US20130189393A1 - Folding wallet packaging for confectionery products, more particularly bars or slabs of chewing gum - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging (10; 20; 30) for confectionery products, more particularly bars of chewing gum (G), having a folding configuration of the book or wallet type comprising at least two main parts (11; 12; 21, 22, 23; 31, 32, 33, 34) designed to be folded one in relation to the other around an intermediate zone of folding (15; 15′, 15″), between a closed or folded configuration (C) and an open configuration (C′) of the packaging (10), wherein each one of these two main folding parts (11, 12) is provided, along a respective internal surface (11a,12a), with at least one pocket or compartment (13, 14) containing a plurality of bars or slabs (G1, G2) of chewing gum, and wherein these bars of chewing gum (G), contained in the two compartments (13, 14), are available and offered in two different formulations and/or flavours (G1, G2), more particularly corresponding to the respective compartments (13, 14). The packaging (10) has the important advantage of offering for sale on the market a single product which allows the consumer to choose between several preferred flavours and/or formulations of bars of chewing gum.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates in general to the sector of packagings for confectionery products and more specifically concerns a folding packaging of the book or wallet type containing confectionery products, such as more particularly bars or slabs or similar shapes of chewing gum.
CURRENT STATE OF THE ART
• The current market has, as anyone can easily ascertain, a numberless and vast range of packagings and containers for confectionery products, each one with its own peculiarities and features, more particularly linked both to the specific shape and type of the confectionery products or product contained in these packagings and containers, and to elements, of a more innately commercial nature, aimed at making the supply of these confectionery products, such as chocolates, sweets, sugar-coated confectionery and others, particularly attractive to consumers on the market.
• Among these packagings mention is made, being related more directly to the field of the present invention, of those that are provided for containing chewing gum.
• Naturally, also in this field of packagings and/or of containers for chewing gum, the market offers a vast range of packagings and/or containers, for example in the form of a tube, boxes of various shapes and forms, dispensers, and others.
• The chewing gum is in turn packaged and offered on the market, by means of these packagings and containers, in a multiplicity of forms, for example sugar-coated gums, bars, slabs, sweets, and others, just as it can be present and available in these packagings and containers in various ways, for example loose or ordered in respective compartments or cells.
• In general the packagings and containers for chewing gum, currently on sale and offered on the market, contain chewing gum of a single formulation or flavour, where instead chewing gum, leaving aside the forms of consumption wherein it is offered, i.e. sugar-coated gums, bars, pastilles, slabs, sweets, etc., is notoriously produced in various formulations and flavours, for example mint, lemon, liquorice and strawberry, with the addition of fluorine, vitamins, mineral salts, etc., in order to meet the desires of the consumer halfway and satisfy the various needs and preferences of consumers for flavour of consumers.
• In other words the packagings of chewing gum currently offered and on sale on the market usually contain one and only one formulation or one and only one flavour of chewing gum, whatever form of its consumption is foreseen, i.e. slabs, sugar-coated gums, sweets, etc.
• Therefore the consumer, when buying one of these packagings of chewing gum currently present on the market, in fact has available and can make use of one single formulation or one single flavour of chewing gum.
• Also known for some time are packagings and in general containers, for consumer products, which have a folding configuration of the so-called book or wallet type, i.e. comprising at least two parts in the form of panels and the like which are connected along a zone or line of folding and are designed to be folded one in relation to the other.
• In detail, these wallet packagings and containers of the known type are provided to contain and house consumer products, such as for example tissues or pharmaceutical pills, in respective seats and/or pockets and/or in general housings which are defined in each of the two folding panels or sheets or parts of the packaging.
• During use the consumer opens the wallet packaging so as to access the seats and housings defined by the two folding parts and then take out the product contained in them, for example, in the case of tissues, through slots associated with these housings.
• By way of an example some of these wallet packagings, containing specifically tissues, are described in the patent documents WO 2008/026190 A2 and WO 2008/026098 A2.
• In any case these folding wallet packagings, although very practical and convenient and therefore having achieved a certain commercial success, more particularly in the sector of disposable tissues, refer to a market and meet needs which are considerably different from those of the packaging and supply on the market of confectionery products, and furthermore they are distanced from the field of packaging of a specific confectionery product such as chewing gum.
• By now analysing the market for chewing gum and the respective products on sale currently proposed thereon, according to what is described in brief above, the Applicant Perfetti Van Melle spa has perceived how the availability of a single formulation or flavour in the packagings of chewing gum, currently offered for sale on the market, in fact limits the possibilities of choice of the consumer, where instead the availability of several formulations or flavours of chewing gum in a single packaging on sale could considerably extend these possibilities of choice and therefore meet the aspirations of the consumer halfway, and at the same time represent an important element for determining the commercial success of the product on the market.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Therefore a first object of the present invention is to propose a packaging for confectionery products, and more particularly for chewing gum, which meets the needs mentioned above halfway, i.e. is such as to extend the possibilities of choice of the consumer, at the same time avoiding for the latter certain inconveniences, frequently also not clearly perceived, such as for example that of having to purchase two or more packagings of chewing gum of different formulations and/or flavours, when the consumer usually prefers to consume and alternate chewing gum of different formulations and/or flavours.
• Another object of the present invention is also that of promoting and further improving the supply on the market of the specific chewing gum product, also taking account of the foreseeable and future evolution of this market towards an increasingly higher number of alternatives and of flavours, in order to meet the increasingly varied and complex needs of consumers.
• A further object of the present invention is also to propose a packaging of bars or slabs of chewing gum of several flavours which, in addition to being practical and convenient to use by the consumer, can be produced industrially in a simple manner and with low costs.
• These objects are fully achieved by the folding packaging for confectionery products, more particularly chewing gum, which has the features defined by the main independent claim1.
• Particular and advantageous embodiments of the invention are also defined by the dependent claims.
• The packaging for chewing gum in accordance with the present invention is associated with numerous advantages, partly already implicitly mentioned previously, among which the following are repeated:
• • the availability on the market of a single product which gives the consumer a wider possibility of choice between the various preferred flavours and formulations of chewing gum which the consumer usually consumes;
  • greater convenience and practicality of use, in the sense that the consumer used to consuming chewing gum of different flavours and formulation no longer has to purchase and carry along numerous packagings of chewing gum, but only has to purchase one where he or she can find his or her favourite flavours and formulations of chewing gum;
  • low cost of packaging and therefore a lower cost of the product to the consumer, with the same number of formulations and flavours of chewing gum offered for sale.
• A further advantage of the present invention is that of making, once the packaging has been opened, a plurality of compartments equally and easily accessible to the consumer, for the greatest possible ease of choice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made clearer and more evident by the following description of one of its preferred embodiments, given by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
• FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a folding packaging containing chewing gum, in accordance with the present invention, in an open configuration;
• FIG. 2 is a second perspective view, from an opposite viewpoint, of the open folding packaging ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a front view of the folding packaging ofFIG. 1, in the open configuration;
• FIG. 4 is a third perspective view of the folding packaging ofFIG. 1, in a closed or folded configuration;
• FIG. 5 is a view from above of the folding packaging ofFIG. 4, in the closed configuration, with a raised covering sheet;
• FIG. 6A is a perspective view, with a portion in schematic form, of a first variant, with three compartments, of the folding packaging ofFIG. 1, for chewing gum, in an open configuration;
• FIG. 6B is a schematic view from above of the first variant, with three compartments, ofFIG. 6A, in a closed or folded configuration; and
• FIGS. 7A and 7B show schematically in a perspective form and from above a second variant, with four compartments, of the folding packaging ofFIG. 1, for chewing gum, in an open configuration and in a closed or folded configuration respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
• Referring toFIGS. 1-5, a packaging, containing confectionery products and made in accordance with the present invention, is denoted overall by10.
• More particularly the confectionery products contained in thepackaging10 are made up of a plurality of single pieces, elongated in shape, such as bars, slabs or similar forms, of chewing gum, denoted in general by G, while the single bars or slabs of chewing gum are denoted by G1 and G2.
• Thepackaging10 has a typical folding configuration of the so-called book or wallet type in turn defined by a container comprising two main parts, by11 and12, folded from a sheet or panel or the like, wherein these twomain parts11 and12 are connected one to the other along an intermediate zone of folding15 and each has a respectiveinternal surface11aand12a, and a respectiveexternal surface11band12b.
• These twoparts11 and12 are foldable one in relation to the other around the zone of folding15 between a closed or folded configuration of thepackaging10, denoted by C and shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, wherein theinternal surfaces11aand12aof the twoparts11 and12 are facing and in contact one with the other, and an open configuration, denoted by C′ and shown inFIGS. 1-3, of thesame packaging10, wherein theinternal surfaces11aand12aare distanced one from the other in order to allow access by the consumer to the bars of chewing gum contained in thepackaging10.
• According to a salient feature of the present invention, each one of the twofolding parts11,12 of thepackaging10 is provided, along the respectiveinternal surface11a,12a, with at least one pocket or compartment, denoted respectively by13 and14, which contain the confectionery product, i.e. the bars of chewing gum, so that thepackaging10 has at least two compartments or pockets for the bars G1 and G2 of chewing gum, each one corresponding to a respective folding part. The zone offolding15 has a width dimension extending between the twoparts11,12 which is approximately equal to the combined depth of the pockets orcompartments13 and14 on either side of it.
• More particularly, as shown in the drawings, each one of the twofolding parts11 and12 is associated with a single compartment, respectively13 and14, containing the bars of chewing gum, yet it is clear however that each of the two folding parts can define and be provided with several compartments, without thereby departing from the sphere of the present invention.
• Moreover, according to another salient feature of the present invention, the confectionery product, i.e. the bars of chewing gum, which are contained and housed in these twocompartments13,14, are available and offered in at least two different formulations, and more particularly in two different flavours or combinations of flavours corresponding to the bars G1 contained in thefirst compartment13 and to the bars G2 contained in thesecond compartment14.
• For example thefirst compartment13 provided in thefirst part11 contains a plurality of bars or slabs G1 of chewing gum with a first flavour such as lemon, orange or another flavour, while thesecond compartment14, provided in thesecond part12, contains a plurality of bars or slabs G2 of chewing gum with a second flavour such as mint or liquorice flavour, or other flavours, different from those of the bars or slabs G1 contained in thefirst compartment13.
• In brief, exemplifying the concept of the present invention, thepackaging10 is characterised by a folding configuration of the book or wallet type with two parts or folding sheets which contain in at least two respective compartments at least two types of bars of chewing gum, more particularly of at least two different flavours.
• The twofolding parts11 and12 have substantially the same extent and shape, typically rectangular, so that, once folded in the closed configuration C of thepackaging10, they are completely superimposed one on the other along the respectiveinternal surfaces11aand12a, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5.
• The folding wallet configuration of thepackaging10 is made from a single starting sheet, for example of card, appropriately shaped, and by folding successively specific portions of this single starting sheet so as to obtain the twomain parts11 and12 with therespective compartments13 and14 intended to contain the bars G1 and G2 of chewing gum G.
• More particularly each one of the twocompartments13 and14, provided in the twofolding parts11 and12 and containing the two different types G1 and G2 of bars of chewing gum, is formed by a folded front flap denoted respectively by13aand14a, and a folded side flap denoted respectively by13band14b, which all extend parallel to a panel in the sheet which defines theexternal surface11b,12bof thecorresponding folding part11,12. Thefront flaps13aand14aare connected to the panels which define theexternal surfaces11b,12balong respective bottom zones of folding15aand15b. Theside flaps13band14bare connected to the panels which define theexternal surfaces11b,12balong respective side zones of folding15a′ and15b′, which are perpendicular to the bottom zones of folding15aand15b, respectively.
• The side flaps13b,14bare provided only at the outer side edges of thepackaging10, and prevent the chewing gum G from falling out the sides of thecompartments13,14.
• Moreover thesefront flaps13aand14ahave a length substantially equal to and a smaller height, defined by arespective edge13a′ and14a′, than that of the panel which defines theexternal surface11b,12bof thecorresponding folding part11,12.
• The various bars G1 and G2 of chewing gum have an elongated shape and are arranged in a vertical direction in therespective compartments13,14 so as to project at least partially from the latter, and therefore to be easily removable from the respective compartments in the open configuration C′ of thepackaging10.
• Thepackaging10 further comprises a folding covering flap, denoted by17 and connected to one of the parts (for example, the first part11) along a zone offolding18, which is perpendicular to the zone offolding15, wherein the zone offolding18 has a depth dimension extending between thefolding covering flap17 and thepart11 which is approximately equal to the combined depth of the pockets orcompartments13 and14, and wherein this coveringflap17 is provided to cover stably the twoparts11 and12 folded one on the other in the closed configuration C of thepackaging10.
• For this purpose, in this closed configuration C, thecovering flap17 is folded and inserted in acorresponding slot19 formed on theexternal surface12bof theother part12, as shown inFIG. 4.
• It is therefore clear, from what is described, that the present invention achieves in full the objectives that had been set, and more particularly proposes a packaging for confectionery products, more particularly containing a plurality of bars of chewing gum, which offers the consumer a wider choice between his or her preferred formulations and the flavours of bars which he or she usually consumes.
• Without detriment to the basic concepts of the present invention, it is also clear that changes, modifications and improvements can be made to the packaging described hitherto for confectionery products, consisting more particularly of bars of chewing gum, without thereby departing from the sphere of the same invention.
• For example, according to a first variant denoted by20 and shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B, the packaging containing the bars of chewing gum G can comprise three folding parts, denoted respectively by21,22 and23, instead of two like thepackaging10, wherein thepart22 is placed between the twoend folding parts21 and23.
• More particularly thesefolding parts21,22 and23 are connected in pairs along two intermediate zones of folding15 and15′, are foldable one in relation to the other around these zones of folding15 and15′ and define each one a respective compartment,24,25 and26, containing a plurality of bars of chewing gum, wherein these bars of chewing gum contained in thecompartments24,25 and26 are available in three different flavours or formulations, denoted by G1, G2, and G3, corresponding respectively to the threecompartments24,25 and26.
• The zones of folding15 and15′ are dimensioned to allow thefolding parts21,22 and23 to fold into a book or wallet. That is, one of the zones of folding, in this example15′, has a width dimension extending between its twoadjacent parts22,23 which is approximately equal to the combined depth of their respective pockets orcompartments25,26; and the other of the zones of folding, in this example15, has a width dimension extending between its twoadjacent parts21,22 which is approximately equal to the combined depth of all three of the pockets orcompartments24,25,26.
• Similarly to thepackaging10, also in the packaging20 afolding covering flap27, is connected along an intermediate zone of folding28 to one of the two folding parts which in the closed configuration of thepackaging20 is on the outside, for example21, to cover the threeparts21,22 and23, in the closed configuration of thepackaging20. In this closed configuration C, the coveringflap27 is inserted in a corresponding slot (not shown) formed on the external surface of the otheroutside part22.
• The zone of folding28 has a dimension extending between the coveringflap27 and thefolding part21 which is approximately equal to the combined depth of all three of the pockets orcompartments24,25,26 when thepackaging20 is in the closed configuration.
• It will be appreciated that the width dimensions of the zones of folding15,15′ determine the order in which thefolding parts21,22,23 are folded; and thus, which of thefolding parts21,22,23 are on the outside when thepackaging20 is in the closed configuration. It will also be appreciated that the coveringflap27 can be connected to either one of thefolding parts21,22,23 which is on the outside when thepackaging20 is in the closed configuration, and that the corresponding slot for receiving the coveringflap27 is formed on the other of thefolding parts21,22,23 which is on the outside.
• Moreover, to complete the information,FIGS. 7A and 7B show a further variant, denoted by30, of the packaging which is the object of the present invention, comprising fourfolding parts31,32,33 and34 each one defining arespective compartment35,36,37 and38, wherein each of these compartments in turn contains a specific type or flavour of bars of chewing gum C.
• Therefore in this case thepackaging30 contains four formulations or flavours of bars, denoted by G1, G2, G3 and G4, of chewing gum G, which are available to be selected and consumed by the consumer in the respective fourcompartments35,36,37 and38 of thepackaging30.
• Thefolding parts31,32,33,34 are connected in pairs along three intermediate zones of folding15,15′,15″, and are foldable one in relation to the other around these zones of folding15,15′,15″. The zones of folding15,15′,15″ are dimensioned to allow thefolding parts31,32,33,34 to fold into a book or wallet. That is, one of the zones of folding, in this example15′, has a width dimension extending between its twoadjacent parts33,34 which is approximately equal to the combined depth of their respective pockets orcompartments33,34; the second of the zones of folding, in this example15″, has a width dimension extending between its twoadjacent parts32,33 which is approximately equal to the combined depth of the three the pockets orcompartments32,33,34 which are adjacent the zones of folding15′ and15″; and the last of the zones of folding, in this example15, has a width dimension extending between its twoadjacent parts31,32 which is approximately equal to the combined depth of all four of the pockets orcompartments31,32,33,34.
• Here too afolding covering flap39 is connected along an intermediate zone of folding38 to one of the two folding parts which in the closed configuration of thepackaging30 is on the outside, in this example31, to cover stably thereciprocally folding parts31,32,33 and34 in the closed configuration of thepackaging30. In this closed configuration C, the coveringflap37 is inserted in a corresponding slot (not shown) formed on the external surface of the otheroutside part32. The zone of folding38 has a depth dimension extending between the coveringflap37 and thefolding part31 which is approximately equal to the combined depth of all four of the pockets orcompartments34,35,36,37 when thepackaging30 is in the closed configuration.
• It will again be appreciated that the width dimensions of the zones of folding15,15′,15″ determine the order in which thefolding parts31,32,33,34 are folded; and thus, which of thefolding parts31,32,33,34 are on the outside when thepackaging30 is in the closed configuration. It will also gain be appreciated that the coveringflap37 can be connected to either one of thefolding parts31,32,33,34 which is on the outside when thepackaging30 is in the closed configuration, and that the corresponding slot for receiving the coveringflap37 is formed on the other of thefolding parts31,32,33,34 which is on the outside.
• Moreover the distinctive features which define the different types of bars or slabs of chewing gum which are contained in the various compartments of thepackaging10,20 and30, can be different from or complementary in relation to the flavour, and for example comprise the colour and/or the design of the wrapping of the bars, or the actual shape of the bars or of the slabs of chewing gum, so that the consumer, on the basis of these distinctive features, can easily recognise and identify the type of bars of chewing gum which he or she wishes to consume.

Claims (13)

1. Packaging (10;20;30) for confectionery products in the form of bars or slabs (G1, G2) of chewing gum (G), having a folding configuration of the book or wallet type, comprising:

at least two parts (11;12;21,22,23;31,32,33,34) connected one to the other along an intermediate zone of folding (15;15′,15″) and defining each one a respective internal surface (11a,12a) and a respective external surface (11b,12b), said at least two parts (11;12;21,22,23) being foldable one in relation to the other around said zone of folding (15;15′,15″) between a closed or folded configuration (C) of said packaging (10), wherein the internal surfaces (11a,12a) of said at least two parts (11,12) are facing one in respect of the other, and an open configuration (C) of said packaging (10), wherein said two parts (11,12) and the respective internal surfaces (11a,12a) are distanced one from the other in order to allow access to said bars or slabs of chewing gum (G1, G2),

wherein each one of said two parts (11,12) is provided, along the respective internal surface (11a,12a) with at least one pocket or compartment (13,14) containing said bars or slabs (G1, G2) of chewing gum (G), and

wherein said bars or slabs (G1, G2) of chewing gum (G), contained in these compartments (13,14), are available and offered in at least two different formulations, more particularly flavours (G1, G2), each one corresponding to a respective compartment (13,14).

2. Packaging (10) for confectionery products according toclaim 1, wherein each one of said at least two folding parts (11,12) is provided with one single compartment (13,14) containing a corresponding and specific type or flavour (G1, G2) of bars or slabs of chewing gum.

3. Packaging (10) for confectionery products according toclaim 1,

wherein said at least two folding parts (11,12) have substantially the same shape and extension, so that, once folded in said closed configuration (C), they are completely superimposed one on the other along the respective internal surfaces (11a,12a).

4. Packaging (10) for confectionery products according toclaim 3, wherein said two parts (11,12) both have a rectangular shape.

5. Packaging (10) for confectionery products according toclaim 2, wherein the two compartments (13,14), provided in said two folding parts (11,12) and containing two different formulations and/or flavours (G1, G2) of bars or slabs of chewing gum (G), are formed by a folded panel (13a,14a) having a substantially equal length and a height smaller than that of a panel which extends along the external surface (11b,12b) of the corresponding folding part (11,12).

6. Packaging (10) for confectionery products (G) according toclaim 5, wherein said bars or slabs (G1, G2) of chewing gum (G), contained in said compartments (13,14), have an elongated shape of such length that they project at least partially from the respective compartments (13,14).

7. Packaging (10) for confectionery products (G) accordingclaim 1, further comprising a folding cover flap (17) suitable for covering said two parts (11,12) in the closed configuration (C) of said packaging (10).

8. Packaging (10) for confectionery products (G) accordingclaim 1, wherein the packaging is made from a single starting sheet and by folding successively specific portions, appropriately shaped, of said single sheet, so as to obtain said parts (11,12) and the respective compartments (13,14) suitable for containing the bars or slabs (G1, G2) of chewing gum (G).

9. Packaging (20,30) for confectionery products (G) according toclaim 1, comprising at least three parts (21,22,23;31,32,33,34) reciprocally folding one on the other and each one provided with at least one pocket or compartment (24,25,26;35,36,37,38), wherein the compartments (24,25,26;35,36,37,38) provided in said three folding parts (21,22,23;31,32,33,34) contain three different formulations and/or flavours (G1, G2, G3; G1, G2, G3, G4) of bars or slabs of chewing gum corresponding to said compartments (24,25,26;35,36,37,38).

10. Packaging (10,20,30) for confectionery products (G) according toclaim 1, wherein the distinctive features which define the different types of bars or slabs of chewing gum contained in the various compartments of said packaging (10,20,30) comprise the colour and/or the design of the wrapping of the bars and/or the actual shape of said bars or slabs of chewing gum.

11. Packaging (10) for confectionery products according toclaim 2,

wherein said at least two folding parts (11,12) have substantially the same shape and extension, so that, once folded in said closed configuration (C), they are completely superimposed one on the other along the respective internal surfaces (11a,12a).

12. Packaging (10) for confectionery products according to any one ofclaim 3, wherein the two compartments (13,14), provided in said two folding parts (11,12) and containing two different formulations and/or flavours (G1, G2) of bars or slabs of chewing gum (G), are formed by a folded panel (13a,14a) having a substantially equal length and a height smaller than that of a panel which extends along the external surface (11b,12b) of the corresponding folding part (11,12).

13. Packaging (10) for confectionery products according to any one ofclaim 4, wherein the two compartments (13,14), provided in said two folding parts (11,12) and containing two different formulations and/or flavours (G1, G2) of bars or slabs of chewing gum (G), are formed by a folded panel (13a,14a) having a substantially equal length and a height smaller than that of a panel which extends along the external surface (11b,12b) of the corresponding folding part (11,12).

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