Patent US5453144A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5453144A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making biodegradable cigarette filters using water sensitive hot melt adhesives
Assignee: National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corp
•
Filing: 1994-03-04
•
Granted: 1995-09-26
•
Expires: 2014-03-04
Abstract
Abstract In a process for manufacturing degradable cigarette filters wherein adhesive is applied to at least one longitudinal edge of the plug wrap paper, a bond is made while the adhesive is molten and the resultant bond is held in compression for sufficient time to prevent bond movement, the improvement which comprises, using as the adhesive, a water sensitive hot melt adhesive comprising 50 to 90 weight percent of a graft copolymer which copolymer comprises 40 to 85 weight percent of at least one vinyl monomer and 15 to 60 weight percent of at least one polyalkylene oxide polymer, 0 to 50 weight percent of a compatible tackifying resin, 5 to 40 weight percent of a polar wax, 0 to 3 weight percent antioxidant and 0 to 30 weight percent of another compatible water soluble or water sensitive thermoplastic polymer; characterized in that the resulting cigarette filter will open when exposed to moisture.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas F. Kauffman
- 👤 Joseph Wieczorek, Jr.
- 👤 Stephen F. Hatfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:12
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24D; A24D3/00; A24D3/06; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/14; A24C5/24; A24D3/067; A24D3/068; C; C09; C09J; C09J151/00; C09J151/08; C08; C08L; C08L2666/00; C08L2666/02; C08L2666/28; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1028; Y10T156/103; Y10T156/1036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
In a process for manufacturing degradable cigarette filters wherein bloomed tow containing triacetin in the form of a tube is wrapped in plug wrap paper, adhesive is applied to at least one longitudinal edge of the plug wrap paper, a bond is made while the adhesive is molten and the resultant bond is held in compression for sufficient time to prevent bond movement, the improvement which comprises, using as the adhesive, a water sensitive hot melt adhesive comprising 50 to 90 weight percent of a graft copolymer which copolymer comprises 40 to 85 weight percent of at least one vinyl monomer and 15 to 60 weight percent of at least one polyalkylene oxide polymer, 0 to 50 weight percent of a compatible tackifying resin, 5 to 40 weight percent of a polar wax, 0 to 3 weight percent antioxidant and 0 to 30 weight percent of another compatible water soluble or water sensitive thermoplastic polymer; characterized in that the resulting cigarette filter will open when exposed to water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a process for manufacturing degradable cigarette filters wherein bloomed tow containing triacetin in the form of a tube is wrapped in plug wrap paper, adhesive is applied to at least one longitudinal edge of the plug wrap paper, a bond is made while the adhesive is molten and the resultant bond is held in compression for sufficient time to prevent bond movement, the improvement which comprises, using as the adhesive, a water sensitive hot melt adhesive comprising 50 to 90 weight percent of a graft copolymer which copolymer comprises 40 to 85 weight percent of at least one vinyl monomer and 15 to 60 weight percent of at least one polyalkylene oxide polymer, 0 to 50 weight percent of a compatible tackifying resin, 5 to 40 weight percent of a polar wax, 0 to 3 weight percent antioxidant and 0 to 30 weight percent of another compatible water soluble or water sensitive thermoplastic polymer; characterized in that the resulting cigarette filter will open when exposed to water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the graft copolymer in the adhesive contains a polyalkylene oxide polymer having a number average molecular weight of 3000 to 100,000 and a polymerized ethylene oxide content of at least 50% by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the graft copolymer in the adhesive contains vinyl acetate as the vinyl monomer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the graft copolymer in the adhesive comprises 55 to 85 weight percent of the vinyl monomer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the tackifying resin in the adhesive is selected from the group consisting of rosin, rosin derivatives, phenolic modified coumarone indene resins, coumarone indene resins with softening points of about 5° to 117° C. and phenolic modified terpene resins.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the adhesive additionally contains up to 30% by weight of a thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate vinyl alcohol copolymers, polyethylene oxazoline, polyvinylpyrrolidone, vinylpyrrolidone vinyl acetate copolymers, polyvinyl methyl ether, modified starches and dextrins, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose and hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the adhesive contains 5 to 40% by weight of a compatible polar wax selected from the group consisting of glycerol mono- and distearate, synthetic long chain linear polymeric alcohols, stearic acid, high acid number waxlike materials of mono- or dicarboxylic acids, fatty amides, acid wax derived from montan wax, stearyl alcohol, hydrogenated castor oil, ethoxylated alcohols, 12(OH) stearic acid and stearic-cetyl alcohol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the tow is formed from filaments selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, poly(ethylene terephthalate), polypropylene, and polyethylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the tow comprises a biodegradable filter material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-25 | 1999-03-27 | 1999-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-25 | 2003-03-27 | 2003-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-25 | 2007-03-27 | 2007-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |