Method of packaging

Claim 1

IN THE METHOD OF SKIN-PACKAGING ARTICLES BETWEEN A SUBSTRATE AND A THERMOPLASTIC FILM TO FORM A COMPOSITE PACKAGE, THE STEPS COMPRISING: MOISTENING ONE SURFACE OF AN AIR-PERVIOUS FIBROUS SUBSTRATE PLACING SAID MOISTENED SUBSTRATE UPON THE UPPER SURFACE OF AN AIR-PERVIOUS SUPPORT MEMBER WITH ITS MOISTENED SURFACE ADJACENT SAID UPPER SURFACE, SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A SUPPORT PORTION EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY IN A SINGLE PLANE AND A MOLDING PORTION EXTENDING AWAY FROM SAID PLANE, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BEING PERVIOUS TO AIR AT BOTH OF SAID SURFACE PORTIONS AND SAID SUBSTRATE OVERLYING BOTH OF SAID SURFACE PORTIONS; PLACING AN ARTICLE TO BE PACKAGED UPON THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SUBSTRATE OVERLYING SAID SUPPORT PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER; SUPPORTING A LENGTH OF SYNTHETIC THERMOPLASTIC FILM ADJACENT THE MARGINS THEREOF IN A POSITION OVERLYING SAID SUBSTRATE AND ARTICLE; HEATING SAID THERMOPLASTIC FILM TO DEFORMABILITY; DRAWING SUCTION THROUGH SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND SUBSTRATE WHILE SUPPORTING THE DEFORMABLY HEATED FILM IN A POSITION CLOSELY OVERLYING SAID SUBSTRATE AND ARTICLE TO DRAW SAID FILM INTO A SHEATH ABOUT SAID ARTICLE AND INTO LAMINAR CONTACT AND BONDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SUBSTRATE ABOUT SAID ARTICLE, SAID SUCTION DRAWING SAID BONDED SUBSTRATE AND FILM INTO GENERAL CONFORMITY WITH SAID MOLDING PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER UPPER SURFACE TO EFFECT SUBSTANTIALLY A PERMANENT CONTOUR IN THE BONDED SUBSTRATE AND FILM OF THE COMPOSITE PACKAGE PRODUCED THEREBY.