WO2005110864A1

WO2005110864A1 - Product pack

Info

Publication number: WO2005110864A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/001277
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shaun Harrison
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (Uk) Limited
Priority date: 2004-05-13
Filing date: 2005-04-01
Publication date: 2005-11-24
Also published as: GB0410593D0

Abstract

The invention concerns product packs, and particularly a type of packs known as 'wallet packs'. Packs in accordance with embodiments of the invention comprise first through third panels (110-130), each panel being connected to its neighbour by a web (140), (150) forming a spine around which the pack is folded. The pack is arranged to carry an information sheet (400) within it in such a way that the sheet is securely packaged, but is conveniently presented to the user.

Description

Product Pack

The invention relates to a pack for a product, particularly, but not exclusively, to a so-called "wallet pack".

A wallet pack is a type of product packaging in which product is held within a folded structure, comprising two or more adjoining panels linked by fold lines to enclose the product within it. The pack is designed to be easy to carry in the pocket and to unfold (like a wallet) to access the product within. Such packs may typically be used for pills, sweets etc.

Often it is necessary to provide a leaflet providing instructions or medical indications within a wallet pack. However, as such packs are generally open at at least one end, there is a risk of the leaflet falling out of the pack prior to delivery to customer. There is also a risk that on initial opening of the pack the leaflet may drop out .

Prior solutions to the above problems include providing a special leaflet pocket within the pack, or an extra gluing step to adhere the leaflet to part of the pack. Each of these solutions involve extra complexity in the manufacturing stages.

It is an aim of preferred embodiments of the invention to provide an effective means by which a leaflet bearing product related information may be enclosed within a wallet pack, whilst avoiding or reducing one or more problems associated with the prior art. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a pack for a product, the pack comprising first, second and third panels, wherein the first and second panels are connected together by a first web, and wherein the second and third panels are connected together by a second web, wherein the connections between panels and webs are via fold lines, wherein the pack has a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein in the closed configuration the first and second panels are the front and rear panels and the third panel is between them, and the webs serve as spines to space the first and second panels apart in order to accommodate the product therebetween, and when in the open configuration the product may be accessed, wherein the first spine is wider than the second spine whereby there is a gap between the first and third panels, when the pack is in its closed configuration .

Preferably the product comprises an array of medicinal tablets or lozenges. Preferably the pack carries medicinal tablets or lozenges, on only one of the panels.

Preferably, the second or the third panel carries the product .

Preferably the product is secured to the pack.

Preferably, the first, second and third panels and the first and second webs are formed of a single piece of a sheet material. Suitably, the sheet material may comprise a plastics sheet, cardboard or card and, most preferably, single ply card. Suitably the pack comprises only the first, second and third panels and the webs between adjacent panels, and no further panels or webs. Suitably the pack is in the form of a wallet which may be folded together, so that the three panels are in parallel and wrapped around the product (i.e. "the closed configuration"), or opened out in the "open configuration", in which the product may be accessed.

Preferably, the pack includes an information sheet in said gap.

Preferably, said information sheet comprises a folded sheet, preferably part of said sheet being arranged to be enclosed between the product and the second panel, and the remainder of the sheet extending over the product to lie between the first and third panels when the pack is in the closed configuration.

Preferably, the information sheet is arranged within the pack so that upon opening the pack the rest of the sheet overlying the third panel is immediately visible to a customer .

Preferably, the free lateral edge of the third panel is formed with a shallow cut-out wide enough to accommodate an information sheet.

Preferably, the information sheet is arranged such that, in the closed configuration of the pack, a lateral extent of the information sheet is retained within the shallow cut-out . Preferably, the width of the first spine is at least 8mm, and at most 12mm and the width of the second spine is at least β m and at most 10mm. Preferably the width of the first spine exceeds the width of the second spine by at least 0.3mm, more preferably by at least 0.5mm, but preferably by not more than 3mm, more preferably by not more than 2mm.

Preferably, the cut-out has a length of at least 40mm and at most 80mm, preferably 60mm and a depth of between 0.5mm and 2mm, preferably 1mm.

Preferably, the product is of a depth corresponding substantially to the .depth of the second spine.

Suitably, the product is a blister pack of medicinal tablets or lozenges carried by - preferably affixed to - the third panel and the third panel is perforated, to allow the tablets or lozenges to be expelled through it. Preferably no further blister pack or other type of medicinal product is carried by the pack.

The invention also includes a pack precursor which, when mounted with a product, constitutes a pack as hereinbefore stated.

For a better understanding of the invention, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of product pack in accordance with the invention, the pack being in a closed configuration;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the package of Figure 1 in which the positioning of a leaflet within the pack is illustrated using broken lines;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pack of Figure 2 with the leaflet omitted;

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 3, but showing the positioning of the leaflet within the pack; and

Figure 5 shows the pack in a fully unfolded open configuration.

Figures 1 and 5 in combination show the general features of the product pack best. The pack 100 comprises first, second and third panels 110, 120, 130, the first and second panels being joined to one another by a first web which serves as a spine 140 and the second and third panels being joined by a second web which serves as a spine 150. A closing strip 300 adheres firmly at a proximal region thereof to the first panel 110 at a position adjacent to an edge region of the first panel 110.

In the closed configuration shown in figure 1, the first panel 110 forms a front face of the pack 100, the second panel 120 forms a rear face, whilst the third panel 130 carries product 200 and is folded to lie underneath the first panel 110 so that the product 200 is enclosed within the pack. The closing strip 300 is arranged such that a distal region thereof overlaps the second spine 150 and adheres to it to seal the pack closed. An opening 160 is formed at the junction of the second spine 150 and the second panel 120 and the free end of the distal region of the strip 300 overlies it.

The product 200 is shown as a blister package carrying a number of packaged items such as tablets which are held in place within the blister pack and may be expelled from a rear (typically foil covered) face by applying finger pressure. The third panel 130 is bonded or adhered to the rear face of the blister pack to carry the packaged items. The third panel 130 has hole cut-outs 135 at positions corresponding to each of the packaged item positions. These cut-outs 135 allow the product to be dispensed through them. Typically the packaged items comprise medication for sore throats.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the pack in a first open configuration, which will be referred to herein as the semi-open position. In this semi-open position the distal end of the closing strip 300 has been separated from the second spine 150 and the first (front) panel 110 unfolded from its position overlying the third panel to provide access to the interior of the pack. It is to be noted that the spines are joined to their respective adjacent panels by fold lines or creases - these creases effectively form the spines and they allow the panels to hinge.

In the semi-open position shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the third panel 130 remains in a position in which it overlies the second panel 120, sandwiching the product 200 between them. In this configuration individual product items held within the blister package could be dispensed by applying finger pressure through the third panel 130 to urge the item through the foil covered backing and out through one of the cut-outs 135. More normally, the pack will be fully opened to the state shown in Figure 4 and the product dispensed by applying finger pressure to the blister package itself to urge the item through the foil backing and cut-out 135.

Figures 2 and 4 show detail of how an information bearing leaflet 400 may be enclosed securely within the product pack. The position of the leaflet 400 within a closed pack 100 is shown in Figure 2 by broken lines (-.-.) . Here, it can be seen that the leaflet is folded over such that a first leaflet part is trapped between product 200 and the second panel 120, whilst a second part of the leaflet extends to overlap third panel 130. When closed, the first spine 140 also extends over the leaflet and, by virtue of the increased thickness caused by the leaflet, the first spine is wider than the second spine 150. Here, width of the first spine "X" in Figure 5 is typically between 8 and 12mm, whilst the width "Y" of the second web is between 6 and 10mm (but always less than "X") . Typically the difference is l-2mm.

The free lateral edge of the third panel is formed with a shallow cut-out 135 wide enough to accommodate the leaflet 400 (see Figure 3) . In use, the leaflet is tucked between the product 200 and second panel 120 and folded over the edge of the product to lie over the third panel 120, the shallow cut-out 135 defining the outermost limits of where the leaflet sits, such that edges 135a and 135b (see figure 3) confine the leaflet to prevent it from falling out of the pack when closed. The cut-out is typically between 4 and 8cm long, preferably around 6cm, while the depth of the cut-out is preferably 1 or 2mm.

Because of the folded nature of the leaflet, a user is confronted by it upon opening the pack for the first time as it will present itself in the manner shown in Figure 4. Of course, at this time the user is free to read, keep or discard the leaflet as he/she chooses.

Figure 5 shows the pack in a second open configuration, which will be referred to as the fully open position. In the fully open position the semi-opened pack of Figures 2, 3 and 4 has been further unfolded to allow the pack to lie flat, completely exposing the product 200.

In figure 5, the formation of the opening 160 can be seen. This opening comprises a cut-out aperture formed by opposed curves at the junction of the second panel 120 and the second web 150.

Figure 5 also shows clearly how the first panel is sculpted at an edge region thereof adjacent to the closing strip 300 to form an indented area 115 extending parallel to a main extent of the edge along which it is located. This indented area is sufficiently wide to accommodate the closing strip 300 which, in the closed configuration, overhangs it and forms a surface over which the strip 300 may be folded to releasably join with the second web 150. Provision of the indented area gives a reduced edge length over which the closing strip 300 may be folded and refolded without deforming the whole edge, also, by indenting, the edge area outside of the indent is drawn over to overlap the second web 250.

While the invention has been described in relation to wallet packs, it will be evident to the skilled man that the teachings of the invention may be applied to other types of package.

Claims

1. A pack for a product, the pack comprising first, second and third panels, wherein the first and second panels are connected together by a first web, and wherein the second and third panels are connected together by a second web, wherein the connections between panels and webs are via fold lines, wherein the pack has a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein in the closed configuration the first and second panels are the front and rear panels and the third panel is between them, and the webs serve as spines to space the first and second panels apart in order to accommodate the product therebetween, and when in the open configuration the product may be accessed, wherein the first spine is wider than the second spine whereby there is a gap between the first and third panels, when the pack is in its closed configuration .

2. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the first spine is at least 8mm, and at most 12mm and the width of the second spine is at least 6mm and at most 10mm; but in all cases the first spine is wider than the second spine . ^'

3. A pack as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the pack includes an information sheet in said gap.

4. A pack as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the free lateral edge of the third panel is formed with a shallow cut-out wide enough to accommodate an information sheet .

5. A pack as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second or third panel carries the product.

6. The pack of claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein said information sheet comprises a folded sheet.

7. The pack of claim 6, wherein part of said sheet is arranged to be enclosed between the product and the second panel, and the remainder of the sheet extends over the product to lie between the first and third panels when the pack is in the closed configuration.

8. The pack of claim 7, wherein the information sheet is arranged within the pack so that upon opening the pack the rest of the sheet overlying the third panel is immediately visible to a customer.

9. The pack of claim 3, or any of claims 4 to 8, as dependent on claim 3, wherein the information sheet is arranged such that, in the closed configuration of the pack, a lateral extent of the information sheet is retained within the shallow cut-out.

10. The pack of claim 3, or any of claims 4 to 9 as dependent on claim 3, wherein the cut-out has a length of at least 40mm and at most 80m.

11. The pack of claim 10, wherein the cut-out has a length of substantially 60mm.

12. The pack of claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the cut-out has a depth of between 0.5mm and 2mm.

13. The pack of claim 12, wherein the cut-out has a depth of substantially 1mm.

14. The pack of any preceding claim, wherein the first, second and third panels and the first and second webs are formed of a single piece of a sheet material.

15. The pack of claim 14, wherein the sheet material comprises a plastics sheet, cardboard or card.

16. A precursor for a pack according to any preceding claim.

17. A precursor or a pack substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.