Three Or More Layered Packaging Materials Patents (Class 426/127)
  • Patent number: 6610338
    Abstract: A multi layered packaging material (10) comprises a first inner layer C and a second outer layer A. The inner layer has a line of weakness 34 extending there along while the second outer layer A is substantially intact along the line of weakness. In the packaging material 10, the line of weakness is formed by two pieces of material C1, C2 with their edges in substantial abutment, the abutted edges creating the line of weakness. Bags 20, 30, 40, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 130, 140, 150 may be formed from the packaging material. However, the bags so formed are not limited to having the line of weakness created by abutting edges in the inner layer C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Teckson International Limited
    Inventor: Luen Sing Tang
  • Publication number: 20030152675
    Abstract: Packaging methods and apparatus for bonding a lidding web to a tray web, characterized in that the lidding web is placed under tension in both the longitudinal and lateral directions before being bonded to a tray web. A tray web having recesses and channels that form a conduit when the tray web is overwrapped with a lidding web is provided. A lidding web has microperforations to control the transfer of gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Anthony J.M. Garwood
  • Patent number: 6586026
    Abstract: A packaged food article includes a meat product and a thermoplastic, heat shrinkable film. The film includes a meat-contact layer that contains a polymer which includes mer units derived from a C2-C4 &agr;-olefin. The film is sealed so as to form a bag which encloses the meat product. At least one of the seals defines an arc which includes at least four segments. Each of the segments has a radius of curvature which differs from the radius of curvature of any adjoining segment. When the packaged food article is subjected to a temperature of from about 50° C. up to about the Vicat softening point of the polymer of the meat-contact layer, the packaged food article takes the general shape of a poultry breast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Ram K. Ramesh, Terry L. Troutt
  • Patent number: 6581359
    Abstract: This invention consist of the application of ionomers with high acid comonomer content and neutralisea with specific metal ions as sealant layers for multilayer for fresh meat packaging with improved meat juice or purge retention and a process to archieve this. It has been found that for this application a copolymer of ethylene and an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated C3-C8 carboxylic acid, preferably 1-30% by weight, preferably acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, that is partly neutralized with at least one metal ion is most suitable. The copolymer may further contain an acrylate, and may be processed by e.g. extruding or casting a sheet or blowing a film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: Adrianus Theodorus Josephus van den Broek
  • Patent number: 6579607
    Abstract: Controlled permeability films are provided wherein spherical and/or nonporous filler particles having a size greater than the intrinsic thickness of the film are incorporated in a film forming polymer and the film is treated to reduce the carbon dioxide to oxygen permeability ratio of the film. The film can be a multilayer film of polyolefin polymers or copolymers and polyesters. A further embodiment provides a packaging film comprising an outer layer of a styrene-butadiene copolymer to impart clarity, stiffness, crinkle feeling and glossy finish; an internal layer of a barrier film containing inert preferably spherical filler particles larger than the packaging film thickness; and an inner layer of an ethylene alpha-olefin manufactured by the single-site catalyst technology. The nonporous particles are transparent glass so that the multi-layer film has good clarity. The barrier film is an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and the loading of filler particles is about 0.1%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yesim Gozukara, Gregor Bruce Yeo Christie
  • Patent number: 6562425
    Abstract: This invention concerns a multilayer film useful as release sheet for sheet molding compounds, comprising a first skin layer, a second skin layer, a barrier layer for monomeric resins wherein the barrier layer is between the first and second skin layers and the first and second skin layers comprise a mixture of polyolefin and adhesive resin. This invention also pertains to the multilayer films method of production, as well as an SMC sheet employing the multilayer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Pliant Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel G. Denehy, Eric D. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 6558760
    Abstract: The sealability of a thermoplastic, mono- or multi-layer film having an irradiated sealing layer comprising a polyethylene and/or an ethylene-x-olefin copolymer with a density ≧0.915 g/cm3 is improved by corona treating said sealing layer. The integrity of the obtained sealed container is maintained under pasteurizing or cook-in conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Paleari, Romano Spigaroli
  • Patent number: 6550966
    Abstract: A recloseable multibag freezer bag including an inner liner bag and an outer support bag. The inner liner bag is a thermoplastic with a thickness of less than 2 mil and a specified secant modulus, has a mouth through which the interior of the inner liner bag is accessible, and is joined by a mouth seal to the throat of the support bag along the entire length of the mouth of the liner bag substantially enclosing an air space between facing walls of the inner liner bag and outer support bag. The outer support bag is a thermoplastic, and has a mouth and a throat. A recloseable mouth seal is affixed to its mouth to provide recloseable access to the interior of the liner bag through the outer bag while maintaining the enclosed air space between the inner and outer bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Zain E. M. Saad, Douglas P. Gundlach, Virginia D. Karul, Roger D. Vrooman, Roger V. McIntosh, Richard Dawkins, David A. Smith, Michael A. Babinec, Linda W. Allison, Claudia J. Gerardo
  • Patent number: 6528134
    Abstract: Non-wax film structures having three layers wherein the first skin layer comprises a polymer or blend of polymers and a hydrogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon additive; a second core layer comprises a polymer or a blend of polymers, a hydrogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon additive and regrind material; and a third sealant layer comprises a polymer or blend of polymers and a cheese release agent are disclosed. The film structures are useful in the packaging of food products, especially cheese.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Pechiney Emballage Flexible Europe
    Inventors: Duane H. Buelow, Jay D. Hodson, Chad Perre, Richard Littmann
  • Patent number: 6500505
    Abstract: A multilayer film including an outer layer that includes a homo- or interpolymer of propylene and, directly adhered to the outer layer, a layer that includes a homogeneous ethylene/&agr;-olefin interpolymer having a density of no more than about 0.91 g/cm3 exhibits good seal strength and good adhesion between the two layers, even in areas where the film is sealed, even after the film is oriented, even when the film is subjected to the elevated temperatures involved in cook-in procedures, and even where the film is subjected to, e.g., grease from fatty foods. The film also can include one or more, for example, bulk layers, O2-barrier layers, and/or abuse layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Graham R. Piper, Ram K. Ramesh
  • Patent number: 6500559
    Abstract: A film includes a core layer having an amorphous polyamide; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, including a semicrystalline polyamide; two adhesive layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, including a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers, each disposed on a surface of a respective adhesive layer, including an ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, or propylene/alpha olefin copolymer; and a second outer layer, disposed on a surface of a respective adhesive layer, including amorphous polyamide, semicrystalline polyamide, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, or propylene/alpha olefin copolymer. The film can alternatively have a core layer including a polymeric adhesive, and two intermediate layers each having an amorphous polyamide. A method of packaging a product using these films, and a package, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank M. Hofmeister, Thomas D. Kennedy, Carlo E. Musco, Paul J. Satterwhite, G. Vince Sharps
  • Patent number: 6488972
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed package comprises an substantially rigid base(3; 22), preferably a tray, a product (2; 23) to be packaged, which in a preferred embodiment is higher than the tray side walls (5), supported on the tray (3; 22), and a stretch film (8; 15) welded to the substantially rigid base (3; 22) along a sealing line so as to form a hermetically sealed enclosure for the product. In a method and a machine for manufacturing a hermetically sealed package (1; 101) a stretch film (8; 15) is stretched by means of a stretching frame (17) against a base (3; 22) along a pressure line and is heat welded by means of a sealing frame (18) to the base (3; 22) along a sealing line so as to form a hermetically sealed enclosure for a product (2; 23). (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventor: Luca Cerani
  • Publication number: 20020117261
    Abstract: A higher-barrier acrylic/chlorinated vinyl or acrylic/chlorinated vinyl/vinyl latex adhesive component and a lower-barrier acrylic of arcylic/vinyl latex adhesive component are mixed in relative proportions and used to adhere films of low-barrier material, such as films of polyolefins, thereby providing an adhesive layer of controlled gas barrier properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Robert M. Lamber, H. Dale Sherman
  • Patent number: 6440508
    Abstract: A laminated film includes an outer-layer-film, a water-soluble film, and an intermediate layer interposed between the outer-layer-film and the water-soluble film. The intermediate layer contains high-pressure polyethylene oxidized to a prescribed degree on a surface thereof contiguous to the water-soluble film. The outer-layer-film and the intermediate layer adhere fast to each other. The intermediate layer and the water-soluble film directly contact each other and adhere so weakly to each other as to be peelable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Kyodo Shiko Co.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Tokita, Takahiro Takagi
  • Patent number: 6419966
    Abstract: Films, containers made of high density polyethylene, and articles made therefrom exhibit, for a given density, improved resistance to water vapor transmission. The high density polyethylenes are produced in a metallocene-catalyzed production process. Alternatively, for equivalent water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) an article formed in accordance with the invention will exhibit improved physical properties, such as dart drop impact, more balanced tear properties and improved machine direction (MD) tear properties. Additionally, these high density polyethylenes show a low level of extractables and an excellent organoleptic profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Donna Sue Davis
  • Publication number: 20020090425
    Abstract: Packaging of bananas in containers having designed permeabilities to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene. The containers preferably include a gas-permeable membrane comprising (1) a microporous film, and (2) a polymeric coating on the microporous film. The containers enable storage and/or ripening of bananas under controlled conditions. Using the new containers, bananas can be ripened while they are being transported, or in conventional ripening rooms without opening the bags in which they have been transported. In addition, bananas can be preserved in a satisfactory ripened state for longer periods of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Raymond Clarke
  • Patent number: 6406763
    Abstract: A multilayer, heat-shrinkable food packaging film useful for forming a post packaging pasteurization bag. The film includes at least three layers: 1) a first outer layer formed from a resin composition having a Vicat softening point of at least 100° C., 2) a second outer layer having one or more thermoplastic gloss materials of polyester, ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a melt index of greater than 1 g/10 minutes, styrene/butadiene block copolymer, and ethylene/styrene random copolymer, and 3) one or more inner layers between the first and second outer layers. At least one of the inner layers includes an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer. The film has a total free shrink of at least 40% at 85° C. If the second outer layer includes polyester, then each of the inner layers of the multilayer film is devoid of a weight amount of polyamide or polyester greater than the weight amount of polyester in the second outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wolf, George D. Wofford, Blaine C. Childress
  • Patent number: 6383537
    Abstract: One or more patches adhered to a bag have a first-patch-overhang-region and a second-patch-overhang-region, wherein at least a portion of said first-patch-overhang-region is adhered to said second-patch-overhang-region. The overhang regions are preferably present on separate patches adhered to the bag. The patches can extend completely around the bag, eliminating uncovered regions, thereby providing protection against puncture by a bone-in meat product packaged within the bag. This “full width patch bag” has been discovered to be particularly beneficial in reducing punctures in the packaging of whole bone-in pork loins. Other bag embodiments without patch overhangs are also disclosed, for solving the bone puncture problem by providing alternative full width patch bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Allen Brady, Richard Dee Reviere, Henry Walker Stockley, III
  • Publication number: 20020039610
    Abstract: A generally transparent flexible packaging structure having an anti-transfer layer which, in a closed and sealed package, is at or close to an interior surface of the package. A contained food product in the package has a tendency to deposit a food product component on the interior surface of the packaging material and to thereby have a visually obscuring affect on transparency of the packaging structure. Anti-transfer material in the anti-transfer layer migrates to the interior surface of the package and interacts with the visually-obscuring component of the contained food product, thereby to attenuate or eliminate the visually obscuring effect of such component. Preferred primary polymer in the anti-transfer layer is EVA. Preferred anti-transfer materials include fatty acid esters and other amines and derivatives. The invention includes certain aspects of multiple layer packaging structures, closed and sealed packages, and methods of packaging food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Robert Pockat, Richard Musil, Andrea M. Carlson, Kevin Nelson
  • Publication number: 20020034622
    Abstract: A packaged article, especially a respiring foodstuff such as cheese which generates or releases gas during storage, and a permeable multilayer biaxially oriented film suitable for allowing escape of such gas while minimizing transfer of oxygen across the film which has a thin layer of a blend of EVOH and nylon. In a preferred embodiment the low cost film having a high permeability to CO2 and low O2 permeability is used to package cheese.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: David Nicholas Edwards, Stephen James Vicik
  • Patent number: 6358357
    Abstract: A higher-barrier acrylic/chlorinated vinyl or acrylic/chlorinated vinyl/vinyl latex adhesive component and a lower-barrier acrylic or acrylic/vinyl latex adhesive component are mixed in relative proportions and used to adhere films of low-barrier material, such as films of polyolefins, thereby providing an adhesive layer of controlled gas barrier properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Morton International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Lamber, H. Dale Sherman
  • Patent number: 6355287
    Abstract: A packaged product comprises a boneless food product comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of meat and cheese. The food product has added liquid thereon, for example brine which has been injected into (and is exuding from) a meat product, or brine in which cheese has been soaking. The film article surrounds the boneless food product, and is in contact with both the boneless food product and the added liquid. The packaged product exhibits a Standard Drop Test failure rate of less than 60 percent. A packaging process involves placing the boneless food product into a packaging article, which may be a bag, pouch, or casing, the boneless food product having added liquid thereon. The added liquid on the surface of the meat, together with juice from the meat, forms a liquid blend which deposits on an inside surface of the packaging article which is to be sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Noel, James A. Mize, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6338864
    Abstract: A canister for containing a particulate-type product. The canister includes opposing face panels, opposing side panels, a top closure and a bottom closure. The opposing side panels are connected to the opposing face panels to define an upper opening and a lower opening. Further, at least one of the opposing side panels or the opposing face panels includes a first paper-based layer, a second paper-based layer and an adhesive. Each of the first and second layers has an inner surface and an outer surface. The adhesive bonds the inner surface of the first layer to the outer surface of the second layer. The top closure is connected to the opposing face panels and the opposing side panels so as to encompass the upper opening. Finally, the bottom closure is connected to the opposing face and the opposing side panels so as to encompass the lower opening. Upon final assembly, the panels combine to define an internal storage region for containing the particulate-type product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis J. Deering, Patrick J. Sumpmann, Sarah J. Moberg
  • Patent number: 6333061
    Abstract: A sealed article comprising a multilayer film having at least 4 layers. The first layer is an inside layer comprising ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer and/or polystyrene. The second layer comprises ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer, anhydride-modified ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, anhydride-modified ethylene/ester copolymer, acid-modified ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, and/or acid-modified ethylene/acid copolymer. The third layer comprises ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer and/or polystyrene. The fourth layer comprises ethylene homopolymer, ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinylidene chloride, polyamide, polyester, polyalkylene carbonate, polyacrylonitrile, and/or ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer. At least 85 volume percent of the film is made up of polyolefin homopolymer, polyolefin copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, polystyrene, styrene/butadiene copolymer, EVOH, PVDC, and polyacrylonitirile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventor: Parimal M. Vadhar
  • Publication number: 20010046536
    Abstract: A packaged product comprises a boneless food product comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of meat and cheese. The food product has added liquid thereon, for example brine which has been injected into (and is exuding from) a meat product, or brine in which cheese has been soaking. The film article surrounds the boneless food product, and is in contact with both the boneless food product and the added liquid. The packaged product exhibits a Standard Drop Test failure rate of less than 60 percent. A packaging process involves placing the boneless food product into a packaging article, which may be a bag, pouch, or casing, the boneless food product having added liquid thereon. The added liquid on the surface of the meat product contaminates an inside surface of the packaging article which is to be sealed. The packaging article is then sealed across an open end thereof, the seal being made through the contamination on the inside surface of the meat product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: DAVID C. NOEL, JAMES A. MIZE JR.
