Patents by Inventor Steven P. Swanlund

Steven P. Swanlund 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).

  • Vent assembly for microwave cooking package
    Patent number: 8610039
    Abstract: A vent assembly includes a bag construction configured to contain a food product such as a popcorn charge. The bag construction is formed of at least one sheet of polyester film material and configured to expand from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration when the food product is heated in a microwave oven. The vent assembly includes a first portion of the bag construction and a second portion of the bag construction that is configured to be folded against the first portion. The second portion includes a venting structure formed in the sheet of polyester material. An adhesive is applied to at least one of the first portion or the second portion. The adhesive is configured to adhere the first portion to the second portion so that the vent is at least partially sealed while the bag construction is in the collapsed configuration and to release the first portion from the second portion as the bag construction expands to the expanded configuration to allow the vent to at least partially open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. France, Charles Thomas Gorman, Clifton Lachmansingh, Paul John Warosh, Steven P. Swanlund
  • VENT ASSEMBLY FOR MICROWAVE COOKING PACKAGE
    Publication number: 20120061385
    Abstract: A vent assembly for a microwave cooking package is disclosed. The microwave cooking package includes a bag construction that is formed of at least one sheet of polyester film material and configured to expand from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration when the food product is heated. The vent assembly includes a first portion and a second portion of the bag construction that is configured to be folded against the first portion. The second portion includes a venting structure formed in the sheet of polyester material. An adhesive is configured to adhere the first portion to the second portion so the vent is at least partially sealed while the bag construction is in the collapsed configuration and to release the first portion from the second portion as the bag construction expands to the expanded configuration to allow the vent to at least partially open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: CONAGRA FOODS RDM, INC.
    Inventors: David W. France, Charles Thomas Gorman, Clifton Lachmansingh, Paul John Warosh, Steven P. Swanlund