Packaging material and method

Abstract

An improved packaging material may include a substrate which is normally susceptible to permeation by substances such as oil or grease. A colorant layer may be applied to the outer surface of the substrate. The colorant layer may be of a color chosen to closely resemble or to overpower the appearance of a stain on the substrate which would otherwise be caused by the substances. In this manner, the colorant layer serves to mask the stain which would otherwise be caused by substances permeating through the substrate. A second colorant layer may optionally be provided over the first colorant layer to provide a uniform background of a desired color. Graphics, e.g, text and/or images, may then be applied to the first or second colorant layer in a conventional manner.

1 . A packaging material for packaging grease or oil-containing substances, said packaging material comprising: 
 (a) a substrate which is susceptible to permeation by oil or grease, said substrate having a first surface thereon;    (b) graphics;    (c) at least one colorant layer located between said graphics and said first surface of said substrate; and    (d) wherein said at least one colorant layer comprises a non-metallic non-white colorant.    
     
     
         2 . The packaging material of  claim 1  wherein said non-metallic non-white colorant is an ink.  
     
     
         3 . The packaging material of  claim 2  wherein said ink comprises a white pigment and a black pigment.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging material of  claim 2  wherein said ink is a grey ink.  
     
     
         5 . The packaging material of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 at least a portion of said graphics is directly adjacent a portion of said at least one colorant layer; and    a background colorant is directly adjacent said at least one colorant layer in areas where said at least a portion of said graphics does not exist.    
     
     
         6 . The packaging material of  claim 1  and further including a second colorant layer directly adjacent said at least one colorant layer.  
     
     
         7 . The packaging material of  claim 6  wherein said second colorant layer is a layer of white ink.  
     
     
         8 . The packaging material of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of said graphics is directly adjacent at least a portion of said second colorant layer.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging material of  claim 1  wherein said packaging material comprises a carton blank.  
     
     
         10 . The packaging material of  claim 1  wherein said packaging material comprises a web of packaging material.  
     
     
         11 . The packaging material of  claim 1  wherein said at least one colorant layer masks the appearance of grease or oil stains on said packaging material which stains are the result of grease or oil permeating said substrate from the surface thereof opposite said first surface.  
     
     
         12 . A method of making a packaging material for packaging a grease or oil-containing product, said method comprising: 
 providing a substrate which is susceptible to permeation by oil or grease; and    applying at least one layer of non-metallic non-white colorant to a first surface of said substrate.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said non-metallic non-white colorant is an ink.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said ink is a grey ink.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said ink comprises a white pigment and a black pigment.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  and further including applying graphics directly to at least a portion of said at least one layer of said non-metallic non-white colorant.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  and further including; 
 applying graphics directly to a portion of said at least one layer of non-metallic non-white colorant; and    applying a second colorant layer directly to said at least one layer of non-metallic non-white colorant in areas where said graphics are not present.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  and further including applying a second layer of colorant directly on said at least one layer of non-metallic non-white colorant.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said second layer of colorant is a white ink.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  and further including applying graphics directly to at least a portion of said second layer of colorant.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12  and further comprising masking the appearance of grease or oil stains on said package with said at least one layer of non-metallic nonwhite colorant, which stains are the result of grease or oil permeating said substrate from said product.  
     
     
         22 . A method of making a packaging material for packaging a grease or oil-containing product, said method comprising: 
 providing a substrate which is susceptible to permeation by oil or grease from said product and to staining thereby;    applying a first layer of colorant to a first surface of said substrate;    choosing the color of said colorant based upon the color of said staining of said substrate caused by said oil or grease from said product.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said first layer of colorant is a non-metallic non-white colorant.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said nonmetallic non-white colorant is an ink.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  and further including applying graphics directly to at least a portion of said first layer of colorant.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  and further including: 
 applying graphics directly to a portion of said first layer of colorant; and    applying a second layer of colorant directly to said first layer of colorant in areas where said graphics are not present.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  and further including applying a second layer of colorant directly to said first layer of colorant.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  and further including applying graphics directly to at least a portion of said second layer of colorant.  
     
     
         29 . A carton erected from the packaging material of  claim 1  and in combination with the grease or oil-containing substance, wherein the grease or oil-containing substance is enclosed by the carton.  
     
     
         30 . The packaging material according to  claim 1  and further including a second colorant layer covering at least a portion of said at least one colorant layer such that said portion of said at least one colorant layer is located between said second colorant layer and said first surface of said substrate.  
     
     
         31 . The packaging material according to  claim 30  wherein said second colorant layer is visible where said graphics has not been applied and serves to provide a uniform background color for a carton erected from said carton blank.  
     
     
         32 . The packaging material according to  claim 30  wherein said graphics covers at least a portion of said at least one colorant layer that is not covered by said second colorant layer.  
     
     
         33 . The packaging material according to  claim 32  wherein 
 said graphics is directly adjacent said second colorant layer,    said graphics is directly adjacent said at least one colorant layer, and    said second colorant layer is directly adjacent said at least one colorant layer.    
     
     
         34 . A carton erected from the packaging material of  claim 33  and in combination with the grease or oil-containing substance, wherein the grease or oil-containing substance is enclosed by the carton.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 17  and further including forming a blank from the packaging material, wherein the blank is for being erected into a carton.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26  and further including forming a blank from the packaging material, wherein the blank is for being erected into a carton.