US2851787A

US2851787A - Polyvinyl wrapping tape

Info

Publication number: US2851787A
Application number: US365360A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph M Gordon
Original assignee: Chicago Printed String Co
Current assignee: Chicago Printed String Co
Priority date: 1953-07-01
Filing date: 1953-07-01
Publication date: 1958-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1975-09-16

Description

Sept. 16, 1958 IN V EN TOR.

u/JJEP M 60k 004/ United States Patent POLYVINYL WRAPPING TAPE Joseph M. Gordon, Swampscott, Mass., assignor to Chicago Printed String Company, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 1, 1953, Serial No. 365,360

3 Claims. (Cl. 34-16) This invention relates to a new plastic type of binding loop or ribbon for fixing wrappings on packages, or similar articles.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a binding tape in loop form which has unusual elasticity, extensibility and appearance so as to make it uniquely suitable for use as a binding tape or ribbon for packages, or similar articles.

Among other objects of the invention is to provide a loop binding ribbon-like tape having elasticity, extensi- 'bility and appearance which make it suitable for quickly, attractively and securely wrapping packages.

Sheet material made from vinyl and similar resins is too expensive to be formed into ribbons for use as a binding tape. If small gauge sheets are employed to decrease the cost, the migration of plasticizer from the sheet or ribbon soon causes the product to become useless.

One phase of the invention is based on the discovery that ribbon cut sheets of plasticized synthetic polymers of 6-l6 gauge thickness can be formed into a loop which is stretchable and uniquely suited for stretching over packages to attractively secure them in desired form provided certain precautions are taken. In order to provide a tape which will not buckle nor be permanently fixed in extended position when stretched the ribbon should be at least 6 gauge thickness (.006). If the tape is more than 16 gauge .016") it is too difficult to stretch. In cutting, the tape or ribbon must be cut parallel to the grain, usually parallel to the length of the sheet from which it is cut.

Also, according to the invention, sheets must contain about 20-30% of plasticizer. Ordinarily such sheets contain 10-15% plasticizer but a minimum of plasticizer is required to obtain desired extensibility. More than 30% plasticizer results in trouble due to plasticizer migration. Even with 20% plasticizer, the sheets or ribbons cut therefrom have a sticky or clammy feel and it has been found that if one side of the sheet or ribbon cut therefrom is embossed to simulate a fibrous structure, for example, the sticky characteristics of that side disappear and simultaneously the ribbon or sheet is given an attractive appearance. The embossed sheets are cut into ribbons, electro or otherwise welded :at the ends, to form a loop. The looped ribbon if stretched and fitted over a box or package will tend to recover its original length and accordingly will hold the package in fixed position. The looped ribbons are selected to fit under two opposed corners of a prismatic box or package so that a great amount of time is saved by merely snapping the said loops on a package. There is no great tendency for the loop to twist. An extremely desirable effect is obtained which is suitable for gift wrapping.

Suitable thermoplastics for the invention are the polyvinyl type of resins such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl carbozole and polyethylene type resins including the resins made by hydrogenating polymers of butadiene. These resins are all capable of being colored or pigmented to dark, white or Patented Sept. 16, 1958 pastel shades and if desired they may also be obtained in translucent or transparent condition. In each case, the polymers are compounded with 2030% plasticizer.

The above described and other objects of the invention will be best understood from the following description of exemplifications of the same when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a view of a portion of an embossed sheet from which a strip of tape is cut to produce the loop of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a loop formed from a strip cut from the sheet of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the loop strip being stretched to tie a box.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the completed package.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view along line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

A sheet 10 of polyvinyl resin containing 2030% of plasticizer and having a thickness of 6l6 gauge is selected and embossed on one side. A surface treatment sufficient to give the surface region a frosted or satiny finish and luster or to give it the appearance of a closely woven fabric is sufficient to remove the undesirable stickiness of the surface which is to be the outside surface of the loop. The sticky properties of the opposite or under side are not undesirable and in fact provide a loop which maintains the position in which it is placed on a package. The grain of the sheet 10 can be easily determined if not already known by testing to find in which direction the sheet tears the easiest. A sheet will part easier and along a straight line if the tension is applied perpendicular to the grain. In the sheet 10 shown the grain runs as shown in arrow 11. The embossed side 12 of the sheet is shown. The embossing may be done before or after cutting to strip form but where large embossing equipment is available it is obviously easier to emboss before cutting. Embossing is ordinarily done by passing between a pair of rollers, one of which is heated to approximately the softening temperature of the plastic and contains the fine line design desired to be embossed thereon. The design comprises a multiplicity of closely spaced substantially parallel or concentric fine lines which are adapted to impart a fabric-like appearance to the sheet.

Thereafter, the sheet is cut along lines 13, 14, 15, etc. to form the ribbon-like strips of the desired width. Widths corresponding to the width of standard ribbons are very satisfactory.

The strips are then cut to the proper length and united at the ends :as at 21 to form the loop 20. In Fig. 2, the slick, sticky side 19 and the embossed satiny side are both shown.

In selecting a loop' to fit a particular box or package, the diagonal plus the thickness of the package or box is measured :and multiplied by two. Then a loop is selected which is 65 to of the measured length. The box 30 is then quickly and easily tied by slipping one end 22 of the loop over the corner 31 of the box, stretching by pulling at the end 23 of the loop 20 until the said end 23 can be slipped over the corner 32. Y

The flat ribbon form of the band prevents the band from twisting when being placed on the box or package.

The features and principles underlying the invention described :above in connectionwith specific exemplifications will suggest to those skilled in the art many other modifications thereof. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims shall not be limited to any specific features or details shown and described in connection with the exemplifications thereof.

It will be seen that the invention provides a novel wrapping band with a decorated, non-tacky surface of any desirable color, which operates in a quick and desir .3. able way to produce the equivalent of aribbon-tied package.

Iclaim:

1. A 'binding loop or ribbon comprisingia unitary endless relatively narrow-band of substantially uniform width throughoutits extent having a thicknessof approximately 6-16 gauge and .being stretch'able, by about 15-35%, said band being formed of a thermoplastic syn-, thetic resin containing 2030% ofplasticizer, the grain of said band beingparallel to the edges, thereof, and said band also having an embossed outer surface to reduce thetackiness thereof, whereby the-band maybe readily stretched "over a package having relatively movable parts. to hold the partstogether and the package will 'not adhere to adjacent 'conta'cting'objects.

2. A binding loop or ribbon as recited in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic synthetic resin is a polyvinyl resin.

3. Apackage comprising in combination, a prismatic object'having a rectangularshaped'portion, a wrapper aboutsaid object and means to hold said wrapper in place about'said object, said means comprising an endless narrow stretchable band having portions thereof passing under diagonally opposite corner edges of said prismatic object externally of said wrapper with the connecting portions of said band lying substantially parallel to each other inv taut'condition on oneface of the wrapper,

said band being of substantially uniform width throughout its extent and having a thickness of 6-16 gauge and an elongation of 15-35%, said band being formed of a thermoplastic synthetic resin containing 20-30% plasticizer and having its outer surface embossed to reduce the tackiness thereof, whereby the package will not adhere to contacting objects and the band may be readily placed on and removed from the wrapped object by stretching the band.

References Citedin thefileof thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. A BINDING LOOP OR RIBBON COMPRISING A UNITARY ENDLESS RELATIVELY NARROW BAND OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM WIDTH THROUGHOUT ITS WXTEND HAVING A THICKNESS OF APPROXIMATELY 6- 16 GAUGE AND BEING STRETCHABLE BY ABOUT 15-35%, SAID BAND BEING FORMED OF A THERMOPLASTIC SYNTHETIC RESIN CONTAINING 20-30% OF PLASTICIZER, THE GRAIN OF SAID BAND BEING PARALLEL TO THE EDGES, THEREOF, AND SAID BAND ALSO HAVING AN EMBOSSED OUTER SURFACE TO REDUCE THE TACKINESS THEREOF, WHEREBY THE BAND MAY BE READILY STRETCHED OVER A PACKAGE HAVING RELATIVELY MOVABLE PARTS TO HOLD THE PARTS TOGETHER AND THE PACKAGE WILL NOT ADHER TO ADJACENT CONTACTING OBJECTS.