Packaging

Abstract

Packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile contents comprises an inner water-impermeable means for enclosing such material, and an outer container (1) comprising a base panel (2) from which a front panel (3), rear and side panels (4, 5) extend upwardly and a lid (6) hingedly fixed to the top of the rear panel (4) and giving a firm closure. The container has side vents (11) or other means giving provision for expansion.

Description

The invention relates to packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredients; in particular consumer products, such as water softeners or detergent compositions.

Commonly, moisture-sensitive materials, such as detergent material, enzymes, bleach systems or water-softening actives are found in consumer products e.g. powder, granules, tablets or other compositions that may be contained in sachets (which sachets are either soluble or not), are packaged in containers made of cardboard material with a lining of water-impermeable sheet material to protect the contents from absorption of water from the atmosphere. However, the user has to make sure that the packaging is closed again after usage. If not, the moisture-sensitive material can chemically degrade potentially affecting the activity of ingredients or suffer a negative impact on its physical properties (i.e. resistance, solubility, appearance etc). Additionally, there may be a substantial loss of volatile material such as perfume from the material, when the container is not tightly closed.

Although this negative impact of moisture ingress is undesirable in general, it is particularly problematic in the case of products not individually wrapped in a moisture isolating film or even worse in the case of products packaged in permeable packaging such as water-soluble monodose sachets, for instance in PVOH sachets, or non-woven water insoluble sachets. Such water-soluble sachets can get sticky when absorbing water from the atmosphere, and can therefore adhere to each other. When trying to separate such adhered sachets, the water-soluble film material can be destroyed. Moreover, undesirable loss of water from the contents of some products may be another problem if they are not contained in a watertight packaging, such as liquid containing consumer products with permeable membranes, e.g. air-fresheners. Many such products are stored in cardboard boxes alone or with inner water impermeable sheets, but have little or no means for closing the box once the box is opened. Typically, if present, the box closure will be in the form of two flaps that can inter-engage, i.e. like a cereal box.

An aim of the present invention is therefore to provide packaging which may encourage the consumer to close the packaging and which may provide some moisture barrier properties. A further aim is to provide packaging which may facilitate access to the contents of the packaging, even if the contents are closely stacked within the packaging.

According to a first aspect the present invention there is provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredients, the packaging comprising an inner water-impermeable means for enclosing said material and an outer container comprising a base panel from which a front panel and rear and side panels extend upwardly and a lid carried at the top of the rear panel, wherein the front panel is provided at its upper edge with one of a flexible flap or a lip and the front of the lid is provided with the other of an upstanding flexible flap or a lip and wherein said flap is arranged to engage with said lip to hold the lid in a closed position.

Suitably, the outer container comprises a rear panel and two side panels. The base panel may thus be generally rectangular. The outer container may alternatively comprise a generally triangular base panel and a single side panel such that the “rear” panel adjoins the front panel and the side panel. Alternatively, the outer container may comprise more than two side panels.

Suitably, the side panels have expandable portions allowing the front panel to be moved from a closed position, in which it is held by the lid, to an open position, when the lid is opened, in which open position it is further from the rear panel than the closed position.

Suitably, the front panel is provided at its upper edge with an upstanding flexible flap which is arranged to engage with a lip on the front of the lid to hold the lid in a closed position.

Suitably, the inner water-impermeable means comprises a sheet for enclosing the moisture-sensitive material.

Suitably, the inner water-impermeable means comprises a water impermeable pack which may be formed from a sheet.

Suitably, the water-impermeable pack comprises a removable bag.

Suitably, the packaging comprises a packaging for moisture-sensitive material and comprises inner water-impermeable means for enclosing the moisture-sensitive material.

According to one embodiment of the invention there is provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material, in particular consumer products, the packaging comprising an inner water-impermeable sheet for enclosing the moisture-sensitive material, and an outer container comprising a base panel from which a front panel, rear panel and two side panels extend upwardly and a lid carried by the top of the rear panel, wherein the side panels have expandable portions allowing the front panel to be moved from a closed position in which it is held by the lid to an open position when the lid is opened in which it is further from the rear panel than the closed position, and wherein the front panel is provided at its upper edge with an upstanding flexible flap which is arranged to engage with a lip on the front of the lid to hold the lid in a closed position.

According to another embodiment of the invention there is provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material, in particular consumer products, the packaging comprising an inner water-impermeable sheet for enclosing the moisture-sensitive material, and an outer container comprising a base panel from which a front panel, rear panel and two side panels extend upwardly, and a lid carried by the top of the rear panel, wherein the front panel is provided at its upper edge with an upstanding flexible flap which is arranged to engage with a lip on the front of the lid to hold the lid in a closed position.

Suitably, the interengaging arrangement of flap and lip provides a “snap” closure which may be felt and/or heard by the consumer when the lid is fully closed. This suitably provides an agreeable feeling for the consumer that serves to positively reinforce the need to close the lid. Also the mechanism suitably serves to positively retain the lid in place thereby preventing accidental opening and providing an impediment to moisture ingress. The use of flexible side panels may allow the front of the box to be pulled forward thereby increasing the interior space of the box. This may provide improved access to the contents of the box in general, and may be particularly useful if the contents of the packaging are closely stacked.

The expandable portions of the side panels may take the form of separate panels of flexible material. However, preferably, they are provided by folded portions which are arranged to unfold to a degree as the front panel is pulled forward.

Suitably the outer container is arranged such that the front panel can be squeezed towards the rear panel to cause its upper edge to move toward the rear panel such that the flap and lip can be brought out of engagement with one another to allow the lid to open or be opened.

Suitably an outer container having two sides is arranged such that the side panels can be squeezed towards each other to cause its upper edge to move toward the rear panel such that the flap and lip can be brought out of engagement with one another to allow the lid to open or be opened.

Suitably, the outer container may comprise curved side and/or front and/or rear and/or base panels. In particular, this feature may be present if the container does not have expanding sides.

Suitably, one or more of the front, rear, side or base panels are provided with one or more curved edges. In such an embodiment it is preferred that edges separating the front panel from two side panels are curved. Preferably the other edges are straight.

Suitably, the outer container comprises a front panel which curves such that a portion of the front panel lies further from the rear panel than does the edge of the front panel which adjoins the base panel.

Preferably, the side panels may have a bevelled portion, adjacent the edges of the front panel, caused by distortion of the material of the container.

Suitably the front panel may be caused to bulge outwardly, especially at a mid portion thereof.

Suitably, the front panel has a width in a side to side direction of the container which decreases from the base towards a mid portion of the front panel and which increases again towards an upper edge of the front panel opposed to the base. The front panel may thus have an “hour-glass” shape. The side panels may thus be caused to curve, for example be bevelled, at their join with the front panel.

Suitably, the front panel adjoins each side panel at a fold line created in a sheet material from which the outer container is formed. In the embodiment just described the fold lines adjoining the front panel and the side panels are curved; by means of the curved fold lines the front panel may bulge and the region of each side panel adjacent to the fold line may be bevelled.

Suitably, the outer container comprises a card material. Preferably it is a solid board box.

Suitably, the outer container is arranged such that, in use, the front panel may be depressed (i.e. the front panel may be squeezed towards the rear panel), or the side walls be squeezed towards each other, to cause the container to deform such that the flap and lip may disengage to facilitate opening of the lid. Preferably the outer container is designed such that when the flap and lip disengage, the lid rises automatically i.e. without any need itself to be grasped.

The provision of curved side and/or front and/or rear panels and/or edges may allow for the inner water impermeable means to be readily received within the outer container. For example, the inner water-impermeable means may comprise a sealed packet housing water-sensitive material and optionally a protective gas. The shape and design of the outer container may allow a greater degree of deformation of a corresponding container having a rectilinear form and this may make it easier to insert the packet into the container. The non-rectilinear form may also reduce the likelihood of air becoming trapped between the packet and base of the container and hindering the packets insertion into the container.

The lid suitably has a downwardly depending rim or skirt bearing the lip or flap.

Preferably, the lid has a downwardly depending rim or skirt in which the lip is formed. The lip may be formed by any suitable means, such as an additional component fixed to the lid, or a raised portion pressed into the lid. However more preferably, the lip is formed by one or more flaps which are extensions of one or more portions forming the rim of the lid which are folded into a position in which they form the lip.

Preferably, the flap has a curved configuration, arranged so that, upon opening of the lid, the curved flap is pulled by the lip into a more planar configuration before further movement of the lid causes its disengagement from the lip. This may provide a force against opening of the lid which initially increases on first movement of the lip and is then quickly released. In the closed position, the flap is suitably flattened by the lid against the front panel and normally curved nature of the flap causes it to exert a retaining force on the lid, which may thereby ensure that it maintains its engagement with the lip.

Suitably, the packaging houses moisture-sensitive material.

Suitably, the moisture sensitive material comprises a plurality of discreet items. The moisture sensitive material may comprise a moisture sensitive composition provided in sachets for example.

Suitably, the moisture sensitive material contains water softening ingredients.

The inner water-impermeable means suitably comprises a sealed packet. In use, the packet may be breached and an item removed therefrom. The packet may subsequently have an opening through which water and in particular atmospheric moisture can permeate. The construction of the outer container may though minimise the amount of atmospheric moisture which can travel to this opening. This may be because the construction may increase the likelihood of a consumer closing the lid and may provide an improved closure. Items remaining within the packet may thus be better protected from atmospheric moisture than would otherwise be the case.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredients, the packaging comprising an inner water-impermeable means for enclosing said material and an outer container comprising a base panel from which a front panel and rear and side panels extend upwardly and a lid at the top of the rear panel, wherein the front panel has inwardly curved edges, between the base panel and its upper edge, wherein the front panel bulges forwardly at least when the outer container contains said materials.

Preferably the lid is a flip-top lid, and most preferably (but not essentially, in this embodiment) a lid arranged to engage the front panel as described and defined above.

In other respects the preferred features of the packaging are as described above.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a packaged product comprising packaging according to the first aspect and moisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredients housed therein.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of protecting moisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredients, in particular consumer products, comprising storing the moisture sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredients in packaging according to any earlier aspect.

Preferably, the method comprises protecting moisture-sensitive material. The method may for example comprise protecting material comprising water softening ingredients.

Suitably the method comprises storing the moisture sensitive material in packaging comprising an inner water-impermeable sheet for enclosing the moisture-sensitive material, and an outer container comprising a base panel from which a front panel, rear panel and two side panels extend upwardly, and a lid carried by the top of the rear panel, wherein the front panel is provided at its upper edge with an upstanding flexible flap which is arranged to engage with a lip on the front of the lid to hold the lid in a closed position.

The above method may additionally utilise packaging wherein the side panels have expandable portions allowing the front panel to be moved from a closed position in which it is held by the lid to an open position when the lid is opened which is further from the rear panel than the closed position.

Examples of packaging in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first example;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a second example with the lid closed;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the second example from the opposite side with the lid open;

FIG. 2C is a plan view of the blank on which the box of the second example is formed;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a third example with the lid open;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the third example with the lid closed;

FIG. 3C is a front view of the third example; and

FIG. 3D is a side view of the third example.

The packaging of the present invention comprises an outer box 1 as shown in FIG. 1. This contains an inner water impermeable packaging (not shown) which will either contain all of the contents of the box, or will contain individual products within the box. Alternatively, the contents of the box may be divided between a number of inner packaging members. For example, in the case of sachets containing water-softening products for use in a washing machine, the sachets may be packaged in two water impermeable packs so that half of the contents of the packaging remain within a sealed water impermeable pack, while the contents of the other pack are used.

The box 1 comprises a base panel 2 not visible in FIG. 1 as the box is standing on the base panel. A front panel 3, rear panel 4 and two side panels 5 extend upwardly from the base panel 2 and are joined to one another as shown to form the body of the box. A lid 6 depends from the top of the rear panel 4, the connection being a hinge formed by a fold line between the lid 6 and the rear panel 4. The lid has a downwardly depending rim or skirt comprising a front rim panel 7 and two side rim panels 8. The side rim panels 8 are provided with rim flaps 9 which are folded under the front rim panel 7 and secured as shown so that their top edges form a lip 10 (in the manner also shown in FIGS. 2B and 3A).

Each of the side panels 5 is provided with a concertina portion 11 formed by three fold lines 12 extending up the side panel. This allows the front panel 3 to be pulled forwardly from its closed position.

A flexible flap 13 curves upwardly and outwardly from the top of the front panel 3.

In order to close the box, the front panel 3 is pushed toward the rear panel 4 compressing the concertina portions. The lid is then closed. Alternatively the lid may be closed and thus may draw the front panel 3 back towards the rear panel 4. In either case, as closure takes place the front rim panel 7 pushes a flexible flap 13 towards the front panel 3 until the free edge 14 of the flexible flap 13 passes the lip 10 when the resilience of the flexible flap provides a snap fit with the lip 10. This provides a biasing force to hold the lid 6 closed.

When the lid is lifted to open the container, the flexible flap 13 is initially pulled up with the lid 6 as the free edge 14 of the flexible flap 13 is still engaged with the lip 10. This initial movement deforms the flexible flap 13 from its curved configuration to a more planar configuration until the free edge 14 moves out of engagement with the lip 10, whereupon the lid is free to open further. The front panel 3 will then either move forward of its own accord or can be pulled forward in order to facilitate access to the contents of the box.

FIGS. 2A-2C disclose a second example of the present invention. In most respects, this is the same as the first example, although the concertina portions 11 in the side panels 5 have been replaced by fold lines 20 which allow the side panels to bulge outwardly when the container is open. Not only does this provide better access to the contents of the box as the front panel is pulled forward, but also provides an increase in the width of the box thereby further facilitating access. As shown in FIG. 2A, the side panels 5 can be moved inwardly to allow the lid 6 to close. Also as shown in FIG. 2A the front panel 3 bulges outward, being slightly convex as viewed.

FIG. 2C shows a blank from which the box is formed. It will be appreciated that the example of FIG. 1 is formed from a similar blank with modifications for the concertina portions 11. The assembly of the box from the blank will be readily apparent from FIG. 2C as the box is simply folded up in a normal manner and flaps 21 are bonded to the various panels to form the finished box.

Of note in FIG. 2C are the rim flaps 9 extending from the side rim panels 8. These are folded into position as shown in FIG. 2B to form the lip 10. As an alternative to or in addition to these side rim panels 9, the front rim panel 7 could be provided with a lip panel extending from its free edge (i.e. above the panel 7 as shown in FIG. 2C) which is then folded back onto the front lid panel 7 to form the lip 10.

FIGS. 3A-3D disclose a third example of the present invention. In most respects, this is the same as the second example, but the side panels do not share the same expanding feature. Instead, the outer box 1 comprises curved fold lines separating the front panel 3 and side panels 5.

Each junction between the front panel 3 and a side panel 5 is in fact constituted by a curved fold line 30 and a curved pseudo-fold line 32. Line 32 is not formed by folding but by distortion arising from the design of the container. Each pair of curved fold line 30 and curved pseudo-fold line 33 comes together at their bottom (coincident with the base panel) and top (somewhat short of the top of the front panel and side panel, that region being constituted by a straight fold line 34 between the panels) to define a lenticular-shaped bevel 36, which is a surface oblique to the adjacent front and side panels.

The fold lines 30 forming the edges of the front panel 3 converge from its base towards its mid portion and diverge again towards the upper edge of the panel giving the front panel 3 an “hour glass” shape as best illustrated by FIG. 3C. The fold lines 32 forming the edges of the side panels 5 adjacent the front panel also curve inwardly in the mid portion of said side panels. The bevel between the fold lines 30 and 32 is oblique to the front panel 3 and the respective side panel 5. These features result in the front panel 3 bulging away from the rear panel 4 at a mid portion of the panel as best illustrated by FIG. 3D.

The outer box 1 contains an inner water-impermeable means (not shown) which comprises two water tight packets. These packets house water sensitive material. The curved form of the outer box 1 may provide for a degree of deformation for both the outer box 1 and the packets (not shown) such that the packets may be easily located in the box 1.

In use, depression of the bulge in the front panel 3 with the lid closed may cause the flap 13 to move relative to rim flaps 9, which provide a lip 10, such that the flap 13 and lip 10 disengage allowing the lid 6 to be conveniently moved to an open position.

Claims

1. Packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredients, the packaging comprising an inner water-impermeable means for enclosing said material and an outer container comprising a base panel from which a front panel and rear and side panels extend upwardly and a lid hingedly carried at the top of the rear panel, wherein the front panel is provided at its upper edge with one of a flexible flap or a lip and the front of the lid is provided with the other of an upstanding flexible flap or a lip and wherein said flap is arranged to engage with said lip to hold the lid in a closed position, wherein the front panel bulges forwardly.

2. Packaging according to claim 1, and which is expandable on insertion of said materials.

3. Packaging according to claim 2, wherein the front panel is displaceable on insertion of ingredients, to bulge, or bulge more, forwardly.

4. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the front panel has inwardly curved edges, between the base panel and its upper edge.

5. Packaging according to claim 4, wherein the side panel is bevelled adjacent to the inwardly curved edges of front panel.

6. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the front panel in its closed position, in which it is held by the lid, is closer to the rear panel than it is in the open position, in which the lid is displaced.

7. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the front panel is provided at its upper edge with the flap and the lid is provided with the lip.

8. Packaging according to claim 7, wherein the lid has a downwardly depending rim or skirt in which the lip is formed.

9. Packaging according to claim 8, wherein the lip is formed by one or more flaps which are extensions of one or more portions forming the rim of the lid which are folded into a position in which they form the lip.

10. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flap has a curved configuration, arranged so that, upon opening of the lid, the curved flap is pulled by the lip into a more planar configuration before further movement of the lid causes its disengagement from the lip.

11. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer container is arranged such that the front panel can be squeezed towards the rear panel to cause its upper edge to move toward the rear panel such that the flap and lip can be brought out of engagement with one another to cause the lid to open, or allow the lid to be opened.

12. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer container is arranged such that the side panels can be squeezed towards each other such that the flap and lip can be brought out of engagement with one another to cause the lid to open, or allow the lid to be opened.

13. Packaging for moisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredients, the packaging comprising an inner water-impermeable means for enclosing said material and an outer container comprising a base panel from which a front panel and rear and side panels extend upwardly and a lid at the top of the rear panel, wherein the front panel has inwardly curved edges, between the base panel and its upper edge, wherein the front panel bulges forwardly at least when the outer container contains said materials.

14. A packaged product comprising packaging according to any preceding claim, and moisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredients housed therein.

15. Use of packaging according to any of claims 1 to 14 for packaging moisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredients.

16. Use of packaging according to any of claims 1 to 13 for packaging sachets containing water softening ingredients.

17. A method of protecting moisture-sensitive material or material containing volatile ingredients, comprising storing the moisture-sensitive material or material comprising volatile ingredients in packaging according to any of claims 1 to 13.