Thumb Action Candy And Mint Box

Abstract

A seal-end package or box for dispensing a solid pourable product includes folding major side panels foldably connected together extending laterally, and formed into a tube around a central axis. Further extending laterally is an overlapping panel similarly folded over and conforming to the tube. A slide is connected to the major side panels, with the overlapping panel having a cover panel with an opening. The slide obstructs the opening, until a thumb tab on the slide engaged by a user and moved laterally relative the axis un-obstructs the opening allowing dispensing of the product.

Claims

1. A package for dispensing a solid pourable product, the package comprising: foldably connected side panels having an opening therein and formed into a tube about an axis; a first overlapping panel connected to the side panels, a second overlapping panel connected to the first overlapping panel, such that the first overlapping panel and the second overlapping panel conform to the tube; a slide connected to the side panels; a cover panel having a cover panel opening and foldably connected to the second overlapping panel transverse to the axis, the cover panel overlying the slide; the cover panel opening aligned with the side panels opening; and the slide obstructing the cover panel opening and the side panel opening, wherein moving the slide lateral to the axis un-obstructs the cover panel opening and the side panel opening allowing the solid pourable product egress from the package.

2. The package of claim 1 formed from a single die-cut blank

3. The package of claim 1 wherein the foldably connected side panels are four side panels.

4. The package of claim 1 wherein the slide is connected to the side panels adjacent the first overlapping panel.

5. The package of claim 1 wherein the slide is adjacent the second overlapping panel.

6. The package of claim 1 wherein the slide has a stop and the side panels have a catch that engages the stop.

7. The package of claim 1 further comprising a thumb tab collinear with a panel fold line between the first overlapping panel and the second overlapping panel.

8. The package of claim 7 wherein the thumb tab is formed from a cut-out along a slide fold line collinear with the panel fold line.

9. The package of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive holding the cover panel against the second overlapping panel.

10. The package of claim 1 further comprising a top panel foldably connected to the cover panel opposite the second overlapping panel, wherein the top panel is coplanar with a top of the package.

11. A box for dispensing a solid pourable product, the box comprising: major panels connected together extending laterally and folded into a square-shaped tube about a central axis; an overlapping panel connected to the four major panels and similarly extending laterally and folded to overlay and conform to the square-shaped tube; a slide connected to the major panels adjacent the overlapping panel; a cover panel further extending laterally from the four major panels, the cover panel having an opening overlying the slide; and the slide obstructing the cover panel opening, wherein moving the slide un-obstructs the cover panel opening allowing the solid pourable product egress from the box.

12. The box of claim 11 wherein the slide moves laterally relative the axis, such that the user's thumb clears the cover panel opening as the slide clears the cover panel opening.

13. The box of claim 11 wherein the slide has a thumb tab extending from the package.

14. The box of claim 11 wherein the slide further comprises a stop and the major panels further comprise a catch that engages the stop.

15. The box of claim 11 wherein the box is a single die-cut blank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a flat pattern view of a stock blank from which an improved convenient, easy open and close laterally thumb actuated candy and mint package is made;

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the blank being folded in an initial stage of construction;

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the blank being folded in a further stage of construction with the major side panels affixed in position;

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a tube formed from the blank with first and second overlapping sides in position over the major side panels;

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the tube with the slide in position over a major side panel opening;

[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the package partially constructed with a cover panel adhered over the slide;

[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the tube flattened for stacking;

[0029] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the package fully assembled;

[0030] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the package partially disassembled to show the cover panel and slide mechanism;

[0031] FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the package being filled with a solid pourable product from the bottom;

[0032] FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the package being filled with the solid pourable product from the top;

[0033] FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of an assembled and filled box with the slide open for dispensing the solid pourable product;

[0034] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a user opening an assembled box to dispense the solid pourable product.

[0035] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a prior art thumb-actuated candy or mint box partially disassembled to show the slide mechanism.

[0036] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the prior art thumb-actuated candy or mint box completely assembled.

DESCRIPTION

[0037] Referring initially to FIGS. 14-15 a prior art thumb-actuated candy or mint box 100 is shown. As shown in FIG. 14, while the box 100 has a sideways sliding opening movement, it includes an elongated top flap 102, which extends far beyond the box 100 when unfolded. For this reason, specialized machinery is often necessary to assemble the box 100 resulting in increased costs. For this reason, the improved box 12 of FIGS. 1-13 is cleverly re-configured to avoid this problem and make it compatible with existing high speed packaging machines and thus easier to implement in the marketplace.

[0038] Referring now to FIG. 1, a flat patterned paper or cardboard stock blank 10 is provided for forming a package or box 12. The blank 10 has a top 14 and bottom 16, and preferably four major sides made up of a front panel 18, right side panel 20, left side panel 22 and back panel 24 (collectively, “side panels 18-24”) which are generally rectangular in the illustrated embodiment and extend laterally across the blank 10. The side panels 18-24 extend in the other direction between the top 14 and the bottom 16, and the blank 10 is scored for folding.

[0039] A first overlapping panel 26 is connected to the back panel 24, and a second overlapping panel 28 is connected to the first overlapping panel 26 along a panel fold line 30. A slide 32 is also connected the back panel 24, shown in the illustrated embodiment adjacent he first overlapping panel 26. The slide 32 is folded along a slide fold line 34, and a thumb tab 36 is die-cut along the slide fold line 34. The slide 32 also includes a notch 38 terminating in a stop 40, the notch 38 extending from the stop 40 to the slide fold line 34. A small portion of the right side panel 20 is cut away to make a catch 42 for engaging the stop 40.

[0040] The second overlapping panel 28 has a cover panel 44 for folding over the slide 32. A top panel 46 extends from the cover panel 44 for folding over the top 14. A side tab 48 is connected to the right side panel 20 for folding and adhesion to the back panel 24. A cover panel opening 50 is disposed in the cover panel 44, and a side panel opening 52 is disposed in the front panel 18. When the box 12 is constructed, the cover panel opening 50 and side panel opening 52 align.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows the blank 10 in an initial stage of folding. The blank 10 folds in a sequence avoiding the need for specialized packaging machinery that might otherwise be necessary to form the slide 32 when the box 12 is assembled. The side tab 48 is folded substantially perpendicular to the right side panel 20, and similar folds are made between the right side panel 20 and front panel 18, the front panel 18 and left side panel 22, and the left side panel 22 and back panel 24. An adhesive 54 on the side tab 48 adheres it to the back panel 24 to locate the side tab 48 adjacent the first overlapping panel 26, thereby forming a tube 56 (FIGS. 3-6) oriented along an axis 58.

[0042] FIGS. 3-4 show the next stages of assembly. After the front panel 18, right side panel 20, left side panel 22 and back panel 24 are folded and the side tab 48 adhered to the back panel 24, the first overlapping panel 26 is folded up against the right side panel 20. The second overlapping panel 28 is folded up against the front panel 18 along the panel fold line 30. Preferably the second overlapping panel 28 is adhered to the front panel 18, and has additional adhesive 54 for retaining a cover panel 44 coupled to the second overlapping panel 28 and including a cover panel opening 50.

[0043] FIGS. 5-7 show further assembly of the box 12 resulting in an assembled, collapsed structure ready for stacking and loading in an automatic assembly machine (not shown). Referring to FIG. 5, the slide 32 is brought adjacent to the first overlapping panel 26. The slide 32 folds along the slide fold line 34, extending the thumb tab 36 away from the tube 56. When the slide 32 is fully folded over the tube 56 it overlies both the front panel 18 and the right side panel 20 on a corner 60 common with the first overlapping panel 26 and second overlapping panel 28.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 6, the second overlapping panel 28 is adhered to the front panel 18 to secure it in position, with the cover panel 44 adhered to the second overlapping panel 28 so the cover panel opening 50 is over the slide 32, which covers the side panel opening 52. Referring to FIG. 7, with the slide fold line 34 placed collinear with the junction of the first overlapping panel 26 and second overlapping panel 28, the tube 56 can be flattened for stacking prior to use in automated filling machinery.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 8-9, a preferred embodiment of the completed box 12 is shown. FIG. 8 shows the box 12 partially disassembled for viewing how the slide 32 cooperates with the cover panel 44 and the stop 40 cooperates with the catch 42 to open and close the box 12. FIG. 9 shows the box 12 in a closed arrangement for containing and dispensing a solid pourable product 62 (FIGS. 10-12) such as small candies or mints.

[0046] FIG. 10 shows the box 12 being filled with solid pourable product 62 introduced into the bottom 16 as is typical for conventional large capacity filling machines. FIG. 11 shows the box 12 being filled with solid pourable product 62 introduced through the top 14 as an alternative. Top 14 or bottom 16 filling may be selected according to preference and equipment. Once the box 12 is filled with solid pourable product 62, it may be sealed prior to distribution and sale. Referring to FIG. 12, the solid pourable product 62 can be easily accessed by urging sliding the thumb tab 36 away from the box 12, simultaneously un-obstructing the cover panel opening 50 and side panel opening 52. The slide 32 is closed by urging the thumb tab 36 in the reverse direction.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 13, the box 12 is an improvement over other candy or mint dispensing designs. The cover panel opening 50 and side panel opening 52 face away from a user's hand 200, leaving them unobstructed, while the thumb tab 36 is oriented to slide 32 complimentary to the user's thumb 202. Thus, the user can open and close the box 12 with an easy back-and-forth thumb movement while holding it.

[0048] The structure and steps of forming the box 12 having been fully described, its operation will now be discussed.

[0049] In order to use the box 12, the blank 10 is folded and flattened as shown in FIG. 7. A series of flattened blanks 10 are stacked and loaded into folding and filling machinery. The machinery removes a flattened blank 10 from the stack, folding it open as shown in FIG. 6. The machinery closes and glues either the top 14 or bottom 16, according to preference. Solid pourable product 62 is introduced into the box 12 and the opposing top 14 or bottom 16 sealed to close the box 12. Multiple filled boxes 12 will typically be assembled and packed for delivery.

[0050] When a user purchases the solid pourable product 62 contained in the box 12, the user removes any wrapping or sealing, and grasps the box 12 singlehandedly with the cover panel opening 50 facing away from the user's hand. To open the box 12, the user presses the user's thumb 202 against the thumb tab 36, and urges it away from the box 12. Once the slide 32 clears the cover panel opening 50 and side panel opening 52, a desired quantity of solid pourable product 62 may be dispensed. Then the user urges the thumb tab 36 back toward the box 12 to occlude the cover panel opening 50 and side panel opening 52 in the process. The box 12 may be retained until additional solid pourable product 62 is desired, at which time the user repeats the process.

[0051] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment is sufficient in detail to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is understood, however, that the detail of the preferred embodiment presented is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, in as much as equivalents thereof and other modifications which come within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification.