Reconfigurable package for confectionery products

• US 8,141,707 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Inventors: Robbins, James W., Bailey, Ryan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K
• Application Number:
  US12/937,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20110162997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 229/120.011, 229/120.012, 206/447
• US Class Current: 206/447
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/545 for opening containers formed by erecting a "cross-like" blank
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5475 for dividing a "cross-like" container body into separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/548 for opening containers formed by erecting a blank to U-shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0463 formed in a band or a blisterweb, inserted in a dispensing device or container

Abstract

A package for storing and dispensing a consumable product is provided. The package can be easily constructed from a suitable blank of material and can be composed of first and second compartments hingedly and detachably secured to each other. The package has an initially unopened configuration where the first and second compartments define a substantially common plane. The package is openable from the initially unopened configuration by relative movement of the first and second compartments about the hinge. The package is reconfigurable to either of first and second closed configurations after the initial opening. In the first closed configuration the first and second compartments define a substantially common plane and in the second closed configuration the first and second compartments define spaced apart substantially parallel planes. A blank for a package, a method of making the package and a method of reconfiguring the package are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A package for storing and dispensing a consumable product comprising:

a first compartment sized to receive a quantity of consumable product;

a second compartment hingedly secured to the first compartment, the second compartment sized to receive a quantity of consumable product;

a cover bendably coupled to one of the first and second compartments and configured to be releasably engaged to the other of the first and the second compartments;

the package having a first closed configuration where the first and second compartments define a substantially common plane and the cover lays substantially flat along the plane;

the package having a second closed configuration wherein the first and second compartments define spaced apart substantially parallel planes, the cover configured to close the first and the second compartments in the second closed configuration by being bent along the bendable coupling; and

the package being openable from the first closed configuration to an open configuration by movement of the second compartment away from the first compartment along the common plane and relative movement of the first and second compartments about the hinge.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the first and second compartments in the first closed configuration together define a continuous substantially enclosed volume.

3. The package of claim 1 further comprising at least one line of weakening in a side region connecting the first and second compartments.

4. The package of claim 3 wherein the at least one line of weakening comprises a second line of weakening on an opposite side of the package from the at least one line of weakening.

5. The package of claim 1 wherein the second compartment is hingedly and releasably secured to the first compartment by a line of weakening.

6. The package of claim 5 wherein the second compartment comprises a slot into which the cover is releasably engageable.

7. The package of claim 6 wherein the first compartment comprises a slot into which the cover is releasably engageable after when the second compartment is detached from the first compartment.

8. The package of claim 3 wherein the line of weakening in the side region is configured to provide an audible indication to a user when the line of weakening is separated upon the initial opening of the package from the initially unopened configuration.

9. The package of claim 1 comprising an adhesive that releasably engages the cover to at least one of the first and second compartments.

10. The package of claim 1 wherein the initially unopened configuration comprises the cover being releasably secured to the second compartment by an adhesive.