Ventilated produce package, and method of making the same

[54] VENTILATED PRODUCE PACKAGE, AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

[75] Inventor: Joseph S. Doyle, Williamsburg, Va.

[73] Assignee: Eastern Shore Printing Corporation,

Ashland, Va.

[21] Appl. No.: 775,416
[22] Filed: Oct. 15,1991

[51] Int. CI.* B65D 85/34; B65D 71/08;

B65B 53/00; B65B 53/02

[52] U.S. CI 426/106; 426/396;

426/415; 426/412; 426/419; 206/497; 53/427;

53/441; 53/442

[58] Field of Search 426/106, 396, 412, 415,

426/419; 206/497; 53/427, 441, 442, 462, 463

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

1,821,106 9/1931 Milani 426/419

3,040,968 6/1962 Long et al. .

3,067,039 12/1962 Crane .

3,097,787 7/1963 Schur .

3,207,300 9/1965 Farmer .

4.515,266 5/1985 Myers 426/419 X

4,815,603 3/1989 Harris .

4,886,372 12/1989 Greengrass et al. .

4,910,032 3/1990 Antoon, Jr 426/415 X

Primary Examiner—Bryon P. Gehman
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Hoffmann & Baron

[57] ABSTRACT

A method of wrapping a tray of produce or other articles requiring ventilation is provided. A ventilated package produced in accordance with the method is also provided. In accordance with the method, a sheet of flexible plastic film is applied to an open ended tray. The sheet includes a perforated portion which is bounded by non-perforated lateral edge portions. The sheet is positioned with respect to the tray such that the perforated portion is located over the open end of the tray while the non-perforated lateral edge portions extend over opposing portions of the rim of the tray and down the side walls thereof. The sheet is stretched in such a manner that the non-perforated lateral edge portions are subject to more severe stretching than the perforated portion of the sheet. The sheet accordingly will not tend to tear despite the presence of perforations.

16 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets

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