US3857139A

US3857139A - Bi-colored wrapper twist tie

Info

Publication number: US3857139A
Application number: US00384065A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-07-30
Filing date: 1973-07-30
Publication date: 1974-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-31

Abstract

A bi-colored twist tie to provide an air tight closure for one end of a wrapper of the type commonly used for certain types of bakery products such as bread, rolls, buns, etc. The tie strip is substantially vertically divided into two portions providing respective contrasting colors to enable a person opening the wrapper to easily detect the directions of twist. Various combinations of contrasting colors may be used to indicate the baking date. A color key may be provided on the wrapper for this purpose.

Description

United States Patent [191 Turner Dec. 31, 1974 [54] BI-COLORED WRAPPER TWIST TIE 3,432,310 3/1969 Weeks 229/87 B X [76] lnventor: Jack Bond Turner, 234 Pinecrest Dr" i i spring 1 331 Primary ExaminerDonald A. Griffin Attorney, Agent, or FirmM. A. Baskin [22] Filed: July 30, 1973 A bi-colored twist tie to provide an air tight closure g for one end of a wrapper of the type commonly used 58 d 229 B 62 for certain types of bakery products such as bread, 1 le 0 27;: 21 A 2 5 rolls, buns, etc. The tie strip is substantially vertically l 1 divided into two portions providing respective contrasting colors to enable a person opening the wrapper [56] References cue! to easily detect the directions of twist. Various combi- UNITED STATES PATENTS nations of contrasting colors may be used to indicate 2,961,727 11/1960 Coffey 24/143 R the baking date. A color key may be provided on the 3,096,014 7/1963 Swan 229/87 B wrapper for this purpose. 3,409,948 11/1968 Goodwin.. 24/305 T X 3,426,393 2/ 1969 Mead 24/305 T 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures BI-COLORED WRAPPER TWIST TIE STATE OF THE PRIOR ART For many years, both ends of wrappers containing bakery goods such as bread, rolls, buns, etc. were sealed shut on both ends. While this closure method was very effective in keeping the product fresh until it reached the consumer, it presented problems once the wrapper was opened for use. In most instances, a portion of the contents was removed from the wrapper and the open end was simply folded loosely shut resulting in a rapid loss of freshness.

In more recent years, a twist tie strip has been used to seal one end of the wrapper at the bakery. The twist tie strips, currently in use, are generally comprised of a relatively thin strip of plastic about 4 inches long and one-eighth of an inch wide with an axially extending thin wire embedded in the plastic. The obvious advantage of the twist tie strip is that it can be reused over and over with the result that the remaining contents of the wrapper retains its freshness for a much longer period of time.

One problem presented by twist tie strips of this general type is that the resulting twist is very tight and this fact combined with the narrow width and the thinness of the material generally results in a condition wherein may people cannot discern the direction of the twist, resulting in a trial and error method of opening same.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention pertains to a bi-colored twist tie to provide an air tight closure for one end of a wrapper of the type utilized for bakery products such as bread, rolls, buns, etc.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a twist tie which is generally centrally, vertically divided into two portions providing respective contrasting colors to enable a person, opening the wrapper to readily discern the direction of twist.

Another object of the present invention is to use various combinations of contrasting colors, color keyed to the days of the weeks, indicated on the wrapper, to indicate the baking date. As an alternative, the baking date may be printed directly on the tiestrip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a loaf of bread in a wrapper with the end thereof tied shut with a bi-colored twist tie in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one form of bi-colored twist tie of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view ofa modified formof bi-colored twist tie.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to the drawings in which like refer ence characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the various views and with particular reference to FIG. 1, the numeral generally designates a loaf of bread in a conventional wrapper 12 with a bicolored twist tie 14 in accordance with the present in- As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the twist tie strip 14 is divided along a substantially, vertical, central line into two portions providing respective contrasting colors such as white at 18 and red at 20. Twist tie strips of this nature may be constructed of a laminated paper material with a thin wire extending between the plies of paper along the longitudinal axis thereofor, as illustrated, a thin wire 22 longitudinally embedded in a strip of a thin plastic material 24.

end 16 of the wrapper 12. thereof or,

In use, the open end 16 of the wrapper 12 is gathered, the twist tie strip is wrapped therearound and the two extending ends are twisted together as illustrated in FIG. 1. With the use of the contrasting colors on the respective end portions, the direction of the twist is readily discernable to any one attempting to open the wrapper end.

Conventional twist tie strips, now in use, are of a single color and it is extremely difficult for persons with even a close up sight deficiency to discern the direction of twist. It therefore becomes a matter of trial and error to open the wrapper end. When a single color twist tie strip is twisted tightly, it is in fact'very difficult for persons with good eyesight to see the twists because, by its very nature, the width of the strip becomes deformed and the twisted portions tend to merge and blend to gether. However, with the use of the bi-colored twist tie strip of the present invention, the color distinction is readily discernable despite any deformations thereof.

The contrasting colorcombination may be keyed to the baking date of the product contained in the wrap-' per 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this event one color such as the white 18 would remain constant for seven different twist tie strips and a different contrasting color would be provided on the opposed end portions thereof, each contrasting color would indicate a different baking day of the week. A color key 26 would be provided on the wrapper 12. For example the colors red, yellow, greem, blue, purple, brown and black would respectively indicate the particular day of the week on which the product in the wrapper 12 was baked.

As indicated in FIG. 3, the name of the day of the week on which the product was baked may be printed on one end portion of the twist tie strip as indicated at 26.

The particular colors referred to and their respective references to particular days of the week are strictly by way of example only and are not intended to be limitmg.

What is claimed is:

l. A Twist Tie Strip for use in providing an air tight closure for the normally open end of a wrapper of the types of bakery products such as bread, rolls, buns, etc., comprising an elongated, narrow strip of any suitable material with a thin wire embedded therein generally along the length of its longitudinal axis, said strip being generally, vertically divided into two halves defined by two contrasting colors, wherein said strip is provided in a plurality of different contrasting colors one color of each strip designating a particular day of the week on which the product in the wrapper was baked, including a color key on said wrapper, associated with said plurality of different contrasting colors to identify the days of the week.

Claims

1. A Twist Tie Strip for use in providing an air tight closure for the normally open end of a wrapper of the types of bakery products such as bread, rolls, buns, etc., comprising an elongated, narrow strip of any suitable material with a thin wire embedded therein generally along the length of its longitudinal axis, said strip being generally, vertically divided into two halves defined by two contrasting colors, wherein said strip is provided in a plurality of different contrasting colors one color of each strip designating a particular day of the week on which the product in the wrapper was baked, including a color key on said wrapper, associated with said plurality of different contrasting colors to identify the days of the week.