Patents by Inventor Nicholas John McCaffrey

Nicholas John McCaffrey 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: 20230241864
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilayer structure including a starch layer (A), an adhesive layer (B), and a base material layer (C) in the order mentioned. In this multilayer structure, a material constituting the starch layer (A) comprises a starch and water; a material constituting the adhesive layer (B) comprises a thermoplastic resin having a density of 0.920 g/cm3 or lower and has an acid value of 0.3 mgKOH/g or higher; and the base material layer (C) is a layer having a tensile elastic modulus of 100 MPa or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: PLANTIC TECHNOLOGIES LTD
    Inventors: Akihiro KOTAKA, Masahiko OTA, Nicholas John MCCAFFREY
  • Publication number: 20230191759
    Abstract: A laminate comprising: a gas barrier layer (I) comprising a modified starch (A) having an average amylose content of 45% by mass or more and a water-soluble polymer (B); and a substrate (II) adjacent to the gas barrier layer (I), wherein the laminate exhibits a degree of biodegradation of 80% or more in a biodegradability test in accordance with ISO 14855-1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Plantic Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Ota, Nicholas John McCaffrey, Brendan Leigh Morris
  • Publication number: 20230138995
    Abstract: Provided herein are starch compositions, which comprise a first starch having a first weight average molecular weight between about 300,000 and about 4,000,000 Daltons, a second starch having a second weight average molecular weight between about 1,000 and about 290,000 Daltons, and a water-soluble polymer. Also provide herein are articles of manufacture and films comprising the starch composition, and methods of making the starch composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: PLANTIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas John MCCAFFREY, Masahiko OTA
  • Publication number: 20230092120
    Abstract: Provided is a resin composition capable of forming a coated product that exhibits low adhesion to a metal roll during production and is superior in oxygen barrier property and capable of forming a film or sheet superior in oxygen barrier property, impact strength under low humidity and color tone. The resin composition of the present invention contains 50 to 98 parts by mass of a modified starch (A), 2 to 50 parts by mass of a polyvinyl alcohol (B), 0.1 to 10 parts by mass of a polyoxyalkylene (C), and optionally 0 to 5 parts of a polyol plasticizer (D), wherein the total content of the (A), (B), (C) and (D) is 100 parts by mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Plantic Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Masahiko Ota, Akihiro Kotaka, Nicholas John McCaffrey
  • Patent number: 11590738
    Abstract: There is provided a multilayer film comprising a starch layer and at least one other layer. The multilayer film has excellent barrier properties. The starch layer comprises a modified starch having a degree of substitution less than 1.5. Suitable other layers include polyolefins. The multilayer film finds use in packaging, particularly in packaging foodstuffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: PLANTIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas John McCaffrey, Roya Khalil, Nicholas Roy Oakley, Brendan Morris
  • Patent number: 11578193
    Abstract: Provided is a resin composition comprising a starch and a polyvinyl alcohol, which is excellent in the breaking strength and breaking elongation at a low temperature, and at the same time, has the good gas barrier property. The resin composition comprises modified starch and polyvinyl alcohol, and where in a cross section photograph by a transmission electron microscope, a cross-sectional area of each of particles of the polyvinyl alcohol dispersed is calculated, and a cross-sectional shape of each of the particles of the polyvinyl alcohol is postulated to be circular based on the cross-sectional area, the particles of the polyvinyl alcohol have a conversion particle diameter of 50 to 300 nm, and the conversion particle diameter has a dispersity of 3.0 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: PLANTIC TECHNOLOGIES LTD
    Inventors: Masahiko Ota, Nicholas John McCaffrey
  • Publication number: 20210388183
    Abstract: Extruded starch compositions and methods for their preparation are provided. The compositions possess a high degree of cook which imparts particular viscosity characteristics. The compositions may be formed into films having advantageous properties such as low haze, high strength and high gas barrier. The starch compositions find use in a wide range of applications, particularly, but not exclusively, in the manufacture of thin films for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: PLANTIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Nicholas John MCCAFFREY
  • Publication number: 20210094263
    Abstract: There is provided a multilayer film comprising a starch layer and at least one other layer. The multilayer film has excellent barrier properties. The starch layer comprises a modified starch having a degree of substitution less than 1.5. Suitable other layers include polyolefins. The multilayer film finds use in packaging, particularly in packaging foodstuffs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Plantic Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas John McCaffrey, Roya Khalil, Nicholas Roy Oakley, Brendan Morris
  • Patent number: 10894392
    Abstract: There is provided a multilayer film comprising a starch layer and at least one other layer. The multilayer film has excellent barrier properties. The starch layer comprises a modified starch having a degree of substitution less than 1.5. Suitable other layers include polyolefins. The multilayer film finds use in packaging, particularly in packaging foodstuffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: PLANTIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas John McCaffrey, Roya Khalil, Nicholas Roy Oakley, Brendan Morris
  • Patent number: 10066088
