阅读说明：本技术 具有平坦面板的柔性包装 (Flexible package with flat panels ) 是由 休·约瑟夫·奥唐奈 爱德华·丹尼尔·泰斯三世 于 2018-05-24 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明公开了具有加固区域和平坦面板的柔性包装。(The invention discloses a flexible package having a reinforced area and a flat panel.)

1. A flexible package for retail consumer products, characterized in that the package comprises:

a first panel made of one or more flexible materials, being substantially planar, and comprising a first printed reinforced area formed from ink having an overall height of 40-5000 microns and having a first side disposed along a first inside edge of the first panel;

a second panel made of the one or more flexible materials, being generally planar, disposed at an angle relative to the first panel, and comprising a printed second reinforced area formed from ink having an overall height of 40-5000 microns and having a second side disposed along a second inboard edge of the second panel; and

rounded edges made of the one or more flexible materials, disposed between the reinforced areas, and 75% to 100% free of reinforcing elements.

2. The flexible package of claim 1, wherein each of the panels is substantially flat.

3. The flexible package of claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the reinforced areas is 50% to 100% continuous.

4. The flexible package of any of claims 1-3, wherein the first side portion is substantially straight.

5. The flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second side portion is substantially straight.

6. The flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the side portions are parallel to within 10 degrees.

7. The flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein 90% to 100% of the rounded edges are free of reinforcing elements.

8. The flexible package of any of claims 1-7, wherein the rounded edges form a continuous curve between the panels.

9. The flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the reinforced area is disposed inside the one or more flexible materials.

10. The flexible package of any of claims 1-8, wherein the reinforced region is disposed exterior to the one or more flexible materials.

11. The flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first printed reinforcing area has a side portion disposed along at least 50% of the perimeter.

12. The flexible package of claim 12, wherein a side of the reinforced area is disposed along at least 70% of a perimeter of the panel.

13. The flexible package of claim 12, wherein the sides of the reinforced area are disposed along the entire perimeter of the panel.

14. The flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the first printed reinforcing area covers 15% to 35% of the first panel.

15. The flexible package of any of claims 1-14, comprising one or more graphics disposed on the first panel.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to flexible packages and, more particularly, to flexible packages having flat panels.

Background

Packaging for consumer products typically has exterior artwork including graphics (such as images and brands). However, effective display of such graphics presents certain challenges. Flexible packaging uses less material and is less expensive, but tends to wrinkle, which can result in the artwork on the packaging having a poor appearance.

Drawings

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a flexible package with reinforced areas having straight edges.

Figure 2 shows an isometric view of a flexible package with reinforced areas having non-linear edges.

Figure 3 shows an isometric view of a flexible package with an internal reinforced area.

Detailed Description

The flexible packages of the present disclosure include reinforced areas that at least help to reduce the magnitude and frequency of wrinkles in the flexible material and improve the flatness of the package panels so that the packages have an improved appearance.

Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of a flexible package 100 having an overall shape similar to a cuboid, standing on a horizontal support surface (not shown). The package 100 includes a first panel 101, a second panel 102, and a third panel 103.

The first panel 101 is made of one or more flexible materials, forms one side of the package 100, and is substantially flat. The panel 101 has an overall shape similar to a square and includes a plurality of outer edges that together form the perimeter of the panel 101. The reinforced area 111 is disposed on an exterior of the panel 101, wherein an outer extent of the reinforced area 111 coincides with the perimeter. Reinforced area 111 has a first side 111-1, a second side 111-2, a third side 111-3, and a fourth side 111-4. Each side of the reinforced area 111 is continuous and straight, and the shape of the reinforced area resembles a square. The exterior of the panel 101 also includes graphics, which are brands 191 disposed on the portion of the panel 101 surrounded by the reinforced area 111.

