Patents by Inventor W. Gerald Gainey

W. Gerald Gainey 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: 6391135
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing multi-ply tubular containers for food products is provided including the steps of applying an aqueous adhesive to a surface of a paperboard body ply and then heating the aqueous adhesive to evaporate part of the water content and render the adhesive substantially tacky. The body ply and a polymeric liner ply having a moisture barrier layer are then passed through a nip to adhere the liner ply to the body ply and are wrapped around a shaping mandrel to create the tubular container. Accordingly, an advantageous tubular container can be manufactured having a body ply formed of paperboard which is wrapped into a tubular shape to define an inner surface. The body ply defines a predetermined circumferential length before being wrapped which corresponds to one revolution of the body ply when wrapped in a tubular shape. A polymeric liner ply is adhered to the inner surface of the body ply and defines a circumferential length equal to that of the body ply prior to being wrapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Drummond, Glenda J. Cahill, W. Gerald Gainey, Alan D. Williams
  • Patent number: 6244500
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing multi-ply tubular containers for food products is provided including the steps of advancing a continuous body ply formed of paperboard towards a shaping mandrel and advancing a continuous polymeric liner ply adjacent to one surface of the paperboard body ply. The polymeric liner ply includes a moisture barrier layer and an adhesive layer defining one surface of the liner ply, wherein the adhesive layer includes a polymeric adhesive which is activated at a predetermined activation temperature. The body ply is heated to a temperature above the activation temperature of the adhesive, and the body ply and the liner ply are then passed in face-to-face contact through a nip to adhere the liner ply to the body ply. The body ply and liner ply are then wrapped around a shaping mandrel to create the tubular container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenda J. Cahill, W. Gerald Gainey
  • Patent number: 6190485
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing multi-ply tubular containers for food products is provided including the steps of advancing a continuous body ply formed of paperboard towards a shaping mandrel and advancing a continuous polymeric liner ply adjacent to one surface of the paperboard body ply. The polymeric liner ply includes a moisture barrier layer and an adhesive layer defining one surface of the liner ply, wherein the adhesive layer includes a polymeric adhesive which is activated at a predetermined activation temperature. The body ply is heated to a temperature above the activation temperature of the adhesive, and the body ply and the liner ply are then passed in face-to-face contact through a nip to adhere the liner ply to the body ply. The body ply and liner ply are then wrapped around a shaping mandrel to create the tubular container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenda J. Cahill, W. Gerald Gainey
  • Patent number: 6076728
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing multi-ply tubular containers for food products is provided including the steps of advancing a continuous body ply formed of paperboard towards a shaping mandrel and advancing a continuous polymeric liner ply adjacent to one surface of the paperboard body ply. The polymeric liner ply includes a moisture barrier layer and an adhesive layer defining one surface of the liner ply, wherein the adhesive layer includes a polymeric adhesive which is activated at a predetermined activation temperature. The body ply is heated to a temperature above the activation temperature of the adhesive, and the body ply and the liner ply are then passed in face-to-face contact through a nip to adhere the liner ply to the body ply. The body ply and liner ply are then wrapped around a shaping mandrel to create the tubular container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenda J. Cahill, W. Gerald Gainey
  • Patent number: 5857613
    Abstract: The invention provides spirally wound easy-open containers which comprise a spirally wound body wall having overlapped edges and which have capabilities and benefits associated with conventional butt jointed containers. The overlapped edges of the body wall define an easy-open seam extending helically between the ends of the container. A temporary adhesive between the overlapped edges of the body wall releasably adheres the overlapped edges of the body wall together and allows for opening of the container along the helical, easy-open seam. The easy-open containers provided according to the invention can be readily manufactured with only slight modifications to the conventional manufacturing process. Nevertheless, the easy-open containers of the invention can provide for material savings in container label construction and can allow for vacuum packaging of food products such as dough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Drummond, General Taylor, W. Gerald Gainey
  • Patent number: 5846619
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing multi-ply tubular containers for food products is provided including the steps of advancing a continuous body ply formed of paperboard towards a shaping mandrel and advancing a continuous polymeric liner ply adjacent to one surface of the paperboard body ply. The polymeric liner ply includes a moisture barrier layer and an adhesive layer defining one surface of the liner ply, wherein the adhesive layer includes a polymeric adhesive which is activated at a predetermined activation temperature. The body ply is heated to a temperature above the activation temperature of the adhesive, and the body ply and the liner ply are then passed in face-to-face contact through a nip to adhere the liner ply to the body ply. The body ply and liner ply are then wrapped around a shaping mandrel to create the tubular container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Glenda J. Cahill, W. Gerald Gainey
  • Patent number: 5829669
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing multi-ply tubular containers for food products is provided including the steps of applying an aqueous adhesive to a surface of a paperboard body ply and then heating the aqueous adhesive to evaporate part of the water content and render the adhesive substantially tacky. The body ply and a polymeric liner ply having a moisture barrier layer are then passed through a nip to adhere the liner ply to the body ply and are wrapped around a shaping mandrel to create the tubular container. Accordingly, an advantageous tubular container can be manufactured having a body ply formed of paperboard which is wrapped into a tubular shape to define an inner surface. The body ply defines a predetermined circumferential length before being wrapped which corresponds to one revolution of the body ply when wrapped in a tubular shape. A polymeric liner ply is adhered to the inner surface of the body ply and defines a circumferential length equal to that of the body ply prior to being wrapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Drummond, Glenda J. Cahill, W. Gerald Gainey, Alan D. Williams
  • Patent number: 5251809
    Abstract: The invention provides spirally wound easy-open containers which comprise a spirally wound body wall having overlapped edges and which have capabilities and benefits associated with conventional butt jointed containers. The overlapped edges of the body wall define an easy-open seam extending helically between the ends of the container. A temporary adhesive between the overlapped edges of the body wall releasably adheres the overlapped edges of the body wall together and allows for opening of the container along the helical, easy-open seam. The easy-open containers provided according to the invention can be readily manufactured with only slight modifications to the conventional manufacturing process. Nevertheless, the easy-open containers of the invention can provide for material savings in container label construction and can allow for vacuum packaging of food products such as dough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Drummond, General Taylor, W. Gerald Gainey