Package for a product

• US 10,294,001 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2015
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fitzwater, Kelly R., Mills, Karen L., Kastanek, Raymond S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K
• Application Number:
  US14/919,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20160107814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 229 8708, 229 875, 229938, 229 8701, 2291032, 229150, 206 15
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/001 Holders or wrappers as eating aids for fast food, e.g. hamburgers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 31/10 with gusseted sides
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 65/02 Wrappers or flexible covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 65/08 with fastening elements, e.g. slide fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 65/10 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/14 in sheets or blanks folded-up around all sides of the contents from a portion on which the contents are placed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/38 Articles or materials enclosed in two or more wrappers disposed one inside the other for shock absorbing purposes B65D81/03; for thermal insulating purposes B65D81/3893
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/52 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/525 External rigid or semi-rigid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/02 Wrapped articles enclosed in rigid or semi-rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/36 for bakery products, e.g. biscuits

Abstract

A package for holding a product. The package can comprise a liner for at least partially receiving the product and at least partially wrapping around the product. The package further can comprise a construct wrapped at least partially around the liner. The construct can comprise a first portion and a second portion, the first portion at least partially overlapping and engaging the second portion.

Claims

1. A package for holding a product, the package comprising:

a liner for at least partially receiving the product and at least partially wrapping around the product; and

a construct wrapped at least partially around the liner, the construct comprising a first portion at a first end of the construct and a second portion proximate to a second end of the construct, the first portion at least partially overlapping and engaging the second portion;

wherein the construct comprises a first locking feature in the first portion, a second locking feature in the second portion, and a plurality of lateral fold lines extending in the second portion, the plurality of fold lines forming panels in the second portion, the second locking feature being spaced from the second end by at least the panels, and the first portion at least partially overlapping the panels.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the first locking feature at least partially engages the second locking feature to at least partially retain the first portion in engagement with the second portion.

3. The package of claim 1, wherein the first locking feature comprises a male locking tab and the second locking feature comprises a female locking feature, and the male locking tab at least partially engages the female locking feature.

4. The package of claim 3, wherein the male locking tab is at least partially formed by a cut in the construct, the female locking feature comprises a locking edge of the construct, and the male locking tab engages the locking edge.

5. The package of claim 4, wherein the construct comprises a length extending from a first end of the construct to a second end of the construct, and the male locking tab and the locking edge of the female locking feature are closer to the respective first end and second end along the length of the construct relative to one another.

6. The package of claim 3, wherein the first end comprises a lateral edge of the construct, and the male locking tab comprises a generally curved edge of the construct extending from the lateral edge at the first end.

7. The package of claim 6, wherein a cut extending in the construct from the generally curved edge at least partially forms the male locking tab.

8. The package of claim 6, wherein the female locking feature comprises a female locking opening comprising a locking edge, and the male locking tab extends at least partially through the female locking opening and at least partially engages the locking edge.

9. The package of claim 8, wherein the locking edge is a generally straight locking edge, the female locking opening comprises a generally curved locking edge, and at least a portion of the generally curved locking edge is disposed opposite to the generally straight locking edge.

10. The package of claim 8, wherein the male locking tab comprises a protrusion extending from the generally curved edge of the construct, the female locking opening comprises a locking cut extending from the locking edge of the female locking opening, and the protrusion of the male locking tab at least partially engages the construct adjacent the locking cut for at least partially retaining the male locking tab in engagement with the locking edge.

11. The package of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises a pouch for at least partially receiving the product.

12. The package of claim 11, wherein the pouch comprises a bottom marginal portion of the liner folded over a central portion of the liner, the pouch being for at least partially receiving the product between the bottom marginal portion and the central portion.

13. The package of claim 12, wherein the bottom marginal portion of the liner is connected to the central portion of the liner by a gusset, the gusset at least partially forming a bottom of the pouch.

14. The package of claim 13, wherein the gusset comprises a first gusset panel foldably connected to a second gusset panel along a first fold, the first gusset panel is foldably connected to the bottom marginal portion of the liner along a second fold, and the second gusset panel is foldably connected to the central portion along a third fold.

15. The package of claim 12, wherein the construct extends around the package in a direction, the construct comprises a transverse width that is generally perpendicular to the direction, the bottom marginal portion of the liner is folded along at least a fold, and at least a portion of the fold is generally parallel to the transverse with of the construct.

16. The package of claim 15, wherein a top marginal portion of the liner at least partially overlaps the pouch.

17. The package of claim 1, wherein:

the first locking feature comprises a male locking tab extending at the first end of the construct, the male locking tab is at least partially formed by a cut in the construct

the second locking feature comprises a female locking opening and a locking edge;

the male locking tab extends at least partially through the female locking opening and at least partially engages the locking edge so that the locking edge is at least partially inserted into the cut.

18. The package of claim 17, wherein the first end of the construct comprises a lateral edge of the construct, and the male locking tab comprises a curved edge of the construct extending from the cut to the lateral edge.

19. The package of claim 18, wherein the male locking tab comprises a protrusion, the protrusion comprises a generally straight edge extending from the curved edge of the construct, the female locking opening comprises a locking cut extending from the locking edge of the female locking opening, and the generally straight edge of the protrusion at least partially engages the construct at the locking cut for at least partially retaining the male locking tab in engagement with the locking edge.