US3195803A - Food wrapper - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 965 'r. E. FORD 3,

FOOD WRAPPER Filed May 31, 1963 INVENTOR. THOMAS E. 0 RD ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,195,803 FOOD WRAPPER Thomas E. Ford, Arlington, Mass., assignor to Trans World Services, Inc, Arlington, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 31, 1963, Ser. No. 284,600 '5 Claims. (Cl. 229-87) The present invention relates generally to food wrappers, and more particularly to wrappers that display the contents, preserve their shape and minimize food deterioration from such causes as exposure to the air or contact with foreign substances.

The objects of this invention include the provision of a prefabricated wrapper of the type that may be nested prior to use, and that may be readily used with or without mechanical aids or machines for the packaging of food products, especially solids cut to a predetermined shape, for example cakes and sandwiches.

Another object is to provide a wrapper that will protect the contents against physical damage, including smashing or other distortions of shape and puncturing, in such normal uses as stacking for vending or display purposes and handling by a vending machine or in counter service.

Another object is to provide a wrapper that permits visible inspection of the contents, as well as the display of suitably-placed designs, identifying data, prices and the like.

Still another object is to provide a wrapper that will protect the contents against undue exposure and that may be adapted to seal the contents substantially completely from the air.

Having in view the foregoing and other objects hereinafter appearing, the features of this invention include the provision of a prefabricated food wrapper consisting of a cardboard side member laterally scored for folding to an angular set-up position, and a sheet of relatively thin wrapping material sealed along one edge of the side member on both sides of the score line, whereby the wrapper may be readily opened to receive the food and to enclose it within a predetermined shape.

Other features of the invention reside in means for satisfying the foregoing objects by means of a prefabricated wrapper of the above sort, as hereinafter more fully described with reference to the appended drawing illustrating the same, wherein FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a wrapper embodying this invention in its completely folded condition;

FIG. 2 shows the wrapper partially unfolded in preparation for use;

FIG. 3 shows the wrapper fully opened for receiving the food to be wrapped;

FIG. 4 shows the wrapper partially folded over the food; and

FIG. 5 shows the wrapper fully folded over the food so as to form the completed package.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show the wrapper at 12 in three positions. The wrapper comprises a rectangular side member 14 to which is attached a relatively thinner sheet 16 of wrapping material. The sheets 14 and 16 are illustrated as being of rectangular and square shape, respectively, although it will be apparent that certain variations in shape may be introduced without substantially departing from the teachings of this invention.

The illustrated wrapper is specifically designed for sandwiches, and for this purpose the side member 14 preferably comprises a sheet of cardboard coated with a material that inhibits the absorption of food oils or moisture. For example, the cardboard may be a sulfite board covered with a polyethylene coating of a well known type. The member 14 is relatively stiff in order to impart structural rigidity to the package and to permit the stacking of wrapped packages without damage to the sandwiches, while the sheet 16 is preferably relatively thin and transparent so as to permit visual inspection of the food. It will be understood that the term cardboard as used herein is intended to embrace any suitable sheet packaging material having requisite stiffness and recognized in the art as an acceptable substitute for the specific material here described. The sheet 16 preferably consists of cellophane coated with a plastic designated by the trade name Saran. This coating also retards absorption of moisture. With the local application of moderate heat of the order of 400 to 500 degrees F., the sheet 16 will adhere in sealed relation to the member 14 or to itself as described below. Preferably, the coating on the member 14 is a substance to which the relatively thinner sheet 16 may be readily sealed in this manner.

The side member 14 has a lateral score line at 18 about which it is either folded to the flat posiion illustrated in FIG.1 or opened to the set-up position illustrated in FIG. 3. In the latter position a right angle A is formed at the score line 18 by portions 20 and 22 of the side member. It will be apparent, however, that this angle may be other than a right angle if desired. A right angle is preferred for ease of stacking and compactness in loading the wrapped sandwiches in cartons and the like.

The sheet 16 has edges 24 and 26 along which are uniform margins 28 respectively sealed to the portions 22 and 20 of the side member by the local application of heat. Alternatively, the mode of adhesion may take any other suitable form such as contact adhesion or gluing.

The side member 14 also has transverse score lines 30 and 31 equidistant from its ends and defining flaps 32 and 33, respectively. The sealed margins 28 extend continuously from the score line 18 to the closer of each of these pairs of score lines, although the drawing shows only a part of the margin for clarity of illustration. As seen in FIG. 2 the sheet 16 has a flat fold 34 which takes up the extra material adjacent the score line 18, and this fold is included within the sealed margins 28 so as to prevent an air leak in this region.

The wrapper as described above is preferably factory prefabricated. It may be stored and packaged in the completely folded condition of FIG. 1, in the partially folded condition of FIG. 2, or in nested relationship in the set-up position of FIG. 3.

To wrap an article of food such as a sandwich 35 which has a substantially triangular shape, cut diagonally to display its filling contents 36, the sandwich is placed within the set-up wrapper which is in the position shown in FIG. 3, after which the flaps 32 and 33 are folded about the acute angles of the sandwich. A corner 42 of the sheet 16 is then folded upwardly about the flaps as shown in FIG. 4, then folded over the top of the sandwich. The sheet 16 is then folded uniformly down over the upper edge of the side member 14, further folded at all corners to provide a close-fitting fit on all sides and finally sealed to the side member throughout the overlapping margins 46 along the upper edges as shown in FIG. 5.

