PACKAGING COMPONENTS
Packaging components could comprise a ply material having a front surface, a back surface, and an aperture through at least a portion of the ply material. A film material could be provided over a selected one of the front surface and the back surface of the ply material, covering the aperture. At least one substantially transparent portion and at least one substantially translucent portion could be provided with the film material covering the aperture.
This disclosure relates generally to packaging components. More particularly this disclosure relates to packaging components for assessment of a visual parameter of interest.
BACKGROUNDMany consumer products, to be commercially successful, benefit from a capability of being visualized by a consumer at point of sale. Successful sales and marketing of consumer products often vitally depend upon attractive and functional packaging for the products. Consumers are drawn to products being sold that are presented in an attractive, understandable, and useful manner.
In the realm of cosmetic products, for example, assessment of a visual parameter of interest such as, for example, a color, shade, or hue, is often a significant factor contributing to commercial success. It has been recognized that consumers of cosmetics such as, for example, foundations, powders, concealers, and the like often scrutinize very closely what they intend to purchase. Such scrutiny may often be focused on packaging for the products rather than on the products themselves since consumer products are typically sealed for health, safety, and quality control concerns. The packaging may include, for example, a color “chip” or “swatch” that attempts to depict a visual parameter of interest associated with a particular product. In some instances, a written description or numerical code of a visual parameter of interest may be employed. For example, a cosmetic powder may be contained within a plastic “compact” that in turn is packaged for sale in so-called “carded display packaging”. As used herein, the term “carded display packaging” includes various constructions such as, for example, blister, clam, skin, and stretch packaging. The aforementioned plastic compact could be, for example, contained for sale within carded display packaging—specifically under a clear plastic dome or “blister” and mounted on a so-called “blister card”. The compact could also be constructed of a clear material to allow for visual assessment of the powder's color by a potential purchaser, consumer, or end user (“consumer”) through the compact and the blister; and the carded display packaging may also be decorated with graphics presenting a written description and/or numerical code which describe the contents (e.g., “Autumn Sunset” and/or “No. 318”). Many consumers however, unless they are familiar with and have past experience with desired products, are not satisfied with simply relying upon product packaging to determine what to purchase. Thus, to aid in selection of, for example, cosmetics and to supplement known means for assessment of a visual parameter of interest (e.g., the aforementioned chips, swatches, written descriptions, and numerical codes) several schemes have been proposed through the years. One such aid is a cosmetics consultant who personally aids a consumer in selection of suitable cosmetics based on the consultant's personal evaluation of the consumer's skin type and other visual parameters. Another selection aid is a “do-it-yourself” color chart, which may be made available to consumers where cosmetic products are sold. These color charts have taken several forms through the years, such as palette boards and cards.
Several disadvantages inherently exist, however, in employing these known cosmetic selection aids. Cosmetic consultants may be expensive to train and employ, particularly when it is difficult for retailers to predict when there will be—or will not be—consumer desire for personal cosmetic consultations. Color charts embodied in palette boards may be relatively expensive and often require physical installation and hardware or the use of valuable counter space which could otherwise be used for displaying additional products. Color charts embodied in palette cards may also be relatively expensive and often are subject to degradation from repeated handling and use. Moreover, color chart devices such as palette boards and cards are usually installed in retail premises and are not intended to be removed. As such, they are not suited for convenient personal use and frequent referral by consumers off retail premises. Furthermore, a consumer might unscrupulously open a container to actually test the visual appearance of a product, by, e.g., placing some of the product on the consumer's skin. In some instances, sample containers are provided for consumers to try the product; but sometimes, consumers simply open a product intended for sale and try it, thereby possibly compromising the package, degrading the product, and rendering it unsuitable for sale.
Generally, then, there has not been an efficient or cost-effective way to provide cosmetic selection aids, make them available for convenient personal use and frequent referral, or mitigate unauthorized product sampling. Therefore, there exists a need for packaging components that, for example, aid in consumers' cosmetic selections and may be available for personal use and referral, among other important advantages.
SUMMARYThis disclosure describes novel packaging components.
In one aspect, packaging components could comprise a ply material having a front surface, a back surface, and an aperture through at least a portion of the ply material. A film material could be provided over a selected one of the front surface and the back surface of the ply material, covering the aperture. At least one substantially transparent portion and at least one substantially translucent portion could be provided with the film material covering the aperture. In one embodiment, the translucent portion could comprise a plurality of varying translucent portions. In another embodiment, the film material could be fully translucent.
In another aspect, packaging components could comprise a ply material having a front surface, a back surface, and an aperture through at least a portion of the ply material. A substantially clear film material could be provided over a selected one of the front surface and the back surface of the ply material, covering the aperture. A label could be provided on the ply material over an area bounded by the aperture. The label could have at least one transparent portion and at least one translucent portion. In one embodiment, the translucent portion could comprise a plurality of varying translucent portions. In another embodiment, the label could be fully translucent.
In yet another aspect, packaging components could comprise a ply material having a front surface, a back surface, and an aperture through at least a portion of the ply material. A label could be provided on the ply material over an area bounded by the aperture. The label could have at least one transparent portion and at least one translucent portion. In one embodiment, a substantially clear liner material could be provided with the label. In another embodiment, the translucent portion could comprise a plurality of varying translucent portions. In yet another embodiment, the label could be fully translucent.
One example of packaging components 10 is illustrated in front view in
Although not illustrated, in one embodiment film material 140 within an area bounded by window 110 could be fully translucent.
Another example of packaging components 20 is illustrated in front view in
Although not illustrated, in one embodiment label 250 within an area bounded by window 210 could be fully translucent.
Yet another example of packaging components 30 is illustrated in front view in
Although not illustrated, in one embodiment label 350 within an area bounded by window 310 could be fully translucent.
It is to be appreciated and understood that materials employed to provide various embodiments of packaging components contemplated herein may take virtually any desired form, pattern, or configuration, provided that transparent portions and translucent portions function properly in use as described below.
A further example of packaging components 70 is illustrated in
A yet further example of packaging components 80 is illustrated in
In light of the foregoing examples of components 10, 20, 30, 70, and 80, it is to be appreciated therefore that packaging components contemplated or described by example herein could satisfy the aforementioned need for shade visualization that aids in product selection. It is to be further appreciated that such packaging components could provide an efficient or cost-effective way to incorporate product selection aids in product packaging, and that such components could be available for convenient personal use and frequent referral not tied to retail premises.
Materials employed for particular embodiments of packaging components contemplated or described by example herein could preferably be any commercially available web-like materials that are capable of use in relatively high-speed in-line printing and converting processes. For example, web-like material comprising card stock or other ply material could be a single ply of material whether coated or uncoated, a so-called clear protective laminate construction, or any laminated, combined ply, or co-extruded construction; and any could have an overall characteristic of a single material ply. As used herein, the term “web-like material” is intended to include any suitable material for packaging components, including for example paper, film, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, foil, and ethylene vinyl acetate. It is also to be appreciated and understood that materials employed to provide various embodiments of packaging components may take virtually any desired form, pattern, or configuration, provided that windows, translucent, and transparent regions function properly in use as contemplated or described by example herein. It is further to be appreciated and understood that a translucent portion, as contemplated or described by example herein, could comprise, for example, a clear web-like material that is printed, coated, or otherwise pigmented translucently with a desired color, shade, hue, or other visual parameter for a faithful representation of such visual parameter of interest of a product. A translucent portion could also, for example, simply comprise a translucent web-like material that inherently has the desired color, shade, hue, or other visual parameter for a faithful representation of such visual parameter of interest of a product.
It is also to be appreciated and understood that, although not illustrated, a particular embodiment of packaging components could include any desired graphics such as a written description and/or numerical code which describe the contents as aforementioned. For example, graphics could be present on a transparent and/or translucent portion of a window. In such an embodiment the graphics preferably would not tend to interfere with the transparent portion or otherwise detrimentally influence the shade, color, hue, or other visual parameter of interest represented by the translucent portion.
It is additionally to be appreciated and understood generally that, in use of packaging components such as those contemplated or described by example herein (e.g., components 10, 20, 30, 70, and 80) a consumer could place the window with the transparent and translucent portions (e.g., window 110 in device 10) in direct contact with, for example, the consumer's skin and visually observe the skin through the transparent portion of the window with reference and comparison to the translucent portion. When the translucent portion visually blends into or seems to disappear against the skin, it could be concluded that a suitable product color or shade has been selected. That is, with the translucent portion being indicative of the color, shade, or hue of the product, the consumer could conclude that the product “matches” the consumer's skin. Such “contact clarity” matching could result from an intended visual effect of light being transmitted the same way through a window containing the translucent and transparent portions, since the same material could comprise both the transparent and translucent portions as aforedescribed.
