Patent Publication Number: US-2007102320-A1

Title: Complementary package

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to a complementary package. More particularly, the invention is directed to a complementary package, like a bottle, that has at least one side that is complementary to a side of an adjacent package, regardless if both packages are right side up, upside down, or in any combination thereof. The package of this invention creates a puzzle-like appearance when displayed in a group and is very attractive to consumers shopping for products contained therein.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Packages, like bottles, and especially transparent bottles, are used to present to the consumer a variety of household products, especially food products. Manufacturers of such bottles, for example, often attempt to improve gripping means of the bottles to ensure that the bottles do not fall out of the consumers&#39; hands during use. Also, manufacturers of bottles often concentrate on product evacuation from the bottle so that product is not wasted at the time the bottle is discarded or recycled.  
      Other manufacturers focus on marketing techniques for individual packages. For example, individual bottles have been shaped like animals, cartoon characters and drinking glasses so that they may be used and/or displayed after being emptied.  
      Labeling is also another means for enhancing the marketing appeal of packages. Unfortunately, however, marketers typically focus on package labels individually, and such labeling has a limited impact on catching consumer attention.  
      It is of increasing interest to develop a packaging system that will be exceptionally attractive to customers, regardless of the labeling type. This invention, therefore, is directed to a package that has at least one side that is complementary to a side of an adjacent package, regardless if both packages are right side up, upside down, or in any combination thereof. The package of this invention creates a puzzle-like appearance when displayed in a group, is very attractive and catches a consumer&#39;s attention when products are packaged therein.  
     ADDITIONAL INFORMATION  
      Efforts have been disclosed for making packages. In U.S. Pat. Nos. DES 416,199, DES 507,748, 3,537,498, 5,156,285 and 5,350,078, bottles suitable for gripping are disclosed.  
      Other efforts have been disclosed for making packages. In U.S. Application, Publication Nos. 2003/0031851 A1 and 2003/0075521 A1, bottles for consumer products are described.  
      Still other efforts have been disclosed for making packages. In U.S. Application Publication No. 2004/0232023 A1, an asymmetric package that creates an illusion of animation is described.  
      None of the additional information above describes a package comprising at least one side that is complimentary to a side on another package sitting adjacent thereto.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a package comprising at least one side that is suitable to be complementary with a side on an adjacent (or juxtaposed) package, regardless if the package and the adjacent package are both upside down, right side up or in any combination thereof.  
      In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for marketing products with a group of packages comprising the package described in the first aspect of this invention.  
      Package, as used herein, is defined to mean a container suitable to contain consumer products whereby such a container is not limited to any shape or size and can comprise, for example, metal, glass, plastic, wood or paperboard, with the proviso that the package does not have 100% of its corners at right angles. Complementary, as used herein, means an item having a curve or portion that completes or contributes to another curve or portion (on an item adjacent thereto), resulting in a group of items that appear to be puzzle-like in appearance when each member of the group is placed side by side. Puzzle-like means having complementary convex and concave portions, and does not require physically interlocking portions.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:  
      FIGS.  1  depicts illustrative packaging suitable for use in this invention and displayed right side up;  
       FIGS. 2 and 3  depict groups of illustrative packaging suitable for use in this invention displayed right side up and upside down, and upside down, respectively; and  
       FIG. 4  depicts groups of illustrative packaging suitable for use in this invention having a random and complementary display pattern. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      There is no limitation with respect to the type of package that may be used in this invention other than that the package is one which is suitable to contain a consumer product, and especially, a food product. Such a package typically comprises metal, glass, paperboard or plastic. In a preferred embodiment, however, the package of the present invention is a squeezable plastic comprising polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, ethylene-vinyl alcohol, combinations thereof, or the like. In an especially preferred embodiment, the package of the present invention is a bottle comprising polypropylene wherein the bottle is equipped with a cap suitable for a squeeze bottle and is able to stand right side up and upside down. In yet another especially preferred embodiment, the package of this invention comprises at least two sides that are complementary and opposite each other, and therefore, when adjacent to a package that is substantially the same, and preferably identical, the package of this invention will complement a concave or convex portion of an adjacent package positioned, for example, to its right and left.  
      The consumer products suitable for use with the package of this invention include hair care products, skin care products, soap, detergents, beverages and food products. The preferred products suitable for use with the package of this invention are food products like mayonnaise, tartar sauce, salad dressings, cheese condiments, mustard, ketchup, relish, margarine and dipping sauces. The most preferred products suitable for use in this invention are food products made commercially available by Unilever under the Hellmann&#39;s® and/or Knorr® brand names.  
      As to any labeling that may be employed with the package of this invention, it is particularly noted that there is no limitation with respect to how the label is applied to the package other than that the label can withstand package shipping conditions and not contaminate any consumer product compositions present within the package. Illustrative and non-limiting examples of the type of label that may be used/applied in this invention include those which are shrink-wrapped, etched on, painted on, glued on with an adhesive or impregnated within the material used to make the package (which is preferably at least translucent, and most preferably, transparent).  
      Typically, at least 30% of the total area of the visual external surface of the package of this invention is covered with label, and preferably, from about 40% to about 60%, and most preferably, from about 65% to about 90%, including all ranges subsumed therein. In an especially preferred embodiment, the label used is a shrink-wrap label.  
      Turning to the Figures,  FIG. 1  shows illustrative (label free) packaging suitable for use in this invention and in the form of two complementary bottles  10   a  and  10   b . For illustrative purposes only, the complementary bottles  10   a  and  10   b  (which preferably are identical) are both shown standing right side up and resting on their bottoms  10   a   1  and  10   b   1 , respectively, whereby complementary bottle  10   a  has a front surface  10   a   3 , a back surface  10   a   5 , and preferably, a cap  10   a   7 , and complementary bottle  10   b  has a front surface  10   b   3 , a back surface  10   b   5 , and preferably, a cap  10   b   7 .  
      Joint  12  is formed by right side up convex surface  14  on complementary bottle  10   a  and right side up concave surface  16  on complementary bottle  10   b .  
      Turning to  FIG. 2 , shown are complementary bottles  10   a  and  10   b  with complementary bottle  10   a  resting on its bottom  10   a   1  and complementary bottle  10   b  resting on its cap  10   b   7 . Front surface  10   a   3  is positioned as described in  FIG. 1 ; however, front surface  10   b   3  as shown in  FIG. 2  is reversed (i.e., occupying the position of back surface  10   b   5  of  FIG. 1 ) and inverted on bottle  10   b .  
      Joint  12 ′ is formed by right side up convex surface  14  of complementary bottle  10   a  and upside down concave surface  16 ′ on complementary bottle  10   b  (which also comprises an upside down convex surface  14 ′). It is within the scope of this invention for two complementary packages such as bottles  10   a   1  and  10   b   1  to be side-by-side and upside down so that the bottles are adjacent and preferably resting on their respective caps  10   a   7  and  10   b   7  to create a joint consisting of two inverted surfaces (demonstrated in  FIG. 3  at Joint  12 ″).  
      Turning to  FIG. 4 , shown are groups of illustrative packaging  18  and  18 ′ as described in this invention. Row A shows complementary packages illustrated as bottles in a two up, two down arrangement. The bottles in the arrangement have convex and concave portions shown as x (right side up convex, corresponding to  14 ); v (right side up and concave, corresponding to  16 ); x′ (upside down and convex, corresponding to  14 ′) and v′ (upside down and concave, corresponding to  16 ′), and therefore, at least two complementary portions. Joints I, II, III and IV are created by making combinations of the convex and concave portions. It is particularly noted that row A begins with right side up and convex portion x, and therefore, back surfaces  10   a   5  and  10   b   5  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) are now depicted facing forward, demonstrating that the packages of this invention can at least be rotated 180° in either direction to create joints and a puzzle-like appearance.  
      Row B shows complementary packages illustrated as bottles in a one up, one down arrangement. The row begins with a right side up concave portion v and joints I and III are created by making combinations of the convex and concave portions. It should be understood that (as it relates to the bottles) the front left L of row A is the back right R in row B and the front right r in row A is the back left L in row B.  
      Looking at groups  18  and  18 ′, a puzzle-like appearance (which is attractive to consumers) is created, for example, by aligning at least one complementary portion of one package with at least one complementary portion of another package, placed adjacent thereto whereby convex and concave portions align to form joints.  
      As to any labels which may be used in this invention, such labels become part of or are applied on to the packages in preferably the same manner or orientation, meaning that the top of the label and the bottom of label on each package is essentially in the same place regardless if the package is right side up or upside down (depicted in Z of  FIG. 4 ). Moreover, if desired, the labels employed on each individual package can optionally be complementary (or continuing) to each other as shown in row A and at connective portions t and t′. A more detailed description of complementary or continuing labels is described in commonly owned U.S. Application Docket No. F6217(V), entitled, “Packaging with Continuing Labels,” to van der Krogt et al, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Another alternative is for the labels employed to be independent of each other as shown in row B. Labeling to the sides and backs of the packages of this invention is not typically required, but is often desired so that consumer nutritional information and additional advertising techniques may be employed in order for marketers to take full advantage of the limited surface area of the packages described herein.