U.S. patent application number 12/466592 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-18 for removable coupon and methods of manufacture.
This patent application is currently assigned to PHARMAVITE LLC. Invention is credited to Gail V. Atkin.
Application Number | 20100288721 12/466592 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42272469 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100288721 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Atkin; Gail V. |
November 18, 2010 |
REMOVABLE COUPON AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE
Abstract
A container assembly including a composite inner seal with a
removable coupon affixed thereon by a pressure-sensitive agent,
thus sealing an opening of the container is disclosed. In some
embodiments, the removable coupon is capable of being removed
intact. Methods of manufacturing a container assembly including
fabricating an inner composite seal and a removable coupon are
disclosed. The removable component is removably affixed to a top
surface of the inner composite seal by application of a
pressure-sensitive agent thus forming a multi-layered seal. The
multi-layered seal may be positioned and/or inserted within a
container cap in preparation for completing downstream bottling of
a medicinal substance. Methods of providing a product/residue-free
removable coupon to a user wherein the removable coupon is included
within the container assembly, but free from contact with the
product within the container are disclosed. In some embodiments,
the removable coupon is provided as a removable component affixed
to a composite inner seal that seals an opening of the
container.
Inventors: |
Atkin; Gail V.; (Castaic,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLAKELY SOKOLOFF TAYLOR & ZAFMAN LLP
1279 OAKMEAD PARKWAY
SUNNYVALE
CA
94085-4040
US
|
Assignee: |
PHARMAVITE LLC
Northridge
CA
|
Family ID: |
42272469 |
Appl. No.: |
12/466592 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/227 ;
215/228; 220/212; 53/410; 53/416; 53/471 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 55/066 20130101;
B65D 2251/0093 20130101; B65D 51/245 20130101; B65D 2203/00
20130101; B65D 2251/0015 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/227 ;
215/228; 220/212; 53/410; 53/416; 53/471 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/24 20060101
B65D051/24; B65B 7/28 20060101 B65B007/28; B65B 7/01 20060101
B65B007/01; B65B 3/04 20060101 B65B003/04 |
Claims
1. A container, comprising: a body for housing a substance, the
body having an opening at a neck of the body; a multi-layered seal
adapted to cover the opening wherein the multi-layered seal
includes (i) a composite inner seal adapted to affix to a periphery
of the opening, and (ii) a removable component having printed
indicia affixed to an upper surface of the composite inner seal,
the removable component capable of being removed intact; and a cap
adapted to engage the neck of the body.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the removable component is a
coupon having a smaller diameter relative to the multi-layered
seal.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the removable component
comprises at least one pressure-sensitive overhang.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein the composite inner seal
comprises a sealing agent on a lower surface.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein the removable component
comprises an adhesive material on a lower surface.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a
bottle.
7. A method of manufacturing, comprising: filling a container with
a substance through an opening at a neck of the container; engaging
a container cap with the neck of the container wherein the cap
includes a dual-layered seal adapted to cover the opening at the
neck of the container, the dual-layered seal including (i) a
composite inner seal, and (ii) a removable component having printed
indicia affixed to an upper surface of the composite inner seal,
the removable component capable of being removed intact; and
affixing the dual-layered seal to a periphery of the opening by
applying one of heat or ultrasound to the container having the
container cap engaged thereon.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising, before filling,
fabricating the dual-layered seal comprising: coating a lower
surface of a composite inner seal with a sealing agent; and
affixing a removable component having printed indicia thereon to an
upper surface of the composite inner seal.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, before coating,
fabricating the composite inner seal to have a periphery to
substantially match an outer periphery of the opening at the neck
of the container; and fabricating the removable component to have a
smaller diameter relative to the composite inner seal.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: fabricating a
container cap; and inserting the dual-layered seal into the
container cap.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising, before affixing the
removable component, applying an adhesive material to a lower
surface of the removable component, the adhesive material selected
from the group consisting of removable acrylic, rubber-based
adhesives and latex.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein the removable component is a
coupon.
13. The method of claim 7 wherein the removable component comprises
at least one pressure-sensitive overhang.
14. The method of claim 7 wherein the container comprises a
bottle.
15. A method of providing a coupon to a customer comprising
permitting the removal of the coupon from a composite inner seal
wherein the composite inner seal is affixed to an opening of a
container.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein permitting comprises providing
at least one pressure-sensitive overhang integral with the coupon,
the pressure-sensitive overhang providing means for the removal of
the coupon.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein permitting comprises providing
the coupon on a top surface of the composite inner seal wherein the
coupon is removably affixed to the top surface of the composite
inner seal.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the coupon is capable of being
removed intact.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein the container comprises a
bottle.
Description
FIELD
[0001] Packaging for consumable products.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Packaging for consumables such as nutritional supplements is
becoming more sophisticated in order to keep up with promotional
requests from the marketer of products and consumer demands.
Cost-effective promotions have the potential to generate excitement
for a product and to increase sales. Packaging for products should
be consumer-friendly and easy to use.
[0003] Manufacturer or store coupons, game pieces, or other
promotional literature (hereinafter collectively referred to as,
"coupon(s)") have been inserted inside a bag or bottle with the
promotion advertised on the outside of the package. This technique
readily allows for different coupons to be inserted into the
packaging; however, the insertion complicates manufacturing and
sometimes the coupons are omitted in a portion of the finished,
shelf-ready package. From a manufacturing perspective, this method
may increase costs because the method generally requires a separate
machine to insert the coupon inside of the bag or bottle.
Additionally, inserting the coupon inside a bottle is generally
dependent upon the fill height of the product within the bottle. If
the fill height of the product is too high, inserting the coupon
may not be feasible. Also, insertion of the coupon directly into
the package can subject the coupon to soiling and may, as a result,
discourage a consumer from actually using the coupon. Market
research has indicated that consumers generally do not like to
search for coupons inside of a bottle.
[0004] Coupons have also been adhered to the outside of packages
like labels. From a manufacturing perspective, additional labor and
costs are associated with affixing the coupon on, for example, the
top of a bottle cap. Additionally, this technique has the
shortcoming that the coupons can be removed by non-paying consumers
who remove the label without purchasing the product. As a result,
coupons have been incorporated into packaging as promotions to
discourage such concerns and to encourage purchase of the product;
however, direct insertion into packaging is subject to the concerns
outlined previously.
SUMMARY
[0005] Container assemblies such as bottles including a removable
coupon within the inner packaging of the assembly are herein
disclosed. In some embodiments, the bottle assembly includes a
composite inner seal with a removable coupon affixed thereon by a
pressure-sensitive agent thereby sealing an opening of the bottle.
In some embodiments, the removable coupon is capable of being
removed intact.
[0006] Methods of manufacturing a bottle assembly including a
removable coupon within the assembly are herein disclosed. In some
embodiments, an inner composite seal is fabricated and a removable
coupon is separately fabricated. The removable component is
removably affixed to a top surface of the inner composite seal by
application of a pressure-sensitive agent thus forming a
multi-layered seal. The multi-layered seal may be positioned and/or
inserted within a bottle cap in preparation for completing
downstream bottling of a medicinal substance or any other substance
marketed in a container that has a cap with an internal liner.
[0007] Methods of providing a product/residue-free removable coupon
to a user are herein disclosed. In some embodiments, the removable
coupon may be included within the bottle assembly, but free from
contact with the product within the bottle. In one embodiment, the
removable coupon is provided as a removable component affixed to a
composite inner seal which seals an opening of the bottle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an
unassembled bottle assembly.
[0009] FIG. 2A is a top view of an embodiment of a composite inner
seal.
[0010] FIG. 2B is a top view of an embodiment of a removable
component.
[0011] FIG. 2C is a top view of an embodiment of a combination of
the composite inner seal of FIG. 2A and the removable component of
FIG. 2B.
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of manufacturing process of
fabricating a bottle assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a bottle assembly
100 according to an embodiment. Bottle assembly 100 includes body
105 with opening 110 which body 105 may house, for example, a
medicinal substance such as a nutritional supplement in the form of
a pill, capsule, soft gel, or the like. Body 105 may be made of any
material which presents no risk or a negligible risk of interaction
between packaging components and the medicinal substance. Examples
of such materials include, but are not limited to, high density
polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalic ester (PETE),
polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polypropylene (PP).
In some embodiments, the material includes properties which
eliminate or substantially reduce the potential of environmental
contaminants (air, water, light) interacting with the medicinal
substance, which interactions may chemically change the composition
of the medicinal substance. In that respect, the material may
include properties which result in impermeability to water
(including water vapor) and atmospheric components, resistance to
heat or temperature fluctuations, or wavelength filter (light
protection) properties. For example, light protection is typically
provided by an opaque or amber-colored container.
[0014] An end (top end as viewed) of body 105 includes an optimally
reduced portion defining neck 130 which defines opening 110
including lip or periphery 115. Bottle assembly 100 may include
composite inner seal 120 dimensioned to cover or substantially
cover opening 110. In one embodiment, opening 110 is approximately
circular-shaped, which implies that composite inner seal 120 is
approximately circular-shaped as well. One of ordinary skill in the
art will appreciate that other shapes for opening 110 and composite
inner seal 110 are contemplated and fall within the scope of the
embodiments disclosed. In some embodiments, composite inner seal
120 may be adapted to affix to periphery 115 of opening 110.
[0015] In some embodiments, composite inner seal 120 may include at
least three layers, such as a bottom layer made of polystyrene
(PS), wax-coated paper, polyolefin foam, or polyethylene (PE), an
intermediate layer made of PE foam, aluminum foil or bleached Kraft
paper, and a top layer made of polyester (PS), polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), or coated paper. Materials for each layer are
selected to have properties which protect the medicinal substance
from environmental contaminants and to ensure freshness and/or
prolong the shelf-life of the medicinal substance. The bottom layer
includes bottom surface 120a which may be coated with a sealing
agent. Examples of sealing agents include, but are not limited to,
wax, polyethylene and PET. The sealing agent may have a property or
properties which cause a chemical change when heat or ultrasound is
applied thereto. The intermediate layer may be, for example,
aluminum or other suitable metal. The top layer includes top
surface 120b which may be coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive
material for adhering a removable component thereon. Examples of
suitable pressure-sensitive adhesive materials include, but are not
limited to, polyester (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or
coated paper.
[0016] Bottle assembly 100 includes cap 125 which may be configured
to cooperatively engage with neck 130 of body 105. In one
embodiment, cap 125 may include inner threads to cooperatively
engage with complementary outer threads on neck 130 of body 105.
Materials suitable to fabricate cap 125 include thermoplastic
materials such as, for example, polypropylene. Examples of
representative caps are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,082 to
Forsyth and U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,494 to Weidman. One of ordinary
skill in the art will appreciate that cap 125 may have a variety of
different configurations.
[0017] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate top views of a composite inner seal,
a removable component and a combination thereof according to some
embodiments disclosed herein. Composite inner seal 120 may serve
one or more of the following functions: provides protection from
excessive transmission of moisture or solvents into or out of the
packaging system; provides protection from excessive transmission
of reactive gases (atmospheric oxygen, inert headspace filler gas,
or other organic vapors) into or out of the packaging system;
provides protection for a packaging system that is flexible or
needs extra protection during shipment/transit; and provides an
additional measure of microbiological protection (i.e., by
maintaining sterility or by protecting the packaging system from
microbial intrusion). In FIG. 2A, top surface 120a of composite
inner seal 120 is illustrated with printed indicia which may be,
for example, a safety warning. Composite inner seal 120 may be
fabricated as described previously.
[0018] FIG. 2B illustrates a top view of removable component 135
with printed indicia 140 thereon. Removable component 135 may be
dimensioned to be approximately the size, substantially the size,
or substantially less than the size of top surface 120a of
composite inner seal 120. In some embodiments, removable component
135 with printed indicia may be removably affixed to top surface
120a of composite inner seal 120. Removable component 135 may
include a pressure-sensitive adhesive material coated on a bottom
surface which facilitates reversible attachment and detachment of
removable component 135 to and from top surface 120a of composite
inner seal 120, respectively. Examples of such materials include,
but are not limited to, removable acrylic, rubber-based adhesives
or latex. In some embodiments, removable component 135 includes at
least one pressure-sensitive overhang 135a (and optionally 135b)
that may be folded or scored in such a manner to serve as a grip
for detachment from top surface 120a of composite inner seal 120 by
a user. Removable component 135 should be configured to remain
intact when removed therefrom. In some embodiments, removable
component 135 may be a coupon or game piece. FIG. 2C illustrates a
top view of removable component 135 affixed to composite inner seal
120.
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of manufacturing process of
fabricating a bottle assembly. In one embodiment, a composite inner
seal may be fabricated (block 305a). The composite inner seal may
include components such as those described previously, e.g., inner
layer, intermediate layer, and outer layer. In some embodiments,
the composite inner seal may be fabricated to have a periphery to
substantially match an outer periphery of an opening at the neck of
a bottle. A lower surface of the composite inner seal may be coated
with a sealing agent such as those described previously, e.g.,
removable acrylic, rubber-based adhesives or latex.
[0020] Prior to, simultaneous with, or subsequent to the
fabrication of the composite inner seal, a removable component with
printed indicia thereon may also be fabricated (block 310). The
removable component may have a smaller width (or diameter) relative
to the composite inner seal, or, alternatively, substantially the
same width relative to the composite inner seal. In some
embodiments, the removable component is a coupon and includes at
least one pressure-sensitive overhang for removal by a user. The
removable component may be reversibly affixed to a top surface of
the composite inner seal thereby forming a multi-layered seal
(block 315). In some embodiments, the removable component is
capable of being removed intact by a user.
[0021] Additionally, prior to, simultaneous with, or subsequent to
the fabrication of the composite inner seal and/or the removable
component, a bottle cap may be fabricated (block 305b). Eventually,
the multi-layered seal may be inserted and/or positioned into the
bottle cap resulting in a cap assembly in preparation for bottling
and sealing a medicinal substance within a bottle (block 320). The
multi-layered seal is inserted and/or positioned into the bottle
cap such that it is retained in a mechanical, non-permanent
fashion. In this manner, the multi-layered seal can seal the
opening of the bottle after the bottle cap is engaged within the
neck of the bottle and a treatment, e.g., heat or ultrasound, is
applied thereto.
[0022] A medicinal substance, such as those described previously,
may be used to fill the bottle through an opening of the neck of
the bottle (block 325). Thereafter, the cap assembly may be engaged
with the neck of the bottle resulting in a bottle assembly (block
330). To seal the opening of the bottle with the multi-layered
seal, heat or ultrasound may be applied to the bottle assembly
(block 335). Depending on the coating coated on the lower surface
of the composite inner seal, heat or ultrasound may change the
chemical composition of the coating resulting in the multi-layered
seal sealed to a periphery of the neck of the bottle.
[0023] Embodiments as disclosed herein provide a cost-effective
method of dispensing and presenting coupons or game pieces to a
consumer. Additionally, embodiments as disclosed herein improve
current application/insertion production by, for example,
increasing line speeds in the manufacturing process, reducing
costs, and increasing the number of coupons that reach a consumer.
Some advantages of embodiments as disclosed herein include, but are
not limited to, increase in production efficiency, e.g.,
manufacturing step of incorporating the coupon within the packaging
is consolidated with the inner composite seal manufacturing step,
cost-savings relative to other methods, coupon/game piece is easy
to locate, provides a more efficient method of presenting the
coupon/game piece, and provides one less component part to
inventory.
[0024] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have
been described. It will, however, be evident that various
modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing
from the broader spirit and scope of the appended claims. The
specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an
illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
* * * * *