Fort James Corporation

James River Corporation

Dixie Consumer Products LLC

Anthony J Swiontek

Mark B Littlejohn

Cristian M Neculescu

Donald C McCarthy

Robert Patterson

Ronald L Cochran, Ii

Kenneth J Shanton

Dean P Swoboda

Timothy P Hartjes

Erland R Sandstrom

Wayne W Lamson

Brigitte K Weigert

Richard J Rogers

Margaret P Neer

Gerald John Van Handel

Jonathan E Rush

Michael A Schmelzer

Charles C Habeger, Jr

Kenneth A Pollart

Margaret P Hoks

Robert J Linnander

Donald B Campbell

Wayne M Lamson

Rana Shehadeh

Gregory J Anderson

A thermoformed disposable food container having a wall caliper of from about 10 to about 80 mils consisting essentially of from about 30 to about 80 percent by weight of a matrix polymer composition consisting predominantly of a polypropylene polymer and optionally including a polyethylene polymer, from about 10 to about 50 percent mica, from about 2.5 to about 25 percent calcium carbonate, and up to about 5 weight percent titanium dioxide, exhibits enhanced rigidity when the calcium carbonate has a mean particle size of less than about 8 microns. The extrudable compositions are likewise useful for film, sheet and injection molding applications.

Thermoformed food containers with enhanced rigidity

Disposable serving bowl and lid

An improved paperboard has been bulk enhanced by retaining a substantial portion of bulk-enhanced additives including expandable microspheres in a suitable distribution within the paperboard. The cellulosic paperboard web has an overall fiber weight (w) of at least 40 lbs. per 3000 square feet and, at a fiber density of 3, 4.5, 6.5, 7, 8.3, and 9 pounds per 3000 square foot ream at a fiberboard thickness of 0.001 inches, has a GM Taber stiffness of at least about 0.00246 wgrams-centimeter/fiber mat density, and a GM tensile stiffness of at least about 615+13.18 w pounds per inch. The high retention of the bulk enhancing additives is believed to result from the incorporation of suitable retention aids. The resulting paperboard has better GM Taber stiffness values and GM tensile stiffness than prior art paperboards. The paperboard also has increased strain to failure and is able to be formed into suitable paperboard containers without loss of integrity. The resulting containers have increased hold times when they contain hot or cold food or drink.

Coated paperboards and paperboard containers having improved tactile and bulk insulation properties

A method of making a texture-coated and/or insulation coated container from a flat paperboard blank in which a heat-hardenable liquid polymeric binder texturizing and or insulating agent coating mixture is applied to one surface of the blank in a pattern of covered and open areas. This coating mixture is subjected to heat to cure the polymeric binder and expand the texturizing and/or insulating agent, optionally treated with moisture, and optionally heated to form the blank into the shape of a container, and the container produced by this method. The containers such as cups, plates, etc., are useful in food service. These containers have a coefficient of static friction which is about 0.2 to 2.0 and over and a kinetic coefficient of friction which is about 0.22 to 1.5.

Disposable food contact compatible microwaveable containers having one or more micronodular surface are disclosed. These containers, including plates, bowls, cups, trays, buckets, souffl&eacute; dishes, and lids are prepared from a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polypropylene polyethylene copolymer or blends, and mixtures of these, mica, and pigment and are thermoformed into the shape of a the aforementioned containers exhibiting (a) a micronodular surface on at least one side of the surface; (b) a melting point of not less than about 250&deg; F.; said containers being dimensionally stable and resistant to grease, sugar, and water at temperatures up to at least 250&deg; F. and being of sufficient toughness to resist cutting by serrated polystyrene flatware.

Process for the manufacture of disposable food contact compatible microwaveable containers having at least one micronodular surface

Low-odor microwaveable polypropylene/mica food contact articles are disclosed. The articles are prepared by low temperature processing and typically include odor-suppressing basic organic or inorganic compounds. Preferably, the articles are substantially free from C8 and C9 organic ketones associated with undesirable odors. Further improvements to the articles include crack-resistant embodiments with synergistic amounts of polyethylene and titanium dioxide.

Disposable, microwaveable containers having suitable food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture

Low-odor microwaveable mineral-filled polypropylene food contact articles are disclosed. The articles are prepared by low temperature processing and typically include odor-suppressing basic organic or inorganic compounds. Preferably, the articles are substantially free from C8 and C9 organic ketones associated with undesirable odors. Further improvements to the articles include crack-resistant embodiments with synergistic amounts of polyethylene and titanium dioxide.

Thermoformed polypropylene mineral-filled microwaveable containers having food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture

A three-compartment, disposable food serving plate includes three ribs in an asymmetric array angularly joined to the bottom and sidewall of the plate. The plate preferably includes a four radius, smooth profile from the bottom to the outer rim and is formed from mineral-filled polyolefin sheet. Mica-filled polypropylene is particularly preferred.

Compartmented disposable plate with asymmetric rib geometry

Compartmented food service articles with sharp angular junctions are thermoformed utilizing a plug-assisted thermoforming process. The plug is employed in connection with a thermoforming mold having a plurality of rib portions which project axially from a substantially planar mold surface of the thermoforming mold, and which rib portions define a plurality of angular junctions with the substantially planar mold surface. The plug includes a plurality of rib relief portions positioned and configured to fit about the rib portions of the mold in a forming operation at an axial clearance distance of about 0.125 inches or less from the angular junction of the rib portions of the mold with the substantially planar mold surface. The plug is also provided with a plurality of substantially vertical wall rib relief portions configured and dimensioned to be substantially vertically aligned with said angular junctions of the rib portions of the mold with the substantially planar mold surface, the vertical wall portions being adjacent a plurality of angular corner portions transitioning between the vertical wall rib relief portions of the plug and a bottom surface thereof.

Compartmented disposable food service articles with angular junctions thermoformed with plug-assist

Stackable servingware is provided with repeating flange patterns configured to resist nesting and taper lock. The patterns include a first pattern which is chiral with respect to a second pattern such that the patterns are not superimposable on one another. Preferably, the servingware is packaged in alternating sequence such that each article in a stack has a flange pattern which mirrors the flange pattern of adjacent articles.

Disposable servingware with nesting resistant flange patterns

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

Anthony J Swiontek