GB2148701A - Disposable caps - Google Patents

Abstract

A disposable cap, e.g. of paper, Fig. 5, is formed from a one-piece blank, Fig. 1, which comprises a central oblong crown panel 2, respective bridging panels 10 and 12 connected by fold lines (16 and 17) to each longer side of the crown panel and which in the upright formed cap is folded upwards along the fold line relative to the crown panel, respective headband panels (30, 31 and 32, 33) connected along fold lines 14 and 15 to each bridging panel 10 and 12 and which in the upright formed cap is folded outwardly and downwardly about the fold line such that the bridging panels and an upper portion of each headband panel are opposed on opposite sides of and above the level of the crown panel, and means joining adjacent ends of the headband panels together to form a continuous headband, slower portion of each headband panel below the level of the crown panel in the upright formed cap defining an annulus for receiving the head of the user. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Disposable caps Thisinvention relates to disposable caps made of sheet material such as paper. Such caps are worn by peopleworkirtg in establishments where hygiene is of importanceforexample in hospitals and in the food and catering industries.

A disposable capis known which comprises a headband with a crown attached to it. This cap requires two pieces of material to be cut to a suitable size and attached to each other with adhesive.

An object ofthe present invention isto provide a disposable cap which is readily formed from a one-piece blank of material such as crepe paper. A further object ofthe invention is to provide a disposable cap which is readily adjustable in size.

It will be understood that the term fold line(s), as hereinafter used, will embrace crease(s), line(s) of perforations, scored lines or any other such line(s) of weakness.

Accordingly, the invention provides a disposable cap formed from a one-piece blank, the cap comprising a central oblong crown panel, a respective bridging panel connected to each longer side ofthe crown panel by a fold line andwhich in the upright formed cap is folded upwards along the fold line relative to the crown panel, a respective headband panel connected along a fold line to each bridging panel and which intheuprightformedcapisfolded outwardly and downwardly aboutthe fold line such thatthe bridging panels and an upper portion of each headband panel are opposed on opposite sides of and above the level ofthe crown panel, and means joining adjacent ends of the headband panelstogetherto form a continuous headband, a lower portion of each headband panel belowthe level ofthe crown panel in the uprightformed cap defining an annulusfor receiving the head of a user.

The invention further provides a blankforforming a disposable cap as above, the blank comprising a central oblong crown panel having a longitudinal fold line intermediate its longer sides, and, connected to each longer side of the crown panel along a respective fold line, a respective further panel comprising adjacent inner and outer sections, the inner section of each further panel forming a bridging panel connect ingthecrown panel to the outer section, and the outer section of each further panel forming a headband panel delimited from the bridging panel by a fold line, the blankfurthercomprising meansforjoining each end of each headband panel with the corresponding end ofthe other headband panel.

Preferably,thecrown panel is shorterthan the headband panelsandthe ends of each bridging panel extend mutually away from one another in the directionfrom adjacent the respective longer side of the crown panel to adjacent the respective headband panel so that each end ofthe crown panel and the adjacent ends of each bridging panel define a generally U-shaped recess.

Further preferably, each headband panel is provided with a longitudinal fold line dividing it into inner and outer leaves ofsimilarwidth which are doubled over in the eventual cap to form a headband panel made up of said inner and outer leaves. The means for joining each end of each headband panel with the corresponding end of the other headband panel preferably comprises tabs on selected ends of the headband panels.

The outstanding tab on each end of one of the headband panels is folded inwards in the eventual cap and unitedwith the outer leafofthe other headband panel. Preferably the adhesive coating on one tab is of the type known as a hot melt glue and is on a face of the tab such that in the eventual cap when the tab is folded inwards this tab is interposed between the inner and outer leaves of the other headband panel and the outer leaf of that headband panel is united by the hot melt glue to the tab.The adhesive coating on the other tab is preferably a strip of double sided tape, for example, as is sold underthe name SUREGRIP S.113(1 2-19mm finger lifttape) and is on a face ofthe tab such that in the eventual cap when the tab is folded inwardsthetab is united with the exteriorface of the outer leaf ofthe other headband panel. In a preferred form of the blankthe inner and outer leaves of each headband panel and the central oblong crown panel are of similar width and the width of each bridging panel is halfthe width of the oblong crown panel, and the bridging panels are trapezium shaped and have ends forming an angle of 45" with the longer parallel sides ofthe crown panel.

In preparing a cap from a blank as described herein the outstanding tabon one end ofthe outer leaf of one ofthe headband panels having the hot melt glue is united with the outer leaf ofthe other headband panel and the othertab having the SUREGRIP S.113 double sided tape has the protective cover of the uppermost surface ofthe SUREGRIP S.113 double sided tape in place so that a user can remove the protective cover to reveal the adhesive surface and fold the tab inwardsto unite it with the exterior face of the outer leaf of the other headband panel at a suitable location which determines the size ofthe cap.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view ofthe blank of crepe paperfor forming a cap according to the invention, Figure 2a is a perspective view ofthe blank of figure 1 in an intermediate stage of assembly, Figure 2b is a plan view ofthe blank of figure 2a in a further intermediate stage of assembly, Figure 2cis a plan view ofthe blank offigure 2b in a further stage of assembly, Figure 2dis a plan view ofthe blank offigure 2coin yet a further stage of assembly, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the blank of figure 2din an expanded condition, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the uprightfinally assembled blank in a substantiallyfolded position, Figure 5 is a top perspective view of the upright assembled blank of Figure 4when opened outforming a cap, Figure 6 is an underneath perspective view of the cap offigure 5, Figure 7 is a plan view a blank of crepe paperfor forming a cap according to a second embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings which are notto scale similar reference numerals have been used to indicate like parts.

The blank 1 comprises an oblong crown panel 2 having a central longitudinal fold line 5 intermediate its longer parallel sides 3,4 and connected to each longer side 3,4 along fold lines 6,7 another panel 8,9 respectively, each panel 8,9 consisting of adjacent inner and outer sections 10,11 and 12,13 respectively.

The inner sections 10,1 2form bridging panels connecting the central oblong crown panel 2to the outer sections 11,13 respectively each ofwhich outer sections 11,13 forms a headband panel. Each headband panel 11,13 is delimited from the respective bridging panels 10,12 by a fold line 14,15 respectively.

Each bridging panel 10,12 is trapezium shaped with the shorter parallel sides 16,17 adjacentthe respective longer sides 3,4 of the central oblong crown panel 2 and the longer parallel sides 18,19 of the bridging panels 10,12 adjacent respective headband panels 11,13so that each of the ends 20,21 of the central oblong crown panel 2 and the adjacent ends 22,23 and 24,25 of each bridging panel 8,9 define generally U-shaped recesses 26,27 respectively. Each headband panel 11,13 is provided with a longitudinal fold line 28,29 respectively dividing each headband panel 11,13 into identical inner and outer leaves 30,31 and 32,33 respectively of similar width. The ends 34,35 of the outer leaf 31 ofthe headband panel 11 are provided with outstanding tabs 36,37 respectively.

Each tab 36,37 is ofsimilarwidth to the outer leaf 31 of the headband panel 11 the tabs 36,37 being delimited from the outer leaf 31 by fold lines 38,39 respectively.

The tab 37 has a coating of a hot melt glue 40 (Figure 2b) on the face opposite to that shown in Figure 1 and the tab 36 has a strip of SUREGRIP 5.113 doublesided tape 41 on the face shown in Figure 1 and having a protective cover ofthe uppermost surface of the double sided tape in place.

In the blank 1 the inner and outer leaves 30,31 and 32,33 ofthe headband panels 11,13 respectively and the central oblong crown panel 2 are ofsimilarwidth and the width of each bridging panel 10,12 is half the width ofthe oblong crown panel 2. Further, each bridging panel 10,12 has ends 22,24 and 23,25 respectively which form an angle of 45" with the longer parallel side of each bridging panel 10,12 respectively.

