What is claimed is:
1. A method for producing a colored polymeric fiber via melt spinning,
which method comprises melt spinning a blend of at least one unformulated heat stable black, blue or violet dye and a polymeric material in a melt spinning device, wherein at least one portion of the device operates at a temperature greater than 220 C.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is nylon-6, nylon-12, nylon-6,6 or nylon-6,12.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is polyethylene terephthalate or polytrimethylene terephthalate.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least one unformulated dye is selected from the group consisting of
A) a metal complex black dye according to formula I
5
B) a blue anthraquinone dye according to formula II
6
wherein M is Na, K, Li, NH4, NH2(C2H4OH), NH(C2H4OH)2 or N(C2H4OH)3,
C) a blue anthraquinone dye according to formula (III)
7
wherein M is Na, K, Li, NH4, NH2(C2H4OH), NH(C2H4OH)2 or N(C2H4OH)3, and
D) a violet anthraquinone dye according to formula IV
8
wherein R4 is H or a group of the formula CH2NHCOY in which Y is C1-C4 alkyl, C2-C4 alkenyl or an single or double ring aryl group, each optionally substituted one or more times with a halogen group selected from chlorine, fluorine and mixtures thereof, and at least one R group is other than hydrogen.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the dye is about 0.01 to about 50 percent by weight based on the total weight of the polymeric material and the dye.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the dye is about 0.01 to about 3 percent by weight based on the weight of the polymeric material.
7. A polyamide or polyester fiber made in accordance with the method of claim 1.
8. A method for producing a colored polymeric article via melt processing,
which method comprises melt processing a blend of at least one unformulated heat stable black, blue or violet dye and a polymeric material in a suitable apparatus for a suitable time, wherein at least a portion of the apparatus operates at least part of the time at a temperature greater than 220 C.
9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the polymeric material is polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, polyamide-6, polyamide-12, polyamide-6,6 or polyamide-6,12.
10. A method according to claim 8 wherein at least one unformulated dye is selected from the group consisting of
A) a metal complex black dye according to formula I
9
B) a blue anthraquinone dye according to formula II
10
wherein M is Na, K, Li, NH4, NH2(C2H4OH), NH(C2H4OH)2 or N(C2H4OH)3,
C) a blue anthraquinone dye according to formula (III)
11
wherein M is Na, K, Li, NH4, NH2(C2H4OH), NH(C2H4OH)2 or N(C2H4OH)3, and
D) a violet anthraquinone dye according to formula IV
12
wherein R4 is H or a group of the formula CH2NHCOY in which Y is C1-C4 alkyl C2-C4 alkenyl or an single or double ring aryl group, each optionally substituted one or more times with a halogen group selected from chlorine, fluorine and mixtures thereof, and at least one R group is other than hydrogen.
11. A method according to claim 8 wherein the dye is about 0.01 to about 50 percent by weight based on the total weight of the polymeric material and dye.
12. A method according to claim 8 wherein the dye is about 0.01 to about 3 percent by weight based on the weight of the polymeric material.
13. A polyester or polyamide based article made in accordance with the method of claim 8.
14. A method for producing a solid colored polymeric article,
which method comprises polymerizing caprolactam or alkylene dihydroxy or alkylene diamino condensation monomers with aliphatic or aromatic dicarboxylic acid condensation monomers in the presence of at least one unformulated heat stable black, blue or violet dye and
wherein the polymer portion or substantially all of the polymer portion of the polymeric article consists of one or more polymers with a melt temperature greater than 240 C.
15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the polymer is polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, polyamide-6, polyamide-12, polyamide-6,6 or polyamide-6,12.
16. A method according to claim 14 wherein at least one unformulated dye is selected from the group consisting of
A) a metal complex black dye according to formula I
13
B) a blue anthraquinone dye according to formula II
14
wherein M is Na, K, Li, NH4, NH2(C2H4OH), NH(C2H4OH)2 or N(C2H4OH)3,
C) a blue anthraquinone dye according to formula (III)
15
wherein M is Na, K, Li, NH4, NH2(C2H4OH), NH(C2H4OH)2 or N(C2H4OH)3, and
D) a violet anthraquinone dye according to formula IV
16
wherein R4 is H or a group of the formula CH2NHCOY in which Y is C1-C4 alkyl, C2-C4 alkenyl or double ring aryl group, each optionally substituted one or more times with a halogen group selected from chlorine, fluorine and mixtures thereof, and at least one R group is other than hydrogen.
17. A method according to claim 14 wherein the dye is about 0.01 to about 50 percent by weight based on the total weight of the polymeric material and dye.
18. A polyester or polyamide solid article made in accordance with the method of claim 8.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A hermetic storage system for containing wipes comprising:
a flexible container configured for holding the wipes, the flexible container including a body portion extending between an open first end and a closed second end, the body portion having an outer surface defining an exterior of the hermetic storage system;
a first member;
a second member coupled to the first member and having a first connector surrounding an aperture; and
a third member having a second connector;
wherein the flexible container is disposed between the first member and the second member;
wherein the first connector includes one of a groove and a key and the second connector includes the other one of the groove and the key;
wherein the groove includes a first peripheral wall and a second peripheral wall, at least one of the first peripheral wall and the second peripheral wall being flexible and wherein the first peripheral wall includes an indentation and a protrusion;
wherein the key has a width greater than the distance between the protrusion and the second peripheral wall; and
wherein the first connector and the second connector may be releasably engaged to provide a hermetic seal.
2. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein the key includes a lip.
3. The hermetic storage system of claim 2, wherein the indentation is adjacent to said lip when said key is engaged with said groove.
4. The hermetic storage system of claim 2, wherein the key and the second peripheral wall are closely adjacent to effect the hermetic seal.
5. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein one of the first peripheral wall and the second peripheral is configured to flex in response to the key passing between the protrusion and the second peripheral wall without manual deflection of either the first or second peripheral wall.
6. The hermetic storage system of claim 5, wherein the second peripheral wall is configured to guide the key between the protrusion and the second peripheral wall as the third member and the second member are releasably engaged.
7. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein the third member is pivotally coupled to the second member.
8. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein the third member is independent from the second member.
9. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein the body portion of the flexible container includes a cylindrical side wall extending from the closed second end, wherein the side wall surrounds the aperture.
10. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein the body portion of the flexible container includes at least two side walls hermetically coupled together and extending from the closed second end, wherein the side walls surround the aperture.
11. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member includes a rib configured to engage the flexible container.
12. The hermetic storage system of claim 11, wherein the rib compresses the flexible container to form a continuous hermetic seal.
13. The hermetic storage system of claim 11, wherein the flexible container further includes a flange near the open first end.
14. The hermetic storage system of claim 13, wherein the flange has a thickness greater than the body portion of the flexible container.
15. The hermetic storage system of claim 13, wherein the rib compresses the flange to form a continuous hermetic seal.
16. The hermetic storage system of claim 11, wherein the first member includes a first abutment surface and the second member includes a corresponding second abutment surface.
17. The hermetic storage system of claim 16, wherein the first abutment surface is coupled to the second abutment surface.
18. The hermetic storage system of claim 11, wherein the first member includes a first rib and the second member includes a second rib.
19. The hermetic storage system of claim 18, wherein the first rib is concentric with the second rib.
20. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein the flexible container is hermetically coupled to the second member.
21. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein the flexible container is permanently coupled between the first member and the second member.
22. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein the flexible container is releasably coupled between the first member and the second member.
23. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein the first connector and second connector form a continuous hermetic seal when releasably engaged.
24. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein the flexible container is made of at least one of a Polypropylene (PP), a Low-Density Polyethylene, or a Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE).
25. The hermetic storage system of claim 1, wherein the flexible container is a composite material.
26. A hermetic storage system for containing wipes comprising:
a flexible container configured for holding the wipes, the flexible container including a body portion extending between an open first end and a closed second end, the body portion having an outer surface defining an exterior of the hermetic storage system;
a first member positioned adjacent to at least one of an outer surface of the flexible container and an inner surface of the flexible container and having a first interface portion;
a second member coupled to the first member and positioned adjacent to the other of the outer surface of the flexible container and the inner surface of the flexible container and having a second interface portion and a first connector; and
an impermeable third member having a second connector for releasably engaging the first connector to form a hermetic seal;
wherein the first interface portion and second interface portion are configured to engage the flexible container in a manner sufficient to support the flexible container.
27. The hermetic storage system of claim 26, wherein the flexible container further comprises a flange near the open first end.
28. The hermetic storage system of claim 27, wherein the flange has a thickness greater than the thickness of the body portion.
29. The hermetic storage system of claim 28, wherein the flange is compressed between the first interface portion and the second interface portion.
30. The hermetic storage system of claim 26, wherein the first interface portion includes at least one of a projection and a recess.
31. The hermetic storage system of claim 26, wherein the second interface portion includes at least one of a projection and a recess.
32. The hermetic storage system of claim 26, wherein at least one of first interface portion and second interface portion includes a projection configured to engage the flexible container.
33. The hermetic storage system of claim 32, wherein first interface portion includes a first projection and second interface portion includes a second projection.
34. The hermetic storage system of claim 33, wherein the first projection and the second projection are concentrically aligned.
35. The hermetic storage system of claim 34, wherein the first and second projections are configured to compress the flexible container.
36. The hermetic storage system of claim 35, wherein the first and second projection form a hermetic seal with the flexible container.
37. The hermetic storage system of claim 32, wherein the projection has a semi-circular cross section.
38. The hermetic storage system of claim 26, wherein the first member includes a first flange and the second member includes a second flange.
39. The hermetic storage system of claim 38, wherein the first flange includes a first abutment surface and the second flange includes a second abutment surface.
40. The hermetic storage system of claim 39, wherein the first abutment surface engages the second abutment surface.
41. The hermetic storage system of claim 40, wherein the first abutment surface is ultrasonically welded to the second abutment surface.
42. A hermetic storage system for containing wipes comprising:
a flexible container configured for holding the wipes, the flexible container including a body portion extending between an open first end and a closed second end, the body portion having an outer surface defining an exterior of the hermetic storage system;
a sleeve provided at the outer surface of the body portion near the open first end;
a collar provided at an inner surface of the body portion near the open first end; and
a cover coupled to the collar and moveable between an open position and a closed position, the collar and the cover providing a first hermetic seal when the cover is in the closed position,
wherein the flexible container is compressed between the sleeve and the collar to provide a second hermetic seal.
43. The hermetic storage system of claim 42, wherein the sleeve is an annular member and the flexible container has a substantially circular cross section.
44. The hermetic storage system of claim 42, wherein the open first end of the flexible container has an area of increased thickness relative to the body portion.
45. The hermetic storage system of claim 44, wherein the area of increased thickness is engaged by the sleeve and the collar to compress the flexible container between the sleeve and the collar.
46. The hermetic storage system of claim 45, wherein the area of increased thickness extends continuously around the circumference of the open first end.
47. The hermetic storage system of claim 42, wherein the collar has a first portion coupled directly to the flexible container and a second portion coupled directly to the collar.
48. The hermetic storage system of claim 47, wherein the collar includes a rib at the first portion for compressing the flexible container against the sleeve.