U.S. patent application number 12/663460 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-25 for flip open package with tiered compartments.
This patent application is currently assigned to CADBURY ADAMS USA LLC. Invention is credited to Allen Aldridge, Rita Dombroski, Simon Richard Gainey.
Application Number | 20100294775 12/663460 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40130055 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100294775 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gainey; Simon Richard ; et
al. |
November 25, 2010 |
FLIP OPEN PACKAGE WITH TIERED COMPARTMENTS
Abstract
The present invention includes a package for holding one or more
comestible products having a first compartment and a second
compartment extending from, and rotatable with respect to, the
first compartment. The package has a closed position where the
first and second compartments are substantially coplanar with each
other and an open position wherein the second compartment lies in
an adjacent overlapping tiered relation to the first compartment. A
cover extends from the second compartment and overlies at least a
portion of the first and second compartments when the package is in
the closed position.
Inventors: |
Gainey; Simon Richard;
(Media, PA) ; Dombroski; Rita; (Claymont, DE)
; Aldridge; Allen; (South Orange, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOFFMANN & BARON, LLP
6900 JERICHO TURNPIKE
SYOSSET
NY
11791
US
|
Assignee: |
CADBURY ADAMS USA LLC
Parsippany
NJ
|
Family ID: |
40130055 |
Appl. No.: |
12/663460 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
June 6, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US08/07140 |
371 Date: |
August 11, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60942636 |
Jun 7, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/505 ;
53/456 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/18 20130101; B65D
85/60 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/505 ;
53/456 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/04 20060101
B65D025/04; B65B 43/08 20060101 B65B043/08 |
Claims
1. A package for holding one or more comestible products
comprising: a first compartment and a second compartment extending
from, and rotatable with respect to, the first compartment, the
package having a closed position wherein the first and second
compartments are substantially coplanar with each other and an open
position wherein the second compartment lies in an adjacent
overlapping tiered relation to the first compartment; and a cover
extending from the second compartment, the cover overlying at least
a portion of the first and second compartments when the package is
in the closed position.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein the first compartment has a
first opening and the second compartment has a second opening, the
first and second openings facing each other in the closed
position.
3. The package of claim 2, wherein the cover overlies the first and
second openings when the package is in the closed position.
4. The package of claim 1, wherein the first compartment has a
first opening and the second compartment has a second opening, the
first and second openings facing in the same direction in the
opened position.
5. The package of claim 4, wherein the first and second openings
are vertically and laterally offset from one another in the open
position.
6. The package of claim 1, wherein the package is formed from a
single continuous piece of material.
7. A package for holding one or more comestible products
comprising: a first compartment having a first wall portion; and a
second compartment having a second wall portion, the first and
second wall portions being pivotally configured so that the first
compartment and the second compartment are configured to rotate
with respect to the other between a closed position of the package
and an open position of the package, the first and second wall
portions being substantially coplanar when the package is in the
closed position and the second wall portion being folded over and
against the first wall portion so that the second wall portion at
least partially overlaps the first wall portion when the package is
in the open position such that the first compartment forms a first
tier and the second compartment forms a second tier.
8. The package of claim 7, wherein the first compartment has a
first opening and the second compartment has a second opening, the
first and second openings facing each other in the closed
position.
9. The package of claim 8 further comprising a cover extending from
the second compartment, the cover overlying the first and second
openings when the package is in the closed position.
10. The package of claim 7, wherein the first compartment has a
first opening and the second compartment has a second opening, the
first and second openings facing in the same direction in the
opened position.
11. The package of claim 10, wherein the first and second openings
are vertically and laterally offset from one another in the open
position.
12. The package of claim 7, wherein the package is formed from a
single piece of material.
13. The package of claim 7, wherein the first wall portion and the
second wall portion are formed from a common wall.
14. A method of forming a package for holding one or more
comestible products comprising: obtaining a continuously formed
blank; and forming a first and second compartment from the blank,
the second compartment extending from, and rotatable with respect
to, the first compartment, the package having a closed position
wherein the first and second compartments are substantially
coplanar with each other and an open position wherein the second
compartment lies in an adjacent overlapping tiered relation to the
first compartment.
15. The method of claim 15, wherein the blank includes a first
front wall section, a first back wall portion, and a first set of
side tabs extending from opposite sides of one of the first front
wall section or the first back wall portion and the method further
comprises joining the set of side tabs to one of first front wall
section or the first back wall portion to form the first
compartment.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the blank includes a second
front wall section, a second back wall portion, and a second set of
side tabs extending from opposite sides of one of the second front
wall section or the second back wall portion and the method further
comprises joining the set of side tabs to one of second front wall
section or the second back wall portion to form the second
compartment.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising: forming a first
opening for the first compartment; and forming a second opening for
the second compartment, the first and second openings facing each
other in the closed position.
18. The method of claim 18 further comprising forming a cover flap
that extends from the second compartment and overlies the first and
second openings when the package is in the closed position.
19. The method of claim 15 further comprising: forming a first
opening for the first compartment; and forming a second opening for
the second compartment, the first and second openings facing in the
same direction in the open position.
Description
[0001] The present application claims priority to provisional
patent Application Ser. No. 60/942,636 filed Jun. 7, 2007, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to packages for
containing various products. More particularly, the present
invention relates to a package, with offset holders, for containing
and dispensing comestible products, such as confectionery products
including candy and gum.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Chewing gum is currently available to consumers in a variety
of different formats. These include stick gum, slab gum, pellet
gum, extruded gum, and others. In recent years, packaging for gum
has undergone various changes. A variety of types of gum packaging,
including certain types of packaging used predominantly for one or
the other of the gum formats, are available to consumers.
[0004] Slabs of gum have often been sold in foil packages.
Originally, these slabs were arranged in a package in a
side-to-side manner, perhaps including five to seven slabs per
package. More recently, these slabs have been arranged within the
foil packages in a face-to-face manner, allowing 15-20 slabs to be
contained in a convenient package. Slabs are also offered in
packages where the slabs lay side-by-side in a compartment formed
by the packaging, where a cover moves between a closed and open
position to permit dispensing.
[0005] Flip open packages that have more than one compartment for
holding gum are known in the art. However, it can be difficult to
access the gum in each of the compartments of these conventional
multi-compartment flip open packages due to the positioning of the
compartments with respect to each other. Accordingly, a
multi-compartment flip open package is desired that allows easy
access to the pieces of gum in each of the compartments
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In one aspect, a package for holding one or more comestible
products is disclosed that includes a first compartment, a second
compartment, and a cover. The package can be formed from a single
continuous piece of material. The second compartment extends from,
and is rotatable with respect to, the first compartment. The
package has a closed position where the first and second
compartments are substantially coplanar with each other and an open
position where the second compartment lies in an adjacent
overlapping tiered relation to the first compartment. The cover
extends from the first compartment and overlies at least a portion
of the first and second compartments when the package is in the
closed position.
[0007] The first compartment can have a first opening and the
second compartment can have a second opening. The openings can face
each other in the closed position face in the same direction in the
opened position. The cover can overlie the first and second
openings when the package is in the closed position. The first and
second openings are vertically and laterally offset from one
another in the open position.
[0008] In another aspect, a package for holding one or more
comestible products is disclosed that includes a first compartment
having a first wall portion and a second compartment having a
second wall portion. The first wall portion and the second wall
portion can be formed from a common wall. The first and second wall
portions are pivotally configured so that the first compartment and
the second compartment are configured to rotate with respect to the
other between a closed position of the package and an open position
of the package. The first and second wall portions are
substantially coplanar when the package is in the closed position
and the second wall portion is folded over and against the first
wall portion so that the second wall portion at least partially
overlaps the first wall portion when the package is in the open
position. The first compartment forms a first tier and the second
compartment forms a second tier when the package is in the opened
position.
[0009] In yet another aspect, a method of forming a package for
holding one or more comestible products is disclosed. The method
includes obtaining a continuously formed blank and forming a first
and second compartment from the blank. The second compartment
extends from, and rotatable with respect to, the first compartment.
The package has a closed position where the first and second
compartments are substantially coplanar with each other and an open
position where the second compartment lies in an adjacent
overlapping tiered relation to the first compartment.
[0010] Other objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an
illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a package in a closed
position that can be formed in accordance with preferred
embodiments of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the package of FIG. 1 in
an open position.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the package of FIG. 1
hinged in a slightly open position.
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 1
to illustrate the package in the closed position.
[0015] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a preferred embodiment of a blank used to
form the package of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] The preferred embodiments of the present invention include
packages for containing and dispensing a comestible product. In
particular, the present invention may be used for containing and
dispensing confectionery products such as gum pieces, hard candy,
or other comestibles. While the particular embodiments shown herein
are employed to contain gum pieces, it may be appreciated that the
package may contain any type of product. Such product may also
include other confectionery products, such as gum in various sizes
and shapes including sticks, slabs, pillows, pellets, and the like,
as well as other confectionery products, such as hard candy,
chocolate, and the like. The product can include multiple pieces or
be a single unitary piece. Also, non-confectionery products may be
contained and dispensed in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention.
[0017] FIGS. 1-4 show a package 100. The package 100 can be
positioned in a closed position (FIGS. 1 and 4) and an open
position (FIG. 2) and is rotatable therebetween (FIG. 3). The
package can be formed from a single substantially continuous piece
of material, such as paper board or other suitable material, and is
used to contain and dispense comestible product pieces 102 (FIG.
2), which can be contained in loose orientation within the package
100 or which may be held in place using a small amount of adhesive.
The package 100 may be covered by a plastic overwrap (not shown) of
a type known in the art, which is removable by a user prior to
dispensing the comestibles. The product pieces 102 may be any size,
shape, or configuration including slabs, pellets and sticks. While
individual discrete slabs are shown, it is contemplated that the
package 100 may contain one or more products having portions
thereof that can be broken away or detached for use. Moreover,
while individually wrapped product pieces 102 are shown, the
package 100 may contain unwrapped pieces.
[0018] Still referring to FIGS. 1-4 and particularly to FIG. 2, the
package 100 includes a first comestible compartment 110
(hereinafter "first compartment 110") and a second comestible
compartment 140 (hereinafter "second compartment 140") with
interiors 112 and 142, respectively, for holding the comestible
product pieces 102. The first and second compartments have a
generally rectangular configuration with a width W along which the
comestible product pieces 102 can be disposed to form one or more
rows. Openings 114 and 144 can be formed in the first and second
compartments 110 and 140, respective such that the openings 114 and
144 extend along the width W of the compartments and from which the
comestible product pieces can be dispensed. The product pieces 102
can be held in the first and second compartments in a side
edge-to-side edge configuration or can be held in a face-to-face
configuration. The package 100 can also include a closure 145 (FIG.
1) having a first element 118 disposed on the first compartment 110
and a second element 154 disposed on the second compartment
140.
[0019] The first compartment 110 is formed by a first front wall
116, first back wall portion 124, first bottom wall 126, and first
opposing side walls 128 (FIG. 2). The comestible product pieces 102
can be held in the first compartment 110 in one or more row-like
arrangements and can be individual wrapped or unwrapped gum pieces.
The first front wall 116 can include a first element 118 and notch
120. The first element 118 can be used to selectively hold the
package 100 in the closed position. The first element 118 can be a
portion of a hook and loop mechanism (e.g., Velcro.RTM.), a snap,
magnetic material, an opening, or the like, disposed on and/or
formed in the front wall 116. In present embodiment, the first
element 118 is a slot that can have various configurations and that
can be located symmetrically or asymmetrically on the front wall
116. In some embodiments, the slot can have a generally curved
configuration. The notch 120 can be formed at an edge 122 of the
front wall. The notch 120 can be formed with a generally
arch-shaped configuration and can facilitate greater access to the
product pieces 102 held in the compartment 110 of the package
100.
[0020] The second compartment 140 has a second front wall 146,
second back wall portion 148, second bottom wall 150, cover flap
152, and second opposing side walls 156 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). The
comestible product pieces 102 can be held in the second compartment
in one or more row-like arrangements and can be individually
wrapped or unwrapped gum pieces. The cover flap 152 can be an
extension of the second front wall 146 and includes the second
element 154, which can be used to selectively hold the package 100
in the closed position by interfacing with the first element 118 on
the first front wall 116. The second element 154 can be a portion
of a hook and loop mechanism (e.g., Velcro.RTM.), a snap, magnetic
material, an opening, or the like, disposed on and/or formed in the
cover flap 152. In present embodiment, the second element 154 is a
tab extending from a distal end 156 of the cover flap 152 that can
have various configurations and that can be located symmetrically
or asymmetrically on the cover flap 152.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, in the closed position, the
package 100 has a generally rectangular configuration, although
other shapes are possible. The package has a broad front surface
formed by the first front walls 116, second front wall 146, and the
cover flap 152 and has a broad back surface formed of a common back
wall 160, which includes the first back wall portion 124 and the
second back wall portion 148. The package 100 has narrow side edge
surfaces, when compared to the broad surfaces, and are formed by
the first bottom wall 126, the second bottom wall 150, the first
opposing side walls 128, and the second opposing side walls
156.
[0022] In the closed position, the first and second compartments
110 and 140 are aligned in a substantially coplanar relation with
each other and the common back wall 160 is relatively straight and
coplanar along the length of the package 100 and can have vertical
axes 104 and 106, respectively, which are substantially aligned in
the closed position. Indicia 165 can be disposed on the outer
surface of the package 100 to provide information pertaining to the
comestible product pieces held by the package 100. For example, all
or a portion of the front and back broad surfaces can have indicia
165 disposed thereon.
[0023] When the package 100 is in the closed position, the openings
114 and 144 of the first and second compartments, respectively,
face each other so that the first and second compartments 110 and
140 open towards each other. The cover flap 152 can overlie the
openings 114 and 144 to cover the openings 114 and 144 when the
product pieces 102 are not being dispensed. The first and second
bottom wall portions 126 and 150 have a generally parallel opposing
relation when the package 100 is in the closed position. The
compartments 110 and 140 may have complementary diagonally formed
side edges 129 and 157 (FIG. 3), respectively, at the top ends of
the compartments 110 and 140 so that when the package 100 is in a
closed position (FIG. 4), a diagonal slit 400 is formed. The side
edges can be configured such that when the package 100 is in the
closed position, the side edges are aligned in a substantially
parallel manner.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, in the open position, the package 100
is folded to change the orientation of the second compartment 140
with respect to the first compartment 110 to expose the product
pieces 102 held by the first and second compartments 110 and 140.
The package is folded along the common back wall 160 of the package
between the first back wall portion 124 and the second back wall
portion 148 such that the second back wall portion 148 is rotated
by about 180 degrees with respect to the first back wall portion
124 in the closed position, thereby, at least partially folding the
common back wall 160 over upon itself. In some embodiments, the
common back wall 160 can have a fold line that demarcates the first
and second back wall portions 124 and 148 and provides a location
about which the compartments 110 and 140 can be folded. In other
embodiments, the common back wall 160 can be creased upon the
initial opening of the package 100 by the user. The first back wall
portion 124 is preferably longer than the second back wall portion
148 such that the second back wall portion 148 preferably folds
against the first back wall portion 124 so that there is at least
partially overlapping contact between the first and second back
wall portions 124 and 148. In the open position, the first and
second compartments 110 and 140 assume a generally parallel
orientation to each other in a tiered configuration, where the
second compartment 140 has a vertically stepped offset, at least
partially overlapping relation, to the first compartment 110 and
the vertical axes 104 and 106 of the first and second compartments
can have a generally parallel relation. The first and second bottom
wall portions 126 and 150 support the product pieces in the open
position and a have a vertically stepped offset due to the
difference in the lengths of the first and second back wall
portions 124 and 148 resulting in the tiered configuration of the
first and second compartments 110 and 140.
[0025] When the package 100 is in the open position, the openings
114 and 144 of the first and second compartments, respectively,
face in the same direction so that the first and second
compartments 110 and 140 open towards the same direction. The cover
flap 152, which was overlying the openings 114 and 144 in the
closed position, is rotated in unison with the second compartment
140 so that the openings 114 and 144 are exposed to allow the
product pieces 102 to be dispensed. In the open position, the
comestible product pieces 102, such as pieces of gum formed as
slabs, are preferably aligned in two rows vertically offset from
one another in a tiered configuration such that access to the
comestibles 102 from the first compartment 110 and/or the second
compartment 140 is possible. The product pieces may be removably
retained in the first and second compartments 110 and 140 by an
adhesive which may be overcome by a user pulling on the product
pieces.
[0026] The compartments 110 and 140 can have positions (FIG. 3)
between the closed and open position. In order to close the package
100, the first and second compartments 110 and 140 may be folded
such that the first and second compartment are aligned in the same
plane (FIG. 1) bringing the second element 154 of the cover flap
152 into approximate alignment with the first element 118 of the
first front wall 116. The second element 154 and the first element
118 can interface, thereby retaining the package in the closed
position. The cover flap 152 may be initially secured in the closed
position by an adhesive. Upon first opening the cover flap 152, the
adhesive is overcome.
[0027] FIGS. 5 and 6 depict one embodiment of a blank 500 that can
be used to form the package 100. The blank 500 can have a
substantially continuous body 502 that can be constructed of a
single piece of paperboard or other material of suitable strength
for holding one or more comestible products. The body 502 can have
first and second front wall sections 516 and 546, first and second
back wall section 524 and 548 formed from a common back wall
section 560, first and second bottom wall sections 526 and 550, and
a cover flap section 552. The body 502 can also include side wall
tabs 528a-b and 556a-b.
[0028] The body 502 can be folded in a manner such that the first
front wall section 516 forms the first front wall 116, the first
back wall portion 524 forms the first back wall portion 124, the
first bottom wall section 526 forms the first bottom wall 126, and
the side wall tabs 528a-b form the first opposing side walls 128 of
the first compartment. The body 502 can also be folded in a manner
such that the second front wall section 546 forms the second front
wall 146, the second back wall section 548 forms the second back
wall portion 148, the second bottom wall section 550 forms the
second bottom wall 150, the side wall tabs 556a-b form the second
opposing side walls 156 of the first compartment, and the cover
flap section 552 forms the cover flap 152.
[0029] The side wall tabs 528a-b and 556a-b can be integrally
formed such that side wall tabs 528a-b can be disposed on the sides
of the first front wall section 516 and side wall tabs 556a-b can
be disposed on the sides of the second back wall portion 548. While
the side tabs 528a-b are disposed on the sides of the first front
wall section 516 those skilled in the art will recognize that the
side wall tabs 528a-b may be disposed on back wall portion 524
(FIG. 5B). Likewise, while the side tabs 556a-b are disposed on the
sides of the second back wall portion 548 those skilled in the art
will recognize that the side wall tabs 556a-b may be disposed on
front wall section 546 (FIG. 5B).
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the blank 500 can be formed into
the package 100 by folding the side wall tabs 528a-b so that the
side wall tabs 528a-b are generally orthogonal to the front wall
section on which the side wall sections 528a-b are disposed and so
that the inner surfaces 529a-b of the side wall tabs 528a-b are
facing each other. Likewise the side wall tabs 556a-b can be folded
inwardly to be generally orthogonal to the second back wall portion
548 so that the inner surfaces 549a-b are facing each other. Flaps
570a-b and 572a-b of the side tabs 528a-b and 556a-b can be folded
further inward so that the flaps 570a-b and 572a-b extend towards
each other and are substantially parallel to the first front wall
section 516 and the second back wall portion 548, respectively.
[0031] The first front wall section 516 can be folded towards the
first back wall portion 524 until the flaps 570a-b contact the
first back wall portion 524. The flaps 570a-b can be adhesively or
otherwise joined to the first back wall portion 524, thereby
forming the first compartment 110. Likewise, the second front wall
section 546 can be folded towards the second back wall portion 548
until the flaps 572a-b contact the second front wall section 524
and the flaps 572a-b can be adhesively or otherwise joined to the
second front wall section 546, thereby forming the second
compartment 140 and the cover flap 152.
[0032] Having described the preferred embodiments herein, it should
now be appreciated that variations may be made thereto without
departing from the contemplated scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the preferred embodiments described herein are deemed
illustrative rather than limiting, the true scope of the invention
being set forth in the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *