WO2011160675A1

WO2011160675A1 - Consumer package

Info

Publication number: WO2011160675A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/058790
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jesper LUNDÉN
Original assignee: Sca Hygiene Products Ab
Priority date: 2010-06-22
Filing date: 2010-06-22
Publication date: 2011-12-29

Abstract

A consumer package (10) for holding a plurality of stacked articles (34), comprise a first part (12) of the package (10) and a second part (14) of the package (10). The second part (14) is removably attached to the first part (12). The first part (12) is shaped to hold the stacked articles (34) when the second part (14) is removed. The second part (14) is shaped to be transformable into a bring along package (30) for one article (34) or a couple of articles (34).

Description

Consumer package

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a consumer package for holding a plurality of stacked articles, especially hygiene products like panty liners or any other type of tissue product.

Further, the invention relates to a method for forming a bring along package.

Background Art

Consumer packages for holding a plurality of stacked articles are well-known. It is also known to open such consumer packages by tearing off part of the package which forms a lid or some other part of the consumer package which, when removed, allows easy access to the articles stacked therein. It is also known in the art to disintegrate consumer packages by removing parts of the package. For example, opening flaps can be fully removed from the boxes and put into a shopping basket in order to find again the product in a supermarket. Such an approach is taken e.g. for consumer packages

containing a stack of bags for vacuum cleaners. In such a case, an opening flap can be fully removed from the consumer package and used to identify the corresponding product number in a store.

When packaging hygiene products, like panty liners, such products should also be carried along by the end user as a single piece or in a small quantity. In such a case it is inconvenient for the user to carry along the whole consumer package containing a relatively high number of such hygiene products. Up to now, in order to carry along such articles such as panty liners or napkin tissue, a separate package is needed so as to carry such hygiene articles in a handbag or the pocket of a piece of clothing. There are two reasons for using a separate package. Firstly, hygiene products should not come into contact with any type of debris since their intended use is in contact to the skin of a user. Therefore, it should be avoided that the hygiene articles are exposed for contact with the rest of the content of e.g. a handbag which is moved around. Such contact could render the

articles soiled and unhygienic before their intended use. This even applies for single wrapped articles like sanitary napkins because the plastic wrapper around such articles might tear by the exposure to other things in e . g . a handbag . Secondly, many consumers prefer that specific articles like e.g. panty liners or other intimate products should be concealed within a bag. Consequently, up to now, a separate and additional bring along package was used to carry along small quantities of such articles.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a consumer package for holding a plurality of stacked articles or single wrapped articles which can be used both as a consumer package and a bring along package. Further, the invention relates to a method how to form such a bring along package from a consumer package .

This object is solved by a consumer package with the features of claim 1 and a method for forming a bring along package with the features of claim 13. Preferred embodiments follow from the remaining claims.

The consumer package for holding a plurality of stacked articles or single wrapped articles comprises a first part of the package and a second part of the package, wherein the second part is removably attached to the first part. The first part is shaped or shapable such as to hold the stacked articles or wrapped articles when the second part is fully removed. The second part is shaped such that it is transformable into a receptacle or bring along package for enclosing one article or a couple of articles.

The method for forming a bring along package comprises the following steps:

(a) Providing a consumer package containing a plurality of stacked articles, the consumer package consisting of a first part and a second part removably attached to the first part;

(b) Opening the consumer package by tearing off and removing the second part from the first part;

(c) Folding the second part along folding lines to form a bring along package for one or a small number of

articles ;

(d) Inserting one or a small number of articles into or onto the open bring along package; and

(e) Closing the bring along package so as to enclose the

articles inserted into or onto the bring along package; wherein steps (c) and (d) can be carried out in any sequence .

It is the underlaying idea of the invention that the consumer package comprises a first part of the package and a second part of the package. The second part can be fully removed from the first part and the first part is shaped such that it can still hold, store and display the articles therein at home after the second part has been removed. The first part can be used for storing the articles in for example the bathroom at home. The second part is not thrown away after opening the consumer package but can be used to form a receptacle for one article or a couple of articles. To this end, the second part can be easily transformed to receive and fully enclose one single or a small number of articles. This receptacle is brought into the shape of and serves as a bring along package which has a small volume and can hold one or a couple of individual articles therein.

According to the inventive method, such a consumer package is opened by tearing off and fully removing the second part from the first part. After that, the second part can be further processed into the bring along package. This can be achieved by transforming in a first step the second part to form a suitable receptacle for one or a small number of articles. The second part can be folded along folding lines e.g. by forming side flaps in order to better hold the article or articles. An article or articles inserted into or onto such a receptacle can then be finally packaged by closing the bring along package with the article or articles contained therein. The article or articles are preferably enclosed by the second part in the bring along package in way that they are not exposed to the surroundings . Thus , the bring along package does not serve to display the article or articles. Depending on the specific shape of the second part of the original consumer package, it might be possible to insert the article or articles onto the second part before folding and closing it. Alternatively, it is possible first to carry out specific folding steps with the second part in order to prepare it before placing one or a small number of articles into or onto the bring along package. The sequence of these method steps depends on the position of the second part of the consumer package and whether or not, when closing the bring along package, the article or articles are folded.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second part is integrally connected to the first part by weakening lines like perforations or score lines. This makes it easy for a consumer to remove the second part from the first part. Depending on the shape of the bring along package formed by the second part, it is important that the outer shape of the second part is generated within certain size tolerances. If, for example, a closing tab is used which cooperates with a slit in order to close the bring along package, it is of essential importance that the closing tab has the right size to enter the corresponding slit and to be tightly held therein. Score lines or perforations can safeguard that the second part is formed with a relatively high geometrical accuracy. As an alternative solution, the second part can be separated from the first part by removing an integrated strip for separation.

Preferably, the second part is provided with at least one folding line for folding it into a bring along package for one article or a couple of articles. In order to transform the second part into such a bring along package, some further steps have to be carried out by the consumer. The second part has to be folded into a suitable shape . Such folding can be made easier to carry out if folding lines are already provided which forces the material to bend and fold at predetermined positions even if an unskilled user tries to fold the second part into its required shape.

As used above, a receptacle for one article or a couple of articles is an intermediate product of the final bring along package which still needs some further transformations like additional folding steps. The bring along package as used herein receives one or couple of articles which can be packaged therein either in a folded or unfolded state of the article or articles. Nevertheless, the bring along package is already the final product which can be repeatedly opened and closed again without further preparatory steps.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second part is provided with regions which are foldable into the shape of side flaps arranged such as to hold the article or couple of articles. The term "flaps" does not necessarily mean that such flaps have to extend all along the length of the respective sides they are attached to. It is possible to provide flaps along one or both sides of the second part or to provide a plurality of individual flaps along one or both sides of the second part. Such flaps serve to delimit lateral positional deviations of the article or articles in the bring along package formed by the second part .

As an alternative embodiment, the second part is folded such that the outer surface of the consumer package forms the inner surface of the bring along package. As outlined above, the bring along package also has the function to conceal its contents when e.g. placed in an open bag. However, consumer packages are usually provided with a specific distinguishable design on their outer side which, once known to the consumer, allows an easy identification of the product associated with such package. When folding the second part such that the outer surface of the consumer package forms the inner surface of the bring along package, a more discrete outer appearance of the bring along package can be achieved.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second part is provided with a closure means, preferably formed as a closing tab cooperating with a slit provided in the second part. This is an easy means to form a bring along package which can be safely closed and repeatedly opened and closed again. Other alternative closure means are bottom snaps or hooks and loops. A further possibility to close the bring along package without a separately provide closure means is the provision of four top flaps which are

dimensioned such as to overlap the neighboring flaps

extending from the angularly oriented adjacent side walls. With such a geometry it is possible to close the bring along package by placing all four flaps in such a way that, in any selected direction around the bring along package, any top flap is positioned on top of the neighboring flap in such selected direction. By using the special arrangement, the bring along package is kept closed without the provision of an additional closure means.

Preferably, the second part comprises at least one side flap and/or a closing tab which are arranged such as to have fold lines in common with edges of the consumer package. If such design is used, this has the advantage that no additional folding lines appear on the outer design of the consumer package. Moreover, an experienced user can receive already a guidance as to how such side flap or side flaps and/or closing tab should be arranged when transforming the second part into the bring along package. In other words, this may constitute the convenient help for folding and a first orientation as to how the final geometry of the bring along package should look like.

Preferably, the consumer package has the shape of a closed box, preferably of cuboid shape, with walls which are

angularly arranged relative to each other. Such a shape is convenient because the consumer package, once the second part has been removed, still has to serve as a container for the stacked articles. A consumer package which is cuboid can be easily placed on a flat surface and, before it is put into use, a plurality of consumer packages can be easily stacked and packaged into gross -packagings making optimum use of the space available.

Preferably, the consumer package is made of cardboard, carton or a thin plastic material. In case of thin plastic

material, it has to be taken care that such material is easy to fold and to transfer into a bring along package. Further, it has to be taken care that the thin plastic material is flexible enough to allow repeated opening and closing of the bring along package .

According to a preferred embodiment, the consumer package is provided with an adhesive closure tab extending across the score line or perforated line between the first part and the second part and, in the state in which the second part is removed from the first part, forms a closure tab of the second part. In such a way, the adhesive closure tab has a double function. In the original shipping state of the consumer package, it serves for closing the consumer package and protects at least one perforated line or score line between the first part and second part against inadvertent rupture. When the user opens such an adhesive closure tab, it is already used to separate the second part from the first part along a weakening line bridged by the adhesive closure tab in its closed state. After having removed the second part from the first part, such adhesive closure tab can be used again to open and close the bring along package.

According to a preferred embodiment, the outer design of the consumer package is such as to distinguish between the first part and the second part. This helps the user to separate the first part and the second part and, additionally, signals to the user who wants to buy a consumer package according to the invention that such consumer package can be used for the purpose of forming a bring along package .

According to a preferred embodiment, the article or couple of articles within the bring along package are folded. When flexible products are contemplated, like panty liners or napkins, such articles can be folded which reduces their overall size and, consequently, the required size of the second part forming the bring along package. The smaller the bring along package is, the smaller is the second part of the consumer package which has to be removed from the first part of the consumer package. This leaves a relatively large first part of the consumer package which has to be shaped to hold the stacked articles when the second part has been removed. Brief Description of the Drawings

In the following, the invention is described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. la and lb are a front side and the backside view of a consumer package according to the invention;

Fig. lc shows the first part of the consumer

package according to Fig. la and lb;

Fig. Id shows a bring along package formed from the second part of the consumer package according to Fig. la and Fig. lb.

Fig. 2 shows a group of three identical consumer packages. One closed consumer package is shown in a front- side view, a second closed consumer package is shown in a backside-side view. A third consumer package is opened and the second part fully removed from the first part has been transformed into a bring along package ;

Fig. 3a shows another embodiment of an inventive consumer package ; and

Fig. 3b shows a bring along package formed by the second part of the consumer package as shown in Fig. 3a. Description of Preferred Embodiments

In the following description of preferred embodiments, identical or corresponding parts of the consumer packages disclosed will be identified by the same reference numerals.

Figs, la and lb show a first embodiment of a box-like

consumer package which has an overall cuboid shape. Such general shape is advantageous because the packages generally denominated by reference numeral 10 can be easily stacked or combined together to form larger packaging units . Like in the following embodiments, the body of the consumer package 10 is preferably made of cardboard or a thin plastic

material . The outer surface of the packages can be provided with any suitable design. Inside the consumer package 10, a plurality of stacked articles is contained. An example of such stacked articles will be shown later with reference to Fig. 2.

The consumer package 10 consists of two parts, a first part 12 and a second part 14. Both parts are formed with a complementary shape so that the first part and the second part together form the consumer package 10. According to another embodiment as shown later, a further part might be provided but for the purpose of the invention it is

sufficient that the consumer package 10 consists of the first part 12 and the second part 14 only.

The second part can be removed from the first part. To this end, the second part is separated along weakened lines 16 which might be perforated lines or score lines. When the second part is removed from the first part, the first part 12 has the shape as shown in Fig. lc . In the specific example as shown in Figs, la and lb, the second part consists of two main surfaces 18 and 20 formed by a part 18 of the side wall of the package 10 and the top wall 20 of the package 10.

Between these two sections 18 and 20 there is the upper edge 22 of the package 10 which, as can be seen from Fig. Id, is used for folding the surfaces 18 and 20 onto each other when transforming the second part into the bring along package 30.

Section 18 of the second part extends over the longitudinal vertical edges of the package 10 as shown in Figs, la and lb so as to form side flaps 24. These side flaps 24 are also shown in Fig. Id in which they are folded further inwardly- over the original position in the package 10 where they extend at 90° relative to the main surface 18. Since the position at which the side flaps 24 start from the main surface 18 is along the vertical longitudinal edges 26, and since the upper edge 22 of the package also serves as fold line, a user has no problems to bring the second part 14 once removed from the first part into the correct final

disposition to be used as a bring along package as shown in Fig. Id.

As seen in Fig. lb, there is an opening and closing tab 28 which extends from main surface 20. This tab 28 can be used when opening the originally closed consumer package 10.

Further, tab 28 is used to close the bring along package 30. In order to achieve this, a slit 32 is formed in the main surface 18 which can either have the original shape of a slit in the consumer package 10 or might also be a weakened line, like a perforated line or score line to be opened into the shape of a slit by the user. Slit 32 is positioned such as to cooperate with the closing tab 28 in order to repeatedly open and close the bring along package 30.

In Fig. lc, the first part is shown without stacked articles positioned therein in order to better show the shape of the first part 12 once the second part has been removed.

However, stacked articles like e.g. shown in Fig. 2 could be positioned and stored within first part 12 which, once opened, serves as a supply package. Further, the second part has to be dimensioned and shaped such that one or a small number of articles can be received and packaged within the bring along package 30. In the example as shown in Figs, la to Id, such an article could be folded when closing the bring along package 30. However, as shown later with respect to the embodiment as shown in Figs . 3a and 3b, this is not necessarily the case. Therefore, depending on the question whether or not the article or articles to be received in the bring along package are folded or not, the second part relative to the fist part has to be dimensioned and shaped.

Fig. 2 shows a group of three packages 10a, 10b and 10c.

Consumer package 10a is shown in the closed state such that its top surface, front surface and side surface are shown. The consumer package 10b is identical to package 10a but positioned such as to show its top surface, back surface and side surface. The packages have a first part 12 and second part 14, respectively, which are differentiated with regard to their outer designs. This makes it even easier for a user to identify the position at which the first part and the second part have to be separated from each other. In the specific example as shown, there is one perforated line or score line 16 which fully surrounds the consumer package so that the whole top part of the consumer packages 10a and 10b can be removed.

Fig. 2 also shows a third consumer package 10c filled with stacked articles, in the present case panty liners 34, which has been separated into a first part 12 acting as a storage package and a second part which has already been transformed into bring along package 30.

In the example as given in Fig. 2, bring along package 30 can easily formed from second part 14 of the consumer package because all upper edges 22 of the package and also parts 38 of the vertical longitudinal edges 26 undergo no changes and form the lower part of bring along package 30 with upright standing side walls 36. When transforming second part 14 into the final bring along package 30, the user has

additionally to separate the second part along the additional perforated lines or score lines 40 in order to form the bring along package. Depending on the desired shape and geometry of the flaps, it is also possible to arrange additional score lines or to place score lines 40 at a different position. In this respect, also the embodiment of Fig. 2 only serves as an example to explain how it is possible to combine first part 12 and second part 14 together to form the consumer package 10 and, at the same time, how second part 14 can be

transformed by way of an example into a bring along package . The stacked articles 34 as shown in Fig. 2 are arranged in the bring along package 30 as shown in Fig. 2 in a folded state.

The embodiment of Fig. 3a shows another cuboid consumer package 10 which consists of a first part 12 and a second part 14. First and second part are separated along

perforated line or score line 16 which continuously runs around the side walls and partly the vertical longitudinal edges of consumer package 10. In addition to the embodiments as explained with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the consumer package 10 according to Fig. 3a has a separate element which is an adhesive tab 42 fixedly attached to the second part 14 in its upper region 42 and extending over the perforated line or score line 16 to be removably adhesively attached to first part 12 of package 10. The adhesive tab 42 can be used for the first opening of the consumer package 10 because, when grasping the lower end of adhesive tab 42 and moving it upwards, the perforated line or score line 16 starts to brake and, when continuing this opening movement, runs around the consumer package up to the final state in which the second part 14 is fully removed from the first part 12. After having been removed, the second part 14 can be

conveniently transformed into bring along package 30 by folding inside flaps 24 before or after the articles

contained in consumer package 10 have been placed on main surface 20 formally forming the top of consumer package 10. Thereafter, cover flaps 44 are closed onto each other and, when they should be kept in the closed state, fixed by means of the adhesive tab. Contrary to the embodiments as shown in Figs. Id and 2, the bring along package as shown in Fig. 3b does not require articles with an extension so as to extend over the whole mains surface 20 of the consumer package to be folded. The disadvantage of the bring along package as shown in Fig. 3b is that it is of a larger size. Therefore, it depends on the desired size of the bring along package and the ability of the article to be bent without being damaged or restricting its desired use whether or not the shape of the bring along package according to Fig. 3b or as shown in Fig. 2 is preferred.

A final aspect is the possibility to transform the second part in such a way that the former outer surface of the consumer package becomes the inner surface of the bring along package. This might serve to remove any indications as to the contents of the bring along package.

Claims

1. Consumer package (10) for holding a plurality of stacked articles (34) or single wrapped articles, comprising: a first part (12) of the package (10) and a second part (14) of the package (10) ; the second part (14) being removably attached to the first part (12) ; the first part (12) being shaped or shapable to hold the stacked or wrapped articles (34) when the second part (14) is removed; the second part (14) being shaped to be

transformable into a bring along package (30) for enclosing one article (34) or a couple of articles (34) .

2. Consumer package according to claim,

characterized in that

the second part (14) is integrally connected to the first part (12) by means of weakening lines like perforations (16) or score lines.

3. Consumer package according to claim 1 or 2 ,

characterized in that

the second part (14) is provided with at least one folding line (22) for folding it into a bring along package (30) for one article (34) or a couple of articles (34) .

4. Consumer package according to claim 3, wherein the

second part (14) is provided with regions (24) which are foldable into the shape of side flaps arranged such as to hold the article (34) or a couple of articles (34) .

Consumer package according to claim 3 or 4 ,

characterized in that

the second part (14) is folded such that the outer surface of the consumer package forms the inner surface of the bring along package (30) .

Consumer package according to any of the preceding claims ,

characterized in that

the second part (14) is provided with a closure means (28; 42), preferably formed as a closing tab (28) cooperating with a slit (32) provided in the second part (14) .

Consumer package according to any of the preceding claims ,

characterized in that

the second part (14) comprises at least one side flap (24) and/or a closing tab (28) which are arranged such as to have fold lines in common with edges (22; 26) of the consumer package (10) .

Consumer package according to any of the preceding claims ,

characterized in that

the consumer package has the shape of a closed box, preferably of cuboid shape, with walls which are

angularly arranged relative to each other.

Consumer package according to any of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the consumer package is made of cardboard, carton or thin plastic material .

10. Consumer package according to any of the preceding claims ,

characterized in that

the consumer package is provided with an adhesive closure tab (42) extending across a score line or perforated line (16) between the first part (12) and the second part (14) and, in the state in which the second part (14) is removed from the first part (12) , forms a closure tab of the bring along package .

11. Consumer package according to any of the preceding

claims ,

characterized in that

the outer design of the consumer package is such as to distinguish between the first part (12) and the second part (14) .

12. Consumer package according to any of the preceding

claims ,

characterized in that

the second part (14) is shaped and dimensioned such that, when being transformed into the bring along package (30) the article (34) or couple of articles (34) are folded within the bring along package (30) .

13. Method for forming a bring along package (30) comprising the steps:

(a) Providing a consumer package (10) containing a

plurality of stacked articles (34) or single wrapped articles, the consumer package (10) consisting of a first part (12) and a second part (14) removably attached to the first part (12) . (b) Opening the consumer package by tearing off and removing the second part (14) from the first part (12) .

(c) Folding the second part (14) along folding lines to form a bring along package for one or a small number of articles;

(d) placing one or a small number of articles into or onto the bring along package; and

(e) closing the bring along package; wherein steps (c) and (d) can be carried out in any sequence.

Method according to claim 13, wherein, when closing the bring along package, the one or the small number of articles are folded.