Heat printed carrier and method
OwnerLorne Bonkowskiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a cover for one or more articles, the cover being easily applied to each article by softening a portion of a sheet then forcing the non-softened portion around the article to cause the softened portion to stretch and conform to the article, providing a closely fitting cover. The shape of the softened area can be different than the shape of the article; various advantages are indicated for different configurations. A machine, a method, and the cover itself are all disclosed.
Claims15
A method of forming a cover for at least one article, said article having a top surface and a side wall surface, the cover comprising a sheet of material which is stretchable when softened but otherwise relatively rigid, the method utilizing a forming element which defines an opening substantially larger than the top surface of the article, the method comprising the steps of:
- softening a well-defined, predetermined portion of said sheet, the softened portion being other than the same shape and being other than slightly larger than the size of the top surface, and further being substantially smaller than the size of the forming element opening, the softening step leaving a nonsoftened portion of said sheet around said softened portion;
- and
- engaging the nonsoftened portion of said sheet with said forming element wherein the softened portion of the sheet is within the forming element opening, said forming element engaging the non-softened portion sufficiently to thereby cause the softened portion of the sheet to stretch and conform about the article thereby forming a closely fitting cover;
- wherein the forming force exerted on the softened portion is transmitted from the forming element by the nonsoftened portion.
A method of forming a cover for at least one article, said article having a top surface and a side wall surface, the cover comprising a sheet of material which is stretchable when softened but otherwise relatively rigid, the method utilizing a forming element which defines an opening substantially larger than the top surface of the article, the method comprising the steps of:
- softening a well-defined, predetermined portion of said sheet, the softened portion being the same size as the top surface, and further being substantially smaller than the size of the forming element opening, the softening step leaving a nonsoftened portion of said sheet around said softened portion;
- and
- engaging the nonsoftened portion of said sheet with said forming element wherein the softened portion of the sheet is within the forming element opening, said forming element engaging the nonsoftened portion sufficiently to thereby cause the softened portion of the sheet to stretch and conform about the article thereby forming a closely fitting cover;
- wherein the forming force exerted on the softened portion is transmitted from the forming element by the nonsoftened portion.
A method of forming a cover for at least one article, said article having a top surface and a side wall surface, the cover comprising a sheet of material which is stretchable when softened but otherwise relatively rigid, the method utilizing a forming element which defines an opening substantially larger than the top surface of the article, the method comprising the steps of:
- softening a well-defined, predetermined portion of said sheet, the softened portion being smaller than the size of the top surface, and further being substantially smaller than the size of the forming element opening, the softening step leaving a nonsoftened portion of said sheet around said softened portion;
- and
- engaging the nonsoftened portion of said sheet with said forming element wherein the softened portion of the sheet is within the forming element opening, said forming element engaging the nonsoftened portion sufficiently to thereby cause the softened portion of the sheet to stretch and conform about the article thereby forming a closely fitting cover;
- wherein the forming force exerted on the softened portion is transmitted from the forming element by the nonsoftened portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.