Technical Field
This invention relates to display packs, particularly for consumer products,
especially toothbrushes.
Background
Display packs are well known articles in which products can be packaged and
displayed in their packaged form, often by providing the display pack with means by
which it may be hung from a display rack in a retail outlet such as a shop. A wellknown
type of pack for consumer products is the so called bubble pack in which a
bubble part is made of a, usually transparent, plastics material and defining a bubble
cavity suitable for the shape of the product to be contained therein. The bubble
cavity has an open face which is closed with an easily openable or removable film
material such as card or plastics film. Display packs are known which link plural
bubble packs together with separable links such that an individual bubble pack may
be removed by a purchaser. See for example WO-A-12/087317 and WO-A-02/70590
which disclose display packs for toothbrushes in bubble packs having a standardized
hanging hole by means of which the display pack can be displayed on a standardized
display hook as commonly used in retail outlets. Generally such display packs
comprise an upper support part provided with the hanging hole, and on which for
example product information can be displayed, and having a lower edge along the
length of which a series of bubble packs are arranged sequentially extending like the
teeth of a comb from the upper part and being detachably connected to the upper
part by means of separable links, e.g. thin integrally made bridges of plastics
material.
There is a problem with existing display packs for bubble packs of
toothbrushes in that it can be difficult for a customer to detach a bubble pack
located in the middle of the series of bubble packs without unintentionally
detaching other bubble packs.
It is an object of this invention to address this problem. Other objects and
advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.
Summary of the invention.
According to this invention a display pack for consumer products is provided,
comprising:
a sheet form support made in part at least of a plastics material and having a
lower edge having a length direction,
plural bubble packs having a bubble part made of plastics material and
defining a cavity for the product arranged lengthways sequentially along the edge,
each bubble pack having a first end integrally detachably linked to the support part
by a first separable link, and extending away from the lower edge in a direction
transverse to the length of the edge to a second end distant from the support,
lengthways adjacent bubble packs being integrally detachably connected to
each other by one or more second separable link wherein lengthways sequential
second links are at different distances from the lower edge of the support in a
direction transverse to the lower edge of the support.
As used herein the term "lower" refers to the orientation of the display pack
during normal display usage, i.e. with the support uppermost and the bubble packs
suspended below the support. Related directional terms such as "upper" etc. should
be understood correspondingly.
The sheet form support may comprise a thin sheet of plastics material of the
kind commonly used for displays, such as polypropylene or polyethylene, typically
ca. 1mm or less thick. The sheet form support may comprise a laminate, for example
of layers of transparent plastics material with a display board in between, for
example with text printed thereon. Such sheet form supports are well known in the
art.
The lower edge is preferably straight and of a length such that typically five
to ten bubble packs may be detachably connected thereto in line along the lower
edge. In the field of toothbrush retail typically six bubble packs containing
toothbrushes may be connected in this manner.
The sheet form support may for example be adapted to be hung or
otherwise supported for display e.g. in a retail outlet. For example the support may
be provided with an aperture to enable it to be hung from a hook. The position and
dimensions of such an aperture may be determined by national standards, e.g. the
so-called "Eurohook". The support may for example be rectangular, with an upper
edge opposite to the lower edge, and such an aperture may be near the upper edge.
Bubble packs of the general type used in the display pack of this invention
are well known, e.g. as described above, and are for example used for containing
toothbrushes.
Lengthways adjacent bubble packs may be made integrally detachably
connected to the support by the abovementioned first separable links by integrally
forming the plastic material part of the support and the bubble part together e.g. by
thermoforming the bubble part and the support integrally and in the process
forming one or more easily severable integral bridge of the plastics material
between the support and the bubble part. Ways of doing this are well known in the
art.
The bubble packs preferably extend away from the lower edge in a direction
which is perpendicular to the length of the lower edge of the support to their
second end.
Lengthways adjacent bubble packs are integrally detachably connected to
each other by one or more second separable link. Analogously as above, such
separable links may be provided by integrally forming the plastic material part of
lengthways adjacent bubble packs together, e.g. by thermoforming the bubble parts
integrally, and in the process forming one or more easily severable integral bridge of
the plastics material between adjacent bubble parts. Ways of doing this are well
known in the art. Ways of doing this are well known in the art.
Each of the above-mentioned separable links may comprise one or more
easily severable bridge(s) of the plastics material between respectively the bubble
packs and the support, and between adjacent bubble packs. Suitable dimensions of
such separable links to enable a user, e.g. a retail customer, to remove a bubble
pack from the support, and to separate bubble packs from each other, e.g. by
pulling or twisting a bubble pack relative to the support and/or an adjacent bubble
pack will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Depending on the plastics materials
of the support and bubble packs such links, e.g. integral bridges, may have a small
dimension transverse to the separation direction, e.g. 0.5-5mm. The links may
comprise one or more substantially integral spot links. For example between a
bubble pack and the support there may be two or three such spot links, and
between lengthways adjacent bubble packs the separable link may comprise two
such spot links.
Lengthways sequential second separable links between bubble packs which
are lengthways adjacent along the lower edge of the support are at different
distances from the lower edge of the support in the direction transverse to the
edge. For example the separable link between one pair of lengthways adjacent
bubble packs may be in the half of the bubble pack closer to the first end, and the
separable link between another pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs may be in
the half of the bubble pack closer to the second end. For example the separable link
between one pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs may be located at a distance
ca. 20-40%, e.g. about a third, of the distance from the first end toward the second
end of the bubble pack, and the separable link between another pair of lengthways
adjacent bubble packs may be located at a distance ca. 20-40%, e.g. about a third, of
the distance from the second end toward the first end of the bubble pack.
The separable links between the lengthways adjacent bubble packs may be
staggered along the length direction, so that the separable links between the
lengthways adjacent bubble packs alternate along the length direction of the lower
edge in their distance from the lower edge of the support, one being closer to the
lower edge, the next being further, the next closer and so on.
In an embodiment the display pack of the invention may be provided in a
form comprising two packs integrally connected at their respective upper edges, for
example by integrally thermoforming the two supports. In such a construction the
respective bubble packs extend in opposite directions. The integral connection may
be a foldable or severable connection, for example weakened by a line of
perforations, so that the two connected packs can be folded about the connected
edges. The respective hanging apertures in the supports may be so located that in
the folded state they align. Additionally or alternatively in this embodiment the
display package may be severable about the connection between their respective
upper edges to thereby provide two display packs.
From the preceding description it will be apparent that the display pack of
this invention addresses the problem of enabling a customer to detach a bubble
pack, especially in the field of toothbrush retail, located in the middle of the series
of bubble packs without unintentionally detaching other bubble packs. This is
achieved by means of the lengthways sequentially adjacent links being at different
distances from the edge in a direction transverse t o the edge, so that there is less
transmission from one bubble pack to another of the force used to detach a bubble
pack and therefore less likelihood of unintentional detachment of any other bubble
pack when a bubble pack is removed. As further advantages the display pack of this
invention allows preferential selection of an individual bubble pack without
disturbing the rest of the elements in the pack and at the same time makes this
format feasible at a lower packaging material consumption as it does not require a
360 degree frame unlike some other available concepts. Also the display pack of this
invention is flexible from a trade perspective enabling display of multiple sets, for
example six or twelve, bubble packs within the same production unit allowing great
flexibility in manufacturing.
Brief description of the drawings.
The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 shows a view of one form of a display pack of this invention.
Fig. 2 shows a view of another form of a display pack of this invention.
Fig. 3 shows the display pack of this invention in use.
Detailed description
Referring to Fig. 1 this shows a display pack 10 overall of this invention. The
display pack 10 comprises a sheet form support 11 which is in the form of two layers
of transparent plastics sheet material with a display board sandwiched in between
with the user's text printed thereon and visible (not shown) through the transparent
material in a manner well known in the art. The support 11 is rectangular in shape
typically ca. 26 x 13.5cm, and has a straight lower edge 12 and an opposite upper
edge 13, each having a length direction "L". Near the upper edge 13 is an aperture
14 of a standard so-called "Eurohook" shape and size by means of which the support
11 may be hung on a conventional display hook so that the lower edge 12 is
downwards, this being its normal mode of use.
Six bubble packs 15 of rectangular shape typically ca. 23 x 4 cm, having a
bubble part 16 made of plastics material and defining a cavity of a suitable shape
and size t o enclose a toothbrush (not shown) are arranged sequentially along the
length of the lower edge 12. Each bubble pack 15 has a first end 15A integrally
detachably linked t o the support part 11 by three (there may be less or more) first
separable links 17 each comprising a spot link integrally formed by thermoforming
the plastics material parts of the support 11 and of the bubble packs 15 together.
These separable links 17 have a sufficiently small dimension in the direction
transverse t o the separation direction, i.e. in the length direction "L" e.g. 0.5-5mm
that they can easily be severed by a user such as retail customer, t o remove a
bubble pack 15 from the support 11. Each bubble pack 15 extends away from the
lower edge 12 in a bubble pack length direction "LB" perpendicular t o the length L
of the lower edge 12 t o a second end 15B distant from the support 11.
Lengthways (along length L) adjacent bubble packs 15 are integrally
detachably connected t o each other by two (there may be less or more) second
separable links 18 each of which analogously t o the first severable links 17
comprises a spot link 18 integrally formed by thermoforming the plastics material
parts of the adjacent bubble packs 15 together and forming each link 18 as a thin
integral bridge of plastics material. Analogously t o the first links 17 these spot links
18 have a sufficiently small dimension in the direction perpendicular t o the length
direction "L" e.g. 0.5-5mm that they can easily be severed by a user such as retail
customer, t o separate a bubble pack 15 from its adjacent bubble pack 15.
It is seen in Fig. 1 that lengthways (along length L) sequential second links 18
are at different distances from the lower edge 12 of the support in the direction
perpendicular t o the edge 12. The links 18A for example are about a third of the
distance from the first end 15A toward the second end 15B of the bubble pack 15,
whereas the lengthwise (along length L) sequentially separable links 18B are about a
third of the distance along length LB from the second end 15B toward the first end
15A of the bubble pack 15. It is also seen in Fig. 1 that the separable second links 18
between the lengthways (along length L) adjacent bubble packs 15 are staggered
along the length direction L, so that the separable links such as 18A, 18B between
the lengthways (along length L) adjacent bubble packs 15 alternate in their distance
along length LB from the lower edge of the support 11, one 18A being closer t o the
lower edge 12, the next 18B being further, the next closer and so on.
Fig. 2 shows a display package 20 of this invention comprising two packs 10
as shown in Fig. 1 which are made integrally connected at their respective upper
edges 13, for example by integrally thermoforming the two supports 11. This
integral connection may be a foldable or severable connection, for example
weakened by a line of perforations, so that the pack 20 can be folded about the
connected edges 13. In this folded state the apertures 14 align so the pack 20 is able
t o display twelve bubble packs 15. Additionally or alternatively the display package
20 may be severable about the connection between their upper edges 13 t o provide
two display packs as shown in Fig. 1 each for six bubble packs 15 as shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows how the display package 10 might be used. By careful pulling
and/or twisting of the bubble pack 15 between the severable links 18A and 18B,
these links 18A and 18B have been severed t o separate the bubble pack 15 between
them from its two adjacent neighbours 151 and 152. With the bubble pack 15
between links 18A and 18B now separated from its neighbours, that bubble pack 15
may then be detached from the support 11 by careful pulling and/or twisting t o
sever the severable links 17. Because the lengthways sequentially adjacent links 18A
and 18B are at different distances from the lower edge 12 there is less transmission
from bubble pack 15 which is being removed in this way t o another still attached
bubble pack 15 of the force used t o detach the bubble pack and therefore less
likelihood of unintentional severance of other severable links 18 when this
procedure is followed.

Claims.
1. A display pack for consumer products, comprising a sheet form support
made in part at least of a plastics material, having an upper edge and having a lower
edge having a length direction,
plural bubble packs having a bubble part made of plastics material and
defining a cavity for the product arranged lengthways sequentially along the lower
edge, each bubble pack having a first end integrally detachably linked to the support
by a first separable link, and extending away from the lower edge in a direction
transverse to the length of the edge to a second end distant from the support,
lengthways adjacent bubble packs being integrally detachably connected to
each other by one or more second separable link wherein lengthways sequential
second links are at different distances from the lower edge of the support in a
direction transverse to the lower edge of the support.
2. A display pack according to claim 1 wherein the sheet form support
comprises a thin sheet of plastics material, or a laminate, or two layers of
transparent plastics material with a display board in between with the user's text
printed thereon.
3. A display pack according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the lower edge is straight
and of a length such that five to ten bubble packs may be detachably connected
thereto in line along the lower edge.
4. A display pack according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the sheet form support is
adapted to be hung or otherwise supported for display.
5. A display pack according to claim 4 wherein the support is rectangular, with
its upper edge opposite to its lower edge, and has an aperture for hanging the
support on a display hook near the upper edge.
6. A display pack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein
lengthways adjacent bubble packs are made integrally detachably connected to the
support by first separable links by integrally forming the plastic material part of the
support and the bubble part together.
7. A display pack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the
bubble packs extend away from the lower edge in a direction which is perpendicular
to the length of the edge.
8. A display pack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the
second separable link is provided by integrally forming the plastic material part of
lengthways adjacent bubble packs together.
9. A display pack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the
separable links comprise easily severable bridges of the plastics material between
respectively the bubble packs and the support, and between adjacent bubble packs.
10. A display pack according to claim 9 wherein the severable links have a
dimension transverse to the separation direction of 0.5-5mm.
11. A display pack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the
severable link comprises one or more integral spot link.
12. A display pack according to claim 11 wherein between a bubble pack and the
support there are two or three spot links.
13. A display pack according to claim 11 or 12 wherein between lengthways
adjacent bubble packs there are two spot links.
14. A display pack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the
separable link between one pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs is in the half
of the bubble pack closer to the first end, and the separable link between another
pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs is in the half of the bubble pack closer to
the second end.
15. A display pack according to claim 14 wherein the separable link between one
pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs is located at a distance 20-40% of the
distance from the first end toward the second end of the bubble pack, and the
separable link between another pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs is located
at a distance 20-40% of the distance from the second end toward the first end of the
bubble pack.
16. A display pack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the
separable links between the lengthways adjacent bubble packs are staggered along
the length direction so that the separable links between the lengthways adjacent
bubble packs alternate in their distance from the lower edge of the support, one
being closer to the lower edge, the next being further, the next closer.
17. Two display packs each according to any one of the preceding claims
integrally connected at their respective upper edges.
18. Two display packs according to claim 17 wherein the integral connection is a
foldable connection.
19. Two display packs according to claim 17 wherein the integral connection is a
severable connection.
20. Two display packs each according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein the
two integrally connected packs can be folded about the connected edges and the
respective hanging apertures in the supports are so located that in the folded state
they align.