US3529761A - Container for packaging items for individual removal - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 22, 1970 A. DOGLIOTTI CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL REMOVAL Filed NOV. 13, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.1

Sept. 22,1970 A. DOGLlOTTl 3,529,751

CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL REMOVAL Filed Nov. 13, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 p 2, 1970 A. nosLloTTl 3,529,761

CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL REMOVAL Filed Nov. 13, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A. DOGLIOTTI Sept. 22, 1970 conmmna FOR mcueme ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL REMOVAL Filed Nov. 15, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

p 2, 1970 A. DoGuoTn 3,529,761

CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL REMOVAL Filed Nov. 13, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /3 w 'j J] Y\ M/I United States Patent 3,529,761 CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL REMOVAL Amilcare Dogliotti, Alba, Italy, assignor to P. Ferrero & C. S.p.A., an Italian joint-stock company, Alba, Italy Filed Nov. 13, 1968, Ser. No. 775,237 Claims priority, application Italy, July 8, 1968, 52,361/ 68 Int. Cl. B65d /48 US. Cl. 229-28 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A packaging container has a casing with a number of individual compartments for receiving items such as sweets for individual withdrawal. The selected item is gripped and withdrawn by the fingers, the flanks of the casing being adapted for this purpose, and at least the gripped part of each item being protected by a removable covering.

This invention relates to containers for packaging items, for example, foodstuffs such as sweets, so that each individual item can easily be withdrawn by the use of one hand only.

The invention accordingly provides a container for packaging items such as sweets for removal individually comprising a casing of substantially tubular shape incorporating compartments for receiving respective items, characterised in that the compartments are defined at least in part by the casing wall, the container having access portions at its flanks to enable an item to be gripped at opposite ends in the region of said flanks and withdrawn from its compartment, and a protective member covering at least that part of the item gripped for withdrawal and arranged to be withdrawn with the item.

The compartments are preferably partly defined by a shaped insert retained within the casing.

According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the insert is in the form of a tube, the access portions comprising openings in its side walls at the flanks of said compartments to permit the respective items to be gripped together with further openings in its normally top wall permitting withdrawal of the items, the edges of said further openings having inwardly projecting tongues which assist in defining the compartments. Alternatively the insert may comprise a moulded plastic member formed with seatings which assist in defining the compartments and which are shaped to receive respective items, said seatings being open on their normally top sides and on their flanks.

The invention further provides a process for assembling and loading a container as defined above, in which individual items are first placed in the respective compartments and the casing then assembled around the loaded compartments to enclose the items therein.

The invention will now be particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container for dispensing sweets according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 11-11 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded perspective view of the container of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a partly assembled condition;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the projection of the insert used in the container of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5- is a plan view showing the projection of the casing of the container of FIGS. 1 to 3;

Patented Sept. 22, 1970 ice FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a container according to a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a container according to a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatical side view showing a first step of the process for manufacturing the container of FIG. 8 and the packaging of items therein;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a further step of the process; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the com pleted package of FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings, the container for items 3 of foodstuff, for example, sweets, according to the invention comprises an outer elongated tubular casing 2 adapted to contain a plurality of items 3 arranged in a single row. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 each item 3 is provided with an overlying protective member 4 of sheet material such as, for example, tin foil. The member 4 lines the base and part of the flanks of the item 3 respectively by a bottom portion 4a and by means of shaped edges 4b, FIG. 3.

The casing 2 accommodates a plurality of partitions which form together with the casing walls compartments each adapted to contain a said item 3 in spaced relation from adjacent items.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 the compartments are formed by fitting coaxially within the casing 2 a tubular insert 1 of rectangular cross-sectional shape. The insert 1 is formed from a single scored blank comprising, as shown in FIG. 4, a top wall 5, two side walls 6 and two bottom walls 9, 10 adapted to be superposed and adhesively joined together upon assembly.

The two side walls 6 of the insert 1 are formed with pairs of semi-circular notches or openings 7 which at the top wall 5 merge with further openings for withdrawal of the items 3. The opposite longitudinal edges of the openings in the top wall 5 are provided with symmetrical semi-circular tongues 8 projecting inwardly towards each other. The tongues 8 on assembly are bent downwardly into the insert to engage the flanks of the items 3 introduced through the openings, as shown in FIG. 2. The items 3 are therefore spaced-apart by the solid portions of the top wall 5.

The casing 2 comprises a tubular sheath of rectangular cross-sectional shape adapted fully to enclose the insert 1. The casing 2 is formed with a plurality of shaped openings through which the individual items 3 can be removed from their respective compartments.

As shown in FIG. 5 the casing 2 comprises a single scored blank having a top wall 11, two side walls 12 and two bottom walls 15, 16 adapted to be superposed and adhesively joined or sealed together upon assembly.

The side walls 12 are formed with pairs of semi-circular notches or openings 13 which at the top wall 11 merge with further openings, the opposite longitudinal edges of which are provided with symmetrical inwardly projecting semi-circular tongues 14 which on assembly abut the base of the items 3 thereby forming the upper retaining walls of the compartments, as shown in FIG. 2.

The side walls 12 of the casing 2 are provided at their longitudinal ends with foldable closure flaps 17. The top wall 11 is similarly provided at opposite longitudinal ends with respective foldable flaps 18 having terminal edges 19 which upon assembly are located between the bottom walls of the insert 1 and the casing 2, as shown in FIG. 4, to close the container at its two ends.

The items 3 are arranged in inverted positions in the respective compartments formed in the casing 2 and insert 1 with their protective tin foil members 4 enclosing the bases of the items 3 exposed. The members 4, in addition to protecting the items 3 against dust, allow clean and hygienic withdrawal of the items 3. The individual items 3 are merely withdrawn by inserting two fingers and gripping the item 3 through the respective openings 13 in the casing 2 and the openings 7 in the insert 1 on opposite lateral edges 412 (FIG. 3) of the protective member 4, thereby avoiding direct contact of the fingers with the surface of the item 3.

When the item 3 has been withdrawn it may be brought to the mouth of the consumer, who then grips the exposed portion of the item 3 with his teeth. The tin foil member 4 can then be removed without difficulty, again without touching the item 3 with the fingers.

With the above-described container the individual items 3 may be withdrawn by one hand only, such as by placing the palm of the hand on the container body, and removing one item at a time by two fingers of this hand,

Upon withdrawal of an item the semi-circular tongues 14 of the casing 2 are deformed outwardly, enabling the item to be removed.

The above-described container is particularly advantageous for use by drivers of vehicles, when the driver has only one hand available for withdrawing the items 3 and presenting them to his mouth.

According to the modification shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a casing 2 encloses an insert 23 which comprises a vacuum-moulded plastics member in the form of an inverted tray of rectangular cross-sectional shape open at its lower face and formed in its upper wall with a plurality of indentations having ridged surfaces and forming seatings 24 open at their flanks and upwardly, the seatings 24 being separated by portions 25 of the upper wall. The seatings 24 form together with the casing walls the compartments for accommodating the items 3, said seatings 24 being shaped to receive the items 3.

The top wall 11 and side walls 12 of the casing 2 are lined with a separate sheet 20, preferably of tin foil, adhesively joined or sealed to said walls. The sheet 20 has a plurality of shaped portions 21 bounded by fracture lines 22 formed, for example, by perforations and arranged to coincide with the openings in the top and sides of the casing 2, said portions 21 acting as protective members for the items 3.

To withdraw one item 3, pressure is exerted by the fingers on the appropriate portion 21 to rupture the fracture lines thereof, so that each withdrawal results in removal of the selected item 3 from its compartment as well as of its corresponding protective portion 21, the latter being detached from the remaining portions of the foil sheet 20. The portion 21 therefore prevents direct contact of the fingers With an item 3 upon withdrawal of an item from the container.

According to a further modification, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the tubular casing 2' comprises a carton of rectangular cross-sectional shape lined with tin foil or the like and formed with a plurality of predetermined releasable portions 26 continuous with the casing 2' and encircled by fracture lines 27, formed, for example, by scoring. The portions 26 extend over the top wall and sides of the casing at the respective compartments accommodating the items 3. A support 23 of the type shown in FIG. 6 is arranged within the casing 2' and is formed with seatings 24 for receiving the individual items 3.

Upon withdrawal of an item 3, a consumer withdraws together with the selected item its corresponding removable portion 26, the latter acting as a protective member preventing direct contact of the fingers with the item being Withdrawn.

FIGS. l0, l1 and 12 show three distinct steps in the assembly of a container according to the invention and the packaging of items 3 therein. For the sake of simplicity,

these figures relate to a container of the type shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, but it will be appreciated that containers according to the other embodiments of the invention are assembled in a similar manner.

As shown in FIG. 10, the items 3 are placed, preferably by means of automatic loading machines, on the support 23, each item 3 being received by a seating 24.

The casing 2 is then placed on the support 23 in an open condition (FIG. 11), the casing walls being folded in the direction of arrows A, B to fully enclose the support 23 with the openings in the casing 2 in register with the openings in the support 23.

When wrapping is completed, as shown in FIG. 12, the overlapping bottom walls 15, 16 of the casing 2 are adhesively joined, whereafter the end closure flaps 17, 18 are bent over to close the container at both ends.

For further protection the container may be wrapped in a sheet of transparent material (not shown) which is torn or removed before withdrawing items from the container.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for packaging items such as sweets for individual removal, comprising; a casing of tubular form, partitions supported within the casing and together with the casing walls defining a row of compartments in which the items can be retained in spaced relation, access means provided on the flanks of the container at the regions of the compartments enabling each item to be gripped at opposite ends and withdrawn from the respective compartment, a protective member for covering at least that part of each item which is gripped for withdrawal, and means permitting withdrawal of said protective member with the respective item, the partitions being provided by an insert within the casing, the insert being in the form of a tube having a top wall and lateral flanks, openings in said flanks to permit the respective items to be gripped together with a further opening in its top wall through which the items can pass upon withdrawal, the edges of the insert at the openings being provided with inwardly projecting tongues which assist to define the compartments.

2. A container for packaging items such as sweets for individual removal, comprising a casing of tubular form, partitions supported within the casing and together with the casing walls defining a row of compartments in which the items can be retained in spaced relation, access means provided on the flanks of the container at the regions of the compartments enabling each item to be gripped at opposite ends and withdrawn from the respective compartment, a protective member for covering at least that part of each item which is gripped for withdrawal, and means permitting withdrawal of said protective member with the respective item, the partitions being provided on an insert within the casing, the access means including openings in the casing in register with the compartment to enable the items to be gripped and to be withdrawn, a top wall of the casing having tongues which project into the opening to retain the items but which tongues are deformable to permit withdrawal of individual items.

3. A container for packaging items such as sweets for individual removal, comprising, a casing of tubular form, partitions supported within the casing and together with the casing walls defining a row of compartments in which the items can be retained in spaced relation, access means provided on the flanks of the container at the regions of the compartments enabling each item to be gripped at opposite ends and Withdrawn from the respective compartment, a protective member for covering at least that part of each item which is gripped for withdrawal, and means permitting withdrawal of said protective member with the respective item, the protective members comprising sheet material fixed to the casing and located at least at the regions of the compartments to protect the respective items.

4. A container for packaging edible items for individual removal, the container comprising a casing of elongated tubular form and including two spaced-apart side walls extending along its length and a top wall integral with the side walls and bridging the space between them, a plurality of openings being formed in the casing at intervals along its length, each opening defining a compartment adapted to contain an edible item, each opening extending transversely fully across the top wall and downwardly into each side wall to form in each side wall a notch to permit gripping of an edible item in the compartment for removal from the casing, the opening further defining in the top wall flexible tongue means located in the plane of the top wall and adapted to cover a portion of the edible item contained in the compartment but being yieldable to permit withdrawal of the edible item through the opening.

5. A container according to claim 1 in which the casing is of substantially rectangular cross-section, and in which the tongue means on the top wall comprises a tongue located on each side of each opening.

6. Container according to claim 1, wherein the openings and the tongues are part-circu1ar.

7. Container according to claim 2, wherein the openings and the tongues are part circular.

8. Container according to claim 3, wherein the sheet material extends over the whole length of the container and has weakened boundary regions permitting release of respective sheet portions with the respective items.

9. Container according to claim 8, wherein the sheet material is metal foil and is scored at said boundary regions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,990,145 2/1935 Swift 22928 3,212,907 10/1965 Caprioli 99171 3,366,305 1/1968 Cohen et al. 229-28 3,390,766 7/1968 Stockdale 206 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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