JP5113248B2 - Flip open container with layered compartment and method for forming flip open container with layered compartment - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention includes a package for holding one or more comestible products having a first compartment and a second compartment extending from, and rotatable with respect to, the first compartment. The package has a closed position where the first and second compartments are substantially coplanar with each other and an open position wherein the second compartment lies in an adjacent overlapping tiered relation to the first compartment. A cover extends from the second compartment and overlies at least a portion of the first and second compartments when the package is in the closed position.

Description

  This application claims priority to provisional patent application number 60 / 942,636, filed June 7, 2007, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

  The present invention generally relates to containers for storing various products. More particularly, the present invention relates to a container having an offset holder for storing and removing food products such as confectionery products including candy and gum.

  Chewing gum has recently become available to consumers in a variety of different forms. These include stick gum, slab (slab) gum, pellet (small ball) gum, extruded gum and the like. In recent years, gum containers have changed in various ways. Various types of gum containers include certain types of containers used primarily for one or other gum forms and are available to consumers.

  Slab gum has often been sold in foil packaging. Originally, these slabs probably contained 5 to 7 slabs per container and were arranged side by side in the container. More recently, these slabs have been placed in foil containers adjacent to each other so that 15 to 20 slabs can be stored in convenient containers. The slab is also provided in a container placed side by side in a compartment formed in the container, and the cover moves between open and closed positions so that it can be removed.

  Flip open containers with one or more compartments for wrapping gum are known in the art. However, due to the location of the compartments relative to each other, it can be difficult to take the gum in each compartment of these conventional multi-compartment flip open containers. Therefore, it is desired that a multi-compartment flip-open container can easily remove the gum pieces in each compartment.

  In one aspect, it is disclosed that a container for holding one or more food products includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a cover. The container can be formed of a single continuous piece of material. The second compartment extends from the first compartment and is rotatable with respect to the first compartment. The container has a closed position in which the first compartment and the second compartment are substantially coplanar with each other, and an open position in which the second compartment is located in a layered manner adjacent to the first compartment. The cover extends from the first compartment and covers at least a portion of the first compartment and the second compartment when the container is in the closed position.

  The first compartment can have a first opening and the second compartment can have a second opening. The openings face each other in the closed position and face the same direction in the open position. The cover can cover the first opening and the second opening when the container is in the closed position. The first opening and the second opening are offset vertically and horizontally from each other in the open position.

  In another aspect, it is disclosed that a container for holding one or more food products includes a first compartment having a first wall and a second compartment having a second wall. The first wall portion and the second wall portion may be formed of a common wall. The first wall portion and the second wall portion are configured to be rotatable so that the first section and the second section are structured to rotate with respect to the other between the closed position of the container and the open position of the container. . The first wall and the second wall are substantially coplanar when the container is in the closed position, and the second wall is folded over the first wall on the first wall, so that the container Is in the open position, the second wall overlaps at least partially with the first wall. When the container is in the open position, the first compartment forms a first layer and the second compartment forms a second layer.

  In yet another aspect, a method for forming a container for holding one or more food products is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a continuously formed blank and forming a first compartment and a second compartment from the paper. The second compartment extends from the first compartment and is rotatable relative to the first compartment. The container has a closed position in which the first compartment and the second compartment are substantially coplanar with each other, and a closed position in which the second compartment is located adjacent to the first compartment in a layered manner.

  Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the drawings are only intended to illustrate the invention and are not intended to define its scope.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a container in a closed position that can be formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in an open position. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 hinged in a somewhat open position. FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 for illustrating the container in the closed position. Fig. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the paper used to form the container of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the paper used to form the container of Fig. 1;

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention include a container for storing and retrieving food products. In particular, the present invention can be used to store and retrieve confectionery products such as gum pieces, hard candy, or other food products. Although the particular embodiment shown herein is used to contain gum pieces, it will be understood that the container may contain any type of product. Such products can also include other confectionery products such as gums of various sizes and shapes including sticks, slabs, pillows, pellets, etc., as well as other confectionery products such as hard candy, chocolate and the like. The product may include multiple pieces or a single unitary piece. Non-confectionery products may also be stored and removed according to embodiments of the present invention.

1-4 shows the container 100. The container 100 can be located in a closed position (FIGS. 1 and 4) and an open position (FIG. 2) and is rotatable between them (FIG. 3). The container can be formed of a single substantially continuous piece of material, such as paperboard or other suitable material, and is used to store and retrieve the food product piece 102 (FIG. 2). The pieces can be stored loosely oriented within the container 100 or held in place with a small amount of adhesive. The container 100 may be covered with a resin wrap (not shown) of a type known in the art, and the wrap is removed by the user before removing the food. The food product piece 102 may be any size, shape or structure, including slabs, pellets and sticks. Although individual separate slabs are shown, it is contemplated that the container 100 can contain one or more products having portions that can be peeled off or removed for use. Further, although individually wrapped food product pieces 102 are shown, the container 100 may include unwrapped pieces.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-4, and particularly FIG. 2, the container 100 is configured to retain a first food compartment 110 (hereinafter “first compartment 110”) and a second food compartment 140 ( Hereinafter “second compartment 140”), each having an interior 112 and 142, respectively. The first and second sections have a generally rectangular shape with a width W, and the food product pieces 102 can be arranged in one or more rows along the first and second sections. Openings 114 and 144 can be formed in the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 140, respectively, so that they can extend along the width W of the compartment and allow food product pieces to be removed therefrom. The food product piece 102 can be held in the first and second compartments in the side-to-side structure or in the face-to-face structure. The container 100 may also include a closure 145 (FIG. 1) having a first element 118 disposed in the first compartment 110 and a second element 154 disposed in the second compartment 140.

The first section 110 is formed by a first front wall 116, a first rear wall 124, a first bottom wall 126, and a first opposing side wall 128 (FIG. 2). The food product pieces 102 can be held in the first compartment 110 in one or more row arrangements and can be individually or unpackaged gum pieces. The first front wall 116 may include a first element 118 and a notch 120. The first element 118 can be used to selectively hold the container 100 in the closed position. The first element 118 is a hook and loop mechanism (e.g., Velcro (TM)), a snap, magnetic members, can be part of the opening or the like, is disposed on the first front wall 116, it also is formed Can do. In the present embodiment, the first element 118 can take various structures, and is a slot that can be disposed symmetrically or asymmetrically on the first front wall 116. In some embodiments, the slot can have a generally curved structure. A notch 120 can be formed in the front wall edge 122. The notch 120 can be formed in a generally arc shape, and can make it easier to take the food product piece 102 contained in the first compartment 110 of the container 100.

The second compartment 140 has a second front wall 146, a second rear wall 148, a second bottom wall 150, a cover flap 152, and a second opposing side wall 156 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). The food product pieces 102 can be housed in the second compartment in one or more row arrangements and can be individually or unpackaged gum pieces. The cover flap 152 can be an extension of the second front wall 146 and includes a second element 154, which is connected to the first element 118 on the first front wall 116. Can be used to selectively hold them in the closed position. The second element 154 is a hook and loop mechanism (e.g., Velcro (TM)), a snap, magnetic member may be a part of the opening or the like, that are disposed on the cover flap 152, or formed Can do. In this embodiment, the second element 154 is a tab that extends from the end of the cover flap 152 that can have various structures and can be positioned symmetrically or asymmetrically on the cover flap 152.

1 and 4, in the closed position, the container 100 is generally rectangular in shape, but other shapes are possible. The container has a wide front surface formed by a first front wall 116, a second front wall 146, and a cover flap 152, and has a wide rear surface formed by a common rear wall 160, the rear wall 160 being a first rear wall. A wall 124 and a second rear wall 148 are included. The container 100 has a narrow side end surface as compared with a wide surface, and includes a first bottom wall 126, a second bottom wall 150, a first opposing side wall 128, and a second opposing side wall 156.

  In the closed position, the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 140 are aligned in a substantially coplanar relationship with each other, and the common rear wall 160 is relatively straight and coplanar along the length of the container 100, respectively. It can have vertical axes 104 and 106 that are substantially aligned in the closed position. A display 165 can be provided on the outer surface of the container 100 to provide information belonging to the food product piece held by the container 100. For example, all or part of the front and back wide surfaces can be provided with a display 165 thereon.

When the container 100 is in the closed position, the first compartment opening 114 and the second compartment opening 144 face each other, so the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 140 open in the direction of each other. ing. A cover flap 152 can cover over the openings 114 and 144 to cover the openings 114 and 144 when the food product piece 102 is not removed. The first bottom wall 1 26 and the second bottom wall 1 50, when the container 100 is in the closed position, with a generally parallel opposing relation. The first compartment 110 and the second compartment 140 may have side edges 129 and 157 (FIG. 3) formed at their top ends, respectively, in an obliquely complementary manner, so that when the container 100 is in the closed position ( 4), an oblique slit 400 is formed. The side edges can be configured such that they are aligned in a substantially parallel state when the container 100 is in the closed position.

Referring to FIG. 2, the container 100 is in the open position and redirects the second compartment relative to the first compartment 110 to expose the food product piece 102 held by the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 140. It is folded like this. Container, from being folded along a common rear wall 160 of the container between the first rear wall 124 and a second rear wall 148, second back wall 148 about the first rear wall 124 in the closed position It is rotated 180 °, whereby, at least partially folded over itself a common rear wall 160. In some embodiments, the common back wall 160 can have a fold line that defines the boundary of the first rear wall 124 and a second rear wall 148, first compartment 110 and second compartment 140 is folded Give the position that can be. In other embodiments, the common back wall 160 can be folded when the container 100 is first opened by the user. Since the first rear wall 124 is preferably longer than the second rear wall 148, the second rear wall 148 has a contact portion that at least partially overlaps between the first rear wall 124 and the second rear wall 148. Furthermore, it preferably folds over the first rear wall 124. In the open position, the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 140 have a layered structure and are generally parallel to each other, with the second compartment 140 at least partially overlapping the first compartment 110 in a vertical step. With vertical offsets, the vertical axes 104 and 106 of the first and second sections can have a generally parallel relationship. The first bottom wall 1 26 and the second bottom wall 1 50 supports the product pieces in the open position, has a step-like offset of the vertical due to the difference in length of the first rear wall 124 and a second rear wall 148, As a result, the layer structure of the first section 110 and the second section 140 is obtained.

When the container 100 is in the open position, the first compartment opening 114 and the second compartment opening 144 face in the same direction, so that the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 140 open in the same direction. The cover flap 152 lies over the openings 114 and 144 in the closed position and is rotated integrally with the second compartment 140 so that the openings 114 and 144 are exposed so that the food product piece 102 can be removed. In the open position, food product pieces 102, such as slabs to be formed gum pieces, preferably, because it is aligned in two rows offset vertically from the other in a layer structure, the first compartment 110及beauty It is possible to take the food product piece 102 from at least one of the two compartments 140. The product piece can be removably retained in the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 140 by an adhesive that can be removed by the user pulling on the product piece.

The first compartment 110 and the second compartment 140 can have a position between a closed and an open position (FIG. 3). Since the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 140 are foldable to close the container 100, the first compartment and the second compartment are used to connect the second element 154 of the cover flap 152 to the first front wall 116. One element 118 is aligned on the same plane in a substantially aligned state (FIG. 1). The second element 154 and the first element 118 can be connected, thereby holding the container in the closed position. The cover flap 152 can be initially secured in the closed position by the adhesive. At the first opening of the cover flap 152, the bond is removed.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 depict one embodiment of a paper 500 that can be used to form the container 100. The paper 500 can have a substantially continuous body 502 that can be composed of a single piece of paper board or other material of suitable strength to hold one or more food products. The main body 502 includes a first front wall 516 and a second front wall 546, a first rear wall 524 and a second rear wall 548 formed by a common rear wall 560, a first bottom wall 526 and a second wall 526. A bottom wall portion 550 as well as a cover flap portion 552 can be provided. The body 502 can also include sidewall tabs 528a-b and 556a-b.

In the main body 502, the first front wall portion 516 forms the first front wall 116, the first rear wall portion 524 forms the first rear wall 124, and the first bottom wall portion 526 forms the first bottom wall 126. However, the side wall tabs 528a-b can be folded in such a way as to form the first opposing side wall 128 of the first compartment. The body 502 also has a second front wall 546 forming a second front wall 146, a second rear wall 548 forming a second rear wall 148, and a second bottom wall 550 forming a second bottom wall 150. And can be folded in such a way that the side wall tabs 556 a-b form the second opposing side wall 156 of the first compartment and the cover flap portion 552 forms the cover flap 152.

The side wall tabs 528a-b and 556a-b may be arranged such that the side wall tabs 528a-b are arranged on the side of the first front wall 516 and the side wall tabs 556a-b are arranged on the side of the second rear wall 548. It can be integrally formed so that it can. Although the side wall tabs 528a-b are disposed on the sides of the first front wall 516, those skilled in the art will recognize that the side wall tabs 528a-b may be disposed on the first rear wall 524 (see FIG. 5B). Similarly, the side wall tabs 556a-b are disposed on the sides of the second rear wall portion 548, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that the side wall tabs 556a-b may be disposed on the second front wall portion 546. Wax (FIG. 5B).

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the sidewalls 528a-b are generally perpendicular to the front wall where the sidewall tabs 528a-b are disposed, and the sidewalls 528a-b have their inner surfaces 529a-b facing each other. The sheet 500 can be formed in the container 100 by folding the tabs 528a-b. Similarly, the side wall tabs 556a-b can be folded inward so as to be substantially orthogonal to the second rear wall 548 so that the inner surfaces 549a-b face each other. The flaps 570a-b and 572a-b of the side wall tabs 528a-b and 556a-b extend substantially toward the first front wall 516 and the second rear wall 548, respectively, with the flaps 570a-b and 572a-b extending toward each other. Can be further folded inward so as to be parallel.

The first front wall 516 can be folded toward the first rear wall 524 until the flaps 570a-b contact the first rear wall 524. The flaps 570a-b can be bonded or otherwise joined to the first back wall 524, thereby forming the first compartment 110. Similarly, until the flaps 572a-b is in contact with the second front wall portion 546, the second front wall section 546 can be folded toward the second rear wall portion 548, the flap 572a-b are bonded otherwise It can be joined to the second front wall 546, thereby forming the second compartment 140 and the cover flap 152.

  While preferred embodiments have been described herein, it should be understood that modifications can be made thereto without departing from the intended scope of the invention. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments described herein are considered illustrative rather than limiting the true scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

100 containers
102 Food product pieces
104 Vertical axis
106 Vertical axis
110 First food section (first section)
112 Inside
114 opening
116 First front wall
118 First element
120 notches
122 Front wall edge
124 1st rear wall
126 1st bottom wall
128 first opposing sidewall
129 side edge
140 Second food section (second section)
142 Inside
144 opening
145 Closure
146 Second front wall
148 Second rear wall
150 Second bottom wall
152 Cover flap
154 2nd element
156 second opposing sidewall
157 side edge
160 Rear wall
165 display
500 paper
516 first front wall
524 first rear wall
526 first bottom wall
528a, 556a Side wall tab
546 Second front wall
548 Second rear wall
550 Second bottom wall
552 Cover flap

Claims (5)

A container for holding one or more food products,
A first compartment , a second compartment extending from the first compartment and rotatable relative to the first compartment, and a cover extending from the second compartment ;
Before Symbol first compartment and the second compartment have a closed position, and an open position in which the second compartment is positioned in layers overlap adjacent the first compartment in substantially the same plane with each other,
The first section has a first opening, the second section has a second opening, and the first opening and the second opening face each other in the closed position;
The cover has an extension portion facing the front wall of the first compartment, and covers the first opening and the second opening and covers the front wall of the first compartment when the container is in the closed position. Covering
The flip-open container having a laminar section, the front wall having a connection portion connected to the extension portion . The first section has a first opening, the second section has a second opening, and the first opening and the second opening face in the same direction at the open position . Flip open container with layered compartment . The flip-open container with layered compartments according to claim 2, wherein the first opening and the second opening are offset longitudinally and laterally from each other at the open position . The flip-open container with layered compartments according to claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a single continuous piece of material . A method of forming a flip open container with a layered section of claim 1 comprising:
The first section and the second section are formed by continuously formed paper,
The sheet extends from a front wall portion that forms the front wall, a rear wall portion that forms a rear wall opposite the front wall, the front wall portion, or one side portion of the rear wall portion, and the front wall and Including a side wall tab set forming side walls on both sides of the rear wall;
The first section is formed by joining the side tab set to either the front wall portion or the rear wall portion,
A method of forming a flip-release container with a layered compartment, wherein the extension is removably held on the connecting part on the front wall.