US3821426A

US3821426A - Package of frangible connectible products and means for retaining crumbs thereof

Info

Publication number: US3821426A
Application number: US00248135A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Slone
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1972-04-27
Filing date: 1972-04-27
Publication date: 1974-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-28

Abstract

The packaging of frangible products subject to having crumbs and/or fragments broken therefrom wherein means is provided for retaining such crumbs and/or fragments within the package when the package is positioned to pour products therefrom.

Description

United States Patent [19 1 SIone PACKAGE OF FRANGIBLE CONNECTIBLE PRODUCTS AND MEANS FOR RETAINING CRUMBS THEREOF Thomas J. Slone, Forest Park, Ohio The Proctor & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio Filed: Apr. 27, 1972 Appl. No.: 248,135

Inventor:

Assignee:

US. Cl 426/115, 248/346, 426/124 Int. Cl B65b 23/16, B65d 85/30 Field of Search... 206/65 K; 99/171 CP, 171 R; 206/46 F; 248/346, 346.1; 426/124, 106,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1949 Buttery 99/171 R UX 3/1960 Stagner 206/46 F Primary ExaminerFrank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner-Steven L. Weinstein Attorney, Agent, or FirmTh0mas J. Slone; John V. Gorman; Richmond C. Witte 5 7] ABSTRACT The packaging of frangible products subject to having crumbs and/or fragments broken therefrom wherein means is provided for retaining such crumbs and/or fragments within the package when the package is positioned to pour products therefrom.

4 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures .u... w::::. W m A 19 (no PATENTED HH2 1914 V slaz 1. 42s SHEEI 2 BF 2 1 PACKAGE OF FRANGIBLE CONNECTIBLE PRODUCT SAND MEANS FOR RETAINING CRUMBS THEREOF FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to providing a package of frangible products such as chip-type snack food products which are subject to having crumbs and/or fragments broken therefrom during packaging and handling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION intended purpose of the products.

Whenever frangible products are packaged in con tainers that require inverting the container to dispense the products contained therewithin, any crumbs or fragments that have been broken from the products or that were packaged with the products are simultaneously dispensed into the hand of the consumer, or

. between the fingers of the consumer onto the floor, or

onto the plate of the consumer, or the like. An example of this type of packaging of chip-type snack food produ'cts is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,498,798 issued to Fredric .I. Baur, et a], Mar. 3, I970, commonly owned by the assignee of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The natureand substance of 'the invention will be more readily appreciated after giving consideration to its major aims and purposes. The principal objects of the invention are recited in the ensuing paragraphs in order to provide a better appreciation of its important aspects prior to' describing the details of a preferred embodiment in later portions of this description.

' A major object of the invention is providing a package of frangible products which includes means for retaining crumbs and fragments of such products within the package upon dispensing the products therefrom.

Another major object of the invention is providing a retainer fordividing a tubular container into two chambers so that frangible products can be accommodated within one chamber and wherein crumbs and fragments of products are conducted to and trapped within the other chamber so that when the container is positioned to dispense the products therefrom the crumbs and fragments are retained within the other chamber.

These and other objects are achieved by providing a packageof frangible products which package includes a container having a removable access-enabling portion, a retainer having a passageway therethrough, means for maintaining the retainer within the container so that the container is divided into a first chamber and a second chamber, and a plurality of frangible products in the first chamber so thatcrumbs and fragments broken from the products are conducted through the passageway into the second chamber when the package is in a first position and are trapped in the second chamber when the package is oriented to a second position as by tilting to effect pouring the products .from the container after removal of its access-enabling portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a package of frangible products embodying the present invention wherein the container is partially broken away to show the arrangement of both the products and a retainer within the container.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one form of retainer which maybe used in a package embodying the present invention. 7

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a saddle-shape, nestable potato chip which may be packaged in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken long line 6-6 of FIG. 5. I

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another shape of potato chip which may be packaged in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another shape of potato chip which may be packaged in accordance with the present invention, itsshape being planar-eliptical.

FIG. 10 is'a cross-sectional view of the potato chip of FIG. 9 taken along line l0-l0 thereof.

7 FIG. 11 is a plan view of an alt emate shape retainer embodying two pedestal supports which retainer may be used in a package in accordance with thepresent invention. I

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line l2l2 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a planar view of yet another alternate shape retainer embodying a bridge support which retainer may be used in a package in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line l6l6 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of still another alternate retainer configuration which may be used in a package in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line l818 of FIG. 17.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The tubular body 21 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has a cylindrical cross section which is closed at its ends by

end closure members

22, 23. The combination of the body and the end closures is hereinafter referred to as container 28. Body 21 can be constructed of any conventional materials but is preferably made from materials which are sufficiently rigid to withstand handling and shipping loads and which materials are substantially impervious to the passage of gasses so that oxygen and water vapor are precluded from entering the package for the purpose of obviating rancidity of frying fat that may be retained by potato chips causing staling of such chips themselves.

End closure 22 having an access-enabling portion which is not detailed in the figures, and end closure 23 are secured to body 21 by crimping, or adhesives, or the like to provide a tight, hermetic seal to the package.

An example of a suitable container 28 having the requisite strength and oxygen barrier properties is disclosed in the hereinbefore referenced US. Pat. No. 3,498,798 issued to Fredric J. Baur et al, Mar. 3, 1970.

Retainer 24, FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises'funnel portion 30, supports 31, and legs 32. Although retainer 24 is shown in the figures to be of unitary construction and is configured to be injection molded of thermoplastic material in a two piece die assembly, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art that such a retainer could be an assemblage of a plurality of discrete parts, or that the functions of a retainer could be accomplished by a plurality of discrete parts, or that a retainer could be secured to body 21 to obviate legs 32. Therefore, it is not intended to limit the present invention to the use of either molded retainers or retainers comprising thermoplastic material.

Funnel portion 30, hereinafter referred to as funnel 30, has the shape of a truncated hollow cone having a funnel-shape upwardly facing surface 33, a rim or perimeter 34, passageway 35, and'a plurality of slots 36 which extend radially and upwardly from edge 37 defining passageway 35. Slots 36 are provided in this embodiment retainer to enable upwardly facing portions of the lower die member of a two piece die assembly to project upwardly therethrough in order to define the downwardly facing surfaces 38 of supports 31 as will'be readily understood without further amplification by those having ordinary skill in the injection molding art. The outside diameter of rim 34 is approximately equal to the inside diameter of body 21 to substantially preclude communication therearound when the retainer is installed in body 21. Indeed there could be an interference fit of retainer 24 in body 21 which could obviate the need for legs '32 on retainer 24. The diameter of passageway 35 is sized to permit the passage therethrough of crumbs and/or fragments 29 of frangible articles such as potato chips 26, FIG. 5, to pass therethrough but to substantially preclude the passage therethrough of whole potato chips 26 or fragments thereof greater than a predetermined size. Supports 31 of retainer 24 extend upwardly and radially inwardly from the rim 34 of funnel 30 so that an array 25, FIG. 1, of potato chips 26 can be supported on the upwardly facing portions of the supports so that the lowermost end of the array is spaced above the upwardly facing surface 33 of funnel 30. Legs 32, FIG. 4, of retainer 24 extend downwardly from funnel 30 to space the lowermost end of funnel 30, edge 37, a distance h above a surface upon which the retainer is placed such as the upwardly facing, inside surface of closure 23, FIG. 1. Distance h enables crumbs and fragments that pass downwardly through passageway 35 to move radially ouwardly into the annular space 39, FIG. 1, subjacent funnel 30 in which annular space 39 such crumbs and fragments 29 will be trapped and retained in the event package 20, FIG. 1, is inverted to dispense potato chips 26 after the removal of the access-enabling portion of closure 22.

Referring again to FIG. 1, when retainer 24 is positioned inside container 28 so that the distal ends of legs 32 rest on-the upwardly facing surface of closure 23, the retainer divides the space within container 28 into a first or upper chamber 45 for the accommodation of array 25, and a second or lower chamber 46 comprising in part annular space 39, which

chambers

45, 46 communicate through passageway 35. Referring still to FIG. 1, retainer 24 is fixed within container 28 by virtue of having its rim 34 subjacent the lower end of liner 27 which, in turn, has its upper end immediately subjacent closure 22.

Saddle-shape potato chips 26, FIGS. 56, are shown in FIG; 2 to have an oval shape in their plan view. The major diameter, d,, of potato chips 26 is nearly as large as the inside diameter of liner 27 within body 21 but is small enough to not cause an interference fit between potato chips 26 of array 25 and the inside diameter of the body 21 with liner 27 installed therein. The minor diameter d is somewhat larger than the diameter 11;, of passageway 35 to preclude the passage of whole potato chips 26 therethrough. Thus, when array 25 is disposed within container 28, FIG. 1, and has its lower end supported by supports 31 of retainer 24, vertically extending

tubular spaces

49, 50 are defined between the sides of array 25 and the adjacent inwardly facing surfaces of liner 27. As shown in FIG. 2,

tubular spaces

49, 50 have crescent-shape cross sections.

Tubular spaces

49, 50 form vertically extending conduits down which crumbs and fragments 29 which are broken from potato chips 26 comprising array 25 may pass downwardly. through body 21, then between supports 31 under array 25, and ultimately through passageway 35 into lower chamber 46. Because the portions of potato chips 26, FIG. 5, adjacent their minor diameter edges are turned downwardly when a plurality of potato chips 26 form an array 25 oriented as shown in FIG. 1, sluffing of any crumbs and fragments which become separated from the potato chips in the array is promoted so that the crumbs and fragments are conducted downwardly through

tubular spaces

49, 50 and thence through passageway 35. Thus, when access is made through closure 22 to dispense potato chips 26 therethrough, and the package 20 is oriented to pour the desired quantity of potato chips 26 therefrom, any crumbs or fragments 29 of chips 26 that have theretofor passed into lower chamber 46 will be retained in the annular space 39 subjacent funnel 30 of retainer 24 which entrapped crumbs or fragments 29 are thus precluded from being poured from package 20 with potato chips 26.

The present invention is not believed to be dependent upon any particular geometry of potato chips or other frangible products which may be packaged in upper chamber 45, so long as void spaces in the nature of tubular spaces '49, 50 are provided to conduct crumbs and fragments 29 downwardly through the container, and so long as the products do not block passageway 35. Therefore, no further discussion of the present invention-in conjunction with alternate shapes of products such as. 26a and 26b, FIGS. 7 through 10, is included in this disclosure of the present invention.

ALTERNATE RETAINER EMBODIMENTS

Alternate retainer embodiments

24a, 24b, and 240 are shown in FIGS. 11 through 18 wherein features which are identical to features of retainer 24 of FIGS. 3, 4 are designated by the same designators and similar features are designated by identical designators having letter suffixes.

Alternate retainer embodiment 24a, FIGS. 11 through 14, is configured to perform the same functions as retainer 24 and to permit a plurality of retainers 24a to be stacked into a nested array to reduce their bulk during shipment and/or to facilitate their handling by automated packaging equipment. Retainer 24a has two upwardly projecting hollow supports or pedestals 31a, comprising sloping

walls

60, 61,, FIG. 13, and top walls 62 having shaped upwardly facing surfaces 63. Surfaces 63 are contouredto be coincident with the downwardly facing superjacent surfaces of the lowermost potato chip 26 of an array 25.0f potato chips 26 stacked thereon in inverted relation relative to array 25, FIG. 1. Thus, the weight of array 25 would be distributed over the areas of surfaces 63 and the coincident areas of the lowermost potato chip 26 in array 25 which would substantially reduce the stresses on the potato chips in the lower end of array 25. As will be understood by those skilled in the art of packaging frangible materials, such distribution of the weight of a stacked array of frangible articles substantially reduces the probability of fracturing the articles disposed in the lower end of the array.

Referring now to FIG. 14, legs 32a of retainer 24a are shown to be extensions of the truncated cone comprising funnel 30a which legs extend downwardly and radially inwardly from the lowermost edge 37a of funnel 30a. Thus, because supports 31a are hollow and have sloping

side walls

60, 61, and because legs 32a are sloped as described. and because of the truncated conical shape of funnel 30a, alternate retainers 24a can be nested as hereinbefore stated.

Alternate retainer embodiment 24b, FIGS. and 16, is also configured so that a plurality thereof can be stacked into a nested array to reduce their composite bulk for shipment and for other purposes as hereinbefore described in conjunction with alternate retainer embodiment 24a. However, retainer 24b has a single, full span, bridge member 72 having an upwardly facing surface 73 which is configured to be coincident with the superjacent downwardly facing area of the lowermost article in a stacked array 25, FIG. 1, of articles 26 to be supported thereon. Bridge member 72 is supported by sloping

side walls

70, 71 which space surface 73 far enough above the upwardly facing surface 33a of funnel 30a so that crumbs and fragments can pass under the lower end of an array supported on surface 73 and thence downwardly through passageway 35b. Thus, the greater area of surface 73 of retainer 24b, FIG. 15, as compared to the total of both surfaces 63 of retainers 24a, FIG. 11, further reduces the stress on the lowermost potato chip 26 of an array 25 positioned thereon which further reduces the probability of cracking or fracturing the potato chips 26 in the lower end of such an array as hereinbefore described.

Alternate retainer embodiment 24c, FIGS. 17, 18, is somewhat similar to retainer 24 in function and form except supports 31c do not extend upwardly above the rim of funnel 30c and supports 31c are not undercut or cantilevered as supports 31, FIG. 3. Thus, all aother dimensions and angles being equal, the clearance between adjacent supports 31c, FIG. 17, through which crumbs and fragments may pass is smaller than the clearance between adjacent supports 31 of retainer 24, FIG. 3. However, notwithstanding such smaller clear ance, retainer 24c is compatible with a wide range of configurations of frangible products; does perform, when assembled into container 28, the function of dividing container 28 into an upper and a lower chamber; and, will retain crumbs and fragments of frangible products in the lower chamber when the container is inverted to dispense products from the upper chamber.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, itwill be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A package of uniformly shaped frangible comestible products, said package comprising:

' a container comprising a rigid tubular body, a bottom closure, and an openable top closure;

a retainer having a rim defining its perimeter and an edge defining a passageway therethrough, said retainer being configured and disposed at a predetermined position within said container to divide the interior volume of said container into an upper chamber and a lower chamber interconnected substantially only through said passageway, said passageway being of a size sufficient to substantially preclude passage of whole said products there through but to freely pass crumbs and fragments of said products, said retainer having an upwardly facing funnel-shape surface which slopes downwardly from adjacent the perimeter of said retainer to adjacent said passageway;

means for maintaining said retainer in said predetermined position within said container regardless of the orientation of said package, at which position said passageway is spaced from said bottom closure, said spacing enabling said crumbs and fragments which pass downwardly through said passageway to thereafter move radially outwardly in said lower chamber;

a plurality of said products arranged in a stacked array disposed in said upper chamber, said products having a smaller plan configuration than the cross sectional area of said tubular container so that a generally vertically extending elongate space is formed intermediate a side of said array and the adjacent inside surface of said tubular body; and,

wherein: said uniformly shaped products are nestable and are nested to form said stacked array; and, said retainer includes said means for supporting said array above said funnel-shape surface.

8 3. The package of frangible products of claim 2 wherein:

said retainer includes said means for maintaining said retainer so that the lowermost end of said passageway is spaced from said bottom closure; and

said means for spacing the bottom end of said array from said funnel-shape surface includes an upwardly facing area configured to be coincident with a substantial contiguous downwardly facing area of the lowermost product comprising said array whereby the weight of said array is distributed over said areas.

