Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PACKAGING
The invention relates to packaging for moisture-
sensitive material or material containing volatile
ingredients; in particular consumer products, such as water
softeners or detergent compositions.
Commonly, moisture-sensitive materials, such as
detergent material, enzymes, bleach systems or water-
softening actives are found in consumer products e.g.
powder, granules, tablets or other compositions that may be
contained in sachets (which sachets are either soluble or
not), are packaged in containers made of cardboard material
with a lining of water-impermeable sheet material to protect
the contents from absorption of water from the atmosphere.
However, the user has to make sure that the packaging is
closed again after usage. If not, the moisture-sensitive
material can chemically degrade potentially affecting the
activity of ingredients or suffer a negative impact on its
physical properties (i.e. resistance, solubility, appearance
etc). Additionally, there may be a substantial loss of
volatile material such as perfume from the material, when
the container is not tightly closed.
Although this negative impact of moisture ingress is
undesirable in general, it is particularly problematic in
the case of products not individually wrapped in a moisture
isolating film or even worse in the case of products
packaged in permeable packaging such as water-soluble
monodose sachets, for instance in PVOH sachets, or non-woven
water insoluble sachets. Such water-soluble sachets can get
sticky when absorbing water from the atmosphere, and can
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therefore adhere to each other. When trying to separate such
adhered sachets, the water-soluble film material can be
destroyed. Moreover, undesirable loss of water from the
contents of some products may be another problem if they are
not contained in a watertight packaging, such as liquid
containing consumer products with permeable membranes, e.g.
air-fresheners. Many such products are stored in cardboard
boxes alone or with inner water impermeable sheets, but have
little or no means for closing the box once the box is opened.
Typically, if present, the box closure will be in the form of
two flaps that can inter-engage, i.e. like a cereal box.
An aim of some embodiments of the present invention
is therefore to provide packaging which may encourage the
consumer to close the packaging and which may provide some
moisture barrier properties. A further aim of some embodiments
is to provide packaging which may facilitate access to the
contents of the packaging, even if the contents are closely
stacked within the packaging.
According to an embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material or
material containing volatile ingredients, the packaging
comprising an inner water-impermeable means for enclosing said
material and an outer container comprising a base panel from
which a front panel and rear and side panels extend upwardly
and a lid hingedly carried at the top of the rear panel,
wherein the front panel is provided at its upper edge with one
of a flexible flap or a lip and the front of the lid is
provided with the other of an upstanding flexible flap or a lip
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and wherein said flap is arranged to engage with said lip to
hold the lid in a closed position, wherein the front panel
bulges forwardly, and wherein the packaging is expandable on
insertion of said materials and wherein the front panel is
provided at its upper edge with the flap and the lid is
provided with the lip.
According to a first aspect the present invention
there is provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material or
material containing volatile ingredients, the packaging
comprising an inner water-impermeable means for enclosing said
material and an outer container comprising a base panel from
which a front panel and rear and side panels extend upwardly
and a lid carried at the top of the rear panel, wherein the
front panel is provided at its upper edge with one of a
flexible flap or a lip and the front of the lid is provided
with the other of an upstanding flexible flap or a lip and
wherein said flap is arranged to engage with said lip to hold
the lid in a closed position.
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Suitably, the outer container comprises a rear panel
and two side panels. The base panel may thus be generally
rectangular. The outer container may alternatively comprise
a generally triangular base panel and a single side panel
such that the "rear" panel adjoins the front panel and the
side panel. Alternatively, the outer container may comprise
more than two side panels.
Suitably, the side panels have expandable portions
allowing the front panel to be moved from a closed position,
in which it is held by the lid, to an open position, when
the lid is opened, in which open position it is further from
the rear panel than the closed position.
Suitably, the front panel is provided at its upper edge
with an upstanding flexible flap which is arranged to engage
with a lip on the front of the lid to hold the lid in a
closed position.
Suitably, the inner water-impermeable means comprises a
sheet for enclosing the moisture-sensitive material.
Suitably, the inner water-impermeable means comprises a
water impermeable pack which may be formed from a sheet.
Suitably, the water-impermeable pack comprises a
removable bag.
Suitably, the packaging comprises a packaging for
moisture-sensitive material and comprises inner water-
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impermeable means for enclosing the moisture-sensitive
material.
According to one embodiment of the invention there is
provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material, in
particular consumer products, the packaging comprising an
inner water-impermeable sheet for enclosing the moisture-
sensitive material, and an outer container comprising a base
panel from which a front panel, rear panel and two side
panels extend upwardly and a lid carried by the top of the
rear panel, wherein the side panels have expandable portions
allowing the front panel to be moved from a closed position
in which it is held by the lid to an open position when the
lid is opened in which it is further from the rear panel
than the closed position, and wherein the front panel is
provided at its upper edge with an upstanding flexible flap
which is arranged to engage with a lip on the front of the
lid to hold the lid in a closed position.
According to another embodiment of the invention there
is provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material, in
particular consumer products, the packaging comprising an
inner water-impermeable sheet for enclosing the moisture-
sensitive material, and an outer container comprising a base
panel from which a front panel, rear panel and two side
panels extend upwardly, and a lid carried by the top of the
rear panel, wherein the front panel is provided at its upper
edge with an upstanding flexible flap which is arranged to
engage with a lip on the front of the lid to hold the lid in
a closed position.
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Suitably, the interengaging arrangement of flap and lip
provides a "snap" closure which may be felt and/or heard by
the consumer when the lid is fully closed. This suitably
provides an agreeable feeling for the consumer that serves
to positively reinforce the need to close the lid. Also the
mechanism suitably serves to positively retain the lid in
place thereby preventing accidental opening and providing an
impediment to moisture ingress. The use of flexible side
panels may allow the front of the box to be pulled forward
thereby increasing the interior space of the box. This may
provide improved access to the contents of the box in
general, and may be particularly useful if the contents of
the packaging are closely stacked.
The expandable portions of the side panels may take the
form of separate panels of flexible material. However,
preferably, they are provided by folded portions which are
arranged to unfold to a degree as the front panel is pulled
forward.
Suitably the outer container is arranged such that the
front panel can be squeezed towards the rear panel to cause
its upper edge to move toward the rear panel such that the
flap and lip can be brought out of engagement with one
another to allow the lid to open or be opened.
Suitably an outer container having two sides is
arranged such that the side panels can be squeezed towards
each other to cause its upper edge to move toward the rear
panel such that the flap and lip can be brought out of
engagement with one another to allow the lid to open or be
opened.
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Suitably, the outer container may comprise curved side
and/or front and/or rear and/or base panels. In particular,
this feature may be present if the container does not have
expanding sides.
Suitably, one or more of the front, rear, side or base
panels are provided with one or more curved edges. In such
an embodiment it is preferred that edges separating the
front panel from two side panels are curved. Preferably the
other edges are straight.
Suitably, the outer container comprises a front panel
which curves such that a portion of the front panel lies
further from the rear panel than does the edge of the front
panel which adjoins the base panel.
Preferably, the side panels may have a bevelled
portion, adjacent the edges of the front panel, caused by
distortion of the material of the container.
Suitably the front panel may be caused to bulge
outwardly, especially at a mid portion thereof.
Suitably, the front panel has a width in a side to side
direction of the container which decreases from the base
towards a mid portion of the front panel and which increases
again towards an upper edge of the front panel opposed to
the base. The front panel may thus have an "hour-glass"
shape. The side panels may thus be caused to curve, for
example be bevelled, at their join with the front panel.
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Suitably, the front panel adjoins each side panel at a
fold line created in a sheet material from which the outer
container is formed. In the embodiment just described the
fold lines adjoining the front panel and the side panels are
curved; by means of the curved fold lines the front panel
may bulge and the region of each side panel adjacent to the
fold line may be bevelled.
Suitably, the outer container comprises a card
material. Preferably it is a solid board box.
Suitably, the outer container is arranged such that, in
use, the front panel may be depressed (i.e. the front panel
may be squeezed towards the rear panel), or the side walls
be squeezed towards each other, to cause the container to
deform such that the flap and lip may disengage to
facilitate opening of the lid. Preferably the outer
container is designed such that when the flap and lip
disengage, the lid rises automatically i.e. without any need
itself to be grasped.
The provision of curved side and/or front and/or rear
panels and/or edges may allow for the inner water
impermeable means to be readily received within the outer
container. For example, the inner water-impermeable means
may comprise a sealed packet housing water-sensitive
material and optionally a protective gas. The shape and
design of the outer container may allow a greater degree of
deformation of a corresponding container having a
rectilinear form and this may make it easier to insert the
packet into the container. The non-rectilinear form may
also reduce the likelihood of air becoming trapped between
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the packet and base of the container and hindering the
packets insertion into the container.
The lid suitably has a downwardly depending rim or
skirt bearing the lip or flap.
Preferably, the lid has a downwardly depending rim or
skirt in which the lip is formed. The lip may be formed by
any suitable means, such as an additional component fixed to
the lid, or a raised portion pressed into the lid. However
more preferably, the lip is formed by one or more flaps
which are extensions of one or more portions forming the rim
of the lid which are folded into a position in which they
form the lip.
Preferably, the flap has a curved configuration,
arranged so that, upon opening of the lid, the curved flap
is pulled by the lip into a more planar configuration before
further movement of the lid causes its disengagement from
the lip. This may provide a force against opening of the
lid which initially increases on first movement of the lip
and is then quickly released. In the closed position, the
flap is suitably flattened by the lid against the front
panel and normally curved nature of the flap causes it to
exert a retaining force on the lid, which may thereby ensure
that it maintains its engagement with the lip.
Suitably, the packaging houses moisture-sensitive
material.
Suitably, the moisture sensitive material comprises a
plurality of discreet items. The moisture sensitive
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material may comprise a moisture sensitive composition
provided in sachets for example.
Suitably, the moisture sensitive material contains
water softening ingredients.
The inner water-impermeable means suitably comprises a
sealed packet. In use, the packet may be breached and an
item removed therefrom. The packet may subsequently have an
opening through which water and in particular atmospheric
moisture can permeate. The construction of the outer
container may though minimise the amount of atmospheric
moisture which can travel to this opening. This may be
because the construction may increase the likelihood of a
consumer closing the lid and may provide an improved
closure. Items remaining within the packet may thus be
better protected from atmospheric moisture than would
otherwise be the case.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention
there is provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material
or material containing volatile ingredients, the packaging
comprising an inner water-impermeable means for enclosing
said material and an outer container comprising a base panel
from which a front panel and rear and side panels extend
upwardly and a lid at the top of the rear panel, wherein the
front panel has inwardly curved edges, between the base
panel and its upper edge, wherein the front panel bulges
forwardly at least when the outer container contains said
materials.
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Preferably the lid is a flip-top lid, and most
preferably (but not essentially, in this embodiment) a lid
arranged to engage the front panel as described and defined
above.
In other respects the preferred features of the
packaging are as described above.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is
provided a packaged product comprising packaging according
to the first aspect and moisture-sensitive material or
material containing volatile ingredients housed therein.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention
there is provided a method of protecting moisture-sensitive
material or material containing volatile ingredients, in
particular consumer products, comprising storing the
moisture sensitive material or material containing volatile
ingredients in packaging according to any earlier aspect.
Preferably, the method comprises protecting moisture-
sensitive material. The method may for example comprise
protecting material comprising water softening ingredients.
Suitably the method comprises storing the moisture
sensitive material in packaging comprising an inner water-
impermeable sheet for enclosing the moisture-sensitive
material, and an outer container comprising a base panel
from which a front panel, rear panel and two side panels
extend upwardly, and a lid carried by the top of the rear
panel, wherein the front panel is provided at its upper edge
with an upstanding flexible flap which is arranged to engage
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with a lip on the front of the lid to hold the lid in a
closed position.
The above method may additionally utilise packaging
wherein the side panels have expandable portions allowing
the front panel to be moved from a closed position in which
it is held by the lid to an open position when the lid is
opened which is further from the rear panel than the closed
position.
Examples of packaging in accordance with the present
invention will now be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first example;
Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a second example with
the lid closed;
Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the second example
from the opposite side with the lid open;
Fig. 20 is a plan view of the blank on which the box of
the second example is formed;
Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a third example with
the lid open;
Fig. 33 is a perspective view of the third example with
the lid closed;
Fig. 30 is a front view of the third example; and
Fig. 3D is a side view of the third example.
The packaging of the present invention comprises an
Outer box 1 as shown in Fig. 1. This contains an inner
water impermeable packaging (not shown) which will either
contain all of the contents of the box, or will contain
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individual products within the box. Alternatively, the
contents of the box may be divided between a number of inner
packaging members. For example, in the case of sachets
containing water-softening products for use in a washing
machine, the sachets may be packaged in two water
impermeable packs so that half of the contents of the
packaging remain within a sealed water impermeable pack,
while the contents of the other pack are used.
The box 1 comprises a base panel 2 not visible in Fig.
1 as the box is standing on the base panel. A front panel
3, rear panel 4 and two side panels 5 extend upwardly from
the base panel 2 and are joined to one another as shown to
form the body of the box. A lid 6 depends from the top of
the rear panel 4, the connection being a hinge formed by a
fold line between the lid 6 and the rear panel 4. The lid
has a downwardly depending rim or skirt comprising a front
rim panel 7 and two side rim panels 8. The side rim panels
8 are provided with rim flaps 9 which are folded under the
front rim panel 7 and secured as shown so that their top
edges form a lip 10 (in the manner also shown in Figs 2B and
3A).
Each of the side panels 5 is provided with a concertina
portion 11 formed by three fold lines 12 extending up the
side panel. This allows the front panel 3 to be pulled
forwardly from its closed position.
A flexible flap 13 curves upwardly and outwardly from
the top of the front panel 3.
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In order to close the box, the front panel 3 is pushed
toward the rear panel 4 compressing the concertina portions.
The lid is then closed. Alternatively the lid may be closed
and thus may draw the front panel 3 back towards the rear
panel 4. In either case, as closure takes place the front
rim panel 7 pushes a flexible flap 13 towards the front
panel 3 until the free edge 14 of the flexible flap 13
passes the lip 10 when the resilience of the flexible flap
provides a snap fit with the lip 10. This provides a
biasing force to hold the lid 6 closed.
When the lid is lifted to open the container, the
flexible flap 13 is initially pulled up with the lid 6 as
the free edge 14 of the flexible flap 13 is still engaged
with the lip 10. This initial movement deforms the flexible
flap 13 from its curved configuration to a more planar
configuration until the free edge 14 moves out of engagement
with the lip 10, whereupon the lid is free to open further.
The front panel 3 will then either move forward of its own
accord or can be pulled forward in order to facilitate
access to the contents of the box.
Figs. 2A-2C disclose a second example of the present
invention. In most respects, this is the same as the first
example, although the concertina portions 11 in the side
panels 5 have been replaced by fold lines 20 which allow the
side panels to bulge outwardly when the container is open.
Not only does this provide better access to the contents of
the box as the front panel is pulled forward, but also
provides an increase in the width of the box thereby further
facilitating access. As shown in Fig 2A, the side panels 5
can be moved inwardly to allow the lid 6 to close. Also as
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shown in Fig 2A the front panel 3 bulges outward, being
slightly convex as viewed.
Fig. 20 shows a blank from which the box is formed. It
will be appreciated that the example of Fig. 1 is formed
from a similar blank with modifications for the concertina
portions 11. The assembly of the box from the blank will be
readily apparent from Fig. 20 as the box is simply folded up
in a normal manner and flaps 21 are bonded to the various
panels to form the finished box.
Of note in Fig 20 are the rim flaps 9 extending from
the side rim panels 8. These are folded into position as
shown in Fig. 2B to form the lip 10. As an alternative to
or in addition to these side rim panels 9, the front rim
panel 7 could be provided with a lip panel extending from
its free edge (i.e. above the panel 7 as shown in Fig. 20)
which is then folded back onto the front lid panel 7 to form
the lip 10.
Figs 3A-3D disclose a third example of the present
invention. In most respects, this is the same as the second
example, but the side panels do not share the same expanding
feature. Instead, the outer box 1 comprises curved fold
lines separating the front panel 3 and side panels 5.
Each junction between the front panel 3 and a side
panel 5 is in fact constituted by a curved fold line 30 and
a curved pseudo-fold line 32. Line 32 is not formed by
folding but by distortion arising from the design of the
container. Each pair of curved fold line 30 and curved
pseudo-fold line 33 comes together at their bottom
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(coincident with the base panel) and top (somewhat short of
the top of the front panel and side panel, that region being
constituted by a straight fold line 34 between the panels)
to define a lenticular-shaped bevel 36, which is a surface
oblique to the adjacent front and side panels.
The fold lines 30 forming the edges of the front panel
3 converge from its base towards its mid portion and diverge
again towards the upper edge of the panel giving the front
panel 3 an "hour glass" shape as best illustrated by Figure
3C. The fold lines 32 forming the edges of the side panels
adjacent the front panel also curve inwardly in the mid
portion of said side panels. The bevel between the fold
lines 30 and 32 is oblique to the front panel 3 and the
respective side panel 5. These features result in the front
panel 3 bulging away from the rear panel 4 at a mid portion
of the panel as best illustrated by figure 3D.
The outer box 1 contains an inner water-impermeable
means (not shown) which comprises two water tight packets.
These packets house water sensitive material. The curved
form of the outer box 1 may provide for a degree of
deformation for both the outer box 1 and the packets (not
shown) such that the packets may be easily located in the
box 1.
In use, depression of the bulge in the front panel 3
with the lid closed may cause the flap 13 to move relative
to rim flaps 9, which provide a lip 10, such that the flap
13 and lip 10 disengage allowing the lid 6 to be
conveniently moved to an open position.
