U.S. patent application number 12/556727 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-18 for multi-chamber package with tear feature.
This patent application is currently assigned to J.L. Clark, Inc.. Invention is credited to Joseph P. Valley, III, Gordon E. VerWeyst.
Application Number | 20100065561 12/556727 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42006308 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100065561 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Valley, III; Joseph P. ; et
al. |
March 18, 2010 |
Multi-Chamber Package with Tear Feature
Abstract
A multiple chamber package is illustrated which includes two or
more containers that are connected by a tear strip in which the
tear strip is connected to each of the containers by a tear line.
The container can be torn away from the tear strip to thereby
provide a smaller package and as such may be more desirable for
being carried around in one's pocket or otherwise. By connecting
multiple containers together and using a tear strip, a large
billboard area is also provided for marketing information to more
easily convey information along about the contents of the package
to the consumer. The overall package may be formed as a unit,
single molded plastic component part with simple as opposed to
complex molding techniques.
Inventors: |
Valley, III; Joseph P.;
(Roscoe, IL) ; VerWeyst; Gordon E.; (Rockford,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
REINHART BOERNER VAN DEUREN P.C.
2215 PERRYGREEN WAY
ROCKFORD
IL
61107
US
|
Assignee: |
J.L. Clark, Inc.
Rockford
IL
|
Family ID: |
42006308 |
Appl. No.: |
12/556727 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61097333 |
Sep 16, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/23.4 ;
206/459.5; 220/23.8; 220/837 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 43/16 20130101;
B65D 1/30 20130101; B65D 85/60 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/23.4 ;
220/23.8; 220/837; 206/459.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/02 20060101
B65D021/02; B65D 43/16 20060101 B65D043/16 |
Claims
1. A multiple chamber package, comprising: a first and second
containers having openings, a first and second lids adapted to
selectively close and open the openings of the first and second
containers; and at least one tear web connecting the first and
second containers.
2. The multiple chamber package of claim 1, wherein the first and
second containers are unitarily connected to the first and second
lids by first and second living hinges, respectively.
3. The multiple chamber package of claim 2, wherein the multiple
chamber package comprises a single molded plastic component part
forming the containers, and the lids; wherein the single molded
plastic component part has substantially no undercuts relative to a
molding part plane such that the single molded plastic component
part can be molded from a two-piece mold without cores or
splits.
4. The multiple chamber package of claim 1, further comprising a
tear strip spacing the first and second containers apart.
5. The multiple chamber package of claim 4, wherein tear strip in
combination with the first and second containers form a billboard
having marketing information thereon, one wall of each of the first
and second containers being generally coplanar.
6. The multiple chamber package of claim 4, further comprising
first and second tear lines connecting the tear strip to the first
and second containers, respectively, wherein manual tearing action
is operative to tear the first and second containers away from the
tear strip along the first and second tear lines, respectively.
7. The multiple chamber package of claim 6, wherein the tear lines
comprising thinned webs of plastic material joining a thicker
central region of the tear strip to corners of the containers, the
central region disposed between the tear lines.
8. The multiple chamber package of claim 7, wherein each container
is generally rectangular having a rectangular base and a
rectangular sidewall projecting upward from the base, including
four walls joined by corners, to an open end to define one of the
openings engageable with one of the lids.
9. The multiple chamber package of claim 8, wherein three of the
corners are substantially arcuate and one of the corners includes a
substantially pointed region for forming the tear line.
10. The multiple chamber package of claim 9, wherein each container
has a length running from the base to the open end between about 2
and about 5 inches; and widths between opposed ones of the walls of
between about 1 and about 2 inches.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/097,333 filed Sep. 16, 2008,
the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated
herein by reference thereto.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to product packages
and more particularly relates to product packages comprising
multiple compartments as may be formed by multiple containers with
removable lids such as for holding product consumables such as
candies, medications or other items that are typically carried in
hand-held product packages.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various types of product packages are known to have a
container and a lid and the prior art is replete with numerous
examples. The present invention pertains to improvements over this
state of the art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An aspect of the present invention is directed towards a
multiple chamber package comprising at least two containers
including first and second containers having openings and
correspondingly first and second lids that are adapted to
selectively open and close the openings of the first and second
containers. At least one tear web connects the first and second
containers.
[0005] The multiple chamber package may be used for storage of
candies, other consumable products and the like. It is preferably
in the form of a hand-held package and as such dimensioned
appropriately. Considering that men and women carry such packages
in different manners (e.g. women with a purse and men in their
pocket), the multiple chamber package of the present invention is
modular in that a single container segment can be torn away from
the multiple chamber package when it is desired to have a smaller
package to carry around in one's pocket. This is facilitated by the
at least one tear web connecting the first and second containers
together. Alternatively, the containers may be kept together which
allow the entire unit and the contents thereof to be carried around
such as may be desired when stowed away in one's purse. The
container package is preferably molded from plastic material
although other materials such as metal are possible. With the
arrangement and configuration illustrated in an embodiment, it can
be a single molded plastic component part forming the multiple
containers and the lids in which the plastic component part has
substantially no undercuts relative to a molding part plane in
which the lids are molded in an open position and connected to the
containers by way of a living hinge.
