US2884183A - Packaging or wrapping devices - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1959 M. FRANKEL PACKAGING 0R WRAPPING DEVICES Filed May 9, 1956 INVENTOR HORR\S FRANKEIL ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,884,183 PACKAGING 0R WRAPPING DEVICES Morris Frankel, Teaneck, NJ.

Application May 9, 1956, Serial No. 583,676

1 Claim. (Cl. 229-68) This invention relates to what I term packaging or wrapping devices formed from plastic material, preferably in tubular form. More particularly, the invention deals with devices of the character defined, wherein end portions of a tube of predetermined diameter and length are heat sealed and, further, wherein at least one surface of the tube, when arranged in flattened condition, is cut to form one or more pockets therein.

Further, the invention deals with devices of the character described, wherein the tube, in its flattened state, may include side gussets to provide greater capacity within the body portion of the tube intermediate sealed ends thereof.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a flattened tube of plastic material, illustrating the arrangement of two cuts on one surface thereof in forming at least a pair of pockets in the resulting device.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, exaggerating the thickness of the material for sake of clarity.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing one end portion only of the device and showing a modification; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing only one end portion of the device and illustrating gusset sides in the tubular body of the device.

In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a tubular body of plastic material of types and kinds which can be either glued or heat sealed and, to indicate one of the many types of plastics that could be used, polyethylene would be an example.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the device comprises an elongated flat tubular body of predetermined length and width, the width defining the diameter of the tube from which the body is formed and, in its flat state, the body 10 has an uncut wall 11 which may be considered an outer wall and an inner wall 12, the two walls being adhesively united by heat sealing at the ends thereof, as indicated at 13, thus providing, between the two walls, a large chamber 14. The inner wall 12 may have one or a number of cuts 15, two of which are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and these cuts are preferably of irregular form, so as to provide, substantially centrally thereof, tongues 16, facilitating the placement of articles of any type or kind in the end compartments 17 of the overall chamber 14.

A device, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing and, in fact, in the modified showings of Figs. 3 and 4, later described, can be utilized for the covering or wrapping of any type of an article or product which may be disposed in one or more chambers or compartments of the resulting device and, as uses of devices of the kind under consideration are very extensive, no attempt will ice be made to designate such uses. However, to indicate one practical use of the device, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the device may comprise a bookcover for protection of a book and, in such uses, the outer wall 11 will form the protective covering for the book with the covers inserted into the compartments 17 beneath the end Wall portions 12' of the wall 12. It will, thus, be apparent that these wall portions 12 will form, upon the inner surfaces of the bookcovers, pockets, in which papers, cards or the like can be mounted and the tongue 16 will facilitate insertion of papers or cards into the pockets or compartments 17.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown, at 18, one end portion of a modified device which difiers from the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 primarily in providing, beyond the adhesive or heat seal 13', similar to 13 in Figs. l and 2, tubular extensions 19, having open ends 20, into which the covers of a book can be inserted, so that, in use, the extension 19 will assume the position indicated in dotted lines upon the inner surface 21 of the tubular device. In this construction, a modified form of cutout 22 is shown to provide an apertured or recessed central portion 23 to gain access to the resulting pocket or pockets, as will be apparent. Otherwise, the structure of Fig. 3 will be the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

It might be pointed out, at this time, that, in various types and kinds of packaging, the provision of the extended open tube 19 on one or both ends of the device can be advantageous to gain access to articles which may be arranged in this extension or extensions.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, I have shown another modification of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the device 24 differs from the device 10 simply in having gusseted side edge portions 25, which allow the device to be expanded into a greater diameter beyond the end adhesions or head seals, one of which is indicated at 26. Here again, the inner surface 27 of the device is cut, as seen at 28, to form an opening to gain access to the interior of the resulting device. With devices of the type and kind indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the opening provided can be solely at one end portion of the device, so that it has a single pocket or chamber 29, access to which is attained through the cut opening 28. This type and kind of device lends itself to numerous uses for the wrapping and packaging of articles or products of many types and kinds. In most instances, the device will be constructed from transparent or translucent materials; whereas, in other instances, opaque materials can be used, particularly where the latter would be desirable for protection of the items packed or stored in the device.

With devices of the type and kind under consideration, a very simple and economical covering, packaging or containing device can be produced. In fact, it is so economical that, after any of its uses, it can be disposed of. In many uses, the device will be printed or lithographed for enhancing the appearance thereof and/ or to associate with the resulting packaging any information which would be advantageous to the ultimate user or purchaser. In some instances, it may include imprint of prices of the products or merchandise contained within the device. It might also be pointed out, at this time, that, by reason of the flexibility of the material, in some instances, the contents within the pocket or compartment of the device can be rolled with the device and one of the pockets or chambered end portions used as a seal to ultimately envelope the rolled or folded body portion. To illustrate the latter, the device could be used, for example, as a tobacco pouch containing a predetermined quantity of tobacco 3 which, after consumption, the pouch can be disposed of.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A packaging device comprising a flexible plastic tube arranged in a'flat state to dispose Walls of the tube in adjacent relationship, the Walls of said tube having sealed end portions forming a narrow elongated compartment within the device, the Walls of the tube being circumferentially integral and of common thickness, said tube having on one Wall only thereof a transverse opening to gain access to said compartment for support or positioning of an article Within the compartment, and the device including, beyond the seals, protruding open tubular portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Reynolds Jan. 22, 1878 Shaw et a1. July 7, 1936 Schwartzman Feb. 18, 1941 Knuetter Dec. 2, 1941 Piazze Nov. 7, 1950 Kindseth Nov. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 24, 1917 Great Britain Nov. 1, 1923 Great Britain Sept. 11, 1940

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