Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02417373 2003-O1-22
Docket: P/73-6
WINDOW REAM WRAP
Field of the Invention
'1 he present invention relates to a novel composite wrap material witlZ holes
cut
into the wrap material and covered with a solid f lm structure to form
transparent w'
windows, and methods of making such wrap material with windows. More
particularly,
the invention relates to a composite wrap material with transparent windows
that is used
for packaging paper products.
Back~'ound of the Invention
Reams (i.e., 500 sheets) of cut paper (81/2 X11, etc.) fox copy machines,
computers, printers, and other applications axe most commonly packaged for
shipping,
storage and retail sale in ream wrappers made of various composite wrap
materials.
~'hese wrap materials traditionally.have been paper (poly coated or two papers
laminated
with, poly), plastic film, or a paper/solid plastic film. combination. In
addition to encasing
the reams of paper, the wrap materials pmteet the wrapped paper pmduct from
physical
damage and moisture pickup during shipping and storage. The wrap materials
also
protect the wrapped product from physical damage during repeated handling,
distributio~a,
and stocking on retail shelves.
As retail and store distribution of reams of paper has increased, paper
manufacturers have developed wrap materials with improved printing surfaces to
enhance
graphics and to provide an eye-appealing wrapped product for the consumer.
Oz~e of the.
disadvantages of current and conventional ream wraps is that they are non-
transparent
and do not permit the consumer to view the reams of paper encased in the
wrapper.
CA 02417373 2003-O1-22
Viewing the contents of the wrapped paper product is important, in particular,
when
reams of colored paper are contained in the wrapped paper.
Some paper ma~uufacturexs have attempted to address the non-transparency
problem of ream wrap by wrapping reams of colored paper in paper-based or
paper/svlid
film materials that are the same colon as the wrapped product. However, the
use of
colored wrappers does .not address the problem of the non-visibility of paper
reams
consisting of mote than one color.
Some manufacturers have used a transparent film wrapper to display the
contents
of packages containing reams of colored paper or papers of more than one
color.
However, a disadvantage of the transparent film-based wrappers is that they
are difficult
to run on conventional packaging equipanent duziang the wxapping process and
require
costly modifiications to a paper packaging line. In addition, film-based
wrappers lack the
structural support of heavier weight paper laminates, coated papers, an,d
paper/fi.l~n
composites, and result in broken, unsughtly packages on store and retail
shelves.
US Patents 4,852,795 and 4,726,802 relate to a mailing cover witb~ zeply
envelope
and response device made from integral web. A composite mailing wrapper
suitable for
use with a catalog or magazine is produced from an integral web and comprises
front and
teat cover sheets joined along a longitudinal fold line to which is detachably
connected at
least one preformed reply envelope, and optionally, at least one response
devirx which is
detacbably connected to the envelope flaps. When assembled to the catalog the
envelope
and optional response devices are contained within the fold of the covet
sheets.
CA 02417373 2003-O1-22
Summary of the Inyention
The present invention comprises a paper composite or laminate material with
transparent, solid plastic film windows, enables customers and ez~d users to
view the
contents of the wrapped product. , The present invention further provides the
use of paper-
based composite or laminate ream wrap materials, which run well on ream
wrapping and
paper packaging lines..
An object of the present invention is to provide wrap materials that protect
paper
products from physical damage, act as a moisture barrier, and provide a
package which
consumers and end-users can view on store and retail shelves. A furkher object
of the
present invention, is to provide a composite wrap material W th transparent
windows cut
into it, making visible the paper product encased in the ream wrap.
Xt is an object of the present invention for the windows to be of various
shapes and
sizes cut into various locations of the final wrap structure.
The present invention assists in shipping, storage, sorting, distzibution and
retailing of wrapped paper products by providing a wrap m.ateriaI that permits
end-users
and consumers to view tine reams of paper encased in the wrapper through
transparent,
solid plastic film windows cut into the wrap material.
It is an object of the present invention to form tine transparent windows by
adhering pre-cut solid, transparent film patches to holes cut into the
finished wrap
material.
It is an object of the present invention to adhere or laminate a sheet of
solid
plastic, transparent film to a paper based wrap material that is already pre-
cut with holes.
