Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BP~8182-001
- l- 21~176~
Title: CONSUMER PACK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the consumer
packaging art and has been devised primarily, though not
exclusively, in connection with the packaging of food
products such as cereals and the like in cartons.
R~c~-RQuND OF THE INVENTION
Referring by way of example to the packaging of
cereals, there is a demand for larger than normal size
cartons of cereals to be sold in warehouse-style stores.
A problem with making large cartons is that it is usually
necessary to use a thick cardboard stock to ensure that
the carton has adequate strength to withstand normal
handling, stacking, etc. prior to and at the point of
sale. Even the use of thick stock often does not prevent
damage, for example to the tops or bottoms of cartons due
to the large unsupported area of cardboard that is
presented between the corner edges of the carton.
Freshness of the contained product is also a
concern. Typically, an inner bag is used in the carton.
The problem is that, once the bag has been opened, the
product may lose its freshness if not consumed within a
relatively short period of time. This concern has led to
the need to use several individually sealed inner bags
within a single large carton. The disadvantage with-this
approach is that the large carton usually is not discarded
until the last bag has been used, which wastes cupboard
space.
Problems can also arise from the marketing
standpoint. While large size cartons can be provided to
satisfy the requirements of warehouse-style retailers,
normal marketing practice would suggest that those same
size cartons should also be made available to other more
traditional retailers. That in turn can lead to retailer
and/or consumer dissatisfaction. For example, a
traditional retailer may not sell sufficient large size
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cartons to ensure that appropriate shelf life can be
maintained. Equally, a typical customer for such a
retailer may not consume the product sufficiently quickly
that the product will remain fresh right to the end.
SUMMARY OF THE lNv~r.llON
An object of the present invention is to provide
a consumer pack that addresses these concerns.
The pack provided by the invention comprises two
individual containers each of which contains a consumer
product and comprises a self-cont~ine~ package. The
containers are of the same size and shape and each has a
front, a back, and two end faces. The containers are
secured together back-to-back so that the pack can be
handled as a unit while allowing the containers to be
separated after sale to permit consumption of product from
each container independently of the other. The end faces
of ~he respective containers co-operate to form
substantially contiguous surfaces at opposite ends of the
pack and are provided with graphics indicia which are
visually acceptable on the containers individually. At
the same time, in the assembled pack, the graphics indicia
on each container co-operate with the corresponding
indicia on the other container to form composite graphics
on each end face of the pack which gives the pack overall
the appearance of a double-size container.
The pack of the form provided by the invention
has the advantage that it is in effect "assembled" from
two individual contAiners, each of which is a self-
contained, stand alone package. In some ~urisdictions,
this may mean that a supplier of, say, a packaged cereal
product need make available only one size of container
which can be sold either by itself or in combination with
a second similar container in the form of the consumer
pack of the invention. Retailers can then be provided
with regular size individual containers or, in effect,
large containers made up from two of the individual
cont~iners. It is not necessary for the supplier to
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provide two completely different containers. In other
jurisdictions, this may not be possible without
relabelling, due to packaging and labelling requirements.
Even then, the individual containers from one dual
container pack can be stored individually and their
contents consumed individually. Each container can be
discarded after its contents have been used up, saving on
cupboard space.
When two containers are secured together to form
the consumer pack, the pack is sufficiently strong and
robust to resist normal handling, stacking, etc. without
damage. The two container backs in effect combine to
provide a strong centre "wall' at the middle of the pack.
Freshness is also safeguarded because the
containers can be opened and their contents consumed
individually.
Preferably, the containers are identical and
contain the same product, although neither of these
requirements is essential.
Typically, the individual containers will be
rectangular paperboard or corrugated cartons.
Alternatively, moulded plastic containers or cans could be
used. For ease of securing the individual containers
together, and in the interest of uniformity of the
resulting pack, the containers are preferably of
rectangular box-shape although again that is not
essential.
It should also be noted that even larger packs
can be provided by in effect multiplying the two container
pack defined above. For example, two or even more pairs
of cont~iners could be secured together. However, this
would have the disadvantage that at least some of the
containers would then have to be secured together with
their respective fronts in abutment, which could lead to
damage when those containers are separated (depending on
the type of securing means used).
Preferably, at least where the contAiners are
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cardboard cartons, hot-melt adhesive is used as the
securing means. The adhesive preferably is applied in
discrete spots or bands and is applied so as to avoid or
minimize damage to the cartons when they are separated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more clearly
understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings which illustrate a particular preferred
embodiment of the invention by way of example, and in
which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a consumer pack
assembled from two cardboard cereal cartons in accordance
with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the
carton blanks used to make the cartons shown in Fig. 1;
and,
Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view
illustrating assembly of two individual cartons to make
the pack of Fig. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to Fig. 1, the consumer pack of
the invention is generally denoted by reference numeral 20
and comprises two individual cartons each denoted 22. The
cartons 22 are essentially conventional cardboard cartons
each made from a blank such as that shown in Fig. 2 and
are identical. Each carton has an inner bag (not shown)
cont~ining cereal. The individual cartons 22 together
with their contents are self-contained packages if
separate from the pack. Each of the cartons has a front
24, a back 26 (only the edges of which are visible) and
two parallel end faces 28 and 30.
In accordance with the invention, the two
cartons are secured together back-to-back using hot-melt
adhesive which is preferably applied in the manner shown
in Fig. 3 (to be described). The resulting pack can be
handled as a unit while allowing the containers to be
separated after sale, for example by pulling the cartons
2131 765
apart to permit consumption of product from each container
independently of the other.
The end faces 28 and 30 of the respective
cartons co-operate to form substantially contiguous
surfaces at opposite ends of the pack for example as can
be seen at the right hand side of Fig. 1. The two end
faces of the same carton have different graphics indicia
as can be seen on the end faces 28 and 30. The indicia
are designed to be visually acceptable if the cartons are
separated and to co-operate with the corresponding indicia
on the other carton to form composite graphics on each
face of the pack, so that the pack overall has the
appearance of a double-size carton.
In the embodiment of Fig. 1, it will be seen
that the front 24 of each carton (the cartons being
- identical) bears a nonexact graphic representation 32 of
Rellogg's three trademarked characters SNAP, CRACRLE and
POP 0 34 grouped around a bowl 36 of cereal by way of
example. The end face 30 of both cartons each carry the
same graphics indicia 38 comprising the left-hand half of
the graphic 32, while the other end face 28 of each carton
carries the right-hand half of the same graphic as shown
at 40. If the cartons 22 are separated, the respective
graphics indicia 38 and 40 on the two end faces of each
carton would be different but visually acceptable. When
the two cartons are assembled together into a large pack,
the end faces of the respective cartons in effect become
contiguous and the two graphics halves 38 and 40 match up
to form a composite graphic. This gives the pack overall
a unitary and "finished" appearance so that the pack
resembles a single double-size carton.
Fig. 2 shows a container blank 42 for forming
the containers 22 of Fig. 1. The blank is die-cut from
appropriate card stock and includes appropriate flaps and
fold lines, generally as is conventional in cartons for
cereals. Briefly, the blank includes a series of main
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rectangular panels arranged in a row and comprising, in
sequence, a left-hand end panel 44, a front panel 46, a
right-hand end panel 48 and a back panel 50. A thin
- rectangular glue tab 52 extends along the outer edge of
back panel 50. Fold lines between these panels allow the
blank to be formed into a generally tubular shape and
secured by gluing tab 52 inside the outer edge of end
panel 44. End tabs generally indicated at 54 and 56
respectively are then folded in and interlocked to form
the top and bottom ends of the carton.
Fig. 2 clearly illustrates the provision of
matching graphics indicia 38 and 40 on the respective
panels 44 and 48 of the blank that form the end faces 28
and 30 in the assembled carton. Fig. 2 also shows that
the panel 50 that forms the back 26 of the carton is
plain.
It should of course be understood that the
particular graphics shown are given by way of example only
and are not limiting. The graphics indicia on the end
faces of the carton need not be partial reproductions of
or even related to any graphics on the front of the
carton. The end face indicia should be selected so as to
be visually acceptable if the carton is to be sold
individually and to be complimentary in the sense that
they fit together to form a composite graphic when two
containers are secured together back-to-back, so that the
pack overall has the appearance of a double-size
cont~iner. The indicia on any one carton may be the same
on both end faces.
It should also be noted that the term "graphics
indicia~ is intended to be construed broadly and includes
not only character representations but also abstract
design elements, and letter and number combinations.
Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates the manner
in which the two cartons 22 of Fig. 1 are secured together
back-to-back. For ease of illustration, the graphics
shown in Figs. 1 and 2 have been omitted and the cartons
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shown in outline form only. It should also be noted that
the particular orientation of the containers shown in Fig.
3 is for illustration purposes only. In practice, the
process would be performed using automated packaging
S machinery in which the containers might well be oriented
differently.
Fig. 3 shows the two containers positioned at a
spacing from one another with their respective backs 26
opposed to one another. Hot-melt adhesive is applied,
usually to only one of the two cartons in a pair, in
adhesive zones which are represented by the areas
indicated in ghost outline at 58 and 60. The zones are
essentially narrow rectangular areas across the top and
bottom of the back of the box. The zones are deliberately
spaced from both the end panels 44 and 48 and from the top
and bottom flaps of the box and are plain and unprinted so
as to avoid any possibility of ~colour bleed" from the
printed surfaces. In a practical example, each zone 58,
60 may be spaced one eighth of an inch from the relevant
top or bottom face and one quarter of an inch from each
end face. The zone itself may have a width of seven
eighths of an inch.
Within each adhesive zone, individual spots or
beads 62, 64 of hot-melt adhesive are applied in three
discrete areas spaced along the zone. Again, in a
practical example, the beads may each be two inches long
and spaced by one and a half inches. The adhesive beads
are applied to one carton of the pair and the two cartons
are then brought together as indicated by the arrows 66
and 68 and held in contact for sufficient time to allow
the glue to set.
It has been found in practice that the use of
hot-melt adhesive secures the two cartons together
adequately while at the same time allowing them to be
pulled apart after purchase without serious damage to
either carton. Ideally, the adhesive should pull cleanly
away from one of the cartons without damaging its surface.
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At the same time, the particular configuration of adhesive
spots shown in Fig. 3, while preferred, is given by way of
example only and without limitation.
It should further be noted that other forms of
securing means could be used although they do have
disadvantages. For example a "cold" adhesive such as
contact adhesive could be used but generally would be
slower to set and would therefore require the cartons to
be maintained in contact under pressure for some time.
External wrapping by means of tape, shrink-wrap film or
the like could also be used but has the disadvantage that
the wrapping material becomes a disposal problem once it
has been removed and cannot be recycled. Also, from the
manufacturer's viewpoint, shrink-wrapping or the like
requires a significant extra step in the packaging process
and might even have to be carried out by an outside "co-
packaging" house. In contrast, hot-melt adhesive can be
applied relatively easily on an existing packaging line
with minimal "add on" equipment. The cartons, including
the hot-melt adhesive, are environmentally friendly and
can be recycled for recovery and re-use of the paper
fibre.
In summary, the present invention provides a
consumer pack which is attractive both to the retailer and
to the end consumer and which can be assembled using what
are essentially conventional cartons with special
graphics.
