Dual end-cap bundle of stacked consumer products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10611536-B2
Application number	US-201715777108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2017
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

A bundle of a stack of at least two consumer products is disclosed. The stack has opposite front and back faces spaced apart in a depth dimension, opposite top and bottom faces spaced apart in a height dimension, and opposite first and second end faces spaced apart in a length dimension. The bundle has a dual-cap bundling member that has a first end-cap that cups the stack at the first end-face, a second end-cap that cups the stack at the second end-face, and a bridge that integrally connects the first and second end-caps and that is superposed over the top face. The dual-cap bundling member is formed from a rigid substrate. The first end-cap and the second end-cap are not connected to each other via the rigid substrate other than by the bridge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bundle of at least two consumer products, the bundle having a depth extending in a depth dimension, a height extending in a height dimension, and a length extending in a length dimension, the bundle comprising:
a stack of at least two individually wrapped, sealed package of moist wipes comprising a rigid lid that covers a dispensing orifice, the stack having opposite front and back faces spaced apart in the depth dimension, opposite top and bottom faces spaced apart in the height dimension, and opposite first and second end faces spaced apart in the length dimension; and
a first end-cap having a first end-segment superposed over the first end face, a first front-face-segment superposed over the front face, a first back-face-segment superposed over the back face, and a first bottom-face-segment superposed over the bottom face,
wherein the first front-face-segment, the first back-face-segment, and the first bottom-face-segment each extend integrally from the first end-segment,
wherein the first end-segment at least partially covers the first end face,
wherein the first front-face-segment has a length that extends in the length dimension and that is less than half of the bundle length;
wherein the first back-face-segment has a length that extends in the length dimension and that is less than half of the bundle length;
wherein the first bottom-face-segment has a length that extends in the length dimension and that is less than half of the bundle length;

a second end-cap having a second end-segment superposed over the second end face, a second front-face-segment superposed over the front face, a second back-face-segment superposed over the back face, and a second bottom-face-segment superposed over the bottom face,
wherein the second front-face-segment, the second back-face-segment, and the second bottom-face-segment each extend integrally from the second end-segment,
wherein the second end-segment at least partially covers the second end face,
wherein the second front-face-segment has a length that extends in the length dimension and that is less than half of the bundle length;
wherein the second back-face-segment has a length that extends in the length dimension and that is less than half of the bundle length;
wherein the second bottom-face-segment has a length that extends in the length dimension and that is less than half of the bundle length; and

a bridge defining a cut-out region adapted to reveal the rigid lid and that connects the first and second end-caps and that is superposed over the top face,
wherein the first end-cap, the second end-cap, and the bridge are all integrally formed from a rigid substrate,
wherein the first end-cap is not connected to the second end-cap other than by the bridge.

2. The bundle of claim 1 wherein each package of moist wipes is a flow-wrap package having opposite end seals, and wherein each end seal of each package of moist wipes is concealed by an end-cap.

3. The bundle of claim 1 wherein the first front-face-segment length, the first back-face-segment length, the first bottom-face-segment length, the second front-face-segment length, the second back-face-segment length, and the second bottom-face-segment length are each less than one quarter of the bundle length.

4. The bundle of claim 1 wherein the first end-segment completely covers the first end face, and wherein the second end-segment completely covers the second end face.

5. The bundle of claim 1 wherein the rigid substrate is cardboard, cardstock, or corrugate.

6. The bundle of claim 1 wherein no part of the bridge is superposed over the front face, the back face, or the bottom face.

7. The bundle of claim 1 wherein a transparent, flexible film is at least partially wrapped around the bundle.

8. The bundle of claim 7 wherein the film covers four, and only four, of the stack's front, back, top, bottom, first end, and second end faces.

9. The bundle of claim 7 wherein the film covers at least a portion of each of the stack's front, back, top, bottom, first end, and second end faces.

10. The bundle of claim 1 wherein the first end-segment is generally rectangular and defines a first front-edge, a first back-edge, a first bottom-edge, and a first top-edge, wherein the first front-face-segment is connected to the first end-segment along an entirety of the first front-edge, wherein the first back-face-segment is connected to the first end-segment along an entirety of the first back-edge, and wherein the first bottom-face-segment is connected to the first end-segment along an entirely of the first bottom-edge,
wherein the second end-segment is generally rectangular and defines a second front-edge, a second back-edge, a second bottom-edge, and a second top-edge, wherein the second front-face-segment is connected to the second end-segment along an entirety of the second front-edge, wherein the second back-face-segment is connected to the second end-segment along an entirety of the second back-edge, and wherein the second bottom-face-segment is connected to the second end-segment along an entirely of the second bottom-edge.

11. The bundle of claim 10 wherein each front-face-segment includes two lines of weakness oriented at approximately 45 degrees to the respective front-edge, and wherein each back-face-segment includes two lines of weakness oriented at approximately 45 degrees to the respective back-edge, each line of weakness adapted to allow the respective front-face-segment or back-face-segment to collapse in upon the respective end-segment when the package of moist wipes are not present.

12. The bundle of claim 1 configured such the bottom face is adapted to face a store shelf and the front face is adapted to face a consumer during retail presentation in a store.

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Hokanson Brandon Mark

Classifications

• B65D2571/0066

  formed from one single sheet · CPC title

• B65D2571/0079

  U-shaped · CPC title

• B65D2571/00141

  glued · CPC title

• B65D71/22 Primary

  Openings or windows formed in the side walls · CPC title

• B65D71/125 Primary

  not having a tubular shape · CPC title