Pleated wrapper for solid loose articles

• US 5,364,016 A
• Filed: 09/17/1992
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solo Cup Operating Corporation (Robert Charles Dart), Wrapco International N.V.
• Original Assignee: Wrapco International B.V.
• Inventors: Buchberg, Akiva, Capy, Gilbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Garbe, Stephen P.
• Application Number:
  US07/946,766
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 229/87.03, 229/107, 229/DIG. 13
• US Class Current: 229/87.03
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 65/12 formed with crease lines to facilitate folding
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/28 Articles or materials wholly enclosed in composite wrappers, i.e. wrappers formed by associating or interconnecting two or more sheets or blanks

Abstract

A wrapper is formed of a semi-rigid section is fixed to a pleated section made of a thin flexible sheet. The semi-rigid unpleated section is folded to form a cavity for containing loose products. The pleated section is deployed around the cavity to form a self-closing wrapper. After opening the wrapper the products may be consumed from either section. The wrapper is particularly suited for french fries or pizza pies.

Claims

1. A wrapper comprising:

a pleated section formed of a thin and flexible sheet folded along pleat lines to form pleats, wherein said pleated section has two opposed fixed edges perpendicular to said pleat lines which prevent said pleats from unfolding at said fixed edges;

an unpleated section separately formed of a semi-rigid material and having score lines arranged to form said unpleated section into a semi-rigid container for loose products when said unpleated section is folded along said fold lines, said container having two lateral zones, and a central zone disposed in between said lateral zones, said zones being defined by said score lines, said central zone having a central zone edge, said pleated section having one side attached to said central zone edge with said side and edge being generally parallel to said pleat lines, attachment means attaching the one side to said central zone edge, said pleated section when deployed around said container forming a cover closing said container;

wherein said fixed edges are disposed adjacent to said lateral zones as said pleated section is deployed around said container; and

wherein each said lateral zone has a curved lateral zone edge, said pleated section when deployed around said container having open pleat portions adjacent to said lateral zone edges.

2. The wrapper of claim 1 wherein said receptable has two diametrically opposed extremities and said pleated section extends angularly past said extremities to form a self-closing wrapper.

3. The wrapper of claim 1 further comprising openings in said container for aeration.

4. The wrapper of claim 3 wherein said openings are covered by said wrapper when deployed around said container.

5. The wrapper of claim 1 wherein said lateral zone edges are in the shape of an arc of circle.

6. The wrapper of claim 5 wherein said arc of circle exceed 180°

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