PACKAGE FOR A LIQUID LAUNDRY DETERGENT

Abstract

A package for a liquid laundry detergent composition. The package includes a container; a liquid laundry detergent composition contained in the container; and a cap removably attached to the container. The cap has a base having a base interior and a base exterior opposing the base interior, the base interior having a periphery. The cap has a vessel wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface opposing the interior surface, the vessel wall extending from the periphery to a rim and the interior surface and the base interior defining a pour volume. The base interior forms a closed end of the pour volume. The cap has an in-mold label affixed to at least a portion of the exterior surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Package for a liquid laundry detergent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Laundering clothing presents many sensorial rewards to people who do laundry. They experience the scent of the laundry detergent as it is dosed into the washing machine, the blooming of perfume during the wash cycle, the release of perfume when they transfer wet laundry from the washing machine to a dryer, the blooming of the perfume during drying, the release of perfume during folding, the soft feel of retrieving clean and dried clothing from the dryer, and the delight of wearing fresh smelling clothing. Over the course of doing the laundry, the scent experience is an enjoyable and rewarding part of the process. However, the tactile experience of doing the laundry is sometimes perceived negatively.

One reason for the negative perception of the tactile experience of doing the laundry is the nature of detergents that are used to wash clothing. In particular, liquid laundry detergents, while providing for exceptional cleaning and stain removal, tend to have somewhat of a slippery or slimy feel. It is not uncommon for small amounts of liquid laundry detergent to be spilled, dripped, or runoff as the liquid detergent is dosed to the washing machine. Sometimes these small amounts of laundry detergent end up being deposited on the cap of the package for the laundry detergent.

For many liquid laundry detergent products, the cap functions as the dosing device for the detergent. The cap can also function as the closure of the container of detergent. The cap can also be an article that is removably attached to the container, directly or indirectly, and can be used for dosing detergent.

The consumer interacts with the cap multiple times during the laundering process: first by removing the cap, second by dosing the detergent into the cap, third by applying the dose of detergent to the wash tub, and fourth by attaching the cap back to the container, either as a closure or a component that is releasably attachable to the container, directly or indirectly. During handling of the cap, it is not uncommon for a small amount of slippery liquid laundry detergent to be deposited on the exterior surface of the cap.

With the advent of caps that also function as a stain pretreatment device, the consumer may handle the cap as she pretreats a stain on an article of clothing. In some designs, a small quantity of liquid laundry detergent is applied to the stain and a portion of the exterior surface of the cap is used to rub against a stain to pretreat the stain. This process can result in some residual amount of slippery liquid laundry detergent being left on the outer surface of the cap.

When there is some liquid detergent composition on the exterior surface of a cap, consumers can have a hard time handling the cap or attaching the cap to the package, for instance by screwing the cap into the container, or attaching the cap to the container in some other manner. For instance, her grip may slip as she screws the cap into the container or unscrews or removes the cap during her next use of the detergent.

Further, if the cap also functions as a stain pretreatment device, the slipperiness of the cap being used as a pretreatment device can make it difficult for the consumer to handle as she pretreats a stain. If the consumer applies considerable force on the cap during pretreatment, her grip may slip on the slick surface of the cap as she vigorously rubs the stain with the cap. This can result in spillage of any detergent left in the cap after applying some detergent to the stain.

With these limitations in mind, there is a continuing unaddressed need for caps for liquid laundry detergent packages that provide for a secure grip when opening and closing the package as well as secure handling of the cap when the cap is used to pretreat a stained article of clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A package for a liquid laundry detergent composition comprising a container; a liquid laundry detergent composition contained in the container; and a cap removably attached to the container, wherein the cap comprises: a base having a base interior and a base exterior opposing the base interior, the base interior having a periphery; a vessel wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface opposing the interior surface, the vessel wall extending from the periphery to a rim, the interior surface and the base interior defining a pour volume, the base interior forming a closed end of the pour volume; and an in-mold label affixed to at least a portion of the exterior surface. The cap can comprise a plurality of surface irregularities at location selected from the group consisting of on the rim, proximal the rim, on the exterior surface, on the base exterior, and combinations thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a package that includes a container and a cap, the cap having an in-mold label.

FIG. 2 is a side view, with a portion of the cap and closure rendered in cross section, of a package that includes a container and a cap, the cap being releasably attachable to and detachable from the container and the cap having an in-mold lab.

FIG. 3 is cap and a container.

FIG. 4 is an in-mold labeling apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an in-mold labeling apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an in-mold labeling apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a cap having an in-mold label, the height of the in-mold label varying about the longitudinal axis of the cap.

FIG. 8 is a cap having an in-mold label and surface irregularities on the rim.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of ribs.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of nubs.

FIG. 11 illustrates and embodiment of bristles.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of rings.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cap in which the bristles are nested within the maximum radial extent and maximum axial extent of the cap, the height of the in-mold label varying about the longitudinal axis of the cap.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a cap having surface irregularities and an in-mold label.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a cap having surface irregularities and an in-mold label.

FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the cap shown in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a package 2 for a liquid laundry detergent composition 300. The package can comprise a container 110 containing liquid laundry detergent 300. A cap 10 can be removably attached to the container 110. The cap 10 can be removably attached to the container 110, by way of non-limiting example, by screwing the cap 10 into the container 110. Arranged as such, the cap 10 can be unscrewed from the container 110 to obtain a dose of the liquid laundry detergent composition 300. Once the dose is applied to the laundry, the cap 10 can be screwed back into the container 110 or otherwise be made to be operatively related to the container. In such an arrangement, the cap 10 can be the closure of the container 110. The cap 10 can be a dosing cap sized and dimensioned for providing a unit dose of detergent composition 300. The cap 10 can comprise an in-mold label 600. The cap 10 can comprise instructions 605 on using the cap 10 to pretreat stains in clothing. The instructions 605 can be provided on the in-mold label 600. The cap 10 can comprise surface irregularities 150 on a portion thereof. The in-mold label 600 disposed on the exterior surface 80 of the cap 10 can comprise instructions for using the cap to pretreat a garment. The instructions 605 can be text or other indicia, for example a pictorial representation, instructing on use of the cap 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a package 2 for a liquid laundry detergent composition 300. The package can comprise a container 110 containing liquid laundry detergent 300. A cap 10 can be removably attached to the container 110. The cap 10 can be removably attached to the container 110, by way of non-limiting example, by snapping a protrusion 700 into a receptor 710 that is in the closure 720 of the container 110 or other component of the container 110. Arranged as such, the cap 10 can be removed from closure 720, the closure 720 either opened or removed from the container 110, and liquid laundry detergent composition 300 can be dosed into the cap 10 and dosed into the washing machine, for example by pouring or placing the entire cap 10 in the tub of the washing machine. The cap 10 can be reattached to the container 110 after being sent through the wash or after dosing a unit dose of detergent composition 300 from the cap 10.

The closure 720 can be a threaded closure that screws into and out of the container 110. The closure 720 can be flip top closure. The cap 10 can be sealingly engaged with the container 110, for example by a threaded connection.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a cap 10 for dispensing a detergent composition 300. The detergent composition can comprise a surfactant. The detergent composition 300 can comprise a surfactant and a bleach compound. The detergent composition 300 can comprise a surfactant and an enzyme. The cap 10 comprises a base 20. The base 20 has a base interior 30 and a base exterior 40 opposing the base interior 30. The base interior 30 has a periphery 50. The base 20 can be a single layer of material, such as high density polyethylene or polypropylene, a multilayered material, a hollow member, or any other such structure or material having sufficient structural integrity to be used in a cap 10 for a container 110 of laundry detergent composition 300. The base exterior 40 can provide a surface arrangement that can be stably set upon another surface that is substantially flat as measured on a scale of centimeters, such as a table or a flat portion of a washing machine or dryer. Such surface arrangement can be a generally flat surface or contoured surface arrangement. When the base 20 is set on a flat surface, detergent composition 300 from a container 110 can be poured into the pour volume 100 of the cap 10 and the cap 10 will not easily tip over as detergent composition 300 is poured into the pour volume 100. The pour volume 100 can be more than about 5 mL, alternatively more than about 15 mL, alternatively more than about 30 mL. The pour volume 100 can be sized and dimensioned to contain a single dose of the detergent composition 300. The pour volume 100 can be sized and dimensioned to contain less than 200 mL of detergent composition 300, alternatively less than about 180 mL alternatively less than about 170 mL, alternatively less than about 140 mL, alternatively less than about 100 mL of detergent composition.

A vessel wall 60 extends from the periphery 50 to a rim 90. The vessel wall 60 extends about the longitudinal axis L of the cap. The vessel wall 60 has an interior surface 70 and an exterior surface 80 opposing the interior surface 70. The vessel wall 60 can be a single layer of material, such as high density polyethylene or polypropylene, a multilayered material, a hollow member, or any other such structure or material having sufficient structural integrity to be used as a cap 10 for a container of laundry detergent composition 300. The interior surface 70 can be provided with one or more indicia 62 that mark the desired level of detergent composition 300 that provides for an appropriate unit dose of detergent composition 300. The indicia 62 can be an etch, a depression, a raised portion, printing, or any other structure that is observable by the consumer. The vessel wall 60 can be a cylindrical segment.

The interior surface 70 and base interior 30 together define a pour volume 100, the base interior 30 forming a closed end of the pour volume 100. The pour volume 100 can be sized and dimensioned to provide for a unit dose of a detergent composition 300. The detergent composition 300 can be a liquid detergent composition 300 such as any of the liquid detergents marketed as TIDE, available from The Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. In one embodiment, the interior surface 70 and base interior 30 together form an open ended, or partially open ended, cup with the base interior 30 forming the closed end of the cup. The longitudinal axis L can extend through the open portion of the open end of the cap 10 defined by or partially by the rim 90.

The interior surface 70 of the vessel wall 60 can be defined by a surface of revolution about the longitudinal axis L. In one embodiment, interior surface 70 of the vessel wall 60 can be defined by a portion of the interior surface of a hollow cylinder. Surfaces of revolutions of functions not parallel to the longitudinal axis L and surfaces of revolution of non-linear functions are contemplated. A cap 10 having an interior surface 70 of vessel wall 60 that is a surface of revolution can provide for ease of manufacture of the cap 10 and engaging the cap 10 with the container 110 after filling the container 110 with detergent composition 300 during manufacture and packaging.

The cap 10 can be sealingly engaged to a container 110 containing a detergent composition 300. By sealingly engaged, it is meant that the cap 10 does not leak an unacceptable quantity of detergent composition 300 from the container 110 under stresses to the cap 10 and container 110 that occur during manufacturing, packaging, shipping, handling, storage, and use of the container 110 and detergent composition 300 stored therein. The cap 10 can be sealingly engaged to the container 110 by a connector 130 disposed on the cap 10 and a corresponding receiver 132 disposed on an opening 112 (or open end) of the container. The connector 130 and corresponding receiver 132 can be a lug and groove combination, the combination being arranged such the lug can be the connector 130 or the receiver 132 and the groove being whichever of the connector 130 and receiver 132 that the lug is not. The connector 130 and receiver 132 can be interlocking correspondingly disposed threads 134 helically disposed on the cap 10 and container 110. That is, the connector 130 can be threads and the receiver 132 can be corresponding threads. The cap 10 can be sealingly engaged to the container by threads 134 helically disposed on the cap 10 and corresponding disposed threads 134 on the opening 112 of the container 110. The cap 10 can be provided with a connector 130 at any suitable location such that the connector 130 can be operatively engaged with the receiver 132 on the container 110. The connector 130 can be disposed on the exterior surface 80 of the vessel wall 60. The connector 130 can be disposed on the interior surface 70 of the vessel wall 60. The cap 10 can be provided with threads 134 in any suitable location such that the threads 134 can be operatively engaged with the container 110. The threads 134 can be disposed on the exterior surface 80 of the vessel wall 60. The threads 134 can be disposed on the interior surface 70 of the vessel wall 60, which can provide for cleaner use of the cap 10.

The cap 10 can comprise an in-mold 600 label affixed to at least a portion of the exterior surface 80. In-mold labeling is a method for decorating molded parts in which an in-mold label is placed in the mold before the part is formed. The in-mold label 600 can comprise the same resin as the molded part or be comprised of some other resin or mixture of resins such that in-mold label 600 fuses with the molded part when the molded part is formed. That is, the in-mold label 600 is integrally embedded to the molded part, for instance the cap 10. Advantageously, this process eliminates the need for an adhesive to hold a label on the part or relying on tension in a label shrink sleeve to secure the shrink sleeve label. Further, labels provided via in-mold labeling do not slip off of the molded part like shrink sleeves have a propensity to do. The in-mold label 600 can be sized and dimensioned such that the in-mold label 600 is bounded by the boundary of the exterior surface 80 so that the in-mold label 600 does not extend beyond the exterior surface 80. The vessel wall 60 of the cap 10 can be injection molded from polypropylene. The in-mold label 600 can be a polypropylene film. The in-mold label can be free of adhesive. The package 2 can be free from an adhesive between the in-mold label 600 and the container 110.

In the in-mold labeling process, an in-mold label 600 is placed in the cavity of the female mold and held in the desired position by vacuum ports, electrostatic attraction, or a roll-feed device. In the case of injection molding in-mold labeling, the mold is closed and molten plastic resin is injected into the mold cavity where the molten resin conforms to the shape of the cavity. Hot resin envelopes surfaces of the in mold label that are not facing the surface of the mold and makes the in-mold label 600 and integral part of the molded part. The in-mold label 600 is a constituent part of the molded part, for example the cap 10, as opposed to being a label adhered to the part. The in-mold label 600 can be fused to the exterior surface 80 of the vessel wall

In typical in-mold labeling processes, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, a robot is used to pick up a stack-cut in-mold label 600 from a label magazine 900 and place the in-mold label 600 in the female mold 910. Pick-up can be provided for by employing a mandrel 920, possibly a rotating mandrel or other end-of-arm tool, having vacuum ports 940 to draw the in-mold label 600 onto the machine element conveying the in-mold label 600 from the magazine to the female mold. The mold can be provided with vacuum ports to draw the in-mold label 600 against a surface of the mold cavity. Alternatively, a static charge is placed on the in-mold label 600 by a charging applicator 930 after the in-mold label 600 is picked up from the label magazine and the mold can be grounded, thereby attracting the in-mold label 600 to the surface of the mold.

The mandrel 920 is inserted into the female mold 910 where the in-mold label 600 is attracted to the female mold 910. The empty mandrel 920 is removed from the female mold 910. And the male mold 940 is inserted into the female mold 910 and then melted resin is injected into the cavity defined by the male mold 940 and female mold 910.

A cap 10 having an in-mold label 600 is thought to have several potential advantages over a cap 10 that is devoid of any such label or has a shrink sleeve label. Typically, caps 10 are formed from polypropylene. When injection molded, polypropylene can have a slick surface, especially when wetted with water or detergent. Caps 10 used for laundry detergent packages 2 tend to become wetted with laundry detergent 300 over the course of usage. When the slick surface of the polypropylene cap 10 is wetted with laundry detergent 300, the cap 10 can be difficult to tighten and/or remove from the package 2 since the user might be unable to get a firm grasp on the cap 10. To overcome this problem, designers of caps 10 sometimes provide texture to the cap 10 via texture cut into the molds in which the caps 10 are made. Injection molds are expensive capital items so manufacturers tend to want to use the molds for as long as possible. Thus, once a designer of a cap has selected a design for the texture, the manufacturer may be stuck with a static design for the texture on the cap 10. This limits designers' potential to change the texture when more efficacious or visually attractive textures are identified through research and development. Further, this limits designers' potential to excite consumers with new patterns for the texture on the cap 10. In-mold labels 600 having a variety of textures are readily available in the market. Thus, designers can simply change from one in-mold label 600 having a certain texture to another in-mold label 600 having another texture to change the design the cap 10, without having to fabricate a new mold. This can be a substantial capital cost savings for a manufacturer and can grant the manufacturer a wide range of design freedom.

Shrink sleeve labels can suffer from the defect that the labels frequently become unattached from the cap 10 during manufacturing, storage, shipping, display, and home use. Unattached labels can cause faults in manufacturing equipment and result in messy displays in which some packages 2 have a label on the cap 10 and some packages 2 do not have a label on the cap. Even the use of an adhesive between the shrink sleeve and the cap 10 has failed to reduce this defect to a low enough frequency to be acceptable to manufacturers and consumers.

The in-mold label 600 can substantially circumscribe the vessel wall 60. Such an arrangement can be practical for ensuring that when the consumer picks up the cap 10, her hand is highly likely to be in contact with the in-mold label 600. Further, such an arrangement can provide the marketer with space on which to provide decoration, instruction, indicia, or text observable to the consumer at the point of purchase and during use.

The in-mold label 600 can be textured. A textured in-mold label 600 can provide a better surface, in comparison to a shrink wrap label or a cap 10 having a smooth vessel wall exterior surface 80, for the consumer to grip as she removes the cap 10 from the package 2, uses the cap 10 to dose detergent composition 300, or uses the cap 10 to pretreat a stain in an article of clothing. An example of a textured in-mold label 600 is ORANGE PEEL FILM, available from Drukkerij Verstraete n.v., Maldegem, Belgium, which is a white foamed film (70 μm thick) formed from multiple layers. The orange peel name refers to the texture of the film being similar to the texture found in an orange peel. The texture can be provided by a plurality of high and low regions differing in elevation by more than about 10 μm, alternatively more than about 20 μm, alternatively more than about 40 μm, alternatively more than about 50 μm. The texture can be a micro pattern. Texture can be imparted to a label, for example, by hydroforming, a transfer process (optionally UV), pattern molding, or roller pressing method. Suitable materials for the in-mold label include polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyethylene, poly methyl methacrylate, or the like.

The vessel wall 60 can have a height H, as shown in FIG. 7. The height H extends between the periphery 50 and the rim 90 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis L. The height H can be variable about the longitudinal axis L. A variable height H can exist in a cap 10 that has a base 20 that is not flat. The in-mold label 600 can have a label height B. The label height B can be aligned with the height H of the vessel wall 60. The label height B can be variable about the longitudinal axis L and the in-mold label 600 can fit within boundaries of the vessel wall 60. That is, the label height B can vary at different locations on the vessel wall 60. The boundaries of the vessel wall can be the periphery 50 and the rim 90. Without being bound by theory, it is thought that placing a shrink sleeve label on a cap 10 having non-flat base 20 can be challenging to do and yield results that are not aesthetically pleasing and possibly distort any printing that is on the shrink sleeve.

The cap 10 can have a sealing flange 91 extending from the vessel wall 60 and extending about the longitudinal axis L. The in-mold label 600 can fit within an area of the cap 10 bounded by the periphery 50 and the sealing flange 91.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cap 10 can comprise a plurality of surface irregularities 150 at a location selected from the group consisting of on the rim 90, on the exterior surface 80, and combinations thereof. For instance, as shown in FIG. 8, the surface irregularities 150 can be on or proximal the rim 90. The surface irregularities 150 can be on the rim 90 and between the connector 130 and the rim 90. The surface irregularities 150 can be on the rim 90. The surface irregularities 150 can be within about 5 mm of the rim 90. The surface irregularities 150 can be on or within about 5 mm of the rim 90. The surface irregularities 150 can be on the rim 90 and between the connector 130 disposed on the cap 10 and the rim 90. When the consumer grips the cap 10 to execute pouring, once the pour is made, surface irregularities 150 located as such are in position to be used to scrub the stain on the fabric with the surface irregularities 150 without requiring the consumer to reposition the cap 10 in her hand. Further, by placing the surface irregularities 150 as such, after using the cap 10 to pretreat and dose the detergent composition 300, the surface irregularities 150, which might have a small amount of detergent composition 300 remaining thereon, can fit back within the opening 112 (that is the open end) of the container 110 to keep any mess inside the container 110.

The cap 10 can be provided with an in-mold label 600 as described herein. The in-mold label 600 can provide the exterior surface 80 of the vessel wall 60 with a material that provides a secure non-slip gripping surface to the consumer as she grips the cap 10 to pretreat a stain. Without being bound by theory, it is thought that as the consumer vigorously rubs the first surface irregularities 150 back and forth across a stain, that the cap 10 can be too slick to handle or grip securely, especially if detergent composition 300 has been deposited on the exterior surface 80 of the cap 10. The in-mold label 600 can be textured, as described previously, to provide for a secure surface for the consumer to grasp as she pretreats a stain by scrubbing the stain.

Surface irregularities 150 can provide a topographically diverse surface that can be rubbed against a stained fabric before or after detergent composition 300 is applied to a stain in a fabric as part of a stain pretreatment process. A topographically diverse surface is a surface that is not smooth. The surface irregularities 150 when rubbed against a stain on a fabric are thought to help dislodge agglomerations of the stain, deform the fibrous structure of the fabric allowing the detergent composition 300 to more completely penetrate the fibrous structure, and manipulate the fibers of the fabric thereby allowing a greater surface area of the fibers to be wetted with the detergent composition 300. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that dislodging agglomerations of the stain, more completely penetrating the stained fabric with detergent composition 300, and applying detergent composition 300 to a greater surface area of fibers can improve the efficacy of pretreatment of stains in fabrics.

The plurality of surface irregularities 150 can have a surface topography that is distinct from the surface topography of portions of the cap 10 adjacent the plurality of surface irregularities 150. The surface irregularities 150 can provide for a surface having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of low portions that have an amplitude between adjacent peaks and low portions greater than about 0.1 mm. The surface irregularities 150 can provide for a surface having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of low portions that have an amplitude between adjacent peaks and low portions greater than about 0.2 mm. The surface irregularities 150 can provide for a surface having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of low portions that have an amplitude between adjacent peaks and low portions greater than about 0.5 mm. The surface irregularities 150 can provide for a surface having a plurality of peaks and a plurality of low portions that have an amplitude between adjacent peaks and low portions greater than about 1 mm. The low portions can be valleys. The plurality of surface irregularities 150 can define a region that has a surface topography that differs from the surface topography of portions of the cap 10 adjacent the region. The surface irregularities 150 can be a series of elevated portions having intermittently disposed recessed portions. Recessed portions can be continuous. Elevated portions can be continuous.

In one embodiment, the surface irregularities 150 can comprise a first material and another portion of the cap 10 next to the first material can comprise a second material, wherein the first material and the second material differ from one another. In one embodiment, the surface irregularities 150 can comprise a first material and another portion of the cap 10 next to the first material can comprise a second material, wherein the first material and the second material differ from one another by a property selected from the group consisting of modulus of elasticity, chemical composition, Shore A hardness, color, and combinations thereof. Shore A Hardness is measured following ASTM D2240 on a material of the same composition as the material being evaluated. A cap 10 comprising surface irregularities 150 comprised of a first material and another portion of the cap 10 next to the first material comprising a second material can be formed by a two shot injection molding process, with the first material and the second material delivered to the mold in separate shots. In one embodiment, the first material can comprise polypropylene, rubber, neoprene, and/or KRATON. In one embodiment, the portion of the cap 10 next to the first material can be high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, styro lacrylintrol. The first surface irregularities 150 can be an elastomeric material.

In one embodiment the first material can have a softer feel to the user than the second material, as might be indicated by a lower Shore A hardness or lower modulus of elasticity. The second material can be selected to provide for acceptable overall structural stability of the cap during packaging, storing, shipping, and display of the detergent composition 300 and during use of the cap 10 by the consumer to pretreat stains. A more readily deformable first material might provide for a scrubbing surface that is gentler on the fabric being treated than a scrubbing surface formed of the second material and may not damage the fabric being treated. The first material can have a Shore A hardness between about 20 and about 80. The first material can have a Shore A hardness of between about 40 and about 60. The first material can have a Shore A hardness that is less than about 80% of the Shore A hardness of a portion of the cap 10 next to the first material.

Providing the first material and the second material in two different colors can help the consumer quickly identify what part of the cap 10 is engineered to be used for scrubbing the stain and might be helpful to vision systems that might be used to position the cap 10 during manufacture and/or assembly of the cap and packaging of the detergent composition 300. Providing the first material and the second material to have different chemical composition can yield a cap 10 for which different parts of the cap 10 are designed to provide for different functions, such as one part of the cap being practical and durable for scrubbing and another part of the cap 10 providing for structural stability.

The plurality of surface irregularities 150 can be structures selected from the group consisting of rings, ribs 152, nubs, bristles, fibers, and combinations thereof. Ribs are a plurality of elongated elevated portions with intermittently disposed elongated recessed portions that are depressed relative to the elevated portions. Ribs 152 can be, for example, a plurality of adjacent grooves etched or molded in substrate and can be a plurality of adjacent ridges. Ribs can be formed in a substrate, for example, by etching a plurality of adjacent grooves in the substrate, by molding the substrate to leave behind a plurality of adjacent grooves, and by molding the substrate to leave behind a plurality of adjacent ridges. An example of a substrate that can form a portion of cap 10 having surface irregularities 150 having a plurality of ribs 152 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 9. Ribs 152 can have any desired cross sectional shape including straight edged and rounded. Ribs 152 can be curved along their length. Ribs 152 are thought to provide for a bumpy topography that can effectively scrub and massage the fabric.

Nubs 154 are generally two-dimensionally symmetric features that are elevated or depressed relative to adjacent portions, an example schematic of which is shown in FIG. 10. Nubs can be, by way of non-limiting examples, elevated portions or depressed portions having a shape of a portion of a hemisphere and elevated portions or depressed portions having a shape of a cylinder having a height H less than half the diameter D. An example of a substrate that can form a portion of cap 10 having surface irregularities 150 having a plurality of nubs 154 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 10. Nubs 154 are thought to provide for a bumpy topography that can effectively scrub and massage the fabric.

An example of a portion of cap 10 having a plurality of bristles 156 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 11. Bristles 156 are filaments having an aspect ratio of height H to diameter D greater than about 0.5. The diameter D is determined at the base of the bristle which is the location from which the bristle 156 extends from the cap 10. The height H of the bristle 156 is measured orthogonal to the surface from which the base of the bristle 156 extends with the bristle 156 extended orthogonally from the surface from which the base of the bristle 156 extends. Bristles 156 can have a self sustaining shape when extended from the surface from which the base of the bristle 156 extends. For bristles 156 having a non-cylindrical cross section, the diameter D is taken to be the diameter of a cylinder having the same cross-sectional area as the cross-section area of the bristle 156 at the location from which the bristle 156 extends from the cap 10. The filaments can be discrete filaments. Bristles 156 can be filaments having an aspect ratio of height H to diameter D greater than about 1. Bristles 156 can be filaments having an aspect ratio of height H to diameter D greater than about 0.5. Bristles 156 can be generally columnar bristles 156. Bristles 156 are thought to provide for a rough texture/topography that can effectively scrub and massage the fabric. Bristles 156 can be hollow. Bristles 156 can have a fixed end 256 and a free end 257.

Rings 158 are closed shapes in which the central portion 159 of the shape is recessed relative to a peripheral portion 161 of the shape, schematic examples of which are shown in FIG. 12. Rings 158 are thought to be practical in that they provide for a bumpy topography that can effectively scrub and massage the fabric.

Fibers can be woven, nonwoven, hooked, or looped fibers, for example, and be provided for instance by a woven or nonwoven fibrous web being attached to the cap 10 in the desired location. An inexpensive and easily manufactured embodiment of cap 10 can be made by using fibers as the surface irregularities 150.

Embodiments in which the cap comprises a plurality of surface irregularities 150 on the outside of the cap 10 such that the connecter 130 is between the rim 90 and the surface irregularities 150 are also contemplated, as shown in FIG. 13. The scrubbing surface of the cap 10 can be provided on the outside of the cap such that the connecter 130 is between the rim 90 and the surface irregularities 150 and possibly not be provided elsewhere on the cap. The cap 10 can comprise a plurality of surface irregularities 150 at a location selected from the group consisting of on a portion of the base exterior 40, on a portion of the exterior surface 80, and combinations thereof.

The cap 10 can comprise a plurality of surface irregularities 150 at a location selected from the group consisting of on said base exterior 40 with said surface irregularities 150 being asymmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis L, on the exterior surface 80 with the surface irregularities 150 being asymmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis L, on the base exterior 40 with the surface irregularities 150 comprising bristles 156, on the exterior surface 80 with the surface irregularities 150 comprising bristles 156, and combinations thereof. In such embodiments, the surface irregularities 150 can be disposed such that the connector 130 is between the rim 90 and the surface irregularities 150. Surface irregularities 150 can be any of the structures described previously with respect to surface irregularities 150. The surface irregularities 150 can be structures selected from the group consisting of rings 158, ribs 152, nubs 154, bristles 156, fibers, and combinations thereof.

By placing the surface irregularities 150 as such, the surface irregularities can be located such that after the consumer dispenses a small volume of detergent composition 300 to pretreat a stain, the surface irregularities 150 are located such that the user does not have to reposition the cap 10 in her hand or significantly move her hand to be able to position the surface irregularities 150 in an appropriate position to be rubbed against the stain.

The surface irregularities 150 can comprise a first material and another portion of the cap 10 next to the first material can comprise a second material, wherein the first material and the second material differ from one another by a property selected from the group consisting of modulus of elasticity, chemical composition, color, Shore A hardness, and combinations thereof. Such an arrangement can be provided in the same manner and for the same reasons as described above for a cap 10 in which the surface irregularities 150 are formed from a different material than another portion of the cap 10.

Embodiments in which the surface irregularities 150 are asymmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis L can help the consumer identify what portion of the cap 10 is provided for scrubbing the stain during pretreatment. By asymmetrically disposed, it is meant that such asymmetrically disposed surface irregularities 150 are disposed such that the surface irregularities 150 on the exterior surface 80 or base exterior 40 are not balanced about a single location, such as a point on the longitudinal axis L or other point.

For surface irregularities 150 that are bristles 156, bristles 156 can be formed such that the bristles are generally aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis, as for instance shown in FIG. 13, or generally aligned orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L. In such an arrangement, when the surface irregularities 150 are scrubbed against the stained fabric, the cap 10 is likely to be tilted. Thus, as the user scrubs with the cap, a combination of normal forces and shear forces can be delivered to the stained fabric and the bristles 156 may tend to bend thereby creating an effective brushing movement of the individual bristles 156.

The bristles 156, if present as surface irregularities 150, can be set such that the bristles 156 are nested within the maximum radial extent of the exterior surface 80 of the cap 10 from the longitudinal axis L, as shown in FIG. 14. Such an arrangement can protect the bristles 156 from damage during transport, storage, and use. For a similar benefit, the bristles 156 can be set such that the bristles 156 are nested within the maximum axial extent along the longitudinal axis L. Similarly, other types of surface irregularities can be nested within the maximum radial extent of the exterior surface 80 of the cap 10 from the longitudinal axis L and nested within the maximum axial extent along the longitudinal axis L.

FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of another embodiment of a cap 10 in which the cap 10 can be removably attached and attachable to the container 110. As shown in FIG. 15, the cap 10 can have surface irregularities 150 on the base 20. The surface irregularities 150 can be bristles or any of the surface irregularities 150 described herein. As shown in FIG. 15, the cap 10 can comprise an in-mold label 600 on the exterior surface 80. A bottom view of the cap 10 shown in FIG. 15 is shown in FIG. 16. As shown in FIG. 16, the cap 10 can have a snapping protrusion 700 that fit into a receptor 710 located on the container or closure 720. The snapping protrusion can be a ring or other protrusion, or recess, within the pour volume 100 of the cap 10. Such protrusion, or recess, can fit snuggly with the receptor 710, that is a receptor or protrusion. Male to female fittings can be employed to provide for a degree of interlocking interconnectedness between the cap 10 and the container 110 or closure 720.

A cap 10 may be used in a method of pretreating a clothing article having a stained portion. The method can comprise the steps of removing a cap 10 from a container containing a detergent; pouring or dispensing a volume of the detergent composition 300 from the container 110 into the cap 10; applying at least a portion of the volume of the detergent composition 300 to a stained portion of the stained clothing article; scrubbing the stained portion with a portion of the cap 10; reengaging the cap 10 with the container 110 containing the detergent composition 300. The step of scrubbing the stained portion with a portion of the cap 10 can be performed with a portion of the cap 10 selected from the group consisting of the rim 90 of the cap 10, a portion of the cap 10 between the rim 90 and the connector 130, the exterior surface 80, the base exterior 40 of the cap 10, and combinations thereof. The cap 10 used in the method can be any of the various embodiments and combinations of embodiments of the cap 10 contemplated herein. The cap 10 can be removed from a container 110 by unscrewing the cap 10 to disengage threads 134 on the cap 10 from corresponding threads 134 located on the container 110. The cap 10 can be reengaged with the container 110 by screwing the cap 10 to engage threads 134 on the cap 10 with threads 134 located on the container 110. The cap 10 can be removed from a container 110 by pulling the cap 10 off of the container 110 or closure 720 and reengaged with the container 110 or closure 720 by pressing the cap 10 back into place. The volume of detergent composition 300 poured into the cap 10 can be a unit dose of the detergent composition 300. The method can comprise a step of placing the cap 10 in the drum of a washing machine. In such an approach, detergent composition 300 remaining in the cap 10 after pretreatment of a stain can be delivered to the wash.

The color of the first material and second material are measured by the reflectance spectrophotometer according to the colors L*, a*, and b* values.

The color difference is calculated using the L*, a*, and b* values by the formula ΔE=[(L*_X.−L*_Y)²+(a*_X.−a*_Y)²+(b*_X−b*_Y)²]^1/2. Herein, the ‘X’ in the equation represents the first material and ‘Y’ represents the second material, X and Y cannot be the same two points of measurement at the same time. For any particular comparison of the difference in color, the location of X≠the location of Y.

Reflectance color is measured using the Hunter Lab LabScan XE reflectance spectrophotometer obtained from Hunter Associates Laboratory of Reston, Va. A cap 10 is tested at an ambient temperature between 65° F. and 75° F. and a relative humidity between 50% and 80%.

The spectrophotometer is set to the CIELab color scale and with a D65 illumination. The Observer is set at 10° and the Mode is set at 45/0°. Area View is set to 0.125″ and Port Size is set to 0.20″. The spectrophotometer is calibrated prior to sample analysis utilizing the black glass and white reference tiles supplied from the vendor with the instrument. Calibration is done according to the manufacturer's instructions as set forth in LabScan XE User's Manual, Manual Version 1.1, August 2001, A60-1010-862. If cleaning is required of the reference tiles or samples, only tissues that do not contain embossing, lotion, or brighteners should be used (e.g., PUFFS tissue). Any sample point on the cap containing the color to be analyzed can be selected.

The cap 10 is placed over the sample port of the spectrophotometer with a white clamp disk placed behind the cap 10.

The cap 10 is removed and repositioned so that a minimum of six readings of color of the cap 10 are conducted. If possible (e.g., the size of the imparted color on the element in question does not limit the ability to have six discretely different, non-overlapping sample points), each of the readings is to be performed at a substantially different region on the externally visible surface so that no two sample points overlap. If the size of the portion of the cap comprising the first material or second material requires overlapping of sample points, only six samples should be taken with the sample points selected to minimize overlap between any two sample points. The readings are averaged to yield the reported L*, a*, and b* values for a specified color on an externally visible surface of an element.

The first material and second material are considered to have different colors if ΔE is greater than about 1.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or benefit thereof, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A package for a liquid laundry detergent composition comprising a container;

a liquid laundry detergent composition contained in said container; and

a cap removably attached to said container, wherein said cap comprises: a base having a base interior and a base exterior opposing said base interior, said base interior having a periphery; a vessel wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface opposing said interior surface, said vessel wall extending from said periphery to a rim, said interior surface and said base interior defining a pour volume, said base interior forming a closed end of said pour volume; and an in-mold label affixed to at least a portion of said exterior surface.

2. The package according to claim 1, wherein said cap is a closure of said container.

3. The package according to claim 1, wherein said pour volume is more than about 5 mL.

4. The package according to claim 1, wherein said pour volume is sized and dimensioned to contain a dose of said detergent composition.

5. The package according to claim 1, wherein said cap is sealingly engaged with said container.

6. The package according to claim 1, wherein said in-mold label substantially circumscribes said vessel wall.

7. The package according to claim 1, wherein said in-mold label is textured.

8. The package according to claim 1, wherein said in-mold label does not extend beyond said exterior surface.

9. The package according to claim 1, wherein said cap has a longitudinal axis about which said vessel wall extends, wherein said vessel wall has a height between said periphery and said rim that is variable about said longitudinal axis, wherein said in-mold label has a label height aligned with said height of said vessel wall, wherein said label height is variable about said longitudinal axis and said in-mold label fits within boundaries of said vessel wall.

10. The package according to claim 1, wherein said cap comprises a plurality of surface irregularities at location selected from the group consisting of on said rim, proximal said rim, on said exterior surface, on said base exterior, and combinations thereof.

11. The package according to claim 10, wherein said surface irregularities are selected from the group consisting of rings, ribs, nubs, bristles, fibers, and combinations thereof.

12. The package according to claim 10, wherein said in-mold label comprises instructions for using said cap to pretreat a garment.

13. The package according to claim 10, wherein said surface irregularities comprise bristles.

14. The package according to claim 13, wherein said surface irregularities are located in a discrete region on said base exterior.

15. The package according to claim 14, wherein said cap has a longitudinal axis about which said vessel wall extends, wherein said base exterior has a maximum axial extent along said longitudinal axis, wherein said bristles are nested within said maximum axial extent along said longitudinal axis.

16. The package according to claim 15, wherein said cap is threadably engaged with said container.

17. The package according to claim 10, wherein said in-mold label substantially circumscribes said vessel wall.

18. The package according to claim 9, wherein said in-mold label is textured.

19. The package according to claim 9, wherein said in-mold label does not extend beyond said exterior surface.

20. The package according to claim 9, wherein said liquid laundry detergent comprises a surfactant.