EP2598424A1

EP2598424A1 - A package for dispensing and a method for separating a length of wrapping material

Info

Publication number: EP2598424A1
Application number: EP11751802.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jesper Gram
Original assignee: Jesper Gram Holding APS
Current assignee: Jesper Gram Holding APS
Priority date: 2010-07-27
Filing date: 2011-07-26
Publication date: 2013-06-05
Also published as: WO2012013196A1

Abstract

A package for dispensing and a method for separating a length of wrapping material. A package (1;35;45) and a method serves for dispensing and cutting off lengths of wrapping material or similar flexible material (20) from a supply roll (24) accommodated in the package (1;35;45). The package (1;35;45) comprises an elongated receptacle (2;2') for accommodating the supply roll (24) and a slide cutting device (15;55) for cutting off lengths (L) of material from the supply roll (20) that is accommodated in the receptacle (2;2'). The slide cutting device (15;55) comprises a cutting means (23;58), a handle part (17;59), and a slide shoe part (18;64), wherein the cutting means (23;58) extends between the handle part (17;59) and the slide shoe part (18;64). The package (1;35;45) has a first elongated slot (13;36) extending in the lengthwise direction of the package (1;35;45) and is adapted for cooperating with the slide cutting device (15;55). The slide cutting device (15;55) is configurable between a compacted configuration in which the slide cutting device (15;55) can pass laterally into the first elongated slot (13;36) to arrange the slide shoe part (18;64) and at least a part of the handle part (17;59) inside the receptacle (2;2'), and an expanded configuration in which the slide cutting device (15;55) is operative in the first elongated slot (13;36) by means of the handle part (17;59) outside the receptacle (2;2'), so that the package (1;35;45) does not take up much space when stored but on the other hand can be easily rearranged to be operated for use.

Description

A package for dispensing and a method for separating a length of wrapping material

The present invention relates to a package for dispensing lengths of wrapping material or similar flexible material from a supply roll accommodated in the package. The package comprises

an elongated receptacle for accommodating the supply roll, the receptacle has a bottom face, first and second elongated opposite lateral faces and opposite first and second end faces ,

a slide cutting device for cutting off lengths of material from the supply roll that is accommodated in the receptacle, the slide cutting device comprises a cutting means, a handle part, and a slide shoe part, wherein the cutting means extends between the handle part and the slide shoe part, and the package has a first elongated slot extending in the lengthwise direction of the package and is adapted for cooperating with the slide cutting device.

Plastic wrap or cling film are very thin, e.g. 0.01 mm thick, and difficult to handle, partly due to being thin, but also because it is stretchable and clings to itself and any surface that it contacts. These properties of cling film are beneficial in use for covering goods, such as foodstuffs in a bowl, but is a major inconvenience when the cling film is unrolled the supply roll with the object of cutting off a selected length of cling film. The most common cutter boxes for cling film has a serrated cutting edge on the edge of a lid. A suitable length of cling film is dragged from the supply roll inside the box. The lid is substantially closed to put the serrated cutting edge in contact with the cling film. During tearing off the closed cutter box is held by one hand, and the free length of cling film is taken by the other hand to drag said length along a tearing line across the serrated cuttting edge transverse to the direction of unwinding said cling film. A common problem experienced by most users of cutter boxes of this kind is however that the cling film creases, gets entangled in itself and is deformed during tearing off because the cling film is stretchable, elastic and clings. To remedy the above disadvantages different modications and variants of cutter boxes have been proposed. Examples include the film cutter apparatus and method described in US patent application no. US 2008/0005882. This known apparatus includes a button slide cutter slideably movable within a track formed as a blister shell. The track provides a channel below a pair of raised edges and end edges formed integral with the pair of raised edges. The button slide cutter is formed of a handle and base. The base houses a blade. The blister shell is mounted in relation to the box so that the raised edges of the blister shell can serve to keep the film flat during cutting. Provision of blister shells are however expensive and in case the blister shell is secured to the box incorrectly it cannot or only by difficulty be repositioned. US patent application no. US 2004007606 also describes a cutter having a handle with an attached cutting blade and a hook for attaching the cutter to a dispenser for dispensing wrap material. The cutter is attached to the box so that it is disposed within the box in a gap formed between the front wall of the box and a flap tucked into the box. The cutter handle rides on top of the box straddling the gap between the front wall and the box flap. The cutter is operable to slide along the length of the box to cut the sheet material to length. The handle has a width that is greater than the width of the slot between the front flap and the front wall of the box. Thus the handle protrudes inexpediently from the box both during use and storage so as to occupy considerable more space than if no handle were present. Cutter boxes of this kind cannot be stored on top of each other. International patent application no. WO 2004108572 relates to yet another kind of cutter box for sheet material. This known cutter box also includes a box and a cutting apparatus attached to the box. The cutting apparatus has a track assembly and a slider assembly disposed on the track assembly for movement therealong to cut lengths of sheet material. The track assembly includes a base and a rail extending from an outer side of the base and terminating in a portion having an oval cross- sectional shape or two support rails extending from an upper side of the base and terminating in circular-shaped portions. As for the button slide cutter the base and rail arrangement is spatially inconvenient due to a separate track that is attached to the top surface of the box. Known slide cutting devices for use in packages for dispensing lengths of wrapping material or similar flexible material from a supply roll, such as cutter boxes for film or sheet material like cling film or wrapping foil, are complicated bulky structures that are expensive to manufacture.

