US5045264A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for making extruded plastic film with strips embedded therein of a second thermoplastic material
Assignee: SC Johnson Home Storage Inc
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Filing: 1990-03-29
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Granted: 1991-09-03
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Expires: 2010-03-29
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for manufacturing a composite film of a matrix material and of a second material in the form of one or more strips of the second material which are embedded in the matrix material at one or both surfaces of the composite film.
Inventors
- 👤 William A. Kirksey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:52
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29C48/07; B29C48/08; B29C48/16; B29C48/18; B29C48/21; B29C48/25; B29C48/30; B29C48/305; B29C48/307; B29C48/36; B29C48/49; B29C48/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of making a composite film comprised of a first material and a second material in the form of one or more discrete strips of the second material which are embedded in a matrix of the first material at one or both surfaces of the composite film by extrusion apparatus having an adjustable die gap, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a stream of a first, heat-plastified extrudable thermoplastic film material to a cast film die; cross-currently feeding one or more streams of a heat-plastified second material into the first material flowing through the cast film die; diverting a portion of the first material adjacent a stream of the second material with respect to the stream of the second material so that the stream is partially encapsulated within a matrix of the first material and forms a composite body of materials with the first material; and extruding the composite body of materials from the cast film die to form the composite film.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of making a composite film comprised of a first material and a second material in the form of one or more discrete strips of the second material which are embedded in a matrix of the first material at one or both surfaces of the composite film by extrusion apparatus having an adjustable die gap, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a stream of a first, heat-plastified extrudable thermoplastic film material to a cast film die; cross-currently feeding one or more streams of a heat-plastified second material into the first material flowing through the cast film die; diverting a portion of the first material adjacent a stream of the second material with respect to the stream of the second material so that the stream is partially encapsulated within a matrix of the first material and forms a composite body of materials with the first material; and extruding the composite body of materials from the cast film die to form the composite film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of diverting a portion of the first material comprises: diverting the portion of the first material laterally with respect to the direction of extrusion of the first material through the cast film die; and diverting the portion of the first material toward the stream of the second material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of combining in co-current flow the portion of the first material and the stream of the second material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the second material is characterized by being potentially degradable at and above extrusion temperatures commonly commercially employed in extruding the first material.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
29 words
The method of claims 1 and 4, wherein the second material is characterized as possessing a lower viscosity compared to the first material in the composite body of materials.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for making a composite film comprised of a first material and a second material in the form of one or more discrete strips of the second material which are embedded within a matrix of the first material at one or both surfaces of the composite film, comprising: a cast film die having two opposed die portions, wherein at least one of the two opposed die portions has a plurality of strip channels defined therethrough which are laterally spaced and offset from the strip channels in the opposed die portion; an extruding source of the first material which is in fluid communication with the cast film die; an extruding source of the second material in fluid communication with the plurality of laterally spaced and offset strip channels; means for partially encapsulating the second material from the strip channels within a matrix of the heat-plastified first material flowing between the opposed die portions to form a composite body of materials; and means for extruding the composite body of materials to form the composite film.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for making a composite film comprised of a first material and a second material in the form of one or more discrete strips of the second material which are embedded within a matrix of the first material at one or both surfaces of the composite film, comprising: a cast film die having two opposed die portions, wherein at least one of the two opposed die portions has a plurality of strip channels defined therethrough which are laterally spaced and offset from the strip channels in the opposed die portion; an extruding source of the first material which is in fluid communication with the cast film die; an extruding source of the second material in fluid communication with the plurality of laterally spaced and offset strip channels; means for partially encapsulating the second material from the strip channels within a matrix of the heat-plastified first material flowing between the opposed die portions to form a composite body of materials; and means for extruding the composite body of materials to form the composite film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising a zone of expanded flow of the composite body of materials.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the means for partially encapsulating the second material in the first material comprises: means for cross-currently feeding a stream of the second material into a plastified mass of the first material passing between the two opposed die portions; and means for diverting a portion of the plastified mass of the first material adjacent the stream of the second material with respect to the stream of the second material, such that the stream is partially encapsulated in the portion of the plastified mass of the first material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the means for cross-currently feeding a stream of the second material into a plastified mass of the first material includes at least one tear drop manifold in fluid connection with the strip channels in a die portion and with the extruding source of the second material, for distributing material from the extruding source to such strip channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the means for diverting a portion of the plastified mass of the first material adjacent the stream of the second material comprises first and second alternating passages for the co-current flow of the portion of the first material and of the stream of the second material to be encapsulated therein, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the first alternating passages adjacent to and on either side of a second alternating passage are each comprised of an upstream sub-part and a downstream sub-part, the upstream sub-part being configured to divert the portion of the first material flowing therethrough laterally with respect to the direction of extrusion of the first material to a point substantially corresponding to the lateral extent of the second alternating passage, and the downstream sub-part being configured to divert the portion of the first material flowing therethrough toward adjacent second alternating passages.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein both of the die portions have a plurality of strip channels defined therethrough which are laterally spaced and offset from strip channels in the opposed die portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein each die portion has from 24 to 144 strip channels defined therethrough, depending upon the width of the composite film which is extruded.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein strip channels in each die portion are equidistant from adjoining strip channels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein each strip channel in a die portion is laterally offset approximately one-half the distance between strip channels in the opposing die portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the second material is characterized by being potentially degradable at and above extrusion temperatures commonly commercially employed in extruding the first material.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claims 6 and 16, wherein the second material is characterized as possessing a lower viscosity compared to the first material in the composite body of materials.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as defined in claims 6 or 16, further comprising means for monitoring and controlling the temperatures of one or more die segments of the apparatus.
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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) | 1994-09-02 | 1995-03-04 | 1995-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-02 | 1999-03-04 | 1999-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-02 | 2003-03-04 | 2003-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |