US3115293A

US3115293A - Dispensing package

Info

Publication number: US3115293A
Application number: US137602A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard N Hovland
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Primerica Inc
Priority date: 1961-09-12
Filing date: 1961-09-12
Publication date: 1963-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-24

Description

Dec. 24, 1963 H. N` HOVLAND 3,115,293

` DISPENSING PACKAGE Filed Sept. l2. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HOWARD N. HOVLAND Pygmy@- ATTORNEYS Unted States Patent C) 3,115,293 DISPENSING PACKAGE Howard N. Hovland, Appleton, Wis., assigner to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 137,602 7 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) This invention relates to a tamperproof dispensing package which may be made from a single multi-ply blank. More specifically, the invention relates to a package having an opening means defined by a cut-out portion in one of the plies of the multi-ply packaging material and which is suitable for use in packaging cigars, cigarettes and the like.

It is important in the packaging of cigarettes to provide a package which in its original unopened condition maintains the freshness of the cigarettes to insure maximum shelf life. Therefore opening means which utilize lines of weakness extending through the packaging materials to the interior of the package are undesirable. Customarily cigarettes are packaged by first enclosing them in contact with the paper portion of a paper-laminatedto-foil wrapper. They are then overwrapped with a printed paper label covering all of the foil except at the top, and subsequently enclosed in a cellophane overwrap. The package is opened by utilizing a tear strip integral with the cellophane to gain access at the end with the foil showing. The opening is completed by removing the ,foil laminate exposing the cigarettes.

The use of three separate wrapping materials in the conventional cellophane iwrapped package entails high material costs. Further, .the wrapping machinery is more involved than that required if a single multi-ply material were employed. Also, from the consumers standpoint, the necessity of making two openings, namely one through the cellophane with the tear strip and then one through the foil is time consuming. From the standpoint of economy in material cost, of operation and time a package involving only a single wrapping operation and a single opening means integral with and consisting of only the wrapping material would be ideal.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a package made of a composite multi-ply blank which utilizes the configuration of the plies to provide means for easy opening of the package.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a package opening means which does not materially weaken the overall Strength of the unopened package.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a package opening means which does not involve cutting entirely through the blank material, which would destroy the freshness of articles encompassed Within the sealed package.

Still another object of the present invention is to prowide a package opening means which involves a minimum of die cutting in forming the package blank.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a package blank which may be folded and closed on machines employing standard folding and gluing elements.

According to the present invention a package blank is formed of a composite multi-ply sheet material. A portion of one of the plies is out away in a predetermined area, exposing the underlying ply. When the package is folded and closed all of the underlying ply except for the exposed portion is covered. A tearin-g path for the exposed portion of the underlying ply is defined by the edges of the cut-out portion. The package is opened by grasping an extending portion of the exposed underlying ply and detaching along the defined tear path.

Further details, advantages and objects of the invention Frice will be apparent from the following specification and appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the outside surface of an integral blank suitably cut to form a tamperproof package having a tear-out opening means,

'FIGURE la is a partial sectional view of the integral blank taken along line la-la of yFIGURE l showing the ply construction.

FIGURE 2a is a partial sectional view of the integral blank taken along line Za-Za of FIGURE l showing the ply arrangement in the area of the tear-out portion.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG- URE l set up and partially closed to form a package with the product enclosed,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the same partially Closed package at a further stage,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the completed package in closed and sealed condition,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the same completed package showing the tear-out portion partially -removed,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the same completed package at a further stage of opening,

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the same completed package at still a further stage of opening, and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing the opened package.

Referring first to FIGURE l, the package is made of a single, foldable, composite blank A of flexible materials lsuch as paper, cfoil, plastic etc. The composite blank consists of at least two, and preferably three, plies laminated together to give the desired moisture or air impervious qualities. In the preferred embodiment (see also FIGURE la), a web of paper tissue 3 isv suitably laminated to one side of a web of metal foil 2. A web of paper 1 with spaced cut-out portions of predetermined size is then suitably adhered to the other exposed side of the foil ply 2. The foil 2 is exposed through the spaced cut-out portion provided in the paper ply 1.

rIhe blank, shown in FIGURE l, is adapted to be folded so as to form panels and flaps including main panels et), `62, side panels 6l, 63, glue panel 64,

end panels

35, 36, 65, 69,

side panel flaps

33, 33, 67, 71,

closure flaps

32, 34, 37, 39, `66, `63, 70, 72 and -glue panel flaps dit and 73. A portion in the outer ply 1 is cut out to define a rectangular tear-out portion of the underlying ply designated by letter B (See also lFIGURE 2a). An extending tab 50` formed as an integral part of

plies

2 and 3 serves to initiate the opening of the completed package. When the blanks A are cut successively from a continuous web, cut-out portion 51 will result in the edge of the blank opposite from which the tab Si) extends. The function of the enumerated elements at the upper-end of the blank will be more fully described hereinafter.

