Packaging of a stack of confectionery pellets and the like

Abstract

Packaging of a stack of confectionery pellets comprises a tubular pack formed from a flexible wrapper and a re-closable cap member mounted to one end of pack. The cap member has a base affixed to a side wall of the pack and a scoop attached to the base for movement between closed and open positions. The scoop is shaped to act as a receptacle for holding a pellet dispensed from the pack when in the open position. The wrapper has a line of weakness extending around all or part of the end wall region and during manufacture an inside surface of the scoop is bonded to the end wall region. When the scoop is first opened, the wrapper tears along the line of weakness to create an opening in the pack through which pellets can be dispensed. A method of manufacturing the packaging is also disclosed and claimed.

1 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method of packaging a stack of confectionery pellets, the method comprising: providing a flexible wrapper having a line of weakness;
 enclosing a stack of confectionery pellets in a tubular pack formed from the flexible wrapper so that the line of weakness at least partially encircles at least part of an end wall region at one end of the pack;   providing a re-closable cap member comprising a base and a scoop movably attached to the base;   affixing the base of the cap member to a side wall region of the pack adjacent said one end of the stack such that the scoop is movable between a closed position in which the scoop encloses said one end and an open position in which said one end is exposed, the scoop being configured to act as a receptacle for holding a pellet dispensed from the pack when in the open position;   bonding an inner surface of the scoop to the end wall region of the pack, the arrangement being such that, on first movement of the scoop from the closed position to the open position, the wrapper tears along the line of weakness to create an opening in the pack through which pellets can be dispensed.   
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the step of providing the re-closable end cap member comprises providing an end cap member having engagement means for releasably holding the scoop in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the step of affixing the base to the side wall region of the pack comprises bonding the base to the side wall region. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the step of providing the re-closable cap member comprises providing a cap member in which the scoop is attached to the base by means of a hinge for movement between the closed and open positions. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the step of providing the re-closable cap member comprises producing a cap member from cardboard. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the flexible wrapper comprises a plastic material, preferably PET. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the confectionery pellets are gum pellets. 
     
     
         15 . A kit of parts for producing a packaging as claimed in claim  1 , the kit comprising a wrapper for producing the pack and a re-closable end cap, in which the wrapper has a line of weakness arranged so that when the wrapper is formed into a pack about a stack of pellets, the line of weakness at least partially encircles at least part of an end wall region of the pack. 
     
     
         16 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 15 , in which the cap member is produced from a cardboard blank. 
     
     
         17 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 15 , in which the wrapper comprises a plastic material, preferably PET. 
     
     
         18 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A kit of parts for producing a packaging for use in the method of  claim 8 , the kit comprising a wrapper for producing the pack and a re-closable end cap, in which the wrapper has a line of weakness arranged so that when the wrapper is formed into a pack about a stack of pellets, the line of weakness at least partially encircles at least part of an end wall region of the pack. 
     
     
         21 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 20 , in which the cap member is produced from a cardboard blank. 
     
     
         22 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 20 , in which the wrapper comprises a plastic material, preferably PET.