System for storing and unpacking encased articles
AssigneeMeadWestvaco Corporation
InventorJohn Gelardi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for storing and opening encased articles, such as those wrapped in a protective seal, provides a combined container and seal cutting apparatus. The container is configured to store at least one removable article encased within a protective seal. The seal cutting apparatus includes a receiving channel and a cutting member which extends into the receiving channel. The receiving channel is configured to receive at least a portion of the seal while the cutting member is configured to cooperatively cut the seal portion as it is inserted into and translated along the channel. The cutting apparatus may be permanently or temporarily attached to the container.
Claims7
A system for storing and opening encased articles, comprising:
- a container configured to store at least one removable article encased within a protective seal;
- a seal cutting apparatus, in combination with said container, comprising:
- a receiving channel defined by a first edge spaced apart from a substantially parallel second edge;
- a cutting member including a cutting edge, said cutting member (60) positioned so said cutting edge extends between said first edge and said second edge;
- wherein said receiving channel is configured to slideably receive at least a portion of said seal and said cutting edge is configured to cooperatively cut said seal portion as it is inserted into and translated along said channel, wherein said cut seal portion facilitates access to said article, and wherein said cutting apparatus (40) is fastened to said container (12).
(canceled)
A method of providing and opening encased articles, comprising:
- providing a combination container and seal cutting apparatus;
- inserting a plurality of articles into said container, wherein said articles are encased within individual protective seals;
- distributing said container with articles and seal cutting apparatus to an end-user;
- removing a first article from said container;
- inserting at least a portion of said first article's protective seal into said seal cutting apparatus;
- operating said seal cutting apparatus to cut said portion of seal;
- and,
- retrieving said article from said protective seal wherein said cutting apparatus is fastened to said container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.