JP6630294B2 - Packages for medical instruments - Google Patents

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Nos. 29 / 484,142, 29 / 484,143 and 29 / 484,145 filed March 6, 2014, Each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

  The present embodiment relates to a package for a medical device, and particularly to a package including a corner pocket for facilitating removal of the package from a shelf.

  Packages, such as packages for medical devices, are often stacked side by side on shelves or other storage facilities or on top of each other. To maximize space, the height between shelves is often about the same size as the height of the package. In addition, packages are often tightly packed or bundled together to maximize the number of packages that can be stored per unit length of shelf equipment. Because packages are tightly packed into shelving equipment, it may be difficult to remove a particular package from the bundle.

  Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a package that includes features that allow the selected package to be easily removed from the packages that were pushed into the shelving facility.

  This embodiment relates to a package that includes a box having an internal volume and a first pocket located at a first corner of the box. The first pocket includes a lip configured to have a user's finger inserted thereinto remove the package from the storage facility. The box is a first panel, a second panel facing the first panel such that the inner surface of the first panel faces the inner surface of the second panel, respectively, the first panel and the second panel. Between the top panel, the bottom panel, the leading panel and the trailing panel. The first pocket may be defined by a first surface extending from the upper edge panel to the leading edge panel, an inner surface of the first panel, an inner surface of the second panel, and an inner surface of the leading edge panel. A first lip of the first pocket is formed by a first surface in contact with the leading edge panel at a first location away from the first edge of the leading edge panel closest to the top edge panel, thereby leading to the leading edge panel. A first lip on the leading edge panel between the first edge of the edge panel and the first location may be formed. The package may also include a second pocket located at a second corner of the box.

  This embodiment also relates to a single blank sheet of material for manufacturing the package. The sheet includes a first panel and a second panel interconnected by a lower edge panel, a fold disposed between the first panel and the lower edge panel, and a lower edge panel and a second panel. And another second fold located between the second fold. The upper edge panel is connected to the first edge panel along another fold. The trailing edge panel is connected to the first panel along another fold. The leading edge panel is connected to the first panel along another fold. The first pocket panel is connected to the leading edge panel along another fold and to the first panel along another fold. The sheet includes a leading edge panel, a top edge panel, and a trailing edge each extending between the first panel and the second panel such that the inner surface of the first panel faces the inner surface of the second panel. A first pocket panel configured to fold along the fold to face the panel and the leading edge panel, wherein the first pocket panel folds between an inner surface of the first panel and an inner surface of the second panel; A first lip defined by a portion of the leading edge panel adjacent the edge panel is configured to form a first pocket.

  The sheet may also include a leading edge in which the second pocket panel folds between an inner surface of the first panel and an inner surface of the second panel adjacent the lower edge panel as the sheet folds along the fold. A second pocket panel connected to the lower edge panel of the first panel so as to form a second pocket with a second lip defined by a portion of the panel; and a second pocket along the fold. And a panel.

  The sheets are also provided with upper, rear, and leading edge panels along corresponding folds such that the tabs extend along the inner surface of the second panel as the sheets are folded along the folds. It may include a connected tab.

  The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the principles of the invention and may assist those skilled in the art in understanding the invention. The drawings are not to scale.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a package according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a corner pocket of the package of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a view of the corner pocket of FIG. 2 from a different viewpoint. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of another corner pocket of the package of FIG. It is the figure of the corner pocket of FIG. 4 which changed the viewpoint. Figure 6 illustrates a blank sheet of layered material used to make the package of Figures 1-5, such as cardboard. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a process of forming a corner pocket of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another step of forming the corner pocket of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another step of forming the corner pocket of FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is an illustration of the package of FIG. 1 adjacent to a conventional package. 2 shows the package of FIG. 1 with only a single pocket in and out of a facility with shelves. 2 shows the package of FIG. 1 with only a single pocket in and out of a facility with shelves. 2 shows the package of FIG. 1 with only a single pocket in and out of a facility with shelves. 2 shows the package of FIG. 1 with only a single pocket, with the packages on a facility with horizontally stacked shelves, in and out of a facility with shelves. 2 shows the package of FIG. 1 with only a single pocket, with the packages on a facility with horizontally stacked shelves, in and out of a facility with shelves.

  Certain embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

  The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Although the description of the invention is in the context of a package for a medical device, the invention can also be used for packages for other products. Moreover, it is not intended to be bound by the explicit or suggested theory presented in the preceding art, background, brief summary, or the following detailed description.

  1 to 10 show an embodiment of a container, carton or package 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Package 100 may be made of any material suitable for packaging a product, such as a medical device. For example, but not by way of limitation, package 100 may be made of solid bleached sulfuric acid cartons, cardboard, and other similar materials. As shown in FIG. 1, the package 100 is generally box-shaped with an internal volume, and includes a first corner pocket 120 and a second corner pocket 140. The first and second corner pockets 120, 140 are finger pockets that allow a user to easily remove the package 100 from a shelf or other storage facility. Further, while two (2) corner pockets are shown and described herein, it will be appreciated that a package with only one corner pocket, or more than two (2) corner pockets may be utilized. ing.

  The package 100 includes a first or left panel 102, a second or right panel 104, a leading edge panel 106, a trailing edge panel 108, an upper edge panel 110, and a lower edge panel 112. Although directional descriptions such as “left”, “right”, “front”, “rear”, “top” and “bottom” are used to describe the panels of the package 100, the leading edge panel 106 is These descriptions are merely used as a reference to describe the package 100, as it may be placed outward on a shelf and the user may face the leading edge panel 106. However, descriptions of these directions are not limited to package 100 because they may be directed in other spaces.

  The first corner pocket 120 is formed as a chamfered corner between the leading edge panel 106 and the upper edge panel 110. The first corner pocket 120 is not merely a chamfered corner because it includes depth to form the pocket. As can be seen in FIGS. 1-3, the first corner pocket 120 includes a lip 122, a first side 124, a second side 126, and a sloped surface 128. The lip 122 is formed by an inclined surface 128 that contacts the leading edge panel 106 at a location remote from the upper edge 123 of the leading edge panel 106.

  Similarly, the second corner pocket 140 is formed as a chamfered corner between the leading edge panel 106 and the lower edge panel 112. Like the first corner pocket 120, the second corner pocket 140 has a depth to form a pocket. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4-5, the second corner pocket 140 includes a lip 142, a first side 144, a second side 146, and a beveled surface 148. The lip 142 is formed by an inclined surface 148 that contacts the leading edge panel 106 at a location remote from the lower edge 143 of the leading edge panel 106.

  FIG. 6 shows a blank sheet of layered material 180 used to make the packages of FIGS. 1-5, such as solid bleached sulfate cartons, cardboard, and other similar materials. FIG. 6 shows the folds in which the blanks of panel and surface and material 180 described above with respect to FIGS. 1-5 are folded to form package 100 as described below. The left panel 102 and the right panel 104, as shown in FIG. 6 and described below, are considered outside or outside surfaces thereof. Therefore, in the folding direction described below, the surface shown in FIG. 6 is the outside or the outside surface of the package 100. The folds can be equal in opposite directions so that the surface shown in FIG.

  In particular, sheet 180 is folded about 90 degrees along fold 113 between left panel 102 and lower edge panel 112 such that left panel 102 and lower edge panel 112 are substantially orthogonal to each other. The sheet 180 is also folded about 90 degrees along a fold 115 between the lower edge panel 112 and the right panel 104 such that the lower edge panel 112 and the right panel 104 are substantially orthogonal to each other. As described above, the fold sheets 180 along the folds 113 and 115 are separated from each other approximately by the width of the lower edge surface 112 to direct the inner surface of the left panel 102 toward the inner surface of the right panel 104. As used herein, the term "about 90 degrees" means that the panels described herein are in the form of a substantially box, and that the package formed from the fold sheet 180 is capable of forming such a box. If formed, it may vary slightly from 90 degrees.

  The sheet 180 is also folded about 90 degrees along a fold 107 between the left panel 102 and the rear panel 108 such that the rear panel 108 extends from the left panel 102 toward the right panel 104. Sheet 180 is also folded along fold 105 between trailing edge panel 108 and tab 118. Because the right panel 102 and the left panel 104 are folded toward each other, the tabs 118 are formed on the right panel 104 such that the tabs 118 extend along the inner surface of the right panel 104 between the corner tabs 174 and 176. It is pushed into trailing edge 172.

  Similarly, the sheet 180 may also be folded about 90 degrees along a fold 109 between the left panel 102 and the upper edge panel 110 such that the upper edge panel 110 extends from the left panel 102 toward the right panel 104. It is. Sheet 180 is also folded along fold 111 between upper edge panel 110 and tab 116. As the left panel 102 and the right panel 104 are folded toward each other, the tabs 116 may extend along the inner surface of the right panel 104 between the corner 176 associated with the fold 136 and the first pocket 120. It is pushed into the upper edge 117 of the right panel 104 to extend. Tab 116 is attached to the inside surface of right panel 104. Tab 116 may be adhesively attached or otherwise attached to the inside surface of right panel 104. The adhesive used to adhesively attach tab 116 to the inner surface of right panel 104 can be any adhesive. For example, but not limited to, The Adhesive Products Inc. Adhesive product numbers 2171 or 2174, available from Philips, Inc., may be utilized.

  The sheet 180 is also folded about 90 degrees along the fold 103 between the left panel 102 and the leading edge panel 106 such that the leading edge panel 106 extends from the left panel 102 toward the right panel 104. Sheet 180 is also folded along fold 101 between leading edge panel 106 and tab 114. As the left panel 102 and the right panel 104 are folded toward each other, the tabs 114 are positioned between the first pocket 120 associated with the fold 136 and the second pocket 140 associated with the fold 156. It is pushed into the upper edge 178 of the right panel 104 so as to extend along the inner surface of the right panel 104. Further, pockets 120 and 140 are formed as folded sheets 180, as described above and described in more detail below.

  In particular, FIGS. 7-9 show the pocket 140 formed. Although pocket 140 is shown, pocket 120 is formed in a similar manner. As shown in FIG. 7, when left panel 102 and right panel 104 are folded toward each other (or later), tab 152 is removed from the plane with lower edge panel 112 and folded along fold 156; An inclined surface 148 that extends at an angle α to the lower edge panel 112 is formed. Angle α may be in the range of 30 to 60 degrees as described in FIG. The sheet 180 also folds along a fold 147 between the second side 146 and the front panel 102 and along a fold 149 between the first side 144 and the back panel 104.

  As shown in FIGS. 8-9, second pocket 140 is folded along fold 154 between second side 146 and sloped surface 148 and second side 146 is a left panel. The tab 152 is pushed toward the interior volume of the package 100 such that it is pushed against the inner surface of the 102. Similarly, second pocket 140 folds along fold 150 between first side 144 and ramped surface 148 such that first side 144 is pressed against the inner surface of right panel 104. . Tab 152 may be folded along fold 158 and may extend along the inner surface of leading edge panel 106 toward first pocket 120. Alternatively, tab 152 may be folded in an opposite direction along fold 158 and be double thickness with leading edge panel 106 for at least a portion of the leading edge of second pocket 140 of lip 142.

  The first pocket 120 is formed in a similar manner as described above with respect to the second pocket 140. Thus, the sheet 180 shown in FIG. 6 includes a fold 136 between the upper edge panel 110 and the inclined surface 128, a fold 127 between the first side 124 of the first pocket 120 and the tab 116, A fold 129 between the second side 126 and the front panel 102, a fold 130 between the sloped surface 128 and the first side 124, a fold 134 between the sloped surface 128 and the second side 126. , Fold 138 between the ramp surface 148 and the tab 132.

  Next, leading edge panel 106 is folded along fold 103 such that leading edge panel 106 extends toward right panel 104 and tab 114 is pushed inside leading edge 178 of right panel 104. A portion of the tab 114 adjacent the first pocket 120 is pressed between a portion of the first side 124 of the pocket 120 and the inner surface of the right panel 104. Similarly, a portion of the tab 114 adjacent the second pocket 140 is pressed between a portion of the first side 144 of the second pocket 140 and the inner surface of the right panel 104.

  FIG. 10 shows two packages 100 adjacent to a conventional package. FIG. 11 shows the package 100 with a single pocket 120 instead of two pockets and placed on a shelf adjacent to a conventional package. As can be seen in FIG. 11, it may be difficult to remove a conventional package from a packed or full shelf due to difficulties in approaching or pulling out of the surface to grasp. Large panels (ie, left and right panels) of a conventional package are obstructed by adjacent packages. The top and bottom panels are obstructed by shelves. On the other hand, in the package according to the present application, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 13, the user can insert a finger into the pocket 120 and slide and tilt the package 100 from a facility having shelves. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 14-15, when the packages are stacked horizontally, the user can approach the pocket 120 and can easily remove the package 100 from the shelf.

  While various embodiments according to the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of illustration, and are by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various changes in shape and detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. It will be understood that each feature of each embodiment described herein and each reference cited herein may also be used in combination with features of any other embodiment.

Claims (16)

A box having an interior volume, said box facing said first panel, said second panel facing said first panel such that the inner surface of a first panel faces the inner surface of a second panel. A box defined by a panel, wherein the box is further defined by four edge panels extending between the first panel and the second panel;
A first pocket located at a first corner of the box between two of the four edge panels;
The first pocket includes a lip defined along one of the two edge panels of the first corner;
The first pocket includes a first pocket tab that forms a sloped surface that extends from a first one of the two edge panels to an inner surface of a second one of the two edge panels. Including
Said first pocket tabs extend a portion of the first pocket tabs along the inner surface of said second edge panel, double thickness with at least a portion of said lip of said second edge panel includes a tab folding portion of said first pocket tab so that to form a folded,
The first pocket is configured to have a user's finger inserted therein to remove a package from a storage facility; the second rim panel is disposed facing a side from which the box is removed; The package, wherein the tab fold of the first pocket tab and the lip of the second edge panel are configured to be pulled out by a user's finger to remove the package from a storage facility .   The package of claim 1, wherein the four edge panels comprise a leading edge panel, a trailing edge panel, an upper edge panel, and a lower edge panel. The first pocket is further defined by a first side and a second side adjacent to the sloped surface and opposite the sloped surface, wherein the first side is the first side of the first panel. formed on the inside surface, said second side, said formed on the inner surface of the second panel, the package of claim 1.   The sloped surface extending from the first edge panel to the second edge panel, wherein the sloped surface of the second edge panel is spaced from an edge of the second edge panel closest to the first edge panel. The lip is formed on the second edge panel that contacts an inner surface and thereby extends between the edge of the second edge panel closest to the first edge panel and the remote location. Item 4. The package according to Item 3.   The first side of the first pocket is disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the first panel, and the second side of the first pocket is disposed on the inner surface of the second panel. 4. The package of claim 3, wherein the package is disposed adjacent to.   The box further comprises a second pocket at a second corner of the box, the second pocket including a lip, wherein the second pocket has a user's finger therein for removing the package from a storage facility. 3. The package of claim 2, wherein the package is configured to be inserted into a package.   7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first pocket is formed between the leading edge panel and the upper edge panel, and the second pocket is formed between the leading edge panel and the lower edge panel. Package. Said first pocket is defined by a first surface extending from the upper edge panel to said inner surface of said leading edge panel, the first surface, said from said inner surface of said first panel first including the inclined table surface Ru extending to the inner surface of the second panel, the package of claim 7.   The second pocket is defined by a second surface extending from the lower edge panel to the inner surface of the leading edge panel, wherein the second pocket is defined from the inner surface of the first panel to the inner surface of the second panel. 9. The package of claim 8, wherein the package extends.   The first surface contacts the leading edge panel at a first location away from a first edge of the leading edge panel closest to the top edge panel, thereby causing the first edge of the leading edge panel to contact the first edge of the leading edge panel. The package of claim 9, wherein the lip of the first pocket on the leading edge panel between an edge and the first location is formed.   The second surface contacts the leading edge panel at a second location away from a second edge of the leading edge panel closest to the lower edge panel, thereby causing the second edge of the leading edge panel to contact the second edge of the leading edge panel. The package of claim 9, wherein the lip of the second pocket on the leading edge panel between an edge and the second location is formed. A single blank sheet of material for forming the package,
A first panel and a second panel connected to each other by a lower edge panel;
A first fold disposed between the first panel and the lower edge panel;
A second fold disposed between the lower edge panel and the second panel;
An upper edge panel connected to the first panel along a third fold;
A trailing edge panel coupled to the first panel along a fourth fold;
A leading edge panel connected to the first panel along a fifth fold;
A first pocket panel coupled to the upper edge panel along a sixth fold and coupled to the first panel along a seventh fold;
The sheet is such that an inner surface of the first panel faces an inner surface of the second panel, and each of the leading edge panel, the upper edge panel, the trailing edge panel, and the lower edge panel is Extending between a first panel and the second panel, wherein the first pocket panel is folded between the inner surface of the first panel and the inner surface of the second panel; Being configured to form a first pocket with a first lip defined by a portion of the leading edge panel adjacent the upper edge panel;
The first pocket panel includes a first pocket tab;
A first portion configured to fold along the sixth fold to form an inclined surface from the upper edge panel to an inner surface of the leading edge panel ; said advance with at least a portion of said first lip edge panel so that form a thickness twice, the front back to the upper edge panel along the inner surface of the edge panel orientation and the first A second portion extending parallel to the lip,
The leading edge panel is disposed facing a side from which the package is removed, and the second portion of the first pocket tab and the first lip of the leading edge panel remove the package from a storage facility. The blank sheet , wherein the blank sheet is configured to be pulled out by a user's finger . A second pocket connected to the lower edge panel along an eighth fold, to the first panel along a ninth fold, and to the second panel along a tenth fold; Further comprising a panel,
Wherein the sheet is folded between the inner surface of the first panel and the inner surface of the second panel when the sheet folds along the fold; 13. The blank sheet of claim 12, further configured to form a second pocket with a second lip defined by a portion of the leading edge panel adjacent the lower edge panel. A first tab coupled to the upper edge panel along an eleventh fold;
14. The sheet of claim 13, wherein the sheet is configured such that the first tab extends along the inner surface of the second panel and is attached thereto as the sheet folds along the fold. Blank sheet of material.   Further comprising a second tab coupled to the trailing edge panel along a twelfth fold, wherein the sheet is configured such that the second tab is the second tab when the sheet folds along the fold. The blank sheet of material according to claim 14, further configured to extend along the inner surface of a panel.   A third tab coupled to the leading edge panel along a thirteenth fold, wherein the sheet is configured such that the third tab is the second tab when the sheet folds along the fold; The blank sheet of material according to claim 15, further configured to extend along the inner surface of a panel.