Patent Publication Number: US-6902062-B1

Title: Dispensing package

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Section 371 of PCT/JP00/01359, published in English language on Oct. 19, 2000 under WO 00/61444, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a dispensing package for accommodating and displaying stick-like small articles, especially small-sized cylindrical batteries such as AA size batteries for sales purpose or the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various kinds of packages for accommodating batteries and other daily necessaries are commercially available. In the field of batteries, widely used are so-called shrink-packages or blister-packages in which two or four batteries are wrapped by means of heat-shrinkable resin tubes. When such packages for accommodating articles are displayed, being aligned on a showcase at a storefront or suspended, customers can visually confirm with ease types, grades or brand names of contents, and the packages for accommodating articles are also conveniently portable. 
     However, with improvements in high-functional apparatuses utilizing batteries in these years, there exists a tendency that the number of utilized batteries are increasing or that the frequency of exchanging batteries is increasing, therefore battery packages that are capable of accommodating a large number of batteries are increasingly in demand. Such demands cannot be sufficiently satisfied with conventional shrink-packages or blister-packages. 
     In view of this point, it has been proposed to increase the number of accommodated batteries in shrink-packages or blister-packages and also a transparent plastic case for accommodating a large number of batteries by stacking has been proposed. 
     However, if merely the number of batteries is increased, the batteries scatter when the package is opened so that keeping of the batteries becomes troublesome for users. In the case of blister-packages, not only the number of batteries that can be displayed is restricted but also unnecessary portions such as “hems” of mounting board are increased to result in higher costs. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing package that can solve the above inconveniences of conventional packages and that can accommodate a large number of small articles, especially batteries, and also convenient for users. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing package with which a large number of articles can be displayed in an effective manner. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing package with which a specified number of articles can be taken out from the dispensing package in a systematic manner during storage. 
     Further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing package with which a specified number of articles can be taken out in a smooth manner. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a dispensing package comprising a case for accommodating therein unit packages by stacking a plurality of unit packages containing a plurality of stick-like articles aligned in parallel, an opening for putting in and out the unit packages provided on an upper part of the case, a lid for closing the opening, and an extracting outlet for extracting the unit packages or a tear-off portion for forming the extracting outlet that is provided on a side wall corresponding to the unit package in the lowest position. 
     Here, it is preferable that the case is a square-tubular case and that the extracting outlet or the tear-off portion for forming the extracting outlet is provided on a side wall of the case facing to one end of stick-like articles in the unit package. 
     The present invention further provides a battery dispensing package comprising a square-tubular case for accommodating therein unit packages by stacking a plurality of unit packages containing a plurality of batteries aligned in parallel, an opening for putting in and taking out the unit packages, a lid for closing the opening, and a tear-off portion for forming an extracting outlet for extracting the unit package that is provided on a side wall facing to one end of the batteries in the unit package in the lowest position in the case. 
     It is preferable that the unit packages are accommodated in such a way that they are inclined so that the front side of the case is lower and the rear side is higher. 
     While the novel features of the invention are set forth particularly in the appended claims, the invention, both as to organization and content, will be better understood and appreciated, along with other objects and features thereof, from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dispensing package according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a battery package employed in the same embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a dispensing package according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a is an exploded view of a sheet constituting a dispensing package according to the same embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing assembling processes of the same dispensing package; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a condition in which assembly has further progressed; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a modified example of the same dispensing package; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective, view of a dispensing package according to still another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a base that is to be combined with the same package; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a bottom of the same package; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded, view showing a sheet comprising the same package; and 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a dispensing package according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As explained above, the dispensing package according to the present invention accommodates unit packages containing a plurality of articles aligned in parallel by stacking a plurality of the unit packages, and a tear-off portion for forming an extracting outlet for extracting the unit package is provided on a side wall corresponding to the unit package in the lowest position. A customer who has purchased such a dispensing package can form an extracting outlet for the unit package by tearing off the tear-off portion. Thus, the unit package can be extracted from the extracting outlet when articles are required for use. The remaining unit packages can be stored in the dispensing package. In this manner, the dispensing package according to the present invention is not only capable of accommodating relatively a large number of articles but also of separating old and new articles as well as of storing remaining articles. 
     In a preferred mode for carrying out the present invention, articles to be accommodated are cylindrical like batteries, and the extracting outlet is formed on a side wall of the case facing one end of articles in the unit package in the lowest position. When extracting the unit package, the unit package in the lowest position, which is to be taken out, is applied with weight of unit packages that are stacked thereon. However, in the above-described arrangement, when extracting the unit package, articles in the package are pulled out by being slid in an axial direction to articles in overlying packages. Thus, in spite of the load of the unit packages that are stacked thereon is applied, the lowest unit package can be taken out smoothly. 
     In another preferred mode for carrying out the present invention, unit packages are accumulated so that the side facing the front wall of the case is lower and the side facing the rear wall is higher. According to this arrangement, the depth of the dispensing package can be reduced so that display densities can be improved at limited spaces. Further, in addition to the provision of the extracting outlet on the side wall of the case, a part of the load of the overlying packages exerts on the front wall of the case when the unit package is extracted, so the unit package can be extracted even easier. Similarly, by arranging the lid of the case to be inclined, indications related to types, grades or brands of contents displayed on the lid are visible from the front, therefore displaying effects can also be improved. 
     The dispensing package of the present invention is preferably provided with a bottom wall with which the case can stand independently on a mounting board or with a suspending piece for suspending the case on a top end of the case. By arranging the package to be of desktop-type and/or suspending-type, articles can be stored in a visible manner to be ready for use. 
     In another preferred mode for carrying out the present invention, at least the front wall of the case is transparent. With this arrangement, the unit packages in the case can be confirmed from outside. Especially when the unit packages are shrink-packages utilizing transparent resin, the articles themselves can be visually confirmed from outside. With this arrangement, types, grades or brands of articles that are marked on the articles can be easily confirmed in a visual manner so that displaying effects can be improved. Further, by applying designs on the lid or by making an arrangement with which contents can be visually confirmed, displaying effects can be further improved. 
     In still another mode for carrying out the present invention, a partition  9  is placed on the unit package in the highest position in the case. By putting, for instance, used batteries  7 ′ on the partition  9 , it is also convenient to collect waste materials. 
     In a preferred mode for carrying out the present invention, a dispensing package is assembled by a single sheet. The single sheet comprises a front wall, a rear wall and right and left side walls forming a square-tubular case for accommodating unit packages by stacking a plurality of unit packages. The dispensing package also includes flaps and a lid for closing an upper opening of the case and a bottom wall constituting a bottom of the case. A tear-off portion for forming an extracting outlet for extracting a unit package in the lowest position in the case is provided either on the left side wall or on the right side wall. 
     If necessary, a suspending portion may be formed at a top end of the case, for instance, on the rear wall. A base for placing the unit packages thereon can be inserted inside the case. 
     In still another preferred mode for carrying out the present invention, a dispensing package is assembled by a single sheet. The single sheet comprises a front wall, a rear wall and right and left side walls forming a square-tubular case for accommodating unit packages by stacking a plurality of unit packages. The dispensing package also includes flaps and a lid for closing an upper opening of the case and a first base-forming portion including bottom wall pieces, upstanding pieces and top surface pieces that are respectively connected to the lower part of the right and left side walls. A bottom wall is connected to the lower part of the front wall and a second base-forming portion including an upstanding piece, a top surface piece and a down-standing piece are respectively connected to the rear wall. A tear-off portion for forming an extracting outlet for extracting the unit package in the lowest position in the case is provided either on the left side wall or on the right side wall. 
     According to this arrangement, a base onto which the unit packages are placed can be incorporated into the case. Since this base is provided with legs constituted by the upstanding piece and the down-standing piece, the base is strong enough to stand the load of stacked unit packages. If necessary, a suspending portion may be formed at a top end of the case, for instance, on the rear wall. 
     Next, concrete embodiments will be explained. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIG. 1  shows an example of a dispensing package, and  FIG. 2  shows, as a unit package for articles, a unit package  6  of a shrink-package made of a transparent resin tube  8  in which four cylindrical AA size batteries  7 , for instance, are aligned in parallel with each other and packed by heat-shrinkage of the resin tube. 
     The dispensing package  1  comprises a square-tubular case  2  for stacking a plurality of unit packages  6  and a lid  3  which closes an upper opening of the case. A base  4  is inserted into a bottom portion of the case  2 . The base  4  is made of plastic and formed into a square-tubular shape having an open bottom surface and a top surface being inclined so that a front side is lower and a rear side is higher. The unit packages  6  are stacked on the base  4  in the case  2  in such a way that they are inclined so that their front side is lower. An extracting outlet  5  for extracting the unit package in the lowest position is formed on the right side wall of the case  2 . The extracting outlet  5  is formed by tearing off a tear-off portion that have been preliminarily marked off by means of perforations in the portion constituting the right side wall of the case. The dispensing package has a bottom wall with which it can stand independently on a table. If necessary, a piece for suspending the case having a suspending hole may be provided on a part of the case, for instance, on a rear wall. 
     In this example, the dispensing package  1  is made of transparent plastic sheet such as polyethylene terephthalate. The unit packages  6  are stacked so that the ends of the batteries face to the side walls of the dispensing package and so that the trunk portion of the batteries are positioned to the front of the dispensing package therefore the types, grades or brands that are marked on the batteries can be visually confirmed from the front of the dispensing package. The extracting outlet  5  for extracting each unit package is provided on the side wall facing one end of the batteries  7  in the unit package  6 , so the unit package is pulled out in an axial direction of the batteries contained therein when extracting the unit package. At this time, the trunk portion of the batteries of the unit package to be extracted are made to slide in an axial direction to the trunk portion of the batteries of an overlying unit package so that the unit package can be easily extracted in spite of the load of the overlying unit packages. If the unit package is to be extracted in a vertical direction to the axis of the batteries it cannot be extracted easily because concaves and convexes extending in a vertical direction to the extracting direction are formed on the top surface of the unit package. 
     While the extracting outlet is formed on the side wall of the case, it may also be formed on the front wall or the rear wall of the case. The material for the case is not limited to plastics and it is also possible to use paper or the like. 
     Embodiment 2 
     In this embodiment, the base portion according to Embodiment 1 is also assembled by a sheet constituting a dispensing package. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an assembled dispensing package and  FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a sheet constituting the package. 
     A sheet  10  constituting the dispensing package is made of a sheet of plastic or paper punch-processed by using a specified mold, and folding marks and perforations that are to be described later are formed on the sheet at the same time. 
     Numeral  11  denotes a front wall and a left side wall  12  is connected via a folding mark  11   a  to the left of the front wall  11  and a right side wall  13  via a folding mark  11   b  on the right of the front wall  11 , respectively. A rear wall  14  is connected to further right to the right side wall  13  via a folding mark  13   a , and a margin for paste  15  to the left side wall  12  via a folding mark  12   a.    
     An upper wall  21  and a bottom wall  31  are connected to above and below, respectively, of the front wall  11 , via folding marks  11   c  and  11   d , respectively. Further, an inserting piece  41  is connected to the upper wall  21  via a folding mark  21   c  and an inserting piece  51  is connected to the bottom wall  31  via a folding mark  31   d . Cuts  21   e  are provided at both ends of the folding mark  21   c  and cuts  31   e  are provided at both ends and the center of the folding mark  31   d.    
     A flap  22  is provided on an upper portion of the left side wall  12  via a folding mark  12   c , and on a lower portion of the left side wall  12 , there are sequentially provided a folding mark  12   d , bottom wall piece  32 , folding mark  32   d , upstanding piece  52 , folding mark  52   d  and a top surface piece  62 . 
     On an upper portion of the right side wall  13 , a flap  23  is provided via a folding mark  13   c , and on a lower portion of the right side wall  13 , there are sequentially provided a folding mark  13   d , bottom wall piece  33 , folding mark  33   d , upstanding piece  53 , folding mark  53   d  and a top surface piece  63 . 
     On a lower portion of the rear wall  14 , there are sequentially formed a folding mark  14   d , upstanding piece  54 , folding mark  54   d , a top surface piece  34 , a folding mark  34   d , and an down-standing piece  55 . 
     A tear-off portion  16  is marked off by means of perforations  13   e  and  13   f  on the right side wall  13  and apertures  17  and  18  are respectively provided on the front wall  11  and the rear wall  14  adjacent to the right and the left of the tear-off portion. An aperture  19  is formed on the left sidewall  12 . 
     A method for assembling the dispensing package by using the sheet  10  will be explained now. 
     FIG.  5  and  FIG. 6  are perspective views of assembling processes when seen from the side of the front wall  11 . 
     First, the left side wall  12 , the margin for paste  15 , the right side wall  13  and the rear wall  14  are bent at right angles to respective adjoining pieces so that the folding marks  11   a ,  11   b ,  12   a  and  13   a  face outward. The margin for paste  15  is adhered to inner surface of the rear side wall  14  at a proper step of assembly. 
     Next, the bottom wall piece  32 , upstanding piece  52  and the top surface piece  62  are bent at right angles to their adjoining pieces so that the folding marks  12   d ,  32   d  and  52   d  face outward. Similarly, the bottom wall piece  33 , upstanding piece  53  and the top surface piece  63  are bent at right angles to their adjoining pieces at the folding marks  13   d ,  33   d  and  53   d.    
     Then, the bottom wall  31  and the inserting piece  51  are bent at right angles at folding marks  11   d  and  31   d.    
     Furthermore, the upstanding piece  54  is bent at folding mark  14   d  and is overlapped to an inner surface of the rear wall  14  and the top surface piece  34  and the down-standing piece  55  are bent to make right angles to adjoining pieces so that the folding marks  54   d  and  34   d  face inward. 
     Then, by placing the bottom wall piece  32  on a top surface of the bottom wall  31 , the top surface piece  62  forms a base portion  31 L, having a lower front side between the rear wall  14  and the upstanding piece  54  that has been overlapped onto the inner surface of the front wall  11  and on the left half of the bottom wall  31  by using the upstanding piece  52  as a leg. Similarly, the top surface piece  63  forms a base portion  31 R having a lower front side between the rear wall  14  and the upstanding piece  54  and on the right half of the bottom wall  31  by using the upstanding piece  53  as a leg. 
     Upper surfaces of the base portions  31 L and  31 R are covered by the top surface piece  34  and the down-standing piece  55  connected to the top surface piece  34  is inserted between the front wall  11  and the base portions  31 L and  31 R to come in contact with the bottom wall  31 . The inserting piece  51  connected to the bottom wall  31  is inserted between the rear wall  14  and the base portions  31 L and  31 R. 
     In this manner, a base is formed using the bottom wall piece  32 , upstanding piece  52 , and the top surface piece  62  that are connected to the left side wall  12  and bottom wall piece  33 , upstanding piece  53 , and the top surface piece  63  that are connected to the right side wall  13 , the upstanding piece  54 , top surface piece  34 , and the down-standing piece  55  that are connected to the rear wall  14  cover the base, and the upstanding piece  54  and down-standing piece  55  serve as legs, so that it is possible to form a base that is strong enough to stack unit packages thereon even if it is made of a thin sheet. 
     Through these steps, it is possible to assemble a dispensing package having an upper opening. This opening is closed by bending the flaps  22  and  23  at the folding marks  12   c  and  13   c  at right angles to the left side wall  12  and the right side wall  13 , respectively, bending the upper wall  21  at the folding mark  11   c  and also bending the inserting piece  41  at the folding mark  21   c  to make it inserted between the rear wall  14  and the flaps  22  and  23 . 
     In this manner, the dispensing package including a support base for stacking the unit packages thereon composed of the base portions  31 L and  31 R and the top surface piece  34  covering the base portions is completed. It is possible to insert and stack five unit packages  6  through its upper opening, close the lid and affix a seal for display at a storefront. 
       FIG. 7  shows a modified example of the above-described sheet. In this example, a tongue-shaped piece  16   a  is formed by providing a folding mark  13   h  and a cut mark  13   g  on a part of the tear-off portion  16 , while a tongue-shaped piece  34   a  that has been cut and raised at a cut mark  34   g  is formed on the top surface piece  34  that forms the base portion. Then, when assembling the dispensing package, the tongue-shaped piece  16   a  is bent inward, the top surface piece  34  is overlapped thereon, and a tip end of the tongue-shaped piece  16   a  is inserted to be pinched between the top surface piece  34  and the tongue-shaped piece  34   a  by slightly pressing down the tongue piece  34   a . In this manner, the base portion can be strengthened. 
     Embodiment 3 
     The present embodiment illustrates an example in which the base portion for stacking the unit packages thereon is formed separately from the sheet for assembling the package.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an assembled package,  FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a base to be inserted into the bottom portion of the package, and  FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a bottom wall of the package. 
     First, a sheet constituting the package will be explained with reference to the exploded view as shown in FIG.  11 . 
     Numeral  111  denotes a front wall. A left side wall  112  is provided on the left side of the front wall  111  via a folding mark  111   a , and to the left of the left side wall  112 , a margin for paste  115  is provided via a folding mark  112   a . A right side wall  113  is provided on the right side of the front wall  111  via a folding mark  111   b , and to the right of the right side wall  113 , a rear wall  114  is provided via a folding mark  113   a.    
     On an upper portion of the front wall  111 , there is provided a top wall  121  via a folding mark  111   c  and on an upper portion of the top wall  121 , an inserting piece  141  is provided via a folding mark  121   c . On a lower portion of the front wall  111 , there is provided a bottom wall piece  131  via a folding mark  111   d . At both ends of the folding mark  121   c , there are provided cuts  121   e.    
     A flap  122  is provided on an upper portion of the left side wall  112  via a folding mark  112   c , and on a lower portion of the left side wall  112 , a bottom wall piece  132  is provided via a folding mark  112   d.    
     Similarly, a flap  123  is provided on an upper portion of the right side wall  113  via a folding mark  113   c  and on a lower portion of the right side wall  113 , a bottom wall piece  133  is provided via a folding mark  113   d.    
     A lapel piece  124  is provided at an upper portion of the rear wall  114  via a folding mark  114   c  and the lapel piece  124  and a corresponding portion of the rear wall  114  are provided with suspending holes  125 B and  125 A by punching. At a lower portion of the rear wall  114 , a bottom wall piece  134  is provided via a folding mark  114   d.    
     A tear-off portion  116  is marked off by means of perforations  113   e  and  113   f  on the right side wall  113  and apertures  117  and  118  are respectively provided on the front wall  111  and the rear wall  114  adjacent to the right and the left of the tear-off portion. An aperture  119  is formed on the left side wall  112 . 
     In order to assemble the dispensing package by using the sheet  100 , the sheet is bent at right angles at the folding marks  111   a ,  111   b ,  112   a  and  113   a  so that the folding marks face outward, and the margin for paste  115  is adhered to the rear wall  114 . 
     Thereafter, the bottom wall pieces  131 ,  132 ,  133  and  134  are bent inward at right angles at the folding marks  111   d ,  112   d ,  113   d  and  114   d . At this time, the bottom wall piece  134  is placed onto the bottom wall pieces  132  and  133 , and a tip end of an extruding piece  131 A of the bottom wall piece  131  is inserted inward of the bottom wall piece  134  from a bottom portion of a notched portion  134 A of the bottom wall piece  134 . With this arrangement, the tip end of the extruding piece  131 A is pinched between the bottom wall piece  134  and the bottom wall pieces  132  and  133 , so that a tapered portion  131 B connected to the extruding piece  131 A presses against inward end portions of both tip end portions  134 B of the bottom wall piece  134 . In this way, a dispensing package having a closed bottom and an upper opening is produced. 
     Then, the base  151  is inserted into the dispensing package. The base  151  is formed so that the top surface and the four side walls are molded, with the top surface inclined in such a way that the front side is lower and the rear side is higher. 
     Next, the flaps  122  and  123  are bent inward at the folding marks  112   c  and  113   c , then the upper wall  121  is bent inward at the folding mark  111   c  and the inserting piece  141  is bent at the folding mark  121   c , and subsequently insert the inserting piece  141  is inserted between the rear wall  114  and the flaps  122  and  123 , thereby to close the opening of the dispensing package. 
     The dispensing package as illustrated herein is for stacking unit packages of, for instance, two AAA size batteries aligned with each other. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     As explained above, the present invention provides a dispensing package that can, not only store a relatively large number of articles but can also separate used and new articles and store articles in stock, and further can exhibit great displaying effects.