4. The package of frangible products of claim 3 wherein:

said products are saddle-shape snack food products having a somewhat oval plan view configuration with their minor diameter edges curved oppositely from their major diameter edges; and,

said container has a circular-shape transverse cross section whereby two said elongate spaces are formed adjacent said minor edges which elongate spaces both have generally crescent-shape transverse cross sections; and,

said array is disposed so that the products comprising said array have their minor diameter edges turned downwardly to optimize sloughing said crumbs and fragments towards and downwardly through said tubular spaces.

I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l CORRECTION Patent No. 1, To Dated June 28, 1974 Inventor(s) Thomas J. Slone It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Front Title Page of Patent in Title, CONNECTIBLE should be --COMESTIBLE--; Attorney, Agent, or Firm, Richmond should be Richard--.

r First page of Specification, Column 1, line 1, CONNEC'I'IBLE should be -COMESTIBLE-- Column 4, line 18, ouwardly should be -outwardly--; Column 6, line 20, aother should be -other--; T f

Signed and sealed this 24th day of December 3.974..

(SEAL) Attest:

McGOY M. GIBSON JR. I c. MARSHALL DANN 1 Arresting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050 (1 uscoMM-Dc 60376-P6Q U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 O-366-334

Claims

1. A package of uniformly shaped frangible comestible products, said package comprising: a container comprising a rigid tubular body, a bottom closure, and an openable top closure; a retainer having a rim defining its perimeter and an edge defining a passageway therethrough, said retainer being configured and disposed at a predetermined position within said container to divide the interior volume of said container into an upper chamber and a lower chamber interconnected substantially only through said passageway, said passageway being of a size sufficient to substantially preclude passage of whole said products therethrough but to freely pass crumbs and fragments of said products, said retainer having an upwardly facing funnel-shape surface which slopes downwardly from adjacent the perimeter of said retainer to adjacent said passageway; means for maintaining said retainer in said predetermined position within said container regardless of the orientation of said package, at which position said passageway is spaced from said bottom closure, said spacing enabling said crumbs and fragments which pass downwardly through said passageway to thereafter move radially outwardly in said lower chamber; a plurality of said products arranged in a stacked array disposed in said upper chamber, said products having a smaller plan configuration than the cross sectional area of said tubular container so that a generally vertically extending elongate space is formed intermediate a side of said array and the adjacent inside surface of said tubular body; and, support means for spacing said array above said funnel-shape surface such that said elongate space communicates with said passageway above said funnel-shape surface, said spacing/being sufficient to enable said crumbs and fragments to gravitate downwardly through said elongate space and thence pass under said array and downwardly through said passageway into said lower chamber when said package is upright, whereby said crumbs and fragments will be retained in said lower chamber when said package is tilted to a downwardly inclined position as when pouring said products therefrom.

2. The package of frangible products of claim 1 wherein: said uniformly shaped products are nestable and are nested to form said stacked array; and, said retainer includes said means for supporting said array above said funnel-shape surface.

3. The package of frangible products of claim 2 wherein: said retainer includes said means for maintaining said retainer so that the lowermost end of said passageway is spaced from said bottom closure; and said means for spacing the bottom end of said array from said funnel-shape surface includes an upwardly facing area configured to be coincident with a substantial contiguous downwardly facing area of the lowermost product comprising said array whereby the weight of said array is distributed over said areas.

4. The package of frangible products of claim 3 wherein: said products are saddle-shape snack food products having a somewhat oval plan view configuration with their minor diameter edges curved oppositely from their major diameter edges; and, said container has a circular-shape transverse cross section whereby two said elongate spaces are formed adjacent said minor edges which elongate spaces both have generally crescent-shape transverse cross sections; and, said array is disposed so that the products comprising said array have their minor diameter edges turned downwardly to optimize sloughing said crumbs and fragments towards and downwardly through said tubular spaces.