Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Hardy

Thomas R. Hardy 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).

  • Recycling of barrier polystyrene foam scrap and barrier polystyrene foam containing recycled barrier polystyrene foam scrap
    Patent number: 5330596
    Abstract: A barrier foam tray contains recycled reclaim of barrier foam. The tray comprises a sheet of foamed polystyrene (PS) having laminated to it a flexible barrier film. The foamed polystyrene part can have admixed therein from 0.0001% up to 30% by weight of the flexible barrier film. The barrier film contains a barrier polymer such as ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH). The tray is made by grinding laminate scrap and extruding reclaim therefrom with virgin polystyrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Inventors: Gerald G. Gusavage, Thomas A. Hessen, Thomas R. Hardy, Henry G. Schirmer, Susan R. Flye
  • Recycling of barrier polystyrene foam scrap and barrier polystyrene foam containing recycled barrier polystyrene foam scrap
    Patent number: 5118561
    Abstract: A barrier foam tray contains recycled reclaim of barrier foam. The tray comprises a sheet of foamed polystyrene (PS) having laminated to it a flexible barrier film. The foamed polystyrene part can have admixed therein from 0.0001% up to 30% by weight of the flexible barrier film. The barrier film contains a barrier polymer such as ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH). The tray is made by grinding laminate scrap and extruding reclaim therefrom with virgin polystyrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Gerald G. Gusavage, Thomas A. Hessen, Thomas R. Hardy, Susan R. Flye, Henry G. Schirmer
  • Purge trap tray
    Patent number: 4576278
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a food tray for supporting, containing and displaying food products which tend to exude or purge juices or liquids. In particular, the present invention relates to a food tray which comprises a sunken exudate reservoir. The reservoir is formed by adhering a sheet of a liquid impermeable material in a liquid tight manner to a raised shoulder area of a support portion of the tray to form a false bottom. The sheet material is further supported by standoffs rising up from the tray bottom. The sheet material is also perforated so as to allow flow of the exudate or purge through the sheet down into the reservoir where the exudate is trapped and retained out of contact with a food product which is located on top of said supported sheet. Preferably, the sheet material is opaque and the exudate is thereby hidden from view. Even more preferably, the sheet material is of the same color as the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co., Cryovac Div.
    Inventors: Stanislaus Laiewski, Thomas A. Hessen, Thomas R. Hardy, Allie F. Gilvin
  • Method and apparatus for manufacturing a purge trap tray
    Patent number: 4552600
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a tray having an integral purge juice trap. A particularly important step in the method is adhering a border area of a perforated thermoplastic sheet to a raised shoulder area of a tray. Preferably, this step is accomplished simultaneously with the step of perforating the thermoplastic sheet. A preferred method for adhering the border area to the shoulder area is heat sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co., Cryovac Div.
    Inventors: Stanislaus J. Laiewski, Thomas A. Hessen, Thomas R. Hardy, Allie F. Gilvin