    Abstract: There is provided a starch composition comprising a crosslinked starch. The composition may be useful in a variety of applications, for example, in thermoformed articles or as a component in multilayer films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Plantic Technologies Ltd
    Inventor: Nicholas John McCaffrey
  • Publication number: 20180229479
    Abstract: There is provided a multilayer film comprising a starch layer and at least one other layer. The multilayer film has excellent barrier properties. The starch layer comprises a modified starch having a degree of substitution less than 1.5. Suitable other layers include polyolefins. The multilayer film finds use in packaging, particularly in packaging foodstuffs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: Plantic Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas John McCaffrey, Roya Khalil, Nicholas Roy Oakley, Brendan Morris
  • Publication number: 20170029601
    Abstract: There is provided a starch composition comprising a crosslinked starch. The composition may be useful in a variety of applications, for example, in thermoformed articles or as a component in multilayer films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventor: Nicholas John McCaffrey
  • Publication number: 20140349047
    Abstract: There is provided a multilayer film comprising a starch layer and at least one other layer. The multilayer film has excellent barrier properties. The starch layer comprises a modified starch having a degree of substitution less than 1.5. Suitable other layers include polyolefins. The multilayer film finds use in packaging, particularly in packaging foodstuffs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Nicholas John McCaffrey, Roya Khalil, Nicholas Roy Oakley, Brendan Morris
  • Patent number: 8697245
    Abstract: A biodegradable injection mouldable polymer composition including on a dry weight basis from 45-85% w/w by weight of a starch and/or a modified high amylose starch, from 2-15% w/w by weight of a water soluble polymer preferably selected from polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl alcohol which have a melting point compatible with the molten state of the starch components, and from 5-45% w/w by weight of one or more polyol plasticizers having a molecular weight in the range of 50-6000, more preferably 50-2500, and still more preferably 100-400 and preferably selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, glycerol, maltitol, xylitol, mannitol, erythritol, polyglycerol, glycerol trioleate, tributyl citrate, acetyl tri-ethyl citrate, glyceryl triacetate, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate, polyethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol; more preferably glycerol, maltitol, sorbitol, erythritol and xylitol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Plantic Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Kishan Khemani, Nicholas John McCaffrey, Rulande Henderson
  • Publication number: 20100297458
    Abstract: A biodegradable injection mouldable polymer composition including on a dry weight basis from 45-85% w/w by weight of a starch and/or a modified high amylose starch, from 2-15% w/w by weight of a water soluble polymer preferably selected from polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl alcohol which have a melting point compatible with the molten state of the starch components, and from 5-45% w/w by weight of one or more polyol plasticizers having a molecular weight in the range of 50-6000, more preferably 50-2500, and still more preferably 100-400 and preferably selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, glycerol, maltitol, xylitol, mannitol, erythritol, polyglycerol, glycerol trioleate, tributyl citrate, acetyl tri-ethyl citrate, glyceryl triacetate, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate, polyethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol; more preferably glycerol, maltitol, sorbitol, erythritol and xylitol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: PLANTIC TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Kishan Khemani, Nicholas John McCaffrey, Rulande Henderson
  • Publication number: 20090312462
    Abstract: A polymer composition and its use for thin film packaging applications including on a dry basis: a) from 45 to 90% by weight of starch; b) from 0.1 to 15% by weight of a water soluble polymer selected from polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylacetate, and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl alcohol which have a melting point compatible with the molten state of the starch component; and c) from 5 to 45% by weight of one or more plasticizers having a molecular weight in the range of 50-6000, more preferably 50-2500 and more preferably still 100-400 and desirably selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, glycerol, maltitol, xylitol, mannitol, erythritol, glycerol trioleate, tributyl citrate, acetyl tri-ethyl citrate, glyceryl triacetate, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate, polyethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: PLANTIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Roy Oakley, Nicholas John McCaffrey, Kishan Chand Khemani
  • Publication number: 20040096539
    Abstract: An apparatus for molding an optical lens from a molten thermoplastic resin material using an injection molding machine, and including means for forming a mold cavity defined by a pair of opposed, spaced apart inserts shaped and configured to define opposite faces of said optical lens and having a plurality of overflow wells surrounding the mold cavity means for injecting a predetermined optimum volume of resin material into said mold cavity; means for controllably moving at least one insert relative to the other insert, wherein such relative insert motion is driven by a power cylinder capable of providing a variable compression stroke during molding and is initiated prior to completion of said injection; means for controlling the velocity and/or compressive force of the compression stroke of said power cylinder such that said compression is conducted at a first selected relatively high velocity, thus urging excess resin from said cavity into said overflow wells after which the compression force is varied to a
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Nicholas John McCaffrey, Mark A Wallace, David Scott Henderson