Blended polymeric draw tapes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a draw tape bag having a draw tape made of a polymeric blend of first and second polymeric components having varying densities. The polymeric blend is formed into a film by a blown process known in the art. The film is oriented providing strength and reduced elongation allowing the draw tape bag to be held without sagging or failure under load during usage. The polymeric blend imparts to the draw tape material a sealability and tensile strength that is not achievable by the multi-layer films or single layer films used in the prior art.

1 . A draw tape bag comprising: 
 at least two panels formed from a thermoplastic material wherein said panels are sealed forming a bag;    a hem portion of each panel being folded over a top portion of said bag, said hem portion defining at least one opening;    at least one draw tape being disposed within said hem portion opening, said at least one draw tape being formed from a blend of a first polymeric compound and a second polymeric compound forming a film, said film being oriented in a manner to improve strength and decrease elongation.    
     
     
         2 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one draw tape is formed from at least two polymeric compounds.  
     
     
         3 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said first polymeric compound is high-density polyethylene and said second polymeric compound is low-density polyethylene.  
     
     
         4 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said first polymeric compound and said second polymeric compound are blended in a ratio between about 5 to 1 to about 20 to 1.  
     
     
         5 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said first polymeric compound and said second polymeric compound are blended and extruded forming said film.  
     
     
         6 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said film forming said at least one draw tape is oriented in a machine direction.  
     
     
         7 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 6  wherein said orientation is accomplished by physical stretching.  
     
     
         8 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 6  wherein said oriented film is about 0.50 to 5.0 mil thick.  
     
     
         9 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said polymeric blend imparts tensile strength and heat-sealing properties to said at least one draw tape.  
     
     
         10 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said second polymeric compound is selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, Metallocene, VLDPE, LLDPE, mLDPE, ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene-methyl acrylate, ethylene-ethyl acrylate, ultra low density polyethylene and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said first polymeric compound is selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene, polyesters, polyamides, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  where said film is made by a blown process.  
     
     
         13 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said first polymeric compound and said second polymeric compound are blended in a ratio of about 9 to 1.  
     
     
         14 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said first polymeric compound is a high density polyethylene having a melt index of between about 0.05 and about 6.0 decigrams per minute and a density of between about 0.945 and about 0.965 grams per cubic centimeter.  
     
     
         15 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said second polymeric compound is a low density polyethylene having a melt index of between about 0.05 and about 2.0 decigrams per minute and a density of between about 0.900 and about 0.965 grams per cubic centimeter.  
     
     
         16 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said second polymeric component is an ultra low density polyethylene having a density less than about  0 . 900 .  
     
     
         17 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said film forming said at least one draw tape contains a colorant selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye and a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said film forming said at least one draw tape contains a blend of first polymeric compound selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, ultra low density polyethylene, ethylene methyl acrylate, ethylene-ethyl acrylate, ethylene-vinyl acetate and mixtures thereof, and a second polymeric compound selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene, polyesters, polyamides, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one draw tape is affixed to said bag by heating sealing.  
     
     
         20 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one draw tape is not affixed to said bag.  
     
     
         21 . The draw tape bag according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one draw tape is secured within said hem portion by heat sealing.