GB2589741A

GB2589741A - Wrap

Info

Publication number: GB2589741A
Application number: GB2019292.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Adrian; Clarkson Jon; Gates Patrick
Original assignee: TRAFFI SAFE Ltd
Current assignee: TRAFFI SAFE Ltd
Priority date: 2020-12-08
Filing date: 2020-12-08
Publication date: 2021-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-08
Also published as: GB202019292D0; GB2589741B

Abstract

A wrap 1 for wrapping items comprising a body having a first end portion 2 and a second end portion 4. The wrap has a central opaque portion 8 located between the first and second end portions, and a window 13 located in the central opaque portion. The window may be formed as an aperture or may comprise a transparent layer of material. The end portions may be joined together by an attachment means which may comprise a latching member, or a plurality of spaced apart latching members. The attachment means may be adjustable.

Description

The present invention relates to a wrap, and more particularly to a wrap for wrapping a stack of gloves. The invention also provides a combination of a stack of items and a wrap as well as a method of forming such a combination.

Gloves, such as disposable medical gloves or work gloves, are commonly packaged and shipped in cardboard boxes which contain a stack of gloves. This necessitates a large amount of cardboard packaging, which is disadvantageous from environmental and economic points of view. Glove suppliers often offer ranges of different types of gloves which are shipped in unmarked cardboard boxes, for convenience. End users usually store the gloves in the unmarked boxes and remove gloves as required. A user having several boxes of different types of gloves must therefore open each of the boxes to find a particular type of gloves.

It is amongst the objects of the invention to address one or more of these problems.

In a first aspect the invention provides a wrap for wrapping items comprising; a body having; a first end portion, a second end portion, a central opaque portion located between the first and second end portions, and a window located in the central opaque portion, such that, when the wrap is wrapped around a stack of items, a portion of one of the items may be viewed through the window.

Work gloves which form part of a range gloves are often printed with information to identify the type of glove, the cut-resistance, the abrasion resistance and the tear resistance, amongst other information. One example of this type of glove is shown in figure 1. This glove is a polymer dipped work glove, with a circular portion of printed information provided on the back of the glove. The wrap of the present invention provides an environmentally sustainable and convenient packaging solution for items such as gloves, where it is useful for a viewer to view a part of the item at a glance, for example information relating to the properties of the item. Unlike a box or container, the wrap according to the invention grips the items to hold them together. It does not simply provide a volume for accommodating a number of items. The wrap reduces the amount of packaging required relative to a box for accommodating the items, whilst allowing a user to identify, at a glance, the type of item (e.g. a glove) which the packaging holds.

The wrap is formed of a flexible material so that it can be wrapped around a stack of items. The window may have a width or height of between 3 cm-10 cm.

Preferably the length of the wrap is between 350 and 650 mm and is preferably between 500 and 540 mm. Preferably the width of the wrap is between 80 and 120 mm. Preferably the wrap comprises material having a grams per square meter (GSM) value of between 300 and 420 GSM, and more preferably 340-380 GSM. Preferably the wrap is formed from card.

Preferably the card is made from 100% recycled pulp.

The window may be formed as an aperture. This provides an easily and cheaply manufactured wrap, which can be formed in a continuous process. The aperture can be formed simply by punching out a cut-out from a sheet of 25 material.

The window may comprise a transparent layer of material. This can provide protection to a product wrapped using the wrap, whilst still allowing a user to view the product through the window.

The wrap may comprise an elastic material. Preferably, the wrap does not comprise corrugated cardboard.

The wrap may be tapered towards its ends. That is, the ends of the wrap may have a smaller width than a middle portion of the wrap. The wrap may be generally rectangular. The wrap may have a length to width ratio of between 1.5:2 and 1:4, 1:5 or 1:6. Preferably the wrap is elongate. Preferably the wrap does not comprise flaps or other members for enclosing one or more ends of the items around which it is wrapped. Preferably, when wrapped around a stack of items, the wrap forms a band around a body of the items. Preferably, when wrapped around a stack of items, the wrap does not form a box or container. Preferably, when wrapped around a stack of items, the wrap does not enclose one or more of the ends of the stack of items. Preferably, when the wrap is wrapped around a stack of items, the items in the stack are all orientated in the same direction.

