Shaped packaging for a refill

• US 7,584,846 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Senter, L. Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman; Bryon P
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESAI, KAUSHIKKUMAR A
• Application Number:
  US11/963,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20090159486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 222/78, 222/183, 206/471, 206/462, 206/461, 206/459.5, 206/457, 206261-271
• US Class Current: 206/457
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2575/565 means explicitly used for suspending
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/88 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/366 and forming one compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/367 and forming several compartments

Abstract

A package includes a refill for a device and a configuration of the package that resembles at least a portion of the device with which the refill functionally interacts. The configuration of the package is indicative of the device and does not include same. In addition, a method of identifying a renewable item for a rechargeable device includes the steps of providing a package including a structural configuration that resembles at least a portion of the rechargeable device with which the renewable item interacts and packaging the renewable item within the package. The rechargeable device is not carried by the structural configuration. Further, a packaging includes a first item and a structure that carries the first item and that resembles at least one portion of a second item with which the first item functionally interacts. A characteristic of the structure identifies the second item. The second item is not carried by the structure.

Claims

1. A package for a refill for a device, comprising:

a refill for the device, and

a configuration of the package that resembles at least one portion of the device with which the refill will functionally interact;

wherein the configuration of the package is indicative of the device, and wherein the package does not carry the device, and

wherein the refill comprises a dispensable substance that is dispensable therefrom.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the refill comprises at least one of a component, an insert, a packet, a pouch, a storage container, a textile, a bead, a candle, a recharge. an add-on, a replacement part, a single or multiple compartment cartridge, a can, a bottle, an aerosol container, a fuel charge, a filter, a bag, a reservoir, a reusable part, a liquid fragrance reservoir, and a pump-type sprayer container.

3. The package of claim 1, wherein the refill comprises at least one of a fluid, a gas, a fragrance, a gel, an oil, an emulsion, a wax, a resin, a polymer, a salt, a powder, a shaving gel, an insect repellent, an insecticide, an air controlling agent, an odor eliminating agent, a cleaning agent, a clog removal agent, a scrubbing agent, a surface cleaning agent, a floor cleaning agent, a bathroom cleaning agent, a stain removal agent, a clothes cleaning agent, a dust removal agent, a food, a drink mix, an ingredient, and combinations thereof.

4. The package of claim 1, wherein the refill is an aerosol container having a fluid outlet.

5. The package of claim 1, wherein the appearance of the refill with the configuration enables a user to correctly identify a refill with respect to the specific device.

6. The package of claim 1, wherein a portion of the refill is complementary in shape to the configuration of the package that resembles the at least one portion of the device.

7. The package of claim 1, wherein a portion of the refill is partially contained within the package.

8. The package of claim 7, wherein the refill is viewably disposed within the package to viewably interact with the configuration in a manner similar to its interaction with a portion of the device with which the refill functionally interacts.

9. The package of claim 1, wherein the configuration comprises a three dimensional structure.

10. The package of claim 9, wherein the three dimensional structure resembles a partially disassembled device.

11. The package of claim 10, wherein refill will interact with the at least one portion of the device via a lock and key mechanism.

12. The package of claim 1, wherein the package further comprises an additional storage portion for one or more refills.

13. The package of claim 12, wherein one or more refills are stored in the additional storage portion and no refill is stored within the configuration.

14. The package of claim 1, wherein the configuration is a replica of the device that enables a consumer to correctly identify the refill to be used with the device.

15. The package of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one of an acrosol dispenser, a gas dispenser, a powder dispenser. a dispenser of solids, a liquid dispenser, a coffee machine, an espresso machine, a motorized machine, an electronic device, a cosmetic device, a cooking appliance, a filtering system, a chamber, a razor, a carrier, a candle, a device that uses a temporary product, a device that uses a short-lived product, a device that uses a single use product, a dispensing device, a storing device, a preparing device, and an applicator.

16. The package of claim 1, wherein the package comprises at least one of paper, plastic, cloth, cardboard, wood, metal, resin, a recycled material, and combinations thereof.

17. A packaging, comprising:

a first item; and

a structure that carries the first item and that resembles at least one portion of a second item with which the first item functionally interacts,

wherein a characteristic of the structure identifies the second item and wherein the second item is not carried by the structure, and

wherein the first item is an aerosol container having a fluid outlet.

18. A package for a refill for a device, comprising:

a refill for the device, wherein the refill is an aerosol container having a fluid outlet,

a configuration of the package that resembles at least a portion of a device with which a refill functionally interacts; and

wherein the configuration of the package is indicative of the device and wherein the configuration does not carry the device.

19. The package claim 18, wherein the appearance of the refill with the configuration enables a user to correctly identify the refill with respect to the specific device.

20. The package of claim 18, wherein a portion of the refill is partially contained within the package.

21. The package of claim 18, wherein the configuration comprises a three dimensional structure.