US2678770A - Packaging device - Google Patents

Description

J. H. BONINI PACKAGING DEVICE Filed Aug. 28, 1951 INVENTOR.

JOHN H. 50mm BY Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGING DEVICE John H. Bonini, Appleton, Wis., assignor to Marathon Corporation, Rothschild, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 28, 1951, Serial No. 243,930 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-87) This invention relates to a packaging device and more particularly to a paperboard collapsible retainer for individual articles.

With increasing demand for pre-packaged foods brought about by the self-service method of selling, there is a greater need for semi-rigid devices for improving the packages. It is frequently the practice for the store keeper to simply take an article of food and wrap it in a flexible transparent wrapper, such as cellophane. Such a package has little eye appeal. Furthermore, where a number of individual articles are so packaged, the package is frequently loose, thus uncomfortable to handle, and when the articles are compressible, such as sausages or bread slices, the articles are frequently pressed together and deformed in handling. Various packaging devices, such as paperboard holders or foundation pieces, for example, bun collars, meat boards, and the like, have been provided to improve the prepackaged article where the cost of a carton is not warranted. These devices are formed from blanks and when set up are semi-rigid so as to retain the article or articles in position for overwrapping.

It is the object of this invention to provide a novel semi-rigid packaging device for use in packaging individual articles in two separate layers which may be readily formed from a flat blank and when formed be adapted to hold the articles snugly in place. It is a further object to provide a paperboard blank suitably cut and scored to permit its being formed into such a retainer. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and appended drawings of a preferred paperboard embodiment of my packaging device, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package of sausages employing my packaging device,

Figure 2 is a perspective View of my packaging device,

Figure 3 is an end view of my packaging device. and

Figure 4 is a plan view of a paperboard blank from which my packaging device is formed.

My packaging device, when set up, provides two sleeves A and B. The bottom sleeve A is defined by a main panel I, side panels 2 and 3 perpendicular thereto, and secondary or deck panels 4 and 5 parallel to panel I. The second sleeve B is defined by the deck panels 4 and 5, side tabs 6 and I perpendicular thereto, and a pair of strap members 8 and 9 parallel to panels I, 4 and 5 and having interlocking means I!) and II. To support the deck panels in a spaced relation with respect to each other and above the main panel 2 there may be provided a supporting panel I which may depend from the deck panels and rest as a leg on and perpendicular to the main panel I at I3.

In Figure 1 a plurality of sausages are shown retained in each sleeve. This unit can readily be overwrapped in cellophane either by hand or in an automatic wrapping machine. By providing a double sleeve device, and particularly a device which retains the articles in layers, I provide a more compact package for relatively larger quantities of goods or numbers of articles. Furthermore, by separating the layers and n supporting the deck panel independently of the product I protect the articles from being mashed together in handling.

As is seen in Figure 4, all of the various panels and the straps are formed by suitable cuts and scores from a single piece of paperboard. Side panels 2 and 3 are connected to opposite sides of the main panel I along score lines 28 and 2I. Side tabs 6 and 7 are in turn connected to panels 2 and 3 along respective score lines 22 and 23. Deck panels 4 and 5 are connected to panel 2 along score line 22 also. Straps 8 and 9' are connected to side tabs 6 and 1 along respective score lines 24 and 25. Strap 8 and side tab 6 are cut out of a single panel by cut lines 26, 21 and 28 leaving the deck panels 4 and 5. Panel I2 is connected to the deck panels along score lines 29 and 30. The score lines provide hinge connections between the parts so delineated. The interlocking means ill and II may be of any conventional type used in carton construction. In the embodiment shown I employ slits 3| and 32 with V-shaped entrances 33' and 34. This paperboard blank may be suitably printed with sales promotion or advertising material and is shipped in the fiat, that is, in collapsed condition.

In using the packaging device the articles to be packaged are placed on the main panel I. If sausages as shown, these may be placed side by side sufiicient in number to overlie the entire main panel and preferably to extend slightly beyond the confines of the main panel I. Next the side panels 2 and 3 are folded up around the product along their respective score lines, which serve as hinges, and the deck panels 4 and 5 are folded parallel to panel I to overlie the sausages. The supporting panel I2 is folded down around the product and inserted inside and in face-toface relation with side panel 3 as clearly shown in Figure 3. Another layer of product is then placed on the deck panels in the same manner as on the main panel, deck panels 4 and 5 forming the floor of the second or upper sleeve B. When this layer has been placed in position the ends of each of the straps 8 and 9 are pulled towards each other around the product and the locking means l0 and II are engaged. By having the product cover a slightly larger area than the main panel and the deck panel the product is slightly compressed (when the straps are fastened) making a very compact package from which the product will not 'fall out.

It will be readily apparent that strap 8 and tab 6 are formed from the very paperboard packaging material resulting from the spacing apart of the two deck panels 4 and 5, thus permitting a considerable and important economy-of manufacture. The combined lengths ofstraps 8 and 9 from their hinge connection 24 and 25 to their locking slits 3| and .32, respectively, is of course substantially equal to the corresponding dimensions of panels I, 4 and 5.

As pointed out above the package may be completedby suitably over-wrapping preferably with a transparent wrapper if the product so requires.

Although I have shown a preferred embodiment of my packaging device, it is appreciated that other modifications will occur to those skilled in the-art within the scope of the following claims which are intended to define my invention.

.1 claim:

1 A paperboard blank for forming a collapsible packaging device the blank being suitably cut and scored to provide a main panel, a pair of opposed side panels each along one side edge hingedly connected to a side edge of the main panel, a pair of Opposed side tabs each connected to a Side panel at an intermediate portion of the side edge thereof opposite to said one side edge, a Pair of opposed, interengageable straps each hingedly connected to a side tab and having interengaging means adjacent their remote ends and being of combined length from their hinge connections with the side tabs to theirinterengaging means substantially equal to the corresponding dimension of the main panel, a pair of spaced deck panels hingedly connected to said opposite side edge of one of said side panels and lying one to each side of the side tab connected to said one side panel, said deck panels being spaced apart by the side tab connected to said'one side panel and the strap connected thereto, the length of said deck panels being substantially equal to the corresponding dimension of the main panel, the blank being foldable with the side panels and side tabs perpendicular to the main panel, the

deck panels andstraps parallel to the main panel with the straps supported above the deck panels vby the side tabs, and with the straps interenferenccs Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 189,454 Goldback Apr. 10, 1877 2,211,340 Mehrkens Aug. 13, 1940 2,359,298 Brogden Oct. 3, 1944 2,554,190 Hennessey May 22, 1951 2,558,713 Williamson June 26, 1951 2,646,357 Seiferth July 21, 1953

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