Patents by Inventor Wayne N. Collette
Wayne N. Collette 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).
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Patent number: 7615176Abstract: Sleeve molding apparatus and methods for making multi-layer injection molded plastic articles in successive mold cavities. In a first molding step, an inner sleeve is molded on a core in a first mold cavity, which may comprise a full body length sleeve or only a partial sleeve, such as an upper neck finish portion. The sleeve and core are withdrawn from the first mold cavity while the sleeve is still warm, and transferred without substantial delay to a second mold cavity for injection molding an outer layer which bonds to the inner sleeve. By transferring the sleeve at an elevated temperature into the second mold cavity, an improved bond is formed between the inner sleeve and outer layer which resists separation during a later reheat stretch blow molding step, and/or in use of the resulting article. In a preferred embodiment, a pasteurizable beer container is provided having a finish-only sleeve of a PEN polymer.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2004Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar
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Patent number: 7540316Abstract: Method for inductive heating of a material located in a channel, the material having a melting range between a solidus temperature and a liquidus temperature. The method includes providing an internal inductive heating assembly in the material in the channel, and supplying a signal to the assembly to generate a magnetic flux in at least one of the assembly and material. The magnetic flux generates inductive heating of the assembly and/or the material and a physical agitation which lowers the solidus temperature of the material to a reduced solidus temperature.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2006Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: iTherm Technologies, L.P.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Kyle B. Clark, Valery Kagan, Stefan von Buren
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Publication number: 20090084775Abstract: Apparatus and method for inductive heating wherein an internal inductive heating assembly is provided within a bore of a solid article. The heating assembly includes an interior coil inductively coupled to a portion of the article adjacent the bore to inductively heat the article. The heating assembly lacks an internal cooling mechanism and the coil thermally coupled to the adjacent article portion for transmission of heat from the coil to the article.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: iTherm Technologies, L.P.Inventors: Valery Kagan, Kyle B. Clark, Wayne N. Collette, Stefan von Buren
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Publication number: 20090008360Abstract: Plastic containers subjected to pasteurization processes with a closure having an annular finish support ring that supports an inner surface of the neck finish of the container from inward deformation during pasteurization. The finish support ring can be integral with the closure or can extend from a closure liner. Also disclosed are closures for products that require pasteurization, as well as modified finish threads to provide a surface contact between the finish and closure threads.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2007Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: David P. Piccioli, Amit S. Agrawal, Wayne N. Collette
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Patent number: 7449663Abstract: Apparatus and method for inductive heating wherein an internal inductive heating assembly is provided within a bore of a solid article. The heating assembly includes an interior coil inductively coupled to a portion of the article adjacent the bore to inductively heat the article. The heating assembly lacks an internal cooling mechanism and the coil thermally coupled to the adjacent article portion for transmission of heat from the coil to the article. A signal is provided to the coil to generate a magnetic flux for inductive heating of the adjacent article portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2006Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: iTherm Technologies, L.P.Inventors: Valery Kagan, Kyle B. Clark, Wayne N. Collette, Stefan von Buren
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Patent number: 7445826Abstract: A polyester container having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall while maintaining a low level of crystallinity in a thickened base portion. The container is particularly useful as a refillable container which can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor carryover, or as a hot-fill container. The container, which can be monolayer or multilayer, is also useful as a carbonated beverage, O2 or CO2 barrier, or beer container.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2005Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Chi Ching Lin
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Publication number: 20080053985Abstract: Apparatus and method for inductive heating wherein an internal inductive heating assembly is provided within a bore of a solid article. The heating assembly includes an interior coil inductively coupled to a portion of the article adjacent the bore to inductively heat the article. The heating assembly lacks an internal cooling mechanism and the coil thermally coupled to the adjacent article portion for transmission of heat from the coil to the article.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2006Publication date: March 6, 2008Applicant: iTherm Technologies, L.P.Inventors: Valery Kagan, Kyle B. Clark, Wayne N. Collette, Stefan von Buren
