ZA200500240B - Packaging system for detergent bars - Google Patents

Description

Co €..00035/02 48 ; } C2117 cpl (V)

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to packaging of detergent ba rs and the like and in particular to a packaging system comprising transparent wrapper. Apart from enabling incorporation of print ed matters, the transparent wrapper would add to the aesthetic outlook of the packaged detergent, is adapted to favour maintaining desired packaging characteristics for effective storage and transit of the detergent bar while maintaining its quality and characteristics under diverse transit and storage conditions.

Background Art

It is well known in the art to provide packaging papers such as surface printed Chromo, Maplitho or Poster Paper with extrusion coating with polyethylene or coating with hot mel. t lacquer. Surface printed chromo, maplitho or poster paper laminated with PET or BOPP on the printed surface and coated with hot melt lacquer on the other side of the paper is also known. Combinations of reverse printed PET or BOPP laminated to Chromo, Maplitho or Poster Paper and coated with hot meld lacquer on the other side or said reverse printed PET/BOPP lamina ted to metallized PET or metallized N

BOPP with further lamin ation to Chromo, Maplitho or Poster

Paper and coated with h ot meld lacquer on the other side or said reverse printed PE T/BOPP laminated to BOPP, PET lamination to polyethylene are also well known.

Furthermore, carton pac king such as surface printed paper

. C2117 cpl (CV) Pe 20 Nes LG base d carton pack with or without laminat ion with BOPP/PET on t he printed surface or the reverse primted PET or BOPP lami nated with paperboard carton pack is also well known.

It is also known to use packaging films swich as multi-layer heat sealable packaging films for packagimg of products.

Biax jally oriented polyethylene terephtalate commonly refe rred to as “oriented polyester” “OPET”” is a well-known packaging film.

US 4,765,999 discloses multiple layer non—oriented heat sealable films having a base substrate lawyer of poly (ethylene terephtalate) (polyester) ox polyester co- polyruner and at least one heat sealable suxface layer of a co-polyester. Such films are adapted to »eplace heat sealable OPET films for extremely demandirg applications such as microwave popcorn bags. Importantly, it is suggested that the relatively amorphous nature of such non- oriented films provide for additional advantages compared to the xelatively crystalline nature of the OPET films.

EP 17121305 Bl discloses bar of soap having wrapped laterally of the bar around at least a longitudinal extent of the bar, a stiffening member comprising a stiff sheet material having at least respective outer surfaces thereoff each provided by a plastic material wherein at least a partt of the stiffening material is transparent. This packaging wras proposed based on a finding that if a bar or soap has wrapped around at least a longitudinal extent thereof, a sti ffing member at least respective outer surface of which are each provided by

~ 7 C2117 cpl (V) Eo. . Naw: 09 [LG - 3 = a plastic material then mould growth on and within it can be entirely avoided.

EP 1183193 Bl discloses yet another =ocap bar packaged in a transparent package, said soap bar having a generally rectangular shape with two sides of & minor dimension and two sides of a major dimension, a fimxst inner film substantially enveloping said soap bar and open on the two sides of a minor dimension, a second substantially transparent outer film overlying said first film and fully enveloping said soap bar characterized in that said inner film is substantially transparent and has a light transmission of more than 85% and a clarity of more than 90%, the thickness ratio of said first film to said second film being 2:1 to 5:1, the stiffness of said first film to said second film being 7:1 to 35:1 arad said soap bar being a translucent soap bar. The first film is selectively provided as a stiffener to provide structural protection for the soap while the second film fully envelopess the soap bar and the first film.

It would be apparent from the above t.-hat while several varieties of packaging materials especially useful for packaging of detergent bars are avail able and made known to the art the varieties presently avail able are either found to involve complexities in manufactur e, are cost-extensive, or fail to provide the desired mechan ical strength and stiffness to facilitate the effective transport of packaged product. Moreover, in case of require d transparent wrappers for detergents such problems turn mor e complex. Also, it is found that most of such known packagimg also have problems

} C2117 cpl (V) Bo, 20 Nossa ; ; ~- 4 - or limitatioms in effectively protecting the odour of the product espe«cially required to be safeguarded im case of perfumed products such as detergent bars and the like. In addition, it is also found that for some of the above- discussed packaging materials there is sometimes the additional pxoblem of distortion/shrinkage of seals in case of high temperature heat sealing of the packaged detergents.

Objects and summary of the invention

It is thus am object of the present invention to provide a packaging system for detergent bars and the like in the form of transparent detergent wrappers which have superior mechanical strength and stiffness and thus have better transport performance and required storage characteristics.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a packaging system having superior stiffness, better machinabilityw and flexibility for better shape formation.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a packaging system for detergent bars and the li ke which, apart from serving as a good protective cover for the product, also enables maintaining the desired aesthetic outlook of the packaged product in addition to serving as an effective odour barrier for better retention of perfume in the bar.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a packaging s ystem for detergent bars and the 1i ke which avoids the limitations of several conventional p ackaging

C2117 cpl (V) materials as regards distortion, shrinkage of seals at high sealing temperature.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a durable transparent packaging system for detergent bars and the like which allows a printed and/or transparent window configuration.

Another object of the present inwention is to provide a process for packaging of detergemt bars and the like which enables use of a wider heat seal temperature window while obtaining quality packaging in a cost effective way and with convenient machinability. :

Thus, the invention provides a packaging system for detergent bars comprising two PET films, each having a heat sealable and a non-heat sealable side. The non-heat sealable sides are laminated together to provide a structure of : laminated PET film which is used for packaging the detergent bar such that the overlap can be heat-sealed so as to provide a wrapping around the bar.

Detailed description of the Inveration

Thus according to one aspect of tthe present invention there is provided a packaging system for shaped detergent products comprising: - a first PET film having a heat sealable side and a non- ’ heat sealable reverse thereof, - a second PET film also having & heat sealable side and a non-heat sealable reverse thereof,

Co C2117 cpl (V) said non-heat sealable sides of the first and second PET

Xilms adapted to be laminated together to provide a transparent laminated structure whexein the detergent bar is packaged such that the central portions of the laminated

Structure define a lap seal with the inner side and the outer side of the laminate structure sealed together and the end seals are provided between the outer and inner sides of the laminate structure.

The shaped detergent products referxed to herein are well known in the art and particularly comprise detergent bars and tablets such as conventionally wsed for dish wash and laundry wash purposes and for persomal wash. The latter are conventionally known as soap bars, although they may be made partly or entirely of other detergent surfactants than fatty acid soap. The phrase “detergent bax” is also used hereinafter to denote all such shaped detergent products.

In accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention at least one of the non-heat sealable sides of the laminate structure has printed matter thereon. This printed matter is thus visible through the transparent films.

In accordance with a further preferxed aspect of the present invention said non-heat sealable side of the first film of the laminate structure has printed matter thereon.

In the above disclosed packaging system of the invention the dual layer packaging of heat sealable PET with the non-heat sealable portions of the respective layers laminated enable providing of well protected printed matter on the packaging ol C2117 cpl (V) - 7 = to add to the aesthetic value of the product and on the other hand provide for a more rigid amd superior mechanical strength and stiffness to the transpament package.

In accordance with further aspect of tthe present invention there is provided for a packaging system for detergent bars and the like comprising a transparent laminate structure comprising a first layer of heat sealable PET reverse printed on the non-heat sealable portion thereof, a second 1 0 layer of heat sealable PET having its non-heat sealable reverse laminated with respect to the reverse printed non- heat sealable portion of the first layer, wherein the printing region includes an unprinted area or window to facilitate viewing of the product through the package.

The above disclosed laminated structure according to the invention Thus makes it possible to ora one hand maintain the desired mechanical strength and stiffraess in transparent detergent wrappers and on the other hand provide for variety of printed region which on its own and/or in combination with the shape and configuration of tlhe product to be packaged favours a better aesthetic outlook to the packaged product.

In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention the detergent bars to be packaged of a sul»stantially regular rectangular shape, the middle portion of all sides being flat or comprising recessed areas, but. preferably no raised portion beyond the flat area and the corners to be either at 90° or close to 90° or slightly rounded.

oC C2117 cpl (V)

In the preferred embodiment the transparent laminate

S tructure constituting the packaging system of the invention is thus comprised of the heat sealable PET reverse printed and laminated with the help of adhe sive to another layer to h eat sealable PET. In particular, t he printing on the first h eat sealable layer on its reverse is laminated to the non- h eat sealable side of the second la yer. As stated above, the printing design can have window s (unprinted area) so that the intended part of the deter gent is visible to the consumers even in a packed bar. The bar would be envelope wxapped such that the belly seal is a lap seal (inner side of the laminate to be sealed with the outer side) and the emnd seals are preferably partly between the outer and outer and partly between the inner and outer sides of the laminate.

Importantly, the above disclosed packaging system in the form of transparent detergent wrappers provides a packaging structure for shaped detergent products and the like having superior mechanical strength, bettex transport performance as well as stiffness. Importantly, the combination of the two layers of PET film with the heat--sealable sides at the outsides of the structure enables better processability and machinability and better shape formation. In particular, the combination enables high temperature sealing of the package free of distortion or shrinkage of seals and therefore provide for wider flexibility in use and application of such packaging systems.

Moreover, the dual layer packaging proposed apart from giving the desired stiffness and mechanical support to the

0 C2117 cpl (V) - 9 = structure also favours maintaining the desimed print in the packaging free of distortions or erase during transport and storage. Moreover, the dual packaging facilitates maintaining a desired barrier for any loss of perfume from the packaged products.

The PET films used in the packaging system can be made heat- sealable by any process known in the art malking heat-

Sealable films. A well known process comprises addition of a <o-polymer in one of the skin layers during the rnanufacturing of the film to constitute the heat sealable side of the packaging.

Although any wrapping process for the detergent product may bbe used, a preferred process comprises envel ope wrapping in which the belly seal is a lap seal and the end seals are between outer to outer and inner to outer si.des of the

Jdaminate.

The details of invention are further elucidated in the ¥igures, which show examples of film and laminate and its use in wrapping.

E'igure 1 shows the two layers of heat sealalwle PET film used in the packaging system of the invention. Bo=th said layers ¢ll, L2) each have a heat sealable side (HS1 , HS2) and a reverse side, which is a non-heat sealable s ides (NHS]1,

NHS2) .

F'igure 2 illustrates the provision of a prin ted portion on the non-heat sealable side of the first film layer of the

+ C2117 cpl (V) packaging system. As would be apparent from Figures 1 and 2, the printing is proposed on the non-heat sealable (NHS1) reverse of the first layer

Figure 3 shows the lamination obtained there between the first layer, in particular its printed non-heat sealable reverse with the non-heat sealable side of the second layer to constitute the laminated stxucture according to the invention.

Figure 4 illustrates the packaged detergent, which is packaged in a sheet of the duall layer transparent laminate structure. As is evident from Figures 4 the detergent bar is preferably envelope wrapped such that the belly seal is a lap seal LS (inner side of the laminate to be sealed with the outer side) and end seals ES are partly between outer to outer and partly between inner to outer sides of the laminate.

Claims (8)

«+ C2117 cpl (Vv) Claims

1. A packaging system for shaped detergent products comprising: (a) a £irst PET film having a heat sealable side arid a nomn-heat sealable reverse thereof, (b) a second PET film also having a heat sealable side and a non-heat sealable reverse thereof, said nomn-heat sealable sides of the first and second PET filrns adapted to be laminated together to provide a transpaxent laminated structure wherein the detergemt is packaged such that the central portions of the laminated structure define a lap seal with the innexx side and the outer side of the laminate structure sealed together and the end seals are provided between the outer and inner sides of the laminate structure .

2. A packaging system for detergent products as claime-d in claim 1 wherein at least one of the non-heat sealab le sides of the laminate structure has printed matter thereon .

3. A packaging system for detergent products as claime d in claim 2 wherein the non-heat sealable side of the f irst film of the laminate structure has printed matter thereon .

4, A packaging system for detergent products as claime d in claim 3, wherein the printing region includes an unprint ed area to facilitate viewing of the product through the package.

. C2117 cpl (V)

E.. 2073/8249

5. A packaging system for detergent products as claimed ima any preceding claim wherein the detergent product has Aa substantially rectangular shape with the corners either at or close to 90° degrees or slightly rounded.

6. A packaging system for detergent products as claimed im any preceding claim wherein the detergent product has the middle portion of all sides to be either flat or comprising recessed areas, but no raised portion beyond the flat area.

7. ° A packaging system for detergent products as claimed im any preceding claim comprising an envelope wrapping system wherein the belly seal is a lap seal and the end seals are partly between the outer and outer and partly between inner and outer sides of the laminate.

8. A packaging system substantially as herein described and illustrated. DATED THIS 11™ DAY OF JANUARY 2005 SPOOR & FISHER APPLICANTS PATENT ATTORNEYS