IP Library Granted Patent US 8,640,874
Granted Patent B2
US 8,640,874 · App. 12/990,277 · Granted Feb 4, 2014

Confectionery package

Inventors: Daniel H. J. Shin (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Heather L. Fluegel (Chicago, IL); Robert J. Peterson (Crystal Lake, IL)
Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,640,874
App. No.
12/990,277
Granted
Feb 4, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A package for holding a plurality of non-spherical products, each product having at least one product axis, is provided. The package comprises a tray defining a tray plane, a plurality of open pockets protruding from the tray plane, each for containing a single product; and each pocket including an angular orienting pocket wall portion for angularly orienting the product within the pocket, so that a product axis is angularly oriented with respect to the tray plane.

Claims (36)

1. A package for containing a plurality of non-spherical confection products, the package comprising:

a) a tray defining a tray plane at one side of the tray;

b) a plurality of open individual pockets protruding from the tray plane, each individual pocket provided for containing a single product, wherein each pocket has a plurality of sidewalls extending from the tray plane forming the individual pockets and defining a receptacle for receiving a product,

wherein the sidewalls of each pocket include a substantially vertical sidewall and an opposing curved sidewall that meets the substantially vertical sidewall at a curved continuous angular orienting pocket wall portion for angularly orienting the product within the receptacle of the pocket;

c) a cover removably sealed over the plurality of open individual pockets; and

d) a plurality of non-spherical products each having a longest dimension and a second longest dimension, wherein one of the non-spherical products is positioned within each open individual pocket such that the second longest dimension of the one non-spherical product is positioned greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the tray plane and such that the receptacle of each open individual pocket has a depth less than the second longest dimension of the one non-spherical product.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the cover is rupturable.

3. The package of claim 1 further comprising a sleeve surrounding the tray.

4. The package of claim 3 wherein the sleeve has two or more compartments and each sleeve compartment houses a tray.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein the sleeve compartments are releasably attached to each other.

6. The package of claim 5 wherein the sleeve compartments are releasably attached to each other by a connection selected from the group consisting of perforation, adhesive, pressure sensitive label, and combinations thereof.

7. The package of claim 3 wherein the sleeve comprises material selected from the group consisting of paperboard, plastic, and combinations thereof.

8. The package of claim 1 wherein each non-spherical product is positioned so that the second longest dimension of the non-spherical product is greater than 10 degrees and less than 60 degrees relative to the tray plane.

9. The package of claim 1 wherein the cover comprises material selected from the group consisting of foil, plastic film, and combinations thereof.

10. The package of claim 1 further comprising a sleeve surrounding the tray.

11. The package of claim 1 wherein the tray having at least one perforation to facilitate separation of a first part of the tray and a second part of the tray.

12. The package of claim 1 wherein the receptacle of each pocket defines a width, the non-spherical product positioned within the pocket such that the width is less than or equal to the second longest dimension of the non-spherical product.

13. The package of claim 1 wherein the cover is made of foil.

14. The package of claim 1 wherein a plane of a pocket opening for each of the pockets is substantially parallel to the planes of the openings of the other pockets.

15. A package comprising:

a) a tray defining a tray plane at one side of the tray;

b) a plurality of pockets formed in the tray plane and each containing a non-spherical product, each of the pockets having an opening in the tray plane and having sidewalls defining a receptacle that receives the non-spherical product, wherein the sidewalls of each pocket extend from the tray plane separating each pocket from other pockets, wherein each pocket has a depth such that the non-spherical product contained in the pocket does not intersect the tray plane;

c) each pocket having a substantially vertical sidewall and an opposing curved sidewall that meets the substantially vertical sidewall at a continuous curved angular orienting pocket wall portion, wherein each of the non-spherical products has a longest dimension and a second longest dimension, wherein one of the non-spherical products is positioned within each pocket such that the second longest dimension of the one non-spherical product is positioned greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the tray plane and such that the receptacle of each pocket has a depth less than the second longest dimension of the one non-spherical product; and

d) a cover removably sealed over each pocket opening.

16. A package containing a plurality of non-spherical products, the package comprising:

a) a tray defining a tray plane;

b) a plurality of pockets formed in the tray plane, each of the pockets having an opening in the tray plane and having sidewalls defining a receptacle to receive at least one product, the sidewalls including a substantially vertical sidewall and an opposing curved sidewall that meets the substantially vertical sidewall at a continuous curved angular orienting pocket wall portion;

c) each pocket containing at least one product having a longest dimension and a second longest dimension, wherein each individual product is positioned within its respective pocket such that the second longest dimension of the individual product is positioned greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the tray plane and such that the receptacle of each pocket has a depth less than the second longest dimension of the individual product;

d) a cover sealed to the pocket openings in the tray to retain the products; and

e) a sleeve surrounding the tray, wherein the sleeve has two or more compartments and each sleeve compartment houses a tray, and wherein the sleeve compartments are releasably attached to each other.

17. A package comprising:

a) a plurality of products, each product having a longest dimension and a second longest dimension;

b) a tray comprising a plurality of open pockets protruding from a tray plane, each pocket containing one of the products, wherein each pocket includes a substantially vertical sidewall and an opposing curved sidewall that meets the substantially vertical sidewall at a curved continuous angular orienting pocket wall portion, and wherein the one product is positioned within the pocket such that the second longest dimension of the product is positioned greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the tray plane and such that each pocket has a depth less than the second longest dimension of the product;

c) each pocket including a pocket opening width that is less than or equal to the second longest dimension of the product;

d) a cover sealed to the open pockets; and

e) a sleeve surrounding the tray, wherein the sleeve has two or more compartments and each sleeve compartment houses a tray, and wherein the sleeve compartments are releasably attached to each other.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2010
From: SHIN, DANIEL H.J.; FLUEGEL, HEATHER L.; PETERSON, ROBERT J.
To: WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025466/0417 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61049607 · May 1, 2008
Related Publication 20110100855A1 · May 5, 2011