A package, a pre-formed foldable sheet, a method of grouping articles and a method of placing articles on a shelf

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a package comprising an enclosure and retentions. The enclosure is sized and configured to receive several articles aligned within the enclosure. The enclosure has an opening at each of two opposite ends. A retention is located at each end of the enclosure. At least one retention is retractable. For grouping, the articles are aligned on a pre-formed foldable sheet. The sheet is folded to enclose the articles. Opposite edges of the sheet are glued together to form an enclosure about the plurality of articles. A retention is folded at each end of the enclosure. After placing the package on a shelf, any retention at one end of the enclosure is displaced to free the articles. Pushing on the articles through an opposite end allows the articles to slide onto the shelf. A pre-formed foldable sheet for forming the package is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package, comprising:
 an enclosure sized and configured for receiving a plurality of articles aligned within the enclosure, the enclosure having an opening at each of two opposite ends; and   at least one retention at each of the two opposite ends, at least one of the two opposite ends including at least one retractable retention.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two opposite ends includes a pair of retractable retentions. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least one retractable retention is a tearable retention. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least one retractable retention is a foldable retention. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a foldable retention tab in a first corner of each of the two opposite ends; and   a tearable retention tab in a second corner of each of the two opposite ends, the second corner being opposite from the first corner.   
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is formed by folding a pre-formed foldable sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein each of the retractable retentions is pre-formed in the pre-formed foldable sheet. 
     
     
         8 . A method of grouping articles, comprising:
 aligning the plurality of articles on the pre-formed foldable sheet of  claim 6 ;   folding the pre-formed foldable sheet to enclose the plurality of articles;   gluing opposite edges of the pre-formed foldable sheet together to form the enclosure about the plurality of articles; and   folding the at least one retention at each of the two opposite ends of the enclosure.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising gluing two packages side-by-side. 
     
     
         10 . A method of placing articles on a shelf, comprising:
 placing the package of  claim 1  on the shelf;   displacing the at least one retractable retention at a first end of the enclosure to free the plurality of articles; and   pushing on the plurality of articles through a second end of the enclosure opposite from the first end so that the plurality of articles slides onto the shelf.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein displacing one of the at least one retractable retention at the first end of the enclosure comprises tearing the one of the at least one retractable retention. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein displacing one of the at least one retractable retention at the first end of the enclosure comprises unfolding the one of the at least one retractable retention. 
     
     
         13 . A combination package comprising two packages of  claim 1  glued side-by-side. 
     
     
         14 . A pre-formed foldable sheet, comprising:
 a floor panel;   a pair of side panels attached at lower ends thereof on each side of the floor panel;   a first top flap extending from an upper end of one of the side panels;   a second top flap extending from an upper end of another one of the side panels;   a first retention positioned at a first end of the pre-formed foldable sheet on one of the floor panel and the first top flap; and   a second retention positioned at a second end of the pre-formed foldable sheet opposite from the first end, the second retention being positioned on one of the floor panel and the first top flap.   
     
     
         15 . The pre-formed foldable sheet of  claim 14 , wherein the floor panel includes a pre-formed bottom retention at each of the first and second ends of the pre-formed foldable sheet. 
     
     
         16 . The pre-formed foldable sheet of  claim 14 , wherein the first top flap includes a pre-formed top retention at each of the first and second ends of the pre-formed foldable sheet. 
     
     
         17 . The pre-formed foldable sheet of  claim 14 , comprising tearable pre-formed bottom retentions and foldable pre-formed top retentions. 
     
     
         18 . The pre-formed foldable sheet of  claim 14 , comprising foldable pre-formed bottom retentions and foldable pre-formed top retentions. 
     
     
         19 . The pre-formed foldable sheet of  claim 14 , comprising tearable pre-formed bottom retentions and tearable pre-formed top retentions. 
     
     
         20 . The pre-formed foldable sheet of  claim 14 , comprising foldable pre-formed bottom retentions and tearable pre-formed top retentions. 
     
     
         21 . The pre-formed foldable sheet of  claim 16 , wherein a width of the first top flap is equal to a width of the second top flap. 
     
     
         22 . The pre-formed foldable sheet of  claim 21 , wherein the second top flap is truncated for being glued to the first top flap without interfering with the pre-formed top retentions. 
     
     
         23 . The pre-formed foldable sheet of  claim 14 , wherein scorings in the pre-formed foldable sheet delimit the floor panel, the side panels and the top flaps.