PACKAGE CONTAINING WATER-SOLUBLE CAPSULES

Abstract

A container for unit dose liquid detergent products, said container comprising a lid and a base, wherein at least 50% of the lid and/or base comprise a biodegradable material, wherein said base and top are co-operable so as to form a closed container and which is openable to access the contents by pulling them apart, said lid and base comprising a barrier coating and optional adhesive for adhering the barrier coating to the lid and base, said container comprising a plurality of unit dosed detergent products and wherein said barrier coating and optional adhesive comprises from 0.1 to 5% wt. of the container in the absence of the unit dose detergent products.

Claims

1. A container for unit dose liquid detergent products, said container comprising a lid and a base, wherein at least 50% of the lid and/or base comprise a biodegradable material, wherein said base and top are co-operable so as to form a closed container and which is openable to access the contents by pulling them apart, said lid and base comprising a barrier coating and optional adhesive for adhering the barrier coating to the lid and base, said container containing a plurality of unit dosed detergent products and wherein said barrier coating and optional adhesive comprises from 0.1 to 5% wt. of the container without the unit dose detergent products.

2. The container according to claim 1 wherein the barrier coating comprises a water-based barrier coating.

3. The container according to claim 1 wherein the barrier coating comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

4. The container according to claim 1 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.

5. The container 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.

6. The container according to claim 1 wherein the lid has a top sheet and two pairs of opposing walls attached thereto, and the base has a bottom surface which has two pairs of opposing walls attached thereto.

7. The container according to claim 1 wherein the unit dose detergent products contain a detergent composition comprising from 5 to 15% wt. water.

8. The container according to claim 1 wherein the unit dose detergent products comprise a bittering agent.

9. The container according to claim 1 wherein the unit dose detergent products comprise a water-soluble film and wherein said film comprises a phthalocyanine based pigment.

10. The container according to claim 1 wherein the unit dose detergent products contain a detergent composition comprising a sequestrant.

11. The container according to claim 10 wherein the sequestrant is a phosphonic acid based sequestrant.

12. The container according to claim 10 wherein the sequestrant is 1-hydroxyethanediphosphonic acid (HEDP) and salts thereof; N,N-dicarboxymethyl-2-aminopentane-1,5-dioic acid and salts thereof; 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid and salts thereof; and any combination thereof.

Description

[0229] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting drawings in which:

[0230] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lid,

[0231] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base,

[0232] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a biodegradable package, and

[0233] FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation of a biodegradable package.

[0234] 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).

[0235] 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).

[0236] Dimensionally, the lid (1) and base (8) are such that they slidingly co-operate to close the package and maintain the contents.

[0237] FIG. 3 is a cross section along A-A and shows a lid (1) and a base (8) engaged to close the package.

[0238] 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).

[0239] 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.

[0240] 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.

[0241] FIG. 4 is a schematic to show the relationship between the dimensions of the lid and the child proof closure.

[0242] 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.

EXAMPLE 1

[0243] The water soluble capsules comprise laundry treatment compositions dispensed to each of the three compartments is as follows:

TABLE-US-00001 Compartment #1 Compartment #2 Side compartment #2 Surfactant Surfactants Surfactants Polymer cleaning Polymer cleaning Polymer cleaning Sequestrant Sequestrant Sequestrant Water Enzyme -cellulase Enzyme - protease Hydroptrope Fluorescer Water 8% wt. Opacifier Water 8% wt Hydrotrope Hydrotrope Dyes Dyes Perfume

[0244] The unit dosed products comprise water soluble film printed on the inside.

EXAMPLE 2

[0245] Further example formulations of unit dose products are provided below.

TABLE-US-00002 DESCRIPTION 1 2 Inclusion Inclusion level level Raw Material as 100% as 100% SURFACTANT LAS/SLES/NI ratio 58/30/12 47/0/53 LAS acid 25.20 21.22 SLES 3EO 13.00 MIPA-LES 2EO Non Ionic 7EO 5.60 23.50 Fatty acid/Oleic acid 6.60 8.64 HYDROTOPE Glycerol 7.70 13.10 Mono Propyl Glycerol 12.80 8.30 NEUTRALIZER/BUFFER MEA 10.50 6.50 WHITENESS AGENT CBS-CL 0.39 0.40 SALTS & SEQUESTRANTS & BUILDERS Dequest 2010 2.90 Dequest 2066 0.65 Citric Acid 0.70 Enzymes Mannanase (% as Mannaway 4L) 1.00 1.00 Cellulase (% as Celluclean4500T) 1.00 1.00 Protease (% as Savinase ultra 16L) 1.00 1.00 Amylase (% as Stainzyme 12L) 1.00 1.00

[0246] The unit dosed products comprise water soluble film printed on the inside.