US3717244A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Package with easy opening dust flap and method of manufacturing the same
Assignee: Pratt Manufacturing Corp
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Filing: 1971-02-10
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1991-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A flat package for items which are to be kept sterile has upper and lower panels secured together along a sealing band which surrounds the item. At the top of the package the panels project a substantial distance beyond the top sealing band, and the projecting portion of the top panel forms a first dust flap which is folded over on the top of the package and adhesively connected or heat sealed in folded-down position. The projecting portion of the bottom panel forms a second dust flap and is folded over the sealed-down portion of the first dust flap, the arrangement providing for easy separation of the dust flaps when it is desired to open the package. The invention also includes the method of manufacturing the package whereby the packages may be cut from continuous webs along transverse lines at the edges of the flaps.
Inventors
- 👤 R Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:59
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D75/00; B65D75/28; B65D75/30; B65D75/52; B65D75/58; B65D75/5855; B65D75/40; B65D75/44; B65D75/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
In a package having an upper panel and a lower panel in superimposed relationship, said panels being secured together by a surrounding seal pattern and there being upper and lower panel portions which project substantially the same distance beyond said pattern at one edge of the package, a flat article between the panels and within the seal pattern, the projecting portions of said upper and lower panels constituting inner and outer dust flaps which are folded together on a common fold line over the top of the package, wherein the improvement resides in having said fold line forming an end margin of the package, only the inner dust flap being sealed to the top of the package and the outer dust flap being free whereby the outer dust flap may be readily separated and swung on said fold line for ease in pulling the panels apart to open the package.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a package having an upper panel and a lower panel in superimposed relationship, said panels being secured together by a surrounding seal pattern and there being upper and lower panel portions which project substantially the same distance beyond said pattern at one edge of the package, a flat article between the panels and within the seal pattern, the projecting portions of said upper and lower panels constituting inner and outer dust flaps which are folded together on a common fold line over the top of the package, wherein the improvement resides in having said fold line forming an end margin of the package, only the inner dust flap being sealed to the top of the package and the outer dust flap being free whereby the outer dust flap may be readily separated and swung on said fold line for ease in pulling the panels apart to open the package.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a package having an upper panel and a lower panel in superimposed relationship, said panels being secured together by a surrounding seal pattern and there being upper and lower panel portions which project substantially the same distance beyond said pattern at one edge of the package, a flat article between the panels and within the seal pattern, the projecting portions of said upper and lower panels constituting inner and outer dust flaps which are folded together on a common fold line over the top of the package, wherein the improvement resides in having said fold line forming an end margin of the package, only the inner dust flap being sealed to the top of the package and the outer dust flap being free whereby the outer dust flap may be readily separated and swung on said fold line for ease in pulling the panels apart to open the package.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a package having an upper panel and a lower panel in superimposed relationship, said panels being secured together by a surrounding seal pattern and there being upper and lower panel portions which project substantially the same distance beyond said pattern at one edge of the package, a flat article between the panels and within the seal pattern, the projecting portions of said upper and lower panels constituting inner and outer dust flaps which are folded together on a common fold line over the top of the package, wherein the improvement resides in having said fold line forming an end margin of the package, only the inner dust flap being sealed to the top of the package and the outer dust flap being free whereby the outer dust flap may be readily separated and swung on said fold line for ease in pulling the panels apart to open the package.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A package as claimed in claim 1 in which the seal between the inner dust flap and the top of the package is an adhesive band which is spaced outwardly beyond the adjacent end of said surrounding seal pattern, and there being a free finger insertion space between the projecting panel portions to facilitate separation.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of packaging a flat article comprising: placing a flat article to be packaged on a lower panel, superimposing an upper panel portion over said lower panel and article, sealing the panels together in a pattern surrounding the article, which pattern is positioned to provide for projecting panel portions of substantially equal length at one end which project a substantial distance beyond the seal pattern, folding the projecting panel portions over on top of the package to provide inner and outer dust flaps, and causing sealing of only the inner dust flap to the top of the package.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of packaging a flat article comprising: placing a flat article to be packaged on a lower panel, superimposing an upper panel portion over said lower panel and article, sealing the panels together in a pattern surrounding the article, which pattern is positioned to provide for projecting panel portions of substantially equal length at one end which project a substantial distance beyond the seal pattern, folding the projecting panel portions over on top of the package to provide inner and outer dust flaps, and causing sealing of only the inner dust flap to the top of the package.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of packaging flat articles comprising: continuously feeding upper web material with the fibers extending in the direction of feed to form the upper portions of packages, continuously feeding lower web material with the fibers extending in the direction of feed to form the lower portions of packages, applying bands of surrounding seal patterns in longitudinally spaced relationship to a side of one of said webs which faces the other web, placing flat articles one after another in position between the web portions each within a surrounding seal pattern, pressure sealing the webs to each other in the bands of surrounding seal patterns, severing the packages one after another along transverse lines between the seal patterns, folding an edge of each package over on top of the package along a fold line extending transversely of the direction of extent of the web fibers to provide inner and outer dust flaps, and causing only the inner flap to be sealed down on top of the package on a seal line outwardly of the adjacent seal pattern.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of packaging flat articles comprising: continuously feeding upper web material with the fibers extending in the direction of feed to form the upper portions of packages, continuously feeding lower web material with the fibers extending in the direction of feed to form the lower portions of packages, applying bands of surrounding seal patterns in longitudinally spaced relationship to a side of one of said webs which faces the other web, placing flat articles one after another in position between the web portions each within a surrounding seal pattern, pressure sealing the webs to each other in the bands of surrounding seal patterns, severing the packages one after another along transverse lines between the seal patterns, folding an edge of each package over on top of the package along a fold line extending transversely of the direction of extent of the web fibers to provide inner and outer dust flaps, and causing only the inner flap to be sealed down on top of the package on a seal line outwardly of the adjacent seal pattern.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |