Confectionery packaging and method of opening

• US 10,507,970 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mondelez Uk R&D Limited (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mondelez Uk R&D Limited (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wetton, Amy, Disavino, Vincenzo, Clark, Jo-Ann, Lloyd, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P
• Application Number:
  US14/765,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20150368031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,112 Days
• Field of Search: 206484-4842, 53452, 220 421- 425, 220608, 220623, 220628, 220633, 220636, 426106-129
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/04 Packaging single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2842 Securing closures on containers in general B65B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/30 Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/322 and forming one compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/323 and forming several compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5827 Tear-lines provided in a wall portion B65D75/5805, B65D75/5816 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/60 for sweets or like confectionery products

Abstract

Disclosed is a confectionery packaging for a confectionery, including a first preformed part and a second part, wherein the first and second parts are sealed together about the confectionery at flanges that extend away from a main surface of each part, each main surface substantially conforming to the shape of the confectionery and being inherently unstable when placed, in use, on a substantially flat, level surface; a portion of at least one of the flanges being arranged to, in use, contact the substantially flat, level surface when a portion of the main surface of one of the parts also contacts the substantially flat, level surface, wherein such an arrangement allows the confectionery packaging to adopt a stable orientation on the substantially flat, level surface.

Claims

1. A confectionery packaging in combination with a preformed ovoid confectionery product positionable on a substantially flat, level surface when in use, the packaging comprising a first preformed part and a second part, wherein the first and second parts are sealed together about the confectionery product at flanges that extend away from main surfaces of each part, such that each of the first and second parts enclose a part of the confectionery product, wherein the flanges are joined at a flange seal such that the first and second parts are joined only via the flange seal, and via which flange seal the packaging may be opened by peeling the first and second parts away from one another along the seal, the flange seal extending at an angle between a minor, waist axis of the confectionery product and a major, tip-to-base axis of the confectionery product, such that the flange seal is spaced apart in one direction from a top, narrow tip of the confectionery product, and spaced apart in an opposite direction from a bottom, wider base of the confectionery product, each main surface of each part being shaped to conform to the confectionery-product such that the main surfaces of each part are shaped so that the outside of the packaging, except for the flanges and any stabilizing feet or stand features that extend from the main surfaces, substantially conform to the shape of the confectionery product, so that the packaging substantially maintains the outer ovoid profile of the confectionery product, and such that the main surfaces of each part are shaped so that a formed internal space conforms to the ovoid shape and size of the confectionery product, each main surface substantially being inherently unstable when placed, in use, on the substantially flat, level surface as a result of the ovoid profile;

and

a portion of at least one of the flanges being arranged to, in use, contact the substantially flat, level surface when a portion of the ovoid conforming main surface of one of the parts also contacts the substantially flat, level surface, wherein such an arrangement allows the confectionery packaging to adopt a stable orientation on the substantially flat, level surface.

2. The confectionery packaging of claim 1, wherein the portion of at least one of the two main surfaces that contacts, in use, the substantially flat, level surface is adapted to provide a foot.

3. The confectionery packaging of claim 2, wherein the foot provides a substantially flat surface of contact in one direction or in two directions.

4. The confectionery packaging of claim 1, wherein the flanges are arranged to provide gripping portions that allows a consumer to grip the packaging in order to apply a separating force to separate one part from the other through the seal between the flanges.

5. The confectionery packaging of claim 4 wherein a first gripping portion is provided to allow a user to apply a separating force to one part and a second gripping portion is provided to allow a user to apply a separating force to the other part.

6. The confectionery packaging of claim 5, wherein the first and second gripping portions are arranged adjacent each other.

7. The confectionery packaging of claim 4, wherein each gripping portion is provided by at least a portion of one of said flanges overlying at least a portion of the other of said flanges.

8. The confectionery packaging of claim 7, wherein a plurality of portions of said one flange overlay a corresponding plurality of portions of said other flange to provide multiple gripping portions.

9. The confectionery packaging of claim 4, wherein a portion of the flange that contacts, in use, the substantially flat, level surface forms one of the gripping portions.

10. The confectionery packaging of claim 4, wherein both of the flanges to provide one of the spaced contacts and form the gripping portions to apply a separating force to one of the parts and the other of the parts.

11. The confectionery packaging of claim 1, wherein the packaging is arranged such that the centre of gravity of the packaging acts, in use, between the contact between the substantially flat, level surface and at least one of said flanges, and the contact between the substantially flat, level surface and main surface in one direction.

12. The confectionery packaging of claim 1, wherein the packaging is arranged such that at least one of said flanges and at least one of said main surfaces are adapted to provide two spaced contacts on either side of the centre of gravity.

13. A method of forming a confectionery packaging of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

preforming the first part and the second part,

placing the confectionery product in the first part; and

sealing the flange of the second part to the flange of the first part.