US3425544A - Package construction - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 4, 1969 AYER ET AL 3,425,544

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION I Filed Oct. 14, 1965 I I 34A L 1- '1 V I K 2% I J INVENTORS F I g'fi? IT'fi/IESROP BY A 4 I )J 4 THEIR ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1969 R. M. AYER ETAL 3,425,544

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 14, 1965 INVENTORS RONALD M. AYER ROBERT L.WALDROP BY FIGJZ 1 THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,425,544 PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION Ronald M. Ayer, Chesterfield County, and Robert L. Waldrop, Bon Air, Va., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 495,841 US. Cl. 206--45.33 2 Claims Int. Cl. B65d 65/16, 85/62, /26

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a package construction wherein a plurality of product-containing containers are disposed in the open end of a tray-like member with the tray-like member being subsequently disposed within a tubular film-like member that is subsequently heat shrunk about the same to compact the containers and receptacle together and complete the package construction, the receptacle having opposed end walls extending throughout the entire height of the resulting package construction to provide rigidity at the opposed ends of the heat shrunk tubular member and having opposed side wall means fully exposing the major portions of the containers within the receptacle means.

This invention relates to an improved package construction for product means or the like as well as to improved blanks for making such a package construction or the like.

It is well known from the copending patent application Ser. No. 366,424, filed May 11, 1964, now abandoned in favor of its copending continuation application Ser. No. 573,749, filed Aug. 2, 1966, and assigned to the same assignee to whom this application is assigned, that an improved package construction for product means or the like can be 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.

In such prior known package construct-ion, the product means were placed in open ended receptacle means with the product means extending above the side wall means of the receptacle means a substantial distance for full exposure thereof. The filled receptacle means is received in a tubular film-like member subsequently heat shrunk around the same to hold the product means and receptacle means together whereby the overall cost of such package construction and appearance made this prior known package construction more desirable than other prior known package constructions wherein the product means are fully encased in corrugated containers or the like.

However, according to the teachings of this invention, it has been found that the package constructions of the aforementioned copending patent application lacked stability at the ends thereof whereby this invention provides a similar type of package construction having many improved features over the aforementioned copending patent application.

In particular, the receptacle means of this invention is so constructed and arranged that the opposed end wall means thereof extend between the top and bottom of the package construction to provide columnar support for the heat shrunk film-like tubular member at the opposed opened ends thereof whereby a relatively rigid package construction is provided having all of the advan tages of the package construction of the aforementioned copending patent application as well as additional advantages over the same as will be apparent hereinafter.

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Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved package construction or the like having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved blank for forming 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 showing a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of an improved package construction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view illustrating a blank of this invention for forming the receptacle means of the package construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates another embodiment of the package construction of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates the blank of this invention for forming the receptacle means of the package construction of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a top perspective view illustrating the package construction of FIGURE 1 after the film-like member and part of the end wall means thereof have been removed.

FIGURE 5 is a top perspective view illustrating the package construction of FIGURE 1 after the film-like member and part of the end wall means thereof have been removed.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates another embodiment of the blank of this invention for forming the package construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a top perspective view illustrating one of the steps in the method of forming the package construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 and illustrates another step in the method of forming the package construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates another embodiment of the package construction of this invention.

FIGURE 10 is a top perspective view illustrating a spacer means utilized with the package construction of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 and illustrates another embodiment of a spacer means of this invention.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates still another embodiment of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing package construction for a plurality of containers or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide package construction for other product means as desired.

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

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved package construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises an open ended receptacle means 21 filled with a plurality of bottle-like containers or product means 22 respectively having bottle caps 23 or the like at the top thereof, the product means 22 being arranged in rows in the receptacle means 21.

The filled receptacle means 21 is disposed in a heat shrunk tubular film-like member 24 formed of transparent material, if desired, having the opposed ends 25 thereof overlapping the opposed ends 26 of the filled receptacle means 21 and defining opposed openings 27 in the package construction 20.

The open ended receptacle means 21 includes a flat bottom wall means 28, opposed side wall means 29 and opposed end wall means 30 each having a pair of opposed side flaps 31 extending throughout the height of the respective end wall means 30.

The opposed side wall means 29 of the open ended receptacle means 21 are so constructed and arranged that the majority of the height of the product means 22 extend above the same when the product means 22 is disposed on the bottom wall means 28 whereby the product means 22 is fully visible through the transparent film-like member 24 for product appeal as well as for a savings in the cost of receptacle means 21.

The opposed end wall means 30 of the receptacle means 21 are so constructed and arranged that the upper edges 32 are disposed substantially coplanar with the top portions of the caps 23 of the product means 22 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and are coplanar with :the' top edges 33 of the side flaps 31 disposed at right angles relative thereto.

In this manner, when the tubular film-like member 24 is heat shrunk around the filled receptacle means 21, the side flaps 31 and end wall means 30 provide support at all eight corners of the package construction 20 while the end wall means 30 provide vertical support at the overlapping ends 25 of the tubular member 24 whereby a rigid package construction 20 is provided having all of the advantages of the package constructions set forth in the aforementioned copending patent application while having the additional advantage of a rigid package construction that can be readily stacked with other package constructions 20 without the adverse effect of crushing the product means 22.

If desired, each end wall means 30 of the receptacle means 21 can be provided with a cutout 34 aligned with a respective opening 27 in the film-like material whereby the cutouts 34 can be utilized as hand-receiving openings so that a person can readily carry the package construction 20 by inserting his hands in the opposed openings 34 and grasping the upper edges 36 of the respective wall means 30 at the cutouts 34.

Therefore, it can be seen that the package construction 20 can be readily utilized for transporting and merchandising the product means 22.

While the film-like material 24 can comprise any suitable material, the film-like material 24 illustrated in the drawings comprises polyvinyl chloride prestretched in a manner well known in the art so that the same has a tendency to heat shrink when heated to tightly compact together the product means 22 and the receptacle means 21 in the manner fully set forth in the aforementioned copending patent application.

While the receptacle means 21 of this invention can be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 is formed from an improved blank 37 of this invention illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The blank 37 illustrated in FIGURE 2 comprises corrugated board means so constructed and arranged that the flutes of the corrugated blank 37 in the end wall means 30 are disposed vertically so as to add to the strength of the aforementioned columnar effect of the end wall means 30 and side flaps 31.

The blank 37 is suitably cut and scored to define the bottom wall means 28 foldably interconnected to the opposed end wall means 30 at the transverse score lines 38 and 39.

The opposed side wall means 29 are respectively interconnected to the side edges of the bottom wall means 28 at the score lines 40 and 41. Similarly, the side flaps 31 of the left-hand end wall means 30 in FIGURE 2 are foldably connected to the side edges of the end wall means at score lines 42 and 43 whereas the side flaps 31 of the right-hand end wall means 30 are interconnected thereto at score lines 44 and 45.

Thus, it can be seen that the blank 37 of this invention is a substantially rectangular sheet of material wherein the upper score lines 42, 40 and 44 comprise a continuous score and the lower longitudinal scores 43, 41 and 45 comprise a continuous score line.

As previously stated, the end wall means 30 of the blank 37 can be cut away at 34 to provide the hand hold means for the resulting package construction 20.

When it is desired to erect the blank 37 into the receptacle means 21 of this invention, the opposed side wall means 30 are bent at right angles relative to the bottom wall means 28 at the fold lines 38 and 39 and the side wall means 29 are bent at right angles relative to the bottom wall means at the fold lines 40 and 41. Thereafter, the side flaps 31 of the end wall means 26 are folded inwardly at right angles relative to the end wall means 30 at the fold lines 42, 43 and 44, 45 to be superimposed on the outside surface of the side wall means 29 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and are secured thereto by suitable adhesive means 46, FIGURE 2, to hold the blank 37 in its erected position to form the open ended receptacle means 21 previously described. How ever, it is to be understood that the side flaps 31 could be disposed inboard of the side wall means 29 if desired and could be secured thereto by other fastening means as desired, such as by staples or other mechanical fastening means.

Therefore, it can be seen that the receptacle means 21 of this invention can be formed in a relatively simple and economical manner from the blanks 37 of this invention to provide the package constructions 20.

While the film-like material 24 can be disposed around the filled receptacle means 21 and heat shrunk in any suitable manner to form the package construction 20 of this invention, one method is illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 wherein the prestretched and unshrunk film-like material 24 comprises a sheet disposed around the filled receptacle means 21 and has the opposed ends 46 and 47 thereof disposed in overlapping relation and heat sealed together in any suitable manner.

After the sheet of material 24 has been disposed around the filled receptacle means 21 and has the ends 46 and 47 thereof secured together to form a tubular structure having the opposed ends 25 thereof extending beyond the end wall means 30 of the receptacle means 21, the ends 25 of the film-like material 24 are partially preshrunk by heating means into the position illustrated in FIGURE 8 whereby the package construction of FIGURE 8 is then passed through a heating tunnel or the like whereby the film-like material 24 is further heat shrunk to tightly compact the product means 22 and receptacle means 21 together with the opposed ends 25 of the film-like material 24 being heat shrunk against the end wall means 30 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 to complete the package construction 20 of this invention.

While the individual containers 22 are illustrated in FIGURE 1 as abutting each other in the receptacle means 21, it is to be understood that various vertical spacers of cardboard or the like can be placed between the longitudinal and transverse rows of product means 21 to separate the same from each other, if desired, particularly if the product means 21 comprise glass containers or the like.

Another package construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20A in FIG- URE 3 and parts thereof similar to the package construction 20 previously described are indicated by like reterence numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the package construction 20A is substantially identical to the package construction 20 previously described except that the receptacle means 21A has top flaps 48 extending from the top edges 32A of the opposed end wall means 30A over the product means 22A as well as over the top edges 33A of the side flaps 31A. If desired, the top flaps 48 can have their inner edges 49 adapted to bisect the caps 23A of the product means 22A adjacent the respective end wall means 30A as desired. In addition, the width of the top flaps 48 can be the same dimension as the width of the side flaps 31A in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The receptacle means 21A of the package construction 20A can be formed from a blank 37A of this invention illustrated in FIGURE 4 and is substantially identical to the blank 37 of FIGURE 2 whereby like parts of the blank 37A are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, it can be seen that the blank 37A is identical to the blank 37 except that the blank 37A has the top flaps 48 foldably connected to the outer top edges of the end wall means 30A at the fold lines 50 and 51.

However, the blank 37A is erected to form the receptacle means 21A in the same manner as the blank 37 previously described except that the top flaps 48 are bent at right angles relative to the end wall means 30A over the product means 22A after the product means 22A have been disposed in the receptacle means 21A. 'Ilhereafter, the film-like material 24A is disposed around the filled receptacle means 21A in the manner previously described and heat shrunk in the manner previously described to complete the package construction 20A of this invention.

Therefore, it can be seen that the top flaps 48 of the package construction 20A will readily permit package constructions 20A to be disposed in stacked relation with other package constructions 20A as the top flaps 48 are supported vertically by the side flaps 31A.

When it is desired to open the package constructions 20 and 20A of this invention, the film-like material 24 or 24A is cut open with a knife or the like and removed from the respective receptacle means 21 and 21A so that the product means 22 and 22A can be removed therefrom.

However, if it is desired, the receptacle means 21 can be utilized to stack the product means 22 in a display set up in a market or the like after the film-like material 24 has been removed.

Also, such opened package construction 20 can have the upper portions of the side flaps 31 and end wall means 30 removed above the side wall means 29 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 whereby the reduced receptacle means 21 defines a tray-like member and can be utilized to permit stacking of the product means 22 in a display set up or the like for subsequent merchandising of the product means 22.

If desired, the receptacle means 21 (as well as the receptacle means 21A) could be provided with tear means so that the upper portions of the side flaps 31 and end wall means 30 can readily be removed therefrom to provide the displaying and stacking structure of FIGURE 5 as desired.

For example, another blank of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 37B in FIG- URE 6 and parts thereof similar to the blank 37 of FIG- URE 2 are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter B.

The blank 37B is formed substantially identical to the blank 37 previously described except that the opposed end wall means 30B and side flaps 31B thereof are perforated by suitable die means to define tear lines 52 so that the resulting receptacle means, erected in a manner similar to the receptacle means 21, can have the upper portions of the end wall means 30B and side flaps 31B readily removed therefrom by tearing the resulting receptacle means at the tear lines 52 to provide the small tray effect illustnated in FIGURE 5 for the purpose previously described.

In addition, the various receptacle blank of this invention can be provided with hand hold means in the opposed end walls thereof in the manner provided in the end wall means 30B of the blank 37B. In particular, the end wall means 30B of the blank 37B are suitably die cut and scored to define a pair of flaps 53 and 54 separated from each other at their inner ends by a die cut 55 and respectively hinged to the respective end wall means 30B at score lines 56 and 57.

In this manner, the flaps 53 and 54 of the resulting receptacle means formed from the blank 37B can be disposed coplanar with the end wall means 30B until it is desired to manually carry the resulting package construction whereby the handler pushes inward-1y on the flaps 53 and 54 with his hands to define the previously described hand receiving openings 34 for carrying the resulting package construction.

Another package construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20C in FIGURE 9 and part thereof similar to the package construction 20 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter C.

As illustrated in FIGURE 9, the package construction 20C has the receptacle means 210 thereof formed in the same manner as the receptacle means 21A of FIGURE 3 while the product means 22C disposed therein comprise two layers disposed in stacked relation and separated from each other by a horizontally disposed spacer means 58.

While the spacer means 58 could comprise merely a flat sheet of corrugated board or the like, the spacer means 58 illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10 comprises a corrugated board or the like having a substantially flat rectangular bottom wall 59 integrally interconnected to side flaps 60 disposed at right angles thereto so that the side flaps 60 of the spacer means 58 will be disposed inboard of the side flaps 31C of the receptacle means 21C and extend between the opposed end wall means 30C thereof whereby the intenmediate row of product means 220 in the top layer thereof is fully captured by the side flaps 60 of the spacer means 58 in the resulting package construction 20C to prevent the product means 22C from rupturing the tubular film-like material 24C.

If desired, the spacer means 58 can be so constructed and arranged that the bottom wall 59 thereof is exposed at the cutout means 34C in the end Wall means 300 of the receptacle means 21C so that the handler can grasp the underneath surface of the spacer means 58 at the cutout means 34A when lifting the package construction 20C in much the same manner as the package construction means set forth in the aforementioned copending patent application.

While the spacer means 58 of the package construction 20C merely has side flaps 60, it is to be undenstood that the spacer means could have side flaps extending completely around the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 59 thereof.

For example, another spacer means of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 61 in FIGURE 11 and comprises a substantially rectangular bottom wall 62 having a pair of opposed side flaps 63 bent at right angles relative thereto and another pair of opposed side flaps 64 bent at right angles relative thereto, the side flaps 64 having end flaps 65 thereof adapted to be superimposed on the side flaps 63 and fastened thereto in any suitable manner.

Thus, the spacer means 61 of FIGURE 11 can be utilized in lieu of the spacer means 58 of FIGURE 10 in forming the package construction 20C of FIGURE 9.

Another package construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20D in FIGURE 12 and parts thereof similar to the package constructions 20 and 20A are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter D.

As illustrated in FIGURE 12, the package construction 20D includes a plurality of receptacle means 21D each filled with product means 22D and disposed in stacked relation wherein the tubular film-like material 24D is heat shrunk around the filled and stacked receptacle means 21D to complete the package construction D in the manner previously described.

Thus, it can be seen that the aligned end wall means D of the stacked receptacle means 21D form a continuous end wall means for the package construction 20D so as to provide support at all eight corners of the package construction 20D for the purpose previously described.

In order to provide means for manually carrying the package construction 20D of this invention, the lower receptacle means 21D can be provided with a cutout 66 in each end wall means 30D thereof with each coutout 66 extending to the top edge 67 of the end wall means 30D. In this manner, the handler can insert his hands into the cutouts 66 and lift upwardly so that his hands will bear against the bottom surface of the top flaps 48D of the lower receptacle means 21D to compact the same upwardly against the bottom wall 28D of the upper receptacle means 21D to provide a lifting surface for the package construction 20D.

Thus, it can be seen that in each of the package constructions of this invention, the filled receptacle means thereof are so constructed and arranged that the enclosed end wall means of the filled receptacle means provide support at all eight corners of the resulting package construction and since the end wall means of the receptacle means extend throughout the height of the package construction, columnar support therefor is provided where-by relatively rigid package constructions are provided even though the major portion of the product means therein will be fully visible for sales appeal, information and the like in the manner of the package constructions set forth in the aforementioned copending patent application.

Accordingly, this invention not only provides improved package constructions having many unique and novel features, but also this invention provides improved blanks for such package constructions or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, open ended receptacle means filled with product means that comprises a plurality of aligned rows of container means each having a cylindrical top wall, said receptacle means having a pair of opposed end wall means extending throughout the height of said product means and having a pair of opposed side wall means exposing the major portion of said product means, and a tubular film-like member receiving said filled receptacle and being heat shrunk therearound to hold said receptacle means and product means together, said film-like member having opposed ends overlapping said end wall means and providing opposed openings in said combination at said end wall means, said end wall means providing columnar support for said tubular member, said receptacle means including a pair of side flaps on each end wall means secured respectively to said opposed side wall means, each side flap having a top end coplanar with the tops of said end wall means throughout the entire width of said side flap and having a bottom end coplanar with the bottoms of said end wall means throughout the entire width of said side flaps, said receptacle means including a pair of top flaps respectively interconnected to said tops of said end wall means and resting on said top ends of said side flaps said top flaps each having a width substantially the same as the width of each side flap and having a free edge resting on the cylindrical top walls of an adjacent row of container means so as to substantially bisect each cylindrical top wall of said adjacent row of container means.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receptacle means includes tear means for removing upper parts of said end wall means and side flaps to define tray means containing said product means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,836,341 5/1958 Nydegger 229-35 X 2,868,429 1/1959 Shanahan 22930 2,187,382 1/1950 Libbey 206- XR 2,281,165 4/1942 Miller 20645.33 2,366,419 1/1945 Meller.

2,604,983 7/1952 Moore 20645.33 2,718,301 9/1955 Palmer.

2,896,781 7/1959 Demarest.

3,043,490 7/1962 Burnett 229-15 3,048,322 8/1962 Babel 22934 3,058,273 10/1962 Forman et al 5330 XR 3,111,221 11/1963 Chapman et al. 20665 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,275,173 9/1961 France.

OTHER REFERENCES Modern Packaging Encylopedia, 1965, page 27, Shrinkable Case Wrap.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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