Packaging film dispenser and wearable support element assembly, kit, film dispenser, wearable support element, packaging method

Abstract

A wearable packaging film dispenser assembly including a dispenser for packaging film reels, where the dispenser is adapted to rotatably support a packaging film reel for wrapping/packaging a load, and a wearable support element configured to connect the dispenser to a user and to support the the dispenser leaving the hands of the user free, wherein the wearable element includes at least one flexible portion adapted to be connected to the user, wherein the dispenser is reversibly connected to the wearable support element by reversible connection means.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A wearable packaging film dispenser assembly comprising
 a dispenser for packaging film reels,   wherein said dispenser is adapted to rotatably support a packaging film reel for wrapping/packaging a load, and   a wearable support element configured to connect said dispenser to a user and to support said dispenser leaving the hands of said user free, wherein said wearable element comprises at least one flexible portion adapted to be connected to said user,   wherein said dispenser is reversibly connected to said wearable support element by reversible connection means.   
     
     
         22 . The assembly according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein said dispenser comprises a longitudinal frame which mainly extends along a longitudinal frame direction (X-X),   wherein said dispenser comprises a first mandrel adapted to support said reel rotatably about a rotation axis,   wherein said first mandrel is connected to said longitudinal frame by a first mandrel bracket which projects, preferably from one end of said longitudinal frame, along a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal frame direction (X-X), so as to arrange the rotation axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal frame direction (X-X),   wherein the longitudinal frame is reversibly connected to said wearable support element by reversible connection means.   
     
     
         23 . The assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said flexible connection portion comprises at least one connecting band extending along an incident direction with respect to the longitudinal frame direction (X-X) to be connected to said user at at least one of a belt of said user, a shoulder of said user, a thigh of said user, an ankle of said user or a calf of said user, so that, in use, the rotation axis is arranged substantially incident and/or transverse to a ground on which the load rests directly or indirectly and so that, in use, the rotation axis is substantially aligned parallel to a leg of the user and the dispenser is supported in a position close to the ground, wherein the longitudinal frame is reversibly connected to said first flexible connection portion by reversible connection means. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said flexible connection portion comprises a first band and a second band, wherein said first band and said second band are reversibly connected to the dispenser spaced apart from each other extending along respective directions to be connected to said user in at least two areas of said user supporting the dispenser adjacent to a leg of the user, wherein said first band is configured to be connected to the belt of said user and/or a shoulder of said user or a thigh of said user, and wherein said second band is configured to be connected to a thigh of said user or an ankle or a calf of said user. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said flexible connection portion comprises a third band and a fourth band, wherein said third band and said fourth band are reversibly connected to the dispenser spaced apart from each other extending along respective directions to be connected to said user in at least two areas of said user supporting the dispenser adjacent to a leg of the user, wherein said third band is configured to be connected a thigh of said user, wherein said fourth band is configured to be connected to an ankle or a calf of said user. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said reversible connection means comprise at least one male element and at least one female element connected to said dispenser and said wearable support element, respectively, or vice versa, wherein said at least one male element and said at least one female element are reversibly connected to each other by shape coupling or by engagement. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein said dispenser comprises a longitudinal frame which mainly extends along a longitudinal frame direction (X-X),   wherein said dispenser comprises a first mandrel adapted to support said reel,   wherein said first mandrel is connected to said longitudinal frame by a first mandrel bracket which projects, preferably from one end of said longitudinal frame, along a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal frame direction (X-X),   wherein said wearable support element comprises a longitudinal bracket which mainly extends along a longitudinal bracket direction (X-X),   wherein said flexible connection portion is connected to said longitudinal bracket and extends along an incident direction with respect to the longitudinal bracket direction (Y-Y) to be connected to said user,   wherein said at least one male element is connected to said longitudinal frame and said at least one female element is connected to said longitudinal bracket, or vice versa, for reversibly connecting said dispenser to said wearable support element.   
     
     
         28 . The assembly according to the  claim 27 , wherein said male element is a protrusion which projects from said longitudinal frame along a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal frame direction (X-X) and said female element is a housing obtained in said longitudinal bracket or vice versa. 
     
     
         29 . The assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein said longitudinal frame direction (X-X) and said longitudinal bracket direction (Y-Y) are parallel, and wherein when said protrusion is accommodated in said housing, said protrusion cooperates with said housing preventing said longitudinal frame from making movements along transverse directions to said longitudinal bracket direction (Y-Y) with respect to said longitudinal bracket. 
     
     
         30 . The assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein said protrusion is slidingly accommodated in said housing along said bracket direction (Y-Y), and wherein said housing defines a linear guide for said protrusion allowing said dispenser to make a guided linear movement along said bracket direction (Y-Y) between a stroke-end position and at least one sliding position, wherein, in said stroke-end position, said protrusion is completely accommodated in said housing, and wherein, in said at least one sliding position, said protrusion is partially outside said housing along said bracket direction (Y-Y). 
     
     
         31 . The assembly according to  claim 30 , wherein said longitudinal frame comprises an abutment portion and wherein said longitudinal bracket comprises a counter-abutment portion, or vice versa, wherein, when said dispenser is in said stroke-end position, said abutment portion abuts against said counter-portion unloading the weight of said dispenser on said wearable element, wherein, when said dispenser is in said at least one sliding position, said abutment portion is spaced apart from said counter-abutment portion along said longitudinal bracket direction (Y-Y), wherein said dispenser comprises at least a first handgrip connected to said at least one longitudinal frame at one frame end, wherein said at least a first handgrip is configured to be gripped by said user for moving said dispenser between said resting position, said at least one sliding position, and a separation position, wherein, in said separation position, said protrusion is completely outside said housing along said bracket direction (Y-Y), wherein said dispenser comprises at least a second handgrip connected to said longitudinal frame at an opposite frame end, wherein said second handgrip is configured to be gripped by said user. 
     
     
         32 . The assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said dispenser comprises a second mandrel configured to be rotatably connected to said reel on an opposite side with respect to said first mandrel, wherein said second mandrel is made as a separate piece from said longitudinal frame and is connected to said first mandrel only through said reel or wherein said second mandrel is connected to said longitudinal frame by means of a second mandrel bracket which projects transversely to said longitudinal frame direction (X-X) from said longitudinal frame, wherein said first mandrel bracket is spaced apart along said longitudinal frame direction (X-X) by means of said second mandrel bracket so as to allow the connection of said reel with said first mandrel and said second mandrel, wherein said second mandrel comprises a clutch configured to regulate the rotation of said reel. 
     
     
         33 . The assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the dispenser is slidingly connected to the wearable support element so as to slide linearly with respect to the wearable support element along a longitudinal extension direction of the wearable support element (Y-Y) and/or of the dispenser (X-X) for wrapping the load at gradually increasing heights from the ground, keeping the dispenser connected to the wearable support element. 
     
     
         34 . The assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said assembly comprises a fixing device configured to fix at least one fixing element to a support on which the load is positioned, wherein said fixing device is connected to said dispenser so that said fixing device is operable by pushing said dispenser against said support with said fixing device interposed between said dispenser and said load support thus preventing said user from stooping and bending his/her back. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein the fixing device comprises an abutment portion comprising an abutment surface for abutting against said load support, and an operating portion connected to said dispenser, wherein said operating portion and said abutment portion are connected to each other and mutually movable between a rest configuration and a thrust configuration, wherein said abutment surface is in a distal position with respect to said dispenser in said rest configuration and in a proximal position to said dispenser in said thrust configuration, wherein said operating portion and said abutment portion are constantly biased by an elastic element in said rest configuration, wherein said abutment portion comprises a cartridge housing for accommodating a cartridge comprising a plurality of said at least one fixing element, wherein said abutment surface comprises at least one opening in communication with said cartridge housing so that, in said thrust configuration, said fixing element is ejected from said housing for constraining a film portion of said film to said load support. 
     
     
         36 . The assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein said fixing device is a nail gun device and wherein said fixing element is a nail or a U-shaped fixing staple. 
     
     
         37 . A wearable packaging film dispenser assembly comprising
 a dispenser for packaging film reels,   wherein said dispenser is adapted to rotatably support a packaging film reel for wrapping/packaging a load, and   a wearable support element configured to connect said dispenser to a leg of a user and to support said dispenser leaving the hands of said user free and so as to arrange a rotation axis, with respect to which the packaging film reel is rotatable, incident and/or transverse to a ground on which the load rests directly or indirectly, wherein said wearable element comprises at least one flexible portion adapted to be connected to said user,   
       wherein said dispenser is reversibly connected to said wearable support element by reversible connection means. 
     
     
         38 . A method for packaging a load with a packaging film, comprising the steps of:
 providing a wearable assembly comprising a dispenser for packaging film reels, wherein said dispenser is adapted to rotatably support a packaging film reel for wrapping/packaging a load, and the wearable assembly comprises a wearable support element configured to connect said dispenser to a user and to support said dispenser leaving the hands of said user free, wherein said wearable element comprises at least one flexible portion adapted to be connected to said user, wherein said dispenser is reversibly connected to said wearable support element by reversible connection means, wherein said dispenser supports a reel of said packaging film, connecting said wearable element to a user, connecting said wearable element at least to a leg of said user so as to arrange a rotation axis, with respect to which the reel is rotatable, incident and/or transverse to a ground on which the load rests directly or indirectly, and so as to arrange the packaging film wound onto the reel facing a lower portion of said load which is proximal to the ground,   wrapping said lower portion of said load keeping said dispenser connected to said wearable element thus preventing said user from bending his/her back and supporting said dispenser with his/her hands, turning around said load.   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , comprising the further steps of:
 separating said dispenser from said wearable element, supporting said dispenser with one's own hands,   wrapping an upper portion of said load with said dispenser supported by the hands of said user, and/or   sliding said dispenser with respect to said wearable support element, lifting said dispenser with at least one hand so as to wrap said load in an intermediate portion of said load without completely separating said dispenser from said wearable support element.   
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 38 , comprising the further step of:
 before the step of wrapping a lower portion of said load, constraining a portion of said film to the load or a load support, avoiding bending the user's back, pushing said dispenser against a portion of said film interposed between a fixing device and said load or said load support with the leg of said user.