The presence and location of the reinforced region 111 increases the stiffness of the first panel 101 and at least helps control the shape of the one or more flexible materials forming the first panel 101. In particular, the reinforced areas 111 reduce buckling and/or wrinkling in the flexible material or materials, more clearly define the overall shape of the first panel 101 (in accordance with its design), and help to improve the flatness on the outside surface of the package 100. Therefore, the first panel 101 has a better appearance, and the brand 191 on the reinforcement area 111 is more easily recognized. These same benefits may be similarly achieved on other panels of flexible material having reinforced areas, such as the second panel 102 and the third panel 103.

The second panel 102 is made of one or more flexible materials, forms the other side of the package 100, is square and substantially flat, and has a square continuous reinforced area 112 with four straight sides 112-1, 112-2, 112-3 and 112-4 disposed on the exterior thereof around its entire perimeter, with the graphics being information 192 disposed on the portion of the panel 102 surrounded by the reinforced area 112. The reinforced area 112 provides increased stiffness and control over the one or more flexible materials such that the second panel 102 has a better appearance and the information 192 on the reinforced area 112 is more easily understood.

The third panel 103 is made of one or more flexible materials, forms the top of the package 100, is square and substantially flat, and has a square continuous reinforced area 113 with four straight sides 113-1, 113-2, 113-3, and 113-4 disposed on the exterior thereof around its entire perimeter, with the graphics being logos 193 disposed on the portion of the panel 103 surrounded by the reinforced area 113. The reinforced area 113 provides increased stiffness and control of the one or more flexible materials such that the third panel 103 has a better appearance and the logo 193 on the reinforced area 113 is more easily perceived.

The first panel 101 and the second panel 102 are disposed on adjacent sides of the package 100 such that the first panel 101 and the second panel 102 are angled with respect to each other. On the first panel 101, the vertically oriented side 111-3 (of the reinforced area 111) closest to the second panel 102 is disposed along the inside edge of the first panel 101. On the second panel 102, the vertically oriented side 112-1 (of the reinforced area 112) closest to the first panel 101 is disposed along the inside edge of the second panel 102. These side portions 111-3 and 112-1, which are disposed along the inner side edges, are parallel to each other.

Between sides 111-3 and 112-1 is a first radiused edge 121 that is made from one or more flexible materials. The first rounded edge 121 is free of any reinforcing elements (e.g., reinforcing lines, reinforcing areas). Since the first rounded edge 121 is free of any stiffening elements, the one or more flexible materials are allowed to bend around the angle between the first panel 101 and the second panel 102 without being resisted by a rigid structure. Thus, the first rounded edge 121 has an overall shape that is continuously curved between the first panel 101 and the second panel 102. The one or more flexible materials of the first rounded edge 121 may have a smooth surface even when bent at a relatively small radius. Thus, the first rounded edge 121 is attractive and well defined. These same benefits may be similarly achieved on other radiused edges of the flexible material that do not include a stiffening element, such as the second radiused edge 122 and the third radiused edge 123.

The second panel 102 and the third panel 103 are disposed on adjacent faces of the package 100 and are angled with respect to each other, with the closest sides 112-2 and 113-3 (of their respective reinforced areas 112 and 113) being parallel to each other and with a second radiused edge 122 disposed therebetween, wherein the second radiused edge 122 is free of reinforcing elements, such that the second radiused edge 122 is attractive and well defined.

The first panel 101 and the third panel 103 are disposed on adjacent faces of the package 100 and are angled with respect to each other, with the closest sides 111-2 and 113-4 (of their respective reinforced regions 111 and 113) being parallel to each other and with a third rounded edge 123 disposed therebetween, wherein the third rounded edge 123 is free of reinforcing elements, such that the third rounded edge 123 is attractive and well defined.

The first rounded edge 121, the second rounded edge 122, and the third rounded edge 123 all come together at a rounded corner 129, which is the apex on the overall rectangular parallelepiped shape of the package 100. The corner 129 is disposed between corners of the first panel 101, the second panel 102, and the third panel 103, and is shown as an area surrounded by a dotted line in fig. 1. The rounded corners 129 do not contain any reinforcing elements. Because the rounded corners 129 are free of any stiffening elements, the one or more flexible materials are allowed to bend around the angle between the first panel 101, the second panel 102, and the third panel 103 without being resisted by a rigid structure. Accordingly, the rounded corners 129 have an overall shape that is continuously curved between the first panel 101, the second panel 102, and the third panel 103. The one or more flexible materials of the rounded corners 129 may have a smooth surface even when bent at relatively small radii. Thus, the rounded corners 129 are attractive and well defined. These same benefits can be similarly achieved on other rounded corners of the flexible material that do not include the stiffening element.

Fig. 2 shows an isometric view of a flexible package 200 that is identical to the flexible package 100, wherein the elements of fig. 2 are configured in the same manner as similarly numbered elements of fig. 1, except as described below. Each of the consolidated areas 211, 212, and 213 has non-linear sides (211-1 to 213-4), but has substantially the same position and overall orientation (respectively) as the corresponding consolidated areas of fig. 1. Although the sides of the consolidated areas 211, 212, and 213 are not straight, the general orientation of those sides is parallel to each other (with each general orientation taken linearly from end-to-end) for the closest consolidated areas on adjacent panels. Thus, the panels 201, 202 and 203 experience the same benefits as the panels of fig. 1, the rounded edges 221, 222 and 223 experience the same benefits as the rounded edges of fig. 1, and the rounded corners 229 experience the same benefits as the rounded corners of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows an isometric view of a flexible package 300 that is identical to the flexible package 100, wherein the elements of fig. 3 are configured in the same manner as similarly numbered elements of fig. 1, except as described below. Each of the consolidated areas 311, 312, and 313 is disposed inside its panel 301, 302, and 303, but otherwise has the same position and orientation (respectively) as the corresponding consolidated area of fig. 1. Thus, the panels 301, 302, and 303 experience the same benefits as the panels of fig. 1, the rounded edges 321, 322, and 323 experience the same benefits as the rounded edges of fig. 1, and the rounded corners 329 experience the same benefits as the rounded corners of fig. 1.

Any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be created and/or modified according to any of the following in any feasible combination. The flexible package can have any size, shape, or configuration, including any number of panels, disposed at any relative angle from 1 degree to 180 degrees (where for 180 degrees the panels are parallel to each other, disposed on opposite sides of the package), and configured in accordance with any embodiment of the panels disclosed herein. Any panel may have any size, shape, or configuration, and may be made of one or more of any of the flexible materials disclosed herein or known in the art. A portion, or all of any panel may have varying degrees of flatness, and may be generally flat, nearly flat, substantially flat, nearly flat, or completely flat, as defined and described herein. According to any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the flexible package may include any number of panels configured in the same manner, or in a similar manner or in a different manner.

Any of the reinforced regions may be formed in any manner described herein or known in the art. Any of the reinforced regions may be made of one or more curable coatings comprising a photopolymer, such as a mixture of monomers, oligomers, and/or photoinitiators; common forms include acrylates and silicones; as is known in the art, such photopolymers can be cured to a hardened state by exposure to heat and/or light (visible and/or ultraviolet). In various embodiments, any of the reinforced regions can be made of various polymers (such as thermoplastics and/or thermosets). Any of the reinforced regions may be provided on the flexible material by any suitable process, such as: gravure, ink jet, screen and flexographic printing; these processes may also be used to impart a smooth outer surface or a rough/textured outer surface to the consolidated area. Any reinforced areas may be provided directly or indirectly (e.g., provided on a printed label or on an overwrap applied to the flexible package) on the flexible material.

A portion, or all, or any of the reinforced areas may have any of the sizes and/or shapes described herein or known in the art. A portion, or all of the reinforced areas may have an overall height of 40 to 5000 microns, or any integer value of 40 to 5000 microns, or any range formed by any of these values, such as 40-4000 microns, 1000-.

The sides of the reinforced areas disposed along the inside edges of adjacent panels may be parallel or non-parallel to each other. By way of example, the sides may have any relative orientation from parallel by 30 degrees to perfectly parallel, or any integer value of degrees from 1 degree to 30 degrees, or any range of parallel differences formed by any of these values, such as parallel within 20 degrees, parallel within 10 degrees, or parallel within 5 degrees.

The reinforced areas may be provided in various ways and to varying degrees on a panel made of one or more flexible materials as described herein. The sides of the reinforced area may be disposed on the panel along 50% to 100% of the perimeter of the panel, or any integer value of a percentage between 50 and 100, such as 60% to 100%, 70% to 100%, 80% to 100%, or 90% to 100%. The sides of the reinforced area may be disposed along the entire perimeter of the panel. The reinforcing areas provided on the panel may cover 15% to 100% of the total surface area of the panel, or any integer value of a percentage between 15 and 100, such as 15% to 35%, or 20% to 30%.

For any portion of the flexible package described as being free of stiffening elements, in various alternative embodiments, some finite presence of stiffening elements may be included on that portion, as described below. Such portions may include: a portion, a plurality of portions, or all of the radiused edge between the panels and/or a portion, a plurality of portions, or all of the radiused edge between the panels. One or more reinforcement lines/regions may be provided on such portions as long as 75% to 100% of such portions are free of reinforcement elements, or any integer value of a percentage between 75 and 100, such as 80% to 100% free, 85% to 100% free, 90% to 100% free, or 95% to 100% free. Such portions may also be completely free of any reinforcing elements (e.g., reinforcing lines, reinforcing areas).

Definition of

As used herein, the term "about," when modifying a particular value, refers to a range equal to the particular value plus or minus twenty percent (+/-20%). For any of the embodiments disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value can also be understood to be approximately equal to the disclosed range of that particular value (i.e., +/-20%) in various alternative embodiments. As used herein, the phrase "substantially straight" when referring to the straightness of the sides of the reinforced area means that, when the reinforced area is removed from the package (as defined herein) and laid flat on a clean, smooth, flat horizontal surface (e.g., a table top), the entire side fits between two flat parallel lines, separated by a distance equal to 20% of the overall length of the side. As used herein, the phrase "substantially flat," when the term "substantially" refers to the flatness of the panels, means that, when the panels are part of a package configured for retail sale and otherwise are not distorted, the panels fit between two parallel planes separated by a separation distance equal to the average overall thickness of the panels plus 20 millimeters.

As used herein, the term "about" when modifying a particular value refers to a range equal to the particular value plus or minus fifteen percent (+/-15%). For any of the embodiments disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value can also be understood to be approximately equal to the disclosed range for that particular value (i.e., +/-15%) in various alternative embodiments. As used herein, the phrase "approximately straight" when the term "approximately" refers to the straightness of the sides of the reinforced area means that, when the reinforced area is removed from the package (as defined herein) and laid flat on a clean, smooth, flat horizontal surface (such as a table top), the entire side fits between two flat parallel lines, separated by a separation distance equal to 15% of the overall length of the side. As used herein, the phrase "approximately flat," when the term "approximately" refers to the flatness of the panels, means that, when the panels are part of a package configured for retail sale and otherwise are not distorted, the panels fit between two parallel planes separated by a separation distance equal to the average overall thickness of the panels plus 15 millimeters.

As used herein, the term "flexible package" refers to a package in which one or more flexible materials form 50% to 100%, or any integer value of a percentage of 50 to 100, or any range formed by any of these values, of the total mass of the package, such as 50% to 88%, 50% to 80%, 50% to 70%, 50% to 63%, 63% to 88%, 70% to 80%, 63% to 100%, 70% to 100%, 80% to 100%, or 88% to 100%.

