Patents by Inventor Stephen B. VanVleet

Stephen B. VanVleet 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: 4980222
    Abstract: A tamper indicating tape for use with a closure or container. The tape comprises a film including phase separated polymers. Colored indicia are applied to opposing major surfaces of the film indicative of a condition that someone has tampered with the tape, e.g., tape removal and reattachment, or abrading. The film further bears a layer of adhesive thereon as a means for adhering the tape to a portion of a container or to a closure tape on a can lid. When the film of the tamper indicating tape is sufficiently split, one set of colored indicia is obscured and the other set of colored indicia is rendered perceptible. When the film is abraded to remove the perceptible set of colored indicia, the aforementioned obscured set of colored indicia is rendered perceptible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Raymond R. Rivera, Shari J. Wilson, Stephen B. Vanvleet
  • Patent number: 4876123
    Abstract: A tamper indicating film and tape for use with a package. The tape includes a delaminating film including pahse separated polymers. Indicia are applied to opposing major surfaces of the film indicative of different conditions of the tape. The film is adhesively applied to secure container parts together and enclose an opening in the container. When applied, only one of the indicia are perceptible. When the film is internally delaminated, obscuring one set of indicia and rendering the other set of indicia perceptible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Raymond R. Rivera, Stephen B. VanVleet, Shari J. Wilson