The sealed margins 46 are preferably formed by the local application of heat as generally described above by means of an electrically heated surface or iron which may be manually applied or which preferably comprises a part of a suitable fixture or machine to facilitate the rapid loading, folding and sealing of the Wrappers. Alternatively, the seal may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the margins of the side member or a pressure sensitive tape overlying the margins.

The completed package of FIG. 5 has many desirable features. These include its resistance to crushing in the direction of the arrow F, whereby it may be readily fscription.

stacked. without'da'mage to contents. ,The package is sealed sufficientlyto retard the loss of moisture fora considerable length of time. The contents are visible for identification in a stacked display. The

sheet 16. The coating on the cellophane retards its absorption of water from the contents, frorn'a steam table or from any'source commonly encountered, further pro,-

flonging the strength ofthe package and the preservation of its contents,

It will be understood that the length of the flaps 32 and '33 and the shapes of their opposing edges are matters of choice that do not substantially affect the wrapping of the package. Also, the flaps maybe of unequal dimensions,

if desired, orthey maybe arranged tom-eet or to overlap. if the display of contents is to be framed in a different manner or confined to the sides ofthepackage. Iriaddition, theflaps 32 and 33 may be entirely; eliminated, if

desired, in which case the lines 30.and, 31 are cut lines rather than: score lines. T Other variations,.either in the choicerof materials or in the dimensions,may beam.-

ployed in a manner apparentto one skilled in this art, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. i i

invention comprises a prefabricated food wrapper which maybe readily set up to receive thecontents and neatly;

folded about the contents to complete a food package with a minimum ofjlabor while obtaining all ofv the desirable results noted above or otherwise apparent from the de- Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A food wrapper hav1ng,.in combination, a rectan-t gular cardboard sidermernber having a lateral score line for folding to a right angle 'position 'and a rectangular said score line, the sheet further having .a sealed flat fold at said corner containing the excess of material thereof when the side member is set up insaid position, the dimensions of said sheet being sufficient to permit its fold- It will be seen fromthe foregoinghdescription that 1 sheet of relatively thin wrapping materialhaving apair I ing about the side member while in said position-to define 'a triangular enclosed space; and to overlie theedge of the side member opposite to said seale'dedge.

2. A food wrapper'h-aving, in combination, a rectangular cardboard side member having a lateral score line for folding to a rightangle position, and a rectangular sheet of relatively thin wrapping material having a pair of adjacent sides respectively overlapping the portions of one edge of the side member on each side of said score line each of said portions being overlapped by and sealed to said sheet along a uniform margin thereof, the sheet further having a sealed flat fold at said score line containing the excess of material thereof Whentheside member is set up in said position, the dimensions of said sheet being sufficientto permit its folding about the side member while in said position to define a triangular eri-- closed space and to overlie the edge of the side member opposite to said sealed edge 3. A foodwrapper having, in combination, a' rectangular cardboard side members having a lateral score line for folding to a right angle position, and a rectangular sheet of relatively thin wrapping material having a pair of adjacent sides respectively overlapping the portions of one edge of the side member on each side of said score line, each of said portions being overlapped by and sealed to said sheet along a uniform margin thereof,1the sheet further having a sealed fiat fold. at said score line containing the excess of'material thereof when the side memher is set up in said position, the dimensions of said sheet 'being suflicient to permit its foldingtabout theside'merm i her while in saidposition to define .a triangular enclosed "space and to overlie along a uniform; margin the edge of the side, member opposite to 'saidsealed'edgeL I v p ,4. A food wrapper. having, in combination, a rectangular opaque cardboardside member having a first lateral score line for folding to' a right angle, set-up position and 'a second score line for'folding to a ,45-degree angle in said set-up position, andla generally square sheet of relatively thin transparent wrapping material having a pair of adjacent sides respectively oyerlapping the portions of "one edge of the'side member on each side of said first scoreline, each of said portions being overlapped by and sealed to'said sheet along a uniform margin thereof, the corner of the sheet defined by said sides substantially coinciding with said first .s'core linathe sheet further having a sealed flat told at said, corner containing the excesstof material thereof when the side member is set up in said position, the dimensions of said sheet being sufiicieut to permit itsifolding aboutflthe side member ,while in the set-up p osition to enclosea triangularspace side member opposite'to said sealed edge, I i r 'A wrapper having, in combination, a. cardboard side member having a lateralscore line for folding to a predetermined angular position, and a sheet .of relatively thin wrapping material'having a pairof adjacent sides sealed in substantially uniform overlapping relation to one edge of the side'mernber with the angle between said sides being substantially equal to'and coinciding with the angle defined by the side member when set up in said posi- "tion, the sheet further having asealed'fiat told at said score line containing theexcess of material thereof when the side member is set up inv said position, the dimensions of said sheet being sufiicient to permitits folding about the side-member while in said angular position to define a' triangular enclosed space and to overlie the edge of the -side member opposite to said sealed edge.

Relerences Cited by the Examiner FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary, Examiner.

and to overliealong a uniform margin the edge of the.

Claims (1)

1. A FOOD WRAPPER HAVING, IN COMBINATION, A RECTANGULAR CARDBOARD SIDE MEMBER HAVING A LATERAL SCORE LINE FOR FOLDING TO A RIGHT ANGLE POSITION, AND A RECTANGULAR SHEET OF RELATIVELY THIN WRAPPING MATERIAL HAVING A PAIR OF ADJACENT SIDES SEALED IN SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM OVERLAPPING RELATION TO ONE OF THE SIDE MEMBER WITH THE CORNER DEFINED BY SAID SIDES SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDING WITH SAID SCORE LINE, THE SHEET FURTHER HAVING A SEALED FLAT FOLD

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