Abstract:
A system for promoting and facilitating recycling having a recycle strip placed in consumer packaging that includes paperboard, chipboard and corrugated cardboard that has a consistent, conspicuous appearance and is placed in a conspicuous manner into the packaging so that the consumer recognizes that the packaging is recyclable. When removed from the package, the strip disables a plurality of structural elements of the packaging, the elements no longer maintaining the package in three dimensions, allowing the consumer to easily flatten the packaging for accumulation and eventual recycling. When placed, the strip selectively binds to the sides of the packaging, eliminating any weakness in the packaging, and selectively releases when a consumer pulls the strip from the packaging, separating the packaging into elements but maintaining a unitary article.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a nonprovisional continuation-in-part utility application of the nonprovisional utility application Ser. No. 13/793,191, filed in the United States Patent Office on May 11, 2013, that claims priority to the provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/647,799 filed in the United States Patent Office on May 16, 2012 and this application claims the priority thereof and is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a package with a recycle strip and a system and method for making same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a package with a recycle strip that signals to consumers that the packaging is easily disassemble for recycling and a system and method for same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Paperboard, chipboard and corrugated cardboard contribute to the waste stream, but are completely recyclable. Manufacturers of packaging want to encourage consumers to recycle, thus lowering the carbon footprint of the industry. Consumer goods manufacturers who offer their goods for sale in paperboard, chipboard and corrugated cardboard also want to lower their carbon footprint throughout the life cycle of the packaging. Most consumers are unaware that type of packaging is generally recyclable. 
     There are many ways to open packaging for the purpose of removing the goods inside, including packaging that has a second use as a display but none that relate to recycling. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present disclosure as disclosed hereafter. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present disclosure as disclosed hereafter. 
     In the present disclosure, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which the present disclosure is concerned. 
     While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate the present disclosure, no technical aspects are disclaimed and it is contemplated that the claims may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     An aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is create a signal to the consumer that packaging is recyclable. Accordingly, an example embodiment in the present disclosure is a recycle strip placed in a conspicuous manner in packaging so that consumer recognizes that packaging is recyclable. 
     Another aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is create a consistent signal to the consumer that packaging is recyclable. Accordingly, an example embodiment in the present disclosure is a recycle strip having a consistent appearance when placed in packaging so that consumer recognizes that packaging is recyclable. 
     The present disclosure describes a system for facilitating recycling having a recycle strip placed in consumer packaging that includes paperboard, chipboard and corrugated cardboard that has a consistent appearance and is placed in a conspicuous manner into the packaging so that the consumer recognizes that the packaging is recyclable. When torn from the package, the strip disables a plurality of structural elements of the packaging, the elements no longer maintaining the package in three dimensions, allowing the consumer to easily flatten the packaging for storage and eventual recycling. When placed the strip selectively binds to the sides of the packaging, eliminating any weakness in the packaging, and selectively releases when a consumer pulls the strip from the packaging, separating the packaging into portions but maintaining a unitary article. 
     The present disclosure addresses at least one of the foregoing disadvantages. However, it is contemplated that the present disclosure may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the claims should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed hereinabove. To the accomplishment of the above, this disclosure may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a paperboard package with a recycle strip in a longitudinal orientation. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a section of the paperboard package with the recycle strip shown in detail. 
         FIG. 2B , similar to  FIG. 2A , is a perspective view of a section of the paperboard package with the recycle strip with a peelable cover over a leading end of the strip. 
         FIG. 2C , similar to  FIG. 2B , is a perspective view of a section of the paperboard package with the recycle strip releasing from the packaging, the peelable cover over the leading end of the strip separating the package into a plurality of portions. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a corrugated cardboard box having a plurality of flaps, the recycle strip bisecting the flaps. 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of another example embodiment of the corrugated cardboard box having a plurality of panels, the recycle strip diagonally bisecting the panels. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a tube style paperboard box having a plurality of panels, the recycle strip in a lateral orientation. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the paperboard package showing the recycle strip peeling away. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an example embodiment of the paperboard package showing the recycle strip peeled away with a strap maintaining a unit. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of plurality of paperboard packages in a stack after the recycle strip is peeled away. 
         FIG. 8  is a die-cut blank of an example embodiment of a tube style paperboard package before assembly, showing an outer surface of the package before assembly. 
         FIG. 9  is a die-cut blank of the paperboard package, showing an inner surface of the paperboard package before assembly. 
     
    
    
     The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various example embodiments. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure is thorough, complete and fully conveys the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example embodiment of a package, such as, for example, a cereal carton, the paperboard carton  20  having a RECYCLESTRIP™ recycle strip  10 . The recycle strip is a member in a system of packaging that prompts recycling of a plurality of boxes and cartons. The packaging is made from recyclable materials selected from the group consisting of paperboard, chipboard and corrugated cardboard. 
     A user instantly recognizes the recycle strip  10  and further recognizes that the package is recyclable, the recycle strip signally a consistent message across a plurality of brands and package styles. The package defines a volume in three dimensions when assembled, having a plurality of members, namely a front panel  22 , a rear panel  24 , a pair of side panels  26 , a top flap  28  and a bottom flap  30 , the panels defining a volume therein, the volume operative for filling with a product. In this example embodiment, the recycle strip  10  is a member added to the other members, the strip inserting in and binding to the side panels, the bottom panel and the top panel, allowing the front panel and the rear panel to provide a pair of principal display panels. In this example embodiment, the recycle strip  10  is a continuous plastic strip inserted into the package, traversing a plurality of adjacent members, binding the adjacent members of the package together. When the user no longer needs the package, the strip is selectively released from the package, forming a plurality of portions that easily flatten and compress, the package completely disassembled. The flattened packages will yield more room in a recycling accumulation container during accumulation, the container having an increased capacity for the flattened and compressed packages. The increased capacity of the accumulation container increases transportation capacity operative for delivering the compressed packages to a material recovery facility, by increasing the capacity of the trucks that deliver accumulated packages to the processing centers MRF (Material Recovery Facility) further reducing the carbon foot print that is attributable to packaging. 
       FIG. 2A  shows the carton  20  with the strip  10  running through the side panel  26 .  FIG. 2B  shows a peelable cover  40  over a leading end of the recycle strip  10  so that the strip is not prematurely released.  FIG. 2C  shows the peelable cover  40 , shown in an opposing manner than in  FIG. 2B , with the leading end  12  of the strip  10  releasing a pair of portions of the carton  20 , disabling the structural members of the package which maintain a three-dimensional volume. 
       FIG. 3A  demonstrates another example embodiment, a corrugated box  50  having a plurality of panels  52  and a plurality of flaps  54 , the flaps generally in pairs, that maintains a three-dimensional volume by the flaps  54  folding towards and abutting each other. The strip  10  fixes in and binds to the corrugated cardboard of the flaps  54  and panels so that when the strip releases, a plurality of portions for storage and eventual recycling are formed. Two panels remain completely available for display. 
       FIG. 3B  demonstrates the corrugated carton  50  having a strip  10  that traverses the panels  52  diagonally so that the flaps  54  are intact, creating a stronger carton. 
       FIG. 4  shows a system having a tube style carton package  20 A with an integral recycle strip  10 A, the strip having a conspicuous appearance distinguishing the strip from other members of the package by a plurality of graphic elements, such as color and a plurality of printed symbols. The graphic elements instantly signal that the package is recyclable. The recycle strip traverses the package laterally, towards a carton bottom allowing the front panel  22  shown here or the back panel to have uninterrupted display area on the principal display panels. The system is further shown in  FIG. 8  and described hereinbelow. 
       FIG. 5  demonstrates the process of preparing the carton for recycling. The recycle strip has a leading end with a pull tab  12  that is not glued to a flange panel underneath, allowing the user to easily grasp the leading end of the strip  10 A. 
     The recycle  10 A strip has a pair of scalloped perforated edges  14  formed when a carton blank is cut and creased, the scalloped shape of the edges increases the durability of the carton. The scalloped edge is preferable to other shapes of perforations known to those of ordinary skill. 
     The recycle strip  10 A is operative for selectively disassembling the other members of the package when the strip is completely released from the package  20 A. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the blank  18  for a package, a tube style carton described hereinabove. The unitary blank  18  is die-cut from a large sheet of packaging material such as paperboard as a non-limiting example. The blank  18  has a plurality of panels and a plurality of flaps  28 ,  30  formed from the unitary blank. The panels include a pair of side panels  26  and a pair of principal display panels, a front panel  22 , and a back panel  24 . The panels and the flaps assembling into a unitary package, defining a volume therein, the volume operative for holding a product. 
     The recycle strip  16  is perforated from the unitary blank, the strip having a conspicuous appearance distinguishing the strip from the panels  22 ,  24 ,  26  and flaps  28 ,  30 . The recycle strip  16  has perforated edges  16  that traverse the principal display panels  24 ,  24  of the unitary blank; however, the recycle strip  16  approaches the edges  18 E of the side panels  26  but terminates before the edges, leaving an unperforated portion forming a strap  60  at the edges  18 E of the side panel. The recycle strip  16  is operative for selectively disassembling the package when the strip  16  is completely released from the package, the package disposed for easy flattening and compressing, the panels and flaps no longer defining a volume therein. 
     The strap  60  is formed from the unitary blank  18  when the strip  16  is released from the package, the strap  60  maintaining the package as a flat and compressed unit  20  shown in  FIG. 7 , no longer defining a volume therein, the flattened and compressed unit  20  operative for accumulating in a minimal volume thereby increasing transportation capacity to a material recovery facility and further reducing the carbon foot print that is attributable to packaging. 
     The blank  18  has an exterior surface  18 S that is generally printed with a plurality of graphic design elements shown in  FIG. 8 . The strip  10 A has a conspicuous appearance distinguishing the strip from other members of the package by conspicuous graphic design elements, the graphic design elements instantly signaling that the package is recyclable. As a non-limiting example, the words “recyclestrip” and “www.recyclestrip.com”  16  are printed on the strip  10 A and the strip is a conspicuous green color that contrasts with other graphic elements printed on an exterior surface of the blank. 
       FIG. 9  displays an interior surface of the blank  18 . In this example embodiment, the recycle strip  10 A is printed with graphic design elements on the interior surface, further providing a conspicuous reminder that the package is recyclable. 
       FIG. 6  shows the strap  60  connecting a top portion  20 T of the disassembled carton  20 A to a bottom portion  20 B, keeping the portions connected for accumulation, preventing the smaller, bottom portion from being inadvertently discarded and not recycled. The recycle strip traverses the carton laterally towards the bottom portion such that principal display panels each have a predominant uninterrupted display area  20 T. 
       FIG. 7  demonstrates a stack  20  of packages  20  with the recycle strip removed, the recycle strip releasing the other members of the package when removed, the other members no longer defining a volume therein. The packages  20  are completely disassembled, the flattened and compressed members of the package accumulating in a minimal volume in the stack  30 , operative for transporting to a material recovery facility. The accumulated stack  32  adds capacity to the accumulation container, thereby increasing transportation capacity and further reducing the carbon foot print that is attributable to packaging. 
     A method for promoting and facilitating recycling packaging and reducing a carbon footprint of a package, is shown in  FIG. 8 . A sheet of packaging stock has a plurality of blanks  18 , as an example in the figure. The blank is printed with a plurality of conspicuous graphic elements  16 , the elements instantly signaling that the package is recyclable. The blank also had the flap members  28 ,  30  and panel members  22 ,  24 ,  26  operative for forming the package. The blank has an exterior surface  18 S shown here that displays on a package exterior. The conspicuous graphic elements  16  traverse adjacent flaps and panels from a first edge  18 E of the blank to an opposing edge  18 E of the blank. 
     The blank  18  is cut from the sheet, fold lines  34  creased into the blank and the recycle strip  10 A is perforated, forming a pair of perforated edges  14 . In one example embodiment, the perforation edges  14  end before the edges  18 E on the side panels  26 , the edges having glue such that when the blank  18  is glued together, the unperforated portion forms the strap  60 . The strap  60  remains after the perforated strip  10 A is released from the carton, maintaining the carton as a unitary piece. The package  20 A, as shown in  FIG. 4  is formed by folding and glueing the flaps  28 ,  30  and the side panels  26  together, the flaps and panels defining a volume therein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the package  20 A is released by removing the recycle strip  10 A by grasping the leading end  12  and the package is completely disassembled when the recycle strip is completely removed, the flaps and panels flattening and compressing operative for accumulating in a minimal volume. 
     The step of releasing the package  10  is followed by the step of accumulating the compressed and flattened packages as shown in  FIG. 7 , transporting the flattened and compressed packages to a material recovery facility, the flattened and compressed packages increasing transportation capacity thus further reducing the carbon foot print that is attributable to packaging. 
     It is understood that when an element is referred hereinabove as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
     It is further understood that, although ordinal terms, such as, “first,” “second,” “third,” are used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, “a first element,” “component,” “region,” “layer” or “section” discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings herein. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, are used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It is understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device can be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments described herein should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustrated herein, but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the present claims. 
     In conclusion, herein is presented a package with a recycle strip placed in the package that signals to consumers that the packaging is easily deconstructed for recycling and a system and method for using same. The disclosure is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present disclosure.