US4880675A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hot-fillable plastic containers
Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Inc
•
Filing: 1988-04-25
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Granted: 1989-11-14
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Expires: 2008-04-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is an improved plastic container having both improved thermal resistance and improved aroma and flavor barrier properties. The container comprises a polyethylene inner layer having a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 10.0 mil, and a coextruded polypropylene outer layer having a thickness such that the ratio of polypropylene to polylethylene is at least 2:1, and wherein the surface of the polyethylene layer has been treated with a reactive source of fluorine.
Inventors
- 👤 Rajendra K. Mehta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:16
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C49/00; B29C49/22; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; B29C49/42; B29C49/46; B32B27/32; B32B7/00; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/02; B65D1/0207; B65D1/0215; C; C08; C08J; C08J7/00; C08J7/12; C08J7/126; B29C2049/4602; B29C2049/4605; B29C2049/4608; B29C2049/4611; B29C2049/4617; B29C2049/4623; B29C2949/00; B29C2949/07; B29C2949/081; B29C2949/0811; B29C49/64; B29C49/6604; B29C49/6605; B29K; B29K2023/00; B29K2023/04; B29K2023/06; B29K2023/08; B29K2023/083; B29K2023/10; B29K2023/12; B29K2077/00; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0012; B29K2995/0017; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0065; B29K2995/0067; B29K2995/0068; B29K2995/0069; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/30; B32B2307/306; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/724; B32B2307/7242; B32B2307/7244; B32B2307/7248; B32B2439/00; C08J2323/00; C08J2323/02; C08J2323/04; C08J2323/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/2495; Y10T428/24967; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/3154; Y10T428/31725; Y10T428/31739; Y10T428/31743; Y10T428/31746; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31909; Y10T428/31913; Y10T428/3192; Y10T428/31928
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A coextruded container having both improved thermal resistance and improved flavor and aroma barrier properties comprising: a polyethylene inner layer having a thickness in the range of 0.5-10.0 mil which forms the interior surface of the container, and a polypropylene outer layer which forms the exterior surface of the container, said polypropylene layer having a thickness such that the ratio of polypropylene to polyethylene thickness is at least 2:1, and wherein said polyethylene layer which forms the interior surface of the container has been treated with a reactive source of fluorine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A coextruded container having both improved thermal resistance and improved flavor and aroma barrier properties comprising: a polyethylene inner layer having a thickness in the range of 0.5-10.0 mil which forms the interior surface of the container, and a polypropylene outer layer which forms the exterior surface of the container, said polypropylene layer having a thickness such that the ratio of polypropylene to polyethylene thickness is at least 2:1, and wherein said polyethylene layer which forms the interior surface of the container has been treated with a reactive source of fluorine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein a tie layer is present between the polypropylene and polyethylene layer to enhance adhesion between the two layers
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 which comprises an oxygen barrier layer between the polypropylene and polyethylene layers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A container in accordance with claim 3 wherein said oxygen barrier layer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinylidine chloride, nylon, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein a tie layer in combination with an oxygen barrier layer is positioned between the polyethylene and polypropylene layers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 further comprises a tie layer in combination with an oxygen barrier layer is located on the surface of the polypropylene layer which forms the exterior of the container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein said container was blow molded from a polypropylene/polyethylene multilayer extrudate preform.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein said container was formed by a thermoforming or injection-molding process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 which has been coated with an oxygen barrier coating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 in which the exterior surface can be hot-filled with liquids at temperatures up to 205° F. without deforming.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein the interior surface has been treated with a reactive source of gaseous fluorine comprising between 0.1%-10% by volume F 2 with the balance N 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a process for forming a container by molding a thermoplastic material, the improvement for increasing the thermal resistance and flavor and aroma barrier properties, which comprises: molding said container using a coextruded thermoplastic multilayer material comprising a polyethylene inner layer having a thickness in the range of 0.5-10.0 mil and a polypropylene outer layer having a thickness such that the ratio of polypropylene to polyethylene thickness is at least 2:1, such that the polyethylene layer forms the interior wall of the container, and surface treating the interior polyethylene layer with a reactive source of fluorine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a process for forming a container by molding a thermoplastic material, the improvement for increasing the thermal resistance and flavor and aroma barrier properties, which comprises: molding said container using a coextruded thermoplastic multilayer material comprising a polyethylene inner layer having a thickness in the range of 0.5-10.0 mil and a polypropylene outer layer having a thickness such that the ratio of polypropylene to polyethylene thickness is at least 2:1, such that the polyethylene layer forms the interior wall of the container, and surface treating the interior polyethylene layer with a reactive source of fluorine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said thermoplastic multilayer material has a tie layer positioned between the polypropylene and polyethylene layers to enhance adhesion between the layers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said thermoplastic multilayer material has an oxygen barrier layer between the polypropylene and polyethylene layers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process in accordance with claim 14 wherein said oxygen barrier layer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinylidine chloride, nylons, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said container is formed by blow molding said coextruded thermoplastic multilayer material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process in accordance with claim 16 wherein said interior surface of the polyethylene layer is treated with a reactive source of fluorine during the blow molding process by using a fluorine-containing gas stream as the blowing gas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process in accordance with claim 17 wherein said fluorine containing gas stream comprises between 0.1% to 10% by volume elemental fluorine, with the balance inerts.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said container is formed by a thermoforming or injection-molding process.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said interior polyethylene layer is post-treated with a reactive source of fluorine.
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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) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-05-15 | 1993-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-13 | 1997-05-15 | 1997-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-13 | 2001-05-15 | 2001-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |