Patents by Inventor Richard K. Watson
Richard K. Watson 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).
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Patent number: 11494890Abstract: Vacuum seal packages can be classified based on image data. Training image data is received that includes image data about first vacuum seal packages. Labels associated with the first vacuum seal packages are received, where each of the labels includes a state of one of the first vacuum seal packages. A trained classification model is developed based on the training image data and the received labels. Image data representative of a second vacuum seal package is received. The image data is inputted into the trained classification model, where the trained classification model is configured to classify a state of the second vacuum seal package based on the image data. The state of the second vacuum seal package is received from the trained classification model.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Cryovac, LLCInventors: Siddarth Sreeram, Kalpit Shailesh Mehta, Gregory E. McDonald, James A. Mize, Richard K. Watson
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Publication number: 20210201471Abstract: Vacuum seal packages can be classified based on image data. Training image data is received that includes image data about first vacuum seal packages. Labels associated with the first vacuum seal packages are received, where each of the labels includes a state of one of the first vacuum seal packages. A trained classification model is developed based on the training image data and the received labels. Image data representative of a second vacuum seal package is received. The image data is inputted into the trained classification model, where the trained classification model is configured to classify a state of the second vacuum seal package based on the image data. The state of the second vacuum seal package is received from the trained classification model.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2019Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Siddarth Sreeram, Kalpit Shailesh Mehta, Gregory E. McDonald, James A. Mize, Richard K. Watson
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Patent number: 10781022Abstract: A heat-shrinkable packaging article has one or more tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The tear initiators are present in a skirt and/or header of the article. The skirt and/or header has a first side and a second side. In one embodiment, some or all of the first side of the skirt and/or header can be heatset in order to reduce the shrink and curling of the skirt and/or header. This improves identification and utilization of the tear initiators by a consumer upon shrinking the packaging article around the product. In another embodiment, the skirt and/or header has a plurality of pairs of tear initiators to allow portions of the package to be torn off to expose a portion of the product that can then be sliced off while the remainder of the packaged product remains covered by a remainder of the film.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Cryovac, LLCInventors: Diana L. Huerta, Robert A. Odabashian, Stephen F. Compton, Sumita Ranganathan, Michael J. Rosinski, H. Walker Stockley, Scott C. Bossong, Richard K. Watson
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Publication number: 20190135514Abstract: A heat-shrinkable packaging article has one or more tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The tear initiators are present in a skirt and/or header of the article. The skirt and/or header has a first side and a second side. In one embodiment, some or all of the first side of the skirt and/or header can be heatset in order to reduce the shrink and curling of the skirt and/or header. This improves identification and utilization of the tear initiators by a consumer upon shrinking the packaging article around the product. In another embodiment, the skirt and/or header has a plurality of pairs of tear initiators to allow portions of the package to be torn off to expose a portion of the product that can then be sliced off while the remainder of the packaged product remains covered by a remainder of the film.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Diana L. Huerta, Robert A. Odabashian, Stephen F. Compton, Sumita Ranganathan, Michael J. Rosinski, H. Walker Stockley, Scott C. Bossong, Richard K. Watson
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Patent number: 10202229Abstract: A heat-shrinkable packaging article has one or more tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The tear initiators are present in a skirt and/or header of the article. The skirt and/or header has a first side and a second side. In one embodiment, some or all of the first side of the skirt and/or header can be heatset in order to reduce the shrink and curling of the skirt and/or header. This improves identification and utilization of the tear initiators by a consumer upon shrinking the packaging article around the product. In another embodiment, the skirt and/or header has a plurality of pairs of tear initiators to allow portions of the package to be torn off to expose a portion of the product that can then be sliced off while the remainder of the packaged product remains covered by a remainder of the film.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2008Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.Inventors: Diana L. Huerta, Robert A. Odabashian, Stephen F. Compton, Sumita Ranganathan, Michael J. Rosinski, H. Walker Stockley, Scott C. Bossong, Richard K. Watson
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Patent number: 9561889Abstract: A packaging article has tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The packaging article is made from a heat-shrinkable multilayer film having at least one layer containing an incompatible polymer blend, and/or a layer containing an inorganic filler, and/or a layer having a high Young's modulus. The film also has a Peak Load Impact Strength of at least 50 Newtons per mil, The tear initiators can be used to generate a manual machine direction tears to open the package, with the manual machine direction tear being capable of propagating in the machine direction to the opposite edge of the packaging article. A process for making a package and manually opening the package is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2008Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.Inventors: Richard M. Dayrit, Robert A. Odabashian, Janet W. Rivett, Thomas D. Kennedy, Diana Huerta, Tom Bonner, Rodney R. Hodgson, Mendy W. Mossbrook, H. Walker Stockley, Richard K. Watson
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Publication number: 20130077899Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an easy opening packaging article, such as an end-seal bag or the like, having a tear initiator and one or more grip assisters. According to various embodiments, the tear initiator and grip assisters are configured to assist a user in opening the packaging article. In particular, the grip assisters are configured to reduce the likelihood that a loose piece of plastic is generated during the opening process, and to reduce the likelihood that undesired tears in the packaging article are generated during the opening process.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: CRYOVAC, INC.Inventors: Robert A. Odabashian, Richard K. Watson
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Publication number: 20090116768Abstract: A heat-shrinkable packaging article has one or more tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The tear initiators are present in a skirt and/or header of the article. The skirt and/or header has a first side and a second side. In one embodiment, some or all of the first side of the skirt and/or header can be heatset in order to reduce the shrink and curling of the skirt and/or header. This improves identification and utilization of the tear initiators by a consumer upon shrinking the packaging article around the product. In another embodiment, the skirt and/or header has a plurality of pairs of tear initiators to allow portions of the package to be torn off to expose a portion of the product that can then be sliced off while the remainder of the packaged product remains covered by a remainder of the film.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2008Publication date: May 7, 2009Inventors: Diana L. Huerta, Robert A. Odabashian, Stephen F. Compton, Sumita Ranganathan, Michael J. Rosinski, H. Walker Stockley, Scott C. Bossong, Richard K. Watson
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Publication number: 20080292821Abstract: A packaging article has tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The packaging article is made from a heat-shrinkable multilayer film having at least one layer containing an incompatible polymer blend, and/or a layer containing an inorganic filler, and/or a layer having a high Young's modulus. The film also has a Peak Load Impact Strength of at least 50 Newtons per mil, The tear initiators can be used to generate a manual machine direction tears to open the package, with the manual machine direction tear being capable of propagating in the machine direction to the opposite edge of the packaging article. A process for making a package and manually opening the package is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Inventors: Richard M. Dayrit, Robert A. Odabashian, Janet W. Rivett, Thomas D. Kennedy, Diana Huerta, Tom Bonner, Rodney R. Hodgson, Mendy W. Mossbrook, H. Walker Stockley, Richard K. Watson
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Patent number: 5885699Abstract: A multilayer film characterized by having excellent oxygen permeability and thermoformable properties comprising a sealant layer and a heat resistant layer is disclosed. The sealant layer contains an ethylene based polymer or copolymer. The heat resistant layer has a melting point greater than that of the polymeric composition of the sealing layer. Internal layers also can be provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1997Date of Patent: March 23, 1999Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.Inventors: Richard K. Watson, William D. Mayfield, Paul J. Satterwhite
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Patent number: 5837358Abstract: A packaged product has a cooked meat product, within a film, adhered to a meat-contact surface of the film. An anhydride functionality is present on the meat-contact surface of the film. Upon extraction in ethanol, the anhydride is extractable from the cook-in film to a level of less than 50 parts per billion. A packaged product is prepared by packaging a meat product in the cook-in film and cooking the meat product within the film so that the meat-contact surface of the film adheres to the meat product.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1995Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.Inventors: Frank T. Bauer, Thomas D. Kennedy, Ram K. Ramesh, Paul J. Satterwhite, John S. Sczesny, G. Vincent Sharps, Richard K. Watson