Lid corner with internal layer cutout shape
12570430 ยท 2026-03-10
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B31B2100/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D5/443
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B31B50/28
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B31B2120/40
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B65D5/44
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B31B50/14
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B31B50/28
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D5/20
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
Disclosed here is a container that includes a box, a lid, and a lock.
Claims
1. A container, the container comprising a box, a lid for the box, and a lock to maintain the lid in a closed position, the box comprising a base, sidewalls and an opening opposite the base, the lid comprising a top and flanks, the top covering the opening and the flanks covering at least a portion of the sidewalls of the box when the lid is in the closed position, whereby the flanks comprise at least a first and a second flank, whereby the first and the second flanks intersect at a first corner segment along a corner direction normal to the top, the first corner segment comprising a first external layer folded along the corner direction and a first internal layer folded along the corner direction, whereby the first external layer and the first internal layer are cardboard or paperboard, whereby the first external layer overlaps the first internal layer at the first corner segment, whereby the first external layer is connected to the first internal layer along a first longitudinal fold line parallel to the first flank and along a second longitudinal fold line parallel to the second flank, the first and the second longitudinal fold lines defining respective distal ends of the first and second flank away from the top, whereby the first internal layer and the first external layer are attached to each other at least a point situated between the longitudinal fold lines and the top of the lid, whereby the first external layer is a continuous layer at the first corner segment and whereby the first internal layer comprises a first cutout shape at the first corner segment, whereby the first cutout shape is elongated along the first corner segment, whereby the first cutout shape terminates more than about 0.5 cm away from the first and second longitudinal fold lines, whereby the first cutout shape has a maximum total span, along the first and second flanks and in a plane parallel to the top, of at least about 0.3 mm, and whereby the first cutout shape has a length of less than about 90% and of more than about 10% of a height of the first internal layer along the first corner segment.
2. The container according to claim 1, whereby the first cutout shape comprises one or more of an apex or a vertex coinciding with the first corner segment.
3. The container according to claim 1, whereby the first cutout shape comprises one or more of an ellipse, an oval, a diamond, a half moon, an elongated bead, or a superposition of any of these.
4. The container according to claim 1, whereby the first cutout shape extends beyond a about 2 mm diameter profile.
5. The container according to claim 1, whereby the first external layer and the first internal layer comprise corrugated cardboard, the corrugated cardboard comprising flutes, the flutes running parallel to the corner direction.
6. The container according to claim 1, whereby the flanks comprise at least a third flank, whereby the second and the third flanks intersect at a second corner segment along a direction parallel to the corner direction, the second corner segment comprising the first external layer folded along the direction parallel to the corner direction and the first internal layer folded along the direction parallel to the corner direction, whereby the first external layer overlaps the first internal layer at the second corner segment, whereby the first external layer is connected to the first internal layer along a third longitudinal fold line parallel to the third flank, the third longitudinal fold line defining a distal end of the third flank away from the top, whereby the first external layer is a continuous layer at the second corner segment and whereby the first internal layer comprises a second cutout shape at the second corner segment, whereby the second cutout shape is elongated along the second corner segment, whereby the second cutout shape terminates more than about 0.5 cm away from the second and third longitudinal fold lines, whereby the second cutout shape has a maximum total span, along the second and third flanks and in a plane parallel to the top, of at least about 0.3 mm, and whereby the second cutout shape has a length of less than about 90% and of more than about 10% of a height of the first internal layer along the second corner segment.
7. The container according to claim 1, whereby the first flank comprises a first major flap, a first major flap folding line connecting the first major flap to the top, whereby part of the first external layer is sandwiched between the first major flap and the first internal layer to form part of the first flank.
8. The container according to claim 1, whereby the top of the lid is rectangular, whereby the second flank is longer than the first flank, and whereby the lid is symmetrical along a plane parallel to the second flank.
9. The container according to claim 1, whereby the first internal layer forms an abutment tab of the lock.
10. The container according to claim 1, whereby the first internal layer is shorter than the first external layer along a direction parallel to the corner direction in at least a specific portion of the second flank.
11. The container according to claim 1, whereby the first internal layer and the first external layer are attached to each other at least two points situated between the longitudinal fold lines and the top of the lid, whereby the first corner segment is between the at least two points.
12. The container according to claim 1, whereby the first internal layer has a same height as the first external layer along a direction parallel to the corner direction in at least a first portion of the first flank.
13. A consumer product comprising a detergent product and a container according to claim 1, whereby the box comprises the detergent product.
14. A method for manufacturing a container according to claim 12, the method comprising, in this order: cutting, using a cutting rule of a die, the first cutout shape into the first internal layer; piercing, using one or more pins, a cutout material corresponding to the cutting of the first cutout shape; entirely removing, using the one or more pins, the cutout material from the first internal layer; folding the first external layer and the first internal layer onto each other along the first and the second longitudinal fold lines, whereby the first and the second longitudinal fold lines are aligned during the folding; attaching the first external layer and the first internal layer onto each other; and forming the first corner segment by folding, along the corner direction, the attached first external layer and first internal layer, whereby the first internal layer is nested into the first external layer by the folding.
15. The method according to claim 14 for manufacturing a container according to claim 12, whereby the forming of the first corner segment takes place around a removable mandrel inserted along the first portion of the first flank.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(12) A lid is an important structural element of a container. This disclosure focuses on providing a container having a lid which may reliably get manufactured and may maintain its structural integrity over time. More specifically, lid corners are likely to be subjected to shocks or to tensions which can lead to deteriorating the desired structural integrity of a lid. While an accumulation of reinforcement layers may be considered to reinforce a lid corner, such accumulation can in turn generate mechanical tensions within a corner structure, whereby an internal layer nested in another external layer may generate a tension leading to weakening or even breakage or tearing of the external layer. Such tension is particularly increased in situations where reinforced layers are attached to each other prior to forming the corner structure concerned, whereby outside layers will be submitted to a radius of curvature larger than inside layers nested into the outside layers, without possibility to slide onto each other to spread the resulting elongation beyond an attachment point. While a controlled preliminary weakening of the nested internal layer may release some of the tension, it was found that a controlled preliminary weakening solely by fold line, partial cuts or cut throughs was not sufficient. Weakening of a nested internal layer by cutting off and removing material was however found to release sufficient tension to avoid damaging an external layer attached to the internal layer. Such cutout removal was however found to generate issues on a lid manufacturing line due to an accumulation of minute cutout pieces on such line, leading to negatively impacting manufacturing line speed or even to stopping of a manufacturing line. Examples of cutout shapes according to this disclosure were found to provide reinforced multilayer lid corners which not only addressed risks of lid deterioration but also addressed issues on a manufacturing line, for example in an industrial die-cutting machine at a carton convertor, and also increased reliability and precision in the forming of the lids concerned, more generally during carton forming, at a filling line and when used by an end user. More specifically, such cutout shapes permitted resolving multiple issues, such as precision and predictability of positioning of a corner segment, releasing of tension onto an external layer, avoidance of high bending forces risking an undesired flap folding, and avoidance of accumulation of cutout debris on a manufacturing line.
(13) Paperboard or cardboard is, mechanically speaking, a relatively flexible material, meaning that a wall of a container made of paperboard or cardboard may offer little resistance to getting bent under an external pressure. In some applications where resistance to getting bent and/or high tear resistance is of importance, a material different from paperboard or cardboard may be used. Materials different from paperboard or cardboard may however not be as straightforward to recycle. Such choice of material thereby results of a compromise. An objective of the present disclosure is to propose a container comprising a lid, whereby the inclusion of a reinforced lid corner leads to reinforcement of the whole container structure, permitting use of paperboard or cardboard in applications which would otherwise be compromised by using another material.
(14) As the container according to this description may be shaped using folding machinery which is likely to be already in place at a manufacturing location, little or no additional capital is required at a manufacturing location to implement the structures according to this disclosure.
(15) A lid, box or container according to this disclosure may be made from paper material wherein the paper material is for example selected from paperboard, cardboard, laminates comprising at least one paper board or cardboard layer. Paperboard or cardboard comprise cellulose fibre materials or a mixture thereof. The material used to make the lid, box or container may comprise other ingredients, such as colorants, protective varnishes, surface enhancement coatings, barrier coatings, preservatives, recycled fibre materials, plasticisers, UV stabilizers, oxygen barriers, perfume barriers, and moisture barriers, or a mixture thereof. In some examples, in order to provide a desired tear resistance and strength, cellulose fibres lengths is in a range from 0.1 to 5 mm, preferably from 1 to 3 mm. In some examples, cellulose fibres are sourced from various sources such as virgin soft or hard woods, hemp, grass, corn, bagasse, sugarcane, bamboo and others, and/or from post producer or post consumer recycled paper and cardboard.
(16) The lid, box or container may comprise areas of external or internal printing. The lid, box or container may be made for example by cardboard making. Suitable lid, box or container manufacturing processes may include, but are not limited to, tube forming from a flat cardboard or paperboard sheet with a gluing step, folding, or a mixture thereof. The lid, box or container may be opaque or filter some specific wavelengths, for example to protect content from external light. In some examples the lid, box or container is constructed at least in part and in some specific examples in its entirety from paper-based material. By paper-based material, we herein mean a material comprising paper. Without wishing to be bound by theory, by paper we herein mean a material made from a cellulose-based pulp. Paperboard may be made from a paper-based material having a thickness and rigidity such that it does not collapse under its own weight. While paperboard should be understood as comprising a single layer of material, cardboard should be understood as comprising a plurality of paper-based material layers. In some examples, the paper-based material comprises paperboard, cardboard, or a mixture thereof, wherein preferably, cardboard comprises paperboard, corrugated fiber-board, or a mixture thereof. Corrugated fiber-board comprises a series of flutes. Each flute can be understood to be a channel. The flutes run parallel to one another, with the flute direction being the direction travelled along each channel. The paper-based material may be a laminate comprising paper, cardboard, or a mixture thereof, wherein in some examples, cardboard comprises paperboard, corrugated fiber-board, or a mixture thereof, and in some examples at least another material. In some examples, the at least another material comprises a plastic material. In some examples, the plastic material comprises polyethylene, more specifically Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinylalcohol or a mixture thereof. In some examples the plastic material comprises a copolymer from an ethylene starting monomer and vinyl alcohol, or EVOH. A barrier material may be used as the at least another material. The barrier material may be a biaxially orientated polypropylene, a metallised polyethylene terephthalate, or a mixture thereof. The at least another material may comprise a wax, a cellulose material, polyvinylalcohol, silica dioxide, casein based materials, or a mixture thereof. In some examples, the paper-based laminate comprises greater than 50%, preferably greater than 85%, and more preferably greater than 95% by weight of the paper based laminate of fiber-based materials. In some examples, the barrier material may comprise plastic material having a thickness of between 10 micron and 60 micron. In some examples, the barrier material may comprise plastic material having a thickness of between 10 micron and 35 micron. The paper-based material may be a laminate. In some examples, the internal surface of a lid, box or container comprises paperboard, cardboard, or a mixture thereof, wherein, in specific examples, cardboard comprises paperboard, corrugated fiber-board and lamination of polyethylene, especially LDPE, or a mixture thereof, and, in some examples, the external surface of the lid, box or container or a combination thereof comprises the at least another material. Alternatively, the at least another material might also be laminated in-between two paper-based material layers such as the paperboard or cardboard layers as per this disclosure. Without wishing to be bound by theory this at least another material might act as a barrier for leaked liquid absorbed by the paper-based material facing the interior side of the lid, box or container, to prevent or reduce a contaminating flow through a wall of the lid, box or container. Other structures may be found efficient to avoid leakage from the content or to protect the content from external fluids, for example from a shower, a sink, or by handling the container or the lid with wet hands. Contamination of a wall of the lid, box or container might be unsightly to consumers or may contaminate the storage area. In some examples, the lid, box or container are made of a paper-based material comprising the at least another material laminated in between two corrugated fiberboard layers. In some examples, the material used for the lid, box or container comprises a core cardboard flute material sandwiched between two plain cardboard (or paperboard) layers and polyethylene laminate. A paperboard or cardboard layer according to this disclosure may be made from or comprise recycled material or recycled cellulose fibres. The external surface of the lid, box or container may comprise a coating or a varnish. Such a coating or varnish can help making a board repellent to water or help protecting a content such as an enclosed detergent composition from UV light. The coating or varnish could also help protecting the external surface of the lid, box or container from being contaminated by the content, for example an enclosed detergent composition, for example if leakage of a water-soluble unit dose detergent enclosing a liquid detergent composition would occur.
(17) A coating or vanish on the internal surface can help to prevent the content to stick to the inner surface or prevent migration of inks, colorants, perfumes, non-ionics, oils, greases and other ingredients from the content into the board or inks or additives from the board onto the content. In some examples detergent resistant varnishes or coatings can be applied on areas exposed to the contents.
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(19) As illustrated for example in
(20) The container according to this disclosure comprises a lock such as one of locks 103 of
(21) An actuator, as represented for example as actuator 203 or 213 on boxes 201 of
(22) Such a lock would participate in suppressing or reducing the risk of accidental opening of the lid while permitting desired opening by a consumer, the functioning of such a lock depending on ensuring that the actuator maintains abutting against the locking tab even in case of pulling strongly on the lid in a direction parallel to the side wall in order to transport or lift the consumer product. The avoidance or reduction of the risk of accidental opening would also apply to a force being applied in a direction parallel to the sidewalls for example by friction with another box located side to side with a box according to this disclosure, or by a box falling over during transportation, or by internal movements of the content of the box pushing the lid during transportation. Strong pulling in a direction parallel to the sidewall may however impact the structure of the container, for example resulting in damaging the lid corners, whereby such damage may lead to an undesired disengagement of the locking tab from the activator. This would lead to an undesired opening of the lid. Such undesired opening of the lid is less likely when using reinforced lid corners as hereby described.
(23) In some examples, the lock is placed in a central area of a sidewall of the box. A central area should be understood as substantially equidistant from opposite edges of the sidewall concerned, such edges being along a direction normal to the base of the box. In such examples, it should be understood that the lock is located closer to an edge of the sidewall close to the opening than to an edge of the sidewall close to the base, while being in a central area in respect to the edges normal to the base. In some examples, the lock may be located on a sidewall and between two edges of the sidewall, such edges being normal to the base, the lock being closer to one edge than to the other edge of the two edges, for example located closer to the one edge at a of the distance between the two edges. In some examples one sidewall may comprise two locks.
(24) The content of a container according to this disclosure, such as a consumer product, for example a detergent product, are products which may be relatively heavy, in particular when the container is recently acquired and thereby holds a significant quantity of product. While some consumers may lift and transport such a container carefully by supporting the base of the box, such lifting and transport may also occur by holding such consumer product by the lid, in particular by holding distal ends of lid flanks away from the top of the lid, without holding the base. Some consumers may even hold the container by inserting fingers between lid flanks and box sidewalls. In such cases, it is possible that the lid, submitted to the force of gravity of the content of the container, be submitted to tension or even to rupture of a corner segment between such flanks of the lid, leading to accidental opening of the box, the box falling and possibly spreading its content. Such situations should be avoided. Beyond avoiding such unintentional release, the structure of the container should preserve or improve opening ergonomics and prevent or reduce a structural deformation upon excessive or repetitive application of forces applied to the container, for example during transport, in a grocery shopping bag against other objects, when submitted to external pressure, or when dropped, or to be durable to withstand multiple opening and reclosing cycles in use. At the same time, containers may be elaborated in order to preserve the environment. The container according to this disclosure aims at taking these different aspects into account.
(25) A lid of a container comprises at least a first and a second flank, whereby the first and the second flanks intersect at a first corner segment along a corner direction normal to the top of the lid. Such corner segments may for example correspond to lid corners 121-128 of
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(27) As illustrated in
(28) The longitudinal fold lines described hereby as parallel to a flank, such as example longitudinal fold lines 333 or 334, may in some examples also be parallel to a plane corresponding to the base, or to the top of the lid, as illustrated for example in
(29) As illustrated for example in
(30) As illustrated in
(31) As illustrated in
(32) The first cutout shape according to this disclosure terminates more than 0.5 cm away from the first and second longitudinal fold lines. In other words, a point of the cutout shape closest to either one of the first or second longitudinal fold lines is separated from such fold lines by a distance, such as distance D1 of example cutout 340, of at least 0.5 cm. Such a minimal distance permits benefiting from the effects of the cutout in reducing tension while limiting an impact on corner robustness. In some examples, the first cutout shape terminates more than 0.7 cm away from the first and second longitudinal fold lines. In some examples, the first cutout shape terminates more than 1 cm away from the first and second longitudinal fold lines. In some examples, the first cutout shape terminates more than 1.5 cm away from the first and second longitudinal fold lines. One should note that in some examples, the point of the cutout shape closest to either one of the first or second longitudinal fold lines is an apex or vertex of the cutout shape coinciding with the first corner segment, providing corner robustness and increased precision in folding. In some examples, the first cutout shape terminates less than 3 cm away from the first and second longitudinal fold lines in order to cutout a sufficient amount of material.
(33) In some examples, the first cutout shape according to this disclosure terminates more than 0.5 cm away from the top of the lid, in order to further increase robustness. In some examples, the first cutout shape terminates more than 0.7 cm away from the top. In some examples, the first cutout shape terminates more than 1 cm away from the top. In some examples, the first cutout shape terminates more than 1.5 cm away from the top. In some examples, the first cutout shape terminates less than 3 cm away from the top in order to cutout a sufficient amount of material.
(34) The first cutout shape according to this disclosure has a maximum total span, along the first and second flanks and in a plane parallel to the top, of at least 0.3 mm, preferably of at least 2 mm. Such maximum total span is for example also illustrated as width W in
(35) The first cutout shape according to this disclosure has a length, corresponding to length L in
(36) In some example, the first cutout shape extends beyond a 2 mm diameter profile. As discussed in the context of width W and of the cutout shape maximum total span, while such 2 mm diameter may correspond to a removed disk of material when the cutout is manufactured, such removed disk of material may take a three dimensional shape when the corner gets formed. such 2 mm diameter profile is represented by a dashed line disk in
(37) In some examples, in particular as illustrated in
(38) As illustrated in
(39) In some examples, the internal or external paperboard or cardboard layer according to this disclosure is a plain board layer or a corrugated fiber board layer. In some examples, the paperboard or cardboard layer according to this disclosure is made from plain board comprising recycled content with a gsm (grams per square meter) range between 300 and 900, preferably between 500 and 700. In some examples, the paperboard or cardboard layer according to this disclosure is made from virgin plain board, or free from recycled content, with a gsm (grams per square meter) range between 250 and 600, preferably between 300 and 500.
(40) In some examples, in particular as illustrated in
(41) As illustrated in
(42) The second cutout shape may vary in its characteristics as described in the context of the first cutout shape. In some example embodiments, the first and the second cutout shapes are the same. In some example embodiments, the first and the second cutout shapes are different.
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(44) As illustrated in
(45) The third cutout shape may vary in its characteristics as described in the context of the first or second cutout shapes. In some example embodiments, the first, second and third cutout shapes are the same. In some example embodiments, the first, second and third cutout shapes are different.
(46) While not described here in details, a fourth (or even further additional) lid corners may be provided, such as for example corner 123 of
(47) A first flank as per any of the examples hereby described, and in particular as represented in
(48) As illustrated for example in
(49) In some examples, as illustrated for example in
(50) In some examples, as illustrated by the blank of
(51) The present disclosure aims at resolving the apparent contradiction between, on one hand, the use of materials for the container which would resist accidental opening, and the use of materials for the container which are particularly environmentally friendly.
(52) The container may be made from rigid paperboard or cardboard material, flexible paperboard or cardboard material or a mixture thereof. In some example, the layer material forming the box or the lid has a wall thickness of more than 300 microns and of less than 6 mm per layer. In some example, the layer material forming the box or the lid has a wall thickness of more than 1 mm and of less than 2 mm per layer. The container may be made from paper materials, bio based material, bamboo fibres, cellulose fibres, cellulose based or fibre based materials, or a mixture thereof. The container may be made from materials comprising recycled materials, for example recycled cellulose fiber based materials. In some examples, the container is made from C (3.2 mm) flute corrugated cardboard. In some examples, the container is made from double wall cardboard, in some example made from double wall cardboard up to 5 mm thick per double wall layer.
(53) In some examples the flanks of the lid cover about 30% of the sidewalls of the box, 30% corresponding in this case to a ratio between on one hand a height of the flanks in a direction normal to both the top of the lid and the base of the box and on the other hand the height of the sidewalls in the direction normal to both the top of the lid and the base of the box. In an example, the flanks completely surround the sidewalls around the opening. Such coverage of the flanks participates in ensuring lid placement, structural resiliency and protection of the content. In some examples, the flanks cover at least 50% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. In some examples, the flanks cover at least 75% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. In some examples, the flanks cover at least 90% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. In some examples, the flanks cover 100% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. Increasing flank coverage increases robustness. In some examples, the flanks cover at most 90% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. In some examples, the flanks cover at most 80% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. In some examples, the flanks cover at most 70% of the sidewalls when the lid is in the closed position. Decreasing flank coverage can ease opening of the container by providing grip surface on both the lid and the box sidewalls. In some examples, a manufacturing process comprises providing different box sizes, for example boxes having a sidewall height of either 10 cm, 11.5 cm, 13.5 cm or 16 cm, whereby each box may be provided with a same lid fitting all box sizes provided, such as a lid having a flank height of 7 cm. In some examples, flank height is of more than 3 cm. In some examples, flank height is of more than 5 cm. In some examples, flank height is of more than 6 cm. In some examples, flank height is of 9 cm or more. In some examples, flank height is of 12 cm or more. In some examples, sidewalls of the box have a sidewall height along a direction perpendicular to the base of 30 cm or more. In some examples, sidewalls of the box have a sidewall height along a direction perpendicular to the base of up to 40 cm.
(54) The present disclosure further provides a consumer product comprising a detergent product and a container according to any of examples hereby described, whereby the box comprises the detergent product.
(55) A consumer product should in this disclosure be understood as a product which is provided, among others, to end consumers. Such consumer products may for example be available for purchase in supermarkets and end consumers may store such consumer products in their homes. Consumer products may be provided in large quantities and should thereby be designed taking environmental concerns into account. Consumer products should also be designed taking transportation to a retail store into account. Consumer products should also be designed taking on the shelf storage in a retail store into account. Consumer products should also be designed taking transportation from a retail store to a consumer home into account. Consumer products should also be designed taking storage at a private end consumer home into account. Consumer products should also be designed taking use of the consumer product at a private end consumer home into account. Consumer products should also be designed taking disposal into account.
(56) The consumer product according to this disclosure comprises a detergent product. Detergent products should be understood in this disclosure as products comprising a surfactant. Detergent products may also comprise a bleach or other ingredients. Example detergent product compositions are described in more detail herein. In some examples, the detergent product comprises unit dose detergent pouches, preferably water soluble unit dose detergent pouches, more preferably flexible water soluble unit dose detergent pouches. Example unit dose detergent pouches are described in more detail herein.
(57) In some examples, the consumer product comprises at least one water-soluble unit dose article and the container. The consumer product can be sold as is, in other words the consumer product is the item that the consumer picks up from the shelf. Alternatively, the consumer product could be housed as one unit of a multi-component product. For example, more than one consumer product could be housed within an outer package and the multiple packaged consumer products sold together in a single purchase. The consumer product may comprise aesthetic elements, for example shrink sleeves or labels attached to the container. Alternatively, the container may be coloured or printed with aesthetic elements or informative print such as usage instructions.
(58) In some examples a water-soluble unit dose article comprises at least one water-soluble film orientated to create at least one-unit dose internal compartment, wherein the at least one-unit dose internal compartment comprises a detergent composition. The water-soluble film and the detergent composition are described in more detail below. In some examples the consumer product comprises at least one water-soluble unit dose article, in some cases at least two water-soluble unit dose articles, in some cases at least 10 water-soluble unit dose articles, in some cases at least 20 water-soluble unit dose articles, in some cases at least 30 water-soluble unit dose articles, in some cases at least 40 water-soluble unit dose articles, in some cases at least 45 water-soluble unit dose articles. A water-soluble unit dose article is in some examples in the form of a pouch. A water-soluble unit dose article comprises in some examples a unitary dose of a composition as a volume sufficient to provide a benefit in an end application. The water-soluble unit dose article comprises in some examples one water-soluble film shaped such that the unit-dose article comprises at least one internal compartment surrounded by the water-soluble film. The at least one compartment comprises a cleaning composition. The water-soluble film is sealed such that the cleaning composition does not leak out of the compartment during storage. However, upon addition of the water-soluble unit dose article to water, the water-soluble film dissolves and releases the contents of the internal compartment into the wash liquor. The unit dose article may comprise more than one compartment, at least two compartments, or at least three compartments, or at least four compartments, or even at least five compartments. The compartments may be arranged in superposed orientation, i.e. one positioned on top of the other. Alternatively, the compartments may be positioned in a side-by-side orientation, i.e. one orientated next to the other. The compartments may be orientated in a tyre and rim arrangement, i.e. a first compartment is positioned next to a second compartment, but the first compartment at least partially surrounds the second compartment, but does not completely enclose the second compartment. Alternatively, one compartment may be completely enclosed within another compartment. In some examples the unit dose article comprises at least two compartments, one of the compartments being smaller than the other compartment. In some examples the unit dose article comprises at least three compartments, two of the compartments may be smaller than the third compartment, and in some examples the smaller compartments being superposed on the larger compartment. The superposed compartments are in some examples orientated side-by-side. In some examples each individual unit dose article may have a weight of between 10 g and 40 g, or even between 15 g and 35 g. The water soluble film may be soluble or dispersible in water. Prior to be being formed into a unit dose article, the water-soluble film has in some examples a thickness of from 20 to 150 micron, in other examples 35 to 125 micron, in further examples 50 to 110 micron, in yet further examples about 76 micron. Example water soluble film materials comprise polymeric materials. The film material can, for example, be obtained by casting, blow-moulding, extrusion or blown extrusion of the polymeric material. In some examples, the water-soluble film comprises polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer or polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, for example a blend of polyvinylalcohol homopolymers and/or polyvinylalcohol copolymers, for example wherein the polyvinyl alcohol copolymers are selected from sulphonated and carboxylated anionic polyvinylalcohol copolymers especially carboxylated anionic polyvinylalcohol copolymers, for example the water-soluble comprises a blend of a polyvinylalcohol homopolymer and a carboxylated anionic polyvinylalcohol copolymer, or alternatively a blend of polyvinyl alcohol homopolymers. Alternatively the polyvinyl alcohol in the water-soluble film consists of an anionic polyvinylalcohol copolymer, especially a carboxylated polyvinylalcohol copolymer. In some examples water soluble films are those supplied by Monosol under the trade references M8630, M8900, M8779, M8310. In some examples the film may be opaque, transparent or translucent. The film may comprise a printed area. The area of print may be achieved using techniques such as flexographic printing or inkjet printing. The film may comprise an aversive agent, for example a bittering agent. Suitable bittering agents include, but are not limited to, naringin, sucrose octaacetate, quinine hydrochloride, denatonium benzoate, or mixtures thereof. Example levels of aversive agent include, but are not limited to, 1 to 5000 ppm, 100 to 2500 ppm, or 250 to 2000 ppm. The water-soluble film or water-soluble unit dose article or both may be coated with a lubricating agent. In some examples, the lubricating agent is selected from talc, zinc oxide, silicas, siloxanes, zeolites, silicic acid, alumina, sodium sulphate, potassium sulphate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, sodium citrate, sodium tripolyphosphate, potassium citrate, potassium tripolyphosphate, calcium stearate, zinc stearate, magnesium stearate, starch, modified starches, clay, kaolin, gypsum, cyclodextrins or mixtures thereof.
(59) In some examples the container comprises a first part, wherein the first part comprises a first compartment in which the at least one water-soluble unit dose article is contained. In some examples the first compartment comprises at least two water-soluble unit dose articles. The first compartment may comprise between 1 and 80 water-soluble unit dose articles, between 1 and 60 water-soluble unit dose articles, between 1 and 40 water-soluble unit dose articles, or between 1 and 20 water-soluble unit dose articles. The volume of the first compartment may be between 500 ml and 5000 ml, in some examples between 800 ml and 4000 ml.
(60) In some examples the detergent product comprises a detergent composition. The detergent composition may be a laundry detergent composition, an automatic dishwashing composition, a hard surface cleaning composition, or a combination thereof. The detergent composition may comprise a solid, a liquid or a mixture thereof. The term liquid includes a gel, a solution, a dispersion, a paste, or a mixture thereof. The solid may be a powder. By powder we herein mean that the detergent composition may comprise solid particulates or may be a single homogenous solid. In some examples, the powder detergent composition comprises particles. This means that the powder detergent composition comprises individual solid particles as opposed to the solid being a single homogenous solid. The particles may be free-flowing or may be compacted. A laundry detergent composition can be used in a fabric hand wash operation or may be used in an automatic machine fabric wash operation, for example in an automatic machine fabric wash operation. Example laundry detergent compositions comprise a non-soap surfactant, wherein the non-soap surfactant comprises an anionic non-soap surfactant and a non-ionic surfactant. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 10% and 60%, or between 20% and 55% by weight of the laundry detergent composition of the non-soap surfactant. Example weight ratio of non-soap anionic surfactant to nonionic surfactant are from 1:1 to 20:1, from 1.5:1 to 17.5:1, from 2:1 to 15:1, or from 2.5:1 to 13:1. Example non-soap anionic surfactants comprises linear alkylbenzene sulphonate, alkyl sulphate or a mixture thereof. Example weight ratio of linear alkylbenzene sulphonate to alkyl sulphate are from 1:2 to 9:1, from 1:1 to 7:1, from 1:1 to 5:1, or from 1:1 to 4:1. Example linear alkylbenzene sulphonates are C.sub.10-C.sub.16 alkyl benzene sulfonic acids, or C.sub.11-C.sub.14 alkyl benzene sulfonic acids. By linear, we herein mean the alkyl group is linear. Example alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant may comprise alkoxylated alkyl sulphate or non-alkoxylated alkyl sulphate or a mixture thereof. Example alkoxylated alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant comprise an ethoxylated alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant. Example alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant may comprise an ethoxylated alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant with a mol average degree of ethoxylation from 1 to 5, from 1 to 3, or from 2 to 3. Example alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant may comprise a non-ethoxylated alkyl sulphate and an ethoxylated alkyl sulphate wherein the mol average degree of ethoxylation of the alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant is from 1 to 5, from 1 to 3, or from 2 to 3. Example alkyl fraction of the alkyl sulphate anionic surfactant are derived from fatty alcohols, oxo-synthesized alcohols, Guerbet alcohols, or mixtures thereof. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 10% and 50%, between 15% and 45%, between 20% and 40%, or between 30% and 40% by weight of the laundry detergent composition of the non-soap anionic surfactant. In some examples, the non-ionic surfactant is selected from alcohol alkoxylate, an oxo-synthesised alcohol alkoxylate, Guerbet alcohol alkoxylates, alkyl phenol alcohol alkoxylates, or a mixture thereof. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 0.01% and 10%, between 0.01% and 8%, between 0.1% and 6%, or between 0.15% and 5% by weight of the liquid laundry detergent composition of a non-ionic surfactant. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 1.5% and 20%, between 2% and 15%, between 3% and 10%, or between 4% and 8% by weight of the laundry detergent composition of soap, in some examples a fatty acid salt, in some examples an amine neutralized fatty acid salt, wherein in some examples the amine is an alkanolamine for example selected from monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine or a mixture thereof, in some examples monoethanolamine. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition is a liquid laundry detergent composition. In some examples the liquid laundry detergent composition comprises less than 15%, or less than 12% by weight of the liquid laundry detergent composition of water. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition is a liquid laundry detergent composition comprising a non-aqueous solvent selected from 1,2-propanediol, dipropylene glycol, tripropyleneglycol, glycerol, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol or a mixture thereof. In some examples, the liquid laundry detergent composition comprises between 10% and 40%, or between 15% and 30% by weight of the liquid laundry detergent composition of the non-aqueous solvent. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises a perfume. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises an adjunct ingredient selected from the group comprising builders including enzymes, citrate, bleach, bleach catalyst, dye, hueing dye, brightener, cleaning polymers including alkoxylated polyamines and polyethyleneimines, soil release polymer, surfactant, solvent, dye transfer inhibitors, chelant, encapsulated perfume, polycarboxylates, structurant, pH trimming agents, and mixtures thereof. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition has a pH between 6 and 10, between 6.5 and 8.9, or between 7 and 8, wherein the pH of the laundry detergent composition is measured as a 10% product concentration in demineralized water at 20 C. When liquid, the laundry detergent composition may be Newtonian or non-Newtonian. In some examples, the liquid laundry detergent composition is non-Newtonian. Without wishing to be bound by theory, a non-Newtonian liquid has properties that differ from those of a Newtonian liquid, more specifically, the viscosity of non-Newtonian liquids is dependent on shear rate, while a Newtonian liquid has a constant viscosity independent of the applied shear rate. The decreased viscosity upon shear application for non-Newtonian liquids is thought to further facilitate liquid detergent dissolution. The liquid laundry detergent composition described herein can have any suitable viscosity depending on factors such as formulated ingredients and purpose of the composition.
(61)
(62) Such example methods may be applied to one or more corner segments of any example containers hereby described.
(63) The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, 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.