MXPA96006246A - Non-conductive globe that can be printed and marcary method for factory - Google Patents

Abstract

A non-conductive and printable non-conductive balloon is disclosed that includes a paper layer on at least a portion of its outer surface. The stationary paper layer to be printed with graphics and can be printed on the manufactured site can be customized on the sales site by the store clerk, or can be customized by the consumer at home. The layer can be attached to a polymeric substrate by a tie layer that includes an extrusion coating of a polyolefin resin, and the polyolefin resin can include a colorant such that the resin provides opaque bottom beneath the paper layer for enhance any graphic or printed message therein. The balloon can be constructed in such a way that it includes a barrier layer and retains a lighter element than air like helium for the balloon to float. In the preferred embodiment, the barrier layer and the entire balloon are not electrical conductors

Description

NON-CONDUCTIVE GLOBE THAT CAN BE PRINTED AND MARKED AND METHOD TO MANUFACTURE IT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of novelty articles and greeting products, and more particularly, to novel balloons which are sold in stationeries, florists, party supply stores, and the like. Traditionally, balloons have been formed of latex. However, the popularity of latex balloons has decreased in recent years due to their inability to retain helium or other element lighter than air for sufficient periods of time. Newly developed novel balloons are made of plastic or plastic compounds which are often metallized in such a way that the balloons retain the helium or other element lighter than the air for prolonged periods of time. These metallic balloons have become quite popular and have become an accessory in the greeting card industry. Part of this success is due to the fact that these balloons have a metallic, shiny appearance and are printed with colorful graphics that represent figures protected by very popular copyright (for example, Mickey Mouse, Garfield, Dino, etc.) and include congratulatory messages. Typically, stationery stores that sell these balloons must have a large selection of balloons with preprinted messages that accommodate a wide variety of situations such as balloons with messages that say "Happy Valentine's Day," "Happy Birthday," " Happy Anniversary "," Merry Christmas ", etc. The consumer then selects a particular balloon from this extensive collection for the appropriate occasion. Commonly, these metallic balloons can not be customized by the retail store or by the consumer because the metallic outer surface is not really capable of being marked satisfactorily with common writing instruments. In addition to the inability to mark personalized messages on metallized balloons, significant problems have arisen with metallized balloons because the metallized surface is electrically conductive. Due to its ability to conduct electricity, it has been claimed that metalized balloons have caused problems by interference with overhead power lines and have caused harm to consumers, including electrocution. It is also believed that one state, California, is considering banning metallic balloons because of their potential to conduct electricity. Alternatives have been proposed for metallized balloons in which the laminated or plastic composite layers of the balloon include a non-metallic layer of barrier material which renders the sheet impermeable to a lighter element than air such as helium. For example, a laminated film having a high degree of impermeability to a lighter element than air and including at least one layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer has been discovered in U.S. Patent No. 5,055,355. These laminated layers of plastic are not conductive and retain a lighter than air. However, it has been difficult to satisfactorily print graphics on this type of material. This is because these materials are translucent and do not adhere enough ink to the sheet to make it opaque, which would otherwise provide a suitable surface for printing. In contrast, the layer remains translucent, the resulting graphics appear "cheap" and do not have the attraction of bright and clear graphics that have previously been applied to metallic balloons. Accordingly, it is believed that there is a need in the industry for a printable and marking balloon that avoids the security problems of metallic balloons and that provides a suitable surface for the application of multi-colored graphics. It is also believed that the ability to customize graphics on the globe at the sale site or after the consumer brings the product home would be highly advantageous. For example, a consumer can buy a balloon previously painted with the message "Happy Birthday," and the retailer or consumer can then add the recipient's name and other "personalized" information. These objectives have not been achieved by the previous art balloons. An important aspect of this invention is based on providing a non-latex non-conductive balloon that can be printed and marked and that includes an area that can be marked on at least a portion of the outer surface of the balloon that is susceptible to can be printed with multicolored graphics and mark with common writing instruments, for example colored pencils, pens, markers, etc., to allow the balloon to be customized. These results are achieved by forming the balloon of a laminated film that includes a scoreable area formed of paper. In the preferred construction, the balloon is made of a laminated film that includes four main layers: a first outer paper layer, a second bonding layer, a third substrate layer and a fourth inner layer including heat sealing material. The first paper layer is secured to the third layer of substrate by the second tie layer which may include a first sublayer of an extrusion coating of a polyolefin resin, such as polyethylene, secured to the paper layer and a second sublayer of a base paint or of any other bonding agent between the extrusion coating and the substrate. The extrusion coating of the bonding layer preferably includes a dye (preferably white) so that the bonding layer is substantially opaque and provides a suitable opaque background to the paper layer which increases the clarity of any graphic that is printed on. the same. The paper layer provides both a surface for printing clear and vivid graphics at the manufacturing site and also allows the balloon to be customized by the store clerk or by the consumer since the paper layer is susceptible to marking with common instruments of writing. The third layer of substrate of the laminated film may or may not include one or more sublayers of a barrier material which is substantially impermeable to a lighter element than air such as helium. The presence of that barrier sublayer allows the balloon to be inflated with a lighter element than air such as helium in such a way that the balloon floats when inflated. In the preferred construction, the barrier layer takes the form of a non-conductive polymeric material such as ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer such that the laminated film of the balloon is not electrically conductive. In constructions in which the conductivity of the balloon is not a problem, the balloon may instead include one or more layers of metallized material in the laminated film so that it is substantially impermeable to a lighter element than air such as helium. The laminated films of the present invention may be made in accordance with the method of the present invention in which a paper layer is laminated to a composite film that includes a polymeric substrate and an extrusion coating of a polyolefin resin. The polymeric substrate and the extrusion coating are extruded by means of an extrudator so that the extrusion coating is in a tacky state on the polymeric substrate to adhere the paper layer to the substrate. However, other methods for forming the laminated film of the present invention may be employed. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a non-conductive balloon that can be printed and marked incorporated in the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a printable and labeled balloon incorporated in the present invention. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of one of the embodiments of the laminated film forming the balloon of the present invention. Figure 4 is an alternate embodiment of the laminated film. Figure 5 is a fragmentary, schematic top plan view of the balloon of the present invention. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the substrate layer of a laminated film of the present invention. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the substrate layer of the laminated film of the present invention. Figure 8 is a schematic view of the method of the present invention for making the novel laminated film.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES With reference to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the non-latex or conductive balloon, which can be printed and marked of the present invention. The balloon 10 comprises an inflatable balloon body 11 formed by laminated film 12. Laminated film 12 includes an outer surface 13 forming the outer surface of the balloon and an inner surface 14 defining an inner chamber 15 of the body of the inflatable balloon 11. The body of the inflatable balloon and details of its construction will be discussed later in connection with the figure 5. However, it will be understood that the novel laminated film invention 12 of the present invention can be used to form inflatable balloon bodies of varied shape, configuration and size. Referring to Figure 5, the inflatable body includes the front and rear panels 11 and 11b which are formed respectively from webs of the laminated film 12. A peripheral heat seal seals the joined edges of the panels to form the inflatable chamber interior 15. Inflatable body 11 includes a neck for filling 17 that includes an opening 17a to allow insertion of an inflation source (not shown). The opening 17a and the neck for filling 17 are in communication with a conventional self-sealing valve 18 which defines the passage 19. By inserting an inflation source (not shown) into the opening 17a and injecting air, gas lighter than the air, or other inflation element inside the filling neck 17, the inflation element forces the passageway 19 to open in such a way that the element fills the inflatable chamber 15. Once the balloon has been filled and the air injection or any other element ceases, the internal pressure inside the balloon causes the extended prolongation of the self-sealing valve 18 to collapse and bend inside the balloon, sealing the passage 19. As mentioned, that construction is conventional. An embodiment of the novel laminated film 12 of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 3. As shown, the novel laminated film 12 includes four main layers: a first outer layer of paper 20, a second tie layer generally designated on 1, a third layer of substrate 22, and a fourth inner layer 23. They are coplanar and they secure together all layers to form the laminated film 12 as a sheet or flexible film network which is suitable for forming the bodies of inflated balloons. The first paper layer 20 can be formed from any of a number of recognized paper pulp products and the preferred paper layer is relatively thin and has high moisture resistance. In one embodiment, the paper layer includes a thin layer of 8 pound paper highly resistant to moisture which is known as crepe paper and is commercially available from Burrows Paper Corporation, Little Falls, New York. The second joining layer 21 includes joining elements interposed between the third substrate layer and the paper layer 20 for adhering the paper layer 20 to the third layer of substrate 22. In the embodiment given in the illustrations, the connecting element It takes the form of a first sublayer 21a of a resin-based polyolefin extrusion coating, such as a polyethylene layer and a second sub-layer of a suitable base paint or bonding agent to secure the sub-layer 21a to the substrate 22. The coating sub-layer a Resin base 21a can advantageously include a color concentrate (preferably white) such that layer 21 is substantially opaque. A suitable colorant is sold under the designation CM88100 and named as Concentrate by Quantum Chemical Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. Having this type of dye, which can be white or any other color, gives the second layer an opaque background that enhances any graphic that is printed on the paper layer 20. The second opaque bonding layer 21 also covers the third layer. substrate layer 22 which is often formed of a translucent material in such a way that light can not pass through the balloon which could otherwise decrease the clarity and attractiveness of any graphic printed on the paper layer. During manufacture, the paper layer 20 is applied to the resin-based polyolefin extrusion coating while it is welded or uncured the resin layer adheres to the paper layer once it is fully cured. Although it is believed that polyethylene is a suitable material for forming the resin-based or sub-layer 21a extrusion coating, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other suitable resin-based polyolefins may also be used. The second sublayer 21b can be formed from any of a series of base paints to secure the resin-based polyolefin sublayer 21a to the substrate 22. A base paint of this type is sold under the name of Mica and is commercially available in Mica Corporation of Stratford, Connecticut. However, it will be understood that other bonding agents can also be used to form the bond between resin-based extrusion coating 21a and the polymeric substrate 22. The fourth layer 23 provides a heat sealing layer or surface to allow the two panels 11 and 11b are sealed to each other in the seal by peripheral heat 16. The fourth layer 23 is preferably composed of an outer sub-layer 23 of an extrusion coating of resin-based polyolefin and a sub-layer 23b of a bonding agent or base paint suitable for securing the sub-layer 23a to the substrate 22. The sub-layer 23a can be made of the same material from which the extrusion coating 21a of the tie layer 21 and the inner sub-layer 21b of the tie layer 21 is formed. , the heat sealing outer sub-layer 23b of the sealant layer 23 can be made from any of a series of suitable polyolefin resins which will allow the panels llb and llb of the glob or sealing each other by heat to form the inflatable body 11. The bonding agent or base paint 23b can also take the form of any of a number of suitable bonding agents to secure the outer heat sealing layer 23a to the polymeric substrate 22. In some constructions, the third substrate layer 22 of a heat sealing material can be formed and a fourth layer 23 can be omitted. The laminated film 14 can be constructed in such a way that the resulting inflatable balloon body 11 does not float (for example, the laminated film is not impervious to a lighter element than air, such as helium) or the laminated film can be constructed to allow the balloon to be filled with a lighter element than the air in such a way that the Inflatable balloon body float. If the balloon is going to be built so that the inflatable body does not float, the third layer of substrate 22 can take the form of a thin layer of any of a series of high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, nylon, milar, polypropylene, polyester, or composite laminates made from these or other materials similar to plastic, flexible and of similar thinness. In constructions in which it is desired that the body of the inflatable balloon floats, the laminated film 12 includes barrier element or a barrier sublayer which can be placed in the third layer of substrate 22 such that the laminated film 12 is substantially impermeable to elements lighter than air like helium. In particular, the third substrate layer 22 may include at least one layer of a substantially impermeable material such as the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. Those ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer layers are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,055,355, which is incorporated herein by reference. In such constructions, the body of the inflatable balloon can be made to "enlarge" so much that it can contain larger amounts of elements lighter than air, whereby the balloon can float even when the paper layer 20 adds additional weight to the balloon. Figure 6 shows a preferred construction of a third substrate layer 22 that includes a layer of substantially impermeable material. The third substrate layer 22 includes a first sublayer 24 made of nylon, a second sublayer 25 made of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, and a third sublayer 26 made of nylon. However, it will be understood that the polymer layers 24 and 26 can be formed from other suitable polymeric materials. The sub-layer of substantially impermeable material 25 can also be formed of materials other than the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. However, at least in the embodiments shown in Figures 1, 3 and 6, the layers of the third substrate 22, as well as all the layers of the laminated film 12, must be formed of materials that do not conduct electricity so that the finished product, balloon 10, do not conduct electricity. With reference to Figure 1, the inflatable body is formed of a laminated film 12 and thus is not electrically conductive. The paper layer 20 substantially covers the entire external surface 13 of the balloon, which is ready to be printed with multi-colored graphics. These graphics can be printed by the manufacturer of the globe can be customized by the store clerk at the sales site or the consumer. As shown the hand of a writer H holds a pencil 27 which can be used to write a message 28 on the outer layer of paper 20 of the inflatable body 11. The person who personalizes the balloon can write the complete message 28 on the balloon or simply you can add a person's name to a ready message previously printed as "Happy Birthday," as shown. Although in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 6 the entire balloon is non-conductive and the total external surface can be substantially printed and marked, in some applications it may be desirable that only a portion of the balloon can be marked, for example. example only the panel 11b or 11b, or only a portion thereof, and the presence of the metalized material in the balloon is not a problem. Referring to Figure 2, the balloon 10 'is formed of a laminated film 12' and includes a scoreable area 29 formed of a paper layer 201. The scoreable area 29, which is formed of the layer of paper 20 ', may constitute only a portion of one side of the globe as shown in Figure 2 to provide a selected area for marking, may substantially encompass only one side of the balloon panel, or may be provided in various configurations, shapes and sizes The construction shown in Figure 2 leaves an exposed area 30 formed by the second tie layer 21 which may include a colorant to provide an aesthetic appearance. The rest of the construction of the film 12 '(layer 22' and 23") can be done in accordance with the modalities discussed previously., in a construction in which conductivity is not a problem and in which the balloon 10 * is desired to float, the third layer of substrate 22 'may include at least a thin layer of metallized material to render it substantially susceptible to an element lighter than air, like helium. Referring to Figure 7, a mode of the substrate layer 22 'is shown including a thin metallized layer 31 and a polymer layer 32. The metallized layer can be formed by conventional processes such as vacuum metallization in which the polymeric substrate 32 is passed over a cooling roller and exposed to a stream of metallic vapor in a vacuum chamber. The metal vapor material impinges on the polymeric cooling layer 32 and condenses into a shiny and shiny solid layer, as is well known. The polymeric substrate 32 of a thin layer of high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, nylon, polypropylene milar, polyester or composite sheets made of these or other similar materials can be constructed. When the sheet 12 'includes a substrate layer 22', the extrusion coating covers the metal layer 31 and provides an opaque base paint behind the paper layer 20 * which enhances the clarity and quality of any graphic that is printed on. the same. As discussed previously with respect to the other embodiments, the substrate layer 22 'may also include other barrier materials instead of a metal layer 31, such as the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. Laminated films 12 and 12 can be formed by applying an extrusion process in which the paper layer 20 or 20 'is laminated into the other layers of the laminated film. Referring to Figure 8, a composite film 33 includes a polymeric substrate 34 and a tie layer 35 which preferably includes an extrusion coating of polyolefin 35a all of which are extruded through an extruder 36. The coating can be formed 35a of the tie layer of a polyolefin resin-based material which is still in the sticky state when exiting the extruder 33. The paper layer 20 can then be obtained from a source roll (not shown), using a laminator 37, inside the extrusion coating 35a although this is still in an adhesive condition. The extrusion coating 35a, once cured, then attaches the paper layer to the base 34 of the film waste 12. The base 34 may include an additional heat sealing layer 23 or one or more barrier layers as shown in FIG. mentioned earlier. The balloon of this invention is highly advantageous because, in the preferred embodiment, the balloon is not electrically conductive but still provides an external surface which is ready to print and mark both the previous impressions of the desired graphics and the personalization of the dependent on the store or the consumer. Printing of the outer surface can be done with any ready-to-print or writing instrument or writing instrument. The non-conductive balloon that can be printed and marked can be constructed as either a non-float or float balloon depending on the particular requirements or the target market. Although the above preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these details may vary according to the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (24)

1. CLAIMS 1. A non-conductive balloon that can be printed and marked that is not latex, which comprises: an inflatable balloon body formed of a laminated film having an inner surface and an outer surface; the non-conductive laminated film of electricity being and including a first paper layer that forms at least a portion of the outer surface of the inflatable balloon body, a second tie layer, and a third layer of substrate that is attached to the first paper layer by the second bonding layer; the first paper layer being the second joining layer and the third substrate layer coplanar and securing each other to form the laminated film.
2. 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the first layer includes a thin layer of paper having a high resistance to moisture. The invention of claim 1 wherein the second tie layer includes the first sublayer composed of a polyolefin resin secured to that first paper layer and a second sublayer composed of a bonding agent and which is interposed between the resin of polyolefin and the third layer of substrate. 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the polyolefin resin includes an extrusion coating of polyethylene. 5. The invention of claim 3, wherein the bonding agents include a base coat. 6. The invention of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which the second tie layer is substantially opaque. The invention of claim 1 wherein the third substrate layer includes a polymeric material. 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the polymeric material includes nylon. The invention of claim 7 wherein the polymeric material includes two sublayers of nylon with a sublayer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer interposed between the two sublayers of nylon. 10. The invention of claim 7 wherein the third substrate layer includes a barrier sub-layer that is substantially impervious to a lighter element than air when inflated. The invention of claim 10 wherein the barrier sublayer includes at least one sublayer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. The invention of claim 1 wherein the laminated film further includes a fourth coplanar layer forming the inner surface of the inflatable balloon body including the fourth layer an inner sublayer of a polymeric heat sealing material. 13. The invention of claim 12 wherein the heat sealing polymeric material includes an extrusion coating of polyethylene and a bonding agent is interposed between the extrusion coating and the extrusion coating. 14. A non-latex printing and marking balloon comprising: an inflatable balloon body formed of a laminated film having an inner surface and an outer surface; the laminated film includes a polymeric substrate and a marking area that is formed of a paper layer and forms at least a portion of the outer surface of the inflatable balloon body; joining elements for securing the paper layer to the polymeric substrate in a coplanar relationship to form the laminated film. 15. The invention of claim 14 wherein the joining element includes a first sublayer of a first coating by extrusion of a polyolefin resin secured to the paper layer and a second sublayer of a bonding agent interposed between the first sublayer and the polymeric substrate. 16. The invention of claim 15 further including a second extrusion coating of a heat sealable coplandable polymeric material that forms the inner surface of the inflatable balloon body and that is secured to the polymeric substrate by a sub-layer composed of an agent of Union. The invention of claim 15 wherein the first extrusion coating includes polyethylene and a dye that returns to the first substantially opaque extrusion coating. 18. The invention of claim 16 wherein the second extrusion coating includes polyethylene. The invention of claim 14 wherein the laminated film further includes at least one barrier sublayer that is substantially impervious to elements lighter than air such that the inflatable balloon body retains a lighter element than the air when it inflates. The invention of claim 19 wherein the barrier layer includes at least one layer of metallized material. The invention of claim 20 wherein the metallized material adheres to the substrate and is interposed between the substrate and the joining elements. 22. A laminated film for making non-conductive balloons which can be printed and marked and which are not latex, the laminated film comprising: a substrate layer formed of a sheet of flexible polymeric material; a scoreable layer formed from a sheet of paper and coplanar with the substrate layer; and joining elements interposed between the substrate layer and the scoreable layer to adhere the layer that can be marked to the substrate layer, the laminated film being non-electrically conductive. The invention of claim 22 wherein the joining elements include a sublayer of a polyolefin resin secured to the paper layer and a first layer interposed between the polyolefin resin and the substrate layer. The invention of claim 22 wherein the laminated film includes barrier elements to prevent elements lighter than air from permeating the laminated film. 26. The invention according to claim 25, wherein the barrier element includes the substrate layer that includes at least one layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. 27. The invention of claim 22 wherein the laminated film further includes a coplanar heat seal layer secured to the substrate layer by a base paint layer. 28. A laminated film for making non-latex printed and marked balloons, the laminated film comprising: a substrate layer formed of a flexible polymeric sheet material; a scoreable layer formed from a sheet of paper and coplanar with the substrate layer; and binding elements interposed between the substrate layer and the scoreable layer to adhere the layer that can be marked to the substrate layer. The invention of claim 27, wherein the joining elements includes a first sublayer of polyolefin resin secured to the paper layer and to the first layer interposed between the first sublayer and the substrate. 30. The invention of claim 28 or 29 wherein the attachment element is substantially opaque. 31. The invention of claim 27 wherein the laminated film includes a barrier element to prevent a lighter element than air from penetrating the laminated film. The invention of claim 31 wherein the barrier element includes the substrate layer that includes at least one layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. 33. The invention of claim 31 wherein the barrier element includes a thin metallized layer interposed between the substrate layer and the paper layer. 34. The invention of claim 28 wherein the laminated film further includes a heat sealing layer on an inner surface of the substrate layer. 35. A method for making a laminated film that is useful for making a non-latex and non-latexable balloon, the method comprising the steps of: extruding a composite film that includes a polymeric substrate and a coating by extrusion of a polyolefin resin in a sticky state; and then, by laminating a paper layer into the extrusion coating while the polyolefin resin is in a tacky state such that the paper layer is bonded to the composite film in a coplanar relationship. 36. The invention according to claim 35, wherein the method further includes an initial step of forming the polymeric substrate to include a barrier layer that is substantially impermeable to a lighter element than air. 37. The invention of claim 36 wherein it includes a thin layer of metallized material and a thin layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. 38. The invention of claim 35 wherein the method further includes the initial step of adding a colorant to the coating by extrusion so that the extrusion coating is substantially opaque. 39. The invention according to claim 35, wherein the extrusion coating is made of polyethylene. 40. The invention of claim 35 wherein the paper has a high resistance to moisture.