U.S. patent application number 10/234851 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-11 for packages of stacked, individually wrapped, flat disposable utensils, and methods of forming such packages.
Invention is credited to Brooker, Brian J., Cartwright, James F., Edgerly, Randall L., Young, Terry N..
Application Number | 20040045860 10/234851 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31990467 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040045860 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Edgerly, Randall L. ; et
al. |
March 11, 2004 |
Packages of stacked, individually wrapped, flat disposable
utensils, and methods of forming such packages
Abstract
An integrated stack of individually wrapped flat disposable
utensils (e.g., wooden spoons) and methods of forming the same.
Preferably, adjacent layers in a stack of individually wrapped flat
disposable utensil layers are bonded one to another by means of a
removable hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). The bond
formed by the adhesive is such that the entire stack of layers
forming the package is integrated in a manner whereby the bonds
physically support the weight of the stack without separating. Such
a bond, however, is releasable in that a user may exert sufficient
force to separate one layer, or an individual one of the wrapped
utensils in the layer, from another.
Inventors: |
Edgerly, Randall L.;
(Guilford, ME) ; Brooker, Brian J.; (Guilford,
ME) ; Cartwright, James F.; (Guilford, ME) ;
Young, Terry N.; (Guilford, ME) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE P.C.
8th Floor
1100 North Glebe Road
Arlington
VA
22201
US
|
Family ID: |
31990467 |
Appl. No.: |
10/234851 |
Filed: |
September 5, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/504 ;
206/553; 383/37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/008
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/504 ;
206/553; 383/037 |
International
Class: |
B65D 021/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A package comprised of an integrated stack of individually
wrapped flat disposable utensil layers, wherein adjacent layers in
the stack are bonded one to another by means of a removable hot
melt pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA).
2. The package of claim 1, wherein the layers include at least two
side-by-side individually wrapped flat disposable utensils.
3. The package of claim 1, wherein the hot melt PSA has a
180.degree. peel strength of less than 1.0 pli.
4. The package of claim 1, wherein the hot melt PSA has a
180.degree. peel strength of less than 0.5 pli.
5. The package of claim 1, wherein the hot melt PSA has a
180.degree. peel strength of less than 0.25 pli.
6. The package of claim 1, wherein the hot melt PSA has a
180.degree. peel strength of about 0.15 pli.
7. The package of claim 6, wherein the utensil is a wooden
spoon.
8. The package of claim 7, wherein the layers include a paper
wrapper which is sealed about its general periphery to form a
pocket for containing a wooden spoon.
9. The package of claim 1, wherein the utensil is a wooden
spoon.
10. The package of claim 9, wherein the layers include a paper
wrapper which is sealed about its general periphery to form a
pocket for containing a wooden spoon.
11. A method of forming a package which comprises forming a stack
of individually wrapped flat disposable utensil layers, and
interposing an amount of a removable hot melt pressure sensitive
adhesive (PSA) between adjacent ones of the layers in the stack so
as to form a fugitive bond therebetween, but which bond integrates
the layers of the stack.
12. The method of claim 11, which includes forming the stack from
layers which include at least two side-by-side individually wrapped
flat disposable utensils.
13. The method of claim 11 or 12, which includes employing a hot
melt PSA having a 180.degree. peel strength of less than 1.0
pli.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the hot melt PSA has a
180.degree. peel strength of less than 0.5 pli.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the hot melt PSA has a
180.degree. peel strength of less than 0.25 pli.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the hot melt PSA has a
180.degree. peel strength of about 0.15 pli.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the utensil is a wooden
spoon.
18. The method of claim 17, which includes forming the layers of a
paper wrapper which is sealed about its general periphery to form a
pocket for containing the wooden spoon.
19. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the utensil is a wooden
spoon.
20. The method of claim 19, which includes forming the layers of a
paper wrapper which is sealed about its general periphery to form a
pocket for containing the wooden spoon.
21. The method of claim 20, which comprises (i) applying the hot
melt PSA to a surface region of one layer, and thereafter (ii)
stacking another layer onto said one layer so as to establish
pressure contact with the hot melt PSA thereby forming a bond
between said one and another layers.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are repeated
to form a package having a predetermined number of layers.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to packages and
methods of forming the same. More specifically, the present
invention is especially embodied in packages of stacked,
individually wrapped disposable utensils and to the methods of
forming the same.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Disposable utensils, such as flat, thin wooden spoons, are
typically individually wrapped in a protective sanitary covering,
such as a light weight paper. Such wooden spoons are typically
supplied with edible products, such frozen desserts, yogurts,
cottage cheese and the like at the point of sale to allow the
consumer to scoop the product contents from the container and place
it in their mouth.
[0003] Individually wrapped wooden spoons are typically provided in
bulk in the form of a banded stack. That is, many layers of the
individually wrapped wooden spoons are banded together (e.g., with
rubber bands) to form a stack. Each layer in the stack may contain
one, or more typically, several, wooden spoon(s) as may be
desired.
[0004] As can probably be appreciated, banded stacks of
individually wrapped, flat wooden spoons presents problems for the
supplier and retailer. For example, from the manufacturer's
perspective, the banding of a wooden spoon stack presents a labor
intensive and time consuming step in the manufacturing process.
From the retailer's perspective, once the rubber band is removed
from the stack, the spoons become more difficult to distribute
since there no longer is stack integrate in the absence of the
bands.
[0005] What would be especially desirable, therefore, if non-banded
integral stacks of individually wrapped disposable utensils (e.g.,
flat, thin wooden spoons) could be provided. It is towards
providing such integral stacks that the present invention is
directed.
