Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Blinka

Thomas A. Blinka 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: 6458438
    Abstract: An article of manufacture includes an oxygen scavenger and a zeolite. The article can be in the form of e.g. a film or sealing compound. A package can be made from the article for containing an oxygen-sensitive article such as food. The zeolite reduces migration of odor causing by-products of the oxygen scavenging process. A method of making an article of manufacture having reduced migration of by-products of an oxygen scavenging reaction includes providing an article including an oxygen scavenger and a zeolite; and exposing the article to actinic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Blinka, Frank B. Edwards, Nathanael R. Miranda, Drew V. Speer, Jeffrey A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6391403
    Abstract: An article of manufacture includes an oxygen scavenger and a zeolite. The article can be in the form of e.g. a film or sealing compound. A package can be made from the article for containing an oxygen-sensitive article such as food. The zeolite reduces migration of odor causing by-products of the oxygen scavenging process. A method of making an article of manufacture having reduced migration of by-products of an oxygen scavenging reaction includes providing an article including an oxygen scavenger and a zeolite; and exposing the article to actinic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Blinka, Frank B. Edwards, Nathanael R. Miranda, Drew V. Speer, Jeffrey A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6365245
    Abstract: An article of manufacture includes an oxygen scavenger and a zeolite. The article can be in the form of e.g. a film or sealing compound. A package can be made from the article for containing an oxygen-sensitive article such as food. The zeolite reduces migration of odor causing by-products of the oxygen scavenging process. A method of making an article of manufacture having reduced migration of by-products of an oxygen scavenging reaction includes providing an article including an oxygen scavenger and a zeolite; and exposing the article to actinic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Blinka, Frank B. Edwards, Nathanael R. Miranda, Drew V. Speer, Jeffrey A. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20020018865
    Abstract: An article of manufacure includes an oxygen scavenger and a zeolite. The article can be in the form of e.g. a film or sealing compound. A package can be made from the article for containing an oxygen-sensitive article such as food. The zeolite reduces migration of odor causing by-products of the oxygen scavenging process. A method of making an article of manufacture having reduced migration of by-products of an oxygen scavenging reaction includes providing an article including an oxygen scavenger and a zeolite; and exposing the article to actinic radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas A. Blinka, Frank B. Edwards, Nathanael R. Miranda, Drew V. Speer, Jeffrey A. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20010008662
    Abstract: An article of manufacture includes an oxygen scavenger and a zeolite. The article can be in the form of e.g. a film or sealing compound. A package can be made from the article for containing an oxygen-sensitive article such as food. The zeolite reduces migration of odor causing by-products of the oxygen scavenging process. A method of making an article of manufacture having reduced migration of by-products of an oxygen scavenging reaction includes providing an article including an oxygen scavenger and a zeolite; and exposing the article to actinic radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventors: THOMAS A. BLINKA, FRANK B. EDWARDS, NATHANAEL R. MIRANDA, DREW V. SPEER, JEFFREY A. THOMAS
  • Patent number: 5834079
    Abstract: An article of manufacture includes an oxygen scavenger and a zeolite. The article can be in the form of e.g. a film or sealing compound. A package can be made from the article for containing an oxygen-sensitive article such as food. The zeolite reduces migration of odor causing by-products of the oxygen scavenging process. A method of making an article of manufacture having reduced migration of byproducts of an oxygen scavenging reaction includes providing an article including an oxygen scavenger and a zeolite; and exposing the article to actinic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Blinka, Frank B. Edwards, Nathanael R. Miranda, Drew V. Speer, Jeffrey A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5583047
    Abstract: A method of detecting the permeability of an article to oxygen is disclosed. A fluorescent redox indicator, preferably riboflavin, is dispersed in a carrier and placed on an impermeable substrate. The article to be measured is placed adjacent to the carrier. Residual oxygen is removed, the redox indicator is photoreduced, the article and carrier are exposed to oxygen, and the indicator is exposed to UV light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Blinka, Christopher Bull, Charles R. Barmore, Drew V. Speer
  • Patent number: 5042992
    Abstract: A novel class of polyimides useful in making semipermeable membranes for gas separation is synthesized by the reaction of 4,4'-[hexafluoroisopropylidene]-bis-[phthalic anhydride] (6FDA) with 3,7-diamino-2,8-dimethyldiphenylenesulfone (AMPS). In lieu of the two methyl groups the diamine may be substituted by H or C.sub.2-4 alkyl. Membranes made from the polyimides have high permeability for CO.sub.2 from mixtures containing CO.sub.2 and other gases such as CH.sub.4 and have commercially acceptable selectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Blinka, Hiroshi Itatani, I-Fan Wang
  • Patent number: 4963266
    Abstract: Disclosed are semipermeable fluid separation membranes prepared from polyaromatic polymers including aromatic repeat units of which at least five mole percent are substituted by moieties having ethylenically unsaturated carbon bonds wherein the polymer is crosslinked through carbon bonds between the ethylenically unsaturated moieties. The invented membranes have enhanced durability yet retain very high fluid, especially gas, permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Charles R. Morgan, Cheng-Chi Chen, Thomas A. Blinka, Alan S. Obligin
  • Patent number: 4882057
    Abstract: Disclosed are semipermeable fluid separation membranes prepared from polyaromatic polymers including aromatic repeat units of which at least five mole percent are substituted by moieties having ethylenically unsaturated carbon bonds wherein the polymer is crosslinked through carbon bonds between the ethylenically unsaturated moieties. The invented membranes have enhanced durability yet retain very high fluid, especially gas, permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Charles R. Morgan, Cheng-Chi Chen, Thomas A. Blinka, Alan S. Obligin