Tamper resistant means for on-package peelable premium

#(1) Field of the Invention

#This invention relates generally to laminated web material adaptable for use in packaging and convertible into various types of containers such as cartons or the like suitable for the packaging of consumer oriented products. More particularly, the invention relates to containers made from laminated packaging material of this character which is so constructed as to enable a selected area of one ply of the material to be readily peeled from or delaminated with respect to the other ply of the material by the consumer or ultimate purchaser of the products so packaged without significantly affecting the integrity of the container structurally.

#It has long been a wide spread practice in the marketing of packaged consumer oriented products to offer with the package, as an inducement to purchase, a promotional item or premium which may take the form of a coupon, trading stamp, picture or the like. These items have traditionally been attached in some way to the exterior of the package or inserted within the package at the time the package was filled. Also, in the case of printed material such as coupons, they have been printed on the surface of the carton or container in which the product is packaged with the intent that they be cut out from the structure of the carton prior to redemption thereof. All of the above mentioned methods of including coupons or the like with packaged goods have involved certain disadvantages whether it be pilferage of the coupon in cases where they are externally attached to the package, inadvertent failure to stuff the coupon in cases where they are inserted within the package, or destruction of the carton itself as an incident to redemption in those instances where the coupons are printed directly on the surface of the packaging material from which the cartons or containers are constructed.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laminated carton or container structure incorporating a peelably removable premium or the like on one panel thereof.

#FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the carton of FIG. 1 showing the peelable section incorporated in said panel partly peeled away therefrom.

#FIG. 3 is a sectional view of said panel taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

#Referring now to the drawing the invention is shown in an embodiment incorporated in an otherwise conventional folding carton 5 of the type commonly employed for containing consumer oriented products such as manufactured food items, for example, cereals, crackers, pet foods or the like. Said carton as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1 includes a top closure flap 10, a sidewall panel 12, which for purposes of this description may be considered the rear panel of the carton, and an end wall panel 14.

#The carton is manufactured from webs of packaging material which are laminated together and include, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, an inner ply 16 constituting a bendable grade of paperboard or the like and an outer ply 18 of high grade paper of a quality suitable for receiving the printing of the usual carton graphics, labelling, product identification and etc., and bonded to the substrate paperboard ply 16 by a laminant 20. Incorporated in the rear panel 12 of the carton is a removable or peelable section 22 of the outer paper ply 18 which is defined by a tear outline 24.

#As disclosed in the aforementioned pending application Ser. No. 002,701, the removable section 22 of the rear carton panel may contain a decorative image 25 printed in sublimation ink so as to be transferable to another article as an "iron-on" by application thereto of suitable heat and pressure. Thus, the removable section 22 having been given to the consumer as an integral part of the package of puchased merchandise, and having a value or utility in and of itself when separated from said package, constitutes a form of merchandising premium which is in common usage for sales promotion purposes. It will, of course, be understood that the removable section 22 of the rear panel may be treated or printed with indicia or designs in inks which are not heat transferable so as to produce another form of peelable premium. For example, said peelable section could be printed to represent a replica of a well-known work of art, a trading stamp or a cents-off coupon redeemable towards purchase of either the same or other merchandise of the manufacturer. Accordingly, by use of the term "premium" it is intended to refer to all such forms of instrumentalities which have a value or utility for the consumer, when removed from the container, which is separate and distinct from its usefulness as a portion of the container structure for the purchased merchandise.