Consumer product that includes a container and unit dose articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10934064-B2
Application number	US-201816181605-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2018
Priority date	Nov 8, 2017
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A consumer product that includes a container and at least one water-soluble unit dose article, the container including a lid able to move from an open to closed position via at least one hinge, where the container includes at least one locking device with a lid component and a wall component, where the wall component includes a support member and a hook member. The water-soluble unit dose articles may include a water-soluble film and a detergent composition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A consumer product ( 1 ) comprising a container ( 2 ) and at least one water-soluble unit dose article ( 3 ) contained therein;
wherein said container ( 2 ) comprises:
a base ( 4 ),
an opening ( 5 ) positioned opposite to the base ( 4 ); and
at least one wall ( 6 ) extending vertically from said base ( 4 ) to said opening ( 5 ), wherein said at least one wall ( 6 ) terminates in an upper edge ( 7 ) of said at least one wall ( 6 ), and wherein said wall ( 6 ) comprises an inner surface ( 8 ) and an outer surface ( 9 ); and
wherein said base ( 4 ) and the at least one wall ( 6 ) define an internal compartment ( 10 ) wherein the internal compartment ( 10 ) is accessible from the opening ( 5 );
a lid ( 11 ) able to move from an open to closed position via at least one hinge ( 12 ) and wherein when in the closed position covers the opening ( 5 );

wherein the container ( 2 ) comprises at least one locking means ( 13 ), wherein the locking means comprises a lid component ( 14 ) and a wall component ( 15 ),
wherein the wall component ( 15 ) comprises a support member ( 16 ) extending from the upper edge ( 7 ) of the at least one wall ( 6 ) or the inner surface ( 8 ) of the at least one wall ( 6 ), and a hook member ( 17 ); and
wherein, when the lid ( 11 ) is in a closed position, the hook member ( 17 ) engages the lid component ( 14 ) such that only application of force to the hook member ( 17 ) will disengage the wall component ( 15 ) from the lid component ( 14 ); and
wherein the hook member ( 17 ) extends from the support member ( 16 ) towards the interior of the container ( 10 )
characterized in that to disengage the wall component ( 15 ) from the lid component ( 14 ) requires application of force to the hook member ( 17 ) wherein the application of force is in the direction towards the inner surface ( 8 ).

2. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein the outer surface ( 9 ) of the at least one wall ( 6 ) is devoid of any locking means.

3. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein the at least one wall ( 6 ) comprises at least two sections ( 21 , 22 ) wherein the sections are joined together.

4. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 3 wherein the sections are joined together via adhesive, mechanical connection, or a combination thereof.

5. (Orignal) The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 1 comprising at least two locking means ( 13 ).

6. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 5 wherein the at least two locking means ( 13 ) are spaced apart by a distance of from about 50 mm to about 180 mm.

7. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 5 wherein the two locking means ( 13 ) are positioned on the same wall, and wherein the hinge ( 12 ) is present on a second wall ( 62 ) and the at least two locking means are present on a first wall ( 61 ) and wherein the first wall ( 61 ) is opposite the second wall ( 62 ).

8. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein the support member ( 16 ) extends from the inner surface ( 8 ) of the at least one wall ( 6 ).

9. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 8 wherein the wall component ( 15 ) is positioned such that it does not extend higher than the upper edge ( 7 ) of the at least one wall ( 6 ).

10. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein the lid ( 11 ) comprises a recess ( 23 ) surrounded by an outer ridge ( 24 ), and wherein the lid component ( 14 ) is comprised within the outer ridge ( 24 ), and wherein the outer ridge ( 24 ) comprises an inner side ( 25 ), an outer side ( 27 ) and a top ( 26 ) and wherein the lid component ( 14 ) is comprised within the inner side ( 25 ), the top ( 26 ), or a mixture thereof.

11. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein upon engagement of the wall component ( 15 ) with the lid component ( 14 ), the support member ( 16 ) and hook member ( 17 ) are arranged such that the hook member ( 17 ) resists movement, whilst still allowing the wall component ( 15 ) as a whole to move ( 29 ) in response to the force exerted ( 28 ) by the engagement of the wall component ( 15 ) with the lid component ( 14 ).

12. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein the container ( 2 ) is made of natural materials, synthetic materials, or a mixture thereof.

13. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein the container ( 2 ) is opaque, translucent, or a mixture thereof.

14. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 1 wherein the water-soluble unit dose article ( 3 ) comprises a water-soluble film ( 301 , 302 ) and a detergent composition ( 304 ).

15. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein unlocking the wall component ( 15 ) from the lid component ( 14 ) does not deform the lid ( 11 ) or the at least one wall ( 6 ).

16. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the support member ( 16 ) and the hook member ( 17 ) are arranged such that the wall component ( 15 ) is in the shape of an inverted U.

17. The consumer product ( 1 ) according to claim 16 wherein the U shape is attached to the inner wall ( 8 ) or the upper edge ( 7 ) via a horizontal connecting member ( 18 ) extending from the inner wall ( 8 ) or the upper edge ( 7 ) to the support member ( 16 ).

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• De Wilde Vincent Hubert Monique
• Dubreuil Rambaud Marion Michele Marie-Pierre
• Ng Pak Leung Clara Sophie Lea
• Pallotto Simone
• Dagnelie Thierry Christian Francis
• Carlomagno Massimiliano

Classifications

• B65D43/169 Primary

  the lid, the hinge and the element connecting them to the container being made of one piece · CPC title

• B65D2251/1025

  Integral locking elements penetrating in an opening, e.g. a flap through a slit, a hook in an opening · CPC title

• B65D50/046

  and such deformation causes the disengagement of locking means, e.g. the release of a pawl-like element from a tooth or abutment, to allow removal of the closure by simultaneous rotation · CPC title

• B65D2215/02

  requiring the combination of simultaneous actions · CPC title

• B65D2543/00194

  square or rectangular · CPC title