def copy_patches(ptches0):
        """ return a list of copied input matplotlib patches 
            
        :param ptches0: list of matploblib.patches objects
        :return: copyed patches object
        """
        if not isinstance(ptches0, list):
            ptches0 = list(ptches0)
        copyed_ptches = []
        for pt in ptches0:
            pth = pt.get_path().deepcopy()
            ptch = patches.PathPatch(pth,
                                     lw=pt.get_lw(),
                                     fc=pt.get_fc(),
                                     ec=pt.get_ec(),
                                     alpha=pt.get_alpha())
            copyed_ptches.append(ptch)
        return copyed_ptches