US4888222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oxygen impermeable leak free container
Assignee: Evergreen Packaging LLC
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Filing: 1988-05-09
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Granted: 1989-12-19
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Expires: 2008-05-09
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an improved container for food and non-food products. The container utilizes a novel paperboard barrier laminate structure which maintains an isolated gas environment in the container. The laminate makes use of high strength, heat-resistant and caulking polymer layers which prevent pinholes, cuts, or cracking of the barrier layers during blank conversion, package formation, and package distribution. In addition, the novel polymer resin layers act to caulk the seams and channels present in the carton providing a sealed leak free container.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles E. Gibbons
- 👤 Gerald A. Marano
- 👤 James M. Kittrell
- 👤 Allan A. Whillock
- 👤 Robert L. Lanham
- 👤 Donald Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:36
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1303; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/1355; Y10T428/1359; Y10T428/1379; Y10T428/1383; Y10T428/28; Y10T428/2813; Y10T428/2817; Y10T428/2826; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31678; Y10T428/31692; Y10T428/31725; Y10T428/3175; Y10T428/31786; Y10T428/3179; Y10T428/31797; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/3188; Y10T428/31895; Y10T428/31899; Y10T428/31902; Y10T428/31906; Y10T428/31909; Y10T428/31913; Y10T428/3192; Y10T428/31928
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
An oxygen barrier laminate structure for producing an oxygen impermeable leak free container comprising: (a) a mechanically stable structural substrate having an inner and an outer surface; (b) an outer layer of a heat-sealable low density polyethylene polymer coated on said outer surface of said mechanically stable structural substrate; (c) an inner layer of a first caulking polymer resin coated on said inner surface of said mechanically stable structural substrate; (d) an inner oxygen barrier material layer placed on the inner surface of said caulking polymer resin; (e) a first sandwich layer of a second calking polymer resin and a low density polyethylene polymer coated on the inner surface of said oxygen barrier material layer wherein said caulking polymer resin contacts said oxygen barrier material layer; (f) a second sandwich inner layer of: a first layer of a low density polyethylene polymer, a first adhesive tie layer, a layer of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a second adhesive tie layer, and a second layer of a low density polyethylene polymer, all coated in the above-listed sequence onto the inner surface of said first sandwich layer of caulking polymer resin and low density polyethylene and contacting said low density polyethylene layer; and (g) a product contact layer of low density polyethylene polymer extrusion coated on the inner surface of said inner second sandwich layer which can be heat-sealed with the outside layer of low density polyethylene polymer of the laminate on conventional equipment at temperatures ranging from 250° F. to 500° F.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
An oxygen barrier laminate structure for producing an oxygen impermeable leak free container comprising: (a) a mechanically stable structural substrate having an inner and an outer surface; (b) an outer layer of a heat-sealable low density polyethylene polymer coated on said outer surface of said mechanically stable structural substrate; (c) an inner layer of a first caulking polymer resin coated on said inner surface of said mechanically stable structural substrate; (d) an inner oxygen barrier material layer placed on the inner surface of said caulking polymer resin; (e) a first sandwich layer of a second calking polymer resin and a low density polyethylene polymer coated on the inner surface of said oxygen barrier material layer wherein said caulking polymer resin contacts said oxygen barrier material layer; (f) a second sandwich inner layer of: a first layer of a low density polyethylene polymer, a first adhesive tie layer, a layer of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a second adhesive tie layer, and a second layer of a low density polyethylene polymer, all coated in the above-listed sequence onto the inner surface of said first sandwich layer of caulking polymer resin and low density polyethylene and contacting said low density polyethylene layer; and (g) a product contact layer of low density polyethylene polymer extrusion coated on the inner surface of said inner second sandwich layer which can be heat-sealed with the outside layer of low density polyethylene polymer of the laminate on conventional equipment at temperatures ranging from 250° F. to 500° F.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
An oxygen barrier laminate structure for producing an oxygen impermeable leak free container, said laminate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanically stable structural substrate is selected from the group consisting of bleached paperboard, unbleached paperboard, corrugated board, high density polyethylene, and polypropylene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
An oxygen barrier laminate structure for producing an oxygen impermeable leak free container, said laminate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said oxygen barrier material layer is selected from the group consisting of aluminum foil, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene terephthalate, glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate, acid-modified polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, vinylidene chloride copolymer, polyvinyl chloride polymer, vinyl chloride copolymer, polyamide polymer and polyamide copolymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An oxygen barrier laminate structure for producing an oxygen impermeable leak free container, said laminate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second caulking polymer resins exhibit a melt flow index ranging from 4.5-14.0.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
An oxygen barrier laminate structure for producing an oxygen impermeable leak free container, said laminate as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first and second caulking polymer resins are selected from the group consisting of zinc salts of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers, sodium salts of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers, ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, and ethylene methacrylate copolymers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
An oxygen barrier laminate structure for producing an oxygen impermeable leak free container, said laminate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adhesive first and second tie layers are selected from the group consisting of ethylene based copolymers with grafted functional groups, modified polyethylene resin containing vinyl acetate, acrylate, and methacrylate monomers and polyethylene copolymer based materials with grafted functional groups.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
An oxygen barrier laminate structure for producing an oxygen impermeable leak free container, said laminate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanically stable structural substrate is paperboard, said oxygen barrier material layer is aluminum foil, and wherein said first and second caulking polymer resins are a zinc of salt of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer having a melt flow index ranging from 4.5-14.0.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
249 words
An oxygen impermeable side-seamed blank, said blank constructed from a laminate comprising: (a) a mechanically stable structural substrate having an inner and an outer surface; (b) an outer layer of a heat-sealable low density polyethylene polymer coated on said outer surface of said mechanically stable structural substrate; (c) an inner layer of a first caulking polymer resin coated on said inner surface of said mechanically stable structural substrate; (d) an inner oxygen barrier material layer placed on the inner surface of said caulking polymer resin; (e) a first sandwich layer of a second caulking polymer resin and a low density polyethylene polymer coated on the inner surface of said oxygen barrier material layer wherein said caulking polymer resin contacts said oxygen barrier material layer; (f) a second sandwich inner layer of: a first layer of a low density polyethylene polymer, a first adhesive tie layer, a layer of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a second adhesive tie layer, and a second layer of a low density polyethylene polymer, all coated in the above-listed sequence onto the inner surface of said first sandwich layer of caulking polymer resin and low density polyethylene and contacting said low density polyethylene layer; and (g) a product contact layer of low density polyethylene polymer extrusion coated on the inner surface of said inner second sandwich layer which can be heat-sealed with the outside layer of low density polyethylene polymer of the laminate on conventional equipment at temperatures ranging from 250° F. to 500° F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
249 words
An oxygen impermeable side-seamed blank, said blank constructed from a laminate comprising: (a) a mechanically stable structural substrate having an inner and an outer surface; (b) an outer layer of a heat-sealable low density polyethylene polymer coated on said outer surface of said mechanically stable structural substrate; (c) an inner layer of a first caulking polymer resin coated on said inner surface of said mechanically stable structural substrate; (d) an inner oxygen barrier material layer placed on the inner surface of said caulking polymer resin; (e) a first sandwich layer of a second caulking polymer resin and a low density polyethylene polymer coated on the inner surface of said oxygen barrier material layer wherein said caulking polymer resin contacts said oxygen barrier material layer; (f) a second sandwich inner layer of: a first layer of a low density polyethylene polymer, a first adhesive tie layer, a layer of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a second adhesive tie layer, and a second layer of a low density polyethylene polymer, all coated in the above-listed sequence onto the inner surface of said first sandwich layer of caulking polymer resin and low density polyethylene and contacting said low density polyethylene layer; and (g) a product contact layer of low density polyethylene polymer extrusion coated on the inner surface of said inner second sandwich layer which can be heat-sealed with the outside layer of low density polyethylene polymer of the laminate on conventional equipment at temperatures ranging from 250° F. to 500° F.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An oxygen impermeable side-seamed blank, said blank constructed from a laminate as claimed in claim 8, wherein said mechanically stable structural substrate is selected from the group consisting of bleached paperboard, unbleached paperboard, corrugated board, high density polyethylene, and polypropylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
An oxygen impermeable side-seamed blank, said blank constructed from a laminate as claimed in claim 8, wherein said oxygen barrier material layer is selected from the group consisting of aluminum foil, polyvinyl, alcohol, polyethylene terephthalate, glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate, acid-modified polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, vinylidene chloride copolymer, polyvinyl chloride polymer, vinyl chloride polymer, polyamide polymer and polyamide copolymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An oxygen impermeable side-seamed blank, said blank constructed from a laminate as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first and second caulking polymer resins exhibit a melt flow index ranging from 4.5-14.0.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
An oxygen impermeable side-seamed blank, said blank constructed from a laminate as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first and second caulking polymer resins are selected from the group consisting of zinc salts of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers, sodium salts of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers, ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, and ethylene methacrylate copolymers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
An oxygen impermeable side-seamed blank, said blank constructed from a laminate as claimed in claim 8, wherein said adhesive tie layer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene based copolymers with grafted functional groups, modified polyethylene resin containing vinyl acetate, acrylate, and methacrylate comonomers and polyethylene copolymers based materials with grafted functional groups.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
