Package with integral plug

Abstract

A package is disclosed having integral means to seal an opening in a packaged product, such as a capless writing instrument, in order to protect material within the packaged product, such as ink, from excessive exposure to air while stored in the package. The package may be of any type used to contain articles of merchandise, including, without limitation, a blister package, a clamshell package, a closed tube, or a box. A plug portion attached to or molded into the interior of the package is sized and positioned so that it fits sealingly in an opening of a product contained within said package in order to prevent or minimize passage of air through said opening. Also disclosed is a package insert for holding an article of merchandise securely within a package while sealing an opening in the merchandise.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] There are no applications related to this invention anywhere in the world. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention generally relates to product packaging. The invention provides a package having an integral plug attached to the interior of the package for sealing an opening in a product in order to prevent material within the packaged product from being exposed to air in the package. [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0005] Various types of packages are used for packaging small articles of merchandise and displaying them in retail environments. A non-exhaustive list includes blister packages; cardboard, paper board, and plastic boxes and tubes; and plastic “clamshells.” Many variations of these basic package types have been developed to address particular packaging needs. [0006] One type of article that may be contained in a package is a capless writing instrument having a retractable nib. Because suc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a package having integral means to seal an opening in a packaged product, such as a capless writing instrument, in order to protect material within the packaged product, such as ink, from excessive exposure to air while stored in the package. Another object of the present invention is to provide a package containing an integral plug positioned to seal an opening in a capless writing instrument while the package remains unopened. Yet another object of the present invention is to improve the shelf life of a capless writing instrument by providing an integral plug in a package. A further object is to provide a package having means to assist the user to remove the marking instrument in a direction so that the plug seal pulls away from the marking instrument upon removal.

[0009] What is disclosed is a package for containing an article of merchandise, said package having a plug portion projecting into the interior of the package so that it fits firmly in an opening of the article of merchandise contained wi

Problems solved by technology

While exposure of the ink to air may not cause any problems over the normal period of use of the writing instrument, such exposure over long periods of storage in the package may result in significant drying or evaporation of the ink, adversely affecting performance of the writing instrument.

Many conventional packages are not impermeable to air, and even

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