W. R. Grace Co.-conn.

Cryovac, Inc.

W. R. Grace Co.

Sealed Air Corporation (us)

Sealed Air Corporation

Ams R&d D.o.o.

Ams R&d Analogni Polprevodniki, D.o.o.

Andrew W. Van Putte

Drew Ve Speer

William Peyton Roberts

Charles Robert Morgan

William John Gauthier

Robert Babrowicz

Drew V Speer

Charles R Morgan

Marvin Russell Havens

Cynthia Louise Ebner

Donald Albert Bansleben

Robert Howard Grubbs

Ronald D Moffitt

George Dean Wofford

Rusty Lew Blanski

Blaine C Childress

Truc-Chi T Huynh-Tran

Galen Richard Hatfield

Paul Anthony Hughes

Walter B Mueller

Richard M Dayrit

Gloria G Toney

Martindale Nelson

Andrew W VanPutte

John G Bradfute

Michael D Esakov

Lawrence R Norpoth

Charles P Kannankeril

Stephen Floyd Compton

Ram Kumar Ramesh

Kosta Kovacic

Thomas Duane Kennedy

Nathanael Rustia Miranda

Lawrence J Pillote

Andrej Vodopivec

Anton Pletersek

Atul Arora

Timothy G Grasel

Stephen L Fowler

Cedric M Lulham

Eric Francis Connor

C Michael Lulham

W Scott Lambert

Tim McInerney

Jie Ren

Joshua D Wofford

Arthur D Ketley

Andrew W Van Putte

Leslie A Schulz

Oluf Alminde

Charles D Robnett

Tom Windisch

David W Hagood

Scott W Lambert

The presently disclosed subject matter provides a system and method for sterilizing a wide variety of products. Specifically, in some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a package that is capable of self-sterilizing by initiating sterilizing conditions inside the package interior without the necessity of being treated with an externally-supplied sterilizing medium. Particularly, the disclosed package includes at least one dual-layer lid that comprises inner and outer layers and an interstitial space that houses a sterilizing gas-producing component.

Self-sterilizing package and methods for making and using the same

A composite assembly useful for resisting the penetration of projectiles. The composite assembly comprises a plurality of ballistic fabric layers and a plurality of distinct films. The plurality of distinct films is adjacent the plurality of ballistic fabric layers. Each distinct film of the plurality of distinct films comprises thermoplastic polymer. Each distinct film of the plurality of distinct films has an elongational strength index of at least 800 psi.

Ballistic-resistant composite assembly

Prior to logging of a process flags for locking at all addresses of a logging area of a tag are set to state 1 by means of an interrogator. A high limit (h) and a low limit (l) of an interval (l-h) of such values (v) of a physical parameter are determined, which are proper for preserving usability of a tagged article. Said values (v) acquired with a sensor and acquisition times related thereto are converted into less numerous data characterizing the process by observing said limits (h, l). Said data characterizing the process are logged in said logging area. Said process log cannot be modified in any way at a later stage. The invention also provides for an efficient observation of longer period of the process in the tagged article in order to inspect the usability thereof.

Method for a secure non-volatile logging in an active RFID tag of a process in a tagged article

The invention provides an insulated container having a temperature monitoring device that can be used to maintain an object stored in the container at a temperature that is below the normal operating temperature of the temperature monitoring device while still permitting the taking of measurements of the interior of the container. The container includes an RF transponder having an RF antenna, a temperature sensor, and a battery that is operatively connected to the transponder and the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is positioned in the container so that it is in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container. The battery is positioned at least partially in one of the walls of the container at a location that is spaced apart from the temperature sensor and that is selected so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery.

Insulated container having a temperature monitoring device

The invention is a method and apparatus for dispensing an activated electronic monitoring device (EM device), such as a data logger. The invention can activate an EM device and verify activation before dispensing the EM device. The invention comprises a receptacle for storing a plurality of unactivated EM devices, a separator for separating an indivdual EM device, a reader for activating and verifying activation of the EM device, and a sorter for dispensing activated EM devices into an accept container that is readily accessible. EM devices that fail to activate can be dispensed into a reject container. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a controller that typically comprises a microprocessor having stored instructions. The controller can typically communicate with the EM device via the reader to activate the EM device and verify activation. The controller may also be used to program or write instructions to the EM device.

Apparatus for dispensing activated monitoring devices

The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for electrically interconnecting multiple electronic components together by disposing the electronic components between two opposing plurality of protrusions that hold the electrical components together and establish an electrical connection therebetween. Each plurality of protrusions may be disposed in an offset arrangement with the opposing protrusions. The opposing protrusions cause the electronic components to bend and adopt a deflected geometry when they are positioned between the opposing sets of protrusions. This bending results in the electronic components being biased against each other so that electrical contacts on each electronic component may be held together and thereby form an electrical connection. As a result, the opposing sets of protrusions can be used to electrically interconnect a plurality of electrical components in the absence of clamping, adhesion, soldering, or pinching.

Electronic device having improved electrical connection

The invention is a method of validating a label that includes the steps of reading a product-specific code disposed on an item; retrieving a stored verification code corresponding to the product-specific code; reading a label verification code disposed on a label having a serial number encoded thereon; and determining whether the stored and label verification code match. If the stored and label verification codes match, the label is considered valid. In one embodiment, once the label is validated, the product-specific code and the serial number may be combined to generate a unique item-level identification code for the particular item. The use of the stored verification code and label verification code may help prevent attaching an incorrect label to the item.

Method of labeling an item for item-level identification

The invention is a handheld device that is adapted for wireless communication with an electronic monitoring device, and includes a control unit and dedicated operating system configured to analyze data retrieved from a data logger and determine if the electronic monitoring device has been exposed to an environmental condition exceeding a predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, the handheld device may be configured to generate a sensory output if the data indicates that the predetermined threshold may have been exceeded. The handheld device may also have an associated memory component configured to store the retrieved data. In some embodiments, the reader may also be configured to calculate the remaining shelf-life of an item that is in a monitoring relationship with the electronic monitoring device.

Handheld device for retrieving and analyzing data from an electronic monitoring device

The invention is a system and method of using a device that is communcatively disposed between a scanner and a conventional point-of-sale (POS) terminal. The device (IPDP) can be used to process and distinguish between product-specific information, such as a UPC bar code, and item-specific information, such as a serial number. The IPDP transfers product-specific information to the POS terminal where it is processed in a conventional manner. The item-specific information is transferred to a separate item-level processor that analyzes the data and communicates with an item-level database. The item-level database can be used to verify the specific item's authenticity, expiration date, warranty registration, and the like. As a result, the system can be used to help prevent counterfeiting.

Point-of-sale system and method for processing product-specific information and item-specific information

The invention is a method of monitoring the temperature to which an object has been exposed. The invention comprises combining a Time-Temperature Indicator (TTI) with an electronic monitoring device to determine whether the temperature to which the object has been exposed may have exceeded a predetermined threshold. The TTI device can be used to make a rapid initial determination as to the acceptability of the temperature history. The temperature history stored in the electronic monitoring device can be retrieved if visual inspection of the TTI indicates that the temperature history may possibly have exceeded the predetermined threshold. As a result, rejection of goods based on inaccurate TTI readings can be reduced or prevented, and the amount of time needed to retrieve data from an electronic monitoring device can be limited to only those circumstances where the initial visualization of the TTI indicates the possibility of an unacceptable temperature history.

Method of monitoring temperature exposure

Film and sheet materials, and articles made therefrom, such as bags, pouches, trays, etc., comprise one or more layers of homogeneous alpha-olefin/vinyl aromatic copolymer, preferably an ethylene/styrene copolymer. The alpha-olefin/vinyl aromatic copolymer has properties which can provide a desired performance characteristics such as impact resistance, printability, RF sealability, free shrink, optics, high permeability, etc. The homogeneous alpha-olefin/vinyl aromatic copolymer may be present in a monolayer film, either alone or in a blend, or may be included in one or more layers of a multilayer film. Also included is a multilayer thermoformable article comprising a web having a film of such alpha-olefin/vinyl aromatic copolymers thereto.

Film containing alpha-olefin/vinyl aromatic copolymer

A film includes a core layer including a homogeneous random alpha-olefin/cyclic olefin copolymer; and first and second outer layers including an olefinic polymer; the film having Young's modulus between about 50,000 and about 200,000 psi, free shrink between about 10% and about 80% at 240&#xb0; F., and shrink tension of less than about 400 psi, or a shrink force of between about 20 and about 180 grams, at 240&#xb0; F. First and second intermediate layers including an ethylene copolymer having a melt index less than about 2 g/10 minutes can be optionally included. Alternatively, a film includes a core layer including an ethylene copolymer having melt index less than about 2 g/10 minutes; first and second intermediate layers including a homogeneous random alpha-olefin/cyclic olefin copolymer; and first and second outer layers including an olefinic polymer; the film having properties as disclosed above.

High free shrink, high modulus, low shrink tension film with elastic recovery

A method of linking source units of food with product items that include at least a portion of one or more of the source units of food, where a conversion process produces a plurality of product items from a plurality of source units (e.g., at a meat processing plant). A conversion algorithm is created to estimate within a desired confidence level a range of the amount of time required by the conversion process to produce a product item from one or more of the source units of food. A range of an amount of conversion time required to produce a selected product item is estimated by applying the conversion algorithm. The estimated range amount of conversion time for the selected product item is subtracted from the time of exit from the conversion process for the selected product item to generate an estimated time range of entry. Each source unit having a time of entry into the conversion process within the estimated time range of entry is identified.

Method of linking a food source with a food product

A mail collection apparatus comprising a housing defining an access opening. An access door is supported by the housing. The access door is moveable between a door open position, providing access to the housing interior space through the access opening, and a door closed position blocking the access opening. A chute is supported by the housing. The chute comprises an inlet end defining a chute inlet opening adapted for receiving mail and a chute outlet end defining a chute outlet opening opposite the inlet end. A bag comprises an inlet portion defining a bag inlet opening. The bag and chute are moveable relative each other between: 1) a mail deposit mode, in which the chute and the bag cooperate to form an enclosed mail deposit pathway from the chute inlet opening to the bag inlet opening and adapted so that mail deposited through the chute inlet opening falls along the mail deposit pathway through the chute outlet opening and the bag inlet opening into the bag interior space, and 2) a mail collection mode, in which the chute and the bag are spaced apart from each other. The apparatus may be useful in helping to reduce exposure to contaminated mail that may be deposited in the apparatus.

Mail collection box

The present invention is directed to vicinal hydroxyl-functionalized hydrocarbon polymers having a mole ratio of methylene to hydroxyl group of greater than 1 and to films, coatings and articles useful in packaging applications containing said polymers.

Vicinal hydroxyl group containing copolymer and articles formed therefrom

Growing community of inventors

Spartanburg, SC, United States of America

William Peyton Roberts