Rupturable and openable bubble package
A rupturable bubble package for containing a sanitized implement such as, for example, a drinking straw, a toothpick or medical instruments. The bubble package is characterized by its construction from a flexible, substantially impervious material capable of maintaining a positive pressure of air or other gaseous fluids within the package once it is sealed. The package is constructed of front, back, top and bottom panels. All of the panels are adhered to each by an application of glue. Two of the panels are adhered to each other by a weaker glue. When finger pressure is applied to an outside surface of the bubble package, the panels adhered with the weaker glue will burst open. At that location, one of panels has an extended portion thereon constituting a finger grip. When the finger grip is grasped by the fingers that applied pressure to the package, that panel may be pulled from the package to gain access to an interior of the package.
This application is a Refile of application Ser. No. 12/080,757 filed on Apr. 7, 2008, now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a rupturable bubble package that contains a sanitized implement. While the preferred embodiment will be described wherein the implement is a drinking straw, it is to be understood that the particular implement placed within the package is not to be considered a limiting factor on the scope of the invention. In fact it is contemplated that the present invention would have utility for a variety of implements including, for example, sterilized, medical or surgical instruments including the packaging of tooth picks which should stay sterilized until they are to be used.
The invention is characterized by its construction from a flexible impermeable material to define an enclosure into which the implement is inserted and sealed therein. By “substantially impervious” is meant to include material capable of maintaining a quantity of gaseous fluid inside an enclosure, preferably a gas such as, for example, air or an inert sterilized gas, when the package is sealed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe inventive concept relates to a rupturable bubble package for containing an implement and wherein the package comprises an enclosure formed from a substantially impervious, flexible material, such as plastics, foil or paper. The co-pending application discloses that the enclosure comprises a front panel, a back panel, and opposed top and bottom panels which are disposed in an interconnecting relationship between the front and the back panels to define the enclosure. It is, of course, understood that the terms front, back top and bottom are relative to the orientation of the package and are not to be taken as absolute terms with respect to the embodiments described in greater detail hereinafter. The rupturable package could be obtained through the process of extrusion whereby a plastic sleeve is obtained that may sealed at both ends. When the inventive package is sealed, the package is capable of maintaining a positive pressure inside the package and when squeezed, the pressure will momentarily increase so that the package can rupture as will be described below.
Rupturing of the package is accomplished by the its construction to include a weakened or portion or area formed on at least one of the front, back, top or bottom panels. The weakened portion may be a score line at or near the top of the package. The inventive concept may also be realized when a plastic sleeve is extruded, whereby the bottom may be strongly sealed while the top may remain in an overlap that may be glued together whereby a weaker closure or seal is formed that is weaker than the strongly sealed bottom seal and may be ruptured when finger pressure is applied.
The inventive concept of this application is expanded in that the rupturable seal is modified so that a pull tab is exhibited when the package ruptures. This will enhance the opening operation of the package which will not only open by finger pressure but makes it easier to gain access to the inside of the package by completely pulling away a side covering panel with the same fingers that caused the package to rupture.
Claims
1. a rupturable bubble package for containing an implement, said package comprising an enclosure formed from a flexible material, said flexible material being substantially impervious to air and fluids, whereby a positive pressure of a gaseous fluid may be maintained within said enclosure when an implement is placed therein and said bubble package is sealed, said bubble package having a weakened portion at an edge thereon, said weakened portion will burst open when an external finger pressure is applied to said bubble package, said bubble package is constructed of a front panel, a back panel and opposed top and bottom panels, one of said panels having an extended pull tab thereon, said pull tab when grasped by said fingers, after said bubble package bursts open, is instrumental in completely opening said bubble package by said fingers.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 17, 2009
Publication Date: Aug 19, 2010
Inventor: Michael Dunn-Rankin (Venice, FL)
Application Number: 12/378,372
International Classification: B65D 75/32 (20060101); B65D 17/34 (20060101);