Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~ B}~Cl~GROUi`~l) O~ TIIE INVI,NTION
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l. Field of the Invcntion
The present invention relatcs to a lami.nated container
structure arld, more particularly, to a container or p~ckaye
5 havlng a heat transferable image or iron-on as a rc?~dil.y
detachable portion or sectlon of an outer ply or ~lall
thereol, preferably in the ~orm of an eas.ily remo-~able
panel.
The merchandising of commodities ~Ihich are packayed
10 in packaging media such as closed containers, currently
employs the ~1idespread practice of including a redeemable
coupon, mailing card, ticket or premium within the container.
- Among such premiums or promotional items are also the
popular iron-ons or heat transferable images which may be
15 applied in a decoxative manner to a suitable garment, cuch
as a T~shirtr blouse or the like. The foregoing is subject
to the limitation that the purchaser cannot redeem the
coupon or employ the promotional item until the pac~age
is opened so as to provide access to the commodity and
20 coupon, premium or iron-on contained therein. Alternatively,
the iron~on or heat transferable image may be affixed to
the exterior surface of the container, such as in the form.
of a decal, adapted for easy detachment thereof by a
purchaser or consumer. However, this type of structure
25 frequently entails the inadvertent loss of the iron-on
or heat transferable image during storage, shipping or
handling cf the container, or may even be conducive to
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1 th~ d~liberate relno~al arld theft of the iron-on prece~ing
the sale of the container. The heat transEerable ima~e
may also be printed on the e~terior surrace of the container
or package, and may be cut out by the consumer after the
5 container is opened. This, ho~ever, t~ill destroy the
integrity of the carton and prevent the merchandise con~ained
therein from being~stored for any appreciable length of time.
Consequently, a printed-on promotional item of this type
is only practicable when the merchandise has been used
10 and the container is in an emptied condition. Moreover,
removal of this type of iron-on or decal necessitates the
employment by the consumer, ~1ho may be a child, of a sharp
cutting object, such as scissors or a knife; a frequently
dangerous practice ~hich conceivably may cause serious
1~ injuries.
2. Discussion of the Pri.or Art
More recently, containers or packages have been
developed which incorporate easily detachable or peelable
coupons or decals as integral elements of the outer ~all
20 or ply of the container structure, with such-elements
readily being adaptable for use as promotional items
or premiums.
Thus, Loderhose U. S. Reissue Patent 24,962
discloses a phonograph .reco.rd jacket having a detachable
25 or peelable picture-bearing coupon incorporated in the
outer ply of the jacket for separation thereof along a
predetermined perforated tear outline. In this construction
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1 the removal of the coupon, or pictorial portion, will lcave
a loose and readily tearable peripheral edcJe in one ~.terior
sur-face of the jacket, thereby rcnderin~ the latter ~asily
torn and unsightly when repeatedly handled for any significant
5 period of time.
Krug U-. S. Patent 2,420,045 relates to a coupon
which is an element in the outer ~7all or ply of a container,
adapted to be readily separatecl along perforated tear lines.
However, in this instance, the coupon is an appendage of
10 the outer ply of the container t which is then folded cver
to provlde a double-thickness wall portion suitable for
peeling off by an ultimate purchaser or consumer of the
container. This structure requires the utilization of
extra lengths of outex container material, while concurrently
15 permitting the coupon to be inadvertently ox deliberately
detached fxom the container prior to the sale of the latter.
Corrinet U. S. Patent 3,110,121 and Gorman et al
U. S. Patent 3,463,303 each describe containers providing
for detachable coupons as integral components of the outer
20 ply of a container wall structure. Howevex, neither of
these patents contemplate the coupon being an integral
poxtion entlrely contained within one surface of the
outer ply or wall structure of the container, and require
the destruction of the end of the wall portion, thus
25 creating the risk of inadvertently affecting the integrity
of the container, or possibly producing an uneven or jagged
container end edge after removal of the coupon.
o
A multiple-ply container structure wherein a
peelable coupon forms an integral portion of the outer
container wall and is defined by a perforated tear outline
is also known. An adhesive-repellent medium is coated to
the inner surface of the outer wall below the coupon-defin-
ing area to prevent adherence of the coupon to the adhesive
fastening together the outer and inner walls of the container.
However, none of the above-mentioned patents disclose,
nor suggest, incorporating as a promotional feature, an inte-
gral component in the outer wall of a multiple-ply container
stucture, of a readily detachable or peelable panel defined
by a predetedrmined tear outline, and which includes a heat
transferable image or iron-on imprinted on the outer sur-
face of the panel.
SUM~lARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention contemplates
the provision of a laminated or multiple-ply container
structure comprising an inner wall of a substantially
rigid material and an outer wall of a thin, generally pliant
material, such as glossy finished paper, adhesively fastened
thereto by means of a suitable adhesive or glue. Formed in
the outer wall of the container, as an integral component
thereof, and through the intermediary of a tear outline
constituted of perforations extending through at least the
outer ply or wall is a section constituting a readily
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rcinova~le or peelable cc)upon~ e panel, with the peellng
ofL of the panel adapted to he effectuated without
adverse]~T affectinc3 the inte.~rity of the container structure
or necessitatil1s the use of special cuttincJ instruments
or tools. The outer surface of the removable panel has
a heat transEerable ima~e i~printed thereon which, after
separation of the panel from the container structure, is
adapted to be positioned in contact with a suitable transfer
surface, for instance, a T-shirt, blouse or other garment.
10 Thereafter, through the application of a hot iron, the
transferable image which is also commonly referred to as
an "iron-on" is imparted to the transfer surface to form
a decorative image or imprint thereon.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
15 interior surface of the outer container wall, in effect,
the surface of the outer ply which is in contact with the
adhesive material bondin~ the outer wall to the inner wall
~f the laminated container is provided with a coatin~ of
a release agent or adhosive-repellent medium over a
2~ predetermined patterned area which is substantially
coextensive with the area defined by the detachable panel
havins the heat transferable image imprinted thereon, in
effect, within the region bounded by the perforated tear
outline. The provisiOn of this coating on the bac'r~ or
25 inner surface portion of the outer wall constitutins the
panel or so-called "iron-on" will facilitate the easy peeling
off of the panel b~ the purchaser or consumer of the pac~ag1ns
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1 meclium or contai.ner, and allo.Js for the detached panel
to be applicd to a transfcr surface for the "i.roninc~-on"
of the heat transferclble .imac3e thercon while concul-xently
fully maintainincJ the .intec3rity of the container and its
5 conterlts.
Pursuant to the invention, the heat transferable
image or "iron-on" which is imprinted on the detachable
or peelable panel preferably is constituted of a heaL
transferable substance consisting of sublimation dyes,
10 disperse dyes, pigmented sublimation inks, or vinyl
plastisol films. ~n order to impart scuff resistance
to the dyes or inks during transport, storage and handling
of the containers, the heat transferable image has a pro-
tective coating superimposed thereon, such coating, however,
15 being permeable to the hot transfer of the inks or dyes
onto a transfer surface or substrate.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present
invention to provide a laminated container structure of the
type described hereinabove which incorporates a readily
2D removable or peelable panel having a heat transferable
image thereon as an integral component of the outer ~iall
or ply of the multi-plied con.ainer structure.
Another object of the present invention is to
provide a novel laminated container structure in which
2~ the removal of the panel which is integrally formed in
the outer ply or wall of the container will not adversely
affect the intecJrity of the container structure while
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1 permittincJ the panel to be applied to a transfer surfcce
for the hot transfer of the h~at transferahle imac~e or
"iron-on" imprinted thereon.
Yet another object of the present invention is
5 to provide a laminated carton structure of the type
described in which the portion of the outer ply or wall
constituting the "iron-on" bearing panel has surface area
thereof facing the adhesive material intermediate the
container plies coated with a release agent or adhesive-
10 repellent medium so as to thereby permit the easy peelingoff of the panel by a consumer without the necessity of
employing any speciali~ed tools or sharp cutting implements.
A more specific object of the present invention is
to provide a laminated container structùre of the type
15 described, wherein the peelable panel which is incorporated
in the outer ply or wall of the container as an integral
portion thereof has imprinted thereon a decorative heat
transferable image or so-called "iron-on" of a-heat
transferable substance consisting of sublimatlon dyes,
20 disperse dyes, pigmented sublimation inks, or vinyl
plastisol films.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA~INGS
These and other objects of the present invention
may be more readily understood by having reference to
25 the following detailed description of a preferred embodi-
ment of the inventive lc~minated container structure
incorporating the peelable panel having the heat transferable
image imprinted thereon, taken in conjunction with the
accompanyincJ drat~ings; in which:
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. Fig~re l shows a pers~ec'i:~ ve vie~7 0~ a ]?oxl::i.c)1l
of ~ .l.~ni.nated con-ta:;ner str~ctu3.e in co1l~oxrnance ~1itlJ
the p.rcseIlt inven-t:ion;
~ ?igure 2 is an e:Levati.onal vie~7 of a poxtion o
a cvl1taincr similar to t:hat o T;.r~. l and illustrating
a some~hat modi.fied coupon structure; and
~ igure 3 is a sectiol1al view t on an en~al-cJed scclle,
ta~en along line 3-3 -in Fig. 2~
DETAILED Dl~SCRIPTION OF T~IE I~IV~NTION
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1~ ~e~erring now i~ detai.l t:o t-he drawings, the embodi-
ment of the invention illustrated in FigsD l to 3 is
directed-to a merchandise package or contai1ler st~:ucture
lo ~ihich is basically constitutea of rect:anglllarly--.c;.-aed
~ ~e~ fox bulk goods or commodities such as~ for e~:ample,
t//"~15 dr~ cereal, cookies~ condimellts and othex consurner oriellted
merchandise~ Quite apparently, other shapes o~ c~)ntainex.s
such as, for example~ cylindrical~ pyrc~midal, conical or
the like~ ~re equally appli.cable to the invention. rrhe
container 10~ as is ~Jell ~ncwn in the artl is conxtructed
z~of the usual front~ rear and side panels 12 and l~, and
.suitable top and bottom closures (not sho~m).
}-Iaving particular reference to Figc 3 r as is ~7ell
~nown in the packagin~ media art a the containex lO ma~ ~e
constituted of a laminated or multi-ply construction
25comprisin~ an inner wall 16 formed of a generally ri~id
paperboard or cardboard material and an outer ~1all 18
formed of a thin pliant material, such as a gloss~ cinisned
4900
papeL, adapted to have suitable indicia or lec~ends
imprinted or cmbossed thcreon. Thc outer wdll 18 is
adhcsively fastened to the :inner wall 16 throu~Jh the
interposition of a la~er or coating of an adhesive material
or glue 20.
~ peelable or detachable panel 22 is incorpora~ed
in the outer wall 18, as an integral portion of the latter,
on one of the panels 12 or 14 of the carton 10 through the
formation of a tear outline constituted of slits or perfora-
10 tions 2~ extending through at le~s-t the outer wall 18.
In order to facilitate the peeling away or tearing
off of the peelable panel 22 from the container 10 along
the tear outline formed by the perforations 24, a suitable
release agent or adhesive-repellent medium 26 ma~ be
15 coated on the rear surface of the peelable panel portion
22 of the outer wall 1%~ in effect, the surface which is
in contact with the adhesi.ve material 20, to thereby prevent
any adhesion between the back of the panel portion 22 and
the inner wall 16 of the container. Suitably, such release
2U agent or adhesive-repellent medium may be constituted of
a paraffin wax or microcrystalline wax which will not
adhere to the adhesive material 20. The area of the surface
of the outer wall 18 of the carton whi.ch is coated with the
release agent 26 is substantially coextensive with the surface
2~ area of the peelable panel 22 confined within the tear out-
line of the perforations 24.
Since the application of the release agent or
adhesive-repellent medium 26 is essentially restricted
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1 to l:l~e area of the :rca~ su--face o outer ~Jall 18 ~hich
is conLined ~ithin thc perfoxation tear ou~line 2~, as
shown i.n ~ig. 3, subsequent to t:he peelin~ a~ay of the
panel portion 22, the outer peripher~ of that area ~Jill
5 have the perforated edges of outer waLl 18 firmly adhered
to the inner ~7all 16, :~orminy a smooth tear edge and
thereby preventiny any inadvertent tearing and disfiguring
of the remaining outer wall or ply of the container 10.
~loreover, since the perforations Z4 do not cut into the
10 inner wall 16 to any appreciable extent, the strength
and integrity of the carton 10 remains essentially
unimpaired to allow for long-term storage and use by
the consumer of the merchandise contained therein.
The heat transferable image on the peelable panel
15 portion 22, which Illtimately forms the "iron-on" is printed
thereon by means ~f gravure or other acceptable and
compatible printing methods. As desired, the heat trans-
ferable ima~e can be printed onto the surface of the outer
ply 18 concurrent with or subsequent to the printing of the
20 carton graphics on the remaining surface of-the outer carton
surface. The laminating adhesive-repellent medium 26 is
generally applied during the same printing process to the
opposite side of the outer ply 18 within the area defined
by the perforations 24 and by the registration tolerances
25 of the manufacturing process for the container lO.
The heat transferable image which is printed on
the ou~er ply 18 of the container lO is usuall$~ composed
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of such heat transferable substances as sublimation or
diserse dyes, pigmented sublimation inks, vinyl plastisol
films or the like. Substances which would be applicable
thereto in providing the heat transferable image are dis-
closed in U.S. Patents No. 3,813,218, and No. 4,021,591.
A thin protective coating 28 is applied directly
over the heat transferable image on the panel portion 22
so as to impart scuff resistance to the dyes, but which
is permeable to their transfer during the iron-on application
process. Additionally, the protective coating 28 and the
resins in the sublimation inks forming the heat transferable
image provide a temporary tack when applied to a transfer
surface or substrate on a garment onto which the image is
to be cut and transferred. This will effectively prevent
slipping and blurring of the image during application. The
protective coating and the resin in the sublimation inks
do not transfer to the garment.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings,
illustrated panel portion 22 which is detachable or peelable
from the container 10 is of a generally rectangular con-
figuration. In this embodiment, although not limited thereto,
the wide leading edge 30 of the detachable iron-on or
panel portion 22 is formed so as to be completely liftable
from the carton 10 within a relatively short distance
without inducing excessive stress and resultant tears in
the outer ply 18. The leading edge 30 is formed of lengthy
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o;~e1^lappir.~J c~lts 3~, in this instance each appro~imatoly
OIle inch lon~ h.ich penetrate the outer ply 1~. The
C~l~s 32 oritJinate ~rom each side perforation 39 and,
in the ill~lstrated ~mbodiment, deviate from the perpendicular
5 to the side pexfora.ions by an out~ardly extending anc;le
o about lO to 15~. The-cuts 32 meet towards the center
of the leading edge 30 and join iIltO a semicircular lift
tab 36. The cuts 32 are separated from each other by a
di.stance of approx.imately 1/16 to 1/8 inch and are over-
10 lapped so that, as the tab 36 is raised, its tear willoriginate in the outer p:Ly 18 at the ends of one cut
32 and propagate in the direction of the pulling force
until it meets the end of the adjacent overlap cut. ~s
a result, the leading edge 30 of the iron-on or panel
15 portion 22 is released from the container lO hy a series
of stepped tears in which the tears "j~np" from cut to
cut at each overlap and are displaced laterally from the
li-ft tab 36 until they join the side perforations 34.
This method of perforation permits the removal of the
20 iron-on from the container lO to initiate from a single
point and to spread in a direction transverse to that
of the applied force~ It is extremely important to eliminate
tears which may occur at the leading edge 30 since they
woul d tend to propagate in the direction of the applied
25 force into the heat transferable image forming the iron-on.
The side perforaLions 34 which define the side
boundaries of th~ panel portion 22 may be of a conventional
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1 si~e }~llOwll in thc art and are chosen for optimum
sc~erance of the specific rnaterial utili~ed in the
outer~ply lS.
The trailing ed~e 38 of the panel portion 22
5 i5 formed throu~h the inter~edial-y of a continuous cut
which is desired so as to completel~ sever the outer
ply 18 and ~hich extends transversely between the side
perforations 3~. Preferably this cut 38 is positioned
approximately 1/8 inch or any suitable small distance
10 beyond the edge of the adhesive-repellent medlum 26
so tha~ the entire trailing edge 38 of the pane7 portion
22 is laminated to the inner ply 16 by a small or narro~
strip of adhesive 20. This ~ill assuxe that the trailing
edge 38 will adhere adequately to the inner ply during
15 the manufacturing process of the carton 10, while the
,~ p,e~e~
7~ continuous cut 38 ~~t-CS that undesired outer ply material
c is stripped from the container 10 as the panel portion 22
,~/c/7~ is peeled off. The mechanism of effecting the release of
this adhered edge for the container 10 formed from the
20 two plies 16, 18 of a fibrous material is of tensile
failure ~lithin the material of the outer ply 18. In
effect, some of the outer ply material in this strip
adjacent the trailing edge 38 will remain adhered to the
inner ply 16 after the panel portion 22 is stripped off.
2~ De]c~mination between the plies 18 and 16 is terminated
by the continuous cut 38, the latter of ~Jhich need only
penetrate to the depth of which the material of the outer
ply 18 is parted.
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1 In su~nati.on, from the ~ore~joincJ it beco~r,es readil~
apparent to one s]~illed ;.n the art that the present invention
provides a merchandisi.n~ container or packaging media
i.ncorporatins, in a novel manner, a panel portion or iron-on
5 including a hcat tr~nsfe~able image irnprinted thereon, ~hich
is integrally constructed with the outer ~Jall or ply of a
laminated container structure, and ~hich may be easily
dctached or peeled off by the cons~er for use of th~
iron-on on a transEer substrate without in any manner
10 adversely affecting or destroyiny the integrity of the
container, or necessitating the use of specialized tools.
Moreover, although the inventive container structure
has been described in connection ~7ith a generally
rectangular peelable panel portion having the transferable
15 image imprinted thereon, other configurations and shapes
for the peelable panel portion or so-called "iron-on"
readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the technology.
Thus, for example, it is also possible to contemplate shapes
such as circles, ovals, octasons, he~agons and the li~e,
20 the claims not being limited to the specific configuration
illustrated herein.
