Soap bar wrapper

Abstract

The package with reinforced regions can be produced from a single sheet of material, preferably in-line with the packaging of an item. Gusset-like folds are made to form the reinforced regions of the film material that is to form the package. The reinforcement will be through at least a three-ply section between a center panel and side edge panels. The gusset-like folds provide a significant reinforcement due to the multi-ply nature of such folds. These folds can be made in any part of a film that is subsequently used to make a package.

1 . A packaged soap bar comprising a soap bar, said soap bar surrounded by a plastic film, said plastic film folded inward on itself in a multi-layer gusset-like fold adjacent the longitudinal edge of said film, a margin of plastic film extending beyond said gusset-like fold.  
   
   
       2 . A packaged soap bar as in  claim 1  wherein the layers if plastic film in said gusset-like multi-layer fold are at least partially attached.  
   
   
       3 . A packaged soap bar as in  claim 2  wherein said layers of plastic film are adhesively attached.  
   
   
       4 . A packaged soap bar as in  claim 2  wherein said layers of plastic film are attached by heat welding.  
   
   
       5 . A packaged soap bar as in  claim 1  wherein said margin of plastic film is sufficient to form the sidewalls of said packaged soap bar.  
   
   
       6 . A packaged soap bar as in  claim 5  wherein said margin of plastic film is sealed by heat welding.  
   
   
       7 . A packaged soap bar as in  claim 5  wherein said margin is adhesively sealed.  
   
   
       8 . A packaged soap bar as in  claim 1  wherein said gusset-like fold is a fold of three layers of said film.  
   
   
       9 . A packaged soap bar as in  claim 1  wherein said gusset-like fold has a width of about 1 cm to about 5 cm.  
   
   
       10 . A packaged soap bar as in  claim 9  wherein said gusset-like fold has a width of about 1.5 cm to about 3 cm.  
   
   
       11 . A packaged soap bar as in  claim 11  wherein said film has a thickness of about 10 micron to about 300 micron.  
   
   
       12 . A packaged soap bar as in  claim 11  wherein said film has a thickness of about 25 micron to about 200 micron.  
   
   
       13 . A method of packaging a soap bar and a plastic film having a length with a longitudinal edge and a width, forming a gusset-like fold adjacent each longitudinal edge to provide at least three layers in said gusset-like fold, a margin of plastic extending beyond the gusset-like fold, wrapping said film around said soap bar to fully envelop said soap bar, and folding and sealing said film to form said packaged soap bar wherein said soap bar is fully enclosed within said film.  
   
   
       14 . A method of packaging a soap bar as in  claim 13  wherein said gusset-like multi-layer fold is a three-layer fold.  
   
   
       15 . A method of packaging a soap bar as in  claim 13  wherein the plastic film in gusset-like layers are at least partially attached.  
   
   
       16 . A method of packaging a soap bar as in  claim 13  wherein the gusset-like folds are adhesively attached.  
   
   
       17 . A method of packaging a soap bar as in  claim 13  wherein the gusset-like folds are heat welded.  
   
   
       18 . A method of packaging a soap bar as in  claim 13  wherein the margin is sufficient to form the end walls of said soap bar package.