US3486681A

US3486681A - Wrapper

Info

Publication number: US3486681A
Application number: US790206A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert R Radtke; George B Arvanigian
Original assignee: International Paper Co
Current assignee: International Paper Co
Priority date: 1969-01-10
Filing date: 1969-01-10
Publication date: 1969-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1986-12-30

Description

Dem 3o, 1969 R, mm-KE ET AL 3,4s66s1 WRAPPER Filed Jan I7 I4 l `2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ROBERT R.

RADTKE GEORGE B, ARVANIGIAN Byn/J ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1969 4R, R, RADTKE ET AL lWRAPPER Filed Jan. 10, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 24 l I 2i FIG. 8 n 34 UL INVENTORS 1' ROBERT R. RADTKE BYGEORGE B. ARVANIGIAN L" l '2'5 k7/Q0 ATTORNEY U.S. Cl. 229-40 United States Patent 3,486,681 WRAPPER Robert R. Radtke, Howell, and George B. Arvanigian,

Portage, Mich., assignors to International Paper 'Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 790,206 Int. Cl. B65d 65/38, 75/26 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wrapper for use in the shipment of variously shaped articles, e.g., automotive fenders, which is cellulosic in nature and rectangular in configuration and which comprises (1) an essentially rigid, tubular section having a plurality of transversely extending score lines and (2) an essentially flexible tubular section comprising two single faced sheets, unsecured to one another, which are extensions of the rigid section and having at least one longitudinal line of severance permitting said flexible section to`^be torn along said line, thus enabling it to be wrapped in close conformity to the contour of the article being packaged.

The present invention relates to a packaging material. More particularly, it relates to a wrapper for use in the wrapping and shipment of irregularly shaped articles, such as automotive sheet metal parts.

Automotive sheet metal parts, such as fenders, bumpers, and doors are shipped either by truck or rail. The wrapping materials which have heretofore been employed did not conform to the contour of the part being shipped since an essentially rigid wrapper construction was employed. Thus, the bandings or straps that were ultimately placed about the wrappervwould not hold the part tightly within the wrapper. As a result, the wrapper would become slack, permitting movement of the part within the wrapper and resulting in extensive damage during shipment if the part fell out of the wrapper. The wrapper of the present invention obviates these difficulties and is, also, quite economical to produce.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel wrapping material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wrapping material for articles of varied configuration, such as automotive sheet metal parts.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a wrapping material which is entirely cellulosic in nature and which is characterized by a unitary wrapper having both rigid and flexible sections.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an essentially rectangularly-shaped, cellulosic wrapping material which has a flexible section and, integral therewith, a rigid section, the flexible section conforming closely to a portion of the contour of the article and the rigid section providing suicient strength, so as to enable the wrapper and its contents to withstand all shipping and handling conditions to which it will be subjected.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an open-ended wrapper for wrapping automobile fenders having an essentially exible tubular section and an essentially rigid tubular section. l

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description.

FIG. l is a plan view of the wrapper blank of the instant invention with an automobile fender shown disposed thereon.

3,486,681 Patented Dec. 30, 1969 FIG. 2 is an exaggerated view taken along the line of 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exaggerated view taken along the line of 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exaggerated view taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wrapper blank of the present invention after a folding operation.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view after another folding operation.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wrapper after the completion of the folding operations.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the wrapper standing on end.

FIG. 1 depicts the unitary wrapper blank of the present invention which is essentially rectangular in shape and which is generally indicated by the numeral 10. It consist's of two major sections; namely, an essentially or substantially rigid section 11 and an essentially or substantially flexible section 12.

It is to be understood that, when reference is made to liners, corrugated mediums, and facing sheets, throughout the instant application that they may be made from any of a'variety of cellulosic materials. It is preferred, however to employ kraft paper materials from the standpoint of both practicality and economy.

As can be seen by reference to the various figures, the rigid section 11 comprises an inner monoplanar liner 13, the inner face of which is secured by an adhesive, e.g., starch adhesive, to the flutes of an underlying first portion of one surface of a first corrugated medium 14. The flutes on the other surface of said first portion of said first corrugated medium 14 are, in turn, adhesively secured to one face of a first portion of a centrall monoplanar liner 15.

r The other or lower face of said rst portion of said central liner 15 is secured to the flutes of a rst portion of one surface of a second corrugated medium 16. The flutes of the other surface of said first portion of said corrugated medium 16 are, in turn, secured to the inner face of a first portion of an outer monoplanar liner or facing material 17. This type of construction is conventionally referred to as double-wall construction. This double-wall construction extends to an inner longitudinal edge 18 of inner hner 13, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

Thus, the boundaries of the rigid section 11 of blank 10 are defined by a longitudinal edge or side 19, upper and lower transverse edge or

side portions

20 and 21, respectively, of blank 10, and longitudinal edge 18 of inner liner 13.

The

corrugated mediums

14 and 16 and the central and

outer liners

15 and 17 have the same longitudinal and transverse dimensions and, naturally, the same perimeters. The longitudinal dimension of the inner monoplanar liner 13 is equal to the longitudinal dimension of

liners

15 and 17 and

mediums

14 and 16. Its transverse dmension is, however, considerably less than that of the aforesaid liners and mediums. It should be understood, however, that the width, i.e., transverse dimension, of inner lin/er 13 is equal to the widths, i.e., transverse dimensions, of the first portions of the aforesaid liners and mediums to which it is secured so as to form the rigid section 11. Thus, the adhesive securement of inner liner 13, of reduced transverse dimension, to only a segment of the blank 10, results in the formation of the double-wall rigid section 11, the outer boundary of which is edge 18 of inner liner 13.

Although it is preferred to employ a double-wal construction for the rigid section 11, single-wall construction can also be used. In single-wall construction, a corrugated medium is secured to, or sandwiched between, inner and outer liners. In addition, triple-wal1 or multiple-wall constructions can also be employed. Should it be desired to employ a triple-wall construction, for example, another corrugated medium and an additional liner would, naturally, be employed.

Rigid section 11 has a plurality of transversely extending score lines 22, which facilitate the folding of the rigid section 11 when it is wrapped about the article or object being packaged. Rigid section 11 also has a longitudinally extending slit-score 23 which is disposed inwardly from, and adjacent to, the longitudinal edge 19 of rigid section 11. When the blank is erected to form an irregularly shaped, tubular, open-ended wrapper 24, in accordance with the instant invention, the rigid section 11 of blank 10 is folded inwardly about slit-score 23 to form a flange containing means or element 25,' as shown in FIG. 5. Flange 25 engages an edge of the article and prevents the article from falling out of the wrapper 24 while being shipped or stored on its end, as illustrated in FIG. 8. A detailed discussion of the folding operations and their sequence will be discussed hereinafter.

As can be seen by reference to FIG. 4, the doublewall construction terminates at edge 18 of rigid section 11. Beginning at longitudinal edge 18 of inner liner 13 the flexible section 12 commences. The flexible section 12 comprises l) a second portion of first corrugated medium 14 (which is a unitary continuous extension of the first portion of said medium) secured to a second portion of central monoplanar liner 15 (which is a unitary continuous extension of the first portion of said liner), thus forming a first discrete single faced sheet 26, and (2) a second portion of second corrugated medium 16 (which is a unitary continuous extension of the first portion of said medium) secured to a second portion of outer monoplanar liner 17 (which is a unitary continuous extension of the first portion of said liner), thus forming a second discrete single faced sheet 27. Thus, the first single faced sheet 26 and the second single faced sheet 27 are discrete, albeit integral, continuous extensions of the corrugated mediums and the outer and central liners cornprising rigid section 11. The first sheet 26 and the second sheet 27 are neither attached or secured to each other, by any means whatever, at any point along their respective surfaces, as is evident from FIG. 4. That these single faced sheets are not secured together in any fashion, is one reason why flexible section 12 is as flexible as it is. In addition, the termination of inner monoplanar liner 13 at edge 18 also adds to the flexibility of section 12. Thus, the ability of the flexible section 12 to conform closely to the shape or contour of the article being wrapped results from having the single faced

sheets

26 and 27 in no way connected to one another and not having inner monoplanar liner 13 extend to, and secure to, the second portion of said first corrugated medium 14.

The boundaries of the flexible section 12 are defined by an outer longitudinal edge or side 28 of wrapper blank 10 and longitudinal edge 18 of inner liner 13, and by upper and lower transverse edge or

side portions

29 and 30, respectively, of blank 10.

While the flexible section 12 of the present invention has been described as consisting of two, discrete single faced sheets, it is not to be considered as limited thereto. Since the number of single faced sheets which can be employed in accordance with the present invention is only dependent upon, and limited by, the number of mediums or Walls employed in the construction of the rigid section, if the rigid section was of single-wall construction, for example, there would be, naturally, one discrete single faced sheet in the flexible section. In the same fashion, if triple-wall construction is employed in the rigid section, there will be, naturally, three discrete single faced sheets.

The first sheet 26 and the second sheet 27 of flexible section 12 are each provided with a line of severance, which is preferably a perforated line 31, which are in alignment or registry with one another. While

sheets

26 and 27 of the flexible section 12 of the wrapper 24 have been illustrated with only a single line of severance, they can be provided with two or more spaced lines of severance depending upon the ultimate use for wrapper 24. In addition, while it is preferred that the lines of severance be in registry with one another, it may in certain instances prove desirable that they not be in alignment.

AS can be seen most clearly by reference to FIGS. l and 5, an automobile fender 32 is placed upon the blank 10 so that one portion of the fender overlies the rigid section 11 while the remaining portion of the fender overlies the flexible section 12. The rigid section 11 of the vblank 10 is then folded inwardly about slit-score 23 to form the flange 25 which engages an edge of fender 32. The flexible section 12 of the wrapper 24 is then severed or torn along line of severance 31 (disposed in sheets 26 and 27) until this major segment of flexible section 12 contacts the Wheel-well portion of fender 32 and is folded over fender 32. Next, the entire upper portion of the blank 10 (namely, that portion which is disposed above fender 32 and which includes the rigid section 11 and the flexible section 12) is folded into overlying face-to-face contact with the previously foldedover portion of outer liner 17 of flexible section 12. A first securing means 33, which is preferably a steel strap or band, but may be made of plastic (e.g., polypropylene), secures the flexible section 12 in close conformity about a portion of the contour of the fender 32. Then, that portion of blank 10-which is to the left of the torn line of severance 31 and beneath the still unwrapped portion of fender 32, and which includes rigid section 11 and that segment of flexible section 12 extending from edge 18 to the edge of perforation 31-is folded over the remainder of fender 32 and into overlying, face-contacting relation with outer line1 17. A second securing means 34 is then placed about this section of the wrapper. The completed wrapper, as may be seen by reference to FIG. 7, is open at each end and has an essentially twin tube configuration. Referring to FIG. 8, the essentially flexible tubular section, i.e., upper tubular section, which comprises the major portion of the flexible section, has a smaller circumference than the essentially rigid tubular section, i.e., lower tubular section, which comprises the rigid section plus the minor segment of the flexible section immediately adjacent the severed line of perforation.

During shipment or storage the wrapper with the contained fender is stored on its end, as is illustrated in FIG. 8.

The flexible portion of the wrapper closely conforms to the shape of the fender and is held taut against slackening by the provision of the aforementioned securing means. While the invention has been described in relation to an automobile fender, this has been done only as a matter of convenience in describing the invention. The invention has application to a variety of objects, both within and without the automotive industry. Exemplary of other articles which can be packaged in accordance with the present invention are automobile doors, automobile bumpers, pieces of sheet metal, etc,

Thus, it is apparent that the instant wrapper provides a number of advantages over the devices of the prior art. The flexible portion of the wrapper conforms to the contour of the fender which prevents the securing means, i.e., bands or straps, from slackening and allowing movement Within the wrapper and resultant damage. The double-wall section of the wrapper provides the necessary rigidity and the flange containing means prevents the fender from sliding out of the wrapper when placed on end.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the wrapper of the present invention may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, Without departing from the nature and principle of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A unitary, essentially rectangular blank designed to be folded into a wrapper for the packaging of articles of varied configuration, which comprises:

(a) said blank being divided into two sections, namely, an essentially rigid section and an essentially flexible section;

(b) said rigid section comprising,

(i) a first portion of an outer monoplanar liner secured to a first portion of a corrugated medium,

(ii) an inner monoplanar liner secured in overlying relationship to said first portion of said corrugated medium;

(c) said flexible section comprising,

(i) a second portion of said outer monoplanar liner secured to a second portion of said corrugated medium,

(ii) said second portions of said outer liner and of said corrugated medium defining a flexible, single faced sheet;

(d) said first portions of said corrugated medium and of said outer liner in said rigid section being integral, continuous extensions of the second portions of the outer liner and of the corrugated medium which define the single faced sheet of said flexible section;

(e) said flexible section consisting of said single faced sheet having at least one longitudinally extending line of severance whereby said flexible section may be severed along said line of severance so that a major segment of said flexible section adjacent said severed line will closely conform to the contour of a portion of the article when said wrapper is erected from said blank.

2. The blank as recited in claim 1 wherein said rigid section has a longitudinally extending slit-score disposed inwardly from and adjacent to an outer longitudinal edge of said rigid section of said blank whereby when said rigid section of said blank is folded inwardly about said slit-score during the erection of said wrapper from said blank a flange containing means is formed which engages an edge of said wrapped article which prevents the article from falling out of the erected wrapper.

3. The blank as recited in claim 1 wherein said rigid section has a plurality of transversely extending score lines.

4. The blank as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner monoplanar liner has the same longitudinal dimensions as said corrugated medium and said outer monoplanar liner and a lesser transverse dimension, thus defining the boundary of said essentially rigid section.

5. A unitary, essentially rectangular blank designed to be folded into a wrapper for the packaging of articles of varied configuration, which comprises:

\ (a) said blank being divided into two sections, namely, an essentially rigid section and an essentially flexible section;

(b) said rigid section comprising,

(i) an inner monoplanar liner secured to one surface of a first portion of a first corrugated medium,

(ii) one face of a first portion of a central monoplanar liner secured to the other surface of said first portion of said first corrugated medium and having secured thereto on its other face one surface of a first portion of a second corrugated medium,

(iii) one face of a first portion of an outer monoplanar liner secured to the other surface of said first portion of said second corrugated medium;

(c) said flexible section comprising,

(i) a second portion of said central monoplanar liner secured to a second portion of said first corrugated medium, said second portions of said central liner and of said first corrugated medium defining a first flexible single faced sheet,

(ii) a second portion ofl said outer monoplanar liner secured to a second portion of said second corrugated medium, said second portions of said outer liner and of said second corrugated medium defining a second flexible single faced sheet,

(iii) said first single faced sheet being in overlying unsecured relationship with respect to said second single faced sheet,

(iv) said unsecured first and second single faced sheets defining said flexible section of said blank;

(d) said first portions of said first and second corrugated mediums and of said outer and central monoplanar liners in said rigid section being integral, continuous extensions of the second portions of said first and second corrugated mediums and of said central and outer monoplanar liners which define the first and second single faced sheets of said flexible section;

(e) each of said first and second single faced sheets having at least one longitudinally extending line of severance whereby said flexible section may be severed along said line of severance so that a major segment of said flexible section adjacent said severed line will closely conform to the contour of the article when said wrapper is erected from said blank.

6. The blank as recited in claim 5 wherein said lines of severance in said first and second single faced sheets are in alignment with one another.

7. The blank as recited in claim 5 wherein said rigid section has a longitudinally extending slit-score disposed inwardly from and adjacent to an outer longitudinal edge of said rigid section of said blank whereby when said rigid section of said blank is folded inwardly about said slitscore during the erection of said wrapper from said blank a flange containing means is formed which engages an edge of said article which prevents the article from falling out of the erected wrapper.

8. The blank as recited in claim 5 wherein said rigid section has a plurality of transversely extending score lines.

9. The blank as recited in claim 5 wherein said inner monoplanar liner has the same longitudinal dimensions as said first and second corrugated mediums and said outer and central monoplanar liners and a lesser transverse dimension, thus defining the boundary of said essentially rigid section.

10. An open-ended wrapper designed to contain articles of varied configuration, such as automobile fenders and the like, which comprises:

(a) an essentially rigid tubular section comprising a portion of an outer monoplanar liner secured to a portion of a corrugated medium, an inner rnonoplanar liner secured in overlying relationship to said portion of said corrugated medium, said rigid tubular section being wrapped about a portion of said article;

(b) an essentially flexible tubular section comprising continuous integral extensions of said portions of said outer monoplanar liner and of said corrugated medium in said rigid section, said extensions of said liner and of said medium being secured together to form a single faced sheet, said flexible tubular section being wrapped about the remaining portion of the article and closely conforming to the contour thereof;

(c) said rigid tubular section having a flange containing means disposed inwardly of said rigid section and engaging an edge of said article.

11. The wrapper as recited in claim 10 wherein at least one securing means is bound about each of said tubular sections.

12. The wrapper as recited in claim 10 wherein said flange containing means is formed adjacent the outer longitudinal edge of the rigid section of said wrapper by folding a segment of said rigid section inwardly about a longitudinally extending slit-score provided in said rigid section.

13. The Wrapper as recited in claim 10 wherein said rigid section of said wrapper is provided with a plurality of transversely extending score lines.

14. The wrapper as recited in claim 10 wherein said single faced sheet has at least one longitudinally extending line of severance whereby said single faced sheet may be severed along said line thus enabling a major segment of said flexible single faced sheet to conform closely to the contour of the remaining portion of the article.

1S. An open-ended wrapper designed to contain articles of varied configuration, such as automobile fenders and the like, which comprises:

(a) an essentially rigid tubular section comprising an inner monoplanar liner secured to one surface of a portion of a rst corrugated medium, a portion of one face of a central monoplanar liner secured to the other surface of said lirst corrugated medium and having secured thereto on its other face one surface of a portion of a second corrugated medium, one face of an outer monoplanar liner secured to the other surface of said portion of said second corrugated medium, said rigid tubular section being wrapped about a portion of said article;

(b) an essentially exible tubular section comprising continuous integral extensions of said portions of said central monoplanar liner secured to said first corrugated medium thereby forming a lirst single faced sheet and of said outer monoplanar liner secured to said second corrugated medium thereby forming a second single faced sheet, said first single faced sheet being in overlying unsecured relationship with respect to said second single faced sheet, said exible tubular section being wrapped about the remaining portion of the article and closely conforming to the contour thereof;

16. The wrapper as recited in claim 15 wherein at least one securing means is bound about each of said tubular sections.

17. The wrapper as recited in claim 15 wherein said ange containing means is formed adjacent the outer 1ongitudinal edge of the rigid section of said Wrapper by folding a segment of said rigid section inwardly about a longitudinally extending slit-score provided in said rigid section.

1S. The wrapper as recited in claim 15 wherein said rigid section of said wrapper is provided with a plurality of transversely extending score lines.

19. The wrapper as recited in claim 15 wherein each of said first and second single faced sheets have at least one longitudinally extending line of severance which are in alignment with one another whereby said single faced sheets may be severed along said line thus enabling a major segment of each of said single faced sheets to conform closely to the contour of the remaining portion of the article.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,551,374 5/1951 Hansen 229%87 2,807,356 9/1957 Blum 206-46 3,235,070 2/1966 Cutty 206-65 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 206-46; 229--87