US3410393A - Peelable packaging - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 12,l 1968 R L, LEE 3,410,393

PEELABLE PACKAG ING Filed June 23, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet l ,5 Flai ATTORNEY R. l.. LEE 3,410,393

PEELABLE PACKAGING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 12, 1968 Filed June 23, 1967 Nov, l2, 1968 R4. L.. LEE

PEELABLE PACKAGING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 25, 1967 FIG.5 /42 United States Patent O 3,410,393 PEELABLE PACKAGING Robert L. Lee, Norwalk, Conn., assigner to Acme Backing Corporation, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of New York Filed June 23, 1967, Ser. No. 648,470 s Claims. (Cl. 20s- 46) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A package having a gusseted construction and including a panel peelable from the body of the package for dispensing the contents thereof.

Background of the invention Applicant, in his Patent No. 3,217,871 discloses a peelable seal package comprising essentially a pair of superposed sheets with a pair of opposed coatings between the marginal portions thereof, which provide a good seal, yet allow for peeling the sheets apart to make the contents of the package readily accessible. Such packaging is particularly useful for enclosing single objects of relatively limited size and bulk.

The instant invention is an improvement on the packaging of Patent No. 3,217,871 and is particularly concerned with packaging for enclosing articles of relatively large dimension and bulk or trays having one or more recesses therein for mounting one or more articles therein; whereby a panel portion of the package may be readily peeled away from the base portion of the package to expose for ready access the packaged article or tray carrying articles.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide improved packaging of a gusseted construction and including a peelable panel; suitable coatings being applied to selected portions of the elements forming the package.

' Another object of this invention is to provide improved packaging of the character described for enclosing article holding and dispensing trays; the packaging and tray having correlated configurations to facilitate the packaging operation, to increase resistance to tearing of the packaging atvulnerable areas thereof, and to facilitate the peeling of the peelable panel to expose the contents of the tray and to facilitate dispensing the same.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide packaging of the character described, for enclosing tray means carrying sterilized articles such as surgical instruments and the like; the construction and arrangement of parts of the packaging being related to the tray so as to insure the retention of a sterile eld about the periphery of the tray and its contents when the same is exposed by peeling the peelable panel portion of the package.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

Summary of the invention The instant invention relates to packaging for enclosing articles of substantial size and bulk, as well as recessed trays carrying smaller articles; the packaging being formed from a pair of opposed sheets providing a gusset construction, with coatings applied to selected surface areas of the sheets whereby the packaging is sealed about the contents thereof, yet allows for separation of the packaging elements by peeling.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a blank for forming one portion of the packaging embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the reverse side of the blank shown in FIG. 1;

3,410,393 Patented Nov. 12, 1968 'ice FIG. 7 is a side elevational view showing a portion of another embodiment of the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments The packaging of the instant invention is particularly adapted for enclosing articles of substantial size, which may be of -a sterile or non-sterile character; and for enclosing recessed trays which carry one or more articles of a sterile or non-sterile character, whereby the package may be readily opened by peeling a panel portion thereof to expose for access and removal therefrom the contents thereof.

The packaging of the instant invention is formed from paired webs or sheets of material carrying selected coatings, as more fully disclosed in applicants Patent No. 3,217,871; and including paper, plastic lilm, metal foil, synthetic brous webs, and the like. By way of illustration, the packaging is shown as formed of a sheet of paper and a transparent lm of Mylar or the like.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, one element of the packaging generally indicated at P, is in the form of apaper sheet 10 or rectangular shape and forming abase panel 11 having aninner surface 12 and anouter surface 12A.Panel 11 has parall-el side edges 13, 14 andparallel end edges 15, 16. Thepanel 11 is precreased to formparallel fold lines 17, 18 and 19 on each side thereof', thereby providingside gusset portions 17A, 18A and 19A upon folding the side marginal portions of said panel alonglines 17, 18, 19.

The other element of packaging P takes the form 0f atransparent panel 20 of Mylar lln which carries on one surface thereof, a thin thermoplasticadhesive coating 21 extending over the entire surface thereof.Coating 21 may be derived from polyethylene, polypropylene or other thermoresponsve material which is adherent not only topanel 20, but may also be heat sealed tosheet 10, more particularly to selected portions thereof, as hereinafter disclosed.

Thus,base panel 11 in Open blank form is precoated by suitable means, over selected areas thereof, with selected thermoresponsive materials correlated to coating 21 onpanel 20, as more fully set forth in Patent 3,217,871. Thus, sidemarginal portions 22 ofpanel 20 may be heat sealed to foldedgusset portions 17A ofbase panel 11 while endmarginal portions 23 ofpanel 20 may be heat sealed to the opposite end marginal portions ofbase panel 11 to provide a well sealed package P for the contents thereof; yet allowingpanel 20 to be peeled away from base panel 1l to expose the contents of the package for removal therefrom.

Accordingly, there is applied to theinner surface 12 ofpanel 11 at the opposite ends thereof, transversely extendingbands 25 of a thermoplastic composition which are nonadherent to thecoating 21 onpanel 20 over a wide range of temperatures including sealing temperatures. Thus, thebands 25 may be derived from a mixture of nitrocellulose and polyvinyl acetate and smaller proportions of suitable plasticizer and solvent.

Bands 25 have their outer edges coterminous withpanel edges 15, 16 and terminate at their opposite ends inwardly offold lines 19, as at 26. A second set ofbands 27 are applied by coating toinner surface 12 ofpanel 11, saidbands 27 being immediatelyadjacent bands 25 and formed of the same thermoplastic composition. However, bands posing many closely spaced small areas ofpanel surface 12, in a manner more fully disclosed in Patent No. 3,217,871.

Bands 27 have a length substantially equal to that ofbands 25.Bands 25, 27 may be relatively narrow but of a width suitable for conventional package sealing operations utilizing heated sealing bars or wheels.

Theinner surface 12 ofbase panel 11 has further applied theretoshort bands 28 of a heat sealing thermoplastic composition such as vinyl copolymer or the like.Bands 28 extend from the opposite ends ofbands 27 toside edges 13, 14 ofpanel 11, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

The reverse side ofpanel 11, as at 12A, is provided with longitudinally extendingband coatings 30 which are applied to theoutermost gusset portions 17A and extending over a width thereof fromedges 13, 14 tofold lines 17.Coatings 30 are of a thermoplastic nature similar tocoatings forming bands 27, and are also of a discontinuous interrupted form so as to expose many spaced small surface areas ofgusset portions 17A.

Band coatings 30 terminate at their opposite ends short ofend edges 15, 16 ofpanel 11, see FIG. 2.Coatings 31 of a material similar to that ofbands 25, and being also of a continuous, uninterrupted character, are applied to the opposite terminal ends ofgusset portions 17A. Thus, whengusset portions 17A, 18A and 19A are folded in accordion form, as shown in FIG. 3,coatings 31 will be in lateral alignment withbands 25 and form extensions thereof. Similarly, opposite end portions ofcoatings 30 on foldedgusset portions 17A will be in lateral alignment withbands 27 and form extensions thereof.

Also, on thereverse side 12A ofpanel 11, there is applied shortnarrow bands 32 of heat sealing thermoplastic composition similar to that ofbands 28.Bands 32 extend parallel and adjacent topanel edges 15, 16, being located inwardly of lower portions ofcoatings 31 so as to extend overgusset portions 18A, 19a, for the purpose later described.

In packaging an article, not shown, the same is located betweenpanels 11, 20 which are in superposed relation;gusset portions 17A, 18A, 19A being accordion folded to bringgusset portions 17A in opposed relation to sidemarginal portions 22 ofpanel 20, see FIG. 4. Heat sealing means in the form of bars or wheels, of conventional character, are applied to longitudinal and transverse portions of the superposed panels to complete the package. Also,panels 11 and 20 in continuous sheet form may be sealed together along their opposed side marginal portions and transversely cut to form individual packages P which are filled and then transversely sealed.

Thus, with thegusset portions 17A, 18A and 19A in their accordion pleated condition,coatings 28 will secure the terminal portions thereof together whilecoatings 32 will secure outer surface portions ofgusset portions 18A, 19A together. The sidemarginal portions 22 ofpanel 20 will be sealed to the outer surfaces ofgusset portions 17A by way of opposedinterrupted coatings 30 and coating 21 while transversely extendingportions 33 ofpanel 20 located inwardly of endmarginal portions 22 thereof will be sealed toinner surface 12 ofpanel 11 throughinterrupted coatings 37 and opposedcoating 21 onpanel 20.

As thecoating 21 onpanel 20 is non-adherent to band coatings and thecoatings 31, the opposite endmarginal portions 23, 24 ofpanel 20 will be in non-adherent, separated relation to the opposite end marginal portions ofbase panel 11. Thus, the separation ofpanel 20 frompanel 11 may be started by way of saidmarginal portions 23, 24 with a peeling action which permits separation of the sidemarginal portions 22 ofpanel 20 fromgusset portions 17A as well as from thetransverse bands 27, in view of the interrupted bonding effect attained by the coaction ofcoatings 27, with thecoating 21 onpanel 20, as more fully set forth in Patent No. 3,217,871.

It will be apparent that the gusseted packaging P is well adapted to contain reasonably large articles, as for example, surgical devices and the like. The contents of the package P may be made sterile by the use of gas or other procedures well known in the art. Access to the contents of the package P is possible by peeling thepanel 20 away from thebase panel 11, exposing such contents which may be readily removed therefrom.

Gusseted packaging P also lends itself to the enclosure of tray elements carrying the item or items to be packaged. Thus, trays formed of light weight materials such as foam plastic, cardboard, molded pulp, or the like, having depressions formed in one surface thereof to receive individual items; may be assembled with packaging P as a container therefore.

As shown in FIGS 5, 6; packaging P', similar to packaging P shown in FIGS. 1-4, encloses atray member 35 which may be formed of foamed plastic such as polystyrene or the like. Traymember 35 is shown with asingle recess 36 of rectangular shape for receiving therein an article, not shown.Recess 36 is defined byside edges 37 andend edges 38. The ends of thetray member 35 are tapered as at 39 withbevelled side portions 40. Thetapered end portions 39 form end edges 41.

It will be apparent that thetray member 35 with its contents, may be readily introduced into packaging P', the tapered ends 39 and bevellededges 40 facilitating the assembly operation. Thefishtail portions 42 at the opposite ends of packaging P extending beyond tray edges 41 and made up ofmarginal end portions 25A of base panel 1l, including the band coatedportions 25, 27 thereof andmarginal end portions 23 ofpanel 20; are readily sealed together by the usual heated sealing bars or wheels.

Also, it has been found that the gusset portions ofbase panel 11, at the opposite ends thereof adjacent sealedfishtail portions 42, show increased resistance to tearing, cracking or other forms of rupture.

The sidemarginal portions 22 sealed togusset portions 17A ofbase panel 11, as previously described; are supported on themarginal surface portions 43 oftray member 35. Theedges 13, 14 ofgusset portions 17A are spaced outwardly of side edges 37 oftray member 35; thus providing a sterile field when peelingpanel 20 away frompanel 11, and exposingrecess 36 intray member 35, so as to readily remove the sterile contents thereof without fear of contamination.

As shown in FIG. 7,tray member 35A is similar totray member 35, except that one or both end edges thereof, is at instead of tapered, as shown at 45. In this case, thefishtail end portion 46 of packaging P may be folded fiat against saidend edge 45 and peelably sealed in its folded condition.

It is understood that the packaging P and P may be made up of various combinations of paper, film, foil and plastic sheets, as well as non-woven webs and other sheet materials; together with a suitable combination of continuous and discontinuous coatings of thermoresponsive materials which provide seals of desired properties, yet lending themselves to peeled separation when the packaging is to be opened, all as set forth in said Patent No. 3,217,871.

I claim:

1. Packaging comprising a pair of opposed sheets for enclosing an object therebetween with peripheral portions of said sheets extending beyond the peripheral edge portions of said object, one of said sheets having foldable side gusset portions, said one sheet having on the inner surface thereof and at the opposite ends thereof a pair of adjacent inner and outer thermoresponsive coatings extending t0- ward opposite side edges of said sheet, the outermost coating being of a continuous, non-interrupted character, the innermost coating being of a discontinuous, interrupted character, the outermost side gusset portions of said one sheet having applied to the outer surface thereof thermoresponsive coatings of a discontinuous, interrupted character which extend toward the opposite end edges thereof, the other of said sheets having surface portions of a thermoplastic character which are in opposed relation to the marginal opposite end portions and the folded outermost gusset portions of said one sheet, said thermoplastic surface portions of said other sheet being non-adherent to the thermoresponsive coatings on said one sheet over a wide range of temperatures, said thermoplastic surface portions of the other sheet being heat sealed at closely spaced surface areasthereof to said one sheet through the discontinuities in the thermoresponsive coatings thereon, and heat sealable coatings on opposite end portions of the gusseted side portions of said one sheet for sealing the overlying gusseted side portions at the opposite ends thereof.

2. Packaging as inclaim 1 wherein the outermost gusset portions of said one sheet have on the outer surface thereof and at the opposite ends thereof continuous, non-interrupted coatings of thermoresponsive material which are in lateral alignment with said outermost coatings on the opposite end portions of said one sheet and the inner surface thereof.

3. Packaging as in claim 2 wherein the innermost gusset portions of said one sheet have on the outer surface thereof and at the opposite ends thereof, sealing thermoplastic coatings whereby the overlying outer gusset portions at the opposite ends thereof are heat sealed together.

4. Packaging as in claim 3 wherein the gusset portions of said one sheet have on the inner surface thereof and at the opposite ends thereof sealing thermoplastic coatings which are laterally aligned with the innermost coatings on the opposite ends of said one sheet whereby opposed gusset portions at the inner surface of said one sheet are secured together.

5. Packaging comprising in combination object carrying tray means, means for enclosing said tray means and the object carried therein, said tray means having tapered edge portions at the opposite ends thereof, said enclosing means including a pair of opposed sheets, one of said sheets having foldable gusset portions on the opposite sides thereof, said gusset portions enclosing the side portions of said tray means and extending over the top marginal side portions thereof, the other of said sheets overlying the top of said tray means with marginal portions thereof overlying marginal portions of said one sheet, means for sealing the opposed marginal portions of said sheets, said sealing means comprising a pair of interposed thermoplastic coatings, one of said coatings being of a continuous, non-interrupted character,` the other of said coatings being of a discontinuous, interrupted character, said coatings being non-adherent to each other over a wide range of temperatures, spaced portions of said continuous coating extending through the discontinuities of said discontinuous coating and sealed to the sheet carrying said discontinuous coating on closely spaced surface portions thereof.

6. The combination as in claim 5 wherein said opposed sheets are sealed together at the opposite ends thereof in transverse zones extending beyond the opposite tapered edges of said tray means.

7. The combination as in claim 6 wherein said foldable gusset portions carry thermoplastic seal coatings at the opposite ends thereof for sealing opposed folded gusset portions at said `transverse extended zones of said sheets.

8. The combination as in claim 5 wherein the side edges of the outermost gusset portions of said one sheet are located on the top surface marginal portions of said tray means outwardly of recessed portions thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,133,946 10/1938 Bloomer 229--51 2,330,666 9/ 1943 Berkowitz.

2,676,702 4/ 1954 Whitefoot 206--632 2,715,089 8/1955 Michener et al 156-289 X 2,735,544 2/1956 Guyer 206-63.2 2,745,592 5/1956 Steck 22.9 51 2,810,507 10/ 1957 Saunders 229-37 2,903,947 9/ 1959 Weisshuhn 229-5 3 X 2,954,116 9/1960 Maso et al 229-51 3,001,689 9/1961 Burton 229-62 3,217,871 11/1965 Lee 206-63.2

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner.

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