US2664239A - Packaging article - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1953 c, w, VOGT PACKAGING ARTICLE Filed April 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l T R.V mm M E .R M (5m 1 N T M W M 6 C. W. VOGT PACKAGING ARTICLE Dec. 29, 1953 Filed April 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w m m m Came/v05 14/ VOGT HTTORNE).

Dec. 29, 1953 c. w. VOGT PACKAGING ARTICLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 15, 1949 INVENTOR. 'CLfi/FENCE 14/ l oqr 14 TTORNEY Dec. 29, 1953 c. w. voe'r PACKAGING ARTICLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 15, 1949 INVENTOR. CLARENCE h/ l/OGT 14 TTORNE 3 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGING ARTICLE Clarence W. Vogt, Norwalk, Conn.

Application April 15, 1949, Serial No. 87,638

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in receptacles for packaging various solid and liquid commodities, and in particular to a flexiblewalled container which may be protectively retained in or provided with added stability by a rigid or semi-rigid support structure.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applications Serial No. 30,647 filed June 2, 1948, and entitled Method of and Article for Packaging Materials, now Patent No. 2,628,013; Serial No'. 38,477 filed July 13, 1948, and entitled Bag Assemblies; Serial No. 79,591 filed March 4, 1949, and entitled Receptacle; Serial No. 41,384 filed July 29, 1948, and entitled Apparatus for and Process of Manufacturing Enwrapments, now Patent No. 2,626,544; Serial No. 64,666 filed December 10, 1948, and entitled Apparatus for and Method of Combining Enwrapments; and Serial No. 49,277 filed September 14, 1948, and entitled Apparatus for and Method of Combining Enwrapments.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a package which may be adapted to contain fluent materials, such as liquids, which may be constructed so that the contents of the package are visible to provide an attractive display package. At the same time the packaging of fluent materials requires greater strength, resistance to rough handling and leakproofness than packages for other materials.

Another object is to provide a composite receptacle including a flexible-walled enwrapment protectively retained by a rigid or semi-rigid frame construction which is designed so that it may be fabricated as a composite blank and adapted to be erected or assembled at the time that it is used for packaging. In the handling and distribution of many commodities the storage of containers prior to packaging creates a substantial problem. For example, in the dairy industry the use of glass containers or semi-rigid sheet material containers which may be impregnated with wax, requires a large amount of storage and handling space. This is particularly true in connection with glass bottles which are normally intended for return and reuse and must therefore be handled to clean and prepare them for reuse. The handling and reuse problem makes it advantageous to utilize wax coated paper or cardboard milk bottles which are intended to be disposable after use. The economics of this problem places aburden on a relatively small packager who finds it, difiicult to remain competitive due to the investment required in real estate, buildings and equipment necessary for such storage. By the 2 present invention, containers prior to use may be stored in flattened condition, and therefore, relatively large numbers of them will occupy only a small space.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle which is designed to make it inexpensive from the standpoint of cost of materials as well as mode of use. Where a completed package can be produced at a decreased cost it is obviously uneconomical to provide for return and reuse of the receptacles.

Another object is to provide a receptacle for fluent materials having an opening means for gaining access to the contents which is leakproof, easy to open and may be reclosed to prevent contamination of the remaining contents.

A further object is to provide an opening for such a receptacle which is designed and positioned to facilitate flowing or pouring the contents from the receptacle.

Another object is to provide a package utilizing a flexible walled enwrapment which may be advantageously used for the packaging of food products and the like since the package may provide the characteristics of being non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, capable of being sterilized, etc.

A still further object is to provide a package adapted to be fabricated in a flattened form for erection or assembly at the time the contents are placed therein and which may be connected to one or more similar articles to facilitate their handling and use as pairs, or as a series, or as a series of pairs. In this way advantage may be taken of multi-unit fabricating and packaging apparatus to produce a greater number of filled packages Without requiring a large amount of additional apparatus.

Another object is to provide a package including a flexible walled tubular enwrapment adapted to be filled and protectively retained in a semirigid sheet material frame in which placement of the contents into the package is greatly facilitated since it may be accomplished through an open end of the tubular enwrapment.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description accompanied by the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of sheet material which has been fabricated into a connected pair of blanks suitable for forming a semirigid frame; r n

Fig. 2 is a similar plan view showing a plurality of connected pairs of blanks to which the tubular enwrapments have been assembled;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view with parts i 3 broken away, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a connected pair of assembled blanks suitable for forming packages embodying the present invention and illustrating a step in the operation of fabrieating the blanks in preparation for filling them;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged plan view of the blanks:

illustrated in Fig. 6 after the completion of. the fabrication operation;

Fig, 8 is an enlarged sectional perspective v iew of a connected pair of blanks illustrating a position which they may assume at the time cf'fill mg; r

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view showing a connected. pair of. receptacles after filling and e 1t. "c; elevati'c ifnal view o the eoniie'cted' pair 'ofarti'cles as shown in Fig. 9 but takenat right. angles to Fig. 9 v;.

,r'igpis is a s'ectionalyiew similar, to Fig. 5 but illustrating a modified'formoi the invention.

v Briefly, apreferred embodiment of the present invention comprises apackageincluding a flexible walledtubular enwrapment' which may be sealed 'soi. asto, ra se; itliquidtight and may be protect'ively retainedfb'y a frame orsupporting structur of. suitable sheet material, preferably of a semierigid or rigid nature. Thecompletedpackas is preferablyv provided with means for obtaining ready. access tothfecontent'swhich may also afford .a .pouring spout o. facilitate emptying the contents whenthe'yareof a fluent nature. The ecirlpositepackage may be fabricated in a fiatte'nedorhknocked down condition and may thus be readily, sto'red and'shipped compactly untii desired fOlfitlSQ. In its fabricated condition it may he termed a mam; and, is adapted to be filled manually or by any'suitable mechanism which will at the sametime place the package in its erect orassemciii position. The knocked-down packages or blanks lend themsivs, to being handled during fabrication thereof and during packaging therein, in pairs, or ina-seriefs, orinaseries of pairs. This feature permits greater. production of completed packages inagiven time unitwithout an undue increase in. the, amountof apparatus required.

It is believed thatthe design and construction ofa finished package may best be understood by adescription of the fabrication, filling and sealin gof a preferred form of package embodying the present invention. Figs. 1 through'lO illustrate the principal operations in obtaining a completed package. p

In Fig. 1 a section of sheet material is disclosed and defined or incorporated in the sheet material are the necessary component parts of'a pair of outer protective frames or supporting structures for a pair of flexible walled enwrapments. Such frames are preferably of the type disclosed and claimed in my above referred to copending application Serial No. 79,591 filed March 4, 1949. Each of the frames or support structures in its flattened condition comprises a central panel I which in set up or assembled form may provided a side panel of the completed package; Extending outwardly from oppositeside edges of the panel l but integrally joined therewith are panels 2 and 3 which in assembled condition may form top and bottom panels respectively for the completed package. Extending outwardly from the panel 3 but integrally connected thereto along a common edge, a retaining flange or panel 4 may be provided. The panel 4 in assembled condition becomes a partial side wall for the completed package extending in substantially parallel relation with the side wall formed by the 1 74, 161

Each of the panels I, 2; 3, audit" may be provided with integral but outwardly extending flange portions 5; 6, 'E, and 3 respectively which in assembled position constitute partial edge'walls forthe completed package. In addition these flangepor ticns may be in overlapping relationship and connected together to secure the supporting structure in its assembled position; For this purpose the fianges at desired p'ositionsmay be provided with adhesively coated areas indicated by the numeral 9 to provide a secure adherence between overlapped port-ions of these flange portions. As may best be seen in Fig. 11 the flanges ii on the top panel 2 overlap with and may besecured to end portions of the flanges E on the side panel l. Similarly the flange p i-ti n soil the front panel a and a portion of thejflangeportion 5 of the side panel i may overlapwith thefiange l on the bottom panel 3 and witlreachother to secure these portions of the frame lfd geth'er and provide a rigid end portion for the frame. 1f desired the panels and fiangeportions' may be defined along their common boundaries'by score or fold lines l5. Further, theadlacent flange portions along each side of the flattened frame may be separated by edge slits H As stated, it is believed advantageous tofabri cate and handle a pluralityofpackages or'their component parts while they are connected to gether and thus in Figure l, a' readily separable form of connection has been disclosed; Such connection comprises a central slit, portion I2 with a pair of outwardly disposed integral lands or connecting portions [3 and if desired; edge slits M may be provided along" the common boundary between the pair of adjacent frames. With this t pe of separable connection the fiattened frames may be fabricatedflin precise and accurate registry with their-common boundary accurately defined. However, due to the'integra'l connecting portions I3 they'may betrett'ed'simultaneously throughout the making and filling of the finished packages. At the same time, when it is desired to separate them'into individual "units the connection is such that thismay be readily accomplished. The complete severance may be done by a mechzni sm (not shown) utilizing an unsharpened central portion'ad'ap'ted to act as a finder or locator and be insertedthrough the central slit l2. Outwardly from the central or finding portion the mechanism may be -prov-ided'with opposite and angulerly disposed cutting edges which act to sever the integral connecting portions l3. With such an arrangement the final severance may be made and the forces required to tubular enwrrpments.

effect severance will be disposed in'opposite directions extending along the common boundary acting to counterbalance each other. There will be little, if any, force exerted tending to disturb the balance of the sheet material sections.

The next operation in the manufacture of the blank is the assembly with the flattened supporting frame, of a tubular enwrapment and since as illustrated in the drawings, the frames are to be handled in connected pairs, the tubular enwrapments ma also be disposed in pairs. The lower portion of Fig. 2 illustrates a double length of integrally connected tubular sheet material which has been superposed with a pair of flattened frame members. This tubular material may be formed of any suitable flexible sheet materiel and may be severed to provide a pair of tubular enwrapments I5. Since the supporting structure in assembled position is provided with cut-out face portions which give a view of the enwrapments, it is believed preferable to utilize a transparent or translucent material so that the contents of the package will be displayed. Further, it is especially advantageous in the packaging of food products, chemicals and liquids where high purity is essential, that the sheet material from which the flexible walled tubular enwrapment is made be relatively or substantially inert so that it will not affect or be affected by the contents.

In the case of food products, the sheet material should preferably be non-toxic, odorless and tasteless, and capable of withstanding sterilizing temperatures. Where the package is to be exposed to the weatheror other extreme conditions itshould in addition, be able to withstand a relatively wide range of temperature variation, sunlight, moisture, fumes, etc., which might deteriorate the package or adversely affect its contents. withstand a number of these conditions are polyethylene, polyvinylidene chloride, vinyl resins, rubber hydrochlorides, cellulose derivatives, etc. It is also desirable that the film or sheet material be of a heat scalable nature to facilitate the making of a secure. closure for the enwrapment. The selection of the particular film or sheet material will be dependent upon the commodity or objects to be packaged, and in addition, to the conditions whi h such package may encounter.

Either prior to or after assembly of the pair of tubular enwrapments !5 with the pair of flattened frames, there may be secured to the tubular enwrapments one or more sections of suitable strip material. Fig. 2 illustrates the superposition of elongated strips of sheet material or tapes M5 to the marginal end portions of the pair of Also. the numeral ll indicates a further elongated strip or tape of sheet material which is disposed with its center line coinciding with the common boundary between the tubular enwrapments l5. The tapes l8 and El may be continuously or partially adhesively coated with a suitable adhesive material to adhere them to the paired tubular enwrapments l5. For example'Fig. 2 illustrates the tape it as being provided with an adhesive area It, of a suitable adhesive substance, of an extent such thrt the tape it completely adheres to the marginal portion of each of the tubular enwrapments to which it may be superposed. Similarly the tape I! may be provided with an adhesive area I9 which is also of an extent sufficient to adhere to the entire width of the tubular enwrapment [5. However, as will be seen later it is believed preferable to Examples of sheet materials which will activate only that portion or the adhesive area I9 which overlies the top pr nel 2 so that the portions of the tape which overlie the side flanges 6 are not adhered to the tubular enwrapment (see Fig. 5).

I As the double length of tubular enwrapments l 5 are placed in superposition on the pair of flattened frames, the frames may have previously been provided with adhesive areas indicated by the numerals 20 and 2| respectively to adhere end portions of the tubular enwrapments to the flattened frames. The drawings indicate that the adhesive areas 20 and 2! are preferably of a different type of adhesive than the adhesive areas indicated by the numerals 9. For example, it isconsidered advantageous to adhere the tubular enwrapments to the flattened frames by an adhesive which may be of a solvent or emulsion type, or a pressure sensitive adhesive substance. In some instances the thermoplastic adhesive as indicated by the areas 9 may be suitable for adhering together the sheet material from which the flattened frames may be made, whereas such adhesive may not provide sufficient bond to adequately secure the tubular enwrapments to the flattened frames.

