Package

Abstract

A hollow egg-shaped container for an article, formed of two parts fitted together along a seam about the widest diameter of the container, is disposed partially within a cylinder so that the seam is surrounded by the cylinder. One end of the cylinder is spun inwardly so as to engage the container and prevent removal of the container from that end. The other end of the cylinder is also spun inwardly and a circular disc is disposed between the container and the spun end to hold the container in place and to prevent removal of the container from that end of the cylinder. The cylinder has a circumferential perforated seam so that the cylinder may easily be broken to remove the container and allow access to the article contained therein.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to packages and more particularly to a package that is shaped like an egg and is partially contained within a cylinder that cannot be opened without leaving a visible indication that it has been opened.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Heretofore, articles have been packaged and sold in packages somewhat similar to the package of the present invention. The package comprised an egg-shaped container partially disposed within a cylinder. The egg-shaped container had a certain consumer appeal and proved to be a marketing success; however, the cylinder had a plastic snap-on cover on the bottom to facilitate removal of the container. The cover was removable with relative ease and as a result excessive pilferage was encountered. People could quickly remove the cover and take the article and then replace the cover leaving an empty package on the shelf to be purchased by an unsuspecting customer. Thus, while the packages heretofore provided had a certain consumer appeal, they were conductive to pilferage resulting an undue theft losses and a certain amount of customer dissatisfaction when an empty package was purchased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comtemplates an egg-shaped container formed of two parts fitted together along a seam about the largest diameter of the container. The container is partially disposed within a cylinder so that the seam is surrounded by the cylinder. The cylinder has both ends spun inwardly so that one end engages the container adjacent the seam. A circular disc is disposed between the other spun end and the container to hold the container in place and to prevent removal and opening of the container. Means such as perforations are provided to facilitate removal of one end of the cylinder so that the container may be removed and opened to gain access to an article contained therein.

This novel package construction renders the package somewhat more difficult to open than packages of the prior art and also leaves a definite indication of tampering so that a customer will not purchase an empty package.

The primary objective of the present invention is to reduce pilferage of articles contained within the egg-shaped type of package.

Another objective is to provide a package that leaves a definite indication if it has been opened.

Another objective is to provide a package that cannot be closed once it is opened.

The foregoing objectives and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered as defining the limits of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of the package of the present invention showing how one end of the cylinder is removed to gain access to the egg-shaped container.

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical section of the package of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a hollow egg-shaped container 10 for packaging an article 12 such as pantyhose. The container 10 is formed of two parts 14 and 16 snap fitted together about a seam 18. Seam 18 is formed by a male portion 20 formed on the edge of part 14, and a female portion 22 formed in the edge of part 16. The seam is preferably formed about the largest diameter of the container but it is not necessary that the seam be formed about this diameter. Parts 14 and 16 are formed of a white plastic material having the color and appearance of a white egg.

Container 10 is disposed partially within a cylinder 24 so that a dome-shaped top of egg-shaped container 10 extends beyond the cylinder. Cylinder 24 is preferably formed of spirally wrapped paper and having an inside diameter substantially equal to the widest diameter of the container. The cylinder may be formed of any other suitable material such as plastic or thin workable sheet metal. One end of cylinder 24 is spun inwardly to form an inwardly directed flange 26 about that end. In one embodiment of the invention flange 26 engages container 10 about a diameter less than the widest diameter to prevent container 10 from sliding past the flange. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the flange 26 engages container 10 adjacent seam 18 and part 14 has a plurality of outwardly extending projections 28 for engaging flange 26 to assure retention of container 10 within cylinder 24. The other end of cylinder 24 is also spun inwardly to form a flange 30. A circular disc 32, preferably constructed of thin cardboard, is disposed between flange 30 and part 16 of container 10 for holding container 10 securely in place within cylinder 24 and for preventing the removal of container 10 from the cylinder. To facilitate removal of container 10 from cylinder 24 perforations 34 are provided about cylinder 24 so that one end of the cylinder may be easily broken off from the remainder of the cylinder and the container 10 may be slid out of that end and opened to gain access to the article 12. Other means equivalent to the perforations may be provided for opening cylinder 24 such as a pull string or a frangible seam formed in a plastic cylinder.

In the packaging operation the article 12 is placed within container 10 which is then fitted together about seam 18. Both ends of cylinder 24 are spun inwardly to retain disc 32 between flanges 26 and 30. Container 10 is then forced into the cylinder 24 so that part 16 engages disc 32 and projections 28 slide past flange 26. The placing of container 10 within cylinder 24 is facilitated by the rounded end 36 of cylinder 24 formed when the end is spun inwardly and by the inherent flexibility of the spiral wrapped cylinder. Projections 28 may also be disposed at an angle to further facilitate the insertion of container 10 into cylinder 24.

Thus, it can be seen that the package of the present invention requires considerably more effort to remove the article from the package than required of the devices heretofore provided; however, it is not that difficult so as to be unattractive to the consumer. Once the perforated seam 34 is broken the cylinder cannot be placed back together and a definite indication of tampering is provided so that a subsequent customer will not purchase an empty container. The present invention also provides a less expensive package because the plastic snap fit bottom is no longer required and only a thin circular cardboard disc is needed to close off the bottom of the cylinder.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A package for an article, comprising:

a hollow cylindrical member having first and second ends, said second end having a solid bottom entirely closing the second end;

a hollow egg-shaped container, for the article, formed from two fitted parts, said container having one end inserted into the first end of the cylinder so that the cylinder surrounds the largest diameter of the container;

means formed adjacent the first end of the cylinder for engaging the container and preventing removal of the container from the first end of the cylinder; and

means for fracturing the cylinder and permanently separating one end from the remainder of the cylinder, whereby the container may be removed from the cylinder to gain access to the article contained within the container.

2. A package as described in claim 1, wherein the means for fracturing the cylinder comprises a perforated seam formed about the cylinder.

3. A package for an article, comprising:

a hollow cylindrical member having first and second ends;

a hollow egg-shaped container, for the article, formed from two fitted parts, said container having one end inserted into the first end of the cylinder so that the cylinder surrounds the largest diameter of the container;

means formed adjacent the first end of the cylinder for engaging the container and preventing removal of the container from the first end of the cylinder;

an inwardly directed flange formed around the second end of the cylinder;

a disc retained between the inwardly directed flange and the container for holding the container within the cylinder; and

means for fracturing the cylinder and permanently separating one end from the remainder of the cylinder, whereby the container may be removed from the cylinder to gain access to the article contained within the container.

4. A package as described in claim 3, wherein the cylinder is formed of spirally-wrapped paper and the widest diameter of the container fits snugly into the inside diameter of the cylinder at the first end and the means formed adjacent the first end comprises a peripheral flange formed by spinning the said first end inwardly to engage the container and the inwardly directed flange about the second end is formed by spinning said second end inwardly.

5. A package as described in claim 3, wherein the means for fracturing the hollow member comprises a perforated seam formed about the member.

6. A package for an article, comprising:

a hollow member having first and second ends, said second end being closed;

a hollow container, for the article, formed from two fitted parts and having a dome-shaped top, said container being inserted into the hollow member so that the member surrounds the largest diameter of the container and the dome-shaped top extends beyond the member;

means formed adjacent the first end of the member for engaging the container and preventing removal of the container from the first end of the member; and

means for fracturing the member, whereby the container may be removed from the member to gain access to the article contained within the container.

7. A package as described in claim 6, wherein the means for fracturing the hollow member comprises a perforated seam formed about the member.

8. A package for an article, comprising:

a hollow member having first and second ends;

a hollow container, for the article, formed from two fitted parts and having a dome-shaped top, said container being inserted into the hollow member so that the member surrounds the largest diameter of the container and the dome-shaped top extends beyond the member;

means formed adjacent the first end of the member for engaging the container and preventing removal of the container from the first end of the member;

an inwardly directed flange formed around the second end of the member;

a disc retained between the inwardly directed flange and the container for holding the container within the hollow member; and

means for fracturing the member, whereby the container may be removed from the member to gain access to the article contained within the container.

9. A package as described in claim 8, wherein the hollow member is formed of spirally wrapped paper and the widest diameter of the container fits snugly into the inside diameter of the hollow member at the first end and the means formed adjacent the first end comprises a peripheral flange formed by spinning the said first end inwardly to engage the container and the inwardly directed flange about the second end is formed by spinning said second end inwardly.

10. A package as described in claim 8, wherein the means for fracturing the hollow member comprises a perforated seam formed about the member.