Method and apparatus to wrap a plastic container

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a closed container formed of substantially rigid plastic, and a wrapper that is loosely disposed fully about the closed container. This wrapper may also have twist ties on opposing ends thereof. This apparatus may be used to provide packaging for a retail commodity.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a closed container comprised of substantially rigid plastic;   a wrapper loosely disposed fully about the closed container and having twist ties on opposing ends thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus comprises packaging for a retail commodity. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the closed container comprises a clamshell-style container. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the clamshell-style container has a flange disposed circumferentially thereabout to provide lateral rigidity. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the closed container is not hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the wrapper comprises a laminate wrapper. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the wrapper comprises, at least in part, a container-receiving pouch. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein one of the twist ties is disposed to close the container-receiving pouch. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a food item disposed in the closed container.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising:
 aluminum foil disposed in the closed container and about the food item.   
     
     
         11 . A packaged food item, comprising:
 a food item;   a substantially rigid plastic container that is closed about the food item;   a flexible material disposed completely and non-conformally about the plastic container;   a first twist tie disposed in engagement with the flexible material on a first side of the plastic container;   a second twist tie disposed in engagement with the flexible material on a second side of the plastic container that is opposite the first side of the plastic container.   
     
     
         12 . The packaged food item of  claim 11  wherein the food item comprises a hollow chocolate. 
     
     
         13 . The packaged food item of  claim 12  wherein the plastic container comprises a base and a cover that are pivotally connected to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The packaged food item of  claim 13  wherein the plastic container is configured to readily move back and forth between opened and closed positions without loss of functionality. 
     
     
         15 . The packaged food item of  claim 11  wherein the plastic container comprises substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         16 . A method of providing a packaged item comprising:
 disposing an item within a substantially rigid plastic container;   closing the plastic container;   disposing the plastic container within a pocket formed of a flexible material;   utilizing a first twist tie to loosely encapsulate the plastic container within the flexible material.   
     
     
         17 . The method of providing a packaged item of  claim 16  wherein disposing the item within the plastic container comprises:
 disposing aluminum foil about the item to provide a foil-wrapped item;   disposing the foil-wrapped item within the substantially rigid plastic container.   
     
     
         18 . The method of providing a packaged item of  claim 17  further comprising:
 folding the flexible material to form a folded side and an opposing open side;   forming a seal along the open side to provide a first seal;   forming a second seal from the folded side to the first seal to thereby form the pocket.   
     
     
         19 . The method of providing a packaged item of  claim 18  further comprising:
 utilizing a second twist tie to engage the flexible material on a side of the plastic container that is opposite to the first twist tie.   
     
     
         20 . The method of providing a packaged item of  claim 19  further comprising:
 attaching a hook to the flexible material to facilitate hanging the packaged item with the first twist tie being disposed above the second twist tie.