US3347365A

US3347365A - Package construction and method of making the same or the like

Info

Publication number: US3347365A
Application number: US496852A
Authority: US
Inventors: Garland B Funkhouser
Original assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Current assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Priority date: 1965-10-18
Filing date: 1965-10-18
Publication date: 1967-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-17

Description

Oct. 17, 1967 FUNKHQUSER 3,347,365

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE Filed QCC- 18, 1965 s Sheets-Sheet i VE N TOR! I GARLA B. FUNKHOUSER HIS ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1967 5. B. FUNKHOUSER 3,347,365

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FICA Filed Oct. 18, 1965 lNVEN OR GARLAND B. FUNKHOUSEF BY M w J 7 FI MZm.

HIS ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1967 FUNKHOUSER 3,347,365

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE V Filed oct. 18, 1965 s Sheets-Sheet s INVE N TOR GARLAND B.FUNKHOUSER ms ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,347,365 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 3,347,365 PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE Garland B. Funkhouser, Waynesboro, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 496,852 20 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to an improved package construction as well as to an improved method for making such a pack-age construction or the like.

It is well known that many products are shipped to various retail outlets in rectangular corrugated cardboard containers or the like whereby the retailer must open such containers to remove the product means for placement on merchandising shelves and the like.

For example, all canned, bottled and individually packaged grocery items and the like are normally shipped in such rectangular corrugated cardboard containers whereby a time consuming operation is required to remove the product means from the containers and place the same on the merchandising shelves thereof for display purposes and the like.

However, according to the teachings of the invention set forth in the copending patent application, Serial No. 366,424, filed May 11, 1964, now abandoned, an improved package construction for such product means or the like is provided wherein the product means are packaged in a transparent film-like material in a neat and attractive manner so that the entire package construction can be utilized for display purposes without requiring removal of the individual product means therefrom.

Further, the improved package construction of that invention requires less storage and shipping space than the prior known rectangular corrugated cardboard containers or the like as the improved package constructions of that invention are lighter in weight.

In addition, the package constructions of that invention can be easily handled in a unique and novel manner hereinafter described.

However, it has been found, according to the teachings of this invention, that when the film-like member of the package construction of the aforementioned copending patent application is heat shrunk around the filled receptacle means thereof, the ends of the tubular film-like member tend to pull back over the top and bottom of the filled receptacle means whereby a relatively non-rigid package construction is provided.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to preferentially shrink the film-like tubular member around the filled receptacle means to prevent a pull back over the top and bottom of the filled receptacle means to provide a rigid package construction having all the advantages of the package construction of the aforementioned copending patent application. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved package construction having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making such a package construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the improved package construction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the package construction illustrated in FIGURE 1 and illustrates the manner of lifting the same or the like.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates one method for opening the package construction of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a side view illustrating the package constructions of this invention in a display arrangement or the like.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates another embodiment of the package construction of this invention.

FIGURE 6 is a top view illustrating one method of this invention for forming the package constructions of FIG- URES l and 5 or the like.

FIGURES 710 are respectively perspective views illustrating the various steps in the operation of forming the package construction of this invention by the method illustrated in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective schematic view illustrating one method for making the film-like material of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for packaging canned food products and the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized to package any desirable type of product means or the like.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illusrtate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved package construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprise a plurality of open ended relatively shallow and rectangular receptacles 21 filled with product means, such as a plurality of metallic cans 22, and being surrounded by a tubular transparent film-like member 23 that has been heat shrunk in a manner hereinafter described to tightly compact the receptacle means 21 and product means 22 together to form the unique package construction 20.

The heat shrunk tubular member 23 has been shrunk in such a manner that the same tightly compacts the product means 22 and receptacles 21 together so that there is no shifting therebetween whereby a substantially integral package construction is provided.

Further, the opposed ends 24 of the transparent tubular member 23 overlap the opposed ends of the substantially rectangular arrangement of product means 22 and receptacles 21 to hold the same together and provide opposed openings or access means 25 which expose the opposed ends 26 of one of the receptacles 21.

In this manner, it is relatively easy to lift and handle the package construction 20 of this invention by merely having the handler insert his hands respectively in the opposed openings 25 of the package construction 20 and grasp against the bottom of the opposed receptacle 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 to lift and carry the package construction 20 without requiring removal of the transparent film-like member 23.

When it is desired to open the package construction 20 of this invention, the film-like member 23 can be readily cut and removed from the product means 22 and receptacles 21. For example, it can be seen in FIGURE 3 that the blade 27 of a knife 28 can be inserted below one of the receptacles 21 in the region of the opening 25 thereof and slit the film-like member 23 to the other opposed opening 25 therein so that the film-like member 23 can readily be unwrapped from the product means 22 and receptacles 21.

It has been found that such package constructions 20 of this invention are readily adapted for twenty-four cans 22 or the like wherein the entire package construction 20 weighs approximately 25 to 30 pounds. However, it must be understood that the number of cans 22 and the weight thereof can vary as desired.

Such package constructions 20 of this invention readily permit the handlers and the like to view the labels on the cans 22 without requiring further labeling of the outside surfaces of the package construction 20. However, if desired, the side walls of the shallow receptacles 21 could be labeled or the like as the same will be readily viewable through the transparent covering 23.

It has been found that the transparent film-like member 23 is so tightly drawn against the product means 22 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 that the same lends an overall attractive appearance to the product means 22 not provided when the same are not covered by the film-like member 23.

Therefore, it has been found that attractive displays can be formed from a package means 20 of this invention by arranging the same in stacked relation in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 whereby only the top one or two package constructions 20 need have the overwrap 23 thereof removed in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 for merchandising of the product means 22, the remaining or lower package constructions 20 providing an attractive display which can be subsequently opened when needed.

Therefore, it can be seen that the package constructions 20 of this invention readily permits the same to be handled in the same way as the conventional rectangular corrugated cardboard containers without requiring time consuming removal of the product means 22 therefrom to provide attractive displays for merchandising purposes and the like.

Further, when the individual package constructions 20 are opened, each receptacle 21 provides a tray for the product means 22, so that the product means 22 can be readily placed on shelves or the like while remaining in the respective tray 21.

While the package construction 20 of this invention has been previously described as having two filled receptacle means 21, it is to be understood that the package construction 20 of this invention could be formed from one or more filled receptacles 21 as desired.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE wherein another package construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 29 and comprises a single receptacle 21 filled with product means 22 and overw-rapped by the heat shrunk transparent film-like material 23 of this invention.

While the

package constructions

20 and 29 of this invention can be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, the embodiments thereof illustrated in the drawings are formed by utilizing conventional corrugated cardboard receptacles 21 and a transparent polyvinylchloride heat shrinkable film-like material 23 having a thickness of approximately 1 to 1 mils. However, it is to be understood that the materials forming the filmlike material 23 and receptacles 21 of this invention can be other than those specified.

For example, almost any type of receptacle 21 can be utilized and the film-like material 23 of this invention can be polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like wherein the same has the heat shrinking or resilient characteristic to tightly compact the product means 22 and receptacles 21 together.

However, it has been found that when the film-like material 23 is formed of polyvinylchloride, the same has a relatively good impact resistance and when punctured, will not split and tear.

For example, the film-like material 23 can be formed of two webs of oriented polyvinylchloride fused together to provide a lamination suitable for the features of this invention.

One method for forming the

package constructions

20 and 29 of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 30 in FIGURE 6 wherein filled and stacked receptacles 21 are fed down a conveying line 31 to a work table 32. The work table 32 includes a free wheeling supply roll 33 of the sheet material 23 which can be manually or automatically cut into fiat blanks which can be subsequently wrapped around the filled and stacked receptacles 22.

For example, it can be seen in FIGURE 7 that a plurality of stacked and filled receptacles 21 are moved onto the platform 32 so that the bottom receptacle 21 overlaps the front edge 34 of a sheet of film-like material 23. With the filled and stacked receptacles 21 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 7, the other end 35 of the sheet material 33 is wrapped around the filled and stacked receptacles 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8 so that the free end 35 of the sheet of material 23 can be disposed in a slot means 36 formed in the work table 32.

Thereafter, the filled and stacked receptacles 21 are moved to the right in FIGURE 6 whereby the end 35 of the sheet of material 23 is brought in overlapping relation over the other end 34 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9 and is heat sealed thereto by a heat sealing bar 37 disposed flush with the table 32 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6.

Thus, it can be seen that the sheet of material 23 is now formed in a tubular form around the filled and stacked receptacles 21 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 9 whereby the opposed ends of the tubular filmlike material 23 extend beyond the opposed ends of the receptacles 21.

Before the combination illustrated in FIGURE 9 is moved to the right on the work table 32 into a heating chamber 38, the opposed ends of the tubular film-like member 23 are pre-shrunk to substantially the position illustrated in FIGURE 10 by operators or automatic means disposed in the region of the reference numerals 39 in FIGURE 6 whereby the opposed ends of the filmlike material 23 are partially shrunk around the opposed ends of the filled and stacked receptacles 21.

Thereafter the combination illustrated in FIGURE 10 is moved into the heating chamber 38 in FIGURE 6 to have the film-like material 23 heat shrunk to form the package construction as illustrated in FIGURE 1 before the same leaves the heating chamber 38 for subsequent handling thereof.

Therefore, it can be seen that the package constructions 20 of this invention can be readily formed by having the film-like material 23 disposed in coiled form and be subsequently wrapped around the filled and stacked receptacles 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9.

However, it is to be understood that the film-like material 23 of this invention could be formed in tubular form without having any longitudinal seams thereof so that the filled and stacked receptacles 21 could be inserted therein without requiring a longitudinal seaming operation as illustrated in FIGURE 9. For example, the filmlike material 23 could be formed by an extrusion process where the same is formed in a continuous tubular length.

The finished

package constructions

20 and 29 of this invention readily adapt themselves to be palletized for subsequent handling thereof in the same manner as the conventional surrounding rectangular corrugated cardboard containers.

While the package construction of this invention has many advantages over the conventional rectangular corrugated cardboard shipping container normally utilized in the field, only some of the advantages will now be described.

In just weight savings alone, it has been found that a savings of approximately $6.00 has been provided by the package constructions 20 of this invention per carload of package constructions 20 over the conventional cardboard containers, For example, it has been found that the weight differential between the package constructions 20 of this invention and the corrugated cardboard containers is approximately 0.7 pound per case whereby the weight savings per carload of package constructions 20 is approximately 2,289 pounds over the conventional card. board containers for like product means.

Further, it has been found that when cans and the like are shipped in the conventional cardboard containers, the same have chime ride marks on the labels thereof during shipment whereby the cans are unattractive for display purposes. However, the film-like material 23 of this invention locks the cans 22 and receptacles 21 together in such a manner that no chime riding is permitted.

The attractiveness of the package construction 20 of this invention has the advantage of being a new type of package construction which will help the canning industry to sell their products. Further, the supermarkets and the like throughout the country need to reduce their handling costs in displaying merchandise whereby with the package construction 20 of this invention, the filmlike material 23 can be readily removed by slitting and be rolled in a ball to be thrown away thereby eliminating the unfolding and flattening of the conventional cardboard containers.

Further, the product means 22 of this invention are kept clean until the housewife or the like selects the product from the shelf because the same can be arranged in display manner similar to FIGURE 4.

In addition, the transparent film-like material 23 is a natural eye catcher to give visual impact on the shelf and in corner displays and the like.

Another feature provided by the package constructions of this invention is that the same can be used in displays without removing the film-like material 23 so that any unsold product will not have to be recased for shipment back to the product manufacturer.

Another disadvantage of the conventional corrugated cardboard container is that the same is slippery and diflicult to pick up by handlers whereas the exposed top tray or receptacle 21 of this invention is readily exposed to provide handle means for a lifting point for the workers.

Therefore, it can be seen that the improved package construction 20 of this invention has many advantages over the prior known package constructions and none of the disadvantages thereof.

As previously stated, one of the features of this invention is to prevent the opposed ends 24 of the tubular member 23 from pulling back over the top and bottom of the filled receptacles 21 at the opposed openings 25 of the tubular member 23 during the previously described heat shrinking operation of the film-like member 23.

Accordingly, the film-like material 23 of this invention is so constructed and arranged in a manner hereinafter set forth that during the heat shrinking operation thereof in the heating chamber 38, the percentage of shrinkage of the film-like member 23- between the opposed openings 25 thereof is lower than the percentage of shrinkage of the film-like member 23 in a direction transverse to the direction between the openings 25, i.e. the girth direction around the package construction 20 is the transverse direction.

In this manner, the opposed ends 24 of the film-like member 23 are not pulled back over the top and bottom of the filled receptacle means 21 whereby a rigid package construction 20 is provided.

In order to accomplish this heat shrinking feature of this invention, the film-like material 23 is made in such a manner that the same has a greater tendency to shrink in ,a girth direction around the package construction 20 than the tendency to shrink in the direction between the opposed openings 25 thereof.

While the film-like material 23 can be formed with such preferential shrinkage properties in any suitable manner and by any suitable apparatus, one such method and apparatus is schematically illustrated in FIGURE 11 and is generally indicated by the reference numeral 40.

As illustrated in FIGURE 11, a free wheeling supply roll 41 of unstretched film-like material 23 formed of polyvinylchloride in the manner previously set forth is unwound by a pair of

rollers

42 and 43 which unwind the supply roll 41 at a particular rate. A second pair of rollers -44 and 45 are provided and rotate at a speed greater than the pair of

rollers

42 and 43 whereby the

rollers

44 and 45 cause stretching of the material 23 to the desired degree in a longitudinal direction, it being understood that the stretching of the material 23 takes place While the material 23 is heated in any suitable manner.

In addition, other roller means 46 are provided and act on the strip of material 23 in such a manner that the same cause the strip of material 23 to be stretched in a transverse direction to a desired degree whereby the stretched strip of material 23 is wound onto a supply roll 47 and is cooled in the stretched condition illustrated in FIGURE 11 whereby such stretched film-like material 23 will have a tendency to shrink back to the original configuration when subsequently heated.

Therefore, it can be seen that by regulating the speed of the

rollers

44 and 45 relative to the speed of the

rollers

42 and 43, the strip of material 23 can have a tendency to heat shrink in a longitudinal direction a certain percentage while regulation of rollers 46 will cause the material 23 to have a tendency to heat shrink in the transverse direction at a certain percentage.

It has been found that when a film-like material 23 has been stretched in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 11, the same will have a tendency to shrink in the range of 40 to percent in the girth direction around the package construction 20 and tend to shrink in the range of 20 to 70 percent between the opposed openings 25 thereof at a temperature of approximately 300 F.

However, it has been further found that the percentage of shrinkage of the film-like material 23 between the opposed openings 25 of the package construction 20 should be approximately 10 percent lower than the percentage of shrinkage of the film-like material 23 of the package construction 20 in the transverse or girth direction thereof.

In one particular example of a film-like material 23 utilized to form the package construction 20 of this invention and falling within the ranges set forth above wouldbe a film-like material 23 having a shrinkage of approximately 60 to 70 percent in a longitudinal direction and 40 to 50 percent in the transverse direction at 300 F. when the film-like material is utilized in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 10.

However, the reverse of these'shrinkages would be desired if the filled receptacle means 21 was rotated on its vertical axis so that the transverse direction of the film 23 in FIGURE 11 would be extending between the opposed openings 25 in the completed package construction 20 To obtain the above ratio of shrinkages, the test designated ASTM D 1204-54 can be utilized.

It has been further found that when the material 23 is formed of the aforementioned polyvinylchloride,the same has a considerable amount of tack whereby this tack of the film-like material 23 forming the package construction 20 of this invention permits unitized palletizing of the package constructions 20.

In particular, the tack of the film-like material 20 causes the package constructions 20 to form a tack bond to the surrounding constructions 20 whereby the group of package constructions 20 have less tendency to slip and slide during handling or shipping thereof as well as in display stacks thereof at the place of merchandising the same.

In addition, when the film-like material 23 is formed of two sheets of polyvinylchloride laminated together in the manner previously set forth, there is much less chance of gross gage deviation whereby the chance of one gage deviation falling on top of another is very small so that there are no resulting thin spots in the film-like material 23 forming the package constructions 20 of this invention.

The polyvinylchloride film 23 is tear resistant in that if the film 23 is punctured or a chime of the product means 22 scuifs through the film-like material 23, the film-like material 23 will resist tear propagation and maintain its package integrity to a much greater degree than polyolefins.

In addition, polyvinylchloride film is much clearer, having a haze value of -0.5 percent as compared to a competitive polyethylene with a haze value of 2.0-5.0 percent.

Further, the polyvinylchloride film 23 can be heat shrunk over a much wider temperature range than polyolefins thus making the packaging operation of this invention less critical.

After shrinking, the yield strength of the polyvinylchloride film 23 is higher than competitive polyethylene whereby the package constructions 20 of this invention can be more readily handled without loosening the package constructions 20.

Accordingly, this invention not only provides an improved package construction, but also this invention provides an improved method for making the same or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claimed subject matter which follows:

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, open ended receptacle means filled with product means, and a tubular film-like member receiving said filled receptacle means and being heat shrunk to hold said receptacle means and product together, said tubular film-like member having opposed opened ends at the opposed ends of said receptacle means, said tubular film-like member having a lower percentage of shrinkage in one direction between the opened ends thereof than the percentage of shrinkage in a direction transverse to said one direction.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction is at least approximately 10% lower than said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction is in the range of approximately 20 to 70%.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction is in the range of approximately 40 to 80%.

5. In combination, open ended receptacle means filled with product means, and a tubular film-like member receiving said filled receptacle means and being heat shrunk to hold said receptacle means and product means together, said film-like member having opposed ends overlapping the opposed ends of said receptacle means and defining opposed openings in said combination, said film-like member having a lower percentage of shrinkage in one direction between said opposed openings than the percentage of shrinkage in a direction transverse to said one direction.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction is at least approximately lower than said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction is in the range of approximately 20 to 70%.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction is in the range of approximately 40 to 9. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction is in the range of approximately 20 to 70% and said percent-age of shrinkage in said transverse direction is in the range of approximately 40 to 80% with said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction being at least approximately 10% lower than said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said receptacle means comprise a plurality of receptacles being placed in stacked relation.

11. A method for packaging product means or the like comprising the steps of disposing said product means in open-ended receptacle means, disposing a tubular filmlike member around said filled receptacle means with said tubular film-like member having opposed open ends at the opposed ends of said receptacle means, and heat shrinking said tubular film-like member to hold said receptacle means and said product means together with said tubular film-like member having a lower percentage of shrinkage in one direction between the opened ends thereof than the percentage of shrinkage of said film-like member in a direction transverse to said one direction.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said last-named step causes said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction to be at least approximately 10 percent lower than said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said last-named step causes said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction to be in the range of approximately 20 to 70 percent.

14. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said last-named step causes said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction to be in the range of approximately 40 to 80 percent.

15. A method for packaging product means or the like comprising the steps of disposing said product means in open-ended receptacle means, disposing a tubular filmlike member around said filled receptacle means, and heat shrinking said tubular film-like member to hold said receptacle means and said product means together with the opposed ends of said film-like member overlapping the opposed ends of said receptacle means and defining opposed openings in said combination and with said filmlike member having a lower percentage of shrinkage in one direction between said opposed openings than the percentage of shrinkage in a direction transverse to said one direction.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said last-named step causes said percetage of shrinkage in said one direction to be at least approximately 10 percent lower than said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction.

17. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said lastnamed step causes said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction to be in the range of approximately 20 to 70 percent.

18. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said lastnamed step causes said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction to be in the range of approximately 40 to 80 percent.

19. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said lastnamed step causes said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction to be in the range of approximately 20 to 70 percent and said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction to be in the range of approximately 40 to 80 percent with said percentage of shrinkage in said one direction being at least approximately 10 percent lower than said percentage of shrinkage in said transverse direction.

20. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said step of disposing said product means in said open-ended receptacle means includes the step of disposing said product means in a plurality of open-ended receptacles and disposing said filled open-ended receptacles in stacked relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,425,536 8/1947 Hofeldt et al. 229-15 5 3,016,131 1/1962 Kennedy 206-45.33 3,166,878 1/1965 Pepitone et a1 53-30 3,187,478 6/1965 Kirkpatrick 53-30 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 10 W. T. DIXSON, Assistant Examiner.

Disclaimer 3,347,365.Ga1'land B. Funk/lower, Waynesboro, Va. PACKAGE CON STRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE. Patent dated Oct. 17, 1967. Disclaimer filed Apr. 24, 1972, by the assignee, Reynolds Metals Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 20 of said patent.

[Ofioz'al Gazette January 2, 1 973.]