Package

Abstract

A package comprises a container portion including at least one wall member wherein one end of the container portion includes a smaller width dimension than an opposing end of the container portion and perforations positioned in the at lest one wall member. The perforations may extend from approximately the one end toward the opposing end. The perforations may also enable a user to gain access to an interior of the container portion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to packaging, and more particularly, to packages constructed to be torn along perforations to access the contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved package design and method for using the same. Briefly, the package of the present invention comprises a container portion comprising one end with a smaller width dimension than an opposing end and perforations. In certain embodiments, the package may be triangular in shape and form a blunt configuration at the one end. In other embodiments, the package may be constructed of a flexible transparent material such as polypropylene.

The perforations may exhibit various configurations, including a first set of perforations positioned on one side of the container portion and a second set of perforations positioned on an opposing side of the container portion that overlie one another. The perforations may include successively positioned perforations in a row, straight line or zigzag pattern.

The package may further comprise a flap extending from the opposing end which may carry perforations. A portion of the flap may be separated at the perforations during the loading of the container portion process. The remainder of the flap positioned adjacent to the container portion opening becomes separated from the container portion upon heat sealing the container portion opening closed.

In one embodiment, the package of the present invention comprises a container portion comprising at least one wall member and one end with a smaller width dimension than an opposing end and perforations positioned in the at least one wall member extending from the one end of the container portion in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container portion toward the opposing end of the container portion. The perforations of this embodiment enable a user to gain access to an interior of the container portion through the one end and may extend at least one third of the distance from the one end of the container portion to the opposing end.

In another embodiment, the package comprises a container portion comprising at least one wall member and opposing lateral edges, wherein the lateral edges are aligned in converging directions and terminate in a first end comprising a smaller width dimension than an opposing second end. This embodiment also comprises a plurality of perforations positioned in the at least one wall member of the container portion that enable access to an interior of the container portion through the first end.

In yet another embodiment, the package comprises a container portion including at lest one wall member comprising opposing lateral edges and one end with a smaller width dimension than an opposing end; and successively positioned perforations positioned in the at least one wall member extending from the one end. The perforations comprise a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first end and the second ends of the successively positioned perforations is spaced apart from the lateral edges. As used herein, the term “spaced apart” means not touching or in contact with.

The present invention also relates to a method for opening a package. In a first step, the method comprises providing a package comprising a container portion including at least one wall member wherein one end of the container portion includes a smaller width dimension than an opposing end of the container portion and further comprising opposing side portions separated by successively positioned perforations positioned in the at least one wall member and comprising a first end and a second end. In a second step, the method comprises pulling on the opposing side portions in opposing directions to separate the opposing side portions through use of the successively positioned perforations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the package of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the package of FIG. 1 with contents positioned inside of the package and a portion of a flap of the package separated from the package; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the package of the present invention of FIG. 2 with a user opening a narrow end of the package to access contents therein and with the opposing end sealed and with the narrow end shown in a closed position in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the package 10 of the present invention comprises container portion 12, flap 13, first set of perforations 14 and second set of perforations 16. As used herein, the term “container portion” means any receptacle for holding an item or items. As used herein, the term “perforations” means holes, indentations or score lines or any structure that weakens the integrity of a wall in which they may be positioned.

Container portion 12 comprises at least one wall member 17, opposing ends 18 and 20, opposing lateral edges 19 and 21, opposing side portions 22 and 24 and top and bottom surfaces 26 and 28. The one end 18 comprises a smaller width dimension than opposing end 20. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one end 18 is in a closed position. Lateral edges 19 and 21 may be aligned in converging directions and terminate in the one end 18. Container portion 12 may be triangular in shape and form a blunt configuration at the one end 18. At least one wall member 17 defines an opening for containing an item or items within the container portion 12. Container portion 12 may be constructed for example with a single wall member 17 being secured to itself at its opposing ends and forming an opening to receive the item or items to be contained. Another example may include the container portion 12 being constructed from two wall members which are secured to one another along a peripheral edge forming the opening, as well.

First set of perforations 14 enables access to an interior of container portion 12, typically through the one end 18 of container portion 12. First set of perforations 14 may comprise successively positioned perforations positioned in wall member 17 and wherein the successively positioned perforations include a first end 27 and second end 33 . At least one of first and second end 27 and 33 of successively positioned perforations may be spaced apart from opposing lateral edges 19 and 21 of container portion 12. Thus, first set of perforations 14 may extend from the one end 18 in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis X-X of the container portion 12 toward opposing end 20. In particular, first set of perforations 14 may extend at least one third of the distance from one end 18 to opposing end 20. Further, first set of perforations 14 may comprise first perforations positioned in top surface 26 of container portion 12 and second perforations positioned in bottom surface 28 of container portion 12. These first and second perforations often align and overlie one another.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, successively positioned perforations separate opposing side portions 22 and 24 of container portion 12. Although these successively positioned perforations may be oriented in a row or straight line in a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, other configurations, are within the scope of the instant invention. For example, successively positioned perforations may be zig-zag or curved.

Flap 13 may extend from opposing end 20 and comprise top portion 29, which includes apertures 30 and 32, and bottom portion 31. Second set of perforations 16 may be positioned between top and bottom portions 29 and 31 and positioned generally transverse to first set of perforations 14 . Second set of perforations 16 may also lie parallel to opposing end 20 of container portion 12, and can be employed to remove a section of flap 13 when the filling of the container portion 12 is completed. The bottom portion 31 of flap 13 is separated from container portion 12 when the opening of container portion 12 is heat sealed closed at 36, as seen in FIG. 3.

Package 10 may be constructed of a transparent flexible material, such as polypropylene and typically exhibits a thickness between about 8.0 millimeters and 10.0 millimeters, more particularly 9.0 millimeters. Manufacturing package 10, includes unrolling plastic sheeting; printing (if desired) on the plastic material; folding the plastic material; die cutting the plastic material into a desired shape; heat sealing the sides or lateral edges 19 and 21 closed of the container portion 12; and positioning perforations 14 and 16 into the plastic material.

In a preferred embodiment of package 10, as seen in FIG. 1, the width of one end 18, the narrower end, is approximately 1.5 inches and the width of container portion 12 at the opening at opposing end 20 is approximately 7.5 inches. The overall length of flap 13 extending away from opposing end 20 is approximately 2.375 inches, with top portion and bottom portion each being approximately 1.625 and 0.75 inches respectively. The length of the converging portions of edges 19 and 21 are approximately each 9.0 inches in length. It is contemplated that other suitable dimensions may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention.

Once package 10 has been manufactured, it may be used to receive and store an item or a variety of items, including medical devices and food items, such as pizza 34 and/or sandwiches. In one embodiment, top and bottom surfaces 26 and 28 of container portion 12 are spread apart to reveal the opening therebetween and an item or items are placed into the opening. User tears second set of perforations 16, removing top portion 29 of flap 13. As shown in FIG. 3, bottom portion 31 of flap 13 separates from container portion 12 with the opening to container portion heat sealed closed at seal 36.

Opening package is typically easy and convenient. As shown in FIG. 3, user grasps opposing side portions 22 and 24 of container portion 12 and begins pulling in opposite directions. Depending on the degree of pulling, this motion allows a user to gain access to the opening within container portion 12 through one end 18 while maintaining the remainder of container portion 12 in its original closed position. That is, the successively positioned perforations allow a user to conveniently open container portion 12 through the one end 18 to gain access to a portion of the food or other item positioned therein. Additional tearing of the first set of perforations 14 further opens container portion 12, providing access to more of the item positioned therein.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a user can open container portion 12 slightly to begin eating pizza slice 34 and continue to tear first set of perforations 14 to expose the rest of pizza slice 34. At the same time, the user is handling the package, not the item during the tearing, and in this instance, eating process. Once the user has torn wall memberl7 of container portion 12 along perforations 14 and has reached second end 33 of perforations 14, the user can continue to tear wall member 17 to access the remainder of the contents within container portion 12.

Although an exemplary embodiments of the invention have been depicted and described in detail herein, it would be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A package comprising:

a container portion comprising at least one wall member and one end with a smaller width dimension than an opposing end; and

perforations positioned in the at least one wall member extending from the one end of the container portion in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container portion toward the opposing end of the container portion, the perforations enabling access to an interior of the container portion through the one end.

2. The package of claim 1, further comprising a flap extending from the opposing end.

3. The package of claim 2, wherein the flap includes additional perforations disposed in the flap.

4. The package of claim 3, wherein a portion of the flap is removable from the container portion along the additional perforations.

5. The package of claim 1, wherein the container portion is constructed of a polypropylene material.

6. The package of claim 1, wherein the container portion is constructed of a material of between about 8.0 and 10.0 millimeters in thickness.

7. The package of claim 1, wherein the container portion is constructed of a transparent material.

8. The package of claim 1, wherein the container portion is triangular in shape and forms a blunt configuration at the one end.

9. The package of claim 1, wherein the perforations extend at least one third of the distance from the one end of the container portion to the opposing end of the container portion.

10. The package of claim 1, wherein the perforations include a first set of perforations positioned in a top surface of the container portion and a second set of perforations positioned in a bottom surface of the container portion.

11. The package of claim 10, wherein the first and second sets of perforations overlie one another.

12. The package of claim 1, wherein the perforations are positioned in generally a straight line.

13. A package comprising:

a container portion comprising at least one wall member and opposing lateral edges, wherein the lateral edges are aligned in converging directions and terminate in a first end comprising a smaller width dimension than an opposing second end; and

a plurality of perforations positioned in the at least one wall member of the container portion that enables access to an interior of the container portion through the first end.

14. The package of claim 13, wherein the container portion is constructed of a transparent material.

15. The package of claim 13, wherein the container portion is triangular in shape and forms a blunt configuration at the one end.

16. The package of claim 13, wherein the perforations include a first set of perforations positioned in one side of the container portion and a second set of perforations positioned in an opposing side of the container portion.

17. A package comprising:

a container portion comprising at least one wall member, opposing lateral edges and one end with a smaller width dimension than an opposing end; and

successively positioned perforations positioned in the at least one wall member of the container portion extending from the one end and comprising a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first end and the second end of the successively positioned perforations is spaced apart from the lateral edges.

18. The package of claim 17, wherein the container portion is constructed of a transparent material.

19. The package of claim 17, wherein the container portion is triangular in shape and forms a blunt configuration at the one end.

20. The package of claim 17, wherein the perforations include a first set of perforations positioned in one side of the container portion and a second set of perforations positioned in an opposing side of the container portion.

21. A method for opening a package, including the steps of:

providing a package comprising a container portion including at least one wall member wherein one end of the container portion includes a smaller width dimension than an opposing end of the container portion, the container portion further comprising opposing side portions separated by successively positioned perforations positioned in the at least one wall member;

pulling on the opposing side portions in opposing directions to separate the opposing side portions through use of the successively positioned perforations.

22. The method of claim 27, wherein the container portion is constructed of a transparent material.

23. The package of claim 27, wherein the container portion is triangular in shape and forms a blunt configuration at the one end.