US3087605A - Linen display package - Google Patents

Description

April 30, 1963 M. KESTER LINEN DISPLAY PACKAGE 2 s-sheet 1 Filed De 5' 1960 INVENTOR: MELVlN E, KESTER ATTORNEYS April 30, 1963 M. E. KESTER LINEN DISPLAY PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1960 M ELVlN E. KEsTela, INVENTOR BY a ATTORNEYS United States 3,087,605 LINEN DISPLAY PACKAGE Melvin E. Kester, Charlotte, N.C., assignor to Package Products Company, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Bee. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 73,750 4 Claims. (Cl. 206-453) This invention relates to display packages and, more particularly, to an improved economical package which is self supporting in a variety of positions for advantageously displaying decorative linen goods, such as sheets and pillow cases having an attractive design or pattern thereon.

The recent advent of decorative linen articles of the type described and the present consumer preference that such articles be sold singly, rather than in pairs as heretofore, have created various new and frequently conflicting problems of packaging and package design. With decorative linen articles, far more so than with those of plainer character, it is imperative for successful merchandising that their packaging render them capable of being advantageously displayed to prospective purchasers. Such displayability first requires that the decorative article be capable of being viewed within its package. This in turn is contingent upon the nature of the various packaging componentsfor example, the transparency and size thereof-and the relation of the linen article thereto. Secondly, displayability demands that the package itself be capable of being situated in a variety of positions either alone or in pleasing arrangement with other similar packages. These demands, and the packaging problems they created, existed only to a minor extent or not at all with plain linen articles. An additional packaging problem inherent to a greater extent with decorative linen articles is that of identification. While previously a package had to provide space merely for indicia denoting the type and size of the packaged article, additional space for indicia identifying pattern or design is now also required. The problems associated with the advent of decorative linen articles have been compounded to a large extent by the more or less concurrent purchaser demand for the packaging of such articles singly, rather than in pairs as previously. Single-item packages possess less bulk, and this has heretofore resulted in packages which either are not self sustaining or in which an insert component is included to achieve sufficient self-supporting rigidity. Neither type of package has been satisfactory. Those not self supporting fail to advantageously display the decorative features of the packaged article, as noted previously. This has also been true with respect to some packages containing inserts, since the inserts have been used in such a way as to cover a large portion of the article and thereby defeat the primary purpose of their utilization. Placing the insert Within, rather than overlying, the article obviates the latter objection, but such placement and the insert itself necessarily increase package cost, which cost is now a factor of critical importance due to the necessity for two packages where previously one sufficed. Finally, the heretofore known single-item packages have been of substantially smaller thickness than the prior type containing a pair of linen articles. Such smaller thickness packages have provided less end surface space for identifying indicia although more space than ever is now necessary for this purpose, and additionally do not utilize to their greatest capacity the existing package storage and display facilities of which most retailers of linen articles are now possessed.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to satisfy and reconcile the foregoing criteria and requirements by the provision of a novel display package for 3,087,605 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 linen articles which is economical both in its construction and mode of assembly and which, even when including but a single linen article, is self supporting in a variety of positions, is of a thickness approximating that of prior packages containing a pair of articles, and which permits a large area of the decorative surface of the packaged article to be readily viewed by prospective purchasers.

More specific objects are the provision of a linen display package in which the packaged article is folded to form a generally parallelepiped bundle having a desired relatively large thickness and having an inherent expensive tendency utilized to facilitate the economical incorporation therewith of the remaining package components. It has been found that one way in which a bundle possessing the characteristics described can be attained is by making the final fold of the article in zig-zag fashion.

Still other objects and advantages will be in part evident and in part pointed out hereinafter in the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of the package;

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the package;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-section along line 3-3 of FiGURE 1 of the box-like retainer member and identifying label member of the package, the overwrapping material and linen bundle not being shown;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view on a reduced scale of the blank from which the box-like retainer member is formed;

FIGURE 5- is a plan view on a reduced scale of the blank from which the identifying label member is formed;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation showing in a slightly exaggerated manner the engagement between the top edge of the retainer member and the linen bundle received therein prior to incorporation with the transparent overwrapping material;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the package;

FIGURE 8 is a rear perspective view of the package, similar to FIGURE 2, but with components broken away to better show details of assembly and construction; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view showing a mode of folding a linen article to form the linen bundle of the package.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the display package identified in its entirety in FIGURES 1, 2, 7 and 8 by the numeral 10 includes generally a single linen article 11 folded to form a bundle 12 of parallelepiped shape, an open-ended box-like retainer 14 receiving the lower portion of bundle 12, an identifying label 16 overlying a portion of retainer .14, and transparent overwrapping material '18. The .thickness of package 10* approximates that of dual-item packages heretofore known so as to afford optimum utilization of storage facilities already possessed by most retailers of linen articles, and so as to impart a desirable rigidity to the package. Each of the surfaces of package 10 is substantially planar, rather than rounded, and this configuration in conjunction with the aforementioned rigidity of the package permits all but the top thereof to be utilized as bases upon which package 10 can he stood in self-supporting fashion. It will be apparent that this capability enables package 10 to be utilized in a wide variety of display arrangements, as contrasted to ordinary packages which cannot be stood upon end or edge due to their lacking the requisite thickness and rigidity, and is therefore highly desirable.

The relatively large thickness of package 10 and the generally planar configuration of its surfaces are attributable in part to the shape of bundle 12, that is, to the folded shape of the linen article of the package. The nature of the folding operation by which bundle 12 is formed is also significant since it should desirably impart an inherent expansive tendency, or resiliency, to the bundle. A method of achieving these desired results is by making one of the folds, preferably the terminal fold, of bundle 12 of Zig-zag or accordian fashion. This is illustrated in FIGURE 9, in which a linen article 11 such as a sheet is shown in an already partially folded condition. The partially folded condition of article 11 can be achieved in any desired manner, but preferably by folding the same lengthwise along successive medians, then laterally at a crease olfset approximately slightly from the center, and lastly by turning selv-age edges 13 of the article inwardly as shown. The terminal fold of Zig-zag fashion is then made in the direction of the two-headed arrows of FIGURE 9, with selvage edges 13 being secured between and parallel to adjacent creases. In the parallelepiped bundle 12 thus produced, the zig-zag fold tends to straighten and thus expand the bundle outwardly by forcing major faces 11 away from each other. Additionally, the plurality of creases which the zig-zag fold leaves at the side faces of bundle 12 causes these side faces to possess a more planar configuration than would otherwise exist with only a single larger crease at each side. The interior location of selvage edges 13 prohibits them from either disrupting the generally planar nature of these side faces of the bundle or distracting from its uniform, pleasing appearance.

The retainer 14 receiving bundle 12 may be formed from the blank 19 shown in FIGURE 4, which blank may be constructed of any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material. Fifteen point bleach sulphate board has the necessary strength and rigidity, and is also satisfactorily low in price. Blank 19 has fold lines 15 defining panels 29, 21 which constitute side walls of the retainer member; panels 22, 23 constituting front and rear major walls thereof, respectively; and panel 24 constituting the end wall thereof. Panels 20, 21 are provided with integral tabs 25 and panels 23, 24 possess integral flaps 26, 28, respectively. The outer face of flap 26 has an adhesive coating, as shown. By shaping blank 19 along its fold lines 15 in a well-known manner with tabs 25 and flap 28 positioned inwardly of panel 24, and adhesively securing flap 26 to the inner face of panel 20 (see FIGURE 3), the box-like retainer 14 can be easily and quickly formed.

The retainer thus formed receives bundle 12 with its end wall 24 engaging an end face of the bundle, its major walls 22, 23 engaging major walls 11 of the bundle, and with its side walls 20, 21 engaging the side faces of the bundle. The height of retainer 14 is preferably only approximately one-third the height of bundle 12. A considerable portion of the bundle therefore projects above and through the open top of the retainer, permitting the design or pattern upon the linen to be readily viewed by prospective purchasers. This exposed design or pattern simultaneously identifies the contents and enhances the appearance of package 10. To further increase the attractiveness of the package, the outer surface of retainer 14 may be provided with a decorative foil lamination (not shown) or with embossed or printed designs or indicia, such as indicated by the numeral 29 in FIGURE 1.

Opposing the expansive tendency of bundle 12 is a primary function of retainer 14, and to achieve this function the distance between major walls 22, 23 of the retainer is less than the thickness of bundle 12 in its maximum expanded condition. That is, the distance between major walls 22, 23 of the retainer is such that these walls not only engage the adjacent major faces 11 of bundle 12, but additionally exert forces thereon opposing expansion of the bundle by outward displacement of such faces under the impetus of the zigzag fold therebetween. The restraining forces exerted by walls 22, 23 upon faces 11 of bundle 12 prevent any portion of the bundle from expanding to its maximum possible extent. Prior to incorporation of overwrapping material 18 with package 10, however, that portion of bundle 12 projecting through and above the open end of retainer 14 is expanded outwardly further than that portion within the retainer as shown in slightly exaggerated fashion in FIGURE 6. This condition is only temporary. As will be apparent from a comparison of FIGURES 6 and 7, overwrapping material 18 is subsequently placed about the retainer and bundle in such a manner as to additionally oppose the expansive tendency of bundle 12 and maintain the thickness of the projecting portion of the bundle approximately equal to the thickness of that portion within retainer 14, so that the bundle is of substantially uniform thickness throughout its height and its major faces 11 are generally planar. Moreover, the temporary bulged condition of the bundle illustrated in FIG- URE 6 has been found to be highly desirable in at least one respect. The bulged faces 11 of bundle 12 immediately adjacent the open end of the retainer cover or shield the greater length of the edge 30 of such open end. Edge 30 is frequently rough or raw and this shielding thereof has been found to prevent its tearing or marring material 18 during the subsequent overwrapping operation, as would otherwise likely occur.

Prior to the overwrapping operation, and preferably prior to placing the bundle in the retainer, an identifying label 16 is incorporated with the retainer in a novel and advantageous manner. Label 16 may be formed from a blank 32, shown in FIGURE 5, having fold lines 34 defining panels 36, 38 and integral anchoring flaps 40, 42, respectively. Panels 36, 38 are of such a size that when label 16 is formed from the blank by folding along lines 34, panel 36 will overlie rear wall 23 of retainer 14 and panel 38 will overlie end wall 24 thereof, as best shown in FIGURE 2. The panels are maintained in these respective positions upon walls of retainer 14 by the opposing forces exerted by and between the retainer and bundle upon anchoring flaps 40, 42 of label 16. Thus, as best shown in FIGURES 3 and 8, anchoring fiap 40 extends from panel 36 through the open end of retainer 14 to a position between rear wall 23 of the retainer and the adjacent face 11 of bundle 12, and is there subjected to the heretofore discussed opposing forces between such wall and face. Similarly, anchoring flap 42 extends from panel 38 through the hinged closed end of retainer 14 to a position between front wall 22 of the retainer and flap 28 thereof, and is there subjected to the opposing forces between wall 22 and the face 11 of bundle 12 adjacent to flap 28 and that wall. This mode of incorporating label 16 with package 10 has numerous advantages, a primary one of which is that panels 36, 38 are securely maintained against accidental displacement from their positions upon retainer 14. Additionally, attachment of the label can be effected efiiciently and economically since no fastening materials or substances, such as glue, are required. It will also be noted that attachment of label 16 in the manner described further assists in shielding a portion of edge 30 of the open end of retainer 14, which shielding is highly desirable as noted heretofore.

In its described position adjacent retainer 14, the primary function of label 16 is to carry pictorial matter or indicia, such as identified by the numeral 44 in FIGURES 1 and 2, further identifying the contents of package 10. The relatively large thickness of package 10 permits label 16 to display its indicia 44 not only upon panel 36, but also upon panel 38. The indicia is therefore capable of being viewed irrespective of the position of the package, which will be recognized as a desirable capability not possessed by many heretofore known single-item display packages due to their having too small a thickness to provide the requisite space upon their ends. Since the label performs no supporting function, the blank 32 from which it is formed is constructed of material considerably lighter in gauge than that of blank 19 of retainer 14. Such lighter gauge material is, of course, less expensive and also is considerably less costly to emboss or print than is heavier material, particularly when full color printing is employed. It is therefore contemplated that pattern, style, type and size modifications of the various linen articles to be packaged be reflected only on the labels, as this can be done relatively inexpensively thereon, and that the retainers be of standardized appearance. Packagers of linen articles need therefore maintain a diversified supply of the relatively inexpensive labels only, and their inventory of retainers can be maintained at a minimal level. Having less of their capital invested in inventory results, of course, in additional savings to those packagers employing the instant invention.

Further assurance that label 16 will not be accidentally displaced from retainer 14 is provided by the final step in the formation of package 10, that is, overwrapping with a suitable sheet material 18. Such material should, of course, be at least partially transparent so to leave visible the design or pattern of article 11 upon the projecting portion of bundle 12 and the indicia 44 upon label 16. It is also desirable that material 18 possess a soft feel, so as to be pleasing to the touch as well as the eye of prospective purchasers; that it not dry out readily, so as to permit indefinite storage of the package if necessary; and that it resist stretching. The latter characteristic is necessary since, as noted heretofore, material 18 serves not only to protect the contents of package 10, but additionally opposes the expansive tendency of bundle 12 so as to maintain major faces 11 thereof substantially planar (compare FIGURES 6 and 7). Various overwrapping materials possessing these desired characteristies are commercially available, as is machinery for performing the overwrapping operation, as those skilled in the art are aware.

The final package is highly attractive, clearly displays its contents, bears the requisite identifying indicia, and is capable of being stood in a variety of positions even though containing only a single linen article. Its components are few in number, of inexpensive standardized construction, and adapted to be placed in association with each other with facility, all of which make the package economical to utilize. It will therefore be seen that the instant invention provides a display package achieving the various objects heretofore set forth along with many practical advantages.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set for a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A linen display package comprising a linen article folded upon itself at least partially in zig-zag fashion to form a parallelepiped bundle, said zig-zag fold extending between a pair of opposed faces of said bundle and tending to expand said bundle by forcing said faces outwardly away from each other; a box-like retainer member having an open end and a pair of spaced apart opposed walls, said bundle extending within said retainer member through said open end with said walls exerting a force upon said faces of said bundle opposing the expansive force thereof; an identifying label member having a panel overlying an outer surface portion of said retainer member and an anchoring flap integral with said panel, said flap extending within said retainer member and secured between one of said walls thereof and the adjacent face of said bundle by the opposing forces therebetween; and overwrapping material closely surrounding said bundle and members and further opposing the expansive force of said bundle.

2. A linen display package comprising a linen article folded upon itself to form a parallelepiped bundle, one of said folds being of zig-zag fashion and interconnecting a pair of opposed faces of said bundle, said zig-zag fold tending to expand said bundle by forcing said faces outwardly away from each other; a box-like retainer member having an open end and a pair of spaced apart opposed walls, said bundle extending within said retainer member through said open end with said walls engaging said faces of said bundle and exerting a force upon said faces opposing the expansive force of said bundle; an identifying label member having a panel lying upon an outer surface portion of one of said walls of said retainer member and an anchoring flap hingedly connected to said panel, said flap extending through said open end of said retainer member and secured between said one wall thereof and the adjacent face of said bundle by the opposing forces therebetween; and transparent overwrapping material surrounding said bundle and members and further opposing the expansive force of said bundle.

3. A linen display package as in claim 2, wherein approximately one-third of said bundle is received within said retainer member and approximately two-thirds of said bundle projects therefrom.

4. A linen display package comprising a linen article folded upon itself a plurality of times to form a parallelepiped bundle having pairs of opposed major, side and end faces, the terminal fold being zig-zag fashion and interconnecting said major faces, said zig-zag fold tending to expand said bundle by forcing said major faces outwardly aWay from each other; a semi-rigid box-like retainer member having a pair of opposed major walls, a pair of opposed side walls, a hinged closed end wall and an open end opposite said end wall; said bundle being received within said retainer member with one of said end faces of said bundle engaging said end wall of said retainer member and with said major walls of said retainer member engaging said major faces of said bundle, the height of said bundle relative to the height of said retainer member being such that said bundle projects through and beyond said open end of said retainer mem ber, the thickness of said bundle relative to the distance between said major walls of said retainer member being such that said major walls of said retainer member exert a force upon said major faces of said bundle opposing the expansive force thereof; an identifying label member having a pair of hingedly connected panels and anchoring flaps integral with said panels, one of said panels of said label member lying upon an outer surface portion of one of said major walls of said retainer member, the other of said panels lying upon an outer surface portion of said end wall of said retainer member, said anchoring flap integral with said one panel extending therefrom through said open end of said retainer member and between said one of said major walls of said retainer member and the major face of said bundle adjacent thereto, said anchoring flap integral with said other of said panels extending within said retainer member by said hinged closed end Wall and disposed between the other of said major Walls of said retainer member and the major face of said bundle adjacent thereto, said anchoring flaps being secured between said major walls of said retainer member and said major faces of said bundle by the opposing forces therebetween and thereby maintaining said panels of said label member against displacement from said outer surface portions of said retainer member; and transparent overwrapping material closely surrounding said bundle and members, said material exerting a force assisting said retainer member in opposing the expansive tendency of said bundle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 933,004 Stingily Aug. 31, 1900 1,860,812 Marshall May 31, 1932 1,906,722 Rosenberg May 2, 1933

Claims (1)

1. A LINEN DISPLAY PACKAGE COMPRISING A LINEN ARTICLE FOLDED UPON ITSELF AT LEAST PARTIALLY IN ZIG-ZAG FASHION TO FORM A PARALLELEPIPED BUNDLE, SAID ZIG-ZAG FOLD EXTENDING BETWEEN A PAIR OF OPPOSED FACES OF SAID BUNDLE AND TENDING TO EXPAND SAID BUNDLE BY FORCING SAID FACES OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER; A BOX-LIKE RETAINER MEMBER HAVING AN OPEN END AND A PAIR OF SPACED APART OPPOSED WALLS, SAID BUNDLE EXTENDING WITHIN SAID RETAINER MEMBER THROUGH SAID OPEN END WITH SAID WALLS EXERTING A FORCE UPON SAID FACES OF SAID BUNDLE OPPOSING THE EXPANSIVE FORCE THEREOF; AN IDENTIFYING LABEL MEMBER HAVING A PANEL OVERLYING AN OUTER SURFACE PORTION OF SAID RETAINER MEMBER AND AN ANCHORING FLAP INTEGRAL WITH SAID PANEL, SAID FLAP EXTENDING WITHIN SAID RETAINER MEMBER AND SECURED BETWEEN ONE OF SAID WALLS THEREOF AND THE ADJACENT FACE OF

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