AU2007100492A4 - Encapsulating Packaging - Google Patents

Description

P/00/009 Regulation 3.2B

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: ENCAPSULATING PACKAGING The invention is described in the following statement together with the best method of performing it known to us: IP Australia 07 JUN 2007 Our Reference: 076003 2 ENCAPSULATING PACKAGING The present invention relates to packaging for encapsulating a promotional item and, more particularly for packaging which is adapted to ship with the packaging of a consumer product.

BACKGROUND

It is well known that sales of consumer products may be enhanced through the purchaser receiving some additional free gift. This is especially true of food items such as breakfast cereals and yoghurts for example, the appeal of which to children and young people may be increased by the addition of some small promotional item.

While the packaging of cereals for example, readily lends itself to the inclusion of small items, packaging of flowable products such as yoghurt do not.

It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Notes 1. The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of".

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided an encapsulating packaging for promotional items; said encapsulating packaging shipping with a packaged product, wherein packaging of said product comprises an array of containers releasably joined together; said encapsulating packaging comprising at least one encapsulating package releasably retained within interstices of said array of containers.

Preferably, said encapsulating packaging comprises at least one item containing element formed of side portions and an integral base portion; said item containing element provided with a closure element at an open end opposite said base portion; said side portions shaped to nest between adjacent ones of said array of containers.

Preferably, said encapsulating packaging comprises a pair of item containing elements; said pair of item containing elements joined by an integral web extending between said side portions of respective ones of said pair of item containing elements.

Preferably, said open end of each said item containing element is provided with an integral outwardly projecting flange around said open end; said closure element 4 comprising a central portion adapted for insertion into said open end; said closure element further comprising an outwardly projecting flange around said central portion; respective flanges of said item containing element and said closure element overlapping and abutting when said closure item is assembled to said item containing element; said flanges overlapping portions of base portions of containers of said array of containers.

In a further broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of providing promotional items with an array of interconnected containers; said method including the steps of: placing at least one promotional item in at least one containing element, securing said promotional item within said containing element by means of a closure element applied to an open end of said containing element, fitting said at least one containing element between adjacent containers of said array of containers, 5 securing outwardly projecting flanges around said open end of said containing element to base portions of said adjacent containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an item containing element of encapsulating packaging according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of an array of flowable product containing tubs, an assembly of twin item containing elements and a closure element according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the twin item containing elements and closure element of Figure 2 with some examples of promotional items for encapsulation, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the twin item containing elements of Figures 2 and 3 with the closure element partially assembled to the item containing elements, Figure 5 is a view of the underside of an array of flowable product containing tubs with the assembly of the 6 twin item containing elements and closure element of Figures 2 to 4 in a nested and attached position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The encapsulating packaging of the present invention is intended for releasable attachment to an array of containers, such as an array of tubs for a flowable food product. Typically each container or tub is formed as a body with integral sides and a base, with the container of substantially square cross-section with rounded corners.

The upper open end is provided with an outwardly projecting flange having a substantially square perimeter. Tubs are interconnected at adjacent edges of the flanges with the connection adapted for separating the tubs as desired. Tubs are sealed after filling with the food content by foil, usually ultrasonically welded to the flanges.

First Preferred Embodiment With reference to Fig. 1 encapsulating packaging comprises an item containing element 10 formed of side portions 12 and an integral base portion 14. Containing element 10 is preferably formed of transparent PETE so that contents 16 are easily discernable.

In this embodiment, the item containing element is ultrasonically welded to the centre of a base sheet 18.

Base sheet 18 includes four lobes 20 forming an array conforming to the arrangement of an array of food packaging 7

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comprising four tubs of a flowable product, such as for example yoghurt. (An array of six such tubs 22 may be seen if Figure 2).

Lobes 20 are provided with raised rings 24 or concentrator elements, adapted to allow ultrasonic welding of the lobes to the bases 25 of four of the adjacent tubs 22. The cross-section of the item containing element 10 is shaped so as to allow the element to nest snugly between the adjacent corners of the four tubs.

The attachment of the item containing element 10 to the array of tubs is such that it is secure for transport and general handling but allows the item containing element to be readily detached when desired. Access to the contents 16 in this embodiment is by means of perforated or scored lines of weakness 26, allowing a user to open that section of the item containing element.

Second Preferred Embodiment In this second embodiment, with reference to Figures 2 to 5, the encapsulating packaging is in the form of twin item containing elements 30 and 32, joined together by an integral web 34. As for the first embodiment, each item containing element is in cross-section shaped so as to nest in the interstice formed by four adjacent tubs 22. In this embodiment however, the array of tubs 22 is a six-tub array of two rows of three tubs 22, so that, as can be seen in 8 Figure 5 two suitable interstices 34 and 36 are formed for the nesting of the twin item containing elements 30 and 32.

Twin item containing elements 30 and 32 are again each formed with integral side portions 38 and a base portion 40, leaving the end 42 opposite base portion 40, open. They are further provided with an outwardly projecting flange 43 around their open ends 42 as can best be seen in Figure 3.

With reference now to Figures 3 and 4, item containing elements 30 and 32 are provided with a closure element 44.

Closure element 44 includes twin closure parts similar to the form of the item containing elements, each closure part comprising side portions 46 and a base portion 48. Side portions 46 are shallow relative to the side portions 38 of item containing elements 30 and 32, with the crosssectional shape such as to allow insertion of the twin closure parts into the respective open ends 42 as a press fit. Closure element 44 is also provided with an integral outwardly projecting flange 49 similar in shape and extent to the flange 43 of item containing elements 30 and 32, such that when closure item 44 is assembled to twin item containing elements 30 and 32 the flanges 43 and 49 are substantially coextensive and are in abutment.

When promotional items 50, such as shown in Figure 3 for example, have been inserted into each of item containing elements 30 and 32, closure element 44 is pressed into open ends 42. The assembly may then be nested 9 between the tubs 22 of the six-tub array as shown in Figure The flanges 43 and 49 of the assembly then partly overlap the bases 25 of the tubs 22, allowing the flanges to be ultrasonically welded or otherwise affixed to bases In Use In use, the assembly of the twin item containing elements 30 and 32 and closure element 44 are readily detached from the array of food containing tubs 22. Closure element can then be removed from the assembly and access gained to the contents of the twin item containing elements.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (4)

1. The encapsulating packaging of claim 1 wherein said encapsulating packaging comprises at least one item containing element formed of side portions and an integral base portion; said item containing element provided with a closure element at an open end opposite said base portion; said side portions shaped to nest between adjacent ones of said array of containers.

2. The encapsulating packaging of claim 1 or 2 wherein said encapsulating packaging comprises a pair of item containing elements; said pair of item containing elements joined by an integral web extending between said side portions of respective ones of said pair of item containing elements.

3. The encapsulating packaging of claim 3 wherein said open end of each said item containing element is provided with an integral outwardly projecting flange around said open end; said closure element comprising a central portion adapted for insertion into said open end; said closure element further comprising an outwardly projecting flange around said central portion; respective flanges of said item containing element and said closure element overlapping and 11 abutting when said closure item is assembled to said item containing element; said flanges overlapping portions of base portions of containers of said array of containers.

4. A method of providing promotional items with an array of interconnected containers; said method including the steps of: placing at least one promotional item in at least one containing element, securing said promotional item within said containing element by means of a closure element applied to an open end of said containing element, fitting said at least one containing element between adjacent containers of said array of containers, securing outwardly projecting flanges around said open end of said containing element to base portions of said adjacent containers.