U.S. patent application number 11/421566 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-28 for multiple compartment package.
This patent application is currently assigned to ANNA LOTAN LTD.. Invention is credited to Liora CHITRON.
Application Number | 20060292270 11/421566 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37567757 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060292270 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHITRON; Liora |
December 28, 2006 |
Multiple Compartment Package
Abstract
The present invention relates to multiple compartment bags, and
in particular to such bags in which one of the compartments is
hermetically sealed. The present invention relates to a dual
compartment package in which one hermetically sealed compartment is
for packaging a personal care product, more particularly a cosmetic
product, and one accessible compartment is for packaging a sample
and optionally a leaflet of said personal care product, or of other
products of the same product line of said first personal-care
product.
Inventors: |
CHITRON; Liora; (Caesarea,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRUCE E. LILLING;LILLING & LILLING P.C.
P.O. BOX 560
GOLDEN BRIDGE
NY
10526
US
|
Assignee: |
ANNA LOTAN LTD.
North Industrial Zone
Or Akiva
IL
|
Family ID: |
37567757 |
Appl. No.: |
11/421566 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/54 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/129 |
International
Class: |
B65B 25/06 20060101
B65B025/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 7, 2005 |
IL |
169063 |
Claims
1. A multiple compartment package comprising: (i) one hermetically
sealed compartment for packaging a retail product; and (ii) at
least one additional, accessible compartment that is not
hermetically sealed for packaging a sample of said retail
product.
2. The package according to claim 1, comprising an accessible
compartment for inserting an accompanying leaflet of said retail
product.
3. The package according to claim 1, comprising an accessible
compartment for inserting additional marketing or promotional
material.
4. The package according to claim 1, shaped in any geometric,
non-geometric or figurative form.
5. The package according to claim 1, wherein the compartments are
aligned horizontally, vertically or in any other form.
6. The package according to claim 1, made of a material selected
from polyethylene film (PE), polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP),
multilayered laminated foils, paper or aluminum foil.
7. The package according to claim 6, further comprising insulating
materials, or soft or rigid fillers.
8. The package according to claim 1, wherein said accessible
compartment is closed by a closing mean selected from clips,
buttons, slipknots, adhesive material, strings, or zippers or any
other industrial mean.
9. The package according to claim 1, further containing means for
hanging said package on a display counter.
10. The package according to claim 9, wherein said means are a hook
or one or more holes.
11. The package according to claim 1, wherein said retail product
and said sample of retail product are personal-care products.
12. A dual-compartment package according to claim 1, wherein said
retail product and said sample of retail product are cosmetic
products.
13. A triple-compartment package according to claim 1, wherein said
retail product and said sample of retail product are cosmetic
products.
14. A method of selling a retail product comprising: (i) placing a
retail product in an hermetically sealed compartment of a multiple
compartment package; (ii) placing a sample of said retail product
in an accessible compartment of said multiple compartment package;
(iii) selling said multiple compartment package; and (iv) setting a
predefined period of time from the purchase date of said multiple
compartment package so that a customer can return said multiple
compartment package to the purchasing location and receive a refund
or credit if the hermetically sealed compartment containing said
retail product has not been opened; (v) replacing said sample of
said retail product, in the accessible compartment if said sample
has been used or partially used; and (vi) offering said multiple
compartment package for sale again.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein an accompanying leaflet
of said retail product is inserted to an accessible compartment of
said multiple compartment package.
16. A method according to claim 14, wherein additional marketing or
promotional material are inserted to an accessible compartment of
said multiple compartment package.
17. A method according to claim 14, wherein said predefined period
of time is 10 or 14 days.
18. A method according to claim 14, wherein said predefined period
of time has no limits so that a customer may return the multiple
compartment package any time for a refund or credit as long as the
hermetic compartment containing the retail product has not been
opened.
19. A method according to claim 14, wherein said multiple
compartment package is a dual compartment package and said retail
product and sample of retail product are cosmetic products.
20. A method according to claim 14, wherein said multiple
compartment package is a triple compartment package and said retail
product and sample of retail product are cosmetic products.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to multiple compartment bags,
and in particular to such bags in which one of the compartments is
hermetically sealed.
[0003] 2. Summary of the Related Art
[0004] Promoting and selling a new retail product is always a
challenge because of the effort it takes to get consumers to first
learn about the new product, and then decide to either try or
purchase the product. Manufacturers continually work to entice
customers to try their product. Examples include, but are not
limited to: car dealers offer customers a test drive; food
manufacturers put up tasting counters at supermarkets; personal
care manufacturers offer free samples given to customers when
purchasing other products at a store; and software manufacturers
offer a trial period for running a software, after which the
software stops working, or works only partially, unless the
customer pays for the full version.
[0005] Whereas in most industries, such as the food industry or car
industry, a single trial is usually sufficient to give consumers a
fairly good appreciation about the product's characteristics, the
personal-care industry is challenged by the fact that consumers
usually require a longer period of usage and several trials until a
customer can form an opinion about the benefits or how suitable is
a personal-care product.
[0006] Offering free product samples alone, while being an
excellent way to introduce a new product to customers, has its
limitations. Customers may try a sample and throw away its package,
and by the next time they are at the store they may not remember
the exact brand or product they have tested. A customer may receive
a sample at one store, but purchase the product later from a
different store. The consequence is that the first store that
introduced the sample does not benefit from the ensuing sale.
[0007] A customer may be given a product sample and be enthusiastic
about the new product at that moment, but later on may change his
mind or purchase a different brand.
[0008] The result of the above is that it is a problem for
manufacturers, and even more so for specific stores, to create a
strong link between trying a sample of a product and making a
purchase of that same product.
[0009] It would be desirable to create a physical link between a
retail product and its sample in order to enable customers to
validate the purchase of said retail product and begin using it
after having been satisfied with its sample.
[0010] Many retail products come with an accompanying leaflet or
instructions sheet on how to use the product and what to expect
from it. When a product is sold in different countries where
different languages are spoken, it is often necessary to provide a
different leaflet tailored to the local language, regulations or
culture. If the leaflet is placed inside a sealed package of the
product, said product may no longer be suitable for distribution in
another country, unless it is accompanied by a multi-lingual
leaflet that may be long, bulkier, or more expensive to produce.
This means that much larger inventories have to be kept with
different leaflet versions. If for example, a manufacturer produces
an inventory for a product with an English version, but suddenly
there is a great demand for the product in Germany, the existing
English version in stock is not suitable for the sale of the
product in Germany. Stripping the English packaging and replacing
it with a German package may be a cumbersome and expensive project
to carry out.
[0011] It would be desirable for manufactures to be able to bundle
a targeted product leaflet with a retail product, and possibly a
product sample, in a way that enables flexibility of adding or
replacing the product leaflet and the sample to the packaged retail
product according to varying marketing circumstances and needs.
Manufacturers and distributors need to convince retail stores to
purchase and market their products. Manufacturers and distributors
can hardly afford to devote marketing and advertising budgets to
retail stores. Advertising is usually expensive and manufacturers
and distributors prefer to spend most of it on the product itself.
It would be desirable for manufacturers and distributors to enable
retail stores to bundle in an efficient way the retail product with
authorized and agreed upon promotional material regarding the
product, the store or both. Thus the marketing and promotion effort
and cost would be transferred from the manufacturers and
distributors to the retail store. The retail store would also
directly enjoy the rewards of its marketing and promotional
efforts. This would increase the attractiveness of the product
vis-a-vis the retail store, and would increase the retail store's
motivation to focus on its sale.
[0012] Multiple compartment bags are known in the art. JP
2003321064 describes a container made of a flexible resin wherein a
liquid or gel stored in a main compartment can communicate with
another compartment serving as a compartment for a test sample. The
container of JP 2003321064 is not adapted for testing the product
over an extended period of time as the package or container is
opened with scissors and thus cannot be sealed after usage.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,125 describes a multiple compartment
package for packaging bottles together with promotional samples.
The promotional samples of U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,125 are only
accessible after opening the main package and cannot be accessed
separately or independently of the main product.
[0014] CA 2448413 describes a package typically adapted for home
fashion articles such as bedspreads and blankets. A sample of the
home fashion material stored inside the package is attached outside
the package so that a customer may touch and feel the sample
without damaging the main product. Such a package does not allow
independent usage of the sample product nor does it allow the
insertion of additional promotional material to the package.
[0015] JP 2001225886 describes an eyeglass package where one or two
trial lenses are either attached to the package or are built into
the package in such a way that a customer is able to try the
lenses. Again, the sample of JP 2001225886 is not intended for
independent usage, and is also not a sample of the retail product
packaged in the main compartment. The retail product here is
eyeglasses including a frame and lenses, while only the lenses can
be tested by the customer.
[0016] FR 2610600 describes a cardbox package including a pedestal
for packaging product samples. Such a package is expensive to
manufacture and is not fitted to multiple usage over time, due to
the fragility of the rigid package. Such a package is easily
damaged when being shipped or used, making it less attractive for
being offered for sale.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention relates to a multiple compartment
package with one hermetically sealed compartment for packaging a
retail product, and at least one additional accessible compartment
that is not hermetically sealed.
[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, a
dual-compartment package is provided comprising one hermetically
sealed compartment for packaging a retail product and another
accessible compartment for packaging an additional product. In one
embodiment, the additional product packaged in accessible
compartment is a sample or a trial pack of the retail product
packaged in the hermetically sealed compartment. Thus, the
consumer, after purchasing the retail product, can take out and use
the sample or trial version of the retail product, without taking
out the retail product from the hermetically sealed
compartment.
[0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, the package
contains a hermetically sealed compartment for packaging a retail
product and an accessible compartment for packaging a product
leaflet. Product leaflets can then be produced in different
versions according to the requirements of the regions and countries
the product is sold in, and the required version of the product
leaflets are then placed on demand in the accessible compartment of
the package. Exchanging product leaflets in an accessible
compartment of the package can then be performed with a minimal
effort.
[0020] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the
package of the invention is provided with three compartments: one
hermetically sealed compartment for packaging a retail product, and
two accessible compartments for packaging an appropriate product
leaflet and a product sample. As an alternative, a dual compartment
package of the invention is provided comprising a hermetically
sealed compartment for packaging a retail product, and an
accessible compartment for packaging both the appropriate product
leaflet and a product sample.
[0021] The manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, or retail store
may wish to bundle with the retail product additional marketing or
promotional materials. In yet another embodiment of the present
invention, additional marketing or promotional material is inserted
into an accessible compartment of the package. The marketing or
promotional material can be packaged in the same accessible
compartment along with a product sample or a product leaflet, or
the marketing or promotional material can be packaged in a separate
accessible compartment of the package.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to
a dual compartment package in which one hermetically sealed
compartment is for packaging a personal care product, more
particularly a cosmetic product, and one accessible compartment is
for packaging a sample and optionally a leaflet of said personal
care product, or of other products of the same product line of said
first personal-care product.
[0023] Selling the package of the invention including a retail
product in the hermetically sealed compartment and a sample of the
retail product in accessible compartment, and allowing a consumer
to use a sample of the retail product and be able to return the
package for a refund if the hermetically sealed compartment with
the retail product has not been opened, offers several benefits to
the manufacturer, retail store and the customer. The manufacturer
and retail store can accept a retail product back into the sales
stock knowing that the retail product has not been touched; the
manufacturer sends the customer and retail store a strong message
regarding his guarantee of the quality of the retail product; and
the customer can try a product and be assured that if he does not
like the product, he can return it untouched, within a predefined
time limit, and get a refund of the purchase price.
[0024] The invention thus presents a new method for selling a
retail product comprising the following steps: [0025] (i) placing a
retail product in an hermetically sealed compartment of a multiple
compartment package; [0026] (ii) placing a sample of said retail
product in an accessible compartment of said multiple compartment
package; [0027] (iii) selling said multiple compartment package;
and [0028] (iv) setting a predefined period of time from the
purchase date of said multiple compartment package so that a
customer can return said multiple compartment package to the
purchasing location and receive a refund or credit if the
hermetically sealed compartment containing said retail product has
not been opened; [0029] (v) replacing said sample of said retail
product, in the accessible compartment if said sample has been used
or partially used; and [0030] (vi) offering said multiple
compartment package for sale again.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIGS. 1a-1g illustrate bags according to the invention in
different forms, with one hermetically sealed compartment and one
or two accessible compartments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] In the following detailed description of various
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that
form a part thereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration
specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is
understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0033] The present invention relates to a multiple compartment
package with one hermetically sealed compartment for packaging a
retail product, and at least one additional, accessible compartment
that is not hermetically sealed.
[0034] FIGS. 1a-1g illustrate several embodiments of the package of
the invention in different shapes. The bags have one hermetically
sealed compartment 10, means for hermetically sealing a compartment
15, one or two accessible compartments 20, and means for closing an
accessible compartment 25.
[0035] The different compartments can be aligned in any order:
horizontally, vertically, or any other form. The compartments of
the package of the invention can be designed in any form:
rectangular, square, triangular, round, oval, any figurative form
or in any other geometric or non-geometric form. The compartments
of the package of the invention can be separated by any desired
pattern, for example a straight line, curve, wave, zigzag, or any
other form.
[0036] An accessible compartment 20 can be provisionally closed by
employing various means 25 including, but not limited to: clips,
buttons, slipknots, adhesive material, strings, or zippers in
different forms.
[0037] The package of the invention can be shaped in any geometric,
non-geometric, or figurative form. For example, a package can be
shaped as a rectangle, any oval or circular form, a triangle, a
hexagon, or shaped in any figurative form such as a horse, a boat,
a house or any other figurative form.
[0038] FIG. 1a illustrates a rectangular-shaped package of the
invention wherein one accessible compartment 20 is positioned above
the hermetically sealed compartment 10. Means for closing the
accessible compartment 25 are located on top of the package.
[0039] FIG. 1b illustrates a rectangular-shaped package of the
invention wherein two accessible compartments 20 are aligned
side-by-side above the hermetically sealed compartment 10. Means
for closing the accessible compartments 25 are located on top of
the package.
[0040] FIG. 1c illustrates a triangular-shaped package of the
invention wherein two triangular-shaped accessible compartments 20
are aligned side-by-side above the hermetically sealed compartment
10. Means for closing the accessible compartments 25 are located on
the side of the package.
[0041] FIG. 1d illustrates an oval-shaped package of the invention
wherein one accessible compartment 20 is positioned above the
hermetically sealed compartment 10. Means for closing the
accessible compartment 25 are located on top of the package.
[0042] FIG. 1e illustrates a rectangular-shaped package of the
invention wherein two triangular-shaped accessible compartments 20
are aligned side-by-side above the hermetically sealed compartment
10. Means for closing the accessible compartments 25 are located on
top of the package.
[0043] FIG. 1f illustrates a kangaroo-shaped package of the
invention wherein the kangaroo's pouch serves as an accessible
compartment 20 while the kangaroo's body serves as the hermetically
sealed compartment 10. Means for closing the accessible compartment
25 are located on top of the pouch.
[0044] FIG. 1g illustrates a rectangular-shaped package of the
invention wherein the accessible compartment 20 is aligned
side-by-side with the hermetically sealed compartment 10. Means for
closing the accessible compartments 25 are located on top of the
package.
[0045] FIG. 1i illustrates a triangular-shaped package of the
invention wherein two triangular-shaped accessible compartments 20
are positioned on each side of the package with a
rectangular-shaped hermetically sealed compartment 10 placed
between them. Means for closing the accessible compartments 25 are
located on the side of the package.
[0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, the hermetically
sealed compartment 10 is used for packaging a retail product, while
an accessible compartment 20 is used for packaging an additional
product, for example, a sample or trial version of said retail
product, optionally with a leaflet and/or other promotional
material.
[0047] Manufacturers in several industries such as the personal
care industry, the food industry, the car industry, the personal
software industries, and other industries invest significant
resources and effort in getting customers to learn about their
products, and inducing customers to try their products. Sales
people and retail stores desire to shorten the time between the
trial of a retail product and its purchase. In addition, sales
people and retail stores only benefit from a purchase transacted
with them directly. If a customer is given a product sample at one
store, but then purchases the retail product later on at a
different store, the sales person providing the sample and the
first retail store, do not benefit from the subsequent purchase of
said retail product.
[0048] The present invention presents an effective solution to this
problem by providing a multiple compartment package comprising one
hermetically sealed compartment 10 for packaging a retail product
and at least one accessible compartment 20 for packaging a sample
or trial version of said retail product. When a customer purchases
said retail product, packaged in said hermetically sealed
compartment 10 of the package, the customer also receives a free
trial or sample of said purchased retail product. If the customer
is not satisfied with the sample of the retail product, he may
return the package to the store within a predefined time limit, and
get a refund of the purchase price, as long as the hermetically
sealed compartment 10 has not been opened. A customer may also be
offered credit instead of a refund depending on the store policy. A
new sample or trial version of said retail product may be placed in
the accessible compartment 20, replacing the one that has been used
or partially used, and the full retail product in the package of
the invention can be put up for sale again. If a customer is
satisfied with the sample product, he needs only to open the
hermetically sealed compartment 10, take out the retail product and
begin using it. The predefined time period for returning the
package for a refund or credit may be set to any time. Practice
usually sets this period to a week, 10 days, two weeks or a month.
Alternatively, no time limit might be announced by the store,
allowing a customer to return the product for refund or credit any
time assuming the hermetically sealed compartment 10 has not been
opened.
[0049] The package of the present invention presents further
advantages for the customer and the manufacturer. Even when the
customer is familiar with the retail product, he may regard the
sample product offered as an additional product bonus, increasing
the quantity of product purchased for a given price. The sample
product may also be used when traveling. Satisfied customers may
pass trial products to their friends and families, thus offering
the manufacturer a very effective promotion system. A satisfied
customer thus recommends and offers a trial product to someone that
knows and trusts him.
[0050] Product manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retail
stores may wish from time to time, or on a permanent basis, to
include marketing or promotional material along with the retail
product they are marketing. In yet another embodiment of the
present invention, marketing or promotional material is inserted
into an accessible compartment 20 of the package. The accessible
compartment 20 is a very convenient location to place marketing or
promotional material since it can be inserted at any stage by the
manufacturer or distributor and even at the retail store itself. It
is also easier to update or remove such marketing or promotional
material when necessary.
[0051] Many products are offered with an accompanying product
leaflet, detailing usage and safety instructions. Manufacturers
frequently sell an identical product in different regions or
countries, having to provide a different product leaflet for each
region or country often in a different language, or containing
pertinent local information. Prior art practices require
manufacturers to produce in advance a sufficient number of retail
products with their associated product leaflets for each region or
country, in order to be able to accommodate projected consumer
demand for each region or country. Once an inventory is produced
for one region or country, it can be unpractical and expensive to
repurpose it for another region or country in order to meet an
increased demand, because production lines are not set up to
exchange product leaflets efficiently inside an existing sealed
package.
[0052] The present invention offers a solution to the
above-mentioned problem by offering a package with a hermetically
sealed compartment 10 for packaging a retail product, and an
accessible compartment 20 for packaging the product leaflet of said
retail product packaged in said hermetically sealed compartment 10
of the package. Thus a manufacturer can produce a set number of
retail products packaged in a hermetically sealed compartment 10 of
the invention, and then place the corresponding product leaflet for
each region or country in an accessible compartment 20 when
necessary. Even after a product leaflet has been packaged into an
accessible compartment 20, it can be easily replaced with a
different product leaflet if required. The manufacturer is thus
able to respond more efficiently to impromptu increases in demand
in different countries or regions, and also produce less products
in advance saving money in inventory and production costs.
[0053] The package of the invention can be made from any available
material according to any design, usage, cost or other criteria
decided by the manufacturer. Examples of popular materials include
but are not limited to: polyethylene film (PE), polyester (PET),
polypropylene (PP), multilayered laminated foils, paper and
aluminum foil. Using such flexible material makes the package of
the invention cost-effective for manufacturing and well resistant
against wearing out in a retail environment.
[0054] The package may optionally further contain insulating
material available in the industry for example, locked air or gas
straight, or bubbles. The package of the invention may also contain
soft or rigid fillers in order to provide additional protection
against breakage or other damage to a product inside the
package.
[0055] It is important for retail products to be able to be
arranged and presented efficiently in a retail store. In another
embodiment of the present invention, the package also includes
means for hanging said package on a display counter. Popular means
in the industry for hanging a product on a display counter include
a hook, which may be either built into the product or attached
externally to the product, or one or more holes incorporated into
the design of the package. Other means for hanging the package
exist in the industry and should be considered as part of the scope
of the present invention.
* * * * *