U.S. patent application number 11/317722 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-28 for package or container with multiple removable layers.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.. Invention is credited to Timothy Maurice McFarland, Bernard Joseph III Minerath.
Application Number | 20070144929 11/317722 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37857098 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070144929 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Minerath; Bernard Joseph III ;
et al. |
June 28, 2007 |
Package or container with multiple removable layers
Abstract
The present invention provides a packaging system for products,
in particular consumer products. The packaging system has a package
member configured to receive products and the package member has an
outwardly facing external side surface and an inwardly facing
internal surface. In addition, the packaging system has a sheet
component having a plurality of layers comprising an inner layer
having an inner face and an outer face, the inner face being at
least partially directly or indirectly connected the external side
surface of the package member. The outer face is on the opposite
side of the inner layer from the inner face. The sheet component
also has an outer layer having a first side and an opposite second
side wherein the second side faces away from the external side
surface of the package member and the first side faces toward the
external side surface of the package member. In addition the outer
layer is removable from the inner layer and package member. As a
result of the present invention, consumers are provided with a
package of products which can be easily cleaned by a consumer or
user once the package becomes soiled. In addition, the present
invention provides a discreet package of products, including
absorbent personal care articles, which allows discretion during
the process of purchasing the absorbent personal care articles and
after the absorbent personal care products are placed in storage in
the home or other living quarters of the user. Also disclosed is a
dispenser for products.
Inventors: |
Minerath; Bernard Joseph III;
(Oshkosh, WI) ; McFarland; Timothy Maurice;
(Neenah, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
401 NORTH LAKE STREET
NEENAH
WI
54956
US
|
Assignee: |
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
37857098 |
Appl. No.: |
11/317722 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/459.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2203/02 20130101;
G09F 23/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/459.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A packaging system for products, said system comprising a
package member configured to receive at least one product, said
package member comprising at least one outwardly facing external
side surface; a sheet component applied to at least a portion of
the external side surface, said sheet component comprising an inner
layer and an outer layer, said inner layer comprising an inner face
and an outer face, the inner face being at least partially directly
or indirectly connected the external side surface of the package
member, and the outer face being on the opposite side of the inner
layer from the inner face; and an outer layer comprising a first
side and an opposite second side wherein the second side faces away
from the external side surface of the package member and the first
side faces toward the external side surface of the package member,
the outer layer being removable from the inner layer and package
member.
2. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the sheet component
further comprises at least one intermediate layer positioned
between the inner layer and the outer layer, each intermediate
layer comprising an inner side and an outer side, the inner side
and the outer side being opposite each another and the outer side
faces away from the external side surface of the package
member.
3. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein the sheet component
comprises between 1 and 10 intermediate layers, and each
intermediate layer is removable from the inner layer and the
package member.
4. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the inner layer is
removable from the external side surface of the package
component.
5. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein the inner and the
intermediate layers are devoid of any indicia which tend to
indicate the contents of the package system.
6. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the outer layer of the
sheet component is coextensive with the external side surface in
which the sheet material is applied.
7. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein each of the layers of
the sheet component is coextensive with the external side surface
in which the sheet material is applied.
8. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the package member has
two or more outwardly facing external side surfaces comprising a
sheet member applied thereto.
9. The packaging system of claim 8, wherein the package member has
at least three to six outwardly facing external side surfaces
comprising a sheet member applied thereto.
10. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the outer face of the
outer layer contains indicia indicating the contents of the package
member and the inner layer is devoid of indicia which tend to
indicate the contents of the package member.
11. The packaging system of claim 11, wherein the external side
surface of the packaging member contains indicia which indicates
the contents of the packaging member.
12. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein the outer surface of
the outer layer contains indicia indicating the contents of the
package member and the inner layer and the intermediate layers are
devoid of indicia which tend to indicate the contents of the
package member.
13. The packaging system of claim 12, wherein the inner layer and
the intermediate layers each have different decorative
features.
14. The packaging system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the
intermediate layers is devoid of decorative features and is devoid
of indicia which tend to indicate the contents of the package
member.
15. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the
inner or intermediate layers comprises an aroma or fragrance which
is released when a layer is removed.
16. The packaging system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the
inner or intermediate layers comprises an aroma or fragrance which
is released when a layer is removed.
17. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the product is a
consumer product.
18. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the inner layer
comprises promotional information, educational information,
entertainment items or a combination thereof.
19. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the
inner layers or one of the intermediate layers comprises
promotional information, educational information, entertainment
items or a combination thereof.
20. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein each subsequent layer
of the sheet component between the outer layer and the inner layer
has higher peel strength than the previous layer.
21. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the
layers comprises a decorative layer and one or more of the other
layers comprise a clear layer.
22. The packaging system of claim 21, wherein a decorative layer is
subjacent a clear layer.
23. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein one or more of the
layers of the sheet component comprise an antimicrobial
material.
24. A dispenser comprising a dispensing member configured to
receive and contain a product, said dispenser member comprising an
outwardly facing external side surface; a sheet component
comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, said inner layer
comprising an inner face and an outer face, the inner face being at
least partially directly or indirectly connected the external side
surface of the dispenser member, and the outer face being on the
opposite side of the inner layer from the inner face; and an outer
layer comprising a first side and an opposite second side wherein
the second side faces away from the external side surface of the
dispenser member and the first side faces toward the external side
surface of the dispenser member, the outer layer being removable
from the inner layer and dispenser member; and at least two
products contained within the dispenser member.
25. The dispenser of claim 18, wherein the sheet component further
comprises at least one intermediate layer positioned between the
inner layer and the outer layer, each intermediate layer comprising
an inner side and an outer side, the inner side and the outer side
being opposite one another and the outer side faces away from the
external side surface of the dispensing member.
26. The dispenser of claim 25, wherein the sheet component
comprises between 1 and 10 intermediate layers, and each
intermediate layer is removable from the inner layer and the
dispensing member.
27. The dispenser of claim 24, wherein the inner layer is removable
from the external side surface of the dispenser member.
28. The dispenser of claim 24, wherein the inner layer and the
intermediate layer are devoid of any indicia which tend to indicate
the contents of the dispenser member.
29. The dispenser of claim 25, wherein at least one of the inner or
intermediate layers comprises an aroma or fragrance which is
released when a layer is removed.
30. The dispenser of claim 25, wherein at least one of inner layer
or one of the intermediate layers comprises promotional
information, educational information, entertainment items or a
combination thereof.
31. The packaging system of claim 25, wherein each subsequent layer
of the sheet component between the outer layer and the inner layer
has higher peel strength than the previous layer.
32. The packaging system of claim 25, wherein at least one of the
layers comprises a decorative layer and one or more of the other
layers comprise a clear layer.
33. The packaging system of claim 25, wherein a decorative layer is
subjacent a clear layer.
34. The packaging system of claim 25, wherein one or more of the
layers of the sheet component comprise an antimicrobial
material.
35. A sheet component for a dispenser member comprising a sheet
component comprising an inner layer, an outer layer and at least
one intermediate layer positioned between the inner layer and the
outer layer, said inner layer comprising an inner face and an outer
face, the inner face being adapted to be directly or indirectly
connected to the external side surface of a dispenser member, and
the outer face being on an opposite side of the inner layer from
the inner face; the outer layer comprising a first side and an
opposite second side, wherein the second side faces away from the
inner layer, the outer layer being removable from the inner layer
and the at least one intermediate layer, and each intermediate
layer comprising an inner side and an outer side, the inner side
and the outer side being opposite one another and the outer side
faces away from the inner layer and towards the outer layer.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a package or a
container having outer layers which are removable from an external
side surface of the package or container. The present invention
further relates to a dispenser for products which has outer layers
which are removable from an external side surface of the
dispenser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Packaging which contains multiple articles or multiple
volumes of a product that are dispensed over time often become
soiled or damaged during use, resulting in a package having an
unattractive appearance. This is particularly true for consumer
products. Many times packages and containers of consumer products,
including personal care products, may become soiled or damaged
during transportation to a retail store or during storage or
display in a retail store, which may result in a package having an
unattractive appearance. Consumers are less likely to purchase a
package of consumer products when the package is soiled or damaged.
When a consumer purchases these soiled or damaged packaging or
containers or when the package or container of consumer products
becomes soiled or damaged during use, the consumer will often hide
or place the soiled or damaged package or container of consumer
goods in a location that is not prominent in a household, place of
business and the like, such as drawers, closets and cabinets.
Articles that are often out of sight are also out of the mind of
the user, which can result in less products being used or the
consumer in need of the consumer product forgetting to use the
consumer products. Forgetting to use the consumer products,
especially in the case of absorbent personal care products, can
often lead to embarrassing and/or unhealthy situations for the
consumers and/or users of these products.
[0003] In addition, current packages for personal care products
always have indicia on most, if not all, sides of the packages
which clearly indicate the contents of the package. As a result of
these indicia, the packages with personal care products are often
stored in closed storage areas, such as cabinets and drawers, to
effectively hide the consumer products, especially personal care
products, from the sight of others. This is especially true for
absorbent personal care products. However, when these personal care
products are placed in closed storage, it is often easy for users
to forget to use the products on a daily basis or when the product
is needed, especially when the user is pressed for time. Often the
absorbent personal care products are stored near the place of use,
which is usually a place where privacy is available, such as a
bathroom or bedroom. Further, in many older homes, and relatively
cramped living quarters, such as college dorms, small apartments
and the like, closed storage in bathrooms or bedrooms is many times
not available or is available on a limited basis. As a result, many
times the absorbent personal care products must be stored in the
open and in plain view for others, other than the user, to see.
This can lead to embarrassment or unnecessary distress for the user
of these products, especially when the user must share a space,
such as a bathroom, with a nonuser, including guests. Many times,
users of the absorbent personal care product remove the personal
care articles from the packaging and place the articles in a more
discreet container.
[0004] Many consumer products need to have certain indicia,
including branding and use information on the packaging in order
for the packages of consumer products to be placed in commerce.
However, these indicia often lead to packaging or containers which
are aesthetically unpleasing to the consumer and user of the
consumer products. There is a need in the art to provide consumer
products to a consumer in packaging which contains the necessary
indicia, while providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance to
the consumer. This would allow the consumer to place the package in
the open, allowing others to see the package; however the others
seeing the package would not know what the package or container
contains without opening the package or container.
[0005] There is a need in the art to provide a package of consumer
products which can be easily cleaned by a consumer or user once the
package becomes soiled or damaged. In addition, there is a need in
the art to provide a discreet package of personal care articles for
purchasers and users of personal care articles, which provides
discretion during the process of purchasing the absorbent personal
care articles and after the absorbent personal care products are
placed in storage in the home or other living quarters of the user.
The present invention provides a solution to these problems in the
art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Generally stated, the present invention provides a packaging
system for products. The packaging system has a package member
configured to receive products and the package member has an
outwardly facing external side surface and an inwardly facing
internal surface. In addition, the packaging system has a sheet
component having a plurality of layers comprising an inner layer
having an inner face and an outer face, the inner face being at
least partially directly or indirectly connected the external side
surface of the package member. The outer face is on the opposite
side of the inner layer from the inner face. The sheet component
also has an outer layer having a first side and an opposite second
side wherein the second side faces away from the external side
surface of the package member and the first side faces toward the
external side surface of the package member. In addition, the outer
layer is removable from the inner layer and package member.
[0007] In another embodiment of the present invention, the sheet
component may further have at least one intermediate layer
positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. Each
intermediate layer has an inner side and an outer side, the inner
side and the outer side being opposite one another and the outer
side faces away from the external side surface of the package
member. The intermediate layer may also be removable from the inner
layer and the external side surface of the package component.
[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, provided is
a dispenser for products. The dispenser is a package or container
member configured to receive products and the package or container
member has an outwardly facing external side surface and an
inwardly facing internal surface. In addition, the dispenser has a
sheet component having a plurality of layers comprising an inner
layer having an inner face and an outer face, the inner face being
at least partially directly or indirectly connected the external
side surface of the dispenser. The outer face is on the opposite
side of the inner layer from the inner face. The sheet component
also has an outer layer having a first side and an opposite second
side wherein the second side faces away from the external side
surface of the dispenser and the first side faces toward the
external side surface of the package member. In addition the outer
layer is removable from the inner layer and package member. The
dispenser of this embodiment of the present invention contains at
least two products contained within the dispenser, which are
dispensed from the dispenser as needed by a user.
[0009] In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the
sheet component may be provided separately from the packaging
system or dispenser of the present invention. The sheet component
has an inner layer, an outer layer and at least one intermediate
layer positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. The
inner layer has an inner face and an outer face, the inner face
being adapted to be directly or indirectly connected to the
external side surface of a dispenser member and the outer face
being on an opposite side of the inner layer from the inner face.
The outer layer has a first side and an opposite second side,
wherein the second side faces away from the inner layer, the outer
layer being removable from the inner layer and the at least one
intermediate layer. In addition, each intermediate layer has an
inner side and an outer side, the inner side and the outer side
being opposite one another and the outer side faces away from the
inner layer and towards the outer layer. In this embodiment of the
present invention, the sheet component is provided as refill for
the dispenser, so that the dispenser can be made to look fresh and
clean again.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a partial side view of a packaging system of
the present invention having an inner and outer layer for the sheet
component.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a partial side view of a packaging system of
the present invention having a sheet component with an inner layer,
a series of intermediate layers and an outer layer.
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the packaging system of
the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of another packaging system
of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 5a shows a partial side view of a packaging system of
the present invention having a sheet component with an inner layer,
a series of intermediate layers and an outer layer, with tabs of
FIG. 4 details.
[0015] FIG. 5b shows a front view of the outer layer of the sheet
component in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
4.
[0016] FIG. 5c shows a front view of an intermediate layer just
below the outer layer of the sheet component in the embodiment of
the present invention shown in FIG. 4.
DEFINITIONS
[0017] It should be noted that, when employed in the present
disclosure, the terms "comprises", "comprising" and other
derivatives from the root term "comprise" are intended to be
open-ended terms that specify the presence of any stated features,
elements, integers, steps, or components, and are not intended to
preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,
elements, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof.
[0018] As used herein, the term "product" is intended to mean an
item which is to be used or consumed by a purchaser or user of the
products. The term "product" is intended to cover "consumer
products" and "professional care products".
[0019] As used herein, the term "consumer products" is intended to
mean products which include durable and non-durable goods which are
purchase by or for a user of the products. Consumer products are
intended to include, by way of example only, food items, health and
hygiene items, including absorbent personal care articles, soaps,
lotions, detergents, toothpaste, hair care items, facial and bath
tissue, and dry and wet wipes and the like.
[0020] As used herein, the term "professional care products"
includes protective garments, such as surgical drapes, gowns, and
sterile wraps, protective gloves, skin care products, topical
antimicrobials, patient care compositions, and the like.
[0021] As used herein, the phrase "absorbent personal care
articles" refers to devices which absorb and contain liquids which
may be placed against or near the skin to absorb and contain the
various liquids discharged from the body. Examples of personal care
products include, for example, diapers, training pants, absorbent
underpants, adult incontinence products, sanitary wipes and
feminine hygiene products such as sanitary napkins and tampons.
[0022] The term "disposable" is used herein to describe products
that are not intended to be laundered or otherwise restored or
reused as an absorbent article after a single use.
[0023] As used herein, the term "package member" is intended to
mean a component of the package containing products which contains
or holds the products. A package member can be a can, a bottle, a
carton, a box, a molded article, or a flexible package, each
prepared from materials such as, for example, a film, a paper, foil
or a combination thereof, and other similar packages or container
in which products typically are provided to consumers or users.
[0024] As used herein, the term "sheet component" refers to a
component which is directly or indirectly attached to an external
side surface of the packaging component. Sheet components are thin
sheets of one or more materials which cover a portion of the
external side surface of the packaging component
[0025] As used herein, the term "external side surface" refers to
an outer side surface of the packaging component which typically
faces away from the products which are contained within the
packaging component. The surface may be a top-side wall, a
bottom-side wall or side wall of the package member. Depending on
the shape of the package members, the number of surfaces may be
different for each shape. For example, a can or generally
cylindrical bottle would have three external surfaces, the
continuous side surface, the top surface and the bottom surface. A
cubical box would have six external side surfaces, including the
top surface, the bottom surfaces and four side wall surfaces.
[0026] The phrase "devoid of any indicia which tends to indicate
that the packages has at least one personal care product" is
intended to mean that the presence of words, symbols, pictures and
other marks which would suggest the possible presence of a personal
care product within the container are not present on the defined
walls and panels. Examples of indicia intended to be excluded
include, brand names, words or phrases normally associated with
absorbent articles, such as "liners", "pantiliners", "tampons" and
the like, or symbols or pictures which depict such personal care
articles. It is noted that this phrase is not intended to exclude
information or indicia, which does not imply the presence of an
absorbent personal care article, for example, but not limited to,
flowers, patterns, or pictures not associated with absorbent
personal care articles, and the like.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] The present invention provides a unique packaging system for
products, in particular, consumer products. The packaging system of
the present invention provides a "self-cleaning" package for
dispensing having a plurality of label-like layers which are
adhered to an external side surface of a package member. To gain a
better understanding of the present invention, attention is
directed to the FIG. 1. Shown in its simplest form in FIG. 1, the
packaging system 10 of the present invention has a package member
12 configured to receive products (not shown) and the package
member 12 has an outwardly facing external side surface 14 and an
inwardly facing internal surface 16. In addition, the packaging
system 10 has a sheet component 20 having a plurality of layers and
having at least an inner layer 21 and an outer layer 31. The inner
layer has an inner face 22 and an outer face 24; the inner face 22
being at least partially directly or indirectly connected the
external side surface 14 of the package member 12. The outer face
24 is on the opposite side of the inner layer 21 from the inner
face 22. The outer layer 31 of the sheet component 20 has a first
side 32 and an opposite second side 34 wherein the second side 34
faces away from the external side surface 14 of the package member
12. In addition, the first side 31 of the external layer faces
toward the external side surface 14 of the package member 12. In
the present invention, the outer layer 31 of the sheet component 20
is removable from the inner layer 21. Optionally, the inner layer
21 is removable from the external side surface 14 of the packaging
member 12.
[0028] The sheet component 20 of the present invention may also
have one or more optional intermediate layers. Shown in FIG. 2 is a
series of optional intermediate layers 40, designated as a first
intermediate layer 41, a second intermediate layer 42 and a third
intermediate layer 43. Each intermediate layer comprising an inner
side 45, 45' and 45'' and an outer side 47, 47', 47'', the inner
side and the outer side being opposite one another and the outer
side faces away from the external side surface 14 of the package
member 10. Each of the intermediate layers is removable from the
adjacent intermediate layers and the first intermediate layer 41 is
removable from the inner layer 21 of the sheet component 20. As is
shown in FIG. 2 there are three intermediate layers; however, in
the present invention, the sheet component 20 may have any where
from 0 to 20 or more intermediate layers and generally between 1
and 8 intermediate layers. The number of intermediate layers is
limited by the overall desired thickness of the sheet component. If
thicker sheet components are desirable or not undesirable, more
intermediate layers may be used. If the thickness of the sheet
component is a concern, a smaller number of intermediate layers
should be used.
[0029] The package member 12 of the present invention may be formed
from any material known to those skilled in the art, which are
typically used to prepare packaging materials. The package member
may be in the form that consumer products typically are provided to
consumers including, for example, a bottle, a jug, a tub, a can, a
carton, a box, a tube, a bag, a cup and other conventional package
members for consumer goods not specifically mentioned in this list.
For example, the package can be formed from a rigid material such
as cardboard, paperboard, plastic including molded plastic, metal,
and the like. Alternatively, the packaging member may be formed
from a flexible material including, for example, flexible films,
paper, metal foils or a laminate of two or more of these materials
and other similar and conventional flexible packaging materials.
The material used to form the packaging member is selected on the
basis of factors such as cost, the ability of the packaging member
to hold the product desired to contain within the packaging
system.
[0030] The type of package material used should be selected based
on the types of products which are going to be stored in the
package. The package member 12 may be a molded article, made form
several different pieces of the package member 12 material or the
package member 12 may be prepared from a unitary piece of material,
without departing from the scope of the present invention. If the
container is prepared from several different pieces of material,
the pieces may be held together using any suitable means, such as
adhesives, staples, welds and the like. From the standpoint of ease
of construction and cost, it is desirable to prepare the container
from a unitary piece of material, particularly when the package
material is a flexible packaging material such as a film, or is a
molded package material. The actual form or configuration of the
package material is not critical to the present invention.
[0031] In the present invention, depending on the form of the
package, one or more external side surfaces may have the sheet
component applied thereto. It is not necessary for each of the
external side surfaces of the package member to have a sheet
component applied to the surface. A single external side surface
may have the sheet component applied thereto or all of the external
side surfaces may have the sheet component applied thereto. In
another embodiment of the present invention, at least two or more
of the external side surfaces have the sheet component applied to
the external side surface. In the case of a parallelepiped package
member, such as those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, its desirable that
three to six of the external side surfaces have the sheet component
applied thereto.
[0032] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the
package member may also be in the form of a dispenser, which will
dispense to the user or consumer a given quantity of the product to
the user. Alternatively, the dispenser of the present invention may
be formed to allow the user to determine the amount of product
needed for a given task. Examples of dispenser usable in the
present invention are described in various U.S. patents. The
dispenser may have an opening lid as shown in U.S. Pat. No.
5,785,179 and U.S. Pat. Des. 465,364. The dispenser may have a pop
open lid as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,919; U.S. Pat. No.
6,592,004; U.S. Pat. Des. 465,364; and U.S. Pat. Des. 465,685.
Alternatively, the dispenser may be a film dispenser with a rigid
flip top as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,220. Other dispenser
packages may also be used in conjunction with the present
invention.
[0033] The sheet component has various layers of material. Suitable
materials for each of the layers include but are not limited to,
polymeric plastic films, foils, paper, paper composites, knitted or
woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics and the like, or a combination
thereof. Suitable materials can be made from polymeric materials
such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, nylon, ethylene
vinyl acetate polyvinyl chloride and the like, as well as any
combination thereof. In one embodiment of the present invention,
the material is a low density polyethylene (LDPE) film. Each layer
of the sheet material may be the same material or may be each layer
may be prepared from different materials. The materials for the
sheet component should be selected so that the layers may be
separated from one another without damaging the remaining
underlying layer or layers. Alternatively, the materials for each
layer may be selected on the basis of the desired function for each
layer.
[0034] Each of the layers of the sheet component may be attached or
adhered to one another through known means, such as using an
adhesive between the individual layers of the materials making up
the sheet component of the packaging system. Suitable adhesives
include pressure sensitive adhesives, and other similar adhesives
that will release the layers of the sheet component from one
another. The adhesive may be applied to the entire surface of each
layer, or a portion of each layer. For example, if the adhesive is
only applied to a portion of a given layer, the adhesive may be
applied to the periphery of the given layer or provide on the given
layer in a discontinuous fashion. An example of discontinuous
application the adhesive is to apply the adhesive in spots or
discreet locations on the given layer of the sheet component.
[0035] In another embodiment of the present invention, to aid in
the release of the layers from one another, each layer or some of
the layers of the sheet component may have one or both surfaces
coated with a release composition. The release composition will
reduce the peel strength, thereby reducing the force needed to
release the layers from one another. Suitable release compositions
can include silicone and/or polytetrafluoroethylene as the release
agent. Other suitable release agents know to those skilled in the
art may also be used without departing from present invention.
[0036] As an alternative to using an adhesive to join the layers of
the sheet component together, other means may be used including,
for example electrostatic forces (commonly referred to as "static
cling"). Examples of materials which have static cling include, for
example, polyolefin films and other similar films. In addition,
film materials may be treated to impart electrostatic charges to
the film. Another alternative is to use cohesives adhesives. Many
cohesive adhesives are known in the art and are commercially
available.
[0037] In another embodiment of the present invention, each
subsequent layer of the sheet component between the outer layer and
the inner layer has higher peel strength than the previous layer.
Stated another way, as the layers of the sheet component become
closer to the package, each layer is more aggressively held to the
next subjacent layer. That is, the peel strength of a layer closer
to the package is higher than a layer closer to the outer layer of
the sheet component. This may help ensure that one layer at a time
is removed from the sheet component at a time and that multiple
layers are not removed together, unless the user desires to remove
multiple layers at the same time. Increasing the peel strength
between the layers may be accomplished in a variety of mutually
exclusive ways, including for example, using different adhesives
between the layers with more aggressive adhesives being used
between the layers closest to the package. Other methods included
using the same adhesive between all of the layers and increasing
the adhesive coverage between the layers as the layers get closer
to the package, or the amount of the release agent between the
layers is reduced as the layers or release agent is changed between
the layer as the layers get closer to the package. A combination of
one or more of these methods may be used to increase the peel
strength between the subsequent layers of the sheet component.
[0038] To further assist the user or consumer in removing each of
the layers, each layer may contain a tab area which is not attached
to the next adjacent layer. Attention is directed to FIGS. 3 and 4
which shows a perspective view of a package system 10 of the
present invention. The tab 50 is a free area which will allow the
user to grab or pinch the outermost layer and peel the layer away
from the underlying layers. The tabs 50 may be configured such that
only one layer can be removed at a time or that several layers
could be removed at the same time. As is shown in FIG. 3, the tab
50 is placed in a corner of the layers and each tab 50 for the
underlying layers is also located under the tab 50 for the top
layer. As is shown in FIG. 4, the tabs 50 are along an edge of a
surface of the package member. In this configuration, the consumer
or user of the products select which layer of the sheet component
that the consumer wished to display on the outside of the package,
so that the package could be matched to the decor of a room in
which the package is being used. By having the series of tabs 50,
the consumer is given the opportunity to preview each of the layers
of the sheet component 20. Each of the tabs 50 of FIGS. 3 and 4 may
be provided with pattern, color, indicia providing information on
each individual layer or indicia on how to remove the layers of the
sheet component. The tab 50 configuration of FIG. 3 has an
advantage over the tab 50 configuration of FIG. 4 in that any
pattern or configuration shown advantage over the tab 50
configuration of FIG. 4 in that any pattern or configuration shown
in each layer is only seen by the customer, user or causal observer
of the package by separating the tabs. In contrast, the tab 50
configuration shown in FIG. 4 has the advantage of allowing easier
access to the tabs 50 to the consumer. Either tab 50 configuration
may be used in the present invention, or other tab configurations,
such as, for example, tabs extending beyond the outer edge of the
package 12. Other tab configuration not explicitly shown or stated
herein may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of
the present invention. Essentially, the tabs are provided as an
easy to use mechanism for separating the layer of the sheet
component from one another.
[0039] The tabs are created using any means known to those skilled
in the art. One means, and the desired means for the purposes of
the present invention is not to place adhesive in the area of the
tabs 50. By not placing adhesives in the tab area, the individual
layers can be easily separated from one another in the tab 50
location. Another method would be to place a less aggressive
adhesive, i.e. and adhesive with a low shear strength in the area
of the tabs 50. In addition to or separately, a release agent which
is not receptive to adhesives may be placed on the tab area of each
of the layers.
[0040] Regarding the tab configuration shown in FIG. 4, these tabs
can be prepared by shaping each of the layers at the end as is show
in FIG. 5a. In FIG. 5a, tabs 501-508 inclusive is becomes larger on
each successive layer. Again, each of the tabs 501-508 inclusive is
desirably free from the underlying layer such that each tab can be
grasped by the user or consumer to remove the upper layer or layer
from the sheet component. To gain a better understanding of this
tab configuration, attention is directed to FIGS. 5b and 5c. In the
outer layer 31 with tab 501 shown in FIG. 5b, the tab 501 has a
smaller area that the underlying intermediate layer 40, with tab
502, shown in FIG. 5C. Each successive layer has a tab which is
larger that previous or upper layer. That is tab 508 is larger than
tab 507, which is larger than tab 506, which in turn is larger than
tab 505, which is larger than tab 504, which is larger than tab
503, which is larger than tab 502.
[0041] One of the advantages provided by the present invention is
that the outer surface of the packaging system has the ability to
always look clean, sanitary and/or unsoiled in addition to being
clean and sanitary. By providing multiple layers in the sheet
component, as the outermost layer becomes soiled, the outermost
layer may be removed by the consumer exposing one of the other
layers of the sheet component, providing an aesthetically pleasing
outer surface. In a similar manner, as the outer surface of the
newly exposed layer becomes soiled during use, that layer may be
removed by the consumer exposing the next layer. This process may
be repeated until the external side surface to the package member
of the packaging system is reached, if the external side surface of
the package is suitable for display. Alternatively, the inner layer
21 may be permanently attached to the external side surface of the
package member, such that the inner layer is intended to be removed
from the package member.
[0042] As is shown in FIG. 3, the sheet component may cover an area
of the external side surface of the package 14 which is smaller
than the external area of the surface of the package. In contrast,
in FIG. 4, the sheet component may be coextensive with each of the
external side surfaces of the package member.
[0043] Each of the layers of the sheet component may have different
features and serve a different function. Suitable features include
an ornamental design; indicia indicating information about the
product in the package component, including brand, trademarks
and/or information regarding how to use the product; a coupon for
the next purchase of the product within the package component;
indicia providing information or an advertisement for a different
product than the product within the package component; a coupon for
a product different than the product in the package component;
having indicia which tends to indicate the contents of the package
component; being clear; or have combination of these features. Each
layer of the sheet component may be the same or each layer may be
different. Many different configurations of the layers may be used,
depending on the nature and content of the products contained in
the packaging system and the desired effect to be achieved for the
layers under the outer layer of the sheet component.
[0044] In addition, each of the layers could be provided with
features that assist the user in the use of the product contained
within the packaging system. For example, in the case of health and
hygiene products, each of the layers may be provided with
antimicrobial additives, to help prevent contamination of sanitary
or hygienic articles contained within the packaging system.
Examples of antimicrobial additive include, for example,
quanternary ammonium compounds, phenol, benzoic acid, triclosan,
parabens, sorbic acid, zeolites, zinc pyrithone and the like.
Likewise, the layer of the sheet component may be selected for it
properties, for example, breathability, stain resistance, water
resistance, oil resistance and the like.
[0045] In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer layer
30 may have indicia which tend to indicate the contents of the
package system. The indicia may include items such as branding,
trademarks and description of the products contained within the
package. The inner layer 20 is devoid of any indicia which tend to
indicate the contents of the package system. In addition, any
intermediate layers, if present, are also devoid of any indicia
which tend to indicate the contents of the packaging system. In
this embodiment, the inner layer 20 may have an ornamental design
which is aesthetically pleasing to the consumer. By providing the
inner layers and any intermediate layer without indicia which tend
to indicate the contents of the packaging system, the consumer may
be able to remove the outer layer of the sheet material and
discretely store the packaging system in the open, without others
knowing what is contained within the packaging system. In the
alternative, one or more of the intermediate layers and the liner
layer may each, individually contain indicia which indicate the
contents of the package. Whether intermediate layers or the inner
layer has indicia is dependent of the purpose or function of the
intermediate layers, compared to the outer layer or the inner
layer.
[0046] In addition, the outer layer 31 may be made to be removable
by the consumer prior to purchase to provide a discreet shopping
experience. Many times, the purchase of items such as absorbent
personal care articles, some over the counter medications and the
like, can be an embarrassing or traumatic experience for the
purchaser of these items, since these items often have a stigma
associated with the purchase of these times. These products are
typically packaged in a manner such that there is no question to
users and non-users as to what the package contains. As a result,
the consumer or purchaser of absorbent personal care articles is
not provided with a discreet way to purchase the absorbent personal
care article or over-the-counter medications. By providing the
consumer with a way to remove the outer labeling of the package or
container of these types of items prior to purchase, the consumer
or purchaser of these items may be provided with a discreet way to
purchase items at a retail store that could lead to embarrassment,
anxiousness and a traumatic experience for the consumer or
purchaser.
[0047] In the case where the outer layer 31 is intended to be
removed prior to purchase, the layer of the sheet component
immediately below the outer layer, whether an intermediate layer 40
or the inner layer 21 of the sheet component should have necessary
information or indicia, such as a price sticker, RFID tag or a
barcode to allow the retailer price or identify the item at the
time of purchase. In this manner, the package can be accurately
scanned or priced at the check out counter or point of purchase
without having to open the package to see the contents of the
package, or requiring the customer to carry the removed outer layer
to the check out counter or point of purchase. In an alternative
embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the necessary
information or indicia, such as a price sticker or a barcode to
allow the retailer price or identify the item at the time of
purchase, may be part of the outer layer which is permanently
attached to the next adjacent layer such that the permanently
attached portion is not removed when the outer layer 31 is removed
from the next adjacent layer. Permanent attachment may be
accomplished through the selection of the adhesive used to attach a
portion of the outer layer 31 to the next adjacent layer. The
portion of the outer layer 31 which is permanently attached to the
next adjacent layer may be separated from the remainder of the
outer layer 31 by providing score lines or perforations to assist
the separation. In another alternative, the necessary information
or indicia, such as a price sticker or a barcode to allow the
retailer price or identify the item at the time of purchase, may be
provided on the second layer, and the portion of the removable
outer layer 31 covering the information or indicia may be clear. In
another alternative, the necessary information or indicia may be
place on a portion of the packaging system which is not
removed.
[0048] The underlying layers may have decorative designs including
some or all of the intermediate layers 40 and the inner layer 21.
Each layer may have the same decorative design or each layer may
have different decorative designs. In one example, the color of
each of the underlying layers may be different so the consumer or
user of the products can select an appropriate color which will
match their decor in the room the package system is stored. In the
alternative, only the inner layer may be provide with a decorative
design and all of the intermediate layers, if present, are clear
intermediate layers, allowing the underlying inner layer design to
be seen on the exterior surface of the packaging system. Typically,
the clear intermediate layers will be a clear film material. As
another alternative, the external side surface of the package
component may be provided with a decorative design and each of the
intermediate layers and the inner layer is provided with a clear
material, such that the decorative design on the package component
may be seen on the exterior surface by the user through the clear
layers. Other combination of clear and decorative layers may be
used and are within the scope of the present invention. For
example, several clear layers separated by decorative layers may be
used. In addition, if the outside of the package has a decorative
feature, even the inner layer may be clear. Any possible
combination of decorative and clear layer may be used without
departing from the present invention. In one embodiment of the
present invention, a decorative layer is subjacent one or more
clear layers.
[0049] In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more of
the intermediate layers or the inner layer may be directed to
communicating a desired message to the user. The message can be
related to a product message, educational materials regarding
various subjects such as health, fashion, general life tips, a
benefit communication, an incentive message or the like, as well as
combinations thereof. Further, the message may be intended to
establish and/or nurture a business relationship between a seller
of the absorbent articles and the consumer. For example, one of the
layers of the sheet component may be a redemption certificate or
information which provides a communication pertaining to a contest,
a prize, a sweepstakes, a code or registration number for use with
a computer internet website or the like, as well as combinations
thereof.
[0050] The selective removability of one or more the removable
layers by the consumer or user of the products contained within the
packaging system, will reveal the redemption certificate or
communication to the user. Generally, the redemption certificate or
communication to the user will be located in the layer immediately
behind the outer layer of the sheet component. The redemption
certificate or information layer may provide an improved and more
effective system for providing auxiliary benefits or communication
to a consumer. The packaging system can communicate messages that
are intended to attract and maintain the loyalty of consumers, and
can provide enhanced effectiveness, particularly with younger
consumers who have a preference for computer based communications
or for other types of electronic communications. The communications
can be better targeted to selected audiences and to consumers
having selected levels of interest. The intended communications
with the consumer can be conducted in greater privacy, and can be
readily continued with modern technologies, such as electronic,
e-mail and other types of internet-based communications.
[0051] In another embodiment of the present invention, the message
or redemption certificate could be placed on the first side of the
outer layer of the sheet component. By placing the message or
redemption certificate on the first side of the other layer, the
message or redemption certificate will become visible to the user
who removes the outer layer of the sheet material.
[0052] The sheet component of the packaging system may be
configured such that the movement, removal or other change in
relative position of the removable layer causes a corresponding
movement, removal or other change in relative position of the
redemption certificate. When the position of the removable layer is
operatively changed to reveal the next layer of the sheet
component, the position of the entire redemption certificate or the
position of a significant portion of the redemption certificate is
modified by the positional change of the removable layer. Thus, the
user can more immediately come in operational, communicative
contact with the removable layer, and the user's attention can be
more effectively drawn to the message or the redemption
certificate. The configurations of the present invention can be
particularly beneficial when relaying messages such as those
related to a product benefit or a purchasing incentive.
[0053] As another example, the aid can be given to the user to
recognize the redemption certificate or information can include a
code or text provided by a color-shifting ink or an ink that
becomes activated and visible to human sight when the ink has been
exposed to selected wavelengths of light or change of viewing
angle. Still another example of such change in the recognition
ability can include a code or text which has been provided by a
pattern of ink, adhesive or other coating, and which subsequently
becomes revealed after the redemption certificate or information
has been removed from the packaging system. Other means for
directing the user's attention to the redemption certificate
include placing a hologram or other similar image on the redemption
certificate or information.
[0054] In another embodiment of the present invention, one or more
layers of the sheet component may be provided with a fragrance or
an aroma. In this embodiment of the present invention, the customer
or user of the product may be able to select the desired aroma or
fragrance by selecting a particular layer of the sheet component.
As the layer is removed, the aroma or fragrance is released from
the sheet and into the surrounding atmosphere. In this embodiment
of the present invention, the aroma or fragrance could be
incorporated into layers using techniques known to those skilled in
the art. The aroma or fragrance could be incorporated into the
adhesive which holds the layer of the sheet component together,
applied as a coating to the individual layers of the sheet
component, or the like. One particularly useful method would to be
to use microcapsule containing the aroma or fragrance, wherein the
microcapsules are broken when a layer is removed from the sheet
component.
[0055] In this embodiment of the present invention, any of the
layers of the sheet component may contain the aroma or fragrance.
However, in order to contain the aroma or fragrance prior so that
the aroma or fragrance is released at the desired time of the place
of use by the consumer or user, it is desirable that one or more of
the inner or the intermediate layers contain aroma or fragrance,
when present. Each layer could have the same aroma or fragrance or
each layer could have a different aroma or fragrance. The tabs,
described above, could be used to convey to the consumer or user
the fragrance which is present in each of the layers, if more than
one fragrance is used in the packaging system.
[0056] The aromas that are used can be any suitable aroma known in
the art. For example, the aromas may include one or more essential
oils. Essential oils are highly odoriferous, liquid components
obtained from plant tissue (e.g., flowers, bark, leaves, seeds,
roots, etc.), often captured by steam distillation or other
processes and typically include a mixture of one or more terpenes,
esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, phenols, and/or oxides, for
example. Commonly used essential oils include those derived from
angelica root, anise, balsam (Peru or other balsams), basil, bay
laurel, beeswax, benzoin, bergamot, bois-de-rose, boronia, cajeput,
cardamom, carrot seed, cedarwood (Atlas or Virginian), chamomile
(German or Roman), cinnamon, citronella, clary sage, clove bud,
coriander, cypress, dill, elemi, eucalyptus, fennel, fir needle,
frankincense, galbanum, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, helichrysum,
hyssop, immortelle, jasmine, juniper berry, kanuka, lavender,
lavendin, lemon, lemongrass, lime, linden blossom, mandarin,
manuka, marjoram, may chang, myrrh, myrtle, neroli, niaouli,
nutmeg, oakmoss, olibanum, orange (bitter or sweet), oregano,
palmarosa, parsley, patchouli, pepper, peppermint, petitgrain, pine
(Scotch, white, or Siberian), ravensara, rose, rosemary, rosewood,
sandalwood, spearmint, spikenard, spruce, tagetes, tangerine, tea
tree (common, lemon, or New Zealand), thyme, tobacco, tuberose,
vanilla, vetiver, violet leaf, yarrow, ylang ylang, and so forth.
Further information on essential oils and other herbal extracts
that can be considered for use in the present invention are
discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,751, issued Aug. 28, 2001 to
Fletcher and Hargreaves and in US 2004/0071757, published Apr. 15,
2004 by D. Rolf, both of which are herein incorporated by
reference.
[0057] In addition to essential oils, the fragrances used in the
present invention can also include other natural products or
extracts such as absolutes, resinoids, resins etc., and synthetic
compositions as well as mixtures of synthetic and natural
fragrances. Synthetic fragrance components may include, by way of
example, hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones ethers, acids,
esters, acetals, ketals, nitrites, phenols, etc. including
saturated and unsaturated compounds, aliphatic, alicyclic,
heterocyclic and aromatic compounds. Examples of such perfume
components are given by D. H. Pybus and C. S. Sell in The Chemistry
of Fragrances (Springer Verlag, 1999).
[0058] In one embodiment, the fragrance has additional
functionality such as serving as an antimicrobial composition.
Examples of antimicrobial fragrance compositions are disclosed, for
example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,479,456, "Antimicrobial Perfume
Compositions," issued Nov. 12, 2002 to Holzner, herein incorporated
by reference. Other examples can be found in EPA 10451889, EPA
10433132, WO 93/25185, and WO 98/02044. Such fragrances may exhibit
an antimicrobial activity of at least 80% as measured by the "agar
surface coating test" (ASCT) of Holzner (U.S. Pat. No.
6,479,456).
[0059] To enhance the life of the aroma provided, a fragrance can
be combined with a stabilizer to provide sustained release over a
prolonged period of time. Examples of stabilizers and related
controlled release methods are discussed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,172,037, "Perfume Fixatives Comprising Polyvinylpyrrolidone and
Hydroxypropyl Cellulose," issued Jan. 9, 2001 to Perring et al.,
herein incorporated by reference.
[0060] As described above, the present invention has numerous
different features which may be incorporated into the sheet
component. Each of these features can be used independently or in
conjunction with other features describe herein. Each of these
features, although described in terms of the packaging member, may
also be used in conjunction with the dispenser member.
[0061] The packaging system of the present invention may be used to
package and contain various consumer products including foodstuffs;
personal care articles, absorbent personal care articles, cleaning
supplies; household goods and other consumer products where it is
desirable to have a clean surface on the surface of the container
holding these products. Although the packaging system may be used
on packages that are open and the contents of the container are
used at the first opening of the container, the present invention
is advantageously used with containers holding contents that are
not completely used at the first opening of the container. Examples
of foodstuffs include, for example, milk, juice, cookies, snack
foods, such as chips, pretzels and the like, condiments and other
food items that are provided to a consumer in a container which is
opened or used multiply times prior to the contents of the
container from being completely used. Examples of personal care
articles include items which are typically liquids, lotions and
ointments including, for example, soaps, shampoos, make-up, first
aid products, insect repellants, sunscreen and the like. Other
personal care articles include items such as facial tissue, wet
wipes, dry wipes bath tissue and other paper products. Examples of
absorbent personal care articles include, for example, tampons,
pantiliners, sanitary napkins, diapers, incontinence pads, training
pants, adult incontinence garments and the like. Cleaning supplies
includes detergents, cleaning solutions, and the like. Other
household goods include, for example, paints, oils, sprays
lubricants and the like. Generally, the present packaging system of
the present invention is especially useful in packaging consumer
products where sanitary or hygienic conditions are desired to
convey a message to the user that the product is safe to use and is
not unsanitary or unhygienic.
[0062] In another alternative embodiment of the present invention,
the sheet component, with its intermediate layers may be prepared
separately from the dispenser or packaging system and supplied
separately from the dispenser. That is, the sheet component may be
provided to the consumer or user as a refill so that the consumer
or user can add a new set of peelable layer to the dispenser when
the last layer is removed.
[0063] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present
invention is capable of many modifications and variations without
departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, the detailed
description and examples set forth above are meant to be
illustrative only and are not intended to limit, in any manner, the
scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *