Dispensing package

• US 5,579,910 A
• Filed: 12/30/1994
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chesebrough-Pond'S Usa Co., Division Of Conopco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chesebrough-Pond'S Usa Co., Division Of Conopco, Inc.
• Inventors: Bennett, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Application Number:
  US08/366,511
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 206/361, 206/362, 206/467, 206/469, 206/470, 206/443, 206/815, 229/240, 229/242
• US Class Current: 206/362
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2575/362 with special means for gaining access to the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2575/366 through a preformed opening in the recessed sheet, e.g. the opening being defined by weakened lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2575/367 through a preformed opening in the flat sheet, e.g. the opening being defined by weakened lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/366 and forming one compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/815 Finger opening

Abstract

A package especially useful for dispensing cotton swabs. The package includes a cover comprised of a thin plastic bubble and a base made of paperboard. The cover is adhered to the base along its periphery. An access opening if formed by lines of weakness in both the cover and the base. The opening permits removal of the swabs by the consumer, but prevents escape of the swabs during normal use.

Claims

1. A package in combination with swabs comprising:

a) a paperboard base and

b) a thermoplastic cover adhered thereto,

c) said base comprising base lines of weakness,

d) said cover comprising cover lines of weakness,

e) said base lines of weakness and said cover lines of weakness together defining a removable access closure the removal of which forms an access opening in said package, said opening including a medial area and lateral areas in said cover and a medial area of said base, which access opening permits access to the contents of said package wherein said medial access opening defined in said base includes an elongated finger aperture extending in a direction transverse to said lateral portions of said access opening, said package containing said swabs comprising a stick having two ends and a ball of fibrous material at least at one of said ends, wherein said access opening is sufficiently narrow normally to confine said swabs to said package but wherein said package is sufficiently flexible to permit a user readily to remove a swab from the package through a portion of the access opening.

2. The package according to claim 1 wherein said base is essentially flat.

3. The package according to claim 2, which is a blister pack.

4. The package according to claim 1 wherein said cover is made of thin, transparent thermoplastic.

5. The package according to claim 2 wherein said cover includes a flat sealing surface along its periphery sealed to said flat base.

6. A package in combination with swabs comprising:

a) a paperboard base and

b) a thermoplastic cover adhered thereto,

c) said base comprising base lines of weakness,

d) said cover comprising cover lines of weakness,

e) said base lines of weakness and said cover lines of weakness together defining a removable access closure the removal of which forms an access opening in said package, said opening including a medial area and lateral areas in said cover and a medial area of said base, which access opening permits access to the contents of said package wherein said medial access opening defined in said base includes an elongated finger aperture extending in a direction transverse to said lateral portions of said access opening, said cover including a front wall which includes a first downwardly extending section extending toward said base, a forwardly extending section extending generally parallel to said base and a second downwardly extending section, said lines of weakness being disposed between said first downwardly extending section and said forwardly extending section, said package swabs comprising a stick having two ends and a ball of fibrous material at least at one of said ends wherein said cover lines of weakness include two ends and comprise a medial portion and at each end, a lateral portion, said cover lateral portions being spaced from said base to define a width of said access opening at said lateral portions which will not normally permit the fibrous balls to exit the package, said cover and base being sufficiently flexible to permit a user readily to remove a swab from the package through said access opening at least at one of said cover lateral portions.

7. The package of claim 6 wherein said medial portion is semicircular and extends concavely toward said front wall.

8. The package of claim 6 wherein the lateral portions of said cover lines of weakness and of said base lines of weakness are in alignment.

9. The package according to claim 6 wherein said cover front wall includes a further downwardly extending section above said first downwardly extending section.