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US 9,751,676 B2Granted
Packaged oral care implement and method of opening the same
AssigneeColgate-Palmolive Company
InventorsClark Bow, Alan V. Sorrentino
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A packaged oral care implement (1000) and method of opening the same. In one embodiment, the package (2000) includes a tab (106) on a first panel (100) of the package that is strategically located so that the oral care implement itself (1000) acts as a foundation or barrier adjacent to the tab that assists with shearing the first panel to release the tab.
Claims27
A packaged oral care implement comprising:
- a first panel and a second panel, a cavity formed between the first and second panels;
- the first panel comprising at least one pre-weakened line that defines a tear-away portion and a base portion, the base portion coupled to the second panel;
- the base portion comprising a tab that protrudes into the tear-away portion, an edge of the tab defined by a first portion of the pre-weakened line;
- an oral care implement positioned within the cavity so that a portion of the oral care implement lies beneath a first portion of the tear-away portion adjacent the tab, the tab located above an unoccupied portion of the cavity;
- and
- the tab alterable, in response to a downward force applied to the tab, from:
- (1) a closed state in which the first portion of the pre-weakened line is intact;
- and (2) an open state in which the first portion of the pre-weakened line is sheared, the tab is deflected into the unoccupied portion to a depth below an upper surface of the portion of the oral care implement, and an opening is defined in the first panel for grasping the tear-away portion and at least partially separating the tear-away portion from the base portion to provide access to the oral care implement.
5 more elements
A packaged oral care implement comprising:
- a first panel and a second panel, a cavity formed between the first and second panels;
- the first panel comprising at least one pre-weakened line that defines a tear-away portion and a base portion, the base portion coupled to the second panel;
- the base portion comprising a tab that protrudes into the tear-away portion, an edge of the tab defined by a first portion of the pre-weakened line;
- and
- an oral care implement positioned within the cavity so that a portion of the oral care implement lies beneath a first portion of the tear-away portion adjacent the tab, the tab located above an unoccupied portion of the cavity,
- wherein upon a downward force being applied to the tab, the first portion of the tear-away portion contacts the portion of the oral care implement, thereby causing the first portion of the pre-weakened line to shear and release the tab to allow the tab to deflect into the unoccupied portion to a depth below an upper surface of the portion of the oral care implement, such that an opening is defined in the first panel for grasping the tear-away portion and at least partially separating the tear-away portion from the base portion.
3 more elements
A method of opening a packaged product comprising:
- providing a product disposed within a cavity of a package, the package comprising a first panel, a second panel, a cavity formed between the first and second panels, the first panel comprising at least one pre-weakened line that defines a tear-away portion and a base portion, the base portion coupled to the second panel, the base portion comprising a tab that protrudes into the tear-away portion, an edge of the tab defined by a first portion of the pre-weakened line, the product positioned within the cavity so that a portion of the product lies beneath a first portion of the tear-away portion adjacent the tab, the tab located above an unoccupied portion of the cavity;
- applying a downward force on the tab to cause the first portion of the tear-away portion to contact the portion of the product and shear the first portion of the pre-weakened line to release the tab, the tab deflecting into the unoccupied portion to a depth below an upper surface of the portion of the product, thereby creating an opening in the first panel;
- and
- grasping the tear-away portion via the opening and at least partially separating the tear-away portion from the base portion to provide access to the product.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.