A uv-protected container with product having dyes or lakes

[0001] The invention relates to a substantially transparent container filled with a colored product, according to the preamble of claim 1, which is known e.g. from WO 01/85568.

[0002] Tubes containing essentially transparent multilayer laminated structures have been used for many years on products on the market of dentifrices or health and care products. These pipes were particularly effective for products containing pigments, since such pigments are generally stable during the effective life of the product. However, many dentifrices or health and care products contain dyes and or varnishes. Such dyes and lakes will discolor or decompose when exposed to light. Therefore, substantially transparent laminated multi-layer containers for products containing dyes and lakes are not suitable because they do not provide adequate protection.

[0003] WO-A-01/85568 discloses transparent / translucent bottle labels. US-A-2005/0047990 discloses a method of stabilizing packaged chlorine-containing active solutions against light-induced degradation, using stabilized hypochlorite solutions in combination with a container.

BRIEF SUMMARY [0004] The present invention is directed to a container and product system according to claim 1, said system comprising (a) a container adapted to contain a product, a container comprising a substantially transparent laminated multilayer body, the body containing 0.05% to 1% by weight ultraviolet absorber, such that the body allows less than 10% transmission of ultraviolet radiation between 280 nm and 400 nm, and wherein the ultraviolet absorber is present in at least one middle layer in the multilayer laminated body; (b) a product placed in a container, the product containing dyes, lakes or both.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005]

Fig. 1 shows a container having a cylindrical side wall and filled with the product in accordance with one aspect of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the container taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of the multilayer sidewall structure shown in Fig. 2 having n layers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0006] Figures 1 and 2 show the arrangement of the container and product 100, according to which the utility of the container is significantly increased with respect to the product contained therein, in particular for a product containing dyes, lakes or both. The container body 110 is substantially transparent when filled with product 200 to make the product more visible to the user. The dispensing end 120, which may have a neck and a stopper, may be transparent, translucent or opaque.

[0007] As noted, the product 200 includes dyes and / or lakes. Dyes dissolve in water but are not soluble in oils. Colored lakes are a combination of dyes and insoluble material. Colored lakes color as a result of dispersion and are not soluble in oil, but are dispersible in oil. Lacquer lacquers are usually more stable than dyes and are ideal for coloring products containing fats and oils or components that do not have enough moisture to dissolve the dyes. Two such ingredients are FD&C Blue No. 1 and FD&C Yellow No. 5.

However, both dyes and lakes will discolor or decompose when exposed to light.

[0008] In addition to dyes and lakes, the product may contain suspended pieces having functional shapes and / or non-functional shapes. Functional shape products effectively convey specific benefits to the recipient, such as balls containing a mouthwash to refresh the breath or containing flavoring or sweeteners. This means that functional shapes provide visual guidance to the recipient as to the content of the product. Non-functional shapes are usually used for decorative interest in the product. The suspended pieces may be spherical pieces, such as balls, or polyhedron pieces, such as rectangular and triangular pieces. Suspended pieces may have the same or different colors. For example, they can be white balls or multi-colored rectangular pieces. Examples of products containing functional shapes are described, for example, in US Patent 6,669,929 and US Patent Publication 2004/0136924. The essentially transparent container allows suspended pieces to be more easily visible to the consumer.

[0009] The product may be intended for skin care, e.g. moisturizing creams, cleansers or body washes, hair care, e.g. shampoos and conditioners, body care, e.g. deodorants or antiperspirants or oral healthcare, e.g. teeth cleaning. In particular, the product is intended for cleaning teeth, which product comprises toothpastes, gels and combinations thereof.

[0010] In particular, the product is a dentifrice gel. The refractive index of gels is from 1.33 to 1.47, from 1.40 to 1.46 or from 1.43 to 1.45. For example, the refractive index can be around 1.44.

[0011] The container and product arrangement according to aspects of this invention has a better contact of clarity between the product and the container. This means that the color or appearance of the product is more perfect in contact with the container. For example, the container may look cloudy without the product it contains, but when filled with the product, the container is substantially transparent providing good visibility as to the content of the container. In addition, the container changes or enhances the color or tint (hue) of the product it contains.

[0012] The appearance of the product in the container is generally a function of the gloss, color and transparency of the container.

[0013] As already mentioned, the container appears cloudy when it is empty. Turbidity is the scattering of light as it passes through a transparent material as a result of poor visibility and / or glare. Haze may be inherent in the material as a result of the extrusion and laminating process, or as a result of surface texture. Light transmittance (light) measures the amount of light passing through the sample.

[0014] The degree of turbidity is less than 40 as measured according to ASTM D1003.

[0015] The container may also be defined by clarity. The degree of clarity is greater than 90, measured according to ASTM D1003.

[0016] The container may also be defined by transmittance. Light transmittance is the percentage of incident light that passes through the sample. The degree of transmittance is greater than 78, measured according to ASTM D1003.

[0017] Furthermore, the container protects the product contained therein from degradation caused by light. It maintains the desired appearance or visual guidance of the product for the benefit of the consumer throughout the entire effective life of the product.

[0018] According to at least one aspect of the invention, the container has a body 110 comprising a multilayer laminate structure having L_n layers, where n is an integer. See Fig. 3. The laminate structure typically has from about 5 to about 13 layers of flexible materials, typically about 7 to about 11 layers. In one example, the laminate structure has 9 layers. The layers may contain any suitable mixture of substances, including, but not limited to, polyamides, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyolefins from companies such as DuPont, Teijin Films, Eastman Chemical Company, Kuraray Co. Ltd, Sealed Air Corporation and Huhtamaki.

[0019] The laminated structure may be partially decorated or without decoration allowing the product to be seen through the laminated structure.

[0020] The containers may be of any suitable shape and size. Suitable shapes include tubular, square, rectangular and cylindrical. In one aspect, the containers can be a tubular, multi-layer folding packaging, with a capacity of 10ml to 300ml, with side seam seal, end seal, tube head and closure. In another aspect, the containers may be square or rectangular multilayer folding packaging of 0.5ml to 50ml capacity. In another aspect, the containers are cylindrical and semi-rigid with a capacity of 200 ml to 400 ml with side seam and rigid ends and closure. These aspects are for example purposes and are not intended to limit the size and shape of the container.

[0021] The thickness of the multilayer laminate structure may be any suitable thickness of the substantially transparent container containing the product and usually ranges from 200 microns to 400 microns, for example from 200 microns to 275 microns.

[0022] In addition to the container providing traditional product protection against moisture loss and taste loss, the container provides product protection, in particular a product containing dyes, lakes, or both against discoloration, as observed by the human eye. This discoloration may occur when the container is exposed to light, in particular sunlight. Exposure to light can last for up to two years, which may be equivalent to 12 weeks with equivalent energy of 49.2 kJ / m².

[0023] To provide protection against ultraviolet light, the laminated multilayer structure contains an effective amount of at least one ultraviolet light absorber, including but not limited to benzophenone, benzotriazole, hydroxyphenyltriazine and cerium oxide. Effective amounts are usually 0.05% to 1% by weight, preferably up to 0.1% by weight. Ultraviolet light absorbers can be in a single layer or combination of layers. In one aspect, an ultraviolet light absorber is present in at least one of the middle layers of the laminate. It is desirable to have an ultraviolet absorber in the middle or several middle layers, as the absorbers present in the surface layer can wear off or near the adjacent layer can migrate to the product, which causes the formation of tarnish. Migration levels of ultraviolet light absorbers to the surface of a multilayer container, for example benzotriazole from the middle layers, are less than the limit of detection of 21 ppb (0.0033 mg / dm²).

[0024] Ultraviolet light absorbers can be provided by companies such as Ciba Specially Chemicals. Tinuvin 326 [2- (2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl) -5-chloro-2H-benzotriazole] and Tinuvin 234 [2- (2H benzotrialzol-2-yl) -4,6-bis (1-methyl- 1-phenylethyl) phenol].

[0025] The multilayer laminated container structure provides less than 10% transmission of ultraviolet light between 280 nm and 400 nm, between 280 nm and 380 nm, or between 280 nm and 370 nm.

[0026] The apparent clarity of the whole product depends on the clarity of contact, which can be determined by the interaction between the packaging and the product surface. The refractive index of such a product can be easily measured using a surface refractometer and will depend on the nature of the water and the humectants that are typically present in the toothpaste in the gel (see US Patent # 6669929 and US Publication 2004/013924 and references therein given as examples). Accordingly, a properly matched product in the container will increase overall transparency through the packaging and allow the user to more easily observe the aesthetic or functional characteristics of the product.

[0027] The container and product system of the present invention has a good appearance and provides better contact clarity similar to that of a glass container, but without fear of breakage and the weight associated with the glass container. The transparent packaging convinces the consumer that the product is still effective.

[0028] Although the container may appear cloudy when it is empty (due to the air enclosed in the laminate), when it is filled with the product, the container emphasizes light transmittance and absorption of certain colors. This improves the color of the product, making the product look pleasant to the consumer. Contact clarity occurs by combining the colors in the product and its refractive index. The color does not fade throughout the life of the product.

[0029] The following table shows the laminate structure of the present invention compared to other films:

<td></td><td> 276</td><td>microns</td><td>Mylar® LBT 12'23 microns</td><td>TM Kuristar^™ C 14 microns</td>

<td>Shine</td><td colspan="2"></td><td></td><td></td>

<td>Parallel</td><td> 56,</td><td> 0 - 83,2</td><td></td><td></td>

<td>Perpendicular</td><td> 57,</td><td> 6 - 87,4</td><td></td><td></td>

<td>transmittance</td><td> 83,</td><td> 4 - 92,4</td><td></td><td> 93,0</td>

<td>turbidity</td><td> 28,</td><td> 3 - 39,3</td><td> 4,5 - 9,0</td><td> 2,9</td>

<td>Clarity</td><td> 90,</td><td> 2 - 95,4</td><td></td><td></td>

[0030] Total transmittance, turbidity and clarity as measured according to ASTM D1003 and ASTM E 2387 standards. Gloss is measured according to ASTM D2457 Standard Method for Measuring Reflective Gloss of Plastic and Solid Plastic Films at an angle of 60 ° for intermediate gloss of films.

Example [0031] A multi-layer tubular container was prepared according to the present invention. The container has better mechanical properties and has a bonding strength between layers of between 2 Newtons per 15 mm tape and 6 Newtons per 15 mm tape, and more specifically to at least 4 Newtons per 15 mm tape and does not delaminate under normal use. The tie strength between the layers can be determined with a tension / compression apparatus capable of applying up to 9 kgf at a tension or compression speed of 100 mm / minute. An instrument that meets this data can be obtained from Instron Corp., Canton, Ohio. (References ASTM D883 and ASTM D638.) Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, including currently preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that there are many variations and combinations of the systems and techniques described above that are within the scope of the present invention as set out in the appended claims.