Abstract:
Described are kits, comprising at least two dissolvable films, and a container for receiving and storing the dissolvable films, comprising a lid, a bottom portion, and a hinging means connecting the lid to the bottom portion, wherein the lid and the bottom portion move between an open position for accessing the dissolvable films, and a closed position where the lid and the bottom portion sealingly engage through a discontinuous system, comprising a set of corresponding grooves on the lid and the bottom portion, and cooperating surfaces disposed on the lid and the bottom portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/704,069, filed Sep. 21, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The following disclosure relates generally to packaging and containers, particularly moisture resistant variants of the same. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Personal care films offer a convenient platform for delivering compositions, such as for skin care, hair care, or cosmetics applications. Such films are designed to quickly dissolve upon contact with water or aqueous compositions provided by the end user. An important goal in the industry is that the performance of these films will rival that of their conventional wet counterparts, while providing the greater portability and convenience of a film. 
         [0004]    The success of a cosmetic, including personal care films, depends in great measure on the way it feels to a user. In some cases, this refers to in use attributes, such as speed of dissolution and sensory attributes. However, there is a growing appreciation for the fact that a user&#39;s experience extends beyond merely using the product. For example, if the individual films stick together and are inseparable, the user will be frustrated regardless of how well the product performs for its intended use. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, what is needed are improved packaging methods and devices, particularly new moisture resistant containers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an open dissolvable film container of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , in the closed position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an open dissolvable film container of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , in the closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a dissolvable film container  10 , is provided to contain dissolvable films. It should be understood that the present invention is not a single dose apparatus. “Dissolvable film” is a known term in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the dissolvable films are such as is described in United States Patent Publication 2010/0204341. As can be appreciated, dissolvable films are moisture sensitive, and need to be protected from exposure to moisture before intentional activation with an aqueous composition. 
         [0011]    The dissolvable film container  10  has a lid  20 , and a bottom portion  30 , connected by a hinging means  40 . In an “open” position (illustrated), the lid  20  and the bottom portion  30  are not engaged. In the “closed” position, the lid  20  and the bottom portion  30  are sealingly engaged, as will be discussed with respect to  FIG. 2  below. 
         [0012]    The lid  20  comprises an upper member  22 , a wall  24  that extends outward from and around three sides of the upper member, and a discontinuous inner wall  26  disposed on the fourth side of the upper member adjacent to the hinging means  40 . The upper member  22  may contain a window (not depicted) or product marketing information or images (not depicted). 
         [0013]    The wall  24  may be profiled with a groove to better engage the bottom portion  30 . In one embodiment, the lid  20  and the bottom portion  30  each have corresponding grooves that engage to provide better sealing than if the faces merely meet as coplanar surfaces. In one embodiment, the grooves run parallel to the axis defined by the engaging surfaces of the lid  20  and the bottom portion  30 . In one embodiment, the lid  20  and the bottom portion  30  each have corresponding grooves and ribs that interlock. 
         [0014]    A latch  28  with a catch  28   a  extends from the portion of the wall  24  distal to the hinging means  40 . The latch  28  will be discussed in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 2  below. 
         [0015]    A relief  29  may be formed adjacent to the latch  28  to aid a user in flexing the latch in order to disengage the latch from the bottom portion  30 . In one embodiment, the relief  29  is present to reduce shrink or distorted features that might otherwise appear during molding of the dissolvable film container  10 . 
         [0016]    The bottom portion  30  comprises a base member  32 , having a curved portion  32   a  that slopes up to the hinging means  40 . A wall  34  extends outward from and around three sides of the base member  32 . As depicted, the wall  34  is profiled to sealingly engage the wall  24  of the lid  20 . A recess  36  is disposed on the wall  34  to receive the catch  28   a  of the lid  20 . 
         [0017]    The hinging means  40  may be any conventional in the art. In one embodiment, the hinging means  40  is a pinned hinge. In one embodiment, the hinging means  40  is a relatively thin piece of resilient material, such as plastic, which is sometimes referred to as a living hinge. 
         [0018]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , in the closed position, dissolvable film container  10  is latched shut and sealingly engaged. For example, the catch  28   a  of the latch  28  is engaged in the recess  36  of the wall  34 . The wall  34  is sealingly engaged with the wall  24  of the lid  20 . In one embodiment, either the cooperating profiles of wall  34  and the wall  24  or the cooperating faces of the catch  28   a  and the recess  36  are designed in order to provide a snap fit. In one embodiment, both the cooperating profiles of wall  34  and the wall  24  and the cooperating faces of the catch  28   a  and the recess  36  are designed in order to provide a snap fit. The discontinuous inner wall  26  of the lid  20  is adapted to engage the curved portion  32   a  of the base member  32 , completing the seal between the lid  20  and the bottom portion  30 . 
         [0019]    An axis A can be drawn from the hinging means  40  to the top of the wall  34 . This would be the sealing axis if walls  24  and  34  were merely coplanar faces. However, since the cooperating profiles of wall  34  and the wall  24  interact, and the discontinuous inner wall  26  engages the curved portion  32   a , another axis B can be drawn as the effective sealing axis. Note that the effective sealing axis B is below the hinge axis A, which is advantageous. 
         [0020]    It is understood that the present embodiment has the advantage therefore of being highly moisture resistant. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in an alternative embodiment, a dissolvable film container  50 , is provided to contain dissolvable films. The dissolvable film container  50  has a lid  60 , and a bottom portion  70 , connected by a hinging means  80 . In an “open” position (illustrated), the lid  60  and the bottom portion  70  are not engaged. In the “closed” position, the lid  60  and the bottom portion  70  are sealingly engaged, as will be discussed with respect to  FIG. 4  below. 
         [0022]    The lid  60  comprises an upper member  62 , a wall  64  that extends outward from and around three sides of the upper member, and a discontinuous inner wall  66  disposed on the fourth side of the upper member adjacent to the hinging means  80 . The upper member  62  may contain a window (not depicted) or product marketing information or images (not depicted). 
         [0023]    The wall  64  may be profiled with a groove to better engage the bottom portion  70 . In one embodiment, each of the lid  60  and the bottom portion  70  have corresponding grooves that engage to provide better sealing than if the faces merely meet as coplanar surfaces. In one embodiment, the grooves run parallel to the axis defined by the engaging surfaces of the lid  60  and the bottom portion  70 . In one embodiment, each of the lid  60  and the bottom portion  70  have corresponding grooves and ribs that interlock. 
         [0024]    A latch  68  with a catch  68   a  extends from the portion of the wall  64  distal to the hinging means  80 . The latch  68  will be discussed in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 4  below. 
         [0025]    A relief  69  may be formed adjacent to the latch  68  to aid a user in flexing the latch in order to disengage the latch from the bottom portion  70 . In one embodiment, the relief  69  is present to reduce shrink or distorted features that might otherwise appear during molding of the dissolvable film container  50 . 
         [0026]    The bottom portion  70  comprises a base member  72 , having a curved portion  72   a  that slopes up to the hinging means  80 . A wall  74  extends outward from and around three sides of the base member  72 . As depicted, the wall  74  is profiled to sealingly engage the wall  64  of the lid  60 . A recess  76  is disposed on the wall  74  to receive the catch  68   a  of the lid  60 . 
         [0027]    The hinging means  80  may be any conventional in the art. In one embodiment, the hinging means is a relatively thin piece of resilient material, such as plastic, which is sometimes referred to as a living hinge. 
         [0028]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , in the closed position, dissolvable film container  50  is latched shut and sealingly engaged. For example, the catch  68   a  of the latch  68  is engaged in the recess  76  of the wall  74 . The wall  74  is sealingly engaged with the wall  64  of the lid  60 . In one embodiment, either the cooperating profiles of wall  74  and the wall  64  or the cooperating faces of the catch  68   a  and the recess  76  are designed in order to provide a snap fit. In one embodiment, both the cooperating profiles of wall  74  and the wall  64  and the cooperating faces of the catch  68   a  and the recess  76  are designed in order to provide a snap fit. The discontinuous inner wall  66  of the lid  60  is adapted to engage the curved portion  72   a  of the base member  72 , completing the seal between the lid  60  and the bottom portion  70 . 
         [0029]    An axis C can be drawn from the hinging means  80  to the top of the wall  74 . This would be the sealing axis if walls  64  and  74  were merely coplanar faces. However, since the cooperating profiles of wall  74  and the wall  64  interact, and the discontinuous inner wall  66  engages the curved portion  72   a , another axis C can be drawn as the effective sealing axis. Note that the effective sealing axis D is below the hinge axis C, which is advantageous. 
         [0030]    It is understood that the present embodiment has the advantage therefore of being highly moisture resistant. 
         [0031]    It is contemplated that an array of containers such as described above could be packaged and sold in a larger receptacle (such as a compact in the cosmetic arts). In one embodiment, each container could contain a differently formulated dissolvable film.