U.S. patent application number 13/123801 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-29 for bulk package for confections.
This patent application is currently assigned to WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY. Invention is credited to Heather Fluegel, Russell L. Stacy-Ryan.
Application Number | 20110233106 13/123801 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42107154 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110233106 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fluegel; Heather ; et
al. |
September 29, 2011 |
BULK PACKAGE FOR CONFECTIONS
Abstract
An improved bulk package for removably containing consumable
products is provided. The package includes a container and at least
three bands, which may be in the form of pouches, adhered to one
another and to the inside of the container, each band adapted to
removably contain a plurality of consumable products. Additionally,
the container includes a hinged lid insertable into a slot for
reclosing the container. The container may be provided to the
consumer with the hinged lid outside of the slot and a clear
plastic overwrap around the container, holding the hinged lid
against the front face of the container in a closed position
Inventors: |
Fluegel; Heather; (Long
Grove, IL) ; Stacy-Ryan; Russell L.; (Chicago,
IL) |
Assignee: |
WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
Chicago
IL
|
Family ID: |
42107154 |
Appl. No.: |
13/123801 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
October 9, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2009/060122 |
371 Date: |
May 9, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61196034 |
Oct 14, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/526 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 77/062 20130101;
B65D 85/60 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/526 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A package containing consumable products comprising: a container
having a plurality of walls including a front wall, a rear wall and
left and right side walls, the plurality of walls defining an
opening with each of the plurality of walls having an interior
surface, and a lid adapted to selectively cover the opening; a
plurality of bands disposed inside the container, including a first
band disposed adjacent to one of the walls, a second band disposed
adjacent to another of the walls, and at least one intermediate
band disposed between the first and second bands, each band having
an at least substantially enclosed lateral perimeter; and a
plurality of consumable products contained in each band, the
products arrayed in the band so that a consumer can grasp and
separately remove each of the consumable products from the each of
the bands and from the container.
2. The package of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive to
releasably adhere a plurality of consumable products that are
contained in a respective band to an inner surface of that
respective band.
3. The package of claim 2 wherein each of the consumable products
is individually wrapped.
4. The package of claim 2, wherein each band is a pouch.
5. The package of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises
a slot, wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the container at a
first hinge, the lid configured to articulate about the first hinge
between a closed position in which the lid covers the opening and
an open position in which the lid does not cover the opening, the
lid comprising a tab configured to be inserted into the slot to
releasably retain the lid in the closed position.
6. The package of claim 5, wherein the hinged lid further comprises
a second hinge and a third hinge, the first and second hinges
defining a top lid segment and the second and third hinges defining
a middle lid segment and a tabbed lid segment comprising the tab,
and the tabbed lid segment being capable of articulation about the
middle lid segment at the third hinge to allow the tab to be
inserted into the slot at an oblique angle with respect to the
front wall of the container.
7. The package of claim 1 wherein the first band is disposed
adjacent and adhered to the front wall.
8. The package of claim 7 wherein the second band is disposed
adjacent and adhered to the rear wall.
9. The package of claim 1 wherein one intermediate band is disposed
between the first and second bands.
10. The package of claim 1 where at least two intermediate bands
are disposed between the first and second bands.
11. The package of claim 1 wherein each band contains a linear
array of consumable products.
12. The package of claim 11 wherein the consumable product is
chewing gum.
13. The package of claim 12 wherein at least 5 pieces of chewing
gum are in each band.
14. The package of claim 13 wherein the plurality of bands is at
least four.
15. The package of claim 1 wherein a side of each of the bands is
adjacent and adhesively secured to the left side wall and the right
side wall of the container.
16. The package of claim 7 wherein the side of the container is
adhered to the first wall with a hot melt adhesive.
17. The package of claim 7 wherein the side of the container is
adhered to the front wall with a hot melt adhesive and a cold
adhesive.
18. The product of claim 16 wherein the second band is adhered to
the rear wall with a cold glue.
19. A package containing consumable products comprising: a
container having a plurality of walls, the plurality of walls
defining an opening with each of the plurality of walls having an
interior surface, and a lid adapted to selectively cover the
opening; a plurality of bands disposed inside the container,
including a first band disposed adjacent to one of the walls, a
second band disposed adjacent to another of the walls, and at least
one intermediate band disposed between the first and second bands,
each band having an at least substantially enclosed lateral
perimeter; and a plurality of consumable products contained in each
band, the products arrayed in the band so that a consumer can grasp
and separately remove each of the consumable products from the each
of the bands.
20. The package of claim 19, wherein each band is a pouch.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to packaging. More
particularly, the present invention relates to bulk packaging for
storing and dispensing consumable products and in particular
confectionery products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There is a need for attractive, effective and convenient
packaging for consumable products in relatively large quantities or
in bulk. It is also desirable to reduce manufacturing costs by
reducing the cost of packaging material used in providing
consumable products to the consumer. A need therefore exists for
convenient bulk packaging that reduces the packaging materials used
in packaging consumable products, and particularly confectionery
products, which may, for example, include chewing gum, bubble gum,
toffees, caramels, chocolates, or other hard or soft candies.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
package containing consumable products is provided. The package
includes a container having a plurality of walls that includes a
front wall, a rear wall and left and right side walls. The
plurality of walls defines an opening which typically will be
located in a top or generally upper portion of the container. A lid
is provided and adapted to selectively cover the opening, typically
being operable between open and closed positions. A plurality of
bands are disposed inside the container, including a first band
disposed adjacent and adhered to one of the walls, a second band
disposed adjacent and adhered to another of the walls and at least
one intermediate band disposed between the first and second bands.
Each band has an at least substantially closed periphery and an
open top facing the opening of the container, the bands being
adhered to one another in a stacked or side-by-side configuration.
As used herein, the term "side" means any surface that bounds or
limits the article (e.g., a cube has six sides). A plurality of
consumable products is contained in each band, the products arrayed
in the band so that a consumer can grasp and separately remove each
of the consumable products from the bands and the container.
Typically, an adhesive will be employed to releasably adhere a
plurality of consumable products that are contained in a respective
band to an inner surface of that band. The adhesive may be a
relatively weak adhesive such that each of the consumable products
can be readily removed from the respective band by a consumer
grasping one of the consumable products and pulling it from the
band. However, the adhesive provides a sufficient retention force
so that the consumable products will not fall from the container,
such as by gravity and preferably will not fall from the container
even if the container is inverted and shaken vigorously.
[0004] Each of the consumable products can be individually wrapped
and may be, for example, a stick or tab of chewing gum.
[0005] The adhesive employed may be any suitable adhesive and can
be, for example, a wax.
[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the lid
of the container is connected to the container at a first hinge,
which may be a fold line, the lid being configured to articulate
about the first hinge between a closed position in which the lid
covers the opening and an open position in which the lid does not
cover the opening. Preferably, the lid includes a tab that is
configured to be inserted into a slot located in the container to
releasably retain the lid in the closed position.
[0007] The hinged lid can further include a second hinge and a
third hinge, the first and second hinges defining a top lid segment
and the second a third hinges defining a middle lid segment and a
tab lid segment comprising the tab, with the tabbed lid segment
being capable of articulation about the middle lid segment at the
third hinge to allow the tab to be inserted into the slot at an
oblique angle with respect to the front wall of the container.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
first band is disposed adjacent and adhered to the front wall. This
can be conveniently accomplished by means of a suitable adhesive,
which may be a hot melt and/or another type of adhesive as desired.
It can be advantageous to use a hot melt adhesive to adhere the
first band to the front wall to facilitate production of the
package in accordance with the invention as described in more
detail hereafter.
[0009] The second band can be disposed adjacent and adhered to the
rear wall. Again, this is accomplished by means of a suitable
adhesive.
[0010] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
intermediate bands, which may comprise one, two, three or more
bands, is adhered to the adjacent bands, which may be the first
(i.e., front) and second (i.e., rear) bands. This prevents the
intermediate bands and respective consumable product contained in
the bands from unintended falling out of the package.
[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each
band contains a linear array of consumable products, which may be,
for example, a plurality of consumable products in stick or tab
form arrayed in a side-by-side relation. The plurality of
consumable products contained in a band may be in a plurality as
desired, such as two, three, four, five, six, seven or more, for
example. Similarly, the number of bands may be three, four, five,
six or more, as desired. Thus, packages may be constructed that
contain a relatively large number of consumable product pieces that
can be individually wrapped, such as, 6 (2.times.3), 9 (3.times.3),
12 (3.times.4 or 4.times.3), 15 (3.times.5 or 5.times.3), 16
(4.times.4), 18 (3.times.6 or 6.times.3), 20 (4.times.5 or
5.times.4), 21 (3.times.7 or 7.times.3), 24 (4.times.6 or
6.times.4), 25 (5.times.5), 27 (3.times.9 or 9.times.3), 28
(4.times.7 or 7.times.4), 30 (5.times.6 or 6.times.5), 32
(4.times.8 or 8.times.4), 33 (3.times.11 or 11.times.3), 35
(5.times.7 or 7.times.5), 36 (6.times.6 or 4.times.9 or 9.times.4),
where the first number in the array is the number of bands and the
second number in the array is the number of product pieces in a
band. It will be appreciated that other product configurations and
numbers of product pieces can result in a package in accordance
with the invention, as desired. Thus, the invention provides a
package and method for making such a package that has a desired
number of consumable products that will be retained in the package
until the consumer desires removal of one or more of the consumable
products. It is also to be understood that the consumable products
may each be the same type of product or can be composed of
different products, which may include different flavors, sizes or
other configurations. In the case of different product sizes, such
as a gum tab or stick that is, for example, double wide, then the
number of product pieces in a particular band would be adjusted
accordingly.
