1. A system, comprising:
a means for executing user application software;
a means for interfacing to peripheral devices; and
a means for transferring data coupled to the means for executing and the means for interfacing, the means for transferring comprises an inverted tree structure, and also comprises an active and an alternate data communication path between the means for executing and the means for interfacing;
wherein the structure of the active path through the means for transferring is a subset of the inverted tree structure; and
wherein the structure of the alternate path through the means for transferring is not a subset of the inverted tree structure.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring further routes packets between the means for executing and the means for interfacing through the alternate data communication path when the active data communication path fails.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring further routes packets between the means for processing and the means for interfacing through the alternate data communication path when the alternate data communication path provides higher communication efficiency than the active data communication path.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A method of using oxygen scavenging material to decrease oxidation and maintain product properties in packaged beverages, foods, oxygen sensitive materials or oxygen sensitive components comprising the steps of:
a) incorporating an oxygen scavenging material into the structure of a container used to package beverages, foods, oxygen sensitive materials or oxygen sensitive components;
b) placing beverages, foods, oxygen sensitive materials or oxygen sensitive components in the container;
c) sealing the container; and
d) storing the container at a temperature between 20 F. and 120 F.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is performed under aseptic packaging conditions.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is performed under cold-filled packaging conditions.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the oxygen scavenging material is selected from the group consisting of oxidizable polymers, ethylenically unsaturated polymers, benzylic polymers, allylic polymers, polybutadiene, polyethylene-methyl acrylate-cyclohexene acrylateterpolymers, polyethylene-vinylcyclohexenecopolymers, polylimonene resins, poly -pinene and poly -pinene.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the oxygen scavenging material comprises a polymeric backbone, cyclic olefinic pendent groups and linking groups linking the olefinic pendent groups to the polymeric backbone.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the polymeric backbone is ethylenic and the linking groups are selected from the group consisting of:
O(CHR)n; (CO)O(CHR)n; NH(CHR)n; O(CO)(CHR)n; (CO)NH(CHR)n; and (CO)OCHOHCH2O;
wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl group selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl groups and where n is an integer in the range from 1 to 12.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the cyclic olefinic pendent groups have the structure (I):
3
where q1, q2, q3, q4, and r are selected from the group consisting of H, CH3, and C2H5; and where m is (CH2)n with n being an integer in the range from 0 to 4; and wherein, when r is H, at least one of q1, q2, q3 and q4 is H.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein the polymeric backbone comprises monomers selected from the group consisting of ethylene and styrene.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the oxygen scavenging material is incorporated into the container as a film.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the film is a strip attached to the container’s interior surface.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the film is a layer of the container’s interior surface.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the container is manufactured from a paperboard comprising a laminated or coated oxygen barrier layer.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the container is a gable-top carton or a rectangular carton.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the container comprises an oxygen barrier.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the oxygen barrier comprises an oxygen scavenging composition.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the oxygen barriers are selected from the group consisting of polyamides, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and oxygen barrier films.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the oxygen barrier films are selected from the group consisting of polyamide films, ethylene vinyl alcohol films, silica coated films,-foil, metallized films, nylonEVOHnylon, oriented polypropylene, polyester films, oriented polyethylene, and PVDC coated substrates.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the substrates of the PVDC coated substrates are selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyester, cellophane and paper.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the substrates of the PVDC coated substrates are monolayer films or multi-layer films.
20. The method of claim 14 wherein the oxygen barriers are polymers, films or papers coated with silica oxide or metal oxide.
21. The method of claim 1 wherein the container comprises sealing layers.
22. The method of claim 1 wherein the material is an oxygen scavenging composition further comprising a transition metal catalyst.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the oxygen scavenging composition is initiated by moisture or actinic radiation.
24. The method of claim 22 wherein the transition metal catalyst is a metal salt.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the metal in the metal salt is cobalt.
26. The method of claim 24 wherein the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of cobalt neodecanoate, cobalt 2-ethylhexanoate, cobalt oleate and cobalt stearate.
27. The method of claim 22 wherein the oxygen scavenging composition further comprises at least one triggering material to enhance initiation of oxygen scavenging.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein the triggering material is a photoinitiator.
29. The method of claim 1 wherein the oxygen scavenging material is initiated by moisture or actinic radiation.
30. A method of storing beverages, foods, oxygen-sensitive materials or oxygen-sensitive components for an extended period while maintaining product properties comprising the steps of:
a) incorporating an oxygen scavenging material into the structure of a container used to package beverages, foods, oxygen-sensitive materials or oxygen-sensitive components;
b) placing beverages, foods, oxygen sensitive materials or oxygen sensitive components in the container;
c) sealing the container; and
d) storing the container at a temperature between 20 F. and 120 F.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein the method is performed under aseptic packaging conditions.
32. The method of claim 30 wherein the method is performed under cold-filled packaging conditions.
33. The method of claim 30 wherein the oxygen scavenging material is selected from the group consisting of oxidizable polymers, ethylenically unsaturated polymers, benzylic polymers, allylic polymers, polybutadiene, polyethylene-methyl acrylate-cyclohexene acrylateterpolymers, polyethylene-vinylcyclohexenecopolymers, polylimonene resins, poly -pinene and poly -pinene.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein the oxygen scavenging material comprises a polymeric backbone, cyclic olefinic pendent groups and linking groups linking the olefinic pendent groups to the polymeric backbone.
35. The method of claim 34 wherein the polymeric backbone is ethylenic and the linking groups are selected from the group consisting of:
O(CHR)n; (CO)O(CHR)n; NH(CHR)n; O(CO)(CHR)n; (CO)NH(CHR)n; and (CO)OCHOHCH2O;
wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl group selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl groups and where n is an integer in the range from 1 to 12.
36. The method of claim 34 wherein the cyclic olefinic pendent groups have the structure (I):
4
where q1, q2, q3, q4, and r are selected from the group consisting of H, CH3, and C2H5; and where m is (CH2)n with n being an integer in the range from 0 to 4; and wherein, when r is H, at least one of q1, q2, q3 16 and q4 is H.
37. The method of claim 34 wherein the polymeric backbone comprises monomers selected from the group consisting of ethylene and styrene.
38. The method of claim 30 wherein the oxygen scavenging material is incorporated into the container as a film.
39. The method of claim 38 wherein the film is a strip attached to the containers interior surface.
40. The method of claim 38 wherein the film is a layer of the container’s interior surface.
41. The method of claim 40 wherein the container is manufactured from a paperboard comprising a laminated or coated oxygen barrier layer.
42. The method of claim 30 wherein the container is a gable-top carton or a rectangular carton.
43. The method of claim 30 wherein the container comprises an oxygen barrier.
44. The method of claim 43 wherein the oxygen barrier comprises an oxygen scavenging composition.
45. The method of claim 43 wherein the oxygen barriers are selected from the group consisting of polyamides, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and oxygen barrier films.
46. The method of claim 45 wherein the oxygen barrier films are selected from the group consisting of polyamide films, ethylene vinyl alcohol films, silica coated films, foil, metallized films, nylonEVOHnylon, oriented polypropylene, polyester films, oriented polyethylene, and PVDC coated substrates.
47. The method of claim 46 wherein the substrates of the PVDC coated substrates are selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyester, cellophane and paper.
48. The method of claim 46 wherein the substrates of the PVDC coated substrates are monolayer films or multi-layer films.
49. The method of claim 45 wherein the oxygen barriers are polymers, films or papers coated with silica oxide or metal oxide.
50. The method of claim 30 wherein the container comprises sealing layers.
51. The method of claim 30 wherein the material is an oxygen scavenging composition further comprising a transition metal catalyst.
52. The method of claim 51 wherein the oxygen scavenging composition is initiated by moisture or actinic radiation.
53. The method of claim 51 wherein the transition metal catalyst is a metal salt.
54. The method of claim 53 wherein the metal in the metal salt is cobalt.
55. The method of claim 53 wherein the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of cobalt neodecanoate, cobalt 2-ethylhexanoate, cobalt oleate and cobalt stearate.
56. The method of claim 51 wherein the oxygen scavenging composition further comprises at least one triggering material to enhance initiation of oxygen scavenging.
57. The method of claim 56 wherein the triggering material is a photoinitiator.
58. The method of claim 30 wherein the oxygen scavenging material is initiated by moisture or actinic radiation.
59. A rigid paperboard container, the container being constructed from extrusion coated or laminated paperboard comprising:
(a) a paperboard substrate having opposed inner and outer surfaces;
(b) a first polymer layer coated or laminated onto the outer surface of said paperboard substrate; and
(c) an inner, product contact sandwich layer comprising an oxygen barrier layer and an oxygen scavenging layer.
60. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59 wherein the inner, product contact sandwich layer further comprises a tie layer adjacent to the barrier layer.
61. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59 wherein the inner product contact sandwich layer further comprises a seal layer coating or laminating the innermost surface of the inner, product contact sandwich layer.
62. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59 wherein a second polymer layer is coated or laminated onto the inner surface of said paperboard substrate.
63. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 62 wherein a tie layer is juxtaposed between the barrier layer and the second polymer layer coated or laminated onto the inner surface of the paperboard substrate.
64. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59 wherein a third polymer layer is coated or laminated onto the inner surface of the oxygen scavenging layer of the inner, product contact, sandwich layer.
65. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 64 wherein the inner, product contact, sandwich layer further comprises a fourth polymer layer and a second oxygen scavenging layer, the second oxygen scavenging layer being on the inner surface of the third polymer layer and the fourth polymer layer coating or laminating the inner surface of the second oxygen scavenging layer.
66. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 64 wherein a tie layer is coated or laminated onto the inner surface of the oxygen scavenging layer and an ethylene vinyl alcohol layer is coated or laminated onto the inner surface of the tie layer coating or laminating the inner surface of the oxygen scavenging layer.
67. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 64 wherein the inner, product contact, sandwich layer further comprises a second barrier layer and a second tie layer, the second barrier layer being on the inner surface of the first tie layer and the second tie layer being juxtaposed between the inner surface of the second barrier layer and the outer surface of the oxygen scavenging layer.
68. A rigid paperboard container according to claims 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67 wherein the oxygen scavenging material is selected from the group consisting of oxidizable polymers, ethylenically unsaturated polymers, benzylic polymers, allylic polymers, polybutadiene, polyethylene-methyl acrylate-cyclohexene acrylateterpolymers, polyethylene-vinylcyclohexenecopolymers, polylimonene resins, poly P-pinene and poly -pinene.
69. A rigid paperboard container according to claims 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67 wherein the oxygen scavenging material comprises a polymeric backbone, cyclic olefinic pendent groups and linking groups linking the olefinic pendent groups to the polymeric backbone.
70. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 69 wherein the polymeric backbone is ethylenic and the linking groups are selected from the group consisting of:
O(CHR)n; (CO)O(CHR)n; NH(CHR)n; O(CO)(CHR)n; (CO)NH(CHR)n; and (CO)OCHOHCH2O;
wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl group selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl groups and where n is an integer in the range from 1 to 12.
71. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 69 wherein the cyclic olefinic pendent groups have the structure (I):
5
where q1, q2, q3, q4, and r are selected from the group consisting of H, CH3, and C2H5; and where m is (CH2)n with n being an integer in the range from 0 to 4; and wherein, when r is H, at least one of q1, q2, q3 and q4 is H.
72. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 69 wherein the polymeric backbone comprises monomers selected from the group consisting of ethylene and styrene.
73. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67 wherein the polymer layer or the seal layer is selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene polymer, linear low density polyethylene polymer, a blend of low density polyethylene polymer and linear low density polyethylene polymer, and a coextrusion of low density polyethylene polymer and linear low density polyethylene polymer.
74. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67 wherein the tie layer of the inner, product contact, sandwich layer comprises ethylene acrylic acid.
75. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67 wherein the tie layer of the inner, product contact, sandwich layer comprises ethylene methacrylic acid.
76. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67 wherein the tie layer of the inner, product contact, sandwich layer comprises maleated tie layer polymers.
77. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67 wherein the tie layer of the inner, product contact, sandwich layer comprises ionomer.
78. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 77 wherein the tie layer of the inner, product contact, sandwich layer comprises zinc ionomer.
79. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 77 wherein the tie layer of the inner, product contact, sandwich layer comprises sodium ionomer.
80. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67 wherein the barrier layer of the inner, product contact, sandwich layer comprises foil.
81. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67 wherein the barrier layer of the inner, product contact, sandwich layer comprises metallized film.
82. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67 wherein the barrier layer of the inner, product contact, sandwich layer comprises ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH).
83. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67 wherein the barrier layer of the inner, product contact, sandwich layer comprises polyamides.
84. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 83 wherein an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) layer is coated onto at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the polyamides barrier layer.
85. A rigid paperboard container according to claim 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67 wherein an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) layer is coated onto at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the barrier layer.