DE1485094A1 - Flexible container, especially for laundry, and process for its manufacture - Google Patents

Description

Munich, August 28th I PATENT ADVERTISER

MUNICH, ERHARDTSTRASSE8
TELEPHONE 290753

REYNOLDS METALS COMPANY, 66O1 West Broad Street, Henrico County, Richmond Post Office, Virginia, U.S.A.

Flexible container, especially for laundry, and process for its manufacture

The invention relates to a water-soluble flexible or pliable packaging material and flexible containers as well as a method for producing such containers and a system for using the same. In particular, the invention relates to a material made of water-soluble plastic, plastic film or plastic film laundry bag, laundry bag or similar laundry container for use in hospitals or other institutions where the control of infections or the like. is important, as well as the production * - and application process of such washing containers. 909881/0017

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It is well known that hospital linen is dirty or the like. such as, in particular, bed linen, clothing, towels, diapers, sanitary towels, etc., with pathogenic Organisms infected. According to current practice, such dirty laundry is placed in laundry or clothes bags, which are porous and bacteria or germs can escape through the sack or bag walls allow through. During the handling of these sacks or pouches or when they are passed through laundry suckers or other transport devices, therefore, pathogenic bacteria are mainly transported through the air or spread and distributed by air currents and find their way into clean laundry, feeders, personal clothing, Rooms and buildings as well as equipment and devices of all kinds. This creates serious ones Infection control and prevention problems. It has already been suggested that Prevent the spread of bacteria by using bags or similar containers to keep them out impermeable plastic film material, plastic film or the like. such as made of polyethylene. Such laundry bags or bags are effective in terms of controlling and preventing the spread of bacteria in the rooms, departments or wards of hospitals etc. and in the laundry sucks or transport facilities, but this protection works

909881/0017

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lost if the laundry is poured out of the laundry bags or sacks before they are put into the baskets or drum is brought into the washing machine *

It also forms the elimination of the More bacterial! Sacks or bags themselves are a difficult problem. If those made of polyethylene Bags or the like in an incinerator are to be destroyed, they go there to Melt and clog the burning mass against the passage of air. When the combustion is inadequate or ineffective, many can Organisms or bacteria escape into the air or they remain in the combustion residues, which in turn require special removal measures.

Hospital linen includes both wet and dry dirty laundry. Therefore, laundry bags made of plastic material, which are intended for use in general hospitals, etc., must be resistant to the soaking of wet laundry at body temperature or below. Cold water-soluble plastic film material, as it is usually brought for packaging purposes, would therefore only be useful for holding dry or almost dry laundry because it would disintegrate or get holes, 9'Ö'9 * Ö8 17ÖO 17 "^ ']' .."'

-4- ■

if it comes into contact with wet hospital linen, the laundry bags or containers in question would release their content ahead of time.

Hot water-soluble plastic film material would be used to absorb damp or wet laundry may be more appropriate, but when washing hospital linen it is common practice to do the laundry first To subject flushing operation carried out with water of body temperature or below to initially To loosen and wash away stains of blood and body secretions. The laundry must do this initial rinse become completely soaked if they are washed with hot water or soapy water in subsequent washes etc. and rinses, which are generally done at temperatures above about 145 F, clean should be washed.

According to the invention, a laundry bag, laundry bag or similar laundry container is created which holds wet laundry in at body temperature and below, but allows this laundry to be done almost instantaneously comes into contact with the cold rinse water when the filled laundry bag is in the washing machine is housed. In this way, the contents of the laundry bag will act as a cold water rinse

in the machine to remove blood stains and 909881/0017

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■ -5-

. exposed to other dirt; and if that means Water, what kind of soap, detergent and detergent Type, contains bleach, etc. is introduced into the wash cycle is, the laundry bag or bag is dissolved in its entirety and through the sewer system washed away.

These and other features, advantages and details of the invention are bung in the following descriptions M and for example illustrated by the drawing and explained. .

Fig. 1 shows in perspective a laundry sack or bag according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows a similar representation of another embodiment of the invention,

■ \ Ο "-" ■. , ■■ \ i

Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment in perspective of the laundry bag or bag according to the invention,.

Fig. 4 shows a side view of a filled and _s «? _; closed laundry sack or bag,

Fig. 5 shows a cross section through the laundry bag along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

90988 1/0017 -6-

6 shows an enlarged section of the seam construction of the laundry bag according to Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 shows a detail of the side seam a laundry bag or bag according to line 7-7 of FIG. 1,

Fig. 8 shows a section through a laundry sack or bag, which is a method for

link

Hi ± the sack or bag walls

illustrates, and

Finally, FIG. 9 shows a graphic representation the dissolving properties of a laundry bag or bag according to the invention at temperatures up to 100 ° F.

"The sack, pouch or other container 1 consists, for example, of a pair of hot water-soluble, pliable or flexible plastic films 2 or the like laid one on top of the other and of an essentially rectangular shape Near or at the outer longitudinal edges k . The container walls and the interposed plastic layer are

909881/0017

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connected to each other, ζ · Β. welded, and form a seam 5 · The formation of the seam is more precise from Fig. 7 it can be seen, which the connection of the walls 2 with the cold water soluble in between Layer or ply 5 illustrated. The walls of the foils are along their lower edges connected or welded together, and the upper edges 6 of the walls are separable from each other, to form an opening for filling the container. The jacket or pouch of FIG. 1 essentially has one rectangular in shape, however, it will be understood that any other such container may be desired Can have shape. It is also noted that a substantially tubular body also

can be used, which can be provided with a seam corresponding to the seam denoted by 5 above can that such a seam both in the transverse direction as can also run lengthways, and that the seam does not extend completely to the bottom edge of the Sack or bag must extend.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the sack or pouch is formed in that a single continuous piece of a hot-water-soluble film, a plug or the like. j.on. _r sieve, itself is bent or folded, so that the bottom 8 of the container forms a part with this piece, the bottom part 8 not being unaffected.

90988 1/00 17 * ' ^ΰ ''

-8th-

must be sharply folded or pinched. The superimposed wall parts of the plastic film or the like. are connected by side seams, between the strips of cold water sensitive Plastic material 9 are inserted, which run along the longitudinal edges.

In Figure 5 is another embodiment of the Invention illustrates, according to which a sack or bag-shaped body 10 of hot water soluble Plastic foil or film material · with a filling opening 11 and a detachable or detachable wall i2 is provided. In the embodiment shown, the wall part 12 consists of a hot water-soluble film, a Foil or the like. That or those with the ■ base body 10 des Sack or bag is connected by means of a cold water-sensitive material ι3, which is similar to the side seams 5 shown in Fig. 1 and 2 between the base body 10 and the wall part 12 is inserted.

In Fig. 4 a laundry bag is shown, aer is filled with learning material to be washed, so that the walls 14 of the sack expand or bulge. This figure also illustrates a closure means which is preferably used for the top opening of the sack or bag. This closure means consists of a tape or the like. Which is tied around the constricted neck of a sack and which from 909881/0017

Cold water soluble plastic material is made. Pig. 5 shows a somewhat enlarged cross-section through the filled laundry bag along the line 5 - 5 of Fig. 4, the side seams 15 with the inserted cold water sensitive plastic layer or layer 16 can be seen. Such a side seam 15 is in Pig. 6 on a larger scale in itself shown drawn out, with the front sack wall 17, the back wall of the sack * 18, the inserted water-soluble plastic layer 16, which is contained in the sack Laundry 20 and a gap 21 are shown, which lies between over Mk wet laundry and the sack walls.

The manufacture of the containers according to the invention can be carried out in various ways. To e.g. those in Pig. 1 to produce illustrated embodiment, can be a sheet or cut made of a hot-water-soluble plastic film material in certain zones be covered with a layer or layer of a cold water sensitive plastic material, and a second sheet or cut of a hot water soluble plastic sheet or film material is placed on it placed, whereupon the edge parts are connected or welded together under the action of heat to the Form side seams.

-10-909881 / 001 7

According to a variant of the method described above, a strip of cold water sensitive Plastic material between two hot water-soluble plastic blanks along the opposite edges of the same are inserted, around one or more side hems or side seams to limit what the connection by welding or the like. will be produced. Of course you can Strip and the edge parts of the container walls also with the help of a suitable glue or other adhesive be connected to each other.

Optionally, the sack or bag or the like. with or without removable or soluble seams, but with a composite flexible plastic blank is used for the container body. Such a blank can consist of a relatively thick one outer layer or layer made of cold water sensitive material, which is on the back with a Protective layer or protective layer made of hot water soluble flexible plastic material is provided. at the latter Material insulates the outer layer or layer from the wet laundry, but it is sufficiently thin to to be torn in the washing machine as soon as the outer layer or layer has been softened.

-11t 909881/001 7

In Pig. 8 is another manufacturing process illustrated according to the invention. Opposing walls 23 are made of hot water soluble Plastic film material that has a strip 24 of cold water sensitive on one edge or side Wear plastic material, placed one on top of the other so that the respective strips at the edges of the Container walls come to rest, and these container walls are then welded under the action of heat or glued together with adhesives.

The containers according to the invention, in particular Laundry bags, laundry bags or the like., Were used in hospitals Tried and tested in practice, resulting in numerous advantages compared to the usual ones Laundry containers or the like. were not achievable. Particularly noteworthy is the reduction in the presence of airborne bacteria or other organisms. The filled laundry bags can be thrown down by multi-storey laundry eater, without damaging them or losing their content. The invention ... also allows use of a single type of laundry tub for dry, damp, wet or soiled hospital linen and reduces laundry labor costs by reducing the Previously required unpacking operations aer laundry and the time for filling aer Washing machines is reduced. At the same time

9,9881 / 0017 _ ₁₂ _

do not impregnate the laundry bags according to the invention the use of cold rinsing in washing machines to remove blood and dirt stains or the like., as is common in hospitals.

The laundry sacks or bags according to the invention

can be easily filled by putting them on one

hangs up
Ring stand / or optionally over the back of a chair or the like. hangs. Wet or dry hospital linen can be filled up to the normal capacity or capacity of the sack or bag. The sack or bag is then closed by gathering the mouth edge or neck of the sack or bag and tying it with a plastic structure which is soluble in cold water, as can be seen from FIG. The laundry sack or bag is transported into the laundry room with the help of a trolley or a laundry eater. In the laundry room, the filled bag or sack is thrown directly into the washing machine without having to be opened or the lacing has to be loosened. In the washing machine, rinse water at body temperature or colder is first introduced into the receiving space in order to prevent blood stains or other body secretions and dirt from settling. This first rinse acts on the cold-water-soluble sealing tape on the neck of the sack or bag and aef on the seam-909881/00 17

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1486094

Seam tapes ödei · «Behiohtefl made of cold water refiipf indliöheia Plastic, ßas thickened ^ e ^ genlüiband and the softened leitennMhtt reiiiii unter deiii Druok des Saokinhaitei, and the Front and Rear SaoKwtede fall apart '^

so that Uli dirty wash in that iit, in iai water

* iiäöh ttihi-etHHi KaltSÜlungefl wind with it

B & if ^ i WäS§Hiaitt @ i öä.dgl, die and Hgißw䧧i? §J3ÜlVö # gäftg «auegefütift. Hisi? Bii siön d # 2 * gange WäsehiSäek ödii «Wäieh ^ feiutel auf, Söhlüßlioh iöwohl the hüiMaiie3plögliöhen Wanäfölitn and dip kälijwääsiflgiiiölien lindtf * od ©? and dit gtlöiten RüokitMnd «we *» den with dißi den

Dag wagM & reffipfindliohe fle5 £ ibi ©

fto dit Ki ^ lttllußf vQft SehMlti ^ n gtmäl dir finding gSinäJ # in§i? gig§nwipfei | MVöfMugten Augfuhi »u dip Irfindung is used, according to Pöljr

i öd # i ** filffi®atti »ial of

üftd v © n vtrieftiidinif ¹ Äfft ^ Ji naöft dtn

odei?

di # ühMltefWäfldt lind gwti film

wiohtli, neffllieh a wide SÖS881 / 0017

solubility and, on the other hand, moisture stability. · The criterion for hot water solubility that has been found to be desirable is that the container wall in water at 170 ° F within a period of approximately 5 minutes with * ± h corresponding agitation Must dissolve completely. At the same time it must Wall material be essentially insoluble in make-up water or stock water. Accordingly, the expression "Soluble in hot water" is used here to identify substances or materials that are in water soluble at high temperature but essentially insoluble in water at about 100 ° F or below are. Moisture stability is the ability of the film or sheet material to maintain its integrity to be retained as a film or foil in contact with damp laundry.

It has been found advantageous to make the hot water soluble wall material from types of polyvinyl alcohol which have a relatively low glycerin content in order to reduce the sensitivity to moisture. In general! Who, Ό uses the suitably between about 10 to about 18 pounds of glycerin (glycerol), preferably about up to about 16 pounds per 100 pounds of glycerin _f plastic or synthetic resin (resin) in the formula. In this way, polyvinyl alcohol film can be used for the container wall material.

90918 1/00 17

be used, whatever detail you like in the area of the Has the desired water solubility, but the moisture stability of the material is ensured by the glycerine content is controlled.

The polyvinyl alcohol material used to make the hot water soluble container walls preferably has the following properties:

Thickness 0.5-10 mils.

Average elongation (average 21,600 sq.in./lb/mil.

yield)
Specific weight (specific 1.21 - 1.J1

gravity)
Tensile strength 6,000 psi (minimum) 100 # -Modul (force required to 2,500 ρ.si (minimum)

double the length)
Elongation 300 - 6θΟ #

Internal tensile strength (intern. 500 gm./mil. (minimum)

tear resistance) _o Welding (heat sealing) 2Sun F., 5 - 10 sec.

Flammability slow combustion

(slow burning)

A suitable film formulation for container walls made of hot water soluble Polyvinyl alcohol is the following:

Polyvinyl alcohol ι00 parts by weight

Glycerin (glycerol) 16 parts by weight

Surface active substance
(Triton x-100, a nonio &ic>; ^
polyethenoxy ether) surfaceactive agent ~>. - 0.75 parts by weight

9098 81/0017

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Sodium Metabisulfitir (Bleach) 0.2 parts by weight (sodium metabisulfite - bleach)

Magnesium stearic acid, 0.01 part by weight

(Lubricant) (magnesium
stearate - lubricant)

The kai twass he sensitive polyvinyl alcohol, which according to the invention is used to make the fastener tape and the side seams is such that it tends to soften in cold water, although not necessarily must also dissolve completely in cold water. With cold water is water with a temperature meant up to about 100 F. For practical purposes, a suitable cold water sensitive tape is or provide a corresponding intermediate layer or layer in such a way that it or they contain the contents of the laundry bag or releases in less than two minutes, preferably in less than a minute. This characteristic is shown in the graphic representation of FIG. | shows which oil application or dissolving time is involved shows slight movement in relation to the water temperature, with a suitable cold water sensitive Tape (Reynolon PVA / WS-1J5) in the sack or bag seams is used. A suitable cold water sensitive polyvinyl alcohol film or sheet material for rapid production of the seams and for closing the container opening preferably has the following properties:

909881/0017 -17-

Thickness about 0.0T5 in.

Average elongation (average 21,600 sq.in./lb/mil

yield)

Specific weight (specific 1.21 - 1.31

gravity)

Tensile strength 2,000 p.s.i. (minimum)

100 ^ -Modtfi (force required to 1,000 p.s.i. (minimum)

double the length)

Elongation 250 - 600 #

Internal tensile strength (intern. 200 .gm / mil (minimum)

tear resistance}

Welding (heat sealing) 500 p., 1 sec.

Flammability slow combustion

(slow burning)

An extensive use and evaluation of such

■ 'IT - ■' ■ '

Laundry sacks or bags in practical hospital use are useful in general hospitals, Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics (pediatrics) or the like. proven. It was also through Tests in a general hospital with 500 beds found that the soluble laundry bags from · polyvinyl alcohol according to the invention the total number of the bacteria in the air to a value as low as about 10 5 ^ of the number of bacteria reduce which when using the usual working methods is available.

In the foregoing, preferred embodiments of the invention are “described and illustrated.

90 988 1/00 17 " ¹⁸ "

The invention is of course limited but not to these embodiments, but it includes all variants within the framework of the essentials Inventive concept and in the area of the following Expectations.

Expectations

90988 1/0017

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Claims (1)

Claims * | · BehKlttr, especially WKacneeack or -bag, which is suitable for releasing its content, when immersed in water, characterized by opposing walls of the container Made of hot water soluble, flexible plastic material has, between which a layer or layer of cold water sensitive plastic material in such a Position is inserted that it comes into contact with water when the container is immersed in water, wherein cIe winch and the inserted plastic layer or «Schioht are so connected that they are one Mows form part of the container, and where <Jle inserted Plastic layer or layer quickly with water is softened to a temperature of up to about 100 ° F » to allow the separation of parts or mowing from one another. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in »dal One over the other walls made of hot water soluble flexible material to delimit a body whose * Jmxx Vfiytfc— upper wall edges are separable from each other » to create a fine opening for the filling of material, and that a layer of cold-water-sensitive plastic material between. '. en one on top of the other walls along we sent adjoining edges borrowed 90988 1/00 17 -20- It is pre-determined what the detachable seam of the container forms. j5. Water-soluble container according to claim 2, characterized in that the walls lying one above the other of hot water soluble material at one end of the .ae Container, κκζ from the separable upper edges of the walls is removed, directly «they are connected« while a detachable seam that embodies the layer of cold water ™ sensitive material «on at least one Longitudinal edge of the container is provided between parts uer walls. 4. Water-soluble container according to claim 2, characterized in that two superimposed walls are formed by folding a rectangular blank made of flexible plastic material with substantially parallel longitudinal side edges, and the layer or layer of cold water-sensitive plastic between the essential m ± adjacent edges of the side edges of the walls is arranged so that the panel between the walls forms a closed bottom of the container, while the detachable lines are formed on the side edges of the container. -21- 909881/0017 QRiQlNAL. 5 »Water-soluble container according to claim 1 _3, characterized in that, for the purpose of using a container as a laundry corner or bag for holding wet laundry at or below body temperature, opposing container walls consist of a flexible plastic material which is soluble in hot water, but a good one Has stability or strength when in contact with damp laundry. 6. Water-soluble container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the hot-water-soluble flexible plastic material is a polyvinyl alcohol film or foil material. 7. Water-soluble container according to one of the claims to 6, characterized in that the cold water sensitive material consists of a band or strip consists of cold water soluble polyvinyl alcohol. 8. Water-soluble container according to claim 1, characterized in that; that it is made from blanks, foils or layers made of hot-water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol or Foil material with good moisture stability consists essentially of the long edges lie aligned one above the other and the upper marginal edges of which can be separated from one another, around an opening to form the introduction of material into the container, 909881/0017 _o5> -CC " 6ADORtGlNAL 1st inserted UASs a sheet or layer of cold water soluble "plastic material between UEN length edges adjacent edges uer übezeLnanderliegenden wall _blanks} and that the hot water-soluble walls or films and the., azwischen inserted layer of kaltwasserlöslichem plastic material are joined together" releasable to ues to the longitudinal sides of the container seams to form. 9 * A method for producing uines water-soluble container according to claim 1, characterized in that a zone near the edges of a blank of hot-water-soluble flexible plastic material with a layer or layer of cold water sensitive « flexible plastic material1 * 1 is coated, and dafl this combination is formed into a hollow container » the walls of which are mainly formed by flexible plastic blanks that are soluble in hot water and the ones provided with the coating Zones are arranged so that the coating material Subject to the action of cold water when immersing the container and contact with the cold water is softened. 10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in » cad aas cold water sensitive plastic material as a coating is applied to the aen edges or 9 09881/0017 ■■ - ■■■ ■ - -, BATH ORIGINAL Edges of the slightly watery flexible material to cover. 11. Terfahren according to claim 9, characterized in that dal the cold water sensitive plastic material is applied by making a strip Made of cold water sensitive plastic material between opposite edges of pairs of the blanks or vindles of the hot water soluble flexible plsstikaaterlal is inserted. 12. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the hot water soluble material and the cold water sensitive material are connected to one another by the action of heat * 1Y. Flexible wall or foil material for water-soluble Container according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the material has a layer of helfwasserlSsllohea flexible plastic film, which has a layer or layer of cold water sensitive material that has the UIe property Contact with water at a temperature of 100 ° F or below to be softened quickly and the age of the Pils at least along a length edge of the same is connected, so that the first-mentioned situation unites Edge part represents «the von des Wand- or Polien-9 0 9 8 8 1/0017 material is superimposed, whereby the cold water sensitive layer or layer between the film and a wall or sheet material is provided to form a seam which is dissolvable upon immersion in cold water is. 14. Flexible material according to claim 1J, characterized in that a sheet or film of hot water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol with good moisture stability is connected to a layer or layer of cold water sensitive polyvinyl alcohol material which is suitable for contact with cold water at a temperature of 100 F or to be less softened, - wherein both said first-mentioned film or foil and ^r lie latter sheet or layer in hot "substantially water-st τοΐΐ ändig are detachable. 15. Method for washing dirty laundry or the like., characterized in that the laundry is placed in a water-soluble container according to one or more of the claims 1 to 7 is inserted, aaB reader container with oem Laundry contents subjected to an initial cold water wash to lttsen all detachable seams - the container and to release the laundry contained in the container, after which a treatment with hot water is provided, among other things completely clean the laundry and cen container in 309881/00 1 7 ORIGINAL u to dissolve hot water, and that afterwards the laundry rinsed and stxftxxu uas the lust Container containing water is removed. (Patent attorney) ^ - ^ 909881/001 7