U.S. patent application number 11/570996 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-18 for packaging.
This patent application is currently assigned to RECKITT BENCKISER N.V.. Invention is credited to Francesc Ayats Ardite, Peter Drinka, Pawel Rudzinski.
Application Number | 20080223912 11/570996 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32843301 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080223912 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ayats Ardite; Francesc ; et
al. |
September 18, 2008 |
Packaging
Abstract
Packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containing
volatile contents comprises an inner water-impermeable means for
enclosing such material, and an outer container (1) comprising a
base panel (2) from which a front panel (3), rear and side panels
(4, 5) extend upwardly and a lid (6) hingedly fixed to the top of
the rear panel (4) and giving a firm closure. The container has
side vents (11) or other means giving provision for expansion.
Inventors: |
Ayats Ardite; Francesc;
(Barcelona, ES) ; Drinka; Peter; (Ladenburg,
DE) ; Rudzinski; Pawel; (Montvale, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NORRIS, MCLAUGHLIN & MARCUS
875 THIRD AVE, 18TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10022
US
|
Assignee: |
RECKITT BENCKISER N.V.
Hoofddorp
NL
|
Family ID: |
32843301 |
Appl. No.: |
11/570996 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
June 30, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB05/02552 |
371 Date: |
April 27, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/141 ;
229/101; 229/117.27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/0005 20130101;
B65D 5/6608 20130101; B65D 5/56 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/141 ;
229/117.27; 229/101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/355 20060101
B65D005/355; B65D 5/56 20060101 B65D005/56; B65D 5/66 20060101
B65D005/66 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 30, 2004 |
GB |
0414631.2 |
Claims
1. Packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containing
volatile ingredients, the packaging comprising an inner
water-impermeable means for enclosing said material and an outer
container comprising a base panel from which a front panel and rear
and side panels extend upwardly and a lid hingedly carried at the
top of the rear panel, wherein the front panel is provided at its
upper edge with one of a flexible flap or a lip and the front of
the lid is provided with the other of an upstanding flexible flap
or a lip and wherein said flap is arranged to engage with said lip
to hold the lid in a closed position, wherein the front panel
bulges forwardly.
2. Packaging according to claim 1, and which is expandable on
insertion of said materials.
3. Packaging according to claim 2, wherein the front panel is
displaceable on insertion of ingredients, to bulge, or bulge more,
forwardly.
4. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the front
panel has inwardly curved edges, between the base panel and its
upper edge.
5. Packaging according to claim 4, wherein the side panel is
bevelled adjacent to the inwardly curved edges of front panel.
6. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the front panel in its
closed position, in which it is held by the lid, is closer to the
rear panel than it is in the open position, in which the lid is
displaced.
7. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the front
panel is provided at its upper edge with the flap and the lid is
provided with the lip.
8. Packaging according to claim 7, wherein the lid has a downwardly
depending rim or skirt in which the lip is formed.
9. Packaging according to claim 8, wherein the lip is formed by one
or more flaps which are extensions of one or more portions forming
the rim of the lid which are folded into a position in which they
form the lip.
10. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
the flap has a curved configuration, arranged so that, upon opening
of the lid, the curved flap is pulled by the lip into a more planar
configuration before further movement of the lid causes its
disengagement from the lip.
11. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer
container is arranged such that the front panel can be squeezed
towards the rear panel to cause its upper edge to move toward the
rear panel such that the flap and lip can be brought out of
engagement with one another to cause the lid to open, or allow the
lid to be opened.
12. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer
container is arranged such that the side panels can be squeezed
towards each other such that the flap and lip can be brought out of
engagement with one another to cause the lid to open, or allow the
lid to be opened.
13. Packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material
containing volatile ingredients, the packaging comprising an inner
water-impermeable means for enclosing said material and an outer
container comprising a base panel from which a front panel and rear
and side panels extend upwardly and a lid at the top of the rear
panel, wherein the front panel has inwardly curved edges, between
the base panel and its upper edge, wherein the front panel bulges
forwardly at least when the outer container contains said
materials.
14. A packaged product comprising packaging according to any
preceding claim, and moisture-sensitive material or material
containing volatile ingredients housed therein.
15. Use of packaging according to any of claims 1 to 14 for
packaging moisture-sensitive material or material containing
volatile ingredients.
16. Use of packaging according to any of claims 1 to 13 for
packaging sachets containing water softening ingredients.
17. A method of protecting moisture-sensitive material or material
containing volatile ingredients, comprising storing the
moisture-sensitive material or material comprising volatile
ingredients in packaging according to any of claims 1 to 13.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to packaging for moisture-sensitive
material or material containing volatile ingredients; in particular
consumer products, such as water softeners or detergent
compositions.
[0002] Commonly, moisture-sensitive materials, such as detergent
material, enzymes, bleach systems or water-softening actives are
found in consumer products e.g. powder, granules, tablets or other
compositions that may be contained in sachets (which sachets are
either soluble or not), are packaged in containers made of
cardboard material with a lining of water-impermeable sheet
material to protect the contents from absorption of water from the
atmosphere. However, the user has to make sure that the packaging
is closed again after usage. If not, the moisture-sensitive
material can chemically degrade potentially affecting the activity
of ingredients or suffer a negative impact on its physical
properties (i.e. resistance, solubility, appearance etc).
Additionally, there may be a substantial loss of volatile material
such as perfume from the material, when the container is not
tightly closed.
[0003] Although this negative impact of moisture ingress is
undesirable in general, it is particularly problematic in the case
of products not individually wrapped in a moisture isolating film
or even worse in the case of products packaged in permeable
packaging such as water-soluble monodose sachets, for instance in
PVOH sachets, or non-woven water insoluble sachets. Such
water-soluble sachets can get sticky when absorbing water from the
atmosphere, and can therefore adhere to each other. When trying to
separate such adhered sachets, the water-soluble film material can
be destroyed. Moreover, undesirable loss of water from the contents
of some products may be another problem if they are not contained
in a watertight packaging, such as liquid containing consumer
products with permeable membranes, e.g. air-fresheners. Many such
products are stored in cardboard boxes alone or with inner water
impermeable sheets, but have little or no means for closing the box
once the box is opened. Typically, if present, the box closure will
be in the form of two flaps that can inter-engage, i.e. like a
cereal box.
[0004] An aim of the present invention is therefore to provide
packaging which may encourage the consumer to close the packaging
and which may provide some moisture barrier properties. A further
aim is to provide packaging which may facilitate access to the
contents of the packaging, even if the contents are closely stacked
within the packaging.
[0005] According to a first aspect the present invention there is
provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material
containing volatile ingredients, the packaging comprising an inner
water-impermeable means for enclosing said material and an outer
container comprising a base panel from which a front panel and rear
and side panels extend upwardly and a lid carried at the top of the
rear panel, wherein the front panel is provided at its upper edge
with one of a flexible flap or a lip and the front of the lid is
provided with the other of an upstanding flexible flap or a lip and
wherein said flap is arranged to engage with said lip to hold the
lid in a closed position.
[0006] Suitably, the outer container comprises a rear panel and two
side panels. The base panel may thus be generally rectangular. The
outer container may alternatively comprise a generally triangular
base panel and a single side panel such that the "rear" panel
adjoins the front panel and the side panel. Alternatively, the
outer container may comprise more than two side panels.
[0007] Suitably, the side panels have expandable portions allowing
the front panel to be moved from a closed position, in which it is
held by the lid, to an open position, when the lid is opened, in
which open position it is further from the rear panel than the
closed position.
[0008] Suitably, the front panel is provided at its upper edge with
an upstanding flexible flap which is arranged to engage with a lip
on the front of the lid to hold the lid in a closed position.
[0009] Suitably, the inner water-impermeable means comprises a
sheet for enclosing the moisture-sensitive material.
[0010] Suitably, the inner water-impermeable means comprises a
water impermeable pack which may be formed from a sheet.
[0011] Suitably, the water-impermeable pack comprises a removable
bag.
[0012] Suitably, the packaging comprises a packaging for
moisture-sensitive material and comprises inner water-impermeable
means for enclosing the moisture-sensitive material.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention there is
provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material, in particular
consumer products, the packaging comprising an inner
water-impermeable sheet for enclosing the moisture-sensitive
material, and an outer container comprising a base panel from which
a front panel, rear panel and two side panels extend upwardly and a
lid carried by the top of the rear panel, wherein the side panels
have expandable portions allowing the front panel to be moved from
a closed position in which it is held by the lid to an open
position when the lid is opened in which it is further from the
rear panel than the closed position, and wherein the front panel is
provided at its upper edge with an upstanding flexible flap which
is arranged to engage with a lip on the front of the lid to hold
the lid in a closed position.
[0014] According to another embodiment of the invention there is
provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material, in particular
consumer products, the packaging comprising an inner
water-impermeable sheet for enclosing the moisture-sensitive
material, and an outer container comprising a base panel from which
a front panel, rear panel and two side panels extend upwardly, and
a lid carried by the top of the rear panel, wherein the front panel
is provided at its upper edge with an upstanding flexible flap
which is arranged to engage with a lip on the front of the lid to
hold the lid in a closed position.
[0015] Suitably, the interengaging arrangement of flap and lip
provides a "snap" closure which may be felt and/or heard by the
consumer when the lid is fully closed. This suitably provides an
agreeable feeling for the consumer that serves to positively
reinforce the need to close the lid. Also the mechanism suitably
serves to positively retain the lid in place thereby preventing
accidental opening and providing an impediment to moisture ingress.
The use of flexible side panels may allow the front of the box to
be pulled forward thereby increasing the interior space of the box.
This may provide improved access to the contents of the box in
general, and may be particularly useful if the contents of the
packaging are closely stacked.
[0016] The expandable portions of the side panels may take the form
of separate panels of flexible material. However, preferably, they
are provided by folded portions which are arranged to unfold to a
degree as the front panel is pulled forward.
[0017] Suitably the outer container is arranged such that the front
panel can be squeezed towards the rear panel to cause its upper
edge to move toward the rear panel such that the flap and lip can
be brought out of engagement with one another to allow the lid to
open or be opened.
[0018] Suitably an outer container having two sides is arranged
such that the side panels can be squeezed towards each other to
cause its upper edge to move toward the rear panel such that the
flap and lip can be brought out of engagement with one another to
allow the lid to open or be opened.
[0019] Suitably, the outer container may comprise curved side
and/or front and/or rear and/or base panels. In particular, this
feature may be present if the container does not have expanding
sides.
[0020] Suitably, one or more of the front, rear, side or base
panels are provided with one or more curved edges. In such an
embodiment it is preferred that edges separating the front panel
from two side panels are curved. Preferably the other edges are
straight.
[0021] Suitably, the outer container comprises a front panel which
curves such that a portion of the front panel lies further from the
rear panel than does the edge of the front panel which adjoins the
base panel.
[0022] Preferably, the side panels may have a bevelled portion,
adjacent the edges of the front panel, caused by distortion of the
material of the container.
[0023] Suitably the front panel may be caused to bulge outwardly,
especially at a mid portion thereof.
[0024] Suitably, the front panel has a width in a side to side
direction of the container which decreases from the base towards a
mid portion of the front panel and which increases again towards an
upper edge of the front panel opposed to the base. The front panel
may thus have an "hour-glass" shape. The side panels may thus be
caused to curve, for example be bevelled, at their join with the
front panel.
[0025] Suitably, the front panel adjoins each side panel at a fold
line created in a sheet material from which the outer container is
formed. In the embodiment just described the fold lines adjoining
the front panel and the side panels are curved; by means of the
curved fold lines the front panel may bulge and the region of each
side panel adjacent to the fold line may be bevelled.
[0026] Suitably, the outer container comprises a card material.
Preferably it is a solid board box.
[0027] Suitably, the outer container is arranged such that, in use,
the front panel may be depressed (i.e. the front panel may be
squeezed towards the rear panel), or the side walls be squeezed
towards each other, to cause the container to deform such that the
flap and lip may disengage to facilitate opening of the lid.
Preferably the outer container is designed such that when the flap
and lip disengage, the lid rises automatically i.e. without any
need itself to be grasped.
[0028] The provision of curved side and/or front and/or rear panels
and/or edges may allow for the inner water impermeable means to be
readily received within the outer container. For example, the inner
water-impermeable means may comprise a sealed packet housing
water-sensitive material and optionally a protective gas. The shape
and design of the outer container may allow a greater degree of
deformation of a corresponding container having a rectilinear form
and this may make it easier to insert the packet into the
container. The non-rectilinear form may also reduce the likelihood
of air becoming trapped between the packet and base of the
container and hindering the packets insertion into the
container.
[0029] The lid suitably has a downwardly depending rim or skirt
bearing the lip or flap.
[0030] Preferably, the lid has a downwardly depending rim or skirt
in which the lip is formed. The lip may be formed by any suitable
means, such as an additional component fixed to the lid, or a
raised portion pressed into the lid. However more preferably, the
lip is formed by one or more flaps which are extensions of one or
more portions forming the rim of the lid which are folded into a
position in which they form the lip.
[0031] Preferably, the flap has a curved configuration, arranged so
that, upon opening of the lid, the curved flap is pulled by the lip
into a more planar configuration before further movement of the lid
causes its disengagement from the lip. This may provide a force
against opening of the lid which initially increases on first
movement of the lip and is then quickly released. In the closed
position, the flap is suitably flattened by the lid against the
front panel and normally curved nature of the flap causes it to
exert a retaining force on the lid, which may thereby ensure that
it maintains its engagement with the lip.
[0032] Suitably, the packaging houses moisture-sensitive
material.
[0033] Suitably, the moisture sensitive material comprises a
plurality of discreet items. The moisture sensitive material may
comprise a moisture sensitive composition provided in sachets for
example.
[0034] Suitably, the moisture sensitive material contains water
softening ingredients.
[0035] The inner water-impermeable means suitably comprises a
sealed packet. In use, the packet may be breached and an item
removed therefrom. The packet may subsequently have an opening
through which water and in particular atmospheric moisture can
permeate. The construction of the outer container may though
minimise the amount of atmospheric moisture which can travel to
this opening. This may be because the construction may increase the
likelihood of a consumer closing the lid and may provide an
improved closure. Items remaining within the packet may thus be
better protected from atmospheric moisture than would otherwise be
the case.
[0036] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is
provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material
containing volatile ingredients, the packaging comprising an inner
water-impermeable means for enclosing said material and an outer
container comprising a base panel from which a front panel and rear
and side panels extend upwardly and a lid at the top of the rear
panel, wherein the front panel has inwardly curved edges, between
the base panel and its upper edge, wherein the front panel bulges
forwardly at least when the outer container contains said
materials.
[0037] Preferably the lid is a flip-top lid, and most preferably
(but not essentially, in this embodiment) a lid arranged to engage
the front panel as described and defined above.
[0038] In other respects the preferred features of the packaging
are as described above.
[0039] According to a third aspect of the invention there is
provided a packaged product comprising packaging according to the
first aspect and moisture-sensitive material or material containing
volatile ingredients housed therein.
[0040] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there
is provided a method of protecting moisture-sensitive material or
material containing volatile ingredients, in particular consumer
products, comprising storing the moisture sensitive material or
material containing volatile ingredients in packaging according to
any earlier aspect.
[0041] Preferably, the method comprises protecting
moisture-sensitive material. The method may for example comprise
protecting material comprising water softening ingredients.
[0042] Suitably the method comprises storing the moisture sensitive
material in packaging comprising an inner water-impermeable sheet
for enclosing the moisture-sensitive material, and an outer
container comprising a base panel from which a front panel, rear
panel and two side panels extend upwardly, and a lid carried by the
top of the rear panel, wherein the front panel is provided at its
upper edge with an upstanding flexible flap which is arranged to
engage with a lip on the front of the lid to hold the lid in a
closed position.
[0043] The above method may additionally utilise packaging wherein
the side panels have expandable portions allowing the front panel
to be moved from a closed position in which it is held by the lid
to an open position when the lid is opened which is further from
the rear panel than the closed position.
[0044] Examples of packaging in accordance with the present
invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0045] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first example;
[0046] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a second example with the
lid closed;
[0047] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the second example from the
opposite side with the lid open;
[0048] FIG. 2C is a plan view of the blank on which the box of the
second example is formed;
[0049] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a third example with the
lid open;
[0050] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the third example with the
lid closed;
[0051] FIG. 3C is a front view of the third example; and
[0052] FIG. 3D is a side view of the third example.
[0053] The packaging of the present invention comprises an outer
box 1 as shown in FIG. 1. This contains an inner water impermeable
packaging (not shown) which will either contain all of the contents
of the box, or will contain individual products within the box.
Alternatively, the contents of the box may be divided between a
number of inner packaging members. For example, in the case of
sachets containing water-softening products for use in a washing
machine, the sachets may be packaged in two water impermeable packs
so that half of the contents of the packaging remain within a
sealed water impermeable pack, while the contents of the other pack
are used.
[0054] The box 1 comprises a base panel 2 not visible in FIG. 1 as
the box is standing on the base panel. A front panel 3, rear panel
4 and two side panels 5 extend upwardly from the base panel 2 and
are joined to one another as shown to form the body of the box. A
lid 6 depends from the top of the rear panel 4, the connection
being a hinge formed by a fold line between the lid 6 and the rear
panel 4. The lid has a downwardly depending rim or skirt comprising
a front rim panel 7 and two side rim panels 8. The side rim panels
8 are provided with rim flaps 9 which are folded under the front
rim panel 7 and secured as shown so that their top edges form a lip
10 (in the manner also shown in FIGS. 2B and 3A).
[0055] Each of the side panels 5 is provided with a concertina
portion 11 formed by three fold lines 12 extending up the side
panel. This allows the front panel 3 to be pulled forwardly from
its closed position.
[0056] A flexible flap 13 curves upwardly and outwardly from the
top of the front panel 3.
[0057] In order to close the box, the front panel 3 is pushed
toward the rear panel 4 compressing the concertina portions. The
lid is then closed. Alternatively the lid may be closed and thus
may draw the front panel 3 back towards the rear panel 4. In either
case, as closure takes place the front rim panel 7 pushes a
flexible flap 13 towards the front panel 3 until the free edge 14
of the flexible flap 13 passes the lip 10 when the resilience of
the flexible flap provides a snap fit with the lip 10. This
provides a biasing force to hold the lid 6 closed.
[0058] When the lid is lifted to open the container, the flexible
flap 13 is initially pulled up with the lid 6 as the free edge 14
of the flexible flap 13 is still engaged with the lip 10. This
initial movement deforms the flexible flap 13 from its curved
configuration to a more planar configuration until the free edge 14
moves out of engagement with the lip 10, whereupon the lid is free
to open further. The front panel 3 will then either move forward of
its own accord or can be pulled forward in order to facilitate
access to the contents of the box.
[0059] FIGS. 2A-2C disclose a second example of the present
invention. In most respects, this is the same as the first example,
although the concertina portions 11 in the side panels 5 have been
replaced by fold lines 20 which allow the side panels to bulge
outwardly when the container is open. Not only does this provide
better access to the contents of the box as the front panel is
pulled forward, but also provides an increase in the width of the
box thereby further facilitating access. As shown in FIG. 2A, the
side panels 5 can be moved inwardly to allow the lid 6 to close.
Also as shown in FIG. 2A the front panel 3 bulges outward, being
slightly convex as viewed.
[0060] FIG. 2C shows a blank from which the box is formed. It will
be appreciated that the example of FIG. 1 is formed from a similar
blank with modifications for the concertina portions 11. The
assembly of the box from the blank will be readily apparent from
FIG. 2C as the box is simply folded up in a normal manner and flaps
21 are bonded to the various panels to form the finished box.
[0061] Of note in FIG. 2C are the rim flaps 9 extending from the
side rim panels 8. These are folded into position as shown in FIG.
2B to form the lip 10. As an alternative to or in addition to these
side rim panels 9, the front rim panel 7 could be provided with a
lip panel extending from its free edge (i.e. above the panel 7 as
shown in FIG. 2C) which is then folded back onto the front lid
panel 7 to form the lip 10.
[0062] FIGS. 3A-3D disclose a third example of the present
invention. In most respects, this is the same as the second
example, but the side panels do not share the same expanding
feature. Instead, the outer box 1 comprises curved fold lines
separating the front panel 3 and side panels 5.
[0063] Each junction between the front panel 3 and a side panel 5
is in fact constituted by a curved fold line 30 and a curved
pseudo-fold line 32. Line 32 is not formed by folding but by
distortion arising from the design of the container. Each pair of
curved fold line 30 and curved pseudo-fold line 33 comes together
at their bottom (coincident with the base panel) and top (somewhat
short of the top of the front panel and side panel, that region
being constituted by a straight fold line 34 between the panels) to
define a lenticular-shaped bevel 36, which is a surface oblique to
the adjacent front and side panels.
[0064] The fold lines 30 forming the edges of the front panel 3
converge from its base towards its mid portion and diverge again
towards the upper edge of the panel giving the front panel 3 an
"hour glass" shape as best illustrated by FIG. 3C. The fold lines
32 forming the edges of the side panels 5 adjacent the front panel
also curve inwardly in the mid portion of said side panels. The
bevel between the fold lines 30 and 32 is oblique to the front
panel 3 and the respective side panel 5. These features result in
the front panel 3 bulging away from the rear panel 4 at a mid
portion of the panel as best illustrated by FIG. 3D.
[0065] The outer box 1 contains an inner water-impermeable means
(not shown) which comprises two water tight packets. These packets
house water sensitive material. The curved form of the outer box 1
may provide for a degree of deformation for both the outer box 1
and the packets (not shown) such that the packets may be easily
located in the box 1.
[0066] In use, depression of the bulge in the front panel 3 with
the lid closed may cause the flap 13 to move relative to rim flaps
9, which provide a lip 10, such that the flap 13 and lip 10
disengage allowing the lid 6 to be conveniently moved to an open
position.
* * * * *