To assemble a cap from the blank 1 ,the blank 1 is firstly accordian folded aboutthe longitudinal fold lines 5,14,15,28, and 29 as shown in Figure 2a. Each of the accordion folded panels ofthe blank 1 are laid one overtheothertoformthe blank 1 shown in planview in Figure 2b having the inner leaf 32 ofthe headband panel 13 adjacentthe outstanding tabs 36,37 on the ends 34,35 respectively of the outer leaf 31 of the headband panel 1 1.The tab 37 is then folded inwards aboutthe fold line 39 on to the inner leaf 32 of the headband panel 13to reveal the coating of hot melt glue 40 on its underface as shown in figure 2c.

Alternatively the coating of hot melt glue may be applied to the underface ofthe tab 37 when it is in the position shown in Figure 2c. The outer leaf 33 ofthe headband panel 13 is nowfolded inwards about the fold line 29 and is united by the hot meltglueto the tab 37 which is now sandwiched between the inner and outer leaves 32,33 of the headband panel 13. This stage in the assembly ofthe cap is shown in plan view in Figure 2dand in perspectiveviewin Figure 3. Itis envisaged that caps made from the blank 1 will be supplied to users in the condition shown in FigureSd and Figure 3 so that a user can complete a final stage ofthe assembly.

The final stage ofthe assembly of a cap from a blank 1 involves removing the protective cover (not shown2 ofthe uppermost surface ofthe SUREGRIP 5.113 double sided tape 41 to reveal the adhesive surface.

Thetab 36 is folded inwards aboutthe fold line 38 so thatthetab 36 is united by the double sided tape 41 with the exterior face ofthe outer leaf 33 of the headband panel 13 Figure 4. Itwill be understood that the inner or outer leaves 32,33 respectively of the headband panel 13 may be provided with a marking 60 (Figure 6) so thatthetab 36 may be secured to the outer leaf 33 of the headband panel 13 to determine an adjusted size of cap. Furthermore the end 34ofthe headband panel 11 adjacent the tab 36 may be caused to overlap the adjacent end ofthe headband panel 13 to form a reduced size of cap.

The folded blank of Figure4is in use expanded by holding the bridging panel 12 and adjacent inner and outer leaves 32,33 ofthe headband panel 13 between a finger and thumb of one hand and holding the bridging panel 10 and adjacent inner and outer leaves 30,31 ofthe headband panel 11 between a finger and thumb ofthe other hand and pulling in opposite directions until the central oblong crown panel 2 is expanded into a substantially oblong shape thus forming the erected cap 50 as shown in Figure 5.

Referring now to Figures 5and 6, the invention thus provides a cap 50 made from a one-piece blank 1 (Figure 1) comprising a central oblong crown panel 2 having connected to each longer side 3,4a bridging panel 10,12 respectively which in the upright formed cap 50 isfolded upwards along fold lines 6,7 respec- tivelyto make at least an acute angle with the central oblong crown panel 2 and connected along a fold line 14,15 to each bridging panel 10,12 respectiv ly is a headband panel 11,13 having inner and outer leaves 30,31 and 32,33 respectively of simiiarwidthwhich are doubled over and folded outwardly and downwardly about the fold lines 14,15 rnspectivelysuchtatthe bridging panels 10,12 and an upper portion ofthe inner leaves 30,32 respectlvely are opposed on opposite sides of and above the level ofthe crown panel 2 and the free longitudinal edge of each of the outer leaves 31,33 ofthe headband panels 11,13 respectively is adjacentthe corresponding fold lines connecting the bridging panels 10,12 to the adjacent headband panels 11,13,the oblong crown panel 2 being located centrally between the headband panels 11,13 and the headband panels being joined together toform a continuous headband. Inthe upright erected cap 50 each end 20,21 ofthe oblong crown panel 2 and the adjacent end 22,23 and 24,25 of each bridging panel 10,12 respectively, together with the headband panel define apertures 51,52 in the top of the erected cap 50.

It has been found that if the blank 1 is mechanically folded during the preparation of a cap 50, then to ensure accurate folding, it is desirable that the fold lines 28, 14,5, 15 and 29 are lines of perforations and thatthefold lines 6 and 7 are score lines.

