Colored Coding System For Packaging Materials

Abstract

A color-coded packaging system is provided where a set of different colors are selected with each color designated to signify a varying feature of a product such as a dimensions of a pouch for receiving instruments for sterilization. Printed information or indicia printed on that pouch are printed in a colored ink designating the size of that pouch. Multiple pouches of the same size are packaged in boxes which have information or indicia printed thereon in the same color so that the size of box contents can be readily determined by the color of the printing thereon. The storage area can also include designated color coded areas for placement of like colored boxes. The color coding of the storage area, the boxes and the content of boxes provides for easy selection of a desired product as a means for a quick visual inventory.

1 . A color coded packaging system comprising multiple duplicate products stored in single box, the multiple duplicate products being supplied in various different sizes, wherein each product of the same size includes on a visible surface thereof a specific color representative of a feature of that product, the specific color also being prominently displayed on the box so that the contents of the box can be determined by observing the color on the box said color being one of the colors in a color coding system, each color in the color coding system designating a specific variable feature of the contents of the box. 
   
   
       2 . The color coded packaging system of  claim 1  wherein a feature of the contents of the box, following removal of a portion of the box to expose a portion of the contents thereof, can be determined by observing a color within the color coding system visible on one or more of the contents. 
   
   
       3 . A method for recognition of the size of a disposable pouch without reading a printed size description or measuring the pouch wherein pouches are available in multiple sizes and each of the multiple sized pouches comprises at least one surface formed from a sheet of a printable material comprising:
 establishing a color coding system comprising multiple different colors whereby a particular color or shade of color is designated to represent a specific sized pouch, and   using ink of the particular color or shade designated to represent a specific sized pouch, information or indicia is printed on the printable material surface of said pouch.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said printing includes as a minimum and indicia printed on an end of the printable material, said indicia observable when an edge of the end of the pouch is viewed. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein multiple pouches of the same size are packaged in a box and said box has information or indicia printed thereon regarding the contents of said box, at least some of said information or indicia is printed using a colored ink selected from the color coding system that matches the color ink used to print the information or indicia on the pouch packaged therein. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein multiple boxes of different sized pouches are placed in a storage area, each box containing only one size of pouches, the printed information or indicia on each box having a color selected from the color coding system designating the content of that specific box, the different print colors on the boxes being visible by an observer. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein boxes of the same sized pouch are stacked together on a shelf such that each of the boxes having the same colored printing are located together, the inventory of different sized pouches being determinable by observing the different printing colors on the boxes and the color of the indicia on the end of the pouch when a box is open to display the contents thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein, upon opening and end flap on a box or removing end flaps on a box reveals the contents of the box and the color of the indicia on the end of the pouch is observable. 
   
   
       9 . A color coded packaging system for labeling various differently dimensioned pouches so that an observer can distinguish between the various different sized pouches by observing a color printed thereon, said color being one of multiple colors in a color coding system, each color in the color coding system designating one or more specific dimensions of the pouch, comprising:
 a packaging system comprising multiple different sized pouches and multiple different sized boxes, each of the different sized boxes containing multiple same-sized pouches   wherein each pouch of the same size includes on a visible surface thereof a specific color representative of one or more dimensions of that pouch, said specific color selected from the color coding system, that specific color also being displayed in a visible location on the box containing multiple same sized pouches so that the contents of each box can be determined by observing the color displayed on the box.   
   
   
       10 . The color coded packaging system of  claim 9  wherein the specific color is printed on an end flap of the box. 
   
   
       11 . The color coded packaging system of  claim 10  wherein the specific color is also printed and on one or more sides of said box. 
   
   
       12 . The color coded packaging system of  claim 11  wherein the specific color printed on at least one location on each of the pouches within a box is visible to an observer when the end flap of the box is open or removed. 
   
   
       13 . The color coded packaging system of  claim 12  wherein the at least one location on each of the pouches comprises at least a portion of an end of each pouch in the box visible when the end flap of the box is open or removed. 
   
   
       14 . The color coded packaging system of  claim 9  wherein the pouches are provided in at least about eleven different sizes and the color coding system comprises at least eleven different colors or shades of color.