BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The subject matter disclosed herein relates to product packaging and packaging handles.
Packaging for products often includes a shrink wrapped cover that envelopes or partially envelopes the product or a plurality of products. The shrink wrapped cover often includes a plastic or polymer film that is exposed to heat to shrink the cover to conform to the product disposed therein. Some previous packaging included handles formed from a cardboard sheet product that pass through the shrink wrapped cover.
FIG. 1 illustrates prior art example of a product 100 that is wrapped in a shrink wrap cover 102. The shrink wrap cover 102 defines orifice regions 104 that are defined by edges 106 of the shrink wrap cover 102.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to one embodiment of the present invention, a product package includes a shrink wrap cover at least partially enveloping a product, the shrink wrap cover having a first portion that compressively conforms at least partially to an outer three-dimensional profile of the product, and a second portion that does not compressively conform to the outer three-dimensional profile of the product, and a handle portion formed from the second portion of the shrink wrap cover, wherein the handle portion extends outward beyond the outer three-dimensional profile of the product.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for fabricating a product package includes forming a shrink wrap cover having an inner surface and an opposing outer surface around a product, the shrink wrap cover defining a first orifice and a second orifice, portions of the inner surface of the shrink wrap cover contacting portions of the product, inserting a first portion of a handle forming member into the first orifice, engaging a portion of the inner surface of the shrink wrap cover with the first portion of the handle forming member, and engaging an opposing portion of the outer surface of the shrink wrap cover with a second portion of the handle forming member, applying a compressive force to the shrink wrap cover with the first portion of the handle forming member and the second portion of the handle forming member, applying heat to the shrink wrap cover that is operative to reduce the surface area of the shrink wrap cover such that the shrink wrap cover substantially conforms to the product, and disengaging the first portion and the second portion of the handle forming member from the shrink wrap cover.
These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates prior art example of a product 100 that is wrapped in a shrink wrap cover.
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a product that is wrapped in a cover.
FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the product of FIG. 2 that includes the cover and the handle portion.
FIG. 4 illustrates a cut-away view of the product along the line 4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5A illustrates a detailed view of the region 5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 5B illustrates another detailed view of the region 5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate arrangement of the cover.
FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a product.
FIG. 8 illustrates a detailed view of the region 8 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a product.
FIG. 10 illustrates a detailed view of the region 10 of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 illustrates another alternate embodiment of a product that includes a handle portion.
FIG. 12 illustrates another alternate embodiment of a product that includes a handle portion.
FIG. 13A illustrates a portion of a wrapping machine.
FIG. 13B illustrates a cover loosely formed around the product.
FIG. 13C illustrates a handle form apparatus.
FIGS. 14A-14F illustrate a side view of an exemplary method and apparatus for fabricating some of the embodiments described herein.
FIG. 15 illustrates a portion of a wrapping machine.
FIG. 16A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a straight edge of the cover.
FIG. 16B illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an edge that includes an edge member.
FIG. 16C illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an edge that includes a loop.
FIG. 16D illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an edge that includes layer or strip of material.
FIG. 16E illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an edge that includes layer or strip of material that is formed over an edge member.
FIG. 16F illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an edge that includes a cover having a greater thickness in a region proximate to the edge.
FIG. 16G illustrates another exemplary embodiment of an edge.
FIG. 16H illustrates yet another exemplary embodiment of an edge.
FIG. 17 illustrates a detailed frontal view of region 17 of FIG. 15 of an alternate embodiment of an edge of the cover.
FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a product that is wrapped in a cover.
FIG. 19 illustrates another detailed frontal view of region 17 of FIG. 15 of another alternate embodiment of an edge of the cover.
The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Product packaging may include a shrink wrapped cover that envelopes or partially envelopes a product or a plurality of products. In many instances, the products may be grouped as a plurality of products that are enveloped in the shrink wrap. Shrink wrap may include, for example, any type of plastic or polymer material that is placed around a product or plurality of products. The shrink wrap may be exposed to heat to shrink the shrink wrap material such that the material conforms to the shape of the product or plurality of products disposed therein. Often the shrink wrap material is formed in a tubular fashion such that the product may be inserted into an end of the tube of sheet product. The term “tubular” is not limited to having a cylindrical cross section, but may include any hollow elongated shape. Once the product is disposed in the tube of shrink wrap the shrink wrap may be exposed to heat, which shrinks the shrink wrap about the product and reduces the size of the openings of the tube.
