US3872194A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for producing a bulk cushioning material
Assignee: WR Grace and Co
•
Filing: 1970-09-30
•
Granted: 1975-03-18
•
Expires: 1990-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A bulking material is produced by providing a substantially flat sheet of plastic material with a memory of a variation, such as an embossed pattern, in surface or bulk, therein and treating this sheet to bring about the substantial return of the remembered irregularities.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D Lowry
- 👤 John W Harrison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:32
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/06; B29C61/02; B29C61/0608; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/722
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A BULK CUSHIONING MATERIAL COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. A PRODUCING A REGULAR, REPEATING BULKING PATTERN IN A PLASTIC SHEET WITH A MEMORY; B. HEATING SAID PLASTIC SHEET; C. STRETCHING SAID SHEET WHILE IT IS IS HEATED UNTIL IT IS FLATTEN THEREBY REMOVING THE BULKING EFFECT OF SAID PATTERN; D. COOLING SAID SHEET; AND, THEREAFTER, E. HEATING SAID SHEET TO RESTORE THE PATTERN WHICH HAD BEEN FORMED THEREIN.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A BULK CUSHIONING MATERIAL COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. A PRODUCING A REGULAR, REPEATING BULKING PATTERN IN A PLASTIC SHEET WITH A MEMORY; B. HEATING SAID PLASTIC SHEET; C. STRETCHING SAID SHEET WHILE IT IS IS HEATED UNTIL IT IS FLATTEN THEREBY REMOVING THE BULKING EFFECT OF SAID PATTERN; D. COOLING SAID SHEET; AND, THEREAFTER, E. HEATING SAID SHEET TO RESTORE THE PATTERN WHICH HAD BEEN FORMED THEREIN.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the step of producing a plastic sheet with a memory comprises: (a.1.) forming a pattern in a sheet of plastic material with a memory; and, (a.2.) cross-linking said sheet by irradiating same.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said plastic material is polyethylene and the step of forming a pattern comprises: (a.1.A.) heating a polyethylene sheet to its softening temperature; (a.1.B.) forming a pattern in said sheet while it is softened; and, thereafter, (a.1.C.) cooling said sheet below its softening temperature; and the step of heating said sheet comprises: (b.1.A.) heating said irradiated polyethylene sheet to its orientation temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said flattened and cooled sheet is rolled into compact form and stored prior to being returned to its patterned surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said plastic sheet with a memory having a pattern formed therein is produced by extruding a sheet of polyethylene, forming a pattern surface in said polyethylene sheet by pAssing the extruded sheet while still soft from its extrusion condition between cold embossing rolls and thereby embossing a pattern on said sheet, and cooling and irradiating said sheet; and, the heating and stretching of said sheet comprises heating the irradiated sheet to its orientation temperature by submersion in hot water and biaxially stretching said sheet in an ratio between 9:1 to 20:1 to flatten same.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2168651A
Cited
US2896692A
Cited
US2902718A
Cited
US2986777A
Cited
US2849752A
Cited
US3072961A
Cited
US3328505A
Cited
US3324217A
Cited
US3370112A
Cited
US3376238A
Cited
US3611669A
Cited
US3562048A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |