U.S. patent application number 12/523244 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-08 for reclosable portable consumable product package.
Invention is credited to James Bougoulas, Katie J. Hernandez, Ujjaini Mitra-Shah.
Application Number | 20100170941 12/523244 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39493729 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100170941 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mitra-Shah; Ujjaini ; et
al. |
July 8, 2010 |
Reclosable Portable Consumable Product Package
Abstract
A portable package suitable for storing and dispensing at least
one and desirably several travel or satellite packs, each of which
contains individual pieces of a consumable product such as a
confection like gum.
Inventors: |
Mitra-Shah; Ujjaini;
(Chicago, IL) ; Hernandez; Katie J.; (Chicago,
IL) ; Bougoulas; James; (Chicago, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WRIGLEY & DREYFUS 28455;BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60610
US
|
Family ID: |
39493729 |
Appl. No.: |
12/523244 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
January 17, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US08/51275 |
371 Date: |
March 1, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60885258 |
Jan 17, 2007 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/102 ;
206/223; 229/124; 229/162.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/2057 20130101;
B65D 2203/12 20130101; B65D 5/4204 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/102 ;
229/162.1; 229/124; 206/223 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/00 20060101
B65D005/00; B65D 25/54 20060101 B65D025/54; B65D 43/00 20060101
B65D043/00; B65D 71/00 20060101 B65D071/00 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A portable package for storing and dispensing a plurality of
travel packs containing a selected amount of a confectionery
product comprising: a. a housing having a bottom, a front surface
spaced from a rear surface and connected by two opposite side
surfaces wherein at least one of the side surfaces has a window;
the surfaces defining an open top; b. a cut out provided on the
front surface to define an open front; and, c. a cover
monolithically formed with the rear surface.
15. The package of claim 14 wherein both side surfaces have a
window.
16. The package of claim 14 wherein the front surface has a tamper
evident panel.
17. The package of claim 14 further comprising releasable adhesive
on the front surface.
18. The package of claim 14 wherein the front surface has a
slit.
19. The package of claim 14 wherein the housing is made of
paperboard.
20. The package of claim 14 wherein the window is transparent.
21. The package of claim 14 wherein the window is open.
22. The package of claim 14 wherein the window is elliptical.
23. The package of claim 14 further comprising a plurality of
travel packs.
24. The package of claim 23 wherein the travel packs are made of
flexible plastic.
25. The package of claim 23 wherein the travel packs have opposed
major surfaces, an opposed top and bottom, and opposed sides, and
one of the major surfaces has a score defining a resealable
flap.
26. A portable package for storing and dispensing a plurality of
travel packs containing confectionery product comprising: a. a
housing having a bottom, a front surface spaced from a rear surface
and connected by two opposite side surfaces wherein at least one of
the side surfaces has a window; the surfaces defining an open top;
b. a cut out provided on the front surface to define an open front;
and c. three or more travel packs, wherein the travel packs have
opposed major surfaces, an opposed top and bottom, and opposed
sides, and one of the major surfaces has a score defining a
resealable flap.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a portable consumable
product package for storing and dispensing a travel or satellite
packs each of which contains consumable products, particularly
confectionery products such a gum and candy.
[0002] It is known to provide packs of confectionery products
containing a few pieces of candy or gum. Generally, these packs
contain less than about fifteen individual pieces of candy or gum.
These packs are desirable because they are discreet, they do not
consume room in the consumer's pocket, purse, or other carrying
apparatus. A disadvantage with these known types of packs is that
they contain relatively few pieces of the product so that the
consumer must either buy and carry many packs at the same time or
must visit the retailer to purchase another pack.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present invention provides a portable package for
storing and dispensing travel or satellite packs of consumable
products, particularly confectionery products, and more
particularly candy or gum. As used in the following description and
claims, the term "portable" means and refers to a package that will
fit within a shirt pocket. In general, a "portable" package has
dimensions no larger than about 120 mm by about 100 mm by about 40
mm. Such a portable package can contain a number of travel or
satellite packs that, in general, have dimensions no larger than
about 100 mm by about 50 mm by about 10 mm. Accordingly, a portable
package will contain several travel or satellite packs so that the
quantity of individual consumable product is less than 100 pieces,
for example, less than about 90 pieces. Because the travel or
satellite packs have a size that is smaller than the portable pack,
the travel or satellite pack can be more discretely and
conveniently carried by the consumer in their shirt or blouse
pocket, pant pocket, purse or handbag, etc.
[0004] The term "travel pack" or "satellite pack" as used in the
following description and claims refers to a pack or quantity of
consumable product less than fifteen pieces. It can encompass from
one piece up to fifteen pieces. The term "tab" as used in the
following description and claims generally refers to an individual
piece of a consumable product, which can be wrapped,
compartmentalized, or unwrapped. Other features and aspects of the
present invention will become clear from the following description
and drawings.
[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, the travel or
satellite pack is a flexible resealable package. In another aspect,
the travel or satellite pack is formed from paper, or a paper
product.
[0006] Because the portable package contains one or more travel or
satellite packs, one aspect of the present invention includes
providing one or more transparent, translucent, or open windows in
one or more areas of the package so that a portion of the contents
can be viewed. This will allow the consumer to easily and quickly
view the contents.
[0007] Another aspect of the present invention includes providing a
tamper evident panel on the portable package to provide an
indication to the user that the package has or has not been opened.
Briefly, the portable package includes a cover in the form of a
flap that overlies a top surface and a portion of the front surface
of the package. A portion of the inside of the cover is adhered to
a portion of the front surface of the package, which has been
scored. When the user lifts the cover away from the front surface
of the package the adhered portions move together and the scored
portion of the front surface tears to reveal the contents of the
package. Therefore, the tamper evident panel will provide one or
more of an auditory, tactile, and visual indication during the
opening of the package, which will indicate that the package had
not been previously opened.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a view of one side of a blank for one embodiment
of a portable package for storing travel or satellite packs
according to the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a view of the other side of the blank of FIG.
1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a view of the material from which the portable
package can be formed and in the form of a sheet. While only two
blanks are shown it is to be understood, however, that any number
of blanks may be provided on a sheet. In addition, it is to be
understood that additional blanks may be provided on each side of
the blanks shown or may be provided above or below the blanks
shown.
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a portable package made using the blank of FIG.
1 and shown in an unopened position.
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a portable package made using the blank of FIG.
1 and shown in an opened position.
[0013] FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of several travel or satellite
packs removed from the portable package of FIG. 5 with one of the
travel or satellite packs being shown in an open configuration.
[0014] FIG. 7 shows a travel or satellite pack according to one
embodiment of the present invention with the resealable flap in an
open position to expose the confectionery product contained within
the travel or satellite pack.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a view of a portion of a first side of a first
layer for one embodiment of a travel or satellite pack of the
present invention showing a pattern of adhesive applied to one side
of the first layer so that the first layer can be adhered to a
first side of a second layer.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a view of a portion of a first side of a first
layer for another embodiment of a travel or satellite pack of the
present invention showing a pattern of adhesive applied to one side
of the first layer so that the first layer can be adhered to a
first side of a second layer.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a view of a portion of a second side of a second
layer, which will form the inner surfaces of the travel or
satellite pack and the other side of which is laminated onto a
second side of first layer of any of the embodiments shown in FIGS.
8 and 9 to form a laminate roll stock.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a view of a portion of the second side of the
first layer, which will form the outer surfaces of the travel or
satellite pack, the other side of which is laminated onto the first
side of the second layer to form a laminate roll stock.
[0019] FIG. 12 is a partial cross sectional view of the laminate of
FIG. 11 with the adhesive pattern of FIG. 8.
[0020] FIG. 13 shows the travel or satellite pack of FIG. 7 with
the resealable flap in a closed position.
[0021] FIGS. 14a-14e show a partial side view of the portable
package with exemplary windows.
[0022] FIGS. 15a-15g show exemplary ends of the smile cut or outer
score line, each being discontinuous from the smile cut or outer
score line.
[0023] FIG. 16A is a view of a blank for one embodiment of a travel
or satellite package.
[0024] FIG. 16B is a perspective view of a travel or satellite
package made from the blank of FIG. 16A and shown in an open
position.
