Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TWO PIECE PACKAGE ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, the present invention relates to packages comprising a
primary container and a surrounding outer sleeve. More specifically, the
present
invention relates to packages wherein the items stored within an interior
cavity are
accessible through aligned interior panel and exterior panel access apertures.
SUMMARY
The present invention departs from the current packaging industry environments
and the known prior art through the creative manner the inventors identified
present and
future needs, and then developed flexible solutions that address both isolated
and
overlapping failures in the present art to satisfy those needs. Through the
present
invention, as taught and illustrated through exemplary embodiments, obstacles
including
structural integrity, display, privacy, child-resistance, tamper evidence,
ease of access,
consistent operation through repeated use, and price-point economics are
simultaneously
solved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of a primary
container, according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of an outer
sleeve, according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of a primary
container, according to the present invention.
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FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of an outer
sleeve, according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of a primary
container, according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of an outer
sleeve, according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of a primary
container, according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of an outer
sleeve, according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of an
exemplary
package, according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of a primary
container, according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of an outer
sleeve, according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an exemplary package,
according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is an alternative perspective view of an embodiment of an exemplary
package, according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is another perspective view of an embodiment of an exemplary package,
according to the present invention.
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FIG. 15 is another perspective view of an embodiment of an exemplary package,
according to the present invention.
FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of a primary
container, according to the present invention.
FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary blank for forming an embodiment of an outer
sleeve, according to the present invention.
FIGs 18 - 24 are perspective views of an embodiment of an exemplary package,
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed
herein.
It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary
examples of
the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and
combinations
thereof. As used herein, the word "exemplary" is used expansively to refer to
embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen, model or pattern. The
figures are
not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to
show
details of particular components. In other instances, well-known components,
systems,
materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid
obscuring the
present invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional details
disclosed herein
are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims
and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ
the present
invention.
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Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a primary blank 10 comprising of a
plurality of foldably attached panels, namely, a stop tab 12, a back panel 14,
a front panel
16, a glue flap 18, and end flaps 20. The stop tab 12 is defined, in part, by
opposite cut
lines 22 and is foldably attached to the back panel 14 along a fold line 24.
The back
panel 14, front panel 16 and glue panel 18 are foldably attached along fold
lines 26 and
28, respectively. End flaps 20 are foldably attached to the front panel 14 and
back panel
16 along fold lines 30. The front panel 16 includes an interior panel access
aperture 32.
When erected, this exemplary primary blank 10 forms a primary container 34
that defines
an internal cavity 36, as best illustrated and described with reference to
FIGs 12 -15.
Turning to FIG. 2, there is shown a secondary blank 40 having of a plurality
of
foldably attached panels. Here, a back panel 42, a front panel 44, and an
inner pane146
are foldably connected along fold lines 48, 50, respectively. The illustrated
inner panel
46 includes a stop tab receiving channel cutout 52 and the illustrated front
panel includes
an exterior panel access aperture 54. When erected, this exemplary secondary
blank 40
forms an outer sleeve or exterior container 56, which includes a receiving
channel 58
configured to slideably receive the primary container 34 and stop tab 12, as
best
illustrated and described with reference to FIGs. 12 -15.
Alternative embodiments of the primary blank 10 and secondary blank 40
illustrated in FIGs. 1 and 2 are contemplated. Some non-limiting, exemplary
alternative
embodiments include the primary blank 60 and secondary blank 70 illustrated in
FIGs. 3
and 4, the primary blank 80 and secondary blank 90 illustrated in FIGs. 5 and
6, and the
primary blank 100 and secondary blank 110 illustrated in FIGs. 7 and 8. Note
that the
exterior panel access aperture 54 illustrated in FIG 8 is defined, at least in
part, by a
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severance line 112. A severance line 112 includes any frangible line that can
be torn or
otherwise broken or severed and is commonly formed by a segment of
perforations, cuts,
half-cut, slits, scores, combinations thereof, and the like.
As described below with regard to FIGs. 12 - 15, some packages include a
primary container 34 and outer sleeve 56, such as those similar to the
illustrated
embodiments in FIGs 1 - 6, wherein the interior panel access aperture 32 and
exterior
panel access aperture 54 are slideably aligned to gain access to items stored
within the
interior cavity 36. With some alternative packages, such as those comprising a
primary
and second blank similar to the primary blank 100 and secondary blank I 10
illustrated in
FIGs. 7 - 8, the interior panel access aperture 32 and exterior panel access
aperture 54 are
already aligned because the primary container 34 does not slide with respect
to the outer
sleeve 56 as the stop tab 12 is already seated in a substantially equally
sized receiving
channel 58. Rather, in these embodiments, the user at least partially breaks
the severance
line 112 to create the exterior panel access aperture 54. With the exterior
panel access
aperture 54 configured to at least partially expose the interior panel access
aperture, the
user can access items stored in the internal cavity 36.
Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown a combined primary and secondary blank
120 comprising of a plurality of foldably attached panels, namely, an interior
front panel
16, an interior back panel 14, an exterior front panel 44 and an exterior back
panel 42.
The interior front panel 16, interior back panel 14, exterior front panel 44
and exterior
back panel 42 are foldably attached along adjacent fold lines 26, 122, and 48,
respectively. In alternative embodiments, the exterior back panel 42 is
replaced with a
glue panel 18. Similar to the embodiments described above, end flaps 20 are
foldably
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attached to the interior panels 16, 14 adjacent along fold lines 30. Also, the
interior front
panel 16 includes an interior panel access aperture 32 and the exterior front
panel 44
includes an exterior panel access aperture 54 that is defined, at least in
part, by a
severance line 112. When erected, this exemplary primary blank 120 forms a
container
that defines an internal cavity 36, as best illustrated and described with
reference to FIGs
12 -15. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGs. 7 - 8, here the user at
least
partially breaks the severance line 112 to create the exterior panel access
aperture 54.
With the exterior panel access aperture 54 configured to at least partially
expose the
interior panel access aperture 32, the user can access items in the internal
cavity 36.
Referring now to FIGs. 7 - 9, alternative embodiments offer a recloseable flap
54a. By providing a severance line 122 that, for example, substantially
extends across
the exterior front pane144, such as from near the first fold line 122 to near
the second
fold line 48, the panel section pulled back to form the exterior access
aperture 54 can also
function as a recloseable flap 54a. In practice, after the user has removed
one or more
items from the internal cavity 36, the extended tongue section of the flap 54a
is pressed
into engagement with the narrower section of the access aperture 54 to close
the package.
Turning now to FIGs. 10 and 11, there is shown an alternative primary blank
130
that is similar to the primary blank 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. Likewise, the
alternative
secondary blank 140 is similar to the secondary blank 40 illustrated in FIG.
2, except that
here the back pane142 includes a stop tab keyhole 142. As best described with
referenced to FIGs. 13 and 14, in some embodiments of the present invention
the stop tab
12 is inserted into the stop tab keyhole 142 to form a child-resistant
feature. In additional
embodiments, the stop tab 12 is inserted into the stop tab keyhole 142 and
then secured to
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one of the exterior panels 42, 44 to form a second child-resistance feature.
In additional
embodiments, the stop tab 12 is inserted into the stop tab keyhole 142 and
then secured to
one of the exterior panel 42, 44 to form a tamper evidence feature.
Before turning fully to FIGs. 12 - 15, where the function and operation of an
exemplaiy package 150 is taught, we refer briefly and concurrently to FIGs. 5
and 6 to
teach how the illustrated blanks 80, 90 are folded and erected to form the
primary
container 34 and outer sleeve 56. One non-limiting method of erecting the
primary blank
80 includes inwardly folding the glue flap 18 along an adjacent fold line 28
and then
inwardly folding the interior front panel 16 along an adjacent fold line 26 so
that the front
panel 16 is in a face-contacting configuration with the interior back panel
14. The face of
the glue flap 18 is then attached to the back of the back panel 14, but not so
that stop tab
12 is restricted from folding. The interior panels 14, 16 are then pushed
apart, pushing
inwardly along opposite edges formed by the respective fold lines, 26, 28, to
form an
inner void or cavity 36, best illustrated in FIG. 15. End flaps 20 at each end
of the
interior panels 14, 16 are then folded inwardly and attached to form an end
wall structure
at each end of the primary container. One non-limiting method of erecting the
secondary
blank 90 includes inwardly folding the inner panel 46 along an adjacent fold
line 50 and
then inwardly folding the exterior back panel 42 along an adjacent fold line
48 so that the
inner panel 46 and back panel 42 are in a face-contacting configuration. The
back of the
back panel 42 is then attached to the face of the inner panel 46. In
connecting the back
panel 42 and inner panel 46, the stop tab receiving channel cutout 52
cooperatively forms
the receiving channel 58, best shown in FIGs. 13 and 14. The exterior panels
42, 44 are
then pushed apart, pushing inwardly along opposite edges formed by the
respective fold
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lines 48, 50. When fully erected the blanks 80, 90 result in the primary
container 34 and
outer sleeve 56, best illustrated in FIGs. 12 - 15.
Turning first to FIG. 12, the exemplary package 150 is created by inserting an
erected primary container 34 into an erected outer sleeve 56. For clarity and
purposes of
teaching, and not as a limitation or restriction, the exemplary package 150 is
illustrated
with a transparent outer sleeve 56 and opaque primary container 34. In the
fully closed
position shown in FIG. 12 the exterior access aperture 54 is not aligned with
the interior
access aperture 32. Accordingly, the items stored in the internal cavity 36
are not easily
accessible. For those embodiments where the stop tab 12 is absent or not
restrained, the
primary container 34 can be slid by pushing on either end wall structure until
the
respective access apertures 32, 54 are at least partially aligned, thus
providing access to
the items stored in the internal cavity 36. When the access apertures 32, 54
are fully
aligned the package 150 is in the fully open position, as best shown in FIG.
15. For those
embodiments that include a stop tab 12 and elongated receiving channel 58, the
primary
container 34 is stopped from further sliding when the stop tab 12 abuts an end
of the
receiving channel, as best shown in FIG. 14.
For those exemplary package embodiments formed from a primary blank 100 and
secondary blank 110, or combined blank 120 which, when erected, are not
slidable with
respect to each other or include pre-aligned access apertures 32, 54, the
internal cavity 36
is accessed by at least partially breaking the severance line 112 to reveal
the exterior
aperture 54 and at least partially lifting or otherwise removing that portion
of the front
pane144 defined by the severance line 112 to expose the interior aperture 32.
With the
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respective apertures 32, 54 opened or otherwise revealed the contents of the
primary
container 34 can be accessed.
Consideration is now given to those embodiments that include a child-
resistance
feature comprising a stop tab 12 and stop tab keyhole 142, as best shown in
FIG. 13. In
order to at least partially align the access apertures 32, 54 the stop tab 12
is completely
pushed through the stop tab keyhole 142 and seated within the receiving
channel 58.
With the stop tab 12 fully seated within the receiving channel 58 the primary
container 34
can be fully extended within the outer sleeve 56, as best shown in FIG. 14.
This setting
of the stop tab 12 requires a certain level of cognitive development and
coordination that
is beyond some age groups. Accordingly, even a vigorous attempt by an
unintended user
to slide the primary container 34 before seating the stop tab 12 should be
thwarted if the
respective blanks 80, 90 are of sufficiently sturdy materials.
Where a vigorous attempt is not thwarted and one or more components of the
package are destroyed - most likely the stop tab 12, the destroyed
component(s) serves as
tamper evidence. In some embodiments, the stop tab 12 is secured to one or
more
exterior panels 42, 44. By way of example and not limitation, the stop tab 12
may be
folded back and attached to the front panel 44 with adhesives or glues, or
sealed with
tape. Alternatively, the stop tab 12 may be similarly attached to the back
panel 42. An
unsecured or unsealed stop tab 12 serves as further tamper evidence.
It is contemplated that some package embodiments will include a child-
resistant
feature that includes a stop tab 12, such as those packages that store and
dispense
prescription drugs that could be harmful if ingested by a small child. Where
the end-user
does not require a child-resistant feature because there are no children in
his or her
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enviromnent, the stop tab 12 can be permanently removed. In practice, such an
embodiment then operates as explained above with reference to those
embodiments
without a stop tab 12.
FIG. 16 illustrates another alternative embodiment of an exemplary primary
blank
200. This primary blank 200 includes a foldable flap 210 that attaches to an
inner tab 220
located on an alternative exemplary secondary blank 230, best illustrated by
FIG. 17. As
shown with references to FIGs. 18 - 24, in the erected package 240 formed from
the
respective blanks 200, 230 the inner access aperture 32 is automatically
revealed as the
primary container 34 is slid with respect to the outer sleeve 56 because the
inner tab 220
pulls outwardly on the foldable flap 210 to reveal the underlying access
aperture 32.
In still additional embodiments, the primary container 34 includes a stop tab
12
and the outer sleeve 56 includes a stop tab keyhole 142 but not a receiving
channe158. In
such an embodiment, the primary container 34 can be fully released from the
outer sleeve
56 by pushing the stop tab 12 completely through the stop tab keyhole 142 and
pushing
on either end wall structure to access an inner aperture 32 or fully remove
the primary
container 34 in order to access the contents.
While the primary blanks 10, 60, 80, 100, the secondary blanks 40, 70, 90,
110,
and the combined blanks 120 are illustrated and described as unitary blanks,
it will be
understood that the respective blanks can be formed of individual, separate
panels that are
connected or otherwise attached to form an erected primary container and outer
sleeve
similar to those illustrated and described below. In addition, some panels are
referenced
with directional or orientation words such as "front", "back", "interior" and
"exterior" to
merely indicate relative positions in an erected configuration; accordingly,
these terms
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are merely used for ease of reference and teaching and not as a limitation or
restriction of
any kind.
The law does not require and it is economically prohibited to illustrate and
teach
every possible embodiment of the present claims. Hence, the above-described
embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth
for a clear
understanding of the principles of the invention. Variations, modifications,
and
combinations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing
from
the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations
are
included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.
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