The wrap may further comprise an attachment means for attaching the first end portion to the second end portion.

The attachment means may be adjustable so that the first end portion may be attached to the second end portion to provide a wrap which has at least two different circumference configurations. This allows the wrap to be wrapped around stacks of items of varying sizes. The circumference referred to relates to the space inside the wrap which is available for holding items, when the two ends of the wrap are attached to one another. A larger circumference means that there is more space to accommodate items than there is with a smaller circumference.

The attachment means comprise a latching member. This provides a convenient and removably engageable way of attaching one end of the wrap to the other.

The attachment means may comprise a plurality of latching members which are spaced apart at one of the first or second end portions, which latching members are removably engageable with a corresponding latching member at the other of the first and second end portions. The presence of multiple latching members provides a convenient way of lengthening or shortening the circumference of the wrap when one end is attached to the other.

Each of the first and second end portions may be provided with more than one 5 attachment means such the first end portion may be attached to the second end portion to create a wrap with at least four different internal diameters, wherein the centre of the window is positioned generally equidistant between the midpoints of the more than one attachment means at the first end portion and the more than one attachment means at the second end portion. 10 For example, when there are two attachment means at the first end and two attachment means at the second end, the midpoints referred to will be half way between attachment means in each pair of attachment means. The window will be positioned equidistant between these two midpoints. This provides adjustability for the circumference of the wrap when one end is joined to the other, whilst allowing the window to stay generally centred with respect to the attachment means and the items to be wrapped.

The attachment means may comprise engageable cut-outs or flaps. These provide an attachment means which is cheap to manufacture and which may be manufactured on a continuous process, simply by punching out lines or areas in the wrap material.

The attachment means may be an adhesive, covered with a peel-off strip.

The window may have one, two or more axes of symmetry. Axes of symmetry assist in lining up the window with information on the items to be wrapped.

The window may be generally circular. This is particularly useful when the printed matter on an item to be wrapped is in a circular format. It also assists in lining up the window with the information on the item to be packaged, since the window has a high degree of symmetry.

The window may have an axis of symmetry which is aligned with a direction of elongation of the wrap. This helps with alignment of the window with information on the item being wrapped.

The centre of the window may be equidistant between first and second ends of the wrap. This assists in wrapping of a stack of items.

The wrap may further comprise weakened lines. These can assist with folding the wrap around a stack of items.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a combination of a wrap as described herein and a stack of gloves, wherein the wrap is wrapped around the stack of gloves and the first end portion of the wrap is attached to the second end portion of the wrap, such that information displayed on at least one of the gloves is visible through the window.

In other embodiments of the invention, the combination may comprise a wrap as described herein wherein the objects wrapped clothing items, for example socks or tights.

The first end portion may be removably attached to the second end portion.

The glove may be a work glove. The glove may be a polymer-dipped work glove. The glove may be a disposable polymer glove, such as a nitrile glove.

The gloves may be provided with information displayed, for example printed, on the back of the glove.

The window may be shaped to match the shape of information which is displayed on the glove and which is visible through the window.

In a third aspect the invention provides a method of packaging gloves to form a combination as described herein, comprising the steps of; providing a stack of two or more gloves, providing a wrap as described herein, wrapping the wrap around the stack of gloves and attaching the first end portion to the second end portion.

Non-limiting embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures of the drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows a type of work glove which has information printed on the back of the glove.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a wrap according to the invention, when laid out flat.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a combination according to the invention comprising a wrap which is wrapped around a stack of gloves.

Figure 1 shows a work glove according to the prior art having information 101 printed on the back of the glove. The glove has a fabric body 102 which has been dipped in a polymer 103, which covers the palm and portions of the fingers of the glove.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a wrap 1. The wrap has been laid flat on a surface. The wrap is made of 360GSM card. The card material is flexible. The wrap has a length of 520 mm and a width of 100 mm. Therefore, the wrap has a generally elongate shape. A first end portion 2 of the wrap has a straight end edge 3. The straight end edge 3 defines a width of the first end of the wrap. The width of the wrap 1 increases via a taper 5 from the first end edge 3, towards a second end 4 of the wrap. The taper 5 is formed by two tapered sides 6 and 7 which are curved and have a shallow concave shape.

