U.S. patent application number 13/504420 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-27 for package assembly for supporting a pair of consumable product packets.
This patent application is currently assigned to KRAFT FOODS GLOBAL BRANDS LLC. Invention is credited to Allen Aldridge, Nevenka Markovic.
Application Number | 20120325711 13/504420 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43922485 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120325711 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Markovic; Nevenka ; et
al. |
December 27, 2012 |
PACKAGE ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING A PAIR OF CONSUMABLE PRODUCT
PACKETS
Abstract
A package assembly provides a pair of openable product packets
which support consumable products. The product packets are
accommodated in a housing. The housing is formed from an elongate
planar housing structure having a central wall and a pair of
oppositely directed foldable flaps extending from opposite edges of
the central wall. A transition line extends longitudinally
thereacross. The packets are supported on the central wall on
opposite sides of the fold line. The transition line may include a
fold line, a severing line or a combination thereof.
Inventors: |
Markovic; Nevenka; (Nutley,
NJ) ; Aldridge; Allen; (South Orange, NJ) |
Assignee: |
KRAFT FOODS GLOBAL BRANDS
LLC
Northfield
IL
|
Family ID: |
43922485 |
Appl. No.: |
13/504420 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
October 26, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US10/54030 |
371 Date: |
September 13, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61279783 |
Oct 26, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/459.5 ;
206/460; 206/784; 53/412; 53/456 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2313/10 20130101;
B65D 85/60 20130101; B65D 77/02 20130101; B65D 5/5445 20130101;
B65D 5/66 20130101; B65D 5/5253 20130101; B65D 5/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/459.5 ;
206/784; 53/456; 53/412; 206/460 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/60 20060101
B65D085/60; B65B 43/10 20060101 B65B043/10; B65D 73/00 20060101
B65D073/00; B65D 75/38 20060101 B65D075/38 |
Claims
1. A package assembly comprising: at least a pair of openable
product packets for supporting consumable products; a housing for
accommodating said product packets, said housing being formed of an
elongate planar housing structure having a central wall, a pair of
oppositely directed foldable flaps extending from opposite edges of
said central wall and a transition line extending longitudinally
thereacross, said packets being supported on said central wall such
that at least one of said product packets is on an opposite side of
said transition line from another of said product packets, said
foldable flaps being foldable from a flat open configuration to a
folded closed configuration enclosing said packets; and said
transition line being selected from the group consisting of a fold
line for permitting folding of said housing structure thereat and a
severing line for permitting severing of said housing structure
thereat and combinations thereof.
2. A package assembly of claim 1 wherein one of said foldable flaps
includes a distally extending tab and the other of said foldable
flap includes a slot for accommodating said tab in said closed
configuration.
3. A package assembly of claim 1 wherein said foldable flap
includes an indicia bearing surface.
4. A package assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing structure is
severable at said severing line to provide at least a pair of
housing subassemblies, each subassembly containing one packet of
said pair.
5. A package assembly of claim 4 wherein said severing line
includes a perforation line.
6. A method of forming a package assembly for consumable products
comprising the steps of: providing an elongate planar housing
structure having a central wall and a pair of oppositely directed
foldable flaps extending from opposite edges of said central wall;
forming a fold line longitudinally across said planar housing
structure; attaching a pair of openable product packet, containing
said product, to said central wall on opposite sides of said fold
like; and folding said foldable flap to enclosed said product
packets.
7. A method of claim 6 wherein said fold line is a severing line
for severing said planar housing thereat.
8. A method of claim 7 wherein said severing line is a perforation
line.
9. A method of claim 6 wherein said attaching step further includes
adhesively securing packet to said central wall.
10. A method of claim 6 wherein said product packet includes an
openable packet flap adjacent one edge of each said packet.
11. A method of claim 10 wherein product packets are attached to
said central wall with said openable packet flap being in facing
relationship adjacent said fold line.
12. A package assembly comprising: a pair of openable product
packets for supporting consumable products; a housing for
accommodating said product packets, said housing being formed of an
elongate planar housing structure having a central wall, a pair of
oppositely directed foldable flaps extending from opposite edges of
said central wall and fold line extending longitudinally
thereacross, said packets being supported on said central wall on
opposite sides of said fold line, said foldable flaps being
foldable from a flat open configuration to a folded closed
configuration enclosing said packets; and said housing structure
being further foldable in said flat open condition along said fold
line to place said packets in generally a side-by-side orientation
on said housing structure.
