GB2190361A - Packages - Google Patents

Abstract

A package e.g. for cigarettes 3 or yoghurt comprises a first layer defining a receptacle 2 surrounded by a flange 6, and a second layer 5 which covers the access opening of the receptacle 2 and is removably sealed in a closed configuration to the first layer along a line of sealing in the flange 6. A portion of the flange 6 which is not sealed to the overlying co-terminous cover is provided with opening means 10 in the form of a depression or cut-out, a margin of which acts as a fulcrum about which the cover 5 pivots and is raised when the cover 5 is pushed into the opening means 10. A consumer can then easily grasp the raised portion of the cover to remove the cover wholly or partially. A group of yoghurt containers each having opening means 10 may be formed integrally. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to packages The present invention relates to packages, for cigarettes for example, and, more particularly, means for opening packages.

It is well known in the packaging industry to produce packages of a soft-cup or semi-rigid type by a method involving the supply, from a supply roll, of a first sheet or web of material of a width exceeding that of the articles to be packaged, the shaping of sheet or web material into troughs corresponding to the shape of the articles to be packaged and the insertion of the articles into the troughs, the supply from a second supply roll of a further sheet or web of material over the filled troughs and the connecting together of the two sheets or webs of material by suitable means at the margins of the troughs. UK Patent Specifications Nos. 1,207,439 and 1,301,894 disclose packages of such a type for cigarettes.

UK 1,207,439 discloses the use of tearopen strips running along the sealed margins of a package in both transverse and longitudinal directions. However, if no tear-strip is provided, it is a disadvantage of these packages, which utilise a first and second sheet material welded together at the margins, that it is often difficult for a consumer to separate the closely contacting layers in order to open the package, because of cling static effects or the natural affinity of the sheet materials. It is especially difficult to open such packages when, as is usual, the two sheet materials are co-extensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for readily separating first and second layers of material in order to open a marginally sealed, semi-rigid or soft-cup moulded package, without recourse to the incorporation of a tear-strip, even when the two layers of material are co-extensive.

The present invention provides a package comprising a receptacle having an access opening, a sheet material cover extending over said opening, said cover being removably sealed about said opening, fulcrum means spaced from the zone of sealing of said cover and disposed to the side of said zone remote said opening and a surface extending at the side of said fulcrum means remote said opening, said fulcrum means and said surface being overlain by an extension of said cover, and said cover lying in face-to-face contact with said surface.

The receptacle can be formed from thermoplastic sheet material which has been shaped by, for example, the known technique of heat and vacuum moulding. The receptacle can take the form of a shallow tray or a deeper container. The cover may be, for example, of metal foil or a thermoplastic sheet material.

Suitably the cover is formed of a flexible material. The cover is heat welded, adhered by an adhesive, or otherwise removably sealed to the part providing the receptable by known techniques, preferably in a closed configuration, around the access opening of the receptable. Usually, the cover will lie over the access opening of the receptacle in a planar or substantially planar fashion.

Advantageously, the fulcrum means is provided by a margin of a depression. Alternatively, the fulcrum means can be provided by an edge of a cut-out. If, as is common, in the construction of packages of the type in question, the receptacle comprises a flange extending outwardly from the opening, the depression or the cut-out providing the fulcrum is formed in the flange. In such case, the flange further provides the surface with which the cover is in face-to-face contact. Preferably, the fulcrum means is located at a corner of the flange.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a cigarette package in plan view; and Fig. 2 shows a side view of parts of the package shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows a four-pack of deep, circular yoghurt cartons in plan view with the cover partly cut away.

In the case of a preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, there is depicted a semi-rigid rectangular cigarette package 1 comprising a first layer of thermoplastic sheet material which has been vacuum-moulded in known fashion into a trough shaped receptacle 2 suitable for holding cigarette rods 3. The extent of the trough is delimited by broken line 4. A cover 5 of flexible sheet material is shown partly cut away to reveal the enclosed cigarette rods 3. The cover 5 is thermally welded around flange 8 of the receptacle 2 adjacent its margins. A portion 7 of the flange 6 located at one end of the receptacle 2 is considerably wider than the other three portions of the flange 6 at the other three sides of the receptacle 2. Provided in portion 7 is a fulcrum means provided by a margin 9 of a depression 10.The margin 9 extends at an angle of approximately 45Q from the longitudinal axis of the cigarette package 1. The cover 5 overlies and is in face-to-face contact with, but is not sealed to, the surface of corner portion 8 of portion 7, which corner portion 8 extends from margin 9.

In order to open the package, pressure is exerted by the consumer on the cover 5 at the location thereof overlying the depression 10, hence causing the cover 5 to be pivoted against the margin 9, thus to lift the cover 5 from the corner portion 8 of the portion 7 of the flange 6 as indicated by dotted line 11 in Fig. 2. The consumer is then able to easily obtain hold of the cover 5 in order to remove the cover 5 wholly or partially from the line of welded engagement thereof with the flange 6 to reveal the contents of the package.

It is conceivable that a cut-out portion could be provided in the flange 7 as an alternative to the depression 10, in which case an edge of the cutout portion would serve as the fulcrum means.

Such package opening means are also suitable for use with, for example, yoghurt cartons which commonly are of a deep, circular configuration. Packs of four of such cartons 12 are depicted in Fig. 3 in a common arrangement thereof. Chain lines 13 indicate lines of weakness along which the four-pack can be separated by a bending motion therealong. Package opening means 14 according to the present invention are provided at each corner of the four-pack and in such an arrangement are, therefore, provided at one corner of each of the four cartons. When a carton has been removed from the four-pack the consumer exerts pressure on the foil cover 5' of the carton overlying the depression 10', causing the cover 5' to be pivoted against the margin 9' thus to lift the cover 5' from the portion 8' of the flange 6'. The consumer is then able to easily obtain hold of the cover 5' and to remove the cover 5' from its sealing engagement with the flange 6' around the access opening of the carton.

The package opening means in accordance with the present invention are suitable for many types of sealed receptacles having a cover in face-to-face contact with a surface surrounding the receptacle, such as butter or other dairy receptacles. Indeed the mode disclosed above of separating layers of material in face-to-face contact may have wide application.

Claims (11)

1. A package comprising a receptacle having an access opening, a sheet material cover extending over said opening, said cover being removably sealed about said opening, fulcrum means spaced from the zone of sealing of said cover and disposed to the side of said zone remote said opening and a surface extending at the side of said fulcrum means remote said opening, said fulcrum means and said surface being overlain by an extension of said cover, and said cover lying in face-to-face contact with said surface.

2. A package according to Claim 1, wherein said cover is formed of a flexible material.

3. A package according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said cover comprises metal foil.

4. A package according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said cover comprises a thermoplastic sheet material.

5. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cover is sealed in a closed configuration around said access opening.

6. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said receptacle comprises a flange extending outwardly from said access opening.

7. A package according to Claim 6, wherein said fulcrum means is provided by a margin of a depression in said flange.

8. A package according to Claim 6, wherein said fulcrum means is provided by an edge of a cut-out in said flange.

9. A package according to Claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein said fulcrum means is located at a corner of said flange.

10. A package substantially as herinabove described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or to Fig. 3 of the drawings hereof.

11. A method of separating an edge portion of a first layer of material from a second layer of material, the layers being initially in face-toface contact, wherein a portion of said first layer adjacent said edge portion thereof is pushed into opening means in said second layer thus to pivot said edge portion about an edge of said opening means.