Water soluble package

Abstract

A water soluble package containing a fluid substance for release on dissolution of the package, the package having a dome shaped body portion for containing the fluid substance comprising a first sheet of a water soluble material thermoformed to form a body wall of the body portion, and a second sheet of water soluble material superposed on the first sheet and sealed thereto along a continuous region of the superposed sheets to form a base wall of the body portion.

1 . A water soluble package containing a fluid substance for release on dissolution of the package, characterised in that the package has a body portion for containing the substance comprising a first sheet of a water soluble material thermoformed to form a body wall of the body portion, and a second sheet of water soluble material superposed on the first sheet and sealed thereto along a continuous region of the superposed sheets to form a base wall of the body portion, and in that the body portion of the package is generally dome shaped.  
     
     
         2 . A package according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the maximum height of the body wall above the base wall is less than or equal to the maximum width of the base wall.  
     
     
         3 . A package according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , characterised in that the base wall is generally circular.  
     
     
         4 . A capsule according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , characterised in that the base wall is generally oval.  
     
     
         5 . A package according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , characterised in that the base wall is generally flat, or slightly concave or convex.  
     
     
         6 . A package according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , characterised in that the first sheet of water-soluble film comprises polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol derivative.  
     
     
         7 . A package according to any one of  claims 1  to  6 , characterised in that the second sheet of water soluble material comprises polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol derivative.  
     
     
         8 . A package according to any one of  claims 1  to  7 , characterised in that the fluid substance is a liquid, paste or a gel.  
     
     
         9 . A package according to any one of  claims 1  to  8 , characterised in that the fluid substance is a domestic consumer product.  
     
     
         10 . A package according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the substance is a laundry detergent composition.  
     
     
         11 . A process for producing a water soluble package having a body portion containing a fluid substance for release on dissolution of the package, characterised in that the process comprises the steps of: 
 thermoforming a first sheet of a water soluble material to form a domed body wall of the body portion;    placing the fluid substance in the body portion;    superposing a second sheet of a water soluble material over the first sheet; and    heat sealing the first and second sheets along a continuous region of the superposed sheets surrounding the substance to form a base wall of the body portion.    
     
     
         12 . A process according to  claim 11 , characterised in that the first sheet of water-soluble material is thermoformed by means of a heating plate.  
     
     
         13 . A process according to  claim 11  or  claim 12 , characterised in that prior to the addition of the substance a vacuum is applied to the thermoformed body wall to maintain the shape of the body portion at least until after the heat sealing step.  
     
     
         14 . A process for the machine washing of laundry by employing a package according to any of  claims 1  to  10 , characterised in that the fluid substance contained within the package comprises a laundry treatment agent, the process comprising the steps of: 
 placing at least one package into the machine along with the laundry to be washed; and  
 carrying out a washing operation.