US2279471A - Package - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1942.

PACKAGE Filed oct. 14, 193s #WEA/TQQ QEOFFEEY C'. L/IYCOC/f G. c. LmfcocKA l 2,279,471

Patented Apr. 14, 1942 Y Geoffrey Cecil Laycock, Norwich, England Application October 14, 1939,-Serial No. 299,549 In Great Britain October 26, 1938 l Claim. (Cl. 20G- 44) This invention relates to an improved method of packing articles and holding the same in position in a box, and is more particularly concerned with the packing of chocolates, and other sweets and confectionery, although, as will be readily appreciated, it is applicable to the packing of other small articles in one or more layers in a box.

I-Ieretofore the usual methods of packing chocolates in a box have been either Ito place each individual chocolate in a crinkled paper cup or, alternatively, to dispose a line of chocolates transversely across the box in a paper trough. In both cases, mpre especially the former, once a feW chocolates have been removed from the layer the remaining chocolates are free to move about, with the result that it is no longer possible to pick out a particular type of chocolate with reference to its original position in the box, the

chocolates rattle and rustle as the box is moved and the chocolates are liable to be damaged.

It is, therefore, the chief object of the present invention to provide a simple and cheap method of packing chocolates and other small articles in a box which will overcome the abovementioned disadvantages.

The method of packing articles and holding the same in position in a box according to the present invention comprises disposing the articles in the selected positions, placing a sheet of rigid or semi-rigid material having appropriately shaped holes, the edges of which are slit to form tabs, over the articles and then bringing said sheet down over the articles, thereby causing said tabs to become located up the sides of the articles in order to hold the same.

According to a further feature of the present invention, signal or identification tabs are provided around the edges of the apertures, these signal or identiaction tabs being, when the rigid or semi-rigid sheet is brought down about the chocolates or the like, adapted not only to become located about the sides of the chocolates or the like but to extend above the holding tabs so as to provide a means of identifying the particular kinds of chocolates or the like.

In order that this invention may be the more clearly understood and readily carried into effeet I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustratesby Way of example and not of limitation one convenient embodiment of the present invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a box of chocolates packed according to the present nvention, v

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lsemi- .rigid apertured member prior to being applied spective view of a single packed chocolate.`

Referring now to the drawing, an ordinary chocolate box I of the required size is taken (the particular known form of box shown inthe drawing has certain advantages which Willbe mentioned hereinafter) and the chocolates Il are arranged in the desired positions (and pattern if required) with, if desired, the interposition of one or more sheets of corrugated paper or the like (not shown) 'Then aysheet of semi-rigid card I2 having holes I3 arranged at thel required parts and of sizes approximating tothe size of the chocolates II is taken. The edges of the holes are previously slit to form small tabs I4. This sheet of semi-rigid card I2 is Athen pressed down over the chocolates I I, whereupon the tabs I4 are pressed about the sides of the chocolates to hold the same neatly in the required position. The charged card I2 is then placed in the box (see more particularly Figure 3). When it is desired to remove achocolate it is merely necessary to grip the same with a nger and thumb and then pull, whereupon the tabs I4 will give and the chocolate will be removed without in any Way affecting the other chocolates.

If desired, the said semi-rigid sheet may lbe these flanged pieces Ia and all possibility of ,Y

the sheet I2 being displaced is avoided.

If it be desired topack more than one layer, a base sheet may be laid over one packed layer y and the packing operations repeated.

In addition to overcoming the above-mene tioned disadvantages of the previously proposed methods of packing chocolates, the present invention is simple and cheap to carry out and,

furthermore, has the advantage that .the various types of chocolate may be designated, for exv ample, by means of appropriate indications printed on the semi-rigid sheet.

Alternatively, signalling or indicating tabs suchas Il may be provided at an appropriatev part of the edge of the aperture, these signalling but with an ordinary open-topped box the choco. lates may be arranged in position on the botV tom of the box before the sheet I2 is positioned about the same.

I claim:

In a package for small articles, an outer box, a tray formed of resilient flexible material and ttable within said box and provided with a plurality of apertures smaller than said articles respectively, the edges of said apertures having short radial slits forming short tongues therebetween, and a relatively long and large combined signal and retaining tab of T-shape projecting radially from the edge of each of said apertures toward the center thereof and having a relatively large head on its free end toward the center of said aperture, which head carries individual identifying indicia displayable across the top of the respective articles when said articles are inserted in said apertures, whereby when said articles are respectively inserted in said apertures said tongues resiliently grip and hold said articles, and said tab further resiliently grips and holds said articles and projects relatively far upwardly on the side of said article and identifies the respective article in each of said apertures.

GEOFFREY CECIL LAYCOCK.

Images