  • Patent number: 6312742
    Abstract: Packaging such as a blockbase sack (201) suitable for packing of particulate material has an inner bag having two layers of polyethylene, surrounded by an outer bag (201) having three layers of polyethylene. Each bag has a closed bottom and has an open top (208) prior to filling. After filling of the inner bag, the inner bag is closed by a first heat seal along zone (205) in a heat-sealing operation, which can be performed through the outer bag (201) in such a way that the outer bag (201) is not heat sealed to the inner bag at that point. The outer bag (201) is closed by a second seal (207) located between the first seal (205) and the top of the bag (208). A frangible zone (206) is located between the first (205) and second (207) heat seals to enable the outer bag (201) to be removed from the sealed inner bag by cutting or tearing along the frangible zone (206).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Charles Wood, Anthony Bourne, Uwe Kohn
  • Patent number: 6296886
    Abstract: A process for removing creases from a film eliminates a problem in the quality of the heat seal for a patch bag having at least a segment of one or more bag side edges (or the bag bottom edge) covered by one or more patches. The film creases are removed by inflating the film tubing which is later converted to a bag, heating regions containing the creases with a heating means to a temperature which, in combination with the pressure within the inflated tubing, causes the creases to relax. The heated crease-containing regions are then cooled and the inflated tubing is deflated and wound up in a new configuration in which at least one patch covers at least one side edge or the bottom edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry W. DePoorter, Donald B. Moore, Jr., Robert A. Odabashian, Joseph M. Ramirez, Carl L. Tucker, Richard M. Worley
  • Patent number: 6294210
    Abstract: A multilayer film comprises: a first layer comprising a first homogeneous ethylene/&agr;-olefin copolymer; a second layer comprising a polyolefin; and a third layer comprising a second homogeneous ethylene/&agr;-olefin copolymer. The second layer is between the first layer and the third layer, the second layer is chemically different from the first layer and the third layer, and the multilayer film has an oxygen transmission rate of from about 500 to 50,000 cc/m2/24 hr STP. Also disclosed are a process for making the film, a packaging process using the film, and a product packaged in the film. The film is especially suitable for the packaging of oxygen-sensitive products, such as lettuce, and exhibits exceptional hot tack seal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventor: Betsy P. Kuo
  • Patent number: 6287613
    Abstract: A patch bag has a heat-shrinkable patch adhered to a heat-shrinkable bag, the heat-shrinkable patch comprising homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer. The patch bag can be made by adhering a patch film to a film which is thereafter converted to a bag, or by adhering the patch to a pre-formed bag. A packaged product has a meat product in the patch bag, the meat product comprising bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Cryovac Inc
    Inventors: Blaine Clemons Childress, Ronald Dean Moffitt, Timothy Theodore Oberle
  • Patent number: 6280833
    Abstract: The invention relates to a biaxially oriented polypropylene film which has very good optical properties and good processing performance and which, after it has been metallized or has been coated with oxidic materials, has a high oxygen barrier value, and whose structure has at least one base layer B and at least one layer A applied to this base layer, where this layer A has a specified number of elevations of specified height and specified diameter. The invention further relates to the use of the film and to a process for its production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Polyester Film GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Peiffer, Gottfried Hilkert
  • Patent number: 6270819
    Abstract: A patch bag has a convex bag edge and a convex seal inward of the convex bag edge. A patch is adhered to the bag. The patch covers at least a portion of the bag and has a convex patch edge. The patch covers at least a portion of the bag within the convex seal. A process for making the patch bag is also disclosed, as is a packaged product which utilizes the patch bag for the packaging of a bone-in meat product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Alan Wiese
  • Patent number: 6261611
    Abstract: A hand-held food package is provided which enables heterogeneous foods, such as filled pastas, burritos, and the like, to be shipped, stored and heated in the same disposable package from which they are extruded for direct consumption by the consumer without utensils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Breakaway Foods, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert E. Berman
  • Patent number: 6248380
