Patents by Inventor Michael A. McLeod

Michael A. McLeod 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: 20240124672
    Abstract: A composition including a first polypropylene having at least 90 wt. % propylene by weight of the first polypropylene, an alpha nucleation inhibitor, and a beta nucleation additive is provided. Also provided is a method of preparing a foamable polypropylene composition. The method includes the steps: a) compounding a first polypropylene including at least 90 wt. % propylene by weight of the first polypropylene with an alpha nucleation inhibitor to form a polypropylene blend; b) compounding the polypropylene blend with a blowing agent to form a pre-annealed polypropylene composition; and c) annealing the pre-annealed polypropylene composition at an annealing temperature Ta for an annealing time ta to form the foamable polypropylene composition. The foamable polypropylene composition has a first melting peak T1 and a second melting peak T2 as measured by differential scanning calorimetry at a heating rate of 20° C. per minute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. McLeod, Ngoc Niikky Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20240101805
    Abstract: Disclosed is a polymeric composition containing at least 98 wt. % of a random ethylene polypropylene copolymer and 0.01 wt. % to 1.0 wt. % of an acid neutralizer. The random ethylene polypropylene copolymer includes 4 wt. % to 12 wt. % of ethylene units and 88 wt. % to 96 wt. % of propylene units based on the total weight of the copolymer. The polymeric composition has a haze value of less than 40% as measured in accordance with ASTM D-1003 and a notched Izod impact strength of greater than 3 ft-lb/in as measured in accordance with ASTM D-256. The polymeric composition can further comprise a clarifier. Methods of making the polymeric composition and articles containing the polymeric composition are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Joachim Azzi
  • Patent number: 11780939
    Abstract: A process forming a high MFR polypropylene includes providing a reactor powder polypropylene, the reactor powder polypropylene having a melt flow rate of less than 100 dg/min. The process also includes mixing the reactor powder polypropylene with a free-radical initiator to form a powder/initiator mixture and subjecting the powder/initiator mixture to post-reactor forming. The present disclosure further provides for a vis-broken polypropylene and a polymer article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Russell McDonald, Joseph Shuler, Mahesh Patkar, Marc Mayhall
  • Publication number: 20230278747
    Abstract: A blank for forming a container includes a base having a first pair of opposed base edges and a second pair of opposed base edges. Two sidewall structures are each foldably attached to one of the second base edges. Each of the sidewall structures includes a first wall panel foldably attached to one of the second base edges along a first fold line, a second wall panel foldably attached to the first wall panel configured to be overlapped with the first wall panel to form a side wall. A second minor end flap is foldably attached by a crushed channel to the second side wall panel, and extends in the lateral direction from the second side wall panel. The second minor end flap is configured to overlap a first minor end flap in forming a corner of a container formed from the blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventor: Michael MCLEOD
  • Publication number: 20230271744
    Abstract: A container includes a pair of horizontal walls, a plurality of vertical walls, and a corner wall. The corner wall extends between an adjacent pair of the vertical walls at an oblique angle. The container also includes a corner-support flap connected to the corner wall and one of the horizontal walls. The corner-support flap holds the corner panel at the oblique angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Kenneth C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20230216440
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for protecting an escrow clutch of a self-service terminal. The systems and methods may include actuating a motor of the self-service terminal to cause an escrow clutch of the self-service terminal to spin at a rate. As the clutch spins, a determination as to when a clutch slippage exceeds a preset slippage rate may be made. When the clutch slippage exceeds the preset slippage rate, the motor may be actuated to cause the escrow clutch to spin at a second rate. The second rate may less than the first rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Michael McLeod Rennie, Scott Low Colston
  • Patent number: 11652436
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for protecting an escrow clutch of a self-service terminal. The systems and methods may include actuating a motor of the self-service terminal to cause an escrow clutch of the self-service terminal to spin at a rate. As the clutch spins, a determination as to when a clutch slippage exceeds a preset slippage rate may be made. When the clutch slippage exceeds the preset slippage rate, the motor may be actuated to cause the escrow clutch to spin at a second rate. The second rate may less than the first rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Michael McLeod Rennie, Scott Low Colston
  • Patent number: 11535733
    Abstract: Color-stable rheology controlled polyolefin compositions and methods of making are described. A color-stable rheology controlled polyolefin composition can include a controlled rheology grade thermoplastic polyolefin, and an effective amount of a trisamide-based compound that imparts color-stability to the composition. The color-stable solid-state thermoplastic polyolefin composition can have a Hunter b value color change (?b) rate of ?0.03/day when stored at 93° C. for 50 days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, John Ashbaugh, Marc Mayhall
  • Publication number: 20220388712
    Abstract: A container for the packaging and displaying of articles including a bottom panel defining a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis and including at least four obtuse angles defined by an inner perimeter the bottom panel, a front panel hingedly attached to a front edge of the bottom panel, a top panel including at least four obtuse angles defined by the perimeter of the top panel attached to a front edge of the front panel, a first side panel hingedly attached to a top edge of the bottom panel, a second side panel hingedly attached to a bottom edge of the bottom panel, a third side panel hingedly attached to a top edge of the top panel, a fourth side panel hingedly attached to a bottom edge of the top panel, wherein each side panel includes at least four sections hingedly connected to one another along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventor: Michael MCLEOD
  • Publication number: 20220348375
    Abstract: Disclosed is an injection stretch blow molded (ISBM) container containing a surface having a static coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.15 to 0.21, a dynamic COF of 0.06 to 0.1, wherein the surface retains a water contact angle of 76° or higher for up to three minutes after wetting of the surface with a water drop of 14 to 16 mm diameter and the container is made with a polymeric composition containing a high density polyethylene (HDPE) having a dispersity (Mw/Mn) of 9 or higher as measured by GPC; a MI2 of 1 g/10 min or higher as measured by ASTM D-1238; 190° C./2.16 kg, as measured by ASTM D-1238; and an environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) at 100% Igepal of >150 hours as measured by ASTM D-1693, B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Russell McDonald, Michael McLeod, Fengkui Li, Theodore Harris, III
  • Publication number: 20220340723
    Abstract: Thin polymer sheets and used thereof are described. A polymer sheet can include greater than 90 wt. % of a single-site catalyzed polyolefin (PO) and have a thickness of at least 0.0254 cm. The sheet can be used to produce molded articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Fengkui Li, Russell McDonald
  • Publication number: 20220257011
    Abstract: A display tray formed of a continuous blank having a plurality of hingedly coupled panels and sub-panels including a first sidewall, defined at least partially by a first panel, a front wall, defined by at least partially by a second panel, hingedly attached to the first panel sidewall, a second sidewall, defined at least partially by the first panel sidewall, and a rear wall defined at least partially by a third panel hingedly attached to the first panel for adjoining the display tray to a second display tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: WestRock CP, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Andrew Laackman
  • Publication number: 20220258906
    Abstract: A display tray system including a first tray defining an outer perimeter of the display tray system, a second tray having at least three outer walls defining an outer perimeter of the display tray system, a first corner having a first height at a junction of two of the at least three outer walls, a second corner having a height equal to the first corner at a junction of two of the at least three outer walls, a joining wall defining an inner border with the first tray, a third corner at a junction of the joining wall and one of the at least three outer walls, a fourth corner at a junction of the joining wall and one of the at least three outer walls, and a joining member coupled to the joining wall of the first tray and coupled to the joining wall of the second tray to couple the first and second trays together and provide vertical support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: WestRock CP, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Andrew Laackman
  • Publication number: 20220153470
    Abstract: A container includes a base panel. An opposed pair of end panels extends from the base panel at opposite ends of the base panel. A front panel extends from the base panel and extends from a first one of the end panels to a second one of the end panels. A back panel extends from the base panel and extends from the first one of the end panels to the second one of the end panels. The end panels taper so top edges of the front and back panels are either longer or shorter than bottom edges of the front and back panels. Each end panel includes a plurality of overlapping end flaps adhered to one another. The end flaps of each of the end panels are connected to a respective one of the base panel and each of the front and back panel at respective fold lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Timothy L. McCarthy, Jeffrey S. James
  • Publication number: 20220144483
    Abstract: A blank for forming a package can include a base panel, a first base side panel foldably connected to the base panel, a plurality of first base side flaps foldably connected to the first base side panel, a second base side panel foldably connected to the base panel opposite the first base side panel, and a plurality of second base side flaps foldably connected to the second base side panel. The blank can include a hinge panel foldably connected to the base panel, a top panel foldably connected to the hinge panel, a first top side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a plurality of first top side flaps foldably connected to the first top side panel, a second top side panel foldably connected to the top panel opposite the first top side panel, and a plurality of second top side flaps foldably connected to the second top side panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Michael McLeod
  • Publication number: 20200277480
    Abstract: Color-stable rheology controlled polyolefin compositions and methods of making are described. A color-stable rheology controlled polyolefin composition can include a controlled rheology grade thermoplastic polyolefin, and an effective amount of a trisamide-based compound that imparts color-stability to the composition. The color-stable solid-state thermoplastic polyolefin composition can have a Hunter b value color change (?b) rate of ?0.03/day when stored at 93° C. for 50 days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, John Ashbaugh, Marc Mayhall
  • Publication number: 20200262946
    Abstract: A process forming a high MFR polypropylene includes providing a reactor powder polypropylene, the reactor powder polypropylene having a melt flow rate of less than 100 dg/min. The process also includes mixing the reactor powder polypropylene with a free-radical initiator to form a powder/initiator mixture and subjecting the powder/initiator mixture to post-reactor forming. The present disclosure further provides for a vis-broken polypropylene and a polymer article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Russell McDonald, Joe Shuler, Mahesh Patkar, Marc Mayhall
  • Patent number: 10586416
    Abstract: An escrow module of a valuable media depository is configured to self-adjust the position of an escrow drum relative to an escrow pinch. The media is maintained within the pinch as the escrow module takes in media items and returns media items by the self-adjusting positions of the escrow drum. As the drum fills up with media items, the drum is moved away from the escrow pinch while maintaining a consistent media path and providing consistent performance regardless of the number of media items being processed in a transaction to and from the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Michael McLeod Rennie, Scott Low Colston
  • Publication number: 20200076346
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for protecting an escrow clutch of a self-service terminal. The systems and methods may include actuating a motor of the self-service terminal to cause an escrow clutch of the self-service terminal to spin at a rate. As the clutch spins, a determination as to when a clutch slippage exceeds a preset slippage rate may be made. When the clutch slippage exceeds the preset slippage rate, the motor may be actuated to cause the escrow clutch to spin at a second rate. The second rate may less than the first rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Michael McLeod Rennie, Scott Low Colston
  • Patent number: 10414086
    Abstract: A method of forming a thermoformed article may include melt extruding polyethylene to form an extruded sheet. The rheological breadth parameter of the polyethylene may change by no more than about 5% after extrusion relative to the rheological breadth parameter of the polyethylene prior to extrusion. The extruded sheet may be thermoformed within a mold to form the thermoformed article. During thermoforming, the extruded sheet may be subjected to solid-state stretching in one or more directions. The thermoformed article may be retrieved from the mold. The polyethylene may have a rheological breadth parameter of from 0.20 to 0.40, a multimodal molecular weight distribution, a polydispersity (Mw/Mn) of from 5 to 18, a density ranging from 0.940 to 0.970 g/cc, may exhibit tensile strain-hardening, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Mahesh Patkar, Jon Tippet, Russell McDonald