Abstract: A polystyrene resin in foam form having a basis weight of less than about 20 g/100 in.sup.2 and a density of about 6 lbs./ft.sup.3 or less, the foam precursor of which is either a polystyrene having a melt index of about 8 or more or a polystyrene in combination with a minor proportion of any other material which will result in a melt index of about 8 or more. A method of forming such a polystyrene resin foam structure includes combining the resin in molten form under pressure with the blowing agent of at least approximately 100% carbon dioxide and extruding the mixture through a die into an atmosphere of reduced pressure to form the foam structure.

Abstract: A release film for label stock and the like having:(a) a cavitated layer of a thermoplastic polymer matrix material within which is located a strata of voids, positioned at least substantially within at least a substantial number of each of the voids is at least one spherical void-initiating solid particle which is phase-distinct and incompatible with the matrix material, the void space occupied by the particle being substantially less than the volume of the void, with one generally cross-sectional dimension of the particle at least approximating a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the void; the population of the voids being such as to cause a degree of opacity of less than 70% light transmission;at least one surface of the layer free of any coating tending to mask the surface affects of cavitation; and(b) opposite to this surface, a coating of a release material of a type having a tendency to partially transfer to any contacting surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laminate of layer (A) a biaxially oriented high density polyethylene film of at least 50 wt. % of the polyethylene of a density of 0.960 or greater; and layer (B) a biaxially oriented polypropylene film.

Abstract: An opaque, biaxially oriented polymeric label stock structue, of:(a) a thermoplastic polymer matrix core layer having a first surface and a second surface, within said core is located a strata of voids, positioned at least substantially within a substantial number of said voids is at least one spherical void-initiating particle which is phase distinct and incompatible with the matrix material, the void space occupied by the particle being substantially less than the volume of the void, with one generally cross-sectional dimension of the particle at least approximating a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the void; the population of the voids in the core being such as to cause a significant degree of opacity;(b) a first high gloss medium density polyethylene skin layer adhering to the first surface of the core layer;(c) a second thermoplastic polymer skin layer adhering to the second surface of the core layer; and(d) an adhesive on the second surface of the thermoplastic skin layer.

Abstract: A metallized film combination of an oriented polymeric substrate layer having on one surface thereof a coating of a blend of (a) a vinyl alcohol homopolymer or copolymer and (b) an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, the coating blend having a metal layer thereon. The method involves coating the substrate after the substrate has been machine direction oriented and before the combination is transverse direction oriented followed by TD orientation and finally by depositing a metal layer on the blend surface.

Abstract: A pack of grocery sacks has releasable adhesive regions between contacting walls of adjacent sacks in order to insure the substantial opening of a following sack when a lead sack is removed from a rack supporting the pack.

Abstract: A metallized film combination of a polymer substrate at least one surface of which includes a maleic acid anhydride modified propylene homopolymer or copolymer, that at least one surface having a skin layer thereon of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer and said skin layer having an aluminum layer directly thereon.

Abstract: A system for suspending a pack of thermoplastic bags, loading bags, removing loaded bags and for automatically opening the next bag preparatory to loading it by having a pack of handled bags suspended from laterally spaced elongated rods of a rack. The bags have been corona discharge treated in the handle and bag mouth region to such an extent that the pressure and cutting action during the formation thereof will cause adjacently facing cut edge regions to releasably adhere together until a moderate force separates them. During removal of a bag from the bag pack at least a portion of the cut edge of the mouth and handle region of the front wall of the next bag will follow the bag being removed for a short distance before separation thereby opening the next bag rendering it ready for loading.

Abstract: A male and female mold parts combination for forming a latch opening in a container molded from a softened sheet of plastic having a female mold key member arranged on the female mold part; a male mold key member arranged on the male mold part; a cutting edge adjacent to a planar face of one key and a vertical surface having a bevelled edge surface on the other key. The keys being normally registered so that on closure of the mold parts, initial contact will involve the cutting edge, the bevelled edge surface and the plastic therebetween. One of the keys is fixed in one of the mold parts and the other of the keys being located in the other of the mold parts and free to move independently of its mold part so that on closure of the mold parts the cutting edge will ride off the bevelled edge surface and slide across the vertical surface piercing and enlarging a latch opening in the plastic.

Abstract: A method for forming a molded thermoplastic foam structure comprising partially filling a mold with solvent imbibed particles of a thermoplastic resin, pressurizing said mold under conditions such as to prevent vaporization of said blowing agent during subsequent polymer melting, heating said polymer to a flowable state, releasing the mold pressure to permit foaming of the melt and expansion of the foamed polymer within the mold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collection of ultra-thin bags and a collection of bags per se wherein said bags are made by providing two separated thermoplastic films; forming transversely across each separated film, lines of weakness extending from one edge of each film to the other, with each line spaced from the next a bag length distance apart; bringing the films together in face-to-face relationship with the lines of weakness across one film in registration with those of the other films; sealing the films transversely along lines parallel with and immediately adjacent to the lines of weakness; slit-sealing the film layers at one or more bag width intervals to complete individual but interconnected bag structures; and collecting each strip of interconnected bags into a volumetrically efficient form.

Abstract: A bag pack of a plurality of stacked bags made from thermoplastic film, each bag comprising front and rear walls; a bottom; an open-mouth portion, said open-mouth portion being characterized by having handles which are integral extensions of said walls and located at opposite ends of said bag mouth portion. A single film tab member extends above each rear bag wall and above the open-mouth portion. The tab is coplanar with the rear wall and connected thereto through a localized line of film weakening. The tabs of all bags are in registration and are a collection of only tabs coplanar with said rear walls. The tabs are bonded together and include a suspension means to accommodate physical suspension of the pack.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sack made of thermoplastic film, said sack having front and rear panels and an open mouth top portion, gusseted side walls wherein the innermost reach of the gusset folds overlap and at the bottom of said sack a heat seal stripe welds together all of the lay-flat layers, including the overlapped regions.

Abstract: An oriented multi-layer heat sealable film structure comprising a polyolefin film substrate, a layer of a linear very low density copolymer of ethylene and a C.sub.4 -C.sub.8 alpha olefin or a blend of the same with polypropylene. This structure can also have a primer layer on said copolymer or blend layer and a heat-sealable layer on said primer layer.

Abstract: Waterflooding process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean formation in which at least a portion of the injected water is thickened by the addition of a mixture of sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohol surfactants. The thickened water has a salinity within the range of 5-18 percent. The mixture of sulfonated polyethoxylated aliphatic alcohols has an HLB within the range of 10.0-14.0 and the lipophilic base of the surfactant mixture contains an average of from 16 to 20 carbon atoms. The surfactant mixture incareases the viscosity of the water to a value greater than viscosity achieved through the addition of only one of the surfactant components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermoplastic bag structures which are characterized by having a pair of carrying handles which are formed integrally with the bag walls, and extend upwardly from the open mouth portion of the bag. The configuration of the individual bag handles is such that there is reduced tendency for that portion of the handle which is in the user's palm, when such bags are loaded are carried, to curl into a small cross sectional area, commonly known as roping. Additionally, the individual bags are constructed so that when the bags are loaded and being carried by the user, the stress points around the bag mouth are distributed to areas which are less likely to rupture and tear as a result of stress concentration.

Abstract: A dispensing system for a package of a continuous, severable sheet material comprising a number of individual severable members, such as plastic bags, separated by transverse pre-weakened regions, such as perforations, is composed of a storage container holding the package and a dispensing device. The dispensing device is separate from and is located at a location remote from the storage container. The continuous severable sheet material is conducted to the dispensing device and is threaded therethrough until the pre-weakened separating two consecutive members emerges through the exit of the device. A sufficient force is then applied to the continuous, severable sheet material to separate the two consecutive members from each other at the pre-weakened regions.