Cross Reference to Related Applications

[0001 ] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application

No. 62/531 ,946, filed on July 13, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Field of the Invention

J00Q2] The present invention relates to consumable products packages, and more particularly, to hermetically sealed consumable products packages configured to contain and support consumable products disposed therewithin.

Background of the Invention

[0003] Certain consumable products, such as gum slabs or sticks, are normally accommodated in a packaging device to protect the products and to provide an ease of use for consumers. Currently, there are various packaging devices that are designed and configured to accommodate and dispense the consumable products. Each of these packaging devices normally includes an end seal which may be rupture to open and access the products contained therewithin. In addition, most of these packaging devices generally employ a closure mechanism such that a consumer can dispense the products therefrom and close the package device repeatedly.

[0004] While various packaging devices for consumable products are available currently in the marketplace, it is desirable to provide a packaging device for consumable products such as gum slabs with further improvements. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present in vention, a package for supporting at least one consumable product includes a support member for supporting the at least one consumable product, a flexible package for enclosing the support member and the at least one product, and a closure mechanism configured to transit the package between open and closed positions. The flexible package has a line of weakness and a flap defined and positioned near an area formed by the line of weakness. When the flap is pulled, it ruptures the line of weakness and creates an opening to allow access to the at least one consumable product.

[0006] These and other aspects of the present invention will be better understood in view of the drawings and following detailed description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a consumable product package, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in an open position;

[0008] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the consumable product package in Figure 1, in a closed position;

[0009] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the support member of the consumable product package in Figure 1 ; [0010] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the support member of the consumable product package in Figure 1 , with the support member folded to form a support member pouch with the consumable products disposed therewithin;

[0011] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the flexible package of the consumable product package, without an opening defined thereon;

[0012] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the consumable product package, with magnets employed as a closure mechanism on the flexible package; and

[0013] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the consumable product package in Figure 1 , with a reclosable adhesive employed as a closure mechanism on the flexible package.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a consumable product package 10 having a plurality of consumable products 12 contained therewithin. While gum slabs, typically elongate rectangular shaped and individually wrapped, are shown (Figure 1) in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, other suitable elongate consumable products may be supported by the package 10.

[0015] The package 10 includes a support member 14 for supporting and containing the consumable products 12, a flexible package 16 for enclosing the support member 14 and the products 12 contained therewithin, and a closure mechanism 18 configured to transit the package 1 0 between open, shown in Figure 1 , and closed, shown in Figure 2, positions, as will be described in greater detail below. (0016] Directional terms, such as top and bottom are referenced to an orientation in which the package 10 is placed on a flat surface in the open position with the consumable productions contained in a bottom half of the package 10, as shown in Figure 1 . However, the present invention is not thereby limited to use in any particular orientation.

[0017] Referring to Figure 3, there is shown the support member 14 configured to provide structure to the package 10. The support member 14 is preferably planar rectangular shaped and has a connecting member 20, top and bottom members 22, 24 connected and separated by the connecting member 20, and a plurality of creases 26. The top member 22 of the support member 14 includes a main portion 28 and a top portion 30 which lays over the main portion 28 and attaches thereto during assembly. The bottom member 24 of the support member 14 includes a bottom connecting portion 32 and front and rear portions 34, 36 connected and separated by the bottom connecting portion 32. The plurality of creases 26 delineate a boundary between each member and each portion. In addition, the plurality of creases 26 allow folding of portions of the support member 14 and, together with the closure mechanism 18, allow the package 10 to transit between open and closed positions, as will be described in greater detail below.

[0018] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the support member 14 is configured to be folded along the plurality of creases 26 to form a support member pouch 38 during assembly for containing and supporting the consumable products 12 therewithin. Specifically, the front portion 34 of the bottom member 24 of the support member 14 is folded such that the folded front portion 34 is substantially parallel with the rear portion 36 of the bottom member 24, defining a product retaining space 40 therebetween, as shown in Figure 4. The support member pouch 38 is configured and dimensioned so that the elongate consumable products 12 such as the gum slabs could be closely accommodated in a side-by-side or other suitable orientation within the product retaining space 40. In addition, the front portion 34 of the bottom member 24 of the support member 14 extends partially upwards, approximately to a half length of the rear portion 36. to provide access and to remove the consumable products 12 from the support member 14. As shown in Figure 4, the support member pouch 38 has no sidewalls.

[0019] Referring to Figures 1 , 2, and 5, the flexible package 16 is configured to completely surround the support member 14 and consumable products 12 contained therewithin. T he flexible package 16 includes inner and outer films 42. 44 that define inner and outer sides of the flexible package 16, respectively. Top 46 and opposing side edge portions 48 of the inner fi lm 42 are hermetically sealed together with top 50 and opposing side edge portions 52 of the outer film 44, respectively, to form top 54 and opposed side hermetically sealed edges 56 with rounded corners 58 such that the inner and outer films 42, 44 define an interior space. The hermetically sealed flexible package 16 provides an environmental barrier for the consumable products 12 contained therewithin such that it protects and improves a shelf life of the consumable products 12. In addition, the rounded corners 58 allow the package 10 to be carried comfortably within a pocket. The interior space of the flexible package 16 and the support member 14 are dimensioned such that the support member 14 could be movably contained and closely accommodated within the interior space of the flexible package 16, as shown in Figure 1 .

[0020] Referring again to Figure 5, the flexible package 16 further includes a line of weakness 62, which is preferably formed by perforations. The line of weakness 62 is preferably arcuate and is defined on the inner film 42 of the flexible package 16. When the package 10 is in the open position, the line of weakness 62 is positioned closer to a bottom edge 64 than the top edge 54 of the flexible package 16, with a convex side of the arcuate line of weakness 62 facing the bottom edge 64 of the flexible package 16. In addition, a flap 66 is defined and positioned near an area formed by the line of weakness 62.

10021 ] In a preferred embodiment, magnets are employed to provide the closure mechanism 18 of the package 10. Specifically, first and second magnets 68, 70 are applied and attached to the front portion 34 of the bottom member 24 and the top portion 30 of the top member 22 of the support member 14, respectively, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. When the package 10 transitions from the open position to the closed position, top and bottom sections 72, 74 of the package 10 are folded along the plurality of creases 26 and are substantially parallel to each other such that the first and second magnets 68, 70 are aligned, engaged, and magnetically adhered to each other with the inner film 42 of the flexible package 16 being in between the first and second magnets 68, 70, as shown in Figure 2.

[0022] Alternatively, the first and second magnets 68, 70 may be attached to or printed on top and bottom sections 76, 78 of the inner film 42 of the flexible package 16, respectively, as shown in Figure 6. When the package 10 is in the closed position, the first and second magnets 68, 70 are directly engaged and magnetically adhered to each other, without any intervening structures therebetween. To transit the package 10 back to the open position, the top and bottom sections 72, 74 of the package 10 are simply pulled away from each other with adequate force to disengage the magnets 68, 70. [0023] it will be appreciated that other designs and configurations could be used for the closure mechanism 18 of the package 10, as deemed suitable for given application factors. For example, in an alternate embodiment, a reclosable adhesive 80 is applied as the closure mechanism 1 8, as shown in Figure 7. Specifically, the reclosable adhesive 80 is applied to the bottom section 78 of the inner film 42 of the flexible package 16 such that, when the package 10 is in the closed position, the reclosable adhesive 80 allows the top and bottom sections 76, 78 of the inner film 42 to be engaged and adhered to each other.

[0024] In yet another embodiment, hook and loop fasteners of Velcro (not shown) may be employed as the closure mechanism. Specifically, hooks and loops (not shown) are attached to the top and bottom sections 76, 78 of the inner film 42 of the flexible package 16, respectively. Similar to the magnets, when the package 10 transitions to the closed position from the open position, the top and bottom sections 72, 74 of the package 10 are folded along the plurality of creases 26 and are substantially parallel to each other such that the hooks and loops (not shown) are aligned, engaged, and attached to each other. To transit the package 10 back to the open position, the top and bottom sections 72, 74 of the package 10 are simply pulled away from each other with adequate force to disengage the hooks and loops of Velcro (not shown).

[0025] In the present invention, an attachment force of the closure mechanism 18, is stronger than the hinge memory force of the package 10. This allows the package 10 to be remained in the closed position once the closure mechanism 1 8 engages.

[0026] When the package 10 is assembled, initially, the package 10 is in the closed position, as shown in Figure 2, with the flap 66 adhered to the inner film 42 of the flexible package 10. Thus, if a user desires to dispense and consume the consumable products 12 contained within the package 10, first, the package 10 needs to be opened. In the present invention, since the strength of the adhesive that attaches the flap 66 to the inner film 42 of the flexible package 16 is greater than the strength required to rupture the line of weakness 62, by simply opening the package 10 for the first time, the flap 66 ruptures the line of weakness 62 and creates an opening 82 to expose the consumable products 12 contained therewithal to allow access to the consumable products 12.

[0027] Once the line of weakness 62 is ruptured and the opening 82 is created on the flexible package 16, the package 10 may be closed with the closure mechanism 1 8, as described above, to prevent access to the consumable products 12 contained within the support member 14 and also to prevent the consumable products 12 being removed from the package 10 through the opening 82. The package 10 may be closed and opened as many times as the consumer desires.

|0028] The package 1 is designed and configured such that it can be run on a horizontal wrapping equipment without a major changeover to the equipment or significant additional cost per each product. This allows various sized packages to be constructed to hold different amounts of consumable products 12 therewithal, which currently existing packaging equipment and systems cannot provide.

[0029] The package 10 is made of one or more materials having suitable properties for a desired application, including strength, weight, rigidity, etc. A stiffening board, cardboard, paperboard, or plastic is generally preferred for the support member 14. The support member 14 may be formed from a single flat plastic, stiffening board, cardboard, or paperboard blank. For the flexible package 16, monoweb flexible and hermetically sealable material such as polymer laminate is generally preferred.

[0030] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a consumable product package according to the present invention allows consumable products to be contained therewithin, while providing an environmental barrier and a closure mechanism to improve a shelf life of the consumable products.

[0031] In general, the foregoing description is provided for exemplary and illustrative purposes; the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Rather, those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional modifications, as well as adaptations for particular circumstances, will fall within the scope of the invention as herein shown and described and of the claims appended hereto.