AU427197B2 - Wrapper for produce - Google Patents

Description

6,822/70o This invention pjrtains to wrappers for produce or the like.

In the retail marketing of produce, packaging is desirable for retaining and protecting fruits and veget- ables. For larger solid items, such as head lettuce and cauliflower, a suitable wrapping consists of a sheet of plastic having parallel rows of slits cut through it. The- opposite corners of the sheet, transverse to the ro-.s of slits, are brought together around the produce and tied. The other two corners are merely tucked in. This provides an effective wrapping, as the slits open up when the two corners are tied, providing ventilation for the produce within.

A large item, such as a head of lettuce or a cauli- flower, is securely retained within a wrapping of this nature. It is not satisfactory, ho-v-.ever, for smaller fruits and vegetables, such as grapes, cherries and cherry tomatoes. These will not be retained by a single knot formed in the opposite corners, and will be allowed to spill out where the other corners are not secured together. The problem is not solved by tying all four corners to form more of an enclosed container to hold the produce. Wihen this is done, tension necessarily is applied to the plastic sheet in the direction aligned with the rows of slits. Consequently, they are caused to close up and, in effect, make the wall of the sheet imperforate. This means that air cannot circulate to the produce contained,

and the requisite ventilation is absent.

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16,82 2 170 the Hence; commercial use of such wrappings has been for larger produce items only. Convent ionally, smaller items of produce frequently

are sold in trays or baskets open at the top. However, and b~e- these allowv the small produce articles to spill out come lost. Because the produce is not securely retained, preweighing and marking are prohibited, so that the fruits pur- or vegetables must be weighed at the checkstand when cost of chased. This slows down and, hence, adds to the the retailing operation. It is not satisfactory to place does not covers over the tops of the trays because this not retain provide adequate ventilation and generally does the fruits or vegetables securely. Suxmary of the Invenion: that The present invention provides an improved means spilling effectively holds small articles vwithout danger of or tampering, while still assuring fully ample ventilation. such The device is made from a sheet of pliable material, of square as thin, transparent polyethylene plastic. It is of slits outer perimeter and provided with four sets of rows in its inner portions. :woof the sets of rows are in of the opposite quarters of the sheet'and parallel to one diagonals. The other two sets of rows are in the other tw-,o opposite quarters of the sheet, pa rallel to the other slits. diagonal and perpendicular to the first two sets of there are At the centre of the sheet and around its margins the no perforations. In use, the produce is placed on to- sheet, and a first pair of opposite corners is brought gether and tied. Then, the second pair of opposite corners

3 427.197 is brought together an ied. his forms a compact pouch that securely retains the produce. Because there are four sets of diagonally arranged slits, the sheet of plastic is stressed transversely of all of the slits. This means that all of the slits open up, producing a multiplicity of apert- ures and adequate ventilation throughout the package. An object of this invention is to provide an improved means for wrapping produce.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for wrapping a quantity of small produce or other items to provide a secure and ventilated package. A further object of this invention is to provide a produce-wrapping arrangement which is simple to manufacture, low in cost and easy to use. These and other objects will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. Brief Description of the Drwin:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a produce-wrapping device embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device in use for wrapping a quantity of produce. Description of the Preferred Embodiment: As illustrated in the drawing, the produce wrap 10 of this invention is made up of a sheet of pliable material, preferably a thin, transparent, low-cost plastic, such as polyethylene. The sheet 10 is of square configuration, pro- viding straight side edges 11, 12, 13 and 14, and right-angle

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11, 8Y22 corners 15, 16, 17 and -18. Inwardly of the side edges and

the corners, the sheet of plastic material is cut to form four sets of rovis of slits 20, 21, 22 and 23. This is accomi-

plished by a suitable die, which merely severs the material at the location of each slit. Alternatively, the slits may

be defined by cutouts that define elongated openings, al- though normally it is cheaper and fully satisfactory merely to sever the material to produce the slits. The rovis of slits 20, 21, 22 and 23 are all diagonal with respect to the sheet of plastic 10. The two sets of

rows 20 and 23 are parallel to each other and to a diagonal between them extending betw,,een corners 16 and 17. The other

two sets of rows of slits 21 and 22 also are parallel to each

other and are perpendicular to the rowis 20 and 23. The sets

of rows of slits 21 and 22 are parallel to and on opposite sides of a diagonal extending bet-aeon the corners 15 and 18. In tbe adjacent rovis of each set, the slits are in a stagger- ed relationship. In other words, the gaps betweean the

adjacent slits in one row are intermediate the ends of the slits in the rows next to it. The slits in alternate rows of each set may be in transverse alignment. Each set of slits is positioned in one quarter of the square-sheet 10 of plastic. Thus, the set of slits 20 is in

the upper left quarter of the sheet as the device is illus- trated in Figure 1, and it extends at its edges to the sets of slits 21 and 22. The latter tiwo sets of slits are in the upper right quarter and lower left quarter, respectively. The remaining slits 23 are in the lower right quarter-of the