[0006] Yet a further advantage that may be realized by certain
embodiments of the present invention is that a large billboard is
provided by the combination of walls and a tear strip joining the
walls of two containers, thereby providing a large relatively flat
surface for product marketing information that may be printed
directly on the material of the multiple container package or by
way of an adhesive label or otherwise as appropriate. Such
marketing information may include, brand information, price
information, product contents and information about the product
contents such as ingredients and the like.
[0007] Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part
of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present
invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the
principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a frontal isometric view of a multiple chamber
package in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a frontal isometric view of the multiple chamber
package shown in FIG. 1, but with the lids shown in an open
position; and
[0011] FIG. 3 is a rear side isometric view of the multiple
container package shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0012] While the invention will be described in connection with
certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to
those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all
alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a
multiple chamber package 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The
package 10 includes at least two different containers including a
pair of containers 12 as shown. Each of the containers has an open
end 14 for insertion and removal of consumable products such as
tablets 16 which may be candies, mints or other consumable items.
Lids 18 are provided for selectively opening and closing the
openings of the containers 12.
[0014] The containers 12 can be selectively torn away from one
another by means of a tear web generally indicated at 19 which
includes at least one tear line 20 comprising a thin web of
material (which may be perforated or simply thinned material) to
facilitate manual tearing action when desired, but also to maintain
the containers 12 together when it is desired to keep the
containers together. Preferably, the tear web includes a tear strip
22 that joins the containers 12 and spaces the containers laterally
apart. The tear strip 22 is connected by tear lines 20 to
respective containers 12 such that when the tear strip can space
the containers apart, but also can be torn and removed away rather
then having to be carried around in one's pocket.
[0015] As shown, the containers are molded of plastic material and
as such the first and second lids can be integrally molded with the
containers by way of living hinges 24 (e.g. mold in the open
position 180.degree. pivoted relative to the closed position). The
lids 18 may manually snap and be manually removable by reverse snap
action onto the open ends 14 of the containers 12 by way of snaps
26 (which may comprise an interference fit or other snap
interference configurations including a tab and/or groove
interaction if desired). Each of the lids 18 also preferably
includes a lift tab 28 integrally molded therein and a rectangular
skirt 30 which projects downward from a cover portion 32 and
thereby mates and, if desired, can seal against the rectangular
open end of the container. The containers 12 are also plastically
molded to include a rectangular base 34 and a sidewall 36
projecting vertically upward therefrom with multiple walls that are
joined by arcuate corners 38. One of the corners includes a pointed
region 40 to accommodate the tear line which may be a thin web of
plastic material joining a thicker central region of the tear strip
to the corner of one of the containers with the central region
being disposed between tear lines 22.
[0016] With this configuration and with the lids in a fully open
position (e.g. pivoted 180.degree. from the closed position), the
multiple chamber package can be a single molded plastic component
part forming the containers and the lids and the tear strip and
tear lines, with the single molded plastic component part having
substantially no undercuts (except for minor undercuts which do not
affect mold pulling characteristics such as snap configurations)
relative to a molding part plane such as a single molded plastic
component part can be molded from a two piece mold without cores or
splits in the mold other than the single parting line.
[0017] Another feature provided by the present embodiment is that
the tear strip 22 in combination with the containers 12 integrally
form a billboard generally indicated at 42 that provides a means
for displaying marketing information thereon. This is accomplished
by making the billboard 42 generally coplanar across two coplanar
walls of the containers with the tear strip 22 generally coplanar
therebetween. The billboard may integrally have the marketing
information printed thereon or may alternatively include a label,
but in either event the marketing information is generally
indicated at the region of the billboard 42 shown in dashed lines
in the drawings. Such information that may be conveyed includes
brand information, pricing information and container contents to
include ingredient lists and the like, and other marketing
information as may be desired.
[0018] Preferably the multiple chamber package 10 takes the form of
a hand-held package which is modular depending upon the consumer's
desired use for the product such as whether one wants to put one of
the containers 12 in his or her pocket or whether they want to
carry it around in a briefcase or purse. In this regard, each
container has a length running from the base 34 to the open end 14
of between about 2 and about 5 inches in lateral widths between
opposed pairs of the walls of the sidewall 36 of between about 1
and about 2 inches. As a result, the billboard region may not be
skinny and long, but may have a much wider lateral length which is
attractive from a marketing display standpoint and being able to
include all of the information desirable on such a consumer package
in practical font sizes. Yet, it also allows for a relatively small
container 12 to be torn away and used as one may desire. Also, by
using two different tear lines 20 along each side of the tear strip
22, the tear strip 22 can be fully removed from both of the
containers 12, if desired, rather then having to be carried around
in one's pocket or otherwise when it is desired.
[0019] All references, including publications, patent applications,
and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to
the same extent as if each reference were individually and
specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set
forth in its entirety herein.
[0020] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar
referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in
the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover
both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein
or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising,"
"having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as
open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,")
unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are
merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring
individually to each separate value falling within the range,
unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is
incorporated into the specification as if it were individually
recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in
any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise
clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples,
or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is
intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not
pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of
the invention.
[0021] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described
herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying
out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may
become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading
the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to
employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for
the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all
modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the
claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover,
any combination of the above-described elements in all possible
variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise
indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
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