Pinch-opening Container

Abstract

A container formed from a unitary blank and adapted to be opened by pressure applied to the container in a pinching manner.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to containers and is directed more particularly to a container adapted to be opened by pressure applied upon opposing sides in a pinching manner.

The invention is herein illustrated in its application to packaging of safety razor blades. While the invention is particularly applicable to such items, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in scope to items of this type, but is applicable to container-held or packaged items generally.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Small articles of merchandise of every sort and description are packaged within cartons which frequently are adhesively sealed. Because of the small size of the carton, handling the carton while at the same time attempting to break apart adhesively secured tabs or the like, has proven an annoyance at the least, and in some cases injurious to the contained article, or person attempting to remove the article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container, or package, in which articles, such as safety razor blades, or the like, may be safely and conveniently packaged, shipped and displayed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a container which may be conveniently opened to facilitate removal of an article therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a unitary blank from which the above-described container is made.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a container comprising elongated rectangular panels united edge-to-edge to form an enclosure, a first of said panels having therein a generally transversely extending slit proximate to one end of the container, perforated tear lines comprising extensions of said slit disposed on side panels adjacent to said first panel, whereby application of pressure upon the side panels of the container, as in a pinching manner, causes compression and folding of the first panel, and breaking of the perforated lines in the adjacent side panels so that said one end of the container is readily opened.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a unitary blank for forming a container as described above. The blank is divided by fold lines into first and second side panels, a top panel, and bottom panel means. The top panel has a generally transversely extending slit therein, the slit terminating at either end at the side panels. The side panels have perforated tear lines disposed therein extending from the ends of the slit to the bottom panel means.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular container embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a unitary blank from which the container of the present invention is made;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one form of container illustrative of an embodiment of the invention, shown in conjunction with a contained safety razor blade dispenser; and,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views, similar to FIG. 2, but showing steps for opening the package.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the illustrative container is made from a unitary blank 2 divided by longitudinal fold lines 4, 6, 8, 10 into a top panel 12, sidewall panels 14,16, and bottom panels 18,20. The bottom panel 18 has at one end thereof a relatively short tab 22. The sidewall panel 14 has tongues 24,26 at either end thereof and the sidewall panel 16 has tongues 28,30 at either end thereof, the tongues 24, 26, 28, 30 and the tab 22 being adapted to be folded inwardly for purposes to be discussed below.

The top panel 12 is provided with a slit 32, which may be V-shaped, as shown in the drawings. The side panels 14,16 include perforated tear lines 34,36 which comprise extensions of the slit 32 and extend to the fold lines 4,10. A fold line 38 extends from the midpoint of the slit 32 to an end 40 of the top panel 12.

The formed container, as shown in FIG. 2, has a two-ply bottom 42 formed by the panels 18,20 which are overlapped and adhesively joined. End walls 44,46 of the container are formed by the tongues 24,28 and 26,30 respectively, the aforementioned tongues being folded inwardly and bound together adhesively. The tab 22 serves to reinforce the end wall 46 of the container.

The tab 22 is disposed to strengthen the container with respect to the particular item shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes. Referring to FIG. 2, the article shown packaged comprises a magazine M for safety razor blades. The magazine is provided with a planar projection P for controlling the presentation of the magazine to a razor (not shown). The tab 22 strengthens the end wall 46 in the vicinity of the planar projection P of the magazine M, thereby acting to obstruct passage of the projection P through the end wall 46 of the container.

It will be noted that in the completed container the top panel 12 is provided with the slit 32, and the side panels 14,16 include the perforated tear lines 34,36 which traverse the sidewall panels in an inclined fashion, extend to the fold lines 4,10 respectively, and terminate at points proximate to the end wall 46 of the container.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that application of pressure upon the sides 14,16 of the container in the vicinity of the end wall 46 causes folding of the top panel 12 along the fold line 38 and breading of the side panels along the tear lines 34,36. The pressure required may be applied by the thumb and forefinger of a person's hand (not shown) exercising a pinchlike movement. After breaking of the container along the tear lines 34,36 a pulling motion exercised on the end wall 46 will complete the parting along the tear lines, whereby to open one end of the package (FIG. 4) to permit withdrawal of the contained item M. The two-ply bottom 42 serves as a hinge for an end portion 48 of the container set off by the perforated tear lines.

It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular construction herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the disclosure. For example, the slit 32 may be of any convenient configuration, as for example semicircular. As a further example, the tab 22 is in this instance illustrated with particular relation to the item to be packaged. The disposition of such reinforcing tabs would necessarily be dependent upon the nature of the item to be packaged.

Claims

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A container comprising elongated rectangular panels united edge-to-edge to form an enclosure, a first of said panels having therein a generally transversely extending slit, perforated tear lines extending from the ends of said slit divergently and traversing adjacent panels of said enclosure, and a fold line extending longitudinally from the midpoint of the slit to one end of the container.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said slit is generally V-shaped.

3. The invention according to claim 1 including superimposed panels forming a two-ply bottom which serves as a hinge for an end portion of the enclosure set off by the said perforated tear lines.

4. A container comprising sidewall panels, a top wall panel, a bottom wall panel, and end walls, the top panel having a generally transversely extending slit proximate to a first end of the container, a fold line extending longitudinally from the midpoint of the slit to said first end of the container, and perforated tear lines extending from the ends of said slit and transversely of said side panels, whereby pressure applied to the side panels at said one end of the container separates an end portion of the container from said side and top panels.

5. The invention according to claim 4 in which said perforated lines extend from the top panel to the bottom wall of said container.

6. A unitary blank for forming into a container, fold lines dividing said blank into first and second sidewall panels, a top panel, and bottom panel means, said top panel having a generally transversely extending slit therein, said slit terminating at either end at said sidewall panels, said top panel further having a fold line extending from the midpoint of the slit to one end of the container, and perforated tear lines disposed each on one of said sidewall panels and extending from an end of said slit to the bottom panel means.

7. The invention according to claim 6 in which said slit is generally V-shaped.

8. A container comprising elongated rectangular panels united edge-to-edge to form an enclosure, a first of said panels having therein a generally V-shaped transversely extending slit, perforated tear lines extending from the ends of said slit divergently and traversing adjacent panels of said enclosure, and a fold line extending longitudinally from the vertex of the slit to one end of said container.