Multi-film thermoplastic structures and bags having visually-distinct contact areas and methods of making the same
AssigneeThe Glad Products Company
InventorsSarah Steenblock, Matthew W. Waldron, Shaun T. Broering, Lehai Minh Pham Vu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more implementations of a multi-film thermoplastic structure include a first film having a first appearance in contact with a second film having a second appearance at one or more visually-distinct contact areas. Wherein the one or more visually-distinct contact areas, cause the first film to take on the second appearance of the second film. The visually-distinct contact areas being of a uniform gauge and configured to separate before either of the first film or the second film fails when subjected to peel forces.
Claims20
A multi-film thermoplastic structure comprising:
- a first thermoplastic film having a first appearance;
- a second thermoplastic film having a second appearance created by a pigment, the first appearance differing from the second appearance;
- one or more separated areas where the first thermoplastic film and the second thermoplastic film are unbonded;
- and
- at least one visually-distinct contact area between the first thermoplastic film to the second thermoplastic film,
- wherein:
- the at least one visually-distinct contact area, when viewed from the first thermoplastic film side of the multi-film thermoplastic structure, has the second appearance,
- the at least one visually-distinct contact area is configured to separate before either of the first thermoplastic film or the second thermoplastic film fails when subjected to peel forces, and
- portions of the first and second thermoplastic films in the at least one visually-distinct contact area are flat and un-deformed.
A multi-layer thermoplastic bag comprising:
- a first thermoplastic bag comprising first and second opposing sidewalls joined together along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a closed bottom edge, the first thermoplastic bag being pigmented with a first color or unpigmented;
- a second thermoplastic bag positioned within the first thermoplastic bag, the second thermoplastic bag comprising third and fourth opposing sidewalls joined together along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a closed bottom edge, the second thermoplastic bag being pigmented with a second color;
- at least one visually-distinct contact area between the first thermoplastic bag to the second thermoplastic bag,
- wherein:
- the at least one visually-distinct contact area, when viewed from the first thermoplastic film side of the multi-film thermoplastic structure, has the second color,
- the at least one visually-distinct contact area is configured to separate before either of the first thermoplastic bag or the second thermoplastic bag fails when subjected to peel forces, and
- portions of the first and second thermoplastic bags in the at least one visually-distinct contact area are flat and un-deformed.
A method for making a multi-film thermoplastic bag comprising:
- passing a first thermoplastic film having a first appearance and a second thermoplastic film having a second appearance differing from the first appearance between a set of contact rollers comprising at least one heated roller, wherein passing the first thermoplastic film and the second thermoplastic film between the set of contact rollers creates one or more visually-distinct contact areas between a flat portion of the first thermoplastic film and a flat portion of the second thermoplastic film;
- wherein the one or more visually-distinct contact areas create one or more areas in the flat portion of the first thermoplastic film having the second appearance, the one or more visually-distinct contact areas being configured to separate before the first thermoplastic film or the second thermoplastic film comprising the visually-distinct contact areas fails when subjected to peel forces;
- forming the first and second thermoplastic films into a bag.
The method as recited in claim 19, wherein passing the first and second thermoplastic films between the set of contact rollers comprises heating at least one roller in the set of contact rollers to a temperature between 125-325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.