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US3828520A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Vacuum packaging method and platen therefor

Assignee: SUBSTRATE Inc
•
Filing: 1973-04-04
•
Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1993-04-04
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Abstract

Abstract The top surface of a platen is provided with a plurality of apertures, leading to a vacuum chamber therein, and a plurality of protuberances extending upwardly therefrom, the apertures and protuberances being arranged as grids extending over the top of the platen. A first plastic film is placed on the platen top, leaving apertures and protuberances beyond the periphery of the first plastic film uncovered, the said film draping around those protuberances covered thereby, and being dimpled upwardly thereby. The article to be packaged is placed on the first film and a second plastic film is placed over the article and over the first film, covering the entire platen top, draping around those protuberances not covered by the first film so that the underside of the second film lies directly over those apertures not covered by the first film. The second film lies substantially flat across the tops of the dimples in the first film because of atmospheric air therebetween. Vacuum is applied to the platen, and air around article and between films is withdrawn through the channels defined by the dimples and thence through the apertures covered by the second film, whereupon atmospheric pressure acting on the top of the second film forces the second film into full contact with the first film around the article to make a completely sealed air tight package for the said article.

Inventors

  • 👤 C Merritt

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 08:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B11/00; B65B11/50; B65B11/52

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 202 words
Vacuum packaging method comprising: a. placing the bottom surface of a first film on a grid of upwardly extending protuberances, thereby to provide the top surface of said first film with a plurality of upwardly extending dimples arranged as a grid extending across said top surface, b. placing an article to be packaged on the top surface of said first film, c. placing a second film over said article and said first film, the bottom surface of said second film being supported on said dimples and thereby vertically spaced from the top surface of said first film, said dimples defining channels between the top surface of said first film and the bottom surface of said second film which channels extend to the edge of said first film, d. applying a vacuum to the edge of said first film thereby to exhaust air from around said article and from between said first film and said second film, whereupon atmospheric pressure acting on the top surface of said second film forces the bottom surface of said second film into full contact with the top surface of said first film around the perimeter of said article thereby to provide an airtight package around said article.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 202 words
Vacuum packaging method comprising: a. placing the bottom surface of a first film on a grid of upwardly extending protuberances, thereby to provide the top surface of said first film with a plurality of upwardly extending dimples arranged as a grid extending across said top surface, b. placing an article to be packaged on the top surface of said first film, c. placing a second film over said article and said first film, the bottom surface of said second film being supported on said dimples and thereby vertically spaced from the top surface of said first film, said dimples defining channels between the top surface of said first film and the bottom surface of said second film which channels extend to the edge of said first film, d. applying a vacuum to the edge of said first film thereby to exhaust air from around said article and from between said first film and said second film, whereupon atmospheric pressure acting on the top surface of said second film forces the bottom surface of said second film into full contact with the top surface of said first film around the perimeter of said article thereby to provide an airtight package around said article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
Method as in claim 1, wherein: e. said article is supported on said dimples.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
Method as in claim 1, wherein e. said second film when placed over said first film extends beyond the edge thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 70 words
Method as in claim 3, wherein: f. said grid of protuberances is provided on a platen, g. the outer area of that portion of said second film extending beyond the edge of said first film being in full contact with said platen, h. step (d) is performed by applying the vacuum to the underside of that portion of said second film which extends beyond the edge of said first film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 83 words
Method as in claim 4, wherein: i. said first and second films are formed from thermoplastic non-porous material, j. said first film is softened by heating to promote dimpling thereof by said protuberances, k. said second film is softened by heating to promote the edge thereof making full contact with said platen and to promote the forcing of said second film by atmospheric pressure into full contact with said article and with said first film around said article upon application of said vacuum.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3411974A Cited
US3694991A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-08-12 1978-02-11 1978-08-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-08-12 1982-02-11 1982-08-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-08-12 1986-02-11 1986-08-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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