The taper ends when the first end portion meets a middle portion 8 of the wrap. The middle portion is opaque and may be provided with printed surface decoration which corresponds to a product to be wrapped. The middle portion is generally rectangular in shape and is bounded by two straight sided edges 9. The middle portion 8 comprises a first side portion 10 and a second side portion 11. These portions have a generally rectangular shape. Between the side portions 10 and 11 the middle portion 8 has a central section 12. The central section 12 is provided with a generally circular window 13. The window 13 is formed as an aperture (that is, a cut-out) in the material which forms the middle portion 8. The window is positioned in the middle of the central section 12, such that the central section is generally symmetrical. The window is provided with a tab 14 which breaks the symmetry of the window. The tab is semi-circular in shape and protrudes from the edge of the cut-out which forms the window 13. In some embodiments, the tab is not present and the window would be, for example, a circular shape. The advantage of the tab is that it can accommodate information which is to be read alongside information which is visible on the item through the window. The fact that the tab breaks the symmetry of the window also provides a reference point to assist a user in providing a specific orientation of the product, for example in a display. This is useful when the product with which the wrap is being used is preferably wrapped and stacked in a specific orientation.

In other embodiments the window is formed from a transparent layer, for example a polymer film, which is affixed, preferably by an adhesive or heat sealing, to the perimeter of a cut-out in the central section.

The first and second side portions 10 and 11 of the middle portion 8 are optionally provided with two weakened lines 15 which are straight, parallel, and run across the wrap, perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the wrap. The weakened lines are formed by scoring, for example by laser scoring. The weakened lines are parallel and are provided a distance apart which corresponds to the item(s) to be wrapped. For example, the distance between the lines may correspond to the height of a stack of gloves to be wrapped. This ensures that the window 13 is positioned centrally over the middle of the top glove in the stack when the wrap is wrapped around the stack.

At the end of the middle portion 8 which is opposite to the first end portion 2, the middle portion 8 meets the second end portion 4. The width of the wrap tapers to a second straight end edge 16. The taper 17 is formed by two tapered sides 18 and 19 which are curved and have a shallow concave shape. The taper 17 towards the second end edge 16 is longer than the taper 5 to the first end edge 3.

The first 2 and second 4 end portions are provided with a latching mechanism. Leaving aside any non-symmetrical features of the window, the wrap has an axis of symmetry 'A' which runs from the mid point of the first end edge 3 to the mid point of the second end edge 16. The latches are formed by semi-circular cut lines which are positioned symmetrically along the axis of elongation A of the wrap.

The first end portion 2 is provided with two spaced apart latches 20. The second end is provided with four equally spaced latches 21. The shape of the cut lines forms a tab and a corresponding slot in the material of the wrap when the tab is bent out of the plane of the wrap.

In use, a user provides a stack of items, such as gloves, to be wrapped. The wrap is wrapped around the items such that information displayed on one of the items is aligned with the window 13. The first 2 and second 4 end portions of the wrap are brought together and one of the latches 20 from the first end portion 2 is engaged with one of the latches 21 on the second end portion. The semi-circular flap formed by one of the latches engages with the semicircular slot formed by the other latch. The material from which the wrap is formed is slightly resilient. This assists in retaining the engagement of the latches.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a combination of a stack of gloves 22 wrapped by the wrap 1. The gloves are work gloves which are formed by dipping a fabric inner into a liquid polymer to coat the palm and portions of the fingers of the gloves with a polymer layer. The weakened line 15 defines a fold at the edge of the bottom of the stack. A latch at the first end portion of the wrap is engaged with a latch at the second end portion of the wrap. The weakened lines 15 are spaced apart by a distance which corresponds to the height of the stack of gloves.

