US5330804A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Synthetic wood mulch
Assignee: EARTH TRENDS Inc A Corp OF
•
Filing: 1991-03-27
•
Granted: 1994-07-19
•
Expires: 2011-03-27
Abstract
Abstract There is provided a synthetic wood article formed as an irregularly shaped substrate. The substrate is made from at least one plastic and preferably from post-consumer plastics such as, for example, from disposed of PET bottles or PE trash bags. The article may have the appearance of a wood chip, bark, shredded wood, or sawdust. The substrate is formed by chipping, shredding, or pulverizing a solid piece of plastic which has been extruded. The substrate may have multi layers thereby presenting a wood grain appearance. A plurality of such articles may be used as a synthetic wood mulch.
Inventors
- 👤 John G. Allison
- 👤 Hal J. Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:42
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G13/00; A01G13/30; A01G13/31; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A synthetic wood article comprising: an irregular wood chip shaped substrate; said substrate being substantially formed from at least first and second plastics; said substrate having a plurality of discrete layers; at least one of said layers being made substantially from said first plastic and at least another of said layers being made substantially of said second plastic; portions of adjacent layers adhering to one another; said layers having edges; an edge of one layer overlapping and being offset from the edge of its adjacent layer; said offset edges being substantially irregular.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A synthetic wood article comprising: an irregular wood chip shaped substrate; said substrate being substantially formed from at least first and second plastics; said substrate having a plurality of discrete layers; at least one of said layers being made substantially from said first plastic and at least another of said layers being made substantially of said second plastic; portions of adjacent layers adhering to one another; said layers having edges; an edge of one layer overlapping and being offset from the edge of its adjacent layer; said offset edges being substantially irregular.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said substrate has a grain appearance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said substrate has the appearance of a wood chip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said substrate has the appearance of bark.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said substrate has the appearance of shredded wood.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plastics are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride and polypropylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 further including a coloring agent mixed with said plastics.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article as set forth in claim 7 wherein said coloring agent is iron oxide whereby said substrate is brown.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 further including fillers mixed with said plastics.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article as set forth in claim 9 wherein said fillers are selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate and talc.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 further including a flame retardant mixed with said plastics.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article as set forth in claim 11 wherein said flame retardant is boric acid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein odors are mixed with said plastics for impeding animals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 further including fertilizer mixed with said plastics.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
An article as set forth in claim 14 wherein said fertilizer is urea.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
A synthetic mulch comprising: a plurality of irregular wood chip shaped substrates; each of said substrates formed from at least first and second plastics; said substrates adapted to be used as a mulch; each of said substrates including a plurality of discrete layers; at least one layer being made substantially from said first plastic and at least another of said layers being made substantially of said second plastic; portions of adjacent layers adhering to one another; said layers having edges; said edges of adjacent layers overlapping and being offset from one another thereby enhancing the visibility of said layers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
99 words
A synthetic mulch comprising: a plurality of irregular wood chip shaped substrates; each of said substrates formed from at least first and second plastics; said substrates adapted to be used as a mulch; each of said substrates including a plurality of discrete layers; at least one layer being made substantially from said first plastic and at least another of said layers being made substantially of said second plastic; portions of adjacent layers adhering to one another; said layers having edges; said edges of adjacent layers overlapping and being offset from one another thereby enhancing the visibility of said layers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mulch as set forth in claim 16 wherein said substrates have the appearance of a wood chip.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mulch as set forth in claim 16 wherein said substrates have the appearance of bark.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A mulch as set forth in claim 16 wherein said substrates have the appearance of shredded wood.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2685150A
Cited
US3420729A
Cited
US4391767A
Cited
US3555728A
Cited
US3673134A
Cited
US4153587A
Cited
US4124562A
Cited
US3932319A
Cited
US4062145A
Cited
US4166340A
Cited
US4171401A
Cited
US4146660A
Cited
US4686790A
Cited
US4852870A
Cited
US4794726A
Cited
US4910052A
Cited
US5047099A
Cited
US4855166A
Cited
US5082605A
Cited
US5105577A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-07-18 | 1998-01-17 | 1998-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-18 | 2002-01-17 | 2002-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-18 | 2006-01-17 | 2006-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |