ES2999649T3 - Cover with tactile discontinuity - Google Patents

Abstract

Examples include a consumer product comprising a detergent product and a container comprising a case, a lid, and a closure for holding the lid in a closed position. The closure comprises at least a first actuator movable from a locked position to an open position by applying actuating pressure to the first actuator when the lid is in the closed position. The lid comprises a first tactile discontinuity, the first tactile discontinuity facing the first actuator, the first tactile discontinuity enabling the first actuator to move from the locked position to the open position by applying actuating pressure to the first tactile discontinuity when the lid is in the closed position, the lid further comprising a second tactile discontinuity, the second tactile discontinuity facing directly toward the second specific portion of the side walls when the lid is in the closed position. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, no legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Cover with tactile discontinuity

Background

This invention relates generally to containers for detergent products. Such containers containing detergent products are consumer products found in consumer homes, particularly in rooms such as a kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom, which tend to generate a humid environment. It is important that the container be configured to adequately protect the detergent product from degradation due to excessive exposure to such moistening or humidity. EP1783058A1 describes a carton for washing agents according to the preamble of claim 1, having flaps mounted on its rim. These fit under the edge of the lid and keep it closed. They can be pressed inward to release the lid through openings arranged in pairs around the corners of the lid with a separation corresponding to the distance between an adult's thumb and another finger. US6484931B1 describes a leak-resistant, resealable package that includes a container for storing a product and a lid attached to the container to close the container. The container includes a first panel having at least one slot disposed therethrough and a cover extending over the slot to prevent product from leaking through the slot. The cover is attached to the first panel. The lid has a downwardly projecting flap with an extension attached thereto, the extension engaging the slot when the lid is in the closed position.

Brief description of the drawings

Figures 1A-B illustrate a first illustrative consumer product.

Figures 2A-C illustrate a second illustrative consumer product.

Figures 3A-B illustrate a third illustrative consumer product.

Figures 4A-B illustrate a fourth illustrative consumer product.

Figure 5 illustrates a fifth example of a consumer product.

Figure 6 illustrates a sixth and seventh illustrative consumer product.

Figures 7A-B illustrate an eighth illustrative consumer product.

Figure 8 illustrates a first illustrative method.

Figure 9 illustrates a second illustrative method.

Figure 10 illustrates a third illustrative method.

Detailed description

Detergent products are sensitive to moisture and therefore must be contained in specific containers, specifically containers that can be properly locked and reclosed or locked after use or opening to reduce the risk of the detergent composition being overly exposed to ambient moisture. At the same time, a locking closure on such a container must be configured to be actuated by a wide variety of adult consumers or users. Thus, the locking closure must reliably prevent accidental opening and provide reliable reclosure or relocking of the container after use, as well as provide reliable unlocking when desired by an adult consumer. While these objectives may seem contradictory, it is important to achieve both. This apparent contradiction is particularly notable when applied to paperboard containers, which, while offering desirable recyclability, pose challenges related to their mechanical characteristics.

It was discovered that said objectives could be achieved by providing a cover for a box, the cover comprising not only, firstly, a first tactile discontinuity, the first tactile discontinuity facing a first actuator for closing, the first tactile discontinuity allowing the first actuator to move from a locked position to an open position by applying the actuating pressure at the first tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position, but also, secondly, a second tactile discontinuity in the cover, the second tactile discontinuity facing directly towards a corresponding specific part of the side walls of the box when the cover is in the closed position. While the first tactile discontinuity allows the locking closure to be manipulated, the second tactile discontinuity faces directly towards the side walls of the box when the cover is in the closed position, touching the second tactile discontinuity, thus not affecting the locking closure, thus allowing a point to be provided from which the container can be gripped without opening the locking closure. Indeed, it is sometimes desired to manipulate the container without opening the locking closure. In particular, in cases of generally smooth side walls and a generally smooth cover, where the only gripping points would be related to the actuation of the locking closure, gripping the container by said gripping points could in fact be problematic, as it could lead to an unintended opening of the container. This is avoided by providing the second tactile discontinuity according to the claims presented and preferably on a flank of the cover. Said second tactile discontinuity can be used, for example, by machinery to manipulate the container on a production line without opening the box. A user can also use said tactile discontinuity as a reference gripping point to actually open the locking closure by also pressing on the first tactile discontinuity at the same time. The fact that the second tactile discontinuity faces directly towards a corresponding side wall portion of the box makes it possible, in fact, to have a stable gripping point, unlike the structure corresponding to the first tactile discontinuity, which corresponds to the first actuator, which can be moved between different positions. Indeed, it was found that having at least one finger positioned at a stable location (i.e., at the second tactile discontinuity) facilitated operating the first actuator with a second finger, by a "lever" effect, the second tactile discontinuity acting as a stable base for this lever effect. Direct orientation is to be understood, according to the appended claims, as meaning that the cover, in the area of the tactile discontinuity, is separated from the corresponding sidewall portion of the case only by a thin layer of air clearance, the corresponding sidewall portion (or the second specific portion of the sidewalls in the language of the claims) being actuator-less or flap-less to provide the desired stability. In some embodiments, one or more further tactile discontinuities are provided on the cover, preferably on a flank of the cover, said one or more further tactile discontinuities facing directly toward a corresponding specific portion of the sidewalls when the cover is in the closed position to provide one or more further stable gripping points. In some embodiments, at least one of said one or more tactile discontinuities is located on a flank of the cover opposite another flank on which the second tactile discontinuity is located, such that the grip can be further improved, for example, when said grip is desired without risk of unlocking the container. In some embodiments, a cover comprises 4 tactile discontinuities, 2 being on a first flank of the cover, 2 on a flank of the cover opposite the first flank, each flank comprising 1 tactile discontinuity such as the second tactile discontinuity, i.e., facing directly towards a corresponding part of the side wall, and each flank comprising 1 tactile discontinuity such as the first tactile discontinuity, i.e., corresponding to an actuator such as the first actuator.

The consumer product according to this description aims to take these different aspects into account.

The locking closure according to this disclosure should be configured to reversibly hold the cover in a closed position. By reversibly, it should be understood that the locking closure allows the cover to be repeatedly locked and unlocked, thereby allowing repeated access to the contents of the container and allowing the container to be locked between successive accesses. This differs from, for example, single-use mechanisms such as tamper-evident mechanisms, which, due to their function, are not reversible. In some examples, a locking closure according to this disclosure serves to reversibly hold a cover in a closed position by configuring it to allow at least 10 successive opening and closing operations. In some examples, a locking closure according to this disclosure serves to reversibly hold a cover in a closed position by configuring it to allow at least 50 successive opening and closing operations. In some examples, a locking closure according to this disclosure serves to reversibly hold a cover in a closed position by configuring it to allow at least 100 successive opening and closing operations.

In this description, a tactile discontinuity that allows actuation of a locking latch actuator is referred to as an actuation area. The second tactile discontinuity is not an actuation area according to this description, precisely because it faces directly toward the side wall.

In some embodiments, one or more of the tactile discontinuities is one of an aperture and a tactile element. While an aperture would be a preferred tactile discontinuity due not only to simplicity of implementation, but also to direct contact with the actuator or alternatively directly to the sidewall provided with a tactile discontinuity in the form of an aperture, other types of tactile discontinuities that can be detected, for example, by a change in texture, the presence of a varnish, the presence of a membrane, an engraved element, an intaglio element, or a groove, may be considered. In some embodiments, each tactile discontinuity is one of an aperture, a groove, a membrane, or an engraved area, preferably an aperture, where each tactile discontinuity preferably has a circular shape.

In some preferred embodiments, the specific configuration described in this disclosure allows for a structure comprising first, second, and third actuation areas that will provide a reliable locking and unlocking operation. The use of these three separate actuation areas effectively allows three fingers of a single adult hand to be used to operate the cover of a box held by the other adult hand.

Detergent products are products that can be relatively heavy, for example, when a container for such a product carries the total weight of such detergent products, particularly when the consumer product is recently acquired and therefore contains a significant amount of detergent product. Although some consumers may lift and carry such a consumer product containing a base from a box containing such a detergent product, such lifting and carrying may also occur by holding such a consumer product by a cover, without supporting the base. In such cases, it is possible for the cover, subjected to the gravitational pull of the detergent product, to come loose and open the box, causing the box to fall and possibly spill its contents. Such situations should be avoided. Beyond preventing such unintentional unlocking of the cover, the structure of a consumer product container must maintain or improve the ergonomics of opening and prevent or reduce permanent deformation of the sidewall under excessive or repetitive forces applied to the consumer product, for example, during transport in a grocery bag, against other objects, when subjected to external pressure, or when dropped. At the same time, containers can be designed to protect the environment. The consumer product according to this description is intended to take these various aspects into account.

A consumer product should be understood in this description as a product that is provided, among others, to end consumers. Such consumer products may, for example, be available for purchase in supermarkets, and end consumers may store such consumer products in their homes. Consumer products may be provided in large quantities and must therefore be designed with environmental concerns in mind. Consumer products must also be designed with transport to a retail store in mind. Consumer products must also be robust to withstand transport as part of an e-commerce-related shipment. Consumer products must also be designed with storage on display in a retail store in mind. Consumer products must also be designed with transport from a retail store to a consumer's home in mind. Consumer products must also be designed with storage in a private end-consumer's home in mind. Consumer products must also be designed with use of the consumer product in a private end-consumer's home in mind. Consumer products must also be designed with disposal in mind.

The consumer product according to this invention comprises a detergent product. Detergent products should be understood in this description as products comprising a surfactant. Detergent products may also comprise a bleach or other ingredients. Illustrative detergent product compositions are described in more detail herein. In some examples, the detergent product comprises unit-dose detergent pouches, preferably water-soluble unit-dose detergent pouches, more preferably flexible water-soluble unit-dose detergent pouches. Examples of unit-dose detergent pouches are described in more detail herein. It should be noted that, in some cases, containers according to this description may also be suitable for contents other than a detergent product, particularly for contents of something of a perishable nature, such as foodstuffs or unstable chemicals, for example.

The consumer product according to this invention further comprises a container. A container should be understood in this description as an object that houses contents, for example, in a cavity of the container. The container facilitates the protection, transportation, storage, access, and disposal of the consumer product.

In this description, the container comprises a box. A box should be understood as a generally parallelepiped, barrel-shaped, cylindrical, round, oval, or cubic three-dimensional object that defines a cavity. The use of parallelepiped boxes can facilitate storage and transportation by allowing stacking of boxes in a space-efficient manner. In some examples, a box may be a parallelepiped provided with some trapezoidal or rounded conical beveled edges. The box according to this description comprises the detergent product. It should be understood that the detergent product is contained or stored in the box. The box according to this description comprises a base, side walls, and an opening. In some examples, the opening is opposite the base. In other examples, the opening is in a side wall. A base according to this description should be understood as a surface on which the box can extend when placed on a support surface such as a shelf or a floor. In some examples, the base is flat. In some examples, the base is rectangular. In some examples, the base is oval or round. In some examples, the base has a protruding or embossed profile. The side walls according to this description should be understood as extending from the base and connecting the base to the opening, to a transition piece, or to the cover. It should be understood that the connection of the base to the opening may include one or more transition pieces in addition to a side wall. It should be understood that the connection of the base to the opening may be through a portion of a side wall when, for example, the opening is in such a side wall. In some examples, a transition piece may be glued or otherwise attached to the side wall. In some examples, the side walls are perpendicular to the base. In some examples, the base is rectangular and has four sides, four side walls extending perpendicularly from the base, each side wall being rectangular, each side wall being connected by one side of the side wall to one side of the base, and by two other sides of the side wall to two other of the four side walls. In some examples, the base is oval or circular, and the side walls form a generally cylindrical wall extending from the base in a direction normal or perpendicular to the base. In some examples, the side walls have a shape corresponding to a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a polygon, a section of a sphere, a section of an ovoid, or a section of an ellipsoid. The opening according to this description should be understood as a full or partial opening that provides access to the detergent product comprised in the box. In some examples, the opening faces the base. In some examples, the opening has a smaller surface area than the surface area of the base. In some examples, the opening has a larger surface area than the surface area of the base to provide improved access, for example, by using side walls that extend from the base at an angle of more than 90 degrees from the base. In some embodiments, the opening is provided after removal of a tamper-evident feature, for example, comprising a perforated piece to be removed upon first use or a tamper-evident adhesive that locks a cover to the box. In some embodiments, a tamper-evident adhesive is affixed to the cover and the box, where the tamper-evident adhesive is to be broken, torn, or punctured upon first opening to indicate to a consumer that the container has not been tampered with prior to purchase. This tamper-evident adhesive may be, for example, paper or plastic. In some embodiments, the opening is positioned in a top panel of the box, the top panel of the box oriented, i.e., opposite, the base of the box, the top panel of the box being separated from the base of the box by at least the side walls, the top panel of the box being generally coplanar with the base of the box. In some embodiments, the opening is in a side wall, the opening having an opening profile or an opening contour that may be comprised in a plane normal to the plane of the base. In some examples, the opening is rectangular. In some examples, the opening is rectangular with rounded edges. In some examples, the opening is round or oval. In some examples, the opening is a permanent opening. In some examples, the opening is a recloseable opening. Examples of recloseable openings include recloseable openings with a single flap, or a recloseable opening with a spout-type structure, for example, a pouring spout-type structure comprising a main flap that, in a closed position, would cover the opening, and side elements that, when the opening is open, join the main flap to the sides of the opening.

The container comprises a cover for the box. The cover according to this description should be understood as an element that allows the opening of the box to be repeatedly closed or opened. In some examples, the cover may be connected to the box, for example, by a hinge, or it may be separate from the box. The cover according to this description comprises a top or top cover part and sides or cover sides. In some examples, in addition to a top part and sides, the cover comprises an additional panel, the top part, the sides, and an additional panel that forms a sleeve surrounding the box. It should be understood that the cover is intended to cover the opening of the box when the cover is in a closed position. In some examples, the top part of the cover is rectangular. In some examples, the top part of the cover is round, hexagonal, octagonal, polygonal, or oval, with structures such as round or oval, for example, being approximated by multiplying a series of side panels and flaps of the cover. In some examples, the cover comprises beveled edges. In some embodiments, the top of the cover is rectangular with rounded edges. It should be understood that although referred to as a "top," the top of the cover can be positioned in different orientations. The cover comprises flanks. The flanks according to this description should be understood as elements connected to the top of the cover and extending from the cover to engage one or more side walls of the box, each flank having an extension along a corresponding side wall between the connection to the top of the cover and a distal end of the flank. The flanks participate in positioning the top of the cover over the opening. In some embodiments, the flanks extend perpendicularly from the top of the cover. In some embodiments, the flanks surround a complete perimeter of the top of the cover. In some embodiments, the flanks partially surround a complete perimeter of the top of the cover, with a portion of the top of the cover being flankless, for example, along a hinge between the cover and the box in the case of a hinged cover. In some embodiments, the cover forms a sleeve. The top of the cover or another portion of the cover may cover the opening, and at least a portion of the flanks or another portion of the cover may cover at least a specific portion of a specific sidewall of the sidewalls of the box when the cover is in the closed position, the cover being movable from the closed position to an open position. Movement of the cover may be supported by a connection to the box, such as a hinge, or may be completely removable, for example, to provide improved access to the contents of the box. The box and the cover cooperate to participate in fulfilling the function of the container of storing, transporting, and facilitating access to the contents of the container.

The container according to this disclosure comprises a locking closure for reversibly holding the cover in a closed position. Reversibility should be understood in the sense that the locking closure can be opened or closed repeatedly. By locking closure, in this disclosure, is meant a mechanism that provides appropriate closure and protection of the detergent composition from moisture, as well as to prevent or reduce the likelihood of accidental opening. The locking closure according to this disclosure is intended to hold the cover in a closed position. It should be understood that the closure according to this disclosure is expected to function with normal use of the container. It should be understood that the closure may not perform its function when, for example, unusual use is made of the box, or when the box is in unusual conditions. In some examples, the locking closure comprises an actuator that can be moved from a locked position to an open position by applying actuating pressure to the actuator when the cover is in the closed position. An illustrative actuator is a mechanical structure subjected to movement upon actuation by an external force or actuating pressure, said movement causing the locking closure to open when said movement occurs. In some embodiments, the actuator is flexible and has a default position, said default position corresponding to the cover remaining closed, the flexibility being overcome by an external force or actuating pressure to open the cover. In some embodiments, the actuator is flexible in that the actuator comprises a flexible element, the flexible element having a default position corresponding to the cover remaining closed, pressing the flexible element to open the cover, the flexible element returning to the default position when pressure is released. It should be understood that a pressure is generated by applying a force to a surface. Illustrative actuators have at least two positions, namely the open position and the locked position, where the open position corresponds to a position that allows the cover to be opened, the locked position preventing the cover from being opened to protect the contents from moisture or reduce the possibility of accidental opening of the cover.

An illustrative actuator is connected to the specific portion which is the at least specific portion of a specific one of the side walls of the box covered by at least a portion of the cover when the cover is in the closed position, which may be a specific portion covered by at least a portion of the cover when the cover is in the closed position, the actuator bearing, for example, against a locking tab of the cover when in the locked position, the actuator being held, for example, away from the locking tab when in the open position, the actuator being, for example, movable by the actuating pressure an unlocking travel distance in a direction normal to the specific portion of the side walls. The connection to the specific portion may be, for example, a fold line at an end of a side wall away from the base. The connection of the actuator to the specific portion of the sidewall is due to the actuator participating in locking or unlocking the specific portion of the sidewall from the portion of the cover that covers the specific portion of the sidewall, thus allowing the cover to be released from the box. The cover may comprise a locking tab. A locking tab should be understood as a mechanical element that interfaces with the actuator. In some examples, the locking tab extends away from part of the cover and may be in the form of a projection, a ridge, a relief, or a layer of additional material that protrudes from the cover and toward the specific portion of the sidewall, such that the actuator can bear against the tab when in the locked position to prevent the specific portion from separating from the sidewalls of the cover in the area of the actuator. In some examples, the locking tab is comprised within the cover itself, the locking tab being, for example, formed by an opening in the cover. The stop according to this description should be understood as a contact between the actuator or part of the actuator and the tab, said contact preventing the opening of the cover. In some examples, the actuator is kept away from the locking tab when it is in the open position, to release the locking tab. Said release of the locking tab allows the cover to be opened. The displacement or movement of the actuator from the locking to the open position is achieved by applying a pressure or actuating force to the actuator (directly or indirectly), such that the actuator moves a sufficient distance to press the contact of the actuator with the locking tab, such distance corresponding to the distance of displacement, in a direction normal to the specific part of the sidewall. Said force or pressure may also comprise a smaller component that may be parallel to the sidewall, due to the fact that the hand is an adult human hand that does not necessarily exert force completely perfectly. However, the actuation is triggered by a component of said force or pressure that is normal to the sidewall portion. This requirement for the presence of a component normal to the sidewall portion to unlock the locking closure contributes to the lock's role of preventing accidental opening, for example, in the absence of such a normal force component, whereas the desired opening would occur if the user "pushes" the actuator and applies the unlocking force or pressure that allows the cover to open.

To provide precision in the proper location of a finger, the flanks comprise a tactile discontinuity in the form of an actuation area on a specific flank, the actuation area facing the actuator. The fact that said actuation area faces the actuator, in fact, allows the thumb or one or more of the other fingers to be located exactly over the area where a lock-opening force is to be applied. The actuation area should be understood as defining a localized discontinuity on the specific flank, where a user or consumer can perceive said discontinuity in order to correctly locate the thumb or one or more fingers. Said discontinuity may comprise one or more of an actuation opening, an actuation flap, an actuation indentation, an actuation membrane, or tactile elements comprised in or applied to a surface of the flank, such as embossings, intaglios, surface textures, buttons, or the like. In some embodiments, the tactile discontinuity or the specific portion comprises a visual indicia indicating the location of the tactile discontinuity. In some embodiments where the tactile discontinuity is an opening, the specific portion comprises a visual indicia visible through the opening, respectively, when the cover is closed. The visual indicia may be printed on an external surface of the sidewalls and may comprise one or more arrows or one or more areas printed in a striking color or specific text providing instructions such as “push here to open,” for example, or a combination of any of these indicia. The tactile discontinuity may be configured to allow an actuator to be moved from the locked position to the open position by applying actuating pressure to an actuating area when the cover is in the closed position, if not directly facing a sidewall. To properly position the thumb or one or more other fingers, the actuating area may encompass less than 8 cm and more than 0.2 cm. It has been found that a larger area would lead to inaccuracy in finger placement, and a smaller area would make the actuation area difficult for a user or consumer to locate. In some examples, the actuation area has a circular shape to facilitate placement. Other shapes may be considered, e.g., elliptical, oval, square, triangular, square with rounded corners, triangular with rounded corners, other polygonal shapes, or other polygonal shapes with rounded corners.

Figures 1A-B illustrate an exemplary consumer product 100 comprising a detergent product (not shown) and a container. In Figure 1A, the container is open. In Figure 1B, the container is closed and locked. The container comprises a box 101, a cover 102 for the box and a locking closure 103 for maintaining the cover in a closed position, the box comprising the detergent product, the box comprising a base 104, side walls 105 and an opening 106, the cover comprising a top 107 and flanks 108, the cover covering the opening and the cover covering at least a first and a second specific portion of the side walls of the box when the cover is in the closed position, the locking closure comprising at least a first actuator 103 movable from a locked position to an open position by applying an actuating pressure on the first actuator when the cover is in the closed position, the first actuator being connected to the first specific portion, the cover comprising a first tactile discontinuity 109, the first tactile discontinuity facing the first actuator, the first tactile discontinuity allowing the first actuator to move from the locked position to the open position applying the actuating pressure at the first tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position, where the cover further comprises a second tactile discontinuity 110, the second tactile discontinuity facing directly toward the second specific portion of the side walls when the cover is in the closed position. In this example, the cover is a hinged lid. In this example, the opening is at the top of the box, opposite the base of the box. In this example, the first and second tactile discontinuities are on a same specific flank of the cover, and a centroid of the first tactile discontinuity and a centroid of the second tactile discontinuity are separated by a separation distance along a direction parallel to the top of the cover, the separation distance being more than 1.5 cm and less than 10 cm.

Figures 2A-C illustrate an exemplary consumer product 200 comprising a detergent product (not shown) and a container. In Figure 2A, the container is open. In Figure 2C, the container is closed and locked. In Figure 2B, the container is in an intermediate position. The container comprises a box 201, a cover 202 for the box and a locking closure 203 for maintaining the cover in a closed position, the box comprising the detergent product, the box comprising a base 204, side walls 205 and an opening 206, the cover comprising a top 207 and flanks 208, the cover covering the opening and the cover covering at least a first and a second specific portion of the side walls of the box when the lid is in the closed position, the locking closure comprising at least a first actuator 203 movable from a locked position to an open position by applying an actuating pressure on the first actuator when the cover is in the closed position, the first actuator being connected to the first specific portion, the cover comprising a first tactile discontinuity 209, the first tactile discontinuity facing the first actuator, the first tactile discontinuity allowing the first actuator to move from the locked position to the open position by applying the actuating pressure at the first tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position, where the cover further comprises a second tactile discontinuity 210, the second tactile discontinuity facing directly towards the second specific part of the side walls when the cover is in the closed position. In this example, the cover is a sliding sleeve comprising a transition panel opposite the top of the cover, the transition panel covering the base of the box when the cover is closed, and the transition panel being attached to the flanks. In this example, the opening is in one of the side walls, thus providing enhanced protection against splashes. Other examples may have the opening at the top. In this specific example, the opening 206 can be opened by pulling a punched panel 216 away from the side wall to generate the opening 206, said punched panel acting as an element that ensures that the contents of the box have not been tampered with. In some embodiments, the opening may be a permanent opening or a perforated panel that can be permanently removed before initial use. In some embodiments, a sleeve cover may comprise a retainer that prevents the sleeve from being completely removed from the box, as illustrated in Figure 2B. Such a retainer may comprise complementary opposing flaps, such opposing flaps being positioned on the sleeve and the box.

It was found that providing the opening in a side wall was particularly useful for protecting the contents. Indeed, it was found that containers, as described herein, tend to be stored in a humid environment, such as bathrooms or laundry rooms for example, exposing said container to being on a wet floor, thus exposing its base or the walls of its base to moisture, or to splashes, since splashes primarily impact an upper region of the container opposite the base. Providing the opening in a side wall therefore avoids providing an opening in said upper region, thereby providing additional protection against moisture, whereby the upper region can be made more robust. In some examples, the upper region of the container is covered, when closed, by a double-layered structure that protects the upper region when the container is not in use. In addition to this, placing the opening in a side wall can cause the opening to be in a substantially vertical plane, i.e., a plane substantially parallel to the direction of gravity. This may cause potential water splashes to run down the side wall instead of directly into the first opening or structurally weaken a cover panel covering the opening, particularly a paper or cardboard panel of said cover.

Figures 3A-B illustrate an exemplary consumer product 300 comprising a detergent product (not shown) and a container. In Figure 3A, the container is open. In Figure 3B, the container is closed and locked. The container comprises a box 301, a cover 302 for the box and a locking closure 303 for maintaining the cover in a closed position, the box comprising the detergent product, the box comprising a base 304, side walls 305 and an opening 306, the cover comprising a top 307 and flanks 308, the cover covers the opening and the cover covers at least a first and a second specific part of the side walls of the box when the lid is in the closed position, the locking closure comprising at least one first actuator 313 movable from a locked position to an open position by applying an actuating pressure on the first actuator when the cover is in the closed position, the first actuator being connected to the first specific part, the cover comprising a first tactile discontinuity 309, the first tactile discontinuity being oriented towards the first actuator, the first tactile discontinuity allowing the first actuator to move from the locked position to the open position by applying the actuation pressure at the first tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position, the cover further comprising a second tactile discontinuity 310, the second tactile discontinuity facing directly toward the second specific portion of the side walls when the cover is in the closed position. In this example, the cover is a wrap-around lid. In this example, the opening is at the top of the box, opposite the base of the box. In this example, the consumer product comprises a third tactile discontinuity 311, the third tactile discontinuity facing a second actuator 323 when the cover is in the closed position, the second actuator belonging to a second locking closure, the second actuator being movable from a locked position to an open position by applying additional actuating pressure on the second actuator when the cover is in the closed position, and the second actuator being connected to a third specific portion of the side walls of the box, the third specific portion being covered by the cover when the cover is in the closed position, where:

- the first and second specific parts of the side walls and the first actuator belong to the same specific side wall;

- the third specific part of the side walls and the second actuator belong to an opposite side wall, the opposite side wall being opposite the specific side wall;

- the third tactile discontinuity belongs to an opposite flank, the opposite flank being opposite to the specific flank.

Figures 4A-B illustrate an exemplary consumer product 400 comprising a detergent product (not shown) and a container. In Figure 4A, the container is open. In Figure 4B, the container is closed and locked. The container comprises a box 401, a cover 402 for the box and a locking closure 403 for maintaining the cover in a closed position, the box comprising the detergent product, the box comprising a base 404, side walls 405 and an opening 406, the cover comprising a top 407 and flanks 408, the cover covering the opening and the cover covering at least a first and a second specific portion of the side walls of the box when the lid is in the closed position, the locking closure comprising at least a first actuator 413 movable from a locked position to an open position by applying an actuating pressure on the first actuator when the cover is in the closed position, the first actuator being connected to the first specific portion, the cover comprising a first tactile discontinuity 409, the first tactile discontinuity facing the first actuator, the first tactile discontinuity allowing the first actuator to move from the locked position to the open position applying the actuating pressure at the first tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position, where the cover further comprises a second tactile discontinuity 410, the second tactile discontinuity facing directly toward the second specific portion of the side walls when the cover is in the closed position.

In this illustrative consumer product 400, the consumer product comprises a third tactile discontinuity 411, the third tactile discontinuity facing a second actuator 423 when the cover is in the closed position, the second actuator 423 belonging to a second locking closure, the second actuator being movable from a locked position to an open position by applying additional actuating pressure on the second actuator when the cover is in the closed position, the second actuator being connected to a specific third portion of the side walls of the box, the specific third portion being covered by the cover when the cover is in the closed position, where:

- the first and second specific parts of the side walls and the first actuator belong to the same specific side wall;

- the third specific part of the side walls and the second actuator belong to an opposite side wall, the opposite side wall being opposite the specific side wall;

- the third tactile discontinuity belongs to an opposite flank, the opposite flank being opposite to the specific flank.

In this illustrative consumer product 400, the consumer product comprises a fourth tactile discontinuity 412, the fourth tactile discontinuity facing a third actuator 433 when the cover is in the closed position, the fourth tactile discontinuity pertaining to the opposite flank.

In example 400, three actuators are provided. This configuration, as well as three other actuator configurations, allows for a structure comprising first, second, and third actuation areas that will provide reliable locking and unlocking operation. The use of these three separate actuation areas effectively allows three fingers of a single adult hand to operate the cover of a box held by the other adult hand.

While in example 400 the fourth tactile discontinuity corresponds to a third actuator, in alternative examples said fourth tactile discontinuity could be oriented directly towards a corresponding specific part of the side walls when the cover is in the closed position, thus acting as a gripping area, for a human hand or for machinery, similarly to the second tactile discontinuity.

While in example 400 the fourth tactile discontinuity corresponds to a third actuator, in alternative examples said fourth tactile discontinuity could correspond to a single second actuator that fulfills the function of both actuators 423 and 433, as illustrated in Figure 5. In fact, in the example of said Figure 5, the container comprises a first flap that faces the first tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position, and the second actuator comprises a single flap that faces the third and fourth tactile discontinuities when the cover is in the closed position.

In example 400, the third and fourth tactile discontinuities are both on opposite flanks, and a centroid of the third tactile discontinuity and a centroid of the fourth tactile discontinuity are separated by a separation distance along a direction parallel to the top of the cover, the separation distance being more than 1.5 cm and less than 10 cm. In some examples, the separation distance is more than 5 cm and less than 7 cm. This allows said tactile discontinuities to be reached simultaneously with different fingers of a single adult hand. The centroid corresponds to an area within a perimeter of the respective tactile discontinuity. This stretch of tactile discontinuity allows a user to locate the areas corresponding to corresponding actuators.

In some embodiments, each tactile discontinuity spans less than 8 cm and more than 0.2 cm, with each tactile discontinuity defining a centroid. The centroid corresponds to an area within a perimeter of the tactile discontinuity. This stretch of tactile discontinuity allows a user to locate the areas corresponding to the corresponding actuators when said tactile discontinuities are actuation areas, and allows for providing a grip when facing directly toward the side wall of the housing.

In some examples, each centroid of each tactile discontinuity is separated from the top of the cover by less than 5 cm and more than 0.5 cm. This helps to reach all tactile discontinuities with a single adult hand at the same time.

In some examples, each centroid of the tactile discontinuities is separated from a specific distal end of the flank by more than 0.5 cm. In the configuration of illustrative consumer products 100, 300, and 400, said distal end is the end of the flanks opposite the top of the cover. This threshold distance allows the structural integrity of the flanks of the cover to be maintained.

In some examples, the top of the cover extends less than 13 cm and more than 6 cm along a direction normal to the specific part at the centroid, particularly at the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity. This also makes it possible to reach all tactile discontinuities with a single adult hand at the same time.

In some examples, each tactile discontinuity spans less than 8 cm and more than 0.2 cm, with each tactile discontinuity defining a centroid; each centroid is separated from the top of the shell by less than 5 cm and more than 0.5 cm; each centroid is separated from a distal end of the specific flank by more than 0.5 cm; and the top of the shell spans less than 13 cm and more than 6 cm along a direction normal to the specific portion at the centroid, particularly at the centroid of the second tactile discontinuity. Meeting this combination of conditions was found to be particularly well-suited for reaching all tactile discontinuities with a single adult hand at the same time. In preferred embodiments, the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity and the centroid of the third tactile discontinuity, when present, are separated by a separation distance along a direction parallel to the top of the cover, the separation distance being more than 1.5 cm and less than 10 cm, more preferably the separation distance being more than 5 cm and less than 7 cm, to reach said first tactile discontinuity and third tactile discontinuity simultaneously with different fingers of the same adult hand. In some even more preferred embodiments, the shortest distance between centroids present on opposite flanks along the flanks and the top of the cover is less than 18 cm. In other preferred embodiments, each centroid is separated from the top of the cover by more than 1 cm and less than 3 cm, allowing a reaction force to be transmitted through the cover to make a pinching movement that leads to a more precise blocking of the opening. In other even more preferred configurations, the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity is located in a central region of a flank of the cover along a horizontal direction parallel to the top of the cover, thereby facilitating sliding of a cover, such as a wrap-around lid, avoiding exerting more force on one side of the cover than on the other, which could cause said lid to stick.

In example 400, the first and second specific portions of the side walls and the first actuator 413 belong to a same specific side wall, where the third specific portion of the side walls and the second actuator 423 belong to an opposite side wall, the opposite side wall being opposite the specific side wall, where the fourth tactile discontinuity 412 belongs to the opposite flank, where the centroids of the third tactile discontinuity 411 and of the fourth tactile discontinuity 412 are aligned with the centroids of the first tactile discontinuity 409 and, respectively, with the centroid of the second tactile discontinuity 410, along a direction normal to the third specific portion when the cover is in the closed position portion. This allows easy positioning of fingers to properly grasp and unlock the container.

In other embodiments, the first and second specific portions of the side walls and the first actuator belong to the same specific side wall, where the third specific portion of the side walls and the second actuator belong to an opposite side wall, the opposite side wall being opposite the specific side wall, where the fourth tactile discontinuity, if present, belongs to the opposite flank, where at least one of a centroid of the third tactile discontinuity and a centroid of the fourth tactile discontinuity faces a region between the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity and the centroid of the second tactile discontinuity. Again, this allows for easier finger positioning to properly grasp and unlock the container.

In example 400, the first and second specific portions of the side walls and the first actuator 413 belong to a same specific side wall, where the third specific portion of the side walls and the second actuator 423 belong to an opposite side wall, the opposite side wall being opposite the specific side wall, where the fourth tactile discontinuity 412 belongs to the opposite flank, where the shortest distance between, on the one hand, at least one of a centroid of the third tactile discontinuity 411 and of a centroid of the fourth tactile discontinuity 412 and, on the other hand, either the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity 409 or the centroid of the second tactile discontinuity 410, preferably the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity 409, along the flanks and the top of the cover, is less than 18 cm.

In example 400, the cover is symmetrical, such that the function of tactile discontinuity 409 can be fulfilled by tactile discontinuity 412, and such that the function of tactile discontinuity 410 can be fulfilled by tactile discontinuity 411 by placing the cover inverted. This facilitates the use of such a cover.

Figure 6 illustrates a cover 601 that could fit into either the box 602 or the box 603. In both configurations, the container comprises a first flap that faces the first tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position, a second flap that faces the third tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position, and a third flap that faces the fourth tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position. When the cover 601 is fitted into the box 602, the second tactile discontinuity is tactile discontinuity 610. When the cover 601 is fitted into the box 603, the second tactile discontinuity is tactile discontinuity 611. In such examples, three tactile discontinuities are on a single flank and a single tactile discontinuity is on the opposite flank. These examples are particularly suitable for using a single adult hand, placing the thumb on the single tactile discontinuity, and placing three other fingers of the same hand on the three tactile discontinuities on the same flank.

In an alternative embodiment to the embodiments illustrated in Figure 6, the tactile discontinuities marked 610 and 611 may correspond to respective actuators, in particular to a respective flap, while the tactile discontinuity 612 (the tactile discontinuity 610 being between 611 and 612 and on the same flank) may not correspond to a respective actuator but rather face directly toward a respective portion of the sidewall and function as a second tactile discontinuity according to this disclosure. In a variation of said alternative embodiment, the tactile discontinuities marked 610 and 611 may correspond to a single respective actuator (similar to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5) associated with said two tactile discontinuities 610 and 612.

In another alternative example to the examples illustrated in Figure 6, the tactile discontinuity 613 located on a flank opposite to the tactile discontinuities 610-612 may be absent, so that a single flank comprises all the tactile discontinuities, so that said flank containing all the discontinuities is associated with all the actuators (other configurations where a single flank comprises all the tactile discontinuities), so that said flank containing all the discontinuities can be considered associated with all the actuators).

In another alternative example to the examples illustrated in Figure 6, both discontinuities 610 and 613 face directly towards a respective part of the side wall and allow gripping without unlocking, while each of the discontinuities 612 and 611 is associated with respective actuators, allowing such a configuration, with at least two tactile discontinuities located on the opposite flank and facing directly towards the respective parts of the side walls, the transport of the box without unlocking by gripping the cover by means of at least said two tactile discontinuities located on opposite flanks of the cover. Other configurations may be provided comprising at least two tactile discontinuities located on the opposite flank and facing directly towards the respective parts of the side walls allowing the transport of the box without unlocking by gripping the cover by means of at least said two tactile discontinuities located on the opposite flanks of the cover, having one or more actuators, one or more actuation areas, said actuators and actuation areas being located at different locations.

A configuration as illustrated in Figure 6 has the advantage of improving the lock closure by introducing an additional actuator which can be disengaged using the thumb of the first adult hand and three or more other fingers of the first adult hand, the other three or more fingers preferably comprising the index finger, the middle finger and the ring finger.

The present description also aims to resolve an apparent contradiction between, on the one hand, the use of sidewall materials that would resist accidental opening and the use of sidewall materials that are particularly environmentally friendly.

The container may be made of paper or paperboard material, particularly rigid paperboard material, flexible paperboard material, or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the material forming the box or cover has a wall thickness of more than 220 micrometers and less than 3 mm. In some embodiments, the material forming the box or cover has a wall thickness of more than 1 mm and less than 2 mm. In some embodiments, the material forming the box or cover is folded back on itself, for example, to reinforce parts of, or all of, the box or cover. The container may be made of paper materials, bio-based materials, bamboo fibers, cellulose fibers, cellulose-based or fiber-based materials, or a mixture thereof. The container may be made of materials comprising recycled materials, for example, materials based on recycled cellulose fiber. In some examples, to facilitate opening, the cover may be completely detachable from the box when open, and the cover weighs less than 200 g, preferably less than 100 g, even more preferably less than 80 g, and more than 10 g, more preferably more than 30 g, even more preferably more than 40 g, to obtain a sufficiently robust cover structure.

As illustrated, for example, in Figures 7A (open container) and 7B (closed and locked container), a container similar to container 400 may comprise a support element structure 701. Indeed, in some examples where the cover is in the form of a lid, the cover according to some examples comprises a support element structure such as structure 701, the support element structure entering the opening of the box when the cover is in the closed position, at least part of the specific part of the side walls being located between the flanks and the support element structure when the cover is in the closed position, the side walls separating a separation distance from the support element structure in a direction normal to the specific part of the side walls when the cover is in the closed position and when no actuating pressure is applied, the separation distance being reduced to zero by flexing the specific part of the side walls when the actuating pressure is applied above a pressure threshold when the cover is in the closed position. Both the support member structure and the sidewalls are structurally part of the cover, allowing the support member structure and the sidewalls to sandwich the specific portion of the sidewall, thereby preventing sagging in the specific portion of the sidewall and unwanted disengagement of the actuator from the locking tab. It is important to note that, should actuating pressure be applied while lifting the box by the cover, the applied pressure will engage the sandwiched specific portion of the sidewall against the support member structure, thereby offsetting a gravitational force that would otherwise disconnect the cover from the box, such offsetting of the gravitational force being through a resistive static frictional force between the specific portion of the sidewall and the support member structure. In some embodiments, the use of the support member structure allows the box to be made of a relatively flexible material, where such flexible material would, in the absence of the support member structure, flex to the point that the box would fall if lifted by its cover. Allowing the use of a relatively flexible material also allows the use of a smaller amount of such material because the presence of the support member structure compensates for such flexibility. The presence of such a support member structure thus prevents or reduces the risk of accidental opening even if actuating pressure is applied to the locking latch actuator, for example, when the box is lifted while pressure is applied to the locking latch actuator.

The support element structure enters the opening when the cover is in the closed position, fitting inside the box when the cover is in the closed position. Such entry into the opening is to be understood as the support element structure comprising a part of the support element structure that enters the opening when the cover moves from the open to the closed position, and where said part of the support element structure exits the opening when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position. At least part of the specific part of the side walls is located between the flanks and the support element structure when the cover is in the closed position. This structure allows the specific part of the side wall to be captured between the flanks and the support element structure, the specific part of the side wall being inserted between the flanks and the support element structure when the cover moves from the open to the closed position, the specific part of the side wall being released between the flanks and the support element structure when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position. A standoff distance separates the side walls of the support member structure in a direction normal to the specific portion of the side walls when the cover is in the closed position, said direction corresponding, for example, to a direction of a linear edge of the support member, and when no actuating pressure is applied. Said standoff distance would exist on a first side, and would be additionally repeated on a second side of the support member structure. Said standoff distance allows insertion of the support member structure through the opening when the cover is closed, such that the support member structure does not collide with the specific portion of the side wall when the cover is closed. The standoff is reduced to zero by flexing the specific portion of the side walls when actuating pressure is applied above a threshold pressure when the cover is in the closed position. When said pressure threshold is reached, the sidewall bears against the support element structure across the gap distance, which is reduced to zero, thereby preventing the sidewall from becoming excessively distorted and preventing it from sagging at the point of the actuator that releases the locking tab. The gap distance according to these examples relates, in some examples, to a tolerance distance between the cover and the case, which allows the cover to be placed on the case without undue difficulty, while preventing the cover from being loose when in the closed position. Although the gap distance according to this description is considered in a region of the locking closure, the tolerance distance between the cover and the case can be considered along the entire perimeter of the case opening. In some examples, the tolerance is at least 0.1 mm and less than 5 mm. In some examples, the tolerance is at least 0.5 mm and less than 3 mm. Such tolerance would be measured, for example, when the cover is in the closed position and between an internal surface of the flanks and an external surface of the side walls, understanding that such tolerance may have a different value in a region of the locking closure.

In some examples, the gap distance is at least 1 mm and less than 1 cm when the cover is in the closed position and no actuating pressure is applied. Such a gap both facilitates closing the cover and prevents the specific portion of the sidewall from sagging, leading to unintended unlocking. In some examples, the gap distance is at least 1.5 mm and less than 0.5 cm when the cover is in the closed position and no actuating pressure is applied. In some examples, the gap distance is at least 2 mm and less than 0.4 cm when the cover is in the closed position and no actuating pressure is applied.

In some examples, such as those illustrated in Figures 7A-B, the consumer product may comprise an alignment mark 702. The introduction of such an alignment mark will allow the user to be guided such that correct placement of the alignment mark corresponds to a correct locking operation. Indeed, it may be the case that a locking closure or locking mechanism for a container according to this disclosure may be invisible to a user, whereby a user may be unsure whether locking has actually occurred. The provision of the alignment mark according to this disclosure will indicate that locking is effective, even if the lock itself is invisible or hidden from view.

In some embodiments, at least one of the flanks and sidewalls comprises an alignment mark that mates with the cover when it is in the closed position. In the embodiment of Figures 7A-B, both the flanks and the sidewall comprise an alignment mark. In this case, the alignment mark corresponds to a mark on the cover and a mark on the box, with the two marks coinciding to form a single mark when the cover is closed, such coincidence confirming the closure of the container and, thus, adequate protection of the contents.

The alignment mark should be understood as a graphic or tactile feature, or both a graphic and tactile feature, that mates with the cover when it is in the closed position. Such a match may occur between different elements or marks, or it may occur between an alignment mark and a feature of the container, such as, for example, a distal end of a flank. In some examples, the alignment mark comprises a feature such as a segment, a pattern, a line, or a curve that, when the cover is closed, mates with a corresponding feature, where said corresponding feature may be another alignment mark, or a structural feature such as an edge, end, opening, or indentation of the container. In some examples, the alignment mark comprises one or more icons or symbols representing, for example, a lock, a bolt, or a fingerprint. As illustrated in Figures 7A-B, the detergent product may be in the form of unit dose detergent pouches, preferably in the form of flexible water-soluble unit dose detergent pouches, and preferably wherein the alignment indicia comprises a representation of a unit dose detergent pouch.

In some embodiments, the cover comprises a layer of corrugated cardboard, the corrugated cardboard layer comprising flutes, the flutes preferably extending parallel to the direction normal to the specific portion and parallel to a top portion of the cover, and where a tactile discontinuity is an opening that preferably intersects at least some of the flutes. Such a structure allows the top portion of the cover to be reinforced. The intersection of the flutes by an opening also allows the sidewall or sides where the opening is provided to be ventilated, thereby reinforcing the integrity of the sidewall in humid environments.

In some embodiments, the detergent product comprises a detergent composition. The detergent composition may be a laundry detergent composition, a dishwashing composition, a hard surface cleaning composition, or a combination thereof. The detergent composition may comprise a solid, a liquid, or a mixture thereof. The term "liquid" includes a gel, a solution, a dispersion, a paste, or a mixture thereof. The solid may be a powder. By "powder," it is meant herein that the detergent composition may comprise solid particles or may be a single homogeneous solid. In some embodiments, the powder detergent composition comprises particles. This means that the powder detergent composition comprises individual solid particles, as opposed to the solid being a single homogeneous solid. The particles may be free-flowing or compact. A laundry detergent composition may be used in a hand-washing operation for fabrics or it may be used in a fabric-washing operation in an automatic machine, for example, in an automatic fabric-washing operation. Illustrative laundry detergent compositions comprise a non-soap surfactant, wherein the non-soap surfactant comprises an anionic non-soap surfactant and a non-ionic surfactant. In some embodiments, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 10% and 60%, or between 20% and 55% by weight of the laundry detergent composition of the non-soap surfactant. Illustrative weight ratios of anionic non-soap surfactant to non-ionic surfactant are from 1:1 to 20:1, from 1.5:1 to 17.5:1, from 2:1 to 15:1, or from 2.5:1 to 13:1. Examples of anionic non-soap surfactants comprise linear alkyl benzenesulfonate, alkyl sulfate, or a mixture thereof. Examples of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate to alkyl sulfate weight ratios are 1:2 to 9:1, 1:1 to 7:1, 1:1 to 5:1, or 1:1 to 4:1. Examples of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates are C<10>-C<16> alkylbenzene sulfonic acids, or C<11>-C<14> alkylbenzene sulfonic acids. By "linear" we mean herein that the alkyl group is linear. The anionic alkyl sulfate surfactant may comprise alkoxylated alkyl sulfate or non-alkoxylated alkyl sulfate or a mixture thereof. The exemplary anionic alkoxylated alkyl sulfate surfactant comprises an ethoxylated alkyl sulfate anionic surfactant. The exemplary anionic alkyl sulfate surfactant may comprise an ethoxylated alkyl sulfate anionic surfactant having a mole average degree of ethoxylation of 1 to 5, 1 to 3, or 2 to 3. The anionic alkyl sulfate surfactant may comprise a non-ethoxylated alkyl sulfate and an ethoxylated alkyl sulfate wherein the mole average degree of ethoxylation of the anionic alkyl sulfate surfactant is 1 to 5, 1 to 3, or 2 to 3. The exemplary alkyl moiety of the anionic alkyl sulfate surfactant is derived from fatty alcohols, oxo-synthesized alcohols, Guerbet alcohols, or mixtures thereof. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 10% and 50%, between 15% and 45%, between 20% and 40%, or between 30% and 40% by weight of the laundry detergent composition of the non-soap anionic surfactant. In some examples, the non-ionic surfactant is selected from an alcohol alkoxylate, an oxo-synthesized alcohol alkoxylate, Guerbet alcohol alkoxylates, alkylphenol alcohol alkoxylates, or a mixture thereof. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 0.01% and 10%, between 0.01% and 8%, between 0.1% and 6%, or between 0.15% and 5% by weight of the liquid laundry detergent composition of a non-ionic surfactant. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 1.5% and 20%, between 2% and 15%, between 3% and 10%, or between 4% and 8% by weight of the laundry detergent composition of soap, in some examples a fatty acid salt, in some examples an amine-neutralized fatty acid salt, wherein in some examples the amine is an alkanolamine, for example, selected from monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, or a mixture thereof, in some examples monoethanolamine. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition is a liquid laundry detergent composition. In some examples, the liquid laundry detergent composition comprises less than 15% or less than 12% by weight of the liquid laundry detergent composition of water. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition is a liquid laundry detergent composition comprising a non-aqueous solvent selected from 1,2-propanediol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, glycerol, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol, or a mixture thereof. In some examples, the liquid laundry detergent composition comprises between 10% and 40%, or between 15% and 30% by weight of the liquid laundry detergent composition of the non-aqueous solvent. In some examples, the laundry detergent composition comprises a perfume. In some embodiments, the laundry detergent composition comprises a builder ingredient selected from the group comprising builders including enzymes, citrate, bleach, bleach catalyst, dye, tinting dye, brightener, cleaning polymers including alkoxylated polyamines and polyethyleneimines, soil release polymer, surfactant, solvent, dye transfer inhibitors, chelating agents, encapsulated perfume, polycarboxylates, structurants, pH trimming agents, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the laundry detergent composition has a pH between 6 and 10, between 6.5 and 8.9, or between 7 and 8, wherein the pH of the laundry detergent composition is measured as a 10% product concentration in demineralized water at 20° C. When liquid, the laundry detergent composition may be Newtonian or non-Newtonian. In some examples, the liquid laundry detergent composition is non-Newtonian. Without wishing to be bound by theory, a Newtonian liquid has properties that differ from those of a Newtonian liquid; more specifically, the viscosity of non-Newtonian liquids is dependent on shear rate, whereas a Newtonian liquid has a constant viscosity regardless of the applied shear rate. It is believed that the decrease in viscosity upon shear application for non-Newtonian liquids further facilitates liquid detergent dissolution. The liquid laundry detergent composition described herein may have any suitable viscosity depending on factors such as the formulated ingredients and the purpose of the composition.

In some examples, the consumer product comprises at least one water-soluble unit-dose item and the container. The consumer product may be sold "as is"; in other words, the consumer product is the item the consumer selects from the shelf. Alternatively, the consumer product could be housed as one unit of a multi-component product. For example, more than one consumer product could be housed within an outer package, and the multiple packaged consumer products could be sold together in a single purchase. The consumer product may include aesthetic elements, for example, shrink sleeves or labels attached to the container. Alternatively, the container may be colored or printed with aesthetic elements or informational prints, such as instructions for use.

In some examples, a water-soluble unit-dose article comprises at least one water-soluble film oriented to create at least one internal unit-dose compartment, wherein the at least one internal unit-dose compartment comprises a detergent composition. The water-soluble film and detergent composition are described in greater detail below. In some examples, the consumer product comprises at least one water-soluble unit-dose article, in some cases at least two water-soluble unit-dose articles, in some cases at least 10 water-soluble unit-dose articles, in some cases at least 20 water-soluble unit-dose articles, in some cases at least 30 water-soluble unit-dose articles, in some cases at least 40 water-soluble unit-dose articles, in some cases at least 45 water-soluble unit-dose articles. A water-soluble unit-dose article is, in some examples, in the form of a pouch. A water-soluble unit-dose article comprises, in some embodiments, a unit dose of a composition in a volume sufficient to provide a benefit in an end application. The water-soluble unit-dose article comprises, in some embodiments, a water-soluble film shaped such that the unit-dose article comprises at least one internal compartment surrounded by the water-soluble film. The at least one compartment comprises a cleaning composition. The water-soluble film is sealed so that leakage of the cleaning composition from the compartment does not occur during storage. However, upon addition of the water-soluble unit-dose article to water, the water-soluble film dissolves and releases the contents of the internal compartment into the wash solution. The unit-dose article may comprise more than one compartment, at least two compartments, or at least three, or at least four, or even at least five compartments. The compartments may be arranged in an overlapping orientation, i.e., one located on top of the other. Alternatively, the compartments may be arranged in a face-to-face orientation, i.e., oriented side by side. The compartments may be oriented in a "tire and rim" arrangement, i.e., a first compartment is positioned adjacent to a second compartment, but the first compartment at least partially surrounds the second compartment, but does not completely contain the second compartment. Alternatively, one compartment may be completely contained within another compartment. In some embodiments, the unit-dose article comprises at least two compartments, with one of the compartments being smaller than the other compartment. In some embodiments, the unit-dose article comprises at least three compartments, two of the compartments may be smaller than the third compartment, and in some embodiments, the two smallest compartments are superimposed upon the larger compartment. In some embodiments, the unit-dose article comprises at least four compartments, three of the compartments may be smaller than the fourth compartment, and in some embodiments, the three smallest compartments are superimposed upon the largest compartment. The superimposed compartments, in some embodiments, are laterally oriented. In some examples, each individual unit-dose article may have a weight between 10 g and 40 g, or even between 15 g and 35 g. The water-soluble film may be water-soluble or dispersible. Before being formed into a unit-dose article, the water-soluble film has, in some examples, a thickness of 20 to 150 micrometers, in other examples, 35 to 125 micrometers, in further examples, 50 to 110 micrometers, in still further examples, about 76 micrometers. Examples of water-soluble film materials comprise polymeric materials. The film material may, for example, be obtained by casting, blow molding, extrusion, or extrusion-blow molding the polymeric material. In some examples, the water-soluble film comprises polyvinyl alcohol polymer or copolymer, for example, a blend of polyvinyl alcohol polymers and/or polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, for example, selected from sulfonated and carboxylated anionic polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, for example, a blend of a polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer and a carboxylated anionic polyvinyl alcohol copolymer. In some examples, the water-soluble films are those supplied by Monosol under trade references M8630, M8900, M8779, M8310. In some examples, the film may be opaque, transparent, or translucent. The film may comprise a printed area. The printed area may be achieved using techniques such as flexographic printing or inkjet printing. The film may comprise a repellent agent, for example, a bittering agent. Suitable bittering agents include, but are not limited to, naringin, sucrose octaacetate, quinine hydrochloride, denatonium benzoate, or mixtures thereof. Illustrative levels of a repellent agent include, but are not limited to, 1 to 5000 ppm, 100 to 2500 ppm, or 250 to 2000 ppm. The water-soluble film or the water-soluble unit-dose article, or both, may be coated with a lubricating agent.

In some examples, the lubricating agent is selected from talc, zinc oxide, silicas, siloxanes, zeolites, silicic acid, alumina, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, sodium citrate, sodium tripolyphosphate, potassium citrate, potassium tripolyphosphate, calcium stearate, zinc stearate, magnesium stearate, starch, modified starches, clay, kaolin, gypsum, cyclodextrins or mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, the container comprises a first portion, wherein the first portion comprises a first compartment containing the at least one water-soluble unit-dose article. In some embodiments, the first compartment comprises at least two water-soluble unit-dose articles. The first compartment may comprise between 1 and 80 water-soluble unit-dose articles, between 1 and 60 water-soluble unit-dose articles, between 1 and 40 water-soluble unit-dose articles, or between 1 and 20 water-soluble unit-dose articles. The volume of the first compartment may be between 500 ml and 5000 ml, in some embodiments between 800 ml and 4000 ml.

In some embodiments, the detergent product is in the form of unit dose detergent pouches, preferably in the form of flexible, water-soluble unit dose detergent pouches, wherein the one or more, preferably all, of the tactile discontinuities are configured to prevent a unit dose detergent pouch from passing through the one or more, preferably all, of the tactile discontinuities, particularly where the one or more tactile discontinuities are openings or slits. In some embodiments, the pouches have a minimum cross-section, in some cases said minimum cross-section being surrounded by an external rim area, said minimum cross-section intersecting an internal volume of the detergent article comprising the detergent, said minimum cross-section being less than the area covered by the tactile discontinuity or opening concerned. For example, if the opening is 1 cm2, pouches having a minimum cross-section of 1.5 cm2 will not pass through the opening.

In some embodiments, one or more flanks of the flanks comprising a tactile discontinuity cover at least 10%, preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 30% of one or more respective sidewalls of the sidewalls when the cover is in the closed position. In such embodiments, if the respective tactile discontinuity is an opening, said opening, to a certain extent, will allow air contained in the cover to be evacuated while the cover is being closed as the cover is slid over the box. In some embodiments, the cover defines an internal volume of the cover bounded by the top of the cover and the flanks. In some embodiments, the internal volume of the cover is comprised between 200 and 2000 cm3, preferably between 750 cm3 and 1500 cm3. In some embodiments, one or more flanks of the flanks comprising a respective tactile discontinuity cover at least 40% of one or more respective sidewalls of the sidewalls when the cover is in the closed position. In some embodiments, one or more flanks of the flanks comprising a respective tactile discontinuity cover at least 50% of one or more respective sidewalls of the sidewalls when the cover is in the closed position. Providing greater flank coverage increases robustness and allows the contents of the container to be retained in the event that the cover is accidentally opened backward. Such configurations may advantageously be combined in some embodiments with an opening configured to prevent a unit-dose detergent pouch from passing through the opening.

In some examples, the tactile discontinuity covers less than 6 cm2 and more than 1 cm2. Such sizing has also been found to be particularly effective for applying high-precision force or pressure.

In some embodiments, the flanks comprise two short flanks and two long flanks, where the tactile discontinuities are on one long flank. This configuration allows for increased rigidity of the top of the cover, while maintaining a desired interior volume of the container. Indeed, the cover may comprise two opposing long flanks parallel to each other and two opposing short flanks parallel to each other, the long flanks being perpendicular to the short flanks, the long flanks preferably being reinforced to account for the fact that a user or consumer may be more likely to apply pressure to the long flanks, and that the long flanks are more likely to be subjected to deformation given that their midpoint along the first direction is further from the corners of the same long flank than the midpoint of a short flank is from the corners of the respective short flank.

Figure 8 illustrates an exemplary method for actuating a locked consumer product, the consumer product being according to any of the examples described herein, the method comprising:

- block 81 for unlocking the container by grasping the cover with a first adult hand between the thumb of the first adult hand and one or more fingers of the first adult hand, preferably comprising the one or more other fingers, at least one of the index finger, the ring finger and the middle finger, where the grasping takes place across the entire upper part of the cover, where the pads of the thumb and the one or more other fingers are placed simultaneously on the first and second tactile discontinuities; and

block 82 of opening the container by lifting, sliding, or rotating the pinched cover away from the box to expose the opening.

A method such as that described in Figure 8 allows for a stable grip of the container when the second tactile discontinuity is also used, such stable grip facilitating the actuation of the actuators using one or more other tactile discontinuities, the tactile discontinuities facilitating proper finger placement. Such a stable grip is further enhanced in situations where the first and second tactile discontinuities are located on opposite flanks of the cover.

In some other examples comprising at least one additional locking latch and actuator, block 81 may comprise unlocking the container by grasping the cover with a first adult hand between the thumb of the first adult hand and two or more other fingers of the first adult hand, preferably the other two or more fingers comprising at least one of an index finger, a ring finger, and a middle finger, whereby the grasping takes place across the entire top portion of the cover, whereby the pads of the thumb and the other two or more fingers are simultaneously positioned at the first, second, and third tactile discontinuity.

As illustrated in another illustrative method in Figure 9, a method may comprise blocks 81 and 82, as well as a block 93 of locking the container, the locking closure emitting a clicking sound upon locking, to provide audible feedback confirming closure.

Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary method for handling a locked consumer product using a machine, the consumer product being according to any of the embodiments described herein, the machine comprising a gripping device, the method comprising, at block 1000, gripping the consumer product by inserting the gripping device into the second tactile discontinuity, where the gripping device has a profile that matches the profile of the second tactile discontinuity. This allows the consumer product to be manipulated, for example on a production line, without risking opening the consumer product. Such gripping using the second tactile discontinuity may assist in accurately aligning the consumer product on a production line. In some examples, the method comprises manipulating the locked consumer product without the machine coming into contact with a tactile discontinuity facing an actuator, or preferably manipulating the locked consumer product without the machine coming into contact with any tactile discontinuity facing an actuator, while the gripping device is inserted into the second tactile discontinuity, to prevent unwanted opening of the box during said manipulation.

The dimensions and values described herein should not be construed as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values mentioned. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the value mentioned and a functionally equivalent range around that value. For example, a dimension described as "40 mm" refers to "approximately 40 mm."

Claims (24)

i. A consumer product (100, 200, 300, 400) comprising a detergent product and a container, the container comprising a box (101, 201, 301, 401, 602, 603), a cover (102, 202, 302, 402, 601) for the box and a locking closure for maintaining the cover in a closed position, the box comprising the detergent product, the box comprising a base (104, 204, 304, 404), side walls (105, 205, 305, 405) and an opening (106, 206, 306, 406), the cover comprising a top (107, 207, 307, 407) and flanks (108, 208, 308, 408), the cover covering the opening and the cover covering at least first and second specific portions of the side walls of the box when the cover is in the closed position, the locking closure comprising at least one first actuator (103, 203, 313, 413) movable from a locked position to an open position by applying an actuating pressure on the first actuator when the cover is in the closed position, the first actuator being connected to the first specific portion, the cover comprising a first tactile discontinuity (109, 209, 309, 409), the first tactile discontinuity facing the first actuator, the first tactile discontinuity allowing the first actuator to move the first actuator from the locked position to the open position by applying the actuating pressure on the first tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position, where the cover further comprises a second tactile discontinuity (110, 210, 310, 410), wherein the second tactile discontinuity faces directly towards the second specific part of the side walls when the cover is in the closed position, characterized in that the cover, in the area of the second tactile discontinuity, is separated from the second side wall part of the box only by a thin layer of air gap, the second side wall part being without an actuator or without a flap. 2. The consumer product according to claim 1, wherein the opening is either opposite the base (104, 204, 304, 404) or in one of the side walls (105, 205, 305, 405), preferably opposite the base. 3. The consumer product according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first (109, 209, 309, 409) and the second (110, 210, 310, 410) tactile discontinuity are on a same specific flank of the cover. 4. The consumer product according to any of the preceding claims, wherein: -each tactile discontinuity covers less than 8 cm2 and more than 0.2 cm2, each tactile discontinuity defining a centroid; -each centroid is separated from the top of the cover by less than 5 cm and by more than 0.5 cm; -each centroid is separated from a distal end of the specific flank by more than 0.5 cm; and -the top of the shell extends less than 13 cm and more than 6 cm along a direction normal to the specific portion at the centroid defined by the first tactile discontinuity. 5. The consumer product according to the preceding claim, wherein the first (109, 209, 309, 409) and the second (110, 210, 310, 410) tactile discontinuity are on a same specific flank of the cover, and wherein the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity and the centroid of the second tactile discontinuity are separated by a separation distance along a direction parallel to the top of the cover, the separation distance being more than 1.5 cm and less than 10 cm. 6. The consumer product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the consumer product comprises a third tactile discontinuity (311, 411), the third tactile discontinuity facing either the first actuator or a second actuator (323, 423) when the cover is in the closed position, the second actuator, if present, belonging to a second locking closure, the second actuator, if present, being movable from a locked position to an open position by applying additional actuating pressure on the second actuator when the cover is in the closed position, the second actuator, if present, being connected to a specific third portion of the side walls of the box, the specific third portion being covered by the cover when the cover is in the closed position. 7. The consumer product according to the preceding claim, wherein the third tactile discontinuity is oriented and wherein the second actuator is present, where: -the first and second specific parts of the side walls and the first actuator (103, 203, 313, 413) belong to the same specific side wall; -the third specific part of the side walls and the second actuator (323, 423) belong to an opposite side wall, the opposite side wall being opposite to the specific side wall; -the third tactile discontinuity (311, 411) belongs to an opposite flank, the opposite flank being opposite to the specific flank. 8. The consumer product according to the preceding claim, wherein the consumer product comprises a fourth tactile discontinuity (412), the fourth tactile discontinuity preferably facing either the first actuator, the second actuator, a third actuator (433) or directly facing a respective part of the side wall when the cover is in the closed position, wherein the fourth tactile discontinuity preferably belongs to the opposite flank that is facing either the second actuator, a third actuator, or directly facing the respective part of the side wall, preferably facing a third actuator, when the cover is in the closed position, the third actuator, if present, being connected to a specific fourth part of the side walls of the box. 9. The consumer product according to the preceding claim, wherein the third and fourth tactile discontinuities are both on the opposite flank, and wherein the centroid of the third tactile discontinuity and the centroid of the fourth tactile discontinuity are separated by a separation distance along a direction parallel to the top of the cover, the separation distance being more than 1.5 cm and less than 10 cm. 10. The consumer product according to any of claims 8 or 9, wherein the first and second specific portions of the side walls and the first actuator (103, 203, 313, 413) belong to the same specific side wall, where the third specific part of the side walls and the second actuator (323, 423) belong to an opposite side wall, the opposite side wall being opposite the specific side wall, where the fourth tactile discontinuity (412), if present, belongs to the opposite flank, where at least one of a centroid of the third tactile discontinuity (311, 411) and of a centroid of the fourth tactile discontinuity, if present, is aligned with either the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity (109, 209, 309, 409) or with the centroid of the second tactile discontinuity (110, 210, 310, 410), preferably is aligned with the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity, along a direction normal to the third specific part when the cover is in the closed position part. 11. The consumer product according to any one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the first and second specific portions of the side walls and the first actuator belong to a same specific side wall, wherein the third specific portion of the side walls and the second actuator belong to an opposite side wall, the opposite side wall being opposite the specific side wall, wherein the fourth tactile discontinuity, if present, belongs to the opposite flank, wherein at least one of a centroid of the third tactile discontinuity and a centroid of the fourth tactile discontinuity is oriented toward a region between the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity and the centroid of the second tactile discontinuity. 12. The consumer product according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the first and second specific portions of the side walls and the first actuator belong to a same specific side wall, wherein the third specific portion of the side walls and the second actuator belong to an opposite side wall, the opposite side wall being opposite the specific side wall, wherein the fourth tactile discontinuity, if present, belongs to the opposite flank, wherein a shortest distance between, on the one hand, at least one of a centroid of the third tactile discontinuity and of a centroid of the fourth tactile discontinuity (412), if present, and, on the other hand, either the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity or the centroid of the second tactile discontinuity, preferably the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity, along the flanks and the top of the cover, is less than 18 cm. 13. The consumer product according to any one of claims 4 to 12, wherein each specific centroid is separated from the top of the cover by more than 1 cm and less than 3 cm. 14. The consumer product according to any of claims 8 to 13, wherein the container comprises a first flap that faces the first tactile discontinuity (109, 209, 309, 409) when the cover is in the closed position, and where the second actuator (323, 423) comprises a single flap that faces the third and fourth tactile discontinuities (311, 411, 412) when the cover is in the closed position. 15. The consumer product according to any of claims 8 to 13, wherein the container comprises a first flap that faces the first tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position, a second flap facing the third tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position, and a third flap facing the fourth tactile discontinuity when the cover is in the closed position. 16. The consumer product according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the centroid of the first tactile discontinuity (109, 209, 309, 409) is located in a central region of a flank of the cover along a horizontal direction parallel to the top of the cover. 17. The consumer product according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the detergent product is in the form of unit dose detergent pouches, preferably in the form of flexible water-soluble unit dose detergent pouches, wherein the one or more, preferably all, tactile discontinuities are configured to prevent a unit dose detergent pouch from passing through the one or more, preferably all, tactile discontinuities. 18. The consumer product according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the specific parts comprise a visual indication visible through the corresponding tactile discontinuity or discontinuities, when the cover is closed. 19. The consumer product according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each tactile discontinuity is one of an opening, a slit, a membrane or an engraved area, preferably an opening, and wherein each tactile discontinuity preferably has a circular shape. 20. The consumer product according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover is a lid or a sleeve. 21. The consumer product according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more additional tactile discontinuities are provided in the cover, preferably on a flank of the cover, said one or more additional tactile discontinuities facing directly towards a corresponding specific part of the side walls when the cover is closed, at least one of the one or more tactile discontinuities being located on a flank of the cover opposite to another flank on which the second tactile discontinuity is located. 22. A method for actuating a locked consumer product, the consumer product being according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising: - unlocking (81) the container by grasping the cover with a first adult hand between the thumb of the first adult hand and one or more other fingers of the first adult hand, the one or more other fingers preferably comprising at least one of the index finger, the ring finger and the middle finger, where the grasping takes place across the entire upper part of the cover, where the pads of the thumb and the one or more other fingers are placed simultaneously on the first and second tactile discontinuities; and -open (82) the container by lifting, sliding, or rotating the pinched cover away from the box to expose the opening. 23. The method of actuating a locked consumer product according to claim 22, the method comprising locking (93) the container, the locking closure emitting a clicking sound upon locking. 24. A method for handling a locked consumer product using a machine, the consumer product being according to any one of the preceding consumer product claims, the machine comprising a gripping device, the method comprising gripping (1000) the consumer product by inserting the gripping device into the second tactile discontinuity, wherein the gripping device has a profile that matches the profile of the second tactile discontinuity.