Laminated composite sheet packaging material

Claim 2

A substantially opaque printed heat sealable composite sheet material suitable for use as a packaging material and characterized by versatility of graphic design and color selection, said sheet material comprising, in combination: a front film of a transparent heat resistant polymer, a layer of printing underlying said front film and visible on the outer surface of the film, a rear film of pigmented polymer of a predetermined color having a readily heat sealable outer surface, and an intermediate film of a pigmented polymer tightly bonded to the inner surface of said front film and to the inner surface of said rear film and serving to increase the opacity of the sheet material and to enhance the brightness and purity of color of said layer of printing.

Claim 3

A composite material according to claim 1 wherein the layer of printing is applied to the underside of said front film and extends over substantially the entire surface thereof.

Claim 4

A composite material according to claim 1 wherein the layer of printing includes printed indicia of at least one predetermined color applied to certain areas of the inner surface of said front film and a printed background applied to other areas of the inner surface of said front film, said background being of a predetermined color contrasting to the color of said printed indicia.

Claim 5

A composite material according to claim 3 wherein said predetermined color printed background is applied over the major portion of the surface area of the front film, and wherein said rear film is pigmented a color substantially matching the predetermined color of the printed background, said composite sheet material thereby having a common predominant background color on opposite surfaces thereof with printed indicia of at least one contrasting color visible on one surface thereof.

Claim 6

A composite material according to claim 3 wherein the layer of printing includes a white printed masking layer overlying the printed indicia and the printed background and serving to enhance the brightness and purity of color of said printed indicia and said background and to increase the opacity of the sheet material.

Claim 7

A composite material according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate film is substantially opaque and pigmented with a white pigment.

Claim 8

A composite material according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate film comprises a preformed substantially opaque film bonded to said front film and to said rear film by an adhesive.

Claim 9

A composite material according to claim 7 wherein both surfaces of said intermediate film are surface treated to promote bonding.

Claim 10

A heat sealed flexible pouch formed from the composite sheet material of claim 1.

Claim 11

A substantially opaque printed heat sealable composite sheet material suitable for use as a packaging material and characterized by versatility of graphic design and color selection, said sheet material comprising, in combination: a front film of transparent oriented polypropylene, a rear film of pigmented polyethylene of a predetermined color having a readily heat sealable outer surface, an intermediate film of substantially opaque pigmented polyethylene positioned between said front film and said rear film and serving to increase the opacity of the sheet material and a layer of printing between said front transparent film and said intermediate substantially opaque film and visible on the outer surface of the sheet material, with the underlying intermediate film serving to enhance the brightness and purity of color of the layer of printing.

Claim 12

A substantially opaque printed heat sealable composite sheet material suitable for use as a packaging material and characterized by versatility of graphic design and color selection, said sheet material comprising, in combination: a front film of transparent oriented polypropylene, a rear film of pigmented polyethylene of a predetermined color having a readily heat sealable outer surface, an intermediate film of substantially opaque pigmented polyethylene positioned between said front film and said rear film and serving to increase the opacity of the sheet material and a layer of printing between said front transparent film and said intermediate substantially opaque film and visible on the outer surface of the sheet material, with the underlying intermediate film serving to enhance the brightness and purity of color of the layer of printing.

Claim 13

A composite material according to claim 10 wherein the rear film includes heat seal additive on the exposed outer surface thereof.

Claim 14

A composite material according to claim 10 wherein the sheet material is in the form of a roll of a predetermined width, and wherein the polypropylene front film is biaxially oriented, and is more highly oriented in the widthwise direction than in the longitudinal direction.

Claim 15

A heat sealed flexible pouch formed from the composite sheet material of claim 10.

Claim 16

A substantially opaque printed heat sealable composite sheet material suitable for use as a packaging material and characterized by versatility of graphic design and color selection, said sheet material being about three to six mils in thickness and comprising, in combination: a preformed front film of transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene, a layer of printing tightly adhered to the inner surface of said front film and visible on the outer surface of the film, a preformed rear film of heat sealable pigmented polyethylene, a preformed intermediate film of pigmented polyethylene positioned between said front film and said rear film and serving to increase the opacity of the sheet material and enhance the brightness and purity of color of said layer of printing, a layer of adhesive securely bonding the printed inner surface of said front film to one surface of said intermediate film, and a layer of adhesive securely bonding the inner surface of said rear film to the opposite surface of said intermediate film.

Claim 17

A substantially opaque printed heat sealable composite sheet material suitable for use as a packaging material and characterized by versatility of graphic design and color selection, said sheet material being about three to six mils in thickness and comprising, in combination: a preformed front film of transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene, a layer of printing tightly adhered to the inner surface of said front film and visible on the outer surface of the film, a preformed rear film of heat sealable pigmented polyethylene, a preformed intermediate film of pigmented polyethylene positioned between said front film and said rear film and serving to increase the opacity of the sheet material and enhance the brightness and purity of color of said layer of printing, a layer of adhesive securely bonding the printed inner surface of said front film to one surface of said intermediate film, and a layer of adhesive securely bonding the inner surface of said rear film to the opposite surface of said intermediate film.

Claim 18

A composite material according to claim 14 wherein the opposite surfaces of said intermediate film are corona discharge treated to enhance secure bonding.

Claim 19

A composite material according to claim 15 wherein the inner surface of said rear film is also corona discharge treated to enhance secure bonding.

Claim 20

A composite material according to claim 14 wherein the layers of adhesive comprise a urethane adhesive.

Claim 21

A composite material according to claim 14 wherein the layer of printing includes printed indicia of at least one predetermined color extending over certain areas of the inner surface of said front film, a printed background of a predetermined color contrasting to the color of said printed indicia extending over other areas of the inner surface of said front film, and a white printed masking layer overlying both the printed indicia and the printed background and extending over substantially the entire inner surface of said front film and serving to enhance the brightness and purity of color of said printed indicia and said background and to increase the opacity of the sheet material.

Claim 22

A substantially opaque, printed heat sealable composite sheet material suitable for use in forming flexible pouches, bags, and similar packages and characterized by versatility of graphic design and color selection, said sheet material comprising, in combination: a preformed front film of transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene of a thickness of about three-fourths mil, a layer of printing tightly adhered to the inner surface of said front film and including printed indicia of at least one predetermined color over certain areas of the inner surface of said front film and a printed background over other areas of the inner surface of said front film, said background being of a predetermined color contrasting to the color of said printed indicia, a preformed rear film of heat sealable polyethylene of a thickness of about one and one-half mils and being pigmented a color substantially matching the predetermined color of said printed background, a preformed intermediate film of substantially opaque white pigmented polyethylene of a thickness of about two mils having the opposite surfaces thereof treated to promote bonding, said intermediate film being tightly bonded to the printed inner surface of said front film and to the inner surface of said rear film and serving as a masking layer to increase the opacity of the sheet material and to prevent the color of said rear film from affecting the purity of color of said printed indicia.

Claim 23

A substantially opaque, printed heat sealable composite sheet material suitable for use in forming flexible pouches, bags, and similar packages and characterized by versatility of graphic design and color selection, said sheet material comprising, in combination: a preformed front film of transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene of a thickness of about three-fourths mil, a layer of printing tightly adhered to the inner surface of said front film and including printed indicia of at least one predetermined color over certain areas of the inner surface of said front film and a printed background over other areas of the inner surface of said front film, said background being of a predetermined color contrasting to the color of said printed indicia, a preformed rear film of heat sealable polyethylene of a thickness of about one and one-half mils and being pigmented a color substantially matching the predetermined color of said printed background, a preformed intermediate film of substantially opaque white pigmented polyethylene of a thickness of about two mils having the opposite surfaces thereof treated to promote bonding, said intermediate film being tightly bonded to the printed inner surface of said front film and to the inner surface of said rear film and serving as a masking layer to increase the opacity of the sheet material and to prevent the color of said rear film from affecting the purity of color of said printed indicia.