As used herein, the term "flexible material" refers to a thin, easily deformable sheet-like material having a coefficient of flexibility in the range of 1,000 to 2,500,000N/m, or any integer value of N/m from 1,000 to 2,500,000, or any range formed by any of these values, such as 1,000 to 1,250,500N/m, 100,000 to 1,250,500N/m, 1,250,500 to 2,500,000N/m, and the like. Examples of materials that may be flexible materials include any one or more of the following: films (such as plastic films), elastomers, foamed sheets, foils, fabrics (including woven and non-woven), bio-sourced materials, and paper, in any configuration, as one or more individual materials, or as one or more layers of a laminate, or as one or more portions of a composite, in a microlayer or nanolayer structure, with or without one or more of any suitable additives (such as fragrances, dyes, pigments, particles, agents, actives, fillers, and the like) and in any combination, as described herein or as known in the art.

As used herein, the term "coefficient of flexibility" refers to a material parameter of a thin, easily deformable sheet-like material, where the parameter is measured in newtons per meter, and the coefficient of flexibility is equal to the product of the value of the young's modulus of the material (measured in pascals) and the value of the overall thickness of the material (measured in meters).

As used herein, the term "graphic" refers to a visual representation of an element intended to provide decoration or to convey information. Examples of graphics include any one or more of the following: colors, patterns, designs, images (e.g., photographs, drawings, or other renderings), characters, brands, logos, information, and so forth. For any of the embodiments disclosed herein (including any alternative embodiments), any surface of the package (including any one or more panels) can include one or more graphics of any size, shape, or configuration disclosed herein or known in the art in any combination.

As used herein, the term "similarly numbered" refers to a similar alphanumeric designation for corresponding elements, as described below. The designations of similarly numbered elements have the same last two digits; for example, one element having an identification ending with the numeral 20 and another element having an identification ending with the numeral 20 are numbered similarly. The identification of similarly numbered elements may have one or more different leading digits, where one or more of the leading digits match the numbering in the figures thereof; for example, the elements of FIG. 3 labeled 320 are numbered similarly to the elements of FIG. 4 labeled 420. The designations of like-numbered elements may have the same or possibly different suffixes (i.e., designations after the dashed line symbol), e.g., corresponding to particular embodiments; for example, a first embodiment of the elements in FIG. 3A, identified as 320-a, and a second embodiment of the elements in FIG. 3B, identified as 320-B, are numbered similarly.

As used herein, the term "reinforced area" refers to a physical structure disposed in or on a flexible material that has one or more sides defining its outer extent. A portion, part, or all of any reinforcing region may be of any convenient shape. The reinforced area may be formed from a plurality of reinforcing structures (e.g., printed matter) that may be integral or discontinuous, patterned or unpatterned over a portion, or all of the reinforced area. In various embodiments, 50% -100% of the consolidated area may be continuous (i.e., interconnected), or any integer value of percentage between 50 and 100 may be continuous, such as 50% -90%, 50% -80%, 50% -70%, or 50% -60%. The reinforced area may be disposed on an exterior of the flexible material on the outward facing surface of the package, or the reinforced area may be disposed on an interior of the flexible material on the inward facing surface of the package; when disposed within the interior of the flexible material, the reinforced region may be disposed within (e.g., embedded within) the flexible material; may be disposed between multiple flexible materials (e.g., laminates) attached over their faces; or may be disposed between multiple flexible materials that are not connected over their faces (e.g., disposed inside one flexible material, but outside another).

As used herein, the term "removed from the package" refers to the removal of the reinforced area from the flexible package according to the description in this paragraph. Removing comprises cutting (e.g., by using scissors) a continuous portion of the package comprising the reinforced area. The cut-out does not damage the part in any way and also does not deform the part in any way that would permanently distort its shape or limit its ability to lie flat. Removal entails complete separation of the continuous portion from the remainder of the package. The continuous portion of the package must include all of the reinforced area being measured. The continuous portion of the package must not include any structural features other than the reinforced areas and the one or more flexible materials. The flexible material within the continuous portion must not include any discontinuities from the packaging structure, such as folds, seams, seals, joints, weld lines, etc. The continuous portion must include a portion of the one or more flexible materials directly attached to the reinforced area and an adjoining portion of the one or more flexible materials surrounding the reinforced area. The peripheral portion must extend from the reinforced area by 5 to 20 mm in all directions, unless there is an obstacle (such as a structural feature or discontinuity in the film) less than 5 mm from the reinforced area, in which case the peripheral portion should be cut as close as possible to the obstacle, excluding any portion of the obstacle. The continuous portion must be cut so that the cut edge is clean, smooth and continuous, without any sharp corners, rough breaks or jagged edges. If during removal, a length of flexible material naturally separates (e.g., falls off) from the portion having the reinforced area, the separated length is discarded and not included in any measurement or evaluation of the reinforced area.

As used herein, the term "substantially" when modifying a particular value refers to a range equal to the particular value plus or minus five percent (+/-5%). For any of the embodiments disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value can also be understood to be approximately equal to the disclosed range for that particular value (i.e., +/-5%) in various alternative embodiments. As used herein, the phrase "nearly straight" when referring to the straightness of the sides of the reinforced area means that when the reinforced area is removed from the package (as defined herein) and laid flat on a clean, smooth, flat horizontal surface (such as a table top), the entire side fits between two flat parallel lines, separated by a separation distance equal to 5% of the overall length of the side. As used herein, the phrase "nearly flat" when referring to the flatness of the panels means that when the panels are part of a package configured for retail sale and are otherwise undistorted, the panels fit between two parallel planes separated by a separation distance equal to the average overall thickness of the panels plus 5 millimeters.

As used herein, the term "panel of flexible material" refers to a portion of the outer surface of a flexible package, wherein the portion is bounded by folds, curves, seams, and/or edges such that the bounded portion is configured to face substantially in a particular general direction. Any of the embodiments of the reinforced region may be disposed on one or more of any of the panels of any of the packages disclosed herein or known in the art, including the front panel, the rear panel, the side panels, the top panel, and the bottom panel.

As used herein, when referring to a package, the term "configured for retail sale" refers to a package that is fully manufactured and whose product space or product spaces are filled with product(s) and the package is fully closed and/or sealed and the package is in a condition to be purchased by an end user (e.g., a consumer) through any sales and/or distribution channel, wherein the package has not been opened or unsealed, and wherein the product(s) in the package are not put into their/their intended end use. Any of the packages disclosed herein (including any alternative embodiments) can be configured for retail sale.

As used herein, the term "substantially" when used in reference to a particular value refers to a range equal to the particular value plus or minus ten percent (+/-10%). For any of the embodiments disclosed herein, any disclosure of a particular value can also be understood to be approximately equal to the disclosed range for that particular value (i.e., +/-10%) in various alternative embodiments. As used herein, the phrase "substantially straight" when the term "substantially" refers to the flatness of the sides of the reinforced region means that, when the reinforced region is removed from the package (as defined herein) and laid flat on a clean, smooth, flat horizontal surface (e.g., a table top), the entire side fits between two flat parallel lines, separated by a separation distance equal to 10% of the overall length of the side. As used herein, the phrase "substantially flat," when the term "substantially" refers to the flatness of the panel, means that, when the panel is part of a package configured for retail sale and otherwise is not distorted, the panel fits between two parallel planes separated by a separation distance equal to the average overall thickness of the panel plus 10 millimeters.

The packages described herein may be used for a variety of products across a variety of industries. For example, any embodiment of a package as described herein can be used to receive, contain, store, and/or dispense any product in the consumer product industry. Although the present disclosure describes embodiments thereof with reference to consumer products, these embodiments may similarly be applied in other areas outside the area of consumer products.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Rather, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".

Each document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or patent application and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or its benefits, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with any disclosure of the invention or the claims herein or that it alone, or in combination with any one or more of the references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this 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.