Packaging

Abstract

A primary package comprising two or more compartments which can be opened individually, each compartment comprising a plurality of unit dose detergent portions and wherein at least one compartment is substantially air-tight before it is opened for the first time. The package provides for good stability of the detergent portions.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a package comprising a plurality of unit dose detergent portions. In particular the present invention relates to such packaging comprising two or more separate compartments each containing a plurality of unit dose detergent portions.BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART[0002]Unit dose portions are well known in detergent applications as they provide ease of dosing and easy handling for consumers. Typical unit dose forms include tablets and sachets or pouches. The sachets and pouches may be filled with solid detergent (including in granular or powdered form), pastes, liquids or a mixture thereof.[0003]Tablets (particularly of a compressed particulate composition), sachets and pouches comprising detergent portions are well known for use in dish-washing machines or laundry washing machines. Such tablets, sachets and pouches are added to the washing machine and are fully consumed by the end of the washing operation. Examples of such tablets are d...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Surprisingly it has been found that when a multi-compartment re-sealable primary packaging is used for storing unit dose detergent portions good stability is achieved for substantially all of the unit dose portions in that packaging, even after it has been opened for the first time. In particular when each individual compartment in the multi-compartment packaging is capable of being individually resealed very good results are obtained for the stability of the unit dose detergent portions therein.

[0014]It is preferred that the compartments of the package are either stacked, arranged adjacent to each other or both. To provide further dimensional stability to the package it is preferred that the compartments are reversibly bound to each other, preferably by the compartments being reversibly bound to each other by a wrapper placed around at least a part of the package.

[0019]The present invention enables at least some of the unit dose detergent portions in the primary package to be shielded from damaging environmental factors such as moisture and air by virtue of being kept in substantially airtight compartments prior to being opened. It is known that contact with moisture can damage / soften detergent tablets and can adversely affect the integrity of sachets and pouches made of water soluble material. Moreover some of the ingredients conventionally used in detergent compositions exhibit at least some degree of instability over time when in contact with the air. Thus it is desirable to limit the exposure of such tablets to the open air and this is achieved by the substantially airtight compartments which are accessed by the consumer by opening at least a portion of the compartment and closing it when the detergent portion has been removed. Furthermore, rather than the primary package containing the total number of unit dose detergent compositions sold together as a single unit, these compositions are contained within two or more compartments. This has the advantage that the unit dose detergent portions in a given compartment are only exposed to the aforementioned environmental factors when that compartment is opened thus limiting exposure thereto. Also by placing the unit dose detergent portions into two or more compartments there is a reduced tendency for the portions rub or knock together so reducing attrition between them which otherwise can damage the surfaces of the portions.

Problems solved by technology

Some components of the tablet such as bleaches and enzymes may be irritating to the skin, eyes etc and so it is undesirable to handle the tablet.

However, a problem with these types of known containers which contain such unit dose detergent portions is that although the container is re-sealable it often does not prevent instability of the detergent composition inside it developing over time once the container has been opened for the first time.

This is undesirable as it can lead to physical and / or chemical changes in the detergent composition which may lead to loss in performance and / or to the appearance and / or integrity thereof.

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