Patents by Inventor Michael McLeod

Michael 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).

  • Patent number: 12559599
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Fengkui Li, Russell McDonald
  • Patent number: 12434878
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, 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. The blank includes two first side wall structures, each first side wall structure foldably attached to one of the first base edges and two second side wall structures, each second side wall structure foldably attached to one of the second base edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: David G. Couture, Michael McLeod
  • Patent number: 12397960
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, 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. The blank includes two first side wall structures, each first side wall structure foldably attached to one of the first base edges and two second side wall structures, each second side wall structure foldably attached to one of the second base edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: David G. Couture, Michael McLeod
  • Patent number: 12330843
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Westrock CP LLC
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Andrew Laackman
  • Publication number: 20250163242
    Abstract: Disclosed is a polymeric composition containing at least 98 wt. % of a random ethylene polypropylene copolymer, 0 wt. % to 1.0 wt. % of an acid neutralizer, and 0.005 wt. % to 1.0 wt. % of a gamma nucleator (a ?-nucleator). The random ethylene polypropylene copolymer can include 0.5 wt. % to 12 wt. % of ethylene units and 88 wt. % to 99.5 wt. % of propylene units based on the total weight of the copolymer. The polymeric composition can have a haze value of less than 60% (as measured in accordance with ASTM D-1003, at a thickness of about 40 mils) and a crystallization temperature of more than 100° C. as measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Articles containing the polymeric composition are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventors: Michael MCLEOD, Joachim AZZI
  • Patent number: 12252305
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventor: Michael McLeod
  • Patent number: 12179972
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventor: Michael McLeod
  • Publication number: 20240425221
    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: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Russell McDonald, Michael McLeod, Fengkui Li, Theodore Harris, III
  • Patent number: 12084221
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: TOTALENERGIES AMERICAN SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Russell McDonald, Michael McLeod, Fengkui Li, Theodore Harris, III
  • Patent number: 12060202
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Timothy L. McCarthy, Jeffrey S. James
  • Publication number: 20240228104
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, 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. The blank includes two first side wall structures, each first side wall structure foldably attached to one of the first base edges and two second side wall structures, each second side wall structure foldably attached to one of the second base edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: David G. Couture, Michael Mcleod
  • Publication number: 20240228105
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, 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. The blank includes two first side wall structures, each first side wall structure foldably attached to one of the first base edges and two second side wall structures, each second side wall structure foldably attached to one of the second base edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: David G. Couture, Michael McLeod
  • Publication number: 20240198576
    Abstract: A blown polypropylene film or sheet is disclosed. The film or sheet can include at least 95 wt. % of a polypropylene, and at least one ?-nucleating agent or crystallization inhibitor, where the polypropylene blown film or sheet has a thickness of 0.5 mils to 15 mils, and where the polypropylene blown film has an increased dart impact strength, as measure by ASTM D1709, when compared with a second polypropylene blown film or sheet that has the same components in the same wt. % amounts as the polypropylene blown film or sheet except that the second polypropylene blown film or sheet does not include the at least one ?-nucleating agent or crystallization inhibitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Michael McLeod, Theodore Harris, LuAnn Kelly
  • Publication number: 20240174777
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of additive manufacturing comprising polypropylene, and compositions created using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Michael MCLEOD, Fengkui LI, Adrienne MUSIC, Ngoc 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
  • 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