US5640186A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Two material frame having dissimilar properties for thermal ink-jet cartridge
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1995-11-07
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Granted: 1997-06-17
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Expires: 2015-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A thermal ink-jet pen cartridge having a rigid external frame member fabricated of a rigid engineering plastic, and an interior frame structure attached thereto, formed of a sorer, more ductile plastic material than the rigid engineering plastic. An ink reservoir is defined by the interior structure and a pair of flexible bag membranes formed of a plastic material impervious to the ink and compatible with the interior member material, allowing the membranes to be joined to the interior member to form a leak-proof joint. The interior frame structure is fabricated from a polymer blend composition comprising (A) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin and (B) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene and a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, wherein (A) is different from (B). The present polymer compositions provide good chemical and heat stabilities and solvent resistance when subjected to inks used in printing. Further, the present polymer compositions are flexible and have excellent compatibility and adhesion to the various polymeric components used in the ink-jet cartridge.
Inventors
- 👤 David W. Swanson
- 👤 Mindy A. Hamlin
- 👤 James G. Salter
- 👤 Deenadayalu Chundury
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:34
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17553; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/16; B29C45/1657; B41J2/17506; B41J2/17513; B41J2/1752; B41J2/17523; B41J2/17559; B29C2045/1665; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1352
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A printer ink cartridge including an ink reservoir, comprising: a frame structure comprising an external frame structural member fabricated from a first rigid plastic material and an interior frame member fabricated from a second plastic material; first and second impervious membranes formed of a third plastic material, said membranes joined to said interior frame member to form, with said frame structure, said ink reservoir; and wherein said second plastic material is a polymer blend composition compatible with said third plastic material to permit a leak-proof joinder of said membranes to said interior frame member, said polymer blend composition consisting essentially of: A: at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin and B: at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene and a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, wherein A is different from B, said second plastic material being softer and more ductile than said first plastic material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A printer ink cartridge including an ink reservoir, comprising: a frame structure comprising an external frame structural member fabricated from a first rigid plastic material and an interior frame member fabricated from a second plastic material; first and second impervious membranes formed of a third plastic material, said membranes joined to said interior frame member to form, with said frame structure, said ink reservoir; and wherein said second plastic material is a polymer blend composition compatible with said third plastic material to permit a leak-proof joinder of said membranes to said interior frame member, said polymer blend composition consisting essentially of: A: at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin and B: at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene and a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, wherein A is different from B, said second plastic material being softer and more ductile than said first plastic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The polymer blend composition of claim 1 wherein A is a low density polyethylene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The polymer blend composition of claim 1 wherein A is a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin having from about 4 to about 18 carbon atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The polymer blend composition of claim 1 wherein B is a random copolymer of propylene and ethylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The polymer blend composition of claim 1 wherein B has a melt flow index from about 3 to about 45.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The polymer blend composition of claim 1 wherein A is present in an amount from about 60% to about 90% by weight and B is present in an amount from about 10% to about 40% by weight, wherein the weight percentages are based on the combination of (A) and B.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The polymer blend composition of claim 1 further comprising D a stabilizer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The ink cartridge of claim 1 wherein said polymer blend composition comprises A a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin having from about 4 to about 18 carbon atoms and B at least one random copolymer of propylene and ethylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
The ink cartridge of claim 1 wherein said polymer blend composition comprises A from about 65% to about 85% by weight of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a low density polyethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin and B from about 15% to about 35% at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene and a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, wherein the polymer has a melt flow index from about 5 to about 15, wherein (A) is different from B.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
194 words
A printer ink cartridge including an ink reservoir, comprising: a frame structure comprising an external frame structural member fabricated from a first rigid plastic material and an interior frame member fabricated from a second plastic material; first and second impervious membranes formed of a third plastic material, said membranes joined to said interior frame member to form, with said frame structure, said ink reservoir; and wherein said second plastic material is a polymer blend composition compatible with said third plastic material to permit a leak-proof joinder of said membranes to said interior frame member, said polymer blend composition consisting essentially of A about 60% to about 90% by weight of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin; B about 10% to 40% by weight of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene and a random copolymer of propylene and ethylene, said polymer having a melt flow index from about 3 to about 45, wherein A is different from B; and a stabilizer, said second plastic material being sorer and more ductile than said first plastic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
194 words
A printer ink cartridge including an ink reservoir, comprising: a frame structure comprising an external frame structural member fabricated from a first rigid plastic material and an interior frame member fabricated from a second plastic material; first and second impervious membranes formed of a third plastic material, said membranes joined to said interior frame member to form, with said frame structure, said ink reservoir; and wherein said second plastic material is a polymer blend composition compatible with said third plastic material to permit a leak-proof joinder of said membranes to said interior frame member, said polymer blend composition consisting essentially of A about 60% to about 90% by weight of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin; B about 10% to 40% by weight of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene and a random copolymer of propylene and ethylene, said polymer having a melt flow index from about 3 to about 45, wherein A is different from B; and a stabilizer, said second plastic material being sorer and more ductile than said first plastic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
The ink cartridge of claim 10 wherein said polymer blend composition consists essentially of A from about 65% to about 85% by weight of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of said low density polyethylene and said copolymer of ethylene and said alpha-olefin having from about 4 to 18 carbon atoms and B from about 15% to about 35% of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of said polypropylene and said copolymer of propylene and ethylene, wherein said polymer blend has a melt flow index from about 5 to about 15, wherein A is different from B.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ink cartridge of claim 11 wherein A consists essentially of low density polyethylene and B consists essentially of polypropylene.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-16 | 2000-12-16 | 2001-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-16 | 2004-12-16 | 2005-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-16 | 2008-12-16 | 2009-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |