U.S. patent application number 11/506439 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-21 for package assembly with product feature display area.
Invention is credited to Frederick Mason Mariani, Stephen Kreg Newby, Kristine Gail Noschang, William Richard Rempe, Charles Ernest Wolf.
Application Number | 20080041755 11/506439 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38867507 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080041755 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Noschang; Kristine Gail ; et
al. |
February 21, 2008 |
Package assembly with product feature display area
Abstract
The present invention relates to a product package assembly
comprising: a plurality of fibrous structure products wherein each
fibrous structure product comprises a textured surface; one or more
inner packages that surrounds the plurality of fibrous structure
products; an outer sleeve fitted over the inner package, the outer
sleeve comprising: a. an outside face intended to be displayed to a
consumer when the package is displayed for sale, the outside face
comprising one or more product feature display areas that represent
a product feature of the fibrous structure product; b. an inside
face; and c. one or more open sides forming at least one inner
package receiving pocket.
Inventors: |
Noschang; Kristine Gail;
(Cincinnati, OH) ; Newby; Stephen Kreg; (West
Chester, OH) ; Mariani; Frederick Mason; (Newport,
KY) ; Rempe; William Richard; (Loveland, OH) ;
Wolf; Charles Ernest; (Cincinnati, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIVISION - WEST BLDG.
WINTON HILL BUSINESS CENTER - BOX 412, 6250 CENTER HILL AVENUE
CINCINNATI
OH
45224
US
|
Family ID: |
38867507 |
Appl. No.: |
11/506439 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/494 ;
206/730 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2571/00716
20130101; B65D 85/07 20180101; B65D 2571/0066 20130101; B65D 71/30
20130101; B65D 71/063 20130101; B65D 2571/0045 20130101; B65D
2571/00135 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/494 ;
206/730 |
International
Class: |
B65D 73/00 20060101
B65D073/00; B65D 23/12 20060101 B65D023/12 |
Claims
1. A product package assembly comprising: a plurality of fibrous
structure products wherein at least one fibrous structure product
comprises a textured surface; one or more inner packages that
surrounds the plurality of fibrous structure products; an outer
sleeve fitted over the inner package, the outer sleeve comprising:
a. an outside face intended to be displayed to a consumer when the
package is displayed for sale, the outside face comprising one or
more product feature display areas that represent a product feature
of the fibrous structure product; b. an inside face; and c. one or
more open sides forming at least one inner package receiving
pocket.
2. The product package assembly of claim 1 wherein the fibrous
structure product is absorbent.
3. The product package assembly of claim 2 wherein the fibrous
structure product comprises a plurality of rolls wherein each roll
comprises a textured surface.
4. The product package assembly of claim 3 wherein the fibrous
structure product is selected from the group consisting of paper
towels, toilet tissue, facial tissue, and combinations thereof.
5. The product package assembly of claim 4 wherein the fibrous
structure product is selected from the group consisting of: creped
or uncreped through-air-dried fibrous structure plies, differential
density fibrous structure plies, wet laid fibrous structure plies,
air laid fibrous structure plies, conventional fibrous structure
plies and combinations thereof.
6. The product package assembly of claim 5 wherein the fibrous
structure product comprises a creped through-air dried tissue
paper.
7. The product package assembly of claim 2 wherein the fibrous
structure product is a two ply tissue or towel product.
8. The product package assembly of claim 2 wherein the textured
surface is selected from the group consisting of: differential
density fibrous structure plies formed during the papermaking
process, a plurality of embossments, and combinations thereof.
9. The product package assembly of claim 8 wherein the textured
surface comprises a plurality of embossments.
10. The product package assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner
package comprises a material selected from the group consisting of
cut-resistant flexible material, polymeric plastic film, foil,
paper, paper composite, knitted or woven fabric, nonwoven fabric,
polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, nylon, and combination
thereof.
11. The product package assembly of claim 10 comprising 2 inner
packages.
12. The product package assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer
sleeve is shape retaining.
13. The product package assembly of claim 12 wherein the outer
sleeve further comprises a back panel; a top panel; and a bottom
panel.
14. The product package assembly of claim 13 wherein the outer
sleeve comprises a material selected from the group consisting of
paper stock, paperboard, corrugated paperboard, cut-resistant
flexible material, polymeric plastic films, foils, paper, paper
composites, knitted or woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and
combinations thereof.
15. The product package assembly of claim 1 wherein the receiving
pockets are constructed and arranged to receive a single inner
package.
16. The product package assembly of claim 1 wherein the receiving
pockets are constructed and arranged to receive two or more inner
packages in a stacked relationship.
17. The product package assembly of claim 1 wherein the receiving
pockets are constructed and arranged to receive two or more inner
packages in a side by side relationship.
18. The product package assembly of claim 1 wherein the front panel
and the back panel are the same.
19. The product package assembly of claim 1 wherein the front panel
and the back panel are different.
20. The product assembly of claim 1 wherein the package assembly
has from about 1 to about 25 product feature display areas.
21. The product assembly of claim 20 wherein the package assembly
has from about 1 to about 10 product feature display areas.
22. The product assembly of claim 21 wherein the product feature
display area is a textured display area.
23. The product package assembly of claim 20 wherein the product
feature display area is selected from the group consisting of a
graphic representation of the product feature, a printed graphic
representation of the product feature including gravure or
flexographic printing, a photographic image representing the
product feature, lithography of the product feature, plurality of
embossments representing the product feature, a swatch representing
the product feature, a sample of the actual fibrous structure
product, a 3-dimensional lenticular or holographic image
representing the product feature, opening in the inner package and
outer sleeve to access the fibrous structure product, and
combinations thereof.
24. The product package assembly of claim 1 further comprising a
handle.
25. A product package assembly comprising: a plurality of rolls of
fibrous structure products wherein each fibrous structure product
comprises a textured surface; one or more inner packages that
surrounds the plurality of fibrous structure products; an outer
sleeve fitted over the inner package, the outer sleeve comprising:
a. an outside face intended to be displayed to a consumer when the
package is displayed for sale, the outside face comprising one or
more texture display areas that represent the textured surface of
the fibrous structure product; b. an inside face; and c. one or
more open sides forming at least one inner package receiving
pocket.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a consumer product package
assembly comprising a plurality of fibrous structure products and
more particularly to such a consumer product package assembly
having a reinforcing sleeve comprising a product feature display
area thereon that represents, identifies, communicates, and/or
amplifies, to the consumer, the product feature of the fibrous
structure product within the package assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Disposable consumer products and packages containing such
products are well known in the art. Such products may include, for
example, facial tissues, paper toweling, hankies, bath tissue,
napkins, placemats, paper plates, etc. Frequently, these products
are provided with textured surfaces or other features to enhance
product performance and/or to enhance consumer appeal. Consumers,
however, may not fully appreciate the actual benefits of the
product until he or she sees or uses the actual product. Moreover,
consumers prefer to view the product prior to selecting the product
for purchase so that they may select an appealing product. In
addition, product pakaging, even if transparent, may also conceal
some of the specific features, especially the textured features,
from the view of the consumers. It would be advantageous therefore,
to provide a package assembly that has a product feature display
area to maximize visability of the product and/or to represent and
communicate the high quality features and benefits of the product
to the consumer.
[0003] In addition, consumers prefer to purchase multiple rolls of
these products at the same time. Therefore, these products are
almost exclusively sold in multi-roll packages that are stacked one
on top on the other on the store shelves. Such products are
generally packaged in a clear, thin, flexible plastic wrap package.
Although these packages are generally designed to protect the
product from contamination, handling, shipping, and storage of the
product, these types of packaging may perforate, tear, or stretch,
during handling, may not stack easily, and may not protect the
integrity of the product, especially the textured surfaces.
Therefore, it would also be advantageous to provide a package
assembly that further protects the product during handling,
shipping and storage and that provides stable stacking of the
multi-roll package or multi-package assembly on the store
shelves.
[0004] Therefore, the present invention overcomes some of the
disadvantages of the prior art by providing a consumer product
package assembly comprising a plurality of fibrous structure
products, a reinforcing outer sleeve comprising a product feature
display area thereon that represents, identifies, communicates,
and/or amplifies, to the consumer, the product feature of the
fibrous structure product within the package assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] While the specification concludes with claims that
particularly point out and distinctly claim the present invention,
it is believed that the present invention will be understood better
from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals
identify identical elements.
[0006] Without intending to limit the invention, embodiments are
described in more detail below:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a product package assembly
comprising a plurality of toilet paper products in roll form
comprising a texture surface, wrapped with an inner package and
also comprising an outer sleeve fitted over the inner package, the
outer sleeve comprising two inner package receiving pockets, a
front panel and a top panel, the outer sleeve comprising a textured
display area, according the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a planar view of the outer sleeve of the product
package assembly of FIG. 1, the outer sleeve having a front panel
comprising a textured display area on the outside face, a back
panel, a top panel and a bottom panel.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the outer sleeve of FIG. 2
partially folded and closed showing the inside face, outside face,
front panel, back panel, top panel and bottom panel.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a front plan view of a product package assembly
comprising a plurality of toilet paper products in roll form
comprising a texture surface, wrapped with an inner package and
also comprising an outer sleeve fitted over the inner package, the
outer sleeve comprising one inner package receiving pocket, a front
panel and a top panel, the outer sleeve comprising a textured
display area, according the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a planar view of the outer sleeve of the product
package assembly of FIG. 4, the outer sleeve comprising a front
panel comprising a textured display area on the outside face, a
back panel, a top panel and a bottom panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention relates to a product package assembly
comprising: a plurality of fibrous structure products wherein at
least one fibrous structure product comprises a textured surface;
one or more inner packages that surrounds the plurality of fibrous
structure products; an outer sleeve fitted over the inner package,
the outer sleeve comprising: [0013] a. an outside face intended to
be displayed to a consumer when the package is displayed for sale,
the outside face comprising one or more product feature display
areas that represent a product feature of the fibrous structure
product; [0014] b. an inside face; and [0015] c. one or more open
sides forming at least one inner package receiving pocket.
[0016] In one embodiment the product package assembly provides a
package assembly that has a product feature display area to
maximize visability of the product and/or to represent and
communicate the high quality features and benefits of the product
to the consumer.
[0017] In another embodiment the present invention provides a
product package assembly that better protects the fibrous structure
product and/or the textured surfaces of the product during
handling, shipping and storage. Further, the package assembly may
provide low cost and/or more stable stacking configuration of the
multi-package assembly due to the the added support of the outer
sleeve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Definitions
[0018] As used herein, "paper product" refers to any formed,
fibrous structure products, traditionally, but not necessarily,
comprising cellulose fibers. In one embodiment, the paper products
of the present invention include tissue-towel paper products.
[0019] A "tissue-towel paper product" refers to products comprising
paper tissue or paper towel technology in general, including, but
not limited to, conventional felt-pressed or conventional
wet-pressed tissue paper, pattern densified tissue paper, starch
substrates, and high bulk, uncompacted tissue paper. Non-limiting
examples of tissue-towel paper products include disposable or
reusable, toweling, facial tissue, bath tissue, table napkins,
placemats, wipes, and the like.
[0020] "Ply" or "Plies", as used herein, means an individual
fibrous structure or sheet of fibrous structure, optionally to be
disposed in a substantially contiguous, face-to-face relationship
with other plies, forming a multi-ply fibrous structure. It is also
contemplated that a single fibrous structure can effectively form
two "plies" or multiple "plies", for example, by being folded on
itself. In one embodiment, the ply has an end use as a tissue-towel
paper product. A ply may comprise one or more wet-laid layers,
air-laid layers, and/or combinations thereof. If more than one
layer is used, it is not necessary for each layer to be made from
the same fibrous structure. Further, the layers may or may not be
homogenous within a layer. The actual makeup of a tissue paper ply
is generally determined by the desired benefits of the final
tissue-towel paper product, as would be known to one of skill in
the art. The fibrous structure may comprise one or more plies of
non-woven materials in addition to the wet-laid and/or air-laid
plies.
[0021] The term "fibrous structure", as used herein, means an
arrangement of fibers produced in any papermaking machine known in
the art to create a ply of paper. "Fiber" means an elongate
particulate having an apparent length exceeding its apparent width.
More specifically, and as used herein, fiber refers to such fibers
suitable for a papermaking process. "Basis Weight", as used herein,
is the weight per unit area of a sample reported in lbs/3000
ft.sup.2 or g/m.sup.2.
[0022] "Machine Direction" or "MD", as used herein, means the
direction parallel to the flow of the fibrous structure through the
papermaking machine and/or product manufacturing equipment.
[0023] "Cross Machine Direction" or "CD", as used herein, means the
direction perpendicular to the machine direction in the same plane
of the fibrous structure and/or fibrous structure product
comprising the fibrous structure.
[0024] "Densified", as used herein, means a portion of a fibrous
structure product that is characterized by having a relatively
high-bulk field of relatively low fiber density and an array of
densified zones of relatively high fiber density. The high-bulk
field is alternatively characterized as a field of pillow regions.
The densified zones are alternatively referred to as knuckle
regions. The densified zones may be discretely spaced within the
high-bulk field or may be interconnected, either fully or
partially, within the high-bulk field. One embodiment of a method
of making a pattern densified fibrous structure and devices used
therein are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,529,480 and
4,528,239.
[0025] "Non-densified", as used herein, means a portion of a
fibrous structure product that exhibits a lesser density than
another portion of the fibrous structure product.
[0026] "Embossing", as used herein, refers to the process of
deflecting a relatively small portion of a cellulosic fibrous
structure normal to its plane and impacting the projected portion
of the fibrous structure against a relatively hard surface to
permanently disrupt the fiber to fiber bonds.
[0027] "Laminating", as used herein, refers to the process of
firmly uniting superimposed layers of paper with or without
adhesive, to form a multi-ply sheet.
[0028] "Textured surface of the fibrous structure product", as used
herein, refers to the incorporation of texture into the fibrous
structure product via the converting end of the papermaking process
and/or the during the wet end stage of papermaking, including
embossing, wet microcontraction, creping, the use of papermaking
belts to effect a pattern densified structure, etc., and
combinations thereof.
Fibrous Structure Product with Textured Surface
[0029] In one embodiment the package assembly of the present
invention comprises a plurality of rolls of fibrous structure
product wherein at least one roll comprises a textured surface. In
another embodiment each roll, of the plurality of rolls of fibrous
structured product, comprises a textured surface.
[0030] The present invention is equally applicable to all types of
consumer paper products such as paper towels, toilet tissue, facial
tissue, napkins, placemats, wipes and the like.
[0031] The present invention contemplates the use of a variety of
paper making fibers, such as, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, as
well as any other suitable fibers, starches, and combinations
thereof. Paper making fibers useful in the present invention
include cellulosic fibers commonly known as wood pulp fibers.
