U.S. patent application number 16/295186 was filed with the patent office on 2019-09-12 for package.
This patent application is currently assigned to Berry Global, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Berry Global, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jordan Robert French, Seth Tempel.
Application Number | 20190276203 16/295186 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67841929 |
Filed Date | 2019-09-12 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190276203 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
French; Jordan Robert ; et
al. |
September 12, 2019 |
Package
Abstract
A container with a selectively openable cover to selectively
allow access to one or more compartments is disclosed.
Inventors: |
French; Jordan Robert;
(Evansville, IN) ; Tempel; Seth; (Evansville,
IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Berry Global, Inc. |
Evansville |
IN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Berry Global, Inc.
Evansville
IN
|
Family ID: |
67841929 |
Appl. No.: |
16/295186 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62639549 |
Mar 7, 2018 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2251/0018 20130101;
B65D 1/36 20130101; B65D 2251/0093 20130101; B65D 50/046 20130101;
B65D 51/20 20130101; B65D 77/0453 20130101; B65D 50/045 20130101;
B65D 77/2032 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 50/04 20060101
B65D050/04; B65D 1/36 20060101 B65D001/36; B65D 51/20 20060101
B65D051/20 |
Claims
1. A package, comprising: a case and a tray, wherein the tray is
selectively insertable and removable from the case; the tray having
at least one product storage compartment, a first end, and a second
end; the case having a first end with an opening configured to
allow insertion and removal of the tray at least partially within
the case, and the case having a second end opposite the case first
end, wherein the case second end includes a slot for lockably
retaining a tab located on the tray second end; and wherein the tab
located on the tray second end is movable by a user input between a
locked position and a released position, wherein the tab and the
slot of the case cooperate to form a mechanical stop inhibiting
removal of the tray from the case when the tray is inserted into
the case and the tab is in the locked position; wherein the tab is
movable by a user input to the release position in which the tab is
disengaged from the case to remove the mechanical stop and allow
removal of the tray from the case.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein the tray includes at least a
second product storage compartment.
3. The package of claim 2, wherein the tray includes a plurality of
compartments arranged in series in a direction from the first tray
end to the second tray end.
4. The package of claim 2, wherein the tray includes a plurality of
compartments arranged in series in a direction transverse to a
direction from the first tray end to the second tray end.
5. The package of claim 1, wherein the tray tab is located on a top
surface of the tray second end.
6. The package of claim 5, wherein the tray includes a second tray
tab located on a top surface of the tray first end.
7. The package of claim 6, wherein the first tray tab and the
second tray tab are located proximate diagonally opposite corners
of the tray, and the tray and case are configured such that either
the first tray tab or the second tray tab are engageable with the
case slot and either end of the tray may be inserted into the case
first and either the first tray tab or the second tray tab may be
moved into the case slot to provide the locking position with the
case slot.
8. The package of claim 5, further including a second tray tab on a
bottom surface of the tray configured to lockably engage a second
case slot proximate the bottom of the case.
9. The package of claim 8, wherein a user input may simultaneously
move the first tray tab and the second tray tab from the locked
positions to a first tray tab release position and a second tray
tab release position to allow the tray to be removed from the
case.
10. A package, comprising: a case and a tray, wherein the tray is
selectively insertable and removable from the case; the tray having
a plurality of product storage compartments, a first end, and a
second end; the case having a first end with an opening configured
to allow insertion and removal of the tray at least partially
within the case, and the case having a second end opposite the case
first end, wherein the case second end includes a slot for lockably
retaining a tab located on the tray second end; and wherein the tab
located on the tray second end is movable by a user input between a
locked position and a released position, wherein the tab and the
slot of the case cooperate to inhibit removal of the tray from the
case when the tray is inserted into the case and the tab is in the
locked position; wherein the tab is movable by a user input to the
release position in which the tab is disengaged from the case to
allow removal of the tray from the case; and a cover bonded to a
top surface of the tray over the plurality of storage compartments
and blocking access to the plurality of storage compartments.
11. The package of claim 10, wherein the cover includes a plurality
of selectively removable panels, and wherein each panel of the
plurality of selectively removable panels is configured to cover
and block access to less than all of the storage compartments.
12. The package of claim 11, wherein each panel of the plurality of
selectively removable panels is separated by a break line.
13. The package of claim 12, wherein the break line is at least one
of a scored and perforated line.
14. The package of claim 12, wherein the tray includes at least
three product storage compartments, the cover includes at least
three panels, and wherein each panel is configured to cover an
individual product storage compartment when the cover is bonded to
the top surface of the tray.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/639,549, filed
Mar. 7, 2018, which is expressly incorporated by reference
herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to a container, and
more specifically to a container for storing perishables that has
features for resisting undesired opening.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It is often desirable to provide a container for storing
items, which may include perishable items, that also has features
that make opening it child resistant.
SUMMARY
[0004] Certain embodiments according to the present disclosure
provide a package with one or more selectively openable and/or
closable lid portions.
[0005] In one aspect, for instance, a package is provided including
a case and a tray, wherein the tray is selectively insertable and
removable from the case. The tray having at least one product
storage compartment, a first end, and a second end. The case having
a first end with an opening configured to allow insertion and
removal of the tray at least partially within the case, and the
case having a second end opposite the case first end, wherein the
case second end includes a slot for lockably retaining a tab
located on the tray second end. The tab located on the tray second
end is movable by a user input between a locked position and a
released position, wherein the tab and the slot of the case
cooperate to form a mechanical stop inhibiting removal of the tray
from the case when the tray is inserted into the case and the tab
is in the locked position. The tab is movable by a user input to
the release position in which the tab is disengaged from the case
to remove the mechanical stop and allow removal of the tray from
the case.
[0006] In another aspect, a package is provided that includes a
case and a tray, wherein the tray is selectively insertable and
removable from the case. The tray having a plurality of product
storage compartments, a first end, and a second end. The case
having a first end with an opening configured to allow insertion
and removal of the tray at least partially within the case, and the
case having a second end opposite the case first end, wherein the
case second end includes a slot for lockably retaining a tab
located on the tray second end. The tab located on the tray second
end is movable by a user input between a locked position and a
released position, wherein the tab and the slot of the case
cooperate to inhibit removal of the tray from the case when the
tray is inserted into the case and the tab is in the locked
position. The tab is movable by a user input to the release
position in which the tab is disengaged from the case to allow
removal of the tray from the case. A cover is bonded to a top
surface of the tray over the plurality of storage compartments and
blocking access to the plurality of storage compartments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not
all embodiments may be shown. Indeed, embodiments may be
illustrated or described in many different forms and the present
disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments
set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout,
and wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a
package in a closed position;
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the package of FIG.
1 in a partially open position;
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates another perspective view of the package
of FIG. 2;
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a tray that may be used
with the package of FIGS. 1 and 2, with a cover;
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the tray of FIG. 4
with the cover removed to reveal individual compartments of the
tray;
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an alternative
embodiment of a tray;
[0014] FIG. 7a illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a package
having a tray and a case;
[0015] FIG. 7b illustrates a top view of an alternative embodiment
of a package having a tray and a case;
[0016] FIG. 8a illustrates a section of an embodiment of a tray
having top and bottom tabs that may be pushed toward each other to
release a locking mechanism retaining the tray within the case;
[0017] FIG. 8b illustrates a portion of an embodiment of a package
with the tray partially pulled out of the case into a partial open
position;
[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a
tray with a cover partially removed to partially open a compartment
of the tray;
[0019] FIG. 10a illustrates a top view of the tray of FIG. 7b;
[0020] FIG. 10b illustrates a top view of yet another embodiment of
a tray;
[0021] FIG. 10c illustrates another alternative embodiment of a
tray; and
[0022] FIG. 10d illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of a
tray.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not
all embodiments may be shown. Indeed, embodiments may take many
different forms and the present disclosure should not be construed
as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. As used in the
specification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a",
"an", "the", include plural referents unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise.
