Desiccant barrier container

• US 6,531,197 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Neteler, Joachim Gregor
• Primary Examiner(s): DYE, RENA
• Application Number:
  US09/945,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20020006483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 428/35.2, 428/34.5, 428/34.6, 428/34.7, 428/457, 428/458, 428/461, 428/476.1, 428/475.8, 428/480, 428/483, 428/35.3, 206/204, 206/484, 206/484.1, 383/109
• US Class Current: 428/34.7
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/085 comprising polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/09 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/04 Impregnation, embedding, or binder material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/02 Cellular or porous
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7246 Water vapor barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/70 Food packaging
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/80 Medical packaging
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/18 characterised by the use of special additives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2565/387 Materials used as gas barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/264 for absorbing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1321 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1334 Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1338 Elemental metal containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31681 Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31746 Polymer of monoethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon

Abstract

A container for containing moisture sensitive items has at least one wall having a desiccating agent wherein the desiccating agent absorbs moisture so as to inhibit such moisture from contacting moisture sensitive items contained within the bag. The wall preferably has a durable outer layer, a moisture barrier intermediate layer, and a desiccant containing inner layer. The desiccant containing inner layer preferably comprises microporous polyolefin impregnated with silica.

Claims

1. A container for containing moisture sensitive items, said container comprising at least one first wall comprising a durable non-desiccant containing outer layer, and an inner layer containing desiccating agent for adsorbing moisture, wherein said inner layer comprises a microporous polyolefin layer impregnated with moisture adsorbent silica such that said impregnated polyolefin layer is exposed to an inside of the containers.

2. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said desiccating agent is integrally formed with said inner layer.

3. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said first wall(s) comprises a moisture barrier intermediate layer disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer.

4. The container as recited in claim 3 wherein:

a) said outer layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of;

i) polyester terrephlalate;

ii) nylon;

iii) heat and abrasion resistant lacquer;

iv) polypropylene, and

b) said intermediate layer comprises a metal foil.

5. The container as recited in claim 3 further comprising:

a) a first adhesive layer disposed intermediate said outer layer and said intermediate layer for bonding said outer layer to said intermediate layer; and

b) a second adhesive layer disposed intermediate said intermediate layer and said inner layer for bonding said intermediate layer to said inner layer.

6. The container as recited in claim 4 wherein said first and second adhesive layers comprise at least one adhesive selected from the group consisting of:

a) solventless adhesive;

b) solvent based adhesive; and

c) extruded polymers.

7. The container as recited in claim 5 wherein said first and second adhesive layers comprise at least one of extruded polyethylene or extruded polyethylene copolymer.

8. The container as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one second wall comprised of metal foil to which said first wall(s) is attached so as to define a bag.

9. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said first wall(s) is configured so as to define a bag.

10. The container as recited in claim 1 comprising two first walls bonded together to define a bag.

11. The container as recited in claim 10 further comprising a heat seal lacquer bonding said two first walls together.