VÄISÄNEN, Pertti (Soukansyrjä 10, Espoo, FI-02360, FI)
| CLAIMS 1. A packaging arrangement comprising a first package 100 comprising a first flat information display area 101 and a first product container 102 having a volume, the first product container 102 being thicker than the first information display area 101 and a second package comprising a second flat information display area 111 and a second product container 112 having a volume, the second product container 112 being thicker than the second information display area 111 , characterized in that, when stacked for display so that the information display areas 101 , 111 of the first and the second packages 100, 110 are facing to the same direction, the thickness of the stack comprising the first and the second package 100, 110 is less than the sum of maximum thicknesses of the first package and the second package. 2. A packaging arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the thickness profile of the first package is substantially a mirror image of the thickness profile of the second package. 3. A first or second package 100, 110 of the arrangement of claim 1 , characterized in that the container 102, 112 has a substantially constant volume. 4. A first or second package 100, 110 of the arrangement of claim 1 , characterized in that the container 102, 112 has a form preserving structure. 5. A first or second package of the arrangement of claim 1 , characterized in that the information display area comprises hanging means 103, 113 suitable for hanging the package for display. 6. A first or second package of the arrangement of claim 5, characterized in that the hanging means 103, 113 comprise at least one of the following: a tab, a hook and an aperture. A packaging arrangement of claim 1 , characterized in that the first information display area 101 and the second information display area 111 comprise essentially the same information. |
TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to a packaging arrangement optimized for shelf space use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous different types of packages are known in the art that are suitable for being placed on display for sale. For example, some packages contain a flat information display area and a storage container having a volume. The flat display area may contain e.g. text and/or images about the product and its use. The product itself is in the storage area of the package. The storage area may be e.g. a container having a certain form preserving shape, e.g. a rectangle.
The packages of the prior art are typically not optimized for use of shelf space. Especially the thickness of a stack of packages may not be optimal.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a packaging arrangement where the combined thickness of the packages placed on a shelf is optimized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention discloses a packaging arrangement comprising a first package comprising a first flat information display area and a first product container having a volume, the first product container being thicker than the first information display area and a second package comprising a second flat information display area and a second product container having a volume, the second product container being thicker than the second information display area. The arrangement is characterized in that, when stacked for display so that the information display areas of the first and the second packages are facing to the same direction, the thickness of the stack comprising the first and the second package is less than the sum of maximum thicknesses of the first package and the second package.
In an embodiment, the thickness profile of the first package of the arrangement is substantially a mirror image of the thickness profile of the second package.
The first or second container may be a closed container. The container may have a substantially constant volume. The container may have a form preserving structure. The container may have a re-sealable cover.
The first or second information display area may comprise hanging means suitable for hanging the package for display. The hanging means may comprise at least one of the following: a tab, a hook and an aperture.
In an embodiment, the first information display area and the second information display area comprise essentially the same information.
Some embodiments of the invention are described herein, and further applications and adaptations of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In the following, the invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the packaging arrangement of the present invention,
Figure 2 shows a detail of the exemplary embodiment shown in figure 1 , and
Figure 3 shows another exemplary embodiment of the packaging arrangement of the present invention
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the packaging arrangement of the present invention. The arrangement comprises a first package 100 having a first information display area 101 and a storage area comprising a container 102. In this embodiment, also a hanging arrangement 103 is provided for hanging the package using e.g. a suitable hook or rod. The arrangement also comprises a second package 110 having a second information display area 111 and a storage area comprising a container 112. In this embodiment, the second package comprises also a hanging arrangement 113 that is conveniently similar to that of the first package 100. The information display areas 101 , 111 suitably contain essentially the same information, e.g. text and/or images related to the product provided in the storage area 102, 112.
In the shown embodiment, the information area 101 , 111 is a rectangular piece of material of which the area 104, 114 is cut along the line 105, 115 and folded behind the storage container 102, 112 along line 106, 116 and attached behind the container 102, 112. An aperture 107, 117 is made to the rectangular piece of material to facilitate a location for the container 102, 112. In this embodiment, the first storage area comprising the first container 102 is located below the information area 101. The information area and storage area are made of some suitable material, e.g. cardboard or plastic. In an embodiment, the information area is made of cardboard and the storage container 102, 112 is made of plastic. In another embodiment, the information area and the storage container comprise the same material.
In this embodiment, the shapes of the first and the second package 100, 110 are mirror images of each other. Also consequently, the thickness profiles of the packages 100, 110, e.g. as seen from the bottom of the packages when the information areas 101 , 111 are facing upwards, are mirror images of each other. As a result, when stacking the two different packages together, their combined thickness is less than the sum of the maximum thicknesses of the packages 100, 110.
An exemplary image of a container 102, 112 is provided in figure 2. The container 200 of the example is made of a single piece of preferably transparent plastic. The piece comprises a recess 203 that suitably has a volume and/or a form preserving structure. The recess is surrounded by a flat rectangle which is folded around hinge 202 to form a cover 201. The cover may be kept closed, preferably in a re-sealable manner, using suitable attachment means 203, e.g. glue or a dual-sided sticker. When the container 200 is placed in the packages 100, 110 of figure 1 , the hinge is preferably located above the folded rectangle (104, 114 in figure 1 ). This way, the thickness added by the hinge is kept at minimum.
Figure 3 depicts another exemplary embodiment of the packaging arrangement of the present invention. The arrangement comprises a first package 300 having a first information display area 301 and a storage area comprising a container 302. A hanging arrangement 303 is provided for hanging the package using e.g. a suitable hook or rod. The arrangement also comprises a second package 310 having a second information display area 311 and a storage area comprising a container 312. The second package comprises also a hanging arrangement 313 that is conveniently similar to that of the first package 303. The information display areas 301 , 311 suitably contain essentially the same information, e.g. text and/or images related to the product provided in the storage container 302, 312.
In this embodiment, the first storage area comprising the first container 302 is located below the information area 301 and the thickness profile of the first container 302 forms a triangle when the package is viewed from the bottom. Similarly, the thickness profile of the second container 312 is also a triangle. When stacking the packages so that the information display areas 301 , 311 are facing to the same direction, the container areas 302, 312 are at least partially overlapping.
To a person skilled in the art, the foregoing exemplary embodiments illustrate the model presented in this application whereby it is possible to design different packages, which in obvious ways to the expert, utilize the inventive idea presented in this application.
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