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).

  • Patent number: 11494890
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Cryovac, LLC
    Inventors: Siddarth Sreeram, Kalpit Shailesh Mehta, Gregory E. McDonald, James A. Mize, Richard K. Watson
  • Publication number: 20210201471
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Siddarth Sreeram, Kalpit Shailesh Mehta, Gregory E. McDonald, James A. Mize, Richard K. Watson
  • Patent number: 10781022
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Cryovac, LLC
    Inventors: Diana L. Huerta, Robert A. Odabashian, Stephen F. Compton, Sumita Ranganathan, Michael J. Rosinski, H. Walker Stockley, Scott C. Bossong, Richard K. Watson
  • Publication number: 20190135514
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Diana L. Huerta, Robert A. Odabashian, Stephen F. Compton, Sumita Ranganathan, Michael J. Rosinski, H. Walker Stockley, Scott C. Bossong, Richard K. Watson
  • Patent number: 10202229
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 9561889
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20130077899
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: CRYOVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Robert A. Odabashian, Richard K. Watson
  • Publication number: 20090116768
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Diana L. Huerta, Robert A. Odabashian, Stephen F. Compton, Sumita Ranganathan, Michael J. Rosinski, H. Walker Stockley, Scott C. Bossong, Richard K. Watson
  • Publication number: 20080292821
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    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
  • Patent number: 5885699
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K. Watson, William D. Mayfield, Paul J. Satterwhite
  • Patent number: 5837358
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: 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