Abstract:
A package for like articles, especially elongated articles, such as drill bits and the like, is provided with a plurality of compartments or sectioned off regions, for the containment of an individual article for substantially unfettered visual inspection; for the containment of a further plurality of articles identical to the exposed visual article, and for indicia as required by the manufacturer and/or required by law. The package is configured to be presented in a hanging manner from retail display shelving.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. The Technical Field 
   The present invention is directed to packaging for grouped similar items, including elongated items such as drill bits or the like, and further including packaging adapted to be hung from retail shelving. 
   2. The Prior Art 
   There are many ways to package and present in a retail environment, elongated items, such as drill bits, jigsaw blades and the like, including skin cards, clamshell blister packs, plastic bags, and molded or stamped boxes. Such elongated items may be sold in a variety of basic ways: the single article (or at most 2–3 if small) in a package; a quantity of, e.g. 5–10 identical articles in a package; an organized set of different, but related articles (e.g., a set of an indeterminate number of articles of varying size, grade, etc.). 
   Presenting a single article in a package may be advantageous, in that in a transparent package, e.g., a bag or skin card, all or substantially all of the surface of the individual article may be exposed for visual inspection or even (in a thin bag or wrapper) tactile inspection. 
   However, single article packaging can be problematic in that it can occupy more storage and shipping volume that a comparable number of like articles packaged in bunches. Furthermore, if a customer is purchasing a large quantity of single articles, there can be more checkout time involved. 
   However, plural article packaging can be problematic as well, for elongated articles such as drill bits and the like. Such packaging may typically may be fabricated from plastic or paper. Plastic may be difficult to affix identifying and marketing indicia, consumer information and the like in a manner which does not obscure the visibility of the products inside. Paper may permit indicia placement but likewise typically obscures visibility of the articles being presented. 
   It would be desirable to provide a method for packaging plural identical articles, such as elongated articles like drill bits, which has the advantages of single article packaging, such as enabling visual inspection of the articles. 
   It would also be desirable to provide a method for packaging of plural identical articles, which provides for the placement of such indicia as may be desired by the manufacturer or required by law, while still permitting visual inspection. 
   These and other desirable characteristics of the present invention will become apparent in view of the present specification, including claims, and drawings. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention comprises in part, a package of a plurality of like articles, having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The package comprises a first sleeve, having a length, a top end and a bottom end; and a second sleeve, insertingly received within the first sleeve and having a length greater than the length of the first sleeve, a top end and a bottom end, so that the first sleeve overlaps at least a portion of the second sleeve in a region of overlap. 
   A first closure line extends along at least a portion of the region of overlap. The first closure line joins longitudinally extending inner surfaces of the first sleeve to adjacent longitudinally extending outer surfaces of the second sleeve, and opposing longitudinally extending inner surfaces of the second sleeve to each other. 
   A second closure line extends transversely across at least a portion of the region of overlap. The second closure line joins transversely extending inner surfaces of the first sleeve to adjacent transversely extending outer surfaces of the second sleeve, and opposing transversely extending inner surfaces of the second sleeve to each other. 
   The first and second closure lines define first and second chambers in the second sleeve, the first chamber being larger than the second chamber, and third and fourth chambers between the first and second sleeves, on opposite sides of the first chamber in the second sleeve. 
   A plurality of articles are disposed in the first chamber, and a single article is disposed in the second chamber. 
   A third closure line extends transversely across the second sleeve in a region beyond the region of overlap, and joins transversely opposing inner surfaces of the second sleeve, with the plurality of articles and the single article being disposed between the second and third closure lines, to maintain the plurality of articles and the single article captured within the first and second chambers, respectively. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second sleeves is one of: transparent, translucent. 
   The package preferably further comprises at least one sheet disposed in at least one of the third and fourth chambers disposed between the first and second sleeves, on opposite sides of the first chamber in the second sleeve. The at least one sheet preferably has indicia disposed thereon. 
   The package preferably further comprises a reinforcement sheet juxtaposed against a surface of the second sleeve, proximate the top thereof; and an aperture formed through the second sleeve and the reinforcement sheet, for enabling the package to be suspended by a member passing through the aperture. 
   Preferably, the top end of the second sleeve is longitudinally spaced apart from the top end of the first sleeve. The bottom end of the second sleeve is preferably disposed proximate the bottom end of the first sleeve. The second sleeve preferably has a width which is less than the width of the first sleeve. 
   The plurality of articles disposed in the first chamber are preferably all like articles, and the single article disposed in the second chamber is the same as one of the plurality of like articles. Preferably, the first and second sleeves comprise substantially flattened tubes. 
   The present invention also comprises, in part, a method for forming a package, the package having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The method comprising the steps of:
         forming a first sleeve, having a length, a top end and a bottom end;   forming a second sleeve, having a length greater than the length of the first sleeve, a top end and a bottom end;   inserting the second sleeve into the first sleeve, so that the first sleeve overlaps at least a portion of the second sleeve in a region of overlap;   forming a first closure line, extending along at least a portion of the region of overlap, to join longitudinally extending inner surfaces of the first sleeve to adjacent longitudinally extending outer surfaces of the second sleeve, and opposing longitudinally extending inner surfaces of the second sleeve to each other;   forming a second closure line, extending transversely across at least a portion of the region of overlap, to join transversely extending inner surfaces of the first sleeve to adjacent transversely extending outer surfaces of the second sleeve, and opposing transversely extending inner surfaces of the second sleeve to each other;   the first and second closure lines defining first and second chambers in the second sleeve, the first chamber being larger than the second chamber, and third and fourth chambers between the first and second sleeves, on opposite sides of the first chamber in the second sleeve;   placing a plurality of articles in the first chamber;   placing a single article in the second chamber;   forming a third closure line, extending transversely across the second sleeve in a region beyond the region of overlap, to join transversely opposing inner surfaces of the second sleeve, with the plurality of articles and the single article being disposed between the second and third closure lines, to maintain the plurality of articles and the single article captured within the first and second chambers, respectively.       

   The steps of forming the first and second sleeves, preferably further comprise the step of forming each of the first and second sleeves from one of transparent or translucent material. 
   The method preferably further comprises the step of:
         placing at least one sheet in at least one of the third and fourth chambers disposed between the first and second sleeves, on opposite sides of the first chamber in the second sleeve.       

   The method preferably further comprises the step of placing indicia on the at least one sheet. 
   The method preferably further comprises the steps of:
         juxtaposing a reinforcement sheet against a surface of the second sleeve, proximate the top thereof; and   forming an aperture through the second sleeve and the reinforcement sheet, for enabling the package to be suspended by a member passing through the aperture.       

   The method preferably further comprises the step of:
         positioning the top end of the second sleeve in longitudinally spaced apart relation to the top end of the first sleeve.       

   The method preferably further comprises the step of:
         positioning the bottom end of the second sleeve proximate the bottom end of the first sleeve.       

   The method preferably further comprises the step of:
         forming the second sleeve with a width which is less than the width of the first sleeve.       

   The method preferably further comprises the steps of:
         selecting the plurality of articles disposed in the first chamber to be all like articles, and   selecting the single article disposed in the second chamber to be the same as one of the plurality of like articles.       

   Preferably, the first and second sleeves are formed as substantially flattened tubes. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an elevation of two components of a package for similar articles, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an elevation of the two components of  FIG. 1  in partially assembled configuration. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 2 , taken along line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is an elevation of the assembly of  FIG. 3 , shown further along the fabrication process. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 4 , taken along line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is an elevation of the assembly of  FIG. 4 , showing the insertion of elongated articles into respective receiving chambers of the package in formation. 
       FIG. 7  is an elevation of the assembly of  FIG. 6 , showing the insertion of indicia bearing sheets, as well as a reinforcement sheet for enabling the hanging display of the package. 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 7 , taken along line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail several specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
   A package for a plurality of similar articles according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is formed first, as shown in  FIG. 1 , by forming two sleeves  10  and  12 , each of which is preferably formed (e.g., by cutting to desired length), tubular plastic material (of any suitable type—typically cut from a roll of flattened tube), which are preferably transparent, or alternatively translucent, but which will permit visual inspection of anything within the respective sleeves. The plastic which forms sleeves  10  and  12  may be of any kind, so long as it exhibits suitable heat, pressure, or sonic sealing capability. 
   Sleeve  10  includes open ends  14  and  16 , while sleeve  12  includes open ends  16  and  18 . The material of sleeves  10  and  12  is preferably susceptible to welding to itself, e.g., by pressure, heat, microwave or ultrasonic vibrations. Sleeve  10  is inserted into sleeve  12  which preferably has a circumference which is slightly greater than the circumference of sleeve  10 , in order to facilitate the insertion of sleeve  10  into sleeve  12 . Alternatively, sleeve  10  may have a circumference that is the same as or greater than that of sleeve  12 , though this may make insertion of sleeve  10  into sleeve  12  more difficult, as well as making later fabrication steps slightly more difficult. In addition, sleeve  10  has a length which is preferably substantially greater than the length of sleeve  12 . 
   Upon insertion, sleeves  10  and  12  form assembly  30 , in which open end  16  of sleeve  10  is preferably substantially aligned with the end  20  of sleeve  12 , although the respective ends may be unaligned if desired. 
   The third stage of the package formation occurs when welds  32  and  34  are provided, extending through both sleeves  10  and  12 , to form assembly  40 , creating chambers  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48 . Weld  34  closes off the bottoms  16  and  20  of sleeves  10 ,  12 , respectively, while weld  32  creates a vertical separation of the volume within sleeve  10 . Preferably, weld  32  is off-center, so that chamber  42  is appropriately sized for a single article  50 , while chamber  46  is appropriately sized to receive a plurality of like articles  50 . 
   Although chambers  44 ,  48  are, strictly speaking, contiguous, because of the fact that they are, due to the typically flattened nature of sleeves  10 ,  12 , on generally opposite sides of chamber  46 , it is useful to consider them as separate and discrete chambers. In instances in which the bulk of the articles being packaged causes the package to assume a less than flattened configuration, it may be desirable to provide further welds, extending longitudinally at the sides of the region of overlap of tubes  10 ,  12 , so that fully discrete and discontinuous chambers are created. 
   While welds, as described above are preferably used to create the separations between the various chambers, of the package described herein, as being the most efficient and amenable to manufacturability, other methods of creating the welds (or closure lines) may be employed, such as staples or stitching, for example. Further, the welds or closure lines, while preferably extending continuously and completely across the height or width of the respective sleeves to which they are applied, may instead be intermittent, and may stop short of peripheral edges of the respective sleeves or at other locations, so long as the function of restraining the articles being packaged within their respective regions is accomplished. 
   Articles  50  are inserted into chambers  42 ,  46 , after welds  32 ,  34  have been accomplished. Articles  50  are shown representationally as drill bits, but may be any elongated articles (e.g., center punches, etc.). Even non-elongated articles may be accommodated, by suitably modifying the relative dimensional proportions of the chambers created by the overlapped sleeves and the subsequently created welds. 
   After the articles  50  have been inserted, they are sealed in place by weld  52 , which extends across sleeve  10 , but does not contact the top of sleeve  12 , thus leaving the tops of chambers  44 ,  48  still open, and as well leaves the top of sleeve  10 , above weld  52 , likewise open for insertion of further items. Sheets  54 ,  56  may be provided with various indicia (product name, product information, UPC bar code(s), etc.) as desired or required by law. Sheets  54 ,  56  may be fabricated from any suitable material capable of bearing indicia, and once prepared and suitably printed, are inserted into chambers  44 ,  48 , respectively. 
   As the side shown in  FIG. 7  is preferably the nominal “front” of the package, it is intended to be placed on a shelf, so that sheet  56  faces front. Sheet  56  preferably is “shorter” than the articles  50  (e.g., drill bits), so that the tops of the articles will be visible, while sheet  54  may or may not be of equal or greater length than articles  50 . Sheet  54  will be rotated 180 degrees (as indicated by the arrow), so that its indicia face to the rear (although either sheet may be provided with indicia on both sides, as necessary or desired). 
   Once sheets  54 ,  56  have been inserted, a further weld may be placed across the tops of chambers  44 ,  48 . However, in usual practice this may not be necessary, as sheets  54 ,  56  will be sized so that the fit of each within its respective chamber  44 ,  48  will be sufficiently snug enough that sheets  54 ,  56  will not fall out, subsequent to fabrication, to prevent sheets  54 ,  56  from being dislodged during shipment, through placement on retail shelving, up to purchase by a consumer. 
   The placement of sheets  54 ,  56  in the chambers  44 ,  48 , rather than immediately adjacent to articles  50  is advantageous, in that articles  50 , which may be, e.g., drill bits or other tool parts, may be coated with oil or other materials, for example, to prevent rusting or other damage to the articles, pending purchase by the consumer. This coating may be harmful or detrimental to the indicia that is printed on the sheets, in that it may blur the printing or adversely affect the material of the sheets themselves. By placing the sheets  54 ,  56  within chambers  44 ,  48 , they are isolated from the articles, and cannot be affected by them or any coating or the like. 
   After placement of the sheets, and possible, though not required, welding of the tops of chambers  44 ,  48 , the package is then prepared for hanging. Depending upon the strength of the material, the top of sleeve  10  may be simply closed by a further weld. 
   Preferably, a further sheet  60 , which is likewise preferably of a suitable plastic material, is affixed directly to the outside (preferably, the front) of the top end of tube  10  by, e.g., pressure, heat or sonic welding, which produces a weld over the entire surface of contact between sheet  60  and tube  10 . When affixed to the outside of tube  10 , preferably sheet  60  is actually wider than the top of tube  10 , to ensure a solid surface to surface contact. Sheet  60  may be substantially thicker than that of tube  10 . Sheet  60  is used to provide reinforcement to the material of tube  10 , to enable an aperture to be formed in the top of tube  10 , to permit hanging by a rod, peg or hook. Sheet  60  will preferably be fabricated from a heat or sonically sealable material, and will be affixed to tube  10  in that manner, which may have the additional effect of welding opposing portions of the top of tube  10 . Alternatively, sheet  60 , if suitably sized, may be inserted into the top of tube  10 . 
   Once sheet  60  is in place, a suitable aperture  62  may be formed, such as by die-cutting, through sheet  60  and the juxtaposed layers of tube  10 , to enable package  70  to be hung by a peg, rod or hook from a retail display shelving unit. 
   Alternatively (not shown), a sheet (which may be of any material and which may or may not also have indicia placed on it) may be inserted into tube  10  above weld  52  to provide reinforcement strength for enabling the package to be hung on a peg, rod or hook. A final weld may be formed in tube  10  above the inserted sheet. Once in place, an aperture similar to aperture  62  is formed through the layers of sleeve  10  and the inserted sheet, in any suitable shape that is appropriate for enabling the completed package  70  to be hung via a peg or hook, from a retail display shelf. Depending upon the characteristics of the particular materials from which sleeve  10  and the inserted sheet are fabricated, the act of die-cutting the aperture may serve to press onto or microweld the layers of sleeve  10  to the sides of sheet  60 , proximate to hole  62 , so that the edges of sleeve  10  that define hole  62  are not loose, but more or less affixed to sheet  60 . 
   A further vertical weld  64  may be provided if desired, to prevent sheet  60  from migrating laterally, and to obviate the need for sheet  60  to extend across the entire width of the top of sleeve  10 . Alternatively, sheet  60  may be made to have a width approximately equal to the width of sleeve  10 . 
   Package  70  has the advantage of providing for the packaging of a plurality of like articles in a compact and economic manner, while at the same time displaying a single representative one of the articles in a complete manner for unencumbered visual inspection. Furthermore, package  70  enables indicia such as product information to be provided in a manner which is not interfered with by the articles being packaged. 
   While in preferred embodiments of the invention, in the package, the articles packaged are all identical or substantially so, in alternative embodiments of the invention, one or more of the articles may be non-identical. 
   The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except as those skilled in the art who have the present disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.