Patent Application
20230121508
This disclosure relates to packaging and in particular, packages formed from peelable strips.
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for peelable packaging. In an implementation, a package includes a body including a plurality of peelable strips defined by perforation lines and a replaceable cap configured to fit one or more of the plurality of peelable strips. Each peelable strip is peelable from the body to access a material contained within the package. The replaceable cap configured to fit on the remaining peelable strips.
The disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and are incorporated into and thus constitute a part of this specification. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not to-scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity.
The figures and descriptions provided herein may be simplified to illustrate aspects of the described embodiments that are relevant for a clear understanding of the herein disclosed processes, machines, manufactures, and/or compositions of matter, while eliminating for the purpose of clarity other aspects that may be found in typical similar devices, systems, compositions and methods. Those of ordinary skill may thus recognize that other elements and/or steps may be desirable or necessary to implement the packages, devices, systems, compositions and methods described herein. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the disclosed embodiments, a discussion of such elements and steps may not be provided herein. However, the present disclosure is deemed to inherently include all such elements, variations, and modifications to the described aspects that would be known to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art in light of the discussion herein.
Embodiments are provided throughout so that this disclosure is sufficiently thorough and fully conveys the scope of the disclosed embodiments to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific aspects, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. Nevertheless, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain specific disclosed details need not be employed, and that embodiments may be embodied in different forms. As such, the exemplary embodiments set forth should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The steps, processes, and operations described herein are thus not to be construed as necessarily requiring their respective performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as a preferred or required order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed, in place of or in conjunction with the disclosed aspects.
Yet further, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, steps or aspects, these elements, steps or aspects should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element or aspect from another. Thus, terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, step, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, step, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.
The non-limiting embodiments described herein are with respect to peelable packaging and packages. The peelable packaging and packages may be modified for a variety of applications and uses while remaining within the spirit and scope of the claims. The embodiments and variations described herein, and/or shown in the drawings, are presented by way of example only and are not limiting as to the scope and spirit. The descriptions herein may be applicable to all embodiments of the device and the methods for making the devices.
Disclosed herein are implementations of peelable packaging and packages. The implementations shown are illustrative and other implementations are within the scope of the specification and claims described herein. For purposes of illustration, certain aspects, features, and the like are described with respect to implementations. These aspects, features, and the like are appropriately applicable to and interchangeable with other implementations described herein.
In implementations, the peelable packaging and packages described herein use a combination of injection molding (IM), in-mold labeling (IML), lamination, and other like processing to fuse, weld, or bond (collectively “fuse”) an injection molded frame or structure with a film, paper, biodegradable layer, and the like. In implementations, the peelable packaging is hybrid package using a combination of semi-rigid, flexible, composite, and paper-based structures.
In implementations, each peelable strip of the peelable packaging is recyclable or biodegradable. In implementations, each peelable strip can be made from sustainable materials, recyclable materials, biodegradable materials, bio-based resins, and the like.
Operationally, the cap 110 and the body 120 can be sent to a customer or client for placing a material in the package 100. The material, substance, and the like (collectively “usable material”) can be a deodorant, a candy, a food item, a cosmetic, and the like. The customer or client can then close the package 100 by fitting the cap 110 on the body 120. In implementations, the cap 110 is snap fit to an appropriate one or more of the plurality of peelable strips 130. In implementations, the cap 110 is friction fit to an appropriate one or more of the plurality of peelable strips 130. In implementations, each of the plurality of peelable strips 130 provides mechanical retention of the cap 110.
For accessing the usable material, a user can remove the cap 110 from the body 120. One of the peelable strips 130 can then be peeled away from the body 120 of the peelable package 100 by pulling on an appropriate tab 132. This exposes the usable material contained in the peelable package 100.
In implementations, an injected molded frame or skeleton can be formed using compression molding, injection molding, and other like production processes. The injected molded frame can include, for example, a molded strip with tabs as described herein. In implementations, the injected molded frame can include a seal. A film, such as film 1200, can be in-mold labeled to the injected molded frame to create the peelable package as described herein.
The peelable packages described herein may be manufactured using compression molding, injection molding and other like production processes. The peelable packages may be made from biodegradable materials, recyclable materials, sustainable materials, and the like.
The construction and arrangement of the methods as shown in the various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials and components, colors, orientations, etc.). For example, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Although the figures may show a specific order of method steps, the order of the steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variation will depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps, and decision steps.
While the disclosure has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2021/034802 | 5/28/2021 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63030973 | May 2020 | US |
