PACKAGE CONTAINING WATER-SOLUBLE CAPSULES

Abstract

A package comprising at least one layer of biodegradable material and containing a plurality of unit dose products, at least one unit dose product comprising a detergent composition comprising hydrogenated castor oil within a sealed compartment formed by a water soluble film.

Claims

1. A package comprising at least one layer of biodegradable material and containing a plurality of unit dose products, at least one unit dose product comprising a detergent composition comprising hydrogenated castor oil within a sealed compartment formed by a water soluble film.

2. The package according to claim 1 comprising co-operating lid and base members.

3. The package according to claim 2 wherein the base comprises a leak resistant barrier material.

4. The package according to claim 2 wherein the lid comprises a moisture vapour transmission barrier.

5. The package according to claim 2 having a pair of opposing long walls, each long wall having a pressable zone which is pressed to engage a child proof locking mechanism and enable the lid and base to be separated.

6. The package according to claim 1 having an average width, an average length and an average height, wherein said average width is from 9 to 15 cm.

7. The package according to claim 1 comprising a lid which has a top sheet and two pairs of opposing walls attached thereto, and a base which has a bottom surface which has two pairs of opposing walls attached thereto.

8. The package according to claim 1 wherein the detergent composition comprises from 5 to 15% wt. water.

9. The package according to claim 1 wherein the capsule comprises a bittering agent.

10. The package according to claim 1 wherein the film comprises a phthalocyanine based pigment.

11. The package according to claim 1 wherein the package has base and lid members wherein the base member contains a paper-based layer with a weight average fibre length from 3 to 5 mm and the lid member contains a paper-based layer with a weight average fibre length from 1 to 5 mm.

Description

[0218] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting drawings in which:

[0219] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lid,

[0220] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base,

[0221] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a biodegradable package, and

[0222] FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation of a biodegradable package.

[0223] In detail, FIG. 1 shows a lid (1) for a biodegradable package. The lid comprises a top (2) and depending from each edge of the top (2) a top side wall (3). The shown side walls end at a bottom edge (4).

[0224] FIG. 2 shows a base (8) which has a bottom (7) and upstanding from the edges of the base (7) are base side walls (5) which end at a top edge (6).

[0225] Dimensionally, the lid (1) and base (8) are such that they slidingly co-operate to close the package and maintain the contents.

[0226] FIG. 3 is a cross section along A-A and shows a lid (1) and a base (8) engaged to close the package.

[0227] The package also has an absorbent pad (9) for improving the leak protection of the package. The pad (9) is maintained at the bottom of the package on the base and under any contents of the package. Any leakage from the unit dose capsules is thereby minimised or controlled by the absorbent pad (9).

[0228] The lid side walls (3) are shown to have an inner surface (3A) and an outer surface (3B). The outer surface (3B) is a bleached surface and has water-based barrier material coated thereto. The inner surface (3A) is an unbleached surface and does not have barrier material applied thereto.

[0229] The base side walls (5) are shown to have an inner surface (5A) and an outer surface (5B). The outer surface (5B) is an unbleached surface and does not have water-based barrier material coated thereto. The inner surface (5A) is a bleached surface and has barrier material applied thereto. The inner surface of the base (5B) also has a thermoplastic elastomer-based barrier material applied thereto.

[0230] FIG. 4 is a schematic to show the relationship between the dimensions of the lid and the child proof closure.

[0231] In side view, the width is the lid is shown to be 11 cm. This is the width at the point along the length that the user activates the child proof closure mechanism. The user uses fingers and thumb to activate the child proof mechanism activation zones (10) on either side of the lid. The actual mechanism is not shown but activation of the zone permits separation of the lid from the base as the user depresses the zones and pulls the lid away from the base.