In many instances, the packaged products are intended to be carried by, for example, a consumer or retail employee. Due to the weight, size, and shape of the packaged products, one or more carrying handles may be desired to ease the lifting and carrying of the packaged products. Previous packaged products that included shrink wrap may have open ends defined by the shrink wrap that result from the use of a tubular arrangement of shrink wrap. The open ends, or orifices are defined by edges of the tube of sheet product. The orifices' edges have a relatively small surface area, and are often uncomfortable when used to lift a packaged product.
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a product 200 that is wrapped in a cover 202. For the purposes of describing the embodiments disclosed herein, the product 200 and other products described herein may include portions of the packaging of a product as well as the product or products themselves. For example, a product may include a plurality of packages of sheet products that are disposed in a corrugated sheet material that is formed into a carton. The cover 202 defines orifices 204 that are defined by edges 206 of the cover 202. Portions of the cover 202 form a handle portion 208. The handle portion 208 has a curved or up-turned shape such that a portion of the edge 206 of the shrink wrap cover 202 extends outwardly from the product 200. The cover 202 and handle portion 208 are formed from a shrink wrap or shrink film material that may include, for example, a polyolefin or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymer plastic film.
FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the product 200 that includes the cover 202 and the handle portion 208.
FIG. 4 illustrates a cut-away view of the product 200 along the line 4 (of FIG. 3).
FIG. 5A illustrates a detailed view of the region 5 (of FIG. 4) that includes the handle portion 208. The handle portion 208 partially defines a portion of the orifices 204. The edge 206 of the cover 202 has a curved profile. The cover 202 has an inner surface 501 and an outer surface 503. The cover 202 conforms to the shape of the product 200 such that portions of the inner surface 501 of the cover 202 are in contact with the outer surface 201 of the product 200. The handle portion 208 extends outwardly from the outer surface 201 of the product 200 such that a portion of the inner surface 501 of the cover 202 is exposed and defines a convex contact portion or surface 502 of the handle portion 208. The outward extension of the handle portion 208 results in a concave contact portion or surface 504 of the handle portion that includes the outer surface 503 of the shrink wrap cover that opposes the contact portion or surface 502. In the illustrated embodiment, the edge 206 of the cover 202 that partially defines the handle portion 208 defines a substantially arcuate, curved, or parabolic shape. The shape of the handle portion may vary in alternate embodiments due to any number of factors including, for example, the shape and size of the product 200, the shape of the tubular cover 202 (prior to the shrinking of the cover 202) the profile of the edge of the cover 202, and the fabrication process that will be described in further detail below.
FIG. 5B illustrates another detailed view of the region 5 (of FIG. 4) that shows a person's hand 550 engaging the handle portion 208. In this regard, the fingers 554 of the hand 550 contact the convex portion of the inner surface 501 of the cover 202 that partially defines the handle portion 208. The thumb 552 may contact the concave outer surface 503 of the cover 202. Though a portion of the hand 550 may contact a portion of the edge 206 of the cover 202, the fingers 554 of the hand 550 in contact with the substantially smooth inner surface 501 of the cover 202 bear the load of the product 200, which is supported by the cover 202. The large surface area of the exposed portion of the inner surface 501 of the cover 202 spreads the load of the product 200 more evenly across the supporting portions of the hand 550 as opposed to the relatively small surface area of the edge 206, thus providing a comfortable lifting arrangement for a user. The line 530 illustrates the direction of the lifting force that is applied to the handle portion 208.
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate arrangement of the cover 202 with a handle portion 208 that partially envelopes a plurality of products 602. In alternate embodiments, a support member or members, such as, for example, a corrugated sheet product, or tensioned bands (not shown) may be arranged with or around the plurality of products 602 to provide rigidity or support to the plurality of products 602.
FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a product 700 that may be wrapped in a cover 702. The edges 706 of the cover 702 define an orifice 701 that exposes portions of the product 700. The product 700 includes a carton 704 having a lid portion 708 and a lower portion 709. FIG. 8 illustrates a detailed view of the region 8 (of FIG. 7). In this regard, a portion of the lid portion 708 is cut and bent inwardly to form a folded edge 710 that is exposed by the orifice 701. The folded edge 710 provides a greater surface area as opposed to the relatively smaller surface area of an exposed edge of the lid portion 708. The orifice 701 allows a user to access the handle portion 712 defined by the folded edge 710 and bear the load of the product 700 more comfortably.
FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a product 900 that may be wrapped in a cover 702. The edges 706 of the cover 702 define an orifice 701 that exposes portions of the product 900. The product 900 includes a carton 904 having a lid portion 908 and a lower portion 909. FIG. 10 illustrates a detailed view of the region 10 (of FIG. 9). A portion of the lid portion 908 is cut and bent outwardly to form a folded edge 910 that is exposed by the orifice 701. The folded edge 910 provides a greater surface area as opposed to the relatively smaller surface area of an exposed edge of the lid portion 908 or the edge 706 of the cover 702. The orifice 701 allows a user to access the handle portion 912 defined by the folded edge 910 and bear the load of the product 900 more comfortably. The handle portion may be formed substantially around the edge 706 of the cover 702 so the cover 702 bears the load of the product 900 directly, or if the handle portion is substantially separated from the edge 706, the load may be borne indirectly from the lid portion 908 which is substantially bound by the cover 702 which in turn bears the load of the product 900. FIG. 11 illustrates another alternate embodiment of a product 1100 that includes a handle portion 1150. The edges 706 of the cover 702 define an orifice 701 that exposes the handle portion 1150. The handle portion 1150 is formed from a substantially planar body portion 1152 that is in contact with side portions 1102 and a bottom portion 1104 of the product 1100. In alternate embodiments, the body portion 1152 may be connected to the product 1100 with an adhesive, or a mechanical connection arrangement to the side portions 1102 and/or the bottom portion 1104. In yet another alternate embodiment, the body portion 1152 may only be attached to and in contact with the side portions 1102. In an embodiment, the planar body portion 1152 is in the form of an uninterrupted continuous strip of material that extends from an orifice 701 on one end of the product 1100, passing under the product 1100, to an opposing orifice 701 (not illustrated in FIG. 11, but understood with reference to FIG. 4) on an opposing end of the product 1100. The line 1130 illustrates the direction of the lifting force that is applied to the handle portion 1150.
FIG. 12 illustrates another alternate embodiment of a product 1200 that includes a handle portion 1250. The edges 706 of the cover 702 define an orifice 701 that exposes the handle portion 1250. The handle portion 1250 is formed from a substantially planar body portion 1252 that is in contact with side portions 1202 and a top portion 1206 of the product 1200. In alternate embodiments, the body portion 1252 may be connected to the product 1200 with an adhesive, or a mechanical connection arrangement to the side portions 1202 and/or the top portion 1206. In yet another alternate embodiment, the body portion 1252 may only be attached to and in contact with the side portions 1202. In an embodiment, the planar body portion 1252 is in the form of an uninterrupted continuous strip of material that extends from an orifice 701 on one end of the product 1200, passing over the product 1200, to an opposing orifice 701 (not illustrated in FIG. 12, but understood with reference to FIG. 4) on an opposing end of the product 1200. The line 1230 illustrates the direction of the lifting force that is applied to the handle portion 1250.
FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary method and apparatus for fabricating some of the embodiments described herein. In this regard, FIG. 13A illustrates a portion of a wrapping machine 1350 that includes a first roll of cover material 1352 and a second roll of cover material 1354. The cover material of the first roll of cover material 1352 is bonded, joined, or connected to the cover material of the second roll of cover material 1354 to form a first seam portion 1303. The first seam portion 1303 may be formed by a compressive, thermal, vibratory, acoustic, or adhesive joining process. The product 200 may be moved relative to the first seam portion 1303 such that the first seam portion 1303 or portions of the material proximate to the first seam portion 1303 contact portions of the product 200. Referring to FIG. 13B, a cover 202 is loosely formed around the product 200, joined at a second seam portion 1305, and severed from the first roll of cover material 1352 and the second roll of cover material 1354. The a second seam portion 1305 may remain connected to the first roll of cover material 1352 and the second roll of cover material 1354, thus becoming a first seam portion for the next product 200 (not shown) that will be packaged subsequently. The cover 202 is substantially tubular, though the shape of the cover 202 may depend on the shape of the product 200, and is not limited to a cylindrical shape, but rather forms a continuous elongated hollow arrangement of cover 202 material having open opposing orifices 1304 defined by the edges 206. The edges 206 of the cover 202 are shown prior to forming an orifice 204 (of FIG. 2).
FIG. 13C illustrates a handle form apparatus 1380 that includes a concave engagement surface 1382 and a convex engagement surface 1384. In operation, a portion of the cover 202 is disposed between the concave engagement surface 1382 and the convex engagement surface 1384 by passing a portion of the edge 206 of the cover 202 between the concave engagement surface 1382 and the convex engagement surface 1384. Though the illustrated embodiment includes a handle form apparatus 1380 that includes a concave engagement surface 1382 and a convex engagement surface 1384, the engagement surfaces of the handle form apparatus 1380 may have alternate shapes arranged in any alternate orientation relative to the product 200. Thus, the use of the terms concave engagement surface and convex engagement surface is a non-limiting exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of an exemplary method and apparatus for fabricating some of the embodiments described herein. In this regard, referring to FIG. 14A, a portion of the cover 202 is disposed between the concave engagement surface 1382 and the convex engagement surface 1384 in a similar manner as described above in FIG. 13C. FIG. 14B illustrates the relative motion of the concave engagement surface 1382 and the convex engagement surface 1384 that are operative to engage and apply a compressive force on a portion of the cover 202 disposed therebetween.
FIG. 14C illustrates the positioning of the concave engagement surface 1382 and the convex engagement surface 1384 prior to shrinking of the cover 202 by the application of heat that is operative to reduce the surface area of the cover 202 such that the cover 202 substantially conforms to the outer surface of the product 202. The compressive force of the concave engagement surface 1382 and the convex engagement surface 1384 is operative to begin the formation of the handle portion 208 (of FIG. 2). The engaged concave engagement surface 1382 and the convex engagement surface 1384 may be moved relative to the product 200 to be positioned in substantially the location where the resulting orifice 701 of FIG. 9 will be located after the heating process. In an alternate embodiment, the engaged concave engagement surface 1382 and the convex engagement surface 1384 may be moved relative to the product 200 during the heating process in a direction and at a rate of motion that corresponds to the shrinking of the cover 202. FIG. 14D illustrates the position of the concave engagement surface 1382 and the convex engagement surface 1384 and the formation of the handle portion 208 in the cover 202 during the heating process. Once the handle portion 208 has been formed, and the cover 202 is shrunk a desired amount, the cover 202 may be allowed to cool.
FIG. 14E illustrates the relative motion of the concave engagement surface 1382 and the convex engagement surface 1384 as the concave engagement surface 1382 and the convex engagement surface 1384 disengage from the handle portions 208 of the cover 202. FIG. 14F illustrates the resultant product 200, cover 202 and handle portions 208.
Instead of using a handle form apparatus 1380, a similar end result may be achieved by changing the composition of the material used to wrap the product. FIG. 15 illustrates a portion of a wrapping machine 1350 that includes a first roll of cover material 1352 and a second roll of cover material 1354 as shown above in FIG. 13. The edges of the first roll of cover material 1352 and the second roll of cover material 1354 may be formed into a variety of exemplary profiles that may facilitate different edges 206 of the cover 202.