It is further to be appreciated and understood that packaging components such as those contemplated or described by example herein could also be used simply for direct evaluation of products such as, for example, nail polishes or hair coloring agents. In those uses of such packaging components, the translucent portions could represent a color, shade, or hue of a particular nail polish or hair coloring agent, for example, and a consumer could place the translucent portion against, correspondingly, the consumer's nails or hair to visually observe how the product would appear on the nails or hair.
In light of the foregoing examples of packaging components (e.g., components 10, 20, 30, 70, and 80) it is also to be appreciated that packaging components such as those contemplated or described by example herein could satisfy the aforementioned need for visualization in selection of products generally. Such packaging components could provide an efficient or cost-effective way to incorporate assessment and selection aids in virtually any product where visual appearances are of interest (e.g., suntan oils and lotions, and paints and liquid stains for weathered wood and green-treated lumber, etc.) and such devices could be available for convenient personal use and frequent referral not tied to retail premises.
Although depicted in the drawings as being circular and near a corner of the card stock, ply, or web-like material, it is to be appreciated and understood that in a particular embodiment of packaging components any area or region could include the window, and the window could be provided in any desired dimension or geometry such as shown, for example, in
It is to be appreciated and understood that in embodiments of packaging components described by example or contemplated herein such as illustrated by, e.g.,
It is also to be appreciated and understood that in embodiments of packaging components described by example or contemplated herein such as illustrated by, e.g.,
It is also to be appreciated and understood that the aforedescribed examples of apertures or windows 1410 and 1510 could be in any desired locations or orientations in their respective materials 1401 and 1501.
Additionally, it is to be appreciated and understood that in a particular embodiment of packaging components a plurality of separate, individual windows could be provided to represent, accordingly, a plurality of separate, individual products contained therein. A plurality of windows could also be employed, as shown by way of example in
An example of an alternative embodiment of
While this disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to accompanying figures, it will be understood, however, that modifications are possible. It should be appreciated that various components contemplated or described by example herein may be substituted for other suitable components for achieving desired results, or that various accessories may be added thereto.
Also, the depictions of various components in the figures are only exemplary and not meant to be limiting. It is to be understood that any suitable alternatives may be employed to provide packaging components such as those contemplated or described by example herein.
Lastly, the choice of compositions, sizes, and strengths of various components contemplated or described by example herein are to be selected depending upon intended use.
Accordingly, these and other various changes or modifications in form and detail may be made to packaging components, without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof.
Claims
1. Packaging components, comprising:
- a ply material having a front surface, a back surface, and an aperture through at least a portion of said ply material;
- a film material over a selected one of said front surface and said back surface of said ply material, covering said aperture; and
- at least one substantially transparent portion, and at least one substantially translucent portion, in said film material covering said aperture.
2. The packaging components of claim 1, wherein said translucent portion comprises a plurality of varying translucent portions.
3. The packaging components of claim 1, wherein said film material is fully translucent.
4. Packaging components, comprising:
- a ply material having a front surface, a back surface, and an aperture through at least a portion of said ply material;
- a substantially clear film material over a selected one of said front surface and said back surface of said ply material, covering said aperture; and
- a label on said ply material over an area bounded by said aperture, said label having at least one transparent portion and at least one translucent portion.
5. The packaging components of claim 4, wherein said translucent portion comprises a plurality of varying translucent portions.
6. The packaging components of claim 4, wherein said label is fully translucent.
7. Packaging components, comprising:
- a ply material having a front surface, a back surface, and an aperture through at least a portion of said ply material; and
- a label on said ply material over an area bounded by said aperture, said label having at least one transparent portion and at least one translucent portion.
8. The packaging components of claim 7, further comprising a substantially clear liner material with said label.
9. The packaging components of claim 7, wherein said translucent portion comprises a plurality of varying translucent portions.
10. The packaging components of claim 7, wherein said label is fully translucent.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 7, 2011
Publication Date: Aug 8, 2013
Inventors: Joseph D. Franko, SR. (Hopkins, MN), Joseph D. Franko, JR. (Hopkins, MN), Robert H. Westmeyer (Hopkins, MN)
Application Number: 13/878,084
International Classification: B65D 85/00 (20060101);