Patent Publication Number: US-2007095721-A1

Title: Packaging for viewing visually distinct phases of composition

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/732,422, filed on Nov. 1, 2005. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present application relates generally to containers and more particularly to a container that allows viewing of visually distinct phases of a composition.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Various personal care compositions have been developed that employ two or more phases packaged in a single container. The phases, although packaged in physical contact are, at least initially, separate and distinct. It is desirable to allow viewing of at least a portion of a composition having two or more phases, particularly in instances wherein the composition is visually pleasing.  
      Previously containers have been proposed to hold personal care compositions having two or more phases. The containers may be transparent, which can provide a consumer with the ability to view the composition therein. However, one drawback to these previous containers is that they require that the composition remain substantially stable in order to maintain the desired pleasing aesthetic appearance to the consumer. Therefore a need still exists in the art for a package suitable for containing a personal care composition comprising at least two visually distinct phases which communicates the multi phase nature of the product to the consumer but does not necessarily require long term stability.  
      Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a package for a personal care product having at least two visually distinct phases, wherein the consumer can visually perceive each phase. It is a further object of the invention to provide a package that also conceals a portion of the composition.  
     SUMMARY  
      In an aspect, the invention features a container for a personal care composition having at least two visually distinct phases wherein the visually distinct phases can be seen through a portion of the container. The container includes a viewing portion that allows for viewing of the visually distinct phases within the container and a covering portion that inhibits viewing of the composition within the container. The viewing portion is from about 0.5% to about 70% of the surface area of the package exclusive of any closure. More preferably the viewing portion is from about 0.5% to about 50% of the surface area of the package exclusive of any closure.  
      In certain embodiments, the viewing portion is completely bounded by the covering portion. The viewing and covering portions may be formed by a sleeve or wrap. The sleeve may be a shrink sleeve that extends about a periphery of the container. The container may have a transparent body. The personal care composition may be a multi-phase composition where phases of the composition form the visually distinct phases.  
      The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of a container;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded front view of the container of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3A  illustrates a back of the container of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3B  illustrates a side of the container of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3C  illustrates a face of the container of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3D  illustrates a side of the container of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of a shrink sleeve removed from the container of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a front view of another embodiment of a container;  
       FIG. 6  is a front view of another embodiment of a container;  
       FIG. 7  is a front view of another embodiment of a container;  
       FIG. 8  is a front view of yet another embodiment of a container; and  
       FIG. 9  is a front view of another embodiment of a container. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      As used herein, “visually distinct” phases are regions that can be observed by a viewer as distinctly separate regions in contact with one another. Regions may be visually distinct from each other due to, for example, color differences, shape differences, size differences, or a combination of these.  
      As used herein, the term “transparent” refers generally to having the property of transmitting light without appreciable scattering so that visually distinct phases lying beyond are seen. Transparent packaging, or at least a portion thereof, has a percent transmittance of light in the visible wavelengths of between about 50% and about 100%.  
      A “visibly clear” composition refers to a composition having a transmission of about 60% or greater, such as about 80% or greater. The transmission of a composition is measured using Ultra-Violet/Visible (UV/VIS) Spectrophotometry, which determines the absorption or transmission of UV/VIS light by a sample. A light wavelength of 600 nm has been shown to be adequate for characterizing the degree of clarity of personal care compositions. Typically, the specific instructions associated with the specific spectrophotometer should be followed. In general, the procedure for measuring percent transmittance starts by setting the spectrophotometer to the 600 nm. Then a calibration “blank” is run to calibrate the readout to 100 percent transmittance. The test sample is then placed in a cuvette designed to fit the specific spectrophotometer and the percent transmittance is measured by the spectrophotometer at 600 nm.  
      By the term “multi-phased” or “multi-phase” as used herein, it is meant that at least two phases of a composition occupy separate and distinct physical spaces inside packaging in which they are stored, but are in direct contact with one another (i.e., they are not separated by a barrier). In one embodiment of the present invention, multi-phased personal care compositions comprising at least two phases are present within a container as a visually distinct pattern. The pattern results from the mixing or homogenization of the multi-phased composition. The patterns include but are not limited to the following examples: striped, marbled, rectilinear, interrupted striped, check, mottled, veined, clustered, speckled, geometric, spotted, ribbons, helical, swirl, arrayed, variegated, textured, grooved, ridged, waved, sinusoidal, spiral, twisted, curved, cycle, streaks, striated, contoured, anisotropic, laced, weave or woven, basket weave, spotted, and tessellated. Preferably the pattern is selected from the group consisting of striped, geometric, marbled, and combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment the striped pattern may be relatively uniform and even across the dimension of the package. Alternatively, the striped pattern may be uneven, i.e. wavy, or may be non-uniform in dimension. The striped pattern does not need to necessarily extend across the entire dimension of the package. The phases may be various different colors, or include particles, glitter or pearlescence.  
      As used herein, the term “personal care composition” refers to compositions that are intended to include only those compositions for topical application to the hair, skin or other regions of a human or animal body.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a personal care product  10  includes a personal care composition  12  contained within packaging, in this example, container  14 . Container  14  includes a dispensing part  16  and a receptacle part  18  to form a containing volume for holding the personal care composition  12 . A closure  15  such as a cap, lid, closable spout, etc. may be connected at the dispensing part  16  to inhibit unintended spillage of the personal care composition from the container  14 . Container  14 , in this example, may be referred to as an inverted container in that the dispensing part  16  or closure  15  can also provide a base of the container that can be used to support the container on a surface in an upright, standing position. In some embodiments, receptacle part  18  (or an additional component connected to the receptacle part) may be used to form the base or an additional base that can be used to support the container  14  in an upright, standing position. As will be described in greater detail below, container  14  includes a discrete visual indication area  20  displaying a visually distinct pattern.  
      In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , receptacle part  18  of the container  14  is formed of a transparent material such as a transparent thermoplastic material or transparent glass. A shrink sleeve or wrap  22  (shown in part by  FIG. 2 ) envelops at least a portion of the receptacle part  18  by extending about a periphery of the receptacle part as a tube-like flexible sleeve. Shrink sleeve or wrap  22  may be made, for example, from a single film of plastic or may be laminated in two or more layers. Shrink sleeve or wrap  22  may be a pigmented or transparent glossy film which is printed on or in the case of a laminated film, at least one layer of film may be pigmented or printed by the addition of dyes or pigments before or at the point of extruding the laminate. Shrink sleeve or wrap  22  may also be decorated with colors, designs, logos, usage instructions, health and regulatory symbols and warnings, and other written or graphical information. Such decorations may be done by flexo- or gravure-printing, lithography, off-set printing, silk-screening and/or rotary screening. One exemplary method, known as reverse printing, is to print colors on the inside (i.e., container-facing side) of a label in order to maintain label glossiness. The shrink sleeve or wrap  22  is formed by forming the plastic film essentially into a tube, preferably by folding the film back upon itself forming a seam, and cutting the tube to form individual sleeves. As can be appreciated, by enveloping the transparent receptacle part  18  with the shrink sleeve or wrap  22  having printed or pigmented portions, an area of the transparent receptacle part  18  of the container  14  is obscured or even shielded from view, thus obscuring or even preventing viewing of the composition  12  disposed therein.  
      Visual indication area  20  displays a visually distinct pattern that is bounded by pre-printed or pigmented covering portion  24  that is translucent or opaque. In some embodiments, the visual indication area  20  is provided by forming the shrink sleeve  22  having a transparent viewing portion  26  (i.e., a window) that allows for viewing therethrough. For example, a transparent film used to form the shrink sleeve or wrap  22  may have the transparent portion  26  that is not printed or pigmented while adjacent portions are. In another embodiment, the visual indication area  20  is provided by removing (e.g., cutting, stamping, etc.) shrink sleeve or wrap  22  material to form the viewing portion  26  or window therethrough, for example, prior to applying the shrink sleeve or wrap  22  to the container  14 . In this embodiment, the entire film may be pre-printed or pigmented prior to applying the shrink sleeve or wrap  22  to the container  14 .  
      The illustrated container  14  has a face  28 , a back  30 , sides  32  and  34  extending between the front and the back, a longitudinal axis or centerline  38  and a lateral axis or centerline  40  substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis or centerline. In some implementations, face  28  may include visually pleasing designs, logos, etc. and back  30  may include directions, ingredients, etc. Visual indication area  20  has a portion disposed at the face  28  of the container  14  and a portion disposed at the side  32  of the container, overlapping a corner  36 . Visual indication area  20  is offset laterally from the longitudinal centerline  38  and offset longitudinally from the lateral centerline  40  within a lower peripheral quadrant  42 . In other embodiments, as will be described below, visual indication area may be located in other quadrants  46 ,  48 ,  50  and/or may overlap one or both centerlines  38 ,  40 .  
      Viewing portion  26  forming the window is sized and arranged to allow for viewing of the personal care composition  12  disposed in the container  14  through the transparent receptacle part  18 . Personal care composition  12  includes visually distinct phases  52  and  54  and the viewing portion  26  is sized and arranged to allow for viewing of each of the visually distinct phases  52 ,  54 . In some embodiments, the viewing portion  26  may be sized and arranged to allow for viewing of only some, but more than one visually distinct phases. In some embodiments, the viewing portion  26  may be sized and arranged to allow for viewing of all the visually distinct phases. While only two visually distinct phases  52  and  54  are illustrated, there may be more than two visually distinct phases viewable through the viewing portion  26  and forming the visual indication area  20 , such as 4 or more regions, 6 or more regions, 10 or more regions, 15 or more regions, 20 or more regions, 40 or more regions, etc.  
       FIGS. 3A-3D  individually illustrate the face  28 , back  30  and sides  32 ,  34  of the container  14 . As can be seen by  FIGS. 3A-3D , at least one of the face  28 , back  30  and sides  32 ,  34  is nearly or completely opaque due to covering portion  24 . In the illustrated example, referring particularly to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , back  30  and side  34  are nearly or completely covered by covering portion  24  of sleeve or wrap  22 . In some embodiments, however, back  30  and side  34  may not be nearly or completely covered by covering portion  24 . Referring to  FIGS. 3C and 3D , face  28  and side  32  each include covering portion  24  and viewing portion  26 . In some embodiments, viewing portion  26  of the face  28  may be about 70 percent or less (e.g., about 40 percent or less, about 30 percent or less, about 20 percent or less, about 10 percent or less, about 5 percent or less, between about 0.5 percent and about 70 percent, between about 0.5 percent and about 30 percent, between about 0.5 percent and about 20 percent) of the total surface area of the face while, for example, covering portion  24  covers the remaining surface area. In some embodiments, viewing portion  26  of the side  32  may be about 70 percent or less (e.g., about 40 percent or less, about 30 percent or less, about 20 percent or less, about 10 percent or less, about 5 percent or less, between about 0.5 percent and about 70 percent, between about 0.5 percent and about 30 percent, between about 0.5 percent and about 20 percent) of the total surface area of the side  32  while, for example, covering portion  24  covers the remaining surface area.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 4 , shrink sleeve or wrap  22  is shown removed from the container  14  after the sleeve or wrap  22  has been shrunk onto the container  14  in a flat, laid out state. As can be seen, a majority of the shrink sleeve or wrap  22  includes the covering portion  24  and a minority of the shrink sleeve includes the viewing portion  26 .  
      Viewing portion  26  is in the shape of an oval. Any other suitable shape may be used such as polygons (e.g., squares, rectangles, etc.), circles, irregular shapes, etc. Shapes in the form of objects may also be used.  
      Shrink sleeve or wrap  22  may be formed by any suitable material. Suitable materials include thermoplastics such as polyvinylchloride (PVC), low, medium or high density polyethylene (LDPE, MDPE, HDPE), modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) and oriented polypropylene (OPP), polystyrene (PS) and oriented polystyrene (OPS), and mixtures thereof.  
      Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , personal care composition  12  has visually distinct phases  52  and  54  that are viewable through the viewing portion  26  to form the visual indication area  20 . Visual indication area  20  can provide a consumer with an indication that the personal care composition  12  includes visually distinct phases.  
      In one aspect, the personal care composition  12  includes two or more phases forming the visually distinct phases  52 ,  54 . The first phase is in physical and/or intimate contact with the second phase. The first phase may be suspended or distributed within or along with the second phase in various patterns, such as, for example, striped, marbled, rectilinear, interrupted striped, check, mottled, veined, clustered, speckled, geometric, spotted, ribbons, helical, swirl, arrayed, variegated, textured, grooved, ridged, waved, sinusoidal, spiral, twisted, curved, cycle, streaks, striated, contoured, anisotropic, laced, weave or woven, basket weave, spotted and tessellated.  
      The two or more phases may be physically distinct as well as visually distinct. In one embodiment, the visually distinct phases may be of a different color, opacity or refractive index, thereby allowing the human eye to distinguish between the phases. In another aspect, one phase (or phases) may be visibly clear and the other phase (or phases) may be opaque or visibly not clear. In another aspect, an outer phase (i.e., the phase contacting the inner wall of the container) may be clear such that an inner phase (or phases) may be seen through the outer phase.  
      The composition  12  may include visually distinct phases or phases using dyes, pigments, pearlescent agents, lakes, colorants or mixtures thereof. Colorants useful according to the present invention may include, for example, Red 30 Low Iron, FD&amp;C Red 40 AL Lake, D&amp;C Red Lake Blend of Lake 27 &amp; Lake 30, FD&amp;C Yellow 5 Al Lake, FD&amp;C Yellow 6 Al Lake, FD&amp;C Yellow 5 Lake, FD&amp;C Blue #1 AL Lake, Kowet Titanium Dioxide, D&amp;C Red 30 Talc Lake, D&amp;C Red 6 Barium Lake, D&amp;C Red 7 Calcium Lake, D&amp;C Red 34 Calcium Lake, D&amp;C Red 30! AL lake, D&amp;C Red 27 AL lake, D&amp;C Yellow 10 AL lake, D&amp;C Red 21 AL Lake, Yellow Iron Oxide, D&amp;C Red 30 Lake, Octocir Yellow 6 AL Lake, Octocir Yellow 5 AL Lake, D&amp;C Red 28 Lake, D&amp;C Orange 5 Zirc Al Lake, Cos Red Oxide BC, Cos Iron Oxide Red BC, Cos Iron oxide Black BC, Cos Iron Oxide Yellow, Cos Iron Oxide Brown, Cos Iron Oxide Yellow BC, Euroxide Red Unsteril, Euroxide Black Unsteril, Euroxide Yellow Steril, Euroxide Black Steril, Euroxide Red, Euroxide Black, Hydrophobic Euroxide Black, Hydrophobic Euroxide Yellow, Hydrophobic Euroxide Red, D&amp;C Yellow 6 Lake, D&amp;C Yellow 5 Zr Lake and mixtures thereof.  
      The personal care composition  12  may include, but are not limited to, shampoo, conditioner, antiperspirant, deodorant, hair styling products, cleansers, soaps, bodywash, cosmetics, foundations, lotions, creams, ointments, and hydro-alcoholic solutions. The phases may be one or a combination of a cleansing phase, a conditioning phase, a benefit phase, or the like. Further, one or more of the phases may also comprise additional components such as conditioning agents such as hydrolyzed collagen with trade name Peptein 2000 available from Hormel, water soluble and water insoluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, biotin, vitamin E with trade name Emix-d available from Eisai, panthenol available from Roche, pantothenic acid, panthenyl ethyl ether available from Roche, and their derivatives; hydrolyzed keratin, proteins, plant extracts, and nutrients; emollients such as PPG-3 myristyl ether with trade name Varonic APM available from Goldschmidt, Trimethyl pentanol hydroxyethyl ether, PPG-11 stearyl ether with trade name Varonic APS available from Goldschmidt, Stearyl heptanoate with trade name Tegosoft SH available from Goldschmidt, Lactil (mixture of Sodium lactate, Sodium PCA, Glycine, Fructose, Urea, Niacinamide, Glucosamine, Inositol, Sodium Benzoate, and Lactic acid) available from Goldschmidt, Sodium lactate, Sodium PCA, Glycine, Fructose, Urea, Niacinamide, Glucosamine, Inositol, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic acid, Ethyl hexyl palmitate with trade name Saracos available from Nishin Seiyu and with tradename Tegosoft OP available from Goldschmidt; hair-fixative polymers such as amphoteric fixative polymers, cationic fixative polymers, anionic fixative polymers, nonionic fixative polymers, and silicone grafted copolymers; preservatives such as benzyl alcohol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben and imidazolidinyl urea; pH adjusting a gents, such as citric acid, sodium citrate, succinic acid, phosphoric acid, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate; salts, in general, such as potassium acetate and sodium chloride; coloring agents, such as any of the FD&amp;C or D&amp;C dyes, oxidative dyes and interference pigments; hair oxidizing (bleaching) agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, perborate and persulfate salts, carbonate; hair reducing agents such as the thioglycolates; perfumes; and sequestering agents, such as disodium ethylenediamine tetra-acetate; ultraviolet and infrared screening and absorbing agents such as octyl salicylate; antimicrobial agents; suspending agents; viscosity modifiers; nonvolatile solvents or diluents (water soluble and insoluble), pearlescent aids, foam boosters, additional surfactants or nonionic cosurfactants, pediculocides, chelants, skin active agents, sunscreens, UV absorbers, and, water soluble and insoluble amino acids such as asparagine, alanin, indole, glutamic acid, tyrosine, tr! yptamine, and their salts; and antidandruff agents such as zinc pyrithione, pyridinethione salts, azoles, climbazole, octopirox, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, particulate sulfur and mixtures thereof.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 5-7  various visual indication area  20  placements are illustrated. Viewing portion  26  placement and size can allow for selective viewing of the visually distinct phases  52  and  54 , while inhibiting viewing of regions of the composition  12  where mixing may have occurred (e.g., due to shipping, handling, dispensing, etc.). This can be accomplished by locating the viewing portion  26  at a location where there is a lower probability of region or phase mixing. Additionally, in some embodiments, the placement of the visual indication area  20  can allow for viewing of the personal care composition  12  with the container  14  in different orientations, for example, facing forward with face  28  oriented toward the consumer and sideways with the side  32  facing toward the consumer.  
       FIG. 5  shows an embodiment where the visual indication area  20  is located in quadrant  48  and overlapping the lateral centerline  40 . Viewing portion  26  formed by sleeve or wrap  22  has a relatively circular contour and is sized to allow for viewing of the visually distinct phases  52  and  54 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , the visual indication area  20  may be located in multiple quadrants  42 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 . Viewing portion  26  has a relatively oval contour that extends over lateral centerline  40  to locate the visual indication area  20  in quadrants  46  and  50 . While  FIGS. 5 and 6  show visual indication areas that extend along the face  28  and the side  32 ,  FIG. 7  shows an embodiment having a visual indication area  20  that is disposed entirely on face  28 . Other configurations are possible. In some embodiments, visual indication area  20  may be located at any or all of face  28 , back  30 , and sides  32 ,  34 .  
      While a shrink sleeve or wrap  22  is described above, any other suitable sleeves, wraps, etc. can be utilized. The sleeve or wrap may be formed of any suitable material such as paper (e.g., weighted paper), cardboard, foil, corrugated board, carton, or thermoplastic. Paper or cardboard can allow the total weight of plastic in the container  14  to be minimized and allow the sleeve to be easily separated from the container, whereas a plastic sleeve may eliminate any need to separate the sleeve from the container prior to recycling.  
      The sleeve or wrap may be wrapped around the container and glued into position or the sleeve or wrap may have an adhesive backing suitable to adhere the wrap or sleeve to the container. As noted above, the sleeve may be fixed by heat shrinking or stretch wrapping. In the instances where heat shrinking is utilized, the viewing portion  26  should be sized and arranged such that after the sleeve has been shrunk, the viewing portion allows for viewing of the visually distinct phases as described above. Preferably, the sleeve or wrap covers at least about 30 percent of the outer surface of the container, such as at least about 50 percent, such as at least about 70 percent, such as at least about 80 percent of the outer surface of the container.  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , other container types and shapes may include the visual indication area  20 .  FIG. 8  shows a round bottle  60  having a top  62 , a base  64  and a cylindrical body  66 . Visual indication area  20  is disposed on the body  66  between the top  62  and the base  64 . Visual indication area  20  can be formed as described above using transparent cylindrical body  66 , sleeve or wrap  22 , viewing portion  26  and covering portion  24 . Other exemplary container types include cartons, tubes, flexible packaging, jars, compacts, multi-component assemblies (e.g., deodorants, multi-chamber packages), positive displacement pumps, pressurized canisters, blister packs, etc.  
      As an alternative to viewing portion  26  that allows for viewing of composition  12  through transparent body  66 , referring to  FIG. 9 , a product may include a visual indication area  70  that is formed using a preprinted film  72 . In some embodiments, the visual indication area  70  may be formed by a preprinted portion  78  of the sleeve or wrap  22  that includes preprinted and visually distinct phases  74  and  76 . The preprinted portion  78  may be semi-transparent or opaque. As another alternative, visual indication area  70  may be formed using the container itself, for example, without use of any sleeve or wrap. In these embodiments, only a portion of the receptacle part  18  or body  66  may be transparent to provide viewing portion  26  and allow for viewing of the composition disposed therein while other portions of the receptacle part  18  or body  66  are opaque or translucent to provide the covering portion  24 .  
      All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written 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.