13. A package assembly of claim 12 wherein one of said foldable
flaps includes a distally extending tab and the other of said
foldable flap includes a slot for accommodating said tab in said
closed configuration.
14. A package assembly of claim 12 wherein said foldable flap
includes an indicia bearing surface.
15. A package assembly of claim 12 wherein said housing structure
is severable at said severing line to provide at least a pair of
housing subassemblies, each subassembly containing one packet of
said pair.
16. A package assembly of claim 15 wherein said fold line includes
a perforation line.
17. A package assembly of claim 15 wherein each housing subassembly
includes a subassembly back wall supporting one packet of said pair
and a pair of subassembly foldable flaps for enclosing said
packet.
18. A package assembly of claim 12 wherein said product packets are
adhesively supported to said central wall.
19. A package assembly of claim 12 wherein each of said packets
includes a packet flap to permit opening of said packet.
20. A package assembly of claim 19 wherein said packet flap
includes an extending tab to facilitate lifting of said packet
flap.
21. A package assembly of claim 21 wherein said tab of said packet
flap is removably attached to said packet.
Description
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority to
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/279,783 filed on
Oct. 26, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a package
assembly for enclosing at least a pair of packets containing plural
consumable products. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a package assembly which supports a pair of product
packets on opposite sides of a fold line where the fold line can
further be used to sever the package assembly into two package
subassemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Certain consumable products, such as sticks or slabs of
chewing gum, may be housed in a package where the gum slabs are
arranged in an array which allows ease of dispensing an individual
slab therefrom. One type of package assembly which may be used to
contain and dispense individually wrapped products includes a foil
packet which encloses the products which are aligned in an array.
The foil packet provides environmental protection to the products
contained therein.
[0004] The packet may include an openable flap which can be lifted
from the remainder of the packet to form a dispensing opening for
allowing individual dispensing of the products contained therein.
In order to reclose the packet, the packet may be supported in an
outer housing typically formed of paperboard which surrounds the
packet and may be reclosed once a desired number of products are
dispensed from the packet.
[0005] One such reclosable package assembly is shown in commonly
assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,773. The outer package housing not
only allows reclosing of the packet, but also assists in initial
opening of the packet to define the dispensing opening.
[0006] While this package serves adequately for its intended
purposes, the package housing shown therein is designed to
accommodate a single product packet. Moreover, as the package
housing closely conforms to the product packet, there is little
opportunity for advertising which will promote the use and sale of
the consumable products contained therein. Still further, since
only one product packet is contained within the housing, the
ability to share the product with others is substantially
reduced.
[0007] It is, therefore, desirable to provide a package assembly
including a plurality of product packets and a package housing
which will accommodate a pair of product packets and a accommodate
advertising and promotional indicia which will enhance the use and
sale of the consumable products and still further provide the
ability to share portions of the product with others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A package assembly is provided which includes at least a
pair of openable product packets for supporting consumable
products. The housing accommodates the product packets. The housing
is formed of an elongate planar housing structure having a central
wall and a pair of oppositely directed foldable flaps extending
from opposite edges of the central wall. A transition line extends
longitudinally across the housing structure. The pair of the
packets is supported on the central wall of the housing structure,
such that at least one of the product packets is on an opposite
side of the transition line from another of the product packets.
Foldable flaps are foldable from a flat open configuration to a
folded closed configuration. The transition line in the housing
structure may be selected from the group consisting of a fold line
for permitting folding of the housing structure thereat and a
severing line for permitting severing of the housing structure
thereat, and combinations thereof.
[0009] Further, a package assembly is provided which includes a
pair of openable product packets for supporting consumable
products. A housing accommodates the product packets. The housing
is formed from an elongate planar housing structure having a
central wall and a pair of oppositely directed foldable flaps
extending from opposite edges of the central wall. A fold line
extends longitudinally across the planar housing structure. The
packets are supported on the central wall on opposite sides of the
fold line. The foldable flaps are foldable from a flat open
configuration to a folded closed configuration enclosing the
packets. The housing structure is further foldable in the flat open
configuration along the fold line to place the packets in generally
side-by-side orientation on the housing structure.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the fold line can also be a
severing line allowing severing the package assembly into a pair of
packaging subassemblies.