It is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a package of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph including a simplified low cost system for cutting lengths of material from the supply roll.

It is a second aspect of the present invention to provide a package of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph that eliminates the need for a separate protruding track for making the cutting device operative in relation to the package.

It is a third aspect of the present invention to provide a package of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph with an integral slide cutting device. It is a fourth aspect of the present invention to provide a package of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph which can be stacked in an optimum compacted state and takes up minimum space during storage alone or in combination with other packages . It is a fifth aspect of the present invention to provide a package of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph the use of which makes a uniform tear line crosswise the lengths of wrapping material or similar flexible material without said material wrinkles or is deformed.

The term "wrapping material or similar flexible material" includes within the scope of the present invention thin sheet materials or films that can be winded on a supply roll. Although the benefits of the packages according to the present invention is most distinct in relation to cling films and plastic wrapping materials, other intended materials include but are not limited to e.g. foils of any kind including aluminium foil, greaseproof paper, wrapping paper and even wall paper .

The novel and unique whereby these and other aspects are achieved according to the present invention is the fact that the slide cutting device is configurable between a compacted configuration in which the slide cutting device can pass laterally into the first elongated slot to arrange the slide shoe part and at least a part of the handle part inside the receptacle, and an expanded configuration in which the slide cutting device is operative in the first elongated slot by means of the handle part outside the receptacle.

The cutting means, the handle part, and the slide shoe part constitute the compactable and expandable slide cutting device. In the compacted state of the slide cutting device the handle part and the slide shoe part has a 3-dimensional flat configuration that allows the compacted slide cutting device to be pushed laterally inside the first elongated slot. Thus the slide cutting device is laterally displaceable in a plane substantially parallel to that plane of the face of the package that includes the first elongated slot. The compacted slide cutting device is inserted in the first elongated slot to an extent where no part of the compacted slide cutting device protrudes from said face including the first elongated slot and/or beyond any edges of the package more than acceptable for achieving storage of a plurality of packages on top and besides each other at the least possible space. Thus the package has none or only insignificantly protruding slide cutting device parts when the slide cutting device is in the compacted state.

In the preferred embodiment the handle part is pivotable in relation to the slide shoe part to thereby facilitate spatial rearrangement of the handle part to give the slide cutting device either the compacted or the expanded configuration. A pivot hinge between the handle part and the slide shoe part expediently makes the handle part pivotable from a position in which said handle part protrudes at an angle from the slide shoe part to reach the expanded configuration of the slide cutting device. The handle part may be pivotable at any angle interval within 0° - 180°, e.g. from about 0° to about 90°, so as to either form a plane extension of the shoe part in the compacted configuration of the slide cutting device or establish the erected handle part to protrude e.g. substantially perpendicular from the slide shoe part.

In another embodiment of the handle part according to the present invention the handle part can have a locking member situated between the slide shoe part and the handle part. Having a locking member at that position facilitates that the handle part can be fixed in the expanded configuration, preferable with a pivot angle of substantially 90° relative to the slide shoe part. Hereby the slide cutting device can remain in an armed mode ready to cut off a length of e.g. wrapping material dispensed from the supply roll. In case the user wants to cut off more than one length of wrapping material, the slide cutting device is thus ready for use. There is no need for once again manipulating the handle part to the expanded configuration .

The free end of the handle part, opposite the end adjacent the slide shoe part may beneficially be provided with a holding tap to enhance gripping properties and secure the free end of the handle part to the package, and thus minimise the risk of the handle part accidentally being released to protrude from the receptacle. Furthermore, having a holding tap to secure the free end of the handle part to the package could also prevent the slide cutting device from accidentally being torn out off the receptacle.

In one embodiment of the present invention it could be preferred that the package comprises an elongated displaceable lid for covering the elongated opening, defined by the bottom face, first and second elongated opposite lateral faces and opposite first and second end faces. Having an elongated displaceable lid can facilitate the user to have easy access to the supply roll in cases where e.g. the dispensing end of the wrapping material has been fully retracted into the receptacle or the slide shoe part has been slid too far into the first elongated slot by accident.

In the compacted configuration of the slide cutting device the slide shoe part may be fully inserted in the first elongated slot, and at least a part of the handle part may protrude from the first elongated slot substantially flush with any of the bottom face or the elongated opposite lateral faces of the receptacle to reduce bulk volume of the package during storage.