CA 02417373 2003-O1-22
When the solid filrrr structure is adhered or laminated to the pre-cut paper
material,
transparent windows are formed_
It is an object of the present invention to provide a team wrap which
comprises a
first layer of paper, a second layer of transparent hlm a~ad an adhesive
between the Frst
and second layers. 'The paper has holes precut at various locations, the holes
being
covered by the layer of film. It is an object of the present invention for the
paper to have
a basis weight of about 20-60 pounds per 3,400 square feet.
It is an obj ect of the present invention for two or more sheets of paper to
be
laminated or adhered to a full length sheet of filnri. Gaps are left between
the papers
creating a window with the film.
Brief Description of the Drawin,gss
Figure 1 is a top view of an embodiment ofthe present invention.
Figure la is a view of the cut away section of figure 1.
Figure 2 is a top view of az~ embodiment of the present iunvention.
Figure 2a is a view of the cut away section of figure 2.
Figure 3 is a top and side view of an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3a is a view of the cut away section of figure 3.
Figure 4 is top view of an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a top view of an enabodirnent of the present invention.
Figure Sa is a view of the cut away section of figure 5.
Figure 6 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.
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CA 02417373 2003-O1-22
Detailed Description of the Present Invention
The transparent windows in the ream wrap can be produced through various
mekhods. In one embodiment, the method comprises a polycoated or
polylamiuaated
paper or paper/solid plastic f lm composite wrapper being coonpletely produced
and then
cutting holes of various shapes and sizes into the finished wrap material in
various
positions or locations. ~ A pre-cut solid plastic, transparent film structure
is then adhered
in place over the holes in the finished wrap material using an adhesive to
create the
window. The pre-cut solid plastic film stzuctu.re is cut and sized to
completely cover the
holes cut into the finished composite wrap material and form a patch oyez the
window.
One or more holes may be cut into the composite wrapper in various locations
and
covered by the transparent, solid plastic film to form a window or windows.
The
resulting window or windows maintain the protective layer and moisture barrier
of the
fizzished composite wrap material to safeguard the integrity of the wrapped
product
encased therein..
In a further embodiment, the product is produced by cutting holes of various
shapes and sizes into a paper-based material in various locatiozzs and then
polylaminating
or adhering with liduid adhesive the pre-cut paper-based material to a solid
plastic film
which cover the entire structure, including the pre-cut holes, and fozming
transparent
windows in the final wrap material.
The final composite wrap material znay contain transparent, plastic film-
covered
windows of various shapes and sizes, and in various locations, ozt one or
multiple sides of
the structure encasiztg the wzapped paper product.
CA 02417373 2003-O1-22
Figures 1 and 1 a is a top view of az~ embodiment wherein a sheet of
polycoated
paper or papezpoly film composite 10 has three holes cut out of the paper. A
sheet of
plastic or film 20 is adhered to the bottom surface of the paper creating
windows 12, 14
and 16.
Figures 2 and 2a is a top view of an embodiment wherein a sheet of poly coated
paper or paperlsolid coated film 30 has a single hole cut gut of the paper. A
sheet of
plastic 40 is adhered to the bottom surface of the paper creating window 36.
Figures 3 and 3 a is a top view of as embodiment wherein. a sheet of poly
coated
paper or paper/solid coated film 42 has a single hole cut out of the paper. A
sheet of
plastic 46 is adhered to the bottom swfa.ce of the paper creating window 44.
In this
embodiment, the window 44 allows a user to see the multiple sheets of paper
48.
Figure 4 is an ezx~bodiment wherein a sheet of paper 50 has three holes cut
out of
the paper. A full length sheet of fi.lrn 60 is laminated or adhered to the
sheet of paper 50
creatizrg windows 52, 54, and 56.
Figures 5 and 5a is a top view of an embodiment wherein. a sheet of papex 70
has
a hole cut out of the paper. A full length sheet of film 80 is laminated or
adhered to the
top of the sheet of paper 70 creating a window 7Z.
Figure 6 is arl embodiment where two sheets of paper 80 and 82 are laminated
or
adhered to a full length sheet of f lxn 84. A window is 86 is created between
the gap of
the two sheets of paper.
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