Heat shrinkable multilayer film for primal meat packaging

Claim 2

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film suitable for packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats, said film containing a barrier layer comprising a blend of vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer and vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer having between about 2.9 and about 13.5 weight percent methyl acrylate, and between about 2.9 and about 11.6 weight percent vinyl chloride in said blend.

Claim 3

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 1 wherein said barrier layer is a core layer.

Claim 4

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 1 wherein said multilayer film has at least three layers.

Claim 5

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 1 wherein said multilayer film has been irradiated to a dosage level of between about 1 megarad and about 5 megarads.

Claim 6

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 1 wherein said methyl acrylate comprises between about 4 and about 12 weight percent and said vinyl chloride comprises between about B 5.8 and about 8.7 weight percent in said blend.

Claim 7

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 1 wherein the vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer molecular weight is between about 75,000 and about 130,000.

Claim 8

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 1 wherein the vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer molecular weight is between about 90,000 and about 110,000.

Claim 9

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 1 wherein methyl acrylate comprises between about 5 and about 15 weight percent of the vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer.

Claim 10

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 1 wherein methyl acrylate comprises between about 6 and about 10 weight percent of the vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer.

Claim 11

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 1 wherein the vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer molecular weight is between about 75,000 and about 130,000.

Claim 12

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 1 wherein the vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer molecular weight is between about 120,000 and about 130,000.

Claim 13

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accodance with claim 1 wherein vinyl chloride comprises between about 5 and about 35 weight percent of the vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer.

Claim 14

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 1 wherein vinyl chloride comprises between about 15 and about 30 weight percent of the vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer.

Claim 15

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film suitable for packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats, comprising a first outer layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a core layer comprising a blend of vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer and vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer having between about 2.9 and about 13.5 weight percent methyl acrylate, and between about 2.9 and about 11.6 weight percent vinyl chloride copolymer, and a second outer layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

Claim 16

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film suitable for packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats, comprising a first outer layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a core layer comprising a blend of vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer and vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer having between about 2.9 and about 13.5 weight percent methyl acrylate, and between about 2.9 and about 11.6 weight percent vinyl chloride copolymer, and a second outer layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

Claim 17

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 14 wherein said first outer layer comprises an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute, and a vinyl acetate content of from about 9 to about 15 weight percent, based on the weight of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

Claim 18

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 15 wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer comprising said first outer layer is selected from the group consisting of (a) a single ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (b) a blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers having melt indices of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute, and vinyl acetate contents of from about 9 to about 15 weight percent, based on the weight of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers.

Claim 19

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 14 wherein said second outer layer comprises an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 10 decigram per minute, and a vinyl acetate content of from about 3 to about 18 weight percent, based on the weight of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

Claim 20

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 14 wherein said second outer layer comprises a blend of at least two ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, wherein one of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers has a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute, and a vinyl acetate content of from about 10 to about 18 weight percent, based on the weight of said copolymer, and one of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers has a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 2 to about 10 weight percent, based on the weight of said copolymer.

Claim 21

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 18 wherein said blend of said second ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers has a vinyl acetate content of from about 3 to about 18 weight percent, based on the weight of said blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers.

Claim 22

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 14 wherein said first outer layer has a thickness from about 1.1 mils to about 2.0 mils.

Claim 23

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 14 wherein said core layer has a thickness of from about 0.20 mil to about 0.45 mil.

Claim 24

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 14 wherein said second outer layer has a thickness of from about 0.4 mil to about 1.5 mils.

Claim 25

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film in accordance with claim 14 wherein said film has a total thickness of from about 1.75 mils to about 4.0 mils.

Claim 26

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film suitable for packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats, said film having a first outer layer of thickness from about 1.1 mils to about 2.0 mils comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 9 to about 15 weight percent, based on the weight of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer being selected from the group consisting of (a) a single ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (b) a blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers having melt indices and vinyl acetate contents within the aforementioned ranges; a core layer of thickness from about 0.20 mil to about 0.45 mil comprising a blend of vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer of molecular weight between about 75,000 and about 130,000 and vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer with between about 4 and about 12 weight percent methyl acrylate and between about 5.8 and about 8.7 weight percent vinyl chloride in said blend and a maximum of 5 weight percent plasticizer based on the total blend weight of plasticizer and copolymer blend; and a second outer layer of thickness from about 0.4 mil to about 1.5 mils comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer selected from the group consisting of (a) an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 3 to about 18 weight percent, based on the weight of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (b) a blend of at least two ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, wherein one of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers has a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 10 to about 18 weight percent, based on the weight of said copolymer, and the other ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 2 to about 10 weight percent, based on the weight of said copolymer; said film having been irradiated to a dosage level of between about 1 megarad and about 5 megarads.

