US3014638A

US3014638A - Package construction

Info

Publication number: US3014638A
Application number: US14912A
Authority: US
Inventors: Farley Preston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-03-14
Filing date: 1960-03-14
Publication date: 1961-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1978-12-26

Description

PFARLEY PACKAGE CoNsTRuc'rroN Filediarch M i960 uw 26, mi y JNVENTOR.

Unite 3,014,638 PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION Preston Farley, 2328 Lincolnwood Drive, Evanston, Ill` Filed Mar. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 14,912 l 4 C-laims. (Cl. 229-62) States Patent O capable of inexpensively packaging a wide variety of articles, such as candy, metal fasteners, or thev like,fand at the same time provide a suitable addressing` label which'` is fused to such bagfsection. Furthermore, such prior packages donot have the label affixed vto the bag section simultaneously withl thesealing ofthe bag open end and forming a part of such seal but, instead, require separate steps which complicate fabrication of the package.` A further shortcoming which` oftentimes besets such prior packages is the inability-of the package to withstand abusive handling and atv the same time protect the accommodated articles against dirt and moisture. V

vThus, it is onev vof the objects of this invention vto provide a package which is capable of providing protection forY its contentsl against dirt and moisture, is strong, durable, attractive and lightweight in construction, and is suitable for sending through the mails.

It is a further object of this inventionto` provide a 'package which has a pliable thermoplastic bag section and an addressing label atixed thereto by. heat seal, whereby said label is ,reinforced by a portion of such bag section.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method` of forming a package suitable v'for mailing and ."having a pliable thermoplasticbag section and an addressing label whereby the latter forms a part of the heat seal applied `to effect closing tion. t

It is a still furtherA object of this invention to provide a packagewhich is' easy to handle, is, capable of withof the filling end ofthe bag secstanding abusive treatment, may be vreadily grouped with other similar packages for bulk shipping or storage, is not subjectto deterioration, and will not adversely affect the goods being accommodated.

Furtherand additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawing 'andappended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a'mailing package'is provided which comprises van articleaccommodating bag section formed of a pliable thermoplastic material and an addressing label axedto one end of said bag section. f The label is disposed in straddling relation with respect to the bag section filling endv and is provided with segments which overlie the opposite surfaces of said bag section adjacent said end. The label segments are `affixed to the bag section surfaces by the application of heat which also effects a heat-seal for closing the bag section filling end. L

" For a more complete understanding of the invention,

` reference should be made to the drawing, wherein:

FIGUREA 1 is a perspective view of the improved Apackage ready for mailing;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2'-2 of FIG. 1; and .FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar tol FIG. l at reduced scale, but showing the bag section and label in exploded relation prior to said label being affixed thereto.

Referring now to the drawings'and more particularly to FIG. .l, a rpackage 10 is shown which is adapted Ifor accommodating one or more articles which vary widely in size and shape (i.e., hard candy, powdered confections,

3,014,638 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 ,metal fasteners, etc.). The package 10 is of such construction that, if desired, it may be readily sent through the mails or it may be grouped with other similar packages for bulkshipping or storage.

As lshown in the drawings, 'package l1l) comprises a thermoplastic bag section 12 and an addressing label 13y formed of fibrous material which is adapted to be affixed to the upper, or vlilling,-end of the bag section. The bag section 12 is preferablyformed from an extruded sleeve of pliable, relatively heavy-gauge thermoplastic material (i.e., polyethylene), and is adapted to have vthe lower end 14 thereof closed by a heat seal to-form the bottom of the bag section. The upper edge 15 of the bag section is initially open. as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, to permit readyy lling'thereof with the desiredarticles 11 to be packaged. The size and shape of the bag section may be readily varied from that shown and will be determined `'to a large extent bythe configuration of the article or segments 16 and 17, respectively, which are adapted to partially overlie the exposed front and back surfaces of the bag section. Subsequentto the straddling of end 15 by label 13, portions 16a and 17a of the front and back label segments are clamped between a heating element which simultaneouslyv imparts a predetermined high ternperature thereto which effects-,fusing of the label segments to the bag section and fusing-of the abutting back and front side portions of the bag section. Upon release of the heating element the upper end of lthe bag section is heat-seal closed.

It will be noted that the upper end of the bag section in the illustrated embodiment, extends to the fold-line of the label; however, if desired, the upper end may be foreshortened with respect thereto. In the illustrated embodiment the sandwiched upper end portion of the bag section serves to reinforce the label, Furthermore, if desired, all -of the end portion of the `bag section straddled bythe label may be fused thereto rather than just a portion thereof as shown. The exposed-surfaces of the label segments 16 and 17 may be printed with an appealing greeting or various areas thereof, A, B, C, D, and E, delimited by printed lines. Such areas enable the sender to add a personal greeting'to the package, as well as the address of the recipient and the proper postage.

`While the label is illustrated as being folded along its median line and in straddling relation with the bag section, it is to be understood, of course, that the label could be varied in size and shape and fused to only one surface of the bag section.-

While the bag section l2 has heretofore been described as being preferably formed from an extruded sleeve of polyethylene material, its construction is not to be so limited, as it may be formed from a single sheet of pliable thermoplastic material-having its opposite sides folded so as to overlap one another and heat-sealed.

Once the upper and lower ends of the bag'section are closed by heat sealing, the contents thereof are protected from dirt andmoisture. If desired, the bag section might be filled from the bottom edge 14, in which case the label would have been previously aixed to end 15.

. Thus, it will be seen that an improved Vmailing package has been provided which is of simple, durable and attractherefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim: Y

`1. A package suitable for mailing comprising a bag section Aformed of a pliable thermoplastic material and provided withan upper open end portion for filling and adapted to be closed by heat sealing, saidheat seal being spaced from the top of said upper open, end portion, and

an addressing label overlying at least one face of said bag section open end between said heat seal and the top of said upper open end portion and being affixed thereto by the heat applied to said open end to effect heaty sealing.

thereof. v

2. A package suitable for mailing'comprising a bag i section formed of a pliable thermoplastic material, said bag section having front and back sides interconnected along their side and bottom edge portions and their corresponding upper edge portions -delimting an open end for filling, said open end being adapted to be closed by heat sealing the portions of said front and back sides adjacent said open end, the latter'heat seal being spaced from the top'of said open end; and an addressing label overconnected to form closed side and lbottom portions and an open upper end portion for lling said bag section, said open upper end portion adapted to be closed by h eat scaling the portions of said front and back sides a distance spaced from the top of said upper end portion; and an addressing label folded over to effect str-addling of said bag section upper end portion and the heat sealed part thereof, said label having segments thereof sandwiching therebetween the portions of said front and back sides intermediate the top of said upper end portion and said heat sealed part thereof, said label segments being affixed' by heat sealing to said bag section front and back sides by the heat applied to effect closing of said upper end portion.

r4. A method-of forming a package suitable for mailing from a sleeve of pliableA thermoplastic material open at opposite ends, applyingheat to one end of said cylinder to effect a heat seal and closing thereof and effecting formation of a bag with an opening for filling at the second end, closing said second end subsequent toV filling of said bag by bringing opposite surface portions delimiting said v opening into face-to-'face contact, placing a foldable addressing llabel in straddling relation with said closed secondend, with segments of said label overlying opposite exposed surface portions of said `bag adjacent said second end whereby said opposite surface portions of said bag are sandwiched between said label segments, and applying heat to the end limits of said label segments whereby said label segment end limits are fused to` the overlain bag -portions and the latter are fused together at a distance spaced from the fold of said label andthe second end of said bag section.

lying the portion of at least said front side between the top of saidopen end and the heat seal effecting closing of said open end, said label being affixed thereto by the heat vapplied to said front and back sides to effect heat sealing of said open end.

3. A package suitable for mailing comprising a bag section formed of a pliable thermoplastic material, said bag section having front and back sides peripherally inter- References Cited in the file of this patent i UNiTED STATES PATENTS 1,603,207 Huston oer. 12, 1926 2,146,308 Maxaeid Feb. 7, 1939 v2,488,212 Lloyd Nov. 1s, 1949 2,620,120 Andersen Dec. 2, 1952