Flip wrap

Abstract

We disclose a sheet of twist-free cling wrap, comprising opposing multi-ply flaps and opposing thumb tabs. The flaps have concealed integral hooks which connect sheets to one another in a series. Rigid extensions to the sheet lodge beneath a dispensing slit to dispense one sheet at a time.

Claims

1. A sheet of twist-free cling wrap, comprising: A single ply body of cling film having a top, a bottom, a left side and a right side, a front, a back, a length, a three ply flap seamed to each of the top and the bottom of the body, a single ply thumb tab bonded to each of the front left side and the front right side, and a spine fused into, running the length of, and projecting coplanarly beyond, the left side and the right side of the top flap and body seam, wherein the three plies of each flap comprise in this order: a. a top ply of cling film, b. a center ply of cling-free film, each such center ply further comprising a plurality of hooks cut thereinto and projecting therefrom; and c. a bottom ply of cling film.

2. The sheet of twist-free cling wrap of claim 1, wherein the cling film is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene chloride, low-density polyethylene, cellulose, and silicone.

3. The sheet of twist-free cling wrap of claim 1, wherein the cling-free film is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, linear low density polyethylene, cellulose and silicone.

4. The sheet of twist-free cling wrap of claim 1, wherein the spine running the length of the body-flap seam comprises a central segment selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene chloride, low-density polyethylene, cellulose, and silicone.

5. The sheet of twist-free cling wrap of claim 1, wherein the spine projecting coplanarly beyond the body-flap seam comprises a terminal segment joined to a central segment and is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene chloride, low-density polyethylene, cellulose, and silicone.

6. The sheet of twist-free cling wrap of claim 1, wherein the thumb tab comprises polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene and linear low density polyethylene, cellulose or silicone.

7. The sheet of twist-free cling wrap of claim 6, wherein the thumb tab is dimensioned to be gripped between a thumb and forefinger.

8. A method of connecting a plurality of sheets of twist-free cling wrap into a series, comprising the steps of: a. Providing a plurality of sheets of the twist-free cling wrap of claim 1; b. Interlocking the plurality of hooks in the bottom flap of a first sheet of the twist-free cling wrap with a corresponding plurality of hooks in the top flap of a second sheet of the twist-free cling wrap; c. Interlocking the plurality of hooks in the bottom flap of the second sheet of the twist-free cling wrap with a corresponding plurality of hooks in the top flap of a third sheet of the twist-free cling wrap; and d. Repeating steps (b) and (c) to connect any remaining sheets.

9. A method of dispensing at least one sheet of twist-free cling wrap, comprising the steps of: a. Providing a series of individual sheets of twist-free cling wrap connected according to the method of claim 8; b. Rolling the series of individual sheets of twist-free cling wrap around a rigid core; c. Placing the roll of sheets into a box having a dispensing slit narrower than the length of the spine; d. Pulling the top flap and the body of a first sheet of the series through the dispensing slit; e. Lodging the spine of the second sheet of the series beneath the dispensing slit; f. Separating the first sheet of the series from the box; g. Leaving the top flap of the second sheet of the second sheet of the series extending outside the dispensing slit; and h. Repeating steps (d)-(g) to dispense additional individual sheets.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a sheet of flip wrap, shown in a closed configuration

(2) FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a sheet of flip wrap, shown in a closed configuration

(3) FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a sheet of flip wrap, shown in an open configuration

(4) FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a sheet of flip wrap, shown in a closed configuration

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a person dispensing a single sheet of flip wrap from a box

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a person separating the plies of a top flap of a sheet of flip wrap

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a person lengthwise stretching a sheet of flip wrap

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a person widthwise stretching a sheet of flip wrap

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sheet of flip wrap stretched over a casserole dish. The dish is not claimed as part of the invention.

(10) FIG. 10 is an enlarged, perspective view of two sheets of flip wrap connected at the hooks, in series

(11) FIG. 11 is an enlarged, side view of two sheets of flip wrap connected at the hooks, in series

(12) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a plurality of sheets of flip wrap, connected in series and rolled about a core (not shown)

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(13) 1. Flip wrap 5. Body 10. Front of body 15. Flap 20. Spine 25. Top ply of flap 30. Center ply of flap 35. Bottom ply of flap 40. Central segment of spine 45. Terminal segment of spine 50. Thumb tab 55. Hook 60. Roll of individual sheets of flip wrap connected in series 65. Box 70. Dispensing slit

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) FIGS. 1-4 shows an individual sheet of flip wrap 1 in a closed configuration. Preferably, the sheet is rectangular, and this is what we show. However, the reader should keep in mind that the sheet can be another shape as well, including, but not limited to, a square, circle or oval. For convenience and simplicity, we illustrate a rectangle only. The sheet comprises a body 5 of a single ply of cling film. The body has a top, a bottom, a front 10, a back, a left side and a right side. Preferably the cling film comprises polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) or low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Alternative films can be used as well, such as cellulose, silicone or other non-plastics, as long as they cling to glass, ceramic or metal. Preferably, the body is a rectangle measuring 15 inches long, by 12 inches wide by 0.000354 inches thick. Other dimensions are possible that are within the scope of the invention.

(15) Seamed to the front of the body at both the top and the bottom is a flap 15 comprising three plies. The bottom ply 35 of the flap is actually a continuation of the body, but we measure it separately and identify it as part of the flap. The center ply 30 of the flap is a cling-free film comprising preferably polyethylene terephthalate ethylene (PETE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) or linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). The center ply may also comprise other plastics, cellulose, or silicone or other such cling-free film. In the illustration, the center ply of the flap is drawn as an elongated hexagon, to easily separate from the top and the bottom plies. However, other shapes can be used and still remain within the scope of the invention. Preferably, the center ply measures approximately 13 inches long by 1 inches wide and 0.004 inch thick. The top ply 25 comprises a second layer of cling film, the same as that used in the body, approximately 12 inches long by inch wide and 0.00354 inch thick. This forms a sandwich of cling-free film at both the top and the bottom of the body.

(16) The sandwich is crimped or seamed together by heat to both the top and the bottom of the body. The layers are joined together only in a single line (which can be curved in the case of an oval or a circular body) where the body meets the flap. This leaves the individual plies of the flap free to fold up in a closed configuration, or fold down to an open configuration, revealing the center ply.

(17) The center ply of both the top and the bottom flap further comprises functional hooks 55 cut thereinto. These hooks are used to connect sheets together in a series. In the illustration, the hooks are U shaped cuts into the center ply. In practice, the bottom flap hooks of a first sheet interlock with the top flap hooks of a second sheet. Please refer to FIGS. 10 and 11. The joint is concealed with the top and the bottom layers of the flap, which are cling film. Additional sheets can be added in this way, bottom hooks of one sheet to top hooks of another sheet, until a series of a desired length is obtained. Machinery can automate this process. FIG. 12 shows a series of individually connected sheets rolled about a rigid core.

(18) Please note also a spine 20 laid into the body-flap seam line. The spine comprises a central segment 40 and two terminal segments 45 joined to either end of the central segment. Preferably the central segment is a strip of flexible material, preferably polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) or low-density polyethylene (LDPE), approximately 12 inches long by inch wide and 0.004 inch thick. The rigid terminal segments joined thereto comprise strips of polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) or low-density polyethylene (LDPE) approximately inch long and 0.016 inch thick. The total length of the spine is approximately 13 inches. As with all of the preferred dimensions of this invention, the length, width and thickness can be varied by someone of ordinary skill in the art and still remain within the scope of this invention.

(19) The roll of individual sheets 60 can be stored in, and dispensed from, a box 65 with a dispensing slit 70. Please see FIG. 5. The slit is dimensioned to be shorter than the spine. Preferably, the slit is 12 inches across. This is long enough to permit the sheets, but not the terminal ends of the spine, to easily pass through. In FIG. 5, the top flap and body of a first sheet of flip wrap extends outside the dispensing slit. Just beneath the slit, there is a bottom flap joined to the top flap of a second sheet of flip wrap (not explicitly shown). As the person pulls the first sheet with ordinary upward force, he pulls the first flap clean out of the box, but the terminal segments of the spine block the second sheet from being fully dispensed along with it. In this way, only the first such exposed sheet gets dispensed. To dislodge the terminal segments of the spine, the person must pull the top flap with additional upward force.

(20) The top flap and its spine, together with the bottom flap, are sufficiently rigid so that a person grasping both can pull them apart and straighten the sheet. As shown in FIG. 7, this allows him time to carry the sheet over to a casserole, or any, dish. He positions the sheet over the dish and applies it where desired. Please see FIG. 8. A thumb tab 50 bonded to each of the front right and front left side of the sheet can be grasped and pulled apart to further straighten the sheet, in the perpendicular direction. The thumb tabs are two ply thick, one ply of which is the body of the sheet. The second ply is a square of flexible and cling-free film approximately 1 inch square by 0.004 inch thick.