Lap Seal Packaging Band

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a lap seal band as known in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the band shown in FIG. 1 showing another optional version;

FIG. 3 is a ring band formed from the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a band formed from the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a band formed according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the band shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a ring band formed from the structure shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of another optional version of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a ring band formed from the optional version shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3 thereof a lap seal packaging band is disclosed, generally identified by the numeral 10. Band 10 is formed from a generally elongated strip identified by the numeral 12. Note that in FIGS. 1 and 3 the prior art was practiced by the use of one elongated strip or substrate. Strip or substrate 12 is generally divided into a first portion 14 and and a second portion 16. The upper portion of portion 14 is treated with an adhesive bonding agent identified by the numeral 18. The downwardly facing surface of portion 16 is un-treated but can be turned as shown in FIG. 2 to form an untwisted loop with the upwardly facing surface of portion 14 sticking to the downwardly facing surface of portion 16. The surface treatment of portion 14 could be changed to the downwardly facing surface and the upper surface of portion 16 joined to the downwardly facing surface of portion 14 accomplishing the loop in a reverse fashion if desired.

Your attention is now directed to FIGS. 2 and 4 in which a lap seal packaging band is disclosed generally identified by the numeral 110, the band being formed from a non-woven substrate such as paper. All similar structure in FIGS. 2 and 4 to FIGS. 1 and 3 are designated by similar numbers in the 100 series. Note that in place of adhesive 18 the surface 114 is coated with a cohesive substance 118 as is the downwardly facing surface of portion 116. Thus when the surfaces are brought into contact they will stick together but in the meantime neither surface will stick to any material un-coated with the cohesive substance 118. Referring now to FIG. 4, it can be seen how the band is formed.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed wherein the band is generally identified by the numeral 210. In this embodiment the band 210 is formed from two strips of non-woven substrate such as paper, the upper strip numbered 220 and the lower strip numbered 222. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the strips 220 and 222 are both elongated, the same width but of different lengths. This construction is such that either the upper surface of strip 222 and the lower surface of strip 220 or just the upper surface of strip 222 can be coated with a water based adhesive 218. The strips 220 and 222 may then be placed even at one end of each strip 220 and 222. The adhesive will join the facing surfaces of the strips but the strip 222 is longer and will have a portion 218 at one end coated with water based adhesive so that the strips may be formed into a packaging band as shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings another version of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 is disclosed with similar structure given similar numbers but in the 300 series. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the strips 320 and 322 are both elongated, are both the same width and length, and both formed from a non-woven substrate such as paper. Both the downwardly facing surface of strip 320 and the upwardly facing surface of strip 322 have a water based bonding substance applied thereto numbered 324 and 326 respectively. Note that in this embodiment of the invention the strips 320 and 322 are longitudinally offset such that there is exposed a substance coated portion 324 of strip 320 and a substance coated portion 326 of of strip 322. It can easily be seen that strip 320 can be longitudinally offset relative to strip 322 and then positioned thereover. As can be seen from FIG. 9 of the drawings the two exposed ends may then be overlaid so that their exposed surfaces 324 and 326 may be joined to complete the band.

Referring now to FIG. 10 of the drawings a lap seal packaging band is disclosed generally identified by the numeral 410. All similar structure in FIG. 10 to that disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 9 is numbered in the 400 series. Upper strip 420 has a downwardly facing surface coated with a water based adhesive substance 418. The upper surface of lower strip 422 as shown in FIG. 10 is adhesively joined to the lower surface of upper strip 420 by the adhesive 418, but note also that strip 420 is longer than strip 422 such that exposed water based adhesively coated portions of the lower surface of strip 420 are left exposed at both ends of strip 420. Both strips 420 and 422 are made from a non-woven substrate. Thus it can be seen that lap seal packaging band 410 may be curled into a circle and the exposed end joined. The advantage of this construction is that an exposed adhesive treated surface is left internally exposed when a ring is formed thereby making it possible to attach the ring to the packaged goods if desired. Also, if the curl into a ring is reversed, an adhesively treated surface will be exposed on the exterior of the ring to allow the ring to be externally attached to another item.

An advantage of the two strip substrate such as previously described herein is that each coated strip may be stored in long roll form and dispensed by appropriate structure to select desired lengths of each strip from an infinite variety of possible lengths.

A feature of applicants structure is that the ends joined to form the band need not be abutting allowing length adjustment within the pre-selected lengths determined by the cutting.

In stating the objects of the invention applicant talked about separating of the formed band not only by tearing but also by peeling. This may be accomplished by reason of the fact that pressure sensitive bonding agents, of which there are a great many, may be selected and coated on a strip creating a bond with the strip that is greater in strength than any bond the agent may subsequently form with another strip or another bonding agent. The simple passage of time by exposure to the air is sometimes sufficient to cure the coated strip so as to establish this bond but at times it may be necessary to chemically or heat cure the bonding agent and coated strip to form the desired strength of bond. The strength of the bonding agent selected and the bond formed with the strip is directly related to the tensile strength of the strip. For example the bond formed between a coated strip and a non-coated strip may be such that the coated strip may be torn or peeled longitudinally away from the other strip taking some of the surface material of the other strip.