Patent Application
20070048414
This application relates generally to packaging for chewing gum and other products, and more particularly to multiple compartment packaging for visibly displaying first and second types of chewing gum and other products in at least first and second compartments having display windows while providing an indication of the flavor of the first and second types of chewing gum and other products.
Chewing gum is currently available to consumers in a variety of different formats. These include stick gum, slab gum, pellet gum, extruded gum, and others. Stick gum may come in sizes with a length of approximately 6-7 cm, a width of approximately 1.5-2 cm, and a thickness of approximately 0.2 cm. Slab gum may come in a size of approximately 4.5 cm in length, 1.2 cm in width, and 0.3 cm in thickness. Pellet gum may come in a variety of sizes with but one example being a size of approximately 2 cm in length, 1.3-1.5 cm in width, and 0.8-1.0 cm in thickness.
A variety of types of gum packaging also exist, including certain types of packaging used predominately for one or the other of the gum formats. Pellet gum may be packaged together in a carton that can be opened to dispense one or more pellets at a time. Various other package configurations exist, but in one configuration packages each pellet individually in what has come to be known as a blister pack or package. Such a package configuration may include a sheet of plastic having multiple cavities (bulged structures) that may typically be formed in an array. The gum pellets are placed into the individual cavities and a sheet of foil is attached to the plastic sheet to contain/seal the gum pellets within the individual cavities.
Generally, the blister package is itself packaged (e.g., wrapped) to protect the blister pack from damage prior to sale. In one arrangement, this packaging includes an opaque paperboard sleeve member having a hollow interior into which the blister pack may be selectively inserted and removed. The outside surface of this sleeve member may contain printed subject matter that identifies the contents of the blister package. In some instances, a single aperture may be formed though the sleeve member such that a gum pellet in one of the individual blisters may be viewed by a consumer prior to purchase of the gum package.
Such packaging is currently popular and achieves satisfactory results. It has been discovered, however, that this approach does have certain drawbacks. These drawbacks relate to the display of different varieties of such gum pellets that may be contained within a single gum package.
It is against this background and with a desire to improve on the prior art that a packaging design for gum and other products has been developed.
According to one aspect, a package for containing pieces of first and second different-edible products is provided. The package includes a blister package having a plurality of separate compartments formed as cavities therein. A first edible product is disposed in a first predetermined sub-set of less than all of the separate compartments and a second edible product is disposed in a second predetermined sub-set of less than all of the separate compartments. The first and second edible products are different. A sealing layer is disposed over at least a portion of a first surface of the blister package, which seals each of the separate compartments.
In one arrangement, the separate compartments are composed of an at least partially transparent material to allow a contained product to be visible through a second surface of the blister package. The transparent material may include a plastic material.
In one arrangement, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the combined total number of the first and second edible products in the package and the number of separate compartments formed in the blister package. That is, each compartment contains a single edible product. These products may include first and second different varieties of chewing gum, which may be visibly distinct. The separate compartments or cavities in the blister package may be of any appropriate shape. However in one arrangement the separate compartments are like-shaped with the first and second products, which may also be like-shaped. In any arrangement, the first and second edible products are disposed in predetermined compartments. This allows aligning predetermined compartments with apertures in overlying wrappers such that the different products may be displayed.
In one arrangement, the cavities of the blister package are disposed in a first geometric array containing rows and columns. In this arrangement, the first edible product may be disposed in a first predetermined sub-set of the first geometrical array and this first predetermined sub-set may form a second geometrical array. Likewise, the second edible product may be disposed in a second predetermined sub-set of the first geometrical array and this second predetermined sub-set may form a third geometrical array. Alternatively, the first and second edible products may be alternated, for example by row, by column or in a checkerboard fashion.
In a further arrangement, the package may include an opaque cover having first and second apertures. The opaque cover is adapted to be disposed over at least a second surface of the package. The opaque cover may generally define a sleeve having an interior volume sized to receive the blister package. Such a sleeve may include at least one open end to permit receipt of the blister package therein. In another arrangement, a common wall of the opaque cover includes the first and second apertures. In a further arrangement, an outside surface the opaque cover further includes a first surface treatment corresponding with the first aperture and a second surface treatment corresponding with the second aperture. Generally, such first and second surface treatments are visibly distinct and may correspond to one or more properties/attributes of the first and second edible products.
According to another aspect, a method for packaging first and second different edible products in a common package is provided. The method includes providing a package having a plurality of substantially transparent and separate compartments formed as cavities therein. A first edible product is disposed into a first predetermined sub-set of less than all of the separate compartments and a second edible product is disposed into a second predetermined sub-set of less than all of the separate compartments. A sealing layer is then applied over a surface of the package that seals the separate compartments. Once so sealed, the first and second edible products are visible within the separate compartments.
The method may include disposing first and second visibly distinct edible products into the first and second predetermined sub-sets of the separate compartments. Additionally, the method may include applying a wrapper over at least a portion of the package, wherein at least one of the first edible products and one of the second edible products are visible through the wrapper.
According to another aspect, a packaged gum product is provided. The product includes a package having a plurality of separate compartments formed as cavities therein. These separate compartments are composed of an at least partially transparent material. A first plurality of gum pellets are disposed into a first predetermined sub-set of less than all of the separate compartments and a second plurality of gum pellets are disposed into a second predetermined sub-set of less than all of the separate compartments. The first and second gum pellets are visibly distinct. Further, the first and second gum varieties are visible when disposed within the separate compartments. A sealing layer is disposed over at least a portion of a first surface of the package that seals each of the separate compartments.
The product may further include a wrapper that covers at least a portion of the package. The wrapper may further permit at least one of the first gum pellets and at least one of the second gum pellets to be visible through the wrapper.
According to another aspect, a package for containing pieces of first and second different edible products is provided. The package includes a blister package having a plurality of separate compartments formed as cavities. These separate compartments are disposed in a geometric array including at least two rows and at least two columns. A first edible product is disposed in a first predetermined sub-set of less than all of the separate compartments and a second edible product is disposed in a second predetermined sub-set of less than all of the separate compartments. The first and second edible products are different. A sealing layer is disposed over at least a portion of a first surface of the package and seals each of the separate compartments.
The first and second edible products are disposed in a predetermined manner and may be disposed in alternating rows of the geometrical array of the separate compartments or in alternating columns of the geometrical array of the separate compartments. Alternatively, the products may be disposed such that none of the separate compartments containing the first edible products borders another of the separate compartments containing another of the first edible products.
Numerous additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the further description that follows.
a and 6b are plan views which shows application of different surface treatments to the surface of the sleeve member.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which assist in illustrating the various pertinent features of the packaging design. Although the invention will now be described primarily in conjunction with gum packaging, it should be expressly understood that the invention may be applicable to other applications where it is desired to display multiple different edible products through a surface of a common package. In this regard, the following description of a gum packaging design is presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the following teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the packaging design. The embodiments described herein are further intended to explain modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the packaging design.
As shown, the package 100 includes a blister pack 10 that is receivable within the interior of a hollow sleeve member 40. See
Disposed in each of the cavities 22 on the plastic sheet 20 is an individual edible product. In the embodiment shown, these edible products are individual gum pellets 32 or 34. As shown, a first variety of gum pellets 32 are disposed in a first portion of less than all of the cavities 22 and a second variety of gum pellets 34 are disposed in the remainder of the cavities 22. Generally, these first and second edible products, gum pellets 32, 34, will include one or more features in common and may each include one or more features not included in the other product. For instance, the first and second gum pellets 32, 34 may share one or more features such as shape, size texture and/or functional benefits (e.g., tooth whitening) while differing in one or more of such features. That is, in some embodiments the gum pellets 32, 34 may differ in one or more features while having at least one feature in common. In the embodiment shown the first and second gum pellets 32, 34 are visibly distinct while having a common size and shape. That is, the first and second gum pellets 32, 34 may include any variation (i.e., visible distinction) that allows an observer to distinguish one pellet 32 variety from a second pellet 34 variety.
Once disposed within the formed cavities 22, the individual gum pellets 32, 34 are sealed within the cavities 22 by a foil sheet 30 that is adhered to the bottom surface of the plastic sheet 20. Specifically, the top surface of the foil sheet 30 is adhered to a bottom surface of the plastic sheet 20 about the periphery of each of the cavities 22. In this regard, each cavity 22 and the gum pellet 32 or 34 disposed therein are individually sealed. Such sealing generally prevents the gum pellets 32, 34 from drying out/dehydrating. Though discussed herein as utilizing a foil layer 30, it will be appreciated that other materials (e.g., plastic and paper) may also be utilized to form the sealing layer 30.
As shown, the first and second varieties of gum pellets 32, 34, have a shape that corresponds generally to the shape of the cavities 22. That is, each gum pellet 32, 34 is generally box-shaped having a rectangular cross-sectional shape in both length and width. In the embodiment shown, the first and second varieties of gum pellets 32, 34 are disposed in first and second 3×2 arrays. That is, when disposed within the cavities 22 in the plastic sheet 20 the first variety of gum pellets are disposed in one-half of the cavities 22 and the second variety of gum pellets 34 are disposed in the other half of the cavities 22. However, other non-random or predetermined distributions of the gum pellets may be utilized. For instance, each row or column of the cavities may contain a different variety of gum pellets. Alternatively, the first and second products may be arranged in a checkerboard fashion (not shown) where no cavity containing the first variety of gum pellets borders another cavity containing the first variety of gum pellets.
In any arrangement, it is desirable that the first aperture 42 permit viewing of at least a portion of one or more cavities 22 containing the first variety of gum pellets 32 and that the second aperture 44 permit viewing of at least a portion of one or more of the cavities 22 containing the second variety of gum pellets 34. As shown, the apertures 42, 44 of the illustrated arrangement are aligned with separate portions of the blister pack 10 as defined by the first and second arrays of gum pellets 32, 34, respectively. What is important is that the first and second varieties of gum pellets 32, 34 are disposed in a non-random/predetermined arrangement such that the apertures 42, 44 may display first and second different products.
In order to arrange the gum pellets 32, 34 in a non-random/predetermined arrangement, it will be appreciated that specialized manufacturing machinery may be required. That is, for previous blister packages that held either a single variety of gum pellets or randomly dispersed varieties of pellets, the individual placement of a certain variety of gum pellet in on ore more predetermined cavities was not required. Accordingly, the gum pellets could be placed and/or mixed in a single hopper that feeds multiple chutes aligned with the multiple cavities in the blister pack. In accordance with the blister pack 10 discussed herein, it will be appreciated that the requirement that certain cavities include certain varieties of gum pellets increases the complexity of the machinery utilized to form the blister pack 10. For instance, rather than using a single hopper to feed chutes aligned with the cavities, multiple different hoppers for holding individual varieties of gum pellets are required. Likewise different chutes leading from the different hoppers must be routed such that they align with desired cavities.
Prior to folding the paperboard blank 50, first and second apertures 42, 44 are formed through a portion of the paperboard blank 50 that forms the front wall 60 of the sleeve member 40. See
Generally, the interior volume of the sleeve member 40 substantially corresponds to the outside dimensions of the blister pack 10. In this regard, the width and height of the interior volume of the sleeve member 40 may be sized to provide a frictional fit with the blister pack 10. When the blister pack 10 is inserted into the sleeve member 40, friction between the inside surface of the sleeve member 40 and the outside surfaces of the blister pack 10 may be utilized to maintain the blister pack 10 within the sleeve member 40. In addition, a clear film, (not shown) may be utilized to wrap the package 100 prior to purchase.
In one embodiment, the paperboard blank 50 is composed of an SBS (solid bleach sulfate) paperboard, in part because of the good folding properties of this material. Alternatively, the paperboard blank 50 may be composed of some other suitable material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The paperboard material may have a white clay emulsion coating on an outside surface thereof and no coating on an inside surface thereof. The coating enhances the ability to print on the paperboard material, which may occur prior to folding the paperboard blank 50 into the sleeve member 40.
As noted, the use of the first and second apertures 42, 44 through the front wall 60 of the sleeve member 40 permit displaying first and second cavities 22 within the blister pack 10. Moreover, use of the substantially transparent plastic sheet 20 allows for products disposed within the cavities 22 to be viewed from outside the package 100. Specifically, in the embodiment shown the first variety of gum pellets 32 may be seen through the first aperture 42 and the second variety of gum pellets 34 may be seen through the second aperture 44. In this regard, consumers may see first and second different types of edible products (e.g., gum pellets) disposed within a common blister pack 10.
To further enhance the presentation of first and second types of edible products to a consumer, the outside surface of the sleeve member 40 (e.g., of the outside surface of the front wall 60) may contain first and second visibly distinct surface treatments that correspond to the first and second edible products disposed therein. In this regard, the front surface of the front wall 60 may provide first and second visible indications of the type of products contained therein. For instance, as shown on
In conjunction with the above-described package 100, a method for marketing visibly distinct variations of an edible product in a common package is provided. As set forth in
The foregoing description of the packaging design has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the invention. For instance, rather than utilizing a sleeve member to receive the blister pack, a sheet member having first and second apertures may be attached to or otherwise cover the top surface of the blister pack. In another arrangement, the apertures may be formed as transparent windows, for example, in a plastic sheet. Further arrangements may utilize additional apertures (e.g., three or more) to display additional products. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.
