U.S. patent application number 11/269319 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-10 for complementary package.
This patent application is currently assigned to Conopco, Inc., d/b/a UNILEVER, Conopco, Inc., d/b/a UNILEVER. Invention is credited to Fernando Moreira Muniz-Simas, Pepijn Rutger Ruben Van Der Krogt, Guillermo Weyland.
Application Number | 20070102320 11/269319 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37499661 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070102320 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Van Der Krogt; Pepijn Rutger Ruben
; et al. |
May 10, 2007 |
Complementary package
Abstract
The invention is directed to a package with sides that are
complementary to an adjacent package. The package can have convex
and concave portions and can create a puzzle-like appearance when
displayed in a group.
Inventors: |
Van Der Krogt; Pepijn Rutger
Ruben; (Santiago, CL) ; Weyland; Guillermo;
(Santiago, CL) ; Muniz-Simas; Fernando Moreira;
(Santiago, CL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
UNILEVER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP
700 SYLVAN AVENUE,
BLDG C2 SOUTH
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS
NJ
07632-3100
US
|
Assignee: |
Conopco, Inc., d/b/a
UNILEVER
|
Family ID: |
37499661 |
Appl. No.: |
11/269319 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/581 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0202
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/581 |
International
Class: |
B65D 69/00 20060101
B65D069/00 |
Claims
1. A package comprising: (a) a body; and (b) a first complementary
section opposite a second complementary section wherein the first
complementary section is convex and the second complementary
section is concave, the package when placed adjacent to a second
substantially the same or identical package results in a joint that
comprises two complementary sections.
2. The package according to claim 1 wherein the package and
adjacent package are right side up.
3. The package according to claim 1 wherein the package and
adjacent package are upside down.
4. The package according to claim 1 wherein the package and
adjacent package are not simultaneously right side up or
simultaneously upside down.
5. The package according to claim 1 wherein the package is a
plastic bottle with a cap.
6. The package according to claim 1 wherein the package comprises
hair care product, skin care product, soap, detergent, beverage or
a food product.
7. The package according to claim 1 wherein the package comprises
mayonnaise, tartar sauce, salad dressing, cheese condiment,
mustard, relish, ketchup, margarine or a dipping sauce.
8. The package according to claim 1 wherein the package can
comprise a label.
9. A method for marketing products comprising the steps of: (a)
lining up packages comprising a body having first and second
complementary sections opposite each other; (b) creating a joint
that comprises two complementary sections; and (c) creating a
puzzle-like appearance.
10. The method for marketing products according to claim 9 wherein
the packages are right side up, upside down, or a combination
thereof.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to a complementary
package. More particularly, the invention is directed to a
complementary package, like a bottle, that has at least one side
that is complementary to a side of an adjacent package, regardless
if both packages are right side up, upside down, or in any
combination thereof. The package of this invention creates a
puzzle-like appearance when displayed in a group and is very
attractive to consumers shopping for products contained
therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Packages, like bottles, and especially transparent bottles,
are used to present to the consumer a variety of household
products, especially food products. Manufacturers of such bottles,
for example, often attempt to improve gripping means of the bottles
to ensure that the bottles do not fall out of the consumers' hands
during use. Also, manufacturers of bottles often concentrate on
product evacuation from the bottle so that product is not wasted at
the time the bottle is discarded or recycled.
[0003] Other manufacturers focus on marketing techniques for
individual packages. For example, individual bottles have been
shaped like animals, cartoon characters and drinking glasses so
that they may be used and/or displayed after being emptied.
[0004] Labeling is also another means for enhancing the marketing
appeal of packages. Unfortunately, however, marketers typically
focus on package labels individually, and such labeling has a
limited impact on catching consumer attention.
[0005] It is of increasing interest to develop a packaging system
that will be exceptionally attractive to customers, regardless of
the labeling type. This invention, therefore, is directed to a
package that has at least one side that is complementary to a side
of an adjacent package, regardless if both packages are right side
up, upside down, or in any combination thereof. The package of this
invention creates a puzzle-like appearance when displayed in a
group, is very attractive and catches a consumer's attention when
products are packaged therein.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
[0006] Efforts have been disclosed for making packages. In U.S.
Pat. Nos. DES 416,199, DES 507,748, 3,537,498, 5,156,285 and
5,350,078, bottles suitable for gripping are disclosed.
[0007] Other efforts have been disclosed for making packages. In
U.S. Application, Publication Nos. 2003/0031851 A1 and 2003/0075521
A1, bottles for consumer products are described.
[0008] Still other efforts have been disclosed for making packages.
In U.S. Application Publication No. 2004/0232023 A1, an asymmetric
package that creates an illusion of animation is described.
[0009] None of the additional information above describes a package
comprising at least one side that is complimentary to a side on
another package sitting adjacent thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a
package comprising at least one side that is suitable to be
complementary with a side on an adjacent (or juxtaposed) package,
regardless if the package and the adjacent package are both upside
down, right side up or in any combination thereof.
[0011] In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a
method for marketing products with a group of packages comprising
the package described in the first aspect of this invention.
[0012] Package, as used herein, is defined to mean a container
suitable to contain consumer products whereby such a container is
not limited to any shape or size and can comprise, for example,
metal, glass, plastic, wood or paperboard, with the proviso that
the package does not have 100% of its corners at right angles.
Complementary, as used herein, means an item having a curve or
portion that completes or contributes to another curve or portion
(on an item adjacent thereto), resulting in a group of items that
appear to be puzzle-like in appearance when each member of the
group is placed side by side. Puzzle-like means having
complementary convex and concave portions, and does not require
physically interlocking portions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is
particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding
portion of the specification. The invention, however, may be best
understood by reference to the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:
[0014] FIGS. 1 depicts illustrative packaging suitable for use in
this invention and displayed right side up;
[0015] FIGS. 2 and 3 depict groups of illustrative packaging
suitable for use in this invention displayed right side up and
upside down, and upside down, respectively; and
[0016] FIG. 4 depicts groups of illustrative packaging suitable for
use in this invention having a random and complementary display
pattern.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] There is no limitation with respect to the type of package
that may be used in this invention other than that the package is
one which is suitable to contain a consumer product, and
especially, a food product. Such a package typically comprises
metal, glass, paperboard or plastic. In a preferred embodiment,
however, the package of the present invention is a squeezable
plastic comprising polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene
terephthalate, ethylene-vinyl alcohol, combinations thereof, or the
like. In an especially preferred embodiment, the package of the
present invention is a bottle comprising polypropylene wherein the
bottle is equipped with a cap suitable for a squeeze bottle and is
able to stand right side up and upside down. In yet another
especially preferred embodiment, the package of this invention
comprises at least two sides that are complementary and opposite
each other, and therefore, when adjacent to a package that is
substantially the same, and preferably identical, the package of
this invention will complement a concave or convex portion of an
adjacent package positioned, for example, to its right and
left.
[0018] The consumer products suitable for use with the package of
this invention include hair care products, skin care products,
soap, detergents, beverages and food products. The preferred
products suitable for use with the package of this invention are
food products like mayonnaise, tartar sauce, salad dressings,
cheese condiments, mustard, ketchup, relish, margarine and dipping
sauces. The most preferred products suitable for use in this
invention are food products made commercially available by Unilever
under the Hellmann's.RTM. and/or Knorr.RTM. brand names.
[0019] As to any labeling that may be employed with the package of
this invention, it is particularly noted that there is no
limitation with respect to how the label is applied to the package
other than that the label can withstand package shipping conditions
and not contaminate any consumer product compositions present
within the package. Illustrative and non-limiting examples of the
type of label that may be used/applied in this invention include
those which are shrink-wrapped, etched on, painted on, glued on
with an adhesive or impregnated within the material used to make
the package (which is preferably at least translucent, and most
preferably, transparent).
[0020] Typically, at least 30% of the total area of the visual
external surface of the package of this invention is covered with
label, and preferably, from about 40% to about 60%, and most
preferably, from about 65% to about 90%, including all ranges
subsumed therein. In an especially preferred embodiment, the label
used is a shrink-wrap label.
[0021] Turning to the Figures, FIG. 1 shows illustrative (label
free) packaging suitable for use in this invention and in the form
of two complementary bottles 10a and 10b. For illustrative purposes
only, the complementary bottles 10a and 10b (which preferably are
identical) are both shown standing right side up and resting on
their bottoms 10a1 and 10b1, respectively, whereby complementary
bottle 10a has a front surface 10a3, a back surface 10a5, and
preferably, a cap 10a7, and complementary bottle 10b has a front
surface 10b3, a back surface 10b5, and preferably, a cap 10b7.
[0022] Joint 12 is formed by right side up convex surface 14 on
complementary bottle 10a and right side up concave surface 16 on
complementary bottle 10b.
[0023] Turning to FIG. 2, shown are complementary bottles 10a and
10b with complementary bottle 10a resting on its bottom 10a1 and
complementary bottle 10b resting on its cap 10b7. Front surface
10a3 is positioned as described in FIG. 1; however, front surface
10b3 as shown in FIG. 2 is reversed (i.e., occupying the position
of back surface 10b5 of FIG. 1) and inverted on bottle 10b.
[0024] Joint 12' is formed by right side up convex surface 14 of
complementary bottle 10a and upside down concave surface 16' on
complementary bottle 10b (which also comprises an upside down
convex surface 14'). It is within the scope of this invention for
two complementary packages such as bottles 10a1 and 10b1 to be
side-by-side and upside down so that the bottles are adjacent and
preferably resting on their respective caps 10a7 and 10b7 to create
a joint consisting of two inverted surfaces (demonstrated in FIG. 3
at Joint 12'').
[0025] Turning to FIG. 4, shown are groups of illustrative
packaging 18 and 18' as described in this invention. Row A shows
complementary packages illustrated as bottles in a two up, two down
arrangement. The bottles in the arrangement have convex and concave
portions shown as x (right side up convex, corresponding to 14); v
(right side up and concave, corresponding to 16); x' (upside down
and convex, corresponding to 14') and v' (upside down and concave,
corresponding to 16'), and therefore, at least two complementary
portions. Joints I, II, III and IV are created by making
combinations of the convex and concave portions. It is particularly
noted that row A begins with right side up and convex portion x,
and therefore, back surfaces 10a5 and 10b5 (as shown in FIG. 1) are
now depicted facing forward, demonstrating that the packages of
this invention can at least be rotated 180.degree. in either
direction to create joints and a puzzle-like appearance.
[0026] Row B shows complementary packages illustrated as bottles in
a one up, one down arrangement. The row begins with a right side up
concave portion v and joints I and III are created by making
combinations of the convex and concave portions. It should be
understood that (as it relates to the bottles) the front left L of
row A is the back right R in row B and the front right r in row A
is the back left L in row B.
[0027] Looking at groups 18 and 18', a puzzle-like appearance
(which is attractive to consumers) is created, for example, by
aligning at least one complementary portion of one package with at
least one complementary portion of another package, placed adjacent
thereto whereby convex and concave portions align to form
joints.
[0028] As to any labels which may be used in this invention, such
labels become part of or are applied on to the packages in
preferably the same manner or orientation, meaning that the top of
the label and the bottom of label on each package is essentially in
the same place regardless if the package is right side up or upside
down (depicted in Z of FIG. 4). Moreover, if desired, the labels
employed on each individual package can optionally be complementary
(or continuing) to each other as shown in row A and at connective
portions t and t'. A more detailed description of complementary or
continuing labels is described in commonly owned U.S. Application
Docket No. F6217(V), entitled, "Packaging with Continuing Labels,"
to van der Krogt et al, the disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference. Another alternative is for the labels employed
to be independent of each other as shown in row B. Labeling to the
sides and backs of the packages of this invention is not typically
required, but is often desired so that consumer nutritional
information and additional advertising techniques may be employed
in order for marketers to take full advantage of the limited
surface area of the packages described herein.
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