Enhanced Perimeter Polymeric Sheet

Abstract

The present invention relates to an enhanced perimeter polymer sheet. The enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet is generally comprised of a polymeric film substrate and may have a first enhanced perimeter region proximate to a first edge of the polymeric film substrate. The first enhanced perimeter region may further comprise an area extending generally along at least a portion of said first edge of the polymeric film substrate. A primary region of the enhanced perimeter plastic sheet may be defined by the polymeric film substrate. The primary region may be located generally inward from the first enhanced perimeter region and the primary region may have a set of attributes. The first enhanced perimeter region will have a set of attributes. Moreover, at least one attribute of the set of attributes of the first enhanced perimeter region may differ from a corresponding attribute of the set of attributes of the primary region.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet comprising:
 a polymeric film substrate,   a first enhanced perimeter region proximate to a first edge of the polymeric film substrate, the first enhanced perimeter region comprising an area extending generally along at least a portion of said first edge,   a primary region of the enhanced perimeter plastic sheet defined by the polymeric film substrate, the primary region located generally inward from the first enhanced perimeter region, the primary region having a set of attributes,   the first enhanced perimeter region having a set of attributes, at least one attribute of the set of attributes of the first enhanced perimeter region differing from a corresponding attribute of the set of attributes of the primary region.   
     
     
         2 . The enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first enhanced perimeter region comprises a first enhancement strip disposed on the polymeric film substrate.   
     
     
         3 . The enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet of  claim 2 , wherein
 the first enhanced perimeter strip has a distal edge defining a first perimeter edge of the enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet.   
     
     
         4 . The enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet of  claim 2 , wherein
 the first enhanced perimeter strip has a distal edge located inward from the first edge of the polymeric film substrate, the first edge of the polymeric film substrate defining a first perimeter edge of the enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet.   
     
     
         5 . The enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet of  claim 2 , wherein
 the first enhancement strip is welded to the polymeric film substrate.   
     
     
         6 . The enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first enhanced perimeter region comprises a first enhancement portion integrally provided with the polymeric film substrate.   
     
     
         7 . The enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet of  claim 6 , wherein
 the first enhancement portion is extruded with the polymeric film substrate.   
     
     
         8 . The enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a first edge of the polymeric film substrate folded over to define a first hem, and   a first enhanced perimeter tape disposed within the hem, the first hem and the first enhanced perimeter tape defining the first enhanced perimeter region.   
     
     
         9 . The enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the set of attributes of the primary region and the first enhanced perimeter region including at least one of the following: average thickness, weight per unit area, stiffness, color, or texture.   
     
     
         10 . The enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second enhanced perimeter region proximate to a second edge of the polymeric film substrate, the second enhanced perimeter region comprising an area extending generally along at least a portion of said second edge,   the primary region is located generally inward from the first enhanced perimeter region and the second enhanced perimeter region,   the second enhanced perimeter region having a set of attributes, at least one attribute of the set of attributes of the second enhanced perimeter region differing from a corresponding attribute of the set of attributes of the primary region.   
     
     
         11 . The enhanced perimeter polymeric sheet of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a third enhanced perimeter region proximate to a third edge of the polymeric film substrate, the third enhanced perimeter region comprising an area extending generally along at least a portion of said third edge,   a fourth enhanced perimeter region proximate to a fourth edge of the polymeric film substrate, the fourth enhanced perimeter region comprising an area extending generally along at least a portion of said fourth edge,   the primary region is located generally inward from the first enhanced perimeter region, the second enhanced perimeter region, the third enhanced perimeter region, and the fourth enhanced perimeter region, and   the third enhanced perimeter region and fourth enhanced perimeter region each having a set of attributes, at least one attribute of the respective third enhanced perimeter region and fourth enhanced perimeter region differing from a corresponding attribute of the set of attributes of the primary region.   
     
     
         12 . An enhanced perimeter plastic sheet comprising:
 a polymeric film substrate,   a first enhanced perimeter region proximate to a first edge of the polymeric film substrate, the first enhanced perimeter region comprising an area extending generally along at least a portion of said first edge,   a primary region of the enhanced perimeter plastic sheet defined by the polymeric film substrate, the primary region located generally inward from the first enhanced perimeter region,   the first enhanced perimeter region having at least one contrasting attribute compared to the primary region, the contrasting attribute selected from the group consisting of: average thickness, stiffness, weight per unit area, texture, and color.