FIGURE la is a partial cross-section of the blank of FIGURE l showing the arrangement of the plies. On the bottom of the blank and the inside of the finished package is the paper tissue ply 3 and on the top of the blank and the outside of the finished package is the paper ply l. Sandwiched between the two aforementioned plies is the foil ply 2. Similarly, FIGURE 2a is a partial cross section of the blank of FIGURE l showing the arrangement of 4the plies. Since FIGURE 2a is taken through the area of the rectangular tear-out portion B, part of ply l is missing. The perimeter of exposed ply 2 definedby the perimeter of the removed portion of ply l defines the tear-out portion B.

The paper ply off blank A as shown in FIGURE 1 is positioned `on the outside surface of the completed package. The blank is formed into a package by folding the blank A around a mandrel in ya conventional manner to form the

main panels

60, 62,

side panels

61, 63, glue panel 64, and

end panels

65, 69. The outer side of glue panel 6d is coated with adhesive and adhered to the inner surface of main panel 60. Side panel flaps 67, 71, glue panel flap 73 and

closure flaps

66, 68, 76, 72, are then folded inwardly and adhered in a conventional manner to complete the lower end closure. Next, the articles lto be packaged are inserted in the set-up package and the closing ci the top end commenced. Alternatively, since the package is symmetrical with regard to the panels yand iiaps comprising the blank, the tcp end closure could 'be made first and the articles to be packaged inserted throughl the bottom.

The closure is accomplished by iirst `folding in

side panelv liaps

33 and 38 along fold lines 11 and 13, respectively, to lie superposed on top of the packaged articles parallel to the upper end of

main panels

60 and 62. Simultaneously, triangular closure iiaps 32, 37, 34 and 39'are infolded about `

fold lines

15, 18, 19, and 22, respectively, to lie superposed against the inner surfaces of ythe extending

end panels

30, 36, respectively.

Fold lines

16, 17, 20 and 21, connecting

closure aps

32, 3d, 37 and 39 to `

side panel flaps

33 and 38, respectively, lie parallel and adjacent to the upper edges of

main panels

60 and 62 defined `by prospective fold lines 10' and 12. 'Ilhis stage in the lclosing ofthe package is shown in FIG- URE 2.

Next, adhesive is applied to the exposed inner surfaces or' closure aps 34 and 37, and end panel 36 is then folded inwardly about `fold line 12 to lie superposed on the ends of the packaged articles. Simultaneously, the adhesive bearing surfaces of closure aps 34 and 37 are adhered to

side panel flaps

33 and 38, respectively, as shown in FIGURE 3. The closure is completed by applying a thin layer of adhesive to the exposed inner surfaces of

closure aps

32 and 39 and -along the outer free edge of end panel 30` except for tab 4Si); End panel 30 is then infolded to lie superposed on and adhered to end panel 36 at which

time closure liaps

32 and 39 become adhered to the adjacent underlying iiaps to give the completed sealed package shown in FIGURE 4.

In the closed package,

portions

31, 33, and 35 of tearout portion B are visible. Except for the aforemen- Itioned portions the entire surface of the underlying ply 2 is'covered. The edge of the outer ply 1 intermediate panel 30 and portion 31 deiines the initial tear path for opening the package. Similarly the remainder of the tear path is `deiined by the edges of the outer ply 1

adjacent portions

31, 33 and 35 Iand denoted by fold lines 10, l11, and 12.

Referring to FIGURE 5, the package is opened by grasping `the pull tab 50 and pulling upward and away from main panel `62 toward panel 60, the edge of the outer ply 1 serving as a force directing line. Upon reaching the opposite main panel 60 the direction or pull is changed'so that tearing occurs along fold line `1() towards side panel 61. Upon reaching the juncture of fold line with fold line 11, the direction of pull is again chan-ged so that tearing occurs along fold line 11 from fold line 10 to fold line 12 as shown in FIGURE 6. The direction of tearing is again changed upon reaching fold line 12 so that the tear-out portion is `freed along fold line 12 up to the juncture of the edge of portion 35 with end panel 36, as shown in FIGURE 7. The removal is cornpleted by tearing portion 35 along the free edge 36a of the `outer ply of end panel 36. FIGURE 8 shows the opened package ready for dispensing with the itear-out portion removed. As is readily apparent, the tearing has followed along the edges of the outer ply 1 of the package material. Since the tissue ply 3 `on the inner side of the foilply 2 offers relatively little tear resistance and since it is laminated to the foil 2, it is readily detached along with the foiltear-out portion. In order for ease of opening and successful operation in removal of the tear-out portion it is important that the underlying ply or plies yare frangible enough to readily tear along the defined path when opening of the package is initiated.

It is readily apparent that the present invention 4is applicable to a variety of packages utilizing dierent sheet materials composed of plies of a large variety of suitable sheet materials to provide opening means as previously describe-d.

The present invention provides a package having a tamperproof opening means which does not destroy the ability of the package to maintain the Ifreshness of the articles enclosed therein. Further the use of 'the edges of the outer ply ydirects the tearing 'force along a particular delined path. The opening means is readily accessible and easily detached, yet does not materially weaken the inner plies of the packaging material. Although exempliied with the opening means on jus-t a portion of the top end of the package, it is understood that the opening means may be employed on either a smaller or larger area or the package.

I claim:

i1. In a `composite wrapper comprising multiple plies laminated together and adapted to be folded to form a rectangular cigarette package having opposed main panels, and alternating therewith opposed side panels, flaps attached to the end edges of said side panels, and end panels attached to the end edges of said main panels; a cut-out portion in the outer ply extending from one of said flaps into portions of the end panels adjacent thereto defining a tear path in the Icompleted package for the underlying ply at least part of the edges of said cut-out portionl being located immediately adjacent prospective fold lines along which fold lines said blank is folded to form a package; said edges of the cut-out portion in conjunction with the adjacent fold lines determining a force directing path for opening the completed package.

2. composite blank adapted rto be -formed into a rectangular cigarette package, said blank being divided by `fold lines into a pair of opposed rectangular main panels and, alternating therewith, a pair lof opposed rectangular side panels; end panels Aattached to the end edges of said main panels; and flaps attached to the end edges of said Aside panels; said blank comprising multiple plies laminated together with the outermost ply having a cut-out portion located in one of said aps and extending into portions of the end panels immediately adjacent thereto; one edge of the cut-out portion essentially coinciding 'with the fold lines deiining the end edges off the adjacent main panels and side panel; the edges of said cut-out portion defining a tear path in the completed package for the underlying ply.

3. A dispensing package formed `Of a composite multiply blank cut `and folded comprising a pair of opposed main panels, a pair of opposed side panels connected to the side edges of said main panels, opposed end panels connected to the end edges of said main panels, flaps attached to the end edges of said side panels and to the side edges of said end panels; portions of the end panels adjacent the outer corners thereof being folded inwardly on diagonals running from the inner corners of said end panels so as to lie between and against the inner surface of adjacent portions of the end panels, said flaps lying in subpose'd relationship with respect to the infolded portions `of the end panels in the completed package; the outer ply of said package having a cut out portion located in one of the flaps and extending into portions of the adjacent end panels defining a tear path for the underlying ply for opening package, with the edges of the cutout portion lying in close proximity to the adjacent side and main panels so that the edges of the cut portion and the adjacent fold lines direct the tearing force along a specific path to facilitate easy `opening of the package.

4. The package of claim 3 wherein the cut-out portion extends -an appreciable distance beyond the juncture of the diagonals Iwith the outer edges of the end panels.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein a pull tab extends outward from one of the end panels opposite the adjoining main panel between the end of the diagonal ,and the edge of the cut-out portion to facilitate initiating the,r

opening of the package.

6. A composite blank adapted :to be formed into a rectangular package, said blank being Idivided by fold lines into alternating pairs of opposed main panels, and side panels, end panels and laps attached to the end edges of said main panels and attached to said side panels, respectively; said blank comprising multiple plies with the outermost ply having a cut-out portion located in one of said flaps and extending into portions of the end panels immediately adjacent thereto; the underlying ply being frangible in the area underlying the cut-out portion so as to readily tear along -a tear path defined by the edges of the cut-out portion, the remainder of the blank being intact, integral and imperforate.

7. A composite blank 'adapted to be formed into a rectangular package, said blank being divided by fold lines into a pair of opposed rectangular main panels; a pair of opposed rectangular side panels; end panels attached to the end edges of said main panels; and aps attached to -the end edges of said side panels; said blank comprising multiple plies, the outermost ply having a cut-out portion located in one of said llaps and extending into portions of the end panels immediately adjacent thereto, one edge of the cut-out portion essentially coinciding with the fold lines defining the end edges of the adjacent main panels and side panel; the underlying ply being frangible, in the area deiined by the cut-out portion so as to readily tear along a tear path formed by the edges of the cut-out portion in the outermost ply, the remainder of the blank being intact, integral and imperforate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,005,351 Rosenblatt June 18, 1935 2,688,434 Udel Sept. 7, 1954 2,826,296 Mullinix Mar. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,033,267 Francek Apr. 1, 1953

Claims

2. A COMPOSITE BLANK ADAPTED TO BE FORMED INTO A RECTANGULAR CIGARETTE PACKAGE, SAID BLANK BEING DIVIDED BY FOLD LINES INTO A PAIR OF OPPOSED RECTANGULAR MAIN PANELS AND, ALTERNATING THEREWITH, A PAIR OF OPPOSED RECTANGULAR SIDE PANELS; AND FLAPS ATTACHED TO THE END EDGES OF SAID MAIN PANELS; AND FLAPS ATTACHED TO THE END EDGES OF SAID SIDE PANELS; SAID BLANK COMPRISING MULTIPLE PLIES LAMINATED TOGETHER WITH THE OUTERMOST PLY HAVING A CUT-OUT PORTION LOCATED IN ONE OF SAID FLAPS AND EXTENDING INTO PORTIONS OF THE END PANELS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THERETO; ONE EDGE OF THE CUT-OUT PORTION ESSENTIALLY COINCIDING WITH THE FOLD LINES DEFINING THE END EDGES OF THE ADJACENT MAIN PANELS AND SIDE PANEL; THE EDGES OF SAID CUT-OUT PORTION DEFINING A TEAR PATH IN THE COMPLETED PACKAGE FOR THE UNDERLYING PLY.