FOOD WRAPPER WITH INTEGRAL PLATE AND NAPKIN

Abstract

A multi-function food wrapper includes a substrate having a plate portion and a napkin portion, the substrate, the plate portion, and the napkin portion being of at least one material having a flexibility to be rolled up around a food product and contain the food product therein when rolled, the napkin portion being removable and of a material having absorbability.

Claims

1. A multi-function food wrapper, comprising: a substrate having a plate portion and a napkin portion, the substrate, the plate portion, and the napkin portion being of at least one material having a flexibility to be rolled up around a food product and contain the food product therein when rolled, the napkin portion: defining a border at the plate portion that is weakened to increase ease of removability of the napkin portion from the plate portion; and being of a material having absorbability.

2. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the substrate, the plate portion, and the napkin portion are all integral and of the same material.

3. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the plate portion is of a material different from a material of the napkin portion.

4. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the plate portion is of a material relatively stiffer than a material of the napkin portion.

5. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the plate portion is attached to the substrate.

6. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the plate portion is attached to the substrate by at least one of an adhesive and by bonding.

7. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the material of the plate portion is at least one of paper, coated paper, and plastic.

8. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein a material of the napkin portion is at least one of plant or cellulose fibers, paper pulp, PLA, and Bagasse.

9. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the napkin portion is removable from at least the substrate.

10. The wrapper according to claim 9, wherein the substrate has a perforation to permit the removal of the napkin portion from at least the substrate.

11. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the napkin portion comprises a plurality of napkins.

12. The wrapper according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of napkins are connected to the substrate one of: in series; and in parallel.

13. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has a length sized to roll around the food product and until both the plate portion and the napkin portion spiral completely around the food product.

14. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has a width sized such that when the substrate is rolled around the food product, the substrate has ends sufficient to form end seals that keep the food product protected until removed from the substrate.

15. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has lateral wings having a width sized such that, when the substrate is rolled around the food product, the wings form end seals that keep the food product protected until removed from the substrate.

16. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the plate portion is removable such that, upon removal, the plate portion leaves an opening in the substrate sized to fit a human head therethrough and the substrate becomes a bib.

17. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein: the plate portion is removable such that, upon removal, the plate portion leaves an opening in the substrate sized to fit a human neck therein; and the substrate comprises a distal substrate end having a disconnection extending therefrom to the opening that, responsive to being disconnected, the substrate defines two handles that, upon tying together, form a bib.

18. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the plate portion has ridges along its perimeter.

19. The wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the napkin portion comprises a crumb catcher pocket.

20. A multi-function food wrapper, comprising: a substrate having a plate portion and a napkin portion, the substrate, the plate portion, and the napkin portion all being integral and of a material having a flexibility to be rolled up around a food product and contain the food product therein when rolled, the napkin portion; defining a border at the plate portion that is weakened to increase ease of removability of the napkin portion from the plate portion; and being of a material having absorbability.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, which are not true to scale, and which, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to illustrate further various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the systems, apparatuses, and methods. Advantages of embodiments of the systems, apparatuses, and methods will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a multi-function food wrapper;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the food wrapper of FIG. 1 with a portion beginning to be rolled up;

[0040] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the food wrapper of FIG. 1 in a rolled-up state;

[0041] FIG. 4 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a multi-function food wrapper with a tear-away plate portion;

[0042] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the food wrapper of FIG. 4 showing three food wrappers with different plate portions;

[0043] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the food wrapper of FIG. 5 with the wrapper laid out flat and with a food portion on the plate portion;

[0044] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the food wrapper of FIG. 6 with the napkin portion in an intermediate rolled state over the food portion;

[0045] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the food wrapper of FIG. 6 wrapped around the food portion;

[0046] FIG. 9 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a multi-function food wrapper with a removable plate portion at a bib portion;

[0047] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the food wrapper of FIG. 9 with the plate portion removed and with handles of the bib portion separated;

[0048] FIG. 11 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a multi-function food wrapper with a number of series removable napkin portions; and

[0049] FIG. 12 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a multi-function food wrapper with a number of parallel removable napkin portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0050] As required, detailed embodiments of the systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the systems, apparatuses, and methods, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the systems, apparatuses, and methods in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the systems, apparatuses, and methods. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the systems, apparatuses, and methods that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the systems, apparatuses, and methods will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.

[0051] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0052] Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the systems, apparatuses, and methods will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the systems, apparatuses, and methods.

[0053] Before the systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms comprises, comprising, or any other variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by comprises . . . a does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The terms a or an, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The description may use the terms embodiment or embodiments, which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments.

[0054] The terms coupled and connected, along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, connected may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. Coupled may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact (e.g., directly coupled). However, coupled may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other (e.g., indirectly coupled).

[0055] For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form A/B or in the form A and/or B or in the form at least one of A and B means (A), (B), or (A and B), where A and B are variables indicating a particular object or attribute. When used, this phrase is intended to and is hereby defined as a choice of A or B or both A and B, which is similar to the phrase and/or. Where more than two variables are present in such a phrase, this phrase is hereby defined as including only one of the variables, any one of the variables, any combination of any of the variables, and all of the variables, for example, a phrase in the form at least one of A, B, and C means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).

[0056] Relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, top/bottom, and proximal/distal. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of disclosed embodiments. Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in tum, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.

[0057] As used herein, the term about or approximately applies to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. As used herein, the terms substantial and substantially means, when comparing various parts to one another, that the parts being compared are equal to or are so close enough in dimension that one skill in the art would consider the same. Substantial and substantially, as used herein, are not limited to a single dimension and specifically include a range of values for those parts being compared. The range of values, both above and below (e.g., +/ or greater/lesser or larger/smaller), includes a variance that one skilled in the art would know to be a reasonable tolerance for the parts mentioned.

[0058] Herein various embodiments of the systems, apparatuses, and methods are described. In many of the different embodiments, features are similar. Therefore, to avoid redundancy, repetitive description of these similar features may not be made in some circumstances. It shall be understood, however, that description of a first-appearing feature applies to the later described similar feature and each respective description, therefore, is to be incorporated therein without such repetition.

[0059] Described now are exemplary embodiments. Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a first exemplary embodiment of a multi-function food wrapper 1 comprising a substrate 10, a plate portion 20, and a napkin portion 30. In this embodiment, the substrate 10, the plate portion 20, and the napkin portion 30 are all integral. The plate portion 20 is of a relatively stiffer material (e.g., as a paper plate) that is flexible enough to fold and wrap around a food product. Exemplary embodiments of the material for the plate portion 20 include plant or cellulose fibers (e.g., from trees), paper pulp, Polylactic Acid (PLA), Bagasse, and aluminum foil. The napkin portion 30 can be of the same material as the plate portion 20 or it can be of a different material. In an exemplary embodiment, the napkin portion 30 is of an absorbable material (e.g., as a paper towel). Exemplary embodiments of the material for the napkin portion 30 include plant or cellulose fibers, paper pulp, PLA, and Bagasse. The napkin portion 30 can be torn away from the substrate 10, e.g., at the dashed line of FIG. 1, to form a separate napkin. To ease the removal of the napkin portion 30 from the substrate 10, perforations 12 are present in the substrate 10.

[0060] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an exemplary process for folding a food product within the wrapper 1. In a first step, the food product 2 (illustrated is FIG. 3 with dashed lines) is placed on the plate portion 20. A distal plate end 22 is rolled around the food product 2 and the rolling continues until both the plate portion 20 and the napkin portion 30 spiral completely around the food product 2. If the food product 2 has a length that is less than the width of the substrate 10, then the two ends of the wrapper 1 can be tucked, folded, and/or fastened to form end seals that keep the food product 2 protected until consumption is desired. If desired, or if the food product 2 has a length close to or greater than the width of the substrate 10, the substrate 10 can be formed with wings 14 that extend to a further width greater than the length of the food product 2 such that, when the substrate 10 is rolled up around the food product 2, the wings 14 can be tucked in and serve as a closure of the opposing rolled ends of the wrapper 1. In an exemplary embodiment, the plate portion 20 can have ridges along its entirety or just at its perimeter.

[0061] There is shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 a second exemplary embodiment of the multi-function food wrapper 1 comprising a substrate 40, a plate portion 50, and a napkin portion 60. In this exemplary embodiment, the substrate 40 and the napkin portion 60 are integral but the plate portion 50 is a separate piece attached to the substrate 40. In a beneficial exemplary embodiment, the napkin portion 60 is of the same material as the substrate 40. Exemplary embodiments of the material for the substrate 40 and napkin portion 60 include plant or cellulose fibers, paper pulp, PLA, and Bagasse. The napkin portion 60 can be torn away from the substrate 40, e.g., at the dashed line, to form a napkin separate from the plate portion 50. To ease the removal of the napkin portion 60 from the substrate 40, perforations 42 are present in the substrate 40. In an alternative embodiment, the napkin portion 60 is of the same material as the substrate 40 but the substrate 40 outside the napkin portion 60 is coated, for example, with a layer of wax or other polymer for strength and waterproofing.

[0062] The plate portion 50 is of a relatively stiffer material that is flexible enough to fold and wrap around a food product. Exemplary embodiments of the material for the plate portion 50 include paper that comprises a standard, off-the-shelf paper plate (shown at the bottom of FIG. 5), a standard, off-the-shelf coated paper plate (shown at the top of FIG. 5), a standard, off-the-shelf plastic plate (shown in the middle of FIG. 5), and/or a plate lined with aluminum foil. The plate portion 50 can be attached to the substrate 40 with an adhesive or by bonding, for example.

[0063] FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate how a food product 2 can be folded within the wrapper 1. In this exemplary embodiment (associated with the wrapper 1 of FIGS. 4 to 6 but applicable to all embodiments), the substrate 40 is a sandwich wrapper from an exemplary fast-food restaurant. The napkin portion 60 is attached to a proximal end of the substrate 40. The plate portion 50 is attached to the substrate 40. In a first step shown in FIG. 6, the food product 2 is placed on the plate portion 50. A distal napkin end 62 is rolled around the food product 2 in FIG. 7 and the rolling continues until both the plate portion 50 and the napkin portion 60 spiral completely around the food product 2. The food product has a length that is less than the width of the substrate 40. Accordingly, the two lateral ends of the wrapper 1 are tucked, folded, and/or fastened to form end seals that keep the food product 2 protected until consumption is desired, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0064] There is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 a third exemplary embodiment of the multi-function food wrapper 1 comprising a substrate 70, a plate portion 80, and a napkin portion 90. In this exemplary embodiment, the substrate 70 and the napkin portion 90 are connected either integrally or are fastened together. In a beneficial exemplary embodiment, the napkin portion 90 is of a different material than the substrate 70. Exemplary embodiments of the material for the substrate 70 include, for example, polypropylene (as in known plastic lobster bibs) and bibs used at dental offices during examinations and exemplary materials for the napkin portion 90 include plant or cellulose fibers, paper pulp, PLA, and Bagasse. The napkin portion 90 can be torn away from the substrate 70, e.g., at the dashed line, to form a napkin separate from the substrate 70. To ease the removal of the napkin portion 90 from the substrate 70, perforations 72 are present in the substrate 70 at the dashed line. The napkin portion 90 can comprise a crumb catcher pocket 92, illustrated diagrammatically with a dashed line in FIG. 10.

[0065] The plate portion 80 is connected to the substrate 70 in a removable fashion so that, when detached, as shown in FIG. 10, the substrate 70 defines an opening 74 in which a person's neck may be inserted. The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 10 illustrates a distal substrate end 76 that can be disconnected (e.g., ripped) adjacent the opening 74 to create two handles 78 that can be tied together at the back of a user's neck. To ease this disconnection at the distal substrate end 76, the substrate 70 has non-illustrated perforations extending from the opening 74 to the distal substrate end 76. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, when the plate is removed, a head-sized hole 74 in the substrate 70 is large enough to be placed over a user's head to lie around a user's neck without having to disconnect the end to form the handles 78.

[0066] There is shown further exemplary embodiments of the multi-function food wrapper 1 comprising the substrate 10, 40, 70, the plate portion 20, 50, 80, and a plurality of napkin portions 100, 110, 120. In FIG. 11, the plurality of napkin portions 100, 110, 120 are attached in series. In FIG. 12, plurality of napkin portions 100, 110, 120 are attached in parallel. In each of these exemplary embodiments, three napkin portions 100, 110, 120 are shown but that number is not to be considered as limiting. Two or any other number of additional napkin portions can be provided, and even in the form of a rolled up string of napkin portions.

[0067] In any of the embodiments described herein, anyone or more of the substrate 10, 40, 70, the plate portion 20, 50, 80, and/or the napkin portions 30, 60, 90, 100, 110, 120 can be of a recyclable material.

[0068] It is noted that various individual features of the inventive processes and systems may be described only in one exemplary embodiment herein. The particular choice for description herein with regard to a single exemplary embodiment is not to be taken as a limitation that the particular feature is only applicable to the embodiment in which it is described. All features described herein are equally applicable to, additive, or interchangeable with any or all of the other exemplary embodiments described herein and in any combination or grouping or arrangement. In particular, use of a single reference numeral herein to illustrate, define, or describe a particular feature does not mean that the feature cannot be associated or equated to another feature in another drawing figure or description. Further, where two or more reference numerals are used in the figures or in the drawings, this should not be construed as being limited to only those embodiments or features, they are equally applicable to similar features or not a reference numeral is used or another reference numeral is omitted.

[0069] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles, exemplary embodiments, and modes of operation of the systems, apparatuses, and methods. However, the systems, apparatuses, and methods should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the systems, apparatuses, and methods as defined by the following claims.