GB2583939A

GB2583939A - Reclosable package

Info

Publication number: GB2583939A
Application number: GB1906793.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Feder Eli
Original assignee: Tadbik Ltd
Current assignee: Tadbik Ltd
Priority date: 2019-05-14
Filing date: 2019-05-14
Publication date: 2020-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-14
Also published as: GB201906793D0; GB2583939B

Abstract

A reclosable package comprises a package body (12 fig 1) and a cover (20 fig 3A) disposed over a portal (16 fig 1) and including an adhesive layer (22 fig 1) and a polymeric layer with a thickness of 120 to 220 microns. A first face of the adhesive layer can be repeatedly engaged with a portion of the package body surrounding the portal (16). The polymeric layer has first and second slits 30 defining a flap portion 32, and a plurality of arched slits 34A,34B disposed longitudinally between the first and second slits and defining arched locking tabs 36 for holding the flap 32 in position when opened. Other portions 37,38 act as segments of a hinge. Polystyrene may be used at least in the hinge vicinity. A user engagement tab 33 may be non-adhesive. The package is suitable for storing wet wipes and the flap may be suitable for being opened, including being locked open and then reclosed, at least a defined number of times such as 160 times.

Description

Reclosable Package

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to reclosable packages, and more specifically to reclosable packages for dispensing wet wipes and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Throughout the drawings, like-referenced characters are used to designate like elements.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is schematic perspective illustration of a reclosable package, according to aspects of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top view planar illustration of a cover of the package of Figure 1, in a dosed operative orientation, according to some embodiments of the present invention; Figure 3A is a cross-sectional illustration of the package of Figure 1 with the cover in a dosed orientation, further showing a top view of the cover for orientation 25 purposes; Figure 3B provides a cross-sectional illustration of the cover of the package of Figure 1 in an open orientation; and Figure 3C is cross-sectional illustration of the cover of the package of Figure 1 in both locked-open and dosed orientations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The principles and operation of the structures and methods of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the

accompanying description.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Reference is now made to Figure 1, which is schematic perspective illustration of reclosable package 10, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As seen, reclosable package 10 includes a package body 12, defining a volume 14 therein. A portal 16 formed is formed in a first, typically upper, surface of package body 12, enabling access to volume 14. Typically, the package body is made of a flexible material, such as a plastic or a polymeric material.

Reference is now additionally made to Figure 2, which is a top view planar illustration of a cover 20, which is disposed over portal 16. Cover 20 includes an adhesive layer 22 (illustrated clearly in Figure 3A), a first face of which engaging a portion of package body 12 surrounding portal 16.

Cover 20 further includes a polymeric layer 24 engaging a second face of adhesive layer 22. Polymeric layer 24 has a first edge 26 and a second, opposing edge 28, and includes a longitudinal axis 29 disposed between the first and second edges. In some embodiments, the edges 26 and 28 need not necessarily be straight. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, when looking from left to right, first edge 26 has a first substantially straight portion, a first indentation, a second arched portion, a second indentation, and a second substantially straight portion.

Polymeric layer 24 and adhesive layer 22 are selected such that polymeric layer 24 may be repeatedly and reversibly attached to and detached from the portion surrounding portal 16.

Polymeric layer 24 includes first and second slits 30, which extend through the polymeric layer from first edge 26 toward second edge 28. First and second slits 30 define a flap portion 32, which is repeatably and reversibly openable and reclosable.

In some embodiments, flap portion 32 includes a user engagement tab 33, adapted to be held by a user when opening cover 20 to facilitate access to contents of package 10, as explained in further detail hereinbelow. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, first arid second slits 30 come together to end at user engagement tab 33. In some embodiments, user engagement tab 33 is devoid of adhesive layer 22.

Polymeric layer 24 further includes a plurality of arched slits 34 disposed longitudinally between first and second slits 30, and distal to first edge 26. Each of arched slits 34 faces towards second edge 28 and has a base facing towards first edge 26. Each of arched slits 34 defines an arched locking tab 36.

The arched slits 34 include a first subset of arched slits, indicated by 34A in Figure 2, and a second subset of arched slits, indicated by 34B in Figure 2. The arched slits in first subset A have a first tab length, indicated in Figure 2 by Ll, and a first tab depth, indicated in Figure 2 by Dl. The arched slits in second subset B have a second tab length, indicated in Figure 2 by L2, and a second tab depth, indicated in Figure 2 by D2.

In some embodiments, first tab length LI is different from second tab length L2.

In some embodiments, first tab length Ll is in the range of 12mm to 50mm, and more typically, 15mm to 40mm, 15mm to 30mm, or 20mm to 25mm In some embodiments, second tab length L2 is in the range of 1 lmm to 17mm.

First tab length L I may exceed second tab length L2, typically by at least 3mm, at least 4mm, at least 6mm, or at least 8mm.

Typically, first tab length Ll may exceed second tab length L2 by 3mm to 25mm, 3mm to 20mm, 4mm to 18mm, 5mm to 15mm, 6mm to 15mm, 8mm to 15mm, or lOmm to 15mm.

In some embodiments, first tab depth D1 is the same (within 0 5mm and/or within 20%) as second tab depth D2. In some embodiments, first tab depth DI and second tab depth D2 are in the range of 3mm to 8mm. One half of the tab depth is the distance between the axis A (shown in Figure 3A) of the hinge and the outermost surface of the tab, which juts into, and locks with, the package housing, in the locked orientation (as shown in Figure 3C).

In some embodiments, a ratio between first tab depth D1 and a second tab depth D2 is in the range of 0.7:1.3, 0.8:1.2, or 0.9:1.1.

In some embodiments, a dimensionless ratio ("DINH") between first tab length LI and a first tab depth DI is in the range of 4:1 to 10:1, 5:1 to 10:1, 4:1 to 8:1, 5:1 to 8:1, or 5.5:1 to 7:1. In some embodiments, a dimensionless ratio ("DIM2") between second tab length L2 and second tab depth D2 is in the range of 2.5:1 to 7:1, 3:1 to 7:1, 3:1 to 6:1,3:1 to 5.5:1,or 3:1 to 5:1.

In some embodiments, an aspect ratio between DIM1 and DIM2 (DIM1/DIM2) is greater than zero, and typically falls within the range of 1.1:1 to 3:1, 1.1:1 to 2.5:1, 1.1:1 to 2.2:1, 1.2:1 to 2.2:1, 1.3:1 to 2.2:1, 1.4:1 to 2.2:1, 1.4:1 to 2:1, or 1.4:1 to 1.8:1. In some embodiments, the cover, or at least the hinge material of the cover, is made of PET or polystyrene. The thickness of the hinge (and for both PET and polystyrene in particular) is typically within a range of 100mm to 250mm, 120mm to 220mm, 120mm to 250mm, 140mm to 250mm, and more typically, within a range of 140mm to 220mm, 140hnm to 200mm, 150mm to 200mm, or 160mm to 200mm.

The total length of cover 20 may be within a ranee of 40 to 140mm and more typically, within a range of 50 to 120mm 60 to 120mm, 50 to 110mm, 60 to 100mm, or 20 70 to 100mm.

Segments of the polymeric layer 24 disposed between adjacent ones of arched slits 34, form first hinge segments 37. Segments of the polymeric layer 24 disposed between one of arched slits 34 and one of slits 30, form second hinge segments 38. Hinge segments 37 and 38 form a hinge 40 for the flap portion 32. In some embodiments, hinge 40 is substantially parallel to longitudinal axis 28.

In some embodiments, each of hinge segments 37 and 38 has a length Lh in the range of 1mm to 3mm.

In some embodiments, arched slits 34 of subset A, arched slits 34 of subset B, and hinge segments 37 are arranged symmetrically along hinge 40, about an axis of symmetry 42 disposed at the center of hinge 40 and perpendicular thereto. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a single arched slit 34 of subset A is disposed symmetrically about axis of symmetry 42, and has disposed symmetrically on either side thereof one of arched slits 34 of subset B. In some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment, polymeric layer 24 and/or cover 20 is side-to-side symmetrical about axis of symmetry 42.

In some embodiments, polymeric layer 24 is a rigid polymeric layer.

In some embodiments, polymeric layer 24 has a thickness in the range of 150 microns to 250 microns.

In some embodiments, polymeric layer 24 is formed of a single layer of polymeric material.

In some embodiments, polymeric layer 24 may be formed of at least two layers of polymeric material, each pair of adjacent layers having an additional adhesive layer disposed therebetween. In yet other embodiments, the layers may be laminated to one another to form polymeric layer 24.

In addition to Figures 1 and 2, reference is now made to Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C, which include cross-sectional illustrations of cover 20 of package 10 in various operative orientations (configurations). Figure 3A is a cross-sectional illustration of the IS package of Figure 1 with cover 20 in a closed operative orientation of flap portion 32.

Figure 3A further shows a top view of the cover for orientation purposes.

In this operative orientation, flap portion 32 is in engagement with package body 12 surrounding portal 16, and package 10 is closed. As seen in Figure 3A, in the closed operative orientation of flap portion 32, the flap portion and arched tabs 36 may be substantially parallel to the first surface of package body 12.

Figure 3B provides a cross-sectional illustration of cover 20 in an open operative orientation of flap portion 32. In this operative orientation, flap portion 32 is detached from package body 10, specifically surrounding portal 16, thereby enabling access to portal 16 and to volume 14. In the open operative orientation, flap portion 32 is pivotable relative to the upper surface of package body 12 about hinge 40. As seen in Figure 3B, in the open operative orientation of flap portion 32, a surface of the flap portion and of arched tabs 36 is disposed at an acute angle relative to the first, upper surface of package body 12.

Figure 3C is a cross-sectional illustration of the cover of the package of Figure 1 in both locked-open and closed orientations.

Figure 3C provides a cross-sectional illustration of cover 20 in a locked-open operative orientation of flap portion 32 (as well as a closed orientation, for reference purposes). In this operative orientation, flap portion 32 is detached from package body 10, specifically surrounding portal 16. thereby enabling access to portal 16. At least some of arched tabs 36 (jut into, and) reversibly engage the first, upper surface of package body 12, thereby to maintain an angular orientation between flap portion 32 and the upper surface of the package.

In some embodiments, in the locked-open operative orientation of flap portion 32, a surface of the flap portion and of arched tabs 36 is disposed at a right angle or at an obtuse angle with respect to the upper surface of the package with respect to the initial (closed) angle of opening (00) As seen from comparison of Figures 3B and 3C, the angle defined between flap 10 portion 32 and the upper surface of the package body in the locked-open operative orientation is greater than the angle defined therebetween in the open operative orientation.

For use, an incrementally dispensable filling is disposed within volume 14 of package 10. In some embodiments, the filling may be a compressible filling, such as wet-wipes, diaper wipes, cleaning wipes, and/or tissues.

When the package is in the closed operative orientation, the user typically holds the user engagement tab 33 and pulls it to pivoting flap portion 32 about hinge 40, thereby transitioning the flap portion to the open operative orientation. When the user continues pivoting the flap portion 32, the arched tabs 36 engage the package housing, locking the flap portion 32 in the locked-open operative orientation, and allowing the user to access the volume of package 10 and/or the content therein without the flap portion 32 automatically and/or autonomously reclosing.

To close the package when it is in locked-open operative orientation, the user may push user engagement tab 33, or the entirety of flap portion 32, downward, thereby releasing the engagement of arched tab(s) 36 from the body of the package. The user may continue to push the flap portion 32 downward until the flap portion engages the upper surface of the package housing and closes portal 16.

When package 10 is nearly full, and for D1 = D2, by way of example, the arched tabs 36 of subset B (for Li > L2) reversibly engage the first surface of the package, and may provide more significant resistance to closing of flap portion 32 than do the arched tabs 36 of subset A. This may he attributed to the higher ratio of tab length to tab height of subset A, which imparts greater flexibility to arched tabs 36 of subset A. When package 10 is nearly empty, the arched tabs 36 in subset B reversibly engage the first surface of the package, and may provide more significant resistance to closing of flap portion 32 than they effected when package 10 was nearly full, for example, when the package is disposed on a table or other hard surface, such that package compressibility may be appreciably decreased. This is potentially disadvantageous, because if the sum requisite force to unlock all of the tabs is too high, it may be inconveniently difficult to close the cover. However, the larger ratio of tab length to tab height of subset A imparts greater flexibility to the arched tabs 36 of subset A, mitigating the force required to unlock these tabs, and advantageously mitigating the sum requisite force to unlock all of the tabs, even when package 10 is nearly empty.

This may be particularly true for fairly compressible dispensable fillings such as wet-wipes and the like.

In some embodiments, when the filling of package 10 includes a specific number of items, first and second hinge segments 37 and 38 are sized and configured to enable the user to open and close flap portion 32, by transitioning of flap portion 32 from the closed operative orientation to the locked-open operative orientation and back to the closed operative orientation, a number of times equal to or greater than the number of items in the package, while maintaining the integrity of hinge 40. For example if package 10 includes 72 wet wipes, the hinge segments must be strong enough to enable a user to open the package to the locked-open orientation, and reclose the package, at least that number of times, and with appropriate design factors, considerably more.

In some embodiments, first and second hinge segments 37 and 38 are sized and configured to enable the user transition flap portion 32 between the closed operative orientation and the locked-open operative orientation at least 20 times, at least 40 times, at least 60 times, at least 80 times, at least 100 times, at least 120 times, at least 140 times, or at least 160 times, while maintaining the integrity of the hinge.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims section that follows, the term "near full" and the like, with respect to a package such as a wet wipes package, refers to a state in which the package is filled by an incrementally-dispensable package filling or product (e.g., wet wipes) to at least 80% of the initial height of the package filling or product, and/or in which the package contains at least 80% of the initial number of the incrementally-dispensable package filling or product (e.g., wet wipes).

As used herein in the specification and in the claims section that follows, the term "near empty" and the like, with respect to a package such as a wet wipes package, refers to a state in which the package is filled by an incrementally-dispensable package filling or product (e.g., wet wipes) to at most 20% of the initial height of the package filling or product, and/or in which the package contains at most 20% of the initial number of the incrementally-dispensable package filling or product (e.g., wet wipes). As used herein in the specification and in the claims section that follows, the term "compressible" and the like, with respect to a package filling or product (e.g., wet wipes), refers to a package filling or product whose vertical dimension can be reversibly reduced by at least 2% (and typically, at least 5%, at least 10%, 2-35%, or 5-25%) by a load applied to a top face of the package.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims section that follows, the term 'substantially parallel" and the like, refers to an an2le that is within ±20" of parallel, and more typically, within ±15", within ±10", within ±5", or within ±2" of parallel.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims section that follows, the term "substantially equal" and the like, refers to parameters whose magnitude differs by at most 20%, and more typically, by at most 15%, by at most 10%, or by at most 5%. It will be appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, 20 described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the sphit and broad scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: A reclosable package, comprising: a package body defining a volume therein; a portal formed in a first surface of said package body enabling access to said volume; and a cover, disposed over said portal, said cover including: an adhesive layer, a first face of said adhesive layer engaging a portion of said package body surrounding said portal; a polymeric layer having first and second, opposing edges, said polymeric layer engaging a second face of said adhesive layer, wherein said cover is repeatedly and reversibly attachable to and detachable from said portion of said package body, said polymeric layer having formed therein: first and second slits extending through said polymeric layer from said first edge toward said second edge, said first and second slits defining a flap portion of said polymeric layer, said flap portion being repeatably and reversibly openable and reclosable; and a plurality of arched slits disposed longitudinally between said first and second slits and distal to said first edge, each of said plurality of arched slits facing towards said second edge and having a base facing towards said first edge, each of said arched slits defining an arched locking tab, wherein said plurality of arched slits includes first and second subsets of arched slits, each of said first and second subsets including at least one said arched slit, wherein arched locking tabs defined by arched slits in said first subset of arched slits have a first tab length, and arched slit tabs defined by arched slits in said second subset of arched slits have a second tab length, wherein segments of said polymeric layer disposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of arched slits form first hinge segments, wherein segments of said polymeric layer disposed between one of said plurality of arched slits and one of said first and second slits form second hinge segments, and wherein said first and second hinge segments form a hinge for said flap portion.
2. The reclosable package of claim 1, wherein, in a closed operative orientation of said flap portion, said flap portion is in engagement with said portion of said package body surrounding said portal.
3. The reclosable package of claim 2, wherein in said closed operative orientation of said flap portion, said flap portion and said arched tabs are substantially parallel to said first surface of said package body.
4. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in an open operative orientation of said flap portion, said flap portion is detached from said portion of said package body surrounding said portal enabling access to said portal, and is pivotable relative to said first surface of said package body about said hinge.
5. The reclosable package of claim 4, wherein in said open operative orientation of flap portion, a surface of said flap portion and said arched tab is disposed at an acute angle to said first surface of said package body.
6. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, in a locked-open operative orientation of said flap portion, said flap portion is detached from said portion of said package body surrounding said portal enabling access to said portal, and at least some of said arched tabs reversibly engage said first surface of said package thereby to maintain an angular orientation between said flap portion and said first surface of said package.
7. The reclosable package of claim 6, wherein locked-open operative orientation of flap portion, a surface of said flap portion and said arched tab is disposed at a right angle or at an obtuse angle to said first surface of said package body.
8. The reclosable package of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein a first angle defined between said surface of said flap portion and said first surface of said package body in said locked-open operative orientation is greater than a second angle defined between said surface of said flap portion and said first surface of said package body in said open operative orientation.
9. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said polymeric layer comprises a rigid polymeric layer.
10. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said flap portion further includes a user engagement tab, adapted to be held by a user at least when transitioning said flap portion from said closed operative orientation to said open operative orientation.
11. The reclosable package of claim 10, wherein said first and second slits come together to end at said user engagement tab.
12. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said firs( tab length is in the range of 20rnm to 25mm.
13. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said second tab length is in the range of 11 m m to 17mm.
14. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a first dimensionless ratio between said firs( tab length and a first tab depth of said arched tabs in said first subset, is in the range of 4:1 to 10:1.
15. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a second dimensionless ratio between said second tab length and a second tab depth of said arched tabs in said second subset, is in the range of 2.5:1 to 7:1.
16. The reclosable package of claim 14 or claim 15, wherein an aspect ratio between said first dimensionless ratio and said second dimensionless ratio is within a range of 1.1:1 to 3:1, 1.1:1 to 2.5:1, 1.1:1 to 2.2:1, 1.2:1 to 2.2:1, 1.3:1 to 2.2:1, 1.4:1 to 2.2:1, 1.4:1 to 2:1, or 1.4:1 to 1.8:1.
17. The reclosable package of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein said first tab depth and said second tab depth is in the range of 3mm to 8mm.
18. The reclosable package of any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein each of said first hinge segments and said second hinge segments has a length in the range of lmm to 3mm.
19. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein said cover, or at least said hinge material of said cover, is made of PET or polystyrene.
20. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein, an Incrementally dispensable filling is disposed within said volume of said package, and wherein, in said locked-open operative orientation, said first subset of arched tabs are dimensioned to reversibly engage said first surface of said package when said package is near full, and said second subset of arched tabs reversibly engage said first surface of said package when said package is near empty.
21. The reclosable package of claim 20, wherein said incrementally dispensable filling comprises a compressible filling.
22. The reclosable package of claim 20 or claim 21, wherein said incrementally dispensable filling comprises at least one of wet-wipes, diaper wipes, cleaning wipes, or tissues.
23. The reclosable package of any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein said incrementally dispensable filling includes a specific number of items, and said first and second hinge segments are sized and configured to enable transitioning of said flap portion from said closed operative orientation to said locked-open operative orientation and back to said closed operative orientation a number of times equal to or greater than said specific number of items, while maintaining the integrity of said hinge.
24. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein said first and second hinge segments are sized and configured to enable transitioning of said flap portion between said closed operative orientation and said locked-open operative orientation at least 20 times, at least 40 times, at least 60 times, at least 80 times, at least 100 times, at least 120 times, at least 140 limes, or at least 160 times, while maintaining the integrity of said hinge.
25. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein said polymeric layer has a thickness in the range of 150 microns to 250 microns.
26. The reclosable package of claim 25, wherein said polymeric layer has a thickness in the range of 150 microns to 250 microns.
27. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein said polymeric layer is formed of at least two layers of polymeric material having an additional adhesive layer disposed therebetween.
28. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein said arched tabs of said first subset and said arched tab of said second subset are arranged symmetrically along said hinge about an axis of symmetry disposed at the center of said hinge and perpendicular thereto.
29. The reclosable package of any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein said cover is side-to-side symmetrical about said axis of symmetry.
30. The reclosable package of any of the above claims, wherein said polymeric layer is formed of a single layer of polymeric material.
31. The reclosable package of claim 30, wherein said polymeric layer has a thickness in the range of 120 microns to 220 microns.The