| Co2 generating absorbent pads -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Co2 generating absorbent padsUSPTO Application #: 20070066170Title: Co2 generating absorbent pads Abstract: A method and means for enhancing the inner environment of a package containing perishable merchandise include taking a closable package containing perishable merchandise and placing in the package a multi-layered sheet including a plurality of layers comprised of moisture absorbing materials to absorb any residual moisture emanating from the perishable merchandise. The multi-layered sheet includes a quantity of C02 generating material incorporated therein. The C02 generating material is exposable to humidity and any residual moisture within the package and any moisture absorbing material to allow the C02 generating material to emit an atmosphere of C02 within the package from exposure to moisture within the air in the package, and to absorb any residual moisture in the package. (end of abstract) Agent: Zarley Law Firm P.L.C - Des Moines, IA, US Inventors: Michael J. Finnegan, Wesley L. Boldt USPTO Applicaton #: 20070066170 - Class: 442153000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Fabric (woven, Knitted, Or Nonwoven Textile Or Cloth, Etc.), Coated Or Impregnated Woven, Knit, Or Nonwoven Fabric Which Is Not (a) Associated With Another Preformed Layer Or Fiber Layer Or, (b) With Respect To Woven And Knit, Characterized, Respectively, By A Particular Or Differential Weave Or Knit, Wherein The Coating Or Impregnation Is Neither A Foamed Material Nor A Free Metal Or Alloy Layer, Coated Or Impregnated Natural Fiber Fabric (e.g., Cotton, Wool, Silk, Linen, Etc.), Coated Or Impregnated Cellulosic Fiber Fabric The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070066170. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/477,108, filed on Jun. 9, 2003. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Preservation of perishable package goods by the presence of C0.sub.2 within the package is a recognized beneficial phenomenon. Issues with cost, consumer acceptance, and fluid absorbency as well as the design criteria to keep the raw materials from direct contact with the perishable products had diminished their commercial acceptance. Placing some sort of a C0.sub.2 generating means within the package has also been recognized, but is a less than perfected art. As indicated, fluid within the package from the perishable product can be a complicating factor. [0003] It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a C0.sub.2 generating means for inclusion in a package of perishable goods that is inexpensively produced, effective as a C0.sub.2 generator, and which will also deal with the matter of residual liquid in the package from the perishable goods. [0004] These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] A method and means for enhancing the inner environment of a package containing perishable merchandise include taking a closable package containing perishable merchandise and placing in the package a multi-layered sheet including a plurality of layers comprised of moisture absorbing materials to absorb any residual moisture emanating from the perishable merchandise. The multi-layered sheet includes a quantity of C0.sub.2 generating material incorporated therein. The C0.sub.2 generating material is exposable to humidity and any residual moisture within the package and any moisture absorbing material to allow the C0.sub.2 generating material to emit an atmosphere of C0.sub.2 within the package from exposure to moisture within the air in the package, and to absorb any residual moisture in the package. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package containing perishable merchandise and an absorbent pad according to the present invention; and [0007] FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of the absorbent pad according to the present invention taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0008] This invention describes a method of enhancing the inner environment of a package containing perishable merchandise comprising: [0009] 1. A closable package containing perishable merchandise; [0010] 2. a multi-layered sheet including a plurality of layers comprised of moisture absorbing materials (examples of which would be airlaid pads or non-woven pads) designed to absorb excess moisture emanating from the perishable merchandise; and [0011] 3. a quantity of CO.sub.2 generating material placed within the multilayer sheet such that it is exposed to the ambient humidity contained or absorbed into the sheet but not in direct contact with the perishable merchandise which allows the CO.sub.2 generating material to modify the atmosphere within the package. [0012] This invention offers a cost effective, absorbent product to the market and to consumers that have already accepted the concept of an absorbent pad in some perishable applications. [0013] As used herein the term "perishable merchandise" includes but is not limited to such merchandise as agricultural/horticultural products, meat, fish, vegetable, fruit, flower, ornamental plant, or the like. Non-woven Absorbent Pads: [0014] The composition of matter, method of manufacture, and performance characteristics of airlaid and non-woven absorbent pads comprised of either cellulosic or polymeric fibers for use as moisture absorbing materials are all well documented in the literature. As used herein the term "non-woven" or "web," as examples of moisture absorbing materials, means a web having a structure of individual fibers or threads which are interlaid, but not in an identifiable manner as in a knitted fabric. Non-woven fabrics or webs have been formed from many processes, for example: meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, and bonded carded web processes. Other forms of moisture absorbing materials include recycled paper soaker pads(crepe paper, for example), or the like. [0015] The basis weight of non-woven fabrics is usually expressed in ounces of material per square yard (osy) or grams per square meter (gsm) and the fiber diameters useful are usually expressed in microns. (Note that to convert from osy to gsm, multiply osy by 33.91). "Airlaying" is a well-known process by which a fibrous non-woven layer can be formed. In the airlaying process, bundles of small fibers having typical lengths ranging from about 3 to about 19 millimeters (mm) are separated and entrained in an air supply and then deposited onto a forming screen, usually with the assistance of a vacuum supply. The randomly deposited fibers are then bonded to one another using, for example, hot air or a spray adhesive. Airlaying is taught in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,810 to Laursen et al. [0016] For example, the strata of the absorbent pad of the present invention may be formed as an airlaid web, as described in greater detail below. As is well known in the art, cellulose fibers are typically utilized in the form of fibrous webs, which are manufactured by conventional wet-laid techniques. The fibrous webs are then used in air-laid systems to form absorbent structures used as a component of absorbent products. The absorbent structures may vary considerably in weight, density, and composition, depending upon the properties required for a particular type of absorbent product. For example, additive materials may be added to the structure, and various synthetic or modified cellulose fibers may be combined with the cellulose fibers in order to achieve a desired characteristic. [0017] An airlaid web is typically prepared by disintegrating or fiberizing a cellulose pulp sheet or sheets, typically by hammermill, to provide individualized fibers. The individualized fibers are then air conveyed to forming heads on an airlaid web forming machine. Examples of several airlaid web forming machines are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,171. The forming heads may include rotating or agitated drums which serve to maintain fiber separation until the fibers are pulled by a vacuum onto a foraminous condensing drum or foraminous forming conveyor (or forming wire). Other fibers, such as a synthetic thermoplastic fiber, may also be introduced to the forming head through a fiber dosing system which includes a fiber opener, a dosing unit and an air conveyor. Where two defined strata are desired, such as a fluff pulp distribution stratum and a synthetic fiber acquisition stratum, two separate forming heads may be used for each type of fiber. [0018] After the fibers are airlaid the resulting structure is densified and the fibers are bonded together. Typically a calender is used to densify the resulting structure. Compaction may also occur before all of the strata have been airlaid. In an air-laid process, after the fibers are condensed into a web, the fibrous web often lacks any significant structural integrity. Often, sheets of tissue are used on the top and bottom of the web to provide additional support to the web. Other means of stabilizing an air-laid web include thermal bonding by including specially treated synthetic fibers which melt upon heating and solidify upon cooling to bond with the cellulose fibers and promote retention of a desired shape. The use of latex binders within and on the surface of fibrous webs also have been proposed as a means to provide structural integrity to fibrous webs. Fibers: [0019] Suitable fibers for use in the present invention include cellulosic or synthetic fibers, and non-woven absorbent pads formed therefrom. Other natural fibers for use in the present invention include chopped silk fibers, wood pulp fibers, bagasse, hemp, jute, rice, wheat, bamboo, corn, sisal, cotton, flax, kenaf, peat moss, and mixtures thereof. [0020] Cellulosic fibers may be wood pulp fibers or softwood pulp fibers, and also may be chemical or thermomechanical or chemithermomechanical or combinations thereof. Wood pulp fibers can be obtained from well known chemical processes such as the kraft and sulfite processes. Wood pulp fibers can also be obtained from mechanical processes, such as ground wood, mechanical, thermomechanical, chemimechanical, and chemithermomechanical pulp processes. Ground wood fibers, recycled or secondary wood-pulp fibers, and bleached and unbleached wood-pulp fibers can be used. Details of the production of wood pulp fibers are well known to those skilled in the art. These fibers are commercially available from a number of companies. Continue reading... Full patent description for Co2 generating absorbent pads Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Co2 generating absorbent pads patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Co2 generating absorbent pads or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Material for making outer wrapping material by laminating a web material with a base material Next Patent Application: Impact resistant, thin ply composite structures and method of manufacturing same Industry Class: Fabric (woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.) ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Co2 generating absorbent pads patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.66038 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , |
||