Applicable wood pulps include chemical pulps, such as Kraft,
sulfite and sulfate pulps, as well as mechanical pulps including,
groundwood, thermomechanical pulp, chemically modified, and the
like. Chemical pulps may be used in tissue towel embodiments since
they are known to those of skill in the art to impart a superior
tactical sense of softness to tissue sheets made therefrom. Pulps
derived from deciduous trees (hardwood) and/or coniferous trees
(softwood) can be utilized herein. Such hardwood and softwood
fibers can be blended or deposited in layers to provide a
stratified web. Exemplary layering embodiments and processes of
layering are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,994,771 and 4,300,981.
Additionally, fibers derived from wood pulp such as cotton linters,
bagesse, and the like, can be used. Additionally, fibers derived
from recycled paper, which may contain any of all of the categories
as well as other non-fibrous materials such as fillers and
adhesives used to manufacture the original paper product may be
used in the present web. In addition, fibers and/or filaments made
from polymers, specifically hydroxyl polymers, may be used in the
present invention. Non-limiting examples of suitable hydroxyl
polymers include polyvinyl alcohol, starch, starch derivatives,
chitosan, chitosan derivatives, cellulose derivatives, gums,
arabinans, galactans, and combinations thereof. Additionally, other
synthetic fibers such as rayon, polyethylene, and polypropylene
fibers can be used within the scope of the present invention.
Further, such fibers may be latex bonded.
[0032] In one embodiment the paper is produced by forming a
predominantly aqueous slurry comprising about 95% to about 99.9%
water.
[0033] The fibrous structure product may comprise any tissue-towel
paper product known in the industry. Embodiment of these substrates
may be made according U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,609 issued Mar. 4, 1980
to Trokhan; U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,981 issued to Carstens on Nov. 17,
1981; U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,609 issued to Trokhan on Mar. 4, 1980;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,345 issued to Johnson et al. on Apr. 30, 1985;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,239 issued to Trokhan on Jul. 9, 1985; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,529,480 issued to Trokhan on Jul. 16, 1985; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,637,859 issued to Trokhan on Jan. 20, 1987; U.S. Pat. No.
5,245,025 issued to Trokhan et al. on Sep. 14, 1993; U.S. Pat. No.
5,275,700 issued to Trokhan on Jan. 4, 1994; U.S. Pat. No.
5,328,565 issued to Rasch et al. on Jul. 12, 1994; U.S. Pat. No.
5,334,289 issued to Trokhan et al. on Aug. 2, 1994; U.S. Pat. No.
5,364,504 issued to Smurkowski et al. on Nov. 15, 1995; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,527,428 issued to Trokhan et al. on Jun. 18, 1996; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,556,509 issued to Trokhan et al. on Sep. 17, 1996; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,628,876 issued to Ayers et al. on May 13, 1997; U.S. Pat. No.
5,629,052 issued to Trokhan et al. on May 13, 1997; U.S. Pat. No.
5,637,194 issued to Ampulski et al. on Jun. 10, 1997; U.S. Pat. No.
5,411,636 issued to Hermans et al. on May 2, 1995; EP 677612
published in the name of Wendt et al. on Oct. 18, 1995, and U.S.
Patent Application 2004/0192136A1 published in the name of Gusky et
al. on Sep. 30, 2004.
[0034] The tissue-towel substrates may be manufactured via a
wet-laid making process where the resulting web is
through-air-dried or conventionally dried. Optionally, the
substrate may be foreshortened by creping or by wet
microcontraction. Creping and/or wet microcontraction are disclosed
in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,938 issued to Neal et al.
on Apr. 11, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,085 issued to Neal et al. on
Aug. 24, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,950 issued to Vinson et al. on
Feb. 2, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,597 issued to Wells et al. on
Apr. 3, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,756 issued to Sawdai on May 4,
1980; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,138 issued to Neal et al. on Feb. 13,
2001.
[0035] Conventionally pressed tissue paper and methods for making
such paper are known in the art, for example U.S. Pat. No.
6,547,928 issued to Bamholtz et al. on Apr. 15, 2003. One suitable
tissue paper is pattern densified tissue paper which is
characterized by having a relatively high-bulk field of relatively
low fiber density and an array of densified zones of relatively
high fiber density. The high-bulk field is alternatively
characterized as a field of pillow regions. The densified zones are
alternatively referred to as knuckle regions. The densified zones
may be discretely spaced within the high-bulk field or may be
interconnected, either fully or partially, within the high-bulk
field. Processes for making pattern densified tissue webs are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,301,746, issued to Sanford, et al. on
Jan. 31, 1967; U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,025, issued to Ayers on Aug. 10,
1976; U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,609, issued to on Mar. 4, 1980; and U.S.
Pat. No. 4,637,859, issued to on Jan. 20, 1987; U.S. Pat. No.
3,301,746, issued to Sanford, et al. on Jan. 31, 1967; U.S. Pat.
No. 3,821,068, issued to Salvucci, Jr. et al. on May 21, 1974; U.S.
Pat. No. 3,974,025, issued to Ayers on Aug. 10, 1976; U.S. Pat. No.
3,573,164, issued to Friedberg, et al. on Mar. 30, 1971; U.S. Pat.
No. 3,473,576, issued to Amneus on Oct. 21, 1969; U.S. Pat. No.
4,239,065, issued to Trokhan on Dec. 16, 1980; and U.S. Pat. No.
4,528,239, issued to Trokhan on Jul. 9, 1985.
[0036] Uncompacted, non pattern-densified tissue paper structures
are also contemplated within the scope of the present invention and
are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,000 issued to Joseph L.
Salvucci, Jr. et al. on May 21, 1974; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,459,
issued to Henry E. Becker, et al. on Jun. 17, 1980. Uncreped tissue
paper as defined in the art are also contemplated. The techniques
to produce uncreped tissue in this manner are taught in the prior
art. For example, Wendt, et al. in European Patent Application 0
677 612A2, published Oct. 18, 1995; Hyland, et al. in European
Patent Application 0 617 164 A1, published Sep. 28, 1994; and
Farrington, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,132 issued Aug. 12,
1997.
[0037] Uncreped tissue paper, in one embodiment, refers to tissue
paper which is non-compressively dried, in one embodiment, by
through air drying. Resultant through air dried webs are pattern
densified such that zones of relatively high density are dispersed
within a high bulk field, including pattern densified tissue
wherein zones of relatively high density are continuous and the
high bulk field is discrete. The techniques to produce uncreped
tissue in this manner are taught in the prior art. For example,
Wendt, et. al. in European Patent Application 0 677 612A2,
published Oct. 18, 1995; Hyland, et. al. in European Patent
Application 0 617 164 A1, published Sep. 28, 1994; and Farrington,
et. al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,132 published Aug. 12, 1997.
[0038] Other materials are also intended to be within the scope of
the present invention as long as they do not interfere or
counteract any advantage presented by the instant invention.
[0039] The substrate which comprises the fibrous structure of the
present invention may be cellulosic, or a combination of both
cellulose and non-cellulose. The substrate may be conventionally
dried using one or more press felts or through-air dried. If the
substrate which comprises the paper according to the present
invention is conventionally dried, it may be conventionally dried
using a felt which applies a pattern to the paper as taught by
commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,509 issued Sep. 17, 1996 to
Trokhan et al. and PCT Application WO 96/00812 published Jan. 11,
1996 in the name of Trokhan et al. The substrate which comprises
the paper according to the present invention may also be through
air dried. A suitable through air dried substrate may be made
according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,609.
[0040] The fibrous structure product according to the present
invention may be made according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.:
4,528,239 issued Jul. 9, 1985 to Trokhan; U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,480
issued Jul. 16, 1985 to Trokhan; U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,700 issued
Jan. 4, 1994 to Trokhan; U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,504 issued Nov. 15,
1985 to Smurkoski et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,428 issued Jun. 18,
1996 to Trokhan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,725 issued Mar. 11,
1997 to Van Phan; U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,222 issued Oct. 21, 1997 to
Rasch et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,775 issued Jan. 20, 1995 to
Trokhan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,440 issued Aug. 18, 1998 to
Ampulski et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,122 issued May 4, 1999 to
Huston; U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,710 issued May 25, 1999 to Trokhan;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,381 issued Aug. 10, 1999 to Trokhan et al.; and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,893 issued Aug. 17, 1999 to Trokhan et al.
[0041] In one embodiment the plies of the multi-ply fibrous
structure may be the same substrate respectively or the plies may
comprise different substrates combined to create desired consumer
benefits. In one embodiment the fibrous structures comprise two
plies of tissue substrate. In another embodiment the fibrous
structure comprises a first ply, a second ply, and at least one
inner ply.
[0042] In one embodiment, the fibrous structure product has a basis
weight of from about 12 to about 50 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2, in another
embodiment from about 18 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2 to about 40 lbs/3000
ft.sup.2. In another embodiment the basis weight is about 26
lbs/3000 ft.sup.2 to about 40 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2; and in yet another
embodiment the basis weight is about 27 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2 and about
37 lbs/3000 ft.sup.2, as measured by the Basis Weight Method
described herein.
[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fibrous
structure product has a plurality of embossments. In one embodiment
the embossment pattern is applied only to the first ply. In another
embodiment the fibrous structure product is a two ply product
wherein both plies comprise a plurality of embossments. In one
embodiment the fibrous structure product comprises two or more
plies of fibrous structure wherein at least one of the piles has a
plurality of embossments thereon.
[0044] Suitable means of embossing include those disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,323,983 issued to Palmer on Sep. 8, 1964; U.S. Pat. No.
5,468,323 issued to McNeil on Nov. 21, 1995; U.S. Pat. No.
5,693,406 issued to Wegele et al. on Dec. 2, 1997; U.S. Pat. No.
5,972,466 issued to Trokhan on Oct. 26, 1999; U.S. Pat. No.
6,030,690 issued to McNeil et al. on Feb. 29, 2000; and U.S. Pat.
No. 6,086,715 issued to McNeil on July 11.
[0045] Suitable means of laminating the plies include but are not
limited to those methods disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat.
No. 6,113,723 issued to McNeil et al. on Sep. 5, 2000; U.S. Pat.
No. 6,086,715 issued to McNeil on Jul. 11, 2000; U.S. Pat. No.
5,972,466 issued to Trokhan on Oct. 26, 1999; U.S. Pat. No.
5,858,554 issued to Neal et al. on Jan. 12, 1999; U.S. Pat. No.
5,693,406 issued to Wegele et al. on Dec. 2, 1997; U.S. Pat. No.
5,468,323 issued to McNeil on Nov. 21, 1995; U.S. Pat. No.
5,294,475 issued to McNeil on Mar. 15, 1994.
[0046] In one embodiment the fibrous structure product is in roll
form. When in roll form, the fibrous structure product may be wound
about a core or may be wound without a core.
Inner Package and Outer Sleeve
[0047] The present invention further relates to a product package
assembly comprising, in addition to the plurality of fibrous
structure products, one or more inner packages that surrounds the
plurality of fibrous structure products as well as an outer sleeve
fitted over the inner package. The outer sleeve comprises an
outside face intended to be displayed to a consumer when the
package is displayed for sale, the outside face comprising one or
more product feature display areas that represent the product
feature of the fibrous structure product. The outer sleeve further
comprises an inside face and one or more open sides forming at
least one inner package receiving pocket.
[0048] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, product package assembly 1
comprises an inner package 13 comprising a plurality of fibrous
structure products 4 in roll form, wherein at least one of the
fibrous structure products comprise a textured surface 8. The
product package assembly 1 further comprises an outer sleeve 9
fitted over the inner package 13, the outer sleeve 9 having two
open sides 12 forming one or more inner package receiving pockets
16. The outer sleeve 9 comprises a front panel 3, a top panel 5,
back panel 6, and a bottom panel 7. Referring to FIG. 2 the outer
sleeve 9 has a product feature display area 2 (which is a textured
display area) on the front panel 3 on the outside face 10 of the
outer sleeve 9. The outer sleeve 9 further comprises an outside
face 10 and an inside face 11 (shown in FIG. 3). The product
feature display area 2 is a magnified representation of the
textured surface of the fibrous structure product.
[0049] Referring now to FIG. 3, the outer sleeve 9 of FIG. 2 is
partially folded along the solid lines, and partially closed,
showing the inside face 11, outside face 10, front panel 3, back
panel 6, top panel 5 and bottom panel 7.
[0050] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a product package assembly 20
comprises an inner package 33 comprising a plurality of fibrous
structure products 23 in roll form, wherein the fibrous structure
product 23 comprises a textured surface 26. The product package
assembly 20 further comprises an outer sleeve 27 fitted over the
inner package 33, the outer sleeve 27 having one open side 31
forming an inner package receiving pocket into which the inner
package 33 is received. The outer sleeve 27 comprises a front panel
22, a top panel 24, back panel 34, and a bottom panel 25. Referring
to FIG. 5 the outer sleeve 27 has a product feature display area 21
that is, in this case a textured display area, on the front panel
22 on the outside face 29 of the outer sleeve 27. The outer sleeve
27 further comprises a side panel 32. The product feature display
area is a magnified representation of the textured surface 26 of
the fibrous structure product 33.
[0051] In one embodiment the package assembly of the present
invention comprises an inner package 13 and 33 to surround a
plurality of fibrous structure products 4 and 23. Generally where
the fibrous structure products 4 and 23 are in roll form, the
multi-rolls may be stacked upon one another or aligned in side by
side configuration, in these multi-roll packages and then covered
with a an inner packaging material which may be a flexible, thin
plastic wrap.
[0052] The inner package may be filled with a plurality of rolls
which may be uniformly arranged within the inner package either
stacked one on top of another or in a side by side configuration.
Desirably, the rolls are placed within the inner package in a
uniform arrangement, in particular, arranged within the interior in
one or more stacked rows.
[0053] In one embodiment the inner package 13 and 33 may be made
from any one of a wide variety of materials that are known in the
art to accommodate the desired number of fibrous structure products
and/or rolls and have sufficient flexibility and strength to hold
and contain the fibrous structure products and/or rolls without
breaking and without excessive bulging or stretching of the
material. Materials include, but are not limited to, cut-resistant
flexible material, polymeric plastic films, foils, paper, paper
composites, knitted or woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics and the
like, or combinations thereof. Suitable materials can be made from
polymeric materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester,
nylon, and the like, as well as any combination thereof. In one
embodiment, the material for the inner packages comprises a low
density polyethylene (LDPE) film, a LLDPE (linear low density
polyethylene) film, a MDPE (medium density polyethylene) film, a
HDPE (high density polyethylene) film, and combinations thereof, to
form a laminate. In another embodiment a polyethylene/polypropylene
combination is used. In a specific embodiment, the inner package
has a thickness of from about 1 mils to about 5 mils (about 0.025
to 0.125 mm). As used herein, the term "polymer" or "polymeric"
generally includes but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers,
such as for example, block, graft, random and alternating
copolymers, terpolymers, etc. and blends and modifications thereof.
Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term
"polymer" shall include all possible geometrical configuration of
the material.
[0054] The package assembly of the present invention further
comprises an outer sleeve. The outer sleeve may provide easier
stacking of a plurality of fibrous structure products on the store
shelf. The outer sleeve generally supports and protects the fibrous
structure product from handling, transporting of the package
assembly, as well as the general integrity of the inner package as
well. Furthermore the outer sleeve may help to maintain the
caliper, emboss height, emboss quality and/or visual appearance,
etc. of the fibrous structure product.
[0055] The outer sleeve may partially or fully surround the inner
package. In one embodiment the outer sleeve surrounds from about
50% to about 100%, in another embodiment from about 60% to about
95%, in another embodiment from about 70% to about 90%, of the
surface area of the inner package. The outer sleeve 9 and 27
comprises one or more open sides 12 and 31, generally comprises 1-2
open sides, forming an inner package receiving pocket, and the
outer sleeve generally slides into place around and over the inner
package.
[0056] In one embodiment the outer sleeve may be made from a wide
variety of materials that are known in the art to accommodate the
desired number of inner packages and/or rolls and that have
sufficient strength to hold and contain the inner package(s)
without breaking or tearing and without excessive bulging or
stretching of the material. Materials include, but are not limited
to, paperboard, corrugated paperboard, cut-resistant flexible
material, polymeric plastic films, heavy guage polyurethane films,
foils, paper, paper composites, knitted or woven fabrics, nonwoven
fabrics and the like, or combinations thereof. Suitable materials
can be made from polymeric materials such as polyethylene,
polypropylene, polyester, nylon, and the like, as well as any
combination thereof. In a specific embodiment, the outer sleeve has
a thickness of from about 1 mil to about 20 mils (about 0.025 to
0.125 mm), in another embodiment from about 5 mils to about 20
mils. As used herein, the term "polymer" or "polymeric" generally
includes but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers, such as
for example, block, graft, random and alternating copolymers,
terpolymers, etc. and blends and modifications thereof.
Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term
"polymer" shall include all possible geometrical configuration of
the material.
[0057] The outer sleeve may be prepared from a single piece of
material or can be prepared from multiple pieces of material. If
multiple pieces of material are used, the individual pieces must be
joined together using a suitable means. For example, the individual
pieces may be joined by various conventional techniques, such as
adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, welding, and
so forth. In another embodiment, the panels are connected with
mechanical fastening systems, such as interlocking flaps, sewing,
stapling, riveting, and so forth as well as combinations.
[0058] In one embodiment the outer sleeve is shape retaining.
"Shape retaining", as used herein, is intended to mean that the
front, back, top, bottom, panels of the outer sleeve do not tend to
fall inward towards the interior or outward away from the interior
and the top panel does not fall inward towards the interior of the
outer sleeve when folded in a closed configuration.
[0059] The outer sleeve may be formed by bonding, stitching, and/or
adhering the opposing bottom panels to each other, the opposing top
panels to each other. In another embodiment the sleeve may be
formed by bonding, stitching, and/or adhering the bottom panel or
the top panel, to the front or back panel, to form a seal. The seal
may be formed by heat and bonding (e.g. fusing portions of the
packaging material to other portions of the packaging material),
pressure bonding, by thermal bonding, by ultrasonic bonding, by
adhesive bonding, welding, mechanical fastening systems such as
interlocking flaps, sewing, stapling, riveting, melt bead sealing,
impulse sealing, dielectric sealing, and combinations thereof,
and/or or by another means known to those skilled in the art. The
purpose of the seal is to secure the panels of the outer sleeve
together whereby the front panel, the back panel, the top panel and
bottom panel create the internal compartment, the outer sleeve
having one or more open sides 12 and 31 so that the outer sleeve 9
and 27 is open on either one or more sides for form an inner
package receiving pocket 31. The outer sleeve is designed to
partially surround the inner package which comprises the plurality
of fibrous structure products and/or rolls inserted into it via the
inner package receiving pockets 12 and 31. In one embodiment, after
the inner package or packages are positioned within the outer
sleeve, the bottom panel 7 will then be sealed via an adhesive.
Alternatively, the opposing bottom panels may be sealed and
thereafter the inner package and/or packages may be inserted into
it via the inner package receiving pocket 12.
[0060] In one embodiment, the inside face 11 of the outer sleeve 9
contains information to be conveyed to the consumer. As is shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer sleeve has an outside face 10 and an
inside face 11. In one embodiment the outside face 10 is typically
the side of the outer sleeve 9 in which the consumer sees when the
package is displayed on the retail store shelf and/or when the
package assembly is carried or handled. The inside face 11 of the
outer sleeve 9 is generally viewable only after the outer sleeve 9
is opened. Information which may be provided on the inside face 11,
includes an inspirational message, advertisements, promotional
language, a promotional offer such as coupons for future purchase
of a similar or different product or products from the same company
and/or points towards an offer such as free products, a proof of
purchase, information regarding the softness, absorbency,
thickness, and size of the fibrous structure product contained
within the interior compartment, a guide to other similar or
complementary products within a given product line made by the same
manufacturer, a listing of complementary products that may be used
in combination with the fibrous structure product, a thank you
message, games, and the like, as well as combinations.
[0061] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in one embodiment, the outer
sleeve 9 further comprises a handle 15 on the outside face 10 the
top panel 5. The handle 15 comprises perforations in the top panel
5, made of a rigid material that may be punched out to form a cut
out type of handle. The handle 15 may be used by the consumer to
carry the package assembly. The handle may be placed in any
practical location on the outside face of the outer sleeve. In
another embodiment the handle 15 may comprise a handle such as
those useful for soda beverage carriers, for example the handles
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,991, Schuster, issued Nov. 22,
1988. In another embodiment the top panel 5 of the outer sleeve 9
may serve as a handle as well, without further modification (e.g.
the consumer may insert their fingers between the edge of the top
panel 5 and the inner package 13.) In another embodiment the seal
used to connect the bottom panel or top panel to form the outer
sleeve, may be designed to form into a handle for the product
package assembly.
[0062] In addition, the inner package and/or the outer sleeve of
the present invention may additionally be provided with other
features, including open windows or die cutouts or clear panels to
view or touch the fibrous structure product inside the package
assembly or to view graphics on the inner package or the fibrous
structure product.
Product Feature Display Area on Outer Sleeve
[0063] The outer sleeve of the present invention further comprises
a product feature display area. The product feature display area is
generally located on the outer face of the outer sleeve, and
represents (either visually, graphically and/or verbally) the
softness, absorbency, thickness, and/or texture of the fibrous
structure product of the product package assembly. In one
embodiment the product feature display area comprises a texture
display area, representing the textured surface of the fibrous
structure product.
[0064] Although FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 show the product feature
display area 2 and 21 on the front panel 3 and 22, the product
feature display area may be placed on any area of the outside face
10 and 29 of the outer sleeve 9 and 27. In one embodiment the
product feature display area is on the front panel 3 and 22 since,
in general, the front panel 3 and 22 are intended to be displayed
to a consumer when the package assembly is displayed on the store
shelf for sale.
[0065] The product feature display area comprises less than 90% of
the surface area of the outside face of the outer sleeve in order
to minimize the obstruction of the product information, promotional
information, or aesthetic configuration that also may be present on
the outer sleeve. In one embodiment the product feature display
area comprises from about 2% to about 70%, inanother embodiment
from about 5% to about 20%, of the surface area of the outside face
of the outer sleeve. In one embodiment the product feature display
area is located on the front panel of the outer sleeve.
[0066] In one embodiment the product feature display area is
selected from the group consisting of a graphic representation of
the product feature, a printed graphic representation of the
product feature including gravure or flexographic printing, a
photographic image representing the product feature, lithography of
the product feature, plurality of embossments representing the
product feature, a swatch representing the product feature, a
sample of the actual fibrous structure product, a 3-dimensional
lenticular or holographic image representing the product feature,
an opening in the inner package and outer sleeve to access the
actual fibrous structure product (e.g. a removed or otherwise
cut-away portion of the inner package and the outer sleeve which
allows access to the fibrous structure product contained within the
interior of the product package assembly), and combinations
thereof.
[0067] In one embodiment the product feature display area comprises
printing embossed marks on the outer sleeve using tightly
registered lithography to accentuate the emboss pattern.
[0068] In another embodiment the product feature display area may
include a swatch of material (e.g that represents a product feature
or the textured surface of the fibrous product) or a sample of the
actual fibrous structure product. An actual sample would allow the
consumers, during shopping, to touch, inspect, evaluate the product
features and/or texture, without actually opening the package. The
sample may be a piece of the actual fibrous structure product or it
may be a substitute material having the same or similar features as
the fibrous structure product. The outer sleeve may comprise
multiple product feature display areas, generally from about 1 to
about 25, in another embodiment from about 1 to about 10.
[0069] In one embodiment the if a sample is used as the product
feature display area, it may be attached to the outside face of the
outer sleeve via any method known to one of skill in the art. The
sample may be flush with the external surface of the outside face
or may be hinged, creased, folded and/or specifically configured to
be outside the plane of the external surface of the outside face.
This embodiment allows consumers to evaluate multiple surfaces of
the sample.
[0070] In another embodiment all or a portion of the product
feature display area is a magnified representation of the product
feature of the fibrous structure product. The product feature
display area may be any shape or size.
Basis Weight Method
[0071] Basis weight is measured by preparing one or more samples of
a certain area (3000 ft.sup.2 or m.sup.2) and weighing the
sample(s) of a fibrous structure according to the present invention
on a top loading balance with a minimum resolution of 0.01 g. The
balance is protected from air drafts and other disturbances using a
draft shield. Weights are recorded when the readings on the balance
become constant. The average weight (lbs or g) and the average area
of the samples (3000 ft.sup.2 or m.sup.2) are calculated. The basis
weight (lbs/3000 ft.sup.2 or g/m.sup.2) is calculated by dividing
the average weight (lbs or g) by the average area of the samples
(3000 ft.sup.2 or m.sup.2). This method is herein referred to as
the Basis Weight Method.
[0072] All measurements referred to herein are made at
23.+-.1.degree. C. and 50% relative humidity, unless otherwise
specified.
[0073] All publications, patent applications, and issued patents
mentioned herein are hereby incorporated in their entirety by
reference. Citation of any reference is not an admission regarding
any determination as to its availability as prior art to the
claimed invention.
[0074] Herein, "comprising" means the term "comprising" and can
include "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of."
[0075] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".
[0076] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *