阅读说明：本技术 用于消费产品的包装 (Package for consumer products ) 是由 L·芬妮齐 J·帕克 于 2018-06-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：在本发明中，提供了一种用于支撑至少一个消费产品的包装。该包装包括：用于支撑至少一个消费产品的支撑构件；用于包围支撑构件和至少一个产品的柔性包装；以及被配置成使包装在打开位置与闭合位置之间转换的闭合机构。柔性包装具有弱化线和翼片，该翼片被限定并定位在由弱化线形成的区域附近。当该翼片被牵拉时，该翼片使弱化线破裂并产生开口以允许取用至少一个消费产品。(In the present invention, a package for supporting at least one consumer product is provided. The package comprises: a support member for supporting at least one consumer product; a flexible package for enclosing the support member and the at least one product; and a closure mechanism configured to transition the package between an open position and a closed position. The flexible package has a line of weakness and a flap defined and positioned adjacent to the area formed by the line of weakness. When the flap is pulled, the flap ruptures the line of weakness and creates an opening to allow access to the at least one consumer product.)

1. A package for supporting at least one consumer product, the package comprising:

a support member for supporting the at least one consumer product;

a flexible package for enclosing the support member and at least one product, the flexible package having a line of weakness and a flap defined and positioned adjacent to an area formed by the line of weakness, and when the flap is pulled, the flap ruptures the line of weakness and creates an opening to allow access to the at least one consumer product; and

a closure mechanism configured to transition the package between an open position and a closed position.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the support member is a planar rectangular shape and comprises a connecting member, a top member, and a bottom member, and wherein the top member and the bottom member are connected and spaced apart by the connecting member.

3. The package of claim 2, wherein the bottom member comprises a bottom connecting portion, a front portion, and a back portion, and wherein the front portion and the back portion are connected and separated by the bottom connecting portion.

4. The package of claim 3, wherein the top member comprises a main portion and a top portion, and wherein the top portion overlies and is attached to the main portion.

5. The package of claim 4, wherein the support member further comprises a plurality of creases such that the support member is foldable along the plurality of creases to form a support member pocket for containing and holding the at least one consumer product within the support member pocket.

6. The package of claim 4, wherein the flexible package further comprises an inner film and an outer film, wherein a top edge portion and opposing side edge portions of the inner film are hermetically sealed together with a top edge portion and opposing side edge portions of the outer film, respectively, to form a hermetically sealed top edge and hermetically sealed opposing side edges such that the inner film and the outer film define an interior space.

7. The package of claim 6, wherein the support member is configured and dimensioned to be removably contained and closely received within the interior space of the flexible package.

8. The package of claim 7, wherein the closure mechanism is a magnet, a reclosable adhesive, or Velcro.

9. The package of claim 8, wherein the magnets are applied and attached to the front portion of the bottom member of the support member and the top portion of the top member of the support member, and when the package is in the closed position, the top member of the support member overlies the front portion of the bottom member of the support member such that the magnets are aligned, engaged, and magnetically adhered to each other with the inner film of the flexible package between the magnets.

10. The package of claim 8, wherein the magnets are attached to a top section and a bottom section of the inner film of the flexible package, and the top section of the flexible package overlies the bottom section of the flexible package when the package is in the closed position such that the magnets are directly engaged and magnetically adhered to each other.

11. The package of claim 8, wherein the reclosable adhesive is applied to a bottom section of the inner film of the flexible package, and a top section of the flexible package overlies the bottom section of the flexible package when the package is in the closed position, such that the reclosable adhesive allows the top and bottom sections of the inner film to engage and adhere to one another.

12. The package of claim 8, wherein Velcro hooks and loops are attached to a top section and a bottom section of the inner film of the flexible package, and when the package is in the closed position, the top section of the flexible package overlies the bottom section of the flexible package such that the hooks and loops are aligned, engaged, and attached to each other.

13. The package of claim 1, wherein the flexible package is a polymer laminate.

14. The package of claim 1, wherein the flexible package is a single web.

15. The package of claim 6, wherein the flap is attached to the inner film of the flexible package using an adhesive.

16. The package of claim 15, wherein the strength of the adhesive attaching the flap to the inner film of the flexible package is greater than the strength required to rupture the line of weakness.

17. The package of claim 6, wherein the line of weakness is defined on the inner film of the flexible package and is positioned closer to a bottom edge than a top edge of the flexible package when the package is in the open position.

18. The package of claim 1 wherein the line of weakness is arcuate.

19. The package of claim 18, wherein the convex side of the arcuate line of weakness faces the bottom edge of the flexible package when the package is in the open position.

20. The package of claim 1, wherein the line of weakness is formed by perforations.

21. The package of claim 1, wherein the support member is made of a stiffener, cardboard, paperboard, or plastic.

22. The package of claim 1, wherein the flexible package has rounded corners.

23. The package of claim 5, wherein the support member pouch has no side walls.

24. The package of claim 1 wherein the attachment force of the closure mechanism is stronger than the hinge memory of the package.

25. The package of claim 1, wherein the at least one consumer product is elongated.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to consumer product packaging, and more particularly, to hermetically sealed consumer product packaging configured to contain and support a consumer product disposed therein.

Background

Certain consumer products such as chewing gum slabs or sticks are often contained in packaging devices to protect the product and provide ease of use for the consumer. Currently, there are various packaging devices designed and configured for containing and dispensing consumer products. Each of these packaging devices typically includes an end seal that can be broken to open and access the product contained therein. Furthermore, most of these packaging devices typically employ a closure mechanism such that the consumer can dispense the product therefrom and repeatedly close the packaging device.

While various packaging devices for consumer products are currently available on the market, it is desirable to provide a packaging device for consumer products such as chewing gum slabs with further improvements.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a package for supporting at least one consumer product comprises: a support member for supporting the at least one consumer product; a flexible package for enclosing the support member and the at least one product; and a closure mechanism configured to transition the package between an open position and a closed position. The flexible package has a line of weakness and a flap defined and positioned adjacent to an area formed by the line of weakness. When the flap is pulled, the flap ruptures the line of weakness and creates an opening to allow access to the at least one consumer product.

These and other aspects of the invention will be better understood from the drawings and the following detailed description.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a consumer product package according to one embodiment of the present invention in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the consumer product package of FIG. 1 in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a support member of the consumer product package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the support member of the consumer product package of FIG. 1, wherein the support member is folded to form a support member pocket, wherein the consumer product is disposed within the pocket;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a flexible package of a consumer product package without an opening defined therein;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a consumer product package in which a magnet is used as a closure mechanism on the flexible package; and is

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the consumer product package of fig. 1 in which a reclosable adhesive is used as the closure mechanism on the flexible package.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, a consumer product package 10 having a plurality of consumer products 12 contained therein is shown, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Although in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, generally elongated rectangular shaped and individually wrapped gum slabs are shown (fig. 1), other suitable elongated consumer products may be supported by the package 10.

The package 10 includes a support member 14 for supporting and containing the consumer product 12, a flexible package 16 for enclosing the support member 14 and the product 12 contained therein, and a closure mechanism 18 configured to transition the package 10 between an open (shown in fig. 1) position and a closed (shown in fig. 2) position, as will be described in greater detail below.

Directional terms such as top and bottom refer to an orientation in which the package 10 is placed on a flat surface in an open position with the consumer product contained in the lower half of the package 10, as shown in fig. 1. However, the invention is not thus limited to use in any particular orientation.

Referring to fig. 3, a support member 14 configured to provide structure to the package 10 is shown. The support member 14 is preferably a planar rectangular shape and has a connecting member 20, a top member 22 and a bottom member 24 connected and spaced apart by the connecting member 20, and a plurality of creases 26. The top member 22 of the support member 14 includes a main portion 28 and a top portion 30 that overlies and is attached to the main portion 28 during assembly. The base member 24 of the support member 14 includes a base attachment portion 32 and a front portion 34 and a rear portion 36 connected by the base attachment portion 32 and spaced apart. A plurality of creases 26 delineate the boundaries between each member and each portion. In addition, the plurality of creases 26 allow portions of support member 14 to be folded, and along with closure mechanism 18, allow package 10 to be transitioned between an open position and a closed position, as will be described in greater detail below.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the support member 14 is configured to fold along the plurality of creases 26 during assembly to form a support member pocket 38 for containing and supporting the consumer product 12 therein. Specifically, the front portion 34 of the base member 24 of the support member 14 is folded such that the folded front portion 34 is substantially parallel to the rear portion 36 of the base member 24, thereby defining a product retention space 40 therebetween, as shown in fig. 4. The support member pocket 38 is configured and dimensioned such that elongated consumer products 12, such as gum slabs, may be closely received in a side-by-side or other suitable orientation within the product holding space 40. Further, the front portion 34 of the bottom member 24 of the support member 14 extends partially upward, approximately half way to the rear portion 36, to access and remove the consumer products 12 from the support member 14. As shown in fig. 4, support member pocket 38 does not have sidewalls.

Referring to fig. 1, 2, and 5, the flexible package 16 is configured to completely surround the support member 14 and the consumer product 12 contained therein. The flexible package 16 includes an inner film 42 and an outer film 44 that define the inside and outside of the flexible package 16, respectively. The top edge portion 46 and the opposing side edge portions 48 of the inner membrane 42 are hermetically sealed together with the top edge portion 50 and the opposing side edge portions 52 of the outer membrane 44, respectively, to form a hermetically sealed top edge 54 and hermetically sealed opposing side edges 56 having rounded corners 58 such that the inner membrane 42 and the outer membrane 44 define an interior space. The hermetically sealed flexible package 16 provides an environmental barrier to the consumer product 12 contained therein such that it protects the consumer product 12 and improves the shelf life of the consumer product 12. In addition, the rounded corners 58 allow the package 10 to be carried comfortably within a pocket. The interior space of the flexible package 16 and the support member 14 are sized such that the support member 14 can be removably contained and closely received within the interior space of the flexible package 16, as shown in fig. 1.

Referring again to fig. 5, the flexible package 16 also includes a line of weakness 62, preferably formed by perforations. The line of weakness 62 is preferably arcuate and is defined in the inner film 42 of the flexible package 16. When the package 10 is in the open position, the line of weakness 62 is positioned closer to the bottom edge 64 than the top edge 54 of the flexible package 16, with the convex side of the arcuate line of weakness 62 facing the bottom edge 64 of the flexible package 16. In addition, a flap 66 is defined and positioned adjacent the area formed by the line of weakness 62.

In a preferred embodiment, a magnet is used to provide the closure mechanism 18 of the package 10. Specifically, the first and second magnets 68, 70 are applied and attached to the front portion 34 of the bottom member 24 of the support member 14 and the top portion 30 of the top member 22 of the support member 14, respectively, as shown in fig. 1 and 4. When the package 10 is transitioned from the open position to the closed position, the top section 72 and the bottom section 74 of the package 10 are folded along the plurality of creases 26 and substantially parallel to each other such that the first magnet 68 and the second magnet 70 are aligned with, engaged with, and magnetically adhered to each other with the inner film 42 of the flexible package 16 positioned between the first magnet 68 and the second magnet 70, as shown in fig. 2.

Alternatively, the first and second magnets 68, 70 may be attached or printed onto the top and bottom sections 76, 78, respectively, of the inner film 42 of the flexible package 16, as shown in fig. 6. When the package 10 is in the closed position, the first magnet 68 and the second magnet 70 are directly engaged with and magnetically adhered to each other without any intervening structure therebetween. To convert the package 10 back to the open position, the top section 72 and the bottom section 74 of the package 10 are simply pulled away from each other with sufficient force to disengage the magnets 68, 70.

It should be understood that other designs and configurations that are deemed suitable for a given application factor may be used for the closure mechanism 18 of the package 10. For example, in one alternative embodiment, a reclosable adhesive 80 is applied as the closure mechanism 18, as shown in fig. 7. Specifically, the reclosable adhesive 80 is applied to the bottom section 78 of the inner film 42 of the flexible package 16 such that the reclosable adhesive 80 allows the top section 76 and the bottom section 78 of the inner film 42 to engage and adhere to each other when the package 10 is in the closed position.

In another embodiment, hook-and-loop fasteners (not shown) of Velcro (Velcro) can be used as the closure mechanism. Specifically, hooks and loops (not shown) are attached to top section 76 and bottom section 78, respectively, of inner film 42 of flexible package 16. Similar to the magnets, when the package 10 is transitioned from the open position to the closed position, the top section 72 and the bottom section 74 of the package 10 are folded along the plurality of creases 26 and substantially parallel to each other such that the hooks and loops (not shown) are aligned, engaged, and attached to each other. To convert the package 10 back to the open position, the top section 72 and the bottom section 74 of the package 10 are simply pulled away from each other with sufficient force to disengage the hook and loop of the velcro (not shown).

In the present invention, the attachment force of the closure mechanism 18 is stronger than the memory of the hinge of the package 10. This allows the package 10 to remain in the closed position once the closure mechanism 18 is engaged.

When the package 10 is assembled, initially, the package 10 is in a closed position, as shown in fig. 2, wherein the flap 66 is adhered to the inner film 42 of the flexible package 10. Thus, if a user wishes to dispense and consume the consumer product 12 contained within the package 10, the package 10 first needs to be opened. In the present invention, because the strength of the adhesive attaching the flap 66 to the inner film 42 of the flexible package 16 is greater than the strength required to rupture the line of weakness 62, by simply opening the package 10 for the first time, the flap 66 ruptures the line of weakness 62 and creates an opening 82 to expose the consumer product 12 contained therein, allowing access to the consumer product 12.

Once the line of weakness 62 is broken and creates the opening 82 in the flexible package 16, the package 10 may be closed with the closure mechanism 18, as described above, to prevent access to the consumer products 12 contained within the support members 14, and also to prevent removal of the consumer products 12 from the package 10 through the opening 82. The package 10 may be closed and opened as many times as desired by the consumer.

The package 10 is designed and configured so that it can be run on a horizontal packaging machine without involving significant changeover to the machine or adding significant cost per product. This allows for various sized packages to be constructed to hold different amounts of consumer products 12 within the packages, which is not currently available packaging equipment and systems.

The package 10 is made from one or more materials having suitable properties for the desired application, including strength, weight, stiffness, etc. Reinforced board, cardboard, paperboard or plastic is generally preferred for the support member 14. The support member 14 may be formed from a single flat piece of plastic, reinforced board, cardboard or paperboard blank. For flexible packages 16, a single web of flexible and hermetically sealable material, such as a polymer laminate, is generally preferred.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the consumer product package according to the present invention allows for a consumer product to be contained therein while providing an environmental barrier and a closure mechanism to improve the shelf life of the consumer product.

In general, the foregoing description is provided for the purposes of illustration and description; the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Rather, those skilled in the art will recognize additional modifications and adaptations to the specific embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention as shown and described herein, and the scope of the appended claims.