Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISPENSER PACKAGE WITH PROTECTIVE COVERS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a razor cartridge package suitable for protectively
storing
multiple razor cartridges.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Current razor cartridge packages include plastic containers with a storage
region for each
cartridge. Individually sealed containers for shaving cartridges are known in
the prior art; for
instance, US patent numbers 6,499,595 and 6,886,690. These types of individual
containers are
widely used for female razor cartridges.
There is a need to provide a unique package and method of packaging suitable
for both
male and female razor cartridges that provide multiple connected containers
while also enabling
the consumer to be able to individually open, use, store and transport one
razor cartridge at a
time while also providing a level of mechanical and environmental protection
for each cartridge.
There is also a need for such a razor cartridge package to be easy to open and
compact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a novel razor package includes a
plurality of
connected containers wherein each of the plurality of containers is capable of
storing at least one
razor cartridge and at least one cover removably attached to a top perimeter
of each of the
connected containers. The cover can be plastic, flexible and adhesively sealed
onto the top
perimeters of the containers. In this way, the cover is capable of being
peeled off by a user. The
cover may include a cover separability line such as perforations and thus, may
be peeled off at
the perforations. The cover may be transparent, opaque, colored or any
combination thereof.
The cover may include a tab at one end or outside corner of each container. In
one aspect, the
cover can be resealable at the top perimeter of each of the containers. The
cover may cover the
container via mechanical means. By providing covers, environmental elements
cannot enter the
containers. The cover may encompass or cover two or more of cartridges by
covering two or
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more containers. The containers may be made of a polymeric material or
polypropylene
material.
The containers may be removably connected or not. If removably connected, they
may
be connected at a container separability line which may be a mechanical
interconnection. In
addition, the containers may be transparent, opaque, colored or any
combination thereof.
The containers and the covers may be integrated.
In one aspect, the method of making a razor cartridge package includes molding
a
plurality of containers from a polypropylene material, placing a razor
cartridge within a storage
region of each of the containers and sealing a top perimeter of each of the
containers with a
plastic cover sheet.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have
the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which
this invention
belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can be
used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and
materials are
described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other
references mentioned
herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict,
the present
specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the
materials, methods, and
examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the
following
detailed description, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and
distinctly
claiming the subject matter which is regarded as forming the present
invention, it is believed that
the invention will be better understood from the following description which
is taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like designations are used
to designate
substantially identical elements, and in which:
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a razor cartridge package of the present
invention with
one cover in a partially opened condition showing a razor cartridge inside the
partially
opened container.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a razor cartridge package in accordance with
another
embodiment of the present invention with one cover in a partially opened
condition
showing a razor cartridge inside the partially opened container.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first container being removed from a
second
container in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a razor cartridge package in accordance with the
present
invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a razor cartridge
package in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another alternate embodiment of a razor
cartridge
package in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to novel razor cartridge packaging which includes
connected
plastic containers having individual removable plastic covers. Each container
is capable of
storing at least one razor cartridge and at least one cover is removably
attached to a top
perimeter of each of the connected containers.
Referring now to FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention,
there is shown a quadruple razor cartridge package 10 including formed or
molded plastic first,
second, third and fourth containers, 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, respectively,
covers or cover sheets
14a, 14b, 14c, 14d for each container respectively capable of covering razor
cartridges 16a, 16b,
16c, 16d, respectively which are stored within storage regions inside
containers 12a, 12b, 12c,
and 12d, respectively.
Containers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d may be substantially identical to each
other.
Containers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d may also assist in protecting the razor
cartridges both
mechanically and environmentally as will be described in more detail below.
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Covers 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d assist in protecting the enclosed razor cartridges
from the
environment and allow for each individual razor cartridge to be opened
individually. The covers
may each comprise a separate tab, notch, clip or any type of extension 1 la,
1lb, 11c, l ld from
the covers on one end or outside corner of the respective cover or container.
As shown in FIG. 1, by peeling back the cover sheets 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d (by
use of the
tabs lla, llb, 11c, lld if present) a consumer is able to individually open
the containers 12a,
12b, 12c, 12d to access each razor cartridge as it is needed. The razor
cartridges are stored such
that the blade cutting edge portion (not shown) of each razor cartridge is not
at the area of access
so as to protect a consumer from unintended contact with the cutting edges of
the razor blades.
The shape of each of the containers 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d outlines the general
shape of a
razor cartridge. These shapes may be wider than the actual periphery of the
razor cartridge
within the storage regions such that a consumer can easily access the
cartridge once the cover is
peeled back or taken off.
Covers 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d may be individually adhesively sealed with a
material around
the top periphery of containers 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d of package 10 via heat and
pressure or via any
other suitable manner. In one aspect of the present invention, there may be
separability lines
13a, 13b, 13c between the adjacent covers, as shown in FIG. 1. For instance,
separability line
13a is disposed between covers 14a and 14b; separability line 13b is located
between covers 14b
and 14c; and separability line 13c is located between covers 14c and 14d.
These separability
lines may include perforations or continuous slits or any other means to allow
for easy removal
and to provide the peeling off of one cover at a time.
The containers of the present invention may be covered by one cover or cover
sheet
across the entire package 10 where the cover peel back may still occur to
expose individual
cartridges at a time along separability lines 13a, 13b, 13c which again may
include perforations
or continuous slits. An embodiment of the present invention depicting one
cover sheet is shown
in FIG. 4.
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Covers 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d may be made of any generally flexible,
impermeable
material, multilayered laminate or any type of plastic, such that each cover
or cover sheet
prevents the contents of the container from coming out while also preventing
environmental
elements from entering the container. Hence, a cardboard type material for the
cover sheet
might not serve this purpose. The covers should desirably be made of a sturdy
and robust
material so as to also prevent any stabs or jabs from puncturing or making
holes in the covers
(e.g., cover sheets or cover seal).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the dispenser 20 shown in FIG.
2
includes covers 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d which may be made of a hard, less
flexible plastic while
still providing access to each individual cartridge (cartridge 16a shown
exposed). The covers in
FIG. 2, depending on the material they are made from, may or may not be
capable of being
peeled back or off as in FIG. 1. If the covers are of a hard plastic as shown
in FIG. 2 they may
be lifted off or opened (e.g., like a door) rather than peeled off. They may
be lifted off from one
or more sides and may be mechanically or otherwise attached to the individual
containers 21a-d;
for instance via hinges 23a-d. As shown in FIG. 2, the covers 24a-d have tabs
or clips 22a-d
which may be used by the consumer to lift off the cover.
The covers of FIGs. 1 and 2 may or may not be taken off completely. Desirably
however
the opening provided by removing or lifting the cover (whether capable of
coming completely
off the container or not) should be adequate to allow access to the razor
cartridge disposed
inside.
Additionally, it is contemplated in the present invention that a less
flexible, but not very
hard plastic, may be used as a cover material, and as such, the covers in FIG.
2 may be formed
of such a plastic allowing for the capability of being adhesively sealed. As
discussed above in
conjunction with FIG. 1, it follows that therefore a peel back may occur for
removal that there
may or may not be separability lines (e.g., perforations or slits).
The covers or cover sheets of the present invention may be transparent,
opaque, colored
or any combination thereof. With a transparent or partially transparent cover
sheet, a user is able
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to view the razor product at the point of purchase while still providing
mechanical and
environmental protection to the cartridge simultaneously.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, it is contemplated that
the covers of
FIGs. 1 and 2 may be formed such that they reseal or close back down (e.g.,
reclosable) onto the
containers of FIGs. 1 and 2, respectively, as a means of storing the razor
cartridge within the
package for the next shave if desired. For instance, if a consumer wants to
protect the razor
cartridge while traveling or when transporting the razor (e.g., to the gym),
it may be beneficial
for the covers to be reused or closed back down on the individual containers.
In this way, the
containers are capable of also being used as protective storage for the razor
cartridges.
Thus, it is contemplated in the present invention that an aspect of the tabs
(e.g., the
underside) 1 la, 1lb, 11c, lld or clips 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d may provide a way
for tacking the
cover sheets 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d or covers 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d back down at each
corner or upon
any area of the periphery of the container. For instance, the underside of the
tabs or clips may
have a glue, button, snap, or Velcro fastener or the tab itself may be
substantially a button,
snap, or Velcro fastener (not shown).
The containers in the present invention may be formed or molded using a
plastic such as
a polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) or any other
suitable plastic,
elastomer, or derivative thereof. The polypropylene material is generally a
thick material and in
many instances, thicker than thermoformed PET material and therefore provides
both
mechanical and environmental protection as described above for the razor
cartridges inside the
dispenser. A container made of cardboard or paper may not be as effective at
protecting
mechanical aspects of the razor nor preventing environmental entrants.
Accordingly, if the
container were made with cardboard it may also need additional materials to
make the container
more robust, such as combining with plastics or other types of materials.
The present invention keeps the natural or neutral position of the pivot point
and other
mechanical attributes intact after the razor cartridge is placed in its
individual storage area in the
dispenser. The package can sustain significant outside forces, pressure,
drops, etc. and will
remain intact, as well as inhibit movement of the razor cartridge inside. By
keeping the razor
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cartridge position intact, it is well protected during transport and storage
such that the pivot
point is not pushed, offset or forced to be disposed in a different position,
and does not cause
damage. Hence, the razor cartridge is functional and the consumer is not
disappointed at the
time of use.
