Abstract:
A dispensing support is for use with an associated package having a parallelepiped shape. The support includes a sleeve having at least three contiguous walls including at least one side wall and a top wall. The side wall is configured to extend along the length of the one of the package side panels and the top wall has an opening therein configured to lie along the package top. The sleeve includes a locking element extending from one of the walls at a free end thereof to engage one of the package panels to secure the package within the sleeve. A dispenser extends through the top wall opening and is configured for insertion into the package. The package is fitted into and retained within the sleeve and the dispenser operates to dispense product from the package.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a sleeve or support for a brick-type package and a dispenser for the contents of the package. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an open sleeve or support and a pump-type dispenser use with brick-type packages. 
     Brick-type packages are well-known in the art. An exemplary widely-known and used package is the Tetra Brik® package commercially available from Tetra Brik Packaging Systems S.p.A. of Modena, Italy. These brick-type packages have four upstanding sidewalls, a flat top and a flat bottom. The flat top and bottom can be in the form of a rectangle or a square, for a desired application and package volume. 
     Many types of closures are known for these packages. For example, a plastic closure having a frangible edge region and a hinge is known, in which closure the closure portions within a central region of the frangible portion is lifted or raised to provide access to the container contents. In many such containers, a foil or other inner seal is provided with a tab that can be likewise pulled from the package to provide product access. 
     Many of the brick-type packages are used in food service establishments. As such, dispensing the product can be problematic. This is particularly true in those instances where it is not desirable to transfer the product from the package to a second dispensing container. Such product transfer and secondary containers are undesirable in that they provide a path for contamination, as well as additional equipment handling. 
     It is also less than desirable to merely leave the open package dispensing location. Again, this is less than optimally hygienic, and can result in contamination of the product. One known dispensing arrangement includes a six sided or cubic container having a dispenser or pump mounted to the top of the cube. While such an arrangement may serve to reduce the opportunity for contamination, such a container has been found to be difficult to properly clean and has been found to be quite costly in manufacture and use. As such, these containers have not found wide spread use. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a sleeve and dispenser for use with brick-type packages. Desirably, such a sleeve is cost-effective (inexpensive to produce) and easy to use. Most desirably, such a sleeve is readily cleaned, as by cleaned in a washing appliance. Most desirably, such a sleeve and dispenser is a one-piece assembly that can further be used for advertising and marketing purposes. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A dispensing support provides structural support in a dispenser for use with an associated brick-type package. A typical brick package has a parallelepiped shape having a top panel having a length, a bottom panel having a length equal to the top panel length and two pairs of opposing side panels having a height. Each panel is contiguous with each of its adjacent panels. 
     The dispensing support includes a sleeve having at least three contiguous walls including at least one side wall and a top wall. The at least one side wall is configured to extend along the length of the one of the package side panels. The top wall has an opening therein configured to lie along the package top. 
     The sleeve includes a locking element extending from one of the walls at a free end thereof. The locking element is configured to engage one of the package panels to secure the package within the sleeve. 
     A dispenser extends through the top wall opening and is configured for insertion into the package. The package is fitted into and retained within the sleeve and the dispenser operates to dispense product from the package. 
     In a present embodiment, the three contiguous walls include a bottom wall, a side wall and a top wall. The top wall can extend fully along the length of the package top panel. Alternately, the top wall extends a length less than a length of the bottom wall, or less than the length of the package top panel. 
     In one configuration, an upwardly projecting spout extends from the top wall opening. The spout can include threads formed thereon to threadedly engage the dispenser. Alternately still, the opening can be flush with the top wall and a package having a spout affixed to the top panel can extend through the opening. 
     The side wall can include openings formed therein, such as a lattice-like configuration. This can be configured in conjunction with indicia or graphics on the package to permit the use of openings for product package markings and the like (e.g., marketing and advertising). 
     The sleeve can include a flange that extends between the top wall and the side wall, generally transverse to the top and side walls. The flange is configured to provide visual access to the side panel of the package in the sleeve. This provides a user to “see” the package contents (by markings) and, again, permits use to, for example, support product advertising and marketing. 
     The sleeve locking element can be formed on the bottom wall. In a present configuration, the locking element is formed at an end of the bottom wall. A lateral stop element can also be formed at the bottom wall to prevent lateral shifting of the package in the sleeve. 
     Optionally, the sleeve can include a latching element for securing the sleeve to a like, adjacent sleeve. In this manner, a plurality of packages, in sleeves, can be placed next to one another. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sleeve for a brick-type package embodying the principles of the present invention, the sleeve being illustrated with a threaded spout at the top wall for receiving a dispenser; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the sleeve of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the sleeve of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates three sleeves connected to one another, as may be used at a food service establishment; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of an alternate embodiment of the sleeve showing a supporting foot; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of the sleeve of FIG. 5 with a package positioned in the sleeve and a dispenser fitted to the sleeve; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary dispenser; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of still another embodiment of the sleeve that is configured for fitting over opposing sidewalls of the package and includes an opening in the top wall for receipt of a spout from a package; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective illustration of a package for use with the sleeve of FIG. 8 with a dispenser fitted thereto; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of still another alternate embodiment of the sleeve; and 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective illustration of an exemplary brick-type package. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein. 
     In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
     Referring now to the figures and in particular to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a sleeve  10  configured to receive a dispenser  12  for use with an associated brick-type package  14 . Referring briefly to FIG. 11, the brick-type package  14  is a well recognized parallelepiped package that can have a square or rectangular footprint. The package  14  has first and second pairs of opposing side walls  16 ,  18  and  20 ,  22 , respectively, and top and bottom walls  24 ,  26 , respectively the package  14  can be fitted with a pull tab type of seal  28  to provide access to the package  14  contents. For purposes of the present disclosure, the walls of the package are referred to as panels and the walls of the sleeve are referred to as walls to reduce any confusion that might otherwise result. An exemplary package is disclosed and described in Rausing, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,444, commonly assigned with the present application, and incorporated herein by reference. 
     In many uses, the package  14  contains food product that is intended for use in a commercial food-service establishment or setting. In such an environment, in past practice, product may be transferred from a package to a secondary or supplemental serving or dispensing container. The transfer of contents increases the opportunity for contamination of the product and increases the quantity of serving or dispensing containers that may require washing or sterilization. It can also increase the amount of waste produced that must ultimately be disposed of. 
     The present sleeve  10  and dispenser  12  alleviates many of these commonly recognized problems. The sleeve  10  is a generally C-shaped support for the package  14 . As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, although the package  14  is somewhat rigid, it is typically made of a laminate having a paperboard core. As such, pressure on the package  14  can result in compressed or crushed panels. The present sleeve  10  provides structural support for the package  14 , thus reducing the potential for compressing or crushing the panels of the package  14 . 
     In a current embodiment, the sleeve  10  includes an upstanding side wall  30 , a bottom wall  32  and a top wall  34 . The sleeve  10  is configured such that the package  14  fits snuggly within the interior region indicated at  36  of the sleeve  10  “C”. The bottom and top walls  32 ,  34  can be “full” walls in that they extend over the entire length l and width w of their respective package panels, or as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the top wall  34  can be formed as a “partial” wall extending over a portion of the length l or width w of the top panel  24 . That is, the top wall  34  has a length l 34  less than the length l of the package top panel  24 . The side wall  30 , of course, extends the entire height h of the package side panel  16 . 
     Referring briefly to FIG. 8, an alternate sleeve  110  can be configured to cover opposing side panels  116 ,  118  of the package  114  and the top panel  124 , again resembling a “C” shape or an inverted “U” shape. In this embodiment, the top wall  134  extends the entire length l of the package top panel  124 , and at least one of the sleeve side walls  130  extends the entire height h of the package side panel  116 . This provides increased structural integrity to the sleeve  110  and package  114  when in combination. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1-3, the top wall  34  includes an opening  38  that is configured to receive the dispenser  12 . The exemplary opening  38  illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is formed by an upwardly extending spout-like projection  40 . The spout  40  includes threads  42  formed thereon for threadedly receiving a cap  44  on the dispenser  12 , which cap  44  has threads complementary to the threads  42  of the dispenser  12 . Other means for securing the dispenser  12  to the top wall  34  include, for example, bayonet-type (twist-type) locks, friction-fit locks and the like. All such securing means are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     The dispenser  12 , as seen in FIG. 7, can be of any type, such as an ENGLASS® MAXI dispenser, commercially available from RIEKE® Corporation of Auburn, Ind. A preferred dispenser  12  is a pump-action, suction dispenser having a suction pipe  46  that extends fully to the bottom of the package  14  when inserted therein. 
     In a present embodiment, the sleeve  10  includes a full bottom wall  32  on which the package  14  rests when the package  14  is in the sleeve  10 . The bottom wall  32  can include an upwardly turned lip  48  at a free end  50  (that end  50  farthest from the side wall  30 ). The lip  48  provides a lock to maintain the package  14  securely within the sleeve  10 , and to prevent inadvertent separation of the package  14  from the sleeve  10 . Alternately, the lock  48  can be provided by a projection or hook-like element (not shown) that extends from the bottom wall  32  and locks to the package along the bottom panel  26 , rather than at the juncture of the package bottom and side panels  18 ,  26 . A lateral stop element  52  configured as a holding tab can be formed extending upwardly from about the bottom wall  32 , generally aligned with the sleeve side wall  30 . The lock  48  and stop element  52  secure the package  14  laterally in the sleeve  10 . 
     In the current C-shaped sleeve  10 , the top wall  34  is short, extending less than the full length l of the top panel  24 . It has been found that this configuration permits readily inserting a package  14  into the sleeve  10  while still providing the necessary stability and properly securing the package  14  in the sleeve  10 . It has also been observed that this configuration provides sufficient strength such that the sleeve  10  and package  14  retain their shape when depressing the dispenser  12 . 
     As best seen in FIGS. 1-2, the sleeve  10  can include flange or support walls  54 ,  56  that extend inwardly of the “C” from the bottom  32 , side  30  and top  34  walls, generally perpendicular to the walls and parallel to the package side panels  20 ,  22 . An open area  58  is defined by the edges of the support walls  54 ,  56 . The support walls  54 ,  56  provide a gusseting function, thus strengthening the sleeve  10  to further resist deformation resulting from a downward force on the top wall  34 , as by depressing the dispenser  12 . The support walls  54 ,  56  can be formed on both “sides” of the sleeve  10 , or alternate on only a single “side” of the sleeve  10  (e.g., formation of both walls  54  and  56 , or alternately only one wall  54  or  56 ). 
     As is readily apparent from the figures, the sleeve  10  has an open configuration, as exemplified by the open area  58 . That is, the sleeve  10  forms a spine or skeleton that defines the substantially large open area  58 . To this end, the side wall  30  can be configured as a lattice having openings  60  therein, as well as the open areas  58  defined by the support walls  54 ,  56 . This provides area for package  14  labeling and graphics to show through these opening areas  58 ,  60  to enhance product marketing. For example, the package  14  can be printed having specific graphics or indicia that show through the open areas  60  of the side wall  30 , as well as inside of the support walls  54 ,  56  in open areas  58 . Optionally, the sleeve side  30  wall can be configured having small or no open areas (e.g., a solid surface), and specific graphics or indicia can be formed, such as by molding, onto the side wall  30 . 
     As still another optional feature, the sleeve  10  can have locking elements formed thereon to permit securing the sleeve  10  to an adjacent, like sleeve  10   a ,  10   b . As seen in FIG. 4, in the embodiment the locking elements are formed as hooks  62  and channels  64  in the side walls  30 , bottom wall  32  and/or top wall  34 . The hooks  62  and channels  64  permit locking the sleeves  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b  to one another (as seen in FIG. 4) in a side-by-side arrangement. In this manner, sleeves  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b  with product packages therein can be stored next to one another in a side-by-side arrangement in a food service establishment to, for example, maintain condiments, such as mustard, ketchup and mayonnaise next to one another at a service area. 
     As still another optional feature, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sleeve  210  can include a sloped foot  264  that extends from the bottom wall  232 , forwardly of the side wall  230 . It has been found that this foot  264  increases the stability of the sleeve  210  and prevents tipping in the event that the dispenser  12  is overly aggressively pumped. 
     As provided above, in the alternate embodiment of the sleeve  110  illustrated in FIG. 8, the opening  138  in the top wall  134  is flush with the wall  134 , rather than formed as a spout. In this manner, a package  114  having a projecting spout  140  affixed to the package  114  can be inserted into the sleeve  110  such that the spout  140  extends upward, out of the opening  138 . The dispenser  12  can then be secured to the spout  140 , to secure the package  114  in the sleeve  110  by the dispenser  12 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that all of the illustrated embodiments of the sleeve  10 ,  110 ,  210  can have either the flush opening  138  or the projecting spout opening  38 , or another type of dispenser receiving fitting, all of which are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     Still another embodiment of the sleeve  310  is illustrated in FIG.  10 . In this embodiment, the sleeve  310  includes a top wall  334 , a side wall  330  and a bottom wall  332 . Again, a package  14  fits snugly within the “C” of the sleeve  330 . The side wall  330  extends the full height h of the package  14  from the bottom wall  332  to the top wall  334 . 
     The top wall  334  is a full or substantially full wall. That is, the top wall  334  extends across the entire length l or substantially the entire length l of the package  14 . The bottom wall  332  extends only along a portion of the length l of the package  14 , and as such is a partial wall. The bottom wall  332  can include a lock portion  348  to secure the sleeve  310  to the bottom wall  26  of the package  14 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that packages  14  from some packaging manufacturers (including those available from Tetra Brik Packaging Systems S.p.A. of Modena, Italy), are formed having bottom panels  26  that include angled panel portions (not shown). The lock  348  can be configured to secure to such an angled side panel, or other formation in the package. Alternately, of course, the sleeve  310  can be configured without any type of package lock. 
     The top wall  334  includes an opening  338  that is configured for receipt of the dispenser  12 . The opening  338  can be a simple opening in the top wall  334 , or it can be an upstanding spout  340 , such as those illustrated in the sleeve  10  embodiment of, for example, FIG.  1 . 
     From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.