Patents by Inventor Paul E. Thomas

Paul E. Thomas 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: 20240124186
    Abstract: The invention comprises a container comprising: a base; at least one paper-based sidewall seamed to and extending upwardly from the base, wherein the at least one sidewall comprises a score line near the base that is at least partially circumferential and is configured to be torn through to remove the base from the sidewall; and a liner ply adhered to an interior surface of the sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Lawrence Robert Carpenter, Tony L. Thomas, Paul E. Miller, Kurt A. Ziegenfelder
  • Publication number: 20240114946
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides aerosol generating substrates and aerosol source members comprising aerosol generating substrates, as well as methods of manufacturing thereof. In an example implementation, an aerosol generating substrate may comprise a fibrous filler material, an aerosol forming material, and a plurality of heat conducting constituents, wherein the substrate is formed as a sheet, and wherein the heat conducting constituents are part of the sheet. The heat conducting constituents may be incorporated within the sheet, or may be formed on a surface of the sheet. In another example implementation, an aerosol source member may comprise a substrate portion formed of a collection of intermingled pieces cut from an aerosol substrate sheet. In addition, or alternatively, a substrate portion may be formed of a series of overlapping layers of an aerosol substrate sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Andries Sebastian, Stephen Benson Sears, Billy Tyrone Connor, Rajesh Sur, S. Keith Cole, Thaddeus Jackson, Timothy Frederick Thomas, Paul E. Braxton, Curtis Foster Doe, Vahid Hejazi, Kathryn Lynn Wilberding
  • Patent number: 9993988
    Abstract: Films (10) for use in protecting surfaces are disclosed and comprise at least one release layer (14) and optionally an adhesion layer (12) and/or an intermediate layer, the release layer (14) having a plurality of three-dimensional protrusions (13) that are either formed integral with the release layer or are discrete polymer beads applied to the release layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: TREDEGAR FILM PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shailesh C. Patel, Bankim B. Desai, Gary M. Balakoff, Paul E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140190612
    Abstract: Films (10) for use in protecting surfaces are disclosed and comprise at least one release layer (14) and optionally an adhesion layer (12) and/or an intermediate layer, the release layer (14) having a plurality of three-dimensional protrusions (13) that are either formed integral with the release layer or are discrete polymer beads applied to the release layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: TREDEGAR FILM PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shailesh C. Patel, Bankim B. Desai, Gary M. Balakoff, Paul E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8460778
    Abstract: Composite forming screens comprise a layer of hard rubber with a Shore D hardness of 12-90, preferably 33-90 and most preferably 46-60 and in preferred embodiments, comprise a support layer of plastic or metal bonded to the hard rubber to form a composite. The forming screens may be planar or cylindrical and are provided with a plurality of apertures or through holes and a pattern of fine scale structures. Methods of making the forming screens are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Tredegar Film Products Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Thomas, Sean W. Bower
  • Patent number: 8303897
    Abstract: An organic chemical sensor includes a dielectric core that comprises an elastomer and a high dielectric constant material. The elastomer absorbs an organic chemical to be sensed. An electrically conductive layer is secured to a first side of the dielectric core. A permeable conductive layer is secured to a second side of the dielectric core. The permeable conductive layer is electrically conductive and permeable to the organic chemical to be sensed. The absorption of the organic chemical to be sensed by the elastomeric layer causes a decrease in the capacitance between the electrically conductive layer and the permeable conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventors: Jeannine O. Colla, Paul E. Thoma
  • Publication number: 20120220041
    Abstract: An organic chemical sensor includes a dielectric core that comprises an elastomer and a high dielectric constant material. The elastomer absorbs an organic chemical to be sensed. An electrically conductive layer is secured to a first side of the dielectric core. A permeable conductive layer is secured to a second side of the dielectric core. The permeable conductive layer is electrically conductive and permeable to the organic chemical to be sensed. The absorption of the organic chemical to be sensed by the elastomeric layer causes a decrease in the capacitance between the electrically conductive layer and the permeable conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Jeannine O. Colla, Paul E. Thoma
  • Publication number: 20120141732
    Abstract: Films for use in protecting surfaces are disclosed and comprise at least one release layer and optionally an adhesion layer and/or an intermediate layer, the release layer having a plurality of three-dimensional protrusions that are either formed integral with the release layer or are discrete polymer beads applied to the release layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: TREDEGAR FILM PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shailesh C. Patel, Bankim B. Desai, Gary M. Balakoff, Paul E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8153231
    Abstract: Embodiments of a thin web comprising a plurality of channels extending through the film are disclosed. The channels are in a substantially closed position but are capable of being in an open position to allow flow from the female side through the film to the male side. In certain applications, a greater pressure on the female side than the male side is capable of opening the channels. Embodiments may also include a thin web comprising a plurality of three dimensional apertures extending through the plastic film. The apertures may form a substantially closed channel defined by a sidewall and the channels being disposed at an angle greater than 70° with respect to a female side of the film. The thin web may be a plastic film or a thermoplastic film comprising a polyolefin, for example, or any other suitable material. The polyolefin may comprise at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, low density polyethylene, or high density polyethylene, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Tredegar Film Products Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Thomas, Timothy L. Clark
  • Patent number: 7758947
    Abstract: An apertured material comprising a web and a plurality of apertures in the web, each aperture having at least two vertices with a convex flap of the web spanning a pair of the vertices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Tredegar Film Products Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Maschino, Paul E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20100151191
