Patent Description:
In the fur industry, animal pelts are often stretched in a non-destructive way in order to maximize the size of the pelt. The pelts define a substantially tubular shape and have an outwardly oriented fur side and an inwardly oriented leather side. The stretching takes place after skinning the animal and scraping off the layer of fat on the leather side of the pelt and before the drying of the pelt. In the present context, the word pelt is understood to encompass pelts of minks, foxes and similar small mammals. The pelts are often stretched on a pelt board, which is nowadays made of plastic as a pelt board bag is interlayered between the pelt board and the pelt. Normally, the leather side of the pelt is facing the pelt board bag, which is made from a fat absorbing and possibly also moisture absorbing material such as a paper bag or sleeve, which is in contact with the leather side of the pelt. The fur side of the pelt is thereby facing outwardly during the stretching and drying of the pelt.

The stretching procedure and the use of pelt boards are known per se and both are disclosed in e.g. <CIT>. Therein is disclosed the use of a gripping element which is brought in engagement with the whole periphery of the pelt and the drawing of a fixing bag over the outside of the pelt in order to maintain the pelt in a stretched configuration during the drying of the pelt. Thereby, the previous use of staples and the thus produced elongated holes in the pelts may be avoided.

In relation to the above terminology, the word bag which in its normal understanding may describe a sleeve with a closed off bottom should in the present circumstances and further along in the present patent application be understood to also encompass sleeves which are not closed off and which have a tubular or cylindrical shape without a closed off bottom.

Within the relevant technical field, numerous examples are presented in relation to improved pelt board bags, which are described among others in the applicant company's patents: <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and applicant's EU design registration EU <NUM>.

Further examples are presented in <CIT> and pending <CIT>.

Another example is disclosed in <CIT> which discloses a band of pelt board bags, which abs comprises perforations establishing a tear line between two bags.

The use of a pelt board bag such as a fat and moisture absorbing pelt board bag in combination with a pelt board when taning and drying the pelt, calls for several conflicting concerns as on the one hand, the pelt board bag should be easily applied to the pelt board and on the other hand be sticking to the pelt after finalizing the drying when the pelt is removed from the pelt board bag rather than being removed together with the pelt from the pelt board. The technical conflict between on the one hand an easy mounting of the pelt board bag on the pelt board prior to the mounting of the pelt externally relative to the pelt board bag and on the other hand the retaining of the pelt board bag after the drying of the pelt without removing the pelt board bag sticking to the pelt is further exaggerated in accordance with today's standard of pelt boards, which are collapsible pelt boards, i.e. at the time of applying the pelt board bag, the pelt board is non-collapsed or expanded, whereas at the time the pelt is removed and the pelt board bag should stay or be retained on the pelt board, the pelt board is collapsed, which causes a reduced contact between the inner side of the pelt board bag and the reduced - as compared to the non-collapsed or expanded state of the pelt board - outer surface of the pelt board.

In accordance with specific examples described in the above-listed prior art, the pelt board bags have been suggested produced as bags, which are configured in conformity with the outer surface of the non-collapsed or expanded pelt board, i.e. having a configuration in conformity with the configuration or shape of the non-collapsed or expanded pelt board, which evidently highly increases the possibility that the pelt board bag will be loosened from its contact with the pelt board at the time the pelt board is collapsed as discussed above.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pelt board bag, which is kept in contact with and remains in contact with the pelt board at the time the pelt board is shifted to its collapsed state, and the pelt is removed from its tight contact with the outer surface of the pelt board bag.

In the present case reference is also made to the yet unpublished international application number <CIT>, which is not part of the present invention, which describes a pelt board bag and associated assembly of a pelt board bag and the board similar to the ones described herein including a pelt board bag having a region including slits, oblong apertures, embossings, or score lines, which allow the pelt board bag to be expanded when mounted on the pelt board, or allows the pelt board bag to expand when applied to the collapsed pelt board prior to the pelt board being shifted from its collapsed state to its non-collapsed or expanded state.

Notwithstanding the advantages of such region, which advantages are explained in the above mentioned international application and further below, the regions have the disadvantage of making any folding of the pelt board bag difficult, as well as any transition from a flat two-layer structure to a basically tubular state more difficult as the slits, oblong apertures, embossings, score lines, etc will naturally interfer being natural folding locations. It is thus an object according to the present invention to provide technologies for allowing an easier folding of the pelt board bag.

The above objects together with numerous other objects, features and advantages, which will be evident from the below description are, according to an aspect that is not according to the invention, obtained by a pelt board bag of a fat absorbing and optionally and preferably also moisture and water absorbing material for use in combination with and applied externally to a pelt board for the taning and drying of a pelt applied externally to the pelt board bag, said bag comprising:.

According to the teachings, the pelt board bag is basically of a structure which is undersized as compared to the pelt board, in particular undersized relative to the pelt board being in the non-collapsed or expanded state, and the pelt board bag being provided with the provisions of expandable or deformable parts constituted by the region including the slits, oblong apertures, embossings, score lines or folds, which allow the pelt board bag to be expanded when mounted on the pelt board or allows the pelt board bag to expand when applied to the collapsed pelt board prior to the pelt board being shifted from its collapsed state to its non-collapsed or expanded state.

The region constituting an expandable or deformable part or including the expandable or deformable part or parts may as stated above include slits, oblong apertures, embossings, score lines or folds. The slits, oblong apertures, embossings or score lines may, as will be discussed below, have different orientations as compared to the longitudinal direction or extent of the pelt board bag, whereas the folds which may be constituted by overlayered parts of the material from which the pelt board bag is produced may serve to allow the entire pelt board bag structure to be unfolded by the expansion for adjusting the size and configuration of the pelt board bag to the configuration and size of the pelt board at the time the pelt board bag is applied to the pelt board or after the pelt board bag has been applied and the pelt board is shifted from its collapsed state to its non-collapsed or expanded state.

The region characteristic may constitute a fairly small area or region along the longitudinal extent of the pelt board bag, however, according to specific embodiments to be described below with reference to the drawings, the region constitutes almost the entire outer surface of the pelt board bag.

Importantly, in the present context, the terms sheet and longitudinal edge refer to the opposing layers of flat two-layer structure of the pelt board bag, which not necessarily defines the boundaries of the fat absorbing material itself. In fact, at least one, and preferably both of the opposite longitudinal edges along which the sheets being joined together, are not constituted by a boundary in the material, but by a folding line. The folding line allows the material to be folded, thereby defining the pair of sheets forming the opposing layers of the pelt board bag. This allows the pelt board bag to remain strong at the longitudinal edges of the pelt board bag, which would normally absorb a high stress due to the convex shape of the board. The folding line is understood to be a location intended for folding.

The folding lines are provided with a folding instruction in the form of slits, oblong apertures, embossings, score lines or combinations thereof along the full length of the pelt board bag. This allows the pelt board bag to be easily established by folding the material and allows the finished pelt board bag to be easily shifted between the first and second position. The provision of the slits, oblong apertures, embossings, score lines or combinations thereof along the full length of the pelt board bag will significantly reduce the likelihood that the longitudinal fold establishing the edge and the location determining the transition from a flat two-layer structure to a basically tubular state, will occur at another position than the intended fold lines.

Provided the region has a fairly large extent, the region will, according to the advantageous and preferred embodiments of the pelt board bag according to the present invention, be bound by two inner perimeters along the longitudinal extent of the pelt board bag. It is of course to be understood that the pelt board bag according to the present invention may include more than a single region allowing for the expansion when applying the pelt board bag to the pelt board as several regions may be located along the longitudinal extent of the pelt board bag for providing the intentional expansion of the region or the regions at positions dedicated for the expansion purpose and defined primarily from the outer configuration and dimensions of the pelt board to which the pelt board bag is to be applied and in combination with which the pelt board bag is to be used.

In accordance with further characteristics of the pelt board bag according to the present invention, the pelt board bag may have - when in the second state - an overall conical configuration or a configuration composed of one or more cones and/or circular cylindrical section for allowing the pelt board bag to be configured and shaped in accordance with the pelt board with which the pelt board bag is to be used, and the cones and/or circular cylindrical sections provided by the pelt board bag in the second state of the pelt board bag may constitute sections including the region or regions characteristic of the present invention or interconnecting two or more regions or constitute non-expandable part or parts of the pelt board bag.

In a specific embodiments allowing the pelt board bag to be used in combination with a pelt board such as the pelt board implemented in accordance with the standard defined by Kopenhagen Fur A/S, the region is provided at a conical part of the pelt board bag such as a part corresponding to a tapered part of said pelt board or at a transition from a higher taper to a lower taper corresponding to the transition at the pelt board between a tapering part and a non-tapering part.

The expansion of the region characteristic of the pelt board bag may be provided for allowing expansion longitudinally or transversely and in order to provide the longitudinal and/or transversal expansion, the slits, oblong apertures, embossings or score lines of the region may extend transversely or longitudinally, respectively, relative to the pelt board bag. Alternatively, according to a further embodiment of the pelt board bag, the slits, oblong apertures, embossings or score lines are provided as sloping slits oblong apertures, embossings or score lines for allowing expansion in the longitudinal direction and/or simultaneously in the transversal direction.

According to a specific feature of the pelt board bag, it has been realized that slits, oblong apertures, embossings or score lines simply cut into the material such as the paper material from which the pelt board bag is produced and may give origin to tearing the sheet material when expanding the region of the pelt board bag, and in order to prevent such tearing of the sheet material, e.g. the paper material from which the pelt board bag is produced, the slits, oblong apertures, embossings or score lines may be provided with rounded apertured ends simply for preventing the tearing propagation.

The slits, embossings or score lines are as such preferably made as linear slits, embossings or score lines, respectively, though curved or otherwise configured slits, embossings or score lines may be provided, e.g. for combining the feature of the longitudinal and transversal extending slits, embossings or score lines for providing expansion in the transversal and longitudinal direction of the pelt board bag.

The pelt board bag may as such be produced from standard materials such as paper or cardboard for providing a disposable bag as the material of the pelt board bag will be soaked by fat after the drying of the pelt has taken place. According to an alternative embodiment, the pelt board bag may be made from synthetic or natural fibers or a combination of fibers and paper or cardboard material and provided synthetic or natural fibers be used, the pelt board bag may be a non-disposable bag, which after use may be rinsed or cleaned for allowing for more than a single use.

In an advantageous embodiment, the pair of sheets forming the pelt board bag may constitute a folded unitary piece of said material. The using of a unitary piece of material implies that a single sheet is folded once or twice in order to form the two layer structure of the pelt board bag. In this way, the pelt board bag may be formed by assembling or bonding the longitudinal boundaries of the material requiring only one single longitudinal joint, which may be formed at one of the longitudinal edges of the pelt board bag, or preferably anywhere between the longitudinal edges on one of the sheets, thus dividing said sheet into two adjacent parts.

The unitary piece of material may thus be folded twice in order to achieve the two layer structure of the pair of sheets forming the pelt board bag, of which one of the sheets define two approximately equally sized parts being positioned side-by-side or slightly overlapping relative to the longitudinal direction and joined together by any well-known assembling- or bonding techniques. Thus, one of the pair of sheets will constitute two parts joined together, whereas the opposing sheet will form a uniform face. In this way, the area of the sheets at longitudinal edges separating the pair of sheets will be part of the uniform piece of material making this part of the pelt board relatively stronger, as this part of the pelt board bag will be subjected to a higher stress than the area inbe-tween the longitudinal edges due to the convex shape of the typically used pelt boards. Alternatively, the pelt board bag may be made up of two pieces of material, e.g. being bonded by joints at each of the sheets.

The assembling of the sheets of the pelt board bag into the pelt board for allowing the pelt board to be shifted from its first state constituting a flat two-layer structure into a second state of a basically tubular state, well-known assembling techniques such a gluing, welding or hinge connections may be used for joining the sheets of the pelt board bag along the opposite longitudinal edges. It is to be understood, however, that the pelt board bag as such may be assembled from more than two sheets as one of the sheets or both sheets may themselves be assembled from two or more parts such as two parts being positioned side-by-side relative to the longitudinal direction of the pelt board bag or alternatively or in addition constituted by parts which are positioned overlayered or positioned end-to-end along the longitudinal direction of the pelt board bag.

The above objects together with numerous other objects, features and advantages, which will be evident from the below description are, obtained by an assembly of a pelt board bag, not according to the invention, of a fat absorbent and optionally and preferably also moisture and water absorbent material and a pelt board for use in combination with said pelt board bag for applying said pelt board bag externally to said pelt board for taning and drying of a pelt applied externally to said pelt board bag, said bag comprising:.

The above objects together with numerous other objects, features and advantages, which will be evident from the below description are, obtained by an intermediate product comprising an elongated piece of a fat absorbing and optionally and preferably also moisture and water absorbing material for being further processed into a pelt board bag used in combination with and applied externally to a pelt board for the taning and drying of a pelt applied externally to the pelt board bag, said piece comprising:.

The intermediate product according to the third aspect is used for manufacturing a pelt board bag according to the first aspect by performing a subsequent folding of the flat single layered intermediate product.

The above objects together with numerous other objects, features and advantages, which will be evident from the below description are, obtained by a method of manufacturing a pelt board bag, said pelt board bag being intended for use in combination with and applied externally to a pelt board for the taning and drying of a pelt applied externally to the pelt board bag, said method comprising providing a fat absorbing and optionally and preferably also moisture and water absorbing material, said method comprising the steps of:.

In the above fourth aspect the steps i), ii) and iii) are preferably made in one single moment by using a sheet cutting and stamping machine, resulting in the intermediate product of the third aspect. Subsequently, the step iv) may be performed in a folding machine which together with the cutting machine may form a pelt board bag manufacturing plant. The method according to the fourth aspect thus is suitable for manufacturing the pelt board bag according to the first aspect.

The present invention is now to be further described with reference to the drawings, The examples shown in <FIG> are not according to the invention and are present for illustration purposes only:.

On the left-hand side of <FIG>, a pelt board <NUM> is shown, which pelt board constitutes a pelt board implemented in accordance with the teachings described in the applicant's previously filed international patent application, application number <CIT>, a copy of which international patent application is attached as Appendix <NUM>. The detailed description of the pelt board is to be found in the Appendix <NUM>, however, a few essential technical features are to be mentioned in the present context.

The pelt board <NUM> is basically composed of three components, namely two identically configured convex plates, one of which is shown in <FIG> and designated the reference numeral <NUM>, which is assembled to an identical rear plate by the corporation with a central rod-shaped element having at its lower end a protruding connector element <NUM>.

The pelt board <NUM> is as such an expandable or collapsible pelt board in which the two faces are shifted sidewise relative to one another for establishing an expanded state shown in <FIG> in which a pelt board and a pelt is to be applied. In <FIG>, two dimensions, L1 and L2 are indicated, which dimensions in the presently preferred embodiment of the pelt board <NUM> are <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, as the length L2 is a standard measure determined by the standard established by Kopenhagen Fur A/S, whereas the length L1 is determined in accordance with empirical experiments performed by the applicant company.

In <FIG> is further shown a first embodiment of a pelt board bag, which is designated the reference numeral <NUM> in its entirety. The first embodiment <NUM> of the pelt board bag is basically construed by a conical structure composed of a top part <NUM> and a bottom part <NUM> as the top part <NUM> has a higher taper than the lower part <NUM> for providing a configuration partly resembling the top section of the pelt board <NUM>. From the drawings <FIG> it is evident that the top part <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM> does not lengthwise correspond to the top section of the length L2 of the pelt board <NUM> since the length of the top part <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM> is indicated by L5 and is in the presently implemented embodiment of the pelt board bag <NUM> constituted by a length of <NUM>.

The lower part <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM> has a total length L3 + L4 of <NUM>. The imaginary borderline between the lengths L3 and L4 of the bottom part <NUM> is constituted by the inner circumference of the bag being <NUM>, which corresponds to the standard width of the pelt board <NUM> in its expanded state as defined by the standard of Kopenhagen Fur A/S. As will be readily understood from the drawings <FIG>, the conical pelt board bag <NUM> is due to its minor width as compared to the width of the expanded pelt board <NUM> of a structure which will be positioned tightly fixed to the pelt board <NUM> and necessitates, as will be described below with reference to <FIG>, a kind of adjustment of the configuration of the pelt board bag for allowing the pelt board bag to be applied in its intentional position relative to the pelt board.

As is evident from <FIG>, the pelt board bag <NUM> further exhibits in its top part <NUM> a apertured or perforated upper end section, which is positioned in an area to be covered by the front legs and the adjacent part of the leg which is applied to the pelt board having a pelt board bag <NUM> positioned between the pelt board <NUM> and the pelt. One of the apertures of the apertured or perforated section of the top part <NUM> is designated the reference numeral <NUM>.

Below the apertured or perforated section of the top part <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM>, a non-perforated section is provided. The lower part <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM> is in its major extend provided with lengthwise oriented cuts, one of which is designated the reference numeral <NUM>.

The longitudinally extending slits <NUM> serve, as will be described below, the purpose of allowing the pelt board bag <NUM> to accommodate a configuration or adjust its transversal dimension to the pelt board <NUM> and in doing so providing a tight fit relative to the pelt, which ensures firstly a proper fixation of the pelt board bag <NUM> relative to the pelt prior to applying the pelt to the outside of the pelt board bag <NUM>, and further ensures that the pelt board bag is kept in position on the pelt board <NUM> after the pelt has been dried and is removed from the pelt board bag which simplifies the removal of the pelt board bag after the taning and drying operation has been completed as is in itself well-known in the art.

Below the longitudinal extending slits <NUM>, an aperture or perforated section is provided in the lower part <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM>, which aperture or perforated section has a single aperture designated the reference numeral <NUM>.

The pelt board bag <NUM> shown in <FIG> further exhibits two distinct and highly advantageous geometrical features, as the configuration of the uppermost end of the conical top part <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM> as the two sides of the pelt board bag are of different lengths providing an extension flap designated the reference numeral <NUM> and constituted by the longer side of the pelt board bag. The opposite end of the pelt board bag exhibits a notch <NUM> as the one side of the pelt board bag <NUM>, which side provides the flap <NUM> is cut so as to diminish the bottom length of the pelt board bag relative to the length of the opposite side of the pelt board bag. The advantageous features of the flap <NUM> and the notch <NUM> will be described below.

In <FIG>, the first embodiment <NUM> of the pelt board bag is shown applied to the pelt board <NUM> in the intentional position of the pelt board bag <NUM> relative to the pelt board <NUM> as the outermost top end <NUM> of the pelt board <NUM> is exposed at the upper end of the pelt board bag, however, covered below the turned over flap <NUM>. Since the width of the pelt board bag <NUM> - except for the lowermost section of a length of L3 - is narrower than the width of the pelt board <NUM>, the pelt board bag exhibits the advantageous feature of allowing the pelt board bag to adjust its width or dimensions to the pelt board to which it is applied. This feature is shown schematically and somewhat exaggerated in <FIG> in which the spreading of the upper section of the lower part <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM> is shown as the longitudinal slits <NUM> are caused to be opened providing a widening of the upper section of the lower part <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM> for accommodating the size and the configuration of the pelt to the wider size and dimensions of the pelt board <NUM>. In <FIG> and further, in an enlarged sectional view of <FIG>, a further feature of the first embodiment <NUM> of the pelt board bag is shown, which feature serves to define a specific positioning of the pelt board bag relative to the pelt board <NUM> by the provision of a strengthening band <NUM> provided as a layer or a glued reinforcing layer applied internally in the pelt board bag material as is illustrated in <FIG>. The strengthening band <NUM> is provided at a position along the conical part or top part <NUM> of the pelt board bag for defining the specific and intentional positioning of the pelt board bag <NUM> relative to the pelt board <NUM> and allowing the intentional proper expansion of the upper section of the lower part <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM> by the presence of the longitudinal slits <NUM>.

Apart from the ability of adjusting the transversal dimensions of the pelt board bag <NUM> relative to the pelt board <NUM>, the longitudinal slits <NUM> also serve the purpose of allowing air to be vented through the slits similar to the well-known venting of air through the aperture or perforation <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, of the pelt board bag <NUM>. The pelt board bag may as such be made from any appropriate material and configured in accordance with the intentional application such as the example described above, the intentional use in combination with a Kopenhagen Fur A/S standardized pelt board and the materials used for the pelt board bag may preferably be paper or cardboard or combinations thereof or paper material including polymer fibers such as woven or non-woven polyethylene or polypropylene fibers.

