COMBINED PERFUME PRODUCT PACKAGE AND SEED CARRIER

Abstract

A perfume or perfumed product which is associated with a package having seeds impregnated within or otherwise associated therewith. In one embodiment, the seeds are impregnated within or on, or otherwise associated with, the packaging material, and are adapted to be planted in soil to permit the seeds to grow. Alternatively, the seeds may simply reside in a pouch or other container which is disposed within or otherwise associated with the package, where the seeds may be planted in soil to permit the seeds to grow. The seeds grow one or more botanicals that correspond to one or more ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product contained within the package so that the purchaser of the product may grow plants that smell like one or more of the ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)(1) upon U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/497,807 which was filed on Jun. 16, 2011, entitled “Combined Perfume Product Package and Seed Carrier”, and is incorporated herein by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to product packaging apparatus and systems, and, more particularly, relates to a product package for perfume and perfumed products having associated therewith a seed-carrying element which is adapted to be planted in soil for the purpose of germinating the seeds.

2. Background

Packaging for retail consumer products has been provided in a myriad of shapes, combinations, configurations and arrangements. In fact, there is no limit to the number and variety of available packaging arrangements.

The primary motivating factors which dictate the design of any given packaging vary from product to product and supplier to supplier. The principal object of any product packaging is to house the product safely and provide a means for displaying the product, or at least the packaging, at the point of purchase. The more attractive the packaging, from either or both an aesthetic or psychological perspective, the more likely a consumer is to purchase the product.

Some packaging designers have incorporated novelty features, product enhancements, accessories and related items into packaging in order to increase the perceived value to the consumer. One of the most notorious examples of this is the ubiquitous cereal box with a child's toy inside. Children find the allure of knowing that there is a toy inside a cereal box irresistible, causing them to demand that it be purchased for them.

Recently, there has been a strong push toward environmentally friendly packaging, such as reduced packaging sizes, use of reduced packaging volume and/or materials and use of degradable materials. Such degradable packaging has also been provided with flower seeds associated therewith, such that the packaging can be placed in soil once the product has been removed from it, and the seeds therein permitted to germinate.

It has not, however, been proposed to incorporate seeds in or with the packaging for a perfume or perfumed product which seeds grow plants which constitute actual ingredients of the particular perfume housed within the packaging. Such an arrangement would provide an additional stimulus for consumers to purchase the product, and provide a means for the consumer to replace the plant that was used to make the product, creating a self-sustaining product.

The most practical way to describe a perfume is by the elements of the fragrance elements or “notes” of the scent, or the “family” it belongs to, all of which affect the overall olfactory impression of a perfume from first application to the last lingering hint of scent.

Top notes, which are also referred to as head notes, are those scents that are immediately perceived when applying the perfume. These notes are made of light molecules that evaporate quickly, thus creating the person's first impression of the perfume. Ginger and citrus are both popular choices for top notes.

Middle notes, also referred to as the heart or the main body of the perfume, are those scents that come to be perceived after the scent from the top notes have evaporated. This part of the perfume can actually seem unpleasant at first, hence being masked by the top notes. Over time, however, the scent becomes more pleasant. Rose and lavender are commonly used in order to create the middle notes.

The base notes are what are smelled after the middle notes dissipate. The base notes are meant to help provide the top and middle notes with added strength. Some base notes can still be smelled up to 24 hours after being applied.

These notes are created carefully, with knowledge of the evaporation process of the perfume. The scents in the top and middle notes are influenced by the base notes, just as the scents of the base notes are altered by the type of fragrance materials used as middle notes.

The sources of the scents used to create perfumes are either derived from nature or created synthetically. Some perfumes incorporate over 100 ingredients. Most perfumes, however, comprise on the order of 25-30 ingredients, the majority of which are botanicals.

Plants have long been used in perfumery as a source of essential oils and aroma compounds. These aromatics are usually secondary metabolites produced by plants as protection against herbivores, infections, as well as to attract pollinators. Plants are by far the largest source of fragrant compounds used in perfumery. The sources of these compounds may be derived from various parts of a plant. A plant can offer more than one source of aromatics. For instance the aerial portions and seeds of coriander have remarkably different odors from each other. Orange leaves, blossoms, and fruit zest are the respective sources of petitgrain, neroli, and orange oils.

Perfume compositions are an important part of many products that are found in many different industries, ranging from the luxury goods sectors, food services industries, to various household chemicals. The purpose of using perfume or fragrance compositions in these products is to affect customers through their sense of smell and entice them into purchasing the perfume or perfumed product.

As such there is significant interest in producing a perfume formulation that people will find aesthetically pleasing. By offering perfume or perfumed product in a package that contains seeds that grow plants which smell like one or more botanical ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product, even more consumer interest in the product can be generated, leading to increased sales.

The fact that scents can be used to influence shopping behavior and buying decisions is well documented. The consumer who is considering buying a beautifully scented product such as perfume or a scented skin care product, while at the same time knowing that he or she is going to have the materials to grow one or more botanicals that correspond in scent to one or more ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product, will render many prospective purchasers more likely to make a purchase.

Efforts have been directed to products having packages which have seeds incorporated therewith. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,653,225; 5,158,809; 6,013,524; US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0031237 and U.K. Patent Application No. 2,281,713 all disclose products having plant seeds associated with a product or packaging therefore, where the product or packaging, or a portion thereof, may be planted so as to germinate the seeds and grow a plant.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0031237 discloses a scented sleeve or pot cover for a floral grouping or flower pot made from a sheet of material having a printed pattern and a scent corresponding to the printed pattern thereon. No reference is made to a perfume or perfumed product.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,225 to Spector discloses a botanical seed starter assembly which includes seeds impregnated in a matrix, the matrix also being impregnated with a scented medium which corresponds to the natural fragrance of the flowers to be grown from the seeds. However, since the scented medium is impregnated in the matrix to be planted in the soil, the user will have to place his or her face near the soil in which the seeds are being germinated to experience the scent and the fragrance. In addition, the scent of Spector is not embodied in a perfume or perfumed product.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,524 to Fryers discloses a “living air freshener” which comprises a dwarf flowering plant in a scented growth medium. Like the patent to Spector, the user is required to smell the growth medium while it is planted in the soil to experience the scent of the botanicals being grown.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,809 to Proctor discloses a combination reading card and seed germination container embodied in a package, a portion of which is adapted to be planted in soil to germinate the seeds within the packaging. Proctor does not disclose the use of perfume or a perfumed product as the product contained within the container, nor the corresponding of the seeds with the scent of the product contained within the package.

U.K. Patent Application No. 2,281,713 to Hurley discloses a greeting card which incorporates seeds and which is intended to be planted in soil. In one embodiment, the card is impregnated with the scent of the flower to be grown by the seeds. Like the patent to Spector, the scent of the flower is not associated with a perfume or perfumed product such as a skin care product.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a perfume or perfumed product with which is associated packaging material having seeds impregnated within or otherwise associated therewith, where the packaging material, or seeds alone, may be planted in soil to permit the seeds to grow.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an environmentally friendly product package for a perfume or perfumed product having seeds associated therewith which correspond to one or more of the ingredients of the perfume to act as a purchase stimulant to the consumer.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an environmentally friendly product package having seeds associated therewith which are adapted to grow plants which correspond to one or more ingredients of the product contained within the package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A perfume or perfumed product with which is associated a package having seeds impregnated within or otherwise associated therewith is disclosed. In one embodiment, the seeds are impregnated within or on, or otherwise associated with, the packaging material, and are adapted to be planted in soil to permit the seeds to grow. Alternatively, the seeds may simply reside in a pouch which is disposed within the package, where the seeds may be planted in soil to permit the seeds to grow. The seeds grow one or more botanicals that correspond to one or more ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product contained within the package so that the purchaser of the product may grow plants that smell like one or more of the ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary product package arrangement suitable for practicing the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the product package of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the product packaging of FIG. 1 taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a seed-impregnated section of the packaging of FIG. 1 having been disconnected from the product package prior to being planted in soil.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the packaging arrangement of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion or all of the packaging of FIG. 6 having been flattened prior to being planted in soil.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a modified product packaging in accordance with this invention taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

In this disclosure, the following definitions are intended to apply.

The term “bottle” is used to mean any container or other vessel which is suitable to house a perfume or perfumed product.

The term “botanical” is used to mean a substance which is made from, or contains, one or more plants.

The term “packaging material” is used to mean the actual package structure which partially or completely encapsulates a packaged product as well as associated materials which are attached to or disposed within such package structure.

The term “perfume” is intended to mean a scented product which has as one ingredient an aromatic derivative of a botanical.

The term “perfumed product” is intended to mean a product which contains as an ingredient a scented material which scented material itself has as one ingredient an aromatic derivative of a botanical. Examples of perfumed products are such things as skin care products, body mists, skin and body care products, candles, detergents, and dishwasher and fabric softeners.

FIGS. 1-5 show a first embodiment of this invention which comprises a package 10 for a perfume or perfumed product, the package 10 having an upper portion 12 and a lower or base portion 14, the upper portion 12 being adapted to be fitted over or otherwise firmly but removably associated with base 14 when a container for a perfume or perfumed product, such as flacon or bottle 20, is housed therein. Package 10, as well as bottle 20, may be configured in any shape desirable without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Package 10 may be wrapped in cellophane or other material for shipment and retail display to secure the parts of the package 10 together and prevent tampering. Alternatively, package 10 may be comprised of only a top portion, only a bottom portion, or any other combination of parts and/or components.

In this embodiment, a seed-carrying section 18 is connected to top 12. Section 18 may also assume any shape, color and/or configuration. Seed-carrying section 18 is associated with top 12 in such a way that it may be detached from top 12 and planted in soil G (FIG. 5). It is to be understood that seed-carrying section 18 may, in addition or alternatively, be associated with bottom 14 or any other part of package 10. It is also to be understood that the use of more than one seed-carrying section, each being in the same or varying shapes, colors, and/or configurations, may be associated with top 12 and/or base 14. Still further, seed carrying-section 18 may be associated with bottle 20 in addition to the arrangements discussed above, or in lieu thereof, or may be a separate component housed within package 10. Still further in the alternative, the seeds may be encompassed within a separate envelope or pouch contained within package 10 (an example of which is shown in FIG. 8).

Seed-carrying section 18 may constitute a backing or filler for a cutout 25 in top 12 and/or bottom 14 so as to be rendered more conspicuous, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. In the alternative, seed-carrying section 18 may simply be connected to or otherwise reside within the interior of package 10 (e.g. be free-floating therewithin, such as pouch or other container 60 shown in FIG. 8, which may be placed in a receptacle such as pocket 62 or the like) or be connected to the exterior of package 10.

Seed-carrying section 18 is preferably constructed of any of the well-known bio-degradable materials and has seeds S impregnated therein or otherwise associated therewith which grow one or more botanicals that correspond to one or more ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product contained within bottle 20.

FIGS. 6-7 depict a modified form of the invention, wherein the entire package 50 is constructed of a degradable material and impregnated or otherwise associated with seeds which grow flowers corresponding to one or more ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product in bottle 20.

As can be seen, the entirety or a portion of package 50 is adapted to be flattened and planted in soil so that the seeds associated therewith will grow into plants that correspond to one or more of the ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product in bottle 20.

Alternatively, the seeds may be incorporated into or with a single or multiple discreet portions of package 50. For example, the seeds may be incorporated into all or a portion of the top 52, bottom 54 or any one or more of sides 56.

The seeds S chosen for inclusion in seed-carrying section 18, top 52, bottom 54, sides 56 and/or packet 60 are used to grow plants that are selected from the group consisting of those ingredients which are included in the perfume or perfumed product contained within bottle 20. That is, the seeds used in connection with this invention are selected from the universe of all of the botanical ingredients of the particular perfume or perfumed product contained within package 10. By providing seeds selected specifically from the universe of botanical ingredients that make up the perfume or perfumed product contained within bottle 20, the purchaser of the product can grow plants the scent of which will correspond to one or more scents given off by the perfume.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments of the present invention. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause or result in such benefits, advantages, or solutions to become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the claims as issued.

Claims

1. A package for a container of perfume, comprised of:

a package body adapted to at least partially encapsulate a perfume container;

a seed-carrying section associated with the package, the seed-carrying section having associated therewith one or more seeds adaptable to grow into one or more plants which correspond to one or more ingredients of the perfume.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the seed-carrying section is physically attached to the package.

3. The package of claim 1, wherein the seed-carrying section is free floating within the package.

4. The package of claim 1, wherein the seed-carrying section consists of a portion of the packaging.

5. The package of claim 1, wherein the seed-carrying section constitutes the entirety of the packaging.

6. A package for a perfume container, the container containing a perfume product which is comprised of one or more perfume ingredients, comprising:

a packaging section adapted to at least partially encapsulate the container,

the packaging material selected from a group consisting of bio-degradable material and having associated therewith seeds which are adapted to grow plants which correspond to one or more of the perfume ingredients.

7. A package for a perfume container of the type which is adapted to contain a perfume product, the perfume product being made of perfume ingredients, comprising:

a packaging member; and

a seed-carrying section with which is associated one or more seeds which are adapted to grow into plants which correspond to one or more of the perfume ingredients.

8. The package of claim 7, further comprising:

a cutout defined by the packaging member; and

the seed-carrying section being associated with the cutout.

9. The package of claim 8, wherein the seed-carrying section occupies substantially an entire area defined by the cutout.

10. The package of claim 8, wherein the seed-carrying section is removably connected to an interior surface of the packaging member.

11. The package of claim 8, wherein the seed-carrying section is removably connected to the perfume container.

12. The package of claim 8, wherein the seed-carrying section is free floating within the package.