Patents by Inventor Nicole F. Whiteman

Nicole F. Whiteman 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: 6262174
    Abstract: The present invention relates to film layers and compositions having improved hot tack properties. The compositions comprise polypropylene and linear ethylene polymer, substantially linear ethylene polymer or low density ethylene polymer. The compositions are suitable for use as, for example, laminates or films in packaging applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: James L. Cooper, Nicole F. Whiteman
  • Patent number: 6086967
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a film structure suitable for the packaging of perishable food, comprising at least one film layer which in turn comprises a blend of at least one homogeneous linear or substantially linear ethylene polymer and at least one polypropylene polymer, wherein the film structure is characterized as having a 2% secant modulus which is at least 8% greater than a comparable film structure prepared without the polypropylene polymer, an oxygen transmission rate of at least 700 cc(at STP)-mil/100 in..sup.2 -day-atm at 25.degree. C. The inventive film structures exhibit an optimized balance of properties, making them especially useful in modified atmosphere packages for perishable goods. The inventive films are particularly suited for the packaging of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other perishable items which would benefit from controlled access to environmental oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Nicole F. Whiteman, Gina L. Young, Jeffrey J. Wooster
  • Patent number: 5792534
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a polymer mixture having high heat resistivity, low hexane extractive and controllably lower or higher modulus. The mixture is comprised of at least one first substantially linear ethylene polymer, Component (A), and at least one second ethylene polymer which is a homogeneously branched polymer, heterogeneously branched linear polymer or a non-short chain branched linear polymer. When fabricated into film, the mixture is characterized by a heat seal initiation temperature which is substantially lower than its Vicat softening point as well as a high ultimate hot tack strength. When fabricated as a molded article, the mixture is characterized by high microwave warp distortion while maintaining a lower modulus. The polymer mixture is particularly well-suited for use in multilayer film structures as a sealant layer for such applications as cook-in packages, hot-fill packages, and barrier shrink films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Jacquelyn A. deGroot, Lonnie G. Hazlitt, Pradeep Jain, Seema V. Karande, Laura K. Mergenhagen, Dan G. Moldovan, Kenneth B. Stewart, Nicole F. Whiteman
  • Patent number: 5773106
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a polymer mixture having high heat resistivity, low hexane extractive and controllably lower or higher modulus. The mixture is comprised of at least one first substantially linear ethylene polymer, Component (A), and at least one second ethylene polymer which is a homogeneously branched polymer, heterogeneously branched linear polymer or a non-short chain branched linear polymer. When fabricated into film, the mixture is characterized by a heat seal initiation temperature which is substantially lower than its Vicat softening point as well as a high ultimate hot tack strength. When fabricated as a molded article, the mixture is characterized by high microwave warp distortion while maintaining a lower modulus. The polymer mixture is particularly well-suited for use in multilayer film structures as a sealant layer for such applications as cook-in packages, hot-fill packages, and barrier shrink films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Jacquelyn A. deGroot, Pradeep Jain, Lonnie G. Hazlitt, Seema V. Karande, Laura K. Mergenhagen, Dan G. Moldovan, Kenneth B. Stewart, Nicole F. Whiteman
  • Patent number: 5747594
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a polymer mixture having high heat resistivity, low hexane extractive and controllably lower or higher modulus. The mixture is comprised of at least one first substantially linear ethylene polymer, Component (A), and at least one second ethylene polymer which is a homogeneously branched polymer, heterogeneously branched linear polymer or a non-short chain branched linear polymer. When fabricated into film, the mixture is characterized by a heat seal initiation temperature which is substantially lower than its Vicat softening point as well as a high ultimate hot tack strength. When fabricated as a molded article, the mixture is characterized by high microwave warp distortion while maintaining a lower modulus. The polymer mixture is particularly well-suited for use in multilayer film structures as a sealant layer for such applications as cook-in packages, hot-fill packages, and barrier shrink films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Jacquelyn A. deGroot, Lonnie G. Hazlitt, Pradeep Jain, Seema V. Karande, Laura K. Mergenhagen, Dan G. Moldovan, Kenneth B. Stewart, Nicole F. Whiteman
  • Patent number: 5685128
    Abstract: Food products, especially fresh food products such as retail-cut red meat, vegetables and fruits, are packaged with a film having at least one film layer comprising a substantially linear ethylene polymer, preferably a polymer comprising ethylene and at least one .alpha.-olefin comonomer, e.g. 1-octene. The ethylene polymers used in the construction of the film structures used in this invention are prepared by constrained geometry catalyst technology. The film structures can be either mono- or multilayered, oriented or nonoriented, oxygen permeable or impermeable, and prepared by any conventional technique. The food products can be packaged by any conventional method, e.g. stretch overwrap, shrink, vacuum skin, on vacuum forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Pak-Wing Steve Chum, Nicole F. Whiteman
  • Patent number: 5674342
    Abstract: A process and thermoplastic composition for high line speed extrusion without high neck-in and draw resonance are disclosed. The thermoplastic composition is made of at least one ethylene polymer having a Dow Rheology Index (DRI) of at least 0.1 or, alternately, at least one substantially linear ethylene polymer, used alone or in combination with at least one high-pressure ethylene polymer and/or with at least one heterogeneous linear olefin polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Todd J. Obijeski, Shih-Yaw Lai, Rajen M. Patel, Lichih R. Peng, Michael F. Langohr, David C. Kelley, David A. Eversdyk, Nicole F. Whiteman
  • Patent number: 5427807
    Abstract: Food products, especially fresh food products such as retail-cut red meat, vegetables and fruits, are packaged with a film having at least one film layer comprising a substantially linear ethylene polymer, preferably a polymer comprising ethylene and at least one .alpha.-olefin comonomer, e.g. 1-octene. The ethylene polymers used in the construction of the film structures used in this invention are prepared by constrained geometry catalyst technology. The film structures can be either mono- or multilayered, oriented or nonoriented, oxygen permeable or impermeable, and prepared by any conventional technique. The food products can be packaged by any conventional method, e.g. stretch overwrap, shrink, vacuum skin, on vacuum forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Pak-Wing S. Chum, Nicole F. Whiteman
  • Patent number: 5395471
    Abstract: A process for extruding a thermoplastic composition at higher drawdown rates with less neck-in and greater resistance to draw resonance as well as processes for extrusion coating a substrate and for making an extrusion-cast film are disclosed. The thermoplastic composition is made of at least one substantially linear ethylene polymer used alone or in combination with at least one high-pressure ethylene polymer and/or with at least one heterogeneous linear olefin polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Todd J. Obijeski, Shih-Yaw Lai, Rajen M. Patel, Lichih R. Peng, Michael F. Langohr, David C. Kelley, David A. Eversdyk, Nicole F. Whiteman
  • Patent number: 4780265
    Abstract: Blends of a vinylidene chloride polymer, an olefin polymer, and a compatibilizer polymer are successfully fabricated into films using the well-known inflated bubble technique, by using blow-up rates in the range of about 1.5 to 5.0 and a drawn-down ratio upwards of 6, preferably upwards of 8, but not exceeding the critical draw-down ratio of 13. At a draw-down ratio exceeding 13, the physical properties of the polymer blend are seriously diminished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Nicole F. Whiteman, David P. Flores