Package

May 29, 1951 h. rumsey, jr 2,554,841

PACKAGE

Filed July 13, 1948

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ATTORNEYS.

(

Patented May 29, 1951

2,554,841

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,554,841

PACKAGE

Herbert Kumsey, Jr., Rochester, N. Y. Application July 13,1948, Serial No. 38,505

Claims. (C

This invention relates to an improved package particularly a package encased in relatively tight fitting sheet material.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an attractive, inexpensive commercial pack- ' &lt; age wrapped in tight fitting sheet material preferably transparent and which is provided, in an improved manner, with a relatively thin flat panel made of stiff material serving both as an opening tab for removing the wrapping or casing and f also as a base on which the package is supported.

Modern commercial packages are frequently wrapped in plastic sheet material. Where the material is fitted tightly and smoothly around 1 the package it is frequently difficult to open the package due to the fact that the overlapping edges of the sheet material cannot readily be located or, if located, cannot be readily grasped or pulled outwardly to tear or sever the mate- 2 rial. My present invention contemplates solving this problem in a simple and improved manner and at the same time provides a convenient base or support for the package.

In the drawing: 2

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a package embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2—2 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 illustrates the package contents resting 3 on the plastic sheet material prior to wrapping the package;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one manner of using the tab or panel for opening the package; 3

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of package in inverted position; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the modified package in upright position.

My invention is suitable for wrapping many 4 different types of articles and objects but has particular application to the wrapping of articles or objects having curved lower surfaces since the opening tab serves as a base on which the package may rest. 4

In the first form of my invention the package contents are shown in the form of three small balls 10 which may be golf balls or ping-pong balls. The balls are wrapped in a sheet of transparent plastic material I ( and a relatively thin 5 flat panel 12 of stiff material· is placed between the overlapping longitudinal edges of the sheet material to serve both as an opening tab and as a supporting base.

The plastic sheet material may be any one of 5 the commercially available types used for packaging such as cellophane, cellulose acetate, Pliofilm or one of the polyvinyl resins such as Vinylite or Saran. By using a sheet material which is inherently stretchable or which can be made e

11. 206—45.33) stretchable by moistening or by using a material which can be shrunk after the package is completed, I have found that very satisfactory results are obtained because the sheet material can be 5 stretched tautly around the package. In this connection Pliofilm is inherently stretchable; non-moisture proof cellophane can be made stretchable by moistening it and has the added advantage that it shrinks when it dries and Saran 0 can be caused to shrink by heating to a temperature below its plasticizing temperature.

A sheet of plastic material is provided which is large enough to wrap around the package contents with the longitudinal edges in overlapping 5 relationship and with the ends projecting beyond the ends of the contents.

The panel or tab 12 is inserted between the over-lapping longitudinal edges and has connection with the outer or overlying edge as shown 0 most clearly in Fig. 2. The panel should be flat and its area should be relatively large as compared with the size of the package so that it can serve as a base for the package. Also, the panel should be made of a stiff material such as card5 board and the stiffness should be such that its resistance to bending is greater than the tearing strength of the plastic sheet material so that the panel serves as an opening tab that can be pulled to tear the sheet material.

I have found that satisfactory results are obtained by adhesively securing the tab or panel along the central portion of one longitudinal edge of the sheet material so that it projects slightly from the edge. When the panel or tab is secured 5 to the edge in this fashion the package can be wrapped by placing the sheet material on a table or platen with the panel or tab on the upper surface of the material. The package contents are then placed at the central portion of the sheet 0 of material, as shown in Fig. 3, and the material is wrapped around the contents with the edges in overlapping relationship, the edge having the tab being arranged to overlie the other edge. This is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 where 5 it will be seen that the two edges substantially overlap each other and the panel or tab 12 is disposed between the two edges and is adhesively secured to and projects outwardly from the overlying edge.

When the sheet material has been wrapped around the contents with its ends protruding beyond the ends of the contents, the protruding ends of the sheet material are thereafter suitably closed and secured in place to prevent inadvert5 ent opening of the package. In this connection

I have found that satisfactory results are obtained by twisting the protruding ends very tightly as shown at 14 so as to cause them to form in spiral fashion. The twisting serves not only to close the ends of the wrapping and to retain

2,554,841 them in closed, position but also serves to pull the sheet material tightly around the package and draws the end portions in against the ends of the package, forming radial pleats 15 which decrease in size from the center of the ends.

Where a material is employed which is inherently stretchable such as Pliofilm, or which, has been made stretchable by wetting as in the case of non-moisture proof cellophane, the twisting is continued sufficiently to cause a slight stretching of the material. The twisting may be accomplished manually or by suitable twisting apparatus such as that shown in my prior Patent No. 2,346,613 of April 11, 1944.

After the twisting has been completed the package is ready for use except in those cases where it is desired to shrink the sheet material around the package. In the case of wetted nonmoisture proof cellophane the drying of the material causes it to shrink. In the case of Saran it may be shrunk by heating it to a temperature below its plasticizing point, say a temperature of 160° F. The heating operation of course should not be employed in a manner to damage the contents of the package.

The completed package is of attractive modern appearance and is convenient to use. As previously stated, the area of the panel should be relatively large as compared with the size of the package so as to serve as an adequate base or support. In the present instance, it will· be seen that the panel extends for more than half the length and width of the package.

Ordinarily, a package of the present type is rather difficult to open because the overlapping, edges cannot readily be seen due to the transparent character of the wrapping material. Also, even when the edges are located, they cannot readily be grasped and pulled to tear the material. In the present instance, however, the tab can readily be seen and it can be grasped in the hand in the manner shown in Fig. 4 and pulled outwardly so as to tear the overlying: layer of material and thereby open the package.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a modified type of package containing contents 20 which are substantially rectangular in cross-section. The sheet material 2 i is similar in nature to that employed in the first form of the package and is wrapped around the contents in the same manner and the ends twisted as shown at 24 forming radial pleats 25 and stretching the material tightly around the package and holding it in place. Between the overlapping edges I provide an opening panel or tab 22 which is likewise suitably connected or attached to the overlying layer, as by being adhesively secured thereto. I preferably arrange the wrapping material so that the overlying layer terminates near the one face or edge of the package and the tab projects outwardly and is preferably folded upwardly against the face of the package as shown at 23. In this manner the tab can be readily seen and grasped in the hand and at the same time does not protrude directly from the front of the package so as to mar its appearance or occupy excessive space.

I have found it desirable to provide small slits or notches 26 in the outer layer of material at the two edges of the tabs as this facilitates the initiation of tearing of the wrapping material at the proper points.

As in the first form of my package the tab or panel 22 serves as a firm base or support for the package on which it may rest. It also facilitates opening the package since it can be readily seen and grasped in the hand. In opening the package the edge 23 may be readily grasped and pulled outwardly and the sheet material will tear along lines projecting rearwardly from the slits 26.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an attractive and inexpensive commercial package wrapped in tight fitting plastic sheet material and provided with a panel serving both as a base and as an opening tab. Modifications may of course be made in the illustrated and described embodiment of my invention without departing from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.