Dispensing Package With Article-retaining Tear Strip

Abstract

A package for the easy access storage of items, such as precut strips of embossing tape, that are desirably removed from storage one or a few at a time. The base of the package includes an access member which is in part wider and in part narrower than the items being stored and extends in the direction of their length. When the access member is removed, correspondingly wide and narrow access openings are produced which both permit and constrain the items to being slidably removed from storage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a storage package, and more particularly to a storage package for precut strips of embossing tape.

Embossing tape is a medium for the production of selected, raised characters by an embossing machine. Frequently a strip of tape is fed into the machine and, after being embossed, is cut to a desired length by a machine mounted cutter. In some instances, however, as where the machine does not have a cutter or the cutter is impaired, precut strips of embossing tape are employed instead. As a convenience to users, supply packages of precut strips of embossing tape are made available. Conventional packaging of precut tape strips is of limited value. Once the package has been opened, it typically is no longer able to serve as a storage container or its entire contents are directly exposed with the result that the precut tape strips are easily spilled and scattered.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to facilitate easy access storage of items, particularly precut strips of embossing tape. A further object is to provide a storage package from which precut strips of embossing tape can be selectively dispensed. Another object is to provide an easy access storage package from which precut strips of embossing tape are not readily spilled. A related object is to provide a temporary storage package from which one or more precut tape strips can be dispensed at a time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides a holder, typically of cardboard, for the items to be stored, typically a stack of precut strips of embossing tape.

The holder contains an access member opposite the stored items, with at least two different regions of access disposed so that the stored items are limited to being slidably removable from storage. The regions of access are advantageously connected and include a plurality of different dimensions.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the access member extends in the direction of length of the stored items and is in part wider and in part narrower than the items, including, for example, first and second portions which are wider than the tape strips being stored and a connecting region of which at least a part is narrower than the tape strips. The wide portions are at the ends of the tape strips and provide complete access to them, while the narrow portions prevent the tape strips from accidentally spilling from storage.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention the connecting portion between the two wide portions can include a third portion which is also wider than the tape strips. This provides multiple access for the slidable removal of the tape strips from storage.

In accordance with still another aspect of the invention the access member is formed in a base of the holder and is partially incised from it, for example by interrupted incisions or perforations parallel to the lengthwise axis of the tape strips and complete incisions elsewhere.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the precut strips of tape are held on the base of the holder by a transparent sheet of plastic sealing an aperture of a cover for the base. The result is the formation of a plastic blister that encases the tape strips and is collapsible to bring the tape strips closer to the access openings when only a few of them remain in the blister.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent after considering an illustrative embodiment taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage package in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2A is a bottom view of the package of FIG. 1 showing an access member provided in the base of the package;

FIG. 2B is another view of the bottom of the package of FIG. 1 showing the access member in the course of being removed to expose precut strips of stored embossing tape; and

FIG. 2C is a further view of the bottom of the package of FIG. 1 showing the sliding removal of a stored precut tape strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

Turning to the drawings, a storage package 10 in accordance with the invention is formed by a two-part holder 20 for items 30 that are stored within a transparent blister 40.

A base 21 of the holder 20 has an access member 22, described in detail below, while a cover 25 has an aperture 26. In the package 10 of FIG. 1 the items being stored, e.g. precut strips of embossing tape, are stacked upon the access member 22 and extend into the blister 40 through the aperture 26.

To form the package 10, the two-part holder 20 is initially flat, with the access member 22 and the aperture 26 symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of a center of fold. The aperture 26 is sealed by a sheet of plastic material which desirably forms a slight pocket in the aperture, and the items to be stored are placed in a stack upon the access member 22. The cover 25, with the plastic sheet over the aperture 26, is then folded upon the base 21, causing the items 30 to stretch the plastic of the aperture 26 into the transparent blister 40. Finally, the contacting interior surfaces of the base 21 and the cover 25 are glued together to realize the desired package 10.

Details of the access member 22 in the base 21 are set forth in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The access member 22 extends over the length of the items being stored and, as seen in FIG. 2A, is variously equal and narrower in width than the blister 40. As a result, as indicated in FIG. 2B, the access member 22 is variously wider and narrower than the items being stored.

The particular access member 22 of FIG. 2A has three relatively wide portions 22-1 through 22-3 which are joined by narrower connecting portions 22-4 and 22-5. This permits the access member 22 to be removed as a unit. Removal of the wide portions 22-1 through 22-3 provides ready access to the stored items while the removal of the narrower portions 22-4 and 22-5 leaves tabs in the base 21 which retain the stored items in place until they are slidably removed.

To facilitate removal of the access member 22, it is desirably connected to the base 21 by a series of interrupted and complete incisions 22a through 22c. The lines of separation 22a and 22c of the member 22 which parallel the lengthwise axis of the stored items are of the perforate or interrupted type; for the remaining lines of separation 22b the base 21 is completly severed from the access member 22. Accordingly, to remove the access member 22 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2B, the first portion 22-1 is pried from the base 21 beginning at the incision 22b (FIG. 2A). The access member 22 is then pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow 51. Resistance is initially encountered along the first set of partial incisions which parallel the lengthwise axis, leaving jagged edges. There is no resistance along the diagonal incisions 22b, but resistance is again encountered along the interrupted incision 22c. Alternatively, the various perforate lines 22a and 22c are preliminarily severed and the access member 22 is pulled away.

When the access member 22 has bee completely removed, as depicted in FIG. 2C, the stored been are selectively removed by sliding them from one access opening out of another. FIG. 2C shows the first exposed strip 30-1 of the package 10 being removed, by being slid from the access opening 23-2 out of the access opening 23-1 in the direction indicated by an arrow 52. This exposes the next strip 30-2 (at another access opening 23-3) for subsequent removal. Because of the narrow connecting openings 24 between the wide access openings 23-1 through 23-3, the stored tape strips tend to remain in the blister until they are dispensed. The removal of the final items in the blister can be facilitated by forcing them closer to the access openings by pressure applied to the blister.

While various aspects of the invention have been set forth by the drawings and the specification, it is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is for illustration only and that various changes in parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent constituents for those shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A storage package comprising

a holder including a base and a cover, said cover bearing an elongated aperture therein with a sheet of transparent plastic sealing said aperture;

a stack of precut strips of embossing tape being stored upon said base and extending into said elongated aperture against the transparent sheet, which expands to form a storage blister for said precut strips of embossing tape;

and elongated tab means in said base centered upon said tape strips and having two regions which are wider than said tape strips and a connecting region formed by a parallel-sided channel which is narrower than said tape strips and extends to at least one of the wider regions by diverging diagonal sides.

2. A storage package as defined in claim 1, wherein

one of said regions which is wider than said tape strips is at one end thereof, with a first side disposed at right angles to said strips, two sides parallel to said strips and extending from opposite ends of said first side, and two diagonal sides which converge from the parallel sides to the opening of the narrow channel.

3. A storage package for precut strips of embossing tape as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting region includes a hexagonal portion which is wider than said precut strips and is joined to the two wide regions by respective narrow channels.

4. A storage package for precut strips of embossing tape as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated tab means is formed in said base by the partial incision thereof including interruptedly incised lines which parallel the lengthwise axis of said tab means and completely incised lines for the remainder thereof.

5. A storage package for precut strips of embossing tape as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover is folded over said base with said elongated tab means facing said aperture and said storage blister is formed when said cover is folded over and sealed to said base.

6. A storage package for precut strips of embossing tape as defined in claim 1, wherein

said tab means extends along the lengthwise axis of said tape strips and includes first, second and third access ports which are partially incised from said base and are wider than said tape strips and are connected together by partially incised, parallel-sided connecting channels which are narrower than said tape strips, thereby to provide a dispenser storage in which access to the tape strips stored in said blister is obtained by the removal of said tab means to provide openings at said access ports and said strips are dispensed by being slidably moved from the opening of one access port to another.