[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a side
of each of the bands is adjacent and adhesively secured or adhered
to the left side wall and/or the right side wall of the container.
This helps to retain the bands and the consumable products within
the container until a consumer desires removal of one or more of
the consumable products from the container.
[0013] In each of the foregoing embodiments, the band which
provides an at least substantially enclosed lateral perimeter and
an open top may be in the form of a band having an enclosed bottom
and an open top.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a package in
accordance with the invention including a container and a stack of
bundles of consumable products, adapted to be adhered within the
container according to the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG.
1 and illustrating a stack of bundles, each bundle including a
plurality of consumable products contained within a pouch.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a container blank adapted to be
formed into a container.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a package in accordance with
the invention and wrapped inside a clear overwrap to be provided to
the consumer.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the package of FIG. 4 with
the overwrap removed.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the package of FIG. 4,
wherein the articulation of hinged lid for insertion of the tab
into the slot is illustrated.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the package of FIG. 4,
wherein the tab is inserted into the slot of the container.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a side view of a stack of bundles.
[0022] FIG. 9 is an exploded side view of the stack of bundles of
FIG. 8, showing glue beads.
[0023] FIGS. 10-19 illustrate various glue configurations useful in
accordance with the invention.
[0024] FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a bundle, showing
wax beads on an inner surface of a pouch.
[0025] FIG. 21 is an alternative arrangement of the invention, from
the embodiment of FIG. 20, illustrating an exploded perspective
view of a bundle, showing a layer of wax on an inner surface of a
pouch in place of wax beads.
[0026] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a stack of bundles, showing
the location of wax beads relative to consumable products in the
assembled bundles.
[0027] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an alternative
configuration of a stack of bundles, including a retention
strip.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] An improved package for containing and dispensing a
plurality of consumable products is described in this section.
[0029] With reference to the Figures generally and particularly to
FIGS. 1-9, a consumable product package 10 is illustrated. Package
10 includes a container 12, container 12 having a hinged lid 14
configured to be inserted into a slot 16, and at least three bands
or pouches, in this embodiment, five (5) bands or pouches 17a-e,
contained within container 12. Each band or pouch 17a-e is
configured to contain a plurality of, in this case seven (7),
consumable products G, each band or pouch 17a-e containing seven
(7) associated products G in respective bundles 18a-e. FIG. 2 is an
enlarged view of a portion of the edges of bundles 18a-e,
illustrating how each pouch 17a-e is configured from a sheet folded
once around the bottom of products G and again at each end of
bundle 18a-e to form edge folds 20a-e. As explained below in more
detail, pouches 17a-e containing products G are adhered to one
another in a stacked configuration to form a stack 22 of bundles
18a-e, as shown in perspective view in FIG. 1 and in side and
exploded side views in FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 3, a container blank 23 is shown, from
which container 12 may be formed. Dotted lines C in FIG. 3 indicate
creased fold lines, dot-dash lines P indicate perforated fold lines
and S refers to score lines. The fold lines and perimeter of blank
23 define a plurality of regions and features of container 12,
namely, a back face 24, a bottom face 26, bottom flaps 28, side
faces 30, side flaps 32, top flaps 34, a front face 36, a first lid
hinge 37, a lid top segment 38, a second lid hinge 39, a lid middle
segment 40, a third lid hinge 41, and tab 15 of hinged lid 14. Glue
is applied as desired or needed to form package 10. In this
embodiment, a bead of glue 42 is applied to back face 24 for
adhering rear pouch 17e to back face 24, beads 44 to side faces 30
for adhering interior pouches 17b-d to side faces 30, and beads 46
to front face 36 for adhering side flaps 32 and front pouch 17e to
front face 36. In this manner, bundle stack 22 is adhered to
container 12. Additionally, in this embodiment beads 48 are applied
to side faces 30 below beads 44, for adhering bottom flaps 28 to
side flaps 30, and hot-melt glue beads 50 are applied to front face
36 below beads 46 for adhering front face 36 to side flaps 32. In
this manner, container blank 23 retains its form as container 12.
To facilitate forming completed package 10, hot-melt beads 50 are
applied in addition to beads 46, which also adhere side flaps 32 to
front face 36, because hot-melt glue typically sets more quickly
than cold glue, thus quickly adhering side flaps 32 to front face
36 to generally retain the form of container 12 while the remaining
glue beads are setting.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 4-7, various aspects and the
functionality of package 10 is illustrated. In FIG. 4, a completed
package 10 including overwrap 52 as shown may be transparent and
can have printing thereon as desired. Overwrap 52 is wrapped around
generally the entire package 10 to generally retain hinged lid 14
folded down over front face 36 of container 12 as shown in a closed
configuration. In this manner, package 10 may be provided to the
consumer in a tamper-evident, closed state without the need to
adhere hinged lid 14 to front face 36. FIG. 5 is an illustration of
package 10 after overwrap 52 has been removed by a consumer,
allowing hinged lid 14 to swing open, exposing consumable products
G and permitting the consumer to remove separately each individual
consumable product G. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the three-hinge
design of hinged lid 14 permits a consumer to articulate hinged lid
14 for easy insertion of tab 15 into slot 16, at an oblique angle
with respect to front face 36, for reclosure of container 12. FIG.
7 is a depiction of container 12 in its reclosed state with tab 15
inserted into slot 16.
[0032] With reference to FIGS. 8-19, in addition to being adhered
to the inside of container 12, pouches 17a-e are adhered to one
another to form a bundle stack 22. Thus, each pouch 17a-e is
adhered to each adjacent pouch 17a-e. Stack 22 is shown in side
elevation view in FIG. 8, and in exploded side elevation view in
FIG. 9, revealing interior glue beads 54 applied to one side of all
but one of pouches 17a-e, so that each pair of adjacent interior
faces 56 may be adhered together. In another embodiment, interior
glue beads 54 may be applied to each of the pouches 17a-e (not
shown). In accordance with the present invention, glue beads 54 may
be applied to any combination of interior faces 56, provided that
at least one glue bead 54 corresponds to each pair of adjacent
interior faces 56. However, applying glue beads 54 to the same side
of all but one pouch 17a-e of stack 22 as shown in FIG. 9 is
particularly advantageous in that it facilitates the mechanized
manufacture of packages 10, as will be explained in more detail
below with regard to the packaging method of the present invention.
In addition, glue beads 54 may be applied to any suitable portion
of the area of interior faces 56, in a sufficient quantity to
maintain an adhesive bond between each interior face 56 and its
adjacent interior face 56 throughout the normal useful life of
package 10; that is, the period between purchase and when the last
consumable product G has been removed from package 10. Moreover,
hot-melt glue beads 58 may be applied in addition to glue beads 54
for faster adhesion. Referring to FIGS. 10-19, several examples of
suitable sizes, shapes and orientations of glue beads 54, and where
applicable, of hot-melt glue beads 58, on interior face 56 of a
pouch according to the invention are shown in front elevation
view.
[0033] In addition to adhering pouches 17a-e to one another and to
container 12, the present invention provides for removably adhering
a plurality of consumable products G to the inside of each pouch
17a-e. This allows a consumer to remove a consumable product G
without inadvertently removing adjacent consumable products G, and
generally prevents accidental spilling of consumable products G
from container 12. To this end, preferably a relatively weak
adhesive may be applied to inner surface 60 of each pouch 17a-e,
including wax, for example, or any other suitable weak adhesive.
Referring to FIG. 20, any suitable array of wax beads 62 may be
applied to surface 60 so that at least one wax bead 62 removably
adheres each consumable product G to surface 60, as illustrated in
FIG. 21 with respect to pouch 17a. Alternatively, a generally
uniform layer of wax or other suitable adhesive could be applied to
surface 60 for removably adhering consumable products G.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 21, in one embodiment, in place of wax
beads 62, substantially the entire sheet is coated with a thin
layer of wax 62', except a perimeter portion 63 of the sheet is not
coated with wax. The wax may be applied by any suitable method and
apparatus, such as, for example, roller coating or spraying.
Otherwise, the embodiment of FIG. 21 is similar to the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 20.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 22, it is within the scope of the present
invention to include a retention band 64 that is wrapped around
stack 22 to help retain bundles 18a-e in a compact configuration.
Retention strip 64 may be included instead of or in addition to
side glue beads 44 and 48.
[0036] In addition, a band (not shown) similar to band 64 may be
substituted for each of pouches 17a-e, that encircles each group of
seven (7) consumable products G.
[0037] Bulk packages according to the present invention have
several significant advantages over current packages for consumable
products. For example, as compared to one current chewing gum
package which includes a container housing two bundles similar to
the bundles of the present invention, the illustrated package 10
including five bundles 18 achieves about a 40% reduction in mass of
adhesive per gum stick, and about a 27% reduction in total mass of
packaging material per gum stick, when consumable products G are
gum sticks. Moreover, package 10 provides 150% more gum than the
current two-bundle package, thus allowing the consumer to carry
significantly more gum in a single convenient package.
[0038] While the invention has been described with respect to
certain preferred embodiments, as will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art, it is to be understood that the invention is
capable of numerous changes, modifications and rearrangements, and
such changes, modifications and rearrangements are intended to be
covered by the following claims.
* * * * *