Patent Publication Number: US-2011048994-A1

Title: Pack for containing hygiene products

Description:
The present invention relates to packs for containing at least two hygiene products, in particular for containing at least two toilet paper rolls, kitchen paper rolls, household towel rolls, individual packs of handkerchiefs or other tissue paper products, in particular uncompressed hygiene products. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD AND PRIOR ART 
     It is known to fill hygiene products for distribution, presentation and for retailing to the end customer into packs, in particular into flexible packs made from a plastic film material. The packs are usually made such that an appropriate number of hygiene products can be retailed to the customer. For example, rolls of toilet paper are often supplied to the end customer in packs of 1×2, 2×2, 2×5, 2×4, 3×3, 4×3 or 4×5 rolls. However, other configurations for containing up to 25 toilet paper rolls are also widely used. Typically, the rolls are arranged in these packs in single, double or triple layer arrangements such that the respective winding axes of the toilet paper rolls of a layer are situated in the plane defined by the layer and the winding axes are substantially parallel to one another. In other typical packs, the winding axes of the toilet paper rolls of one layer are parallel to one another but extend substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the layer such that the winding axes represent the nodes of a substantially perpendicular grid. 
     Packs of this kind are also known in the field of other hygiene products that are wound onto rolls, in particular kitchen towels and household towels. Due to the greater axial extension of these rolls, the rolls are typically arranged parallel to one another, particularly in single layer or double layer arrangements. In other words, packs of 1×2, 1×3, 1×4, 2×2 or 2×4 kitchen towels or household towels are customary. However, other configurations for containing up to 16 rolls of kitchen towels or household towels are also widely used. 
     Handkerchiefs, in particular tissue handkerchiefs, are typically distributed in small flexible packs containing five to ten single handkerchiefs. However, other numbers between three and 25 single handkerchiefs, and even higher numbers of handkerchiefs, are also used. These small packs, referred to as individual packs in the following, are very convenient for the customer to use and to carry. However, at least in supermarkets and retail markets the individual packs of handkerchiefs are not sold singly, but in packs of a plurality of individual packs. One example of an individual pack used for tissue handkerchiefs is disclosed in DE 41 21 914 A1. 
     The pack sizes of individual packs of handkerchiefs retailed to the end customer are typically in arrangements of 2×2, 2×5, 2×3×5 or other typical configurations, depending on the outer appearance the tissue handkerchief manufacturer aims to achieve. However, it is customary in these distribution packs to fill at least two layers of individual packs of handkerchiefs on top of one another. Three and more layers are also widely used. 
     The packaging material of these packs is usually made of a plastic film material, in particular a substantially transparent plastic film material, on which product designations, trade names, trademark designations, decorations or the like can be printed. 
     All the packs mentioned above have in common that they are used to distribute a plurality of hygiene products, in particular rolls of toilet paper, rolls of household towels, kitchen towels or individual handkerchief packs. The packs used for distribution and for retailing the hygiene products need to be opened by the end consumer. Typically, the end consumer opens the distribution package by ripping/tearing it open wherein the end customer typically uses its hands or fingers to pierce through the plastic film material at a random position, then tears the pack open and withdraws the intended number of hygiene products. This tearing open results in a pack that is untidily torn open at a random point and in which the hygiene products are scattered around in an untidy manner. In many cases, the package even rips apart completely, bearing the risk that the hygiene products fall out and possibly come into contact with the floor with the inherent risk of contamination. In many cases, the packaging is also torn open in the region of lettering or printing and, thus, any product information or information with respect to expiry dates is lost. 
     Furthermore, it takes the end customer a great deal of force to use the fingers to pierce the film material at a random point and a considerable force is necessary to tear open the pack, which might be a problem, in particular for elderly people. 
     US 2002/0112982 A1 discloses a flexible pack for containing articles. A handle for carrying and ripping open the pack is disclosed. However, this handle is provided in an asymmetric position on the pack such that the pack cannot be easily carried. 
     SUMMARY 
     Starting from the aforementioned prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible pack for containing at least two hygiene products, which can be easily opened and carried, in particular by elderly people. 
     Accordingly, a pack for containing at least two hygiene products, in particular at least two uncompressed toilet paper rolls, kitchen paper rolls, household towel rolls, individual packs of handkerchiefs or other tissue paper products, is provided. The pack comprises a packaging for containing the hygiene products and an opening section defined in the packaging for defining an opening for removing hygiene products. Furthermore, a handle having a first section attached to the opening section and a second section attached to the packaging in an area outside the opening section is provided. 
     The provision of the handle in this configuration enables the end customer to carry the pack conveniently by using the handle. If it comes to opening the pack, the end customer may use the first section of the handle to open the pack in the opening section in order to withdraw/remove single hygiene products from the packaging. 
     This double function of the handle thus provided is very convenient and has many advantages. In particular, using a single handle for the two functions results in less material that needs to be processed, compared to a situation in which a separate handle for carrying and for opening the pack are provided. The specific arrangement of the handle also enables the end customer to conveniently carry the package as there is less risk of accidental opening the pack compared to a situation of holding to a handle that is only attached to an opening section. In addition, the pack may hang more balanced on the handle when it is carried, as the first and second sections of the handle are attached to positions spaced apart from one another. 
     The specific concept of providing a handle that is, in a first section, attached to the opening section but is, in a second section, attached to the packaging outside the opening section, provides a flexible pack which can easily be carried, in particular by elderly people, as the handle can be situated such that the pack is well balanced. This enables elderly people to carry the flexible pack, e.g. over the shoulders or aids simply in lifting the pack. 
     Furthermore, the section of the handle attached to the opening section can be used in aiding during opening of the pack such that the opening section can be easily opened, in particular by elderly people. 
     As the handle is not only attached to the opening section alone, but also to the packaging in an area outside the opening section, the force that is transmitted to the opening section during carrying is considerably reduced. Due to this reduction of the force transmitted to the opening section during carrying, the opening section can be defined in the packaging with a reduced opening force. In other words, as the force that is applied to the opening section during a carrying operation is relatively low as it is distributed between two points spaced apart from one another, there is no need to have a very strong attachment of the opening section to the rest of the packaging. Accordingly, the opening section can be designed such that opening of the pack is made easier. 
     Throughout the description, the term “packaging” will be understood to embrace at least bags and wrappers. Bags provide a volume into which the hygiene products can be filled. Bags are typically pre-manufactured by using a tube-like film material, a folded film material or two webs of film material, the respective layers of the film material being joined together on an appropriate number of edges in order to form the bag, leaving open only one single side of the pre-manufactured bag. In contrast, wrappers are provided in the form of a single layer of flat film material which is wrapped around the already arranged hygiene products and is then attached to itself in order to close in the hygiene products. 
     As a material for the film material for the packaging, in particular for a bag or a wrapper, it is preferred using polypropylene films, polyethylene films, starch based films, biodegradable films and/or material mixtures thereof. In other embodiments it is envisaged using a paper material as the packaging. A shrink film material may also be used. The packaging material may be provided in the form of different layers of material, in particular as a multi-layer film and/or a laminate. 
     The hygiene products that can be contained in the pack include, but are not limited to, toilet paper rolls, kitchen paper rolls, household towel rolls, individual packs of handkerchiefs, napkins, facials, hand wiping towels, folded and unfolded tissue paper, object wiping rolls and any other suitable hygiene product for personal hygiene or for object wiping and cleaning. It will be appreciated that also the comparatively big rolls and packs used in public or professional dispensers may be the hygiene products contained in the pack. In a preferred embodiment, the hygiene products themselves are also contained in a individual packaging, in particular in the form of individual rolls wrapped in paper or in a plastic film material. 
     In an advantageous embodiment, the handle is a separate element attached to the packaging. By using a separate element, the handle can be placed very flexibly to the packaging, resulting in improved carrying/wearing comfort and improved opening characteristics. The handle may also be made from a material different from the material of the packaging in order to accommodate for the specific needs of the handle. For example, the handle may have a higher tearing resistance than the packaging material itself, resulting in a secure function of the handle, in particular as the handle has typically quite small lateral dimensions. In particular, the handle could be formed of a combination of a paper and a scotch tape-like strip. 
     The opening section may be defined by lines of weakness in the packaging, in particular by perforation lines, in order to enable an easy opening process. The provision of lines of weakness by perforation lines is a cost efficient way of defining an opening section. The perforation lines may be provided in the form of circular, triangular, rectangular, oval and/or wavy openings and may be provided as single, double or multi perforation lines. 
     In order to keep the pack, and in particular the carrying properties of the handle, intact after having opened it, the opening section may comprise a hinge portion for keeping the opened opening section connected to the packaging. This embodiment also enables an easy re-closing of the packaging once the desired amount of hygiene products has been withdrawn from the packaging. 
     In an alternative embodiment, however, a hinge portion is not at all provided such that the opening section can be completely removed from the remainder of the packaging, leaving one section of the handle fixedly attached to the packaging and the other section free. In other words, the perforation may extend completely around the opening section. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the opening section has dimensions allowing the withdrawal of a single one of the hygiene products through the resulting opening. 
     A specific appearance of the pack results when the first section and the second section of the handle are attached to the same wall of the packaging. This wall is typically the top wall of the pack such that the pack can be carried easily and opened in an opening section situated on the top wall aided by the handle. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the first section and the second section of the handle are attached to two separate walls of the packaging, the walls being situated opposite to one another and are substantially parallel to one another. In this embodiment, a handle design resembling that of a handbag results, which can be advantageous from a stability point of view. This feature in combination with the proper arrangement of a hinge section at the opening section on an edge opposite the direction in which the carrying force is directed leads to a pack that can be easily carried without the risk of accidental opening of the pack during carrying, but which can be opened easily by using the handle. In particular, the hinge section is preferably placed in a position of the opening section opposite the direction towards the second section of the handle. 
     In yet another embodiment, a third section of the handle is attached to the packaging, resulting basically in two separate loops of the handle. In a case in which the third section is attached to the packaging in an area outside the opening section, a first loop that is completely connected to the fixed sections of the packaging, and a second loop that is connected to the opening section are provided. The first loop can be used for carrying the pack safely, wherein the second loop can also be used for opening the pack. 
     Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the first section, second section and/or third section of the handle can be situated on the bottom wall of the packaging, even though this is not shown in the Figures. This is also the case for the opening section which may also be defined in the bottom wall of the packaging or may have at least portions extending into the bottom wall. 
     However, in another preferred embodiment, two separate handle segments are used that are joined to the packaging in different positions. 
     Preferably, the pack has a re-closable tab, in particular a re-closable stripe of adhesive material or a re-closable stripe of mechanically attachable material, such as Velcro, a button, a snap fastener or a zipper, in order to re-close the opening section after opening. 
     In order to increase the convenience for an end customer even more, the opening mechanism is identified by a colour coding of the packaging. 
     Preferably, the pack is a distribution pack for distributing a plurality of hygiene products to the end customer. 
     In order to provide an easy opening mechanism, the opening section is defined by a line of weakness that tears open when the packaging is held only at the first section of the handle due to the own weight of the pack. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a pack according to a first embodiment of the invention in a closed state; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of the pack of  FIG. 1  in an opened state; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of a pack according to a second embodiment of the invention in a closed state; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of the pack according to  FIG. 3  in an opened state; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of a pack according to a third embodiment of the invention in a closed state; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view of the pack according to  FIG. 5  in an opened state; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention in a closed state; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic perspective view of the pack according to  FIG. 7  in an opened state; 
         FIG. 9  is yet another embodiment of a pack in a perspective schematic view in its closed state; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic perspective view of the pack according to  FIG. 9  in an opened state; 
         FIG. 11  is another embodiment of a pack in a perspective schematic view in a closed state; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic perspective view of the pack according to  FIG. 11  in an opened state; 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic perspective view of a pack according to yet another embodiment in a closed state; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic perspective view of the pack according to  FIG. 13  in an opened state; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic perspective view of still another embodiment of a pack in a closed state; and 
         FIG. 16  is the schematic perspective view of the pack according to  FIG. 15  in an opened state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     In the following description of the respective embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar features and a iterated description of the respective features is not provided in order to improve the intelligibility of the disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  shows a pack  1  for hygiene products  100 , the hygiene products being shown schematically in  FIG. 1  in the form of four household towel rolls. 
     The pack  1  comprises a packaging  2  for containing the hygiene products  100 , such that the packaging  2  completely encloses the hygiene products  100  and provides the volume for containing the hygiene products. The packaging  2  has typically two main walls  20 , two side walls  22 , a top wall  24  and a bottom wall  26 . The two main walls  20  and the two side walls  22  are typically situated opposite to one another and basically parallel to one another, respectively. The packaging  2  in this embodiment may be provided in the form of a wrapped film or in the form of a pre-fabricated bag. 
     An opening section  3  is provided in the packaging  2  in an upper corner of the packaging  2 . The upper corner is defined such that the opening section  3  includes at least sections of main walls  20 , one side wall  22  and the top wall  24 . Nevertheless, depending on the orientation of the pack  1 , the opening section  3  could also be situated in a different position. However, it is convenient for the consumer that the opening section  3  is provided in a corner position of the packaging  2 . This is in particular the case as the opening section  3  permits then easy access to the hygiene products  100  contained within the packaging  2  from one end of the contents of the packaging and the remaining hygiene products  100  within the packaging  2  may retain their initial tidy arrangement. 
     The opening section  3  is typically defined in the packaging  2  by lines of weakness, shown in  FIG. 1  by a perforation  30  in the main wall  20 . Another section of the perforation  32  extends through the top wall  24  of the packaging  2  and it is understood that a perforation similar to the perforation  30  shown in  FIG. 1  is also present in the opposite main wall  20 . 
     The perforation  30  of the opening section  3  does not, however, extend through the side wall  22 . This leaves a section of the side wall  22  intact, such that the opening section  3  is hinged to the side wall  22  in its opened position. This is shown, e.g., in  FIG. 2 , in which the lid-shaped opening section  3  is opened and basically hinged in a hinge position  34  to the side wall such that the opening section  3  cannot be removed from the packaging  2 . 
     However, it will be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment the perforation could also be provided such that the opening section can be completely removed. With other words, the perforation extends completely around the opening section. 
     Returning to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a handle  4  is present, having a first section  40 , which is attached to the opening section  3 , and a second section  42 , which is attached to the packaging in an area outside the opening section  3 , as can be seen in the bottom wall  26  in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In other words, the handle extends from the opening section  3  to the bottom wall  26 . 
     The handle  4  is made from a separate piece of material and may be provided from a material that is different from the film material of the packaging  2 . 
     As may be appreciated, the handle  4  can be used to carry the pack  1  easily. However, as can be appreciated from  FIG. 2 , the handle  4  can also be used for opening the opening section  3  by pulling the handle  4  at its first section  40  basically in the direction of the arrow  400 . 
     Accordingly, the handle  4  has at least the double function of being usable for carrying the pack  1  from the supermarket to the home of the end customer and to help the end customer opening the opening section  3  when the hygiene products  100  are to be withdrawn from the pack  1 . 
     Another beneficial function of the handle is that the end customer may hang up the pack  1  with the remaining hygiene products  100  contained therein, in order to provide a secure, tidy and hygienically unobjectionable form of storage of the opened and unopened packs. 
     It will be appreciated that the lines of weakness  30  and  32 , that are used to define the opening section  3 , can be made such that they tear open relatively easy, e.g. by adjusting the step width of the openings, as not the total weight of the pack  1  and the hygiene products  100  rests on the section  40  but this weight is distributed between the first handle section  40  and the second handle section  42 . Accordingly, it is possible to design the opening section  3 , and in particular the lines of weakness  30 ,  32 , such that it can be more easily opened. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , it will also be appreciated that the pack  1  can still be carried by using the handle  4  when the opening section  3  is in the opened position. In particular, even if some of the hygiene products  100  have been withdrawn from the pack  1 , the pack can still be carried, using the handle  4 , in particular also because the opening section  3  and the resulting opening are provided on an end of the pack  1  which ensures that the hygiene products  100  remaining in the pack do not fall out of the opening due to gravity. 
     In a second embodiment,  FIG. 3  shows a pack  1  with a packaging  2  in which the arrangement of the handle  4  as well as the design of the opening section  3  is slightly different from that described with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In particular, the handle  4  is attached to the top wall  24  of the packaging  2  only. In particular, the opening section  3  is defined by a perforation  30  in the main wall  20 , another perforation  32  in one of the side walls  22  and it is understood that the perforation  30  is also present in the opposite main wall  20 . In the top wall  24 , a hinging portion  34  is present. The hinging portion is provided by omitting a perforation in this section of the material such that the packaging material remains intact. Accordingly, the opening section  3  opens, as it is shown in  FIG. 4 , upwards by pivoting around hinging section  34 . 
     The handle  4  is attached in a first section  40  to the opening section  3  and in a second section  42  in an area outside the opening section  3  but still on the top wall  24  of the packaging  2 . 
     The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  leads to a different handling of the pack. 
     In an embodiment not shown in the figures, an indication of the opening mechanism is colour coded on the packaging  2  in order to enable an easy opening. Such a colour coding may be achieved e.g. by printing icons on the packaging  2 . 
     In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , yet another embodiment of the pack  1  is shown. In this embodiment, the hygiene products  100  are shown as single handkerchief packs, wherein each of these single handkerchief packs may contain five or ten tissue paper handkerchiefs. 
     The structure of the packaging  2  of the pack  1  of the third embodiment is similar to the packaging  2  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In particular, the opening section  3  is, again, provided by a perforation  30  in the main wall  20  and another perforation  32  in the side wall  22 . Furthermore, it is understood that the perforation  30  also extends in the opposite side wall  20 . A hinging portion  34  is also present, around which the opening section  3  is pivoted in the opened state, as can be seen in  FIG. 6 . 
     As may be appreciated from  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the handle  4  is attached to the opening section  3  in its first section  40  in the area of the side wall  22 . The second section  42  of the handle  4  is, consequently, attached to the opposite side wall  22 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , this leads to yet another embodiment of a pack  1 , which can be easily opened by pulling the handle  1  at the first section  40  and can be used for carrying the pack  1  easily, wherein the lines of weakness or perforations  30 ,  32  of the opening section  3  can be designed such that they can be opened more easily than the ones known in the state of the art. 
     In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , yet another embodiment of a pack  1  is shown. It will be appreciated that the form of the packaging  2  of pack  1  is basically identical to that shown and described with respect to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In particular, the opening section  3  defined by the perforations  30  and  32  as well as by the hinging portion  34  is designed basically identical to that shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     The main difference between the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and that shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  is the provision of a differently arranged handle  4 . Handle  4  is, in its first section  40 , attached to the side wall  22  within the opening section  3 . The second section  42  of handle  4  is attached to the opposite side wall  22 . A middle section or third section  44 , of the handle  4  is also attached to the packaging  2  but to the top wall  24 . The third section  44  of the handle  4  is attached in an area outside the opening section on the top wall  24 . 
     As can be seen, e.g. in  FIG. 8 , the first loop of the handle  4  that is defined between the first section  40  and the third section  44 , can be used to easily open the opening section  3  or packaging  2  in order to be able to withdraw hygiene products  100  from packaging  2 . The second loop of handle  4  remains even in the opened position of the opening section  4  in an unchanged state. The second loop of the handle  4 , which extends between the second section  42  and the third section  44  of the handle  4 , does not change in this arrangement. 
     It will be appreciated that also different ways of providing the two loops of the handle  4  may be provided. In particular, it is envisaged that the first loop of the handle and the second loop of the handle are provided by means of two separate stripes of material which are then attached to the packaging  2 . In order to form the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , two separate handle segments can be provided which are joined to one another as well as to the packaging  2  in the third section  44 . However, in another preferred embodiment, the two separate handle segments are joined to the packaging  2  in different positions (not shown in the Figures). 
     Furthermore, even though it is not explicitly shown in the Figures it will be appreciated that the first section  40 , second section  42  and/or third section  44  of the handle  4  could also be situated on the bottom wall  26  of the packaging  2 . This is, naturally, also the case for the opening section  3  which may also be defined in the bottom wall  26  of the packaging  2  or may have at least portions extending into the bottom wall  26 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a pack  1 ′ in yet another embodiment. A packaging  2  is provided in which an opening section  3  is defined by lines of weakness, in particular in the form of perforations  30 . A handle  4 ′ is integrated into the packaging  2 . The packaging has one of the typical forms of a pre-fabricated bag. 
       FIG. 10  shows this pack  1 ′ in the opened state, in which the opening section  3  is opened by means of the integrated handle  4 ′. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show a pack  1 ″ in still another embodiment. A packaging  2  is provided with an opening section  3 ′ wherein the opening section  3 ′ is defined by perforations  30  in the main wall  20  of the packaging  2 . The opening section  3 ′ extends from a carrying handle  4 ″ downwards, and the opening section  3 ′ can be opened by accessing the opening section  3 ′ from the carrying opening of the carrying handle  4 ″. 
     In  FIGS. 13 and 14 , yet another embodiment of a pack  1  is shown. As may be appreciated,  FIG. 13  basically corresponds to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . However, the hinge portion  34  of this embodiment is provided in the top wall  24  of the pack  1 , which results, as can be seen in  FIG. 14 , in a different opening direction of the opening section  3 . In particular, the hinge portion  34  is situated opposite to the direction towards the second section  42  of the handle  4 . This specific arrangement of the pack has the advantage that, during the carrying operation, the force that is exerted from the handle  4  to the opening section  3  is mainly carried by the hinge portion  34  such that an accidental opening of the opening section  3  can be avoided. Even if any accidental opening of the opening section  3  occurs, the hygiene products  100  cannot fall out of the pack as the opening section  3  remains in its closed position due to the pull of the handle  4 . The perforation  30 ′ is shown schematically in the form of a double line perforation. 
     In order to open the pack  1 , the second section  40  of the handle  4  is moved into the direction schematically shown by arrow  400 . 
     In  FIGS. 15 and 16 , yet another embodiment of a pack  1  is shown, in which the hinge portion  34  is situated in a structurally similar position as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . Here, again, the hinge portion  34  is situated opposite to the direction of the handle  4  towards the second section  42  of the handle  4 . 
     While only preferred embodiments have been described in terms of particular variations and illustrative figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the variations or figures described. Therefore, it will be understood that various modifications, variations, changes and adaptations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims and it is the intent that this patent will cover those modifications, variations, changes and adaptations, as well as equivalents to the subject-matter found in the claims.