The window 13 is aligned with a circular marking 23 on the back of one of the gloves. This marking provides information regarding the cut-resistance, water resistance, certification and other properties of the glove. The gloves are of the type shown in Figure 1.

The wrap is adjustable to enable the wrap to fit different sizes of stacks items.

In use, a user will remove gloves from the stack as they are needed by pulling them out of the wrap. The wrap can then be adjusted as the height of the stack decreases to maintain a tight hold on the remaining gloves in the stack. To adjust the internal circumference of the wrap, once wrapped around a stack of items, a user can disengage the latches 20 and 21, tighten the wrap, and engage a pair of the latches 20, 21 which are closer to the middle portion 8 of the wrap.

The centre of the window 13, is positioned generally central to the midpoint of each group of latches 20, 21 at the first 2 and second 4 end regions of the wrap. The midpoint of the latches 21 is midway between the second and third latches in the series. The midpoint of the latches 20 is midway between those latches. The position of the centre of the window relative to those two midpoints ensures that as the latches are adjusted to accommodate different sized stacks of items, the window 13 may remain centrally located on the top of the stack, with the latches remaining at the bottom of the stack. This means that markings 23 on the items themselves are not obscured by the window 13 being offset relative to the markings as the tightness/length of the wrap is adjusted.

In other embodiments, the latches may be replaced by one or more regions of adhesive, which are covered with peel-off strips.

Claims

Claims 1. A wrap for wrapping items comprising; a body having; a first end portion, a second end portion, a central opaque portion located between the first and second end portions, and a window located in the central opaque portion, such that, when the wrap is wrapped around a stack of items, a portion of one of the items may be viewed through the window.
2. A wrap according to claim 1 wherein the window is formed as an aperture.
3. A wrap according to claim 1 wherein the window comprises a transparent layer of material.
4. A wrap according to any preceding claim further comprising an attachment means for attaching the first end portion to the second end portion.
5. A wrap according to claim 4 wherein the attachment means is adjustable so that the first end portion may be attached to the second end portion to provide a wrap which has at least two different circumference configurations.
6. A wrap according to either of claims 4 or 5 wherein the attachment means comprises a latching member.
7. A wrap according to claim 6, wherein the attachment means comprises a plurality of latching members which are spaced apart at one of the first or second end portions, which latching members are removably engageable with a corresponding latching member at the other of the first and second end portions.
8. A wrap according to any preceding claim wherein each of the first and second end portions are provided with more than one attachment means such the first end portion may be attached to the second end portion to create a wrap with at least four different internal diameters, wherein the centre of the window is positioned generally equidistant between the midpoints of the more than one attachment means at the first end portion and the more than one attachment means at the second end portion.
9. A wrap according to any of claims 4-8 wherein the attachment means comprises engageable cut-outs or flaps.
10. A wrap according to any of claims 1-3 wherein the attachment means is an adhesive, covered with a peel-off strip.
11. A wrap according to any preceding claim wherein the window has one, two or more axes of symmetry.
12. A wrap according to any preceding claim wherein the window is generally circular.
13. A wrap according to any preceding claim wherein the window has an axis of symmetry which is aligned with a direction of elongation of the wrap.
14. A wrap according to any preceding claim wherein the centre of the window is equidistant between first and second ends of the wrap.
15. A wrap according to any preceding claim further comprising weakened lines which assist with folding the wrap around a stack of items.
16. A combination of a wrap according to any preceding claim and a stack of gloves, wherein the wrap is wrapped around the stack of gloves and the first end portion of the wrap is attached to the second end portion of the wrap, such that information displayed on at least one of the gloves is visible through the window.
17. A combination according to claim 16 wherein the first end portion is removably attached to the second end portion.
18. A combination according to either of claims 16 or 17 wherein the glove is a polymer-dipped work glove.
19. A combination according to any of claims 16-18 wherein the window is shaped to match the shape of information which is displayed on the glove and which is visible through the window.
20. A method of packaging gloves to form a combination according to any of claims 16-19, comprising the steps of; providing a stack of two or more gloves, providing a wrap according to any of claims 1-15, wrapping the wrap around the stack of gloves and attaching the first end portion to the second end portion.