US5196247A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Compostable polymeric composite sheet and method of making or composting same
Assignee: Clopay Plastic Products Co Inc
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Filing: 1991-03-01
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Granted: 1993-03-23
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Expires: 2011-03-01
Abstract
Abstract Compostable polymeric sheets of biodegradable or environmentally degradable polymers are disclosed. These composite sheets may be made by extrusion and are compostable in municipal solid waste treatment facilities.
Inventors
- 👤 Pai-Chuan Wu
- 👤 Thomas R. Ryle
- 👤 Leopoldo V. Cancio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:10
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/15203; A61F13/15252; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29C48/07; B29C48/08; B32B27/32; B65; B65D; B65D65/00; B65D65/38; B65D65/46; B65D65/466; A61F13/51; A61F13/514; A61F13/51474; A61F13/51478; A61F2013/1526; A61F13/51401; A61F2013/51409; A61F2013/51411; A61F2013/51415; A61F2013/51433; A61F2013/51486; A61F2013/5149; B29C48/12; B29K; B29K2003/00; B29K2029/00; B29K2029/04; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0056; B29K2995/0059; B29K2995/006; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/716; B32B2307/7163; B32B2307/726; B32B2307/7265; B32B2309/00; B32B2309/02; B32B2555/00; B32B2555/02; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W90/00; Y02W90/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S260/00; Y10S260/43; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/15; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24595; Y10T428/24603; Y10T428/24612; Y10T428/28; Y10T428/2813; Y10T428/283; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/20; Y10T442/2025; Y10T442/2861
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A compostable polymeric composite sheet comprising a water insoluble and impermeable top film of thermoplastic polymer, a water insoluble bottom layer of thermoplastic polymer and an intermediate film of water soluble polymer for bonding said top film and bottom layer together to form said composite sheet, each of said films or layer being biodegradable or environmentally degradable, said water soluble film facilitating the separation of the composite in the presence of water for exposure of the top film and bottom layer to enhance degradation, wherein said sheet is formed by coextrusion of said top film and said intermediate film, said top film has a plurality of post-extruded stretched areas along lines spaced substantially uniformly across the film surface areas and through the depth of the film, said stretched areas being separated by unstretched areas and having a thickness less than the unstretched areas, said stretched areas for weakening said film to further enhance its degradation while maintaining its water impermeability.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A compostable polymeric composite sheet comprising a water insoluble and impermeable top film of thermoplastic polymer, a water insoluble bottom layer of thermoplastic polymer and an intermediate film of water soluble polymer for bonding said top film and bottom layer together to form said composite sheet, each of said films or layer being biodegradable or environmentally degradable, said water soluble film facilitating the separation of the composite in the presence of water for exposure of the top film and bottom layer to enhance degradation, wherein said sheet is formed by coextrusion of said top film and said intermediate film, said top film has a plurality of post-extruded stretched areas along lines spaced substantially uniformly across the film surface areas and through the depth of the film, said stretched areas being separated by unstretched areas and having a thickness less than the unstretched areas, said stretched areas for weakening said film to further enhance its degradation while maintaining its water impermeability.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composite sheet of claim 1 wherein said bottom layer of thermoplastic polymer is a water impermeable film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composite sheet of claim 1 wherein said bottom layer comprises a porous web of nonwoven thermoplastic fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The composite sheet of claim 1 wherein said extruded top film has a pattern embossed therein and said plurality of stretched areas are post-embossed through the depth of the embossed film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite sheet of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic polymer is a polyolefin based polymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The composite sheet of claim 5 wherein said polyolefin based polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene methyl acrylate, ethylene acrylic acid, and copolymers or blends thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The composite sheet of claim 1 wherein said water soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polymethoxyethylene, polysaccharide, polyacrylamide, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, poly(maleic anhydride) and modified polysaccharide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The composite sheet of claim 1 wherein both the top film and bottom layer of thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polycaprolactone, starch-resin polymer, and co-polymers or blends thereof and the water soluble polymer is polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The composite sheet of claim 8 wherein said top film thermoplastic polymer and polyvinyl alcohol are coextruded.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The composite sheet of claim 1 wherein both the top film and bottom layer of thermoplastic polymer is a polyolefin based polymer containing a heat activatable prodegradant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The composite sheet of claim 10 wherein said heat activatable prodegradant comprises a transitional metal salt catalyst.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The composite sheet of claim 11 wherein said metal salt is selected from the group consisting of manganese, cobalt and mixtures thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The composite sheet of claim 11 wherein said prodegradant also includes an accelerator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The composite sheet of claim 13 wherein said accelerator is an unsaturated polymer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
179 words
A water impermeable compostable composite polymeric backsheet for diapers and sanitary pads comprising a water insoluble and impermeable top film of thermoplastic polymer, a water insoluble bottom layer of thermoplastic polymer and an intermediate film of water soluble polymer for bonding said top film and bottom layer together to form said composite sheet, each of said films or layer being biodegradable or environmentally degradable, said water soluble film facilitating the separation of the composite of the presence of water for exposure of the top film and bottom layer to enhance degradation, said composite having a thickness of about 0.5 to about 10 mils, wherein said sheet is formed by coextrusion of said top film and said intermediate film of water soluble polymer, said sheet having a plurality of post-extruded stretched areas along lines spaced substantially uniformly across the sheet surface areas and through the depth thereof, said stretched areas being separated by unstretched areas and having a thickness less than the unstretched areas, said stretched areas for weakening said sheet to enhance its degradation while maintaining its water impermeability.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
179 words
A water impermeable compostable composite polymeric backsheet for diapers and sanitary pads comprising a water insoluble and impermeable top film of thermoplastic polymer, a water insoluble bottom layer of thermoplastic polymer and an intermediate film of water soluble polymer for bonding said top film and bottom layer together to form said composite sheet, each of said films or layer being biodegradable or environmentally degradable, said water soluble film facilitating the separation of the composite of the presence of water for exposure of the top film and bottom layer to enhance degradation, said composite having a thickness of about 0.5 to about 10 mils, wherein said sheet is formed by coextrusion of said top film and said intermediate film of water soluble polymer, said sheet having a plurality of post-extruded stretched areas along lines spaced substantially uniformly across the sheet surface areas and through the depth thereof, said stretched areas being separated by unstretched areas and having a thickness less than the unstretched areas, said stretched areas for weakening said sheet to enhance its degradation while maintaining its water impermeability.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The backsheet of claim 15 wherein said bottom layer of thermoplastic polymer is a water impermeable film.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The backsheet of claim 15 wherein said bottom layer comprises a porous web of nonwoven thermoplastic fibers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The backsheet of claim 15 wherein said sheet is laminated during extrusion to a bottom layer of a porous web of nonwoven thermoplastic fibers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The backsheet of claim 15 wherein said bottom layer is coextruded with said top and intermediate films.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The backsheet of claim 15 wherein said extruded top film has a pattern embossed therein and said plurality of stretched areas are post-embossed through the depth of the embossed film.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The backsheet of claim 15 wherein both the top film and bottom layer of thermoplastic polymer is a polyolefin based polymer and said water soluble polymer is polyvinyl alcohol.
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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) | 1996-03-22 | 1996-09-21 | 1997-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-03-22 | 2000-09-21 | 2001-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-03-22 | 2004-09-21 | 2005-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |