PAPERBOARD PACKAGE WITH LENS-SHAPED END
A package is described which is formed from two paperboard panels joined through a lens-shaped end. Optionally a blister may be utilized with the package.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/929, 616 filed on Jan. 21, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDThis disclosure relates to a package for a product, the package formed from two paperboard panels joined through a lens-shaped end. Optionally a blister may be utilized with the package.
Certain products are housed in paperboard packages. Some packages may be flat packages where a relatively thin product may be contained between two paperboard panels or cards. Other packages may be carton or box structures of cuboidal shape, whose size may be chosen to fit any particular product.
Disclosed herein is a package with front and back panels joined through a lens-shaped end to provide more interior volume than a flat card package.
SUMMARYAccording to one embodiment of the invention, a package is disclosed which includes a front and back panel, joined along one end by a lens-shaped end panel.
According to certain embodiments, the package is paperboard. According to certain embodiments, there is a window in the package. According to certain embodiments, a blister may be positioned in the window.
Other exemplary and optional features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the subsidiary claims.
The invention will now be further described, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fold lines 115, 125 may be formed by scoring, perforating, creasing, or any other suitable method of forming delineations in the blank. Preferably fold lines 115, 125 will exhibit a tendency to encourage folding along the fold lines as opposed to the remainder of the blank. Fold lines 115, 125 may be continuous or discontinuous.
As shown in
Next, as shown in
Since the sealable areas—the top end and the side edges—of the package are relatively flat and substantially in one plane, no special tooling is needed for heat sealing equipment. However, the seal tooling may be designed to result in different shapes of the lower part of the package, either for functional or aesthetic reasons.
Other shapes are also suitable for bottom panel 120. As shown in
One or both of lines 115, 125 may be considered “non-linear”, a term that may be used to describe curved lines, as well as a series of two or more straight lines that are not collinear. “Non-linear” may also be used to describe combinations of curved lines, or combinations of curved and straight lines. However, in some packages (not shown), one of lines 115, 125 may be a single straight line, with the other of lines 115, 125 being non-linear.
As seen in
The package shown in
The disclosed package has the advantage over typical card packages in that it provides storage volume within the lower part of the package. Due to the structure, a relatively stiff package is formed which may be beneficial in protecting the package contents. By appropriate design of the bottom panel, the package may be made to stand upright on a shelf Alternately the optional hang holes may provide for display on pegs or hooks. The package also has an interesting appearance while using a relatively small amount of material.
Blank 101 may be formed from a sheet material, such as paperboard, plastic or other planar material, preferably being somewhat stiff and suitable for printing one or both sides. Although shown as one piece, blank 101 may be provided in more than one piece. The blank may be tear-resistant. The blank may have a heat-sealable coating.
The example packages illustrated here utilize the bottom panel 120 as a sort of hinge or joining panel between the front panel 110 and back panel 130. However, instead of the joining panel being the bottom panel, it could be at the top or a side of the package.
The finished shape of the packages may be adjusted to suit the package contents. The front and back surface may have identical or similar shapes, for example they may both be equally curved. However, the front and back surface may have different shapes, for example one surface or a portion thereof being convex while the opposite surface or a portion thereof is concave. Even portions of the same surface may have different curvatures, for example the front surface may bow outward at its lower end and inward at its upper end. Preferably the front panel and back panel may be flexed into a desired form prior to sealing their edges together. Preferably after sealing the edges together the package shape will be maintained.
When a panel or surface is described as having a “curved surface”, this means the panel or surface is a curved area (such as a bulge, convex shape, concave shape, etc) rather than a flat area (such as a flat plane). Additionally, the panel or surface may have a curved edge or perimeter.
The embodiments described above provide a wide variety of features. Many of these features can be interchanged between embodiments. Further embodiments are thus envisaged which use a selection of the features from those described above. The invention thus extends to cover packages having other combinations of the features described.
Claims
1. A package, comprising:
- a front panel having an upper end and a lower end and two side edges;
- a lower end panel attached to the lower end of the front panel by a first non-linear fold line;
- a back panel having an upper end and a lower end and two side edges, the lower end attached to the lower end panel by a second non-linear fold line;
- wherein the front panel is fastened to the back panel along their upper ends and side edges; and
- wherein the front panel and back panel are spaced apart at their lower ends to form a storage space with the package.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein the lower end panel has a convex lens shape.
3. The package of claim 1, formed from paperboard.
4. The package of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of at least one of the front panel and back panels has a curved surface.
5. The package of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of both of the front panel and back panels has a curved surface.
6. The package of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second non-linear fold lines comprises a curved line segment.
7. The package of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first and second non-linear fold lines comprises a straight line segment in combination with at least one additional straight or curved line segment.
8. A package, comprising:
- a front panel having an upper end and a lower end and two side edges;
- a lower end panel attached to the lower end of the front panel by a first fold line that is a non-linear fold line;
- a back panel having an upper end and a lower end and two side edges, the lower end attached to the lower end panel by a second fold line;
- wherein the front panel is fastened to the back panel along their upper ends and side edges; and
- wherein the front panel and back panel are spaced apart at their lower ends to form a storage space with the package.
9. The package of claim 8, formed from paperboard.
10. The package of claim 8, wherein the lower portion of at least one of the front panel and back panel has a curved surface.
11. The package of claim 8, wherein the lower portion of both of the front panel and back panel has a curved surface.
12. The package of claim 8, wherein the first fold line comprises a curved line segment.
13. The package of claim 8, wherein the first fold line comprises a straight line segment in combination with at least one additional straight or curved line segment.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 14, 2015
Publication Date: Jul 23, 2015
Inventors: Meng-Chuan WU (Richmond, VA), Joel E. FORBES (Richmond, VA)
Application Number: 14/596,595