US5346929A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Biodegradable plastic and articles made therefrom
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-03-18
•
Granted: 1994-09-13
•
Expires: 2012-03-18
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a biodegradable plastic made from a combination of at least one synthetic plastic polymer, at least one natural polymer and a natural polymer attacking agent and articles made therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvin Guttag
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:09
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/20; B42D25/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
40 words
A biodegradable plastic comprising at least one synthetic plastic polymer, at least one natural polymer and a polymer attacking agent for said synthetic plastic polymer or said natural polymer wherein said polymer attacking agent comprises a microorganism or an enzyme.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
A biodegradable plastic comprising at least one synthetic plastic polymer, at least one natural polymer and a polymer attacking agent for said synthetic plastic polymer or said natural polymer wherein said polymer attacking agent comprises a microorganism or an enzyme.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The biodegradable plastic according to claim 1 wherein said polymer attacking agent comprises a microorganism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The biodegradable plastic according to claim 1 wherein said polymer attacking agent is an enzyme.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A biodegradable plastic according to claim 1 wherein the polymer attacking agent comprises a microorganism and there is incorporated in the plastic a dry culture medium for a microorganism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The biodegradable plastic according to claim 2 wherein said microorganism is a species of bacteria or fungi.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The biodegradable plastic according to claim 1 wherein said polymer attacking agent is present in a water soluble or water swellable polymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The biodegradable plastic according to claim 2 wherein said microorganism is a spore forming microorganism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The biodegradable plastic according to claim 1 which further comprises a synthetic polymer disintegrating chemical agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The biodegradable plastic according to claim 1 wherein said natural polymer is starch or cellulose.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
An article formed from the biodegradable plastic according to claim 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The biodegradable plastic according to claim 1 wherein the natural polymer comprises starch, inulin or cellulose and the polymer attacking agent is a microorganism or enzyme which will attack said starch, inulin or cellulose.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The biodegradable plastic according to claim 11 wherein the biodegradable plastic is an article which is a film, sheet, container, toy, diaper or glove.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The biodegradable plastic according to claim 1 wherein the polymer attacking agent comprises an anaerobic microorganism.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
An article according to claim 10 which is a diaper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A biodegradable plastic container comprising at least one synthetic plastic polymer and a polymer attacking agent for said synthetic plastic polymer comprising a microorganism or an enzyme.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A biodegradable plastic container comprising at least one synthetic plastic polymer and a polymer attacking agent for said synthetic plastic polymer comprising a microorganism or an enzyme.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
A container according to claim 15 having an interior surface of the container coated with an internal layer of a polymer free of said microorganism or enzyme attacking agent whereby the attaching agent free internal layer of the container only becomes exposed to the attacking agent when the container is destroyed so that said interior surface can contact said attacking agent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The biodegradable plastic container according to claim 15 wherein said polymer attacking agent comprises a microorganism.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The biodegradable plastic container according to claim 17 including a water-free microorganism growth medium together with the microorganism whereby when the combination of a microorganism and growth medium contacts water the microorganism will grow.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container according to claim 15 which is a cup, bottle, box, dish, bowl or syringe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A container according to claim 16 wherein the container contains food and the coating prevents the food from contacting the polymer attacking agent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container according to claim 20 which is a milk bottle and the food is milk.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A biodegradable plastic container according to claim 15 wherein the polymer attacking agent comprises a microorganism and the plastic has incorporated therein a dry culture medium for the microorganism.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The biodegradable plastic container according to claim 15 wherein said polymer attacking agent is present in a water soluble or water swellable polymer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The biodegradable container according to claim 15 wherein the polymer attacking agent is a spore forming microorganism.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The biodegradable container according to claim 15 wherein said biodegradable container is free of natural polymer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3860490A
Cited
US4931488A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-12 | 1998-03-14 | 1998-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-12 | 2002-03-14 | 2002-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-12 | 2006-03-14 | 2006-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |