Packaging film life raft enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10399302-B2
Application number	US-201815977305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2018
Priority date	May 18, 2017
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A packaged inflatable life raft includes a non-inflated life raft and an enclosure around the non-inflated life raft. The enclosure includes a film with a first layer that is innermost toward the non-inflated life raft, a second layer outer from the first layer, a third layer outer from the second layer, and a fourth layer that is outermost from the non-inflated life raft. Additionally, the first layer includes a heat-sealable polymer selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, or a halogenated polymer. At least one of the second and third layers includes a metal foil or a polymer vapor barrier. At least one of the second, third, and fourth layers includes a polyester or polyamide. At least one of the first, second, third, and fourth layers includes a halogenated polymer, or a polymer composition comprising a halogenated or non-halogenated polymer and a fire retardant.

First claim

What is claim:

1. A packaged inflatable life raft, comprising
a non-inflated life raft; and
an enclosure around the non-inflated life raft that includes a film comprising
a first layer, innermost toward the non-inflated life raft;
a second layer outer from the first layer;
a third layer outer from the second layer; and
a fourth layer, outermost from the non-inflated life raft; wherein
the first layer comprises a heat-sealable polymer selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, or a halogenated polymer,
at least one of the second and third layers comprises a metal foil or a polymer vapor barrier,
at least one of the second, third, and fourth layers comprises a polyester or polyamide, and
at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth layers comprises a halogenated polymer, or a polymer composition comprising a halogenated or non-halogenated polymer and a fire retardant.

2. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein the non-inflated life raft is sealed in the enclosure under a vacuum.

3. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises heat-sealable polyethylene.

4. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein the fourth layer comprises a polyamide, a polyester, or a halogenated polymer.

5. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein one of the second or third layers comprises a metal foil.

6. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second, third, or fourth layers comprises a halogenated polymer.

7. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 6 , wherein the fourth layer comprises a halogenated polymer.

8. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein
the first layer comprises heat-sealable polyethylene, optionally including either or both of a fire retardant and antifungal agent,
the second layer comprises a metal foil or a polymer vapor barrier,
the third layer comprises a polyester, and
the fourth layer comprises a halogenated polymer.

9. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein
the first layer comprises heat-sealable polyethylene, optionally including a fire retardant and antifungal agent,
the second layer comprises a metal foil or a polymer vapor barrier,
the third layer comprises a polyester, and
the fourth layer comprises a polyamide and a fire retardant.

10. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein
the first layer comprises heat-sealable polyethylene, optionally including either or both of a fire retardant and antifungal agent,
the second layer comprises a polyester,
the third layer comprises a metal foil or a polymer vapor barrier, and
the fourth layer comprises a halogenated polymer.

11. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein
the first layer comprises heat-sealable polyethylene, optionally including either or both of a fire retardant and antifungal agent,
the second layer comprises a metal foil or a polymer vapor barrier, and
the third layer comprises a polyamide, and
the fourth layer comprises a halogenated polymer.

12. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein
the first layer comprises heat-sealable polyethylene, optionally including either or both of a fire retardant and antifungal agent,
the second layer comprises a metal foil or a polymer vapor barrier, and
the third layer comprises a polyamide, and
the fourth layer comprises a halogenated polymer.

13. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein
the first layer comprises heat-sealable polyethylene, optionally including either or both of a fire retardant and antifungal agent,
the second layer comprises a metal foil or a polymer vapor barrier, and
the third layer comprises a polyethylene and a fire retardant, and
the fourth layer comprises a polyamide and a fire retardant.

14. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein
the first layer comprises heat-sealable polyethylene, optionally including either or both of a fire retardant and antifungal agent,
the second layer comprises a metal foil or a polymer vapor barrier, and
the third layer comprises a polyethylene and a fire retardant, and
the fourth layer comprises a polyester and a fire retardant.

15. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein
the first layer comprises a heat-sealable halogenated polymer,
the second layer comprises a metal foil or a polymer vapor barrier, and
the third layer comprises a polyester, and
the fourth layer comprises a polyamide, and optionally a fire retardant.

16. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein the life raft is according to the specifications of FAR 25.1415.

17. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein the film meets the flammability standard of FAR § 25.853(a).

18. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 wherein the film meets the fungus resistance standard of MIL-STD-810G, Method 508.7 or meets the fungus resistance standard of RTCA DO-160G, Section 13.

19. The packaged inflatable life raft of claim 1 , wherein the film satisfies one or more of the following criteria:
(i) A puncture resistance of at least 15 pounds,
(ii) Elmendorf tear strength of at least 500 g,
(iii) tensile strength of at least 5000 lb/in 2 .

20. A sealable film or a sealed container comprising a film, said film comprising:
a first innermost layer;
a second layer outer from the first layer;
a third layer outer from the second layer; and
a fourth outermost layer; wherein
the first layer comprises a heat-sealable polymer selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, or a halogenated polymer,
at least one of the second and third layers comprises a metal foil or a polymer vapor barrier,
at least one of the second, third, and fourth layers comprises a polyester or polyamide, and
at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth layers comprises a halogenated polymer, or a polymer composition comprising a halogenated or non-halogenated polymer and a fire retardant.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp
• Goodrich Aerospace Services Private Ltd

Inventors

• Govindaraju Parthasarathy
• Sivaraman Rajamanikandan

Classifications

• B63B2231/00

  Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes · CPC title

• B32B2553/00

  Packaging equipment or accessories not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B32B15/20

  comprising aluminium or copper {(B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B32B2605/12

  Ships · CPC title

• B32B27/08

  of synthetic resin · CPC title