WO2015039945A1

WO2015039945A1 - Strip of pouches with tubular chambers

Info

Publication number: WO2015039945A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/069353
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abhay Arun Bhagwat; Niranjan Bhaskar Sohoni
Original assignee: Unilever N.V.; Unilever Plc; Conopco, Inc., D/B/A Unilever
Priority date: 2013-09-17
Filing date: 2014-09-11
Publication date: 2015-03-26

Abstract

Disclosed is a strip of pouches (1), wherein each pouch comprises two tubular chambers (2, 3) extending parallel to each other for a longitudinal distance (l) between opposite ends (5) wherein each end extends for a transverse distance (w); a longitudinally sealing seam (4) separating the chambers; transversely extending sealing seams closing the opposite ends (5) of the tubular chambers; wherein the aspect ratio (l/w) of the longitudinal distance to the transverse distance is less than 1. Consecutive members of the strip are joined along the opposite ends and each transverse seam comprises a transversely extending tearing aid for facilitating separation of consecutive pouches.

Description

STRIP OF POUCHES WITH TUBULAR CHAMBERS TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pouches for packaging consumer products. In particular the present invention relates to pouches which comprise two tubular chambers extending parallel to each other for a longitudinal distance and which are separated by a longitudinally sealing seam.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Powdery and granular products are often packaged in flexible plastic or foil/plastic composite pouches. Similar packages have also been used for liquid products such as shampoos or skin creams. These pouches are inexpensive, light and show good barrier properties to moisture which is important in ensuring that the products remain stable in storage. The pouches are also amenable to high speed manufacture in continuous processes such as so-called form-fill-seal processes to produce pillow-type, gusseted or tetrahedral-type packages.

In many countries it is common for individual pouches to contain a single, or at most a few, unit doses of consumer product. For example each pouch may contain sufficient shampoo for a single wash. For low-income consumers this allows purchase of product only as-and-when needed and avoids the short-term expense of purchasing a whole bottle of consumer product. As a result it is common for such pouches to be displayed in the form of a "strip" of pouches which is hung from the front of a kiosk or other prominent display area. The consumer or shopkeeper can then detach individual pouches from the strip when each purchase is made.

Such pouches are conventionally provided as long and relatively thin "stick packs", where consecutive pouches in a strip are joined along their narrow ends. The present inventors have, however identified a problem with such stick packs in that when hung and displayed for vending in strips, the strips present a front face which is long in the vertical direction but narrow in the horizontal direction. On the other hand consumers in most countries are accustomed to reading text presented in a horizontal direction. This means that pouch manufacturers must use small text or other indicia or otherwise align the text in a vertical direction which is not convenient for a consumer to read. Pouches wherein at least some of the packets of consumer product are arranged in a side-by-side relationship have been described. An example of such pouches is the so-called "three-sided pouch" described, for example, in US 6,006,501 (Davis et al) or US 2004/0022458 A (Mobs et al). Unfortunately, however, such pouches are still provided with high aspect ratios and so provide limited space for horizontally-extending indicia.

We have now found that some or all of the abovementioned disadvantages may be ameliorated by the provision of a strip comprising pouches with specific features. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides a longitudinally extending strip comprising at least three pouches, wherein:

each pouch comprises two tubular chambers extending parallel to each other for a longitudinal distance (J between opposite ends wherein each end extends for a transverse distance (w); a longitudinally sealing seam separating the chambers; transversely extending sealing seams closing the opposite ends of the tubular chambers; wherein the aspect ratio (llw) of the longitudinal distance to the transverse distance is less than 1.0;

consecutive members of the strip are joined along the opposite ends; and

each transverse seam comprises a transversely extending tearing aid for facilitating separation of consecutive pouches.

As used herein the term "longitudinal" refers to the direction of the sealing seam separating the chambers. By providing such a strip, an extended area for display can be provided on a face of each pouch.

Such an extended area may, for example, allow for larger or an increased amount of transversely- extending text than would otherwise be accommodated.

The longitudinally-extending strip may, for example, be hung with the longitudinal dimension extending vertically. A further advantage of such a strip is that it may be conveniently folded along the opposite ends to concertina the strip into a compact form for packaging in secondary packaging such a s a box, carton or similar. Because of the presence of the multiple tubular chambers and the low aspect ratio of each pouch, the present inventors have found that such concertinaed strip is more stable to slipping and sliding during transit than concertinaed strips of conventional pouches that comprise only a single tubular chamber per pouch and/or have a higher aspect ratio.

Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating dimensions, amounts of material, conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use may optionally be understood as modified by the word ' 'about ' .

It should be noted that in specifying any range of values, any particular upper value can be associated with any particular lower value. For the avoidance of doubt, the word "comprising" is intended to mean "including" but not necessarily "consisting of or "composed of. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive.

The disclosure of the invention as found herein is to be considered to cover all embodiments as found in the claims as being multiply dependent upon each other irrespective of the fact that claims may be found without multiple dependency or redundancy.

Where a feature is disclosed with respect to a particular aspect of the invention (for example a composition of the invention), such disclosure is also to be considered to apply to any other aspect of the invention (for example a method of the invention) mutatis mutandis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated by the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pouch suitable for including in a strip according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a front elevation of a strip according to an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of a pouch for including in a strip according to the invention is a three-sided pouch (1), so called because of the three sealing seams (4, 5) although it is within the scope of the invention that each pouch may have additional sealing seams. The pouch (1) as shown comprises two tubular chambers (2, 3) extending parallel to each other for a longitudinal distance (I) between opposite ends (5) wherein each end extends for a transverse distance (w). One of the seams is a longitudinally sealing seam (4) and separates the chambers. The other two seams are transversely extending sealing seams (5) closing the opposite ends of the tubular chambers (2, 3).

The pouch (1) may be formed from any suitable packaging material. However it is preferred that the pouch (1) is formed from flexible packaging material. The most preferred packaging material is plastic-foil laminate material, especially material comprising a metal (such as aluminium) foil layer sandwiched between two or more plastic (such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene or combinations thereof) layers. Additionally or alternatively, the packaging material may comprise paper and/or metallised polymer film (such as, for example METPET).

The seals (4, 5) may be formed by any convenient method. However to allow for high-speed manufacture it is preferred that the seals (4, 5) are formed by heat-sealing. Thus in a most preferred embodiment, at least one layer of the packaging material is heat-sealable.

The longitudinal seam (4) is preferably formed such that the two chambers (2, 3) can be separated without destroying the integrity of either chamber. Preferably the longitudinal seam (4) comprises a longitudinally extending tearing aid (6), such as a line of weakness, to aid a consumer in separating the two chambers. Such an aid (6) may, for example be a line of perforations and/or a score line. The longitudinally extending aid (6) preferably extends centrally along the length of the longitudinally sealing seam (4). The aspect ratio (Uw) of the longitudinal distance to the transverse distance is less than 1.0 to allow for the desired amount of transversely-extending surface area and/or to provide the desired resistance to sliding during transit. More preferably the aspect ratio is less than 0.95, more preferably still less than 0.90 and most preferably less than 0.87. It is preferred that the aspect ratio is not too low, as the individual packets formed when the chambers are detached are preferred to have a relatively high aspect ratio to allow for convenient handling in use. Thus it is preferred that the aspect ratio (l/w) of the pouch (1) is greater than 0.5, more preferably greater than 0.6 and most preferably at least 0.70. The fill volume of each chamber (2, 3) is preferably less than 50 ml, more preferably less than 40 ml, more preferably still in the range 3 ml to 20 ml, and most preferably from 4 ml to 15 ml. Additionally or alternatively the longitudinal distance (/) is in the range 30 mm to 120 mm, more preferably 40 mm to 100 mm and most preferably 50 mm to 80 mm. Additionally or alternatively the transverse distance (w) is in the range 40 mm to 150 mm, more preferably 50 mm to 120 mm and most preferably 60 mm to 100 mm.

Each of the transversely extending sealing seams (5) preferably spans the whole width of each of the respective opposite end of the pouch (1) across both chambers (2, 3). In a preferred embodiment the pouch (1) comprises a device (7) for facilitating the tearing open of the two tubular chambers (2, 3) and in a most preferred embodiment the device (7) for facilitating the tearing open of the two tubular chambers (2, 3) is as described in US 2004/0022458 A, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirely. Thus, the device (7) for facilitating the tearing open of the two tubular chambers is preferably located in a widened portion of the transversely extending sealing seams (5), wherein the widened portion straddles the longitudinally extending sealing seam (4) and extends to both tubular chambers (2, 3). The device (7) is preferably an aperture and/or a line of perforations.

Although it is within the scope of the invention for each of the chambers (2, 3) to have different dimensions, it is preferred that the longitudinally extending sealing seam (4) extends centrally between the two chambers (2, 3) such that the chambers (2, 3) are substantially identical.

Each of the chambers (2, 3) preferably contains consumer product. The consumer product could be in powdery or granular form. Alternatively the consumer product is in liquid form. Preferred consumer products include foodstuffs (such as sauces, soup concentrates and the like), beverage concentrates (such as coffee or tea powders, granules or essences and the like), hair care products (such as shampoos and conditioners), skin care products (such as moisturizers, skin lightening compositions, sunscreens and vanishing creams and the like) or household care products (such as washing powders and liquids, glass cleaners, dishwash liquids and powders, multi-surface cleaners and the like). Each chamber (2, 3) may contain a portion of the same product. For example each chamber may contain a portion of shampoo. Altematively, one chamber may comprise a portion of a first product and the other chamber a portion of a second product.

Preferably the first and second products are complimentary. By "complimentary" is meant that the first and second products are intended to be used together either simultaneously or sequentially. For example the first product could be a cleansing composition (such as a shampoo or laundry detergent) and the second product could be a conditioning composition (such as a hair conditioner or fabric conditioner) intended to be used after the cleansing composition. Additionally or altematively the first product could comprise from 1 to 40% anionic surfactant by weight of the first product and the second product could comprise from 1 to 40% canonic surfactant by weight of the second product.

The first and second product may, in some embodiments, be complimentary such that when dispensed and mixed they form a product ready for use. For example the first and second products may contain ingredients which react when mixed or which are otherwise unstable if stored in a single product. For example the first product may comprise a hair colourant base and the second product may comprise a hair colourant developer and the two products together form a hair colourant kit from which the colourant is prepared directly prior to application to the hair.

The pouches (1) are provided in the strips of the present invention and preferably are suitable for vending in strips. An embodiment of one such strip is illustrated in Figure 2. The longitudinally extending strip (10) comprises at least three pouches (1) wherein consecutive members of the strip are joined along the opposite ends (5). Preferably the strip (10) comprises at least ten pouches (1), more preferably at least twenty pouches and most preferably from fifty to two hundred pouches. Each transverse seam (5) is formed such that consecutive pouches (1) can be separated from the strip

(10) without destroying the integrity of the pouches. Thus each transverse seam (5) comprises a transversely extending tearing aid (60), such as a line of weakness, to aid a consumer or shopkeeper in separating consecutive pouches. Such an aid (60) may, for example, be a line of perforations and/or a score line. The transversely extending aid (60) preferably extends substantially centrally along the width of the transversely sealing seam (5). Each pouch (1) in the strip preferably comprises at least one display region (20) which extends transversely across both chambers (2, 3). The region (20) preferably contains one or more areas of transversely extending text. The text may itself extend transversely across both chambers (2, 3) or each chamber may contain separate portions of transversely-extending text. In one embodiment, each chamber (2, 3) contains sufficient indicia such that when detached from the strip (10) and the retraining chambers it provides the consumer with the necessary information for identification and/or use of the product. For example, the chambers (2, 3) may each separately comprise an ingredient list and/or bar code.

In use, the strip (10) may be hung from the roof of a kiosk or other prominent display area with the longitudinally extending seams (4) extending substantially vertically. A consumer can then readily identify the product in each chamber (2, 3) from the indicia that is easily readable on the display region (20). The bottom-most pouch (1) may then be detached from the strip (10) by tearing along the transversely extending aid (60) at the top of said bottom-most pouch. Alternatively a single chamber (2, 3) may be removed from the strip (1) by partially tearing along the transversely extending aid (60) until the longitudinal seal (4) is reached and then tearing down along the longitudinally-extending aid (6).

For storage and/or transport, the strip (10) may be packaging in secondary packaging such as a box, carton or similar. Preferably a secondary package comprises an envelope containing at least one strip (10). More preferably the strip (10) is conveniently folded along at least some of the opposite ends

(5) into a concertinaed form within the envelope.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

A longitudinally extending strip comprising at least three pouches, wherein:

each pouch comprises two tubular chambers extending parallel to each other for a longitudinal distance (I) between opposite ends wherein each end extends for a transverse distance (w); a longitudinally sealing seam separating the chambers; transversely extending sealing seams closing the opposite ends of the tubular chambers; wherein the aspect ratio Qlw) of the longitudinal distance to the transverse distance is less than 1.0;

consecutive members of the strip are joined along the opposite ends; and

The strip as as claimed in claim 1, wherein a longitudinally extending aid for facilitating the separation of the two tubular chambers extends substantially centrally along the length of the longitudinally sealing seam of each pouch.

The strip as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one of the transversely extending sealing seams closing the opposite ends of each pouch comprises a device for facilitating the tearing open of the two tubular chambers.

The strip as claimed in claim 3, wherein the device for facilitating the tearing open of the two tubular chambers is located in a widened portion of the transversely extending sealing seams closing the opposite ends, wherein the widened portion straddles the longitudinally extending sealing seam and extends to both tubular chambers.

The strip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinally extending sealing seam extends substantially centrally between the two chambers of each pouch.

The strip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pouches are formed from flexible packaging material.

The strip as claimed in claim 6, wherein the packaging material comprises plastic-foil laminate material and/or metallised polymer film.

8. The strip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each chamber has a volume in the range of 3 to 20 ml.

9. The strip as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the aspect ratio {llw) of the longitudinal distance to the transverse distance is in the range 0.70 to 0.87.

10. The strip as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each pouch comprises at least one display region which extends transversely across both chambers.

11. The strip as claimed in claim 10, wherein the display region contains one or more areas of transversely extending text.

12. The strip as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the transversely extending tearing aid to for facilitating separation of consecutive pouches comprises a line of perforations, a score line or a combination thereof.

13. A product comprising one or more strips as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 contained within a secondary package.

14. The product as claimed in claim 13, wherein the secondary package forms an envelope within which the strip is folded along at least some of the opposite ends into a concertinaed form.

15. The product as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the secondary package is a box or carton.