Cold seal package and method for making the same

• US 6,290,801 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Krampe, Stephen E., Delmore, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAYES, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US09/540,141
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 156/272.6, 156/277, 156/289, 156/291, 156/306.3, 533/96, 534/25, 534/23, 534/76, 206/439, 206/440, 206/363, 428/90.1, 428/195
• US Class Current: 156/289
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5855 Peelable seals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/901 Box structure alternatively useable as a container or a lid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/914 Transfer or decalcomania
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1424 Halogen containing compound
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1462 Polymer derived from material having at least one acrylic or alkacrylic group or the nitrile or amide derivative thereof [e.g., acrylamide, acrylate ester, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1481 Dissimilar adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24793 Comprising discontinuous or differential impregnation or bond
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31544 Addition polymer is perhalogenated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31725 Of polyamide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31801 Of wax or waxy material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31935 Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a cold seal package that includes constructions wherein two substrates, or two portions of one substrate, are sealingly engaged to one another using a substantially natural latex rubber-free contact adhesive. The two substrates can be easily peeled apart without substantial damage to the substrates. Furthermore, the substrates cannot typically be resealed, or refastened, once peeled apart. That is, the cold seal formed by the adhesive between the substrates is substantially non-refastenable. Advantageously, a cold seal package of the present invention is particularly well suited for aseptic delivery of packaged goods, such as bandages, dressings, and the like.

Claims

1. A method for making a cold seal package comprising the steps of:

applying a first substantially natural latex rubber-free contact adhesive to an anchor surface to form an anchor contact adhesive coating;

applying a release coating composition to a transfer surface to form a release-coated transfer surface;

applying a second substantially natural latex rubber-free contact adhesive to the release-coated transfer surface to form a transfer contact adhesive coating; and

contacting the anchor contact adhesive coating with the transfer contact adhesive coating, each of which are at a temperature of about 50°

C. or less, to form a substantially non-refastenable cold seal between the anchor surface and the release-coated transfer surface;

wherein, upon peeling the anchor and transfer surfaces apart, substantially all of the anchor contact adhesive coating and the transfer contact adhesive coating that formed the cold seal remain on the anchor surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first substantially natural latex rubber-free contact adhesive and the second substantially natural latex rubber-free contact adhesive comprise the same contact adhesive.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first substantially natural latex rubber-free contact adhesive and the second substantially natural latex rubber-free contact adhesive comprise different contact adhesives.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising treating the anchor surface prior to applying the first substantially natural latex rubber-free contact adhesive.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein treating the anchor surface comprises corona treating the anchor surface.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of applying a release coating composition comprises applying a release coating composition to a transfer surface to form a substantially continuous release coating on the release-coated transfer surface.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the substantially continuous release coating composition is pattern coated on the transfer surface.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second substantially natural latex rubber-free contact adhesives have an open time of at least about 24 hours at a temperature of about 50°

C. or less.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the anchor surface and the transfer surface are on two separate substrates.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the anchor surface and the transfer surface are on two different portions of a contiguous sheet material.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the anchor surface and the transfer surface are each on a different portion of a first major surface of the sheet material.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the anchor surface is on a portion of a first major surface of the sheet material and the transfer surface is on a second major surface of the sheet material.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the anchor surface and the transfer surface each comprise a first major surface of separate sheet materials.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising a step of printing graphic indicia on at least one of the separate sheet materials.

15. The method of claim 1 further wherein the step of contacting the adhesive coatings to form a substantially non-refastenable cold seal produces an enclosure within the package.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising steps of placing a medical product in the enclosure before sealing the package and sterilizing the medical product after sealing the package.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the release coating composition comprises a release material selected from the group of an ethyl acrylate-acrylonitrile copolymer, an acrylic acid-alkyl acrylate copolymer, a polyvinyl chloride resin, a polyvinyl N-octadecyl carbamate, a polyethylene based wax, a polyamide based wax, a polysiloxane, a fluorocarbon polymer, a polyvinyl ester, a polyethylene imine, an alkyl substituted amine, a chromium complex, a fatty acid based wax, and mixtures thereof.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second substantially natural latex rubber-free contact adhesives each comprise a material selected from the group of a polychloroprene, a polyurethane, a styrene-isoprene copolymer, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, a polyimide, a polyvinyl chloride, a nitrocellulose, a polyisoprene, an acrylonitrile-butadiene-isoprene terpolymer, a butadiene-methacrylonitrile copolymer, a polyethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyacrylate, and mixtures thereof.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein at least one of the first and second substantially natural latex rubber-free contact adhesives is formed from an aqueous polyurethane dispersion.

20. A cold seal package produced by the method of claim 1.