Patent ID: 9499291
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: B65B,B65D

Claim Text:
1. A device for selectively retaining a package opening in a gaping configuration, the device comprising: a single circumferential strip formed from a finite length or strip of material having opposing ends configured to be secured to a package opening, the circumferential strip defining an opening axis; a pair of side seams formed as hinges, wherein the pair of side seams define opposed first and second ends of the device, the device being divided by the pair of side seams into first and second sides; and a pair of tabs extending in a first axial direction from an upper edge of the circumferential strip, one of the pair of tabs being positioned at each of the opposed first and second ends of the device, each one of the pair of tabs being coupled to the circumferential strip with a hinge, the pair of tabs being pivotable about the hinges in opposite directions away from the opening axis to respective folded-out positions, wherein each one of the pair of side seams intersects a corresponding one of the hinges of the pair of tabs such that folding of the device at the side seams inhibits pivoting of the pair of tabs to the respective folded-out positions, and folding of the device at the side seams is inhibited to retain a gaping open configuration of the device when the pair of tabs are in the respective folded-out positions, wherein each of the pair of side seams is a living hinge located at a radially inward side of the device and formed by a blind slit in a die cutting process from a radially outward side of the device, and wherein the hinges of each of the pair of tabs is a living hinge located at a radially outward side of the device and formed by a blind slit in a die cutting process from a radially inward side of the device, and further comprising a bond provided in the circumferential strip at an intermediate location along one of the first and second sides, spaced from both of the pair of side seams, wherein the bond joins opposing ends of the circumferential strip, and wherein the living hinge of each of the pair of side seams has a material thickness that is 10 percent or less of adjacent portions of the circumferential strip, and wherein the living hinge of each of the pair of tabs has a material thickness that is 10 percent or less of adjacent portions of the circumferential strip and the corresponding one of the pair of tabs.