US3809230A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheath-package and method
Assignee: Johnson and Johnson
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Filing: 1972-07-17
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Granted: 1974-05-07
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Expires: 1992-07-17
Abstract
Abstract The sheath-package comprises an outer cover and an inner sheath formed of heat sealable material, with a layer of releasable bonding material sandwiched between the cover and sheath for releasably bonding them to each other over substantially the entire outer surface of the sheath. The cover and sheath have an opening through which an instrument can be inserted into the sheath. The sheath is formed from two sheets joined along a seal line which defines the sheath. The cover is strippable from the sheath upon the insertion of an instrument therein, whereupon the sheath and sheathed instrument are exposed for use.
Inventors
- 👤 G Poncy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B50/00; A61B50/30; G; G01; G01K; G01K13/00; G01K13/20; G01K13/25; A61B2050/314; A61B2050/316
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A sheath-package comprising: an outer cover, an inner sheath formed of heat sealable material, a layer of releasable, pressure-sensitive bonding material between said cover and said sheath, said layer of bonding material releasably bonding said cover and said sheath to each other over substantially the entire outer surface of the sheath, said cover and sheath having an opening for the insertion of an instrument into said sheath, said cover being strippable from said sheath upon the insertion of an instrument therein, whereupon said sheath and the sheathed instrument are exposed for use.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A sheath-package comprising: an outer cover, an inner sheath formed of heat sealable material, a layer of releasable, pressure-sensitive bonding material between said cover and said sheath, said layer of bonding material releasably bonding said cover and said sheath to each other over substantially the entire outer surface of the sheath, said cover and sheath having an opening for the insertion of an instrument into said sheath, said cover being strippable from said sheath upon the insertion of an instrument therein, whereupon said sheath and the sheathed instrument are exposed for use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sheath-package in claim 1, wherein said outer cover includes a coating of heat sealable material on its inner surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The sheath-package in claim 1, wherein said sheath-package includes an upper composite strip of said cover and said sheath material releasably bonded together and a lower composite strip of said cover material and said sheath material releasably bonded together with said opening being located between said composite strips at one end thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The sheath-package in claim 4, wherein said cover and said sheath material comprising said upper composite strip are non-releasably bonded together at both ends thereof and said cover and said sheath material comprising said lower composite strip are non-releasably bonded together at the end of said strip at said opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sheath-package in claim 4, wherein the non-releasable bonds at the ends of said composite strips are effected by means of a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The sheath-package in claim 5, wherein the releasable and non-releasable bonds are effected by means of the same pressure-sensitive adhesive, the area of the non-releasable bond having a greater coverage of said pressure-sensitive adhesive than the area of said releasable bond.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sheath-package in claim 5, wherein the releasable and non-releasable bonds are formed of different types of pressure-sensitive adhesive with different degrees of adherence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The sheath-package in claim 4, wherein said upper composite strip projects beyond the lower strip at the end opposite said opening and said lower composite strip projects beyond said upper strip at the end of said opEning.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
Means for sheathing an instrument comprising: an assembly having upper and lower layers of cover material, intermediate layers of heat sealable material disposed between said upper and lower layers, a coating of releasable pressure-sensitive bonding material between said upper layer and the adjacent intermediate layer and between said lower layer and the adjacent intermediate layer, each of said intermediate layers being releasably bonded to the respective adjacent layer of said cover material, each of said intermediate layers being also in direct contact with each other and united along a seal defining the outline of a sheath so that a sheath is formed by said intermediate layers within the line defining said seal, said sheath having an open end and a closed end, said upper and lower layers of cover material being strippable from said sheath and from each other to expose said sheath for use when an instrument is inserted therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
151 words
Means for sheathing an instrument comprising: an assembly having upper and lower layers of cover material, intermediate layers of heat sealable material disposed between said upper and lower layers, a coating of releasable pressure-sensitive bonding material between said upper layer and the adjacent intermediate layer and between said lower layer and the adjacent intermediate layer, each of said intermediate layers being releasably bonded to the respective adjacent layer of said cover material, each of said intermediate layers being also in direct contact with each other and united along a seal defining the outline of a sheath so that a sheath is formed by said intermediate layers within the line defining said seal, said sheath having an open end and a closed end, said upper and lower layers of cover material being strippable from said sheath and from each other to expose said sheath for use when an instrument is inserted therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
The means in claim 9, wherein said upper and lower layers of cover material include a coating of heat sealable material on their inner surfaces, said pressure-sensitive adhesive is disposed between said coating and intermediate layers, and both of said intermediate layers are releasably sealed along said line defining said seal to the coating on the respective adjacent layer of cover material.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of making sheath-packages from a plurality of separate layers of sheet material comprising the steps of: applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive to one side of a first continuous sheet of cover material; feeding said first continuous sheet of cover material into contacting relationship with a first continuous sheet of thermoplastic material, said pressure-sensitive adhesive being adjacent to said first sheet of thermoplastic material; applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive to one side of a second continuous sheet of cover material; feeding said second continuous sheet of cover material into contacting relationship with a second continuous sheet of thermoplastic material, said pressure-sensitive adhesive being adjacent to said second sheet of thermoplastic material; applying enough pressure to said first and second sheets of cover material and the corresponding sheets of thermoplastic material to effect a releasable bond therebetween for forming first and second layers of said sheath-package; joining said first layer to said second layer with the thermoplastic sheets thereof in facing contact; and subjecting said joined layers to the action of a die to form successive, spaced seals in said thermoplastic sheets, thereby sealing said thermoplastic sheets together along the line formed by said die, said die line defining an enclosure, open at one end, between said thermoplastic sheets capable of sheathing an instrument therein.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of making sheath-packages from a plurality of separate layers of sheet material comprising the steps of: applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive to one side of a first continuous sheet of cover material; feeding said first continuous sheet of cover material into contacting relationship with a first continuous sheet of thermoplastic material, said pressure-sensitive adhesive being adjacent to said first sheet of thermoplastic material; applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive to one side of a second continuous sheet of cover material; feeding said second continuous sheet of cover material into contacting relationship with a second continuous sheet of thermoplastic material, said pressure-sensitive adhesive being adjacent to said second sheet of thermoplastic material; applying enough pressure to said first and second sheets of cover material and the corresponding sheets of thermoplastic material to effect a releasable bond therebetween for forming first and second layers of said sheath-package; joining said first layer to said second layer with the thermoplastic sheets thereof in facing contact; and subjecting said joined layers to the action of a die to form successive, spaced seals in said thermoplastic sheets, thereby sealing said thermoplastic sheets together along the line formed by said die, said die line defining an enclosure, open at one end, between said thermoplastic sheets capable of sheathing an instrument therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method in claim 11, wherein both of said sheets of cover material are coated with a layer of thermoplastic material before the step of applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method in claim 11, and further including the steps of forming a continuous non-releasable bond between the sheets forming said first layer along both edges thereof, and forming a continuous non-releasable bond between the sheets forming said second layer along one edge thereof, before the step of joining, wherein said layers are subjected to the action of said die between said edge bonds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method in claim 13, wherein said steps of applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive to said first and second sheets of cover material includes applying the same adhesive to substantially the entire surface area of said first and second sheets, a greater density of said adhesive being applied in the area of said non-releasable bonds than over the remaining area in order to provide said releasable bond in said remaining area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method in claim 13, wherein the steps of applying includes applying a first non-releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive in the area of said non-releasable bonds and Applying a second releasable pressure-sensitive cement in the remaining area of said sheets of cover material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-06 | 1977-11-05 | 1978-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-11-05 | 1982-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-06 | 1985-11-05 | 1986-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |