US4069934A — Container with improved heat-shrunk cellular slee…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 173 words

In an article of manufacture comprising a container having a sidewall and further including a polymeric sleeve disposed circumferentially outwardly of said sidewall and in snug heat shrunk engagement therewith, the improvement wherein said polymeric sleeve is a composite structure of a closed cellular polymeric layer preponderantly of polystyrene having incorporated therein, in an amount from zero weight percent up to compatible amounts, a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, or a copolymer of ethylene and an alkyl ester of an alpha-beta monethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, or a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, or mixtures thereof, and a noncellular polymeric layer having preponderantly ethylene moieties and incorporated therein moieties of vinyl acetate or an alkyl ester of an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, or an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, or a mixtures thereof, the amount of said incorporated moieties in said non-cellular layer being sufficient to promote the adhesion of said layers, said non-cellular layer being disposed outwardly of said cellular layer and in adhering engagement therewith.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 173 words

In an article of manufacture comprising a container having a sidewall and further including a polymeric sleeve disposed circumferentially outwardly of said sidewall and in snug heat shrunk engagement therewith, the improvement wherein said polymeric sleeve is a composite structure of a closed cellular polymeric layer preponderantly of polystyrene having incorporated therein, in an amount from zero weight percent up to compatible amounts, a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, or a copolymer of ethylene and an alkyl ester of an alpha-beta monethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, or a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, or mixtures thereof, and a noncellular polymeric layer having preponderantly ethylene moieties and incorporated therein moieties of vinyl acetate or an alkyl ester of an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, or an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, or a mixtures thereof, the amount of said incorporated moieties in said non-cellular layer being sufficient to promote the adhesion of said layers, said non-cellular layer being disposed outwardly of said cellular layer and in adhering engagement therewith.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said cellular polymeric layer consists essentially of polystyrene and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate and said non-cellular polymeric layer consists essentially of ethylene moieties and vinyl acetate moieties.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 59 words

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of about 28 weight percent vinyl acetate and about 72 weight percent ethylene, said copolymer being present in said cellular layer in an amount of about 5 to about 10 weight percent and said polystyrene having present in an amount of about 90 to about 95 weight percent.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 46 words

The improvement of claim 3 wherein said noncellular polymeric layer consists essentially of about 60 to about 90 weight percent polyethylene admixed with about 10 to about 40 weight percent of a copolymer of about 28 weight percent vinyl acetate and about 72 weight percent ethylene.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said cellular polymeric layer consists essentially of polystyrene and said non-cellular layer consists essentially of a copolymer of ethylene and ethyl acrylate.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

The improvement of claim 5 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of about 11 to about 22 weight percent ethyl acrylate and about 89 to about 78 weight percent ethylene.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said cellular layer consists essentially of polystyrene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

The improvement of claim 7 wherein said cellular layer consists essentially of at least about 60% by weight of polystyrene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid wherein the ethylene moiety of said copolymer is in excess of about 65%.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 39 words

The improvement of claim 8 wherein said polystyrene is present in at least about 80% by weight and said ethylene moiety of said ethylene and unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer of said cellular layer is in excess of about 80%.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said composite structure includes a decoration disposed between said cellular layer and said non-cellular layer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 50 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said cellular layer consists essentially of at least about 60% by weight of polystyrene and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate and wherein the ethylene moiety of said ethylene and vinyl acetate copolymer in said cellular layer is in excess of about 60%.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

The improvement of claim 11 wherein said polystyrene is present in an amount of at least about 80% by weight and wherein the vinyl acetate moiety of said cellular layer is between about 18 to about 33%.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 57 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said cellular layer consists essentially of at least about 60% by weight polystyrene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alkyl ester of an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and wherein the ethylene moiety of said ethylene and alkyl ester copolymer in said cellular layer is in excess of about 75%.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 40 words

The improvement of claim 13 wherein said polystyrene of said cellular layer is present in at least about 80% by weight and said ethylene and alkyl ester copolymer of said cellular layer is a copolymer of ethylene and ethyl acrylate.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the ethylene moiety of said non-cellular layer is at least about 80% by weight.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 66 words

