Method of packaging a plurality of flat articles, and a package formed thereby

Claim 1

A PACKAGE COMPRISING A REAR PANEL OF PAPER HAVING TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE EDGES AND HAVING A FLAP FOLDED FROM SAID BOTTOM EDGE ON A FLAP FOLD LINE; A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY FLAT UNWRAPPED ARTICLES ALL OF WHICH MUST BE MAINTAINED STERILE LOOSELY POSITIONED IN INTERCLINGING LATERALLY OFFSET RELATION ON SAID PANEL AND HAVING A LOOSE PORTION NEAR AN EDGE OVERLAPPED BY SAID FLAP; A FRONT PANEL HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE TOP EDGE OF SAID REAR PANEL AND HAVING A FLAP FOLDED ON A SECOND FLAP FOLD LINE TO SUPERIMPOSED POSITION; A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY FLAT UNWRAPPED ARTICLES ALL OF WHICH MUST BE MAINTAINED STERILE LOOSELY POSITIONED IN INTERCLINGIGN LATERALLY OFFSET RELATION ON SAID FRONT PANEL AND ONE HAVING A LOOSE PORTION NEAR AN EDGE OVERLAPPED BY SAID FRONT PANEL FLAP, SAID FRONT PANEL, ARTICLES AND FRONT FLAP BEING IN SUPERIMPOSED POSITION ON SAID REAR PANEL AND ON ITS ARTICLES AND FLAP; MEANS INCLUDING ADHESIVE ON THE JUXTAPOSED FACES OF SAID TWO FLAPS SPACED INWARDLY OF THE FLAP FOLD LINES AND INWARDLY OF THE ADJACENT EDGES OF THE ARTICLES SECURING SAID FLAPS TOGETHER WHILE ALLOWING A FINGER INSERTION SPACE BETWEEN THE FLAPS AND OUTWARDLY OF THE ADHESIVE TO FACILITATE OPENING; AND MEANS BEYOND THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID ARTICLES SEALING THE SIDE EDGES OF THE FRONT AND REAR PANELS TOGETHER, EACH FLAP PROTECTING A PLURALITY OF OVERLAPPED STERILE ARTICLE PORTIONS BOTH DURING AND AFTER OPENING OF THE PACKAGE AND PROVIDING FOR RETENTION OF ARTICLES IN THE FINGERS BETWEEN THE FLAPS AND PANELS WHILE ALLOWING EASY WITHDRAWAL OF OTHER ARTICLES FOR USE INDEPENDENTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY OF THE PANELS.