Abstract:
A packaging enclosure for containing an article of manufacture, the packaging enclosure includes an enclosed enclosure formed from a sheet material having an internal side forming a boundary for an internal portion of the enclosure which internal side includes a notched portion that is manually removable by an end user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to packing enclosures and, more particularly, to such packaging material having a side with a notched portion adjacent to an internal portion of the enclosure for manual removal by an end user. 
     BACKGROUND OF TIE INVENTION 
     It is also common practice in the industry to provide merchandise for sale in boxes, pouches and the like. These particular-chosen contained will typically also include some sort of breakable seal for providing easy access to the merchandise inside the particular container. The consumer takes the merchandise home, opens the container and either consumes the contents or partially uses the contents and stores the opened container with the remainder of the unused merchandise on a shelf. In the case of merchandise, which is used over a longer period of time, storing the package is problematic especially for things such as cleaning products and the like. 
     Although the presently known and utilized containers are satisfactory, they include drawbacks. Such containers are only suitable for shelf-like storage that limits consumer&#39;s options for using a package over a long period of time. 
     Consequently, a need exists for containers that can be stored on hooks and the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, the invention resides in a packaging enclosure for containing an article of manufacture, the packaging enclosure comprising (a) an enclosed enclosure formed from a sheet material having an internal side forming a boundary for an internal portion of the enclosure which internal side includes a notched portion that is manually removable by an end user. 
    
    
     These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of a single sheet of biaxially oriented packaging material in its original form that is used to construct a package of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an end view of the single sheet of the biaxially oriented packaging material folded over to detail an overlapping area in end view in which ends of the material are thermally attached to each other along the length of the package of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the partially formed package of FIG. 2 rotated 90 degrees in side view showing the thermally formed ends of the package creating a complete package of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the formed package showing a typical placement of the user-breakable seal of the present invention, placed along the length of the first thermal seal detailed in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 a , FIG. 5 b , and FIG. 5 c  illustrate three side views of alternative embodiments of the user-breakable seal of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a sheet  10  of biaxially oriented polypropylene material of the type generally used in the construction of thermally formed packages. This type of material is generally available from a plurality of manufacturers such as Applied Extrusion Technologies of Norcross, Ga.,  30092-3383 . Typically, a sheet of the said material is cut into a single sheet  20  of a size that is necessary for a particular package. An example of a product application for the package of the present invention is, for example, dusting cloths. 
     Referring next to FIG. 2, which shows an end view of the package, the biaxially oriented polypropylene  20  is rolled to form an overlap  30  which is thermally welded or attached together  40 . This operation forms the length of the package containing the particular product. Referring now to FIG. 3, which shows the partially formed package in side view, after the insertion of a product, the biaxially oriented polypropylene  20 , is thermally welded  40  on the top and bottom of the package thus completing the package construction. The completed package includes an interior portion  45  into which contents may be inserted and a pre-formed notch portion  50  the internal side of the package adjacent the interior  45  for providing a mechanism for hanging the package on a hook or the like, as described in detail hereinbelow. Referring now to FIG. 4, a bottom view of a completed package  60  is shown. The completed package  60  that is constructed from the polyethylene  20  shows all of the thermal welds  40  as described herein above, required construct a complete assembly. An access mechanism in the form of die cut portion  70  preferably exists on the external side opposite the pre-formed notch  50  to aid a consumer to remove the contents of package  60 . 
     Referring again to FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 , the present invention is detailed as a pre-formed notch  50  is shown situated upon the length of the package&#39;s  60  thermal weld  40  in an effort to allow the package to be hung upon an appendage such as a hook or nail. The pre-formed notch  50  is, for reasons of providing a tamper-evident mechanism, is more easily removable from inside the package  60  after accessing via the die cut portion  70 . The interior  45  of package  60  is accessible by either a perforation, a self sealing portion, a marked portion for manual cutting, or a ripping portion the customer by tearing the die scored portion  70 . It should be noted here that the scored portion  70  for the removal of package contents could be constructed as either a perforation, a self sealing portion, a marked portion for manual cutting, or a ripping portion. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 a ,  5   b , and  5   c , detailed are three alternative embodiments to form the pre-formed notch  50 . FIG. 5 a  details a partially cut area  80  to aid removal of the pre-formed notch  50  in polypropylene  20 , FIG. 5 b  details a mechanically punched area  90  to aid removal of the pre-formed notch  50  in polypropylene  20 , and FIG. 5 c  details a partially thermally punched area  100  to aid removal of the pre-formed notch  50  in polypropylene  20 . In an effort to further clarify FIGS. 5 a ,  5   b , and  5   c , the pre-formed notch  50  is situated upon the length of the package&#39;s  60  thermal weld  40  referred to previously in FIG.  5 . 
     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     PARTS LIST 
       10  biaxially oriented polypropylene 
       20  single sheet biaxially oriented polypropylene 
       30  overlap 
       40  thermal weld 
       45  interior portion 
       50  pre-formed notch 
       60  completed package 
       70  die cut portion 
       80  partially cut area 
       90  mechanically punched area 
       100  partially thermally punched area