Michael R Drummond

US Patent:

55474519, Aug 20, 1996

Filed:

Aug 16, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/515956

Inventors:

Michael T. Drummond - Florence SC
Calvin G. Hill - Hartsville SC
Richard M. Lowman - Hartsville SC
William C. Suski - Hartsville SC
Rodney W. Roberts - Otisco IN
James W. Lowry - Florence SC

Assignee:

Sonoco Products Company - Hartsville SC

International Classification:

B65D 8500
B65D 326

US Classification:

493299

Abstract:

An easy-open container has a spirally-wound paperboard bodywall layer, interior barrier liner layer and outer label layer forming an easy-open seam extending spirally between the ends of the container. A feature is provided for directionally-orienting tearing of the label layer to remove either the entire label layer or just that portion of the label layer which is in bridging relationship to the easy-open spiral seam to allow opening of the container along the spiral seam. The directionally-orienting tear feature is preferably provided by a reinforcing and tear strip having directionally-orienting tear incorporated therein and which is positioned under the outer longitudinal edge portion of the label layer and over the easy-open spiral seam along with desired positioning of low strength and high strength bonding between the label layer, reinforcing and tear strip and bodywall layer to ensure tearing of the label layer in the proper direction and removal of a desired portion of the label layer when the container is opened. The directionally-oriented tear feature may also include a directionally-orienting tear incorporated in the label layer itself to orient tear in the desired direction.

US Patent:

58576134, Jan 12, 1999

Filed:

Aug 12, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/746056

Inventors:

Michael T. Drummond - Florence SC
General Taylor - Florence SC
W. Gerald Gainey - Darlington SC

Assignee:

Sonoco Products Company - Hartsville SC

International Classification:

B65D 304
B65D 326

US Classification:

229202

Abstract:

The invention provides spirally wound easy-open containers which comprise a spirally wound body wall having overlapped edges and which have capabilities and benefits associated with conventional butt jointed containers. The overlapped edges of the body wall define an easy-open seam extending helically between the ends of the container. A temporary adhesive between the overlapped edges of the body wall releasably adheres the overlapped edges of the body wall together and allows for opening of the container along the helical, easy-open seam. The easy-open containers provided according to the invention can be readily manufactured with only slight modifications to the conventional manufacturing process. Nevertheless, the easy-open containers of the invention can provide for material savings in container label construction and can allow for vacuum packaging of food products such as dough.

US Patent:

61964506, Mar 6, 2001

Filed:

Sep 2, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/388897

Inventors:

Krishnaraju Varadarajan - Florence SC
Michael T. Drummond - Laurinburg NC
Alan D. Williams - Camden SC

Assignee:

Sonoco Development, Inc. - Hartsville SC

International Classification:

B65D 564

US Classification:

2291232

Abstract:

An easy-open composite container has a membrane-type closure and includes a laminated tubular body member of composite materials having a predetermined laminated strength. The body member includes a bodywall portion and a liner portion positioned inside the bodywall portion and forming an inside surface of the body member. An outwardly-rolled rim portion is formed at the upper area of an open upper end of the tubular body member and the liner portion forms a top surface of the body member open upper end and an outside surface of the outwardly rolled rim portion. A cut extends circumferentially around a segment of the outside surface of the rim portion and extends radially-inwardly through at least a part of the liner portion. A membrane closure covers the open upper end of the body member and has an outwardly extending tab portion positioned over the cut in the rim portion of the body member. A bond is formed between the top surface of the body member open upper end and the membrane member for hermetically closing such open upper end.

US Patent:

50764403, Dec 31, 1991

Filed:

Apr 19, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/687755

Inventors:

Michael T. Drummond - Florence SC

Assignee:

Sonoco Products Company - Hartsville SC

International Classification:

B65D 326

US Classification:

229202

Abstract:

The invention is directed to easy-open containers for products such as dough which have an easy-open seam extending helically between the end of the container body. A helically wound outer label of flexible sheet material in strip form has at least one longitudinal edge folded onto and bonded to the main body of the label to thereby provide a reinforced longitudinal edge portion of the outer label comprising at least two layers of the flexible sheet material. The reinforced longitudinal edge portion of the outer label is positioned in bridging relation to the easy-open seam of the bodywall to thereby maintain the easy-open seam closed and provide a peel strip for exposing the easy-open seam for opening of the container body.

US Patent:

52518094, Oct 12, 1993

Filed:

Aug 27, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/936603

Inventors:

Michael T. Drummond - Florence SC
General Taylor - Florence SC
W. Gerald Gainey - Darlington SC

Assignee:

Sonoco Products Company - Hartsville SC

International Classification:

B65D 8500

US Classification:

229202

Abstract:

The invention provides spirally wound easy-open containers which comprise a spirally wound body wall having overlapped edges and which have capabilities and benefits associated with conventional butt jointed containers. The overlapped edges of the body wall define an easy-open seam extending helically between the ends of the container. A temporary adhesive between the overlapped edges of the body wall releasably adheres the overlapped edges of the body wall together and allows for opening of the container along the helical, easy-open seam. The easy-open containers provided according to the invention can be readily manufactured with only slight modifications to the conventional manufacturing process. Nevertheless, the easy-open containers of the invention can provide for material savings in container label construction and can allow for vacuum packaging of food products such as dough.

US Patent:

D3666972, Jan 30, 1996

Filed:

Oct 4, 1993

Appl. No.:

D/013892

Inventors:

Michael A. Drummond - Bedford TX

Assignee:

Tecnol Medical Products, Inc. - Fort Worth TX

US Classification:

D241102

US Patent:

54875064, Jan 30, 1996

Filed:

Jun 22, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/263556

Inventors:

Michael T. Drummond - Florence SC
Calvin G. Hill - Hartsville SC
Richard M. Lowman - Hartsville SC
William C. Suski - Hartsville SC
Rodney W. Roberts - Otisco IN
James W. Lowry - Florence SC

Assignee:

Sonoco Products Company - Hartsville SC

International Classification:

B65D 8500

US Classification:

229202

Abstract:

An easy-open container has a spirally-wound bodywall layer, interior barrier liner layer and outer label layer forming an easy-open seam extending spirally between the ends of the container and which is provided with an improved reinforcing and tear strip extending along the easy-open spiral seam. This reinforcing and tear strip is formed by overlapped edge portions of the label layer extending through and out of the spiral seam of the container and being folded-over onto the outside of the bodywall layer and under the label layer. Low strength bonding is provided between the overlapped label layer edge portions and high strength bonding is positioned between the superimposed label layer and folded-over a liner layer edge portion and between the superimposed label layer and bodywall layer for allowing easy starting and stripping of the reinforcing and tear strip along the spiral easy-open seam without the necessity of removing the entire label layer.

US Patent:

57138249, Feb 3, 1998

Filed:

Aug 17, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/516341

Inventors:

Michael T. Drummond - Florence SC
Calvin G. Hill - Hartsville SC
Richard M. Lowman - Hartsville SC
William C. Suski - Hartsville SC
Rodney W. Roberts - Otisco IN
James W. Lowry - Florence SC

Assignee:

Sonoco Products Company - Hartsville SC

International Classification:

B65H 8104

US Classification:

493301

Abstract:

A method is provided of manufacturing an easy-open container. A bodywall layer strip is positioned on a wider liner layer strip to define first and second edge portions on the side of the wider liner layer which extends transversely beyond the bodywall layer side edges. These layers are fed to a mandrel and the first liner layer edge portion is folded-over onto an outside surface of the bodywall layer and a high strength bond is formed therebetween. The resulting layers are spirally wound on the mandrel to form a continuous tube having a spiral seam with the bodywall layer side edges forming a butt joint and with each of the first and second liner layer edge portions extending through the butt joint and out of the spiral seam. The second liner layer edge portion is positioned on the first folded-over liner layer edge portion and a low strength bond is formed therebetween. A flexible label layer is spirally wound onto the tube on the mandrel with its longitudinal edges in overlapped relationship.