U.S. patent application number 15/753590 was filed with the patent office on 2020-07-09 for carton.
This patent application is currently assigned to Colgate-Palmolive Company. The applicant listed for this patent is Colgate-Palmolive Company. Invention is credited to Samatha Boulukos, Gonzalo Canteros-Paz, Xuan Dai, Mark G. Evans, Samir Idichchou, Adriana Leite, Derek Manwaring, Mauriclo Mountinho, Amit Sachdev, Sara Scrittore, Penne Tornett, Hairong Wang, David Wood.
Application Number | 20200216255 15/753590 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54011906 |
Filed Date | 2020-07-09 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200216255 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sachdev; Amit ; et
al. |
July 9, 2020 |
Carton
Abstract
A product and product packaging suitable for retail sale. The
product can include a package carton comprising external and
internal surfaces, wherein the internal surface includes a
plurality of fold lines and first and second graphic portions,
wherein the graphic portions are suitable to provide at least a
portion of at least one of a toy, a game, a collectible, and an
educational tool. The first graphic portion and the second graphic
portion are bilaterally symmetrical to each other relative to at
least one fold line of the plurality of fold lines. In another
embodiment, the product is for use by a first consumer group but
not a second consumer group, while the at least one of the toy,
game, collectible, and educational tool is for use by the second
consumer group but not the first consumer group.
Inventors: |
Sachdev; Amit; (Piscataway,
NJ) ; Wood; David; (Piscataway, NJ) ;
Manwaring; Derek; (Ridgewood, NJ) ; Canteros-Paz;
Gonzalo; (San Jose, MX) ; Evans; Mark G.; (New
York, NY) ; Mountinho; Mauriclo; (Boksburg, ZA)
; Tornett; Penne; (Therwil, CH) ; Boulukos;
Samatha; (Toronto, CA) ; Scrittore; Sara;
(Topeka, KS) ; Idichchou; Samir; (Istanbul,
TR) ; Dai; Xuan; (Causeway Bay, HK) ; Leite;
Adriana; (Sao Paulo, BR) ; Wang; Hairong;
(Piscataway, NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Colgate-Palmolive Company |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Colgate-Palmolive Company
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
54011906 |
Appl. No.: |
15/753590 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
August 20, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2015/046063 |
371 Date: |
February 20, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/368
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/36 20060101
B65D081/36 |
Claims
1. A product and product packaging suitable for retail sale,
comprising: a product carton comprising an external surface and an
internal surface, wherein the internal surface comprises: a
plurality of fold lines; a first graphic portion; and a second
graphic portion, wherein the first graphic portion and the second
graphic portion are bilaterally symmetrical to each other relative
to at least one fold line of the plurality of fold lines, and the
first graphic portion and the second graphic portion are suitable
to provide at least a portion of at least one of a toy, a game, a
collectible, and an educational tool; and the product is packaged
within an interior of the product carton.
2. The product and product packaging of claim 1, wherein: the
product is for use by a first consumer group but not by a second
consumer group; and the at least one of the toy, game, collectible,
and educational tool is for use by the second consumer group but
not by the first consumer group.
3. The product and product packaging of claim 1, wherein: the first
consumer group includes an adult having an age of at least 18
years; and the second consumer group is a child having an age of at
most 12 years.
4. The product and product packaging of claim 1, wherein the
package carton is configured such that the package carton must be
unfolded to access and use the first graphic portion and the second
graphic portion.
5. The product and product packaging of claim 1, wherein the at
least one of the toy, game, collectible, and educational tool
further comprises a plurality of subassemblies printed on the
internal surface, wherein the plurality of subassemblies are
configured to be separated from each other and assembled together
to form a completed at least one of the toy, game, collectible, and
educational tool.
6. The product and product packaging of claim 1, wherein: the first
graphic portion provides a first half of an airplane fuselage; and
the second graphic portion provides a second half of the airplane
fuselage.
7. The product and product packaging of claim 1, further comprising
an indicium printed on the external surface of the product carton
that indicates the presence of the at least one of the toy, game,
collectible, and educational tool on the internal surface of the
product carton.
8. A packaged toothpaste product suitable for retail sale,
comprising: a toothpaste carton comprising an external surface and
an internal surface, wherein the internal surface comprises: a
plurality of fold lines; a first graphic portion; and a second
graphic portion, wherein the first graphic portion and the second
graphic portion are bilaterally symmetrical to each other relative
to at least one fold line of the plurality of fold lines, and the
first graphic portion and the second graphic portion are suitable
to provide at least a portion of at least one of a toy, a game, a
collectible, and an educational tool; and a toothpaste tube
packaged within an interior of the toothpaste carton.
9. The packaged toothpaste product of claim 8, further comprising:
a toothpaste within the toothpaste tube, wherein the toothpaste is
of a flavor that is marketed for use by a first consumer group but
not by a second consumer group; and the at least one of the toy,
game, collectible, and educational tool is for use by the second
consumer group but not by the first consumer group.
10. The packaged toothpaste product of claim 9, wherein: the first
consumer group includes an adult having an age of at least 18
years; and the second consumer group is a child having an age of at
most 12 years.
11. The packaged toothpaste product of claim 8, wherein the
toothpaste carton is configured such that the toothpaste carton
must be unfolded to access and use the first graphic portion and
the second graphic portion.
12. The packaged toothpaste product of claim 8, wherein the at
least one of the toy, game, collectible, and educational tool
further comprises a plurality of subassemblies printed on the
internal surface, wherein the plurality of subassemblies are
configured to be separated from each other and assembled together
to form a completed at least one of the toy, game, collectible, and
educational tool.
13. A method of making a product package, comprising: printing a
first pattern onto a first surface of a carton blank; printing a
first graphic portion onto a second surface of the carton blank;
printing a second graphic portion onto the second surface of the
carton blank, wherein the second graphic portion is a mirror image
of the first graphic portion; and folding the carton blank to form
a plurality of fold lines, wherein: the first graphic portion and
the second graphic portion are bilaterally symmetrical to each
other relative to one of the plurality of fold lines; and the first
graphic portion and the second graphic portion are suitable to
provide at least a portion of at least one of a toy, a game, a
collectible, and an educational tool.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the folding of the carton blank
folds the second surface into an interior of the product package
such that the product package must be unfolded to access and use
the first graphic portion and the second graphic portion.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising printing a plurality
of at least one of a toy, game, collectible, and educational tool
subassemblies, wherein the plurality of subassemblies are
configured to be separated from each other and assembled together
to form a completed at least one of the toy, game, collectible, and
educational tool.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising printing an indicium
on the first surface of the carton blank that indicates the
presence of the at least one of the toy, game, collectible, and
educational tool on the second surface of the product carton.
17. A product and product packaging suitable for retail sale,
comprising: a product carton comprising an external surface and an
internal surface; at least one of a toy, a game, a collectible, and
an educational tool printed on the internal surface, wherein: the
product is within an interior of the product carton; the product is
for use by a first consumer group but not by a second consumer
group; and the at least one of the toy, game, collectible, and
educational tool is for use by the second consumer group but not by
the first consumer group.
18. The product and product packaging of claim 17, wherein: the
first consumer group includes an adult having an age of at least 18
years; and the second consumer group is a child having an age of at
most 12 years.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Cardboard packaging is used by manufacturers to hold and
protect package contents until the product is delivered to a
consumer. The packaging may include an ingredients label printed on
the outside, as well as other information such as a company
logo.
[0002] Cardboard packaging such as a cardboard carton is typically
used for the transport of the contents to the retailer and consumer
as well as identifying the product brand and providing graphics in
an attempt to make the product visually appealing to a potential
customer. Once the product is purchased and the carton is emptied
of its contents, the consumer typically discards or recycles the
carton.
[0003] In some instances, a manufacturer may also print games or
toys onto the cardboard package. For example, a cereal product
marketed to children may include a printed cutout game or toy on
the outside of the package as an amusement device.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] The present teachings include a product and product
packaging suitable for retail sale, including a product carton
having an external surface and an internal surface, wherein the
internal surface includes a plurality of fold lines, a first
graphic portion, and a second graphic portion, wherein the first
graphic portion and the second graphic portion are bilaterally
symmetrical to each other relative to at least one fold line of the
plurality of fold lines, and the first graphic portion and the
second graphic portion are suitable to provide at least a portion
of at least one of a toy, a game, a collectible, and an educational
tool. The product is packaged within an interior of the product
carton.
[0005] The present teachings further include a packaged toothpaste
product suitable for retail sale, including a toothpaste carton
having an external surface and an internal surface, wherein the
internal surface includes a plurality of fold lines, a first
graphic portion, and a second graphic portion, wherein the first
graphic portion and the second graphic portion are bilaterally
symmetrical to each other relative to at least one fold line of the
plurality of fold lines, and the first graphic portion and the
second graphic portion are suitable to provide at least a portion
of at least one of a toy, a game, a collectible, and an educational
tool. The packaged toothpaste product further includes a toothpaste
tube packaged within an interior of the toothpaste carton.
[0006] The present teachings further include a method of making a
product package. The method includes printing a first pattern onto
a first surface of a carton blank, printing a first graphic portion
onto a second surface of the carton blank, printing a second
graphic portion onto the second surface of the carton blank,
wherein the second graphic portion is a mirror image of the first
graphic portion, and folding the carton blank to form a plurality
of fold lines. The first graphic portion and the second graphic
portion are bilaterally symmetrical to each other relative to one
of the plurality of fold lines, and the first graphic portion and
the second graphic portion are suitable to provide at least a
portion of at least one of a toy, a game, a collectible, and an
educational tool.
[0007] The present teachings further include a product and product
packaging suitable for retail sale, including a product carton
having an external surface and an internal surface and at least one
of a toy, a game, a collectible, and an educational tool printed on
the internal surface, where the product is within an interior of
the product carton. The product is for use by a first consumer
group but not by a second consumer group, while the at least one of
the toy, game, collectible, and educational tool is for use by the
second consumer group but not by the first consumer group.
[0008] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the
invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an external surface of an unfolded
toothpaste carton;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an interior surface of the unfolded
toothpaste carton of FIG. 1 including at least one of a toy, game,
collectible, or educational tool printed thereon;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective depiction of the toy,
game, collectible, or educational tool of FIG. 2 after assembly;
and
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective depiction of the
toothpaste carton of FIGS. 1 and 2 after folding and insertion of a
toothpaste tube therein.
[0014] It should be noted that some details of the FIGS. have been
simplified and are drawn to facilitate understanding of the present
teachings rather than to maintain strict structural accuracy,
detail, and scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is
merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the
invention, its application, or uses.
[0016] As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for
describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value
within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In
addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by
referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a
definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference,
the present disclosure controls.
[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary
embodiments of the present teachings, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0018] Research in emerging markets suggests that children can be a
major influence in matters related to oral care habits, product
choices, and benefits. Including a value adder that is attractive
to children on a product marked for adult use may increase sales to
adults. While a package container such as a cardboard carton is
typically recycled or discarded after the product is removed, the
present teachings can provide an approach to repurpose the carton,
as well as providing a low cost marketing advantage in a product
such as toothpaste.
[0019] While the present teachings are generally described below
with reference to a product marketed to, and for use by, an adult
as a first consumer group that includes and a toy, game,
collectible, or educational tool marketed to, or suitable for, a
child as a second consumer group, other first and second consumer
groups are also contemplated. For example different consumer groups
may include age groups different than adult and child, consumers of
different genders, etc. In an embodiment, a first consumer group
may be an adult having an age of at least 18 years while a second
consumer group may be a child having an age of at most 12 years.
Another consumer group may include a teen consumer group having an
age range of from 13 years to 17 years. Another consumer group may
include pets or other animals, as an animal product is purchased by
the animal owner for use by the pet or other animal.
[0020] In a product such as a certain flavor of toothpaste that is
manufactured and marketed for use by adults, a toy, game,
collectible, or educational tool (hereinafter, collectively, "toy")
designed for a child printed on the adult product package may
increase sales to adults. This may be particularly true for
toothpaste flavors that are appealing to, and age-appropriate for,
adults but which generate little or no interest in children, for
example flavors including ______ [//Please list flavors].
Regardless of a child's influence on a parent's purchases, a parent
or other caregiver may be more apt to purchase a product that
includes something of interest for a child, particularly if it adds
little or no additional cost.
[0021] The present teachings include a product package or carton
for that includes a toy that is printed on the inside of a package,
where the toy is age-appropriate for a child. In an embodiment, the
toothpaste may have a flavor that is generally appealing to an
adult, and is therefore age-appropriate for an adult's tastes, but
which is of little or no interest to a child, and is therefore not
age-appropriate for a child's tastes. In an embodiment, the product
but not the toy is for use by one person (e.g., an adult), while
the toy but not the product is for use by a different person (e.g.,
a child). In an embodiment, the toy can be printed on the inside of
the package in such a way as to simplify assembly of the toy.
[0022] While the present teachings are generally described below
and depicted in the FIGS. with reference to a toothpaste carton
printed to include a toy on an interior surface of the carton, it
will be appreciated that any number of other packaged products
including a child's toy printed on the packaging are also
contemplated. For example, other products packaged within a carton
printed with a toy may include a toothbrush, liquid or bar soap,
laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, pet food or other pet
products, deodorant or antiperspirant, food products, etc.
[0023] An embodiment of the present teachings is depicted in FIGS.
1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an external (i.e., exterior)
surface 10 of an unfolded toothpaste carton 12 (i.e., a carton
blank). The external surface 10 of the toothpaste carton 12 can
include four major external panels 14A-14D that are visible during
display of the completed product to potential customers, two minor
external panels 16A, 16B that are visible in the completed product,
six secondary external panels 18A-18F that are not visible in the
completed product, and an external assembly tab 20 that is not
visible in the completed product.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an internal (i.e., interior)
surface 30 of the unfolded toothpaste carton 12. The internal
surface 30 is not visible during the display of the product to
potential customers. The internal surface 30 of the toothpaste
carton 12 includes four major internal panels 32A-32D on the
reverse sides of the four major external panels 14A-14D
respectively, two minor internal panels 34A, 34B on the reverse
sides of the two minor external panels 16A, 16B, six secondary
internal panels 36A-36F that are on the reverse sides of the six
secondary external panels 18A-18F respectively, and an internal
assembly tab 38 on the reverse side of the external assembly tab
20.
[0025] The toothpaste carton 12 can be folded along preformed fold
lines that are creased during manufacture to form a square cuboid
that provides the completed carton. The preformed fold lines can
include a first vertical fold line 40A, a second vertical fold line
40B, a first horizontal fold line 42A, a second horizontal fold
line 42B, a third horizontal fold line 42C and a fourth horizontal
fold line 42D. The unfolded toothpaste carton 12 is folded along
the horizontal fold lines 42A-42D, an adhesive (not individually
depicted for simplicity) is applied to the external assembly tab
20, which is then adhered in an adhesive area 44 on the internal
surface 30, specifically on the first major internal panel 32A.
Subsequently, secondary external panels 18B, 18E, 18A and 18D are
folded in and adhesive is applied to secondary external panels 18C
and 18F. Secondary panel 18C is folded in then panel 16A is folded
in to adhere the reverse side of external panel 16A (i.e., internal
panel 34A) to panel 18C. Secondary panel 18F is folded in then
panel 16B is folded in to adhere the reverse side of panel 16B
(i.e., internal panel 34B) to panel 18F.
[0026] Product information 46, manufacturer information 48, barcode
information 50, and other text and/or graphics can be printed on
the external surface 10 of the carton.
[0027] The internal surface 30 is printed to include a child's toy
52, and can be printed to include a set of assembly or playing
instructions 54. For example, the instructions 54 can be printed on
the first major internal panel 32A while the toy is printed on one
or more of the remaining internal major panels 32B-32D. While FIG.
2 depicts an airplane for illustration, it will be appreciated that
other toys such as automobiles, castles, heavy machinery, animals,
cartoon characters, sports figures, including other games and
collectibles, may be printed depending, for example, on the
interest in a particular continent, country, or region. The
airplane depicted in FIG. 2 may be a toy, part of a game such as a
game piece, or a collectible.
[0028] After product purchase, the consumer can unfold the carton
12 to reveal the toy 52 on the internal surface 30 of the carton
12. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the internal surface 30
is printed with a plurality of toy (e.g., aircraft) subassemblies.
In this embodiment, the subassemblies include a pair of wings 60A,
60B, a pair of pontoons 62A, 62B, a pair of pontoon mounts 64A,
64B, a propeller 66, and a fuselage/tail 68. The various
subassemblies are separated using, for example, scissors. In
another embodiment, the various subassemblies can be perforated by
the manufacture using, for example, a stamp or laser, such that the
subassemblies can be separated by hand.
[0029] In the depicted embodiment, during printing of the toy 52,
one or more toy subassemblies may be aligned with one or more of
the carton folds 40A, 40B, 42A-42D, such that a subassembly can be
conveniently folded along one or more of the carton folds 40A, 40B,
42A-42D to simplify construction. In this embodiment, a graphical
portion of the fuselage 68 is printed as two fuselage halves 68A,
68B (i.e., a first graphic portion 68A and a second graphic portion
68B), where the two fuselage halves 68A, 68B are bilaterally
symmetrical (i.e., each half is a mirror image of the other half)
relative to the second horizontal fold line 42B, and connected
together along the second horizontal fold line 42B. Each graphical
portion is suitable to provide at least a portion of at least one
of a toy. Each fuselage half 68A, 68B may further include one or
more text elements that are not mirror images of the other half.
The two fuselage halves 68A, 68B are separated from the remainder
of the carton 12 as a single flat fuselage structure, then folded
together along the second horizontal fold line 42 to form a single
folded fuselage structure. The two fuselage halves 68A, 68B may be
adhered together at the external surface 10 on the reverse side
using an adhesive such as glue or a single or double-sided tape
(not depicted for simplicity) to form a completed fuselage 68. FIG.
3 depicts the flat unassembled toy 52 of FIG. 2 after separation
from the toothpaste carton 12 and assembly to form a
three-dimensional toy 70.
[0030] In an embodiment, a graphical and/or textual indicium 72 may
be printed on the external surface 10 of the unfolded carton 12 as
depicted in FIG. 1 to alert a potential customer to the presence of
a toy 52 on the inside of the completed folded carton.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view depicting a folded
toothpaste carton 80, a toothpaste tube 82 within the toothpaste
carton 80, and toothpaste 84 within the toothpaste tube 82, ready
for retail sale. The folded toothpaste carton 80 can be the
unfolded toothpaste carton 12 after folding. FIG. 4 depicts the
folded toothpaste carton 80 after inserting and sealing the
toothpaste tube 82 within an interior of the folded toothpaste
carton 80.
[0032] As depicted in FIG. 4, the toothpaste carton 80 can be
folded for packaging of the toothpaste tube 82 along the horizontal
fold lines 42A-42D. When viewed from an end, two adjacent major
external panels 14A-14D each form an angle of approximately
270.degree. relative to the external surface 10 of the folded
toothpaste carton 80, or 90.degree. relative to the internal
surface 30 of the folded carton 80 (i.e., relative to two adjacent
major internal panels 32A-32D).
[0033] In an embodiment to form the carton 12, a first surface
(i.e., either the external surface 10 or the internal surface 30)
of a carton blank is printed with a desired first pattern in a
printing apparatus. The carton blank may be a flat, unfolded
cardboard stock. More than one iteration of the first pattern may
be printed onto the first surface. Subsequently, the location of
the first pattern on first surface of the carton blank is
registered by the printing apparatus. Next, a desired second
pattern is printed on a second surface that is opposite the first
surface, such that the second pattern is aligned with the first
pattern. More than one iteration of the second pattern may be
printed onto the second surface, where each second pattern is
aligned with one of the first patterns. Next, each carton blank may
be aligned with a cutting tool which separates each carton blank
from the cardboard stock. The cutting tool may be, for example, a
die cutter, a laser cutter, etc. After separating each carton blank
from the cardboard stock, the vertical fold lines 40A, 40B and
horizontal fold lines 42A-42D may be formed, and the carton blank
may be glued, using a carton folder/gluer or another suitable
process or other manufacturing equipment. Laser perforation, if
used, may occur during any suitable processing, either prior to
printing or after printing the first surface with the first pattern
or the second surface with the second pattern. It will be
appreciated that while this process is described as a series of
acts or events, the present teachings are not limited by the
ordering of such acts or events. Some acts may occur in different
orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events apart from
those described herein.
[0034] In an embodiment, the toy printed on the internal surface 30
of the carton 80 is not accessible for use and is not easily seen
unless the carton is unfolded. In other words, the carton must be
unfolded to access and use the toy. In an embodiment, after
unfolding the carton 80, the subassemblies of the toy must be
separated from each other and assembled together to form a
completed toy.
[0035] In an embodiment, during use of the toy, at least one of the
subassemblies (in this embodiment, the fuselage 68 of FIG. 2) can
be folded along one of the horizontal fold lines 42A-42D (in this
embodiment, the second horizontal fold line 42B) such that the back
side of the first graphic portion 68A (i.e., the second major
external panel 14B) and the back side of the second graphic portion
68B (i.e., the third major external panel 14C) form an angle of
approximately 0.degree. relative to the external surface 10 of the
folded subassembly, or an angle of approximately 360.degree.
relative to the internal surface 30 of the folded subassembly (i.e.
relative to the second major internal panel 32B and the third major
internal panel 32C).
[0036] In an embodiment of the present teachings, a toy printed on
an internal surface of a carton can be used as a marketing tool to
increase sales of a particular product. The product itself sold
within the carton can be targeted for use by an adult consumer, and
is therefor age-appropriate for an adult. The product itself may be
generally unappealing to a child, and is therefore not
age-appropriate for a child. In an embodiment, the product but not
the toy is for use by one person (e.g., an adult), while the toy
but not the product is for use by a different person (e.g., a
child). In an embodiment, the toy can be printed on the inside of
the package in such a way as to simplify assembly of the toy.
[0037] Additionally, each toy, game, collectible, or educational
tool printed may be included as part of a series. The series may
include a theme of interest to a child, such as automobiles,
castles, heavy machinery, animals, cartoon characters, sports
figures, aircraft, a particular educational discipline, etc. A
thumbnail graphic of the other items within the series may be
printed on the internal surface 30 of the carton to identify the
other items available in the series to the user of the toy, game,
collectible, or educational tool and/or the consumer of the
product.
[0038] While the present teachings have been illustrated with
respect to one or more implementations, alterations and/or
modifications may be made to the illustrated examples without
departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For
example, it will be appreciated that while the process is described
as a series of acts or events, the present teachings are not
limited by the ordering of such acts or events. Some acts may occur
in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events
apart from those described herein. Also, not all process stages may
be required to implement a methodology in accordance with one or
more aspects or embodiments of the present teachings. It will be
appreciated that structural components and/or processing stages may
be added or existing structural components and/or processing stages
may be removed or modified. Further, one or more of the acts
depicted herein may be carried out in one or more separate acts
and/or phases. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms
"including," "includes," "having," "has," "with," or variants
thereof are used in either the detailed description and the claims,
such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the
term "comprising." The term "at least one of" is used to mean one
or more of the listed items may be selected. Further, in the
discussion and claims herein, the term "on" used with respect to
two materials, one "on" the other, means at least some contact
between the materials, while "over" means the materials are in
proximity, but possibly with one or more additional intervening
materials such that contact is possible but not required. Neither
"on" nor "over" implies any directionality as used herein. The term
"conformal" describes a coating material in which angles of the
underlying material are preserved by the conformal material. The
term "about" indicates that the value listed may be somewhat
altered, as long as the alteration does not result in
nonconformance of the process or structure to the illustrated
embodiment. Finally, "exemplary" indicates the description is used
as an example, rather than implying that it is an ideal. Other
embodiments of the present teachings will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and
practice of the disclosure herein. It is intended that the
specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a
true scope and spirit of the present teachings being indicated by
the following claims.
[0039] Terms of relative position as used in this application are
defined based on a plane parallel to the conventional plane or
working surface of a workpiece, regardless of the orientation of
the workpiece. The term "horizontal" or "lateral" as used in this
application is defined as a plane parallel to the conventional
plane or working surface of a workpiece, regardless of the
orientation of the workpiece. The term "vertical" refers to a
direction perpendicular to the horizontal. Terms such as "on,"
"side" (as in "sidewall"), "higher," "lower," "over," "top," and
"under" are defined with respect to the conventional plane or
working surface being on the top surface of the workpiece,
regardless of the orientation of the workpiece.
* * * * *