Strap apparatus for stacked articles

Abstract

A method and apparatus for banding a stack of planar articles, including a blank that has an initial length that is less than the circumference of the stack to be banded and a width that is greater than the height of the stack to be banded, wherein the band is a monolithically formed band without seams that is created through advantageous slitting and folding of the blank.

1 . A strap apparatus, for wrapping a stack of planar articles, wherein the stack has a length, width and height, and a top, a bottom, and four peripheral faces defining a perimeter, for wrapping the stack around the perimeter of the stack, the strap apparatus comprising: 
 first and second strips, formed from a single length of strap material having a width substantially equal to twice the height of the stack to be wrapped, and a length greater than one-half the length of the perimeter of the stack, such that each strip has a width substantially equal to the height of the stack to be wrapped and a length greater than one-half the length of the perimeter of the stack;    each of the first and second strips having a first end and second end;    each of the first and second strips having formed thereon two regions of reduced resistance to bending, disposed a corresponding to corner regions of the stack to be wrapped;    the first and second strips being connected at their respective first and second ends, when the strap apparatus is in position around the stack to be wrapped.    
     
     
         2 . The strap apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second strips are not completely separated from one another during formation from the length of strap material, so that the respective first ends and second ends of the first and second strips are monolithically formed together with one another, and not separated when the strap apparatus is placed on the stack to be wrapped.  
     
     
         3 . The strap apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second strips are completely separated from one another, when the first and second strips are formed from the length of strap material.  
     
     
         4 . The strap apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each region of reduced resistance to bending comprises at least one score line extending from one lateral edge of one of the first and second strips to another lateral edge of said one of the first and second strips.  
     
     
         5 . The strap apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one score line comprises at least two parallel score lines.  
     
     
         6 . The strap apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least two parallel score lines comprises three parallel, spaced apart score lines.