    Abstract: A dual-film package and method for making such package is disclosed which combines the manufacturing simplicity of a package having a single, peelable lid with the consistent peelability of a package having separate permeable and impermeable lids. This is accomplished by providing a support member and a lid having a gas-permeable film and a substantially gas-impermeable film. A first heat-weld bonds the gas-permeable film to the support member and a second heat-weld bonds the gas-impermeable film to the gas-permeable film. The first and second heat-welds each have a bond-strength which is greater than the intra-film cohesive strength of the gas-permeable film so that the lid preferentially delaminates within the gas-permeable film upon peeling, thereby leaving a portion of the gas-permeable film lidded to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick N. Kocher, H. Walker Stockley
  • Publication number: 20010000480
    Abstract: Plastic film packaging for containing an article. The packaging includes a continuous, tear-resistant film and a tearable tape strip. The film is formable to define an enclosed region for containing an article. The tearable tape strip is secured to the film. In this regard, the tearable tape strip is configured to controllably tear an opening through the film for accessing the enclosed region upon tearing of the tearable tape strip. By providing a continuous, tear-resistant film, the packaging is available to safely contain a wide variety of different articles, while withstanding the rigors of most shipping and handling environments. Further, the tearable tape strip allows an end user to easily open the packaging. In one preferred embodiment, a single tearable tape strip is provided and is formed as an internally tearable, reinforced strapping tape adhered to an inner surface of the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: April 26, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy V. Stagg, Richard L. Sheehan, Dean A. Miner
  • Patent number: 6221410
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable backseamed casing film comprises a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, with the first and third layers being outer layers and the second layer being between the first layer and the third layer. The first outer layer serves as an inside casing layer, and comprises polyolefin; the second layer comprises polyester and/or polyamide; the third layer serves as an outside casing layer and comprises polyolefin, polystyrene, and/or polyamide. The second layer has a thickness of at least about 5% of a total thickness of the heat-shrinkable casing film. Alternatively, the first layer comprises polyolefin and has a surface energy level of less than about 34 dynes/cm; the second layer comprises a polyamide having a melting point of at least 300° F.; and the third layer comprises polyolefin, polystyrene and/or polyamide. A package comprises a cooked meat product within the backseamed casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Ram K. Ramesh, Michael J. Rosinski
  • Patent number: 6216855
    Abstract: Trays are known with two waterproof plastic plies, between which an absorbent paper insert is located, the upper ply (12) having openings (14) for passage of liquid. Re-use of these trays requires separation of the insert from the other plies. According to the invention, the insert (13) also consists of a plastic, i.e. of an open-cell foam plastic. All three plies (11, 12, 13) are compressed together in the area of a surrounding rim (21) so that the insert (13) is no longer open-celled or absorbent in this area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Linpac Plastics Limited
    Inventor: Horst-Ditmar Gröne
  • Patent number: 6203867
    Abstract: A plastic packaging material which, when formed as a package having seams, will provide a predictable line of failure along a seam when the package is opened to prevent the package from tearing down the side. The predictable failure path is provided through a lamination process involving specific resins or blends of resins laminated in three (or more) layers in which an extruded inner layer forms a weak inner bond wholly within that inner layer to create the predictable line of failure and in which the process of forming the material does not inhibit processing speed, efficiency, and economics of materials used to provide this reliable openability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignees: Recot, Inc., Bryce Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Derkach, Robert F. Hawkins, Bruce Kinsman
  • Patent number: 6200613
    Abstract: A food barrier casing for enclosing foodstuffs to be boiled or cooked within the casing, in particular for cooking or simmering sausages, ham, pickled products, or soft cheese. The casing comprising an absorbent inner layer which is firmly connected to an impermeable foil, wherein the inner layer comprises fibers and is impregnated with coloring and/or flavoring agents in an amount sufficient to impart color and/or flavor to the foodstuff within the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Products Marketing und Manufacturing AG
    Inventors: Ekkehardt Schäfer, Tomoyoshi Nohmi
  • Patent number: 6194043