As shown in the upper portion of Fig. 2 the central tape H and the tubular enwrapments i5 have been covered along the common boundary between the tubular enwrapments IS, without however completing the severance of the pair of flattened frames disposed therebeneath. While the drawings illustrate diagrammatically the assembly of a connected pair of tubular enwrapments with a connected pair of flattened frame members, it 'will be obvious that the same result may be obtained by assembling two individual tubular enwrapments to the connected pair of flattened frames in which case the central tape ll will be a pair of independent tapes rather than a severed central tape. It is considered beneficial as will be later described to dispose the central tape I! so that an edge thereof is pre-' cisely flush with the marginal edge of the tubu-- lar enwrapment and this result can best be: achieved by applying a double width tape and. severing the tape and tubing simultaneously.

When the flattened frames, tubular enwrapments, and tapes have been assembled and adhered together it may be seen that the pairs of assembled blanks areconnected as a series of pairs and may thereafter be advanced as a series by applying force to leading ones of the series. In this position the ends of the tubular enwrapment which overlie the bottom panels 3 and are adhered to the end tapes [6, may be sealed to effect a closure of the tubular enwrapment. Several of the sheet materials from which the tubular enwrapments may be formed are heat scalable materials but which have the property upon being heated to the region of their sealing temperature, of shrinking to an objectionable degree. For this reason the presence of the adhesively coated tapes [6 is beneficial. It has been found that the presence of a tacky substance in contact with at least one of two surfaces to be heat sealed has the effect of preventing the objectionable high shrinkage of such enwrapments ,with respect to the flattened frame members, if there is a resistance to the advancfreeendso th tutu v zine of the frame members. :the sealing .of :the eiiwrapmentwillprevent qfur i e on o this type.- eItmay beldesirable ols noor. h efle enedif ames on driven :rouers or conveyors or to advance the assemblies :by dri enrbelts rior to sealing .of the ends of the tub la entwra ment to prevent dislocation of the u u ar nw apments with espect :to the r mes Af th sealing of the :t ul r end portions through the tapes 16, it xis believed only ne es ar to suppor -th fl tened fra e membe s on a st tionary "s rface along wh ch they ma slide. Ehe oommodi ybe n packagedma m e it desirable to support the blanks durin fi li asealina eto.onaamorah e conreyo ort li ie- ';Io got" n ceess-tmthepontents ofafilled and complet re ease, a d pa i ular y where th mgkggg contains liquid o flowabl ma rials.

it is'bel d p e e bl to provide an op n n h ma also onstitu on n u insspou Th d1: Wi es il ust at -s ch an opening r hmay bepmvided u nsrthe assembly a drabri t on o the packaseans xin the pre nt nstan e each op ni po itioned at 91390 1 dif er :f the location at which the tubular enwrapments are f lled finch an op g ay comp s a tongue iormedintheirame or; support structure and li tabl -thereirom- -,.'Ehi tam-Li maybe i posed at a location-Where the flexible-walled tub la enwra-ament is adhered-t he am or s pp rt stru u e- :Also a a ed loca eneat th ton ue the flexible-Walled t u enwrapmen may be rere O flow r Weakene i any suit. bior that w e ons-us i list d the per a o o t u a mrrapm n and th t gue c us th e Wra m n t e l fted with the tonsu r ins from the location of the severance oriweakening. In. i ur 1 it may h note that the o panel 2 or the flattenedj-rame members are provided with out-.score linesyzz which define the side p rt ons oi i tablefi Qli l indicated b th numera t3 and. best-seen .insigs. 1'1 and 1s. Ex endi onto side. panel I and connecting d v ,e cut-scor lines 22 wh c defi e o. tongue is a severance line 24. o ed thatthe severanceline 2Av outo ion Oithe tonguese which div rge as-itext adaaw rir m Qp-,-i a -2- A theat m thatwtheto su 311 d n d n-t flattened rams memberit ispreterabletobepd Qutwa ratios-ed p rt vn the n u a indicat d by: the num al 26- D f ma ie he free enduor ioo 215 w permit accessv to the o gue; o the ,purces .o op nin the pa k since such freejend; portion-will not. beadhered to the tubular enwrapment, although the enwraprnent and trams; may besecured together t r h ut. the remainin egion of: the tongue member.

Beneath the tongue- 23 and preferably in the region of theboundary between the top. panel 2 and the side panel I thefiexible walled tubular enwrapment, is provided with a out line 25 whi h, pr ferably extend nsvers y o the tongue and,beyond-theside. dges O h tone he o l ne may be i any su ta le. designeither uate or stra t-accord ng; to, the character o h opening audxor pou in pout. Which it s desired to ovide Eur purposes. of. i lustraoni hasbeen a s raight iineex: endin alone. c mmo boundary betw en meter nanell; andthe sid panel i which i the. cpmnle ed package will be a come ed 8 With the tubular enwrapment being adhered to .the frame throughout the general region of the :tongue, it is believed advisable to .form the cut ;lir 1e-2;5after assembly and connection of the tubular enwraprnent and frame. In this way there -willibe no opportunity for separation of the marginalt-edges :of theenwrapment adjacent the out line which might tend to permit leakage of the contents prior to opening of the package. Figs. .6 -and'7 illustrate diagrammatically one method by which the out line 25 may be formed aftor assembly of the tubular enwrapments and frames The numeral 2'1 illustrates a support member over which the series of pairs of uncompleted packages may be advanced. At the dseiredlocation, raising the bisected central tape .11 will effect an openingof the tubular enwrapmerit sufiicient to permit the insertion of a die member-indicated by the numeral 28. Mounted in the die member 728 is a pair of cutter ele- ,ments 2 9 which are of the desired configuration te-provide the out line 25. The die member 28 is moved with respect to the support 21 a sulficien't distance and with sufilcient pressure to cut completely through the wall of the tubular enwrapment-but does not out through the frame member to which the enwrapment is adhered.

After the opening means for the finished package has been made the series of pairs of receptacles may be advanced to filling position where the commodity'to be packaged may be placed therein. :As the tubular enwrapments approach filling position the bisected portions of the tape .H may be spread outwardly and since the opposed wall portions of each tubular enwrapment are held together by being secured to the connected pair of flattened frame members the mouths of the tubular enwrapment will be opened and permit insertion of a suitable filling spout or nozzle-(not shown). During filling each pair of blanks may besuitably supported at the desired angle-which may be varied in accordance with the nature of the materialto be placed in the-tubular enwrapments.

Fig. 8 illustrates a filling position in which the blanks are supported from a support 30 so that they depend in substantially vertical position.

Iff desired the support 3B may have angularly inclined surfaces iii to support the bottom panels 3 of theframemembers and the bottom sealed portion of the tubular enwrapments at an angle. It ishelieved that this will facilitate the fillingout of the bottom portion of the tubular enwra-pment and may lessen the stress to be placed upon-the bottom sealed portions of the tubular enwrapments. Obviously other angular positions of the opposite members of the pairs of blanks may be utilized. When the proper amount of the contents of the tubular enwrapmerits have been placed therein, the bisected portions of the central tape [1 may be utilized to close themouth portions of the tubular enwrapment. As described in connection with the sealing of the bottomportion of the enwrapment the thermoplastic adhesive coating 59 on the bisected tape ll maybe utilized to hold the wall portions ofthe tubular enwrapment against shrinkage while autogeneously Welding together the m rginal portions of. the filled tubular enwrapment. Figs. 9 and i0 illustrate a position at which the marginal edge portions of the tubular enwrapment. may be moved together for sealing. These ailing may beaccomplished by any suitable heating elements shown).

After filling and sealing, the package may be completed by suitably folding and forming the various panels and flange portions of the frame member to their assembled position. It is believed that any sequence-of folds which will produce a neat appearing package will be satisfactory and the folds illustrated in the drawings merely show one way of accomplishing this. The side flanges 5, 6,1, and 8 may be formed so that they are substantially perpendicular with the panels I, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Next the bottom panel 3 is formed .to a position substantially perpendicular with the side panel I, with the flanges ll of the bottom panel underlapped with respect to the flanges'5 of the side panel. Next, the front panel 4 is formed'to a position of 90 with respect to the bottom panel 3 and the flange portions 8 of the front panel 4 are overlapped with respect to the flange portions 1 of the bottom panel 3. If of suiiicient extent these flange portions 8 may be underlapped with respect to the flange portions 5 of'the side panel I. The adhesive areas 9 on the flange portions may be activated to tacky condition so that the flange portions will securely adhere together and provide a rigid or semi-rigid support structure or frame.

At the top end of the container the flange portions 6 of the top panel 2 may be formed at right angles to the top .panelZ and as the top panel 2 is formed at right angles to the side panel I the flange portions 6 are overlapped with the flange portions 50f the side panel l. Adhesive areas 9 on the flange portions 6 may be activated to securely bond the flange portions 8 and 5 together, forming a top end wall for the package. Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate two viewsof. the filled, completed package.

At'the time the frame members are to- .be formed or assembled to'. their erect position it may be desired to sever the connected pairs of blanks so that each package may be set up as a unit. Alternatively the bottom portions of the packages may be assembled to erect form prior to the severance of the pairs. It may also be desirable to remove each of the pairs from the series of packages and this may be done by severing the tapes I6 and l? which have been utilized to chain the pairs into a series, at the two opposite side edges-of each pair of blanks. This will leave sections of the tape adhering 'to the tubular enwrapment at the sealed ends thereof and such tape may'act as a reinforcement for the sealed end portions. Further, if the activation temperature of the thermoplastic adhesive areas i8 and it are below the activation temperature of the heat scalable tubular enwrapment, the adhesive areas l8 and it may be activated and the tapes removed without affecting the sealed end portions of the tubular enwrapment.- t

r Fig. 13 illustrates the opening of the package to gain. access to the"contents thereof. Such opening may be readily accomplished by lifting the tongue 23 by means of the free edge portion 26 and peeling the endfportion of the tongue from the flexible walled tubular enwrapment until the out line 25 in such wall is reached. At this point the wall of the tubular enwrapment is completely severed transversely across the tongue 23' and'further lifting 'of the tongue will tear the flexible wall of the enwrapment along the linesnWh tae a h i nsse By tilting.

such as plates or rollers (not the package about an axis spaced from the comer edge between the top panel 2 and the side panel I, the contents if fluid may be poured over the remaining edge of the flexible enwrapment wall at a spout portion indicated by the numeral 32 on Fig. 13. To effect a reclosure of the opening the free end of the tongue may be pressed downwardly to wedge the tongue between the side edges of the frame along the cut score lines 22 from which the tongue was lifted. The flared free end portion of the tongue will assist in creating this wedging action and will serve to satisfactorily maintain reclosure of the opening.

Where the finished product is adapted to contain liquids it may be desirable to provide means for including a tube or straw with the package to permit drinking'the contents through the opening. One method of accomplishing this is to provide a flap or tongue 33 at any desired place, through which the tube or straw may be inserted and removed. In Figure l the flap or tongue 33 is shown as being'struck at a corner of'the bottom panel 3 adjacent the front panel or retaining flange 4. Then, as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 14, a tube or straw 34 may be inserted on the interior of the frame or supporting structure between the frame and the flexible walled tubular enwrapment. This position of the straw is advantageous since it extends diagonally of the package and may be of sufficient length to reach the bottom of the contents during use. The flap or tongue 33 may be disposed in other locations but it is believed desirable that it be at the bottom of the package since any condensation forming on the open face of the tubular enwrapment and flowing into the bottom portion of the frame may drain through the opening afforded by the flap or tongue 33.

Fig. 15 illustrates a modified form of blank for forming a receptacle similar to that described in Figs. 1 through 14. Fig. 15 dilTers from the previously described form of the invention in that the tubular enwrapment I 5' comprises a tube having infolds or gussets indicated by the numeral M. It is believed that this form of the invention is advantageous since during fabrication and filling of the enwrapment it is superposed onlv above the central, top and bottom panels, and does not extend transversely outwardly to overlie the flange portions.

It may be noted that completed packages made in accordance with the present invention provide a useful and attractive display package, which is particularly adapted for packa ing of liquids or fluent materials. The combination of a tubular en rapment and a semi-rigid support structure will provide excellent strength characteristics and hi h resistance to blows or shocks due to rough handl ng or dropping. It will be obvious that the flexible enwrapment will result in greater strength than a container merely having wall portions of fibrous material such as paperboard, whether or not the samebe coated with a plastic substance or wax, as coatings do not increase the wall strength of the container.

In connection with the packaging of liquids where an especially secure liquid-tight seal for the tubular enwrapment is desired, it may be desirable to permit the sections of strip material or tapes H5 and I! to remain on the end seals of theenwrapment for reinforcement purposes. When the tubular enwrapment is provided with tucks or gussets aS indicated in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 15, the tapes l6 and I1 and also beneficial since they assist in sup-.

aceaasc porting the: tucks; orgussets: during" handling, closing, and sealing of; the'enwrapment; How.- ever, it will be understood that in some instances, and particularly Where the: tubular: enwrapment is made of a high-strength material it may be desirable to remove the tapes after they have served their purpose. Where the adhesive coating on the tapes comprises a thermoplastic or other reactivatible adhesive substance, this may be readily done by activating the. adhesive and peeling or removing the strip or tape; The tape may be peeled as soon as: the sealingof the enwrapment walls has. been accomplished if the adhesive on the tape retains" its tackiness for suflicient time. to permit-the seal off the. enwrapment to cool or set to: a point where its strength is high enough to withstandpeeling;

It is contemplated that in someacases it will be. desirable to providethetapes l6 and i! with adhesive areas [8. and !9 respectively which may be of more than a single adhesive; In this way each adhesive may be present to? serve a particular function. For'example, in a' casewhereipolyethylene is used to form the tubular enwrap ment it is known that many adhesives do not adhere to this material with a satisfactory bond; Accordingly, the tapes may be provided withadhesive areas of'a suitable'thermoplastic material such as tape manufactured byNashua Gummed & Coated Paper Company and sold under" the trade-marks Pe'rvenac and I-Macf'" In. addition these tapes may have a coating of an ad'- hesive such as that sold by Dewey" and Almy Chemical Company under the. trade-mark Darex. This latter adhesive maybe applied in liquid form and will provide a secure bond for advancing the blanks by" the tapes during their use in packaging and for openingthe-mouth end of the tubular enwrapments'to permit fabricating operations or filling of theblanks: The adhesives on the Pervenac. and"I -Mac' tapes are thermoplastic and provide an excell'enttacky surface to hold the wall of" the tubular enwrapment against shrinkage during sealing. Also; since the adhesive on these: tapes has-a lower activation temperature than-that of' polyethylene it may be activated to remove the tapes after sealing of the polyethylene; It must" be recognize'd that the selection of theprop'er adhesive or adhesives may vary'according tothe 'prop'er ties of'the materials of" which the package: is made, the commodity to be packaged; andthe use to which the package must be subjected.

Similarly, it maybe desirable to'utilize differ ent materialsfor making the support 'structure'or frame and'this factor mayalso' affect the selection of the proper adhesives. Infthepacka'ging of liquids a suitable fibrous material having the desired strength andrigidity maybe utilized and in addition it maybe: provided with a suitable coating such as a wax-like substance or other moisture repellent coating; Such a' coating may facilitate retaining a liquid-tight closure in the regionof the opening covered by the-tongue 23 For example, at the time the severence or weak ened line 25 is formed, heat may beappl'ied' to the frame in the regionof thetongue 23. If the sheet-material has a waxrcoatingi on oneror'both.

of' its surfaces, the heatwill soften: the waxiand it may flow and set" to; seal the severance lines 2 5 as well as the overlying edge portions of. the

tongue 23 alongthercutescorec-lines fll While the drawings illustrate the -wa'll' of'theflexible enwrapment as provided with an actual" severance line 25 it-will' be understood that this 1 2 weakenedportioncmayrbe:providedininther;ways, so that as the tongue 23 is lifted a portion of theiwall'of therenwrapment willbe: raised by its ad'herencexto-the' tongue commencing with such weakened portion; The; weakening of the enwrapment wallmay Ice-accomplished by stapling orstitching: the enwrapmentwall to the tongue 231-atthea desired? location and in this case it may notbenecessary to. bond the enwrapment wall to the tongue;

Blanksvmade accordance with the present invention are; believed, to be: especially advantageous-fora. number of features which facilitate theiriusexin: packaging andthe; provision of an inexpensive but: extremely! useful package. In the; malring: and; assembling: of the tubular enwrapment; ancilsupportistructure. it will be noted that the enwrapment; may be: properly located withiespect-i to the.-blank,,.filled.and sealed, and then'the -support structuremay be assembled or erected. around the: package; The tubular enrzrapment be: positioned with, respect to the. support structure. so. that; each. wall thereof will extendzfor approximately half-the perimeter of the: completed package. Alternatively, the packagesmay be formedby fillingand sealing the tubular. enwrapment and.- assembling it with a flattened;- or assembled supporting frame. Inspection of the filled packages is simplified as defects may" be'observed prior. to erection of or assembly with the frame member.

Also; the: tubular enwrapment [5 may be more readily filled due to thezfact thatthe filling opening may beas' much as desired, limited only by the: diameter. of the; tube. As shown in the drawings the tubular enwrapment may be readilyopened sincestheadhesive :area 20 which holds one: ofthe wallsof theenwrapment to the frame may BXtBIldLltO the edge. ofijthe mouth of the enwrapment. The opposite wall. may be opened dueatotheadhesively coated tape which is adheredthereto; When the enwrapment is to be filledlwithliquids, the-tape may be used to open the.mouth.sufficiently topermit entry of a nozzle or spout,,and..fill-ing may be accomplished without foaming or contamination since the enwrapmentis collapsed or flattened and there is no requirement to displace air. present in the container; The filledcontents act to expand or distend, the. enwrapment. Where this factor is particularly desirable the nozzle may be. designed so. that'it will form an. air-tight seal at the mouth of? the; enwrapment,.

It will also be noted that theframe or support. structure contributesto the. desirable features'of the-packager. It may be made relatively inexpensively since it. may be designed as a rectangular section of sheettmaterial, obviating the need for expensive dieing. out operations and creatingsavingsinmaterials due. to its lack of outwardly extending tabs. or wings. Further, while it is.- of sufiicient extent to-adequately protect the enwrapment, the material required to formit is considerably: less than that required toform a conventional carton or'box.

The frame or support structure may be readily formed oryerected, to: complete the package and maybe held erectedfornr by the adherence of .theaoverlappedflange-portions; It is: also contemplatedthat: if desired; these flange portions may be; partially overlapped and erected prior assembly with thettubular:enwrapment. The partial assembly'of'the support structure is considered. beneficial since it will establish the desired sequence of folds" and will partially form such folds at the proper locations. As described in my copending application Serial No. 79,591 filed March 4, 1949, the partially assembled support structures or pairs of support structures may be readily produced in large quantities and nested to compact condition for storage or shipment to the place where they are used for packaging. After being assembled with a tubular enwrapment and the contents placed in the completed blank, the completion of the assembly or erection may be carried out by simplified mechanism. This feature is illustrated in Figs. 3 through which show the partial assembly of the bottom panel 3, the front panel 4 and their side flanges l and 8. Where the tubular enwrapment is in the form of a fiat tube Without gussets, the sealing of the top portions of the filled enwrapment may be simplified if this portion of the support structure i not partiall assembled. Where the enwrapment is gusseted it is feasible to partially assemble all of the panel and flange portions of the support structure.

In conjunction with the sealing of the mouth portion of the tubular enwrapment it is possible to simultaneously date or code the packages as is generally done in the packaging of some foods and other high purit products. Either the tape or the support frame may be provided with the desired coding information so that each package may be identified.

Packaging costs may also be substantially decreased by the present invention since the blanks are adapted to be connected in pairs, or in series, or in a series of pairs and thus multiple filling of a plurality of packages may be accomplished. This appreciably increases the output of the packaging apparatus without unduly increasing the cost of such apparatus. It may also substantially decrease the amount oflabor required per package unit.

Since the components of the receptacles described and illustrated are relatively thin sheet materials and involve the use of adhesives, the drawings have in many cases been exaggerated and distorted to facilitate illustration of the details of the construction and the operations involved in packaging. Further, while for purposes of clarity certain portions of the package have been denoted by the terms bottom, side, and

top it will be obvious that the completed package may be supported in any desired position. However, since the completed package has been designed to provide an improved display package,

it is believed generally preferable to utilize it in the position shown in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings.

It will be understood that the foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the invention is for the purpose of explanation and illustration and numerou variations and modifications other than those which have been described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a pair of frame members of semi-rigid sheet material, means connecting the fram members along a common edge of the members, a pair of flexible bags each having a closed and an open end, means to secure the closed ends of the bags to the frame members adjacent the outer ends thereof, and means to secure a side of each bag adjacent to its open end to each of the frame members adjacent the common edge thereof, said last named securing means extending over a portion less than one-half the perimeters of the open ends of the bags adjacent the open ends thereof, and means secured to an opposite side of each bag from the frame and adjacent to its open end to apply tension for opening each bag.

2. The article set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame members are connected together along a portion only of the common edges thereof.

CLARENCE W. VOGT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,759,682 Birdseye May 20, 1930 1,906,742 Coulapides May 2, 1933 1,987,491 Nejelski Jan. 8, 1935 2,046,484 Ringler July 7, 1936 2,124,324 Weeks July 19, 1938 2,192,472 Huston Mar. 5, 1940 2,225,810 Waters Dec. 24, 1940 2,284,604 Brooks May 26, 1942 2,340,651 Denison Feb. 1, 1944 2,352,766 Bogue July 4, 1944 2,357,339 Mathieu Sept. 5, 1944 2,363,425 Klein Nov. 21, 1944 2,365,159 Walton et a1. Dec. 19, 1944 2,389,291 Bergstein Nov. 20, 1945 2,432,052 Waters Dec. 2, 1947 2,432,053 Waters Dec. 2, 1947

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