The improvement of claim 15 wherein said noncellular layer consists essentially of (1) an admixture of polyethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate or (2) a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate and wherein the ethylene moiety of said non-cellular layer is between about 88.8% to about 97.2% and the vinyl acetate moiety of said non-cellular layer is between about 2.8 to about 11.2%.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 83 words

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said noncellular layer consists essentially of (1) a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate or (2) a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or (3) a copolymer of ethylene and an alkyl ester of an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated acid or (4) mixtures thereof or (5) an admixture of polyethylene with one of said copolymers or mixtures thereof and wherein the ethylene moiety of said noncellular layer is between about 72 to about 98%.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 183 words

A heat shrinkable, sleeve-shaped article of composite construction having a first layer of a heat-shrinkable, closed cellular polymeric material consisting essentially of preponderantly polystyrene and, from zero weight percent up to compatible amounts, of a member selected from the group consisting of a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, a copolymer of ethylene and an alkyl ester of an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof, and a second layer in adhered engagement to said first layer, said second layer being a non-cellular polymeric material consisting essentially of preponderantly ethylene moieties and moieties of a member selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, an alkyl ester of an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof, the amount of said moieties being sufficient to promote the adhesion of said respective layers, said noncellular layer being disposed outwardly of said cellular layer and in adhering engagement therewith said sleeve having a greater heat shrinkage in the radial direction thereof than in the axial direction thereof.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 183 words

A heat shrinkable, sleeve-shaped article of composite construction having a first layer of a heat-shrinkable, closed cellular polymeric material consisting essentially of preponderantly polystyrene and, from zero weight percent up to compatible amounts, of a member selected from the group consisting of a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, a copolymer of ethylene and an alkyl ester of an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof, and a second layer in adhered engagement to said first layer, said second layer being a non-cellular polymeric material consisting essentially of preponderantly ethylene moieties and moieties of a member selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, an alkyl ester of an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof, the amount of said moieties being sufficient to promote the adhesion of said respective layers, said noncellular layer being disposed outwardly of said cellular layer and in adhering engagement therewith said sleeve having a greater heat shrinkage in the radial direction thereof than in the axial direction thereof.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

The improvement of claim 18 wherein said cellular polymeric layer consists essentially of polystyrene and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate and said non-cellular polymeric layer consists essentially of ethylene moieties and vinyl acetate moieties.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 59 words

The improvement of claim 19 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of about 28 weight percent vinyl acetate and about 72 weight percent ethylene, said copolymer being present in said cellular layer in an amount of about 5 to about 10 weight percent and said polystyrene being present in an amount of about 90 to about 95 weight percent.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 28 words

The improvement of claim 18 wherein said cellular polymeric layer consists essentially of polystyrene and said non-cellular layer consists essentially of a copolymer of ethylene and ethyl acrylate.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 51 words

The composite article of claim 18 wherein said article has a heat shrinkage, in the temperature range of about 200° F. to about 300° F., in the radial direction of about 35 to about 85 percent and a heat shrinkage in the axial direction of about 3 to about 32 percent.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 30 words

The article of claim 18 and further including a decoration disposed between said cellular and said non-cellular layer and wherein said cellular layer is disposed inwardly of said non-cellular layer.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 77 words

The article of claim 18 wherein said cellular polymeric material consists essentially of at least about 80% polystyrene and wherein said non-cellular layer consists essentially of a copolymer of ethylene and an alkyl ester of an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or an admixture of polyethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alkyl ester of an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and wherein the ethylene moiety of said non-cellular layer is in excess of about 80%.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 76 words

The article of claim 18 wherein said polymeric material of said cellular layer consists essentially of at least about 80% by weight of polystyrene and wherein said noncellular polymeric material consists essentially of a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or an admixture of polyethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and wherein the ethylene moiety of said noncellular layer is at least about 80% ethylene.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 61 words

The article of claim 18 wherein said polystyrene is present in said cellular layer in an amount of at least about 80% and wherein said non-cellular layer consists essentially of a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate or an admixture of polyethylene and a copolymer of vinyl acetate wherein the ethylene moiety of said non-cellular layer is at least about 80%.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-01-23	1981-07-25	1982-01-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-01-23	1985-07-25	1986-01-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-01-23	1989-07-25	1990-01-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Container with improved heat-shrunk cellular sleeve

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