US5367003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disposable degradable recyclable plastic articles and synthetic resin blends for making the same
Assignee: Planet Polymer Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1993-06-18
•
Granted: 1994-11-22
•
Expires: 2013-06-18
Abstract
Abstract Environmentally friendly, disposable, degradable and/or recyclable plastic articles are made from water soluble, miscible, high molecular weight, thermoplastic, polymeric resin blends that are comprised by weight of about 65% to 95% high molecular weight water soluble thermoplastic resin having an inverse solubility characteristic and about 35% to 5% of at least one of certain high molecular weight thermoplastic polymers that are functionally compatible (miscible) with the inversely soluble resin. The articles are insoluble when used for their intended purposes, but become soluble when exposed to tepid or cool water and degradable when buried in a land fill or compost. The inversely soluble resin comprises high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide). The compatible polymer is selected from the group consisting of Nylon 11, Nylon 12, polycaprolactone, polycaprolactone, polyethylene-co-acrylic acid, polyethylene-co-methacrylic acid, polyethylene-co-vinylacetate and polyethylene-co-vinylalcohol. The articles are hydrodegradable, e.g., flushable, biodegradable, e.g., compostable, and can be recycled if desired, thereby eliminating the trash and garbage problems inherent in the use of nondegradable plastics.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Petcavich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:25
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J11/00; C08J11/04; C08J11/06; C08J11/08; C08L; C08L71/00; C08L71/02; C08L1/00; C08L1/08; C08L1/26; C08L1/28; C08L1/284; C08J2301/00; C08J2301/08; C08J2301/26; C08J2301/28; C08J2371/00; C08J2371/02; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A disposable, degradable, plastic article of manufacture made from a miscible, high molecular weight, water dispersable, thermoplastic polymeric resin blend consisting of in the order of about 80% high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide), in the order of about 20% of a high molecular weight thermoplastic copolymer that is functionally compatible with said poly(ethylene oxide) and consisting of one or the other of polyethylene-co-acrylic acid and polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol, and up to about 5% plasticizer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A disposable, degradable, plastic article of manufacture made from a miscible, high molecular weight, water dispersable, thermoplastic polymeric resin blend consisting of in the order of about 80% high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide), in the order of about 20% of a high molecular weight thermoplastic copolymer that is functionally compatible with said poly(ethylene oxide) and consisting of one or the other of polyethylene-co-acrylic acid and polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol, and up to about 5% plasticizer.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of making disposable, degradable plastic articles of manufacture comprising the steps of forming a miscible, high molecular weight, water dispersable, thermoplastic polymeric resin blend consisting of in the order of about 80% high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide), in the order of about 20% of a high molecular weight thermoplastic copolymer that is functionally compatible with said poly(ethylene oxide) and consisting of one or the other of polyethylene-co-acrylic acid and polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol, and up to about 5% plasticizer, and processing said polymeric resin blend under heat and pressure to form articles therefrom.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of making disposable, degradable plastic articles of manufacture comprising the steps of forming a miscible, high molecular weight, water dispersable, thermoplastic polymeric resin blend consisting of in the order of about 80% high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide), in the order of about 20% of a high molecular weight thermoplastic copolymer that is functionally compatible with said poly(ethylene oxide) and consisting of one or the other of polyethylene-co-acrylic acid and polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol, and up to about 5% plasticizer, and processing said polymeric resin blend under heat and pressure to form articles therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
A disposable, degradable, plastic article of manufacture made from a miscible, high molecular weight, water dispersable, thermoplastic polymeric resin blend consisting of from about 65% to about 95% high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide), from about 35% to about 5% of at least one high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer that is functionally compatible with said poly(ethylene oxide) and selected from the group consisting of polyethylene-co-acrylic acid, polyethylene-co-methacrylic acid, polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate, polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol, Nylon 11 and Nylon 12, and up to about 10% of plasticizer, lubricant and fillers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
A disposable, degradable, plastic article of manufacture made from a miscible, high molecular weight, water dispersable, thermoplastic polymeric resin blend consisting of from about 65% to about 95% high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide), from about 35% to about 5% of at least one high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer that is functionally compatible with said poly(ethylene oxide) and selected from the group consisting of polyethylene-co-acrylic acid, polyethylene-co-methacrylic acid, polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate, polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol, Nylon 11 and Nylon 12, and up to about 10% of plasticizer, lubricant and fillers.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of making disposable, degradable, plastic articles of manufacture comprising the steps of forming a miscible, high molecular weight, water dispersable, thermoplastic polymeric resin blend consisting of from about 65% to about 95% high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide), from about 35% to about 5% of at least one high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer that is functionally compatible with said poly(ethylene oxide) and selected from the group consisting of polyethylene-co-acrylic acid, polyethylene-co-methacrylic acid, polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate, polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol, Nylon 11 and Nylon 12, and up to about 10% of plasticizer, lubricant and fillers, and processing the polymeric resin blend under heat and pressure to form articles therefrom.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of making disposable, degradable, plastic articles of manufacture comprising the steps of forming a miscible, high molecular weight, water dispersable, thermoplastic polymeric resin blend consisting of from about 65% to about 95% high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide), from about 35% to about 5% of at least one high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer that is functionally compatible with said poly(ethylene oxide) and selected from the group consisting of polyethylene-co-acrylic acid, polyethylene-co-methacrylic acid, polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate, polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol, Nylon 11 and Nylon 12, and up to about 10% of plasticizer, lubricant and fillers, and processing the polymeric resin blend under heat and pressure to form articles therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An article as set forth in claim 3, wherein the article is a water dispersable and degradable plastic film containing about 75% to 85% poly(ethylene oxide) and about 25% to 15% polyethylene-co-acrylic acid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
An article as set forth in claim 3, wherein the article is a water dispersable and degradable molded plastic article containing about 75% to 85% poly(ethylene oxide) and about 25% to 15% polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An article as set forth in claim 3, wherein the article is a water dispersable and degradable filament or fiber containing about 75% to 85% poly(ethylene oxide) and about 25% to 15% Nylon 11.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3085081A
Cited
US3278521A
Cited
US3314809A
Cited
US3479190A
Cited
US3632687A
Cited
US3655830A
Cited
US3882869A
Cited
US3734979A
Cited
US3724462A
Cited
US3852913A
Cited
US3867324A
Cited
US3919163A
Cited
US3932319A
Cited
US3935308A
Cited
US4018729A
Cited
US4170821A
Cited
US4170821B1
Cited
GB2024082A
Cited
US4306552A
Cited
US4379138A
Cited
US4624051A
Cited
GB2183523A
Cited
EP0409781A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-21 | 1998-05-23 | 1998-11-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-21 | 2002-05-23 | 2002-11-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-21 | 2006-05-23 | 2006-11-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |