IP Library Granted Patent US 11,878,502
Granted Patent B2
US 11,878,502 · App. 17/987,228 · Granted Jan 23, 2024

Fracture film for peelable membrane containers

Inventor: Allyson Smith (Hartsville, SC)
Assignee: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC.
B32B7/12B32B7/06B32B15/085B32B15/09B32B27/08B32B27/306B32B27/36B32B2250/03B32B2307/748
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,878,502
App. No.
17/987,228
Granted
Jan 23, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention comprises a fracture film for sealing a peelable membrane to a container comprising a first layer of high density polyethelene, a second layer of polybutene-1/ethylene-vinyl acetate, wherein the second layer is bonded to the first layer, and a third layer of ethylene-acrylic acid, wherein the third layer is bonded to the second layer.

Claims (24)

1. A flexible membrane lid comprising:

one or more adjacent layers comprising metal foil, polymer film, metalized polymer film or paper; and

a fracture film adhered to the one or more adjacent layers comprising:

a stiff layer;

a fracture layer comprising a blend of polybutene-1/ethylene-vinyl acetate; and

a sealing layer comprising ethylene-acrylic acid, wherein the fracture layer cohesively bonds the stiff layer and the sealing layer.

2. The flexible membrane lid of claim 1 , wherein the stiff layer of the fracture film comprises high density polyethylene.

3. The flexible membrane lid of claim 1 , wherein the fracture film is sealed to a metal end of a container.

4. The flexible membrane lid of claim 3 , wherein the fracture film is configured to fracture internally upon peeling of the flexible membrane lid away from the metal end of the container.

5. The flexible membrane lid of claim 4 , wherein the fracture film is configured to separate at the fracture layer such that a first portion of the fracture layer is bonded with the stiff layer, and a second portion of the fracture layer is bonded with the sealing layer.

6. The flexible membrane of claim 3 , wherein upon peeling of the flexible membrane away from the container, a footprint of the fracture film remains on the metal end.

7. The flexible membrane of claim 6 wherein the footprint is one of a segment of the sealing layer, the sealing layer, the sealing layer and a portion of the fracture layer, or the sealing layer and the fracture layer.

8. The flexible membrane of claim 1 , wherein the one or more adjacent layers includes a first layer comprising polyethylene terephthalate; a second layer comprising foil adhered to the first layer; and a third layer comprising nylon adhered to the second layer.

9. The flexible membrane of claim 1 , wherein the weight of ethylene-vinyl acetate in the fracture layer is up to twice the weight of polybutene-1 in the fracture layer.

10. A fracture film for sealing a peelable membrane to a container comprising:

a first layer comprising high density polyethylene; and

a third layer comprising ethylene-acrylic acid, wherein the third layer is covalently bonded to the first layer with a second layer comprising a blend of polybutene-1/ethylene-vinyl acetate, wherein the a blend of polybutene-1/ethylene-vinyl acetate is configured to fracture upon peeling the peelable membrane.

11. The fracture film of claim 10 , wherein the fracture film is sealed to an end of a container.

12. The fracture film of claim 11 , wherein a footprint is adhered to a metal end of the container upon peeling of the flexible membrane lid.

13. The fracture film of claim 12 , wherein the footprint is one of: a portion of the third layer, the third layer, the third layer and a portion of the second layer or the third layer and the second layer.

14. The fracture film of claim 10 , wherein one or more adhered layers are adhered to the fracture film.

15. The fracture film of claim 14 , wherein the one or more adhered layers comprise a polyethylene terephthalate layer; a foil layer adhered to the polyethylene terephthalate layer; and a nylon layer adhered to the foil layer.

16. The fracture film of claim 10 , wherein the weight of ethylene-vinyl acetate in the second layer is up to twice the weight of polybutene-1 in the second layer.

17. The fracture film of claim 10 , wherein the fracture film is comprised from at least 70% high density polyethylene, between 10% and 15% polybutene-1/ethylene-vinyl acetate and between 10% and 15% ethylene-acrylic acid by weight.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2025
From: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC.
To: TOPPAN PACKAGING AMERICAS HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071338/0486 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2023
From: SMITH, ALLYSON
To: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 062708/0083 →