CA2131765A1

CA2131765A1 - Consumer pack

Info

Publication number: CA2131765A1
Application number: CA002131765A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Dusan Dragic; Norman Lam
Original assignee: Kellogg Co
Current assignee: Kellanova
Priority date: 1994-09-09
Filing date: 1994-09-09
Publication date: 1996-03-10

Abstract

A consumer pack comprising two identical cereal cartons secured together back-to-back using hot-melt adhesive. In a preferred embodiment, the cartons are identical and carry identical graphics. Graphics on opposite end faces of the same carton are different from one another but match so as to form composite graphics on the end faces of the pack, giving the pack overall the appearance of a double-size carton. The cartons can be separated for individual consumption by pulling them apart.

Description

BP~8182-001 - l- 21~176~

Title: CONSUMER PACK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the consumer packaging art and has been devised primarily, though not exclusively, in connection with the packaging of food products such as cereals and the like in cartons.
R~c~-RQuND OF THE INVENTION
Referring by way of example to the packaging of cereals, there is a demand for larger than normal size cartons of cereals to be sold in warehouse-style stores.
A problem with making large cartons is that it is usually necessary to use a thick cardboard stock to ensure that the carton has adequate strength to withstand normal handling, stacking, etc. prior to and at the point of sale. Even the use of thick stock often does not prevent damage, for example to the tops or bottoms of cartons due to the large unsupported area of cardboard that is presented between the corner edges of the carton.
Freshness of the contained product is also a concern. Typically, an inner bag is used in the carton.
The problem is that, once the bag has been opened, the product may lose its freshness if not consumed within a relatively short period of time. This concern has led to the need to use several individually sealed inner bags within a single large carton. The disadvantage with-this approach is that the large carton usually is not discarded until the last bag has been used, which wastes cupboard space.
Problems can also arise from the marketing standpoint. While large size cartons can be provided to satisfy the requirements of warehouse-style retailers, normal marketing practice would suggest that those same size cartons should also be made available to other more traditional retailers. That in turn can lead to retailer and/or consumer dissatisfaction. For example, a traditional retailer may not sell sufficient large size cartons to ensure that appropriate shelf life can be maintained. Equally, a typical customer for such a retailer may not consume the product sufficiently quickly that the product will remain fresh right to the end.
SUMMARY OF THE lNv~r.llON
An object of the present invention is to provide a consumer pack that addresses these concerns.
The pack provided by the invention comprises two individual containers each of which contains a consumer product and comprises a self-cont~ine~ package. The containers are of the same size and shape and each has a front, a back, and two end faces. The containers are secured together back-to-back so that the pack can be handled as a unit while allowing the containers to be separated after sale to permit consumption of product from each container independently of the other. The end faces of ~he respective containers co-operate to form substantially contiguous surfaces at opposite ends of the pack and are provided with graphics indicia which are visually acceptable on the containers individually. At the same time, in the assembled pack, the graphics indicia on each container co-operate with the corresponding indicia on the other container to form composite graphics on each end face of the pack which gives the pack overall the appearance of a double-size container.
The pack of the form provided by the invention has the advantage that it is in effect "assembled" from two individual contAiners, each of which is a self-contained, stand alone package. In some ~urisdictions, this may mean that a supplier of, say, a packaged cereal product need make available only one size of container which can be sold either by itself or in combination with a second similar container in the form of the consumer pack of the invention. Retailers can then be provided with regular size individual containers or, in effect, large containers made up from two of the individual cont~iners. It is not necessary for the supplier to 213176~

provide two completely different containers. In other jurisdictions, this may not be possible without relabelling, due to packaging and labelling requirements.
Even then, the individual containers from one dual container pack can be stored individually and their contents consumed individually. Each container can be discarded after its contents have been used up, saving on cupboard space.
When two containers are secured together to form the consumer pack, the pack is sufficiently strong and robust to resist normal handling, stacking, etc. without damage. The two container backs in effect combine to provide a strong centre "wall' at the middle of the pack.
Freshness is also safeguarded because the containers can be opened and their contents consumed individually.
Preferably, the containers are identical and contain the same product, although neither of these requirements is essential.
Typically, the individual containers will be rectangular paperboard or corrugated cartons.
Alternatively, moulded plastic containers or cans could be used. For ease of securing the individual containers together, and in the interest of uniformity of the resulting pack, the containers are preferably of rectangular box-shape although again that is not essential.
It should also be noted that even larger packs can be provided by in effect multiplying the two container pack defined above. For example, two or even more pairs of cont~iners could be secured together. However, this would have the disadvantage that at least some of the containers would then have to be secured together with their respective fronts in abutment, which could lead to damage when those containers are separated (depending on the type of securing means used).
Preferably, at least where the contAiners are 21 31 7~

cardboard cartons, hot-melt adhesive is used as the securing means. The adhesive preferably is applied in discrete spots or bands and is applied so as to avoid or minimize damage to the cartons when they are separated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a particular preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example, and in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a consumer pack assembled from two cardboard cereal cartons in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the carton blanks used to make the cartons shown in Fig. 1;
and, Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating assembly of two individual cartons to make the pack of Fig. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to Fig. 1, the consumer pack of the invention is generally denoted by reference numeral 20 and comprises two individual cartons each denoted 22. The cartons 22 are essentially conventional cardboard cartons each made from a blank such as that shown in Fig. 2 and are identical. Each carton has an inner bag (not shown) cont~ining cereal. The individual cartons 22 together with their contents are self-contained packages if separate from the pack. Each of the cartons has a front 24, a back 26 (only the edges of which are visible) and two parallel end faces 28 and 30.
In accordance with the invention, the two cartons are secured together back-to-back using hot-melt adhesive which is preferably applied in the manner shown in Fig. 3 (to be described). The resulting pack can be handled as a unit while allowing the containers to be separated after sale, for example by pulling the cartons apart to permit consumption of product from each container independently of the other.
The end faces 28 and 30 of the respective cartons co-operate to form substantially contiguous surfaces at opposite ends of the pack for example as can be seen at the right hand side of Fig. 1. The two end faces of the same carton have different graphics indicia as can be seen on the end faces 28 and 30. The indicia are designed to be visually acceptable if the cartons are separated and to co-operate with the corresponding indicia on the other carton to form composite graphics on each face of the pack, so that the pack overall has the appearance of a double-size carton.
In the embodiment of Fig. 1, it will be seen that the front 24 of each carton (the cartons being - identical) bears a nonexact graphic representation 32 of Rellogg's three trademarked characters SNAP, CRACRLE and POP 0 34 grouped around a bowl 36 of cereal by way of example. The end face 30 of both cartons each carry the same graphics indicia 38 comprising the left-hand half of the graphic 32, while the other end face 28 of each carton carries the right-hand half of the same graphic as shown at 40. If the cartons 22 are separated, the respective graphics indicia 38 and 40 on the two end faces of each carton would be different but visually acceptable. When the two cartons are assembled together into a large pack, the end faces of the respective cartons in effect become contiguous and the two graphics halves 38 and 40 match up to form a composite graphic. This gives the pack overall a unitary and "finished" appearance so that the pack resembles a single double-size carton.
Fig. 2 shows a container blank 42 for forming the containers 22 of Fig. 1. The blank is die-cut from appropriate card stock and includes appropriate flaps and fold lines, generally as is conventional in cartons for cereals. Briefly, the blank includes a series of main 213176~

rectangular panels arranged in a row and comprising, in sequence, a left-hand end panel 44, a front panel 46, a right-hand end panel 48 and a back panel 50. A thin - rectangular glue tab 52 extends along the outer edge of back panel 50. Fold lines between these panels allow the blank to be formed into a generally tubular shape and secured by gluing tab 52 inside the outer edge of end panel 44. End tabs generally indicated at 54 and 56 respectively are then folded in and interlocked to form the top and bottom ends of the carton.
Fig. 2 clearly illustrates the provision of matching graphics indicia 38 and 40 on the respective panels 44 and 48 of the blank that form the end faces 28 and 30 in the assembled carton. Fig. 2 also shows that the panel 50 that forms the back 26 of the carton is plain.
It should of course be understood that the particular graphics shown are given by way of example only and are not limiting. The graphics indicia on the end faces of the carton need not be partial reproductions of or even related to any graphics on the front of the carton. The end face indicia should be selected so as to be visually acceptable if the carton is to be sold individually and to be complimentary in the sense that they fit together to form a composite graphic when two containers are secured together back-to-back, so that the pack overall has the appearance of a double-size cont~iner. The indicia on any one carton may be the same on both end faces.
It should also be noted that the term "graphics indicia~ is intended to be construed broadly and includes not only character representations but also abstract design elements, and letter and number combinations.
Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates the manner in which the two cartons 22 of Fig. 1 are secured together back-to-back. For ease of illustration, the graphics shown in Figs. 1 and 2 have been omitted and the cartons -shown in outline form only. It should also be noted that the particular orientation of the containers shown in Fig.
3 is for illustration purposes only. In practice, the process would be performed using automated packaging S machinery in which the containers might well be oriented differently.
Fig. 3 shows the two containers positioned at a spacing from one another with their respective backs 26 opposed to one another. Hot-melt adhesive is applied, usually to only one of the two cartons in a pair, in adhesive zones which are represented by the areas indicated in ghost outline at 58 and 60. The zones are essentially narrow rectangular areas across the top and bottom of the back of the box. The zones are deliberately spaced from both the end panels 44 and 48 and from the top and bottom flaps of the box and are plain and unprinted so as to avoid any possibility of ~colour bleed" from the printed surfaces. In a practical example, each zone 58, 60 may be spaced one eighth of an inch from the relevant top or bottom face and one quarter of an inch from each end face. The zone itself may have a width of seven eighths of an inch.
Within each adhesive zone, individual spots or beads 62, 64 of hot-melt adhesive are applied in three discrete areas spaced along the zone. Again, in a practical example, the beads may each be two inches long and spaced by one and a half inches. The adhesive beads are applied to one carton of the pair and the two cartons are then brought together as indicated by the arrows 66 and 68 and held in contact for sufficient time to allow the glue to set.
It has been found in practice that the use of hot-melt adhesive secures the two cartons together adequately while at the same time allowing them to be pulled apart after purchase without serious damage to either carton. Ideally, the adhesive should pull cleanly away from one of the cartons without damaging its surface.

2l31765 -At the same time, the particular configuration of adhesive spots shown in Fig. 3, while preferred, is given by way of example only and without limitation.
It should further be noted that other forms of securing means could be used although they do have disadvantages. For example a "cold" adhesive such as contact adhesive could be used but generally would be slower to set and would therefore require the cartons to be maintained in contact under pressure for some time.
External wrapping by means of tape, shrink-wrap film or the like could also be used but has the disadvantage that the wrapping material becomes a disposal problem once it has been removed and cannot be recycled. Also, from the manufacturer's viewpoint, shrink-wrapping or the like requires a significant extra step in the packaging process and might even have to be carried out by an outside "co-packaging" house. In contrast, hot-melt adhesive can be applied relatively easily on an existing packaging line with minimal "add on" equipment. The cartons, including the hot-melt adhesive, are environmentally friendly and can be recycled for recovery and re-use of the paper fibre.
In summary, the present invention provides a consumer pack which is attractive both to the retailer and to the end consumer and which can be assembled using what are essentially conventional cartons with special graphics.

Claims

1. A consumer pack comprising:
two individual stand alone containers, each of which contains a consumer product and comprises a self-contained package, the respective containers being of the same size and shape and each having a front, a back, and two end faces; and, means securing the containers together back-to-back;
wherein the securing means is selected to permit the pack to be handled as a unit while allowing the containers to be separated to permit consumption of product from each container independently of the other, wherein the end faces of the respective containers co-operate to form substantially contiguous surfaces at opposite ends of the pack, and wherein said faces at opposite ends of each container are provided with graphics indicia which are visually acceptable on the containers individually, and which, in the assembled pack, co-operate with the corresponding indicia on the other container to form composite graphics on each end face of the pack so that the pack overall has the appearance of a double size container.

2. A consumer pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two individual containers are rectangular cardboard cartons.

3. A consumer pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cartons are identical and contain the same consumer product.

4. A consumer pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein said securing means comprises hot-melt adhesive between the backs of the respective cartons.

5. A consumer pack as claimed in claim 4, wherein said hot-melt adhesive is applied to the backs of the cartons in defined adhesive zones which are spaced from marginal edges of each carton back.

6. A consumer pack as claimed in claim 5, wherein said adhesive zones comprise, on each carton back, respective narrow rectangular areas extending transversely of top and bottom marginal portions of the back.

7. A consumer pack as claimed in claim 6, wherein the adhesive zones are free of printed material.

8. A consumer pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphics indicia are identical on the cartons but the indicia on the respective end faces of each carton are different from one another but match in the assembled pack.

9. A consumer pack as claimed in claim 8, wherein the front of each carton is provided with a graphic, and wherein the graphics indicia on the respective end faces of the same carton comprise respective left- and right-hand halves of the graphic on the front of that carton, the left-hand half of the graphic comprising the graphics indicia on the right-hand end face of the carton and the right-hand half of the graphic comprising the graphics indicia on the left-end panel of the carton, both considering the carton as seen from the front.