The paper based pelt board bag is evidently serving the purpose of firstly drawing residual fat from the inner side of the pelt applied to the pelt board bag and in addition allowing water to be absorbed or transmitted and evaporated through the apertures or perforations and additionally the slits <NUM> described above. Provided the pelt board bag is made from a paper based material, the bag is evidently of the disposable kind, however, alternative material based on natural or synthetic fibers such as woven polyester or polypropylene fibers or natural cotton or similar fibers may be used for providing a non-disposable bag.

Provided the pelt board bag <NUM> is improperly positioned or applied to the pelt board <NUM> without stretching the pelt board bag properly downwardly towards the lower end of the pelt board, the pelt board bag may be applied as shown schematically in <FIG> in which configuration the pelt board bag provides a somewhat crumbled top end and reduces the intentional functionality of the vertical slits <NUM>, which are - as is evident from <FIG> - not expanded for adjusting or adapting the configuration of the pelt board bag to the pelt board and failing to provide the increased air outlet area by the opening of the slits as is illustrated in <FIG>. In <FIG>, an enlarged view similar to the view of <FIG> illustrates an alternative location of the reinforcing band <NUM>' at a position along the conical part or the top part <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM>, as in <FIG>, the reinforcing band <NUM>' is positioned above the aperture or perforated section of the top part <NUM> and applied as an external coating. In <FIG>, it is contemplated that the person positioning the pelt board bag <NUM> on the pelt board <NUM> is not utilising the feature of the strengthening band <NUM>', rather simply in an incorrect application of the pelt board bag simply slips the bag onto the pelt board <NUM> without forcing the pelt board bag to its intentional position, in which the strengthening band <NUM>' prevents any further downward motion of the pelt board bag <NUM> relative to the pelt board, unless an excessive force is applied to the pelt board bag <NUM>, which causes a tearing apart of the whole pelt board bag.

In <FIG>, the pelt board <NUM>, the pelt board bag <NUM> and a pelt <NUM> is shown and a dotted line having a directional arrow indicates the intentional order of applying the pelt board bag <NUM> to the pelt board <NUM> and when applying the pelt <NUM> to the properly positioned pelt board bag <NUM> as is shown in <FIG>.

In <FIG> is shown a detail of the flap <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM>, which flap - as is also shown in <FIG> - is turned over covering the uppermost end of the pelt board <NUM> and in doing so, closes off the mouth opening of the pelt <NUM> in order to prevent that a major part of the venting air which is forced into the interior of the pelt board bag <NUM> through the bottom connector <NUM> of the pelt board <NUM> and guided up through the interior of the pelt board <NUM> escapes through the mouth of the pelt <NUM> rather than being forced out through the apertures of the pelt board and through the intended air passages established by the apertures or perforations <NUM> and <NUM> and the expanded longitudinal slits <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the pelt board <NUM> and the first embodiment of the pelt board bag <NUM> are shown illustrating an advantageous feature of the presence of the notch <NUM> provided in the pelt board bag at its lower end opposite the flap <NUM>. The notch is as such provided in the one side of the pelt board bag and allows for an easy separation of the two opposite sheets of the pelt board bag <NUM> e.g. by simply pressing lightly at the edges of the pelt board bag <NUM>.

After the slight separation of the two sheets of the pelt board bag <NUM> from one another - as illustrated in <FIG> - the pelt board bag <NUM> is pushed down on the expanded pelt board <NUM> as is illustrated in <FIG> or alternatively the collapsed or non-expanded pelt board <NUM> (not shown in the drawings) and indicated by two further arrows as the notch in the one sheet of the pelt board in <FIG> - the sheet facing towards the viewer - allows for the ready and easy positioning of the pelt board bag <NUM> above and contacting the pelt board bag <NUM> with the uppermost end <NUM> of the pelt board <NUM>.

In <FIG>, a second, a third and a fourth embodiment of the pelt board bag is shown designated the reference numerals <NUM>', <NUM>" and <NUM>‴, respectively. In <FIG> and in the further figures, components or elements identical to previously described components or elements, respectively, are designated the same reference numerals as previously used and no specific description of the component or element in question is presented except for specific purpose of understanding of a further functionality of the component or element in question, whereas components or elements corresponding to or having similar functions as previously described components or element, respectively, are designated the same reference numeral as previously used, however, added a marking for identifying the difference in geometrical configuration.

The second, third and fourth embodiment <NUM>', <NUM>" and <NUM>'", respectively, of the pelt board bag shown in <FIG>, respectively, differ from the above-described first embodiment <NUM> in that the bags are provided with an increased number of elements allowing for the modification or change of configuration of the pelt board bag for allowing the pelt board bag to be tightly mounted on a corresponding pelt board, being an expanded or collapsed pelt board.

In <FIG>, the entire outer surface and similarly the opposite surface of the pelt board bag <NUM>' is provided with an increased number of longitudinal slits <NUM> covering the entire outer surface of the pelt board bag and similarly the opposite side or the opposite sheet of the pelt board bag simply allowing for the provision of expandable areas of the entire pelt board bag for accommodating the configuration of the pelt board bag <NUM>' to the configuration of the pelt board with which the pelt board bag is to be used and at the same time providing the air venting capability at the entire structure of the pelt board bag. The pelt board bag <NUM>' is - compared to the pelt board, an expanded pelt board or a collapsed pelt board - an undersized pelt board bag.

