Thomas A Hessen

US Patent:

20020015811, Feb 7, 2002

Filed:

Sep 30, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/163747

Inventors:

GERALD G. GUSAVAGE - LANCASTER PA, US
THOMAS A. HESSEN - EPHRATA PA, US
TINA V. LORENZO - SPARTANBURG SC, US
JEFFRELY A. THOMAS - MOORE SC, US
GLORIA G. TONEY - GREER SC, US
WALTER B. MUELLER - INMAN SC, US

International Classification:

B32B003/26

US Classification:

428/036600, 428/036500, 428/317300, 428/349000, 428/519000, 428/521000

Abstract:

A composite useful for making trays for the packaging of food and the like is formed from foamed polystyrene and a film bonded to the polystyrene, the film including a bonding layer of a styrene butadiene copolymer, the bonding layer including at least about 25% by weight of butadiene. The composite may be thermoformed into articles such as trays for use in the packaging of food products, especially meat products.

US Patent:

45526001, Nov 12, 1985

Filed:

Nov 23, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/443992

Inventors:

Stanislaus J. Laiewski - Reading PA
Thomas A. Hessen - Ephrata PA
Thomas R. Hardy - Lebannon PA
Allie F. Gilvin - Sinking Spring PA

Assignee:

W. R. Grace & Co., Cryovac Div. - Duncan SC

International Classification:

B29C 2706
B29C 2708
B32B 3104

US Classification:

156 731

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.

US Patent:

D3787346, Apr 8, 1997

Filed:

Dec 8, 1995

Appl. No.:

D/049611

Inventors:

Thomas Hardy - Lebanon PA
Thomas Hessen - Ephrata PA
Robert Papich - Reading PA

Assignee:

W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn. - Duncan SC

US Classification:

D 9425

US Patent:

45762783, Mar 18, 1986

Filed:

Sep 13, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/650560

Inventors:

Stanislaus Laiewski - Reading PA
Thomas A. Hessen - Ephrata PA
Thomas R. Hardy - Lebanon PA
Allie F. Gilvin - Sinking Spring PA

Assignee:

W. R. Grace & Co., Cryovac Div. - Duncan SC

International Classification:

B65D 8126

US Classification:

206204

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.

US Patent:

56705522, Sep 23, 1997

Filed:

Dec 18, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/573812

Inventors:

Gerald G. Gusavage - Lancaster PA
Henry G. Schirmer - Spartanburg SC
Thomas A. Hessen - Ephrata PA

Assignee:

W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. - Duncan SC

International Classification:

C08J 908

US Classification:

521 91

Abstract:

The present invention provides a process for producing thermoplastic foam, including: (a) melting a thermoplastic polymer to produce a polymer melt; (b) introducing a carbon dioxide blowing agent into the polymer melt; (c) adding to the polymer melt one or more additives selected from the group consisting of (1) polysiloxane, and (2) mineral oil; and (d) extruding and foaming the melted polymer melt, blowing agent, and one or more additives to produce thermoplastic foam. The resultant thermoplastic foam can be thermoformed into various foamed articles, such as foam packaging trays. The quality of foams made from a carbon dioxide blowing agent, and particularly 100% carbon dioxide, has been found to be substantially improved by adding one or more of the foregoing additives, i. e. , polysiloxane, mineral oil and, optionally, polyolefin to the polymer melt during the extrusion and foaming process. Such foams have far less ruptured cells, surface cracks and corrugation than comparable foams made with a carbon dioxide blowing agent but which lack the additives of the present invention.

US Patent:

59944200, Nov 30, 1999

Filed:

Nov 12, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/968672

Inventors:

Gerald G. Gusavage - Lancaster PA
Henry G. Schirmer - Spartanburg SC
Thomas A. Hessen - Ephrata PA

Assignee:

Cryovac, Inc. - Duncan SC

International Classification:

C08J 908

US Classification:

521 91

Abstract:

The present invention provides a process for producing thermoplastic foam, including: (a) melting a thermoplastic polymer to produce a polymer melt; (b) introducing a carbon dioxide blowing agent into the polymer melt; (c) adding to the polymer melt one or more additives selected from the group consisting of (1) polysiloxane, and (2) mineral oil; and (d) extruding and foaming the melted polymer melt, blowing agent, and one or more additives to produce thermoplastic foam. The resultant thermoplastic foam can be thermoformed into various foamed articles, such as foam packaging trays. The quality of foams made from a carbon dioxide blowing agent, and particularly 100% carbon dioxide, has been found to be substantially improved by adding one or more of the foregoing additives, i. e. , polysiloxane, mineral oil and, optionally, polyolefin to the polymer melt during the extrusion and foaming process. Such foams have far less ruptured cells, surface cracks and corrugation than comparable foams made with a carbon dioxide blowing agent but which lack the additives of the present invention.

US Patent:

51185610, Jun 2, 1992

Filed:

Oct 1, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/590892

Inventors:

Gerald G. Gusavage - Lancaster PA
Thomas A. Hessen - Ephrata PA
Thomas R. Hardy - Lebanon PA
Susan R. Flye - Spartanburg SC
Henry G. Schirmer - Spartanburg SC

Assignee:

W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. - Duncan SC

International Classification:

B32B 326

US Classification:

4283044

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.