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US4964512A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Recyclable package

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1990-02-20
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Granted: 1990-10-23
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Expires: 2010-02-20
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Abstract

Abstract A cartonless recyclable package for protectively enclosing a product, such as photographic film, comprises a recyclable plastic container and mating cap with recyclably compatible labels thereon bearing product information. One such label on the cap has readily tearable tab portions extending therefrom and tautly secured to the container, to tear apart when the cap is first removed. A second label, secured to the container and overlapping the tearable tab portions, includes inner and outer sheets separably adhered together. The outer sheet can be peeled back to reveal information on the interfacing surfaces of both sheets, and then re-adhered to the inner sheet. A third label, separably adhered to the first label on the cap, may be peeled away and re-adhered to some other surface for reference after the product has been removed. A thumb tab on the cap, to facilitate cap removal, is used also to orient the container and cap for appropriate placement of the labels, and to orient the resulting package in a cooperating displaying and dispensing device. That device comprises an upstanding, open-ended, transparent, tubular chute having a longitudinal slot extending down a rear side thereof and configured to receive the package through its open top end, with the thumb tab projecting rearwardly through the slot, thereby orienting the package labels to face forwardly in a desired display direction. The package is gravity-fed to the open bottom end, where it is supported and oriented for convenient removal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gaylynn F. Ingram
  • 👤 Evan W. Hutchison

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 13:43
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F3/00; G09F3/02; G09F3/0288; G09F3/0289; B; B65; B65D; B65D55/00; B65D55/02; B65D55/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 129 words
In a package for protectively enclosing a product, the package including a container having an access opening through which the product is insertable into and removable from the container and a movable closure matable with the opening to close and open the container, the container and the closure each being made of recyclable plastic material and having an outward-facing exterior surface, an improvement comprising a label disposed on the exterior surface of one of said container and closure for displaying information relating to the product, said label being made of recyclable plastic material compatible with the plastic material of which each of said container and closure is made, so that the package can be recycled without first separating said label from said exterior surface on which it is disposed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 129 words
In a package for protectively enclosing a product, the package including a container having an access opening through which the product is insertable into and removable from the container and a movable closure matable with the opening to close and open the container, the container and the closure each being made of recyclable plastic material and having an outward-facing exterior surface, an improvement comprising a label disposed on the exterior surface of one of said container and closure for displaying information relating to the product, said label being made of recyclable plastic material compatible with the plastic material of which each of said container and closure is made, so that the package can be recycled without first separating said label from said exterior surface on which it is disposed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
A package improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said label is secured to said exterior surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
A package improvement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said one of said container and closure is said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
A package improvement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said one of said container and closure is said closure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
A package improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the information displayed on said label is provided by ink that is recyclably compatible with the plastic material of which each of said label, container, and closure is made.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
A package improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plastic material of which each of said container and closure is made includes polyethylene.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3171561A Cited
US3292807A Cited
US3285451A Cited
US4616750A Cited
US4639386A Cited
US4702383A Cited
EP0301676A2 Cited
JPH01113235A Cited
JPH01113237A Cited
GB2213135A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-10-22 1994-04-23 1994-10-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-10-22 1998-04-23 1998-10-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-10-22 2002-04-23 2002-10-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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