US3043489A - Package for liquids and other materials - Google Patents

Description

July 10, 1962 K ANDERSON 3,043,489

PACKAGE FOR LIQUIDS AND OTHER MATERIALS Filed Dec. 9. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- July 10, 1962 K. B. ANDERSON PACKAGE FOR LIQUIDS AND. OTHER MATERIALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1959 INVENTOR A44) B/Pucs fl/vaaesou United States Patent Ofifice 3,043,489 Patented July 10, 1962 3,043,489 PACKAGE FOR LIQUIDS AND OTHER MATERIALS Kay Bruce Anderson, 27 Charleton St., New York, N.Y.

Filed Dec. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 858,370 a 6 Claims. (Cl. 22914) This invention relates to the packaging of materials and more specifically to a novel and improved package which, while being generally adaptable for packaging all types of materials, is particularly useful for liquids such as soft drinks and the like that are intended to be consumed directly from the container.

The novel and improved package in accordance with the invention is characterized by its simplicity, relatively low cost, and ease ofmanufacture and filling. In the case of soft drinks, the container or package aifords a sanitary lip surrounding the container opening for consuming the contents directly from the package.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved plastic container adapted to be supported within an outer protective shell or receptacle of suitable material and embodies improved end closures to facilitate filling of the container and opening the container to remove the contents therefrom.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved plastic container for liquids and other materials which may be readily fabricated from plastic film and wherein the plastic container, when carried within an outer supporting structure of paperboard or other suitable material, provides a durable container not readily damaged and which, when opened, affords sanitary means for removing the contents from the container without contacting the outer supporting structure.

The above and other objects and advantages of the r invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application. v

In the drawings: 7

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pattern showing the outline of the container prior to assembly;

FIG. 2 is a partially assembled view of the container;

FIG. 3 illustrates a second step in the assembly of the container in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container with the top closure completely assembled;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along the line 5-5 thereof;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of FIG. 5 taken along the line 66 thereof;

(FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a completed plastic container in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a container and outer receptacle in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified form of container and outer receptacle;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an initial step in the opening of the plastic container;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 and showing the completion of the opening process of the container in accordance with the invention;

'FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 11 taken along the line 1212 thereof; and

'FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a modified container assembly in accordance with the invention.

The package in accordance with the invention preferably comprises a first container of relatively thin plastic film adapted to hold liquid or other material to be packaged. This container, while of sufiicient strength to retain the packaged material, is preferably housed within a surrounding structure or receptacle which afiords mechanical support and protection for the plastic container. The receptacle may be of paper, plastic or other suitable material with adequate rigidity to retain the inner container. The container, when filled with a material may have any desired configuration and it is desirable, as will be shown, that the container have a size that will cause it to be snugly received within the receptacle and a length preferably less. than that of the receptacle. With the foregoing structure and with the novel and improved configuration of the top opening of the plastic container, the material forming the top opening maybe drawn over the edge of the receptacle and thereby provide a sterile and sanitary lip portion for pouring contents vfrom the container or drinking directly from the container.

The inner plastic container illustrated generally in FIGS. 1 through 7, has been shown in FIG. 4 as being of substantially rectangular form, though in reality, the final container when filled with a liquid has a rounded or cylindrical configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 12. The inner plastic container denoted generally by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 7 and 8, is formed of a flat sheet of plastic or other suitable material shaped in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. For convenience in describing the assembly of the container from the pattern of FIG. 1, the portion to the left of the center line 11 will be denoted by the numeral 12, While the portion to the right of the center line will be denoted by the numeral 13. The bottom portion of each of the pattern sections 12 and 13 are identical and have mating portions 14 and 14, 1 5 and 15 and 16 and 16. The portions 14 and 14' which form part of the lower edge are inclined downwardly and outwardly from the center' line, the portions 15 and 15 are substantially horizontal and the portions 16 and 16' are inclined upwardly and outwardly and terminate at the side edges 17 and 17'. The top portions of the sections 12 and 13 are not symmetrical about the center line 11, though the edge 18 and inclined side edges 20 and 21 form a symmetrical structure which further includes an upwardly extending tab 19. The inolined side'edge 20 actually forms part of section 12 of the pattern and terminates 'at its lower end in the horizontal edge 22 which completes the pattern.

The initial step in the assembly of the container consists of folding the section 13 as shown in FIG. 1 about and underneath the section 12 to bring the edge 17' into alignment with the edge 17 and form the configuration as illustrated generally in FIG. 2. The container as illustrated in FIG. 2 has the section 12 lying fiat on the section 13 and the edges 17 and 17 are permanently sealed one to the other by known processes such as those involving heat seal-ing or utilization of a permanent adhesive. It will be observed in this figure that the edges 16 and 16, 15 and 15, and 14 and 14' overly one another. At this step in the process, however, these edges are not sealed and remain open for purposes of filling as will be described.

The next step in the process of assembling the container 10 is shown in FIG. 3. In this step, the inclined edge 20 is folded upon itself at the midpoint 20' and the overlying edges are sealed one to the other to form a fluid-tight seal but yet one that will permit the edges to be separated when the container is to be opened. This procedure forms a triangular tab-like member denoted by the numeral 23. The edge 21 is then folded about the point 21' in the same manner as described in connection with the edge 20 and the overlying portions are sealed to form a second triangular shaped tab denoted by the numeral 24in FIG. 4. When this is accomplished, the edge 18 is sealed to the edge 22 to complete the top seal, and the tab 19 extends outwardly and upwardly and forms means for breaking the top seals as described when the container is to be opened. The detailed views of the top of the container are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

After the top of the container has been scaled as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the container is then preferably inverted and filled with liquid or other material to be contained therein. When this has been accomplished, the edges 14, 14', 15, 15, and 16, 16 are sealed one to the other to complete the formation of the container. For clarity of illustration, the container has been shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 with a rectangular configuration, and in so doing the inclined edges 14 and 14', and 16 and 16' appear to be disposed at opposite corners of the container. However, when these edges are sealed as described, the container is essentially cylindrical and takes the general conformation as illustratedmore clearly in FIG. 7.

In the case of soft drinks such as fruitades and the like, the container 10 is prefer-ably housed within a cylindrical receptacle 25 as. shown in FIG. 8. The receptacle 25 has a diameter equal to or possibly slightly smaller than the actual diameter of the container 10 so that the latter will fit snugly within the receptacle 25. In addition, the receptacle 25 is made slightly longer than the container 10, and the latter may be spot cemented to prevent displacement of the container relative to the re ceptacle. These cemented portions are indicated generally at 26 and 27, though any suitable mode of application of the cement may be employed. If desired, and to afford further protection for the plastic container, the receptacle 25 may include upper and lower caps 28 and 29. It is evident that the container may be made of paperboard, plastic, metal, or any suitable material, and,

similarly, the caps 28 and 29 may be made of like rna- V terial.

When it is desired to open the container 10, the cap 28 is removed and the tab 19 is then pulled in the direction of the arrow 19', as shown in FIG. 8. This action will break the seals along the cooperating edges 18 and 22, 21 and 20, as previously described, whereupon the container closure portion bounded by these edges will extend upwar-clly from the top of the receptacle 25 as indicated in FIG. 10. Since the upwardly extending portion of the container does not form a complete circle, it can be readily drawn down about the top edge 25' of the container as illustrated in FIG. 11, and thus provide a sanitary pouring or drinking edge, as the case may be. Since this closure, which is bounded by the edges 18, and 21 has an angular Width greater than 180, it will lie flat against the receptacle when moved to the position shown in FIG. 11. Thus, in'the case of soft drinks the user can be assured of complete safety in drinking directly 1 from the container notwithstanding the manner or mode in which the article has been handled and shipped.

A modified form of the invention is shown generally in FIG. 13 which constitutes a fragmentary section of the lower corner of the container such as that shown, for instance, in FIG. 9. In this modification the body of the container would preferably be cylindrical and when installed in a receptacle the container body would be long enough to extend beyond the bottom edge of the receptacle. A section of the wall of this modified container is denoted by the numeral 30. After the container 10 is inserted in the receptacle 25 and filled, the container bottom 31, having an overlying layer of plastic 32, is applied to the receptacle 25 and the meeting edges of the 4. plastic members 30 and 32 are sealed one to the other and rolled within the adjoining edges of the bottom 31 and the wall 33 of the receptacle 25 to form a reinforced seal 34. The top portion of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 13 is fabricated in substantially the same manner as described in connection with FIGS. 2 through 4, and would be openable as illustrated and described in connection with FIGS. 10 through 12, inelusive.

The term tubular structure as used in the claims is intended to comprehend the container body or any portion thereof adjoining the top closure as described above.

While only certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is apparent that alterations, changes, and modifications may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising a tubular structure of relatively thin material, one end of said structure having a closure member of thin material extending from a peripheral portion of said edge, the side edges of said closure member being disposed at an angle of greater than 90 degrees with the remaining peripheral portion of said edge and the upper edge of said closure member having a length substantially equal to the length of said remaining peripheral edge portion, said side edges being folded upon themselves, means releasably sealing the folded overlying portions of each of said side edges and said upper edge to the remaining peripheral edge portion to close one end of said container and means sealing the other end of said container.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said tubular structure and member are integrally joined and formed of a thermoplastic material.

3. A package for liquid and other products comprising a generally tubular container of pliable material, a closure member extending from one end .of said structure and having a length less than the peripheral length of said container and with at least two portions disposed at an angle less than one relative to the other, said closure member being releasably sealed to said one end, means sealing the. other end of said container, a tubular receptacle surrounding said container and having a length at least equal to the length of said container, said closure member upon release from said closing position being movable outwardly and downwardly over the adjoining edge of said receptacle to. form a self-retaining sanitary edge portion for removal of the contents.

4. A. package according to claim 3 wherein said receptacle is provided with upper and lower closure lids.

5. A package according to claim 3 wherein said sealin'g means on the other end of said container comprises a sheet of said pliable material overlying said other end and joined to the edges thereof.

6. A package according to claim 5 wherein the last said sheet of pliable material is carried by a closure lid.

References Cited in the file of this patent Bogoslowsky July 2, 1946

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