Patents by Inventor Thomas Andrew Schell

Thomas Andrew Schell 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: 8741433
    Abstract: Compositions and packaging films are provided having a blend of an amorphous nylon copolymer, a low temperature polyamide, and a high temperature polyamide. The compositions can be used in making heat shrinkable films and food packages having desirable levels of free shrink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Andrew Schell, Matt C. Peterka
  • Patent number: 8668969
    Abstract: Heat shrinkable, oxygen barrier, packaging films, methods of packaging and packages are provided having a myoglobin blooming agent to provide, promote, enhance or maintain a desirable coloration on the surface of a myoglobin-containing meat product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Robert Pockat, Thomas Andrew Schell, Dan G. Siegel, Kevin Philip Nelson, Otacilio Teixeira Berbert
  • Patent number: 8545950
    Abstract: A method of distributing or commercializing fresh meat having the general steps of butchering a slaughtered animal into a plurality of retail cuts; packaging the retail cuts into a plurality of articles wherein each article comprises a polymeric oxygen barrier film having a transparent portion in contact with at least a portion of the fresh meat product; transporting the packaged article to a retail outlet, wherein the packaged article is adapted for retail display and sale without removing the polymeric film and wherein the fresh meat product has a desirable appearance especially a desirable red color e.g. having an “a*” value of at least about 15 for the fresh beef product or of at least about 6 for a fresh pork or fresh poultry product and the color is maintained for at least five days and up to four weeks or more after display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan G. Siegel, Kevin Philip Nelson, Gregory Robert Pockat, Thomas Andrew Schell, Otacilio Teixeira Berbert, Ryan Arthur Michaud, Matthew LeRoy Mengel, Douglas Mark Latreille
  • Patent number: 8039070
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable film suitable for forming an easy opening cook-in bag is provided. The film comprises at least five layers, including an inner layer, an inner frangible layer, a barrier layer, an outer frangible layer, and an outer layer. The film is capable of being formed into a bag comprising a lap seal, a top end seal, and a bottom end seal, wherein the seals are heat sealed to a closed condition to contain and protect a product disposed therein. The lap seal, top end seal, and bottom end seal each are able to remain sealed during cook-in conditions. Additionally, the lap seal, top end seal, and bottom end seal each are peelable and easily openable by application of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Thomas Sawall, Thomas Andrew Schell, Benjamin Ray Stover
  • Patent number: 7867531
    Abstract: Heat shrinkable, oxygen barrier, packaging films, methods of packaging and packages are provided having a myoglobin blooming agent to provide, promote, enhance or maintain a desirable coloration on the surface of a myoglobin-containing meat product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Robert Pockat, Thomas Andrew Schell, Dan G. Siegel, Kevin Philip Nelson, Otacilio Teixeira Berbert
  • Publication number: 20100266795
    Abstract: Heat shrinkable, oxygen barrier, packaging films, methods of packaging and packages are provided having a myoglobin blooming agent to provide, promote, enhance or maintain a desirable coloration on the surface of a myoglobin-containing meat product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Robert Pockat, Thomas Andrew Schell, Dan G. Siegel, Kevin Philip Nelson, Otacilio Teixeira Berbert
  • Patent number: 7527839
    Abstract: An easy opening heat-shrinkable bag adapted to be heat sealed to a closed condition to contain and protect a product disposed therein, whereby, at least one heat seal is peelable and readily openable by application of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Busche, Gregory Robert Pockat, Thomas Andrew Schell
  • Publication number: 20080113130
    Abstract: Compositions and packaging films are provided having a blend of an amorphous nylon copolymer, a low temperature polyamide, and a high temperature polyamide. The compositions can be used in making heat shrinkable films and food packages having desirable levels of free shrink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Andrew Schell, Matt C. Peterka
  • Patent number: 7147930
    Abstract: A coextruded heat-shrinkable, biaxially-oriented multilayered packaging film comprising a first layer, a second polymer layer, a third polymer layer, and a fourth polymer layer wherein the first polymer layer comprises a first ethylene/?-olefin copolymer preferably, an ethylene/?-olefin copolymer having an ?-olefin comprising 4–8 pendant carbon atoms, a melting point of less than 105° C., a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of from 1–2.7, a melt index of from 6.5–34 g/10 min. at 190° C., and is present in the first layer is an amount of from 50–100%, based on the total weight of said first layer. The second layer comprises a second ethylene/?-olefin copolymer having a melt index of from 0.85–6.0 g/10 min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Andrew Schell, Gregory Robert Pockat
  • Patent number: 6964816
    Abstract: Multilayer thermoformable structures for packaging film applications. The multilayer structures having at least a first layer of polyester, a second layer of a first adhesive and a third layer of a nylon blend formed into a flexible non-oriented film by coextrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Andrew Schell, Gregory Robert Pockat, Andrew John Lischefski
  • Publication number: 20040166262
    Abstract: An easy opening heat-shrinkable bag adapted to be heat sealed to a closed condition to contain and protect a product disposed therein, whereby, at least one heat seal is peelable and readily openable by application of force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: David A. Busche, Gregory Robert Pockat, Thomas Andrew Schell
  • Publication number: 20040166261
    Abstract: An individual end-sealed packaging receptacle, such as a bag, formed from a sheet of heat-shrinkable film having a first edge and an opposing second edge. The packaging receptacle includes a first seal bonding the first edge and second edge to define a tube member having a first bag wall, a second bag wall, first and second opposing lay-flat bag edges, an end and an open mouth. The packaging receptacle includes a second seal through the first and second bag walls, extending laterally across the width of both the first and second walls and thereby closing the end. A method of forming a individual, end-sealed, heat-shrinkable packaging receptacle is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory Robert Pockat, Thomas Andrew Schell
  • Publication number: 20040048080
    Abstract: Multilayer thermoformable structures for packaging film applications. The multilayer structures having at least a first layer of polyester, a second layer of a first adhesive and a third layer of a nylon blend formed into a flexible non-oriented film by coextrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Andrew Schell, Gregory Robert Pockat, Andrew John Lischefski