Referring nowto Figure 7 there is shown therein a blank70ofcrepepaperforforming a cap according to a second embodiment ofthe invention. In Figure 7 partsofthe blank 70 having corresponding similar parts in the blank of Figure 1 have been indicated by corresponding reference numerals. In particularitwill be observed that the blank 70 does not have the outer leaves3l,33ofthe headband panels 11,13 respectively. Hence, the outstanding tabs 36,37 are now outstanding from the inner leaf 30 of the headband panel 11. Furthermore, the SUREGRIP S.113 double sided tape is now on the opposite face ofthetab 36 than it was on in the first embodiment ofthe invention and is therefore not shown in Figure 7. To assemble a cap from the blank 70 the blank is accordion folded as described hereinbefore and the outstanding tabs 36 and 37 on the ends ofthe inner leaf 30 of the headband panel 11 are secured to the outer face ofthe inner leaf 32 ofthe other headband panel 13.Thus a cap is formed from the blank 70 the cap being substantially the same asthat hereinbefore described but having only a single leaf headband.

It has been found that ifthe blank 70 is mechanically folded duringthe preparation of a cap, it is desirable that the fold lines 14,5 and 15 are lines of perforations and thatthe fold lines 6 and 7 are score lines.

Claims (11)

1. A disposable cap formed from a one-piece blank,the cap comprising a central oblong crown panel, a respective bridging panel connected by afold line to each longer side ofthe crown panel and which in the uprightformed cap is folded upwards along the fold line relative to the crown panel, a respective headband panel connected along a fold line to each bridging panel andwhich intheuprightformedcapis folded outwardly and downwardly about the fold line such thatthe bridging panels and an upper portion of each headband panel are opposed on opposite sides of and abovethe level of the crown panel, and means joining adjacent ends of the headband panelstogether to form a continuous headband, a lower portion of each headband panel below the level ofthecrown panel in the upright formed cap defining an annulus for receiving the head of a user.

2. A disposable cap according to claim 1,wherein the crown panel is shorterthan the headband panels andtheoppositeendsofeach bridging panel extend mutually awayfrom one another in the direction from adjacent the respective longer side ofthe crown panel to adjacent the respective headband panel whereby the cap has gaps at each end between the ends of the crown panel and the joined ends of the headband panels.

3. Adisposablecapaccordingtoclaim 1 or2, wherein each headband panel comprises two leaves ofsimilarwidthwhich are doubled overone upon the other.

4. A blankforforming a disposible cap according to claim 1,the blank comprising a central oblong crown panel having a longitudinal fold line intermediate its longer sides and, connected to each longer side ofthe crown panel along a respective fold line, a respective further panel comprising adjacent inner and outer sections, the inner section of each further panel forming a bridging panel connecting the crown panel to the outer section, and the outer section of each further panel forming a headband panel delimited from the bridging panel by a fold line, the blank further comprising meansforjoining each end of each headband panel with the corresponding end of the other headband panel.

5. A blank according to claim 4, wherein the width of each bridging panel is substantially less than the width ofthe crown panel and the headband panels.

6. A blank according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the crown panel isshorterthanthe headband panels and the opposite ends of each bridging panel extend mutually away from oneanotherfromadjacenta respective longer side of the crown panel to adjacent the respective headband panel so that each end of the crown panel and the adjacent ends of each bridging panel define a generally U-shaped recess.

7. Ablankaccording to claim 6,wherein the bridging panels aretrapezium shaped and have ends forming an angle of about 45 with the longer sides of the crown panel.

8. A blank according to any one of claims 4to 7, wherein each headband panel comprises inner and outer leaves ofsimilarwidth divided by a longitudinal fold line, the inner and outer leaves being doubled over in use to form a double leaf headband panel.

9. A blank according to any one of claims 4to 8, wherein the meansforjoining each end of each headband panel with the corresponding end of the other headband panel comprises tabs on selected ends of the headband panels.

10. Ablankaccording to claim 4, substantially as described with referenceto Figure 1 or7 ofthe accompanying drawings.

11. A disposable cap according to claim 1,such stantially as described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 ofthe accompanying drawings.