Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD OF MARKETING VISIBLY DISTINCT VARIATIONS OF
AN EDIBLE PRODUCT
FIELD
This application relates generally to packaging for chewing gum and other
products, and more particularly to multiple compartment packaging for visibly
displaying first and second types of chewing gum and other products in at
least first
and second compartments having display windows while providing an indication
of
the flavor of the first and second types of chewing gum and other products.
BACKGROUND
Chewing gum is currently available to consumers in a variety of different
formats. These include stick gum, slab gum, pellet gum, extruded gum, and
others.
Stick gum may come in sizes with a length of approximately 6 - 7 cm, a width
of
approximately 1.5 - 2 cm, and a thickness of approximately 0.2 cm. Slab gum
may
come in a size of approximately 4.5 cm in length, 1.2 cm in width, and 0.3 cm
in
thickness. Pellet gum may come in a variety of sizes with but one example
being a
size of approximately 2 cm in length, 1.3 - 1.5 cm in width, and 0.8 - 1.0 cm
in
thickness.
A variety of gum packaging types also exist, including certain types of
packaging used predominately for one or the other of the gum formats. Pellet
gum
may be packaged together in a carton that can be opened to dispense one or
more
pellets at a time. Various other package configurations exist, but in one
configuration packages each pellet individually in what has come to be known
as a
blister pack or package. Such a package configuration may include a sheet of
plastic
having multiple cavities (bulged structures) that may typically be formed in
an array.
The gum pellets are placed into the individual cavities and a sheet of foil is
attached
to the plastic sheet to contain/seal the gum pellets within the individual
cavities.
Generally, the blister package is itself packaged (e.g., wrapped) to protect
the
blister pack from damage prior to sale. In one arrangement, this packaging
includes
an opaque paperboard sleeve member having a hollow interior into which the
blister
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pack may be selectively inserted and removed. The outside surface of this
sleeve
member may contain printed subject matter that identifies the contents of the
blister
package. In some instances, a single aperture may be formed though the sleeve
member such that a gum pellet in one of the individual blisters may be viewed
by a
consumer prior to purchase of the gum package.
Such packaging is currently popular and achieves satisfactory results. It has
been discovered, however, that this approach does have certain drawbacks.
These
drawbacks relate to the display of different varieties of such gum pellets
that may be
contained within a single gum package.
It is against this background and with a desire to improve on the prior art
that
a packaging design for gum and other products has been developed.
SUMMARY
According to one aspect, a package for containing pieces of first and second
different edible products is provided. The package includes a blister package
having
a plurality of separate compartments formed as cavities therein. Each of the
compartments is sealed by a sealing layer that is disposed over at least a
portion of a
first surface of the blister package. A first edible product is disposed in at
least one
of the separate compartments and a second edible product is disposed in at
least
another of the separate compartments. The first and second edible products are
different. An opaque cover is disposed over a second surface of the blister
package.
The opaque cover includes a first aperture that is aligned with a first
compartment,
which contains one or more pieces of the first edible product, and a second
aperture
that is aligned with a second compartment, which contains one or more pieces
of the
second edible product.
The separate compartments within the blister package may be composed of a
transparent material to allow the contained product(s) to be visible through a
surface
of the blister package. This may allow for viewing products within the
separate
compartments when an opaque sealing layer is utilized.
The opaque cover may generally define a sleeve having an interior volume
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sized to receive the blister package. Such a sleeve may include at least one
open end
to permit receipt of the blister package therein. In one arrangement, a common
wall
of the opaque cover includes the first and second apertures. In a further
arrangement,
an outside surface of this common wall further includes a first surface
treatment
corresponding with the first aperture and a second surface treatment
corresponding
with the second aperture. Generally, such first and second surface treatments
are
visibly distinct and may correspond to one or more properties/attributes of
the first
and second edible products.
The blister package may be composed of a plastic material and may, as noted,
1 o be substantially transparent. In one arrangement, there is a one-to-one
correspondence between the combined total number of the first and second
edible
products in the blister package and the number of separate compartments formed
in
the blister package. That is, each compartment contains a single edible
product.
These products may include first and second different varieties of chewing
gum,
which may be visibly distinct. The separate compartments or bulges in the
blister package may be of any appropriate shape. However in one arrangement
the
separate compartments are like-shaped with the first and second products,
which may
also be like-shaped.
The first and second edible products may be arranged in the blister pack in
any appropriate manner so long as at least one of each is visible through the
first and
second apertures. This may require that the first and second edible products
be
dispose in predetermined sub-sets of the separate compartments. For instance,
where
the separate compartments are disposed on the blister package in a geometric
array
containing rows and columns, individual pieces of the first edible product may
be
disposed in a sub-set of the this geometrical array, and may form a second
geometrical array. Alternatively, the first and second edible products may be
alternated, for example by row, by column or in a checkerboard fashion.
In a further arrangement, a carton may be provided for containing at least two
of the packages including a blister package having first and second edible
products
3 o and an opaque cover having first aperture aligned with a first compartment
containing the first edible product, and a second aperture aligned with a
second
compartment containing the second edible product. In one arrangement, a
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distribution of said first and second edible products in the separate
compartments of
the blister packages of the different packages is identical.
According to another aspect, a method of forming a package for displaying
first and second different edible products is provided. The method includes
providing a sheet member and forming first and second apertures through a
surface
of the sheet member. The sheet member is folded to form a sleeve having at
least a
first wall through which the first and second apertures extend. The interior
of the
sleeve is sized to receive a blister package having a plurality of separate
compartments that contain at least first and second edible products. The
blister
1 o package is inserted into the sleeve such that a first compartment
containing a first
edible product is aligned with the first aperture and a second compartment
containing
a second edible product is aligned with the second aperture.
The method may further include applying a first surface treatment to a first
portion of an outside surface of the first wall and/or applying a second
surface
treatment to a second portion of the outside surface of the first wall. The
first and
second surface treatments may be applied to first and second portions,
respectively,
of the first wall that correspond with the first aperture and second aperture.
Such
surface treatments may be visibly distinct and may provide visual indications
associated with the first and second edible products, respectively.
According to another aspect, a method for displaying first and second
different edible products in a common package is provided. The method includes
providing a package having an opaque surface with first and second apertures
extending there through. A first edible product is positioned within the
package
relative to the first aperture such that the first edible product is visible
through the
first aperture. A second edible product is positioned within the package
relative to
the second aperture such that the second edible product is visible through the
second
aperture. The first and second edible products,are visibly distinct. The
package may
then be displayed for sale such that the opaque surface of the package
including the
first and second apertures is visible. Accordingly, a consumer may view the
first and
second edible products.
To enhance the display, first and second surface treatments may be provided
on the front surface of the package to provide a non-textual visual
indications
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associated with the first and second edible products.
According to another aspect, a package for containing pieces of first and
second different edible products is provided. The package includes a sheet
member
that is folded to define a compartment to receive and contain a plurality of
pieces of
first and second edible products. The compartment is at least partially
enclosed and
includes a first wall. First and second apertures extending through the first
wall for
displaying first and second edible products, respectively. A first surface
treatment is
provide on the outside surface of the first wall in an area associated with
the first
aperture. The first surface treatment provides a visual indication associated
with the
first edible product. A second surface treatment is provided on the outside
surface of
the first wall in an area associated with the second aperture. The second
surface
treatment provides a visual indication associated with the second edible
product.
According to another aspect a package for containing pieces of first and
second different edible products is provided that includes a sleeve member
sized to
receive a blister card having a plurality of first and second edible products
disposed
in separate and substantially transparent compartments. A first aperture
extends
through the sleeve member that is positioned to be aligned with one of the
first edible
products when the blister card is received. A second aperture extends through
the
sleeve member that is positioned to be aligned with one of the second edible
products
when the blister card is received.
According to another aspect, a method of promoting and selling different
types of edible products is provided. The method includes providing a first
visual
indication on the surface of a package associated with a plurality of first
edible
products contained within the package in conjunction with displaying at least
one of
the first edible products through a surface of the package. The method also
includes
providing a second visual indication on the surface of the package associated
with a
plurality of second edible products contained within the package in
conjunction with
displaying at least one of the second edible products through a surface of the
package. The package may then be positioned at a location where the surface of
the
package is visible to consumers.
According to another aspect, a method of promoting and selling different
variety of gum products is provided. The method includes providing a gum
package
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having first and second different varieties of gum products visible through a
front
surface of the package. The front surface of the gum package is presented at a
location that is visible to consumers. In conjunction with presenting the
package,
consumers are provided with first and second non-textual indications
associated with
the properties of the first and second gum different varieties of gum
products. These
non-textual indication may be presented on the front surface of the gum
package.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the packaging design.
20 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the packaging design of Figure 1, shown
with the blister pack removed from the sleeve member.
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the blister pack.
Figure 4 is a plan view of an unfolded paperboard blank used to form the
sleeve member.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the packaging design of Figure 1, shown
with the surface of the sleeve member having first and second visually
distinct
surface treatments.
Figures 6a and 6b are plan views which shows application of different surface
treatments to the surface of the sleeve member.
Figure 7 is a process flow sheet and illustrating a marketing method for use
with the packaging design.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which assist in
illustrating the various pertinent features of the packaging design. Although
the
invention will now be described primarily in conjunction with gum packaging,
it
should be expressly understood that the invention may be applicable to other
applications where it is desired to display multiple different edible products
through
3 o a surface of a common package. In this regard, the following description
of a gum
packaging design is presented for purposes of illustration and description.
Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the
form
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disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with
the
following teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within
the scope
of the packaging design. The embodiments described herein are further intended
to
explain modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled
in the
art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and with various
modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the
packaging
design.
As shown, the package 100 includes a blister pack 10 that is receivable within
the interior of a hollow sleeve member 40. See Figures 1 and 2. The sleeve
member
1 o 40 contains first and second apertures 42, 44 that permit first and second
edible
products 32, 34 contained within the blister pack 10 to be displayed through a
front
surface of the sleeve member 40 when the blister pack 10 is disposed therein.
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the blister pack 10. As shown,
the blister pack includes a substantially transparent plastic sheet 20 that
includes a
plurality of cavities 22 formed therein. In this regard, a flat plastic sheet
may be die
pressed to produce the plastic sheet 20 including the cavities 22. One
exemplary
plastic material that may be utilized to form the sheet is PVC, however, it
will be
appreciated that other materials may be utilized as well. As shown, the
cavities 22
are arranged on the plastic sheet 20 in a geometrical array having three
cavities 22
2 o across the width of the sheet 20 and four cavities 22 along the length of
the sheet 20
(i.e., a 3 x 4 array having three rows and four columns). In the embodiment
shown,
each cavity 22 is box-shaped having a generally rectangular cross-section in
both
length and width. In the illustrated embodiment, the all of the cavities 22
are of a
common size and shape and are equally spaced on the plastic sheet 20. However,
it
will be appreciated that the shape of the cavities 22 and/or the arrangement
of such
cavities 22 on the plastic sheet are each a matter of design choice. For
instance, one
or more of the cavities 22 may be differently sized and/or shaped in
comparison to
another cavity 22 on the blister card. Further, the spacing of the cavities 22
may
also be varied.
Disposed in each of the cavities 22 on the plastic sheet 20 is an individual
edible product. In the embodiment shown, these edible products are individual
gum
pellets 32 or 34. As shown, a first variety of gum pellets 32 are disposed in
a first
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portion of less than all of the cavities 22 and a second variety of gum
pellets 34 are
disposed in the remainder of the cavities 22. Generally, these first and
second edible
products, gum pellets 32, 34, will include one or more features in common and
may
each include one or more features not included in the other product. For
instance, the
first and second gum pellets 32, 34 may share one or more features such as
shape,
size texture and/or functional benefits (e.g., tooth whitening) while
differing in one
or more of such features. That is, in some embodiments the gum pellets 32, 34
may
differ in one or more features while having at least one feature in common. In
the
embodiment shown the first and second gum pellets 32, 34 are visibly distinct
while
1 o having a common size and shape. That is, the first and second gum pellets
32, 34
may include any variation (i.e., visible distinction) that allows an observer
to
distinguish one pellet 32 variety from a second pellet 34 variety.
Once disposed within the formed cavities 22, the individual gum pellets 32,
34 are sealed within the cavities 22 by a foil sheet 30 that is adhered to the
bottom
surface of the plastic sheet 20. Specifically, the top surface of the foil
sheet 30 is
adhered to a bottom surface of the plastic sheet 20 about the periphery of
each of the
cavities 22. In this regard, each cavity 22 and the gum pellet 32 or 34
disposed
therein are individually sealed. Such sealing generally prevents the gum
pellets 32,
34 from drying out/dehydrating. Though discussed herein as utilizing a foil
layer 30,
it will be appreciated that other materials (e.g., plastic and paper) may also
be
utilized to form the sealing layer 30.
As shown, the first and second varieties of gum pellets 32, 34, have a shape
that corresponds generally to the shape of the cavities 22. That is, each gum
pellet
32, 34 is generally box-shaped having a rectangular cross-sectional shape in
both
length and width. In the embodiment shown, the first and second varieties of
gum
pellets 32, 34 are disposed in first and second 3 x 2 arrays. That is, when
disposed
within the cavities 22 in the plastic sheet 20 the first variety of gum
pellets are
disposed in one-half of the cavities 22 and the second variety of gum pellets
34 are
disposed in the other half of the cavities 22. However, other non-random or
predetermined distributions of the gum pellets may be utilized. For instance,
each
row or column of the cavities may contain a different variety of gum pellets.
Alternatively, the first and second products may be arranged in a checkerboard
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fashion (not shown) where no cavity containing the first variety of gum
pellets
borders another cavity containing the first variety of gum pellets.
In any arrangement, it is desirable that the first aperture 42 permit viewing
of
at least a portion of one or more cavities 22 containing the first variety of
gum pellets
32 and that the second aperture 44 permit viewing of at least a portion of one
or more
of the cavities 22 containing the second variety of gum pellets 34. As shown,
the
apertures 42, 44 of the illustrated arrangement are aligned with separate
portions of
the blister pack 10 as defined by the first and second arrays of gum pellets
32, 34,
respectively. What is important is that the first and second varieties of gum
pellets
1 o 32, 34 are disposed in a non-random/predetermined arrangement such that
the
apertures 42, 44 may display first and second different products.
In order to arrange the gum pellets 32, 34 in a non-random/predetermined
arrangement, it will be appreciated that specialized manufacturing machinery
may be
required. That is, for previous blister packages that held either a single
variety of
gum pellets or randomly dispersed varieties of pellets, the individual
placement of a
certain variety of gum pellet in on ore more predetermined cavities was not
required.
Accordingly, the gum pellets could be placed and/or mixed in a single hopper
that
feeds multiple chutes aligned with the multiple cavities in the blister pack.
In
accordance with the blister pack 10 discussed herein, it will be appreciated
that the
2 o requirement that certain cavities include certain varieties of gum pellets
increases the
complexity of the machinery utilized to form the blister pack 10. For
instance, rather
than using a single hopper to feed chutes aligned with the cavities, multiple
different
hoppers for holding individual varieties of gum pellets are required. Likewise
different chutes leading from the different hoppers must be routed such that
they
align with desired cavities.
Figure 4 illustrates the sleeve member 40 prior to being formed to have a
hollow interior for receiving the blister pack 10. As shown, a paperboard
blank 50 is
utilized to form the sleeve member 40. The paperboard blank 50 has a flap 52
that
extends from a top edge thereof and an opposing flap 54 that extends from a
bottom
3 o edge thereof. These flaps 52, 54 are adhered together utilizing an
adhesive 56 that is
disposed on the top flap 52. To permit the top flap 52 and bottom flap 54 to
be
adhered together, the paperboard blank 50 is folded along fold lines 58a-d.
This
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allows the top surface of the top flap 52, which includes the adhesive 56, to
mate
with the bottom surface of the bottom flap 54. Generally, the paperboard blank
50 is
folded into a four sided sleeve member 40 having a front wall 60, a back wall
62, and
first and second lateral walls 64, 66. See Figure 2. In the embodiment shown,
both
ends of the sleeve member 40 are open to permit receipt of the blister pack 10
into
the interior of the sleeve member.
Prior to folding the paperboard blank 50, first and second apertures 42, 44
are
formed through a portion of the paperboard blank 50 that forms the front wall
60 of
the sleeve member 40. See Figure 4. Generally, the size and position of these
1 o apertures 42, 44 are selected to permit displaying first and second
separate portions
of the blister pack 10 that will be disposed within the resulting sleeve
member 40.
Though shown in Figures 1 and 2 as being arranged to display first and second
cavities 22 in the blister pack 10 which are on opposite ends of a common row,
it will
be appreciated that other positional arrangements of the apertures 42, 44 are
possible.
For instance, the first and second apertures 42, 44 may de positioned to
display
cavities 22 in different rows and/or different columns. What is important is
that the
apertures 42, 44 are positioned such that different products, first and second
varieties
of gum pellets 32, 34 in the present embodiment, may be displayed through the
front
wall 60 of the sleeve member 40. As further shown in Figure 4, a side surface
of the
paperboard 50 also includes a recess 62. The recess 62 is formed in a portion
of the
paperboard blank 50 that forms the back wall 62 of the sleeve member 40. When
the
paperboard blank 50 is folded to form the sleeve member 40, the recess 62
allows a
user to grasp a portion of the blister pack 10 when the blister pack 10 is
disposed
within the sleeve member 40.
Generally, the interior volume of the sleeve member 40 substantially
corresponds to the outside dimensions of the blister pack 10. In this regard,
the
width and height of the interior volume of the sleeve member 40 may be sized
to
provide a frictional fit with the blister pack 10. When the blister pack 10 is
inserted
into the sleeve member 40, friction between the inside surface of the sleeve
member
3 o 40 and the outside surfaces of the blister pack 10 may be utilized to
maintain the
blister pack 10 within the sleeve member 40. In addition, a clear film, (not
shown)
may be utilized to wrap the package 100 prior to purchase.
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In one embodiment, the paperboard blank 50 is composed of an SBS (solid
bleach sulfate) paperboard, in part because of the good folding properties of
this
material. Alternatively, the paperboard blank 50 may be composed of some other
suitable material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The paperboard material
may
have a white clay emulsion coating on an outside surface thereof and no
coating on
an inside surface thereof. The coating enhances the ability to print on the
paperboard
material, which may occur prior to folding the paperboard blank 50 into the
sleeve
member 40.
As noted, the use of the first and second apertures 42, 44 through the front
1 o wall 60 of the sleeve member 40 permit displaying first and second
cavities 22 within
the blister pack 10. Moreover, use of the substantially transparent plastic
sheet 20
allows for products disposed within the cavities 22 to be viewed from outside
the
package 100. Specifically, in the embodiment shown the first variety of gum
pellets
32 may be seen through the first aperture 42 and the second variety of gum
pellets 34
may be seen through the second aperture 44. In this regard, consumers may see
first
and second different types of edible products (e.g., gum pellets) disposed
within a
common blister pack 10.
To further enhance the presentation of first and second types of edible
products to a consumer, the outside surface of the sleeve member 40 (e.g., of
the
outside surface of the front wall 60) may contain first and second visibly
distinct
surface treatments that correspond to the first and second edible products
disposed
therein. In this regard, the front surface of the front wall 60 may provide
first and
second visible indications of the type of products contained therein. For
instance, as
shown on Figure 5 a first surface treatment 72 on the surface of the front
wall 60 may
correspond in style and/or color to the surface treatment, color, coating,
flavor, type
(e.g., gel filled), texture and/or shape (e.g., pellet, slab etc.) of the
first variety of gum
pellet 32. Additionally or alternatively, the first surface treatment 72 may
provide an
indication of one or more ingredients, which may include, for example, the
absence
of one or more ingredients (e.g., sugar) as well as the presence of one or
more
ingredients (e.g., actives). Such actives may include warming, cooling,
tingling,
breath freshening, tooth whitening and/or throat soothing actives. Likewise, a
second
surface treatment 74 may correspond in style and/or color to the surface
treatnient,
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color, flavor, type, texture, shape and/or ingredients of the second variety
of gum
pellet 34. Alternatively and/or in addition, the one or more of the surface
treatments
may include a physical variation to the surface of the front wall (e.g.,
dimpling, etc).
Such surface treatments 72, 74 may cover the entire outside surface of the
front wall,
as shown in Figure 5, or the first and second surface treatments 72, 74 may
cover
smaller portions of the outside surface of the front wall 60. See Figures 6a
and 6b.
Generally, each surface treatment 72, 74 will correspond at least partially
with an
area on the front surface 60 of the sleeve member 40 that includes the first
and
second apertures 42, 44.
In conjunction with the above-described package 100, a method for
marketing visibly distinct variations of an edible product in a common package
is
provided. As set forth in Figure 7, the method includes providing (110) a
package
including first and second different edible products. These first and second
different
edible products are aligned (120) with first and second apertures in the
surface of an
opaque package. First and second visual indications associated with the first
and
second edible products are provided (130) on the surface of the package. Such
visual
indications may include, without limitation, indications to the style, color,
flavor,
type, shape and/or ingredients of the first and second edible products. The
surface
of the package containing the apertures and surface treatments is then
presented
(140) at a location that is visible to consumers. In this regard, consumers
are able to
see the first and second edible products through the first and second
apertures in the
package as well as receive a visual indication on the surface of the package
associated with the first and second edible products. In one particular
arrangement,
multiple packages 100 are presented at a location that is visible to
consumers. For
instance, a plurality of the individual packages 100 may be packaged together
in a
single carton (e.g., two stack of six packages disposed side-by-side).
Further, this
single carton may allow viewing of the surfaces (i.e., containing the
apertures and
surface treatment) of at least first and second packages 100. In such a
carton, a
plurality of individual packages 100 having the same non-random distribution
of
gum pellets may be provided.
The foregoing description of the packaging design has been presented for
purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not
intended
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to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations
and
modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and skill and knowledge
of
the relevant art, are within the scope of the invention. For instance, rather
than
utilizing a sleeve member to receive the blister pack, a sheet member having
first and
second apertures may be attached to or otherwise cover the top surface of the
blister
pack. In another arrangement, the apertures may be formed as transparent
windows,
for example, in a plastic sheet. Further arrangements may utilize additional
apertures
(e.g., three or more) to display additional products. The embodiments
described
hereinabove are further intended to explain best modes known of practicing the
.10 invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention
in such, or
other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular
application(s) or use(s) of the invention. It is intended that the appended
claims be
construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the
prior art.
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