GB1591904A - Dual container package - Google Patents

Description

(54) DUAL CONTAINER PACKAGE (71) We, P. FERRERO & C. S.p.A., an Italian Joint Stock Company, of Piazza Pietro Ferrero 1, Alba (Cuneo) Italy, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention is directed to unitary, dual container packages of such a size as to be capable of holding sweets, dragees and the like, whilst fitting readily in an average pocket.

According to the invention, there is provided a unitary, dual container package comprising two substantially parallelepipedic containers, each container having a lid at one end thereof, said containers being disposed in side-by-side abutting relation with said lids disposed alongside each other in a coinmon plane at one end of the package, the arrangement of the two containers being such that two opposite lateral faces of each container are adjoining to and coplanar with the respective opposite lateral faces of the other container thereby providing a line of abutment between each adjoining pair of lateral faces, a single one-piece label of sheet material being superposed in contact with both said lids and having limbs superposed on, and adhesively secured to, the coplanar faces of the two containers on opposite sides of both lines of abutment to hold both said lids in a closed condition and to join said containers together.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a unitary, dual container package in accordance with the invention Figure 2 is an enlarged top-plan view of the package of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the package showing the two containers, one opened lid and the label.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the unitary, dual container package shown therein is formed by two identical containers 1 and 2, each in the shape of a parallelepiped. The container 1 encloses a number of sweets, such as dragees or the like, and the other container 2 encloses an inedible article (e.g. for promotional purposes) such as a toy, a figurine, a prize or the like. The containers 1 and 2 are preferably moulded from a transparent synthetic plastics material and are each provided with a moulded plastics lid 3 and 4, respectively, the identical lids 3 and 4 being adapted to be removably inserted in a stopper-like fashion into the open ends of the identical containers 1 and 2.The two containers 1 and 2 are formed into a unitary package, when offered for sale, by joining them in side-by-side abutting relation by an adhesive label 5, e.g. of paper having an adhesive coating on one face thereof.

In the package, one lateral face 1A of the container 1 adjoins, and is coplanar with, a lateral face 2A of the container 2, whereby a line of abutment 6 is formed on that side of the package; at the same time the opposite lateral face 1B of the container 1 adjoins, and is coplanar with, the face 2B of the container 2 opposite to the face 2A, whereby a second line of abutment 6' is provided at the corresponding side of the dual package.

The label 5 covers at least part of each of the two lids 3 and 4 and comprises downwardly extending limbs SA, SB, the shape of each of which is preferably triangular or substantially triangular. The limb SA extends adhesively over the coplanar faces 1A, 2A of the containers 1 and 2 along a substantial part (preferably about half) of the length of the line of abutment 6 and has its apex 5' located substantially on the line 6, while the limb SB extends adhesively in the same way over the two coplanar faces 1B, 2B. It is advantageous, both from the manufacturing point of view and for easy separation of the two containers 1 and 2 by the customer, that the limbs SA, SB end on the respective lines of abutment 6, 6', that is to say, do not extend over the bottom walls of the two containers.

After a sale, the two containers 1 and 2 can readily be separated from each other by tearing the label and the lids 3 and 4 can be removed from the containers to provide access to the interior of the latter.

It is obvious that the details of construction as well as the type of products being marketed can readily vary. For example, the containers 1 and 2 need not be identical and may have different widths L, L'. Also, the type of lid employed may vary widely. For example, when the dragees of other sweets in the container 1 are relatively small, the lid 3 may comprise in its upper face an integrally formed flap closing an aperture through which the dragees or other sweets may be dispensed without removing the lid; in such a case the label 5 inherently provides a seal for the flap.

Also, the exact shape of the label 5 may vary, provided that the label is capable of substantially spanning the lines of abutment 6, o' between the two containers to provide a strong enough connection therebetween.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A unitary, dual container package comprising two substantially parallelepipedic containers, each container having a lid at one end thereof, said containers being disposed in side-by-side abutting relation with said lids disposed alongside each other in a common plane at one end of the package, the arrangement of the two containers being such that two opposite lateral faces of each container are adjoining to and coplanar with the respective opposite lateral faces of the other container thereby providing a line of abutment between each adjoining pair of lateral faces, a single one-piece label of sheet material being superposed in contact with both said lids and having limbs superposed on, and adhesively secured to, the coplanar faces of the two containers on opposite sides of both lines of abutment to hold both said lids in a closed condition and to join said containers together.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said label limbs is of a substantially triangular shape and has its apex situated on a respective one of the two lines of abutment.

3. A package as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the two containers are made of a transparent synthetic plastics material.

4. A package as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one of the containers encloses dragees or other sweets and the other container encloses an inedible article.

5. A unitary, dual container package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. not extend over the bottom walls of the two containers. After a sale, the two containers 1 and 2 can readily be separated from each other by tearing the label and the lids 3 and 4 can be removed from the containers to provide access to the interior of the latter. It is obvious that the details of construction as well as the type of products being marketed can readily vary. For example, the containers 1 and 2 need not be identical and may have different widths L, L'. Also, the type of lid employed may vary widely. For example, when the dragees of other sweets in the container 1 are relatively small, the lid 3 may comprise in its upper face an integrally formed flap closing an aperture through which the dragees or other sweets may be dispensed without removing the lid; in such a case the label 5 inherently provides a seal for the flap. Also, the exact shape of the label 5 may vary, provided that the label is capable of substantially spanning the lines of abutment 6, o' between the two containers to provide a strong enough connection therebetween. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A unitary, dual container package comprising two substantially parallelepipedic containers, each container having a lid at one end thereof, said containers being disposed in side-by-side abutting relation with said lids disposed alongside each other in a common plane at one end of the package, the arrangement of the two containers being such that two opposite lateral faces of each container are adjoining to and coplanar with the respective opposite lateral faces of the other container thereby providing a line of abutment between each adjoining pair of lateral faces, a single one-piece label of sheet material being superposed in contact with both said lids and having limbs superposed on, and adhesively secured to, the coplanar faces of the two containers on opposite sides of both lines of abutment to hold both said lids in a closed condition and to join said containers together.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said label limbs is of a substantially triangular shape and has its apex situated on a respective one of the two lines of abutment.

3. A package as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the two containers are made of a transparent synthetic plastics material.

4. A package as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one of the containers encloses dragees or other sweets and the other container encloses an inedible article.

5. A unitary, dual container package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.