Claim 27

A heat-shrinkable, biaxially stretched multilayer film suitable for packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats, said film having a first outer layer of thickness from about 1.1 mils to about 2.0 mils comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 9 to about 15 weight percent, based on the weight of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer being selected from the group consisting of (a) a single ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (b) a blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers having melt indices and vinyl acetate contents within the aforementioned ranges; a core layer of thickness from about 0.20 mil to about 0.45 mil comprising a blend of vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer of molecular weight between about 75,000 and about 130,000 and vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer with between about 4 and about 12 weight percent methyl acrylate and between about 5.8 and about 8.7 weight percent vinyl chloride in said blend and a maximum of 5 weight percent plasticizer based on the total blend weight of plasticizer and copolymer blend; and a second outer layer of thickness from about 0.4 mil to about 1.5 mils comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer selected from the group consisting of (a) an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 3 to about 18 weight percent, based on the weight of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (b) a blend of at least two ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, wherein one of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers has a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 10 to about 18 weight percent, based on the weight of said copolymer, and the other ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 2 to about 10 weight percent, based on the weight of said copolymer; said film having been irradiated to a dosage level of between about 1 megarad and about 5 megarads.

Claim 28

A bag suitable for use in shrink packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats, said bag comprising a biaxially stretched multilayer film containing a barrier layer comprising a blend of vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer and vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer having between about 3 and about 13.5 weight percent methyl acrylate and between about 2.9 and about 11.6 weight percent vinyl chloride in said blend.

Claim 29

A bag suitable for use in shrink packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats, said bag comprising a biaxially stretched multilayer film containing a barrier layer comprising a blend of vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer and vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer having between about 3 and about 13.5 weight percent methyl acrylate and between about 2.9 and about 11.6 weight percent vinyl chloride in said blend.

Claim 30

A bag in accordance with claim 25 wherein said multilayer film has at least three layers.

Claim 31

A bag in accordance with claim 25 wherein said multilayer film has been irradiated to a dosage level of between about 1 megarad and about 5 megarads.

Claim 32

A bag in accordance with claim 25 wherein said multilayer film comprises a first outer layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a core layer comprising said copolymer blend, and a second outer layer comprising ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

Claim 33

A bag in accordance with claim 18 wherein said methyl acrylate comprises between about 4 and about 12 weight percent and said vinyl chloride comprises between about 5.8 and about 8.7 weight percent in said blend.

Claim 34

A bag suitable for use in shrink packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats, said bag comprising a biaxially stretched multilayer film having a first outer layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 9 to about 15 weight percent, based on the weight of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer being selected from the group consisting of (a) a single ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (b) a blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers having melt indices and vinyl acetate contents within the aforementioned ranges; a core layer comprising a blend of vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer of molecular weight between about 90,000 and about 110,000, and vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer of molecular weight between about 120,000 and about 130,000, with between about 4 and about 12 weight percent methyl acrylate copolymer and between about 5.8 and 8.7 weight percent vinyl chloride in said blend; and a second outer layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer selected from the group consisting of (a) an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 3 to about 18 weight percent, based on the weight of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (b) a blend of at least two ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, wherein one of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers has a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 10 to about 18 weight percent, based on the weight of said copolymer, and the other ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 2 to about 10 weight percent, based on the weight of said copolymer.

Claim 35

A bag suitable for use in shrink packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats, said bag comprising a biaxially stretched multilayer film having a first outer layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 9 to about 15 weight percent, based on the weight of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer being selected from the group consisting of (a) a single ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (b) a blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers having melt indices and vinyl acetate contents within the aforementioned ranges; a core layer comprising a blend of vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer of molecular weight between about 90,000 and about 110,000, and vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer of molecular weight between about 120,000 and about 130,000, with between about 4 and about 12 weight percent methyl acrylate copolymer and between about 5.8 and 8.7 weight percent vinyl chloride in said blend; and a second outer layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer selected from the group consisting of (a) an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 3 to about 18 weight percent, based on the weight of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (b) a blend of at least two ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, wherein one of said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers has a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 10 to about 18 weight percent, based on the weight of said copolymer, and the other ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 decigram per minute and a vinyl acetate content of from about 2 to about 10 weight percent, based on the weight of said copolymer.