Clear, autoclavable, sealed container having good water vapor barrier properties and flex crack resistance

Claim 2

A clear, autoclavable, flexible, sealed container having good water vapor barrier properties and flex crack resistance, said container being made of first and second plastic sheets sealed together at their peripheries, said first plastic sheet comprising a laminate of (1) at least one layer of a polyolefin derived principally from propylene, and being of semi-crystalline characteristic to exhibit a low permeability to water vapor, bonded to (2) a blended layer consisting essentially of 30 to 90 percent by weight of a block copolymer having thermoplastic, rubbery characteristics, and having rubbery polyolefin blocks consisting essentially of ethylene and butylene units, and blocks of a polystyrene; the rubbery polyolefin blocks comprising from 60 to 85 percent by weight of said block copolymer; and from 10 to 70 percent by weight of a polyolefin derived principally from at least one of propylene, ethylene, and 4-methylpentene-1, said polyolefin having a Vicat Softening Temperature of above 120° C.; said second plastic sheet comprising a bonded laminate comprising a layer of relatively nonoriented polypropylene and a layer of biaxially oriented polypropylene, said nonoriented polypropylene being peripherally bonded to said layer of polyolefin of the first plastic sheet.

Claim 3

The container of claim 1 in which said first plastic sheet defines a formed bulge to increase the inside volume of the container.

Claim 4

The container of claim 2 in which said polyolefin of ingredient (2) of the first plastic sheet is principally polypropylene.

Claim 5

The container of claim 3 in which the first plastic sheet comprises a three-layer laminate with the inner layer being said blended layer and the two outer layers each being said layer of polyolefin.

Claim 6

The container of claim 4 in which the maximum depth of said bulge, relative to the peripheral sealed area thereof, is at least 60 mm.

Claim 7

The container of claim 5 which is sized to enclose a one liter bag of solution.

Claim 8

A clear, autoclavable, flexible, sealed container having good water vapor barrier properties and flex crack resistance, said container being made of first and second plastic sheets sealed together at their peripheries, said first plastic sheet comprising a laminate of (1) at least one layer of a polyolefin derived principally from propylene, and being of semicrystalline characteristic to exhibit a low permeability to water vapor, bonded to (2) a layer selected from the group consisting of flexible nylon and polyester materials to impart crack resistance to said first plastic sheet; said second plastic sheet comprising a bonded laminate comprising a layer of relatively nonoriented polypropylene and a layer of biaxially oriented polypropylene, said nonoriented polypropylene being peripherally bonded to said layer of polyolefin of the first plastic sheet.

Claim 9

A clear, autoclavable, flexible, sealed container having good water vapor barrier properties and flex crack resistance, said container being made of first and second plastic sheets sealed together at their peripheries, said first plastic sheet comprising a laminate of (1) at least one layer of a polyolefin derived principally from propylene, and being of semicrystalline characteristic to exhibit a low permeability to water vapor, bonded to (2) a layer selected from the group consisting of flexible nylon and polyester materials to impart crack resistance to said first plastic sheet; said second plastic sheet comprising a bonded laminate comprising a layer of relatively nonoriented polypropylene and a layer of biaxially oriented polypropylene, said nonoriented polypropylene being peripherally bonded to said layer of polyolefin of the first plastic sheet.

Claim 10

The container of claim 7 in which said first layer defines a formed bulge to increase the inside volume of the container.

Claim 11

The container of claim 8 in which said first plastic sheet comprises a three-layer laminate with the two outer layers comprising said layer of polyolefin, and the inner layer comprising said layer selected from the group consisting of nylon and polyester.

Claim 12

The container of claim 7 in which the maximum depth of said bulge, relative to the peripheral sealed area of said first sheet, is at least 60 mm.

Claim 13

The container of claim 10 which is sized to enclose a one liter bag of solution.

Claim 16

The method of claim 12 in which said polyolefin of ingredient (2) of the first sheet is principally polypropylene.

Claim 17

The method of claim 12 in which said first plastic sheet comprises a three-layer laminate with the inner layer being said blended layer, and the outer layers each being said layer of polyolefin.

Claim 18

The method of claim 12 in which the minimum depth of said bulge, relative to the peripheral sealed area of said first sheet is at least 60 mm.

Claim 19

The method of claim 16 in which said object is a one liter bag of solution.

Claim 22

The method of claim 17 in which said first plastic sheet comprises a three-layer laminate with the inner layer being said layer selected from the group consisting of flexible nylon and polyester materials, and the outer layers each being principally polypropylene.

Claim 23

The method of claim 18 in which the minimum depth of said bulge, relative to the peripheral sealed area of said first sheet, is at least 60 mm.

Claim 24

The method of claim 19 in which said object is a one liter bag of solution.

Claim 25

A clear, autoclavable, flexible, sealed container having good water vapor barrier properties and flex crack resistance, said container being made of first and second plastic sheets sealed together at their peripheries, said first plastic sheet defining a formed bulge to increase the inside volume of said container and comprising a laminate of (1) at least one layer of a polyolefin derived principally from at least one of propylene and ethylene, and being of semi-crystalline characteristic to exhibit low permeability to water vapor, bonded to (2) a blended layer consisting of essentially of 30 to 90 percent by weight of a block copolymer having thermoplastic, rubbery characteristics, and having rubbery polyolefin blocks consisting essentially of ethylene and butylene units and blocks of a polystyrene; the rubbery polyolefin blocks comprising from 60 to 85 percent by weight of said block copolymer; and from 10 to 70 percent by weight of a polyolefin derived principally from at least one of propylene, ethylene, and 4-methylpentene-1, said polyolefin having a Vicat Softening Temperature of above 120° C.; said second plastic sheet comprising a bonded laminate comprising a layer of plastic material selected from the group consisting of relatively nonoriented polypropylene and polyethylene, and a layer of biaxially oriented polyester to serve as structural support during heat sealing and as a water vapor barrier member, said nonoriented polypropylene being peripherally bonded to said layer of polyolefin of the first plastic sheet.

Claim 26

A clear, autoclavable, flexible, sealed container having good water vapor barrier properties and flex crack resistance, said container being made of first and second plastic sheets sealed together at their peripheries, said first plastic sheet defining a formed bulge to increase the inside volume of said container and comprising a laminate of (1) at least one layer of a polyolefin derived principally from at least one of propylene and ethylene, and being of semi-crystalline characteristic to exhibit low permeability to water vapor, bonded to (2) a blended layer consisting of essentially of 30 to 90 percent by weight of a block copolymer having thermoplastic, rubbery characteristics, and having rubbery polyolefin blocks consisting essentially of ethylene and butylene units and blocks of a polystyrene; the rubbery polyolefin blocks comprising from 60 to 85 percent by weight of said block copolymer; and from 10 to 70 percent by weight of a polyolefin derived principally from at least one of propylene, ethylene, and 4-methylpentene-1, said polyolefin having a Vicat Softening Temperature of above 120° C.; said second plastic sheet comprising a bonded laminate comprising a layer of plastic material selected from the group consisting of relatively nonoriented polypropylene and polyethylene, and a layer of biaxially oriented polyester to serve as structural support during heat sealing and as a water vapor barrier member, said nonoriented polypropylene being peripherally bonded to said layer of polyolefin of the first plastic sheet.

Claim 27

The sealed container of claim 21 which said second plastic sheet further includes a layer of metal foil for improved vapor barrier characteristics.

Claim 30

A clear, autoclavable, flexible, sealed container having good water vapor barrier properties and flex crack resistance, said container being made of first and second plastic sheets sealed together at their peripheries, said first plastic sheet comprising a laminate of (1) at least one layer of a polyolefin derived principally from propylene, and being of semi-crystalline characteristic to exhibit a low permeability to water vapor, bonded to (2) a blended layer consisting essentially of 30 to 90 percent by weight of a block copolymer having thermoplastic, rubbery characteristics, and having saturated rubbery polyolefin blocks and blocks of a polystyrene; the rubbery polyolefin blocks comprising from 60 to 85 percent by weight of said block copolymer; and from 10 to 70 percent by weight of a polyolefin derived principally from at least one of propylene, ethylene, and 4-methylpentene-1, said polyolefin having a Vicat Softening Temperature of above 120° C.; said second plastic sheet comprising a bonded laminate comprising a layer of relatively nonoriented polypropylene and a layer of biaxially oriented polypropylene, said nonoriented polypropylene being peripherally bonded to said layer of polyolefin of the first plastic sheet.

Claim 31

A clear, autoclavable, flexible, sealed container having good water vapor barrier properties and flex crack resistance, said container being made of first and second plastic sheets sealed together at their peripheries, said first plastic sheet comprising a laminate of (1) at least one layer of a polyolefin derived principally from propylene, and being of semi-crystalline characteristic to exhibit a low permeability to water vapor, bonded to (2) a blended layer consisting essentially of 30 to 90 percent by weight of a block copolymer having thermoplastic, rubbery characteristics, and having saturated rubbery polyolefin blocks and blocks of a polystyrene; the rubbery polyolefin blocks comprising from 60 to 85 percent by weight of said block copolymer; and from 10 to 70 percent by weight of a polyolefin derived principally from at least one of propylene, ethylene, and 4-methylpentene-1, said polyolefin having a Vicat Softening Temperature of above 120° C.; said second plastic sheet comprising a bonded laminate comprising a layer of relatively nonoriented polypropylene and a layer of biaxially oriented polypropylene, said nonoriented polypropylene being peripherally bonded to said layer of polyolefin of the first plastic sheet.

Claim 32

The container of claim 1 in which said first plastic sheet defines a formed bulge to increase the inside volume of said container.