In this regard, FIG. 16 illustrates cut away views along the line 16 (of FIG. 15) of exemplary profiles of the edges 206 (of FIG. 2) of the first roll of cover material 1352 (and/or the second roll of cover material 1354) that may be incorporated into any of the embodiments described herein and partially define the orifice 204 and a portion of the handle portion 208. FIG. 16A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a straight edge 206 of the cover 202. FIG. 16B illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an edge 206 that includes a member 1602 that contacts the cover 202 and may include a different material than the cover 202 material. The member 1602 may be formed from, for example, a plastic, or pulp product and may be connected to the cover 202 with for example a joining or bonding process that may include a mechanical connection, a welded, or bonded connection, or an adhesive connection. FIG. 16C illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an edge 206 that includes a loop 1604 that is formed by the connection of an end of the cover 202 to a surface of the cover 202 in a region 1606 using, for example, mechanical connection, a welded, or bonded connection, or an adhesive connection. In one exemplary embodiment, air that is trapped within the loop 1604 forms a cushioned handle when the surrounding cover material 202 shrinks during the heating process. FIG. 16D illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an edge 206 that includes a layer or strip of material 1608 that is formed by the connection of the strip of material 1608 to a surface of the cover 202 in a region 1610 using, for example, mechanical connection, a welded, or bonded connection, or an adhesive connection. FIG. 16E illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an edge 206 that includes layer or strip of material 1614 that is formed over a member 1612 and is connected to the cover 202 in regions 1616 using a suitable connection process. Member 1612 may include a different material than the cover 202 and may be formed from, for example, a plastic, pulp, or fiber product such as string. FIG. 16F illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an edge 206 that includes a cover 202 having a greater thickness (t1) in a region 1618 proximate to the edge 206 and a relatively lesser thickness (t2) in interior regions of the cover 202. FIG. 16G illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an edge 206 that is formed by combining a material 1622 that may include, for example, a plastic, polymer, composite, paper, or pulp product while maintaining the same thickness as the rest of cover 202. The material 1622 may be bonded with the of the cover 202 by using, for example, co-extrusion of different raw materials, or mechanically bonding or welding abutting edges. It is also understood that the different embodiments presented herein may be combined.
FIG. 16H illustrates yet another exemplary embodiment that includes the layering of a strip of material 1626 represented with a filler strip 1624 of a similar material as the cover 202 such that the final cover 202 has a substantially uniform thickness. Alternatively, the strip of material 1608 in FIG. 16D or the material 1614 and member 1612 of FIG. 16E may be compressed to a similar thickness as the rest of the cover 202 by using, for example, the application of a set of rollers to compress the material into a substantially uniform thickness.
The alternative embodiments represented by FIG. 16A-H above may be used to form a handle portion 208 around the entire length of edge 206 of the orifice 204 (of FIG. 2). These methods could be modified, by for example, staggering the arrangement of the features on the edge, or removing portions of the edge features following the wrapping of the product 200, to create a handle at an upper or top of the orifice 204.
FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary detailed frontal view of region 17 (of FIG. 15) of an alternate embodiment of an edge 206 of the cover 202. In this regard, the material 1702 applied at or proximate to the edge 206 of the cover 202 provides a region of the cover 202 that when indexed to a portion of the product 200 is arranged as a handle portion on the product 202.
FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the material 1702 applied to cover 202 arranged on the product 200 that includes a handle portion 1802 partially defined by the material 1702.
FIG. 19 illustrates an alternate exemplary embodiment of a cover 202 similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, where the material 1902 is applied as a continuous strip of material having an undulating or scalloped profile that provides a handle portion similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 18.
The material 1702 may be used alone or in conjunction with any of the embodiments described above including the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 16. Though the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 17 shows the material 1702 proximate to the edge 206, alternate embodiments may include any alternative profile. In an alternative embodiment, the embodiments represented by FIG. 16A-G above may be applied to the first roll of cover material 1352 of FIG. 13A, thereby creating a handle portion 208 on the top half of the edge 206 of orifice 204.
The technical effects and benefits of the embodiments described above include the formation of a handle portion in the cover of a product package that offers a greater surface area to more evenly distribute the weight of a product to provide a more comfortable lifting means for a user.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