    Abstract: Composite forming screens comprise a layer of hard rubber with a Shore D hardness of 12-90, preferably 33-90 and most preferably 46-60 and in preferred embodiments, comprise a support layer of plastic or metal bonded to the hard rubber to form a composite. The forming screens may be planar or cylindrical and are provided with a plurality of apertures or through holes and a pattern of fine scale structures. Methods of making the forming screens are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Tredegar Film Products Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Thomas, Sean W. Bower
  • Publication number: 20100151170
    Abstract: Composite forming screens comprise a layer of hard rubber with a Shore A hardness of 50-90 and in preferred embodiments, comprise a support layer of plastic or metal bonded to the hard rubber to form a composite. The forming screens may be planar or cylindrical and are provided with a plurality of apertures or through holes and a pattern of fine scale structures. A method of making the forming screens is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Tredegar Film Products Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Thomas, Sean W. Bower
  • Publication number: 20090082746
    Abstract: Embodiments of a thin web comprising a plurality of channels extending through the film are disclosed. The channels are in a substantially closed position but are capable of being in an open position to allow flow from the female side through the film to the male side. In certain applications, a greater pressure on the female side than the male side is capable of opening the channels. Embodiments may also include a thin web comprising a plurality of three dimensional apertures extending through the plastic film. The apertures may form a substantially closed channel defined by a sidewall and the channels being disposed at an angle greater than 70° with respect to a female side of the film. The thin web may be a plastic film or a thermoplastic film comprising a polyolefin, for example, or any other suitable material. The polyolefin may comprise at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, low density polyethylene, or high density polyethylene, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Paul E. Thomas, Timothy L. Clark
  • Publication number: 20080138574
    Abstract: An apertured material comprising a web and a plurality of apertures in the web, each aperture having at least two vertices with a convex flap of the web spanning a pair of the vertices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Tredegar Film Products Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Maschino, Paul E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080090050
    Abstract: An apertured film is provided for use as a topsheet in an absorbent article. The apertured film includes an apertured continuous layer having a female side that is hydrophilic, and hydrophobic raised lanes extending upward from the female side of the apertured continuous layer. A method of making the film is provided also. The method includes: extruding a flat continuous layer of a polymer melt onto a screen assembly, the upper surface of the continuous layer being hydrophilic; coextruding lanes of a hydrophobic polymer melt onto the upper surface of the continuous layer; and applying a pressure differential across the screen assembly to form apertures in the continuous layer. An absorbent article including the film is provided also.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: TREDEGAR FILM PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rickey J. Seyler, Paul E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7198836
    Abstract: An apertured vacuum formed film for use as a topsheet in an absorbent article has raised lands in a stroking direction to impart a silky tactile impression. The stroking direction lands are raised between 15 ? and 145 ? relative to the transverse lands. The stroking direction lands may also include a microtexture to enhance the silky tactile impression. Also, the apertures may form boat shape cells to enhance the silky tactile impression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Tredegar Film Products Corporation
    Inventor: Paul E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6989187
    Abstract: In an absorbent article, a formed film topsheet provides good rewet performance and a silky tactile impression in a stroking direction. The topsheet has a plurality of Boat Shape Cells substantially aligned in the stroking direction at a mesh greater than about 25 cells per linear inch, as measured perpendicular to the stroking direction. The topsheet may have additional features to enhance the silky tactile impression such as microridges on the lands between the cells, raised lands in the stroking direction, and other parameters as described in the specification and claimed in the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Tredegar Film Products Corporation
    Inventor: Paul E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6907391
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for designing an energy-absorbing impact zone for a vehicle interior, including acquiring test data representative of an occupant, determining a force versus deflection curve for the vehicle impact zone, analyzing the force versus deflection curve, and utilizing the analysis to adjust the stiffness of the energy-absorbing impact zone and to shape the force versus deflection curve so that a constant area under the force versus deflection curve has the minimum deflection possible without exceeding a certain force limit and a certain head impact criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Val A. Bellora, Ryan W. Krauss, Martin Lambrecht, Lambert J. Van Poolen, Paul E. Thoma
  • Patent number: 6893484
    Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus for scrubbing either acidic or alkaline impurities from gas streams, wherein the gas streams to be scrubbed exist at a pressure which is only slightly higher than ambient pressure. An apparatus according to a preferred form of the invention exists substantially in the shape of a rectangular or cubic solid, having an inlet pipe which is directed to an inner chamber having a wall portion which functions as a manifold, including a plurality of gas conduction tubes in fluid contact with the inner chamber, and into which tubes the gas to be scrubbed enters. The gas to be scrubbed passes through holes in the walls of the gas conduction tubes and contacts a liquid absorbent substance present in the interior confines of the apparatus, which liquid is capable of reacting with one or more impurities in the gas stream, thus eliminating the impurities from the gas stream. The gas stream so treated emerges from the apparatus through a gas outlet provision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Desert Energy LTD
    Inventor: Paul E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20030195487
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a topsheet, a backsheet and an intermediate layer between the topsheet and the backsheet. At least one of the topsheet, backsheet, and intermediate layer is a three-dimensional vacuum formed film with a male side void volume of at least 350 cc/m2 and a first minute decrease in temperature of at least 8° F. on a Third Insult Test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Tredegar Film Products Corporation
    Inventor: Paul E. Thomas