[0001] This concerns a modification of an existing invention pertaining to the affixation
of packages with hygiene and cleaning products to snack packages, protected by Patent
No.
1007144/2011.
[0002] Previous state of the art: Packages containing specific foods (such as crisps, cheese
puffs, nuts, chocolate products, biscuits, salted and non-salted snacks etc.) are
already known. According to the main invention (Patent No.
1007144/2011), it is possible to affix, add, extend, staple or generally attach a secondary packaging
containing a cleaning or antiseptic wipe to the outside or inside of primary packagings
of snacks or similar products, which are then made available to consumers as one single
product. To date, no such superior product has been marketed and estimations are that
it can be further changed and modified, both to obtain improvement and to augment
the benefit from its production and use.
[0003] The present constitutes an application for the grant of a modified patent for Patent
Number
1007144/2011 for the idea outlined below, which refers to a number of alternative combinations
of the secondary packaging, aiming at an upgrade thereof (and thus, of the combined
product) in order to strengthen this package in terms of usefulness and preference
and/or to increase the benefit for the producer though sales and/or the reward of
the customer for choosing one package over another.
[0004] These original package combinations, which are a product based exclusively on the
idea, invention and concept of the depositor herself, are described by means of the
following three examples (A, B and C) and reference to the accompanying drawings (1
to 8):
- A) Together with the primary snack package, a secondary package is provided containing
a cleaning wipe, with two substantially flat surfaces. On one of these two sides,
the secondary packaging may carry an advertisement or other promoting suggestion or
information concerning the product. Thus, the producer/manufacturer is given the opportunity
to use and exploit the available surface for his own or any other benefit, through
projection and display of advertisements or promotion messages for his own interests
or those of a third person/company, with financial consideration for the use of said
conceded surface.
[0005] The advertisement could be anything, including: an identical miniature of the primary
snack package, a promotion of other products of the company that produces the product
enclosed in the primary snack package, an advertisement for the company that produces
the enclosed wipe, a promotion of other products of the company that produces the
enclosed wipe, an advertisement of a third natural or legal person, a smart description
of the contents of the secondary package (e.g. type, form, composition of the wipe
etc.), information with general or specific content, or any combination of the above
per side of the available surfaces, etc.
[0006] Unless consumed directly, the secondary package can be stored in a manner visible
to others at home, at the office or elsewhere, thus providing a powerful advertising
benefit. Thus, at an almost negligible additional cost, one would be able to provide
his prospect customers with a further object (wipe), which if not used directly will
probably be kept for future use. The product will thereby continue to provide an additional
advertising benefit to the producer/manufacturer/company, even after the use of the
contents of the main snack package, which is usually discarded after consuming its
contents.
B) In an alternative variant, the affixed secondary packaging is provided with one
(fig. 2 and 3) or more holes (fig. 1 and 4). These holes will give the retailer the
possibility to hang the combined product (primary and secondary package) at various
spots in his store (e.g. kiosk, supermarket, grocery store, convenience store etc.).
Consequently, this new product will be more visible and easily accessible to consumers,
enhancing thereby its promotion and sales.
[0007] In another variant of this idea, there will be a series of seams or tearing/cutting
lines (circle, square or otherwise shaped) which, when pressed lightly (e.g. with
the finger) will reveal the hole for hanging. This function will enable the creation
of the holes at the time the retailer wishes to hang the package. In one version,
the hole or the row of seams or tearing/cutting lines will become visible only after
unfolding of the attached secondary package, which in this variant behaves like a
flap.
C) In one further variant, the attached secondary package containing the wipe will
be provided as a single unit with two separate spaces (fig. 3 and 4). Fine cutting
or tearing lines are formed along common side of the two spaces to allow easy separation.
Thus, there will essentially be two wipes in one compound secondary package. In this
way, the user will have the possibility to detach the individual parts of the composite
secondary package, either separately or together, and use these at will, whenever
he wishes. Thanks to this new possibility, the first part will contain a cleansing
wipe for use before consumption and the second part a wipe for use after consumption
(each one soaked with an appropriate cleaning solution to kill germs and to facilitate
cleaning of hands, either flavoured with various fragrances/alcohol, or odourless).
[0008] Affixation of a wipe is regarded particularly desirable (figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and
5), as well as stapling with a row of perforations or cutting lines (figures 6, 7,
and 8). Additionally, apart from the direct benefit of the attached wipes, both the
primary snack package including the wipes and the wipes themselves can contribute
to increase the preference for the packaged product (especially in a saturated market
such as the markets for potato crisps, salted or not-salted snacks, biscuits etc)
and contribute to the advertising of the new combined product, creating additional
advertising space for the vendor/manufacturer.
[0009] A number of alternative operational and promotional configurations are shown below
in connection with drawings 1 to 8. It is immediately obvious that all variants showing
a wipe can be adapted to include a second wipe, using the same configuration in one
package. In particular:
Figure 1 shows a primary package (2) with an affixed secondary package containing
a wipe (2), which has two available holes for hanging the combined packaging (3).
Figure 2 shows a primary package (1) with an affixed secondary package containing
a wipe (2), which has one available hole for hanging the combined packaging (3).
Figure 3 shows a primary package (1) with an affixed secondary package with two separate
parts containing wipes (2), which also has one available hole for hanging the combined
packaging (3).
Figure 4 shows a primary package (1) with an affixed secondary package with two separate
parts containing wipes (2), which also has two available holes for hanging the combined
packaging (3).
Figure 5 shows a primary package (1) with an affixed secondary package with available
space for a wipe (2), placed approximately along the edge of the primary package (3).
Figure 6 shows a primary package (1) with a secondary package with available space
for a wipe (2), affixed by a row of perforations or thin tearing/cutting lines (at
the bottom of the primary package). The length of the secondary package is smaller
than the corresponding length of the main package.
Figure 7 shows a primary package (1) with a secondary package with available space
for a wipe (2), affixed perpendicularly from the top to the bottom.
Figure 8 shows a primary package (1) with a secondary package with available space
for a wipe (2), affixed by a row of perforations or thin tearing/cutting lines (at
the bottom of the primary package). The length of the secondary package is equal to
the corresponding length of the main package.
[0010] Obviously, without departing from the scope of the main invention, many variations
are possible regarding both the composition and diversity of the individual components
as well as the shape and dimensions of individual parts and the type of wipes (antiseptic,
flavoured or non-flavoured, coloured or non-coloured, with drawings, etc.) that can
be provided and packed in the additional removable package.
[0011] Also, the main invention is not intended to be limited to any particular packaging
material. There is a wide variety of commercially available sheet materials (paper)
that are suitable for the manufacture of packagings in accordance with this invention.
1. Apart from the claims mentioned below, the existing main claim and the dependent claims
relating to the main invention (Patent No. 1007144/2011) will continue to remain in
full force and effect. This modification relating to the adhesion/attachment/addition
in any way of hygiene and cleaning product packages to snack packages is characterised by a number of alternative packaging combinations (figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and
8) in connection with such affixed hygiene and cleaning products (wipes, antiseptic
wipes, sanitary wipes, cleaning wipes, etc.). The main objective of the modification
is to provide additional functionalities of the affixed wipe packages, in order to
widen, augment and readapt the scope and the main application of the invention as
reflected in the main claim and the dependent claims (Patent No. 1007144/2011), depending
on the requirements. In this way, consumers are offered an improved affixed package
which enhances the primary package in terms of demand and usefulness and/or increases
the additional benefit for the producer through sales. These alternative combinations
can also enhance the potential anticipated benefit for the consumer through purchase
of the relevant product, as a reward for choosing one package over another.
2. Affixation/attachment/addition and sale as a single product of an alternative packaging
configuration according to claim 1 offers the producer the ability to display one
or two advertisements on the surfaces of secondary affixed package, e.g. in the form
of a identical miniature of the main package, an advertisement for third persons,
a smart description of the content of the secondary package, etc. Thus, every wipe
package can carry a relevant advertisement placed directly thereupon. In this regard,
advertising and similar promotional information can be provided on both surfaces or
sides of the flaps of the wipe package. Accordingly, the surface area of the packaging
that is available for advertising is significantly increased.
3. Affixation/attachment/addition and sale as a single product of an alternative packaging
configuration according to claim 1 offers the possibility of a secondary affixed package
with one or more holes that cover the need of the retailer to hang the main product
(figures 1, 2, 3, and 4).
4. Affixation/attachment/addition and sale as a single product of an alternative packaging
configuration according to claim 1 offer the possibility to create a secondary affixed
package with separate parts so that each part can be configured to contain a separate
wipe for use before and after consumption (figures 3 and 4).