US3949114A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Packaging of foodstuffs
Assignee: WR Grace and Co
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Filing: 1974-05-06
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Granted: 1976-04-06
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Expires: 1994-05-06
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to polymeric laminates for packaging. According to the invention, such laminates contain an oxygen barrier layer which is composed of a hydrolysed olefin/vinyl ester copolymer, preferably a hydrolysed ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer. Other layers in the laminate protect the oxygen barrier layer from moisture and provide a heat-sealable surface layer. The laminates withstand the temperatures of 80°-130°C employed in pasteurisation and sterilisation procedures, and are therefore of value in the preparation of pasteurised and sterilised packages of oxygen-sensitive foodstuffs.
Inventors
- 👤 Giancarlo Viola
- 👤 Riccardo Austoni
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:55
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B15/00; B32B15/20; B32B27/00; B32B15/04; B32B15/08; B32B15/082; B32B15/085; B32B27/28; B32B27/30; B32B27/302; B32B27/304; B32B27/306; B32B27/32; B32B27/34; B32B27/36; B32B27/365; B32B7/00; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; B32B2250/00; B32B2250/03; B32B2270/00; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/30; B32B2307/31; B32B2307/50; B32B2307/514; B32B2307/518; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/724; B32B2307/7242; B32B2307/7246; B32B2311/00; B32B2311/24; B32B2323/00; B32B2323/04; B32B2323/043; B32B2323/10; B32B2325/00; B32B2327/00; B32B2327/06; B32B2331/00; B32B2331/04; B32B2367/00; B32B2369/00; B32B2377/00; B32B2439/00; B32B2439/70; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/266; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31507; Y10T428/31678; Y10T428/31681; Y10T428/31692; Y10T428/31699; Y10T428/31725; Y10T428/3175; Y10T428/31757; Y10T428/31765; Y10T428/31786; Y10T428/31797; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31909; Y10T428/31928
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A laminate for use in making packages which may be sterilized in the temperature range of 80° to 130°C (176° to 266°F) and which are suitable for oxygen sensitive foodstuffs comprising: a. an outermost heat sealable layer which is substantially impermeable to moisture, said layer having a minimum thickness of 0.5 mil (12 microns); b. an intermediate oxygen barrier layer comprising a copolymer which is obtained by hydrolysis of a copolymer containing 10 to 40 mole percent of units derived from at least one alpha-olefin containing 2 to 4 carbon atoms and 90 to 60 percet of units derived from at least one vinyl ester of a carboxylic acid and in which at least 85 percent of the vinyl ester units are hydrolysed, said oxygen barrier layer having a minimum thickness of 0.1 mil (2.5 microns); c. a substrate layer comprising a polymer which is substantially impermeable to moisture and resistant to pasteurization and sterilization, said substrate layer having a minimum thickness of 0.5 mil (12 microns); and, d. an aluminum foil layer having a thickness in the range of 0.25 mil (6 microns) to 0.5 mil (12 microns), said aluminum being between said heat-sealable and substrate layers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A laminate for use in making packages which may be sterilized in the temperature range of 80° to 130°C (176° to 266°F) and which are suitable for oxygen sensitive foodstuffs comprising: a. an outermost heat sealable layer which is substantially impermeable to moisture, said layer having a minimum thickness of 0.5 mil (12 microns); b. an intermediate oxygen barrier layer comprising a copolymer which is obtained by hydrolysis of a copolymer containing 10 to 40 mole percent of units derived from at least one alpha-olefin containing 2 to 4 carbon atoms and 90 to 60 percet of units derived from at least one vinyl ester of a carboxylic acid and in which at least 85 percent of the vinyl ester units are hydrolysed, said oxygen barrier layer having a minimum thickness of 0.1 mil (2.5 microns); c. a substrate layer comprising a polymer which is substantially impermeable to moisture and resistant to pasteurization and sterilization, said substrate layer having a minimum thickness of 0.5 mil (12 microns); and, d. an aluminum foil layer having a thickness in the range of 0.25 mil (6 microns) to 0.5 mil (12 microns), said aluminum being between said heat-sealable and substrate layers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laminate according to claim 1 wherein the layer of aluminum is an aluminum foil less than 9 microns thick.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laminate according to claim 1 wherein the barrier layer comprises a hydrolysed ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer.
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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) | 1979-04-06 | 1979-10-06 | 1980-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-06 | 1983-10-06 | 1984-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-06 | 1987-10-06 | 1988-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |