PACKAGE FOR A WATER-SOLUBLE CAPSULE

WIPO Patent Application WO/2006/037512

One or more water-soluble capsules containing a detergent composition in combination with a flexible package comprising: a. front wall b. a rear wall (2), c. two end seals (4,6) interconnecting and sealing respective opposed end regions of the front wall and rear wall which together define a chamber for containing the one or more water-soluble capsules, the package incorporating a zone of weakness (8) for opening the package, said zone of weakness being located within one end seal.

Roberts, Kevin Alan (Unilever R & D Vlaardingen, Olivier van Noortlaan 120, 3133 AT Vlaardingen, NL)

PCT/EP2005/010399

04/13/2006

09/22/2005

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UNILEVER PLC (Unilever House, Blackfriars, London Greater London EC4P 4BQ, GB)
UNILEVER NV (Weena 455, AL Rotterdam, NL-3013, NL)
HINDUSTAN LEVER LIMITED (Hindustan Lever House, 165/166 Backbay Reclamation Maharashtra, Mumbai 0, 400 02, IN)
Roberts, Kevin Alan (Unilever R & D Vlaardingen, Olivier van Noortlaan 120, 3133 AT Vlaardingen, NL)

B65D75/58; B65D75/46

Hardy, Susan Margaret (Unilever Patent Group, Colworth House Sharnbrook, Bedford Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, GB)

CLAIMS1. One or more water-soluble capsules containing a detergent composition in combination with a flexible package comprising: a. front wall b. a rear wall, c. two end seals interconnecting and sealing respective opposed end regions of the front wall and rear wall which together define a chamber for containing the one or more water-soluble capsules, the package incorporating a zone of weakness for opening the package, said zone of weakness being located within one end sea

1. l. 2. One or more watersoluble capsules containing a detergent composition in combination with a flexible package comprising: a. a dualwalled chamber with opposing flexible walls b. said flexible walls being are interconnected by respective seals at respective opposed end regions of the two walls, c. the chamber containing the one or more watersoluble capsules, and d. the package incorporates a zone of weakness located within one end seal.

2. 3 The combination according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the zone of weakness comprise a series of perforations.

3. 4 The combination according to claim 3 wherein each of the perforations is preferably less than 1 mm.

4. 5 The combination according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the gap between each perforation is less than lmm in length.

5. 6 The combination of any preceding claim wherein the package is a nonpeelable, flexible material such as polyethylene, polypropylene.

6. 7 The combination according to any preceding claim wherein the package includes one or more longitudinal seals within one of the walls, e.g. the rear wall and/or the front wall.

7. 8 The combination according to any preceding claim wherein the package material preferably has a Moisture Vapour Transfer Rate (M.V.T.R) of between 0.25 g/m /day to 20 g/m²/day at 38 ⁰C and 90% relative humidity, and 2 2 preferably between 5 g/m /day to 15 g/m /day at 38 °C and 90% relative humidity.

8. 9 A method of opening a package according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the step of separately grasping the front wall and the rear wall followed by the step of pulling the walls away from each other so as to tear open the one end seal and tearing along the zone of weakness.

9. 10 A method of making a package according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the package is aged for at least 24 hours.

PACKAGE FOR A WATER-SOLUBLE CAPSULE

The present invention relates to a package or container for one or more water-soluble capsules containing a laundry or machine dishwashing composition.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a improved package for containing water-soluble capsules of detergent.

In one aspect the invention provides one or more water- soluble capsules containing a detergent composition in combination with a flexible package comprising a. a front wall b. a rear wall, c. two end seals interconnecting and sealing respective opposed end regions of the front wall and rear wall which together define a chamber for containing the one or more water-soluble capsules, the package incorporating a zone of weakness for opening the package, said zone of weakness being located within one end seal.

In a further aspect the invention provides one or more water-soluble capsules containing a detergent composition in combination with a flexible package comprising a. a dual-walled chamber with opposing flexible walls b. said flexible walls being are interconnected by respective seals at respective opposed end regions of the two walls,

c. the chamber containing the one or more water-soluble capsules, and d. the package incorporates a zone of weakness located within one end seal.

In a further aspect the invention provides a method of opening a package according to the first invention, wherein the method comprises the step of separately grasping the front wall and the rear wall followed by the step of pulling the walls away from each other so as to tear open the one end seal and tearing along the zone of weakness.

By incorporating the zone of weakness within the seal region, the integrity of the bag is not compromised by the weakness, and the water soluble film material of the packaged capsules is protected from increased levels of ambient humidity during storage which could otherwise lead to premature dissolution of the film and as a result the capsule may rupture and release it contents. Package integrity is necessary during the pre-purchase/use period during which the package may be handled, transported etc. However, at the same time, when the pack does need to be opened, excessive force is not required to open the package, because the zone of weakness assists opening reducing the force required. A package which has requires excessive force can actually be damaged during opening, or even worse the contents can be spilt, so that capsules could be thrown, dropped out of the package and rupture on landing.

Protection of capsules from ambient humidity is important because premature dissolution of a single capsule (by

exposure to increased levels of ambient humidity) could have a knock on effect whereby the fluid released dissolves some or all or other capsules.

Protection of capsules from ambient humidity during storage, means that they are drier on use. If the water soluble capsule material becomes damp, it may then increase the possibility of in-wash lodging as a tacky film is more likely to stick to the washing machine door before it has chance to be caught up in the main wash.

Preferably the seals are effected by heating the regions to be sealed.

The zone of weakness may comprise a series e.g. line of perforations. Each of the perforations is preferably less than 1 mm in length and may be 0.5 mm in length. The gap between each perforation is preferably less than lmm in length and may be 0.5 mm in length. The perforations may be made by e.g. a blade or laser. Each perforation may be a small hole or slot.

Preferably the package is a non-peelable, flexible material such as polyethylene, polypropylene and may be an oriented materials, laminates, coextrusions etc.

The package may be of thickness 25-100μm.

Preferably the package is aged for at least 24 hours and more preferably at least 1 week before opening, even more preferably at least 2 weeks before opening and further

preferably 4 weeks before opening. Without being bound by theory it is thought that ageing allows recrystalisation of the seal occurs making it more brittle, allowing easier opening. Thus the package is stored without

Preferably, there are one or more longitudinal seals within one of the walls, e.g. the rear wall and/or the front wall. The package may be manufactured by vertical form fill and seal techniques.

To protect the capsules from ambient humidity, the package material preferably has a Moisture Vapour Transfer Rate

(M.V.T.R) of between 0.25 g/m ² /day to 20 g/m ² /day at 38 ⁰ C

2 and 90% relative humidity, and preferably between 5 g/m /day to 15 g/m ² /day at 38 ⁰ C and 90% relative humidity.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sealed package containing a round-shaped water-soluble capsule of liquid detergent according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, one combination of the invention is shown, comprising a flexible plastic bag 1 which contains one or more water soluble capsules (not shown) of laundry detergent liquid.

_ C _

The flexible bag has two flexible rectangular walls, a front wall (not shown) and a rear wall 2 which are joined together along respective end portions by heat seals 4,6. The co- joined walls define a dual walled chamber for containing the one or more water-soluble capsules, and the package incorporates a zone of weakness 8 for opening the package. The zone 8 of is located within one end seal 4.

The seals 4,6 are effected by heating the regions to be sealed.

The zone of weakness 8 comprises a series i.e. a line of perforations. Each of the perforations is 0.5 mm in length. The gap between each perforation is 0.5 mm in length. The perforations are made by e.g. a blade and each perforation comprises a small hole or slot.

The package is a non-peelable, flexible material, in this case polyethylene, and has a thickness 25-100μm.

The package is made by vertical form fill and seal techniques and therefore includes a longitudinal seal 10. The perforations are made following sealing. The package is then aged for at least 24 hours and more preferably at least 1 week before opening can take place, even more preferably at least 2 weeks before opening and further preferably 4 weeks before opening. Without being bound by theory it is thought that aging allows recrystalisation of the seal occurs making it more brittle, allowing easier opening. Thus the package is stored for a predetermined period as above, e.g. in a storage area e.g. warehouse, before being

offered for sale to prevent premature opening and allow aging.

To protect the capsules from ambient humidity, the package material preferably has a Moisture Vapour Transfer Rate

(M.V.T.R) of between 0.25 g/m ² /day to 20 g/m ² /day at 38 ⁰ C

2 and 90% relative humidity, and preferably between 5 g/m /day to 15 g/m ² /day at 38 ⁰ C and 90% relative humidity.

The package is opened by separately grasping the front wall and the rear wall followed by the step of pulling the walls away from each other so as to tear open the one end seal and tearing along the zone of weakness.

By incorporating the zone of weakness within the seal region, the integrity of the bag is not compromised by the weakness, and the water soluble film material of the packaged capsules is protected from increased levels of ambient humidity during storage which could otherwise lead to premature dissolution of the film and as a result the capsule may rupture and release it contents. Package integrity is necessary during the pre-purchase/use period during which the package may be handled, transported etc. However, at the same time, when the pack does need to be opened, excessive force is not required to open the package, because the zone of weakness assists opening reducing the force required. A package which has requires excessive force can actually be damaged during opening, or even worse the contents can be spilt, so that capsules could be thrown, dropped out of the package and rupture on landing.

The detergent liquid contained in the water soluble capsules exemplified here comprises:

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only.