Recoverable, recyclable, and reusable composite container

Claim 1

As an article of manufacture, a previously annealed glass container having at least a portion of its annealed, external surface coated with a protective, decorable film consisting essentially of a water removable, film-forming, thermoplastic organic polymer, said polymer being water soluble or dispersible and being selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide); poly(propylene oxide); ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers; polyvinylpyrrolidinone; polyethyleneimine; poly(methyl vinyl ether); polyacrylamide; polymethacrylamide; poly(vinyl acetate); polyvinyl formal; poly(alkyl methacrylates); methyl cellulose; ethyl cellulose; hydroxyethyl cellulose; hydroxypropyl cellulose; sodium carboxymethyl cellulose; methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose; poly(acrylic acid) and salts thereof; poly(methacrylic acid) and salts thereof; ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymers; ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers; vinyl acetate-vinyl alcohol copolymers; methyl vinyl ether-maleic anhydride copolymers; and emulsifiable polyurethanes; said polymer being capable of removal by an aqueous medium such that the annealed glass container and polymer can be recovered, recycled, and reused, the film thickness being at least 0.002 inch and sufficient to provide scratch and shatter resistance for the container and to retain broken glass fragments upon fracture of the glass container so as to reduce the incidence of accidental injury.