[0024] The terms "substantial" or "substantially" may encompass the
whole as specified, according to certain embodiments, or largely
but not the whole specified according to other embodiments.
[0025] Some embodiments of a package 100 may include a tray 110
and/or a case 140, such as shown in FIG. 1, with package 100 in an
a closed position. Tray 110 may include one or more pull tabs or
ends 112, 113 that a user may grip to remove and/or slide tray 110
out from an interior region of case 140. Case 140 may have a side
wall 141 defining an interior region therein into which tray 110
may slide, enter, and/or be retained. In some embodiments, case 140
may have a first end 142 that may be substantially open to allow
tray 110 to enter or exit therefrom. Case 140 may have a second end
143 oppositely disposed first end 142. Second end 143 may be open
or may be closed as shown in FIG. 3. Tray 110 may extend from a
first end 112 to a second end 113, which may be oppositely disposed
first end 112. Tray 110 may include one or more tabs 130 that may
protrude from tray 110 and/or may engage one or more slots 145 in
case 140. Tab(s) 130, if included, may provide a latching or
locking mechanism that may work in cooperation with slot(s) 145.
For example, tab(s) 130 may engage or cooperate with slot(s) 145
preventing or inhibiting sliding of tray 110 out of cover 140 until
a user selectively engages the tab(s) 130 by pushing them down or
inward to release them from slot 145 and/or cover 140 to allow
sliding of tray 110 relative to case 140.
[0026] Instead of or in addition to having tab(s) 130 that engage
slots 145, slots 145 may be configured to cooperate with one or
more pockets 114, 115 on tray 110 as shown in FIG. 1 (pocket 115 is
shown in additional detail in FIG. 3). Pockets 114, 115, if
included, may extend and/or protrude downwardly or upwardly from
tray 110 and may be disposed at respective ends 112, 113 of tray
110. Protruding pockets 114, 115 may then engage slot(s) 145.
Pockets 114, 115 may be located at either end 112, 113 of tray 110
so that, for example, either may engage slot 145 and tray 110 may
be inserted into case 140 with either end 112, 113 entering first.
A user may disengage pocket 114, 115 from slot 145 by providing an
input such as a push or pull force to deflect respective end 112,
113 enough to disengage pocket 114, 115 from the edges of slot
145.
[0027] Tray 110 may include one or more tray compartments 111
within which items, products, contents, etc. may be stored or
retained, as shown in FIG. 2. Tray 110 is shown in more detail in
FIGS. 4 and 5. For example, any or all of compartments 111 may be
configured to contain edible, medicinal, and/or perishable contents
within. As discussed further below, package 100 may include a cover
160 over all or some of compartments 111 that may facilitate
protection, insulation, and/or preservation of freshness of the
contents of package 100.
[0028] Package 100 is shown in an example of a partially open
position in FIGS. 2 and 3, with tray 110 pulled and/or slid
slightly out of case 140. In this partially open position, cover
160 is visible and is covering compartments 111, with the top
openings of two compartments 111 partially visible near pull tab
112. Cover 160 may be removable from tray 110 to uncover any or all
of compartments 111 and/or to allow a user access to any or all
compartments 111.
[0029] For example, a user may remove tray 110 from case 140, may
remove (e.g., peel back) cover 160 from one or more of the
compartments 111, and may access the contents therein. An example
of cover 160 partially pulled back to uncover a single compartment
111 is shown in FIG. 9. For another example, referring again to
FIGS. 2 and 3, a user may remove tray 110 only partially from case
140, for example enough to reveal one or two compartments 111 (when
tray 110 includes more compartments 111, perhaps 4-8 compartments
111, etc.). Continuing this example, the user may then peel back or
remove only as much of cover 160 that is necessary to access the
contents in the now accessible compartments 111.
[0030] Cover 160, as shown for example in FIG. 4, may be any of a
variety of materials, shapes, sizes, and/or configurations or any
combination thereof. For example, cover 160 may be a plastic single
layer or multilayer film that is bonded to tray 110 by heat sealing
and/or use of an adhesive. Cover 160 may be coupled and/or attached
to tray 110 or any component thereof in any of a variety of ways,
including, but not limited to, by glue, adhesion, ultrasonic
welding, bonding, heat sealing, or any other way or any combination
thereof.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, cover 160 may cover any or all of
tray compartments 111. Cover 160 may include one or more frangible
areas such as perforated lines 171, 172 that may separate and/or
divide cover 160 into a plurality of panels each of which may cover
a selected compartment or group of compartments, such as individual
panels 161, 162, 163, and 164 illustrated for example in FIG. 4. If
included, the frangible areas such as perforated lines 171, 172 may
be provided to facilitate controlled breaking, tearing, and/or
separating of cover 160 so that it may be selectively removed by a
user (e.g., by hand) to uncover or partially uncover only as many
compartments as the user desires. A user may grasp a portion of
cover 160 and peel it back, separating it along a perforated line
171 or 172 to uncover or partially uncover a compartment or group
of compartments 111 so that the user may then access the contents
of that compartment or group of compartments 111. FIG. 5
illustrates tray 110 with cover 160 completely removed to uncover
all compartments 111.
[0032] Tray compartments 111 may be arranged in various
configurations, such as the side by side and end to end
configuration shown in FIG. 6. This configuration of compartments
111, with two side by side pairs, and each compartment 111 of each
pair arranged end to end or serially, is merely one example a
configuration that may be used. Optionally, a pocket 114, 115 may
be included on either end 112, 113 of tray 100. This may facilitate
insertion of tray 100 into case 140 by allowing either end 112, 113
to be inserted first. Moreover, even if pockets 114, 115 configured
to engage a corresponding slot 145 in case 140 are offset from
center as shown in FIG. 6, by being diagonally opposite one
another, and with slot 145 offset from center in similar fashion,
either pocket 114, 115 or end 112, 113 may engage the slot 145.
[0033] FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate alternative embodiments of tray
110 (or 110') and case 140 (or 140'). These are merely examples of
sizes, shapes, configurations and orientations of trays and cases
that may be included with package 100. As shown in FIG. 7a, tray
110 may, for example, include four compartments 111 arranged
consecutively. Case 140 may be sized, shaped, and/or configured as
a relatively long and narrow member to correlate to such a
configuration of tray 110. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7b, tray
110' may, for example, have four compartments 111 arranged in a
square pattern with resulting size, shape, and configuration, and
case 140' may be sized, shaped, and/or configured to correlate to
tray 110. It is understood that any number, size, shape,
orientation, and/or configuration of compartments 111 may be used,
and/or tray 110 and/or case 140 (or tray 110' and/or case 140') may
be modified accordingly.
[0034] Tray 110 may include a first push tab 130 and/or a second
push tab 131, such as shown in FIG. 8a (see also FIG. 6). Either or
both push tab 130, 131, if included, may operate similar to a
button or the like, and/or may be pushed, depressed, or otherwise
engaged or operated so that it will disengage the slots 145 of a
corresponding case. A user may operate the push tabs 130, 131 as
shown by arrows in FIG. 8a to release the tabs 130, 131 from
engagement with case 140. The user may then slide and/or pull tray
110 from case 140 as shown in FIG. 8b. A user may slide and/or push
tray 110 into case 140 to again cover one or more compartments 111
and/or until the tabs 130, 131 re-engage case 140 and/or slots 145.
In some embodiments, an audible and/or tactile click, a visual
indicia, or other indicia or combination thereof may indicate to a
user that the tabs 130, 131, which may be a child resistant opening
feature, have re-engaged case 140.
[0035] FIG. 9 illustrates panel 161 being removed from tray 110
and/or compartment 111 by a removal motion R to uncover the
contents therein. If aforementioned perforated lines in cover 160
are used, they may facilitate the clean break and removal of panel
161 from over a single compartment 111 without necessitating
removal of cover 160 entirely or uncontrollably from tray 110.
Other panels of cover 160 may be included and, if so, may be
removed from a single compartment or group of compartments 111.
[0036] A variety of alternate tray embodiments are shown in FIGS.
10a-10d. FIG. 10a illustrates tray 110' with three individual
product storage compartments 111' arranged in series in a direction
from first end 112' to second end 113'. FIG. 10b illustrates an
embodiment of a tray 210 with a single product storage compartment
211 between tray first end 212 and tray second end 213. FIG. 10c
illustrates an embodiment of tray 310 having four product storage
compartments 311 arranged in series in a direction transverse to a
direction from tray first end 312 to tray second end 313. FIG. 10d
illustrates an embodiment of a tray 410 having six product storage
compartments 411, arranged in a pair of series of three
compartments 411, with each series of three compartments arranged
serially in a direction from first tray end 412 to second tray end
413, and with the pair of series of three side by side in a
direction transverse to the direction from first tray end 412 to
second tray end 413. It is understood that FIGS. 10a-10d are
provided for illustrative purposes only, and virtually any number,
size, shape, configuration, and/or orientation of product storage
compartments may be included.
[0037] It is understood that package 100, tray 110, case 140,
and/or cover 160, and/or any component thereof, may be made of any
of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, any of a
variety of suitable plastics material, any other material, or any
combination thereof. Suitable plastics material may include, but is
not limited to, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene
(HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density
polyethylene (LLDPE), crystallized polyethylene terephthalate
(CPET), mixtures and combinations thereof, or any other plastics
material or any mixtures and combinations thereof. It is understood
that multiple layers of material may be used for any of a variety
of reasons, including to improve barrier properties, or to provide
known functions related to multiple layer structures. The multiple
layers, if included, may be of various materials, including but not
limited to those recited herein.
[0038] It is further understood that package 100, tray 110, case
140, and/or cover 160, and/or any component thereof, may be
substantially rigid, substantially flexible, a hybrid of rigid and
flexible, or any combination of rigid, flexible, and/or hybrid,
such as having some areas be flexible and some rigid. It is
understood that these examples are merely illustrative, are not
limiting, and are provided to illustrate the versatility of options
available in various embodiments of package 100, tray 110, case
140, and/or cover 160, and/or any component thereof.
[0039] It is further understood that any of a variety of processes
or combination thereof may be used to form package 100, tray 110,
case 140, and/or cover 160, and/or any component thereof, or any
layer or substrate used therein. For example, any component, layer,
or substrate, or combination thereof, may be thermoformed,
injection molded, injection stretch blow molded, blow molded,
extrusion blow molded, coextruded, subjected to any other suitable
process, or subjected to any combination thereof. In some
embodiments, package 100, tray 110, case 140, and/or cover 160,
and/or any component thereof may be formed substantially of
injection molded and/or thermoformed suitable plastics material,
although other materials and forming processes may be used instead
of or in addition to injection molding and thermoforming,
respectively. In some embodiments, tray 110 may be thermoformed and
case 140 may be injection molded, for example. Various materials
and/or processes may be used to form package 100, tray 110, case
140, and/or cover 160, and/or any component thereof, as will be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In some
embodiments, tray 110, case 140, and/or cover 160, and/or any
component thereof, may be substantially a one-piece design and/or
substantially formed as an integral or unitary structure.
[0040] It is understood that, while some directional terms are used
herein, such as top, bottom, upper, lower, inward, outward, upward,
downward, etc., these terms are not intended to be limiting but
rather to relate to one or more exemplary orientations, positions,
and/or configurations of package 100, tray 110, case 140, and/or
cover 160, and/or any component thereof. It is understood that
package 100, tray 110, case 140, and/or cover 160, and/or any
component of package 100, may be oriented differently than shown in
the various figures.
[0041] These and other modifications and variations may be
practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing
from the spirit and scope, which is more particularly set forth in
the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that
aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged in whole or
in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example
only, and it is not intended to limit the scope of that which is
described in the claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the
appended claims should not be limited to the exemplary description
of the versions contained herein.
* * * * *