The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 31, 2017
Filed:
May. 06, 2013
Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, TN (US);
Marcus David Shelby, Fall Branch, TN (US);
Freddie Wayne Willams, Kingsport, TN (US);
Jeffery Earl Grant Powell, Blountville, TN (US);
Scott Ellery George, Kingsport, TN (US);
Jeff Scott Howell, Gray, TN (US);
Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, TN (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to films that are deposited with foamable inks or coatings. One purpose is to facilitate their separation for recycling purposes. The films are particularly useful as packaging labels. The inks/coatings are designed so that foaming is activated when the film is in the hot-wash stage of a typical recycle process. This provides added buoyancy to the film allowing it to float to the surface and be removed, thereby significantly improving the efficiency of the recycle process. A feature of the invention is that, prior to this hot wash, the inks/coatings remain substantially unfoamed and thereby do not negatively affect the aesthetics of labeled package. The foamable inks/coatings can be used with any type of film.