Whereas the slits <NUM> shown in the first embodiment <NUM> described above and also in the second embodiment <NUM>' described with a reference to <FIG>, are extending longitudinally allowing only for the expansion transversely of the sheets of the pelt board bag or the specific areas of the pelt board bag in question, the third embodiment <NUM>' of the pelt board bag shown in <FIG> is provided with modified slits extending diagonally relative to the longitudinal axis of the pelt board bag and being provided on both sides of the pelt board bag. The diagonal slits <NUM>' allow for an expansion due to the separation of the sheet material adjacent the slits, in the longitudinal direction and also in the transversal direction of the pelt board bag <NUM>".

It is of course evident that the provision of the longitudinally extending slits and the diagonally extending slits shown in <FIG>, respectively, may be dedicated to specific areas of the pelt board bag rather than being provided at the entire surface of the two sheets of the pelt board bags. Furthermore, the diagonally extending slits <NUM>' may be modified into having the opposite diagonally extending orientation or be combined with longitudinally extending or transversally extending slits.

In <FIG>, the fourth embodiment <NUM>‴ of the pelt board bag is shown including in its top part apertures identical to the apertures described above with a reference to <FIG> and at its lower part and at the lower section of the top part of the pelt board bag corresponding to the non-apertured or non-perforated area of the top part of the pelt board bag <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the fourth embodiment <NUM>‴ of the pelt board bag is provided with transversal slits <NUM>" serving the purpose of allowing the pelt board bag <NUM>‴ to be slightly extended longitudinally due to the separation of the slits <NUM>". In the fourth embodiment <NUM>‴ of the pelt board bag shown in <FIG>, the entire lower part of the pelt board bag is provided with slits extending longitudinally, i.e. slits <NUM> serving the same purpose as the slits described above with reference to <FIG> and also shown in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, a further or fifth embodiment of the pelt board bag is shown designated the reference numeral <NUM>iv. The fifth embodiment <NUM>iv of the pelt board bag differs from the above-described first embodiment <NUM> shown in <FIG> in that the longitudinally extending slits <NUM>‴ are also provided covering the major part of the lower part <NUM> of the pelt board and also the lower section of the top part <NUM> of the pelt board. In addition, the slits are provided with circular end holes which are believed to provide a tear preventing feature as the circular end openings of the slits prevent the material from being torn at the time of separating the material adjacent a specific slit.

In <FIG>, the fifth embodiment <NUM>iv of the pelt board is shown schematically overlaid the expanded pelt board <NUM> shown in the left-hand part of <FIG>, and from this schematic overlay view, it becomes evident how the pelt board bag <NUM>iv has to be widened within the area provided with the slits <NUM>‴ and above the section of the lengths L3. The fifth embodiment <NUM>‴ further differs from the above-described twin conical bags shown in all previous discussed <FIG> in that the bag is a bag having a single taper which, from the view of producing the bag, makes the assembly more easy and also reduces waste of material when cutting the two sides of the bag from the material, which is preferably paper or cardboard-like material.

In <FIG>, a view similar to the view in <FIG> is presented illustrating the actual whitening of the pelt board bag <NUM>iv in the central section as indicated by arrows in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, a sixth embodiment <NUM>V of the pelt board is shown schematically overlaid the expanded pelt board <NUM> shown in dotted line in the lower left hand part of <FIG>. The pelt board bag <NUM>V is as distinct from the above described embodiments, in which slits or cuts are provided through the paper material of the pelt board bag provided with a plurality of embossings or score lines <NUM> allowing for the tearing of the material along the embossings or the score lines, as the pelt board bag is to be expanded as it is positioned on the pelt board <NUM>. In <FIG>, an enlarged sectional view of a segment of the upper conical part of the pelt board bag <NUM>V is shown, in which the marking AA' indicates a sectional line, along which the section AA' shown in <FIG> is provided. In <FIG>, the embossings or score lines are shown indicating the lack of any puncturing or aperturing of the paper material of the pelt board bag <NUM>V.

In <FIG>, an alternative seventh embodiment <NUM>VI is shown, in which the embossings or score lines <NUM>' are arranged perpendicularly relative to the orientation of the score lines <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, an eighth embodiment <NUM>VII of the pelt board bag is shown, in which the embossings or score lines <NUM>" are constituted by angularly orientated linear segments and in a further or ninth embodiment <NUM>VIII shown in <FIG>, the embossings or score lines <NUM>III are constituted by crossed linear segments serving to be torn up as apertures or linear slits, as the pelt board bag <NUM>VIII is expanded.

In <FIG>, a tenth embodiment of <NUM>IX of the pelt board bag is shown, in which the embossings or score lines are constituted by linear segments <NUM>IV orientated along the longitudinal axis of the pelt board bag <NUM>IX.

In <FIG>, an eleventh embodiment <NUM>X, a twelfth embodiment <NUM>XI, a thirteenth embodiment <NUM>XII and a fourteenth embodiment <NUM>XIII of the pelt board bag according to the present invention are shown, respectively, illustrating different configurations or outlines of the outer contour of the pelt board bag relative to the outer contour of the expanded pelt board <NUM>. The eleventh embodiment <NUM>X exhibits a narrowed section at the central part of the pelt board bag and similarly, the twelfth embodiment <NUM>XI of the pelt board bag exhibits an elongated conical section of a longitudinal extent far exceeding the extent of the conical upper part of the pelt board <NUM> and consequently, the twelfth embodiment <NUM>XI of the pelt board bag exhibits a conical extension exceeding the length L2 of the pelt board <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The thirteenth embodiment <NUM>XII of the pelt board bag shown in <FIG> is a double conical variant, in which a lower tapering part of the pelt board bag bridges the upper higher taper conical part with the lower non-conical part. The fourteenth embodiment <NUM>XIII of the pelt board bag shown in <FIG> is a double conical variant, in which the lower section of the pelt board bag corresponds to the section <NUM> of the pelt board bag <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

In <FIG> a fifteenth embodiment <NUM>XIV, a sixteenth embodiment <NUM>XV, a seventeenth embodiment <NUM>XVI, an eighteenth embodiment <NUM>XVII and a nineteenth embodiment <NUM>XVIII are shown, respectively, in which embodiments different configurations of the upper part and the lower part of the pelt board bag are narrowed for providing the undersized part serving to cause the pelt board bag embodiment to be deformed into correspondence with the underlying pelt board <NUM>. In the fifteenth embodiment <NUM>XIV shown in <FIG>, the upper part is a double conical part, in which the upper higher tamper conical part is to be deformed into the configuration of the pelt board <NUM> by the opening of the slit or oblong apertures or tearing open the paper material of the pelt board bag by the presence of the embossings or score lines described above.

Similarly, in the sixteenth embodiment <NUM>XV shown in <FIG>, the upper part of the pelt board bag is a double conical version having a minor transition part between the upper conical part and the lower non-conical part of the pelt board bag.

In the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth embodiments <NUM>XVI, <NUM>XVII and <NUM>XVIII, respectively, shown in <FIG>, respectively, the lower part of the pelt board bag is configured for the conversion from the original configuration into a stretched out configuration corresponding to the outline of the pelt board <NUM>. The seventeenth embodiment <NUM>XVI shown in <FIG> constitutes so to speak a mirror image or an inverted variant of the eighteenth embodiment <NUM>XV shown in <FIG> and the seventeenth embodiment <NUM>XVII shown in <FIG> of the pelt board bag according to the present invention has a lower section of two different tapers, the one narrowing the section and the lower second section broadening the section.

In <FIG>, the nineteenth embodiment <NUM>XVIII of the pelt board bag according to the present invention has a lower inversely tapering lower section to be deformed by the separation of the slits, oblong apertures or tearing apart of the embossings or score lines as described above for bringing the pelt board bag into conformity with the outline of the underlying pelt.

Finally, in <FIG>, a twentieth an a twenty-first embodiment <NUM>XIX and <NUM>XX, respectively, are shown exhibiting a multiplicity of sections for conforming the pelt board bag in question to the underlying pelt board <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the twentieth embodiment <NUM>XIX has a top part of a conical configuration in conformity with the outline of the underlying pelt board <NUM> and a somewhat lower taper conical section bridging the conical top part of the pelt board bag to a third section of a substantially rectilinear configuration and at its lower end, the twentieth embodiment <NUM>XIX of the pelt board bag has a narrowing taper section or conical section serving to be expanded for allowing the pelt board bag to be converted into a configuration in conformity with the outline of the pelt board <NUM>.

The twenty-first embodiment <NUM>XX of the pelt board bag shown in <FIG> differs from the embodiment shown in <FIG> in that the two lower parts or sections of the pelt board bag are substituted by a single inversely tapering conical part for being conformed by deformation into the configuration outline of the pelt board <NUM> by the separation of the slit or oblong apertures, the separation of the embossings or score lines as described above.

In <FIG> is shown an intermediate product <NUM> in the form of an elongated piece of fat absorbing material used for manufacturing any of the pelt board bags described above. The intermediate product <NUM> thus constitutes a blank or preform, which as such is only useful for being further processed into a pelt board bag. The production of the intermediate product <NUM> is described in further detail below, whereas the present series of <FIG> describe the folding of the intermediate product <NUM> into a pelt board bag.

The intermediate product <NUM> is a single sheet or flat piece of material, which has been cut into a specific shape being an elongated conical shape. The intermediate product <NUM> is provided with perforations <NUM><NUM>, which allow for the finalized pelt board bag to be ventilated, and slits <NUM> which allow for the finalized pelt board bag to be expanded, as described in detail above. Further, the intermediate product is provided with a pair of fold lines <NUM><NUM>' along the complete length of the product <NUM>, which are positioned at approximately <NUM>% and <NUM>% of the width of the intermediate product <NUM>, i.e. the intermediate product <NUM> is split into two outermost parts and a central part, wherein the central part has about the same width as the two uttermost parts together, or slightly smaller.

