초록 ▼

The present invention provides an improved product holding and dispensing package and an improved method for providing, holding and storing products, especially consumable products. The package includes a housing, a product insert and a wrapper that initially seals the outside of the housing. The ho

The present invention provides an improved product holding and dispensing package and an improved method for providing, holding and storing products, especially consumable products. The package includes a housing, a product insert and a wrapper that initially seals the outside of the housing. The housing includes an opening that enables a consumer to remove and reinsert the insert from and into the housing. When the consumer removes the insert from the housing, the consumer can remove one or more products from the insert. A compartment that holds the one or more removed products is constructed to hold its shape even after the product is removed so that the insert as a whole maintains its shape even when the insert is partially or substantially empty. The insert in a preferred embodiment slightly press-fits or biases against a number of the walls of the housing.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A package for holding a plurality of products comprising:a housing having a pair of opposing walls and an open end; andan insert including a plurality of compartments for housing each of the products, the insert including a plurality of sections that are folded over against one another with compa

1. A package for holding a plurality of products comprising:a housing having a pair of opposing walls and an open end; andan insert including a plurality of compartments for housing each of the products, the insert including a plurality of sections that are folded over against one another with compartments on each section facing outwardly the insert sized with respect to the housing and removably positioned in the housing so that at least some of the compartments contact and provide multiple discrete forces against an inner surface of the opposing walls that cause the insert to remain at least partially inside the housing when the package is moved. 2. The package of claim 1, including a plastic wrapper that initially seals the housing. 3. The package of claim 1, wherein the compartments are constructed of plastic. 4. The package of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a closed end opposing the open end. 5. The package of claim 1, wherein the insert creates sufficient force to prevent the insert from falling out of the housing when the package is moved in any direction. 6. The package of claim 1, wherein the sections are hingedly attached to each other. 7. The package of claim 1, wherein the insert includes a member that can be ruptured allowing at least one of the products to be removed from one of the compartments. 8. The package of claim 1, wherein the insert is folded when inside the housing and unfolded when removed from the housing so that one of the consumable products can be removed. 9. The package of claim 8, wherein the compartments are adapted to hold shape after products are removed therefrom. 10. A package for a plurality of products comprising:a housing having a pair of opposed walls, a closed end, and an open end; andan insert removably located within the housing through the open end of the housing, the insert having a plurality of initially sealed compartments that store the products, the compartments being constructed of a resilient material, adapted to hold their shape after the products are removed therefrom and sized with respect to the housing to thereby create a friction fit between the insert and the pair of opposing walls when the insert is received within the housing both in an initial state in which each of the products is within the initially sealed compartments and a subsequent state in which one or more of the products is removed from the compartments, which compartment is permanently unsealed. 11. The package of claim 10, which includes a member covering the compartments and so constructed and arranged that pressing one of the compartments causes a portion of the member to rupture. 12. The package of claim 10, wherein the products are consumable products. 13. The package of claim 10, wherein the products are gum. 14. The package of claim 11, wherein the insert includes a base, the compartments extending from the base and the member attaching to the base. 15. The package of claim 10, wherein the plurality of walls of the housing maintain their shape after the insert is removed from the package. 16. The package of claim 10, wherein the insert includes at least two sections each including a plurality of compartments. 17. The package of claim 16, wherein the sections are hingedly attached to each other. 18. A method for packaging consumable products comprising:providing an open ended housing having a pair of opposing walls for housing a removable insert, the insert holding the consumable products, the insert being biased against the pair of the walls of the housing to provide a force that urges the insert to remain in the housing even when the housing is moved;removing the insert from the housing and removing at least one of the consumable products from the insert; andreinserting the insert having the remaining consumable products into the housing so that the insert is again biased against the pair of walls of the housing, wherein an outwardly extending portion of the insert that had previously house d the removed product and at least contributed to the insert being biased against the walls continues to provide such contribution. 19. The method of claim 18, which includes repeating the steps of removing and reinserting until all of the consumable products are removed from the insert. 20. The method of claim 18, which includes providing a sealed wrapping about the housing so that the wrapping must be removed before the insert can be removed from the housing. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein removing at least one of the consumable products includes pressing and rupturing part of the insert.