Abstract:
A package assembly ( 10 ) provides for enclosing an array of aligned products ( 14 ) with a slidable sleeve ( 16 ) for removing the product. The package assembly includes a product packet ( 12 ) and a sleeve. The product packet encloses an array of aligned products and the packet conforms to the configuration of the product array. The sleeve has at least one open end slidably insertably and removably accommodating the product packet therein. The slidable removal of the packet from the sleeve opens the product packet.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/280,913 filed on Nov. 10, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a package assembly for accommodating and dispensing consumable products arranged in an array. More particularly, the present invention relates to a product packet containing an array of consumable products and a sleeve slidably accommodating the product packet. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Certain consumable products, such as slabs of chewing gum, may be supported in a package housing which allows for dispensing of an individual product from the package while retaining the other products for future use. One type of package assembly which may be used to contain and dispense individually wrapped slabs of chewing gum includes a product packet, preferably made of foil, which encloses the products in the aligned array. The packet provides environmental protection to the products contained therein. 
         [0004]    The product packet while conforming to the array of products, is typically housed in an outer housing of the package assembly. In order to remove the product, the packet must be opened to expose the products contained therein. In addition, as the products are removed from the packet on an individual basis, the packet housing must be constructed to support the product packet during continuous dispensing of individual products therefrom. Still further, the package housing should allow for enclosing of the remaining products contained within the packet. 
         [0005]    It is desirable to have a package assembly which is both compact and easy to use and which opens the product packet upon use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a package assembly is provided. The package assembly includes a product packet and a sleeve. The product packet provides for enclosing an array of aligned products wherein the packet conforms to the configuration of the product array. The product packet has an openable upper end for exposing the product array, and the packet includes a removable portion defining the open upper end. The sleeve has at least one open end slidably insertably and removably accommodating the product packet therein, wherein the slidable removal of the packet from the sleeve opens the product packet. The sleeve includes an adhesive surface engaged with the openable upper end of the packet for removing the removable portion of the packet upon the removal of the packet from the sleeve 
         [0007]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a blank is provided for forming a sleeve package. The blank includes a pair of opposed major surfaces, an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface includes a top portion and a bottom portion which overlap during assembly. The pair of opposed major surfaces are separated by the upper surface; and the upper surface and the lower surface are smaller in length than each of the pair opposed major surfaces. The top portion extends from one of the pair of opposed major surfaces and the bottom portion extends from another of the pair of opposed major surfaces. The blank is rectangular in shape. 
         [0008]    A further embodiment of the present invention is a method of forming the sleeve. The steps include cutting a blank from a sheet. The blank includes a pair of opposed major surfaces, an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface includes a top portion and a bottom portion which overlap during assembly. The pair of opposed major surfaces are separated by the upper surface; and the upper surface and the lower surface are smaller in length than each of the pair opposed major surfaces. The top portion extends from one of the pair of opposed major surfaces and the bottom portion extends from another of the pair of opposed major surfaces. The blank is rectangular in shape. The upper surface includes an adhesive strip on an inside surface of the upper surface. The next step includes folding the pair of opposed major surfaces along major fold lines, wherein the pair of opposed major surfaces are parallel, and perpendicular to the upper surface. A further step includes folding the bottom portion along a bottom fold line wherein the bottom portion is perpendicular to the opposed major surfaces and parallel to the upper surface. An additional step includes folding the top portion along a top fold line such that the top portion is parallel to the bottom portion. The next step includes adhering the top portion to the bottom portion defining the lower surface, wherein the pair of opposing major surfaces, upper surface, and the lower surfaces defines an interior cavity, the adhesive strip is located in the interior cavity. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective showing of the package assembly of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are perspective showings of one embodiment of the packaging assembly of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows the flat blank used to form the sleeve of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows the flat blank used to form the second embodiment of the sleeve of the packaging assembly of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows the flat blank used to form the sleeve of a third embodiment of the packaging assembly of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    The present invention provides a package assembly in the form of a packet containing a plurality of consumable products wherein the packet is slidably received in a sleeve. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the package assembly of the present invention is shown. The package assembly  10  includes a product packet  12  and a sleeve  16  for inserting and removing supports of the packet. 
         [0016]    The packet  12  is constructed to accommodate a plurality of consumable products which are preferably flat gum slabs  14  arranged in a face-to-face array. The product packet  12  is formed from a rectangular sheet where the sheet may be formed from a single or multiply structure. The sheet preferably includes a paper surface forming the inside and an opposed foil surface forming the outside where the foil surface  15  provides environmental protection to the gum slabs  14  contained within the packet  12 . In conventional fashion, the packet  12  is formed about the array of gum slabs  14  into a generally rectangular configuration. The packet could be a foil pack with a score line, a carton box with a foil overlay, or a combination of foil and paper carton. For example, the bottom portion can be a paper or carton material to provide the structure and the top portion may be foil connected to the bottom portion to allow for removal of the top portion. 
         [0017]    In a preferred embodiment, the packet  12  entirely surrounds and encloses the array of gum slabs  14  contained therein. In order to dispense the product from the packet, an upper end  12   a  of packet  12  is removed so as to expose the upper end  14   a  of gum slabs  14 . Thus as will be described in further detail hereinbelow, the present invention provides for removal of the upper end  12   a  of packet  12  upon removal of the packet from sleeve  16 . 
         [0018]    The packet  12  is designed for slidable accommodation within a sleeve  16 . The sleeve  16  is formed from a generally rectangular paperboard blank  20 , shown in  FIG. 4 . The sleeve  16  is constructed into a rectangular configuration which generally matches the rectangular configuration of packet  12 . The sleeve  16  includes opposed major surfaces  22 ,  24 , an upper surface  26 , and a lower surface  28  formed by folded ends  28   a , 28   b  of the flat blank  20 . The lower surface  28  has a top portion  28   a  and bottom portion  28   b.  Bottom portion  28   b  is defined as a planar surface extending between unattached ends  25 , 27  and foldable end  19  to unattached end  21 . Top portion  28   a  is defined as a planar surface extending between unattached ends  25 , 27  and foldable end  18  to unattached end  17 . Bottom portion  28   b  folds under top portion  28   a  such that bottom portion  28   b  is interior to sleeve  16  and opposes upper surface  26  once in folded configuration. The outer surface of bottom portion  28   b  (not shown) includes an adhesive to attach the outer surface of bottom portion  28   b  to the interior surface of top portion  28   a.  Major surface  22  is defined as a planar surface extending between unattached ends  25 ,  27  and foldable ends  18 ,  23 . Opposing major surface  24  is defined as a planar surface extending between unattached ends  25 ,  27  and foldable ends  23 ,  19 . Extending between major surfaces  22 ,  24  is upper surface  26 . Upper surface  26  is defined as a planar surface extending between unattached ends  25 ,  27  and foldable ends  23 ,  23 . The major surfaces  22 ,  24 , upper surface  26 , and top portion  28  have the same width W. Bottom portion  28   b  has the same width W at the fold line  19  but then decreases in width as ends  25 , 27  taper inwardly towards each other from fold line  19  to unattached end  21 . The major surfaces  22 ,  24  have major length (L). The upper surface  26  and the top portion  28   a  have minor length (l).  FIG. 4  shows major length (L) is larger than minor length (l). However, it is contemplated that major length (L) may be smaller than minor length (l). The length of the bottom portion  28   b  is about equal to or less than minor length (l). The opposed ends  25 ,  27  of sleeve  16  are preferably unattached or open to permit slidable removal and reinsertion of the packet  12  therethrough. During manufacturing of the package assembly  10 , the sleeve  16  is preferably formed about the closed packet  12  with the gum slabs contained therein. 
         [0019]    Generally, sleeve  10  is formed by placing the upper end  12   a  of closed packet  12  on top of upper surface  26 , and bending at fold lines  23  such that major surfaces  22 , 24  are perpendicular to upper surface  26  and parallel opposed to each other. Major surfaces  22 ,  24  extend in either side of the closed packet. The next step includes bending at fold line  19  such that bottom portion  28   b  is perpendicular to major surface  24  and in parallel orientation with upper surface  26 . Then bending fold line  18  such that top portion  28   a  covers a portion of bottom portion  28   b,  and top portion  28   a  is aligned with and parallel to bottom portion  28   b . Top portion  28   a  is attached the respective flap, bottom portion  28   b,  by an adhesive to form lower surface  28 . The closed packet  12  is surrounded by the sleeve  16  with two open ends represented by ends  25  and  27 . The closed packet  12  extends within the interior cavity  35  of the sleeve  16 . 
         [0020]    Additionally, one technique for removing the upper end  12   a  of the packet  12  to expose the gum slabs  14  includes providing the inside surface  26   a  of the upper surface  26  of sleeve  16  with a rectangular adhesive strip or glue line  30 . The glue line  30  is located within the interior cavity  35  of the sleeve  16 .  FIG. 4  shows glue line  30  inset from ends  25 , 27  on surface  26   a  a distance (D). When the sleeve is formed about the packet  12 , a portion of the upper end  12   a  of the packet adheres to the rectangular glue line  30  such that when the packet  12  is slidably removed from the sleeve  16 , the upper end  11   a  of the packet  12  remains adhered to the end of the glue line  30  and is thereby removed from the rest of the packet  12  exposing the gum slabs  14  contained therein. 
         [0021]    In order to facilitate such removal, the packet  12  is scored or perforated at least partially about the upper end  12   a  so that it may be cleanly removed from the remainder of the packet  12 . Once the packet  12  is removed from the sleeve  16 , the desired number of gum slabs  14  may be dispensed and the packet containing the remaining gum slabs can be reinserted into the sleeve  16  through one of the open ends. 
         [0022]    A further embodiment of the sleeve of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 5  is substantially similar to the embodiment of the sleeve  16  as shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 5  shows sleeve  16 ′ including opposed major surfaces  22 ′,  24 ′, an upper surface  26 ′, and a lower surface  28 ′ formed by folded ends  28   a ′, 28   b ′ of the flat blank  20 ′ and end flap  29 ′. In this embodiment, the sleeve  16 ′ has one of the open ends  25 ′ partially closed by an end flap  29 ′. This prevents the packet  12  from being removed in both directions, as the packet  12  can only be inserted and removed through the single, fully opened end  27 ′. The end flap  29 ′ only covers a portion of one of the ends  25 ′ so that a user can insert a finger through the partially open extent to push the packet out from the sleeve  16 ′ thereby facilitating dispensing of the product from the packet. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows end flap  29 ′ attached by material continuity to end  25 ′ by fold line  31 ′. End  25 ′ includes three sections  25   a ′,  25   b ′ and  25   c ′, and end  25 ′ includes unattached portions and attached portions at fold line  31 ′. The end flap  29 ′ extends partially from and is foldably connected to a portion of section  25   a ′. The end flap  29 ′ extends partially from and is foldably connected to a portion of section  25   c ′. Additionally, a portion of section  25   a ′ and  25   c ′ are not attached to end flap  29 ′ and remain unattached. These unattached portions of end  25 ′ will form the opening in the end of the sleeve  16 ′ for one to view and push the contents within outwardly from the sleeve toward end  27 ′. End flap  29 ′ extends along the entire minor length (l′) at fold line  31 ′ from surface  26 ′. End flap  29 ′ includes two foldable lines  33 ′which extend from the intersection of foldable line  31 ′ and  23 ′ to the outer unattached end of end flap  29 ′, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Foldable diagonal lines  33 ′ extend diagonally across each wing  29   a ′ and  29   b ′ at an angle θ to allow for the wings  29   a ′ and  29   b ′ to be folded inwardly and tucked behind central portion  29   c ′ once the sleeve  16 ′ is assembled. The angle θ may range from 20-60 degrees. It is also contemplated that end  29 ′ is unattached to main surfaces  22 ′,  24 ′, and end  29 ′ is only attached to surface  26 ′ at fold line  31 ′. In this embodiment, during assembly the wings  29   a ′,  29   b ′ would bend perpendicularly to central portion  29   c ′ and parallel to major surfaces  22 ′, 24 ′. The wings  29   a ′, 29   b ′ would be adjacently touching the surfaces of major surface  22 ′, 24 ′ on the interior of the sleeve  16 ′. 
         [0024]    A still further embodiment of the sleeve of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 6  which is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  is blank  20 ″. Blank  20 ″ includes a view window  32  which allows partial viewing of the contents contained within the sleeve. Such a viewing window  32  allows the consumer to determine how many gum slabs remain in the packet without having to fully remove the packet from the sleeve. The view window  32  may be made from transparent material that replaces the material of one of the major surfaces  22 ″,  24 ″. It is contemplated that the view window  32  may be includes in blanks  20 ,  20 ′ or  20 ″. It is also contemplated that the view window  32  may be included in any of the surfaces or multiple surfaces on a single blank. 
         [0025]    Having described the preferred embodiments herein, it should now be appreciated that variations may be made thereto without departing from the contemplated scope of the invention. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments described herein are deemed illustrative rather than limiting, the true scope of the invention being set forth in the claims appended hereto.