An oxygen impermeable side-seamed blank, said blank constructed from a laminate as claimed in claim 8, wherein said mechanically stable structural substrate is paperboard, said oxygen barrier material layer is aluminum foil, and wherein said first and second caulking polymer resins are a zinc salt of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer having a melt flow index ranging from 4.5-14.0.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
250 words
An oxygen impermeable leak free container, said container constructed from a laminate comprising: (a) a mechanically stable structural substrate having an inner and an outer surface; (b) an outer layer of a heat-sealable low density polyethylene polymer coated on said outer surface of said mechanically stable structural substrate; (c) an inner layer of a first caulking polymer resin coated on said inner surface of said mechanically stable structural substrate; (d) an inner oxygen barrier material layer placed on the inner surface of said caulking polymer resin; (e) a first sandwich layer of a second caulking polymer resin and a low density polyethylene polymer coated on the inner surface of said oxygen barrier material layer wherein said caulking polymer resin contacts said oxygen barrier material layer; (f) a second sandwich inner layer of: a first layer of a low density polyethylene polymer, a first adhesive tie layer, a layer of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a second adhesive tie layer, and a second layer of a low density polyethylene polymer, all coated in the above-listed sequence onto the inner surface of said first sandwich layer of caulking polymer resin and low density polyethylene and contacting said low density polyethylene layer; and (g) a product contact layer of low density polyethylene polymer extrusion coated on the inner surface of said inner second sandwich layer which can be heat-sealed with the outside layer of low density polyethylene polymer of the laminate on conventional equipment at temperatures ranging from 250° F. to 500° F.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
250 words
An oxygen impermeable leak free container, said container constructed from a laminate comprising: (a) a mechanically stable structural substrate having an inner and an outer surface; (b) an outer layer of a heat-sealable low density polyethylene polymer coated on said outer surface of said mechanically stable structural substrate; (c) an inner layer of a first caulking polymer resin coated on said inner surface of said mechanically stable structural substrate; (d) an inner oxygen barrier material layer placed on the inner surface of said caulking polymer resin; (e) a first sandwich layer of a second caulking polymer resin and a low density polyethylene polymer coated on the inner surface of said oxygen barrier material layer wherein said caulking polymer resin contacts said oxygen barrier material layer; (f) a second sandwich inner layer of: a first layer of a low density polyethylene polymer, a first adhesive tie layer, a layer of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a second adhesive tie layer, and a second layer of a low density polyethylene polymer, all coated in the above-listed sequence onto the inner surface of said first sandwich layer of caulking polymer resin and low density polyethylene and contacting said low density polyethylene layer; and (g) a product contact layer of low density polyethylene polymer extrusion coated on the inner surface of said inner second sandwich layer which can be heat-sealed with the outside layer of low density polyethylene polymer of the laminate on conventional equipment at temperatures ranging from 250° F. to 500° F.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
An oxygen impermeable leak free container produced from a laminate as claimed in claim 15, wherein said mechanically stable structural substrate is selected from the group consisting of bleached paperboard, unbleached paperboard, corrugated board, high density polyethylene, and polypropylene.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
An oxygen impermeable leak free container produced from a laminate as claimed in claim 15 wherein said oxygen barrier material layer is selected from the group consisting of aluminum foil, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene terephthalate, glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate, acid-modified polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, vinylidene chloride copolymer, polyvinyl chloride polymer, vinyl chloride copolymer, polyamide polymer and polyamide copolymer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
An oxygen impermeable leak free container produced from a laminate as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first and second caulking polymer resins exhibits a melt flow index ranging from 4.5-14.0.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
An oxygen impermeable leak free container produced from a laminate as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first and second caulking polymer resins are selected from the group consisting of zinc salts of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers, sodium salts of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers, ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, and ethylene methacrylate copolymers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
An oxygen impermeable leak free container produced from a laminate as claimed in claim 15, wherein said adhesive tie layer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene based copolymers with grafted functional groups, modified polyethylene resin containing vinyl acetate, acrylate, and methacrylate comonomers and polyethylene copolymer based materials with grafted functional groups.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
An oxygen impermeable leak free container produced from a laminate as claimed in claim 15, wherein said mechanically stable structural substrate is paperboard, said oxygen barrier material layer is aluminum foil, and wherein said first and second caulking polymer resin is a zinc salt of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer having a melt flow index ranging from 4.5-14.0.
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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) | 1992-12-18 | 1993-06-19 | 1993-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-18 | 1997-06-19 | 1997-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-18 | 2001-06-19 | 2001-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |