Array of Packages with Indicative Windows
An array of packages includes a first package and a second package. The first package has a first outer structure, a first window perimeter shape, and a first product located in the first internal space. The first product defines a first product silhouette and the first window perimeter shape is indicative of the first product silhouette. The second package has a second outer structure, a second window perimeter shape, and a second product located in the second internal space. The second product defines a second product silhouette and the second window perimeter shape is indicative of the second product silhouette. The first and second products are diapers, training pants, adult incontinent articles, or feminine hygiene products and the first product silhouette is different than the second product silhouette.
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 12/637,865 entitled Package with Indicative Windows and filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 15, 2009. The entirety of the prior application is hereby incorporated by reference in this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany consumers today are overwhelmed at the retail shelf trying to locate a particular product form from among many different product forms. This problem is complicated by a large variety of packages having similar colors, designs, and/or graphics. As such, consumers are unable to quickly navigate the retail shelf to locate the desired product. Thus, there exists a need for packages that clearly and quickly communicate the product form located within the various packaging.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention addresses these needs by providing packages having windows that are indicative of the product form located within the package. In one aspect, the present invention provides a package having an outer structure that defines an internal space and includes a window having a window perimeter shape. The package also includes a product located in the internal space. The product defines a product silhouette and the window perimeter shape is indicative of the product silhouette.
In various embodiments, the product may be a digital tampon, an applicator tampon, or a feminine pad. In various embodiments, the outer structure may be made of card stock.
In some embodiments, the window may be a physical opening wherein the contents of the package, located in the internal space, can be touched from an external space. In some embodiments, the window may be cut through the outer structure and may be at least partially covered by a transparent material.
In some embodiments, the products may be individually wrapped and at least two individually wrapped products may be visible through the window.
In some embodiments, a first product may be individually wrapped in a first wrapper having a first color and a second product may be individually wrapped in a second wrapper having a second color different than the first color. The first wrapper and the second wrapper may be visible through the window.
In some embodiments, the outer structure may be made of a flexible poly film and the flexible poly film may be printed to define the window.
In another aspect, the present invention provides an array of packages. The array includes a first package having a first outer structure that defines a first internal space and includes a first window having a first window perimeter shape. The first package also includes a first product located in the first internal space wherein the first product defines a first product silhouette and wherein the first window perimeter shape is indicative of the first product silhouette. The array also includes a second package having a second outer structure that defines a second internal space and includes a second window having a second window perimeter shape. The second package also includes a second product located in the second internal space wherein the second product defines a second product silhouette and wherein the second window perimeter shape is indicative of the second product silhouette. In the array, the first product silhouette is different than the second product silhouette.
In various embodiments of this aspect, the first product may be a feminine pad without wings and the second product may be a feminine pad with wings.
In some embodiments of this aspect, the first product may be an applicator tampon and the second product may be a feminine pad.
In some embodiments, the first outer structure may be made of paper board and the second outer structure may be made of poly film.
In some embodiments of this aspect, the array includes a third package having a third outer structure that defines a third internal space and includes a third window having a third window perimeter shape. The third package also includes a third product located in the third internal space wherein the third product defines a third product silhouette and wherein the third window perimeter shape is indicative of the third product silhouette. In the array, the first product silhouette, the second product silhouette, and the third product silhouette are all different.
In some embodiments, the first product may be an applicator tampon, the second product may be a feminine pad without wings, and the third product may be a feminine pad with wings.
In some embodiments, the first package may have a design theme, a predominant color, and a brand name and the second package may have the same design theme, the same predominant color, and the same brand name.
In some embodiments, the first package may include a product image and the product image and the window perimeter shape may coordinate to create a composite image.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a package having an outer structure that defines an internal space and includes a simulated window having a simulated window perimeter shape. The package also includes a product located in the internal space wherein the product has a product silhouette and wherein the simulated window perimeter shape is indicative of the product silhouette.
In some embodiments of this aspect, the product may be a digital tampon, an applicator tampon, or a feminine pad.
In some embodiments of this aspect, the outer structure may be made of card stock.
The present invention provides a package having windows that are indicative of the product located in the package. Referring now to
The package 10 also includes at least one product 22 located in the internal space 14. Referring now to
The product 22 may include any suitable components within the product silhouette 24. For example, the product 22 may include a liquid pervious topsheet 26 and a liquid impervious backsheet 28. The product 22 may also include one or more absorbent layers located between the topsheet 26 and the backsheet 28. For example, the product 22 may include a first absorbent layer 30 overlying a second absorbent layer 32. The entire topsheet 26 defines a body side surface 34 that is generally positioned next to the body of the wearer in use. Likewise, the entire backsheet 28 defines a garment side surface 36 that is generally positioned next to the clothing of the wearer in use.
As used herein, the term “window” refers to a portion of a package wherein the contents of the package, located in the internal space, are viewable through said portion from the external space. The term “window” includes physical openings wherein the contents of the package, located in the internal space, can be touched from the external space. The term “window” also includes physical openings that are partially or completely covered by one or more transparent materials such that the contents of the package, located in the internal space, are viewable through the transparent materials from the external space. The term “window” also includes a portion of a transparent printed package that is unobscured by the printing and thus remains transparent such that the contents of the package, located in the internal space, are viewable through said unobscured and transparent portion from the external space. The windows depicted herein are illustrated as being located completely on one side of the package. However, it will be readily appreciated that in various embodiments, the windows may span across more than one side of the package. In some embodiments, a portion of a window may be located on a front face of the package and a portion of the window may extend around an edge of the package to one or more adjacent sides.
As used herein, the term “window perimeter” refers to the outer boundary of the total area defined by the window.
As used herein, the term “product silhouette” refers to the outline 50 of the shadow 52 cast on a surface 54 from a product 56 and a light source 58 wherein the product 56 is removed from a package, removed from a wrapper (if applicable) unfolded (if applicable), fully extended, wings extended (if applicable), and suspended above the surface 54 and wherein the light source 58 is positioned at a 90 degree angle to a major surface 60 of the product 56 which in turn is positioned at a 90 degree angle to the surface 54 as illustrated in
As used herein, the term “indicative” refers to a first complex shape that is representative, suggestive, illustrative, substantially similar to, substantially the same, the same as, or the same as a second complex shape. In most cases, if a first complex shape is indicative of a second complex shape, the first shape and the second shape will have a similar number of sides, arcs, and straight edges. Also, in most cases, the first shape and the second shape will have similar angles and proportions. The term “indicative” does not necessarily mean that the first shape is the same size as the second shape. The term “indicative” does not refer to simple shapes such as circles, ovals, rectangles, squares, or the like.
The outer structures 12, described herein, may be made of any suitable materials. For example, the outer structures 12 may be made of card board, card stock, paper, paper board, plastic, polymer film, woven material, non-woven material, metal, or the like, and combinations thereof. The windows 18 may be formed in the outer structure 12 by any suitable means. For example, the windows 18 may be die cut, laser cut, stamp cut, water cut, or the like, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the outer structures 12 may be made of paper board and the windows 18 may be formed in the outer structure 12 by die cutting.
The outer structure 12 may define any suitable shape or size. The outer structure 12 may include any suitable number of sides. For example, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, the windows 18 may be created from essentially transparent material used as the outer structure 12. In these embodiments, a first portion of the transparent material may be made non-transparent by printing, painting, dying, or other suitable means and a second portion of the transparent material may be left un-altered (i.e., essentially transparent). The un-altered portion may be sufficiently surrounded by the non-transparent portion to define a window 18 in the outer structure 12. For example, the outer structure 12 may be made of an essentially transparent polyethylene or polypropylene film and the outer structure 12 may be printed with any suitable ink via flexographic, gravure, inkjet, or other suitable means, or combinations thereof to define windows 18 that remain transparent.
The products 22 located within the packages 10 may be any suitable type of product. For example, the products 22 may be diapers, training pants, adult incontinent articles, feminine hygiene products, and the like. In some embodiments, the products 22 may be feminine hygiene products such as digital tampons, applicator tampons, panty liners, pads, pessaries, and the like. Exemplary products are disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,427,277 and 4,921,474 and U.S. Patent Applications 2005/0059942; 2009/0054864; and 2009/0204090 which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties to the extent consistent herewith.
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In this embodiment, majority of the window perimeter shape 20 of the package 10 is substantially the same as a majority of the product silhouette 24. Thus, the window perimeter shape 20 of the window 18 is indicative of the product 22 located within the package 10.
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The product 22 of
In various embodiments, a product image 186 and a window perimeter shape 20 may combine to create a composite image. As used herein, the term “composite image” refers to a construction that includes a product image coordinated with a window perimeter shape to create a unitary image. For example, referring to
In various embodiments, the products 22 may be individually wrapped in any suitable wrapping material such as polymer films, woven materials, non-woven materials, or the like, or combinations thereof. In various embodiments, the products 22 may be individually wrapped in wrappers 82 wherein at least two individually wrapped products 22 are visible through the window 18. For example, as illustrated in
In various embodiments, the individually wrapped products 22 may be wrapped in wrappers 82 having more than one color per wrapper 82. In some embodiments, some individually wrapped products 22 may be wrapped in a wrapper 82 having a first color and some individually wrapped products 22 may be wrapped in a wrapper 82 having a second color different than the first color and being located within the same package 10. For example, as illustrated in
In some aspects, the present invention also provides an array of packages having windows that are indicative of the products located within the respective packages. Referring now to
The second package 106 in the array of packages 102 has a second outer structure 122 that defines a second internal space 124 and a second external space 126. The second package 106 includes a second window 128 having a second window perimeter shape 130 in the second outer structure 122. The second package 106 also includes a second product 132 located in the second internal space 124. For illustration, an exemplary second product 132 from the second package 106 is shown in a fully extended top view next to the second package 106. The second product 132 defines a second product silhouette 134 and the second window perimeter shape 130 is indicative of the second product silhouette 134. In the array of packages 102, the first product silhouette 120 is different than the second product silhouette 134 and thus the first window perimeter shape 116 is different than the second window perimeter shape 130.
Referring again to
The second package 106 in the array of packages 102 has a second outer structure 122 that defines a second internal space 124 and a second external space 126. The second package 106 includes a second window 128 having a second window perimeter shape 130 in the second outer structure 122. The second package 106 also includes a second product 132 located in the second internal space 124. For illustration, an exemplary second product 132 from the second package 106 is shown in a fully extended top view next to the second package 106. The second product 132 defines a second product silhouette 134 and the second window perimeter shape 130 is indicative of the second product silhouette 134. In the array of packages 102, the first product silhouette 120 is different than the second product silhouette 134 and thus the first window perimeter shape 116 is different than the second window perimeter shape 130.
The third package 138 in the array of packages 136 has a third outer structure 140 that defines a third internal space 142 and a third external space 144. The third package 138 includes a third window 146 having a third window perimeter shape 148 in the third outer structure 140. The third package 138 also includes a third product 150 located in the third internal space 142. For illustration, an exemplary third product 150 from the third package 138 is shown in a fully extended top view next to the third package 138. The third product 150 defines a third product silhouette 152 and the third window perimeter shape 148 is indicative of the third product silhouette 152. In the second array of packages 136, the first product silhouette 120, the second product silhouette 134, and the third product silhouette 152 are all different and thus the first window perimeter shape 116, the second window perimeter shape 130, and the third window perimeter shape 148 are all different.
In various embodiments, herein packages may also include any suitable colors, themes, brand names, or the like. In some embodiments, the various packages in the various arrays may include common design themes, colors, graphics, brand names, and the like, and combinations thereof. For example, the various packages in the various arrays may all have the same predominate color and may all have the same brand name. Thus, even though the packages will have similarity and unity on the retail shelves, a consumer will readily be able to navigate said shelf to find the desired product form via the indicative windows.
In some embodiments, the present invention may provide a package having simulated windows that are indicative of the product located in the package. Referring now to
The package 10 also includes at least one product 22 located in the internal space 14. Referring now to
As used herein, the term “simulated window” refers to a graphic positioned on a portion of a package that creates the illusion of viewing the contents of the package, located in the internal space, through a window. As used herein, the term “simulated window perimeter” refers to the outer boundary of the total area defined by the simulated window. The term “simulated window” does not refer to a depiction of the product contained within the package. For example, in
While the invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining understanding of the foregoing will readily appreciate alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalents thereto. Additionally, all combinations and/or sub-combinations of the disclosed embodiments, ranges, examples, and alternatives are also contemplated.
Claims
1. An array of packages comprising,
- a first package having a first outer structure that defines a first internal space and includes a first window having a first window perimeter shape and a first product located in the first internal space wherein the first product defines a first product silhouette and wherein the first window perimeter shape is indicative of the first product silhouette and wherein the first product is a diaper, training pant, adult incontinent article, or feminine hygiene product, and
- a second package having a second outer structure that defines a second internal space and includes a second window having a second window perimeter shape and a second product located in the second internal space wherein the second product defines a second product silhouette and wherein the second window perimeter shape is indicative of the second product silhouette and wherein the second product is a diaper, training pant, adult incontinent article, or feminine hygiene product, and
- wherein the first product silhouette is different than the second product silhouette.
2. The array of claim 1 wherein the first product is a feminine pad without wings and the second product is a feminine pad with wings.
3. The array of claim 1 wherein the first product is an applicator tampon and the second product is a feminine pad.
4. The array of claim 1 wherein the first outer structure comprises paper board and the second outer structure comprises poly film.
5. The array of claim 1 further comprising a third package having a third outer structure that defines a third internal space and includes a third window having a third window perimeter shape and a third product located in the third internal space wherein the third product defines a third product silhouette and wherein the third window perimeter shape is indicative of the third product silhouette and wherein the first product silhouette, the second product silhouette, and the third product silhouette are all different.
6. The array of claim 5 wherein the first product is an applicator tampon, the second product is a feminine pad without wings, and the third product is a feminine pad with wings.
7. The array of claim 1 wherein the first package has a design theme, a predominant color, and a brand name and wherein the second package has the same design theme, the same predominant color, and the same brand name.
8. An array of packages comprising,
- a first package having a first outer structure that defines a first internal space and includes a first window having a first window perimeter shape, wherein the first window is a physical opening that is covered by a transparent material, and a first product located in the first internal space wherein the first product defines a first product silhouette and wherein the first window perimeter shape is indicative of the first product silhouette and wherein the first product is a feminine hygiene product individually wrapped in a wrapper, and
- a second package having a second outer structure that defines a second internal space and includes a second window having a second window perimeter shape, wherein the second window is a physical opening that is covered by a transparent material, and a second product located in the second internal space wherein the second product defines a second product silhouette and wherein the second window perimeter shape is indicative of the second product silhouette and wherein the second product is a feminine hygiene product individually wrapped in a wrapper, and
- wherein the first product silhouette is different than the second product silhouette.
9. The array of claim 8 wherein the first outer structure and the second outer structure comprise paper board.
10. The array of claim 8 wherein the first package has a design theme, a predominant color, and a brand name and wherein the second package has the same design theme, the same predominant color, and the same brand name.
11. The array of claim 8 wherein the first product is a feminine pad without wings and the second product is a feminine pad with wings.
12. The array of claim 8 wherein the first product is an applicator tampon and the second product is a feminine pad.
13. The array of claim 8 further comprising a third package having a third outer structure that defines a third internal space and includes a third window having a third window perimeter shape, wherein the third window is a physical opening that is covered by a transparent material, and a third product located in the third internal space wherein the third product defines a third product silhouette and wherein the third window perimeter shape is indicative of the third product silhouette and wherein the third product is a feminine hygiene product individually wrapped in a wrapper and wherein the first product silhouette, the second product silhouette, and the third product silhouette are all different.
14. An array of packages comprising,
- a first package having a first outer structure that defines a first internal space and includes a first window having a first window perimeter shape, wherein the first window is a physical opening that is covered by a transparent material, and at least two first products located in the first internal space wherein the first products define a first product silhouette and wherein the first window perimeter shape is indicative of the first product silhouette and wherein the first products are feminine hygiene products individually wrapped in wrappers and the at least two individually wrapped first products are visible through the first window and wherein the first package has a design theme, a predominant color, and a brand name, and
- a second package having a second outer structure that defines a second internal space and includes a second window having a second window perimeter shape, wherein the second window is a physical opening that is covered by a transparent material, and at least two second products located in the second internal space wherein the second products define a second product silhouette and wherein the second window perimeter shape is indicative of the second product silhouette and wherein the second products are feminine hygiene products individually wrapped in wrappers and the at least two individually wrapped second products are visible through the second window and wherein the second package has a design theme, a predominant color, and a brand name that are the same as the first package, and
- wherein the first product silhouette is different than the second product silhouette.
15. The array of claim 14 further comprising a third package having a third outer structure that defines a third internal space and includes a third window having a third window perimeter shape, wherein the third window is a physical opening that is covered by a transparent material, and at least two third products located in the third internal space wherein the third products define a third product silhouette and wherein the third window perimeter shape is indicative of the third product silhouette and wherein the third products are feminine hygiene products individually wrapped in wrappers and the at least two individually wrapped third products are visible through the third window and wherein the third package has a design theme, a predominant color, and a brand name that are the same as the first package and wherein the first product silhouette, the second product silhouette, and the third product silhouette are all different.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 22, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 21, 2012
Inventors: George Ikuya Nukuto (Neenah, WI), Jane Louise Clough (Neenah, WI), Dean Martin Wydeven (Appleton, WI), Herb Flores Velazquez (Neenah, WI), Michael Antonio Blanchet-Ruth (Chicago, IL), Michael A. Serafin (Downers Grove, IL)
Application Number: 13/402,614
International Classification: B65D 85/00 (20060101);