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Publication number: 20080041551Abstract: Method for inductive heating of a material located in a channel, the material having a melting range between a solidus temperature and a liquidus temperature. The method includes providing an internal inductive heating assembly in the material in the channel, and supplying a signal to the assembly to generate a magnetic flux in at least one of the assembly and material. The magnetic flux generates inductive heating of the assembly and/or the material and a physical agitation which lowers the solidus temperature of the material to a reduced solidus temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2006Publication date: February 21, 2008Applicant: iTherm Technologies, L.P.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Kyle B. Clark, Valery Kagan, Stefan von Buren
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Patent number: 6926859Abstract: A method of making a polyester container having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall while maintaining a low level of crystallinity in a thickened base portion. The container is particularly useful as a refillable container which can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor carryover, or as a hot-fill container. According to the method, a sidewall-forming section of a preform is initially expanded, heated to contract and crystallize the same, and than reexpanded; a base-forming portion of the preform is shielded from the heat treatment and is expanded either before or after the heat treatment step.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2002Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Chi Chung Lin
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Publication number: 20040256763Abstract: Sleeve molding apparatus and methods for making multilayer injection molded plastic articles in successive mold cavities. In a first molding step, an inner sleeve is molded on a core in a first mold cavity, which may comprise a full body length sleeve or only a partial sleeve, such as an upper neck finish portion. The sleeve and core are withdrawn from the first mold cavity while the sleeve is still warm, and transferred without substantial delay to a second mold cavity for injection molding an outer layer which bonds to the inner sleeve. By transferring the sleeve at an elevated temperature into the second mold cavity, an improved bond is formed between the inner sleeve and outer layer which resists separation during a later reheat stretch blow molding step, and/or in use of the resulting article. In a preferred embodiment, a pasteurizable beer container is provided having a finish-only sleeve of a PEN polymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2004Publication date: December 23, 2004Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar
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Patent number: 6787094Abstract: Sleeve molding apparatus and methods for making multi-layer injection molded plastic articles in successive mold cavities. In a first molding step, an inner sleeve is molded on a core in a first mold cavity, which may comprise a full body length sleeve or only a partial sleeve, such as an upper neck finish portion. The sleeve and core are withdrawn from the first mold cavity while the sleeve is still warm, and transferred without substantial delay to a second mold cavity for injection molding an outer layer which bonds to the inner sleeve. By transferring the sleeve at an elevated temperature into the second mold cavity, an improved bond is formed between the inner sleeve and outer layer which resists separation during a later reheat stretch blow molding step, and/or in use of the resulting article. In a preferred embodiment, a pasteurizable beer container is provided having a finish-only sleeve of a PEN polymer.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar
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Multilayer container resistant to elevated temperatures and pressures, and method of making the same
Publication number: 20030186006Abstract: A multilayer plastic container having enhanced strength for high temperature and pressure applications such as the pasteurization of carbonated juice drinks. The container is commercially cost-effective in comparison to prior art pasteurizable glass containers, and provides all of the advantages of plastic over glass, i.e., lightweight, shatter-resistant, etc. In a particular embodiment, the multilayer container includes inner and outer layers of a relatively high IV virgin PET, e.g., 0.85-0.90 dl/g, and a core layer of post-consumer PET having a substantially lower IV. The container has a relatively tall and slender profile, with high orientation levels in the panel and shoulder, and an oriented thick-walled base with feet. The base preferably has a high profile and angled foot pads which are allowed to move outwardly under creep.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Applicant: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Schmidt, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Wayne N. Collette -
Patent number: 6572812Abstract: A preform and container each having a crystallized neck finish and method of making the same, wherein the method involves introducing a first thermoplastic material into a first mold section to form a substantially crystallized neck portion of a preform, and introducing a second thermoplastic material into a second mold section to form a substantially amorphous body-forming portion of a preform. The first material may have a substantially higher crystallization rate than the second material, and/or the first mold section may be at a higher temperature than the second mold section. In one embodiment, an indexer carrying two core sets is movable between first and second cavity sets for sequentially molding the neck portions on the first core set in the first cavity set, and then transferring the cores and neck portions to the second cavity set for molding the body-forming portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar
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Multilayer container resistant to elevated temperatures and pressures, and method of making the same
Patent number: 6548133Abstract: A multilayer plastic container having enhanced strength for high temperature and pressure applications such as the pasteurization of carbonated juice drinks. The container is commercially cost-effective in comparison to prior art pasteurizable glass containers, and provides all of the advantages of plastic over glass, i.e., lightweight, shatter-resistant, etc. In a particular embodiment, the multilayer container includes inner and outer layers of a relatively high IV virgin PET, e.g., 0.85-0.90 dl/g, and a core layer of post-consumer PET having a substantially lower IV. The container has a relatively tall and slender profile, with high orientation levels in the panel and shoulder, and an oriented thick-walled base with feet. The base preferably has a high profile and angled foot pads which are allowed to move outwardly under creep.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1998Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Schmidt, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Wayne N. Collette -
Publication number: 20030001311Abstract: Sleeve molding apparatus and methods for making multi-layer injection molded plastic articles in successive mold cavities. In a first molding step, an inner sleeve is molded on a core in a first mold cavity, which may comprise a full body length sleeve or only a partial sleeve, such as an upper neck finish portion. The sleeve and core are withdrawn from the first mold cavity while the sleeve is still warm, and transferred without substantial delay to a second mold cavity for injection molding an outer layer which bonds to the inner sleeve. By transferring the sleeve at an elevated temperature into the second mold cavity, an improved bond is formed between the inner sleeve and outer layer which resists separation during a later reheat stretch blow molding step, and/or in use of the resulting article. In a preferred embodiment, a pasteurizable beer container is provided having a finish-only sleeve of a PEN polymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar
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Publication number: 20020150703Abstract: A method of making a polyester container having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall while maintaining a low level of crystallinity in a thickened base portion. The container is particularly useful as a refillable container which can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor carryover, or as a hot-fill container. According to the method, a sidewall-forming section of a preform is initially expanded, heated to contract and crystallize the same, and than reexpanded; a base-forming portion of the preform is shielded from the heat treatment and is expanded either before or after the heat treatment step.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2002Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Chi Ching Lin
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Patent number: 6428737Abstract: Method and apparatus for making multilayer injection molded plastic articles. In one embodiment, a relatively thin inner sleeve layer is molded in a first mold cavity on a core, the first mold cavity being heated to maintain an outer surface of the inner sleeve layer at an elevated temperature, and the core and sleeve layer are transferred to a second mold cavity to mold a relatively thick outer layer over the sleeve layer while the outer surface is at the elevated temperature, where the elevated temperature is selected to provide melt adhesion between the inner sleeve and the outer layer during the second molding step. In another embodiment, a method of injection molding is provided in which a first thermoplastic material is used to form a first preform portion having an average percent crystallinity of at least about 30%, and a second thermoplastic material is injection molded to form a second preform portion which remains substantially amorphous.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1998Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar
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MULTILAYER CONTAINER RESISTANT TO ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES, AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME
Publication number: 20020061371Abstract: A multilayer plastic container having enhanced strength for high temperature and pressure applications such as the pasteurization of carbonated juice drinks. The container is commercially cost-effective in comparison to prior art pasteurizable glass containers, and provides all of the advantages of plastic over glass, i.e., lightweight, shatter-resistant, etc. In a particular embodiment, the multilayer container includes inner and outer layers of a relatively high IV virgin PET, e.g., 0.85-0.90 dl/g, and a core layer of post-consumer PET having a substantially lower IV. The container has a relatively tall and slender profile, with high orientation levels in the panel and shoulder, and an oriented thick-walled base with feet. The base preferably has a high profile and angled foot pads which are allowed to move outwardly under creep.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 1998Publication date: May 23, 2002Inventors: STEVEN L. SCHMIDT, SUPPAYAN M. KRISHNAKUMAR, WAYNE N. COLLETTE -
Patent number: 6372318Abstract: A method of making a polyester container having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall while maintaining a low level of crystallinity in a thickened base portion. The container is particularly useful as a refillable container which can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor carryover, or as a hot-fill container. According to the method, a sidewall-forming section of a preform is initially expanded, heated to contract and crystallize the same, and than reexpanded; a base-forming portion of the preform is shielded from the heat treatment and is expanded either before or after the heat treatment step.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1998Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Continental Pet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Chi Ching Lin
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Patent number: D461418Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2001Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Stokely-Van Camp, Inc.Inventors: Jeff Lichtman, Susan L. Colten, John Bretz, David P. Piccioli, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Wayne N. Collette