Accordingly, in the expanded configuration of the slide cutting device, said slide cutting device may be inserted into the first elongated slot so that the slide shoe part extends on opposite sides of the first elongated slot below an interior face of the package, and the handle part can project from the slide shoe part outside of the package. The slide cutting device may preferably be integrated in the package with a part of the handle part protruding on top of an exterior face of the package substantially parallel to said face in order for the slide cutting device to be grasped and manoeuvred, i.e. expanded by erecting the handle part and moving the slide cutting device from side to side inside the first elongated slot. Within the scope of the present invention the cutting device can however also be provided as a separate part offered in combination with the receptacle containing the supply roll. In the first case the slide cutting device may be laterally inserted in the first elongated slot prior to cutting and configured between the compacted state and expanded state according to intended use, i.e. whether cutting of material or storage of package are desired. In the latter case the separate slide cutting device can be detachably adhered to a face of the package or be separately available for subsequent insertion in the first elongated slot.

To improve smooth unwinding of material, easy hold on to the package and to keep the material appropriately distended during unwinding and tearing of the wrapping material or similar flexible material from the supply roll that is accommodated inside the package, the package may comprise a second elongated slot for externalising the material to be brought in cutting relationship with the cutting means of the expanded cutting device, that has been inserted in the first elongated slot. Preferably the elongated second slot is made substantially parallel to the first slot so as to serve as a guide for the material towards the first elongated slot, so that said material can be cut without difficulties over the entire width. In this embodiment the cutting means will attack the longitudinal edge of the material at right angle to the unwinding direction of the material to cut directly without the need of overcoming any substantial resistance that might cause wrinkling and deformation of material. The second elongated slot may be at least as long at the first elongated slot to be able to cut the material over the entire width, and to further aid in avoiding wrinkling of the material the second elongated slot may be spaced apart from the first elongated slot to keep the material distended. The first slot may preferably be the longest .

A line of glue or adhesive may be provided substantially parallel to and in front of the first elongated slot relative to the direction of dispensing the material to temporarily secure the material in front of the slide cutting device and aid in keeping the material sufficiently distended, at least between the line of glue and the second elongated slot, thereby facilitating clear cutting over the entire width of material. The line of glue or adhesive could preferably extend at least the entire length of the first elongated slot. The glue or adhesive is selected to be of the kind from which the material easily releases after finalising the cutting action. The line of glue or adhesive may be protected by a detachable and/or re- attachable release liner when not in operation. It could be another advantage to have an additional line of glue or adhesive between the first and second elongated slots to prevent the material from accidentally retracting into the receptacle after cutting. The additional line of glue or adhesive could either extend the entire length of the package, only part of it or be a broken line.

Preferably any of the first slot or second elongated slot terminate in the proximity of the respective first and second end face of the faces of the receptacle in an enlarged cut-out section or slot extension, partly for improving slidability of the slide cutting device by relaxing engagement and friction between slide cutting device and first elongated slot, at least at the ends of said first elongated slot. The enlarged cut-out section or slot extension is particularly advantageously if the first elongated slot is very narrow in which case sliding of the slide cutting device is hindered due to e.g. frictional forces. Instead the slide cutting device can set out from a wider slot due to the cut-out section or a slot extension, such as a T-slot, which is self-expandable when operating the slide cutting device in the first elongated slot, in which case the slide cutting device can attack and cut the material without noticeable obstruction and make a clear cut over the entire width of material without causing deformation of material.

The package could preferably have a third elongated slot designed to receive the holding tap, when the slide cutting device is in the compacted configuration, said third elongated slot is preferably substantially parallel to the first and/or second elongated slots and has a length less than that of the first and second elongated slots, but more than the width of the holding tap. Having the third elongated slot would facilitate the handle part being fixed in the compacted configuration when wanted. Furthermore, the slide cutting device can in this fixed state not slide along the first elongated slot in the compacted configuration. Finally, using the third elongated slot to fix the handle part could also prevent the slide cutting device from retracting into the first elongated slot.

In a preferred embodiment the package can have a flap part on which the slide shoe part slides when cutting a length of material. The flap part protects the remainder of the material on the supply roll during actuating the slide cutting device from side to side along the first elongated slot. The first flap may expediently also serve as an abutment face for a sliding face of the slide shoe part to slide on, as well as to aid in preventing the slide cutting device from dropping more and more inside the receptacle as the diameter of the supply roll gets smaller when the material is spend.

Advantageously, the lid can be pivotable hinged to an edge of any of the first or second elongated lateral faces, and any of the first or second elongated slots can be provided in the lid, so that the material easily can be dragged outside the receptacle in a controlled and guided manner. Preferably the protective flap part is arranged on the edge opposite the pivot hinge of the lid.

Any of the first elongated slot or the second elongated slot may be provided in the package by actuating an elongated tear- off section or actuating a rupture line or rupture zone. The tear-off section can e.g. be one or more protective release liners covering any of the first or second elongated slots, be an area of a face of the package that can be parted or ruptured by means of perforations, rupture lines or rupture zones. The simplest slot is obtainable by means of a rupture line created by a cut or embossed weakening line made at the appropriate location on the package. In this preferred embodiment the slot is created in the package simply by pressing on the rupture line. The width of such a slot is substantially zero, but due to the yielding properties of the material from which the package has been produced, e.g. cardboard, sufficient space is available for the lateral insertion of the slide cutting device. The first elongated slot may have an initially open subsection to allow for inserting the slide cutting device in case the package is supplied with the slide cutting device as an integral part. In this embodiment, the initially open subsection of the first elongated slot may have reinforcements at both end zones of said subsection to prevent premature and unintended rupture of one or both of the end zones or the entire first elongated slot prior to use.

The first and second slot may in a simple and inexpensive embodiment be the same slot, in which case the slide cutting device is inserted laterally in said slot to serve for both externalising the material from the receptacle and accommodating the slide cutting device. The cutting means may attack the material in an acute angle to make a clear cut .

The slide cutting device could advantageously be produced in a material sufficiently strong so as not to deform during cutting off lengths of material from the supply roll. Preferably, the material could be of plastic so as to be both sufficiently strong, but at the same time relatively inexpensive.

The invention further relates to a method that comprises

a) providing access to the material by actuating the elongated tear-off section or actuating a rupture line, b) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the elongated receptacle pulling at a part of the handle part that protrudes from the first elongated slot and pivoting the handle part,

c) arranging the slide cutting device at any of the ends of the first slot,

d) pulling a length of material off the supply roll to outside the package and arranging the material above the first elongated slot with a free edge in front of the cutting means, and

e) moving the slide cutting device to the opposite end of the first elongated slot. The structure and function of the package and the method of using it will be described in more details below with references to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing wherein, fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a package, seen in a perspective view oblique from a first lateral face, with the slide cutting device in the compacted configuration, fig. 2 shows in a perspective view sixteen stacked packages of the embodiment shown in fig. 1, fig. 3 shows the first embodiment seen in fig. 1 with a partly ruptured first elongated narrow slot, fig. 4 shows the first embodiment seen in figs. 1 and 3 where both the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot are opened, and the slide cutting device is in its expanded configuration, fig. 5 shows the first embodiment with open elongated first and second slots, and a length of material dragged over an object to be covered, fig. 6 shows a fragmentary sectional view taken along line VI- VI in fig. 5 in an enlarged scale, fig. 7 show the first embodiment with the lid open, fig. 8 shows, seen in perspective, a first embodiment of a slide cutting device for use in the package according to the present invention, where the slide cutting device is in the expanded configuration, fig. 9 shows the same in a compacted configuration, fig. 10 shows the same in an even more compacted configuration, fig. 11 shows a blank sheet for forming the embodiment of the slide cutting means shown in figs. 8-10 with a cutting means, fig. 12 shows folding the blank sheet into the slide cutting means shown in figs. 8-10, fig. 13 shows a second embodiment of a package according to the present invention, fig. 14 shows the same where the elongated first and second slots are partly perforated, figs. 15-17 show embodiments of packages having various shapes and designs of cut-out sections or slot extensions at the ends of the first elongated slot, fig. 18 shows a third embodiment of a package, seen in a perspective view oblique from a first lateral face, with the slide cutting device in the compacted configuration, fig. 19 shows the third embodiment of fig. 18 with a partly exposed line of glue or adhesive and with the slide cutting device in the expanded configuration, fig. 20 shows the same with the slide cutting device cutting a length of material, fig. 21 is a sectional view taken along line XX-XX in fig 20, fig. 22 is a modification of the sectional view in fig. 21 with the slide cutting device in its compacted configuration, figs. 23-24 show a second embodiment of the slide cutting device in expanded and compacted configuration, respectively, fig. 25 shows a sectional view taken along line XXIII-XXIII in fig. 23, fig. 26 shows a sectional view taken along line XXIV-XXIV in fig. 24, and figs. 27-28 are sectional views corresponding to the views of figs. 25 and 26, however of a modification of the second embodiment of the slide cutting device.

In the figures the package is shown and described having a square cross-section. However, it should be understood that other cross-sections, such as circular, oval and triangular are also intended within the scope of the present invention. The exemplary material to be cut is cling film, but other kinds of flexible material are intended within the scope of the present invention, as described above.

In the figures an embodiment of a slide cutting device is illustrated together with an embodiment of a package. The person skilled in the art will understand that the illustrated combinations of slide cutting devices and packages are not to be understood as exhaustive and that one kind of slide cutting device can be used with several kinds of packages, having more or less slots that can be made in several different ways, including premade by stamping, by the user rupturing a rupture line etc.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a package 1 according to the present invention. The package 1 has a receptacle 2 that is covered by a pivotable lid 3 hinged to an elongated edge 10 of the receptacle 2.

The receptacle 2 is an elongated box 2 composed of a bottom face 4, opposite lateral elongated faces 5,6, and opposite end faces 7,8, which faces 5,6,7,8 together define an elongated opening 9 (not visible in fig. 1) for receiving a supply roll of dispensable material (not visible in fig. 1), such as cling film or wrapping material, which elongated opening 9 is covered by the pivotable lid 3. The lid 3 has a first elongated perforation line 11 and a second elongated perforation line 12 for later creation of a respective first elongated slot 13 and second elongated slot 14, e.g. by pressing on the perforation lines 11,12 towards the bottom face 4. A slide cutting device 15 is prearranged in an open subsection 16 of the first elongated slot 13, with a handle part 17 partly protruding substantially parallel the top of the lid 3 towards the lateral elongated face 5. A slide shoe part 18 is located inside the receptacle 2, as will be clearer from the description of the subsequent figures.

Fig. 2 shows sixteen packages 1 in a stack 19. Four rows of four packages 1 each are stacked in a compact matrix configuration on top of each other. The stackability of the package 1 according to the present invention means that during storage only limited space is occupied. The slide cutting device 15 is in the compacted configuration, i.e. it is flat, which allows a bottom face 4 of one package 1 to rest in close proximity to a top face opposite the bottom face 4, e.g. the lid 3 of an adjacent package. The package 1 can e.g. be made of cardboard or other lightweight material, preferably disposable material .

Fig. 3 corresponds substantially to fig. 1 but the first elongated slot 13 is pressed open at the end opposite the slide cutting device 15, such that an initial gap 13a is created. Propagation of the rupture of the perforation line 11 can proceed along said perforation line 11 to open the first elongated slot 13 in its entirety so that the slide cutting device 15 can move unhindered from side to side inside said elongated first slot 13. In fig. 4 both the first elongated slot 13 and the second elongated slot 14 are made open. Both slots 13,14 are very narrow. No goods is removed from the lid 3 in order to open these slots 13,14. The flexibility and thus the inherent property of the goods of the lid 3 allows the slide cutting device 15 to be operated in the first elongated slot 13, as well as material from a supply roll can be dragged out of the receptacle 2, as seen in fig. 5, via the second elongated slot 14. The slide cutting device 15 is in the expanded configuration ready to use by means of the handle part 17 protruding from the lid 3 at the first elongated slot 13 outside the receptacle 2.

As shown in fig. 5, the handle part 17 is graspable to be slid from side to side, as indicated by the arrow A and B in fig. 4, along the first elongated slot 13 to cut a suitable length L of material in form of transparent cling film 20 that is dragged out of the receptacle 2 via the second elongated slot 14 to cover a bowl 21 with foodstuff 22. The length L of material is already partly separated from the supply roll due to attack at an acute angle a by the cutting edge of the cutting means 23 that is inserted between the handle part 17 and the slide shoe part 16 of the slide cutting device 15. The sectional view of fig. 6 illustrates that the supply roll 24 is accommodated inside an opening 25 defined by faces 4,5,6,7,8 of the receptacle 2. The front face 5 of the receptacle 2 extends into an elongated bend flap part 26 that protrudes inside the receptacle below the lid 3. The width of the flap part 26 should be sufficient to cover the sliding surface of the slide shoe part 18, e.g. the same or larger than the width of the slide shoe part 18. When cutting a length L of cling film 20 or other material the slide shoe part 18 of the slide cutting device 15 can then slide on the flap part 26 to protect the remainder of cling film 20 on the supply roll 24 from being cut by accident or otherwise damaged by the sliding action of the slide shoe part 18.

Fig. 7 shows the package 1 with open lid 3 and the slide cutting device 15 in the expanded configuration where only the slide shoe part 18 is inserted in the first elongated slot 13. The supply roll 24 rests on the bottom face 4 inside the opening 25 of the receptacle 2. The slide shoe part 18 extends on opposite interior sides 26a, 26b of the first elongated slot 13 of the interior side 27 of the lid 3 when the lid 3 is closed. The first elongated slot 13 is located opposite the elongated edge 10 of the receptacle 2. The lid 3 is pivotably hinged to the elongated edge 10 so that the elongated first slot 13 is located above the flap part 26 when the lid 3 is closed.

A first embodiment of a slide cutting device 15 for use in the package 1 according to the present invention is seen in fig. 8 in the expanded configuration.

The slide shoe part 18 has a substantially triangular cross section, preferably an isosceles triangular cross section. The slide shoe part 18 has a base sole 28 that may serve to ride on the tucked flap part 26 of the package 1 when the slide cutting device 15 slides from side to side in the first elongated slot 13 during cutting. The base sole 28 extends in converging shoulders 29a, 29b, which converging shoulders 29a, 29b extend further into opposite handle part flaps 17a, 17b, between which the cutting means 23 is secured in a manner to protrude from the handle part 17 with sharp edges 30a, 30b on both attack sides. The cutting means 23 is fixed in a tapered portion 31 between the handle part 17 and the slide shoe part 18 to attack the cling film 20 at an acute cutting angle a . The cutting means 23 may be similar to razor blades and extend into the gap 32 or small space delimited by the shoulders 29a, 29b and the base sole 28 to ensure that a cutting edge 30a, 30b extends both „„

interior to the lid and exterior to the lid in order that a clean cut can be made without wrinkling. The cutting means 23 may be one piece or more pieces whatever is convenient. Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate two different compacted configurations of the first embodiment of the slide cutting device 15. The handle part 17 is pivoted to one side and the gap 32 is reduced in that the shoulders 29a, 29b is brought close to the base sole 28 as seen in fig. 9 or in contact with the base sole 28 as seen in fig. 10, where the gap 32 is eliminated .

The first embodiment of the slide cutting device 15 can be made of the blank sheet 33 seen in fig. 11 with folding lines 34a, 34b, where the base sole 28 extends into the shoulders 29a, 29b, to enable the opposite handle part flaps 17a, 17b to approach each other and envelope the cutting means 23 as indicated in fig. 12. The tapered portion 31 ensures that the user does not cut himself by accident when manipulating the slide cutting device 15. Also the base sole 28 protects from sharp parts on the cutting means 23.

Figs. 13 and 14 show a second embodiment of a package 35 according to the present invention. The second embodiment corresponds substantially to the embodiment shown in the preceding figures and for like part same reference numerals are used. The second embodiment of a package 35 only differs in that the first elongated slot 36 and second elongated slot 37 are not narrow, but are wider cut-out sections that can be made by tearing off strips 38,39, as seen in fig. 14, along respective perforation lines 40,41.

Figs. 15-17 show embodiments of packages 1 having various shapes and designs of cut-out sections or slot extensions at the ends of the first elongated slot 13. The second elongated slot 14 may also terminate in similar cut-out sections or slot _n

i 9

extensions if appropriate. The embodiments shown in figs. 15-17 correspond substantially to the embodiments shown in the preceding figures and for like part same reference numerals are used. Cut-out sections or slot extensions are made in a manner similar to the slots 13,14. The cut-out sections or slot extensions are either premade or are prepared by the user by either tearing off goods along perforations lines or depressing weakened zones in a face of the package 1.

Fig. 15 shows a package 1 with opposite semicircular cut-out sections 42a, 42b provided at respective ends of the first elongated slot 13 near the end faces 7,8. In fig. 16 the package 1 has circular opposite cut-out sections 43a, 43b, and in fig. 17 the cut-out sections are simply opposite T-slots 44a, 44b at the ends of the first elongated slot 13.

Figs. 18-20 show a third embodiment of the package 45. The embodiment corresponds in large respect to the embodiment shown in the preceding figures and for like part same reference numerals are used. The package 45 is composed of a bottom face 49, opposite lateral elongated faces 50,51, opposite end faces 52,53, and a top face 54. Access can be gained to the inside of the package 45 and the supply roll 24 through said opposite end faces 52,53, at least one of which is made as a closure flap or lid.

In the third embodiment of a package 45 shown in fig. 18 both the first elongated slot 13 and the second elongated slot 14 can be seen. The first elongated slot 13 has been pressed open, while the second elongated slot 14 for dispensing the material 20 (not shown) has a still intact rupture line 12. A preferred second embodiment of the slide cutting device 55 is placed in the first elongated slot 13 and is shown in its compacted configuration. The free end of the slide cutting device 55 comprises a grasping tip 55', which helps the user to get a hold on the slide cutting device 55 at the start of manipulation. A line of glue or adhesive 56 is provided in front of the first elongated slot 13. The line of glue or adhesive is protected by a detachable release liner 57. Fig. 19 illustrates that the second elongated slot 14 has been pressed open, ready for dispensing the material 20 (not shown) . The detachable release liner 57 is being removed thus exposing the line of glue or adhesive 56. The slide cutting device 55 is shown in its expanded configuration. A cutting means 58 is placed and secured between the handle part 59 and the slide shoe part (not visible) , designed for cutting a length of material 20, when moving the slide cutting device 55 in either the direction A or B. A holding tap 60 is placed at the free end of the handle part 59 opposite the end adjacent the slide shoe part 18. The holding tap 60 is substantially perpendicular to the handle part 59 and only protruding in the direction of dispensing the material 20 in the expanded configuration. In the compacted configuration the holding tap 60 can thus engage a third elongated slot 61 to be kept fixed to the package, thus minimising the risk of the slide cutting device 55 sliding along the first elongated slot 13 or retracting inside the first elongated slot 13.

As shown in fig. 20 the handle part 59 is graspable to be slid in the direction indicated by the arrow A along the first elongated slot 13 to cut-off a suitable length of material 20 in form of transparent cling film 20 that is dragged out of the receptacle 2' via the second elongated slot 14. A length of material 20 is already partly separated from the supply roll due 24 to attack at an acute angle β by the cutting edge of the cutting means 58 in the direction indicated by the arrow A.

The sectional view of fig. 21 is taken along line XX-XX and illustrates that the supply roll 24 is accommodated inside the receptacle 2' defined by the faces 49,50,51,52,53,54. The front face 50 covers an inner face 62 of the receptacle 2', said inner face 62 extends into an elongated bend flap part 63 that protrudes inside the receptacle 2' below the top face 54. The width of the flap part 63 should be the same or larger than the width of the slide shoe part 64 of the slide cutting device 55. When cutting a length of cling film 20 or other material the slide shoe part 64 of the slide cutting device 55 can then slide on the flap part 63 to protect the supply roll 24 from being cut by accident or otherwise damaged by the sliding action of the slide shoe part 64.

In the sectional view of fig. 22 which is a modification of the sectional view shown in fig. 21, the slide cutting device 55 is in its compacted configuration. When pivoting the handle part the slide shoe part 64 is pushed further inside the package below the top surface so that the grasping tip 55' is flush with or protrudes just a little beyond the elongated front face 50 so that it can be grasped. In this configuration the line of glue or adhesive 56 has been at least partly exposed and thus further helps to fix the slide cutting device 55 in a position, where the holding tap 60 is in engagement with the third elongated slot 61.

A perspective view of the second embodiment 55 of a slide cutting device 55 in its expanded configuration is seen in fig. 23. The slide shoe part 64 is preferably flat so as to fill up minimum space between the top face 54 and the flap part 63 when inserted in any of the embodiments of packages according to the present invention. The slide shoe part 64 is shown to have a square form but could just as well have a circular shape or other shape, as is obvious to a person skilled in the art. The handle part 59 is hinged to the slide shoe part 64 so that it can be pivoted about a pivot site along a pivot axis C that may extend substantially parallel to the first elongated slot 13 and/or the second elongated slot 14, and is thus able to be manipulated to achieve the compacted, flat configuration seen in fig. 24 or the expanded configuration seen in fig. 23, where the handle part 59 has been erected into an operating mode. Cutting means 58, such as a sharp razor blade, is inserted in a plane taken through the handle part 59 and extends with a cutting edge outside a tapering end of the handle part adjacent the pivot site. The cutting means has an acute angle β relative to the pivot axis C, so as better attack the cling film 20. The opposite free end of the handle part 59 ends in a grasping tip 55', which can help the user to get a hold on the handle part 59 at the start of manipulation. Similarly, a holding tap 60 is placed at said free end and extending substantially perpendicularly to the handle part 59. The holding tap is designed to engage a third elongated slot 61 (not shown) .

Figs. 25 and 26 are cross-sectional views of the second embodiment 55 of the slide cutting device 55 along the lines XXIII-XXIII and XXIV-XXIV seen in figs. 23 and 24 in the expanded and compacted configuration, respectively. For like part same reference numerals are used. The cutting means 58 is seen protruding substantially in the middle plane 65 of the handle part 59 adjacent the slide shoe part 64.

The pivot site 66 has a pivot 66, which is situated at the first end 67 of the bottom part 68 of the handle part 59 and defining the pivot axis C, as shown in fig. 23-24. Said bottom part 68 is arranged inside the slide shoe part so that the sliding surface of the slide shoe part 64 is substantially plane, and the bottom part 68 is flush with the slide shoe part 64 in the expanded configuration. The second end 70 of the bottom part 68 has a bead or key 71 that engages a correspondingly shaped groove or cavity 72 formed in an interior seat 69 of the slide shoe part 64. Said bead or key 71 and groove or cavity 72 together form a locking member 73, which facilitates that the handle part 59 becomes fixed at the end of erecting the handle part to achieve the expanded configuration. In the modified second embodiment seen in figs. 27-28 the pivot axis CI is provided due to a flexible pivot or linking member 74 that joins the handle part to the slide shoe part at the upper side of the slide shoe part 55. The locking member constituted by the bead or key 71 that engages a correspondingly shaped groove or cavity 72 is the same.

The present invention provides an inexpensive package with a slide cutting device for cutting sheet materials to lengths. The packages allow a user to withdraw a length of sheet material, such as plastic film or metal foil from a supply roll inside the package, and cut the film or foil to lengths with a smooth and clean cut without serious risk of injury to the user .

Claims

A package (1;35;45) for dispensing lengths of wrapping material or similar flexible material (20) from a supply roll (24) accommodated in the package (1;35;45), the package (1;35;45) comprises

an elongated receptacle (2; 2') for accommodating the supply roll (24),

the receptacle (2;2') has a bottom face (4;49), first (5;50) and second (6;51) elongated opposite lateral faces and opposite first (7;52) and second (8;53) end faces ,

a slide cutting device (15; 55) for cutting off lengths (L) of material (20) from the supply roll (24) that is accommodated in the receptacle (2; 2'),

the slide cutting device (15; 55) comprises a cutting means (23;58), a handle part (17;59), and a slide shoe part (18; 64), wherein the cutting means (23; 58) extends between the handle part (17; 59) and the slide shoe part ( 18 ; 64 ) , and

the package (1;35;45) has a first elongated slot (13;36) extending in the lengthwise direction of the package (1;35;45) and is adapted for cooperating with the slide cutting device (15; 55),

characterised in that

the slide cutting device (15; 55) is configurable between a compacted configuration in which the slide cutting device (15; 55) can pass laterally into the first elongated slot (13;36) to arrange the slide shoe part (18; 64) and at least a part of the handle part (17; 59) inside the receptacle (2; 2'), and an expanded configuration in which the slide cutting device (15; 55) is operative in the first elongated slot (13;36) by means of the handle part (17; 59) outside the receptacle ( 2 ; 2 ' ) .

A package (1;35;45) according to claim 1, characterised in that the handle part (17; 59) is pivotable in relation to the slide shoe part (18;64).

A package (1;35;45) according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the handle part (17; 59) has a locking member (73) situated between the slide shoe part (18;64) and the handle part (17;59).

A package (1;35;45) according to any of the preceding claims 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that a free end of the handle part (17; 59) opposite the end adjacent the slide shoe part (18;64) has a holding tap (60).

A package (1;35;45) according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 4, characterised in that the package (1;35;45) comprises an elongated displaceable lid (3) for covering the elongated opening (9), defined by the bottom face (4), first (5) and second (6) elongated opposite lateral faces and opposite first (7) and second (8) end faces.

A package (1;35;45) according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 5, characterised in that in the compacted configuration of the slide cutting device (15;55), the slide shoe part (18;64) is fully inserted in the first elongated slot (13;36), and at least a part of the handle part (17; 59) protrudes from the first elongated slot (13;36) substantially flush with any of the bottom face (4;49) or the elongated opposite lateral faces (5,6;50,51) of the receptacle (2;2').

A package (1;35;45) according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 6, characterised in that in the expanded configuration of the slide cutting device (15;55), said slide cutting device (15; 55) is inserted into the first elongated slot (13;36) so that the slide shoe part (18;64) extends below an interior face of the package (1;35;45) on opposite sides of the first elongated slot (13;36), and the handle part (17; 59) projects from the slide shoe part (18;64) outside the package (1;35;45) .

A package (1;35;45) according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 7 , characterised in that the package (1;35;45) comprises a second elongated slot (14;37) for externalising the material (20), preferably the second elongated slot (14;37) is parallel to the first elongated slot (13;36) and is at least as long as the width of the material (20), preferably any of the first elongated slot (13;36) or second elongated slot (14;37) terminate in the proximity of the respective first (7) and second (8) end face of the receptacle (2; 2') in an enlarged cut-out section ( 42a, 42b; 43a, 43b) or slot extension (44a, 44b) .

A package (1;35;45) according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 8, characterised in that the package (1;35;45) has a third elongated slot (61), which is designed to receive the holding tap (60) when the slide cutting device (15; 55) is in the compacted configuration, said third elongated slot (61) is preferably substantially parallel to the first (13;36) and/or second (14;37) elongated slots and has a length less than that of the first (13;36) and second (14;37) elongated slots, but more than the width of the holding tap (60) .

A package (1;35;45) according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 9, characterised in that the package (1;35;45) comprises a line of glue or adhesive (56) provided substantially parallel to and in front of the first elongated slot (13;36) relative to the direction of dispensing the material (20) .

A package (1;35;45) according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 10, characterised in that the package (1;35;45) has a flap part (26;63) to slide the slide shoe part (18;64) on when cutting a length (L) of material (20).

A package (1;35;45) according to any of the preceding claims 5 - 11, characterised in that the lid (3) is pivotable hinged to an edge (10) of any of the first (5) or second (6) elongated lateral faces, and any of the first (13;36) or second (14;37) elongated slots are provided in the lid (3), preferably the protective flap part (26) is arranged on the edge opposite the pivot hinge of the lid (3) .

13. A package (1;35;45) according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 12, characterised in that any of the first elongated slot (13;36) or second elongated slot (14;37) are provided in the package (1;35;45) by actuating an elongated tear-off section (38,39) or actuating a rupture line (11,12) .

14. A package (1;35;45) according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 13, characterised in that the attack angle (α;β) between the material (20) and the cutting means (23;58) is acute.

A method for separating a length (L) of wrapping material or similar flexible material (20) from a supply roll (24) accommodated in the package (1;35;45) according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 14, characterised in that the method comprises

a) providing access to the material (20) by actuating an elongated tear-off section (38,39) or actuating a rupture line (11,12),

b) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the elongated receptacle (2; 2') pulling at a part of the handle part (17; 59) that protrudes from the first elongated slot (13;36) and pivoting the handle part (17; 59) ,

c) arranging the slide cutting device (15; 55) at any of the ends of the first elongated slot (13;36),

d) pulling a length (L) of material (20) off the supply roll (24) to outside the package (1;35;45) and arranging the material (20) above the first elongated slot (13;36) with a free edge in front of the cutting means (23; 58), and

e) moving the slide cutting device (15; 55) to the opposite end of the first elongated slot (13;36).