Package for a Product
A package for holding a product. The package can comprise a liner for at least partially receiving the product and at least partially wrapping around the product. The package further can comprise a construct wrapped at least partially around the liner. The construct can comprise a first portion and a second portion, the first portion at least partially overlapping and engaging the second portion.
This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/919,072, filed Oct. 21, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/122,453, filed on Oct. 21, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/282,838, filed Aug. 12, 2015.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCEThe disclosures of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/919,072, which was filed on Oct. 21, 2015, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/122,453, which was filed on Oct. 21, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/282,838, filed Aug. 12, 2015, are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure generally relates to packages for holding products. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to packages having a reinforcing construct for supporting a liner for containing the product.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIn general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a package for holding a product. The package can comprise a liner for at least partially receiving the product and at least partially wrapping around the product. The package further can comprise a construct wrapped at least partially around the liner. The construct can comprise a first portion and a second portion, the first portion at least partially overlapping and engaging the second portion.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to, in combination, a blank and a liner for forming a package for holding a product. The blank can comprise a first portion and a second portion that are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction. The liner can at least partially overlap the blank. The liner can be for at least partially receiving the product and for at least partially wrapping around the product when the package is formed from the blank and the liner. The blank can be for being wrapped at least partially around the liner and the product when the package is formed from the blank and the liner. The first portion can be for at least partially overlapping and engaging the second portion when the package is formed from the blank and the liner.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a package holding a product. The method can comprise obtaining a blank comprising a first portion and a second portion that are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction. The method further can comprise disposing a liner to at least partially overlap the blank, positioning the product to be at least partially received by the liner, wrapping the liner at least partially around the product, wrapping the blank at least partially around the liner and the product to form a construct, and engaging the first portion with the second portion so that the first portion at least partially overlaps the second portion.
According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.
Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTSThe present disclosure generally relates to packages, constructs, and cartons for holding products or articles such as food products or other articles. Packages according to the present disclosure can accommodate articles of any shape. For purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the disclosure, the terms “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” “top,” “front,” and “back” indicate orientations determined in relation to erected cartons.
In the illustrated embodiment, the liner 5 can comprise a flexible sheet of material, for example, paper, a polymer film, metallic foil, a laminate, etc., that may be suitable for forming a flexible package, such as a pouch, or otherwise may be suitable for wrapping the food product F. The construct 9 may comprise a reinforcing sheet comprising a dimensionally stable and/or somewhat rigid or stiff material (e.g., paperboard) that may be suitable for being folded into a desired structure and substantially maintain its configuration, while providing some inherent degree of flexibility to the package 7. As discussed below, the construct 9 has locking features for securing the construct to the food product F and features for facilitating forming of the construct around the food product.
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In the illustrated embodiment, a male locking feature 15 can be formed by a cut 17 in the first portion 13 of the blank 3 and a plurality of female locking features 19 can be formed by respective cuts 21 in the second portion 14 of the blank 3. As shown in
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In the illustrated embodiment, the package 7 can be formed by folding the blank 3 (e.g., along the lateral fold lines 11) around the food item F wrapped in the liner 5 so that the first portion 13 overlaps and engages the second portion 14 to form the construct 9 that encircles the food product (
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In the illustrated embodiment, the liner 85 can be formed from a preform 85′ as shown in
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In the illustrated embodiment, the liner 125 is attached to the blank 121 by glue lines 140 extending in the longitudinal direction L2. Additionally, longitudinal glue lines 142 extend in the marginal end portions of the liner 125. The liner 125 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
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The liner 155 includes a flap portion or bottom marginal portion 181 that is glued (e.g., along glue lines 192) to a central portion 183 of the liner to form a pocket or pouch 185 (
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In one embodiment, the blank 203 includes opposing indicator tabs 235 that are defined by a respective pair of lateral cuts 237 that extend from a respective longitudinal fold line 239. In one embodiment, the cuts 237 can include nicks, but the cuts could be other lines of weakening (e.g., tear lines, etc.) to allow the indicator tabs 235 to be folded relative to the blank 203 without departing from the disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, the indicator tabs 235 can be used (e.g., folded with respect to the remainder of the blank 203) to differentiate the food item F contained in the package 207 between a number of options (e.g., a chicken sandwich versus a cheeseburger). The indicator tabs 235 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
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A food item F can be inserted at least partially into the pouch 248 as shown in
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In one embodiment, the package 207 can be formed in a similar manner in a system and method 100 of forming reinforced packages as shown and disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/179,480, filed on May 8, 2015, that is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. As disclosed in the '480 patent application, the liner 5 can be formed by attaching a web of liner material to the blank 3 to form an attached web and moving the attached web through a packaging machine to form the liner 5 having the gusseted bottom portion and the pouch 48. Further, the package 207 can be formed in any other suitable manner without departing from the disclosure.
Any of the features of the various embodiments of the disclosure can be combined with, replaced by, or otherwise configured with other features of other embodiments of the disclosure without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
Generally, as described herein, liners or bags can be formed from a bag stock material, although various plastic or other bag materials also can be used, and can be lined or coated with a desired material. The reinforcing cartons described herein can be made from a more rigid material such as a clay-coated natural kraft (“CCNK”). Other materials such various card-stock, paper, plastic or other synthetic or natural materials also can be used to form the components of the packages described herein.
The blank according to the present disclosure can be, for example, formed from coated paperboard and similar materials. For example, the interior and/or exterior sides of the blank can be coated with a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, price coding, and other information or images. The blank may then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed on the blank. The blank may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blank. In accordance with the above-described embodiments, the blank may be constructed of paperboard of a caliper such that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally as described above. The blank can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
In accordance with the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding there along. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features. In situations where cutting is used to create a fold line, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold line to be a tear line or other line of disruption.
As an example, a tear line can include: a slit that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of spaced apart slits that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features. As a more specific example, one type tear line is in the form of a series of spaced apart slits that extend completely through the material, with adjacent slits being spaced apart slightly so that a nick (e.g., a small somewhat bridging-like piece of the material) is defined between the adjacent slits for typically temporarily connecting the material across the tear line. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line. The nicks typically are a relatively small percentage of the tear line, and alternatively the nicks can be omitted from or torn in a tear line such that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for each of the tear lines to be replaced with a continuous slit, or the like. For example, a cut line can be a continuous slit or could be wider than a slit without departing from the present disclosure.
The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels or components adhered together by glue during erection of the carton embodiments. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton panels in place.
The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various embodiments of the present disclosure. As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure covers various modifications, combinations, alterations, etc., of the above-described embodiments that are within the scope of the claims. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Claims
1. In combination, a blank and a liner for forming a package for holding a product:
- the blank comprising a first portion and a second portion that are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction, wherein the blank comprises a first locking feature in the first portion, a second locking feature in the second portion, a plurality of lateral fold lines extending in the second portion, and the second locking feature is disposed between the plurality of lateral fold lines and the first portion;
- the liner at least partially overlapping the blank;
- the liner being for at least partially receiving the product and at least partially wrapping around the product when the package is formed from the blank and the liner; and
- the blank being for being wrapped at least partially around the liner and the product when the package is formed from the blank and the liner, wherein the first portion is for at least partially overlapping and engaging the second portion when the package is formed from the blank and the liner.
2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the first locking feature is for at least partially engaging the second locking feature to at least partially retain the first portion in engagement with the second portion when the package is formed from the blank and the liner.
3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the first locking feature comprises a male locking tab and the second locking feature comprises a female locking feature, and the male locking tab is for at least partially engaging the female locking feature when the package is formed from the blank and the liner.
4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the male locking tab is at least partially formed by a cut in the blank, the female locking feature comprises a locking edge of the blank, and the male locking tab is for engaging the locking edge when the package is formed from the blank and the liner.
5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the male locking tab and the locking edge of the female locking feature are closer to a respective first end and second end along a longitudinal axis of the blank relative to one another.
6. The combination of claim 3, wherein the female locking feature comprises a cut in the blank, and the male locking tab is for extending at least partially through the cut to engage an edge of the blank at least partially defined by the cut.
7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the blank comprises a first end and a second end spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis of the blank, and the male locking tab and the edge of the female locking feature are closer to the respective first end and second end along the longitudinal axis of the blank relative to one another.
8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the cut of the female locking feature comprises curved ends that extend away from the locking edge of the female locking feature and toward the first end of the blank.
9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the cut of the female locking feature is a first cut, the male locking tab is at least partially formed by a second cut in the blank, and the blank comprises a lateral fold line extending from the male locking tab.
10. The combination of claim 3, wherein the blank comprises a first end and a second end, the first end comprises a lateral edge of the blank, and the male locking tab comprises a generally curved edge of the construct extending from the lateral edge at the first end.
11. The combination of claim 10, wherein a cut extending in the blank from the generally curved edge at least partially forms the male locking tab.
12. The combination of claim 10, wherein the female locking feature comprises a female locking opening comprising a locking edge, and the male locking tab is for extending at least partially through the female locking opening and for at least partially engaging the locking edge when the package is formed from the blank and the liner.
13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the locking edge is a generally straight locking edge, the female locking opening comprises a generally curved locking edge, and at least a portion of the generally curved locking edge is disposed opposite to the generally straight locking edge.
14. The combination of claim 12, wherein the male locking tab comprises a protrusion extending from the generally curved edge of the blank, the female locking opening comprises a locking cut extending from the locking edge of the female locking opening, and the protrusion of the male locking tab is for at least partially engaging the construct adjacent the locking cut for at least partially retaining the male locking tab in engagement with the locking edge when the package is formed from the blank and the liner.
15. The combination of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises a pouch for at least partially receiving the product.
16. The combination of claim 15, wherein the pouch comprises a bottom marginal portion of the liner folded over a central portion of the liner, the pouch being for at least partially receiving the product between the bottom marginal portion and the central portion when the package is formed from the blank and the liner.
17. The combination of claim 16, wherein the bottom marginal portion of the liner is connected to the central portion of the liner by a gusset, the gusset at least partially forming a bottom of the pouch.
18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the gusset comprises a first gusset panel foldably connected to a second gusset panel along a first fold, the first gusset panel is foldably connected to the bottom marginal portion of the liner along a second fold, and the second gusset panel is foldably connected to the central portion along a third fold.
19. The combination of claim 16, wherein the bottom marginal portion of the liner comprises a bottom edge, the pouch comprises an opening extending between the bottom edge and the central portion of the liner, and the bottom edge is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the blank.
20. The combination of claim 16, wherein the blank comprises a longitudinal axis, and the bottom marginal portion is folded along a fold that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the construct.
21. The combination of claim 20, wherein an opening of the pouch extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blank adjacent the central portion of the liner and a bottom edge of the bottom marginal portion of the liner.
22. The combination of claim 21, wherein the pouch comprises an opening, and a top marginal portion of the liner is for at least partially covering the opening to at least partially enclose the product when the package is formed from the blank and the liner.
23. The combination of claim 16, wherein the blank comprises a longitudinal axis, and the bottom marginal portion is folded along a fold that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blank.
24. The combination of claim 23, wherein an opening of the pouch extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blank adjacent the central portion of the liner and a bottom edge of the bottom marginal portion of the liner.
25. The combination of claim 24, wherein the pouch comprises an opening, and a top marginal portion of the liner is for at least partially covering the opening to at least partially enclose the product when the package is formed from the blank and the liner.
26. A method of forming a package holding a product, the method comprising:
- obtaining a blank comprising a first portion and a second portion that are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction, wherein the blank comprises a first locking feature in the first portion, a second locking feature in the second portion, a plurality of lateral fold lines extending in the second portion, and the second locking feature is disposed between the plurality of lateral fold lines and the first portion;
- disposing a liner to at least partially overlap the blank;
- positioning the product to be at least partially received by the liner;
- wrapping the liner at least partially around the product;
- wrapping the blank at least partially around the liner and the product to form a construct; and
- engaging the first portion with the second portion so that the first portion at least partially overlaps the second portion.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first locking feature comprises a male locking feature and the second locking feature comprises a female locking feature, the female locking feature comprising a locking edge, and the engaging the first portion with the second portion comprises receiving at least a portion of the male locking feature in the female locking feature so that the male locking feature at least partially engages the locking edge.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the male locking feature and the locking edge of the female locking feature are closer to a respective first end and second end along a longitudinal axis of the blank relative to one another.
29. The method of claim 26, wherein the blank comprises a first end, a second end, the first end comprises a lateral edge of the blank, the first locking feature comprises a male locking feature, the second locking feature comprising a female locking feature, the male locking feature comprises a generally curved edge of the blank extending from the lateral edge at the first end, the female locking feature comprises a female locking opening comprising a locking edge, and the engaging the first portion with the second portion comprises receiving at least a portion of the male locking feature in the female locking opening so that the male locking feature at least partially engages the locking edge.
30. The method of claim 26, further comprising forming a pouch in the liner by folding at least a bottom marginal portion of the liner to at least partially overlap a central portion of the liner after the disposing the liner to at least partially overlap the blank, wherein the positioning the product comprises receiving the product at least partially in the pouch.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the wrapping the liner comprises folding a top marginal portion of the liner to at least partially overlap the pouch and to at least partially enclose the product in the pouch and folding two end margins of the liner to overlap one another, and the wrapping the blank comprises at least partially overlapping the two end margins of the liner with the first portion and the second portion of the blank.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 15, 2019
Publication Date: Aug 8, 2019
Inventors: Kelly R. Fitzwater (Lakewood, CO), Karen L. Mills (Limerick, PA), Raymond S. Kastanek (Mead, CO)
Application Number: 16/384,254