[0011] In a method aspect of the present invention, a method of
forming a package assembly for consumable products is disclosed.
The method includes providing an elongate planar housing structure
having a central wall and a pair of oppositely directed foldable
flaps extending from opposite edges of the central wall. A fold
line is formed longitudinally across the planar housing structure.
A pair of openable product packets are attached to the central wall
on opposite sides of the fold line. The foldable flaps are folded
to enclose the packets.
[0012] The fold line is preferably a severing line or perforation
line to allow severing of the package thereat.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment
of the package assembly of the present invention in the closed
condition.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment
of the package assembly of the present invention in the open
condition.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the flat blank used to form one
packet of the packaging assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the flat blank used to form the
planar housing structure of the package assembly of FIGS. 1 and
2.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the packaging assembly
of the present invention severed into a pair of packaging
subassemblies.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing one of the packaging
subassemblies of FIG. 5.
[0019] FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views showing the package
assembly of FIG. 1 in a flat configuration and folded for display
and dispensing purposes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The present invention provides a package assembly which
accommodates a pair of product packets. Each product packet
includes a plurality of consumable products such as gum slabs which
are aligned in a face-to-face array. While a plurality of wrapped
gum sticks are preferably shown, being arranged in two product
packets, it is, of course, within the contemplation of the present
invention that other consumable products, both wrapped and
unwrapped, may be employed.
[0021] Moreover, in the preferred embodiment described herein
below, two packets are shown forming the package assembly of the
present invention. It is also contemplated that plural additional
packets may be used in accordance with the present invention.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the package assembly 10 of the
present invention includes a pair of product packets 12, each
supporting a plurality of wrapped gum slabs 14 in face-to-face
orientation. The packets 12 are supported in a vertically arranged
orientation on a package housing 16.
[0023] Referring additionally to FIG. 3, each packet 12 is formed
from a rectangular sheet 18 of a multiply material. The sheet 18
includes opposed planar surfaces 18a and 18b. Inside surface 18a
may be formed from a sheet of plastic and/or paper material, while
opposed surface 18b is preferably formed of foil. The sheet 18
includes a central surface 20 which supports the plurality of the
gum slabs 14. Sheet 18 includes a foldable lower extent 22 and a
foldable upper extent 24 which may be folded onto the gum slabs to
enclose the gum slabs in packet 12. Typically, the lower extent 22
is folded along fold lines 19, and the upper extent 24 is folded
along fold lines 21 over the lower extent 22. The lower extent 22
includes spaced apart glue areas 26 on surface 18b so as to
adhesively attach the upper extent to the lower extent. The ends 28
of the sheet are folded in conventional fashion to enclose the gum
slabs within the packet.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, each formed packet 12 is a generally
rectangular member which includes a pair of opposed major surfaces
30 and 32, opposed top and bottom surfaces 34 and 36, and opposed
end surfaces 38 and 40.
[0025] With further reference to FIG. 3, a laser cut 42 is formed
on surface 30 along upper extent 24. Laser cut 42 is placed into
the foil surface 18b of sheet 18. The laser cut 42 forms a
generally semi-circular packet flap 45 which may be opened along
the upper portion of major surface 30 as well as top surface 34.
The packet flap 45 includes a central tab portion 45a, which
extends from the semi-circular laser cut. The tab 45a is located
between spaced apart glue areas 26 so as to remain unattached to
lower extent 22 when the packet is folded. This allows the user to
initiate opening of the packet flap. In order to prevent the tab
45a for inadvertently lifting, as for example during the
manufacturing process, the cut area includes a pair of nicks 45b.
These nicks 45b are uncut extents which keep the tab 45a attached
to the packet prior to manual lifting. As shown in FIG. 7, the
opening of packet flap 45 allows the easy removal of one or more of
the gum slabs 14.
[0026] Referring additionally to FIG. 4, package housing 16 is
formed from a generally rectangular elongate planar paperboard
blank 50. Blank 50 may be formed of conventional materials and may
be die cut from a larger sheet of paperboard.
[0027] Package housing 16 includes a central wall 52 and a pair of
outwardly extending housing flaps 54 and 56. The housing flaps 54
and 56 extend from parallel fold lines 54a and 56a at opposite
edges of the central wall 52. Flap 54 includes a distal edge of
reduced dimension, which forms upper and lower tabs 55 which are
received in angled slots 57 formed in flap 56. As will be described
in further detail hereinbelow, the insertion of the tabs 55 into
the slots 57 allows reclosing of the package housing. The package
housing 16 further includes an elongate transversely extending fold
line 59. Fold line 59, which extends along the length of the blank
50, generally bisects the housing 16 into equal upper and lower
portions. As will be described in further detail hereinbelow, the
fold line 59 is preferably a perforation line. However, any other
severing line such as a laser score or tearstrip which can be used
to sever housing 16 into two sections is within the contemplation
of the present invention. Moreover, while line 59 is preferably
described as a fold line, the line can be a line of transition
defining a fold line, severing line or a combination thereof.
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 2, two packets 12 may be supported on
the central wall 52 of housing 16 by adhering rear major surface 32
to the central wall by use of a suitable adhesive (not shown). The
packets are arranged on the central wall 52 in a vertically spaced
arrangement so that one packet lies on each side of the fold line
59. As shown in FIG. 2, the packets are arranged so that the packet
flaps 45 are both positioned in an upward direction as viewed in
FIG. 2. However, it is contemplated that the packets may be
arranged in any orientation with respect to the packet flap. For
example, the packet flaps 45 may be placed in facing relationship
adjacent fold line 59.
[0029] The housing 16 may be closed into a generally rectangular
configuration about the packets 12 by initially adhesively securing
one housing flap 54 to the other housing flap 56. Once the product
is purchased by the consumer, the flaps 54 and 56 can be opened to
a generally flat condition exposing the packets 12 whereby the
packets can be opened by opening each packet flap 45 to allow
removal of the gum slabs 14 therefrom. After use, the housing 16
can be reclosed to a foldable condition by first closing flap 56
then closing flap 54 and inserting the tabs 55 into the slots
57.
[0030] One method of using the package assembly 10 of the present
invention is shown with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6. Preferably, in
the open condition, the package housing 16 can be severed along the
fold line 59 to divide the package assembly 10 into two package
subassemblies 60 and 62. The package subassemblies can be each used
independently, thus allowing sharing of the product contents by
providing separately usable package subassemblies. Each package
subassembly 60 and 62 is independently openable and closable
inasmuch as one of the tabs 55 is insertable and removable into one
of the slots 57. While the package assembly is preferably severable
in the open condition, it is contemplated that the package assembly
can be severed in the closed condition.
[0031] Another manner of using the package assembly 10 of the
present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this technique, the
fold line 59 extending along a longitudinal axis of the package
housing is used solely as a fold line. In the flat open condition,
the package housing flaps 54 and 56 lie in the same plane as the
central wall 52, as shown in FIG. 4. The package housing 16 may
then be folded along the fold line 59 back substantially onto
itself placing the packets 12 in generally side- by-side
arrangement as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this manner of use, it
may be advantageous to arrange the packet flaps 45 of each packet
12 in face-to-face orientation adjacent fold line 59.
[0032] In this configuration, package assembly 10 may be used as a
desktop or tabletop device which allows periodic dispensing of the
gum slabs 14 from each packet 12. The construction and arrangement
of the housing provides the ability for the package assembly to
stand upright.
[0033] In this configuration, the housing flaps 54 and 56 may be
further used as indicia bearing surfaces to provide various
information 66 to the user. In addition to providing advertising,
product content, and product information on the indicia bearing
surfaces, the present invention contemplates providing value added
information which makes the product more desirable to the consumer,
especially when used in a tabletop or desktop manner. For example,
the indicia bearing surfaces could include helpful information to
the consumer, such as a calendar, measuring conversions, trivia or
any other information which would make it more desirable for the
consumer to purchase the package assembly and to use the package
assembly in a desktop or tabletop manner.
[0034] Even in use in the desktop or tabletop manner, the consumer
still has the ability to close the package assembly for
transportation or to subsequently sever the package assembly into
two package subassemblies.
[0035] Various changes to the foregoing described and shown
structures would now be evident to those skilled in the art.
Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is
set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *