GB1601102A - Packaging - Google Patents

Description

(54) PACKAGING (71) We, SCHEMA LIMITED, a British Company, of 116 Queens Road, Leicester (formerly of 2 Heriot Road, Brent Street, London N.W.4), do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to packages for articles e.g., articles for sale.

The invention has as its object to provide a package for articles e.g., articles for sale, which is particularly suitable for the packaging of articles which are sold in pairs e.g., for the packaging of footwear such as a pair of shoes or slippers, or a pair of door knobs.

The present invention provides a package for articles comprising a bag and a divider in the bag, the divider comprising a first portion which lies or is adpated to lie along the bottom of the bag, a second intermediate portion which extends or is adapted to extend upwardly from said first portion to divide the interior of the bag into sections for receiving articles, and a third portion which extends or is adapted to extend substantially parallel to said first portion to close at least one of said sections.

The bag is preferably of plastics or paper and may be of the gusset type which will fold flat and can be opened out so that it is substantially rectangular in crosssection.

The divider is preferably in the form of a strip of cardboard or other suitable material which can be folded about spaced lateral score lines or spaced lateral hinge lines, so that when combined with a flexible bag a package is provided which can be stored flat and which can readily be opened out to receive articles to be packaged.

Said first portion of the divider is preferably secured to the bottom of the bag, e.g., to one side of the bottom of the bag, and the remainder thereof left free so that the bag can readily be opened out from a flat storage condition and used by pushing downwardly on the free end of the divider to cause the first portion of the divider which is at the bottom of the bag to lie along the bottom of the bag and the remainder of the divider to lie along one side of the bag with the divider substantially in the form of an 'L', inserting the first of a pair of articles into the bag so that it rests on said first portion and to one side of the remainder, moving the free end of the divider laterally of the bag so that the second intermediate portion of the divider extends substantially diagonally of the bag, inserting the second of the pair of articles into the bag so that it rests on the second intermediate portion, and finally turning down the third portion of the divider over the second of the pair of articles. The mouth of the bag may be either left open or may be closed in any desired or suitable manner, e.g., as by heat sealing if the bag is of a heat-sealable plastics material.

If desired the bag or a closure therefore can be such as to provide a carrying handle. Thus, for example, opposed slots may be provided in the bag near the mouth thereof so as to form a carrying handle.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which shows one embodiment of a package according to the present invention.

The package illustrated is a display package and comprises a flexible bag 1 of transparent plastics material, the bag being gusseted as diagrammatically illustrated by gusset lines 2 so that when the bag is opened out as shown it is substantially rectangular in cross-section.

Inside the bag 1 is a divider in the form of a strip 3 of cardboard which has been folded about lateral score lines 4,5 to a Z-shape, so forming compartments 6,7 within the bag on either side of the divider strip 3 each of which compartments is adapted to contain one of a pair of articles to be packaged.

The end 3a of the divider strip 3 extends through and is secured to the bag 1 at the junction of the side wall la of the bag with the bottom of the bag, the remainder of the divider strip 3 being free of the bag so as to be movable relative thereto.

When not in use the package can be stored flat with the divider strip 3 lying flat against the side wall la of the bag and the remainder of the bag collapsed flat against the divider strip 3. When required for use the package is opened out by pushing downwardly on the free end of the divider strip to cause the end portion 3b of the divider strip to lie along the bottom of the bag and the remainder of the divider strip to lie along the side wall l b of the bag so that the divider strip is substantially in the form of an 'L'. This first of a pair of articles can then be inserted into the bag so as to lie on the end portion 3b of the divider strip.The free end of the divider strip can then be moved laterally of the bag so that the intermediate portion 3c of the divider strip extends substantially diagonally of the bag 1 to form the compartment 6 and so that the free end portion 3d of the divider strip lies against the side wall la of the bag. The second of the pair of articles can then be inserted into the bag so as to lie on the intermediate portion 3c of the divider strip. Finally the free end portion 3d of the divider strip is folded down so that the divider strip assumes its Z-shape as illustrated, thus forming the compartment 7.

The mouth portion lc of the bag 1 may be dosed in any suitable manner, e.g., by heat sealing where the bag 1 is formed from a heatsealable material or by means of a drawstring, a tie fastener, or one or more press-fasteners.

Slots 8 are provided in the opposed side walls la, ib of the mouth portion 1c of the bag 1, the slots 8 providing a carrying handle when the side walls la, l b are brought together.

The bag 1 is, in the illustrated embodiment, a transparent bag so that the contents of the package are displayed to view. It will be appreciated,however, that if desired the bag 1 could be opaque or opaque with a transparent window. The bag 1 may be printed or otherwise marked or decorated as required, e.g., may be printed with details of the contents of the package and/or with the name and/or trade mark of the manufactuer or supplier of the goods. Likewise suitable indicia such as advertising or description matter may be printed or otherwise marked on the extending end 3a of the divider strip 3.

If desired the extending end 3a of the divider strip 3 may be omitted and the divider strip 3 secured to or adjacent the bottom of the bag 1 in any other suitable manner, e.g., by securing the end portion 3b of the divider strip to the bottom of the bag, in which case when the package is stored flat the intermediate portion 3c and the end portion 3d of the divider strip 3 would lie flat against the side wall lb of the bag 1 and the end portion 3b and the bottom of the bag would be folded to lie against the intermediate portion 3c.

The package of the present invention is particularly suitable for the packaging of articles which are normally sold in pairs, such as shoes, and lends itself to point-of-sale marketing techniques since packages according to the invention can readily be suspended or otherwise displayed on a suitable display stand.

Moreover the package is suitable for carrying away by a customer without further packaging being necessary unlike, for example, the conventional shoe box where either the box is placed in a separate bag or has to be tied with string or the customer does not require the box and accordingly the shoes have to be repackaged in a bag.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A package for articles comprising a bag and a divider in the bag, the divider comprising a first portion which lies or is adapted to lie along the bottom of the bag, a second intermediate portion which extends or is adapted to extend upwardly from said first portion to divide the interior of the bag into sections for receiving articles, and a third portion which extends or is adapted to extend substantially parallel to said first portion to close at least one of said sections.

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the bag is formed from plastics material or paper.

3. A package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bag is of the gusset type which can be folded flat and which can be opened out so that it is substantially rectangular in crosssection.

4. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the divider is in the form of a strip which is folded or foldable about spaced lateral score lines or spaced lateral hinge lines.

5. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first portion of the divider is secured to the bottom of the bag and the remainder of the divider is left free.

6. A package according to claim 5, wherein said first portion of the divider is secured to one side of the bottom of the bag.

7. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the divider is formed from cardboard.

8. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, having a carrying handle.

9. A package according to claim 8, wherein said handle comprises slots in the sides of the bag.

10. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bag has an opening which can be closed by heat-sealing.

11. A package substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. portion 3b of the divider strip to lie along the bottom of the bag and the remainder of the divider strip to lie along the side wall l b of the bag so that the divider strip is substantially in the form of an 'L'. This first of a pair of articles can then be inserted into the bag so as to lie on the end portion 3b of the divider strip. The free end of the divider strip can then be moved laterally of the bag so that the intermediate portion 3c of the divider strip extends substantially diagonally of the bag 1 to form the compartment 6 and so that the free end portion 3d of the divider strip lies against the side wall la of the bag. The second of the pair of articles can then be inserted into the bag so as to lie on the intermediate portion 3c of the divider strip.Finally the free end portion 3d of the divider strip is folded down so that the divider strip assumes its Z-shape as illustrated, thus forming the compartment 7. The mouth portion lc of the bag 1 may be dosed in any suitable manner, e.g., by heat sealing where the bag 1 is formed from a heatsealable material or by means of a drawstring, a tie fastener, or one or more press-fasteners. Slots 8 are provided in the opposed side walls la, ib of the mouth portion 1c of the bag 1, the slots 8 providing a carrying handle when the side walls la, l b are brought together. The bag 1 is, in the illustrated embodiment, a transparent bag so that the contents of the package are displayed to view. It will be appreciated,however, that if desired the bag 1 could be opaque or opaque with a transparent window. The bag 1 may be printed or otherwise marked or decorated as required, e.g., may be printed with details of the contents of the package and/or with the name and/or trade mark of the manufactuer or supplier of the goods. Likewise suitable indicia such as advertising or description matter may be printed or otherwise marked on the extending end 3a of the divider strip 3. If desired the extending end 3a of the divider strip 3 may be omitted and the divider strip 3 secured to or adjacent the bottom of the bag 1 in any other suitable manner, e.g., by securing the end portion 3b of the divider strip to the bottom of the bag, in which case when the package is stored flat the intermediate portion 3c and the end portion 3d of the divider strip 3 would lie flat against the side wall lb of the bag 1 and the end portion 3b and the bottom of the bag would be folded to lie against the intermediate portion 3c. The package of the present invention is particularly suitable for the packaging of articles which are normally sold in pairs, such as shoes, and lends itself to point-of-sale marketing techniques since packages according to the invention can readily be suspended or otherwise displayed on a suitable display stand. Moreover the package is suitable for carrying away by a customer without further packaging being necessary unlike, for example, the conventional shoe box where either the box is placed in a separate bag or has to be tied with string or the customer does not require the box and accordingly the shoes have to be repackaged in a bag. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A package for articles comprising a bag and a divider in the bag, the divider comprising a first portion which lies or is adapted to lie along the bottom of the bag, a second intermediate portion which extends or is adapted to extend upwardly from said first portion to divide the interior of the bag into sections for receiving articles, and a third portion which extends or is adapted to extend substantially parallel to said first portion to close at least one of said sections.

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the bag is formed from plastics material or paper.

3. A package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bag is of the gusset type which can be folded flat and which can be opened out so that it is substantially rectangular in crosssection.

4. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the divider is in the form of a strip which is folded or foldable about spaced lateral score lines or spaced lateral hinge lines.

5. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first portion of the divider is secured to the bottom of the bag and the remainder of the divider is left free.

6. A package according to claim 5, wherein said first portion of the divider is secured to one side of the bottom of the bag.

7. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the divider is formed from cardboard.

8. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, having a carrying handle.

9. A package according to claim 8, wherein said handle comprises slots in the sides of the bag.

10. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bag has an opening which can be closed by heat-sealing.

11. A package substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.