Sandwich wrapper and method of wrapping

Abstract

A sandwich wrapper is formed from a substantially rectangular sheet by providing a plurality of overlapping folds which are positioned into a substantially pleated arrangement. Two substantially parallel lines of adhesive, glue, or adhesive tape are used to attach spaced apart zones of the folded areas to each other. The dimensions of the sheet with respect to an article to be wrapped, spacing between the adhesive lines, and dimensions of the fold can be calculated to provide an efficient and cost-effective food wrapper.

What is claimed is: .[.1. A wrapper adapted to be positioned about and wrap a solid article having a convex shape, said article having a central axis passing through the geometric center of said solid, wherein two intersecting planes extend through said article and include said axis, wherein said wrapper comprises a thin, flexible substantially rectangular sheet having a predetermined width and a predetermined length, said sheet comprising two lengthwise-extending opposing side edges and first and second opposing ends, said sheet further being folded into a plurality of folds which extend substantially parallel to said width, wherein adjacent folds are positioned on top of and overlap each other in a lengthwise, staggered manner and are adhesively attached to each other along two lengthwise-extending narrow strip areas located, respectively, proximate said two side edges of said sheet, said wrapper, including said strip areas, being dimensioned and configured relative to said article such that upon holding one of said ends of said wrapper against said article and pulling the opposite one of said ends of said wrapper about the periphery of said article, said plurality of folds between said strip areas at least partially unfold to allow said wrapper to encompass the periphery of said article, whereas portions of said wrapper adjacent said strip areas and said side edges tend to move together, respectively, to cause said portions to fold over and under said article to substantially enclose said 
     
        article..]. 2. A wrapper in accordance with claim .[.1.]. 
     
     
        .Iadd.37.Iaddend., wherein said folds are glued to each other. 3. A wrapper in accordance with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.37.Iaddend., wherein said 
     
     
        folds are soldered to each other by a heat sensitive adhesive. 4. A wrapper in accordance with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.37.Iaddend., wherein said folds are attached to each other by adhesive tape attached to the sheet along said two strip areas. .[.5. A wrapper in accordance with claim 1 wherein said folds are positioned over each other in a pleated fashion, said folds comprising first and second sets of alternating width sections located along said sheet, wherein each of the fold sections in the first set of fold sections has a larger width than each of the fold sections in the second set of fold sections, thus producing a staggered array..]. .[.6. A wrapper in accordance with claim 5, wherein said narrow strip areas comprise substantially parallel selvage areas, with the distance (M) between said selvage areas being equal to M=P/2-L/3.14(1+alpha)±5%, wherein P is defined as the length of the closed curve formed by the intersection of a first one of said planes and one arcuate surface of said article, and wherein M is the distance between the strip areas and wherein said sheet length (L) is defined by the equation L=R(1+alpha), wherein 0.2<alpha<0.6, wherein R is defined as the length of a closed curve formed by the intersection of a second of said planes and a second arcuate surface of said article, said second plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane, and wherein there are a plurality (N) of folds (i), with each fold section in the first set having a width Ai, and each fold section in the second set having a width Bi, wherein R/31.4<Ai<R/12.6,Ai/3<Bi<5Ai/6, with the total number of folds (i) on said sheet being N, wherein ##EQU3## with the length of said sheet, when unfolded, being L, and its length when folded being defined by ##EQU4## 
     
     
        .]. 7. A wrapper in accordance with claim .[.6.]. .Iadd.37.Iaddend., wherein said sheet width (K) is defined by the equation K=P/2±5% and, further.Iadd., wherein said narrow strip areas comprise selvage areas, .Iaddend.wherein said sheet includes an additional strip between each of said selvage areas and a side edge of said sheet, each additional strip 
     
     
        having a width (C) defined by the equation C=P/4-M/2. 8. A wrapper in accordance with claim 7, wherein said additional strip includes a plurality of triangular recesses and triangular sections, wherein said 
     
     
        width (C) is measured to the peak of each of said sections. 9. A wrapper in accordance with claim 8, wherein said sheet includes a plurality of 
     
     
        rounded corners. 10. A wrapper in accordance with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.37.Iaddend., wherein each of the .[.folded areas.]. .Iadd.folds .Iaddend.are substantially equal, .[.each folded area comprising a larger section of width A and a smaller section of width B,.]. said wrapper being adapted to cover an article in the form of a solid cylinder of revolution having a diameter D and a height H, wherein the sheet width K=D+H±5%, the sheet length L=3.14D(1+alpha), .[.wherein 0.2<alpha<0.6,.]. wherein D/10<A<D/4, .[.A/3<B<5A/6,M=2B×D/A+B+H±5%.]. .Iadd.M=2B×D/CA+B)+H±5% .Iaddend., and C=1/2(D+H-M), where .[.M is the distance between said two strips, and.]. C is the width of a portion of said sheet between a side edge of said sheet and one of said 
     
     
        .[.strips.]. .Iadd.narrow strip areas.Iaddend.. 11. A wrapper in accordance with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.37 .Iaddend.wherein each of said .[.strips.]. .Iadd.strip areas .Iaddend.has a width which is less than 5% 
     
     
        of the sheet width .[.K.]. (.Iadd.K).Iaddend.. 12. A wrapper in accordance with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.37 .Iaddend.wherein said folds are attached to each other by thermally-activated glue attached to said sheet prior to 
     
     
        formation of said folds. 13. A wrapper in accordance with claim 12 wherein said folds are attached to each other by heat and pressure when the folds 
     
     
        are formed. 14. A wrapper in accordance with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.37.Iaddend., wherein said sheet has a front surface and a rear surface, and wherein said .[.strips.]. .Iadd.strip areas .Iaddend.are 
     
     
        located along both of said surfaces. 15. A wrapper in accordance with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.37.Iaddend., wherein said wrapper is formed from a material which, when subjected to heat and pressure, will attach the folds to each other along both of said .[.strips.]. .Iadd.strip areas.Iaddend.. 
     
     
         6. A wrapper in accordance with claim 15, wherein said folds are attached to each other only along said .[.strips.]. .Iadd.strip areas.Iaddend.. 
     
     
            A wrapper in accordance with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.37 .Iaddend.which comprises a thin paper sheet, wherein said .[.folded areas.]. .Iadd.folds .Iaddend.are attached to each other by a plastic film along said 
     
     
        .[.strips.]. .Iadd.strip areas.Iaddend.. 18. A wrapper in accordance with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.37 .Iaddend.wherein said sheet comprises a thin, 
     
     
        flexible plastic film. 19. A wrapper in accordance with claim 18 
     
     
        comprising a single film sheet. 20. A wrapper in accordance with claim 18 
     
     
        comprising a plurality of laminated sheets. 21. A wrapper in accordance with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.37 .Iaddend.comprising a plurality of sheets on a 
     
     
        continuous roll of said material. 22. A wrapper in accordance with claim 21, wherein each sheet includes a plurality of folds and a non-folded portion, said non-folded portion comprising means for facilitating separation of adjacent sheets from said roll. .[.23. A method of wrapping an article having a predetermined shape with a substantially rectangular wrapper having a predetermined shape with a substantially rectangular wrapper having a predetermined length, a predetermined width, opposing end portions and opposing side edges, and a plurality of folded portions arranged substantially parallel to said width and overlapping each other in a lengthwise staggered, pleated fashion, said folded portions being adhered to each other along substantially parallel, spaced longitudinal adhesive strip areas substantially perpendicularly arranged with respect to said folded areas, said method comprising: (a) placing one of said end portions of said wrapper into abutment with a peripheral portion of said article, with said wrapper being substantially flat;   (b) pulling the opposite one of said ends of said wrapper about the periphery of said article such that said plurality of folds between said strip areas at least partially unfold to allow said wrapper to encompass the periphery of said article, whereas portions of said wrapper adjacent said strip areas and said side edges tend to move together, respectively, to cause said portions to fold over and under said article to   
     
     
        substantially enclose said article..].  24. The method of wrapping an article in accordance with claim .[.23.]. .Iadd.38.Iaddend., wherein said article is a food product and said method is a method of wrapping said 
     
     
        food product. 25. The method of wrapping an article in accordance with claim .[.24.]. .Iadd.38.Iaddend., wherein said food product is a sandwich and said method is a method of wrapping said sandwich. .[.26. A sandwich wrapper formed from a thin, substantially rectangular sheet having opposed first and second ends defining a length between them and opposed first and second sides, said sheet comprising a plurality of lengthwise staggered, overlapping folds arranged in pleated fashion, said folds extending generally parallel to said ends and being attached to each other by substantially narrow adhesive strip areas arranged substantially parallel to each other and to said first and second sides and substantially perpendicularly with respect to said folds, said wrapper, including said strip areas, being dimensioned and configured relative to said sandwich such that upon holding one of said ends of said wrapper against said sandwich and pulling the opposite one of said ends of said wrapper about the periphery of said sandwich, said plurality of folds between said strip areas at least partially unfold to allow said wrapper to encompass the periphery of said sandwich, whereas portions of said wrapper adjacent said strip areas and said side edge tend to move together, respectively, to cause said portions to fold over and under said sandwich to substantially enclose said sandwich..]. .[.27. A wrapper in accordance with claim 26, wherein each of said strip areas is spaced from a respective one of said sides by an edge area of a predetermined distance..]. .[.28. A wrapper in accordance with claim 27 wherein each of said folds comprises a first, relatively wide section of width A and a second, relatively narrow section of width B..]. .[.29. A wrapper in accordance with claim 27 wherein all of the corners of said sheet are rounded..]. .[.30. A wrapper in accordance with claim 27 wherein each of said edge areas has a constant width..]. 
     
     
        .[. 1.  A wrapper in accordance with claim 30, wherein said strip areas extend along only a portion of said sheet sides..]. .[.32. A wrapper in accordance with claim 27, wherein said wrapper is wrapped about a substantially cylindrical hamburger sandwich having a height H and a diameter D..]. .[.33. A wrapper in accordance with claim 32 wherein said sheet has a width K=D+H±5% and a length L=3.14(1+alpha), where alpha is an optimum sandwich covering coefficient between 0.2 and 0.6..]. .[.34. A wrapper in accordance with claim 32 wherein each of said folds comprises a wide section of width A and a relatively narrow section of width B, wherein D4>A>D/10,5/6A>B>A/3, and the length of the sheet, when folded, is defined by L'=N(A-B), where N is the number of folds in the sheet..]. .[.35. A wrapper in accordance with claim 32 wherein the distance between the adhesive areas is defined by M=2B×D/A+B+H±5%..]. .[.36. A wrapper in accordance with claim 26 further comprising a plurality of spaced triangular portions adjacent said sheet sides which are adapted to overlap each other when said wrapper is wrapped about a food article..]. 
     
     
        .Iadd.37.  A wrapper adapted to be positioned about and wrap a solid article having a convex shape, said article having a central axis passing through the geometric center of said solid, wherein two intersecting planes extend through said article and include said axis, wherein said wrapper comprises a thin, flexible substantially rectangular sheet having a predetermined sheet width (K) and a predetermined sheet length (L), said sheet comprising two lengthwise-extending opposing side edges and first and second opposing ends, said sheet further being folded into a plurality of folds which extend substantially parallel to said width, wherein adjacent folds are positioned on top of and overlap each other in a lengthwise, staggered manner and are adhesively attached to each other along two lengthwise-extending narrow strip areas separated by a distance M located, respectively, proximate said two side edges of said sheet to form a pleated wrapper, said wrapper, including said strip areas, being dimensioned and configured relative to said article such that upon holding one of said ends of said wrapper against said article and pulling the opposite one of said ends of said wrapper about the periphery of said article, said plurality of folds between said strip areas at least partially unfold to allow said wrapper to encompass the periphery of said article, whereas portions of said wrapper adjacent said strip areas and said side edges tend to move together, respectively, to cause said portions to fold over and under said article to substantially enclose said article wherein each fold comprises a larger section of width A and a smaller section of width B connected to and folded relative to the larger section; wherein A, B and M are defined by   (R/31.4<A<(R/12.6),   (A/3<B<(5A/6), and   M=(P/2)-L'/3.14* (1+alpha)+/-5%; wherein P is a length of a closed curve formed by the intersection of a first of said planes and a first arcuate surface of said article; R is a length of a closed curve formed by the intersection of a second of said planes and a second arcuate surface of said article, said second plane being substantially perpendicular to said first plane; L' is the length of the pleated wrapper; and alpha has a value between 0.2 and 0.6. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. A method of wrapping an article having a predetermined shape with a substantially rectangular wrapper said article having a geometric center and central axis passing through said geometric center with two intersecting planes extending through said article and including said central axis, said wrapper having a predetermined length, a predetermined width, opposing end portions and opposing side edges, and a plurality of folded portions arranged substantially parallel to said width and overlapping each other in a lengthwise staggered, pleated fashion, said folded portions being adhered to each other along substantially parallel spaced longitudinal adhesive strip areas substantially perpendicularly arranged with respect to said folded areas and separated by a distance M, wherein each fold comprises a larger section of width A and a smaller section of width B connected to and folded relative to the larger section;     wherein A, B and M are defined by   (R/31.4)<A<(R/2.6), and   (A/3)<B<(5A/6), and   M=(P/2)-L'/3.14* (1+alpha)+/-5%; wherein P is a length of a closed curve formed by the intersection of a first of said planes and a first arcuate surface of said article; R is a length of a closed curve formed by the intersection of a second of said planes and a second arcuate surface of said article, said second plane being substantially perpendicular to said first plane; L' is the length of the pleated wrapper; and alpha has a value between 0.2 and 0.6     (a) placing one said end portions of said wrapper into abutment with a peripheral portion of said article, with said wrapper being substantially flat;   (b) pulling the opposite one of said ends of said wrapper about the periphery of said article such that said plurality of folds between said strip areas at least partially unfold to allow said wrapper to encompass the periphery of said article, whereas portions of said wrapper adjacent said strip areas and said side edges tend to move together, respectively, to cause said portions to fold over and under said article to substantially enclose said article..Iaddend.