Abstract A disposable flexible envelope-like container and a new sheet material are taught. The container is convertible to a pocket applicator for applying packaged messy spreadable compositions such as various polishes, cleaners, pastes, oils, paints, stains, waxes, and many other compositions. The envelope-like container is easily manufactured by automated techniques. It has opposing walls formed of flexible sheet material. The sheet material preferably employed has a flexible self-supporting organic polymeric film and an exposed recesscontaining layer over one surface of that polymeric film. Seals unite peripheral portions of the opposing walls of the envelope together. One edge is only temporarily sealed; and the others are permanently united. Ear-flaps extend beyond the temporary seal. In use, a person grips the ear-flaps and pulls them apart to rupture the temporary seal and thereby convert the envelope-like container into a pocket. This pocket is then reversed or inverted to place the spreadable composition exterior to the inverted pocket. One then inserts one''s fingers in the inverted pocket, which now becomes an applicator, and then applies the spreadable composition. The ear-flaps serve as a shield against unwanted contact with the spreadable composition during application of it to a surface. The length of the temporary seal and its relationship to the depth of the envelope cavity is critical to permit convenient reversal or inversion of the pocket during the step of converting the container into an applicator.
AS A NEW ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE: A UNITARY SHEET MATERIAL OF SUCH FLEXIBLE CHARACTER AS TO PERMIT A POCKET FORMED OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL TO BE TURNED INSIDE OUT BY HAND, SAID SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING A THIN SELF-SUPPORTING NON-FIBROUS NONABSORBENT NON-POROUS TOUGH TEAR-RESISTANT SUBSTANTIALLY-FLUIDIMPERVIOUS SUBSTANTIALLY NON-THERMOPLASTIC FLEXIBLE ORGANIC POLYMERIC FILM COMPRISING POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE EXPOSED ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, AND A FLEXIBLE POROUS NON-WOVEN RECESS-CONSISTING LAYER ESSENTIALLY OF RANDOMLY ORIENTED NON-WOVEN THERMOPLASTIC FIBERS EXPOSED ON THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF, SAID RECESS-CONTAINNG LAYER BEING CAPABLE OF HOLDING A MESSY COMPOSITION IN RECESS THEREOF, SAID NONTHERMOPLASTIC POLYMERIC FILM SIDE OF SAID UNITARY SHEET MATERIAL BEING NON-HEAT SEALABLE TO ITSELF, AND THE RECESS-CONTAINING LAYER SIDE OF SAID UNITARY SHEET MATERIAL HAVING THE PROPERTY OF BEING HEAT SEALABLE TO ITSELF.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
AS A NEW ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE: A UNITARY SHEET MATERIAL OF SUCH FLEXIBLE CHARACTER AS TO PERMIT A POCKET FORMED OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL TO BE TURNED INSIDE OUT BY HAND, SAID SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING A THIN SELF-SUPPORTING NON-FIBROUS NONABSORBENT NON-POROUS TOUGH TEAR-RESISTANT SUBSTANTIALLY-FLUIDIMPERVIOUS SUBSTANTIALLY NON-THERMOPLASTIC FLEXIBLE ORGANIC POLYMERIC FILM COMPRISING POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE EXPOSED ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, AND A FLEXIBLE POROUS NON-WOVEN RECESS-CONSISTING LAYER ESSENTIALLY OF RANDOMLY ORIENTED NON-WOVEN THERMOPLASTIC FIBERS EXPOSED ON THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF, SAID RECESS-CONTAINNG LAYER BEING CAPABLE OF HOLDING A MESSY COMPOSITION IN RECESS THEREOF, SAID NONTHERMOPLASTIC POLYMERIC FILM SIDE OF SAID UNITARY SHEET MATERIAL BEING NON-HEAT SEALABLE TO ITSELF, AND THE RECESS-CONTAINING LAYER SIDE OF SAID UNITARY SHEET MATERIAL HAVING THE PROPERTY OF BEING HEAT SEALABLE TO ITSELF.