US2565976A

US2565976A - Sliced bacon package

Info

Publication number: US2565976A
Application number: US137442A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl G Mayer; Oscar E Seiferth
Original assignee: Oscar Mayer Foods Corp
Current assignee: Oscar Mayer Foods Corp
Priority date: 1950-01-07
Filing date: 1950-01-07
Publication date: 1951-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1968-08-28

Description

Aug. 28, 1951 c. G. MAYER ET AL y y SLICED BACON PACKAGE Filed Jan. 7, 1950 l l l memes Aug. 2s. 1951 suono Bacon PACKAGE Carl Gr Mayer and Oscar E. Seiferth, Madison, Wis., assignors to Oscar Mayer & 0o., Inc..

cago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois 'Application January 1, 195o, sum No. 131,442 11 claims. (c1. xfs-114) l This invention relates to packaging and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a 4package ofsliced bacon or similar merchandise.

It is an object of the invention to provide a package of merchandise. such as sliced bacon, which presents a neat and attractive appearance, which facilitates storage and display inthe retail store. which adequately protects the merchandise, and which permits 'it to be readily handled without disturbing the arrangement of the slices or ail'ecting the appearance of the package.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a neat and attractive package of a predetermined quantity of sliced bacon wherein the slices are arranged in overlapped relation on a paperboard backing provided with adjoining side and end iiaps which extend over adjacent margins of the package and which are creased and folded to conform to the contour of the edges of the pack-l age whereby to facilitate `the application of a thin transparent over-wrap in an automatic packaging machine.

It is a more specific object of the inventionto provide a package of a product which is characterized by the arrangement of a plurality of relatively thin slices o f the product in overlapping relation in such a manner that a generally recf tangular mass or unit is formed having vrelatively thin longitudinal side edges and substantial thickness throughout a central portion thereof intermediate the side edges, which package comprises a predetermined mass of the product supported on one face of a paperboard backing member, said backing member being provided with a longitudinalpedge flap folded over a. marginal portion of the top of thel product and being further provided with an end ilap folded in a similar manner over the adjoining end of the product and integrally connected to the backing member by an end wall which is cut away at the ends thereof whereby to free the ends of the end ilap and permit the same to conform to the contour of the side margins of the product and a thin transparent over-wrap secured over the product which closely conforms to the top surface of the same.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a package of the character described wherein the side and end ilap members are provided with a locking means at their overlapping ends which locking means is so arranged that it tends to pull the end panel inwardly toward the product in the package so that when the flaps are locked the end panel is positioned at an angle relative to the back panel which is slightly less than 90 degrees, which facilitates the use of automatic wrapping machinery for the application of the over-wrap and which results in a tighter wrapping of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sliced meat package of the character described wherein spaced parallelscore lines are provided on the backing material, the end wall. and the end nap thereof, whereby the package may be folded over upon itself about one or both of the score lines to reduce the width of the package for more convenient storage and handling, particularlv after a portion of the contents has been removed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a -sliced bacon package wherein strips of bacon are arranged in overlapped relation upon a backing board'having integral folded-over side and end-flaps which are cut and creased so that they arereadllydownuponthetopofthe bacon slices to conform tothe shape of the same and to permit the package to be tightly wrapped with a thin t over-wrap in automatic packaging machinery.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the package and the method of forming the same which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a package of sliced bacon which incorporates therein the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the package shown in Fig. l; j

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a backing blank cut and scoredpreparatory to positioning of the sliced bacon thereon; and Y Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the package shown in Fig. l with the outer wrapper and part of the contents removed. the package being folded upon itself to reduce the width and facilitate storage of the same after it has been opened.

In the marketing of sliced bacon it has been conventional to arrangev a plurality of relatively thin slices of the bacon in overlapping relation on a paper backing or in a package for handling and display in the retail store, a suiiicient number oi' I the slices being associated in this manner to form a convenient unit package of, for example, a pound or fraction oi' a pound of the product. Such arrangement of the slices results in a mass of material of a generally fiat rectangular shape which has substantial thickness throughout the center portion thereof and which tapers to a thin edge along the longitudinal margins. Such a mass or unit ofthe material arranged in this manner presents diiiiculty in packaging. The shape of the mass makes it dimeult to wrap so as to obtain a neat appearing package in which the slices will be snugly held in their overlapped relation and the ends and side edges thereof will not be disarranged or'damaged by handling of the package during storage and sale thereof;

In order to provide a neat and attractive package it is desirable to provide a relatively still. backing member upon which the slices can' be assembled in overlapping relation and a transparent over-wrap applied overthe same in such a manner that it will closely conform to the contour of the exposed surfaces of the strips and hold the same in position on the backing member, the over-wrap being adapted to be applied by automatic packaging machinery without setting up any stresses or strains in the same.

There is illustrated in Fig. 1 a package which overcomes the diillculties encountered in packaging sliced bacon or other products of a similar character. The illustrated package comprises a packing member III on which there is arranged in overlapping relation a plurality of strips of bacon II and an over-wrap I2 of thin transparent material secured neatly and tightly around the same.

The package is formed by first providing the backing member of blank III which, asmore particularly shown in Fig. 3, is generally rectangular in shape and of a size depending upon the number and size of the strips or slices of bacon or other mechandise to be packaged.

The blank I0, which is preferably of paperboard or similar material, is scored along a longitudinal line I3 which is parallel with`and spaced inwardly oi one longitudinal side edge Il of the blank, to form a front ap or panel I5 which is adapted to fold about the score line I3. The panel I5 is cut back at one end of the blank and a. transverse scoreline IB extends from the score line I9 at that end of the flap to the opposite longitudinal side edge I1 of the blank. The score lines I3 and I6 cooperate with the opposite side and end edges I1 and I9, respectively, of the blank to form a bottom panel I9 on which the strips or slices of the bacon II are adapted to be arranged. The portion of the blank between the transverse score line IB and the adjacent end edge oi' the blank is divided by a transverse score line 2| into an outer end flap 22 and an inner end wall panel 23. I'he end flap 22 is of a width approximately the same as'the front flap I5 while the end wall panel 29 is of a width approximately the same as the maximum depth or thickness of the assembled strips of bacon I I throughout its center portion. The end wall panel 23 is cut away at its opposite ends, along the

lines

24, 25 at the end adjacent the front flap I5 and along the

lines

26, 21 at the opposite end adjacent the edge I1 of the blank. The cutting lines form generally V-shaped inwardly extending slots with

lines

25 and 21 generally aligned with the transverse crease line 2| and lines 2l, 26 extending from crease line 2I in the general direction ofy the end of crease line I2 and the edge I1 of the blank, respectively.

The end flap 22 is provided at the end adjacent longitudinal flap I5 with a locking tongue 28 and the longitudinal flap I5 is provided with a cooperating locking slit formed by cutting lines 29 and SII and crease lines 3|, 22.

The end flap 22 is also provided with a score line 33 extending longitudinally of the blank at the end of the flap adjacent the V-shaped slot formed by

cutting lines

26, 21 and extending from apex of theslot. The front flap Il is Provided with a diagonal score line Il at the end opposite the end flap 22. The entire blank I9 is provided with a pair of parallel spaced approximately the score lines l5. 99 approximately along the center l of the blank. Y

In packaging the product a predetermined number of strips of the bacon I I, sumcient to pro- -vide the desired weight of material, such as a pound, are arranged in longitudinauy extending overlapping relation on the bottom forming panel I9 of the blank III, the edge strips having their outer edges extending along the marginal edge I1 and the crease line Il, respectively, of the blank. The front flap I5 is then folded about the crease line I9 over onto the top strip of bacon. The front flap I5 is preferably of a width sufficient to cover the major portion oi the top bacon strip leaving I only a narrow margin of the top edge exposed as shown in Fig. 1. The end panel 22 and the end flap 22 are then folded about the crease lines IB and 2i to bring the endf-.panel 23 into generally opstanding relation to the back panel I9 and the end flap 22 into overlying relation with the adjacent ends of the strips of bacon. Thereafter the locking tongue 28 is pressed downwardly and engaged in the locking slit formed in the adjacent end of the front ap I5. The assembly is then ready to be enclosed in an outer transparent wrapping material I2 which may be readily applied by means of several well known types of automatic packaging machinery. 'I'he adjacent ends of the flaps I5 and 22 are held by the locking arrangement in close relationship to the top of the assembled bacon strips. The free ends of the flaps I5 and 22 are pressed down about the fold lines 33 and 3l, respectively, to make them conform to the contour of the edges of the bacon assembly and to permit the wrapper I2 to be secured around the package in close fitting relation without any resultant stresses in the wrapping material.

The locking tongue 28 and the cooperating locking elements formed by the slits 29 and90 are preferably so arranged that when they are interengaged, with the adjacent ends of ilaps I5 and 22 in overlapping relation, the inner edges of the fiaps I5 and 22 are at an angle slightly less than degrees whereby the opposite end of the flap I5 is drawn in and down and tends to conform or t more closely to the content of the package.

The outer wrapper I2 is preferably a sheet of thin transparent material and may be folded about the assembled bacon I I and backing member III in any desired manner. The margins of the wrapper I2 may be overlapped and secured to each other on the back of the package or they may be secured to the backing member ID. Ad-

vertising'matter or decorative labeling may be employed either on the outer wrapper I2 or on the top surfaces of flaps I5 and 22.

In using the package the outer wrapper I2 is removed and the flaps I5 and 22 are disengaged.

'Ihe desired number of bacon strips may then be removed from the edge of the package and used. Before replacing the remainder of the package in the refrigerator or other storage place the end ilap 22 and end'wall 23 may flrst be re-folded over the ends of the remaining strips of bacon and pressed down after which the package may be doubled about the

fold lines

35 and 36 to bring the edge I1 adjacent the score line I3 and the flap I5 may be folded over as shown in Fig. 4 to provide a package for storage of reduced width.

While the illustrated form of the invention has been described with reference to specific packoverlie an end of the product and a relatively low end wall connecting the end ilap with the I body of the blank. said end wall being provided of a side and end margin to denne a body portion and side and end panel portions, the side panel portion being adapted to be folded over the front face of the body portion and the end panel portion being further scored transversely of the blank to Vdivide the same into a relatively narrow end wall forming portion and an end flap forming portion, said end flap forming portion being adapted to be folded over the front face of the body portion, said bia-nk being cut away at the corner adjoining Vthe side and end panel portions and being aLso provided with inwardly directed slots extending into the ends of the end wallforming portion whereby to free the ends of the end flap forming portion therefrom, and said side panel and end nap forming portions being transversely scored adjacent the ends thereof remote from each other whereby said side panel and end ilap forming portions may be folded to conform to the contour of the material enclosed when the blank is assembled with the same.

2. A bacon package comprising a generally rectangular backing member of relatively stiff material, a plurality of bacon slices assembled in edgeoverlapped relation lengthwise of one face thereof, a side flap folded over one side margin of the assembled bacon slices, an end ilap folded over an end.margin of the bacon slices, a relatively low end wall connecting thefend iiap with the backing member, said end wall having portions cut away inwardly of its opposite ends to release the end portions of said end flap therefrom; said end portions of the end flap being folded down to conform the same to the contour of the side edges of the assembled bacon slices, and a thin sheet of` transparent materialv secured over the bacon slices and the backing member to hold Vthe same in compact assembled relation. Y

3. A bacon package comprising a generally rec,- tanguiar paper board backing member cut and scored to providev a flap forming panel along one side edge, an end lwall forming panel and an integral end flap forming panel along on end edge, a plurality of bacon slices arranged in lengthwise edge-overlapped relation to said backing member, said side edge flap forming panel being folded into overlapping relation with-portions of the uppermost bacon shoes, said end wall forming panel being folded into4 upstanding relation along one end of the bacon slices and said end iiap forming panel being folded into overlying relation with said one end of the bacon slices and said end wall forming panel having slots lat its ends extending inwardly thereof, whereby the ends of said end flap are free to fold down onto and conform to the contour of the side edges of the bacon.

4. A paperboard blank adapted for wrapping a product consisting of a plurality of bacon slices arranged in edge overlapped relation, said blank being generally rectangular and being longitudinally scored along one side to provide a side ilap which when folded is adapted to overlie one side margin of the product.- said blank being transversely Vscored adjacent one end to provide an end flap with V-shaped slots at opposite ends thereof, said slots extending inwardly of the longitudinal side edges of the body of said blank along the transverse score line which separates said end wall and said end nap whereby the ends of said end iiap are adapted to be folded down to conform said ends to the contour of the side edges of the product.

5. A paperboard blank for wrapping a material which is characterized by a` pluralityl of relatively thin generally rectangular slices arranged lengthwise of the blankv in edge overlapping relation to each other, said blank being generally rectangular and scored along lines spaced inwardly of a side and end margin thereof to dcilne a body panel and side and end panel portions, said end panel portion being further scored transversely. of the blank to divide the saine into a relatively narrow end wall forming portion and an end nap forming portion, said side panel portion and said end flap forming portion being adapted to be folded over the front face of the body panel. said blank being cut away at the comer adjoining the side and end panel portions and said end wall forming portion being cut away inwardly of the side edges of the body panel to release the ends of the end ilap forming portion therefrom whereby to permit said ends to be folded to conform to the contour of the material enclosed when the blank is assembled with the same.

6. A package comprising a body of xneat material which meat material is characterized by v a plurality of relatively thin generally rectanguwhich `when folded is adapted to, lines.

wrapped about the lar meat slices arranged to provide a mass havlng thin side edges tapering laterally thereof and a somewhat thick portion intermediate the side edges. a paperboard backing material scored and folded to provide a body portion on which the meat material is arranged, a relatively narrow side flap extending over one side margin of the meat material and a relatively narrowend flap extending over an adjoining end margin of the meat material, said end nap being connected to the body portion by a relatively low end wall, said end wall having portions vat its Aends disconnected from said end flap and reduced in depth tov permit the end portions of said end ilap to i'old `iiat against the tapering side edges of the meat material, and a thin sheet of transparent wrapping material arranged to be tightly meat material and the backing material.

v'1. A package as recited in claim 6 and interlocking elements on adjoining portions of said side and end flaps securing said side and end flap portions in engaged and connected relation.

8. A package as recited in claim 6 and interlocking elements on adjoining portions of said side and end flaps, said interlocking elements being constructed and arranged whereby to pull said end wall inwardly toward said meat material so that said end wall is positioned at an angle relative to the body portion of the backing material which is slightly less than degrees.

9. A package as recited in claim 6 and said backing material having longitudinally extending parallel score lines intermediate the longitudinal side edges of the body portion, end wall and end flap whereby the package is adapted to be readily folded upon itself about said score 10.Aslicedbaconpackage,inchidingailat elongated rectangular cardboard backing panel, a plurality of bacon slices of substantially the same length as the panel arranged lengthwise on the latter with the slices partially overlapping each other in a direction sidewise of the panel to present a mass which is of substantially uniform thickness throughout the greater part of its width but tapers on' in` thickness toward ythe sides of the panel, an upstanding transversely extending end wall integrally connected with one end of the panel. which end wall is of substantially uniform height throughout the greater part of its width and, following generally the contour of the end of the bacon mass. tapers oi! in height toward the sides of the panel, and a transversely extending cover ilap integrally connected with the upper edge of said end wall, which cover ilap extends flatly over the end of the bacon mass portion of lmiiorm thickness and slopes downwardly with the tapered mass portions toward the sides of the panel at said end, and a covering in overlying relation to said cover flap and the bacon mass exposed beyond the same.

11. A sliced bacon package comprising a generally rectangular backing member of relatively stin' material, a plurality of bacon slices arranged in edge-overlapping relation and extending lengthwise on one face of said backing member. a side flap folded over one side margin of the 8 assembled bacon slices, an end iiap an end margin or the bacon low end wall connecting the backing member, said end wall cut away inwardly of at least one to release the adjacent end portion iiap therefro said end portion of the being folded down to conform the same to the contour of the side edge of the assembled bacon CARL G. MAYEB. OSCAR E. BEII'ERTH.

REFERENCES errno The following references are of record in the ille of this patent: I

' UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

2. A BACON PACKAGE COMPRISING A GENERALLY REETANGULAR BACKING MEMBER OF RELATIVELY STIFF MATERIAL, A PLURALITY OF BACON SLICES ASSEMBLED IN EDGEOVERLAPPED RELATION LENGTHWISE OF ONE FACE THEREOF, A SIDE FLAP FOLDED OVER ONE SIDE MARGIN OF THE ASSEMBLED BACON SLICES, AN END FLAP FOLDED OVER AN END MARGIN OF THE BARCON SILCES, A RELATIVELY LOW END WALL CONNECTING THE END FLAP WITH THE BACKING MEMBER, SAID END WALL HAVING PORTIONS CUT AWAY INWARDLY OF ITS OPPOISITE ENDS TO RELEASE THE END PORTIONS OF SAID END FLAP THEREFROM, SAID END PORTIONS OF THE END FLAP BEING FOLDED DOWN TO CONFORM THE SAME TO THE CONTOUR OF THE SIDE EDGES OF THE ASSEMBLED BACON SILCES, AND A THIN SHEET OF TREANSPARENT MATERIAL SECURED OVER THE BACON SILCES AND THE BACKING MEMBER TO HOLD THE SAME IN COMPACT ASSEMBLED RELATION.