US20110220657A1

US20110220657A1 - Accessory container for package

Info

Publication number: US20110220657A1
Application number: US13/127,676
Authority: US
Inventors: Bradford J. Walling
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Corp
Current assignee: WestRock MWV LLC
Priority date: 2008-11-04
Filing date: 2009-11-04
Publication date: 2011-09-15
Also published as: EP2349852A1; WO2010053972A1

Abstract

An accessory container (100) for a package (10) includes a main body portion (110), formed of a folded sheet material. The main body portion (110) is provided with a back portion (111) and optionally two opposed side portions (113) extending substantially perpendicularly from the back portion. A housing portion (120) is provided and hingedly secured to the main body portion, and has at least one opening (125) defined therein for dispensing contents held within the housing portion.

Description

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional application Ser. No. 61/111,122 filed on Nov. 4, 2008 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of consumer packaging and merchandise display. Particularly, the present invention is directed to a novel container for use with, packaging with, and/or displaying near a related product, such as a cigarette carton.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A variety of containers and packages are known in the art for holding and/or displaying products at the point of purchase. Of such devices, many are specifically sized to, usually compactly, hold only the product contained therein, particularly if such containers or packages are intended to be disposed following consumption of the contents thereof.
Applicant has recognized a need in the packaging industry for providing an inexpensive container for holding items that can be used as an accessory to a retail package.
Some related attempts at providing accessory compartments in a package are illustrated, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,877 to Shurman (“Shurman”) and U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2005/0274633 to Ako. The packages illustrated therein include a plurality of accessory compartments, but are relatively expensive to manufacture, and can alter the size of the overall package such that the package is no longer a standard size, which presents issues in displaying the packages at the point of sale. In the case of Shurman, the accessory container described therein is of a different size than the package with which use thereof is intended, which also presents difficulty in displaying in standard displays at the point of sale. Moreover, the packages described therein integrally include such extra compartments, which does not give the vendor the option of including a bundled product, or selling the products separately in a combinable solution.
The subject accessory containers, described hereinbelow address the foregoing issues, and provide for inexpensive, versatile containers that are easily manufactured, distributed, displayed and utilized by the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in and apparent from the description that follows. To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied, the invention includes, in one aspect, an accessory container for a package including a main body portion formed from folded sheet material, having at least a back portion and two opposed side portions extending from the back portion and a housing portion, hingedly secured to the main body portion, having at least one opening defined therein for dispensing contents held within the housing portion.
The present invention relates generally to accessory containers for use with a package. In one aspect, the invention relates to an add-on container for a retail package. As illustrated in the drawings, the invention includes, in one aspect, a container for use with any standard size cigarette package. Such containers can be used for any desired purpose, such as for holding confections including breath mints, candies, chewing gum, ingestible tobacco products, matches, a lighter, or for user-inserted items, such as cash or a house key, for example.
The present invention also includes an advantageous attachment arrangement, which allows for low manufacturing costs, and secure but removable attachment to the retail package, without requiring modification to the retail package.
As described in more detail below, the two opposed side portions can be configured to extend substantially perpendicularly from the back portion. The term substantially perpendicularly means that the side portions are essentially upright, with respect to the back portion, although they may not be arranged at precisely a 90-degree angle with respect thereto. For the reasons described hereinbelow or because of other considerations with the particular application of the subject devices, the relative angle therebetween can differ from, and be greater or less than 90 degrees.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the entire accessory container can be formed out of a contiguous piece of folded sheet material. In such an instance, a fold line and/or a perforation, score or other line of weakness can define a hinge therein, as necessary.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the housing portion can be formed separately and hingedly attached to the body portion. In such an instance, the housing can be formed of a folded sheet material or, for example, from a molded material, such as an injection molded plastic. If formed separately, a flexible hinge such as a polymer sheet with adhesive coating can be used to connect the housing and the body portion.
The opening(s) provided in the housing portion can be configured so that the opening rests in a rear-facing position, and is sealed by way of abutting a rear inner wall of the body portion, when closed. Alternatively, the at least one opening can be provided in a wall of the housing, which in a closed position is at the bottom of the housing, and abuts a surface of the package with which it is used. Additionally or alternatively, a one-time or resealable adhesive flap can be provided for covering the opening(s). Alternatively still, a slideable or hinged door can be provided to cover the opening.
The accessory container, in accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, is sized to fit conveniently in standardized racks and/or vending machines used to display and/or dispense the packages with which consumption of the contents of the subject accessory container is intended. In accordance with the invention, the subject accessory container can be sized such that in combination with a package with which combination is intended, the overall size of the combined product approximates the size of a standard size package.
In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the accessory container is sized to be about the same size as a standard box of cigarettes. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the housing portion can be sized to approximate the difference in dimensions between a standard box of cigarettes and a box of “100s” cigarettes. In such an instance, the height of the housing portion, when in a closed position, is about the difference in length between a standard box of cigarettes and a box of “100s” cigarettes.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the accessory container is adapted to releasably engage the package to which it is attached. In accordance with a preferred aspect, the container remains slideable with respect to the package. The body portion of the container can be configured so as to fit within an overwrap, which may be an overwrap provided with the package, or an overwrap provided with the accessory container. If the package and the accessory container are sold together, in a common overwrap, that overwrap can be utilized to maintain connection between the container and the package.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the accessory container is configured and adapted to frictionally engage the package. In accordance with the invention, the body portion of the accessory container can be configured, so as to have, as mentioned above, two opposed side portions extending from a back portion.
In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the side portions are angled at least slightly inwardly, so as to exert at least a slight frictional force on the package to engage the package. In accordance with this aspect, the side portions can be embodied, with at least a dual wall. In such an embodiment, for example with a double-walled side portion, the inner wall can be at least slightly shorter than the outer wall, with the two walls connected at a fold line, for example. When the inner wall is then secured against the back portion of the body, an inward posture of the sidewalls is obtained, due to the difference in length of the individual side walls. That is, the outer wall can bow slightly in this arrangement to compensate for the difference in length, while the inward angle of the inner wall and the side portion as a whole occurs in response to the internal stresses of the outer wall, to reach an equilibrium position. When the accessory container is then placed over the package, the force exerted by the bowing of the outer wall is applied through the inner walls of the opposed side portions, increasing the frictional force between the package and the accessory container, and increasing the security of their mutual engagement. The dimensions of the package, when inserted into the body portion of the container can cause a further bowing of the other wall, by forcing an outward angular displacement of the inner wall in order to accommodate the package. The increased bowing is then a side effect caused in reaching a further state of equilibrium, but which continues to exert a force on the package, thus increasing the frictional engagement between the accessory container and the package.
Alternatively, the container can be adhesively or otherwise securely attached to the package, such as by providing adhesive strips therebetween. Such adhesive can be essentially permanent, or alternatively can be removable and replaceable. Moreover, a hinged connection between the package and container can be provided, again, which may be embodied as a flexible adhesive polymeric strip, for example.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the accessory container is adapted and configured to be easily opened with one hand by sliding the package with respect to the accessory container, toward the housing portion of the accessory container. The container can be configured to respond to such upwardly directed force exerted by the user by way of the package, with the housing portion of the container rotating about the hinge joining the housing to the body portion thereof, to open and reveal the one or more openings through which the contents of the housing can be dispensed.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the invention. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the subject accessory container shown alongside a related package of cigarettes with which it can be used, constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the accessory container of FIG. 1, with a housing portion thereof oriented downwardly;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example shape of a sheet material cutout, used to form the container of FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating various fold, cut and score or perforation lines and the like;

FIG. 4 is a sequential illustration of the steps involved with opening a container in accordance with the invention, when being used with a package;

FIG. 5 provides various views of the container of the present invention, combined with a package and being used by a consumer;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example shape for a cutout from a sheet material used to form an alternate embodiment of a container in accordance with the invention, illustrating various fold, cut and perforation lines and the like;

FIG. 7 is a plain view of a cutout shape made in flat stock material to be folded and formed into a container in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8A is a front isometric view of a container formed from the cutout of the container of FIG. 7, shown in an initial vending condition, where a housing thereof is folded up against the body portion thereof;

FIG. 8B is an upper front isometric view of the container of FIG. 8A, shown in an opened condition, where the housing is folded down from the body;

FIG. 8C is a rear isometric view, showing the container of FIG. 8A with a package;

FIG. 8D is a front top view of the container of FIG. 8A, shown in a condition in which the body portion has been removed from the housing; and

FIG. 8E is a front isometric view of the container of FIG. 8A, with the body portion removed from the housing as in FIG. 8D, with a door thereof shown in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The present invention relates generally to accessory containers for use with a package. In one aspect, the invention relates to an add-on container for a retail package. As illustrated in the drawings, the invention includes, in one aspect, a container for use with any of a standard size cigarette carton. Such containers can be used for any desired purpose, such as for breath mints, candies, chewing gum, matches, a lighter, or for user-inserted items.
The present invention also includes an advantageous attachment arrangement, which allows for low manufacturing costs, and secure but removable attachment to the retail package, without requiring modification to the retail package.
As set forth above, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, for example, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, an accessory container 100 for a package 10 is provided including a main body portion 110 formed of a folded sheet material, having at least a back portion 111 and two opposed side portions 113 extending substantially perpendicularly from the back portion 111 and a housing portion 120, hingedly secured to the main body portion 110, having at least one opening 125 defined therein for dispensing contents held within the housing portion 120.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the entire accessory container 100 can be formed out of a contiguous blank, or piece of sheet material. In such an instance, a fold line and/or a perforation, score or other line of weakness can be formed to define a hinge therein.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the housing 120 is formed separately and hingedly attached to the body portion 110. In such an instance, the housing 120 can be formed of a folded sheet material or, for example, from a molded material, such as with injection molded plastic. If formed separately, a flexible hinge, such as a polymer sheet with adhesive coating can be used to connect the housing 120 and the body 110 portion.
The opening 125 provided in the housing portion 120, as illustrates, is configured so that the opening 125 rests in a rear-facing position, and is sealed by way of abutting a rear inner wall 112 of the back portion 111 of the body 110, when closed. Alternatively, the opening 125 can be provided in a wall, which in a closed position is at the bottom of the housing, and abuts a surface of the package 10 with which it is used. Additionally or alternatively, a one-time or resealable adhesive flap can be provided for covering the at least one opening. Alternatively still, a slideable or hinged door can be provided to cover the opening.
The accessory container 100, is preferably sized to fit conveniently in standardized racks and/or vending machines used to display and/or dispense the packages with which consumption of the contents of the subject accessory container is intended. In accordance with the invention, the subject accessory container can be sized such that in combination with a package with which combination is intended, the overall size of the combined product approximates the size of a standard size package.
When offered for sale, the subject container 100 can be provided with an overwrap to secure the contents of the package. The overwrap can cover the entire container, or can include a wrap band at one or more locations along the length thereof to reduce material and cost. Printed indicia can be applied to the overwrap or bands, or alternatively can be provided on one or more surfaces of the container. In accordance with one aspect, the container is provided in a retail display or vending machine “upside down” as illustrated in FIG. 2, with the housing 120 on the bottom. The back portion 111 of the body 110 of the container 100 can include printed indicia, for example on the inner face 112 thereof. In such an instance, the indicia can be provided “upside down” so as to be clearly readable when offered for sale. If desired, the opposite face of the back portion 111 can include printed indicia “right side up” so that if displayed in that manner, or bound together with another package, the indicia would be clearly readable in an upright position.
In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the accessory container 100 is sized to be about the same size as a standard box of cigarettes. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the housing portion can be sized to approximate the difference in dimensions between a standard box of cigarettes and a box of “100s” cigarettes. In such an instance, the height of the housing portion 120, when in a closed position, is about the difference in length between a standard box of cigarettes and a box of “100s” cigarettes. Alternatively, the subject containers can be sized to approximate the size of a box of “100s” cigarettes to be easily displayed in racking systems and vending machines configured for such larger packages.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, and as illustrated, the accessory container 100 is adapted to releasably engage the package 10 to which it is attached. In accordance with a preferred aspect, the container 100 remains slideable with respect to the package. The body portion 110 of the container 100 can be configured so as to fit within an overwrap, which may be an overwrap provided with the package 10, or an overwrap provided with the accessory container 100. If the package 10 and the accessory container 100 are sold together in a common overwrap, that overwrap can be utilized to maintain connection between the container and the package.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the accessory container 100 is configured and adapted to frictionally engage the package 10. FIG. 3 illustrates a cutout of the subject container 100, formed out of a contiguous sheet of sheet material.
In the illustrated embodiment, the body portion 110 of the accessory container 100 is configured so as to have, as mentioned above, two opposed side portions 113 extending from a back portion 111. In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the side portions 113 are angled at least slightly inwardly, so as to exert at least a slight force on the package 10 to engage the package 10. In accordance with this aspect, the side portions can be embodied, with at least a dual wall, comprised of inner walls 113 a and outer walls 113 b. In such an embodiment, for example, with a double-walled side portion 113, the inner wall 113 can be at least slightly shorter than the other wall, with the two walls 113 a,113 b connected at a fold line F1, for example. When the inner wall 113 a is then secured against the back portion 111 of the body 110, an inward posture of the sidewalls 113 is obtained, due to the difference in length of the individual side walls 113 a,113 b. This can be securely effected by adhering extension portions 119 to the back portion 111, as by an adhesive, for example. A fold, score, perforation, or other line of weakness can be provided between the sidewalls 113 a, 113 b and the extension portion 119.
The outer wall 113 b, if so configured, bows slightly in the above-described arrangement to compensate for the difference in length, while the inward angle of the inner wall 113 a and the side portion 113 as a whole occurs in response to the internal stresses of the outer wall 113 b, to reach an equilibrium position. When the accessory container 100 is then placed over the package 10, the force exerted by the bowing of the outer wall 113 b is applied through the inner walls 113 a of the opposed side portions 113, increasing the frictional force between the package 10 and the body portion 110 of the accessory container 100, and increasing the security of their mutual engagement. The dimensions of the package 10, when inserted into the body portion of the container can cause a further bowing of the outer wall 113 b, by forcing an outward angular displacement of the inner wall 113 a in order to accommodate the package 10. The increased bowing is then a side effect of reaching a further state of equilibrium, but which continues to exert a force on the package 10, thus increasing the frictional engagement between the accessory container 100 and the package 10.
Alternatively, the container 100 can be adhesively or otherwise securely attached to the package 10, such as by providing adhesive strips therebetween. Such adhesive can be essentially permanent, or alternatively can be removable and repositionable. Moreover, a hinged connection between the package 10 and container 100 can be provided, again, which may be embodied as a flexible adhesive polymeric strip, for example.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, and as also seen in FIG. 4, for example, extending tabs 127 can be provided on the housing 120, to engage one or more apertures 117 formed in the side portions 113 of the container 110, to maintain the housing 120 in a closed state, when not being used. The tabs 127 are sized and are sufficiently rigid to securely engage the apertures 117, but to yield at a threshold force to allow the container 120 to rotate away from a closed state.
Also as illustrated in FIG. 3, various fold lines and/or score lines are provided in the material of the container 110, to enable formation of the finished container 100.
As illustrated, for example in FIG. 4, steps A through G, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, the accessory container is adapted and configured to be easily opened with one hand by sliding the package 10 with respect to the accessory container 100 toward the housing portion 120 of the accessory container. The container 100 can be configured to respond to such upwardly directed force exerted by the user by way of the package 10, with the housing portion 120 of the container 100 rotating about the hinge joining the housing 120 to the body 110 portion thereof, to open and reveal the one or more openings 125 through which the contents of the housing 120 can be dispensed. The contents can include any of the above-mentioned contents, but in accordance with a preferred aspect are candies, breath mints, dissolvable tobacco products or the like.
FIG. 5 further illustrates the manner in which the subject container 100 can easily be attached to a package 10 and used by a consumer.
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an accessory container 600 for a package in accordance with the invention. The container 600 is provided with a main body portion, which in the illustrated embodiment is comprised of two separate body panels 610 a, 610 b formed of a sheet material. The body panels 610 a, 610 b define at least one back portion, and in the illustrated embodiment, two back portions 611 a, 611 b. A housing portion 620, is hingedly secured to one or more of the body portions 610 a, 610 b. At least one opening 625 is defined in the housing portion 620 for dispensing contents held within the housing portion 620.
As illustrated, the container 600 is assembled by cutting a sheet material and folding the cutout along the respective lines. In the illustrated embodiment, solid lines represent cut or fold lines, while broken lines represent perforations or other lines of weakness. Following folding, the housing portion 620 takes on a shape capable of holding contents. The back portion(s) 611 a, 611 b can remain unattached to one another, or can be connected in any suitable manner, including but not limited to adhesives, mechanical fasteners, a mechanical interlock, such as paper tabs and mating slits or slots, and/or hook and loop fasteners.
When used with a package such as a cigarette box, the back portion(s) 611 a, 611 b can be inserted under an overwrap of the cigarette box, between the box and the overwrap. Accordingly, a slideable engagement therebetween is achieved relatively simply. As illustrated, the back portion(s) 611 a, 611 b can include a tapered end portion 618 to facilitate insertion under the overwrap. If the container 600 is pre-packaged with a cigarette box or other package, the overwrap can be provided over the entire combined package, and be easily partly removable, leaving a portion thereof to hold the container 600 and package together.
As with the container 100 of FIGS. 1-5, the housing 620 can be rotated out of the way to dispense the contents of the housing 620 or to allow a user to remove contents form the package with which the container 600 is used (e.g. cigarettes).
Naturally, further details of the container 600 of FIG. 6 can be modified as desired or required, as set forth above in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1-5. For example, the entire accessory container 600 can be formed out of a contiguous piece of sheet material. In such an instance, a fold line and/or a perforation, score or other line of weakness can be formed to define a hinge 616 a, 616 b therein. Alternatively, the housing 620 can be formed separately and hingedly attached to one or more body portions 610 a, 610 b. In such an instance, the housing 620 can be formed of a folded sheet material or if desired, from a molded material such as injection molded plastic. If formed separately, a flexible hinge, such as a polymer sheet with adhesive coating can be used to connect the housing 620 and the body portion(s) 610 a, 610 b. Moreover, as with foregoing embodiments, a door or other closure can be provided over the aperture 625 to prevent unintended removal of its contents.
If desired, the housing 620 can be provided with an engagement feature to inhibit untended opening by way of rotation away from a surface of the package. Such engagement can take the form of a catch and tab arrangement as with the tabs 127 and apertures 117 of the container 100 of FIGS. 1-5. Alternatively, a mechanical engagement, such as a hook-and-loop fastener, can be provided between abutting surfaces of the container 600 and the package. For example, if the container 600 is sold separately from the package, the container 600 can be provided with mutually engaged hook-and-loop portions in selected areas, with a removable sheet to expose adhesive on a portion of the hook-and-loop fastener to be applied to the package. Thereafter, the two portions can be detached and re-attached as desired in order to open and close the container.
FIGS. 7 and 8A-8E show a further alternate embodiment of a container 700 in accordance with the invention. FIG. 7 shows a cutout shape from a flat stock material (e.g. a paperboard sheet or plastic sheet) to be folded and formed into the subject container 700. FIGS. 8A-8E illustrate various configurations of the container 700, as will be described below.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the container 700 is formed out of a folded sheet material. As with foregoing embodiments, alternate constructions are possible, however. As illustrated, the body 710 of the container 700 includes a front portion 710 a and a rear portion 710 b. The body 710 is connected to the housing 720 by a hinge 716, which can simply be a fold, score or perforation line, or other line of weakness. Alternatively, a separate flexible material can be incorporated to function as a hinge, such as by applying an adhesive film to connect the body 710 and housing portion 720. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the width x and the height y of the cutout illustrated in FIG. 7, are about 12.25 inches (31 cm) and 4 inches (10 cm), respectively.
An aperture 725 is defined in the housing portion 720 by a cut, perforation, score or other line of weakness 729, also thereby defining an openable cover 728 therein. In the illustrated embodiment, an optional tab 718 is likewise defined in the body 710 by a cut, score, perforation or other line of weakness 719. When assembled, the openable cover 729 is adhered to the tab 718, which can be provided with an alignment guide, such as marking 714 to facilitate assembly of the container 700 by aligning and guiding adhesive application thereto, if applicable.
The cutout shown in FIG. 7 is folded into the container 700 after cutting the desired shape thereof from a sheet material. The housing 720 is formed by folding along the respective lines between respective body panels 721 a-721 e, and mutually adhering respective overlapping flaps. Fold lines can optionally be indicated on the cutout by printing, embossing, scoring, perforating or otherwise marking the lines thereon. The distalmost tab 721 e of the housing 720, upon folding is adhered to the back body panel 721 a of the housing 720. The container 700 can be partially formed and later filled, such as by leaving one or more end flap(s) 722 a, 722 b of the housing 720 unsealed, after which contents can be inserted, and the container 720 fully sealed closed.
The front panel 710 a, of the body 710 is folded along a central fold 717, folded over the back panel 710 b of the body 710 and adhered or otherwise secured thereto. The tab 718 defined by the perforation 719, is adhered to the cover 728 of the housing portion 720, which maintains the housing 720 in an initial vending position, as shown in FIG. 8A, where the housing 720 is folded up against the body portion 710. Following purchase, the user can fold the housing 720 away from the body 710, thereby severing the tab 718 from the front panel 710 a along the perforation 719, to the opened configuration shown in FIG. 8B.
FIG. 8A shows the container 700 in an initial vending condition, where the housing 720 is folded up against the body 710. FIG. 8B shows the container 700 in an opened configuration, where the housing 720 is folded down from the body 710. As mentioned, this action severs the tab 718 from the remainder of the front panel 710 a of the body. The housing 720 can be dimensioned such that the container 720 occupies less space in transit and/or on a display shelf in the closed condition illustrated in FIG. 8 a, than in the opened condition illustrated in FIG. 8B. This is achieved by sizing the height in the container (in the configuration of FIG. 8B, which is effectively the depth in the configuration of FIG. 8A), to be less than the depth thereof. Accordingly, when the housing 720 is folded up in a closed position, less space is occupied on a shelf or other display rack, for example. Once the housing 720 is folded away from the body 710, the cover 728 can be opened to dispense the contents of the container 700, as shown in FIG. 8E, for example.
FIG. 8C shows the container 700 carried by a package 10, specifically, a cigarette box. In the illustrated combination, the body 710 is inserted between the package 10 and a film overwrap 896 applied thereto. An upper edge 898 of the opened film overwrap 896 is indicated by way of by a broken line.
FIG. 8D shows the container 700 in a condition in which the body portion 710 has been removed from the housing 720 along the perforation line 716 (See FIG. 7). Severing of the two parts may be desirable by the user if the contents of the container 700 are to be carried or consumed apart from the contents of a separate package (e.g., package 10). When severed, the overall size of the container 700 is effectively reduced to the size of the housing 720 alone. In this condition, the cover 728 and tab 718 attached thereto can be opened and closed normally. As shown in FIG. 8E, the cover 728 and tab 718 attached thereto are opened, allowing the contents of the package to be simply dispensed when desired.
Naturally, further details of the container 700 of FIGS. 7-8E can be modified as desired or required, as set forth above in connection with other embodiments of the invention.
The devices of the present invention, as described above and shown in the drawings, include advantageous features, as described above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the devices and related methods of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An accessory container for a package comprising:

a) a main body portion formed of a folded sheet material, having at least a back portion and two opposed side portions extending from the back portion; and

b) a housing portion, hingedly secured to the main body portion, having at least one opening defined therein for dispensing contents held within the housing portion.

2. An accessory container for a package comprising:

a) a main body portion formed of a sheet material, having at least a back portion; and

3. The accessory container of claim 2, wherein the housing portion is formed of the sheet material from which the main body portion is formed, being contiguously with the main body portion.