[0006] Broadly, the present invention is embodied in an integrated
stack of individually wrapped flat disposable utensils. More
specifically, the present invention is embodied in packages and
methods of forming the same, whereby adjacent layers in a stack of
individually wrapped flat disposable utensil layers are bonded one
to another by means of a removable hot melt pressure sensitive
adhesive (PSA). The bond formed by the adhesive is such that the
entire stack of layers forming the package is integrated in a
manner whereby the bonds physically support the weight of the stack
without separating. Such a bond, however, is releasable in that a
user may exert sufficient force to separate one layer, or an
individual one of the wrapped utensils in the layer, from
another.
[0007] These and other aspects and advantages will become more
apparent after careful consideration is given to the following
detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0008] Reference will hereinafter be made to the accompanying
drawings, wherein like reference numerals throughout the various
FIGURES denote like structural elements, and wherein;
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package formed of a stack
of individually wrapped, flat disposable utensils in accordance
with the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the package depicted in FIG. 1;
and
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a manner in
which the package of stacked individually wrapped utensils may be
formed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Accompanying FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a package
10 comprised of respective stacked layers 12 of individually
disposable utensils 14-1, 14-2 contained within respective wrappers
16-1, 16-2. In this regard, the utensils 14-1, 14-2 are depicted as
being conventional flat, thin rigid spoons, preferably formed of
wood or a plastics material, which may be employed to scoop out
edible contents (e.g., frozen desserts, such as ice cream, yogurt,
and the like) from a container of the same. For convenience of
nomenclature, the utensils 14-1, 14-2 will hereinafter more
colloquially be called wooden spoons, but such reference is
non-limiting.
[0013] The embodiment of the package 10 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2
shows a dual side-by-side utensil arrangement in that the wrapper
16-1 which contains an individually wrapped wooden spoon 14-1 is
joined via material bridges 18 to a laterally adjacent wrapper 16-2
which contains and individually wrapped wooden spoon 14.2. More or
less individually wrapped wooden spoons may however be provided in
the package 10 in accordance with the present invention. Thus,
single wrapped wooden spoon may be stacked to form the package 10,
or more than two side-by-side wooden spoons may be provided in a
stacked arrangement to form the package 10.
[0014] The wrappers 16-1, 16-2, which in the preferred embodiment
are formed of a light-weight paper but could be formed of a
plastics film material if desired, are sealed about their generally
peripheral edges so as to establish pockets 20-1, 20-2 for
containing the individual flat wooden spoons 14-1, 14-2. As such,
the wooden spoons 14-1, 14-2 are maintained in a sanitary condition
until the wrappers 16-1, 16-2 are physically opened and the spoons
removed for use.
[0015] Important to the present invention, adjacent ones of the
individual layers 12 forming the package 10 in accordance with the
present invention are integrated one to another by means of a
removable hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). The removable
hot melt PSA is thus one which forms a fugitive bond between
adjacent ones of the stacked wrappers 16-1 or 16-2 without tearing
or damaging the same. In this regard, as shown in accompanying FIG.
3, adhesive dots 22-1, 22-2 comprised of an amount of a removable
hot melt PSA are applied to respective surface regions of the
wrappers 16-1, 16-2 on an uppermost one of the layers 12 in the
stack. (It will, of course, be understood that the removable hot
melt PSA does not need to be in the form of "dots" per se, but
could be applied to the wrappers in any geometric form and/or
pattern as may be desired.) Thereafter, another layer (designated
by reference numeral 12' in FIG. 3) may be brought into physical
contact with the pressure sensitive adhesive dots 22-1, 22-2.
[0016] On application of pressure, therefore, the adjacent layers
12 in the stack will thus be bonded one to another by means of the
adhesive dots 22-1 and 22-2. The bond formed by the adhesive is
such that the entire stack of layers 12 forming the package 10 is
integrated in a manner whereby the bonds physically support the
weight of the stack without separating. Such a bond, however, is
releasable in that a user may exert sufficient force to separate
one layer 12 from another.
[0017] Virtually any conventional hot melt (100% solids) pressure
sensitive adhesive (PSA) that forms a fugitive (releasable) bond
may be employed in the practice of the present invention. For
example, removable hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives as
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,680,333 and 5,624,986 (the entire
content of each being expressly incorporated hereinto by reference)
may be employed if desired. Removable hot melt PSA's are available
commercially from a number of sources. Most preferably, the hot
melt PSA employed in the practice of the present invention will
have a viscosity of between about 1000 to about 10000 cps at a pour
temperature of between about 100.degree. F. to about 400.degree.
F., and will exhibit a 180.degree. Peel Strength (Mylar.TM. film
substrate, 12 in/min) of less than about 1.0 pound per linear inch
(pli), more preferably less than about 0.50 pli, and most
preferably less than 0.25 pli (ideally about 0.15 pli). One
particularly preferred hot melt PSA that may be employed in
accordance with the present invention is 80-8669 adhesive
commercially available from Henkel Adhesives of Lewisville,
Tex.
[0018] As noted above, the hot melt PSA may be applied in any
pattern onto the surfaces of the wrappers 16-1, 16-2 so as to form
the desired bond therebetween. Suffice it to say that those skilled
in the art can determine without undue experimentation the
particular pattern and/or arrangement of the hot melt PSA on the
wrapper surfaces to suit particular end use applications.
[0019] Therefore, while the invention has been described in
connection with what is presently considered to be the most
practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the
invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on
the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and
equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *