WO2005115860A1

WO2005115860A1 - Elastic cover for foodstuff or other

Info

Publication number: WO2005115860A1
Application number: PCT/SE2005/000818
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johansen Lars Bendix
Original assignee: B-New International Ab
Priority date: 2004-05-31
Filing date: 2005-05-30
Publication date: 2005-12-08
Also published as: DK200400852A

Abstract

An elastic cover for preservation and storage of foodstuff or the like easily mounted onto plates, dishes, bowls of varied size and shape, food in its original package, and cover for three-dimensional objects such as fruits and vegetables. The invention consists of an equilateral, multiple sided, thin plastic film, which when uninfluenced is provided with a tunnel or pathway which will keep the somewhat shorter elastics within. In the elastics natural, or uninfluenced form, the circumference created will be somewhat smaller than the circumference of the plastic sheet, thereby creating a sort of plastic bag that is easy to use, mount and dismount

Description

TITLE: Elastic cover for foodstuff or other.

AREA OF INVENTION The invention concerns an elastic cover for foodstuff or the like as described in detail in claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cover systems for foodstuffs can be grouped into five main categories. The first group is a container with a lid that constitutes a complete solution. The second group consists of a flat lid of flexible or solid material that can close a conventional container with a circular opening of different sizes. The third group is a thin film or foil that can be wrapped around the object. The fourth group is a bag of plastic material wherein the foodstuff can be placed and than the plastic bag can be sealed or closed. The fifth and last group is a flexible cover which is also known within the area of nursing and hospitals, where it is used for cover hair during surgery. Containers with lids often demand some preparations before the foodstuff is to be used, since they often are served on a plate or a dish. After use the foodstuff is to be packed back into said container. This is a demanding and time consuming process, which gives bacteria and germs a possibility to grow every time the foodstuff is packed/repacked. Shaped lids are known from DE9908515, US6260729, US2080108 and US4901881. These lids works very well from a hygienic standpoint of view, because the foodstuff does not have to be repacked, however they are not very practical when storing foodstuff contained on flat surfaces like plates or dishes and the like. Apart from above mentioned, they can not cover different sizes and shapes apart from their basic form, which is mainly round or circular. Metal foil and plastic film gives a flexible solution. The problem with plastic film is that it difficult to handle and hard to open after being closed. Further more is it hard to recycle. The metal foil is harder to close and get a tight seal, and has a tendency to fall of. It is also hard to use on larger objects like large plates or dishes. The metal foil is further more not transparent, which makes it harder to get a good overview of its contents. Plastic bags work for smaller objects, but when plates and dishes are to be covered, the size for coverage gets to big and, at the same time, it is a huge resource waste. When foodstuff is pulled out of said bag the bag will contain leftovers and remaining wastes, which makes the bag un-hygienic and rather difficult to reuse. To reuse plastic bags is difficult since cleaning and drying the bag is difficult. Cover objects with elastic edges are used in many areas, also within covering foodstuffs. The common thing for all these solutions is the way that they are produced. The production method is time consuming and expensive since every object is sawn with elastics around the edge or produced from circular raw materials that are rolled around the edges and thereafter is elastics applied to said circular edge (see US2490451) . All this requires relatively thick materials in order to get a production of said objects relatively effective. The production methods are at the same time not enough up to date or prepared to produce said product in large quantity production at a competitive price level. At the same time the raw material is relatively thick in order to manage the material in the production lines, and last, sewing together with preservation or keeping of foodstuff is not the best of solutions due to hygienic reasons such as growth of bacteria and the like. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object with the invention is that it can cover foodstuff in bowls, plates and dishes, foodstuff in its original package, fruits and vegetables of different sizes and shapes. The coverage is simple to put on and to take off, if wanted, one can reuse the cover and it is easy to clean and dry. The cover is environmental friendly due to its construction and the low use of raw material. When the cover is taken off a plate, bowl etc. it will not be filled with food leftovers, and it is therefore easy to use again without first cleaning. On top of this said invention is constructed in such a manner that it comprises a solution of elastic edge/rim where it is not obvious with bacteria breeding ground. If one wishes to use the invention as a one time package they are more economical to use than ordinary plastic bags, due to the low raw material need. Said cover comprises a sheet with many corners, and said corners makes it possible to produce in an effective, automated and cost effective production. In every corner of the plastic sheet will a small hole or a wedge shaped opening be formed when the edges are folded back onto the plastic arc, making a tunnel, said hole or wedge shaped opening will make it possible to keep the elastic string in place, while said folded tunnel edges are being welded or glued together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is herein under described in more detail with references to figures, where; Fig. 1 shows the top side view of the cover out- stretched in the form of the plastic sheet.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-cut of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the cover in neutral position like as a ordinary plastic bag.

Fig. 4 shows the method where the cover is mounted onto a bowl. Fig. 5 shows the cover placed on a bowl.

Fig. 6 shows the cover mounted onto a plate.

Fig. 7 shows the cover mounted on an apple.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises of an equilateral, multiple sided thin plastic film, where it in the plastic sheets outer edge is contained a tunnel, wherein the elastics is being placed. The elastic is stretched onto the multi sided, equilateral plastic sheets outer edges. In every corner of the sheet is formed a hole or e wedge shaped opening that enables the elastics to be held while said edges are folded back and glued or welded together to form said tunnel for said elastics. By expanding and holding the elastics (3) through the plastic sheet (1) holes or wedge shaped openings (5) , so that the elastics (3) new length and the circumference (2) of the plastic sheet (1) are close to each other, elastic (3) and the plastic sheet are bonded through gluing or welding. Thereby the elastics will be hidden in the tunnel (4) .

Covers for foodstuff and the like comprises of a multi-sided plastic sheet, where elastics are mounted within a tunnel on the outer edge of the sheet. The elastics are stretched to reach around the sheet, and will thereby create sort of a plastic bag when said elastics are not stretched out any more.

Claims

PATENT CLAIM

1. An elastic cover for foodstuff or the like, comprising of a multiple sided plastic sheet (1) with a tunnel (4) situated at the edge (2) of the plastic sheet, and wherein elastics (3) have been placed characterized in that the plastic sheet (1) has a hole or a wedge-like shaped opening (5) at every corner of said plastic sheet.