Patent Application
20230322455
A cardboard support element for a cardboard container, the support element
This invention generally relates to packaging using cardboard material. Cardboard is a widely used packaging material which is particularly suited for recycling, in particular recycling in a paper recycling stream which may involve a reduced non fiber content, for example a maximum non fiber content of 5% by weight, and thereby particularly environmentally friendly. Cardboard has however limitations compared to other packaging materials such as plastic materials, in particular as far as mechanical characteristics are concerned.
A cardboard support element for a cardboard container, the support element comprising: a cardboard structure extending away from a base plane; a first flap connected to the cardboard structure and extended in a direction normal to the base plane; a first primary panel and a second primary panel connected by a linear ridge, the first primary panel and the second primary panel respectively corresponding to a first face and a second face of a prism forming the cardboard structure, the ridge corresponding to an edge of the prism connecting the first and the second face, the first and second primary panels preferably making an angle of more than 15 degrees and preferably of less than 70 degrees with the base plane, the ridge being preferably separated from the base plane by more than 1 cm and by less than 7 cm; a first secondary panel, the first secondary panel connecting the first flap and the first primary panel, whereby a first primary folding region parallel to the linear ridge separates the first secondary panel from the first primary panel, and a first flap folding region parallel to the linear ridge separates the first secondary panel from the first flap, the first flap folding region having a first flap folding region folding factor and the first primary folding region having a first primary folding region folding factor, whereby: the first flap folding region folding factor is larger than the first primary folding region folding factor, a ratio of the first flap folding region folding factor to the first primary folding region folding factor being of more than 1:1, preferably more than 1.25:1, more preferably between 1.5:1 and 4:1 and even more preferably between 1.7:1 and 3:1.
As will be explained in the following paragraphs, a support element can be an important element in a cardboard element structure. In this context, this disclosure focuses on providing a cardboard support element which may reliably get erected upon folding, in particular in order to position a ridge of a cardboard structure of the cardboard support element in a predictable manner, for example in alignment with an activation area of a container. Example support elements as per this disclosure where indeed found to avoid or reduce a risk of ridge misposition due for example to a secondary panel “floating” away from a base plane as will be explained in more details. The avoidance and reduction of such risks was obtained through setting of a ratio of a first flap folding region folding factor to a primary folding region folding factor as will be explained.
In some specific examples, a ratio of a ridge folding region folding factor to the first primary folding region folding factor is also set, avoiding the flipping or disforming of the cardboard structure due for example to the ridge getting pushed against a stock of piled up water soluble unit dose detergent pouches upon closure of a box by a lid comprising the cardboard support element concerned.
Cardboard is, mechanically speaking, a relatively flexible material, meaning that a wall of a container made of cardboard may offer little resistance to getting bent under an external pressure. In some applications where resistance to getting bent is of importance, a material different from cardboard may be used. Materials different from cardboard may however not be as straightforward to recycle. Such choice of material thereby results of a compromise. An objective of the present disclosure is to propose a cardboard support element for a cardboard container, whereby the inclusion of such a support element in a cardboard container leads to reinforcement of the cardboard structure, permitting use of cardboard in applications which would otherwise be compromised by using another material.
Cardboard container design may address strengthening mechanical characteristics by applying separate three dimensional pieces. Such three dimensional pieces should be understood as pieces which may not be folded in a blank shape. Such three dimensional pieces may be applied in a lid, for example by gluing. Gluing may happen prior to or after lid formation. When gluing a three dimensional piece on a planar structure such as a blank at a supplier location, transportation from the supplier location may result less efficient due to the three dimensional nature of the three dimensional pieces. If such gluing would take place after transportation from a supplier location, for example on a manufacturing line, gluing a three dimensional piece on a blank or inside an erected lid during manufacturing may add complexity to a manufacturing operation and slow down a speed of a manufacturing line, compromising a manufacturing plant productivity accordingly. The cardboard support element according to the present disclosure was surprisingly identified as a way to create a three dimensional reinforcement structure for use in a lid which reduces or suppresses a negative impact on transportation efficiency or on manufacturing line speed in a manufacturing location. As the cardboard support element according to this description may be shaped using folding machinery which is likely to be already in place at a manufacturing location, little or no additional capital is required at a manufacturing location to implement the structures according to this disclosure. In addition to this, the gluing of two two-dimensional structures (for example a blank of the support element and a blank of a lid to form a blank assembly according to this disclosure) together may take place at a supplier facility prior to transportation to a manufacturing facility where blanks may be erected. The cardboard support according to this disclosure permits obtaining a rigid lid structure while using a relatively reduced amount of material.
A cardboard support element according to this disclosure may be made of the same material as a material used for the container or for a lid according to this disclosure. A support element, lid, box or container according to this disclosure may be made from paper or cardboard materials wherein the paper material is for example selected from paperboard, cardboard, laminates comprising at least one paper board or cardboard layer, cellulose pulp materials or a mixture thereof. The material used to make the support element, lid, box or container may comprise other ingredients, such as colorants, preservatives, plasticisers, UV stabilizers, oxygen barriers, perfume, recycled materials and moisture barriers, or a mixture thereof. The support element, lid, box or container may comprise areas of external or internal printing. The support element, lid, box or container may be made for example by cardboard making. Suitable cardboard support element, lid, box or container manufacturing processes may include, but are not limited to, tube forming from a flat cardboard or paper sheet with a gluing step, folding, or a mixture thereof. The cardboard support element, lid, box or container is opaque, for example to protect content from external light. In some examples the support element, lid, box or container is constructed at least in part and in some specific examples in its entirety from paper-based material. By paper-based material, we herein mean a material comprising paper. Without wishing to be bound by theory, by ‘paper’ we herein mean a material made from a cellulose-based pulp. In some examples, the paper-based material comprises paper, cardboard, or a mixture thereof, wherein preferably, cardboard comprises paper-board, corrugated fiber-board, or a mixture thereof. Corrugated fiber-board comprises a series of flutes. Each flute can be understood to be a channel. The flutes run parallel to one another, with the flute direction being the direction travelled along each channel. The paper-based material may be a laminate comprising paper, cardboard, or a mixture thereof, wherein in some examples, cardboard comprises paper-board, corrugated fiber-board, or a mixture thereof, and at least another material. In some examples, the at least another material comprises a plastic material. In some examples, the plastic material comprises polyethylene, more specifically Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinylalcohol or a mixture thereof. In some examples the plastic material comprises a copolymer of ethane and vinyl alcohol, or EVOH. A barrier material may be used as the at least another material. The barrier material may be a biaxially orientated polypropylene, a metallised polyethylene terephthalate, or a mixture thereof. The at least another material may comprise a wax, a cellulose material, polyvinylalcohol, silica dioxide, casein based materials, or a mixture thereof. In some examples, the paper-based laminate comprises greater than 50%, preferably greater than 85%, and more preferably greater than 95% by weight of the paper based laminate of fiber-based materials. In some examples, the barrier material may comprise plastic material having a thickness of between 10 micron and 60 micron. In some examples, the barrier material may comprise plastic material having a thickness of between 10 micron and 35 micron. The paper-based material may be a laminate. In some examples, the internal surface of a support element, lid, box or container comprises paper, cardboard, or a mixture thereof, wherein, in specific examples, cardboard comprises paper-board, corrugated fiber-board and lamination of polyethylene especially LDPE, or a mixture thereof, and, in some examples, the external surface of the support element, lid, box or container or a combination thereof comprises the at least another material. Alternatively, the at least another material might also be laminated in-between two paper-based material layers. Without wishing to be bound by theory this at least another material might act as a barrier for leaked liquid absorbed by the paper-based material facing the interior side of the support element, lid, box or container, to prevent or reduce a contaminating flow through a wall of the support element, lid, box or container. Other structures may be found efficient to avoid leakage from the content or to protect the content from external fluids, for example from a shower, a sink, or by handling the container or the lid with wet hands. Contamination of a wall of the support element, lid, box or container might be unsightly to consumers or may contaminate the storage area. In some examples, the support element, lid, box or container are made of a paper-based material comprising the at least another material laminated in between two corrugated fiberboard layers. In some examples, the material used for the support element, lid, box or container comprises a core cardboard flute material sandwiched between two plain cardboard layers and polyethylene laminate. A cardboard support element according to this disclosure may be made from or comprise recycled material or recycled cellulose fibres. The external surface of the support element, lid, box or container. or a combination thereof, may comprise a coating or a varnish. Such a coating or varnish can help making the board repellent to water or help protecting the enclosed detergent composition from UV light. The coating or varnish could also help protecting the external surface of the support element, lid, box or container. or a combination thereof, from being contaminated by the enclosed detergent composition, for example if leakage of a water-soluble unit dose detergent enclosing a liquid detergent composition would occur.
In some examples, the support element is a plain board support element or a corrugated fiber board support element comprising one or more folding lines defining a folding region along a direction taking a characteristic direction of the plain board or corrugated fiber board into account. In some examples, the cardboard support element is a plain board cardboard support element, the plain board having a fiber direction as characteristic direction, the fiber direction being normal or substantially perpendicular to folding lines and to a ridge of the cardboard support element. Such a configuration permits improving the folding behaviour of the structure, promoting a popping up of the cardboard structure extending away from the base plane, avoiding undesired bending of panels comprised in the support element during a folding process. While using plain board having a fiber direction as characteristic direction, the fiber direction being substantially parallel to folding lines and to a ridge of the cardboard support element would foment resistance in a transversal direction aligned with an actuation pressure in order to open a lid according to this disclosure, it is indeed found that avoiding bending of panels during the folding process is preferred over obtaining such transversal resistance. In some examples the cardboard support element is a corrugated fiber board cardboard support element, the corrugated fiber board comprising parallel flutes having a flute direction defining a characteristic direction of the corrugated fiber board, the flute direction being substantially parallel to folding lines and to a ridge of the cardboard support element material for the support element. Such a configuration comprising flutes running substantially parallel to the folding lines can improve a side to side bending resistance of the board and therefore a strength to withstand deformation when pressure is applied along a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the flutes, thereby further improving rigidity. In a preferred example, the cardboard support element is a corrugated fiber board cardboard support element, the corrugated fiber board comprising parallel flutes having a flute direction defining a characteristic direction of the corrugated fiber board, the flute direction being substantially perpendicular to folding lines and to a ridge of the cardboard support element material for the support element. Such a configuration comprising flutes running substantially perpendicular to the folding lines can improve panel rigidity during folding process, such rigidity being found preferable to withstand deformation when pressure is applied along a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the flutes. In other words, in some examples the support element is a plain board support element or a corrugated fiber board support element, whereby a folding line between the first flap and the cardboard structure is substantially perpendicular to a fiber direction of the plain board when the support element is a plain board support element and whereby the folding line between the first flap and the cardboard structure is substantially perpendicular to a flute direction of the corrugated fiber board when the support element is a corrugated fiber board support element. In some examples, the cardboard support element according to this disclosure is made from plain board comprising recycled content with a gsm (grams per square meter) range between 300 and 900, preferably between 500 and 700. In some examples, the cardboard support element according to this disclosure is made from virgin plain board, or free from recycled content, with a gsm (grams per square meter) range between 250 and 600, preferably between 300 and 500.
A panel or a flap should according to this disclosure be understood as a cardboard planar surface which may be linked to one or more other cardboard planar surfaces, for example by folding regions. In some examples, a panel or a flap is rectangular. In some examples, a panel or a flap is a parallelogram. In some examples. a panel or a flap is a polygon. In some examples, a flap is linked to a single panel. In some examples, a panel is linked to at least two other flaps or panels.
The cardboard support element according to this disclosure is aimed at providing mechanical support for a cardboard wall, for example a cardboard wall of a container or of a lid of a container, such cardboard wall lying against the support element if submitted to a force or to a pressure.
In this example of
The support element 100 further comprises a first secondary panel 109, the first secondary panel 109 connecting the first flap 103 and the first primary panel 106, whereby a first primary folding region 110 parallel to the linear ridge 108 separates the first secondary panel 109 from the first primary panel 106, and whereby a first flap folding region 112 parallel to the linear ridge 108 separates the first flap 103 from the first secondary panel 109.
Both folding regions 110 and 112 are parallel to the linear ridge. It should be understood that a folding region is a region along which a panel or flap may be folded. In some examples, a folding region may comprise a single fold line, such fold line being thereby parallel to the linear ridge. In some examples, the folding region may comprise a plurality of fold lines, each fold line of the plurality being parallel to the linear ridge, whereby such a folding region may in some cases define a relatively “smooth” or “rounded” profile in a plane normal to the linear ridge, as illustrated in the case of the first flap folding region in
The first flap folding region has a first flap folding region folding factor and the first primary folding region has a first primary folding region folding factor. A folding factor should in this disclosure be understood as a bending moment, resistance or “spring back force” of the corresponding folding region in a folded state. A perfect hinge would correspond to a folding factor or bending moment of 0 N.m. A high folding factor would correspond to a folding region “resisting” folding, in other words tending towards a non folded, 180 degrees angle, yet in other words, to a high “spring back force”. Bending moments may for example be measured using a Cerulean LCT carton tester. Such carton tester indeed permits measuring the spring back force, which indicates the material's resilience after a crease is folded. Such Cerulean LCT device may be used together with a corresponding V1.71 CT software. The measurement should take place at a folding angle corresponding to the corresponding folding angle of the support element concerned. In other words, in the example of
In an example, the first flap folding factor, corresponding to angle γ of
In an example, the first primary region folding factor, corresponding to angle β of
The first flap folding region folding factor is larger than the first primary folding region folding factor, a ratio of the first flap folding region folding factor to the first primary folding region folding factor being of more than 1:1, preferably more than 1.25:1, more preferably of between 1.5:1 and 4:1, and even more preferably between 1.7:1 and 3:1. The fact that the first flap folding region folding factor is larger than the first primary folding region folding factor leads to reducing a risk that the first secondary panel 109 be directed away from the base plane. Such undesired directing away from the base plane would occur for example in the configuration illustrated in
Such a configuration permits erection of the prism as expected while avoiding fixing, attaching or gluing the first secondary panel against, for example, a top of a lid which may be aligned with the base plane. Such a configuration permits raising the prism and placing the ridge in place as the secondary panel freely rests flush against such a lid top. The fact that the prism may get in place as the secondary panel freely rests flush against such a lid top permits erecting the prism by folding, the secondary panel sliding against the lid top in the process. One should note that while such technical effects are discussed in the context of placement of the cardboard support element in a lid, in which case the (otherwise virtual) base plane may be the top of the lid, such a cardboard support element may be produced and marketed independently of such lid and is thereby described separately from such lid, and in reference to a virtual base plane in lieu of a top of such lid, in this first part of the description.
As illustrated by
In some examples of support elements, the first flap folding region folding factor is in a range from 30 mNm to 70 mNm, preferably from 35 mNm to 60 mNm, even more preferably from 35 mNm to 50 mNm, and the first primary folding region folding factor is in a range from 10 mNm to 29 mNm, preferably from 15 mNm to 25 mNm, even more preferably from 17 mNm to 21 mNm. Such folding factor or bending moment permits erection of the prism as expected as mentioned above. It should be noted that the setting of a folding factor may be obtained in a number of different manners, for example by use of a specific cardboard material in a given folding region, such cardboard material having a specific flexibility differing from another, more rigid, cardboard material used for adjacent panels or flaps, or for example by weakening a given cardboard material in a folding region area, such same given cardboard material being used both in a folding region and in adjacent panels or flaps, such weakening comprising one or more of a fold line, of a cut-through, or of a crease, or a combination of these, or for example by modifying, such as shortening, dimensions of cardboard material in folding regions compared to adjacent panels or flaps, or by combining such examples.
In some examples, such as illustrated in
In some examples, the first flap folding region comprises one or more first flap folding region weakened areas, whereby the first primary folding region comprises one or more first primary folding region weakened areas, and whereby:
One should note that a weakened area should in this disclosure be understood as weakened relatively to other surrounding areas. In some examples, a weakened area is a cut-through area, such cut being in line with the direction parallel to the linear ridge, such cut-through area being surrounded with one or a combination of a creased area, a partial cut area or a fold line area. In some examples, a weakened area is a partial cut area, such partial cut being in line with the direction parallel to the linear ridge, such partial cut area being surrounded with one or a combination of a creased area or a fold line area. In some examples, a weakened area is a creased area, such crease being in line with the direction parallel to the linear ridge, such creased area being surrounded with one or more fold line areas. In some examples, a weakened area is a reversed partial cut or a reversed crease, or a combination thereof. One should note that the total width should be considered as the total width along the direction parallel to the linear ridge in the area considered, such total width including the weakened area as well as the surrounding areas. In case of a given folding region comprising a single fold line, such total width may correspond to the total width of such single fold line. In case of a given folding region comprising a plurality of fold lines, such total width may correspond to a sum of the total width of each fold lines of the plurality, and the corresponding weakened area correspond to a sum of the weakened areas of each fold lines of the plurality. In some examples whereby a given folding region comprises a plurality of fold lines, such fold lines may each have a same weakened area structure, such as a same number of weakened areas, a same nature of weakened areas, and same dimensions of weakened areas. In other examples, a given folding region comprises a plurality of fold lines, such fold lines having different each weakened area structures, such as a different number of weakened areas, a different nature of weakened areas, and/or different dimensions of weakened areas.
In some examples, as illustrated for example in a top view of a blank 300 in
In some examples, as illustrated for example in
In some examples, the first primary folding region and the first flap folding region comprise a crease having a depth comprised in a range of 0.1 mm to 1 mm, more preferably between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm. In some examples the crease depth is from 20% to 80% preferably from 30% to 60% of a starting thickness of the corresponding non creased material. Such crease may be for example generated by a creasing rule applied onto a blank, permitting weakening the corresponding part of the blank in preparation for folding and obtaining the corresponding support element. A crease differs from a cut-through or from a partial cut-through in that the resulting cardboard material is depleted in the creased area but is neither completely (in case of a cut-through) or partially (in case of a partial cut) perforated across its thickness.
In some examples, the first primary folding region has a first primary folding region width along a direction parallel to the linear ridge, and the first secondary panel has a first secondary panel length along a direction perpendicular to the linear ridge, a ratio of the first primary folding region width to the first secondary panel length being of more than 1:1, preferably between 1.5:1 and 6:1, and more preferably between 3:1 and 5:1. Such a configuration permits maintaining a satisfactory structural integrity by avoiding excessive width to length ratios.
In some examples, as illustrated for example in
In some examples, the cardboard forming the panels has a stiffness of 1000 mN to 2000 mN, preferably 1250 mN to 1750 mN in order to help maintaining the structural integrity of such panels and of the support element itself. Stiffness may be measured for example according to ISO 2493, with a bending angle of 15 degrees, a bending length of 50 mm and a clamp rotation speed of 5 degrees per second as defined in ISO 2493. In some examples, the cardboard is a plain cardboard material. In some examples, the cardboard has a thickness of 600 micron to 1000 micron, preferably 800 micron to 900 micron, most preferably of 850 micron.
Example cardboard support element 400 further comprises a second secondary panel 429, the second secondary panel connecting the second primary panel to a second flap 423, whereby a second primary folding region 420 parallel to the linear ridge separates the second secondary panel from the second primary panel, and a second flap folding region 422 parallel to the linear ridge separates the second secondary panel from the second flap, the second primary folding region being parallel to the linear ridge, the second flap folding region having a second flap folding region folding factor and the second primary folding region having a second primary folding region folding factor, whereby the second secondary panel, second flap, second primary folding region, second flap folding region, second flap folding region folding factor and second primary folding region folding factor preferably mirror characteristics of the respective first secondary panel, first flap, first primary folding region, first flap folding region, first flap folding region folding factor and first primary folding region folding factor.
In some examples, a cardboard support element such as, for example, support element 400, may comprise a ridge folding region 408 parallel to the linear ridge which separates the first primary panel from the second primary panel, the ridge folding region having a ridge folding region folding factor, whereby the ridge folding region folding factor is larger than the first primary folding region folding factor, a ratio of the ridge folding region folding factor to the first primary folding region folding factor being of more than 1:1, preferably more than 1.25:1, more preferably of more than 1.5:1 and even more preferably between 1.5:1 and 2.1:1. Such a configuration provides a relatively strong ridge, which may for example resist pressure from a content located in a box such as box 71 illustrated in
In an example, the ridge folding factor, corresponding to angle α of
In some examples, a cardboard support element such as, for example, support element 400, may comprise a ridge folding region 408 parallel to the linear ridge which separates the first primary panel from the second primary panel, the ridge folding region having a ridge folding region folding factor of more than 20 mNm, preferably between 25 mNm and 50 mNm, more preferably between 30 mNm and 40 mNm. Such a configuration provides a relatively strong ridge, which may for example resist pressure from a content located in a box such as box 71 illustrated in
Example cardboard support element 500 further comprises a second secondary panel 529, the second secondary panel connecting the second primary panel to a second flap 523, whereby a second primary folding region 520 parallel to the linear ridge separates the second secondary panel from the second primary panel, and a second flap folding region 522 parallel to the linear ridge separates the second secondary panel from the second flap, the second primary folding region being parallel to the linear ridge, the second flap folding region having a second flap folding region folding factor and the second primary folding region having a second primary folding region folding factor, whereby the second secondary panel, second flap, second primary folding region, second flap folding region, second flap folding region folding factor and second primary folding region folding factor preferably mirror characteristics of the respective first secondary panel, first flap, first primary folding region, first flap folding region, first flap folding region folding factor and first primary folding region folding factor.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In some examples, the ridge folding region comprises a crease having a depth comprised in a range of 0.1 mm to 1 mm, more preferably between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm. In some examples the crease depth is from 20% to 80% preferably from 30% to 60% of a starting thickness of the corresponding non creased material. Such dimensioning permits precision folding while reducing pressure requisites from a creasing rule, thereby increasing available pressure from a creasing tool for other purposes such as forming various support elements on a single cardboard sheet.
As illustrated in
In this example, the lid is illustrated as comprising a single support element according to this disclosure. A lid according to this disclosure may however comprise one or more additional supports. Using one or more additional support elements may permit saving material while obtaining the effect of a support element on different sides of a lid. Using a single support element may permit compensating opposed forces on opposed sides of a lid on the single support element. In a preferred embodiment, a single support is used, use of a single support reducing manufacturing complexity. In another preferred embodiment, two support elements are used on a single lid, such two support element being placed against opposite flanks, such two support elements being substantially parallel to each other, such two support element having respective apex at the linear ridge which may be aligned or which may correspond to different relative positions, such respective apex being preferably aligned to correspond to positions of fingers of a consumer gripping the lid. The use of two support elements has the advantage of enabling use of less material than for a single support element, whereby the two support elements may be separated by a gap between the two support elements.
Detergent products are products which may be relatively heavy, for example when a container for such product is carrying the full weight of such detergent products, in particular when the consumer product is recently acquired and thereby holds a significant quantity of detergent product. While some consumers may lift and transport such a consumer product holding a base of a box containing such detergent product, such lifting and transport may also occur by holding such consumer product by a lid, without holding the base. In such cases, it is possible that the lid, submitted to the force of gravity of the detergent product, gets released and opens the box, the box falling and possibly spreading its content. Such situations should be avoided. Beyond avoiding such unintentional lid unlocking, the structure of the container of a consumer product should preserve or improve opening ergonomics and prevent or reduce a permanent side wall deformation upon excessive or repetitive application of forces applied to the consumer product, for example during transport, in a grocery shopping bag against other objects, when submitted to external pressure, or when dropped. At the same time, containers may be elaborated in order to preserve the environment. The consumer product according to this disclosure aims at taking these different aspects into account.
A consumer product should in this disclosure be understood as a product which is provided, among others, to end consumers. Such consumer products may for example be available for purchase in supermarkets and end consumers may store such consumer products in their homes. Consumer products may be provided in large quantities and should thereby be designed taking environmental concerns into account. Consumer products should also be designed taking transportation to a retail store into account. Consumer products should also be designed taking on the shelf storage in a retail store into account. Consumer products should also be designed taking transportation from a retail store to a consumer home into account. Consumer products should also be designed taking storage at a private end consumer home into account. Consumer products should also be designed taking use of the consumer product at a private end consumer home into account. Consumer products should also be designed taking disposal into account.
The consumer product according to this disclosure comprises a detergent product. Detergent products should be understood in this disclosure as products comprising a surfactant. Detergent products may also comprise a bleach or other ingredients. Example detergent product compositions are described in more detail herein. In some examples, the detergent product comprises unit dose detergent pouches, preferably water soluble unit dose detergent pouches, more preferably flexible water soluble unit dose detergent pouches. Example unit dose detergent pouches are described in more detail herein.
The consumer product according to this disclosure further comprises a container. A container should be understood in this disclosure as an object housing a content, for example in a cavity of the container. The container facilitates protection, transport, storage, access and disposal of the consumer product. In this disclosure, the container comprises a box. A box should be understood as a generally parallelepiped, barrel shaped, cylindrical, round, oval or cubical three dimensional object defining a cavity. The use of parallelepiped boxes may facilitate storage and transportation by permitting piling up boxes in a space efficient manner. In some examples, a box may be a parallelepiped provided with some rounded, tapered trapezium or chamfered edges. The box according to this disclosure comprises the detergent product. It should be understood that the detergent product is contained or stored in the box. The box according to this disclosure may comprise a base, sidewalls and an opening. A base according to this disclosure should be understood as a surface on which the box may lie when placed on a supporting surface such as a shelf or a floor. In some examples, the base is flat. In some examples, the base is rectangular. In some examples, the base is oval or round. In some examples, the base is flat. In some examples, the base has an embossed profile standing in or out in relief. The sidewalls according to this disclosure should be understood as extending from the base, and connecting the base to the opening, to a transition piece or to the lid. It should be understood that the connection of the base to the opening may include a transition piece in addition to a sidewall. A transition piece may be glued or otherwise attached to the sidewall for example. In some examples, the sidewalls are perpendicular to the base. In some examples, the base is rectangular and has four sides, four sidewalls extending perpendicular from the base, each sidewall being rectangular, each side wall being connected by a sidewall side to a side of the base, and by two other sidewall sides to two other of the four sidewalls. In some examples the base is oval or circular and the sidewalls form a generally cylindrical wall extending from the base in a direction normal or perpendicular to the base. In some examples, sidewalls have a shape corresponding to one of a square, a rectangle, a trapeze, a section of a sphere, a section of an ovoid, or a section of an ellipsoid. The opening according to this disclosure should be understood as an aperture providing access to the detergent product comprised in the box. In some examples, the opening faces the base. In some examples, the opening has a surface of less than the surface of the base. In some examples, the opening has a surface larger than the surface of the base in order to provide an improved access, for example using sidewalls extending from the base at angle of more than 90 degrees from the base. In some examples, the opening is provided after removal of a tamper proof feature, for example comprising a perforated piece to be removed at first use or a tamper evident sticker locking the lid to the box or tray. In some examples, the opening is placed on a top panel of the box, the top panel of the box facing the base of the box, the top panel of the box being separated from the base of the box by at least the sidewalls, the top panel of the box being generally coplanar with the base of the box, whereby the opening covers a portion of the top panel, the top panel comprising a peripheral section surrounding the opening, the peripheral section being a transition piece between a sidewall and the opening for example. In some examples, the opening is rectangular. In some examples, the opening is rectangular with rounded edges. In some examples, the opening is round or oval. The lid according to this disclosure should be understood as an element permitting to repeatedly close or open the opening of the container. In some examples the lid may be connected to the box, for example by a hinge, or may be separated from the box. The lid according to this disclosure may comprise a top and flanks. It should be understood that the top of the lid is aimed at covering the opening of the box when the lid is in a closed position. In some examples, the top of the lid is rectangular. In some examples the top of the lid is round, hexagonal, octagonal, or oval. In some examples, the lid comprises beveled edges. In some examples, the top of the lid is rectangular with rounded edges. It should be understood that while being named “top”, the top of the lid may be positioned in different orientations. The lid may comprise flanks. It should be understood that the flanks according to this disclosure are elements connected to the top of the lid and extending from the lid in order to engage one or more sidewalls of the box. The flanks participate in placing the top of the lid onto the opening. In some examples, the flanks extend perpendicularly from the top of the lid. In some examples, the flanks surround an entire perimeter of the top of the lid. In some examples, the flanks partially surround an entire perimeter of the top of the lid, a portion of the top of the lid being flankless. The top of the lid may cover the opening, and at least a portion of the flanks may cover at least a specific portion of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position, the lid being moveable from the closed position to an open position. Movement of the lid may be restrained by a connection to the box such as a hinge, or may be entirely removable, for example to provide an improved access to the content of the box. The box and lid cooperate to participate in fulfilling the role of the container to store, transport and facilitate access to the content of the container.
The container according to this disclosure comprises a lock such as lock 72 for example. A lock should be in this disclosure understood as a mechanism preventing or reducing the likelihood of an accidental opening. The lock according to this disclosure is to maintain the lid in a closed position. It should be understood that the lock according to this disclosure is expected to function under normal use of the container. It should be understood that the lock may not fulfill its function when for example unusual use is made of the box, or when the box is under unusual conditions. According to this disclosure, the lock comprises an actuator moveable from a locking position to an opening position by applying an actuation pressure onto the actuator when the lid is in the closed position. The actuator should be understood in this disclosure as a mechanical structure submitted to a movement upon actuation by an outside force or actuation pressure, such movement leading to the opening of the lock when such movement takes place. In some examples, the actuator according to this disclosure is resilient and has a default position, such default position corresponding to the lid remaining closed, the resilience being vanquished by an outside force or actuation pressure in order to open the lid. In some examples, the actuator is resilient in that the actuator comprises a flexible element, the flexible element having a default position corresponding to the lid remaining closed, the flexible element being pressed to open the lid, the flexible element springing back to the default position when releasing pressure. It should be understood that a pressure is generated by the application of a force onto a surface. The actuator according to this disclosure has at least two positions being an opening position and a locking position, whereby the opening position corresponds to a position permitting opening of the lid, the locking position preventing opening of the lid or reducing the possibility of an accidental opening of the lid.
The actuator according to this disclosure, such as actuator 73 for example, may be connected to a specific portion of sidewalls of the box, which may be a specific portion covered by at least a portion of the flanks when the lid is in the closed position, the actuator abutting against a locking tab of the flanks when in the locking position, the actuator being maintained away from the locking tab when in the opening position, the actuator being displaceable by the actuation pressure by an unlocking displacement distance in a direction normal to the specific portion of the sidewalls. The connection of the actuator to the specific portion of the sidewall is due to the actuator participating in locking or unlocking the specific portion of the sidewall from the portion of the flanks covering the specific portion of the sidewall, thereby permitting releasing the lid from the box. The flanks may comprise a locking tab. A locking tab should be understood as a mechanical element which interlocks with the actuator. In some examples the locking tab extends away from the flanks and may be in the form of a bulge, a ridge, an embossment or an additional material layer sticking out of the flanks of the lid and towards the specific portion of the side wall such that the actuator may abut against the tab when in the locking position to prevent separating the specific portion of the sidewalls from the flank in the area of the actuator. In some examples, the locking tab is comprised in the flank itself, the locking tab being for example formed by an aperture in the flanks. Abutment according to this disclosure should be understood as a contact between the actuator or part of the actuator and the tab, such contact preventing opening of the lid. The actuator is maintained away from the locking tab when in the opening position, in order to release the locking tab. Such release of the locking tab permits opening the lid. Displacement or movement of the actuator from the locking to the opening position is by application on the actuator (directly or indirectly) of an actuation pressure or force such that the actuator is displaced by a distance sufficient to supress contact of the actuator with the locking tab, such distance corresponding to the displacement distance, in a direction normal to the specific portion of the side wall. It should be understood that the force or pressure leading to the displacement may have a number of different directions, such different directions contributing to the displacement if a component of such force or pressure is in a direction normal to the specific portion of the side wall. Such force or pressure may also comprise a component which may be parallel to the side wall. The actuation is however triggered by a component of such force or pressure being normal to the portion of the side wall. Such presence of a component normal to the portion of the sidewall participates in the role of the lock of avoiding an accidental opening by lifting the container through lifting the lid by applying a force parallel to the sidewall, whereas desired opening would take place by the consumer “pushing” the actuator and apply the unlocking force or pressure permitting opening of the lid. In other words, while a consumer may apply a force on the actuator along a direction which may not be normal to the sidewall, if a component of such force is normal to the sidewall such component may participate in applying the pressure leading to the displacement.
Such a lock would participate in suppressing or reducing the risk of accidental opening of the lid while permitting desired opening by a consumer, the functioning of such a lock depending on ensuring that the actuator maintains abutting against the locking tab even in case of pulling strongly on the lid in a direction parallel to the side wall in order to transport or lift the consumer product. The avoidance or reduction of the risk of accidental opening would also apply to a force being applied in a direction parallel to the sidewalls for example by friction with another box located side to side with a box according to this disclosure, or by a box falling over during transportation, or by internal movements of the content of the box pushing the lid during transportation. Strong pulling in a direction parallel to the sidewall may however impact the structure of the sidewall, for example resulting in bending of the side wall, whereby such bending may produce undesired disengagement of the locking tab from the activator, due to the fact that the actuator is connected to the specific portion of the sidewall. This would lead to an undesired opening of the lid. Such undesired opening of the lid may be more likely if the sidewall is made of a material such as cardboard used to form the sidewalls, in particular when the box is a cardboard box.
In some examples, the lock is placed in a central area of a sidewall of the box. A central area should be understood as substantially equidistant from opposite edges of the sidewall concerned, such edges being along a direction normal to the base of the box. In such examples, it should be understood that the lock is located closest to an edge of the sidewall close to the opening than to an edge of the sidewall close to the base, while being in a central area in respect to the edges normal to the base. Such central location of the lock may participate in avoiding sliding of the lid from the box if the box is lifted by holding the lid by applying pressure onto the actuator, whereby such pressure presses the actuator against the support element centrally, thereby balancing the forces maintaining the connection between the lid and the box and participating in avoiding accidental opening. In some examples, the lock may be located on a sidewall and between two edges of the sidewall, such edges being normal to the base, the lock being closer to one edge than to the other edge of the two edges, for example located closer to the one edge at a ⅓ of the distance between the two edges. In some examples one sidewall may comprise two locks.
The present disclosure aims at resolving this apparent contradiction between, on one hand, the use of materials for the sidewalls which would resist accidental opening, and the use of materials for the sidewalls which are particularly environmentally friendly.
The container may be made from rigid cardboard material, flexible cardboard material or a mixture thereof. In some example, the material forming the box or the lid has a wall thickness of more than 300 microns and of less than 3 mm. In some example, the material forming the box or the lid has a wall thickness of more than 1 mm and of less than 2 mm. In some example, the material forming the box or the lid is folded on itself, for example to reinforce parts of or the whole of the box or the lid. The container may be made from paper materials, bio based material, bamboo fibres, cellulose fibres, cellulose based or fibre based materials, or a mixture thereof. The container may be made from materials comprising recycled materials, for example recycled cellulose fiber based materials.
The lid according to this disclosure indeed further comprises a support element as hereby described, the support element entering the opening when the lid is in the closed position, at least part of the specific portion of the sidewalls being located between the flanks and the support element when the lid is in the closed position, a clearance distance separating the sidewalls from one or both extremities of the linear ridge of the support element in a direction normal to the specific portion of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position and when no actuation pressure is applied, the clearance distance being reduced to zero by flexing of the specific portion of the sidewalls when the actuation pressure is applied above a pressure threshold when the lid is in the closed position. Both the support element and the flanks are structurally part of the lid, the support element and the flanks permitting sandwiching the specific portion of the sidewall, thereby preventing sinking in of the specific portion of the sidewall and undesired disengagement of the actuator from the locking tab. It is important to take note of the fact that in case of an actuation pressure being applied while lifting the box through the lid, the pressure applied will catch the sandwiched specific portion of the sidewall against the support element, thereby compensating a force of gravity which would otherwise disconnect the lid from the box, such compensation of the gravity force being through a resisting static friction force between the specific portion of the sidewall and the support element. In some examples, the use of the support element permits using for making the box a relatively flexible material, whereby such flexible material would flex in the absence of the support element to the point that the box would fall off if lifted by its lid. Permitting using a relatively flexible material also permits using a lesser quantity of such material due to the presence of the support element which compensates for such flexibility. The presence of such support element thereby prevents or reduces the risk of accidental opening even if the actuation pressure is applied onto the actuator of the lock, for example as the box is lifted while applying pressure on the actuator of the lock.
The support element may in some examples be made of the same material as a material used for making the top of the lid. In some examples the support element is made of a material different from the material used for the top of the lid. The support element enters the opening when the lid is in the closed position. Such entering the opening should be understood in that the support element comprises a support element portion which enters the opening when the lid is moved from the open to the closed position, and whereby such support element portion exits the opening when the lid is moved from the closed to the open position. At least part of the specific portion of the sidewalls is located between the flanks and the support element when the lid is in the closed position. This structure permits capturing the specific portion of the sidewall between the flanks and the support element, the specific portion of the sidewall getting inserted between the flanks and the support element when the lid moves from the open to the closed position, the specific portion of the side wall being released from between the flanks and the support element when the lid moves from the closed to the open position. A clearance distance separates the sidewalls from the support element in a direction normal to the specific portion of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position, such direction corresponding for example to a direction of the linear ridge, and when no actuation pressure is applied. Such clearance distance would exist on a first side, and be repeated additionally on a second side of the support element. Such clearance distance permits insertion of the support element through the opening as the lid gets closed, such that the support element does not collide with the specific portion of the sidewall when the lid gets closed. The clearance is reduced to zero by flexing of the specific portion of the sidewalls when the actuation pressure is applied above a pressure threshold when the lid is in the closed position. When such pressure threshold is reached, the sidewall lays against the support element through the clearance distance being reduced to zero, the sidewall thereby being prevented from being exceedingly distorted and being prevented from sinking in to the point of the actuator releasing the locking tab. The clearance distance according to this disclosure relates in some examples to a tolerance distance between the lid and the box which both permits placing the lid onto the box without undue difficulty, while avoiding that the lid be loose when in the closed position. While the clearance distance according to this disclosure is considered in a region of the lock, the tolerance distance between the lid and the box may be considered along an entire perimeter of the opening of the box. In some examples, the tolerance is of at least 0.1 mm and of less than 5 mm. In some examples the tolerance is of at least 1 mm and of less than 3 mm. Such tolerance would for example be measured when the lid is in the closed position and between an internal surface of the flanks and an external surface of the sidewalls, understanding that such tolerance may take a different value in a region of the lock.
In some examples, the clearance distance is of at least 1 mm and of less than 1 cm when the lid is in the closed position and no actuation pressure is applied. Such a range permits both easing the closing of the lid and preventing sinking of the specific portion of the sidewall leading to undesired unlocking. In some examples, the clearance distance is of at least 1.5 mm and of less than 0.5 cm when the lid is in the closed position and no actuation pressure is applied. In some examples, the clearance distance is of at least 2 mm and of less than 0.4 cm when the lid is in the closed position and no actuation pressure is applied.
In some examples, as for example illustrated in
In some examples, not illustrated here, the actuator comprises a patch glued to the specific portion of the sidewalls. Such patch may for example be a piece of material of the same nature as a material used for the making of the box or of the lid, such piece of material being for example glued to the box, the piece of material being structurally separate from the box, the piece of material interacting with the locking tab, the piece of material comprising for example a fold line defining a first part interacting with the locking tab and a second part glued to the box, thereby functioning as the flap hereby described.
In some examples such as illustrated in
The example consumer product 70 comprises a lock 72 as illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
In the example consumer product 70, actuation areas 604 and 605 are separated in a straight line from the outside surface of the respective flanks where they are located by a distance, whereby such distance is of more than 6 cm and of less than 12 cm. In some examples, the distance is of about 8 cm. In some examples, the distance is of more than 7.5 cm and of less than 8.5 cm. In some examples, the distance is of more than 8.4 cm and of less than 10.4 cm. In some examples, the distance is of more than 8.9 cm and of less than 9.9 cm. In some examples, the distance is of about 9.4 cm. In some examples, the clearance distances which separates the sidewalls from the support element are each of between 1 mm and 4 mm when no actuation pressure is applied. In some examples, the clearance distances are each of between 3 mm and 4 mm when no actuation pressure is applied.
In the example illustrated in
In some examples the flanks of the lid cover about 30% of the sidewalls of the box, 30% corresponding in this case to a ratio between on one hand a height of the flanks in a direction normal to both the top of the lid and the base of the box and on the other hand the height of the sidewalls in the direction normal to both the top of the lid and the base of the box. In an example, the flanks completely surround the sidewalls around the opening. Such coverage of the flanks participates in ensuring lid placement, structural resiliency and protection of the content. In some examples, the flanks cover at least 30% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. In some examples, the flanks cover at least 35% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. In some examples, the flanks cover at least 40% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. In some examples, the flanks cover at most 90% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. In some examples, the flanks cover at most 80% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. In some examples, the flanks cover at most 70% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. In some examples, a manufacturing process comprises providing different box sizes, for example boxes having a sidewall height of either 10 cm, 11.5 cm, 13.5 cm or 16 cm, whereby each box may be provided with a same lid fitting all box sizes provided, such as a lid having a flank height of 7 cm. In some examples, flank height is of more than 3 cm. In some examples, flank height is of more than 5 cm. In some examples, flank height is of more than 6 cm.
In some examples, different sizes of containers according to this disclosure may be available, such different sizes of containers having different lid sizes. In order to efficiently provide lids for such different containers, a kit may be provided, the kit comprising a plurality of different lids according to this disclosure, whereby the different lids differ in their length from first flank to second flank, the different lids comprising respective primary panels having a same size, the different lids comprising respective secondary panels having different sizes leading to the difference in length. In some examples, different lids in a same kit have respective primary panels having different sizes. It was found that while maintaining a same primary panel size would maintain reliable erection of the prism, a change of secondary panel size would not significantly impact such reliable erection, the lid size variability therefore preferably relying on variability of the secondary panel size. In some examples, the lid length from first flank to second flank is comprised between 100 and 350 mm. In some examples, the length of a cardboard structure of a support element according to this disclosure measured along a direction of a corresponding lid length is of between 20 and 120 mm.
Example dimensions for such blanks 81-83 are represented in blank 82 and are provided, in mm, for each of blanks 81, 82 and 83 in this order. D1 represents a complete length from first flap to second flap, along a direction perpendicular to the ridge, taking respective values of 278.26, 228.26 and 178.26. D2 represents a maximum width along a ridge direction, width which in this case corresponds to a width of the ridge folding region, taking a same value of 79.6 in the three blank examples. D3 represents a distance from distal end of the first flap to the start of the first flap folding region, or to a fold line of the first flap folding region closest to the distal end of the first flap, along a direction perpendicular to the ridge direction, taking a same value of 15.25 in the three blank examples. One should note that in these examples, the ridge folding region is a single ridge fold line which is a symmetry axis of each respective blank. D4 represents a distance from the first primary folding region, in this case a single ridge fold line, to the ridge fold line, along a direction perpendicular to the ridge direction, taking a respective value of 62.13, 62.1 and 51.5. D5 represents a distance between successive fold lines of a same flap folding region, in this case comprising three successive fold lines, spread across a direction perpendicular to the ridge direction, taking a value of 3.
While comprising panels having different dimensions, blanks 81-83 share folding regions having the same characteristic. Each one of the flap folding regions comprises three successive fold lines, parallel to each other and parallel to the ridge, each fold line having a length of 56.8 mm, each fold line comprising three cut-through areas spread along each fold line, summing 9 cut-throughs for each flap folding region, each cut-through having a length of 5 mm, each fold line further comprising a crease line at a crease depth of 0.5 mm summing 41.8 mm total crease length for each fold line, each of such flap folding region having a folding factor of about 40.7 mNm. Each one of the primary folding regions comprises a single fold line, parallel to the ridge, each fold line having a total length of 66.3 mm, each fold line comprising three cut-through summing 3 cut-throughs spread along each fold line, each cut-through having a length of about 13.4 mm, each fold line further comprising a crease line at a crease depth of 0.5 mm summing 26 mm total crease length for each fold line, each of such primary folding region having a folding factor of about 19 mNm. Each one of the ridge folding regions comprises a single fold line, each fold line having a total length of 79.6 mm, each fold line comprising three cut-through spread along each fold line, each cut-through having a length of 15 mm, each fold line further comprising a crease line at a crease depth of 0.5 mm summing 34.6 mm total crease length for each fold line, each of such ridge folding region having a folding factor of about 33.9 mNm.
It should be understood that while the distance dimensions of each of blanks 81-83 may be defined particularly precisely during manufacturing, some variability as to folding factor value is to be expected. Still, the specific configurations of number of fold lines per folding region or number of weakened area per folding regions hereby disclosed, in such examples or other examples, was found to provide significant predictability as to folding factor values, thereby avoiding or reducing cardboard waste and promoting consumer product reliability.
An example method of forming a plurality of planar support elements according to this disclosure from a single cardboard sheet as illustrated for example in
An example method to erect a lid according to this disclosure may comprise folding the first flank flap along the first flap folding region to form a flank of the lid, the folding of the first flank flap producing:
Such an example method is illustrated in
As illustrated in
In some examples, the consumer product comprises at least one water-soluble unit dose article and the container. The consumer product can be sold ‘as is’, in other words the consumer product is the item that the consumer picks up from the shelf. Alternatively, the consumer product could be housed as one unit of a multi-component product. For example, more than one consumer product could be housed within an outer package and the multiple packaged consumer products sold together in a single purchase. The consumer product may comprise aesthetic elements, for example shrink sleeves or labels attached to the container. Alternatively, the container may be coloured or printed with aesthetic elements or informative print such as usage instructions.
In some examples a water-soluble unit dose article comprises at least one water-soluble film orientated to create at least one-unit dose internal compartment, wherein the at least one-unit dose internal compartment comprises a detergent composition. The water-soluble film and the detergent composition are described in more detail below. In some examples the consumer product comprises at least one water-soluble unit dose article, in some cases at least two water-soluble unit dose articles, in some cases at least 10 water-soluble unit dose articles, in some cases at least 20 water-soluble unit dose articles, in some cases at least 30 water-soluble unit dose articles, in some cases at least 40 water-soluble unit dose articles, in some cases at least 45 water-soluble unit dose articles. A water-soluble unit dose article is in some examples in the form of a pouch. A water-soluble unit dose article comprises in some examples a unitary dose of a composition as a volume sufficient to provide a benefit in an end application. The water-soluble unit dose article comprises in some examples one water-soluble film shaped such that the unit-dose article comprises at least one internal compartment surrounded by the water-soluble film. The at least one compartment comprises a cleaning composition. The water-soluble film is sealed such that the cleaning composition does not leak out of the compartment during storage. However, upon addition of the water-soluble unit dose article to water, the water-soluble film dissolves and releases the contents of the internal compartment into the wash liquor. The unit dose article may comprise more than one compartment, at least two compartments, or at least three compartments, or at least four compartments, or even at least five compartments. The compartments may be arranged in superposed orientation, i.e. one positioned on top of the other. Alternatively, the compartments may be positioned in a side-by-side orientation, i.e. one orientated next to the other. The compartments may be orientated in a ‘tyre and rim’ arrangement, i.e. a first compartment is positioned next to a second compartment, but the first compartment at least partially surrounds the second compartment, but does not completely enclose the second compartment. Alternatively, one compartment may be completely enclosed within another compartment. In some examples the unit dose article comprises at least two compartments, one of the compartments being smaller than the other compartment. In some examples the unit dose article comprises at least three compartments, two of the compartments may be smaller than the third compartment, and in some examples the smaller compartments being superposed on the larger compartment. The superposed compartments are in some examples orientated side-by-side. In some examples each individual unit dose article may have a weight of between 10 g and 40 g, or even between 15 g and 35 g. The water soluble film may be soluble or dispersible in water. Prior to be being formed into a unit dose article, the water-soluble film has in some examples a thickness of from 20 to 150 micron, in other examples 35 to 125 micron, in further examples 50 to 110 micron, in yet further examples about 76 micron. Example water soluble film materials comprise polymeric materials. The film material can, for example, be obtained by casting, blow-moulding, extrusion or blown extrusion of the polymeric material. In some examples, the water-soluble film comprises polyvinyl alcohol polymer or copolymer, for example a blend of polyvinylalcohol polymers and/or polyvinylalcohol copolymers, for example selected from sulphonated and carboxylated anionic polyvinylalcohol copolymers especially carboxylated anionic polyvinylalcohol copolymers, for example a blend of a polyvinylalcohol homopolymer and a carboxylated anionic polyvinylalcohol copolymer. In some examples water soluble films are those supplied by Monosol under the trade references M8630, M8900, M8779, M8310. In some examples the film may be opaque, transparent or translucent. The film may comprise a printed area. The area of print may be achieved using techniques such as flexographic printing or inkjet printing. The film may comprise an aversive agent, for example a bittering agent. Suitable bittering agents include, but are not limited to, naringin, sucrose octaacetate, quinine hydrochloride, denatonium benzoate, or mixtures thereof. Example levels of aversive agent include, but are not limited to, 1 to 5000 ppm, 100 to 2500 ppm, or 250 to 2000 ppm. The water-soluble film or water-soluble unit dose article or both may be coated with a lubricating agent. In some examples, the lubricating agent is selected from talc, zinc oxide, silicas, siloxanes, zeolites, silicic acid, alumina, sodium sulphate, potassium sulphate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, sodium citrate, sodium tripolyphosphate, potassium citrate, potassium tripolyphosphate, calcium stearate, zinc stearate, magnesium stearate, starch, modified starches, clay, kaolin, gypsum, cyclodextrins or mixtures thereof.
In some examples the container comprises a first part, wherein the first part comprises a first compartment in which the at least one water-soluble unit dose article is contained. In some examples the first compartment comprises at least two water-soluble unit dose articles. The first compartment may comprise between 1 and 80 water-soluble unit dose articles, between 1 and 60 water-soluble unit dose articles, between 1 and 40 water-soluble unit dose articles, or between 1 and 20 water-soluble unit dose articles. The volume of the first compartment may be between 500 ml and 5000 ml, in some examples between 800 ml and 4000 ml.
In some examples the detergent product comprises a detergent composition. The detergent composition may be a laundry detergent composition, an automatic dishwashing composition, a hard surface cleaning composition, or a combination thereof. The detergent composition may comprise a solid, a liquid or a mixture thereof. The term liquid includes a gel, a solution, a dispersion, a paste, or a mixture thereof. The solid may be a powder. By powder we herein mean that the detergent composition may comprise solid particulates or may be a single homogenous solid. In some examples, the powder detergent composition comprises particles. This means that the powder detergent composition comprises individual solid particles as opposed to the solid being a single homogenous solid. The particles may be free-flowing or may be compacted. A laundry detergent composition can be used in a fabric hand wash operation or may be used in an automatic machine fabric wash operation, for example in an automatic machine fabric wash operation. Example laundry detergent compositions comprise a non-soap surfactant, wherein the non-soap surfactant comprises an anionic non-soap surfactant and a non-ionic surfactant. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 10% and 60%, or between 20% and 55% by weight of the laundry detergent composition of the non-soap surfactant. Example weight ratio of non-soap anionic surfactant to nonionic surfactant are from 1:1 to 20:1, from 1.5:1 to 17.5:1, from 2:1 to 15:1, or from 2.5:1 to 13:1. Example non-soap anionic surfactants comprises linear alkylbenzene sulphonate, alkyl sulphate or a mixture thereof. Example weight ratio of linear alkylbenzene sulphonate to alkyl sulphate are from 1:2 to 9:1, from 1:1 to 7:1, from 1:1 to 5:1, or from 1:1 to 4:1. Example linear alkylbenzene sulphonates are C10-C16 alkyl benzene sulfonic acids, or C11-C14 alkyl benzene sulfonic acids. By ‘linear’, we herein mean the alkyl group is linear. Example alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant may comprise alkoxylated alkyl sulphate or non-alkoxylated alkyl sulphate or a mixture thereof. Example alkoxylated alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant comprise an ethoxylated alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant. Example alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant may comprise an ethoxylated alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant with a mol average degree of ethoxylation from 1 to 5, from 1 to 3, or from 2 to 3. Example alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant may comprise a non-ethoxylated alkyl sulphate and an ethoxylated alkyl sulphate wherein the mol average degree of ethoxylation of the alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant is from 1 to 5, from 1 to 3, or from 2 to 3. Example alkyl fraction of the alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant are derived from fatty alcohols, oxo-synthesized alcohols, Guerbet alcohols, or mixtures thereof. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 10% and 50%, between 15% and 45%, between 20% and 40%, or between 30% and 40% by weight of the laundry detergent composition of the non-soap anionic surfactant. In some examples, the non-ionic surfactant is selected from alcohol alkoxylate, an oxo-synthesised alcohol alkoxylate, Guerbet alcohol alkoxylates, alkyl phenol alcohol alkoxylates, or a mixture thereof. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 0.01% and 10%, between 0.01% and 8%, between 0.1% and 6%, or between 0.15% and 5% by weight of the liquid laundry detergent composition of a non-ionic surfactant. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 1.5% and 20%, between 2% and 15%, between 3% and 10%, or between 4% and 8% by weight of the laundry detergent composition of soap, in some examples a fatty acid salt, in some examples an amine neutralized fatty acid salt, wherein in some examples the amine is an alkanolamine for example selected from monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine or a mixture thereof, in some examples monoethanolamine. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition is a liquid laundry detergent composition. In some examples the liquid laundry detergent composition comprises less than 15%, or less than 12% by weight of the liquid laundry detergent composition of water. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition is a liquid laundry detergent composition comprising a non-aqueous solvent selected from 1,2-propanediol, dipropylene glycol, tripropyleneglycol, glycerol, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol or a mixture thereof. In some examples, the liquid laundry detergent composition comprises between 10% and 40%, or between 15% and 30% by weight of the liquid laundry detergent composition of the non-aqueous solvent. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises a perfume. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises an adjunct ingredient selected from the group comprising builders including enzymes, citrate, bleach, bleach catalyst, dye, hueing dye, brightener, cleaning polymers including alkoxylated polyamines and polyethyleneimines, soil release polymer, surfactant, solvent, dye transfer inhibitors, chelant, encapsulated perfume, polycarboxylates, structurant, pH trimming agents, and mixtures thereof. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition has a pH between 6 and 10, between 6.5 and 8.9, or between 7 and 8, wherein the pH of the laundry detergent composition is measured as a 10% product concentration in demineralized water at 20° C. When liquid, the laundry detergent composition may be Newtonian or non-Newtonian. In some examples, the liquid laundry detergent composition is non-Newtonian. Without wishing to be bound by theory, a non-Newtonian liquid has properties that differ from those of a Newtonian liquid, more specifically, the viscosity of non-Newtonian liquids is dependent on shear rate, while a Newtonian liquid has a constant viscosity independent of the applied shear rate. The decreased viscosity upon shear application for non-Newtonian liquids is thought to further facilitate liquid detergent dissolution. The liquid laundry detergent composition described herein can have any suitable viscosity depending on factors such as formulated ingredients and purpose of the composition.
This disclosure further comprises the following examples:
A cardboard support element for a cardboard container, the support element comprising:
The support element according Example A, whereby the first flap folding region has a first flap folding region width along a direction parallel to the linear ridge, whereby the first primary folding region has a first primary folding region width along a direction parallel to the linear ridge, and whereby the first flap folding region width is equal to or shorter than the first primary folding region width, a ratio of the first flap folding region width to the first primary folding region width being preferably of less than 1:1, more preferably less than 1:1.1, even more preferably of less than 1:1.15 and even more preferably between 1:1.15 and 1:1.25.
The support element according to any of Examples A or B, whereby one or both of the first flap folding region and of the first primary folding region comprises more than one weakened area spread across a direction parallel to the linear ridge, preferably more than two weakened area spread across a direction parallel to the linear ridge, more preferably between 2 and 5 weakened areas spread across a direction parallel to the linear ridge, most preferably 3 weakened areas spread across a direction parallel to the linear ridge.
The support element according to any of Examples A to C, whereby the first flap folding region comprises one or more first flap fold lines along a direction parallel to the linear ridge, preferably between 2 and 4 first flap fold lines along a direction parallel to the linear ridge, more preferably 3 first flap fold lines along a direction parallel to the linear ridge.
The support element according to any of Examples A to D, whereby the first primary folding region and the first flap folding region comprise a crease having a depth comprised in a range of 0.1 mm to 1 mm, more preferably between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm. In some examples the crease depth is from 20% to 80% preferably from 30% to 60% of a starting thickness of the corresponding non creased material Example F:
The support element according to any of Examples A to E, whereby the first primary folding region has a first primary folding region width along a direction parallel to the linear ridge, and whereby the first secondary panel has a first secondary panel length along a direction perpendicular to the linear ridge, a ratio of the first primary folding region width to the first secondary panel length being of more than 1:1, preferably between 1.5:1 and 6:1, and more preferably between 3:1 and 5:1.
The support element according to any of Examples A to F, whereby the first secondary panel comprises no more than 2 reinforcing ribs substantially perpendicular to the linear ridge, and preferably lacks reinforcing ribs substantially perpendicular to the linear ridge.
The support element according to any of Examples A to G, further comprising a second secondary panel, the second secondary panel connecting the second primary panel to a second flap, whereby a second primary folding region parallel to the linear ridge separates the second secondary panel from the second primary panel, and a second flap folding region parallel to the linear ridge separates the second secondary panel from the second flap, the second primary folding region being parallel to the linear ridge, whereby the second secondary panel, second flap, second primary folding region and second flap folding region preferably mirror characteristics of the respective first secondary panel, first flap, first primary folding region and first flap folding region.
The support element according to Example H, whereby the ridge folding region comprises one or more ridge folding region weakened areas, and whereby the one or more ridge folding region weakened areas represent along a direction parallel to the linear ridge a ratio of more than 1:2 in relation to a total ridge folding region width, preferably a ratio between 1:1.6 and 1:1.9, more preferably a ratio between 1:1.7 and 1:1.8.
The support element according to any of Examples H or I, whereby the ridge folding region has a ridge folding region width along a direction parallel to the linear ridge, whereby the first primary folding region has a first primary folding region width along a direction parallel to the linear ridge, and whereby the ridge folding region width is larger than the first primary folding region width, a ratio of the first primary folding region width to the first primary folding region width being of more than 1:1, preferably of more than 1.1:1, more preferably of between 1.1:1 and 1.3:1.
The support element according to any of Examples H to J, whereby the ridge folding region comprises more than one weakened area spread across a direction parallel to the linear ridge, preferably more than two weakened area spread across a direction parallel to the linear ridge, more preferably between 2 and 5 weakened areas spread across a direction parallel to the linear ridge, most preferably 3 weakened areas spread across a direction parallel to the linear ridge.
The support element according to any of Examples H to K, whereby the ridge folding region comprises a crease having a depth comprised in a range of 0.1 mm to 1 mm, more preferably between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm.
In some examples the crease depth is from 20% to 80% preferably from 30% to 60% of a starting thickness of the corresponding non creased material.
The support element according to any of Examples A to L, whereby one or more of the folding regions comprises a single fold line, preferably whereby the ridge folding region and the primary folding regions comprise a single fold line.
The support element according to any of Examples A to M, whereby the cardboard forming the panels has a stiffness of 1000 mN to 2000 mN, preferably 1250 mN to 1750 mN.
A lid for a cardboard container comprising a detergent product, the lid comprising a support element according to any of the Examples A to N, whereby the lid preferably comprises a top and flanks, the top being parallel to the base plane, the first flap being affixed to a first flank of the flanks, the support element preferably comprising a second flap connected to the cardboard structure and extended in a direction normal to the base plane or parallel to the base plane, the second flap being either affixed to the top or to a second flank of the flanks, the first flank being opposite to the second flank.
A consumer product comprising a detergent product and a container, the container comprising a box and a lid according to Example O, the box comprising a lock to maintain the lid in a closed position, the lock comprising an actuator facing the linear ridge when the lid is in the closed position, the cardboard structure fitting within the box when the lid is in the closed position.
A kit comprising a plurality of different lids according to Example O, whereby the different lids differ in their length from first flank to second flank, the different lids comprising respective primary panels having a same size, the different lids comprising respective secondary panels having different sizes leading to the difference in length.
A planar support element blank for a support element according to any of Examples H to N, the blank comprising a first flap, a first flap folding region, a first secondary panel, a first primary folding region, a first primary panel, a ridge folding region, a second primary panel, a second primary folding region, a second secondary panel, a second flap folding region and a second flap following each other in this order.
A single cardboard sheet comprising a plurality of planar support element blanks according to Example R.
A method of forming a plurality of planar support elements according to Example R from a single cardboard sheet according to Example S, the method comprising punching the single cardboard sheet, whereby the punching of the single cardboard sheet preferably comprises forming all folding regions using a combination of cutting and creasing rules on a same face of the single cardboard sheet.
A method to erect a lid according to Example 0, the method comprising folding the first flank flap along the first flap folding region to form a flank of the lid, the folding of the first flank flap producing:
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 and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or benefit thereof, 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 invention 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 invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or benefit thereof, 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 invention 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 invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22167961.6 | Apr 2022 | EP | regional |
