WO2021207524A1

WO2021207524A1 - Sustainable multi-compartment packaging

Info

Publication number: WO2021207524A1
Application number: PCT/US2021/026425
Authority: WO
Inventors: Choongseo Lee; Kevin MARCHETTI
Original assignee: L&E International Ltd.
Priority date: 2020-04-08
Filing date: 2021-04-08
Publication date: 2021-10-14

Abstract

A sustainable, multi-compartment package for goods having first and second parts. The package includes a primary box the interior of which is divided into two compartments by a dividing wall. The goods' first part is contained in the first compartment while the goods' second part is contained in the second compartment y passing through the dividing wall. The first compartment is visible by a consumer through a front viewing window, while consumers are prevented from touching or accessing the second compartment while being able to view the interior of the second compartment through small viewing windows.

Description

SUSTAINABLE MULTI-COMPARTMENT PACKAGING

Cross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] The present application relates and claims priority to United States Provisional Application Serial Number 63/006981, filed April 8, 2020, the entirety of which is hereby incorproated by reference.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present disclosure is directed generally to sustainable, multi-compartment packaging.

Background

[0003] Retail packages for certain types of goods, fishing lures and ear bud headphones as two examples, can benefit from having compartments separating different portions of the goods for safety or security reasons; the hook and lure in the case of a fishing lure, and the ear buds and wire leads in the case of headphones in the provided examples. In addition, it is not uncommon for retail packages to use paperboard boxes with plastic (or other environmentally unfriendly material) covers. Further, many retail packages include hang tabs with openings formed therethrough for permitting the package to be hung from a peg on a retail display. [0004] Packaging material is typically discarded once the goods are purchased and unpacked, thus creating garbage. With most packages that include a display window through which to view the packaged product, wherein the window in created from plastic or other non- biodegradable material, the resultant disposal results in environmentally hazardous garbage. Furthermore, where differently sized goods require differently sized packages, or for marketing or other purposes the manufacturer prefers using differently sized packaging, the lack of flexibility in the packaging results in more waste than is necessary.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a packaging solution that includes multiple compartments to accommodate different parts of retail goods, that is environmentally friendly, and that is modular in nature to permit flexible packaging design that minimizes packaging waste. Summary

[0006] The present disclosure is directed to packaging for goods having first and second parts, such as fishing lures, for example.

[0007] According to an aspect is packaging for goods having first and second parts, comprising: a primary box in which the goods are adapted to be packed and having a front surface that includes an open portion and a closed portion, and at least partially enclosed first and second sides, top and bottom surfaces; a wall positioned within the primary box for separating the primary box into first and second compartments, the wall comprising a plurality of open slits formed therein, wherein the first compartment is positioned in aligned relation with the open portion and the second compartment is aligned with the closed portion; and_a hang tab removably attached to the primary box such that it extends away from and beyond the top surface.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the first side includes at least one hole formed therethrough that provides visual access to the second compartment.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the plurality of open slits are adapted to permit a portion of the goods between the first and second parts to pass therethrough so as to position the first part of the goods in the first compartment and the second part of the goods in the second compartment.

[0010] According to an aspect a method for packaging a good having first and second parts, comprising the steps of:_placing the first part of the good in a first compartment formed within a primary box; placing the second part of the good in a second compartment formed within the primary box; and inserting a portion of the good that separates the first and second parts through a wall that separates the first and second compartments.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the method comprises the further step of attaching a hang tab to the primary box.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the method comprises the further step of providing a viewing hole through the primary box that provides viewing access to the second part of the good through a viewing hole formed through the primary box.

[0013] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the embodiments described below. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0015] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a sustainable multi-compartment package, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0016] FIG. IB is an exploded perspective view of a hang tab/header card and sustainable multi-compartment package, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of a viewing window for a sustainable multi compartment package, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sustainable multi-compartment package in an open position, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sustainable multi-compartment package in an open position, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a sustainable multi-compartment package, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a hang tab/header card and sustainable multi-compartment package, in accordance with an embodiment, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a sustainable multi-compartment package, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a sustainable multi-compartment package, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0024] FIGS. 7A and 7B are front elevation views of first and second hang tabs/header cards attached to a sustainable multi-compartment package, in accordance with an embodiment. [0025] FIG. 8A is an exploded perspective view of an interior insert and sustainable multicompartment package, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 8B is a perspective view of an interior insert for a sustainable multi compartment package, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sustainable multi-compartment package, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a hang tab/header card and sustainable multi-compartment package, in accordance with an embodiment. [0029] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an interior divider portion folded away from a sustainable multi-compartment package, in accordance with an embodiment.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0030] The present disclosure describes packaging, designated generally by reference numeral 10, for goods 12, shown to be a fishing lure in the figures, it being understood that the goods could be any type of goods that have at least first and second parts 14, 16 (lure and hooks, respectively, in the example of a fishing lure 12). The entirety of packaging 10 is composed of sustainable material, such as paperboard.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1A, in one embodiment, packaging 10 comprises a primary box 18 in which a fishing lure 12 is contained. Primary box 18 includes an interior wall 20 that separates its interior into first and second compartments 22, 24, respectively, and includes a plurality of slits 26 formed therethrough. In the example shown in the present embodiment, the fishing lure 14 is positioned within first compartment 22 and hooks 16 are contained within second compartment 24, with the portion of the fishing lure 12 that is between lure 14 and hooks 16 passing through slits 26. This separates the lure 14 from the hooks 16, thereby preventing a user who wants to touch the lure from accidentally getting stuck by the hook. For other goods, the separation may promote security or other function of the separation.

[0032] Primary box 18 includes a front surface that is separated into an open portion 28 and an enclosed portion 30, wherein the open portion overlays first compartment 22 and enclosed portion 30 overlays second compartment 24. This facilitates consumers being able to view the lure 14 while not having open access to hooks 16. A side wall 32 forming the side of second compartment 24 includes a plurality of openings 34 formed therethrough that permit a consumer to view the hooks 16 contained within second compartment 24 while preventing the consumer’s fingers from gaining access to the compartment and accidentally getting stuck by the hook 16 (see FIG. 3C). In addition, a side wall 33 also includes a partially open portion 35 that is contiguous with open portion of the open portion 28 providing an enlarged viewing window for a consumer to view the lure 14.

[0033] As most retail outlets provide a display with pegs on which packages can hang, packaging 10 includes a hang tab 36 that attaches to primary box 18 adjacent its top surface 38. Tab 36 includes a pair of side flanges 40, 42 and top flanges 44, 46 that can be glued to or inserted into slots formed in primary box 18. A peg hole 45 is formed through tab 36. Hang tab 36 can include bar codes or marketing imprinted thereon. [0034] Referring to FIG. 3 a package 100 is shown. Package 100 is similar to package 10 with slightly different construction. Package 100 includes a front door 102 that is hingedly connected to primary box 104 that is divided into first and second compartments 106, 108 (analogous to compartments 22, 24). Front door 102 includes a dividing wall 110 integrally formed therewith and that includes a series of U-shaped notches 112 formed therein and that are analogous to slits 26 and permit the first and second parts of goods 12 to be placed securely within the first and second compartments 106, 108. Wall 110 extends perpendicularly outwardly from door 102 and is cut from a portion of door 102 that leaves a viewing window 114 that goods 12 can be viewed through when the door 102 is closed over primary box 104. A closure flap 116 is also formed on door 102 and inserts into a slot formed in primary box 104 to enclose package 100.

[0035] On the bottom of package 100 is a security tab 118 (one could also be provided on the top surface), that can be used as a security/tamper evident element. In order to open door 102, the security tab 118 would need to be tom off along its perforations (see FIG. 4).

[0036] With reference to FIG. 5, a hang tab 120 can be provided, similar to hang tab 36. Hang tab 120 includes two side flaps 122, 124 that slip into slots formed in box 104 (or can be glued on), and peg hole 126.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows an alternative feature that can be included in any package. A viewing window 128 can be formed through the top surface of the package (10, 100) so a consumer could view the second part of goods 12 (such as hooks 16) through this top window 128. [0038] FIGs. 7A and 7B show alternative hang tags 200 that have different configurations to fit different displays and provide additional space for branding or other coding. In FIG. 7A, the tab 300 extends beyond one edge of the package, while in FIG. 7B the tab 300 extends beyond both edges having a width that is significantly larger than the width of the package. These tabs 300 would attach to package 10 in the same manner as the other tabs provided herein.

[0039] FIGS. 8A and 8B show a package 400 comprising a primary box 402 and an interior insert 404 that serves to retain goods 12 and divide box 402 into first and second compartments that are analogous to the first and second compartments of packages 10 and 100. Interior insert 404 can be slid into and out of box 402. The insert 404 includes the dividing wall 406 and U- shaped notches 408 that are analogous to notches 112 and wall 110 of package 100.

[0040] With reference to FIGS. 9-11, a one-piece package 500 is shown. Package 500 is formed from a single die and folds along crease lines to form a box 502 having first and second compartments 504, 506, but without a front cover or door. The front of box 502 is partially open to permit viewing of lure 12, while a divider 508 separates the two compartments and includes openings 510 to permit separation of lure 14 and hooks 16 into respective compartments 504, 506. The same hang tab/header card 36 is used with this embodiment. [0041] While various embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. Packaging for goods having first and second parts, comprising: a. a primary box in which the goods are adapted to be packed and having a front surface that includes an open portion and a closed portion, and at least partially enclosed first and second sides, top and bottom surfaces; b. a wall positioned within the primary box for separating the primary box into first and second compartments, the wall comprising a plurality of open slits formed therein, wherein the first compartment is positioned in aligned relation with the open portion and the second compartment is aligned with the closed portion; and c. a hang tab removably attached to the primary box such that it extends away from and beyond the top surface.

2. The packaging according to claim 1 , wherein first side includes at least one hole formed therethrough that provides visual access to the second compartment.

3. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of open slits are adapted to permit a portion of the goods between the first and second parts to pass therethrough so as to position the first part of the goods in the first compartment and the second part of the goods in the second compartment.

4. A method for packaging a good having first and second parts, comprising the steps of: a. placing the first part of the good in a first compartment formed within a primary box; b. placing the second part of the good in a second compartment formed within the primary box; and c. inserting a portion of the good that separates the first and second parts through a wall that separates the first and second compartments.

5. The method for packaging a good according to claim 4, comprising the further step of attaching a hang tab to the primary box.

6. The method for packaging a good according to claim 4, comprising the further step of providing a viewing hole through the primary box that provides viewing access to the second part of the good through a viewing hole formed through the primary box.