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170 1,822 sheet. The slits are- spaced inwardly of the side edges 11, 312, 13 and 14 of the sheet and collectively define an octagon around the outer perimeter of the group of slits. As a result, there axe marginal portions 25, 26, and 28 adjac- ent the side edges 11, 12, 13 and 14 where the sheet 10 is umnperfOrated. The slits are spaced a greater distance from the cornears of the sheet, so that there are relatively large uncut portions 29, 30, 31 and 32 inwardly of the corners 16, 17 and 18. At the centre of the sheet 10 is a relative- ly small, square solid portion 34 of the sheet. In some instances, it may be preferred to enlarge the central .portion 34 beyond the proportion illustrated in the example of Figure 1, pam-ticularly where it is desired to apply a label to the wrapping. This also provides a location where the warapping may be printed. In use of the produce wrap, the articles to be pack- -aged are positioned on the central portion of the square

sheet of plastic 10. This places them over the central portion 34 and the sets of slits 20, 21, 22 and 23. Then, tivo opposite corners are brought together over the top of the produce on the sheet 10. For example, the opposite corners 15 and 1.8 may be broug-ht together, whereupon they are tied to form a knot 35, as illustrated in Figure 2. 1Nezt, the other two opposite corners 16 and 17 axe brought

together and tied in a knot 36, as seen in Figure 2. As a

result of this simple operation, the produce is securely retained within the pouch that is produced as the opposite corners are tied together. The marginal portions 25, 26,

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16, 822 170 97 and 28 become folded substantially double, as shown in Figure 2,.and almost completely enclose all gaps at the top of the package. An important advantage of the wrapping thus produced for the produce is that it is ventilated throughout its entire area. This is because the tension produced in the sheet 10 when the four opposite corners are tied pulls on the slits 20, 21, 22 and 23 transversely to open them up. Each corner pulls along a didgonal and transversely of the rows of slits immediately inwardly of it. This results in openings at all of the slits for supplying ventilation to the interior of the wrapping. Thus, when the ends 15 and 18 are pulled together around the produce and the knot formed, forces are applied to the plastic-sheet which are transverse to the sets of slits 20 and 23. Consequently, these slits are pulled open-to provide access to the inter-

ior of the package. Similarly, when the corners 16 and 17 are tied together in the knot 36, the sets of slits 21 and 22 are opened to provide vent apertures. On all sides, therefore, there is ventilation through the wall of the sheet 10, and air may circulate through the contents of the

package.

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Claims (1)

1. JG, 822 The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A device for wrapping produce or the like comprising a substantially square sheet of pliable material, said sheet having at least four sets of rows of thin elongated slits therethrough, each row of slits consisting of a plurality of end separated slits, each set including a plurality of substantially parallel rows of slits, the rows of each of said sets of rows of slits being free of crossing the rows of any other of said sets of rows of slits, the rowis in the first two of said sets being substantially parallel and being substantially parallel to one diagonal of said sheet, and the rows in the second two of said sets being substantially parallel and at substantially a 900 angle relative to said rows in said first two sets of slits substantially paitallel to the other diagonal of said'sheet. A device as claimed in Claim 1 in which said sets of slits are spaced inwardly from the side edges of said sheet to provide marginal portions thereof, said marginal portions being of greater width between said sets of slits and said sheet side edges at the corners of said sheet than at locations intermediate said corners. 3. A device as claimed in either of Claims 1 or 2 in which said sets of slits collectively define an octagonal_ figure around the periphery thereof. 4. A device as claimed in any of Claims I to 3 in which said sets of slits-do no-t extend to the centre of said sheet, thereby providing a central portion of said sheet

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   165,822 having no openings therethrougnh. A device as claimed in Claim 4 in which said sheet is of transparent plastic material.

   DATED this 9th day of August 1972.

   STADITDh, IN~C. By its Patent Attorneys ARTHUR S. CAVE CO.

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