Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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PACKAGE FOR RAZOR CARTRIDGES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a razor cartridge package suitable having covers 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
enabling the
consumer to be able to individually and easily open and use one razor
cartridge at a time in a
particular sequence while also providing a level of mechanical and
environmental protection for
each cartridge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a novel razor cartridge package
includes a
plurality of connected containers each for storing at least one razor
cartridge, and at least one
cover removably attached to a top perimeter of each of the plurality of
connected containers
wherein the covers are coupled so as to direct a sequence of removal of the
covers.
A first cover of a first of the plurality of connected containers overlaps an
adjacent
second
cover of a second of the plurality of connected containers such that the first
cover is removed
before the adjacent second cover can be removed. The overlap includes an
overlap area less
than the area of one of the top perimeters of one of the plurality of
connected containers.
The covers may include a tab. In one aspect of the invention, a first tab of
the cover of a
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first of the connected containers overlaps with an adjacent cover of a second
of the connected
containers. In another aspect of the invention, a first tab of the cover of a
first of the connected
containers overlaps with an adjacent second tab of a second cover of a second
of the connected
containers. The cover is capable of being peeled off by a user and it may be
peeled off via the
tab. The cover may be made of plastic and may adhesively sealed onto the top
perimeters of
each of the plurality of connected containers. The cover may be transparent,
opaque, colored or
any combination thereof, and prevent environmental elements from entering the
container with
the razor cartridge. The cover may be flexible. In addition, the containers
may be transparent,
opaque, colored or any combination thereof. Each of the containers and each of
the covers may
be integrated.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of making a razor package
includes molding
a plurality of containers from a plastic material, placing a razor cartridge
within a storage region
of each of the plurality of containers, and sealing a first top perimeter of a
first of the plurality of
connected containers with a first plastic cover sheet that overlaps a second
plastic cover sheet
sealed onto a second top perimeter of a second of the plurality of connected
containers wherein
the second container is adjacent the first container. In this way, the
overlapping cover sheets
direct a sequence of removal of the first cover sheet from the first
containers prior to removal of
the second cover sheet from the second container.
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.
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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:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a razor cartridge package of the present
invention
showing overlapping cover sheets with tabs.
FIG. 1A is a side view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 1B is a side view of FIG. 1 showing a cover sheet partially removed.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a razor cartridge package of the present
invention
showing overlapping cover sheets without tabs.
FIG. 2A is a side view of FIG. 2 showing partially removed cover sheets.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a razor cartridge package showing tabs that
overlap with
adjacent cover sheets in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a razor cartridge package in accordance with
another
embodiment of the present invention with tab portions overlapping cover
sheets.
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of FIG. 4 of the
present
invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a razor cartridge package in accordance with
an alternate
embodiment of the present invention showing overlapping tab portions.
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 wherein the covers are coupled,
structured, and
arranged together such that they direct a predetermined sequence of use by the
consumer for the
razor cartridges. The sequence of removal of the cover or cover sheets is
evident to the user
upon viewing the dispenser package. This visual cue or signal provided by the
coupled cover
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sheets in the dispenser package is adequate to indicate to the user which
cartridge to open and
use first, second, third, and fourth or whatever the number may be.
For purposes of the present invention, the terms "cover" and "cover sheet(s)"
may be
used interchangeably herein.
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, (shown with dotted lines) 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.
Covers 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d assist in protecting the enclosed razor cartridges
from the
environment and allow for each individual razor cartridge to be removed from
opened
individually. The covers may each comprise a separate tab, notch, clip or any
type of extension
lla, llb, 11c, lld extending from each respective cover and may be on one end
or outside
corner of the respective cover or container or centrally located.
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. The covers may 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).
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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.
As shown in FIG. 1, by peeling back the cover sheets 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d (by
use of the
tabs 1 la, 1lb, 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. In a novel
aspect of the present
invention, the adjacent covers are arranged such that they overlap with each
other in such a way
as to direct a consumer to remove the covers in a predetermined sequence
(e.g., direct the order
of use of the razor cartridges). The cover sections or areas that overlap are
represented by
shaded overlap regions 15a, 15b, and 15c in FIG. 1. Each overlap region or
area, as shown in
FIG. 1, may be desirably of a smaller area than the total area of the top
perimeter of the adjacent
container.
For instance, in the present invention, the cover or cover sheet 14d may
overlap or
extend onto the top of cover sheet 14c at area 15c. The remaining cover sheets
are similarly
arranged such that cover sheet 14c overlaps or extends over cover sheet 14b at
area 15b, and
cover sheet 14b overlaps cover sheet 14a at area 15a. Hence, in the present
invention, and as
depicted in FIG. 1B, cover sheet 14d will desirably be the first cover sheet
that the consumer is
capable of peeling back (using tab l ld in this example) as it essentially has
the top overlap area.
The way the cover sheets are coupled together, cover sheet 14c may not be
peeled back first,
since by doing so, both cover sheet 14d and 14c (e.g., two cover sheets at one
time) would come
off exposing two razor cartridges 16c and 16d which, unless two cartridges are
needed by the
consumer, is not a desired outcome.
It should be noted that cover sheet 14a (e.g., the bottom cover sheet) may not
overlap
with any other cover sheet as because of its location at the bottom of the
package and the fact
that it likely would be the only cover sheet left once all the other cover
sheets were removed that
would be capable of being peeled back by a consumer, no direction of use
(e.g., by means of the
overlap) is necessary for the consumer.
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As such, cover sheet 14a may be smaller than other cover sheets 14b, 14c, and
14d that
include the area of overlapping regions 15a, 15b, and 15c. FIGs. 1A and 1B are
side views of
the package of FIG. 1 showing cover sheets 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d with
overlapping regions
15a, 15b, and 15c. While FIG. 1A depicts the overlapping nature of the cover
sheets, it also
shows how the length of cover sheet 14a may be smaller than the other cover
sheets.
Additionally, in FIG. 1B, it can be seen clearly how cover sheet 14d is
necessarily the first cover
sheet that may be taken off by a consumer. In this instance, tab lld is pulled
up and back
(shown by arrow 13d) to peel off cover sheet 14d leaving the remaining cover
sheets 14a, 14b,
and 14c intact for later use. The second next cover sheet to be taken off in
the present invention
would necessarily be cover sheet 14c; and the third next after that would be
cover sheet 14b, and
the fourth next after that would be the remaining cover sheet 14a. Thus it can
be seen how the
overlapping cover sheets of the present invention dictate the order of use or
the sequence of use
of the razor cartridges.
Though four (4) containers are shown in the packages of figures herein, the
present
invention contemplates any number of containers (e.g., greater than two) and
thus there may be
any number of razor cartridges and respective cover sheets considered to also
be within the
framework of the present invention.
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. 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.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the razor cartridge dispenser
package 20
shown in FIG. 2 includes cover sheets 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d which may be made
of a flexible
plastic material as described above in conjunction with FIG. 1 for covering
containers 22a, 22b,
22c, and 22d respectively. The covers in FIG. 2 are shown arranged or coupled
together with
overlapping areas 25a, 25b, and 25c as in FIG. 1 except the covers in FIG. 2
are shown without
side tabs. Despite the lack of side tabs, the covers in FIG. 2 are coupled
together similarly and
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capable of being peeled back or off (as will be described below) as in FIG. 1
and in the same
order as in FIG. 1 since the cover sheets overlap in the same manner (e.g.,
top to bottom); cover
sheet 24d overlaps cover sheet 24c at overlap area 25c, cover sheet 24c
overlaps with cover
sheet 24b at overlap area 25b, and cover sheet 24b overlaps with cover sheet
24a at overlap area
25 a.
In FIG. 2, cover sheets are shown each having a respective overhanging section
24d',
24c', 24b', and 24a' which may function as the portion of the cover the user
would tug on to
peel off the cover sheet. These overhanging sections may desirably encompass
about the same
area as the overlap areas however the present invention contemplates that the
overhanging
section may be also be slightly larger. The lower portions of each of the
overhanging sections
may not be adhesively sealed onto the container or adjacent cover sheets to
provide easy lifting
for the user. It should be noted that FIG. 2 depicts an overhanging section
24a' for the last cover
sheet 24a but no overlap area for reasons discussed in conjunction with FIG.
1. Thus, cover
sheet 24a may be substantially the same size as the other cover sheets.
Referring now to FIG. 2A, a side view of FIG. 2 is provided clearly depicting
the
partially removed overlapping cover sheets which dictate the order of use of
the razor cartridges
inside.
Cover sheet 24d necessarily is first to come off via a pulling back or peeling
off of overhang
section 24d' as shown by arrow 23d. Similarly, cover sheet 24c is second in
the sequence to
come off via a pulling back at arrow 23c of overhang section 24c'shown. Cover
sheet 24b is
third in the sequence to come off via a pulling back of overhang section 24b'
as shown by arrow
23b. Cover sheet 24a is fourth and last in the sequence to come off via a
pulling back of
overhang section 24a' as shown by arrow 23a. It should be noted, however, that
overhang
section 24a' of cover sheet 24a may not be overlapping with an adjacent cover
sheet as there
would be no remaining adjacent cover sheet at the point in time when overhang
section 24a'
would need to be pulled since cover sheet 24a would be the last cover sheet
remaining.
FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present
invention
in which dispenser package 30 is shown to include four containers 32a, 32b,
32c, and 32d
having cover sheets 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d, respectively and centrally located
tab-like overhang
sections 34a', 32b', 32c', and 32d' extending from each cover sheet
respectively. Tab-like
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overhang section 34d' of cover sheet 34d overhangs or overlaps onto cover
sheet 34c. Tab-like
overhang section 34c' of cover sheet 34c overhangs or overlaps onto cover
sheet 34b. Tab-like
overhang section 34b' of cover sheet 34b overhangs or overlaps onto cover
sheet 34a.
Thus, the structure and arrangement of the cover sheets together along with
the tab-like
overhang sections dictate the sequence of use of the razor cartridges or the
sequence of removal
of cover sheets. For instance, the sequence of use or removal of the cover
sheets in the
embodiment of FIG. 3 is similar to that of FIG. 2 in that the first to be
removed is the top cover
sheet 34d via tab-like overhang section 34d', the second to be removed is
cover sheet 34c via tab
34c', the third removed is cover sheet 34b via 34b; and then the fourth and
last to be removed is
cover sheet 34a via 34a' and this is also dictated by the overlapping nature
of the tab-like
overhang sections. It should be noted, however, that tab-like overhang section
34a' of cover
sheet 34a may not be overlapping with an adjacent cover sheet as there would
be no remaining
adjacent cover sheet for it to overlap onto at the point in time when tab 34a'
would need to be
used since cover sheet 34a would be the last cover sheet remaining.
While the tab-like overhang sections are similar to the overhang sections
described above
in conjunction with FIG. 2 in that they overlap the next most adjacent cover
sheet and dictate the
order of use (e.g., top to bottom), the tab-like structures shown in FIG. 3
may provide an easier
place for a user's fingers to latch onto when peeling off the cover sheet as
indicated by arrows
33d, 33c, 33b, and 33a depicting the direction of motion of the tabs to peel
back the respective
cover sheets.
Though the tab-like overhang sections in FIG. 3 are centrally located in the
cover sheets,
the tabs or overhang section may be formed in any location on the cover sheet.
Referring now to
FIG. 4, another embodiment of the present invention in which a dispenser
package 40 is shown
including side or corner tabs 43d, 43c, 43b and 43a on the corners of the
cover sheets 44d, 44c,
44b, and 44a of containers 42d, 42c, 42b and 42a respectively wherein the tabs
overlap with
adjacent cover sheets. For instance in FIG. 4, corner tab 43d overlaps with
cover sheet 44c,
corner tab 43c overlaps with cover sheet 44b, and corner tab 43b overlaps with
cover sheet 44a.
Corner tab 43a may not overlap with any cover sheet. It should be noted that
the tabs may or
may not be disposed on the same side of the container. For instance, the tabs
may be on
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alternating sides as shown in FIG. 4A where tab 43c and 43a are shown disposed
on the left side
of the package 40.
The embodiments depicted in FIGs. 3 and 4 are distinguishable from the
embodiment in
FIG. 1 since in FIGs. 3 and 4 the tabs serve a dual purpose; a first purpose
being the mechanism
for peeling back the respective cover sheets and a second purpose being
providing the direction
for the predetermined order of use of the cartridges or removal of the cover
sheets in that the
tabs in both FIGs. 3 and 4 overlap adjacent cover sheets. On the contrary, the
side tabs in FIG. 1
serve as the peel back mechanism but in and of themselves do not provide any
overlap (the
overlap being provided by the arrangement of the cover sheets) and as such the
tabs do not
directly dictate the sequence of use (or removal of cover sheets) which is
signaled visually to the
user by the overlapping cover sheets.
The embodiments of FIGs. 3 and 4 may be more desirable in that the signal to
the user of
the order of use and the actual means for doing so are incorporated in the
same structure (e.g., in
the tab area).
Referring now to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of the present invention is
shown with
dispenser package 50 including overlapping tabs 51d and 51c of cover sheets
54d and 54c
respectively and overlapping tabs 51b and 51a of cover sheets 54b and 54a,
respectively. In this
embodiment, though the order of use of the top two cartridges and the order of
use of the bottom
two cartridges is dictated (e.g., since tab 51d is disposed on top of tab 51c,
cover sheet 54d will
be peeled off first and then cover sheet 54c and likewise since tab 51b is
disposed on top of tab
51 a, cover sheet 54b will be removed first and then cover sheet 54a) the
order of use of all four
cartridges may not be known or may not be dictated by the overlapping nature
of the tabs since
it is unknown if a user would first peel off cover sheet 54b or cover sheet
54d (via tab 51b which
overlaps tab 51a or via tab 51d which overlaps 51c, respectively). Thus, while
this embodiment
provides another possible design choice which directs the sequence of use of
cartridges with the
overlapping adjacent cover tabs, other visual indicia may be necessary to
further indicate to the
user a preferred order of use. Such indicia may include placing a number 1 on
tab 51d, a
number 2 placed on tab 51c, a number 3 placed on tab 51b and a number 4 placed
on tab 51a.
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The covers or cover sheets of the present invention are desirably flexible.
However, the
covers may potentially be made of a hard plastic or less flexible material
(not shown) and in this
case they may be lifted off or opened (e.g., like a door) rather than peeled
off as described
above. They may be lifted off from one or more sides and may be mechanically
or otherwise
attached to the individual containers; for instance via hinges.
The covers of the present invention may desirably be removed completely,
however even
if they are not, the opening provided by removing or lifting the cover
(whether the cover is
capable of being removed completely or not from the individual container)
should be adequate
to allow access to the razor cartridge disposed inside.
The covers or cover sheets and the containers of the present invention may be
transparent, opaque, colored or any combination thereof. With a transparent or
partially
transparent cover sheet or container, a user is able to view the razor product
at the point of
purchase while simultaneously providing mechanical and environmental
protection to the
cartridge.
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. The containers may be made of any material that is effective at
protecting mechanical
aspects of the razor cartridge nor preventing environmental entrants.
Accordingly, if a container
were made with cardboard, it may also need to be combined with additional
materials to produce
a container that is more robust, such as 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
cartridge position intact, it is well protected during transport and storage
such that the pivot
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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 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.
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, while FIGs. 1-5
described above depict a "serial" type attachment (e.g., four containers in a
row), a "2x2/back to
back" type cartridge container package or a series of two or three or five or
more container
packages (not shown) are also contemplated in the present invention.
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.
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
therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and
modifications that are
within the scope of this invention.
