The presently disclosed subject matter relates to an inflatable web, useful once inflated, for example, as protective packaging cushioning.
One or more embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter are summarized herein.
An inflatable web has a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and includes a top film heat sealed to a bottom film to define sealed regions and non-sealed regions. The sealed regions have the top film heat sealed to the bottom film. The non-sealed regions having the top film not heat sealed to the bottom film. The non-sealed regions further include inflatable regions that are inflatable through one or more inflation ports. The top film either (i) is colorless by not including colorant or (ii) includes a top film mixture of thermoplastic polymer and one or more top film colorants dispersed therein to provide a top film color. The bottom film includes a bottom film mixture of thermoplastic polymer and one or more bottom film colorants dispersed therein to provide a bottom film color. The bottom film color differs from the top film color or top film lack of color to create a visual contrast between the sealed regions and the adjacent non-sealed regions when the web is viewed from the top film side. The ratio of the surface area of the inflatable regions to the total surface area of the inflatable web is at least 50% and at most 95%.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the presently disclosed subject matter will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description and the drawings.
Various aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein are described with reference to the drawings. For purposes of simplicity, like numerals may be used to refer to like, similar, or corresponding elements of the various drawings. The drawings and detailed description are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter to the particular form disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter.
Inflatable webs (e.g., 10, 12, 18, 22, 210, 268, 280) of the presently disclosed subject matter include a top film 30 sealed to a bottom film 32 in selected regions 40 to define a plurality of inflation rows (e.g., 34, 36, 38). (
Suitable top and bottom films (e.g., 30, 32, 266, 264, the white film, green film, red film) include films having at least one surface conducive to sealing to another film in selected regions. For example, either of the top and bottom films (e.g., 30, 32) may be a monolayer film comprising a heat sealable (e.g., thermoplastic) polymer, or may be a multilayer film comprising an inside layer comprising a heat sealable polymer. A film inherently has two external surfaces, described herein as an “inside” surface and an “outside” surface opposite the inside surface. The “inside” layer of a multilayer film is the layer forming the inside surface of the film, and the “outside” layer of a multilayer film is the layer forming the outside surface of the film. As used herein, the top and bottom films sealed to each other have their “inside” surfaces (i.e., their inside layers if multilayered) facing each other, with their “outside” surfaces opposing the inside surfaces.
The top and bottom films 30, 32 may be initially distinct, separate films that are superimposed and sealed, or the top and bottom films 30, 32 may be created from a single expanse of film by folding the single expanse of film over onto itself to create a folded edge (e.g., a “C” fold).
The films of any of the embodiments herein may comprise any flexible material that can be manipulated to enclose a gas in the inflatable cells created between the films. Useful materials may include one or more thermoplastic polymers, such as polymers selected from one or more of polyethylene homopolymer, polyethylene copolymer, polypropylene homopolymer, polypropylene copolymer (e.g., propylene/ethylene copolymer), polyester, polystyrene, polyamide, and polycarbonate. Polyethyene homopolymer may be selected from, for example, one or more of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE). Polyethylene copolymer may be selected from, for example, one or more of ionomers, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene/methyl(meth)acrylate copolymer, heterogeneous (Zeigler-Natta catalyzed) ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers, and homogeneous (metallocene, single-cite catalyzed) ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers. Ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers are copolymers of ethylene with one or more comonomers selected from C3 to C20 alpha-olefins, such as 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, methyl pentene and the like, in which the polymer molecules comprise long chains with relatively few side chain branches, and include, for example, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), and ultra-low density polyethylene (ULDPE).
The top and bottom films (e.g., 30, 32) may independently be monolayer or multilayer. The top and bottom films may be made by film forming processes known in the art, such as extrusion or coextrusion by melting the component polymer(s) and extruding or coextruding them through one or more flat or annular dies.
Inflatable web 10 has top film 30 sealed to bottom film 32 in selected sealed regions 40 to define a plurality of inflation rows 34 between the films. The inflatable web has a longitudinal (i.e., machine) direction “W” and a transverse direction “T” extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. (
Each inflation row 34 has a proximal end 42 and a distal end 44 opposite the proximal end. Each inflation row comprises a plurality of inflatable cells 46. The inflatable cells 46 of an inflation row 34 are in fluid communication with each other via interconnecting inflation channels 48 between adjacent inflatable cells 46. Each plurality of inflatable cells 46 of an inflation row 34 includes a proximal inflatable cell 50 at the proximal end 42 of the inflation row, a distal inflatable cell 52 at the distal end 44 of the inflation row 34, and a plurality of intermediate inflatable cells 54 between the proximal inflatable cell 50 and the distal inflatable cell 52. (
The sealed regions 40 of the top and bottom films 30, 32 define each inflatable cell 46 by a peripheral seal boundary 56 defining the corresponding peripheral shape 58 of the inflatable cell. For example, in
The plurality of inflatable cells of a respective inflation row may have the same peripheral shape. For example, the plurality of intermediate inflatable cells of a respective inflation row may have the same peripheral shape. (
Alternatively, at least any of 2, 3, 5, and/or 8 inflatable cells of the plurality of inflatable cells of a respective inflation row may have differing peripheral shapes. For example, at least any of 2, 3, 5, and/or 8 inflatable cells of the plurality of intermediate inflatable cells of a respective inflation row may have differing peripheral shapes (
Also by way of example, at least any of 2, 3, 5, and/or 8 of the plurality of inflation cells of the respective inflation row, for example of the plurality of intermediate inflatable cells of the respective inflation row, of at least any of 2, 3, 5, and/or 8 inflation rows of the plurality of inflation rows may have differing peripheral shapes within the respective inflation row. (
The peripheral shape of the plurality of inflatable cells of an inflation row, for example the plurality of intermediate inflatable cells of an inflation row, of at least one of the plurality of inflation rows may differ from the peripheral shape of the plurality of inflatable cells of another inflation row, for example the plurality of intermediate inflatable cells of another inflation row, of the plurality of inflation rows. For example, the peripheral shape of the plurality of inflatable cells, for example the plurality of intermediate inflatable cells, of a first inflation row of the plurality of inflation rows may differ from the peripheral shape of the plurality of inflatable cells, for example the plurality of intermediate inflatable cells, of a second inflation row of the plurality of inflation rows that is adjacent the first inflation row.
In some embodiments, the plurality of intermediate inflatable cells of two adjacent inflation rows have corresponding peripheral seal boundaries that are spaced apart. “Spaced apart” in this sense means that, for the intermediate inflatable cells of a given first inflation row and the intermediate inflatable cells of a given second inflation row adjacent the given first inflation row, there is a spaced region (e.g., spaced region 41 of
The spacing apart of the corresponding seal boundaries of the plurality of intermediate inflatable cells of two adjacent inflation rows may help to distinguish the peripheral shapes to provide greater visual impact for the peripheral shape of the inflatable cells 46.
In some embodiments the plurality of intermediate inflatable cells of two adjacent inflation rows have corresponding peripheral seal boundaries that correlate with each other. “Correlate” in this sense means that, for the intermediate inflatable cells of a given first inflation row and the intermediate inflatable cells of a given second inflation row adjacent the given first inflation row, the paths of the peripheral seal boundaries of the directly adjacent portions of the inflatable cell of the first inflation row and the inflatable cell of the second inflation row follow each other to coincide.
Correlating corresponding peripheral seal boundaries of the intermediate inflatable cells of adjacent inflation rows may be spaced apart, as described herein, or alternatively may be shared, wherein there is no spaced region between the corresponding peripheral seal boundaries.
The selected sealed region 40 may be discontinuous, as shown by inflatable web 12 (
The peripheral seal boundary 56 of each of the inflatable cells 46 accommodates the interconnecting inflation channels 48; for example, the proximate inflatable cell 50 and the distal inflatable cell 52 are each in fluid communication with a corresponding adjacent intermediate inflatable cell of the plurality of intermediate inflatable cells 54 via a corresponding interconnecting inflation channel 48; and each of the intermediate inflatable cells 54 accommodates two of the interconnecting inflation channels 48, for example to connect two adjacent inflatable cells in fluid communication for inflation, but without significantly interrupting the peripheral seal boundary 56 so that the desired peripheral shape remains largely intact, for example without significantly diminished visual impression or recognition of the peripheral shape.
The selected seal regions 40 sealing the top and bottom films 30, 32 also define the inflation ports 60 at the proximal end 42 of each of the inflation rows. The inflation port 60 provides a pathway for an inflation gas (e.g., air) to be injected between the top and bottom films 30, 32 into an inflation row (34, 36, 38) to inflate the inflatable cells (46, 104, 112, respectively) of the inflation row. (
The inflatable web may comprise top and bottom flanges 62, 64, which are formed by a portion of top film 30 and bottom film 32, respectively, extending beyond the inflation ports 60 and the proximal edge of sealed region 40. For example, flanges 62, 64 of
Referring to
The inflatable cell 104 may comprise one or more internal sealed regions 128 within (i.e., circumscribed by) the peripheral seal boundary 56 of the sealed region 40. (
Also by way of example, at least any of 2, 3, 5, and/or 8 inflation rows of the plurality of inflation rows 36 of the web, may comprise one or more of the plurality of inflatable cells 104 of the respective inflation row 36, for example one or more of the plurality of intermediate inflatable cells 110 of the respective inflation row 36, having one or more internal sealed regions 128 within (i.e., circumscribed by) the respective peripheral seal boundary 56 of the inflatable cell.
Of the inflatable cells having one or more internal sealed regions 128 within the peripheral seal boundary 56, the inflatable cell may further comprises any of two or more and three or more internal sealed regions 128 within (i.e., circumscribed by) the peripheral seal boundary 56. (
The internal sealed regions 128 within the peripheral seal boundary 56 of an inflatable cell may be created as the same time and as part of the formation of the selected sealed regions 40, as described herein.
The configurations of inflatable cells that have internal sealed regions 128 within the peripheral seal boundary 56 of the inflatable cell have particular usefulness in imparting structure that even upon inflation of the inflatable cell provides recognizable features such as those of a facial expression or other pictograph (e.g., smiley face or other emoji) and certain letters (e.g., “A”, “B”, “D”, “O”, “P”, “Q”, “R”).
Inflatable web 10 may include one or more lines of weakness 98 that allow sections of predetermined length to be separated from the inflated web. Transverse lines of weakness 98 may comprise, for example, a series of perforations, and extend from the distal edge to the proximal edge, to and through flanges 62, 64 of web 10.
The top and bottom films disclosed herein (e.g., 30, 32) (i.e., the inside surface of these films) may be sealed together in the selected regions 40 by heat seals or by adhesive seals. For example, top and bottom films 30, 32 may comprise a thermoplastic heat sealable polymer on their inside surface such that, after superposition of films 30, 32, the inflatable web 10 can be formed by passing the superposed top and bottom films between the nip of two cylinders (i.e., rollers), for example, at least one of the rollers (“sealing roller”) having a surface of heated raised land areas that correspond in shape to the desired pattern for the selected region 40, 212. The sealing roller applies heat to seal the top and bottom films together to form seals in the selected regions 40, 212, and thereby also creates the inflation rows 34 comprising the inflation ports 60, the inflatable cells 46, and the interconnecting inflation channels 48 in unsealed areas between the top and bottom films. The non-sealing surface areas of the sealing cylinder may be unheated, depressed surface portions—and may be insulated to reduce heat transfer to the films.
Suitable ways of sealing the top and bottom films together in the selected regions 40, 212 are further disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,800,162 and 7,507,311 and U.S. Pat. App. Publ. 2006/0108052 A1, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
As discussed herein, the top and bottom films 30, 32 may be initially distinct, separate films that are superimposed and sealed, or the top and bottom films 30, 32 may be created from a single expanse of film by folding the single expanse of film over onto itself to create a folded edge (e.g., a “C” fold) and having the sealing surface of the film creating the inside surfaces of the structure. In such case, the longitudinal distal edge opposite from flanges 62, 64 is closed. (
Conveying mechanism 66 may include a shaft 72 mounted to housing 73, a pair of adjacent, counter-rotatable cylinders 74 and 76, and a guide roll 81. Web 10 may be in the form of supply roll 78, which may be wound on spool 80 and mounted on shaft 72. Web 10 is advanced (i.e., unwound) from supply roll 78, with guide roll 81 directing the web between cylinders 74, 76 in a substantially vertical direction as shown. Cylinders 74, 76 are capable of engaging and moving web 10 along its travel path through apparatus 16 when a portion of the film web passes between the cylinders and the cylinders rotate in the directions indicated in
Sealing device 70 is preferably positioned immediately downstream from inflation nozzle 78, so that each inflation row 34 may be sealed closed immediately after being inflated and/or contemporaneous with inflation. The sealing device 70 preferably seals closed the corresponding inflation port 60 of inflation row 34 by forming a continuous longitudinal seal 82.
A representative sealing device is illustrated in
The inflation port 60 of each inflation row 34 is sealed closed when conveying mechanism 66 brings web 10 into moving contact with heating element 84 between cylinders 74, 76 and sufficient current is caused to flow through the heating element 84 to heat it to a sealing temperature sufficient to form longitudinal heat seal 82 between juxtaposed top and bottom films 30, 32 of web 10. The sealing of each inflation port 16 occurs shortly after inflation of the corresponding inflation row 34. In this manner, gas from inflation nozzle 78 is trapped (i.e., enclosed) within each inflatable cell 46, resulting in the formation of an inflated web 14 comprising inflated cells 92. The inflated web 14 may be collected in basket or container 96. (
The sealing temperature to form longitudinal seal 82 between top and bottom films 30, 32 of web 10 comprising thermoplastic polymer is that which causes the films 30, 32 to weld or fuse together by becoming temporarily fully or partially molten in the area of contact with the heating element 84. Such temperature (i.e., the sealing temperature) may readily be determined by those of ordinary skill in the art without undue experimentation for a given application based on, for example, the composition and thickness of the films to be sealed, the speed at which the films move against the heating element, and the pressure at which the films and heating element are urged together between cylinders 74, 76. As an example, when films 30, 32 comprise polyethylene-based films ranging in thickness from 0.001 to 0.003 inch (for a combined, juxtaposed thickness ranging from 0.002 to 0.006 inch), the sealing temperature to which heating element 84 is heated may range from 300 to 500° F.
Heating element 84 may be any device capable of heating to a predetermined temperature sufficient to heat-seal films 30, 32 together. Suitable types of devices for heating element 84 include one or more wires comprising metal and/or other electrically conductive materials; one or more ribbons comprising metal; circuit-printed plastic ribbons (e.g., metal printed on a plastic substrate comprising polyethylene terephthalate); and other suitable electrically conductive devices. Further, the sealing wire may be fully or partially wrapped about the outer circumference of a cylinder, as described in one or more of the references incorporated herein.
Useful sealing machines and related devices that may be used herein are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,220,476; 7,429,304; 7,165,375; 8,991,141; 6,550,229; 6,651,406; 8,695,311; U.S. Pat. App. Publ. 2015/0075114 A1; and U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 62/288,759, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
As an alternative to employing a heat sealing device, if one or both of films 30, 32 include bonding material (e.g., an adhesive or cohesive material) located within inflation ports 60. Such a bonding material may forms a seal closing the port when films 30, 32 are pressed together between cylinders 74, 76. Additional disclosure for sealing two films together in this manner is described in U.S. Ser. No. 09/591,830 published as counterpart EP 1 163 990 A1, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
In operation to sequentially inflate the inflation rows 34 (and inflatable cells 46 therein, inflation nozzle 68 of machine 16 is within the travel path of web 10 and is positioned for placement between the top and bottom longitudinal flanges 62, 64 of web 10. (
Inflation nozzle 68 comprises a gas outlet port 100 at distal end 102 for injection of gas (e.g., air) into the inflation rows 34. Inflation nozzle 68 is adapted to position gas outlet port 100 closely adjacent to inflation ports 60 and the proximal edge of sealed region 40. While conveying mechanism 66 conveys web 10 along its travel path, inflation nozzle 68 moves continuously and longitudinally between the top and bottom flanges 62, 64 and sequentially inflates the inflation rows 34 and the inflatable cells 46 therein by introducing gas into their corresponding inflation ports 60.
The positioning of gas outlet port 100 closely adjacent to inflation ports 60 may be achieved by adapting at least a portion of inflation nozzle 68, preferably distal end 102, to move in response to movement of web 10 past the nozzle. Additionally, distal end 102 of the inflation nozzle is preferably biased towards (i.e., urged against) inflation ports 60 and the proximal edge of sealed regions 40, and as a result, is caused to move as web 10 moves past inflation nozzle 68. Such movement of the distal end 102 of the inflation nozzle 68 is essentially oscillatory. At the upper end of the oscillation, the inflation nozzle begins to inflate a chamber. At the lower end of the oscillation, the distal end of the nozzle, which has been pulled downwards towards the nip between cylinders 74 and 76 (where the formation of longitudinal seal 82 begins), the distal end disengages with the now-inflated inflation row and rebounds upwards towards the next, adjacent row to be inflated.
Gas may be introduced by inflation nozzle 68 into the inflation rows 34 at greater than atmospheric pressure ranging, for example, from 1 to 25 psi above atmospheric pressure, such as from 2 to 10 psi.
The inflated cushioning webs 14, 20, 24 of
Inflatable web 210 (
Similarly, inflatable web 280 (
The non-sealed regions 214 include inflatable regions 216 of the non-sealed regions 214, the inflatable regions 216 being inflatable through one or more inflation ports 60, for example, as described herein. (
The sealed regions 212 include graphic image portions 220, which define one or more graphical images 222 formed by the visual contrast between the graphic image portions 220 of the sealed regions 212 and the adjacent non-inflatable regions 216 of the non-sealed regions 214. As used herein, “graphical image” includes one or more of a symbol, text, alphanumeric characters, a logo, an icon, an emoticon, an ideogram, a pictogram, a pictograph, a geometric design, a picture, and the like. (
Sealed regions 212 and inflatable regions 216 (of the non-sealed regions 214) define a plurality of inflation rows 224. (
The one or more inflation ports 60 are at the proximal end 226 of each inflation row 224 to inflate the inflatable regions 216 of the inflation rows 224. (
The sealed regions 212 define each inflatable cell 230 by a peripheral seal boundary 56 defining the corresponding peripheral shape of the inflatable cell 230. The peripheral seal boundary 56 of each of the inflatable cells 230 accommodates the interconnecting inflation channels 48, as described herein. (
In the embodiments of
In the inflatable web 284 embodiment of
The top film of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be either (i) colorless by not comprising colorant or (ii) may comprise a top film mixture of thermoplastic polymer and one or more top film colorants dispersed therein to provide a top film color. The bottom film of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be either (ii) colorless by not comprising colorant or (ii) may comprise a bottom film mixture of thermoplastic polymer and one or more bottom film colorants dispersed therein to provide a bottom film color.
For any embodiment disclosed herein, the bottom film may comprise a bottom film mixture of thermoplastic polymer and one or more bottom film colorants dispersed therein to provide a bottom film color, while the top film may be either (i) colorless by not comprising colorant or (ii) may comprise a top film mixture of thermoplastic polymer and one or more top film colorants dispersed therein to provide a top film color. In such case, the bottom film color may differ from the top film color or top film lack of color to create a visual contrast between the sealed regions 212 and the adjacent non-sealed regions 214 when the web is viewed from the top film side.
Colorants (i.e., pigments or dyes) may be mixed with (i.e., dispersed in) thermoplastic polymer to impart a desired color (e.g., black, gray, white, green, red, blue, purple, orange, yellow, etc.) to the resulting mixture and the film made therefrom.
For any of the inflatable web embodiments disclosed herein, the CIELAB total color difference (ΔE*) between the top film and the bottom film may be at least any one of 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100. Also, or alternatively, the CIELAB total color difference (ΔE*) between the top film and the bottom film may be at most any one of 120, 100, 90, 80, 70, and 50. The CIELAB total color difference (ΔE*) between the top and bottom films may be calculated by using the CIE 1976 L* a* b* opponent-color scales and tristimulus values according to ASTM D2244.
ΔEab*=√{square root over ((ΔL*)2+(Δa*)2+(Δb*)2)}
Instrument measurements based on tristimulus values may be obtained with a colorimeter or spectrophotometer (e.g., HunterLab ColorFlex EZ spectrophotometer) used according to ASTM D6290.
The total luminous transmittance (i.e., total transmittance) for either of the top and bottom films may independently be at least, and/or at most, any one of the following values: 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, and 90%, measured in accordance with ASTM D1003. For any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the difference between the total transmittance of the top film and the total transmittance of the bottom film (in absolute value) may be at least at least any one of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 percentage points, and/or at most any one of 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10 percentage points. One method of characterizing opacity is to use the formula 100−total transmittance=opacity.
Contrast Ratio Opacity measurement also characterizes how opaque a film sample is using two readings. The measurement is a two part program metric where the CIE Y (luminance or brightness) value is first measured with the film sample backed by a black background, followed by a second measurement of the Y value of the sample backed by a white background. The resulting fraction is expressed as Y %, calculated as follows:
The contrast ratio opacity for either of the top and bottom films may independently be at least, and/or at most, any one of the following values: 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, and 90%, calculated per above with base values measured in accordance with ASTM D1746. The difference between the contrast ratio opacity of the top film and the contrast ratio opacity of the bottom film (in absolute value) may be at least any one of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 percentage points. The difference between the contrast ratio opacity of the top film and the contrast ratio opacity of the bottom film (in absolute value) may be at most any one of 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10 percentage points.
Likewise, the inflatable web that was inflated to create the inflated web 254 of
The other difference is that the embodiments of
The inflatable web used to make the inflated web 252 of
The physical and optical characteristics of the green, red, and white films are set forth in Table 1.
The inflated webs 254 and 256 of
The use of a bottom film having a bottom film color that differed from the top film color (or a top film lack of color) provided a surprising and unexpected “pop” or “wow” of visual distinctiveness and contrast for the inflated cells therein when viewed from the top film side. As such, the inflated cells were much easier to see, notice, and discern.
For any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the ratio of the surface area of the inflatable regions 216 to the total surface area of the inflatable web may be at least any one of 50, 60, 70, and 80%, and/or at most any one of 95, 90, 85, 80, and 75%. For example, the ratio of the inflatable regions 216 to the total surface area for web 252 of
If the ratio of the surface area of the inflatable regions 216 to the total surface area of the inflatable web is below 50%, then the protective cushioning performance of the inflated web may not be sufficient for desired packaging applications. If the ratio of the surface area of the inflatable regions 216 to the total surface area of the inflatable web is above 95%, then the conformability of the web to fit around protected articles and into containers may be insufficient for protective packaging use; and the web may also lack sufficient non-inflated area to desirably visually distinguish and contrast the inflated cells and/or graphic images of the inflated web.
Other ratios may be similarly calculated. For any of the embodiments described herein, the ratio of the surface area of the sealed regions 212 to the total surface area of the web may be at least any one of 10, 15, 20, and 25%; and/or at most any one of 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, and 25%. The ratio of the surface area of the non-inflatable regions 218 to the total surface area of the web may be at least any one of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 50%; and/or at most any one of 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, and 25%.
The inflatable webs may be inflated as described herein. The inflated cushioning webs 238, 282 of
Any numerical value ranges recited herein include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component or a value of a process variable (e.g., temperature, pressure, time) may range from any of 1 to 90, 20 to 80, or 30 to 70, or be any of at least 1, 20, or 30 and/or at most 90, 80, or 70, then it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, and 30 to 32, as well as at least 15, at least 22, and at most 32, are expressly enumerated in this specification. For values that are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.
The above descriptions are those of various embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents. Except in the claims and the specific examples, or where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description indicating amounts of material, reaction conditions, use conditions, molecular weights, and/or number of carbon atoms, and the like, are to be understood as modified by the word “about” in describing the broadest scope of the invention. Any reference to an item in the disclosure or to an element in the claim in the singular using the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said” is not to be construed as limiting the item or element to the singular unless expressly so stated. The definitions and disclosures set forth in the present Application control over any inconsistent definitions and disclosures that may exist in an incorporated reference. All references to ASTM tests are to the most recent, currently approved, and published version of the ASTM test identified, as of the priority filing date of this application. Each such published ASTM test method is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.
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PCT/US2017/066569 | 12/15/2017 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2018/112287 | 6/21/2018 | WO | A |
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