[0025] FIG. 16C is a perspective view of the travel or satellite
package of FIG. 16B shown in a partially closed position.
[0026] FIG. 16D is a perspective view of the travel or satellite
package of FIG. 16B shown in a closed position.
[0027] FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of a travel pack or
satellite pack that can be stored in and dispensed from the package
of the present invention. The travel or satellite pack is shown
with a tear tape opening.
[0028] FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of a travel pack or
satellite pack that can be stored in and dispensed from the package
of the present invention. The travel or satellite pack is
reclosable and has a perforated tear open feature.
[0029] FIG. 19A is a front perspective view of a travel pack or
satellite pack that can be stored in and dispensed from the package
of the present invention. The travel or satellite pack is
reclosable.
[0030] FIG. 19B is a view of the package of FIG. 19A where the
cover is capable of being folded over to fully expose the tabs.
[0031] FIG. 20 is a view of a blank for an embodiment of travel or
satellite pack that can be stored in the package of the present
invention.
[0032] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a travel or satellite pack
made from the blank of FIG. 20 and shown in an open position.
[0033] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the travel or satellite
pack of FIG. 21 shown in a partially closed position.
[0034] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a travel or satellite pack
of FIG. 21 shown in a closed position.
[0035] FIG. 24 is a view of a blank for another embodiment of a
travel or satellite pack that can be stored in the package of the
present invention.
[0036] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a travel or satellite pack
made from the blank of FIG. 24 and shown in an open position.
[0037] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the travel or satellite
pack of FIG. 25 shown in a partially closed position.
[0038] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the travel or satellite
pack of FIG. 25 shown in a closed position.
[0039] FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of
a travel or satellite pack releaseably holding consumable
products.
[0040] FIG. 29 is a perspective view wherein products are being
adhered to a sheet of the travel or satellite pack.
[0041] FIG. 30 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of a sheet to which products are adhered.
[0042] FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a sheet having multiple
rows of adhered consumable products.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] The invention is described with reference to the drawings in
which like elements are referred to by like numerals. The
relationship and functioning of the various elements of this
invention are better understood by the following description. Each
aspect so defined may be combined with any other aspect or aspects
unless clearly indicated to the contrary. The embodiments described
below are by way of example only, and the invention is not limited
to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings.
[0044] The present invention is directed to a portable package 10
that is suitable for storing and dispensing a number of travel or
satellite packs 100, which themselves contain consumable products,
particularly confectionery products, and more particularly gum or
candy 102.
[0045] Turning now to FIG. 1, one side of a blank for a portable
package 10 of the present invention is shown. FIG. 2 shows the
other side of the blank for the portable package 10. For ease of
reference, the side of the blank shown in FIG. 1 may be referred to
as the outer side (meaning the outer or visible side of the
portable package after the blank has been formed into the portable
package). In this regard, the outer side may have advertising or
other indicia to indicate the contents and to provide an
aesthetically pleasing package. FIG. 2, therefore, may be referred
to as the inner side (meaning the inner or generally hidden side of
the portable package after the blank has been formed into the
portable package). In addition, in an attempt to avoid confusion,
the identified portions of the blank will be referred to with the
same reference numeral, except that when specifically referring to
the outer side, the reference numeral will have a suffix of "a" and
when specifically referring to the inner side, the reference
numeral will have a suffix of "b".
[0046] The blank 15 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes, in general, a
front surface 20, a cover 30, a pair of side surfaces 60, a bottom
surface 70, and a rear surface 80. The front surface 20 includes a
tamper evident panel 50, which will be explained in more detail
below. The cover 30 includes a top 32 and a flap 34, from which a
tab 36 extends. The cover 30 and, in particular, the top 32 is
hinged to the rear surface 80 by a fold line 31. The top 32
includes rounded edge corners 38 so that when the blank 15 is
constructed into the portable package 10, the front corners of the
portable package 10 will have a rounded appearance. The flap 34 is
hinged to the top 32 by a fold line 33. Therefore, when the blank
15 is constructed into the portable package 10, the cover 30
provides a monolithic covering over the top 4 and front 6 of the
constructed housing 2 of the portable package 10, as will become
clear.
[0047] The side surfaces 60 are connected to the rear surface 80
along fold line 61. Additionally, each side surface 60 is connected
to an adhesive flap 68 by at least one fold line. The adhesive flap
68a contains a permanent adhesive provided on at least a portion of
the adhesive flap 68a so that it will bond to the inner portion of
the front surface 20b. As seen in FIG. 1, two fold lines 63, 65 are
provided and a single partial score line 67 is provided. The
combination of the fold lines 63, 65 and score line 67 will allow
the side surface 60 to achieve a rounded profile at the front
corner of the portable package 10 when constructed. The front
rounded corners will assist in providing resilience to the portable
package 10. For example, when pressure is applied to the front 20
or back 80 of the portable package 10, the fold lines (including
the fold line with scoring) are capable of deforming slightly,
which will hinder creasing in the side surfaces 60.
[0048] The bottom 70 is connected to the rear surface 80 by a fold
line 71 and is connected to the front surface 20 by a fold line 73.
Congruent with and complementary to the rounded corners 38 on the
top 32 of the cover 39, the bottom 70 has rounded corners 72 to
complete the front rounded corner profile of the portable package
10. The bottom 70 may also have support flaps 74 attached by a fold
75. The support flaps 74 will provide additional support to the
bottom 70 and sides 60 when the blank 15 is constructed into the
portable package 10.
[0049] The front surface 20 includes a slit 40 to receive a portion
of the cover 30, in particular, the tab 36. Of course, the tab 36
and slit 40 may have a variety of suitable shapes so long as they
are complementary and function to secure the flap 34 in a closed
position when the flap 34 is inserted into the slit 40. The slit 40
may be any suitable shape. The slit 40 should be wide enough to
accommodate the width of the tab 36 so that the tab 36 32 can be
inserted into the slit 40 to close the cover 30 of the portable
package 10. The slit 40 generally includes at least a major
dimension 42 disposed along the width of the front surface 20 and
having a shape complementary to that portion of the cover that is
received within the slit 40. For example, as seen in FIG. 1, the
slit 40 is somewhat convex.
[0050] The front surface 20 may also have an opening 44 adjacent
the slit. The opening 44 is provided adjacent the slit 40 and is
generally located on the side of the slit 40 closer to the tamper
evident panel 50. The opening 44 assists the insertion of the flap
34 (particularly, the tab 36) into the slit 40. In addition, the
slit 40 may have ends 46 that extend somewhat perpendicular to the
major dimension 42 of the slit to aid in the inward bending of the
opening 44, when the tab 36 is being inserted into the slit 40. In
addition, the ends 46 also assist in creating an outward bias of
the front surface 20, which will tend to keep the flap 34 secured
in a closed position.
[0051] As noted above, the front surface 20 includes a tamper
evident panel 50. The tamper evident panel 50 includes a score line
51 defining a boundary of the tamper evident panel 50. In addition,
when constructed as the portable package 10 and the tamper evident
panel 50 is removed, the score line 51 defines an edge of the front
opening 6 of the portable package 10. At the outside edge 52 of the
tamper evident panel 50, a semi-circular shaped cut-out 54 is
provided, which will mate with a tab 36 of another blank 15 during
the manufacture of the blanks 15. Permanent adhesive 53 is applied
to all, substantially all, or at least a portion of the outer
tamper evident panel 50a. The permanent adhesive 53 will contact
the inner flap 34b and bond the portion of the inner flap 34b in
contact with the adhesive 53 to the portion of the tamper evident
panel 50a provided with the adhesive. It is to be understood, that
the adhesive 53 may be applied to the flap 34b instead of the
tamper evident panel 50a.
[0052] Importantly, the tamper evident panel 50 bonds to the flap
30 in an area so that the tab 36 is not bonded or secured to the
tamper evident panel 50. Accordingly, the tab 36 is accessible to
be grasped by the consumer to open the portable package 10. When
the tab 36 is grasped and pulled upward and outward, the tamper
evident panel 50, which is bonded to the inner flap 34b, tears
along the score line 51 to provide a front opening 6 for the
portable package 10, when the cover 30 is opened. Advantageously,
by bonding the tamper evident panel 50 to the inner flap 34b, when
the tab 36 (and thus, the cover 30) is lifted, the consumer can
experience one or more of a tactile, auditory, and visual sensation
that will provide an indication that the portable package 10 had
not been previously opened.
