Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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This invention relates to packaging means for sealants
or adhesives which can react with atmospheric moisture.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Sealants or adhesives reactive with atmospheric moisture
present packaging and storage problems~ Essentially, such
sealants must be packaged and stored in hermetically sealed
containers until use and when used, all or substantially all
of the aealant retained in the hermetically sealed container should
be used. Otherwise, unused portions of sealant can react with
atmospheric moisture and be wasted. Packaging and storage
` ~ of sealants reactive with moisture are therefore particularly
c omplicated when ~such sealants are intended for delivery to
customers who use or require only relatively small quantities
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15 ~ of sealant. Such customers would prefer to purchase apportioned
quanhties of such ~sealsnts which sre compatable and consistent r
with their use requirements of sealant to reduce waste of unused
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sealants. ~ ~
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Apportioned quantities of sealants reactive with atmospheric
moisture have been available to the art in the form of tubular
shaped cartridges containing up to a liter of sealant. These
cartridges are designed for use with a sealant gun such as a
caulking gun or the like. When so used, sealant is discharged
S from the cartridge through a nozzle by pressure exerted on
a piston-like memher providing a moveable or slideable end
or end portion of the cartridge closely fitted within the tubular
walls of the cartridge.
This piston-like member requ;res undesirable design
features to provide a close precision fit between peripheral
portions of the piston-like member and the cartridge walls.
Oftentimes specialized seals together with drying agents are
used to protect the sealant from atmospheric moisture during
storage and/or during discharge of the sealant from the cartridge.
Moreover, the cartridges usually have relatively thick walls
and are fabricated of hard polymeric materials and in terms
of their volume and composition are difficult to dispose of from
an environmental standpoint. In any event, the cost of the cartridge
materials coupled with the precision requirements involved
;~ 20 in their manufacture increase the cost of sealants provided inrelatively small apportioned quantities. ~ccordingly, there
is a need in the art for a relatively simple, uncomplicated and
inexpensive packaging means for effectively protecting one
or more containers retaining sealants reactive with atmospheric
moisture in predetermined apportioned quantities.
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SUMM~RY OF THE INVENTION
This invention presents to the art, novel
packaging means particularly adaptable for packaging
sealants reactive with atmospheric moisture. The novel
packaging means presented by way of the present inven-
tion is relatively simple, uncomplicated and inexpensive
to manufacture. At the same time, the novel packaging
means provides effective protection for sealants reac-
tive with atmospheric moisture which are hermetically
sealed inside the bag of the packaging means in one or
more individual containers retaining predetermined appor-
tioned quantities of sealant designed to minimize waste
of unused sealant. Additionally, the novel packaging
means of this invention including the hermetically sealed
contents can be recycled and/or disposed of easily and
with minimal effect or impact on the environment.
According to a broad aspect of ~he present
invention there is provided a packaging means for sealants
or adhesives reactive with atmospheric moistureO The
packaging means comprises a bag of metal foil hermeti-
cally sealed on all sealable edge portions by weld seams
of plastomeric or polymeric adhesive materials coated on
at least the internal edge surfaces of ths foil to be
sealed. The metal foil bag is sealable -by folding over
an opened edge several times. A plurality of sealed
containers are hermetically sealed in the bag and retain
a sealant or adhesive reactive with atmospheric moisture
in a predetermined apportioned quantity. The containers
are sealed by seals that can prevent at least any sub-
stantial amount of atmospheric moisture from contacting
sealant in the sealed containers and where at least one
of the seals is a frangible seal. A dessicant material
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- is hermetically sealed in the bag with the containers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows a side view of packaging means
o~ this invention showing a hermetically sealed metal
foil bag and individual sealant container(s~ and
dessicant material hermetically sealed inside the bag.
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view o~ the
packaging means of Figure 1 along line II-II.
Figure 3 shows a tubular container retaining
sealant reactlve with atmospheric moisture when packaged
in hermetically sealed metal foil bag of Figures 1 and 2n
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~ESCRIPTION OF 'l'III~ Pl~ RR~D E;'M130DIMk'N'I'
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Essentially, the novel packaging rneans of this invelltioll
includes a bag having two sides of thin metal foil having edges
hermetically sealed by an adhesive layer of plastomeric or polymeric
material. Particularly preferred adhesive, plastomeric or polymeric
layer materials are heat activatable adhesive materials which
can provide relatively wide weld seams of fused heat activated
adhesive material hermetically sealing edges of the metal foil
bag. The sides of the bag may be formed of one or two sheets
of metal foil. If the bag is formed of two separate sheets of
metal foil, an adhesive plastomeric or polymeric layer can be
coated on one or both of the inner surfaces of each metal foil
sheet material facir.g each other. Also, the adhesive plastomeric
or polymeric layer can be coated over the entire inner surface
of one or both of the sheets. Alternatively, only the edge portions
of one or both of the inner surfaces to be sealed may carry the
layer of adhesive plastomeric or polymeric material. The preferred
bags of this invention are those formed by folding a sheet of
metal foil and hermetically sealing the remaining three sides
with a layer of adhesive plastomeric or polymçric material in
tlle manners described above.
As mentioned, the novel packaging means of this invention
is designed to package, store and deliver one or more individual
containers retaining predetermined apportioned quanti.ties of
sealants reactive with atmospheric moisture. In accordance "
2S with this invention, these individual containers are sealed but,
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expensive, special;zed or absolute hermetic seals are not required
because the container (s) is hermetically scclled insi(3e thc met11
foil bag. .9lso hermetically sealed inside the metal foil bag with
the individual container (s) is a dessicant material. This dessicant
material is designed to absorb any moisture which may contact
sealant in the individual sealed containers during their packaging
and storing in the metal foil bag or during removal of some
or all of the individual container (s) from the metal foil bag.
For example, if all of the individual containers are not removed
from the metal foil bag at the time the bag is opened, sealant
in remaining container (s) can be protected against atmospheric
moisture by simply folding over the opened edge of the metal
foil bag a number of times. The dessicant material will therefore
protect sealant in the individual container (s) during opening
of the bag and removal of some of the container (s) . Also, the r
dessicant material will protect sealant in a container (s) remaining
in the bag from any atmospheric moisture later entering the
bag through the folded opening of the metal foil bag.
The invention and the advantages obtained by practicing
it will be better appreclated by the following detailed description
taken in connection with ~igures 1, 2 and 3. Eiigures 1 and 2
show a bag 1 consisting of aluminum foil coated with an adhesive
plastomeric or polymeric layer on both surfaces of the foil.
The bag is formed from one sheet which is folded together or
creased on side 2. The remaining edges of bag I are hermetically
sealed by weld seams 3, ~ and 5 formed in the adhesive plastomeric
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or polymeric material layer on the inner surfaces of the aluminum
foil. S~ince the plastomeric or polymeric material layer coated
aluminum foil cannot be penetrated by atmospheric mo;sture
and since weld seams 3, 4 and 5 hermetically seal the edges
of bag 1, the contents of the bag are completely protected from
5 atmospheric moisture.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, one or more individual
container (s) 6 retaining sealant reactive with atmospheric
moisture are hermetically sealed inside bag 1. Also hermetically
sealed inside bag 1 is a dessicant retained in a container 7 fabricated
10 of a pourous material such as paper. The dessicant in container
7 absorbs moisture during the packaging operation and during
the removal of containers 6 from bag 1. Also, the dessicant
in container 7 will absorb any moisture which may enter an
opened bag 1 through a folded opening of rnetal foil bag 1 thereby
15 protecting sealant in any container (s) 6 left in the opened bag
1.
Figure 3 shows a container 6 which retains sealant reactive
with atmospheric moisture. As shown, container 6 is tubular
shaped and may be fabricated of thin, plastomeric or polymeric
20 preferably semi-rigid sheet material or of thin walled plastomeric
or polymeric tubing or of thin metal foil. One end of tubular
container 6 is sealed by a weld seam 9 curving in an arc passing
between longitudinal wall sections of container 6. Curved
wèld seam 9 is preferred because corners which can provide
25 undesirable air-pockets in filling tubular container 6 with sealant
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can be eliminated. The other end o~ tubular container 6 is sealed
preferably by constricting end portior~ 8 SUCll FlS by pressing,
twisting, folding or tying end portion 8. As already mentioned,
sealed ends 8 and 9 of tubular container 6 need not provide
absolute hermetic seals but the seals should be at least effective
5 to prevent any substantial amount of atmospheric moisture from
contacting sealant in container 6. Also, one of the seals - preferably
seal 8 - should provide a frangible seal, easily opened, broken
or ruptured such as by untying, untwisting or unfolding or
by the application of moderate compressive pressure so that
the sealant can be easily discharged from container 6 for application
to a surface or surfaces to be sealed.
From the foregoing description, the invention defined
in the appended claims presents to the art novel packaging means
which is relahvely simple, convenient and inexpensive but
15 can effectively protect sealants reactive with atmospheric moisture.
The novel sealing means of this invention are particularly applicable
to the problems of those who require relatively small quantities
of sealant but at the same time require minimal waste of unused
sealant. Moreover, the materials used in the fabrication and
20 manufacture of the novel sealing means of this invention can
be recycled in some cases or in any event, disposed of with
minimum inconvenience to or effect on the environment.
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