The containers in the present invention may be transparent, opaque, colored or
any
combination thereof. With a transparent or partially transparent container, a
user is able to view
the razor product at the point of purchase while still providing protection to
the cartridge.
FIGs. 1 and 2 of the present invention may have packages that are manufactured
or
integrally molded as a single component such that the individual containers
are attached but are
not removable or detachable from each other in that there is no capability to
detach or tear-off
one from the other.
In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the
connected razor
cartridge containers 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d of package 30 may be removably
attached or
removably secured to each other along container separability lines 33a, 33b,
33c located for
instance between containers 32a and 32b, 32b and 32c, and 32c and 32d,
respectively, as shown
in FIG. 3. The container separability lines allow containers to be
individually separated or
detached from the other containers. For instance, as shown in FIG. 3, a
consumer could tear off
or separate container 32a from the remaining connected containers 32b, 32c,
and 32d of package
30 by detaching container 32a from container 32b at separability line 33a. In
this way, a
consumer can travel with one container only if desired, leaving the rest of
the containers
connected and intact for later use.
The separation or detachment at container separability lines 33a, 33b, and 33c
of one
container from the other may be accomplished via mechanical means, such as
with
interconnections, interlocking arms or ribs, snap-off connections, hinges,
pins, or openings,
perforations or continuous slits formed via laser cutting or any other
methods, all depending on
the material and type of containers to be used. For instance, if containers
32a, 32b, 32c, 32d are
made of a thicker polypropylene material, separating the containers via
perforations, as
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discussed above with regard to the cover sheet separability lines 13a, 13b,
13c for cover sheets
14a, 14b, 14c, 14d may not be feasible.
It should be noted that the cover separability lines 13a, 13b, 13c may or may
not be
formed at the same time or via the same means as the container separability
lines 33a, 33b, and
33c. However, in the present invention, the cover sheet separability lines
13a, 13b, 13c may be
desirably substantially aligned on top of the container separability lines
33a, 33b, and 33c
respectively, as shown in FIG. 4, allowing for a cleaner break or separability
of one container
from the other.
FIG. 4 also shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention depicting
one cover
sheet 34 for covering all the individually connected containers 32a, 32b, 32c,
and 32d of
package 40.
Having multiple razor cartridges in a package, though desirable, may present a
risk to the
pivot position of each cartridge, unless the cartridges, as described herein,
are suitably spaced
apart. The mechanical protection in the present invention includes protecting
the mechanical
aspects of the razor cartridge, such as the pivot mechanism and/or leaf
springs. For instance,
one important mechanical aspect of a non-disposable razor such as the Gillette
Venus
BreezeTM, is its pivot point and/or leaf spring mechanism of the cartridge. It
is desirable to keep
the natural position of the pivot points intact from the time the products are
placed in the
package, along the shipping path from the manufacturer to the retail store,
and finally to the
consumer's home. The natural position is the position of the cartridge pivot
point is the position
having no pressure or bias. The package of the present invention may sustain
significant outside
force, pressure, drops, etc. and still remain intact, as well as inhibit
movement of the razor
cartridge inside. By keeping the razor cartridge intact, it is well protected
during transport and
storage. If the pivot point is somehow pushed, offset or forced to be disposed
in a different
position, it may cause the cartridge leaf spring to be compromised or damaged,
and hence the
razor cartridge may not be functional in turn leading to consumer
disappointment at the time of
use.
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Additionally, one important environmental aspect considered in the present
invention is
keeping any soap or lubricant (e.g., "soap wings" attached at top and bottom
portions of a
cartridge, such as the Gillette Venus Breeze cartridge) intact. Again, the
packaging has to be
able to sustain the environment and any weather related elements such that the
soap wings are
not compromised. For instance, steam, moisture, humidity and other
environmental entrants can
significantly affect the character or chemistry of the soap wings.
With a plurality of containers, the containers may be connected together in
any fashion
and with any number of containers and covers desired or required. For
instance, FIGs. 1-4
described above depict a "serial" type attachment (e.g., four containers in a
row) while a "2x2"
type cartridge container package 50 shown in FIG. 5 having razor cartridge
containers 52a, 52b,
52c, and 52d and a three container package 60 of FIG. 6 with a container 62b
opening with
cover sheet 64b on an opposing side of the other containers 62a and 62c are
also contemplated in
the present invention.
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".
All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in
relevant part,
incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be
construed as an
admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the
extent that any
meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any
meaning or
definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or
definition
assigned to the term in this written 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
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therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and
modifications that are
within the scope of this invention.
