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Thermoplastic films with visually-distinct stretched regions and methods for making the same

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Titel: Thermoplastic films with visually-distinct stretched regions and methods for making the same
Patent Number: 9,381,697
Publikationsdatum: July 05, 2016
Appl. No: 13/454412
Application Filed: April 24, 2012
Abstract: Thermoplastic films include intermittent stretched regions that are visually distinct from un-stretched regions. The stretched regions can be white, opaque, and non porous. The thermoplastic films with visually-distinct stretched regions can be formed into bags for use as trash can liners or food storage. Additionally, methods of stretching thermoplastic films to create non-porous, white, and opaque stretched regions include incrementally stretching a film of a thermoplastic material and a voiding agent.
Inventors: Dorsey, Robert T. (Western Springs, IL, US); Borchardt, Michael G. (Naperville, IL, US)
Assignees: The Glad Products Company (Oakland, CA, US)
Claim: 1. A thermoplastic bag, comprising: first and second sidewalls of a thermoplastic film that comprises linear low-density polyethylene and a voiding agent, the voiding agent being between 5 and 25 percent by weight of the first and second sidewalls, the first and second sidewalls being joined along three edges; a plurality of un-stretched regions formed in one or more of the first sidewall or the second sidewall, the un-stretched regions having a first average thickness; and a plurality of cold-stretched regions intermittently dispersed about the un-stretched regions, the cold-stretched regions having a second average thickness that is smaller than the first average thickness; wherein the cold-stretched regions are non-porous and more opaque than the un-stretched regions.
Claim: 2. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic film comprises between about 65 and about 99 percent by weight of a thermoplastic material, and between 5 and 20 percent by weight of the voiding agent.
Claim: 3. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein a color of the cold-stretched regions differs from a color of the un-stretched regions.
Claim: 4. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 2 , wherein the voiding agent comprises calcium carbonate.
Claim: 5. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein the un-stretched regions are non-porous.
Claim: 6. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cold-stretched regions comprise one or more of: stripes extending along the thermoplastic film in a direction transverse to a direction in which the thermoplastic film was extruded; stripes extending along the thermoplastic film in a direction in which the thermoplastic film was extruded; or discontinuous strainable networks extending in a direction transverse to direction in which the thermoplastic film was extruded.
Claim: 7. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 6 , wherein the cold-stretched regions comprise: stripes extending along the thermoplastic film in a direction in which the thermoplastic film was extruded; and stripes extending along the thermoplastic film in a direction transverse to a direction in which the thermoplastic film was extruded.
Claim: 8. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 6 , wherein the cold-stretched regions comprise discontinuous strainable networks arranged in diamond patterns.
Claim: 9. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: a first section, the first plurality of cold-stretched regions being located entirely in the first section; and a second un-stretched section.
Claim: 10. A thermoplastic bag, comprising: first and second sidewalls of a thermoplastic film that comprises a voiding agent, the voiding agent being between 5 and 20 percent by weight of the first and second sidewalls, the first and second sidewalls being joined along three edges; a plurality of thick regions formed in one or more of the first sidewall or the second sidewall, the thick regions having a first average thickness; and a plurality of cold-stretched regions alternating with the thick regions, the cold-stretched regions having a second average thickness that is smaller than the first average thickness; wherein the cold-stretched regions are non-porous and more opaque than the thick regions.
Claim: 11. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 10 , wherein the thermoplastic film comprises between about 65 and about 99 percent by weight of a thermoplastic material, and between about 10 and about 15 percent by weight of the voiding agent.
Claim: 12. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic material comprises linear low density polyethylene.
Claim: 13. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 11 , wherein the voiding agent comprises calcium carbonate.
Claim: 14. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 11 , wherein the voiding agent comprises between 15 percent by weight of the thermoplastic film.
Claim: 15. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 10 , wherein a color of the cold-stretched regions differs from a color of the thick regions.
Claim: 16. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 10 , wherein an average thickness of the cold-stretched regions is less than an average thickness of the thick regions.
Claim: 17. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 10 , wherein the cold-stretched regions comprise one or more of: stripes extending along the thermoplastic film in a direction transverse to a direction in which the thermoplastic film was extruded; stripes extending along the thermoplastic film in a direction in which the thermoplastic film was extruded; or discontinuous strainable networks extending in a direction transverse to direction in which the thermoplastic film was extruded.
Claim: 18. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 17 , wherein the cold-stretched regions comprise: stripes extending along the thermoplastic film in a direction in which the thermoplastic film was extruded; and stripes extending along the thermoplastic film in a direction transverse to a direction in which the thermoplastic film was extruded.
Claim: 19. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 10 , wherein the cold-stretched regions comprise discontinuous strainable networks arranged in diamond patterns.
Claim: 20. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 19 , further comprising: a first section, the first plurality of stretched regions being located entirely in the first section; and a second thick section.
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Assistant Examiner: Helvey, Peter
Primary Examiner: Newhouse, Nathan J
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Feix, Thomas C.
Dokumentencode: edspgr.09381697
Datenbank: USPTO Patent Grants
Beschreibung
Abstract:Thermoplastic films include intermittent stretched regions that are visually distinct from un-stretched regions. The stretched regions can be white, opaque, and non porous. The thermoplastic films with visually-distinct stretched regions can be formed into bags for use as trash can liners or food storage. Additionally, methods of stretching thermoplastic films to create non-porous, white, and opaque stretched regions include incrementally stretching a film of a thermoplastic material and a voiding agent.