Package making – Methods – Applying a partial cover
Reexamination Certificate
1996-05-28
2001-05-01
Johnson, Linda (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Applying a partial cover
C053S442000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223499
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to packaging and more particularly to packaging products using sleeves of plastics material.
Often consumer products are marketed in a pack consisting of a pair of packaged products held together by a heat-shrunk sleeve: the sleeve is preformed from a sheet or strip of typically transparent film with opposite edges bonded together, and the sleeve is slipped by hand over the pair of products, after which heat is applied to shrink the sleeve so that the products become firmly embraced by the sleeve. Typically products which are marketed in this manner include, but are not limited to, cosmetic products and hair-care products.
With products packaged as described above, it is often a difficult task for the consumer to remove the sleeve in order to separate the products for use.
We have now devised a method of packaging two or more products together, which enables the products to be separated easily by the consumer.
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a method of packaging two or more products together, the method comprising the steps of providing a wrapper of plastics sheet material with contact adhesive applied to one or more surface areas of the wrapper, the plastic sheet material optionally being heat shrinkable, then wrapping the wrapper about the products which are to be packed together so that opposite edges of the wrapper either overlap and bond together via the applied contact adhesive, or bond to one of the products, and then optionally applying heat to shrink the wrapper.
Because the wrapper is held in position by contact adhesive only, it is easy for the consumer to remove the wrapper by peeling apart the areas which are held by the contact adhesive.
The two or more products may be positioned side-by-side and the wrapper applied around them. Alternatively, the products may be stacked one upon the other and the wrapper applied around each adjacent pair of products where they meet.
In the case of products positioned side-by-side, preferably the wrapper is of heat shrinkable material and heat is applied to the wrapper, after it has been wrapped around the products, so as to shrink the wrapper and cause it to hold the products together more firmly. In the case of products stacked one on top of the other, I have found that it is not always necessary to heat shrink the wrapper.
For example, a continuous or discontinuous stripe of contact adhesive may be applied to one edge of the wrapper, arranged to bond the two opposite edges of the wrapper together once the latter has been wrapped around the products and overlapped.
In the case of products positioned side-by-side, the wrapper may be arranged that it does not wrap fully around the products: a continuous or discontinuous stripe of contact adhesive is applied to both opposite edges of the wrapper, arranged to bond to one of the products at circumferentially spaced-apart positions once the wrapper has been passed partly around the two (or more) products together.
Preferably areas of the inner surface of the wrapper also have contact adhesive applied to them, so as to bond to the products themselves (or to packaging of those products) when the wrapper is wrapped around them. In this way, the products become more firmly held together and avoid the problem (which has occurred in the past) of the products slipping or separating from each other.
The packaging method of this invention lends itself to automation. Preferably the products to be wrapped are brought together and advanced on a conveyor, whilst a wrapper is cut from a roll of sheet material, advanced to a station at which the contact adhesive is applied to it over the desired areas, and then advanced to and wrapped around the products. Alternatively however, the material of the roll may have adhesive preapplied to it over the desired areas, before it is rolled up. Optionally, after the wrapper has been applied around its products, the wrapped products are advanced to a station at which heat is applied to shrink the wrapper.
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Johnson Linda
Schindler Edwin D
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