[0053] Optionally, the outer front surface 20a may have releasable
adhesive 23 applied to one or more portions of the front surface.
As seen in FIG. 1, the releasable adhesive 23 is provided adjacent
the slit 40 to assist in securing the cover 30 in a closed
position, either before the portable package 10 has been first
opened or after the portable package 10 has been opened. As shown
in FIG. 1, the releasable adhesive 23 is applied adjacent the ends
of the slit 40.
[0054] FIG. 3 shows a sheet 300 of the material from which the
blanks 15 can be formed. While only two blanks 15 are shown, it is
to be understood, however, that any number of blanks may be
provided on a sheet. For example, additional blanks may be provided
on each side of the blanks shown or additional blanks may be
provided above or below the blanks shown. Advantageously, the tab
36 of one blank mates in a complementary fashion with a cut-out
portion 54 of the tamper evident panel 50 of an adjacent blank 15.
It is understood that each blank 15 is removed from the sheet 300
and then the portable package 10 is constructed (folded) using
known machinery. Briefly, the blank 15 is folded along the fold
lines 31, 33, 61, 63, 65, 67, 71, 73, 75 with the adhesive flaps
68a adhered to the front cover 20b and with the cover 30b adhered
to the tamper evident panel 50.
[0055] FIG. 4 shows a portable package 10 formed from the blank of
FIGS. 1 and 2 in a closed position. FIG. 5 shows the portable
package 10 in an open position. The portable package 10 includes a
housing 2 with a substantially open top 4, a partially open front
6, and a cover 30. The housing 2 can store and contain a number of
travel or satellite packs 100. The cover 30 is attached to the
housing 2 and is adapted to enclose or protect the open top 4 and
open front 6. The cover 30 includes a reclosable flap 34 with a tab
36, as described above. To close the portable package 10, the cover
30 is folded over the open top 2 and the open front 6 along fold
lines 31 and 33. The flap 34, and in particular the tab 36 is
inserted into slit 40.
[0056] The portable package 10 may be made of any suitable material
and produced by any suitable method. The portable package 10 may
typically be made from paper, paperboard, or cardboard. The blanks
for the portable package 10 may be cut and fashioned from sheets of
paper, paperboard, or cardboard by conventional methods. In
addition, when the portable package is made from paper, paperboard,
or cardboard, it may be further laminated to resist tearing and to
further protect the contents from moisture and other environmental
elements. It may also be desirable to provide either reinforced
corners or edges to provide a more durable package. It may also be
beneficial to provide rounded corners, which will have the effect
of reducing wear and thus providing a more durable design. The
portable package 10 may also be fashioned from other materials such
as metal and plastic. Thus, for example, the package 10 may be
formed from metal or from plastic.
[0057] In addition, while a particular closure is described above,
it is contemplated that other closures can be used. For example,
closures such as a button, hook-and-loop closures exemplified by
VELCRO, die cut designs, reusable adhesive (such as that
exemplified in Post-it.RTM. type products), or a combination can be
used.
[0058] The portable package 10 can contain the travel or satellite
packs 100 adjacent each other and in manner that their edges are
aligned, as is apparent from FIG. 6. It is often desirable to
quickly determine the remaining number of travel or satellite packs
100 within the portable package 10 without having to open the
portable package 10. Accordingly, in one aspect of the present
invention, one or more transparent, semi-transparent, translucent,
or open windows 90 may be provided. For example, as seen in the
blank in FIG. 1, a single elliptical shaped open window 90 is
provided on the side panel 12. As a result, the contents of the
portable package 10 can be viewed. As noted above, one or more
windows may be provided.
[0059] In this regard, FIGS. 14a-14e show several non-limiting
examples of windows 90 provided on a side panel 12 of the portable
package 10. While it is contemplated that the window 90 can be
provided anywhere on the portable package 10, desirably, the window
is provided on a side panel 12 so that the consumer can quickly and
easily determine how many travel or satellite packs 100 are stored
within the portable package 10, without having to open the package
10.
[0060] With the above in mind, the present invention contemplates a
method of making a portable package 10 and inserting one or more
travel or satellite packs 100 into the package 10. Desirably, the
present invention relates to a portable package 10 that can be
easily carried and stored within a pocket, purse, etc. without
consuming an undesirable amount of space. In that regard, it is
contemplated that the portable package 10 the portable package of
the present invention has dimensions no larger than about 120 mm by
about 100 mm by about 40 mm. In other words, the length of the rear
surface will be no more than about 120 mm and may have a size
within about 90 mm to about 110 mm. The height of the rear surface
will be no more than about 100 mm and may have a size within about
40 mm to about 70 mm. The width of the side surface 60 will be no
more than about 40 mm and may have a size within about 10 mm to
about 30 mm. In one aspect, the portable package 10 is configured
or shaped as a rectangle so that it more closely conforms to the
shape of a pocket.
[0061] Such a portable package 10 can contain a number of travel or
satellite packs 100 that, in general, have dimensions no larger
than about 100 mm by about 50 mm by about 10 mm. Accordingly, a
portable package 10 will contain several travel or satellite packs
100 so that the quantity of individual consumable product is less
than 100 pieces, for example, less than about 90 pieces. Because
the travel or satellite packs 100 have a size that is smaller than
the portable pack 10, each travel or satellite pack 100 can be more
discretely and conveniently carried by the consumer in their shirt
or blouse pocket, pant pocket, purse or handbag, etc.
[0062] One aspect of a suitable travel or satellite pack 100 will
now be described with reference to FIGS. 7-13. Turning now to FIG.
7, a travel or satellite pack 100 of the present invention is shown
with a resealable flap 180 in an open position to expose the
contents 102 of the travel or satellite pack 100. The travel or
satellite pack 100 includes opposed major surfaces 112, 114, an
opposed top 120 and bottom 122, and opposed ends or sides 124, 126.
One of the major surfaces is scored to define a resealable flap 180
that can be opened to expose the contents 102 stored within the
travel or satellite pack 100.
[0063] In the description provided below, the travel or satellite
pack 100 of the present invention is described as containing sticks
(or tabs) 102 of gum. It is to be understood, however, that the use
of the travel or satellite pack 100 is not limited to gum since it
is contemplated that the travel or satellite pack 100 may also
contain other confectionery products such as candy. For ease of
description, however, the present invention will be described in
connection with sticks of gum.
[0064] Therefore, a resealable travel or satellite pack 100 having
an array of gum sticks 102 is shown in FIG. 7. The travel or
satellite pack 100 retains and encloses the array of gum sticks 102
as will be described below. A resealable flap 180 provides
selective access to the contents 102 within the travel or satellite
pack 100.
[0065] As is known, gum sticks may be elongate rectangular shaped
members that are individually wrapped with a wrapper 104 in a
conventional fashion. The wrapper 104 may be a rectangular shaped
member typically made of paper or foil. Typically, the longitudinal
edges of the wrapper are overlapped and the ends of are turned over
against the stick to enclose the stick completely.
[0066] FIG. 7 variously shows gum sticks 102 and gum sticks
contained in wrappers 104, where the gum sticks 102 were
individually wrapped prior to being placed in the travel or
satellite pack 100. The wrapper 104 may be a single sheet or may
include plural sheets or layers. It is noted that the gum sticks
102 can be placed in an array directly into the travel or satellite
pack 100, without being individually wrapped.
[0067] While FIG. 7 shows the gum sticks 102 aligned in a single
row, it is to be understood that the gum sticks 102 (wrapped or
not) can be placed in a face-to-face manner, i.e., in two or more
columns to form an array. When two or more columns are provided,
each row may be encircled partially or completely by a wrapper to
better contain the individual gum sticks. The array of gum sticks
is placed in the travel or satellite pack 100 and is retained and
enclosed. A portion of the inside of the travel or satellite pack
100 may contain an adhesive to releasably secure the gum sticks 102
until the consumer removes them from the travel or satellite pack
100.
[0068] Although it is not depicted, it is contemplated that one or
more gum sticks 102 may be contained within a travel or satellite
pack 100 and that one or more travel or satellite packs 100 may be
provided in the portable package 10. For example, a travel or
satellite pack 100 may contain seven sticks of gum 102 and several,
for example, five travel or satellite packs 100, may be contained
in a portable package 10.
[0069] The travel or satellite pack 100 is generally a
parallelepiped shape and formed of any suitable material. Without
being limited, it is contemplated that the travel or satellite pack
100 can be formed a flexible plastic material, such as polyethylene
(including but not limited to low density polyethylene and linear
low-density polyethylene), polypropylene, mixtures or laminates of
such, and other flexible plastics. The package could also be formed
from metalized plastics, paper, laminated paper material, or other
laminates. While it is contemplated that the package can be formed
from a variety of suitable materials, for ease of understanding and
description the travel or satellite pack 100 and its construction
will be described as being formed from a flexible plastic material
such as polypropylene.
[0070] Accordingly, the travel or satellite pack 100 is formed from
a laminate 130 that includes a polypropylene film and optionally a
polyethylene film. In one aspect, the travel or satellite pack 100
is formed from a laminate 130 that includes a metal layer 222
disposed between two layers of polypropylene 142, 220.
[0071] Turning now to FIG. 8, the method of forming of one
embodiment of the travel or satellite pack 100 will be explained.
Briefly, the method includes creating a laminate from a first and
second material, scoring each side of the laminate, cutting the
laminate, filling the laminate with the desired contents, forming
the package, and sealing appropriate areas to provide a closed
travel or satellite pack 100.
[0072] Accordingly, a first planar layer of material 140 may be
unwound from a web (not shown). The first planar layer 140 is
formed of polypropylene 142 and it includes a first side 144, a
second side 146, a longitudinal direction 148, and a lateral
direction 150 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12. Desirably, the
polypropylene 142 is an oriented polypropylene with the orientation
in the lateral direction 150. As one skilled in the art will
appreciate, orientation in this direction provides a higher
resistance to tearing in the longitudinal direction 148 as compared
to the lateral direction 150. While FIG. 8 depicts a continuous
layer of material, the figure also identifies a first end 152 and a
second end 154, which when cut and joined to each other in a later
operation will form the bottom 122 of the travel or satellite pack
100.
[0073] The first side 144 of the first planar layer 140 is
patterned with adhesive so that another layer may be adhered to the
first side 144 of the first layer 140. The second side 146 of the
first layer 140 will form the outer surfaces 112, 114 of the travel
or satellite pack 100, as will become clear. Typically, the first
planar layer 140 is patterned with a permanent laminating adhesive
170, a releasable adhesive 172 (such as a pressure sensitive
adhesive) as it is being unwound, and before it is adhered to a
second planar layer 200.
[0074] FIG. 8 shows one pattern of adhesive application. As shown
in FIG. 8, a fold line 160 is depicted at about the middle of the
longitudinal length of the first layer 140. It is to be understood
that the fold line 160 is not provided on the first planar layer
140 but instead it represents the portion of the first layer 140
where the laminate 130 will be folded in a later operation to
create the top 120 of the travel or satellite pack 100. The fold
line 160 defines a top section 162 and a bottom section 164 of the
first planar layer 140 that will define an inner back surface 118
and an inner front surface 116 of the travel or satellite pack 100,
respectively.
[0075] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a permanent laminating
adhesive 170 well known to those of skill in the art is applied to
the entire portion of the top section 162 of the first planar layer
140 and only to a portion of the bottom section 164. In the bottom
section 164, a first smile area 182 is defined. The first smile
area 182 includes a releasable adhesive 172 such as a releasable
pressure sensitive adhesive known to those of skill in the art. An
adhesive-free area 174 may be provided adjacent to at least a
portion of the releasable adhesive area 172. The adhesive-free area
174 does not contain any adhesive, the reasons for which will
become apparent upon further reading of the description.
[0076] FIG. 9 shows an alternative pattern of applying the adhesive
to the first side 144 of the first layer 140. This pattern is
similar to that of FIG. 8 except that the adhesive-free area 174 is
limited simply to a tongue tip portion 184.
[0077] A second planar layer of material 200 may be unwound from a
web (not shown). The second layer 200 may be formed from any
suitable material as noted above. The material desirably is formed
from a composite or laminate such that one layer can be scored with
a laser while the other layer resists scoring. For example, the
material may be a laminate of paper and metal or foil, or a
laminate of a flexible plastic material and metal or foil. In one
aspect of the present invention, the second layer 200 is a formed
from metalized polypropylene, i.e., a layer of polypropylene 220
and a layer of metal 222 provided on one side of the polypropylene
220.
[0078] The second planar layer 200 has a first side 202 (best seen
in FIG. 12), a second side 204 (best seen in FIG. 10), a
longitudinal direction 206 and a lateral direction 208. Desirably,
the polypropylene is an oriented polypropylene with the orientation
in the lateral direction 208.
[0079] As the second layer of material 200 is unwound, the first
side 202 of the second layer 200 is joined with the first side 144
of the first layer 140. The first layer 140 and the second layer
200 are laminated in a manner such that the layer of metal or foil
222 is disposed between the layers of the polypropylene 142 and 220
and such that a laminate 130 is formed. In other words, the layer
of metal 222 is in contact with the adhesive 170, 172 provided on
the first side 144 of the first layer 140. Desirably, the second
layer 200 is securely adhered to the first layer 140.
[0080] Optionally, a heat-sealing layer 224 such as a layer of
polyethylene may be provided on the second side 204 of the second
layer 200. Alternatively, other layers may be provided on the
second side 204 or the second layer 200 as is known to those of
skill in the art.
[0081] FIG. 10 shows the second side 204 of the second layer 200.
It is to be understood that FIG. 10 also shows the laminate 130
with the second side 204 of the second layer 200 visible. While
FIG. 10 depicts a continuous layer of laminate, the figure also
identifies a first end 203 and a second end 205, which when cut and
joined to each other by folding along fold line 210 in a later
operation will form the bottom 122 of the package. It is to be
understood that the fold line 210 is not provided on the second
layer 200 but instead it represents the portion of the second layer
200 where the laminate 130 will be folded in a later operation to
create the top 120 of the travel or satellite pack 100. The fold
line 210 defines a top section 212 and a bottom section 214 of the
second layer 200, which will form the rear 114 and front 112 major
planar surfaces, respectively.
[0082] As seen in FIG. 10, a score line 232 is created on the
bottom section 214 of the second side 204 of the second layer 200.
Desirably, the scoring may be performed after the laminate 130 is
formed. Alternatively, the scoring may be performed before the
second layer 200 is laminated to the first layer 140. Desirably,
the score line 232 is created by laser scoring and, as shown in
FIG. 10, can be considered to define an inner smile cut 232. The
inner smile cut or score line 232 will also define an inner smile
area 230, as will become clear upon reading the following
description.
[0083] The scoring is on the polypropylene layer 220 only (or the
polyethylene and heat seal layers, if a heat seal layer is present)
and does not score beyond the metal layer 222 (i.e., it does not
score the first layer). The depth of the laser cut may be
controlled in a manner known by those of skill in the art to
provide such precision cutting. Specifically, the heat dissipation
of the metal layer (or other laser scoring resistant material)
reduces the likelihood that it is scored when the power of the
laser is controlled for that purpose.
[0084] The top section 212 of the second side 204 of the second
layer 200 may include a releasable adhesive 240 applied along a
line or strip that runs in the lateral direction 208. The
releasable adhesive 240 may be applied in a continuous or
intermittent manner according to methods well known to those of
skill in the art. This adhesive strip 240 may engage each of the
gum sticks 102 or their wrappers 104 so that when the travel or
satellite pack 100 is formed; the gum sticks 102 are removably
adhesively retained in the package. As a result, the gum sticks 102
may remain positioned in the travel or satellite pack 100 even when
one or more gum sticks 102 are removed. In addition, the adhesive
240 may prevent the gum sticks from becoming inadvertently
dislodged from the travel or satellite pack 100.
[0085] Turning to FIG. 11, the second side 146 of the laminate 130
is shown. It will be understood that FIG. 11 also shows the
laminate 130 with the second side 146 of the first layer 140
visible. As seen in FIG. 11, an outer score line 186 is created on
the bottom section 164 of the second side 146 of the first layer
140. The scoring may be performed after the laminate 130 is created
and can be performed before, simultaneously with, or after the
scoring is performed on the second side 204 of the second layer
200. Alternatively, the scoring may be performed before the
lamination process described above. Desirably, the score line 186
is created by laser scoring and, as shown in FIG. 12, can be
considered to define an outer smile cut 186. The outer smile cut or
outer score line 186 defines an outer smile area 182 with a tongue
184. The scoring is on the polypropylene layer 142 only and does
not score beyond the metal layer 222 (i.e., it does not score the
second polypropylene layer 200). The depth of the laser cut may be
controlled in a manner known by those of skill in the art to
provide such precision cutting. The outer smile area 182 is larger
than the inner smile area 230. FIG. 12 shows a partial side cross
sectional view of the portion of the laminate 30 that has been
score cut.
[0086] Adjacent the line 60, the smile cut or outer score line 186
has ends 187 that define a discontinuity of the smile cut or outer
score line 186. The discontinuity in the ends 187 will hinder
further tear propagation as the tongue 184 is lifted and the smile
cut or outer score line 186 is torn. As seen in FIG. 11, the
discontinuity has a J-shape. It is to be understood; however, that
any suitable discontinuous shape may be used so long as it provides
a change in direction of the smile cut or outer score line 186,
which will result in a hindering of the tear propagation.
Accordingly, FIGS. 15a-15g show exemplary shapes that provide a
suitable discontinuity.
[0087] After the laminate 130 is formed and score cut, the laminate
may be wound to form roll stock (not shown). During the travel or
satellite pack 100 forming operation, the laminate 130 is unwound
from the roll stock. The sticks 102 are placed adjacent the second
side 204 of the second layer 200 and the laminate 130 is folded
along the fold line 210. The laminate 130 is folded such that the
top section 212 of the second side 204 of the second layer 200 is
juxtaposed with the bottom section 214 of the second side 204 of
the second layer and such that the top section 162 and the bottom
section 164 will form the rear 114 and front 112 major planar
surfaces, respectively, of the travel or satellite pack 100. The
laminate 130 is then cut and sealed to create the bottom 122 and
ends 124, 126 of the travel or satellite pack 100. Of course, it is
to be understood that these operations could take place in other
sequences. For example, the laminate 130 may be unwound and cut,
after which the sticks are placed adjacent the second side 204 of
the second layer 200. Thereafter, the laminate 130 is folded along
fold line 210, cut, and then sealed to create the bottom 122 and
ends 124, 126 of the travel or satellite pack 100.
[0088] Turning now to FIG. 13, the travel or satellite pack 100 is
shown with the outer smile cut 186 visible on the front 112 major
planar surface. With the above in mind, when it is desired to open
the travel or satellite pack 100, the tongue 184 is lifted or
pulled away from the front 112 major planar surface. Because of the
scoring or inner smile cut 232 on the second layer 200 and because
the metal layer 222 on the second layer 200 is adhered to the first
layer 140, the inner smile cut 232 of the second layer 200 tears
together with the outer smile cut 186 on the first layer 140. In
addition, because the inner smile area 230 is smaller than the
outer smile area 182 and because of the prior pattern application
of releasable adhesive 172 (as well as the provision of an
adhesive-free area 174), a resealable flap 180 is created and
defined with releasable adhesive 172 provided adjacent the
perimeter 188 of the flap. Moreover, the portion of the flap 188
that contains the releasable adhesive 172 is in contact with a
portion of the metal layer 222 to provide an effective resealable
seal.
[0089] While the travel or satellite pack 100 described above is in
the form of a flexible pack, it is contemplated that the travel or
satellite pack 100 may be formed of other materials such as paper
or paper-based products, including paperboard, cardboard or the
like.
[0090] Turning now to FIG. 16A, a blank for a package of the
present invention is shown. FIG. 16B shows a travel pack 100 formed
from the blank of FIG. 16A. The blank includes side surfaces 412,
adhesive flaps 414, bottom surface 416, top surface 418, front
surface 420, rear surface 426, and cover 430. The blank includes
fold lines 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, and 421 for folding the blank
into the travel or satellite pack 100. The blank may be assembled
into the travel or satellite pack 100 the present invention in the
following manner. The adhesive flaps 414 are folded over along fold
lines 415, 417 such that they are parallel to the back surface 426.
The front surface 420 is folded along fold lines 411, 413 toward
the back surface 426 and attached to adhesive flaps 414. The
surfaces of pack 100 may be generally planar such that the front
surface 420 is opposite the rear surface 426, the top surface 418
is opposite the bottom surface 416, and the side surfaces 412 are
opposite each other. The blank may also include a score line 423
along the width of the cover 430 to allow the flap 432 to be
slightly folded by a user to facilitate tucking the flap 432 into
the slot 440.
[0091] FIG. 16B shows the travel or satellite pack 100 formed from
the blank of FIG. 16A. The travel or satellite pack 100 includes a
housing 422 and a cover 430. The cover 430 is attached to the
housing 422 and is adapted to cover the front surface 420 of the
housing. The cover 430 includes openable flap 432. The cover 430
may be hingedly attached to the top surface 418.
[0092] The front surface 420 includes a slit 440 and an embossed
surface 450. The embossed surface 450 includes a portion raised or
depressed with respect to the front surface 420. The flap 432
includes an embossed surface 460. The two embossed surfaces 450,
460 are complementary such that when the travel or satellite pack
100 is closed, as shown in FIG. 16D, the first embossed surface 460
engages the second embossed surface 450 to secure the cover 430 to
the front surface 420. Because the embossed surfaces 450, 460 are
offset with respect to the adjacent front surface 420 and flap 432,
respectively, they may engage each other by friction, interference,
or other methods.
[0093] The embossed surfaces 450, 460 may be any suitable shape. In
the depicted embodiment, the embossed surfaces 450, 460 are
circular in shape, but other shapes are possible, such as oval,
square, triangular, rectangular, star, letters, numbers, symbols,
and logos. The shape of the surface can be determined by esthetic
considerations. The embossed surfaces 450, 460 may be either raised
or depressed with respect to the front surface 420 and flap 432,
respectively. Furthermore, it is not necessary that the entire area
of the embossed surfaces 450, 460 be embossed; for example, it is
possible that only the periphery 452, 462 of each surface is
embossed.
[0094] The slit 440 may be any suitable shape. The slit 440
generally includes at least a portion 441 disposed along the width
of the front surface 420, i.e. generally parallel to the cover fold
line 421. The slit 40 may also include other portions, such as a
curved portion 443 and a portion 445 perpendicular to portion 441.
The slit 440 should be wide enough to accommodate the width of the
flap 432 so that the flap 432 may be inserted into the slit 440 to
close the cover 430 of the travel pack 100. Slit curved portion 443
may be disposed along the periphery 452 of embossed surface 450.
There may be one or more additional slits 445 running perpendicular
to, or diagonal to, the slit portion 441.
[0095] The cover 430 includes a first end 431 attached to the
housing 422 and a second end 433. The embossed surface 460 may be
disposed on the second end 433 of the cover 430. In one embodiment,
the width of the second end 433 is smaller than the width of the
first end 431, such that the flap 432 has a generally triangular
shape. Other cover and flap shapes are possible.
[0096] The flap 432 may include a pair of projections 434 on the
second end 433 of the cover 430. The projections 434 define a flap
portion width 436. The width 442 of the slit 440 is substantially
equal to the flap portion width 436 so that the projections 434
engage the front surface 420 adjacent the ends 444 of the slit 440
to hold the cover 430 closed when the flap 432 is inserted into the
slit 440. Although the projections 434 may wear down or the slit
width may increase with repeated opening and closings of the travel
pack 100, they should be sufficiently robust to function a
sufficient number of times for all gum or other confectionery
product 424 to be removed.
[0097] To close the travel pack 100, the cover 430 is folded over
the front surface 420 along fold lines 419 and 421. The flap 432,
and in particular embossed surface 460, is inserted into slit 440,
as shown in FIG. 16C. The travel pack 100 may also include a score
line 423 to allow the flap 432 to be slightly folded by a user to
facilitate tucking the flap 432 into the slot 440. As the flap 432
is further inserted into the slit 440, the flap embossed surface
460 engages the housing embossed surface 450. Additionally,
projections 434 engage the front surface 420 at the edge of slit
440 to provide an audible "click" when the flap is in a completely
closed position. The projections also help to secure the cover 430
in a closed position. In a closed position, the cover 430 is held
securely in place. The cover 430 may be opened by tugging it loose
from the slit 440 and embossed surface 450.
[0098] The travel pack 100 may be made of any suitable material and
produced by any suitable method. The travel pack 100 may typically
be made from paper, paperboard, or cardboard. The blanks for the
packages may be cut and fashioned from sheets of paper, paperboard,
or cardboard by conventional methods. In addition, when the package
is made from paper, paperboard, or cardboard, it may be further
laminated to resist tearing and to further protect the contents
from moisture and other environmental elements. It may also be
desirable to provide either reinforced corners or edges to provide
a more durable package. It may also be beneficial to provide
rounded corners, which will have the effect of reducing wear and
thus providing a more durable design.
[0099] The travel pack 100 may also be fashioned from other
materials such as metal and plastic. Thus, for example, the travel
pack 100 may be formed from metal or from plastic.
[0100] In addition, while a particular closure is described above
in connection with FIGS. 16A-16D, it is contemplated that other
closures can be used. For example, closures such as a button,
hook-and-loop closures exemplified by VELCRO, die cut designs,
reusable adhesive (such as that exemplified in Post-it.RTM. type
products), or a combination can be used.
[0101] Referring to FIG. 17, there is shown a travel pack or
satellite pack 100 in a closed condition, with a tear tape 502
provided between a top cover 504 and a bottom housing 506.
Alternatively, the travel pack 100 may be wrapped with plastic wrap
and provided with a tear tape to secure the travel pack 100 until
it is desired to gain access to the contents.
[0102] FIG. 18 shows a travel pack 100 having a top cover 504 and a
bottom housing 506 with a perforation 510 to provide access to the
contents of the travel pack 100. The perforation may be created in
a known manner such as by providing a pre or post laser scoring.
The perforation 510 allows the cover to be reclosable to secure the
contents of the travel pack 100.
[0103] FIG. 19A shows a travel pack 100 having a top cover 504 and
a bottom housing 506 where the travel pack contains tabs 24. Either
or both of a portion of the top cover 504 and the bottom housing
506 may contain an adhesive to provide a releasably sealed opening.
The adhesive could be registered or nonregistered. The adhesive
could also be applied at the time of material converting or at the
time of packing. The releasable sealing aspect could be provided by
providing a sticker and complementary pressure sensitive component
such that when contacted, the cover 504 can be releasably sealed
with the housing 506.
[0104] FIG. 19B shows an embodiment of the pack 100 where the cover
504 can be folded over such that the contents of the pack 100 are
exposed.
[0105] Turning now to FIG. 20, a blank for another embodiment of a
travel pack 100 is shown. The blank includes side surfaces 612,
adhesive flaps 614, bottom surface 616, top surface 618, front
surface 620, rear surface 626, and cover 630. The blank includes
fold lines 611, 613, 615, 617, 619, and 621 for folding the blank
into a travel pack 100. The blank may be assembled into a travel
pack in the following manner. The adhesive flaps 614 are folded
over along fold lines 615, 617 such that they are parallel to the
back surface 626. The front surface 620 is folded along fold lines
611, 613 toward the back surface 626 and attached to adhesive flaps
614. The surfaces of the travel pack 100 may be generally planar
such that the front surface 620 is opposite the rear surface 626,
the top surface 618 is opposite the bottom surface 616, and the
side surfaces 612 are opposite each other. The blank may also
include a score line 623 along the width of the cover 630 to allow
the flap 632 to be slightly folded by a user to facilitate tucking
the flap 632 into the slot 640.
[0106] FIG. 21 shows a travel pack 100 formed from the blank of
FIG. 20. The travel pack 100 includes a housing 622 and a cover
630. A plurality of tabs 24 is disposed within the housing 622. The
tabs 24 may be gum pieces. The tabs 24 are typically elongate
rectangularly shaped that are individually wrapped in a
conventional fashion. A cover 630 is attached to the housing 622
and is adapted to cover the front surface 620 of the housing. The
cover 630 includes openable flap 632. The cover 630 may be hingedly
attached to the top surface 618.
[0107] The front surface 620 includes a slit 640 and an embossed
surface 650. The embossed surface 650 includes a portion raised or
depressed with respect to the front surface 620. The flap 632
includes an embossed surface 660. The two embossed surfaces 650,
660 are complementary such that when the travel pack 100 is closed,
as shown in FIG. 23, the first embossed surface 660 engages the
second embossed surface 650 to secure the cover 630 to the front
surface 620. Because the embossed surfaces 650, 660 are offset with
respect to the adjacent front surface 620 and flap 632,
respectively, they may engage each other by friction, interference,
or other methods.
[0108] The embossed surfaces 650, 660 may be any suitable shape. In
the depicted embodiment, the embossed surfaces 650, 660 are
circular in shape, but other shapes are possible, such as oval,
square, triangular, rectangular, star, letters, numbers, symbols,
and logos. The shape of the surface can be determined by esthetic
considerations. The embossed surfaces 650, 660 may be either raised
or depressed with respect to the front surface 620 and the flap
632, respectively. Furthermore, it is not necessary that the entire
area of the embossed surfaces 650, 660 be embossed; for example, it
is possible that only the periphery 652, 662 of each surface is
embossed.
[0109] The slit 640 may be any suitable shape. The slit 640
generally includes at least a portion 641 disposed along the width
of the front surface 620, i.e. generally parallel to the cover fold
line 621. The slit 640 may also include other portions, such as a
curved portion 643 and a portion 645 perpendicular to portion 641.
The slit 640 should be wide enough to accommodate the width of the
flap 632 so that the flap 632 may be inserted into the slit 640 to
close the cover 630 of the travel pack 100. Slit curved portion 643
may be disposed along the periphery 652 of embossed surface 650.
There may be one or more additional slits 645 running perpendicular
to, or diagonal to, the slit portion 641.
[0110] The cover 630 includes a first end 631 attached to the
housing 622 and a second end 633. The embossed surface 660 may be
disposed on the second end 633 of the cover 630. In one embodiment,
the width of the second end 633 is smaller than the width of the
first end 631, such that the flap 632 has a generally triangular
shape. Other cover and flap shapes are possible.
[0111] The flap 632 may include a pair of projections 634 on the
second end 633 of the cover 630. The projections 634 define a flap
portion width 636. The width 642 of the slit 640 is substantially
equal to the flap portion width 636 so that the projections 634
engage the front surface 620 adjacent the ends 644 of the slit 640
to hold the cover 630 closed when the flap 632 is inserted into the
slit 640. Although the projections 634 may wear down or the slit
width may increase with repeated opening and closings of the travel
pack 100, they should be sufficiently robust to function a
sufficient number of times for all the tabs 24 to be removed.
[0112] To close the travel pack 100, the cover 630 is folded over
the front surface 620 along fold lines 619 and 621. The flap 632,
and in particular the embossed surface 660, is inserted into the
slit 640, as shown in FIG. 22. The travel pack 100 may also include
a score line 623 to allow the flap 632 to be slightly folded by a
user to facilitate tucking the flap 632 into the slot 640. As the
flap 632 is further inserted into the slit 640, the flap embossed
surface 660 engages the housing embossed surface 650. Additionally,
projections 634 engage the front surface 620 at the edge of the
slit 640 to provide an audible "click" when the flap is in a
completely closed position. The projections also help to secure the
cover 630 in a closed position. In a closed position, the cover 630
is held securely in place. The cover 630 may be opened by tugging
it loose from the slit 640 and embossed surface 650.
[0113] Another embodiment of the travel pack is shown in FIGS.
24-27. The general layout of the housing 722 is the same as the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 20-23. The differences from the travel
pack 100 depicted in FIGS. 20-23 include the shape of covers 730,
770 and the configuration of the slits 740, 780.
[0114] The flap 772 of travel pack of this embodiment includes a
generally rectangular portion 774. The width 771 of the flap 772
may be at least one third the width 773 of the front surface 720.
In another embodiment, the width 771 of the flap 772 may be at
least one half the width 773 of the front surface 720. In another
embodiment, the width 771 of the flap 772 may be at least three
quarters the width 773 of the front surface 720. The flap 772 may
include an extending portion 774 that extends a distance 775 into
the slit 780 when the cover 770 is in a closed position. The
distance 775 may be at least about one third the distance 779 from
the slit 780 to the bottom wall 716. In an embodiment, the distance
775 may be at least about one half the distance 779 from the slit
780 to the bottom wall 716. In still another embodiment, the
distance 775 may be at least about three quarters of the distance
779 from the slit 780 to the bottom wall 716. As shown in FIG. 26,
the cover 770 may include a score line 723 along the width of the
cover 770 to allow the flap 772 to be slightly folded by the user
to facilitate tucking the flap 772 into the slot 780. Because a
relatively long portion of the flap 772 is inserted within the slit
780, the cover 770 is secured to the housing 722.
[0115] The housing embossed surface 750 includes a height 751 and a
width 753. In various embodiments, the width 753 may be 20%, 40%,
60, or 100% of the width 771 of the flap 772 in the slit 780. The
height 751 of the embossed surface 750 may be expressed in relation
to the distance 775 that the extending portion 774 of flap 772
extends into the slit 780 when the cover 770 is in a closed
position. In various embodiments, the height 751 may be between 10%
and 100% of the distance 775.
[0116] The slit 780 may be any suitable shape. The slit 780
generally includes at least a portion 781 disposed along the width
of the front surface 720, i.e. somewhat parallel to the cover fold
line 721. The slit 780 may also include other portions, such as a
curved portion 783 and a perpendicular portion 785. The slit 780
should be wide enough to accommodate the width of the flap 772 so
that the flap 772 may be inserted into the slit 780 to close the
cover 770 of the travel pack 100. Slit curved portion 783 may be
disposed along the periphery of the embossed surface 750. There may
be one or more additional slits 785 disposed perpendicular to, or
diagonal to, the slit portion 781.
[0117] To close the travel pack, the cover 770 is folded over the
front surface 720. The flap 772, and in particular embossed surface
760, is inserted into slit 780, as shown in FIG. 27. As the flap
772 is further inserted into the slit 780, the flap embossed
surface 760 engages the housing embossed surface 750. In a closed
position, the cover 770 is held securely in place. The cover 770
may be opened by tugging it loose from the slit 780 and embossed
surface 750.
[0118] Turning now to FIGS. 28-31, another embodiment of the travel
pack 100 of the present invention is illustrated. The travel pack
100 in the illustrated embodiment includes a housing 1212, a sheet
1214 and a sheet 1216. The sheets 1214 and 1216 in an embodiment
wrap around and enclose a plurality of products 1218.
[0119] The housing 1212 includes a front wall 1219, a rear wall
1220, a plurality of side walls 1222 and 1224 and a lid 1226. The
lid 1226 includes a top 1228 and a flap 1230. The flap 1230 folds
into a slit 1232 defined by the front wall 1219. The front wall
1219 also defines a cutout 1234.
[0120] The walls of the housing define an opening 1236 that allows
one or more sheets 1214 and/or 1216 to be inserted into the housing
1212. The cutout 1234 aids a consumer in removing one or more of
the products 1218 from one of the sheets 1214 or 1216. The top 1228
and flap 1230 of the lid 1226 cover the opening 1236 when the flap
1230 inserts into the slit 1232.
[0121] Although not illustrated, when the sheets 1214 and 1216 are
originally packaged into the housing 1212, the flap 1230 is folded
into the slit 1232. Also, an outer wrapping (not illustrated) wraps
and seals around the housing 1212, so that the consumer must
permanently remove the outer wrapping in order to remove the flap
from the slit 1232. The outer wrapping in a preferred embodiment is
a thin clear plastic, which enables the consumer to view any
writing or indicia provided on the outside of the housing 1212.
[0122] Although FIG. 28 illustrates two product bearing sheets 1214
and 1216 insertable into the housing 1212, the travel pack 100 may
include any number of such product bearing sheets, such as one
sheet or multiple sheets so long as the travel pack contains less
than about fifteen individual pieces of consumable product. The
sheet or sheets can define, if desired, an envelope or sleeve-like
structure. In the illustrated embodiment, the sheets 1214 and 1216
are shown wrapped around the products 1218. In other embodiments,
the sheets can include non-folded or single strips onto which the
products are attached.
[0123] The travel pack 100 in this embodiment attaches or adheres
the products 1218 to the sheets 1214 and 1216. The products 1218
are removably attached to the sheets 1214 and 1216. In the
embodiment illustrated, the sheet 1214 or 1216 includes a plurality
of adhesive areas 1238. The adhesive areas 1238 adhere the products
1218 to a surface of the sheets 1214 or 1216. The adhesive areas
1238 may be wax areas. The adhesive areas 1238 may include any
adhesive suitable for consumable product packaging. In the
illustrated embodiment, the adhesive areas 1238 adhere the products
1218 to an inner surface of the loop or wrapping created by the
sheets 1214 and 1216.
[0124] In one embodiment, a single side of each product 1218
attaches to a surface of the sheet 1214 or 1216 via the adhesive or
wax area 1238. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of sides
of the product 1218 adhere to a plurality of inner surfaces of the
sheets 1214 and 1216. In this alternative embodiment, it should be
appreciated that the sheets 1214 and 1216 must wrap around or cover
at least two sides of the products 1218.
[0125] The travel pack 100 also enables the products 1218 to be
readily disattached and removed from the housing 1212. Therefore,
in one embodiment, the travel pack 100 does not over-tighten or
over-stuff the sheets 1214 and 1216 into the housing 1212.
Consequently, it may be necessary to provide a number of adhesive
areas 1240 (e.g., wax areas) in the housing 1212, which adhere the
sheets 1214 and 1216 to the inside of the housing 1212. In the
illustrated embodiment, the adhesive areas 1240 are applied to
corner tabs 1242 that form part of the structure of the housing
1212. The corner tabs 1242 fold inwardly above a bottom wall 1244
of the housing 1212 and create an area of double thickness, which
provides a suitable area for supporting and attaching the sheets
1214 and 1216. Obviously, other areas of the bottom wall 1244,
front wall 1218, rear wall 1220, side wall 1222 and side wall 1224
could also or alternatively contain adhesive areas 1240 that attach
the sheets 1214 and 1216 to the housing 1212. The sheets 1214 and
1216 do not need to release from each other. Therefore, the
adhesive areas or wax areas 1240 connecting the sheets 1214 and
1216 can be sized to form stronger bonds than the areas connecting
the products 1218 to the sheets 1214 and 1216.
[0126] Further in certain embodiments having multiple sheets 1214
and 1216, one or more of the sheets 1214 and 1216 may be adapted to
have one or more adhesive areas or wax areas (not illustrated) that
hold the sheets together. Connecting or attaching the sheets also
aids in preventing a single one of the sheets 1214 or 1216 from
inadvertently coming loose from the housing 1212 of the travel pack
100. The sheets 1214 and 1216 do not need to release from each
other.
[0127] It should be appreciated that it may be possible to
press-fit the sheets 1214 and 1216 into the housing 1212 without
adhesive so that tension holds the sheets in place, but so that the
consumer can still readily retrieve the products 1218. Even in this
situation, the individual products 1218 must still be releasably
adhered to the sheets 1214 and 1216.
[0128] In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the products
1218 directly attach or adhere to the housing 1212. That is, this
alternative embodiment does not require a separate sheet such as
the sheets 1214 and 1216. Here, the adhesive areas or wax areas
1238 are applied directly to the inner surface of the front wall
1218, the inner surface of the rear wall 1220. The housing 1212 may
be adapted to additionally or alternatively directly place adhesive
areas or wax areas on the side walls 1222 and 1224 and/or the
bottom wall 1244.
[0129] Referring now to FIG. 29, an embodiment of one of the sheets
1214 or 1216 of FIG. 28 is shown not wrapped or in an alternative
strip configuration so that a one method of attaching the products
1218 to the sheet 1214 or 1216 may be illustrated. In this
embodiment, the adhesive or wax areas 1238 adhere to a foil layer
1246. The sheet 1214 or 1216 in the illustrated embodiment includes
a wax paper layer 1248 attached to the foil layer 1246. The foil
layer 1246 in an embodiment is a metal foil such as an aluminum
foil or other light metal foil. The wax paper 1248 is any type of
wax paper known to those of skill in the art. The wax paper layer
1248 adheres to the foil layer 1246 via a standard adhesive.
Alternatively, the foil layer 1246 can be sprayed on or otherwise
applied to the paper side of the wax paper layer 1248.
[0130] Regardless of whether adhesive areas (wax areas) 1238 or the
wax paper layer 1248 is employed, a plurality of products 1218
resides on and attach to the wax areas 1238 or the wax side of the
wax paper layer 1248. Any number of products 1218 may be applied in
this manner. The products 1218 extend past the width of the sheet
1214 or 1216, so that the consumer can grasp and remove the
products 1218 via the extended portion. In an embodiment, the
products 1218 are closely packaged to make efficient use of the
space on the sheet 1214 or 1216. The consumer, however, has
sufficient room to grasp and remove one or more of the products
1218 from the sheet 1214 or 1216 and from the container 1212.
[0131] The products 1218 are illustrated in FIG. 29 having
individual wrappers 1250. That is, the wrapper 1250 surrounds a
single product 1218 so that the wrapper 1250 adheres to the wax
areas 1238 or the wax paper layer 1248. In FIG. 28, the product
1218 adheres directly to the sheet 1214 or 1216. The present
invention contemplates directly adhering the product 1218 to a
sheet or wrapping the product 1218 in a wrapper 1250 and adhering
the product 1218 and wrapper 1250 to the sheet 1214 or 1216.
Although the wrapper 1250 preferably wraps around a single piece or
product 1218, the wrapper 1215 alternatively encloses multiple
products 1218.
[0132] A heat source 1252 may be applied to the foil layer 1246
side of the sheet 1214 or 1216. The heat source 1252 applies a
localized heating such as a hot air jet to heat a particular area
of the foil layer 1246. The foil layer 1246 in turn heats the
adhesive or wax areas 1238 or the wax paper layer 1248 in a desired
area so that the wax in either case melts and dries to the wrapper
1250 of the product 1218. If the product 1218 is of a suitable
type, the wax may be melted and dried directly to the product
1218.
[0133] Although not illustrated, a larger heat source may be
applied to melt multiple adhesive or wax areas 1238 or heat the wax
paper layer 1248 so that a number of products 1218 are
simultaneously adhered to the sheets 1214 or 1216. The bond between
the sheets 1214 and 1216 and the products 1218 is controlled in an
embodiment by the size of the adhesive or wax area 1238. That is,
if the manufacturer wishes to make the attachment more secure and
thereby make the removal more difficult, the manufacturer applies
larger areas 1238 and thereby heats more wax. If the manufacturer
desires to make removal easier, the manufacturer applies a smaller
area 1238 and heats less wax.
[0134] A suitable bond may be made without heating the entire wax
paper layer 1248. The wax paper layer 1248, however, allows a
degree of flexibility in the present invention, wherein the
manufacturer can heat more or less of the wax paper layer 1248 to
provide a more or less secure attachment.
[0135] Any type of heat source that can provide a localized area of
heating may be employed to melt the wax and form the bond with the
product 1218 directly or the product 1218 in combination with the
wrapper 1250. The heat source 1252 can employ conductive heating,
convective heating, radiated heating or any combination thereof.
The level or amount of heat (i.e., temperature of heat and length
of heating time) is preferably less than that which would melt or
otherwise damage or distort the products 1218 or the wrappers
1250.
[0136] The adhesive or wax areas 1238 or the wax paper layer 1248
in an alternative embodiment is applied directly to any inner
surface of the housing 1212 including the front wall 1218 and/or
the rear wall 1220 shown in FIG. 28. By doing so, the product 1218
may be either directly adhered to the housing 1212, e.g., to the
wall 1218 or 1220, or may be adhered to one or more of the walls
via the wrapper 1250.
[0137] Referring now to FIG. 30, a sheet 1254 is illustrated having
beaded adhesive or wax areas 1238. The sheet 1254 includes a
substrate 1256 and a plurality of the areas 1238 that align with
the products 1218 in a similar manner as is shown in FIG. 29. The
adhesive areas 1238 may include any type of adhesive suitable for
packaging consumable goods known to those of skill in the art. The
adhesive areas 1238 are applied in a quantity sufficient to adhere
a product 1218 directly or in combination with a wrapper 1250 to
the alternative sheet 1254. As shown, more than one adhesive or wax
area 1238 can be beaded or applied for a single product 1218.
[0138] The substrate 1256 can be a paper material, plastic
material, metal material or any combination thereof. The substrate
1256 can be formed as a single strip as illustrated, or the
substrate 1256 can be wrapped around or folded about the products
1218 as illustrated in FIG. 28. The substrate 1256 can be of a
single ply or have multiple layers. If wrapped about the products
1218, the substrate 1256 in an embodiment is permanently deformable
so that the wrapped substrate remains folded without any additional
need for an adhesive. In an alternative embodiment, an adhesive may
be employed to hold the substrate 1256 in a wrapped position about
the products 1218.
[0139] The adhesive or wax areas 1238 are illustrated beaded in
single portions wherein each adhesive area 1238 adheres to a single
product 1218 or product in a wrapper 1250. In an alternative
embodiment, the adhesive areas 1238 may be beaded or provided in a
width that spans two or more products 1218. Further, alternatively,
one or more elongated strips of adhesive may be applied to the
substrate 256 to collectively adhere all of the products 1218 to
the alternative sheet 1254. The adhesive areas 1238 in an
embodiment are applied to the alternative sheet 1254, whereby the
products 1218 are placed on the sheet and a heat source such as
heat source 1252 heats the adhesive areas to activate the adhesive.
In another embodiment, the adhesive areas 1238 do not require the
addition of heat in order to adhere the products 1218 to the
alternative sheet 1254.
[0140] Referring now to FIG. 31, a combination of the previously
disclosed embodiments provides one possible way to adhere products
1218 to both sides of one of the sheets 1214 or 1216. The sheets
1214 and 1216 have the foil metal layer 1246 and the wax paper
layer 1248 as described above. The sheets 1214 or 1216 may wrap
around the upper row of products 1218 or the lower row of products
1218 in a similar manner as disclosed in connection with FIG. 28.
Further, the sheets 1214 or 1216 may be constructed to be able to
wrap around both the upper row of products 1218 and the lower row
of products 1218.
[0141] The top row of products 1218 adhere to the adhesive areas or
the wax paper side of the sheet 1214 or 1216 as described
previously. Of course, the products 1218 may directly adhere to the
adhesive areas 1238 or the wax paper 1248. The products 1218 can
alternatively be wrapped in individual wrappers 1250 and thereby
adhere to the areas 1238 or wax paper 1248. After this upper row of
products is adhered to the sheet 1214 or 1216, the bottom row of
products 1218 is adhered to the outside of the foil metal layer
1246 of the sheet 1214 or 1216 using the adhesive areas 1238, which
do not require additional heat.
[0142] The bottom row of adhesive areas 1238 may be applied to the
foil metal layer 1246 before or after the upper row of products
1218 adheres to the wax paper layer 1248. Preferably, however, the
upper row of products 1218 is first adhered to the sheet 1214 or
1216 using the heat source described above in connection with FIG.
29. Then the products 1218 are adhered to adhesive areas 1238,
which preferably do not require additional heat for activation.
[0143] The amount of wax that is heated to adhere product 1218 to
the sheets 1214 or 1216 preferably creates roughly the same
strength of bond as does the adhesive area 1238 on the bottom side
of the foil sheet 1246. In such a way, the consumer does not
experience a different tactile sensation when removing the product
1218 from either side of the sheet 1214 or 1216.
[0144] The foregoing detailed description has described only a few
of the many forms that this invention can take. For this reason,
this detailed description is intended by way of illustration, and
not by way of limitation. It is only the following claims,
including all equivalents, which are intended to define the scope
of this invention. For example, it is contemplated that the travel
packs can be all be the same flavor of gum or each travel pack can
be a flavor different from the other travel packs to provide a
package containing a variety of flavors.
* * * * *