Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – With closure for an access opening
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-01
2001-05-29
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
With closure for an access opening
C206S459500, C206S831000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237843
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to food packaging and more particularly to a food package prepared from paperboard which incorporates a redeemable coupon that is printed directly on the packaging material.
The use of coupons or the like in packaging is well known. U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,850 for example, shows a tubular carton structure with an integral interior panel in the form of a coupon. It is also known to include coupons or other inserts in packaging located within an interior compartment (U.S. Pat. No. 3,147,856), or within a pocket formed between an inner, protective film and the package (U.S. Pat. No. 3,640,447). When the package is used for food products, the most important requirement is the necessity of keeping the food and coupon isolated from one another to prevent contamination. For example, if the coupon or insert is included loosely within the food package it should be separately wrapped. If the coupon is included as a part of the package it may be printed directly on a package panel either on the interior or exterior of the package. However, in any case, provisions should be made to make sure the coupon is available to the consumer in such a manner that access is convenient and without the need for the consumer to clean food off the printed material.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The preferred food packaging container of the present invention includes a lid and tray prepared from paperboard, wherein the interior surfaces of the lid and tray are covered with a food contact barrier material. Meanwhile, the outer surfaces of the lid and tray are coated with a clay coating suitable for printing high quality graphics. A typical example of such a food container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,832, wherein there is illustrated a separate tray and lid in which the tray includes a peripheral flange to which the lid is bonded. It is to be understood, however, that the food package of the present invention may take any desired shape or form including a one piece construction if desired.
It will be appreciated that for food packages as disclosed in the '832 patent and as preferred herein, it is substantially impossible to include a coupon or the like loosely in the food compartment. This means that a coupon if desired would of necessity have to be attached to or included as a part of the exterior of the food package. In this regard, it will be noted that in merchandizing practice, a coupon that is visible or partly visible when the package is in its normal use has more attention drawing potential than a mere statement on the package that a coupon is being offered. However, the size of the coupon cannot be so large that it detracts from the brand identity and other graphics associated with the packaged products.
In order to overcome these problems and still achieve the desired advantage of offering a coupon with a food package as disclosed, the coupon indicia of the present invention is printed directly on the inner surface of the container lid. The lid is perforated around the coupon indicia for easy removal of the coupon portion of the lid by the consumer, and an interior liner member is bonded to the inner surface of the lid so as to cover the coupon indicia and perforations and keep the printed matter from coming into contact with the packaged food product.
In accordance with the present invention, the interior liner member may be patched to the inner surface of the lid using conventional equipment over the coupon indicia either before or at the same time that the lid is printed and die cut. The liner member may be sized so as to cover only the printed coupon indicia and perforations, or so as to cover the entirety of the lid inner surface. Where the liner member covers the entirety of the lid inner surface, the material chosen for the liner member must be capable of being bonded either with the use of heat or microwave energy to the flanges of the food tray.
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Falat Ladislav
Parks Christopher J.
Elkins Gary E.
Westvaco Corporation
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