Xiaoyan Huang
  • Patent number: 6223683
    Abstract: A method, composition and system for coating an external surface of containers and in particular, plastic containers, provides for low permeability to gases and vapors. The coating applied to the external surface of the containers is very thin and is comprised of one or several inorganic substances or layers of substances. For example, the coating can include silica which is bonded to the external surface of the container. This coating will be flexible and can be applied regardless of the container's internal pressure or lack thereof. The coating will firmly adhere to the container and possess an enhanced gas barrier effect after pressurization even when the coating is scratched, fractured, flexed and/or stretched. Moreover, this gas barrier enhancement will be substantially unaffected by filling of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: George Plester, Horst Ehrich, Mark Rule
  • Patent number: 6103774
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing contaminants, which comprises removing contaminants from a contaminant-containing polyester material at a temperature of at least 150.degree. C. in the presence of an equilibrium amount of a polyester reversible side-product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: Mark Rule
  • Patent number: 5855942
    Abstract: A method and composition for enhancing retention of carbon dioxide in carbonated bottled beverages indicates the addition of a carbonic acid ester such as propylene carbonate, 1,3-butylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, neopentylene carbonate and propylene carbonate or mixtures thereof. The carbonic acid ester in the aqueous medium of the beverage undergoes slow hydrolysis thereby releasing CO.sub.2 to maintain the CO.sub.2 level in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: Mark Rule
  • Patent number: 5338886
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparation of an aromatic thiol corresponding to the structureA-(SH)nwhereinA is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic radical and n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 comprising contacting at a temperature of at least 80.degree. C. an aromatic halide corresponding to the structureA-XmwhereinA is the same as above, X is bromine oriodine and n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6with thiourea in the presence of nickel metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Mark Rule, James T. Tanner, III
  • Patent number: 5180775
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising(A) from 99.9 to 60 weight percent, based on the weight of the composition, of a copoly(arylene sulfide) and(B) from 0.1 to 40 weight percent, based on the weight of the composition, of an ethylene-propylene rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Shriram Bagrodia, David R. Fagerburg, Steven Gedon, Joseph J. Watkins, Paul B. Lawrence, Mark Rule
  • Patent number: 5143984
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polyester having an inherent viscosity of at least 0.5 comprising(A) preparing an admixture of a molten polyester having an inherent viscosity of less than 0.5, a titanium alkoxide and a 13X zeolite, and(B) subjecting the admixture to a time and temperature sufficient to increase the inherent viscosity of the polyester to at least 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Waylon L. Jenkins, Gerry Rhodes, Mark Rule
  • Patent number: 5106941
    Abstract: A process for preparing a crystalline poly(cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate) comprising(A) preparing an admixture of molten poly(cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate) and a 4A zeolite, and(b) cooling the admixture at a rate less than about 1000.degree. C. per minute to a temperature less than about 80.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Inventors: Waylon L. Jenkins, Gerry F. Rhodes, Mark Rule
  • Patent number: 5104965
    Abstract: A process for preparing a crystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate) having an inherent viscosity of at least 0.5 comprising(A) preparing an admixture of molten poly(ethylene terephthalate) and a zeolite, and(B) cooling the admixture at a rate less than about 300 degrees C. per minute to a temperature less than about 80 degrees C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Waylon L. Jenkins, Gerry F. Rhodes, Mark Rule
  • Patent number: 5064937
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polymer having repeating units corresponding to the structure ##STR1## wherein y is in the range of 0.005 to 0.15, x is in the range of 0.02 to 0.25, n is at least 200, and R a divalent aromatic radial. The polymer is prepared by reacting a diiodoaromatic compound and elemental sulfur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David R. Fagerburg, Joseph J. Watkins, Paul B. Lawrence, Mark Rule
  • Patent number: 5026824
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polymer having repeating units corresponding to the structure ##STR1## wherein R is ##STR2## y is in the range of 0.005 to 0.10, x is in the range of 0.01 to 0.50 when R is ##STR3## x is in the range of 0.01 to 0.30 when R is ##STR4## and n is at least 200. The polymer is prepared by reacting a diiodoaromatic compound and elemental sulfur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark Rule, Jerry S. Fauver, David R. Fagerburg, Paul B. Lawrence, Joseph J. Watkins
  • Patent number: 5021546
    Abstract: A process for producing elemental iodine and a copoly(arylene sulfide) corresponding to the structure ##STR1## wherein y is in the range of 0.001 to 0.15, x is in the range of 0.02 to 0.65 and n is at least 100, consisting essentially of (1) reacting at a temperature above about 175.degree. C., a mixture of diiodobenzene and diiodobiphenyl and elemental sulfur to produce the copoly(arylene sulfide), and (2) recovering the elemental iodine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David R. Fagerburg, Mark Rule, Joseph J. Watkins, Paul B. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 4977236
    Abstract: A process for preparation of a copoly(arylene sulfide) corresponding to the structure ##STR1## wherein A is a divalent substituted or unsubstituted aromatic radical, T is a monovalent aromatic radical, x is in the range of 0.5 to 0.001 and n is an integer from 1 to 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David R. Fagerburg, Joseph J. Watkins, Paul B. Lawrence, Mark Rule
  • Patent number: 4977224
    Abstract: A process for preparation of a copoly(arylene sulfide) which has a decreased amount of disulfide radicals and corresponds to the structure ##STR1## wherein A is a divalent substituted or unsubstituted aromatic radical, x is in the range of 0.45 to 0 and n is at least 50,comprising contacting a copoly(arylene sulfide) corresponding to the structure ##STR2## wherein A is a divalent substituted or unsubstituted aromatic radical, x is in the range of 0.50 to 0.001 and n is at least 25,in the melt phase with a diiodoaromatic compound corresponding to the structureI-A-IwhereinA is a divalent substituted or unsubstituted aromatic radical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph J. Watkins, David R. Fagerburg, Paul B. Lawrence, Mark Rule
  • Patent number: 4952671
    Abstract: A copoly(arylene sulfide) corresponding to the structure ##STR1## wherein A is a divalent substituted or unsubstituted aromatic radical, T is a monovalent aromatic radical, x is n the range of 0.5 t 0.001 and n is at least 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David R. Fagerburg, Joseph J. Watkins, Paul B. Lawrence, Mark Rule