    Abstract: A container incorporating post-consumer recycled (“PCR”) plastic and a method of making that type of container. The container utilizes a layer of polypropylene or EVOH or a film of fluorinated polyethylene toward the interior from the recycled plastic to prevent contaminants from the latter entering the container's contents. When utilizing EVOH, the container usually has an additional layer of polyethylene or polypropylene covering the EVOH to prevent its deterioration by moisture. Making the container involves first composing a resin including the recycled plastic. Forming the various layers listed above produces a container that includes recycled plastic and a barrier to limit the migration of contaminants f from the recycled material to the container's contents. This permits the use of the resulting containers for food. For a fluorinated polyethylene film, fluorination can occur either during or after the container's formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Plastic Containers, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory M. Fehn
  • Patent number: 6132780
    Abstract: A container is used to store fine particles such as bakery flour in a sealed packaging, wherein air in the container, such as air entrapped during filling, can be expelled through compression without loss of fine particles. The container includes a main body forming a pouch which terminates in a principal opening and is fabricated from an imperforate flexible material such as clear plastic film. A sealing mechanism is attached to the pouch for sealing the pouch, and a multiplicity of microscopic pores extend through the flexible material. Each pore has a dimension ranging from 10 to 150 .mu.m sufficient to permit air to exit through an exit port, but to prevent the fine particles from escaping through the pores. At least a portion of the pouch material has an anti-slip surface with an external coefficient of friction ranging from about 0.4 to 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Archibald, Rodney K. Gwiazdon, George A. Tuszkiewicz
  • Patent number: 6117464
    Abstract: The present invention provides a peelable laminate suitable for cook-in packaging and a method of cooking a food product. The method includes the steps of:a) enclosing a food product in the peelable laminate, the peelable laminate having(1) an edible film in contact with the food product, and(2) a protective film peelably adhered to the edible film; andb) heating the enclosed food product to at least partially cook the food product, the edible layer adhering to the at least partially cooked food product with an adhesive strength which is greater than the force required to peel the protective film from the edible film. In this manner, the protective film can be peeled from the edible film after cooking without product loss due to adherence of food particles to the film. Furthermore, the peelable laminate prevents or minimizes cook-out and allows a modifier to be transferred to the food product via the edible film during the cooking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Tina V. Lorenzo Moore, Donald Keith Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6117465
    Abstract: An environmentally friendly polymer film pouch made from a polyethylene film structure for the packaging of flowable materials, for example milk, including, for example, a pouch made from a monolayer or multilayer film structure such as a two-layer or a three-layer coextruded film containing at least one layer of a blend of a linear ethylene interpolymer and a high pressure low density polyethylene as a seal layer. Also disclosed is a process for making a pouch for packaging flowable materials using a film structure of a blend of a linear ethylene interpolymer and a high pressure low density polyethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: Daniel James Falla
  • Patent number: 6096358
    Abstract: Aseptically sterilized package of a liquid nutritional product manufactured by (a) providing a multi-layered plastic sheet having at least one polymeric structural layer and at least one polymeric barrier layer; (b) passing the sheet through a peroxide bath; (c) locating the sheet in a sterile environment; (d) applying heat a plurality of times to the sheet; (e) forming the sterilized sheet into a container having a body portion; (f) filling the body portion with a liquid nutritional product; (g) sealing the container with a tabbed, multi-layered closure; and (h) separating the sealed container from the remainder of the sheet. Preferably the liquid nutritional product is infant formula. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sheet is a laminate having two structural layers, each being about 45% of the laminate thickness and secured to either side of the barrier layer, which is about 5% of the laminate thickness, by an adhesive layer of about 2.5% of the laminate thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Brian K. Murdick, Lewis H. Sita, Todd A. Stevens, Vera T. Stavroff
  • Patent number: 6093460
    Abstract: A paperboard material 101 is mainly composed of a paperboard having a weight of 200 to 450 g/m.sup.2, a density of 0.65 to 0.82 and a gas permeability of 50 to 200 sec. A first resin layer having liquid-impermeability and thermal resistance is formed entirely on the surface of the paperboard on the inner side of the receptacle, and a second resin layer having permeability to gas and liquid is formed entirely on the back surface of the paperboard. Radial score lines 117 are formed in the portion corresponding to the corners of the paperboard material 101 toward its outer periphery. The score lines 117 do not reach the outer periphery of the paperboard material 101 but terminate at the position at a distance "a" (1 to 3 mm). The score lines 117 are formed by pressing the paperboard with a pressing die from the side constituting the inner side of the receptacle toward the outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Toyo Aluminum Foil Products Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Iwaya
  • Patent number: 6093274
    Abstract: This invention relates to paperboard composite structures with a glass-coated film. Such structures of this type, generally, improve the shelf life of refrigerated and other oxygen-sensitive products and provide a barrier to flavors and fragrances to maintain product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Jude Parks, Ralph Scott Peterson
  • Patent number: 6086967
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a film structure suitable for the packaging of perishable food, comprising at least one film layer which in turn comprises a blend of at least one homogeneous linear or substantially linear ethylene polymer and at least one polypropylene polymer, wherein the film structure is characterized as having a 2% secant modulus which is at least 8% greater than a comparable film structure prepared without the polypropylene polymer, an oxygen transmission rate of at least 700 cc(at STP)-mil/100 in..sup.2 -day-atm at 25.degree. C. The inventive film structures exhibit an optimized balance of properties, making them especially useful in modified atmosphere packages for perishable goods. The inventive films are particularly suited for the packaging of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other perishable items which would benefit from controlled access to environmental oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Nicole F. Whiteman, Gina L. Young, Jeffrey J. Wooster
  • Patent number: 6074755
    Abstract: A laminate is prepared that can be further treated comparatively soon after its preparation, the process comprising that a first solid film is applied with a fluid adhesive layer that cures influenced by a catalyst, whereupon a secondary solid or fluid film consisting totally or partially of plastic material, is brought into contact herewith, whereby the secondary film contains a catalyst for the curing of the adhesive. The laminate prepared is suitable as packaging material, e.g. for food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Curex APS
    Inventors: Max Otto Henri Rasmussen, Janne Rasmussen, Peter Max Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6068898
    Abstract: A film sheet having a pressure valve portion with one or more holes passing partially through the sheet film on one side of the sheet film, and a thin portion covering each of the one or more holes. The thin portion is preferably constructed to rupture when a predetermined maximum sustainable pressure differential is applied across the sheet film. In one embodiment, sheet film has a first film layer; and a second film layer, having one or more through holes, laminated to the first film layer. In another embodiment, the sheet film has a first film layer, a second film layer having one or more through holes, and a third film layer having one or more through holes, wherein the second film layer is laminated on one side of the first film layer, and the third film layer is laminated on the other side of the first film layer so that the one or more through holes of the second film layer are aligned with the one or more through holes of the third film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Hitoshi Omoto
    Inventor: Yoshio Oyama
  • Patent number: 6063418
    Abstract: A method and a container for long-term storage in a state in which harmful insects do not propagate, in a case in which grains such as unpolished rice or the like are filled and stored. An inner bag (10) made of a flexible material is accommodated in an outer bag (12) which has high-strength. After grains are filled in the inner bag, the inner bag (10) is filled with carbon dioxide gas and is closed. The grains are stored in a state in which harmful insects are exterminated. It is preferable from the standpoint of the insecticidal effect that the inner portion of the inner bag (10) is able to maintain a carbon dioxide gas concentration of 40% or more for 7 days or more. Because the inner bag has the property of a CO.sub.2 permeation amount of less than or equal to 6300 cc/m.sup.2 .multidot.24 hr 1 atm, an oxygen-deficient state can be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Fujimori Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teizo Sugimoto, Naoshi Itagaki, Hiroshi Kimura, Eiji Wada, Naoki Hayashi, Toshiyuki Takeda, Shiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6063417
    Abstract: A multilayer, preferably heat-shrinkable, thermoplastic film for cheese packaging which comprises(a) a core barrier layer comprising a blend of from about 40 to about 85% by weight of nylon 6/12 and from about 15 to about 60% by weight of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer; and(b) a heat-sealing layer comprising an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin polymer with a density .ltoreq.0.915 g/cc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Paleari, Fabio Barbaglia