<FIG> shows the folding of the intermediate product <NUM> along the fold lines <NUM><NUM>' as indicated by the arrow. The folding, which is preferably made by a folding machine, is made easy by the provision of the fold lines <NUM><NUM>'. The folding continues until the boundaries <NUM><NUM>' of the intermediate product <NUM>' meet in the middle between the fold lines <NUM><NUM>'.

<FIG> shows the finished folding of the intermediate product into a pelt board bag <NUM>. The boundaries <NUM><NUM>' are assembled e.g. by gluing in order to form the pelt board bag <NUM>, whereby the fold lines <NUM><NUM>' constitute the longitudinal edges of the pelt board bag. It is contemplated that a small overlap is provided for at the meeting line of the boundaries <NUM><NUM>' to allow for a simple and relatively strong assembly. The pelt board bags are typically stored in the flat first state for reducing the amount of space required, whereas when in use they are folded into the second basically tubular state along the fold lines.

<FIG> shows a cutting and stamping machine <NUM>. The machine <NUM> is fed with a flat piece of fat absorbing material <NUM>, typically paper, which may be fed from a roll in a "endless" configuration. The cutting and stamping machine <NUM> comprises a pair of rollers <NUM>, which each comprises a die <NUM> for making the appropriate cuts, slits, oblong apertures, embossings, score lines and/or folds for producing an intermediate product <NUM>, or in the present case two intermediate products <NUM><NUM>' in a head to tail configuration. The rollers <NUM> and die <NUM> provides the multiple simultaneous function of:.

Thereafter, the folding and assembling of the pelt board bag is effectuated as described in connection with <FIG>.

In the following, a detailed explanation will be made of the meaning of slits, embossings, score lines and folds, which are useful both for the expansible regions as well as the fold lines:
<FIG> shows a cut-out view of a pelt board bag or intermediate product having slits <NUM>, i.e. apertures reaching through the material <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of a pelt board bag or intermediate product having slits <NUM>, i.e. cuts or apertures reaching through the material. The slits <NUM> are interrupted at regular intervals for allowing the material to stay together. The slits <NUM> may be staggered in order to achieve an expansible region.

<FIG> shows a cut-out view of a pelt board bag or intermediate product having scores <NUM>, i.e. grooves which are only reaching partially through the material <NUM> on one side while maintaining a flat opposite side.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of a pelt board bag or intermediate product having scores <NUM>, i.e. grooves, which are only reaching partially through the material <NUM> on one side while maintaining a flat opposite side. In the present case, the score is constituted by a continuous groove. When used in an expansible region, the scores are intended to tear thus in practice resulting in a slit at a predefined location. When used in a folding line, the scores are not intended to teat but to provide a hinging function. Thus, when combining scores both in the expansible region and in the folding line, care must be taken to avoid tearing of the folding line and thus it is preferred to use slits/folds in the expansible region while using scores/embossings in the fold lines.

<FIG> shows a cut-out view of a pelt board bag or intermediate product having embossings <NUM>, i.e. grooves which are reaching partially through the material <NUM> on one side while exhibiting a protrusion at the opposite side.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of a pelt board bag or an intermediate product having embossings <NUM>, i.e. grooves, which are reaching partially through the material <NUM> on one side while exhibiting a protrusion at the opposite side. The embossings have similar properties as the scores, however, as the material substantially maintains its thickness, i.e. no material is cut away, the embossings are stronger than the scores and it may thus be preferred to use embossings in the fold lines when scores are used in the expansible region, in order to ensure that the tearing of the material takes place at the region and not fold lines.

<FIG> shows a cut-out view of a pelt board bag or an intermediate product having multiple folds <NUM> in the material <NUM>, forming a bellows allowing for flexibility.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of a pelt board bag or an intermediate product having multiple folds <NUM> in the material <NUM>, forming a bellows allowing for flexibility. Similar to the embossings, the folds are stronger than the scores/slits as no material is cut away. Differently from the scores and embossings, the folds are not intended to be torn, the expansibility of the folded region lies in the flexibility of the bellows structure, allowing the region to be expansible. The folds may also be used in forming the fold lines, i.e. providing a folding indication.

Claim 1:
A pelt board bag (<NUM>) configured to be applied externally to a pelt board (<NUM>) for the tanning and drying of a pelt (<NUM>) applied externally to said pelt board bag (<NUM>), said pelt board bag (<NUM>) comprising a folded sheet of fat-absorbing material having first and second opposed longitudinal boundaries (<NUM>, <NUM>') joined together to define, in a first state, a flat two-layer structure having first and second longitudinal edges, and in a second state, a substantially tubular structure;
said pelt board bag (<NUM>) further defining opposite first and second ends, said first end being an open end defining a top end (<NUM>) when said pelt board bag (<NUM>) is used in combination with a pelt board (<NUM>), said second end being broader than said first end and defining a bottom end (<NUM>) when said pelt board bag (<NUM>) is used in combination with a pelt board (<NUM>), said pelt board bag (<NUM>) defining, in the second state, an inner perimeter increasing from said first end (<NUM>) to said second end (<NUM>); and
characterized in that, said pelt board bag (<NUM>) defines a fold line (<NUM>, <NUM>') extending between said first end and the second end along which said sheet of material is folded, said fold line (<NUM>, <NUM>') being provided with slits, oblong apertures, score lines or combinations thereof.