U.S. patent application number 12/025366 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-06 for array of products.
Invention is credited to Laura Lynn Heilman, Junan Kao, Hoang-Tuoc Pham Le, Dennis Lee Maclam.
Application Number | 20090194435 12/025366 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40462314 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090194435 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heilman; Laura Lynn ; et
al. |
August 6, 2009 |
ARRAY OF PRODUCTS
Abstract
An array of products including a plurality of common containers
wherein two or more on-functional, different, separable graphics is
provided.
Inventors: |
Heilman; Laura Lynn;
(Petersburg, KY) ; Kao; Junan; (Cincinnati,
OH) ; Maclam; Dennis Lee; (Mason, OH) ; Le;
Hoang-Tuoc Pham; (West Chester, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY;Global Legal Department - IP
Sycamore Building - 4th Floor, 299 East Sixth Street
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
|
Family ID: |
40462314 |
Appl. No.: |
12/025366 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 25/36 20130101;
B65D 83/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/37 |
International
Class: |
A45C 11/00 20060101
A45C011/00 |
Claims
1. An array of products comprising: a. a plurality of common
containers suitable for housing a plurality of sanitary tissue
products; and b. a plurality of sanitary tissue products housed
within the plurality of containers; wherein two or more of the
common containers comprise non-functional, different, separable
graphics.
2. The array of products according to claim 1 wherein the common
containers comprise tubs.
3. The array of products according to claim 1 wherein the common
containers are made from plastic.
4. The array of products according to claim 1 wherein the sanitary
tissue products comprise wipes.
5. The array of products according to claim 4 wherein the wipes
comprise wet wipes.
6. The array of products according to claim 4 wherein the wipes
comprise an interleaved stack of wipes.
7. The array of products according to claim 1 wherein one or more
surfaces of the sanitary tissue products comprise a design.
8. The array of products according to claim 7 wherein the sanitary
tissue products comprise a surface pattern.
9. The array of products according to claim 8 wherein the surface
pattern comprises an embossed pattern.
10. The array of products according to claim 7 wherein the common
containers comprises at least one surface comprising the
design.
11. The array of products according to claim 1 wherein the common
containers are reusable.
12. The array of products according to claim 1 wherein the array of
products are marketed under common brand name.
13. The array of products according to claim 1 wherein the array of
products comprise a removable sleeve.
14. The array of products according to claim 13 wherein the
removable sleeve comprises a brand name.
15. The array of products according to claim 1 wherein three or
more of the common containers comprise non-functional, different,
separable graphics.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an array of products and
more particularly, to an array of products comprising a plurality
of common containers comprising non-functional, different,
separable graphics and methods for marketing and making such array
of products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Arrays of products comprising different containers, such as
facial tissue cardboard boxes and/or wet wipe tubs, having
non-functional, different graphics are known in the art.
[0003] The problem with known arrays of products comprising
different containers having non-functional, different graphics is
that various containers are needed for the products rather than one
common container onto which a non-functional, different, separable
graphic can be added.
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for an array of products
comprising a plurality of common containers comprising
non-functional, different, separable graphics, a method for
marketing such array of products and a method for making such array
of products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention fulfills the problem described above
by providing an array of products comprising a plurality of common
containers comprising non-functional, different, separable
graphics.
[0006] In one example of the present invention, an array of
products comprising:
[0007] a. a plurality of common containers suitable for housing a
plurality of sanitary tissue products; and
[0008] b. a plurality of sanitary tissue products housed within the
plurality of containers;
[0009] wherein two or more of the common containers comprise
non-functional, different, separable graphics is provided.
[0010] In another example of the present invention, a method for
marketing an array of products in accordance with the present
invention comprises the step of displaying the array of products in
a store wherein the array of products comprise a common brand
name.
[0011] In yet another example of the present invention, a method
for making an array of products in accordance with the present
invention comprises the steps of: [0012] a. providing a plurality
of common containers; [0013] b. applying non-functional, different,
separable graphics to the plurality of common containers; and
[0014] c. inserting a plurality of sanitary tissue products within
the plurality of common containers.
[0015] Accordingly, the present invention provides an array of
products comprising a plurality of common containers and methods
for making such arrays.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an array of products
in accordance with the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of one product of the
array of products from FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Definitions
[0018] "Fibrous structure" as used herein means a structure that
comprises one or more fibrous elements. In one example, a fibrous
structure according to the present invention means an association
of fibrous elements that together form a structure, such as a
unitary structure, capable of performing a function. Nonlimiting
examples of fibrous structures of the present invention include
paper, fabrics (including woven, knitted, and non-woven), and
absorbent pads (for example for diapers or feminine hygiene
products).
[0019] The fibrous structures of the present invention may be
homogeneous or may be layered. If layered, the fibrous structures
may comprise at least two and/or at least three and/or at least
four and/or at least five layers.
[0020] The fibrous structures of the present invention may be
co-formed fibrous structures.
[0021] In one example, the fibrous structures of the present
invention are disposable. For example, the fibrous structures of
the present invention are non-textile fibrous structures.
[0022] Nonlimiting examples of processes for making fibrous
structures include known wet-laid papermaking processes and
air-laid papermaking processes. Such processes typically include
the steps of preparing a fibrous element composition, such as a
fiber composition, in the form of a suspension in a medium, either
wet, more specifically an aqueous medium, i.e., water, or dry, more
specifically a gaseous medium, i.e. air. The suspension of fibers
within an aqueous medium is oftentimes referred to as a fiber
slurry. The fibrous suspension is then used to deposit a plurality
of fibers onto a forming wire or belt such that an embryonic
fibrous structure is formed, after which drying and/or bonding the
fibers together results in the association of the fibers into a
fibrous structure. Further processing the fibrous structure may be
carried out such that a finished fibrous structure is formed. For
example, in typical papermaking processes, the finished fibrous
structure is the fibrous structure that is wound on the reel at the
end of papermaking. The finished fibrous structure may subsequently
be converted into a finished product, e.g. a sanitary tissue
product.
[0023] "Sanitary tissue product" as used herein means a soft, low
density (i.e. <about 0.15 g/cm.sup.3) fibrous structure useful
as a wiping implement for post-urinary and post-bowel movement
cleaning (toilet tissue), for otorhinolaryngological discharges
(facial tissue), and multi-functional absorbent and cleaning uses
(absorbent towels). The sanitary tissue product may be convolutedly
wound upon itself about a core or without a core to form a sanitary
tissue product roll.
[0024] In one example, the sanitary tissue product of the present
invention comprises one or more fibrous structures according to the
present invention.
[0025] The sanitary tissue products of the present invention may
exhibit a basis weight between about 10 g/m.sup.2 to about 120
g/m.sup.2 and/or from about 15 g/m.sup.2 to about 110 g/m.sup.2
and/or from about 20 g/m.sup.2 to about 100 g/m.sup.2 and/or from
about 30 to 90 g/m.sup.2. In addition, the sanitary tissue product
of the present invention may exhibit a basis weight between about
30 g/m.sup.2 to about 120 g/m.sup.2 and/or from about 40 g/m.sup.2
to about 100 g/m.sup.2 and/or from about 50 g/m.sup.2 to about 90
g/m.sup.2 and/or from about 55 to about 80 g/m.sup.2.
[0026] The sanitary tissue products of the present invention may
exhibit a total dry tensile strength of greater than about 59 g/cm
(150 g/in) and/or from about 78 g/cm (200 g/in) to about 394 g/cm
(1000 g/in) and/or from about 98 g/cm (250 g/in) to about 335 g/cm
(850 g/in). In addition, the sanitary tissue product of the present
invention may exhibit a total dry tensile strength of greater than
about 196 g/cm (500 g/in) and/or from about 196 g/cm (500 g/in) to
about 394 g/cm (1000 g/in) and/or from about 216 g/cm (550 g/in) to
about 335 g/cm (850 g/in) and/or from about 236 g/cm (600 g/in) to
about 315 g/cm (800 g/in). In one example, the sanitary tissue
product exhibits a total dry tensile strength of less than about
394 g/cm (1000 g/in) and/or less than about 335 g/cm (850
g/in).
[0027] In another example, the sanitary tissue products of the
present invention may exhibit a total dry tensile strength of
greater than about 500 g/in and/or greater than about 600 g/in
and/or greater than about 700 g/in and/or greater than about 800
g/in and/or greater than about (900 g/in) and/or greater than about
394 g/cm (1000 g/in) and/or from about 315 g/cm (800 g/in) to about
1968 g/cm (5000 g/in) and/or from about 354 g/cm (900 g/in) to
about 1181 g/cm (3000 g/in) and/or from about 354 g/cm (900 g/in)
to about 984 g/cm (2500 g/in) and/or from about 394 g/cm (1000
g/in) to about 787 g/cm (2000 g/in).
[0028] The sanitary tissue products of the present invention may
exhibit an initial total wet tensile strength of less than about 78
g/cm (200 g/in) and/or less than about 59 g/cm (150 g/in) and/or
less than about 39 g/cm (100 g/in) and/or less than about 29 g/cm
(75 g/in).
[0029] The sanitary tissue products of the present invention may
exhibit an initial total wet tensile strength of greater than about
118 g/cm (300 g/in) and/or greater than about 157 g/cm (400 g/in)
and/or greater than about 196 g/cm (500 g/in) and/or greater than
about 236 g/cm (600 g/in) and/or greater than about 276 g/cm (700
g/in) and/or greater than about 315 g/cm (800 g/in) and/or greater
than about 354 g/cm (900 g/in) and/or greater than about 394 g/cm
(1000 g/in) and/or from about 118 g/cm (300 g/in) to about 1968
g/cm (5000 g/in) and/or from about 157 g/cm (400 g/in) to about
1181 g/cm (3000 g/in) and/or from about 196 g/cm (500 g/in) to
about 984 g/cm (2500 g/in) and/or from about 196 g/cm (500 g/in) to
about 787 g/cm (2000 g/in) and/or from about 196 g/cm (500 g/in) to
about 591 g/cm (1500 g/in).
[0030] The sanitary tissue products of the present invention may
exhibit a density of less than about 0.60 g/cm.sup.3 and/or less
than about 0.30 g/cm.sup.3 and/or less than about 0.20 g/cm.sup.3
and/or less than about 0.10 g/cm.sup.3 and/or less than about 0.07
g/cm.sup.3 and/or less than about 0.05 g/cm.sup.3 and/or from about
0.01 g/cm.sup.3 to about 0.20 g/cm.sup.3 and/or from about 0.02
g/cm.sup.3 to about 0.10 g/cm.sup.3.
[0031] The sanitary tissue products of the present invention may
exhibit a total absorptive capacity of according to the Horizontal
Full Sheet (HFS) Test Method described herein of greater than about
10 g/g and/or greater than about 12 g/g and/or greater than about
15 g/g and/or from about 15 g/g to about 50 g/g and/or to about 40
g/g and/or to about 30 g/g.
[0032] The sanitary tissue products of the present invention may
exhibit a Vertical Full Sheet (VFS) value as determined by the
Vertical Full Sheet (VFS) Test Method described herein of greater
than about 5 g/g and/or greater than about 7 g/g and/or greater
than about 9 g/g and/or from about 9 g/g to about 30 g/g and/or to
about 25 g/g and/or to about 20 g/g and/or to about 17 g/g.
[0033] The sanitary tissue products of the present invention may be
in the form of sanitary tissue product rolls. Such sanitary tissue
product rolls may comprise a plurality of connected, but perforated
sheets of fibrous structure, that are separably dispensable from
adjacent sheets.
[0034] The sanitary tissue products of the present invention may
comprises additives such as softening agents, temporary wet
strength agents, permanent wet strength agents, bulk softening
agents, lotions, silicones, wetting agents, latexes, patterned
latexes and other types of additives suitable for inclusion in
and/or on sanitary tissue products.
[0035] "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.
[0036] "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.
[0037] "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 paper product comprising the
fibrous structure.
[0038] "Ply" or "Plies" as used herein means an individual fibrous
structure optionally to be disposed in a substantially contiguous,
face-to-face relationship with other plies, forming a multiple 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.
[0039] As used herein, the articles "a" and "an" when used herein,
for example, "an anionic surfactant" or "a fiber" is understood to
mean one or more of the material that is claimed or described.
[0040] All percentages and ratios are calculated by weight unless
otherwise indicated. All percentages and ratios are calculated
based on the total composition unless otherwise indicated.
[0041] Unless otherwise noted, all component or composition levels
are in reference to the active level of that component or
composition, and are exclusive of impurities, for example, residual
solvents or by-products, which may be present in commercially
available sources.
Plurality of Common Containers
[0042] The common containers of the present invention may be any
suitable containers capable of housing products and capable being
associated with non-functional, separable graphics. Nonlimiting
examples of common containers include tubs, cylinders, bottles,
cartons, boxes and the like. The common containers may be
disposable and/or reusable. The common containers may be made for
materials selected from the group consisting of: plastics,
cardboard, films, glass, wood, metal and mixtures thereof. The
common containers may comprise a lid for providing access to
products within the containers. The lid may be a hinged lid,
pop-top lid, removable lid, screw-top lid, resealable film lid,
slideable seal lid and mixtures thereof.
[0043] The lids on the common containers may be non-textured or
textured. The lids may comprise a pattern that substantially
matches a pattern on a product within the containers. The lid may
have a non-functional, separable graphic.
[0044] The common containers comprise non-functional, separable
graphics. The non-functional, separable graphics may be applied to
a plurality of sides of the containers. Any suitable process known
in the art for associating non-functional, separable graphics with
the common containers may be used. Nonlimiting examples of such
processes include adhesive and/or shrink-wrap processes.
[0045] The non-functional, separable graphics allow for an
inventory of common containers rather than an inventory of
different containers. In addition, changes in graphics for the
common containers can be less costly since only the separable
graphics themselves need to be scrapped not the entire container.
In addition, the separable graphics permit last-minute application
of the graphics to the containers before going to market.
Array of Products
[0046] As shown in FIG. 1, the array of products of the present
invention 10 comprises a plurality of common containers 12, in this
case three common containers. The common containers 12 comprise a
lid, for example a hinged lid 14. The hinged lid 14 comprises a
texture 16 as represented by a pattern 18. The common containers 12
further comprise non-functional, separable graphics 20. The
non-functional, separable graphics 20 have been shrink-wrapped onto
one or more sides of the common containers 12.
[0047] Two or more of the non-functional, separable graphics 20 are
different from one another.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, the common containers 12 house a
plurality of products, for example, a plurality of sanitary tissue
products 22, such as wipes. The plurality of products housed within
the common containers 12 may comprise a pattern 24 that is
substantially similar to the pattern 18 on the hinged lid 14, which
is shown in an open state, of the common container 12.
[0049] The plurality of sanitary tissue products 22 may be housed
within the common container 12 in the form of a stack 26 of
sanitary tissue products 22. The plurality of sanitary tissue
products 22 may be folded. The plurality of sanitary tissue
products 22 may be interleaved.
[0050] One or more of the common containers may comprise at least
one surface comprising a design.
[0051] One or more of the common containers may be reusable. In one
example, a refill pack of sanitary tissue products, such as within
a film wrap, may be placed into an empty common container.
[0052] In one example, the array of products of the present
invention are marketed under a common brand name.
[0053] In another example, one or more of the common containers may
comprise a removable sleeve into which the one or more common
containers is received. In one example, the removable sleeve
comprises a brand name.
Sanitary Tissue Products
[0054] The sanitary tissue products of the present invention may be
wipes. Commonly known consumer wipes, such as dry or pre-moistened
wipes may be disposable and/or dispersible and/or flushable.
[0055] The sanitary tissue products may comprise man-made fibers,
natural fibers and combinations thereof, and may or may not be
biodegradable. Nonlimiting examples of man-made fibers include:
rayon, which in turn includes but is not limited to viscose,
lyocell and mixtures thereof; polyhydroxyalkanoates; polylactic
acid; polyester; and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of
natural fibers include: pulp, cotton, wool, silk, jute, linen,
ramie, hemp, flax, camel hair, kenaf, and mixtures thereof.
Non-thermoplastic fibers that are of use in the present invention
are selected from the group consisting of: rayon, which in turn
includes but is not limited to viscose, lyocell and mixtures
thereof; pulp; cotton; wool; silk; jute; linen; ramie; hemp; flax;
camel hair; kenaf; and mixtures thereof.
[0056] In one example, the sanitary tissue products may comprise
from about 20% to about 80% rayon fibers and from about 80% to
about 20% of pulp fibers. In another embodiment, the nonwoven webs
may comprise from about 30% to about 70% rayon fibers and from
about 70% to about 30% pulp fibers. In another embodiment, the
nonwoven webs may comprise from about 40% to about 60% rayon fibers
and from about 60% to about 40% pulp fibers. In yet another
embodiment, the nonwoven webs may comprise about 60% rayon fibers
and about 40% pulp fibers.
[0057] The sanitary tissue products may have basis weights ranging
from about 5 to about 200 grams per square meter (gsm), from about
10 to about 175 gsm, from about 30 to about 150 gsm, from about 20
to about 100 gsm, from about 30 to about 70 gsm, or even from about
40 to about 60 gsm.
[0058] The sanitary tissue products, especially wipes, may be
adapted for a variety of uses and may be pre-moistened or moistened
with a liquid composition. The liquid composition may comprise an
aqueous solution and may further comprise surfactant,
co-surfactant, foam building agent, emulsifier, non-cellulosic
water soluble organic polymer and mixtures thereof.
[0059] The sanitary tissue products may be wet wipes.
[0060] The sanitary tissue products of the present invention may be
suitable for use in cleaning babies, and may also find use in
cleaning tasks related to persons of all ages. Such wipes may also
include articles used for application of substances to the body,
including but not limited to application of make-up, skin
conditioners, ointments, medications and mixtures thereof. Such
wipes may also include articles used for the cleaning or grooming
of pets, and articles used for the general cleansing of surfaces
and objects, such as household kitchen and bathroom surfaces,
eyeglasses, exercise and athletic equipment, automotive surfaces
and the like. Such sanitary tissue products may also be used in the
hospital or clinical environment to clean up bodily fluids and the
like.
[0061] The sanitary tissue products may be folded and stacked in a
common container such as a tub. The sanitary tissue products of the
present invention may be folded in any of various known folding
patterns, such as C-folding and Z-folding. Use of a Z-fold pattern
may enable a folded stack of sanitary tissue products to be
interleaved with overlapping portions.
[0062] The sanitary tissue products of the present invention may
further comprise a surface comprising a design, such as a surface
pattern and/or prints, which may provide aesthetic appeal.
Nonlimiting examples of prints include figures, patterns, letters,
pictures and combinations thereof. Further, the sanitary tissue
products may comprise emboss patterns and/or texture.
[0063] The sanitary tissue products may be put into the common
containers as loose sanitary tissue products or as packaged
sanitary tissue products, such as packaged in a film wrap
package.
[0064] 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."
[0065] All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the
Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference;
the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission
that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the
extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document
conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a
document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition
assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
[0066] 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.
* * * * *