The present invention pertains to packaging of personal care appliances and more specifically to packaging of oral care appliances.
There exist a number of toothbrushes currently available for consumer purchase. For manual toothbrushes, typically, these types of brushes are packaged in a blister package which generally includes a clear blister attached to a cardboard back card. The clear blister allows the consumer to see at least a portion of the manual toothbrush prior to purchase. Generally, these blister packages are either provided in a tray or on a hanger.
The packaging for power toothbrushes vary. For example, some power toothbrushes are provided in a clam shell package which includes a front clear blister and a back clear blister attached to one another. Within the clam shell, advertising as well as identification media may be placed. The clam shell package allows the user to see a portion of the power brush. The power brushes provided in this type of package are generally compact and with the exception of powered operation, offer little other functionality to the consumer.
In contrast to the clam shell package, some power toothbrushes are provided in a box. Typically, power brushes which offer to the consumer varied functionality are packaged in boxes. These brushes are often not very compact and because of height restrictions on store shelves, may not be able to be shown to the consumer in a state where the power handle is attached to a refill. Because the handle and the refill are not able to be coupled together, typically, the box does not include a window by which the consumer can visualize the handle and the refill. Instead, artwork on the outside of the box is utilized to provide a representation of the refill attached to the handle to the consumer.
As such, there is a need for a package, or a portion thereof, e.g. package component, which allows a power toothbrush to be perceived from multiple sides while protecting the product within the package.
A package constructed in accordance with the present invention can allow the consumer to view the powered oral care product from a variety of different vantage points. Additionally, the package component, in which the powered oral care product is placed, protects the powered oral care product from tampering.
In an embodiment, a package component for holding a personal care device comprises a first section having a front face and a back face and a first recess portion therein. A first section cover is disposed adjacent to the first section and is formed integrally with the first section. The first section cover has a front face and a back face. A first fold line is disposed between the first section and the first section cover allowing the front face of the first section cover to engage the back face of the first section. A second section has a front face and a back face and a second recess portion therein. A second section cover is disposed adjacent to the second section and is formed integrally with the second section. The second section cover has a front face and a back face. A second fold line is disposed between the second section and the second section cover allowing the front face of the second section cover to engage the back face of the second section. An eccentric cover is configured to allow the first section and the first section cover to be folded with respect to the second section and the second section cover. The eccentric cover is disposed between the first section and the second section or between the first section cover and the second section cover.
A package in accordance with the present invention comprises a package component which can be translucent, at least in part, thereby allowing a consumer to visually perceive the packaged oral care product. Additionally, the package component may comprise built in secondary walls to protect the powered oral care instrument from tampering. Additionally, the packages described herein may be utilized for powered oral care products, manual oral care products, an oral care product consumable(s), e.g. dentifrice, gels, powders, rinse, floss, personal hygiene devices, personal hygiene consumables, rinses, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, the like, and/or combinations thereof. However, for convenience, the discussion below will focus on a personal hygiene device, e.g. powered oral care products.
As shown in
Additionally, the outer sleeve 12 may be configured such that the consumer may visually inspect/perceive the personal hygiene device from a top 40 of the package 10. The outer sleeve 12 may simiarly be configured such that the consumer may visually inspect/perceive the personal hygiene device from a bottom of the package 10 (not shown). The package 10 may comprise a package component 200 and a container 20. The container 20 may be any suitable size and may be configured to house a variety of oral care products. In some embodiments, a plurality of containers may be provided within the outer sleeve 12. For example, in some embodiments, the containter 20 may comprise at least one container within the container 20. As another example, a plurality of containers may be utilized in place of container 20.
The package component 200 may comprise a transparent material adjacent the window 30, the top 40, and/or the bottom (not shown) to allow the consumer to visually inspect/perceive the personal hygiene device. In some embodiments, the outer sleeve 12 may comprise a window opposite the window 30 which can provide another view of the personal hygiene device to the consumer. In such embodiments, the package component 200 may comprise a transparent material adjacent this window in addition to the areas mentioned heretofore.
For ease of packaging, the package comonent 200 may comprise a plurality of sections which may be folded with respect to one another. As shown in
As shown, the first section 202, the first section cover 204, the eccentric cover 280, the second section cover 264, and/or the second section 260 may be unitary with one another. However, embodiments are contemplated where the first section 202, the first section cover 204, the eccentric cover 280, the second section cover 264, and/or the second section 260 are discrete from one another. For example, the first section 202 and the first section cover 204 may be integrally formed, and the second section 260 and the second section cover 264 may be integrally formed. In such embodiments, the eccentric cover 280 may be discrete and attached to the first section 202, the second section 260, the first section cover 204, and/or the second section cover 264. Additionally, embodiments are contemplated where the package component 200 does not include the eccentric cover 280.
Still referring to
The engagement areas 274 and/or receiving areas 214 may be positioned in any suitable location. For example, engagement areas 274 and/or receiving areas 214 may be positioned adjacent a first edge 290 and/or adjacent a second edge 292 of the package component 200. As another example, the engagement areas 274 and/or receiving areas 214 may be positioned adjacent lateral edges 295 and 297. As yet another example, the engagement areas 274 and/or receiving areas 214 may be positioned adjacent the first edge 290, the second edge 292, and/or adjacent lateral edges 295 and 297.
As stated previously the first section 202 may be folded with respect to the first section cover 204 which may be folded with respect to the eccentric cover 280. And, the second section 260 may be folded with respect to the second section cover 264 which may be folded with respect to the eccentric cover 280. Referring to
The first section cover 204 may comprise at least one detent, e.g. 204A, 204B, which can engage an interior surface of the first section 202 and extend from the front face 205. These detents can be configured to provide some resistance to the separation of the first section 202 and the first section cover 204 once the first section 202 and the first section cover 204 are engaged with one another. Additional benefits of the detents 204A, 204B are discussed hereafter.
Referring to
As shown in
The second section cover 264 may comprise at least one detent, e.g. 264A, 264B, which can engage an interior surface of the second section 260 and extend from the front face 265. These detents 264A and 265B can be configured as discussed heretofore with regard to the detents of the first section cover 204.
Regarding
Referring to
In order to completely enclose the personal hygiene device within the package component 200, the first portion 1202 (including the first section 202 and the first section cover 204) and the eccentric cover 280 may be folded about the fourth folding line 310 such that a front face 202A of the first section 202 is positioned adjacent a front face 260A of the second section 260, as shown in
In the assembled state, the package component 200 protects the personal hygiene product with two layers/levels. First, the recess(es) in which the personal hygiene device is disposed is formed via a first outer shell 392 and a second outer shell 394. The first outer shell 392 and the second outer shell 394 may substantially surround the personal hygiene device such that the liklihood of contaminants coming into contact with the personal hygiene device is reduced. Second, the first section cover 204 provides protection to the first outer shell 392 while the second section cover 264 provides protection to the second outer shell 394. The first section cover 204 and the second section cover 264 can provide protection for the first outer shell 392 and the second outer shell 394, respectively, to reduce the likelihood of tampering with the first outer shell 392 and/or the second outer shell 394.
Referring to
As discussed previously, the first section cover 204 and the second section cover 264 may comprise detents which facilitate the couping to the first section 202 and the second section 260 respectively. Additionally, the creation of the detents on the first section cover 204 and the second section cover 264 can provide structural support for the first section cover 204 and the second section cover 264.
Referring to
Embodiments are contemplated where the package component 200 may be utilized as a traveling case for a personal hygiene device. In such embodiments, the package component 200 may comprise a releasable snap feature. As an example, the package component 200 may comprise velcro, magnetic closures, resealable tape, the like, and/or any suitable fastening mechanism. The releasable snap feature or other mechanism may be employed at or near an interface between the first section and the second section.
Referring to
For ease of packaging, the package component 500 may comprise a plurality of sections which may be folded with respect to one another. As shown in
The package component 500 may comprise a second section 560 having a recess 572 therein for receiving a portion of the personal hygiene device. Adjacent the second section 560, a second section cover 564 may be positioned. Between the first section cover 504 and the second section cover 564, an eccentric cover 580 may be positioned.
As shown, the first section 502, the first section cover 504, the eccentric cover 580, the second section cover 564, and the second section 560 may be unitary with one another. However, embodiments are contemplated where the first section 502, the first section cover 504, the eccentric cover 580, the second section cover 564, and/or the second section 560 are discrete from one another. For example, the first section 502 and the first section cover 504 may be integrally formed, and the second section 560 and the second section cover 564 may be integrally formed. In such embodiments the eccentric cover 580 may be discrete and attached to the first section 502, the second section 560, the first section cover 504, and/or the second section cover 564. Additionally, embodiments are contemplated where the package component 500 does not include the eccentric cover 580.
The first section 502 may comprise receiving areas 514 while the second section 560 includes engagement areas 574. When assembled, the engagment areas 574 engage the receiving areas 514. The interaction between the engagement areas 574 and the receiving areas 514 can help align the first section 502 and the second section 560. Additionally, the interaction between the engagement areas 574 and the receiving areas 514 can provide some resistance to the separation of the first section 502 from the second section 560 thereby reducing the likelihood that the first section 502 and the second section 560 will separate inadvertently. Embodiments are contemplated where the first section 502 and/or the second section 560 comprise at least one engagement area 574 and/or at least one receiving area 514.
The engagement areas 574 and/or receiving areas 514 may be positioned in any suitable location. For example, engagement areas 574 and/or receiving areas 514 may be positioned adjacent a first edge 502A, 560A and/or adjacent a second edge 502B, 560B of the package component 500. As another example, the engagement areas 574 and/or receiving areas 514 may be positioned adjacent lateral edges 595 and 597. As yet another example, the engagement areas 574 and/or receiving areas 514 may be positioned adjacent the first edge 502A, 560A, the second edge 502B, 560B, and/or adjacent lateral edges 595 and 597.
As stated previously the first section 502 may be folded with respect to the first section cover 504 which may be folded with respect to the eccentric cover 580. And, the second section 560 may be folded with respect to the second section cover 564 which may be folded with respect to the eccentric cover 580. Referring to
The first section cover 504 may comprise at least one detent, e.g. 504A, 504B, which can engage an interior surface of the first section 502 and extend from the front face 505. These detents can be configured to provide some resistance to the separation of the first section 502 and the first section cover 504 once the first section 502 and the first section cover 504 are engaged with one another. Additional benefits of the detents 504A, 504B are discussed hereafter.
Referring to
As shown in
The second section cover 564 may comprise at least one detent, e.g. 564A, 564B, which can engage an interior surface of the second section 560 and extend from the front face 665. These detents 564A and 565B can be configured as discussed heretofore with regard to the detents of the first section cover 504, 204.
Regarding
Referring to
In order to completely enclose the personal hygiene device within the package component 500, the first portion 1502 (including the first section 502 and the first section cover 504) and the eccentric cover 580 may be folded about the fourth folding line 610 such that a front face 501A of the first section 502 is positioned adjacent a front face 599A of the second section 560. In contrast, the second portion 1560 (including the second section 560 and the second section cover 564) and the eccentric cover 580 may be foled abou the third folding line 608 such that the front face 501A of the first section 502 is positioned adjacen the front face 599A of the second section 560.
When the first portion 1502 and the second portion 1560 are engaged, a locking mechanism 855 may engage the second portion 1560 as shown in
As shown, the locking mechanism 855 may extend from the first section cover 504 (shown in
In other embodiments, the locking mechanism 855 may extend from the second portion 560 and/or the second portion cover 564 (shown in
Still in other embodiments, referring to
Referring to
Referring to
As discussed previously, the first section cover 504 and the second section cover 564 may comprise detents which facilitate the couping to the first section 502 and the second section 560 respectively. Additionally, the creation of the detents on the first section cover 504 and the second section cover 564 can provide structural support for the first section cover 504 and the second section cover 564. The detents 504A, 504B, 564A, and 564B, may be configured similarly to the detents described heretofore, e.g. 204A, 204B.
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