Patent Application
20170297802
The consumer products industry is continually releasing a variety of new and improved consumer products such as for example, cosmetic products, to provide the consumer a variety of functional and technical benefits. As such, there is a need for improved consumer product packages designed to contain such consumer products. As an example, there is a need for consumer product packages having lids that are easy to open.
In one embodiment, a package for a consumer product having a package body that includes a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall, a first cavity having a display surface such that the display surface is disposed between the front and back walls to contain a first consumer product, and a closure slot disposed between the front wall and the display surface; and a lid pivotally connected to the package body opposite the front wall. The lid includes an opening tab positioned along an edge of the lid and an opening flap positioned along the edge of the lid. The lid is pivotable between at least an open position and a closed position, wherein when the lid is in the closed position, the opening flap is received within the closure slot, and wherein when disposed within the closure slot, the package has an Average Lift Force from about 0.01 N to about 4.0 N.
In another embodiment, a package for a consumer product includes a package body having a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall, a first cavity having a display surface such that the display surface is disposed between the front and back walls to contain a first consumer product, and a closure slot disposed between the front wall and the display surface; and a lid hingedly connected to the package body opposite the front wall. The lid includes a lid body, an opening tab centrally positioned along an edge of the lid body, and an opening flap centrally positioned along the edge of the lid body. The lid is movable between at least an open position and a closed position, wherein when the lid is in the closed position, the opening flap is disposed within the closure slot, wherein when disposed within the closure slot, the package has an Average Lift Force of about 0.01 N to about 2.3 N to remove the opening flap from the closure slot, and wherein the package comprises wood pulp, compressed fiber board.
In yet another embodiment, a consumer product package includes a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall, two opposed side walls connecting the front and back walls, a bottom wall connected to the front, back, and two opposed walls, a top wall connected to the front, back, and two opposed walls, a package body cavity disposed within the top wall, and a closure slot disposed in the top wall, adjacent to the front wall. The package also includes a tray disposed within the package body cavity, wherein the tray includes a first product cavity and a display surface angled downwardly within the first product cavity from the front wall to the back wall of the package body, and wherein the first product cavity and display surface are constructed to receive a consumer product. The package further includes a lid pivotally connected to the package body opposite the front wall, wherein the lid includes a lid body having two substrates adhered together, an opening tab centrally positioned along an edge of the lid body and an opening flap centrally positioned along the edge of the lid body, wherein a flap length is from about 20% to about 35% of the total length of the front wall. The lid is pivotable between at least an open position and a closed position, wherein when the lid is in the closed position, the opening flap is received within the closure slot and wherein the package body comprises wood pulp, compressed fiber board.
The following text sets forth a broad description of numerous different embodiments. The description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible, and it will be understood that any feature, characteristic, component, composition, ingredient, product, step or methodology described herein can be deleted, combined with or substituted for, in whole or part, any other feature, characteristic, component, composition, ingredient, product, step or methodology described herein. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.
It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this specification using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). No term is intended to be essential unless so stated. To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such a claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.
Referring to
In some embodiments, the package 1 is fabricated or constructed from plastic using an injection molding process. In some embodiments, the package, including the package body 10 and/or lid 20, may be fabricated and/or constructed from one or more polymers, metals, composites, papers, and/or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the package 1, i.e., package body 10 and/or lid body 20, is fabricated and/or constructed from one or more plastics via plastic injection molding or thermoforming process.
In the embodiment shown, the package body 20 includes a front wall 12, a back wall 14 opposite the front wall, and two opposed side walls 16a, 16b. In some embodiments, and shown in this example, the package body 10 may also include a top wall 18 that is connected between and/or to the front, back, and two opposed side walls 12, 14, and 16a, 16b, respectively. The top wall 18 may include a first cavity 30 disposed therein and constructed to contain a first consumer product 60 as shown in
The top wall 18, in the embodiment shown in the figures, includes a closure slot 50 disposed within the top wall 18 adjacent to the front wall 12. In some embodiments, the slot is an elongated, narrow slot as shown in
As shown in
The angle α is constructed to position the consumer product (e.g., 60) within the first cavity 30 such that the consumer product is always at an easily accessible plane for the consumer when the lid 20 is in the open position. As an example, the angle α that the display surface 32 extends downward from the front, upper edge 34 toward the back, upper edge 36 is from about 0.5 degrees to about 45 degrees, from about 0.5 degrees to about 30 degrees, from about 0.5 degrees to about 20, or from about 14 to about 16 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle α is about 15.5 degrees. In some embodiments, the display surface 32 may be disposed in a horizontal orientation, i.e., the angle α is about 0 degrees. In other embodiments, the display surface may be the top wall. In some embodiments, the first cavity 30 may not include a display surface. In other words, the first consumer product 60 may rest upon the bottom wall of first cavity 30, which may or may not be the bottom wall of the package body 10.
The display surface 32 may include a slot 38 disposed therein that is constructed to receive and hold the first consumer product 60 in place until a user removes one or more of the consumer product 60. The slot 38, as shown in
In some embodiments, the package body 10 may further include a second cavity 40 disposed within the top wall 18. The second cavity 40 may be constructed to contain a second consumer product (not shown). In the embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, the second cavity 40 may also include a display surface similar to or the same as the display surface 32 of the first cavity 30. In some embodiments, such as the one shown in the figures, the second cavity 40 may not include an angled display surface at all. In other words, the second consumer product rests upon the bottom wall of the second cavity 40, which may or may not be the bottom wall of the package body 10.
The package body 10 may further include a first upright end 56, a second upright end opposite the first upright end, and one or more base protrusions 52, 54 that extend from one of the first upright end 56 or second upright end 58, whichever end is closest to the center of gravity of the package 1 when the package 1 is standing on the first upright end 56 or second upright end 58. In some embodiments, the heavier consumer product is the second consumer product that is held or contained within the second cavity 40 compared to the first consumer product 60 held or contained within the first cavity 30. As such, the base protrusions 52, 54 extend from the first upright end 56 as shown in
The first and second consumer products may be any consumer product. In some embodiments the first and second consumer products may be complimentary to each other. In some embodiments, the first and second consumer products may be configured and/or adapted to be used as a regimen or part of a regimen. In some embodiments, the consumer product is selected from the group consisting of one or more compositions, one or more substrates, and combinations thereof. The one or more compositions may include, but not be limited to, liquids, gels, pastes, powders, and/or other forms of consumer product compositions. The one or more substrates may include, but not be limited to wipes, patches, strips, and other forms of substrates used for applying, delivering, and/or removing consumer products to or from an object or a person. In some embodiments, the consumer products such as, for example, the plurality of substrates and/or patches may be provided in sheet single use form.
The lid 20 of the package 1 includes a lid body 22 that is pivotally connected to the package body 10. Referring to
The lid 20 also includes an opening flap 24 extending substantially perpendicular from an edge 29 of the lid body 22, opposite the hinge 28. This opening flap 24 may be constructed to slide into and/or be received by and within the closure slot 50. In some embodiments, the opening flap 24 is integral to the lid body 22. In some embodiments, the opening flap 24 may be centrally positioned along the edge 29 of the lid body 22 as shown in the
The lid 20 may also include an opening tab 26 that extends from the edge 29 of the lid body 22. In some embodiments, the opening tab 26 is substantially perpendicular to the opening flap 24. In some embodiments, the opening tab 26 may be centrally positioned along the edge 29. In some embodiments, the opening tab 26 may comprise of a plurality of tabs spaced-apart along the edge 29. For example, the lid 20 may include a first opening tab (not shown) disposed at a first end of the edge 29 and a second opening tab (not shown) as a second end of the edge 29, opposite that first end. Similarly, the lid 20 may include one opening flap 24 centrally positioned along the edge 29 combined with the first and second opening tabs or a plurality of opening flaps (not shown) spaced-apart along the edge 29 of the lid body 22. For example, the lid 20 may include a first opening flap (not shown) that is positioned along the edge 29 in an aligned fashion with the first opening tab and a second opening flap (not shown) that is positioned along the edge 29 in an aligned fashion with the second opening tab.
In some embodiments, the lid 20 may include a first substrate and a second substrate combined with the first substrate to form the lid body 22. In some embodiments, the first and second substrates comprise two layers of wood pulp, compressed fiber board adhered to each other. In some embodiments, the lid 20, may be fabricated and/or constructed from one or more layers of one or more polymers, metals, composites, papers, and/or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the lid body 20, is fabricated and/or constructed from one or more layers of one or more plastics via plastic injection molding or thermoforming process.
The opening tab 26 and/or lid 20 may be constructed to receive an upward force F from one or more fingers of a user in order to lift and/or pivot the lid 20 from a close position shown in
As used herein, ‘Initial Lift Force’ means a lift force necessary to open a lid of a virgin package (e.g., remove opening flap 24 from closure slot 50) for the first time and measured in accordance with the Method of Measuring Average Initial Lift Force described below herein. As used herein, ‘Average Initial Lift Force’ or ‘Average Lift Force’ means an average of the Initial Lift Forces measured for five (5) sample packages of a single package design in accordance with the Method of Measuring Average Initial Lift Force described below herein.
In some embodiments, the package 1 has an Average Initial Lift Force F from about 0.01 N to about 4.0 N. In some embodiments, the package 1 has an Average Initial Lift Force F from about 0.01 N to about 2.3 N. In some embodiments, the package 10 has an Average Initial Lift Force F from about 0.1 N to about 2.3 N. In some embodiments, the package 10 has an Average Initial Lift Force F from about 0.4 N to about 2.1 N. In some embodiments, the package 10 has an Average Initial Lift Force F equal to 1.228 N having a standard deviation of 0.840.
Referring to
In some embodiments, the package 100, including the package body 110 and/or lid 120, may be fabricated and/or constructed from one or more polymers, metals, composites, papers, and/or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the package 100, i.e., package body 110 and/or lid body 120, is fabricated and/or constructed from one or more plastics via plastic injection molding or thermoforming process.
The package body 110 includes a front wall 112, a back wall 114 opposite the front wall, and two opposed side walls 116a, 116b connecting the front and back walls, a bottom wall (not shown) connected to the front, back, and two opposed walls. In some embodiments, and shown in this example, the package body 10 may also include a top wall 118 that is connected between and/or to the front, back, and two opposed side walls 112, 114, and 116a, 116b, respectively. As shown, the package body 110 also includes a package body cavity 119 disposed within the top wall 118 between the front, back, and two opposed side walls 112, 114, and 116a, 116b. The package body 110 further includes a closure slot 150 disposed in the top wall 118, adjacent to the front wall 112 and/or between the front wall and the package body cavity 119.
Although not shown, the package body 110 also includes a bottom wall that is connected between and/or to the front, back, and two opposed side walls 112, 114, and 116a, 116b, respectively, in an orientation substantially parallel to the top wall 118. In some embodiments, it is understood that the package body 110 may not include the front wall 112, back wall 114, one or both of the two opposed side walls 116a, 116b, top wall 118, bottom wall, and/or any combinations thereof.
The package 100 may also include a tray 170 fixedly or removably disposed within the package body cavity 119. The tray 170 including a first cavity 130 constructed to contain a first consumer product. In some embodiments, the first cavity 130 may include a display surface 132. As shown in
The angle α is constructed to position the consumer product (e.g., 60) within the first cavity 130 such that the consumer product is always at an easily accessible plane for the consumer when the lid 120 is in the open position. As an example, the angle α that the display surface 132 extends downward from the front, upper edge 134 toward the back, upper edge 136 from about 0.5 degrees to about 45 degrees, from about 0.5 degrees to about 30 degrees, from about 0.5 degrees to about 20, or from about 14 to about 16 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle α is about 15.5 degrees. In some embodiments, the display surface 132 may be disposed in a horizontal orientation, i.e., the angle α is about 0 degrees. In other embodiments, the display surface may be the top wall. In some embodiments, the first cavity 130 may not include a display surface. In other words, the first consumer product may rest upon the bottom wall of first cavity 130, which may or may not be the bottom wall of the package body 110.
The display surface 132 may include a slot 138 disposed therein that is constructed to receive and hold the first consumer product in place until a user removes one or more of the consumer product. The slot 138, as shown in
In some embodiments, the tray 170 may further include a second cavity 140 disposed adjacent to the first cavity 130. The second cavity 140 may be constructed to contain a second consumer product (not shown). In the embodiment shown, the second cavity 140 has an elongated shape with one end rounded to provide an access aperture 142 to permit a user to gain access such as, for example, with a tip of a finger, to the second consumer product contained within the second cavity 140.
In some embodiments, the second cavity 140 may also include a display surface similar to or the same as the display surface 132 of the first cavity 130. In some embodiments, such as the one shown in the figures, the second cavity 140 may not include an angled display surface at all. In other words, the second consumer product rests upon the bottom wall of the second cavity 140, which may or may not be the bottom wall of the tray 170.
The package body 110 may further include a first upright end 156, a second upright end opposite the first upright end, and one or more base protrusions 152, 154 that extend from one of the first upright end 156 or second upright end 158, whichever end is closest to the center of gravity of the package 100 when the package 100 is standing on the first upright end 156 or second upright end 158. In some embodiments, the heavier consumer product is the second consumer product that is held or contained within the second cavity 140 compared to the first consumer product held or contained within the first cavity 130. As such, the base protrusions 152, 154 extend from the first upright end 156 since the center of gravity of the package 100 is closest to the second cavity 140 and thus the first upright end 156. As constructed, the one or more base protrusions 152, 154 provide additional support for the package 100, enabling it to stand upright on its first upright end 156 (similar to as shown, for example, in
The lid 120 of the package 100 includes a lid body 122 that is pivotally connected to the package body 110. Referring to
The lid 120 also includes an opening flap 124 extending substantially perpendicular from an edge 129 of the lid body 122, opposite the hinge 128. This opening flap 124 may be constructed to slide into and/or be received by and within the closure slot 150. In some embodiments, the opening flap 124 is integral to the lid body 122. In some embodiments, the opening flap 124 may be centrally positioned along the edge 129 of the lid body 122 as shown in the
The lid 120 may also include an opening tab 126 that extends from the edge 129 of the lid body 122. In some embodiments, the opening tab 126 is substantially perpendicular to the opening flap 124. In some embodiments, the opening tab 126 may be centrally positioned along the edge 129. In some embodiments, the opening tab 126 may comprise of a plurality of tabs spaced-apart along the edge 129. For example, the lid 120 may include a first opening tab (not shown) disposed at a first end of the edge 129 and a second opening tab (not shown) as a second end of the edge 129, opposite that first end. Similarly, the lid 120 may include one opening flap 124 centrally positioned along the edge 129 combined with the first and second opening tabs or a plurality of opening flaps (not shown) spaced-apart along the edge 129 of the lid body 122. For example, the lid 120 may include a first opening flap (not shown) that is positioned along the edge 129 in an aligned fashion with the first opening tab and a second opening flap (not shown) that is positioned along the edge 129 in an aligned fashion with the second opening tab.
In some embodiments, the lid 120 may include a first substrate and a second substrate combined with the first substrate to form the lid body 122. In some embodiments, the first and second substrates comprise two layers of wood pulp, compressed fiber board adhered to each other.
The opening tab 126 and/or lid 120 may be constructed to receive an upward force F from one or more fingers of a user in order to lift and/or pivot the lid 120 from a close position (such as shown, for example, in
In some embodiments, the package 100 has an Average Initial Lift Force F from about 0.01 N to about 4.0 N. In some embodiments, the package 100 has an Average Initial Lift Force F from about 0.01 N to about 2.3 N. In some embodiments, the package 100 has an Average Initial Lift Force F from about 0.1 N to about 2.3 N. In some embodiments, the package 100 has an Average Initial Lift Force F from about 0.4 N to about 2.1 N. In some embodiments, the package 100 has an Average Initial Lift Force F equal to 1.228 N having a standard deviation of 0.840.
A Chatillon instrument is used to measure an Initial Lift Force of a package. The Chatillon includes a fixture TLC-0050 having a hook attached or disposed upon its distal end. The Chatillon is set for 0.1 N load cell (i.e., sensitivity) and a speed of 225 mm/min.
For each package design, a sample of five (5) virgin packages of that design are tested using the Initial Lift Force Test Method described herein to measure and/or calculate the Average Initial Lift Force of the package design. Each sample of the package design to be tested is individually connected to the base of the Chatillon and positioned such that when the Chatillon is activated the hook will engage an opening tab (e.g., opening tab 26) of the sample package being tested. If a package design does not include an opening tab, then a slit is provided in the lid of each sample of that design in the middle of the length (L) of the lid (e.g., lid body 22) just inside the front edge (e.g., edge 29) of the lid using a box cutter.
In the package designs with an opening tab, each sample is positioned and connected to the Chatillon such that the hook is positioned just under the opening tab. In the package designs with no opening tab, each sample is positioned and connected to the Chatillon such that the hook is inserted into the slit. Once the sample of a package design is positioned on the Chatillon, the Chatillon as described above, the Chatillon is activated such that the hook moves upward engages the opening tab (or an underside of the lid via the hook being inserted into slit). As the hook engages the opening tab and/or lid, it lifts and begins opening the lid and thus begins moving an opening flap (e.g., opening flap 24) form a closure slot (e.g., closure slot 50) of the package. The Chatillon measures the Initial Lift Force F to open the lid (e.g., opening flap 24 is removed from closure slot 50) for the sample being tested. These steps are repeated for each of the five (5) samples for the package design being tested.
After testing each of the five (5) samples for a single package design, an average of the five (5) Initial Lift Forces is calculated (“Average Initial Lift Force” or “Average Lift Force”) for the specific package design tested.
It should be understood that any feature and/or element of any one of the embodiments and/or examples shown and described above herein may be removed from the embodiment and/or example, replaced with a feature or element from another embodiment or example herein or replaced with an equivalent feature or element.
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.”
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any embodiment disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, 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.
While particular embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications.
