Packaging

Abstract

A packaging ( 10 ) comprises a wrapper ( 12 ) of flexible material for encasing a product. The wrapper has a pouch ( 20,120 ) into which a message card ( 22 ) can be inserted and at least part of the pouch is see-through so that the message card can be seen when it is located in the pouch. In one aspect, the wrapper ( 12 ) is made of a laminated material comprising an outer layer bonded to an inner layer and the pouch ( 20 ) is defined between the inner and outer layers. In an alternative aspect, the pouch ( 120 ) is formed by attaching a label to the outer surface of the wrapper.

1 . A packaging for a product, the packaging comprising a wrapper of flexible material encasing the product, the wrapper having a pouch into which a message card can be inserted, at least part of the pouch being see-through so that a message card can be seen when it is located in the pouch, in which the wrapper is made of a laminated material comprising an outer layer bonded to an inner layer over the majority of its surface area and in which a region of the outer layer is not bonded to the inner layer to define the pouch between the inner and outer layers. 
     
     
         2 . A packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a slit or line of weakness is provided in the outer layer within or adjacent the un-bonded region to provide an opening region through which the card may be inserted between the outer and inner layers. 
     
     
         3 . A packaging for a product, the packaging comprising a wrapper of flexible material encasing the product, the wrapper having a pouch into which a message card can be inserted, at least part of the pouch being see-through so that a message card can be seen when it is located in the pouch, in which the pouch is formed by means of a label affixed to the wrapper. 
     
     
         4 . A packaging as claimed in  claim 3 , in which one or more edge regions of the label are bonded to the wrapper with at least one edge region being unattached to the wrapper to form an opening through which a card may be inserted into the pouch. 
     
     
         5 . A packaging as claimed in  claim 3 , in which a slit or line of weakness is provided within an inner region of the label to provide an inlet opening region through which a card may be inserted into the pouch and an edge region of the label surrounding the inner region is bonded to the wrapper. 
     
     
         6 . A packaging as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the packaging further comprises a message card releasably mounted to the wrapper. 
     
     
         7 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A packaging as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the card comprises a mounting portion which is affixed to the wrapper and a message portion removably attached to the mounting portion for insertion into the pouch. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A packaging as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the message card is releasably attached to a label which is itself attached to the wrapper. 
     
     
         13 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A packaging as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the packaging is configured for use with a food product. 
     
     
         19 . A packaging as claimed in  claim 6 , the packaging being configured for use with a generally block-shaped food product. 
     
     
         20 . A packaging as claimed in  claim 18 , in which the packaging is configured for use with a confectionery product. 
     
     
         21 . A method of packaging a product, the method comprising:
 a. providing a wrapper of flexible material having a pouch into which a message card can be inserted, at least part of the pouch being see-through so that a message card can be seen when it is located in the pouch; and   b. encasing the product in the wrapper of flexible material.   
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , in which the wrapper comprises an outer layer attached to an inner layer and the method comprises forming a pouch in the wrapper by bonding the outer layer to the inner over the majority of its surface area but leaving a region of the outer layer un-bonded to the inner layer to define a pouch between the inner and outer layers. 
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 22 , the method comprising forming a slit or line of weakness in the outer layer within or adjacent the un-bonded region to provide an opening region through which the card may be inserted between the outer and inner layers. 
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , the method comprising forming a pouch by affixing a label to the wrapper. 
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , the method comprising bonding one or more edge regions of the label to the wrapper and leaving at least one edge region unattached to form an opening through which the card may be inserted into the pouch. 
     
     
         26 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , in which the label has a slit or line of weakness within an inner region of the label to form an inlet opening region through which a card may be inserted into the pouch and the method comprises bonding an edge region of the label surrounding the inner region to the wrapper. 
     
     
         27 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , in which the pouch is formed before the wrapper is applied to the product. 
     
     
         28 . A method of packaging a product, the method comprising:
 a. encasing the product in a wrapper of flexible material; and,   b. subsequently affixing a label to the wrapper to form a pouch into which a message card can be inserted.   
     
     
         29 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , the method comprising bonding one or more edge regions of the label to the wrapper and leaving at least one edge region unattached to form an opening through which the card may be inserted into the pouch. 
     
     
         30 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , in which the label has a slit or line of weakness within an inner region of the label to form an inlet opening region through which a card may be inserted into the pouch and the method comprises bonding an edge region of the label surrounding the inner region to the wrapper. 
     
     
         31 . A method of packaging a product as claimed in  claim 21 , the method comprising releasably mounting a message card to the wrapper. 
     
     
         32 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A method as claimed in  claim 31 , in which the card has a mounting portion and a message portion removably attached to the mounting portion for insertion into the pouch, the method comprising affixing the mounting portion to the wrapper. 
     
     
         36 . A method as claimed in  claim 35 , in which the method comprises bonding the mounting portion to the wrapper or to a label on the wrapper forming the pouch. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method as claimed in  claim 31 , the method comprising releasably affixing the card to a label and affixing the label to the wrapper. 
     
     
         39 . A method as claimed in  claim 31 , the method comprising releasably mounting the card to the wrapper by inserting the card into the pouch. 
     
     
         40 . A method as claimed in  claim 31 , in which message card is releasably mounted to the wrapper after the wrapper is applied to the product. 
     
     
         41 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , in which the step of encasing the product in the wrapper comprises folding the wrapper about the product and bonding opposed surfaces of the wrapper to form sealed seams. 
     
     
         42 . A method as claimed in  claim 41 , the method comprising forming a fin seal extending longitudinally along one side of the product and end seams extending transversely at either end of the product. 
     
     
         43 . A method as claimed in  claim 42 , the method comprising positioning the pouch on a face of the wrapper which is located on the opposite side of the product from the fin seal. 
     
     
         44 . A method as claimed in  claim 41 , the method comprising forming the packaging using flow-wrap techniques, the wrapper being provided as part of a roll of material, the material being folded about the product so that opposing longitudinal edge regions of the material are brought into contact and bonded together to form a longitudinal seam, opposing regions of the material at either end of the product being brought into contact and bonded to form transverse end seams and the material being cut to separate the package from the remainder of the material. 
     
     
         45 . A method as claimed in  claim 44 , in which the material in the roll is provided with a plurality of pouches spaced along its length, the method comprising positioning the material about each product so that a pouch is provided on a face of each completed packaging located opposite from the longitudinal seam. 
     
     
         46 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , the method comprising encasing the product in the wrapper so as to form a hermetically sealed container for the product. 
     
     
         47 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , in which the product is a food product. 
     
     
         48 . A method as claimed in  claim 47 , in which the product is generally-block shaped. 
     
     
         49 . A method as claimed in  claim 47 , in which the product is a confectionery product. 
     
     
         50 . A method of forming a flexible wrapper having a pouch for receiving a message card for use in the packaging of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 a. forming the wrapper as a lamination having an inner layer and an outer layer;   b. bonding the outer layer to the inner layer over the majority of its surface area but leaving a region of the outer layer un-bonded to the inner layer to define a pouch between the inner and outer layers.   
     
     
         51 . A method of forming a flexible wrapper as claimed in  claim 50 , the method comprising forming a slit or line of weakness in the outer layer within or adjacent the un-bonded region to provide an opening region through which a card may be inserted between the outer and inner layers. 
     
     
         52 . A method of forming a flexible wrapper having a pouch for receiving a message card for use in the packaging of  claim 3 , the method comprising:
 a. affixing a label to an outer surface of the wrapper; and   b. forming an inlet opening region through which a message card may be inserted into the pouch.   
     
     
         53 . A method as claimed in  claim 52 , the method comprising bonding the label to the wrapper along one or more edge regions of the label, at least one edge region of the label being unattached to the wrapper to provide the inlet opening region. 
     
     
         54 . A method as claimed in  claim 52 , the method comprising:
 a. forming a slit or line of weakness within an inner region of the label to provide the opening region through which a card may be inserted into the pouch; and   b. bonding an edge region of the label surrounding the inner region to the wrapper.   
     
     
         55 . A method as claimed in  claim 54 , in which the step of forming a slit or line of weakness within an inner region of the label to form an opening region through which a card may be inserted into the pouch is carried out before the edge region of the label is bonded to the wrapper. 
     
     
         56 . A method of forming a flexible wrapper as claimed in  claim 50 , the method comprising forming the wrapper as part of a continuous film of wrappers such that a plurality of pouches are spaced along the length of the film. 
     
     
         57 . A method of forming a flexible wrapper as claimed in  claim 56 , the method comprising forming the film into a roll. 
     
     
         58 . A method of forming a flexible wrapper as claimed in  claim 52 , the method comprising affixing the label to the wrapper after it has been applied to a product. 
     
     
         59 .- 60 . (canceled)