Fragrance Sampler

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fragrance sampler, and more specifically, to a disposable unit dose or single application package for providing a fragrance sample.

2. Description of the Related Art:

Cosmetics have typically been available for sampling in department stores in the very containers in which the product is sold, or in smaller versions of the same container. This method of marketing a cosmetic can become quite expensive and can create an uneasiness in the consumer since others "have been in the same pot." The concern over whether Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is communicable in this manner is a grave one.

Moreover, to date, there has been no inexpensive and convenient method of marketing cosmetics by hand-outs or by mail, e.g., as inserts which accompany department store bills, other than cosmetic "strips", which consist merely of make-up samples deposited on a substrate covered by a paper mask. Such "strips" do not allow for the presentation of the cosmetic sample in a design pattern, nor do they allow for the simultaneous presentation of a number of colors in a single design.

Similar problems arise in the distribution of samples of creams, lipsticks, fragrances, pharmaceuticals, lotions, and other types of high viscosity, waxy materials.

Fragrance samplers have historically been available as expensive, actual liquid samples of the fragrance, as fragrance blotters or as microencapsulated, glue-like smears or extrusions.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive sanitary unit-dose package which allows the consumer to sample a fragrance without fear of contracting disease.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive unit dose fragrance sampler which can be distributed as a hand-out or placed in mailers.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a unit dose package for presenting fragrance samples to customers in a variety of aesthetically appealing designs and colors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fragrance sample in a well-defined shape or design which can illustrate and replicate the actual container logo or name of a product being sampled, as well as illustrating the fragrance.

Briefly, the present invention is a fragrance sampler package comprising a base, such as a paper-based stock, screen printed with a slurry of fragrance and solvent. A perimeter adhesive is printed around the fragrance sample and a protective thin film overlay is laminated thereon to seal the fragrance until use. Further sealing can be provided by applying a second protective overlay on the underside of the base.

The base is preferably coated with a release coat before screen printing of the fragrance. The fragrance can either be a polymer, powder or a wax based fragrance. A pigment or dye is preferably added to the fragrance slurry to make the sample opaque--the screen printing permits unlimited shapes, sizes and patterns of fragrance to be presented.

In lieu of a paper base, a pressure-sensitive adhesive stock with a removable liner may be used to form labels.

In another embodiment, the conventional single-layer pressure sensitive base is replaced with a two-layer, pressure-sensitive stock having a non-pressure-sensitive, removable adhesive between the two layers. This construction yields a roll form label which has the additional feature of being removable without residual tackiness.

In a yet another embodiment, the pressure sensitive base of one of the above-mentioned label embodiments is applied to a coupon stock.

In still further embodiments, the present invention can be provided as a pad of stacked fragrance samplers.

Other features and advantages of the invention are described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a side cut-away view and top view, respectively, of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a side cut-away view and top view, respectively, of a second embodiment of the present invention in which the base stock is replaced by a pressure sensitive, material to yield a label.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a side cut-away view and top-view, respectively, of a third embodiment of the present invention similar to the second embodiment except that the conventional single-layer pressure sensitive base is replaced by a two-layer pressure sensitive stock having a non-pressure sensitive removable adhesive between the two layers, yielding a removable label without residual tackiness.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a side cut-away view and top view, respectively, of a three-layer embodiment of the present invention in which the cosmetic sample is applied to a coupon.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a side cut-away view and top view, respectively, of a three-layer embodiment of the present invention in which a coupon is fully covered with the cosmetic sample.

FIG. 6 shows a foldable "hand-out" embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C show the lipstick sampler embodiment of the present invention with a spaced well using a laminate.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C show the lipstick sampler embodiment in the individual sampler and padded sampler forms.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative view of the lipstick sampler pad.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C show the lipstick sampler embodiment of the present invention with a debossed well.

Referring first to FIG. 1A, the present invention comprises a coated cover stock 1, upon which is screen printed a cosmetic powder or make-up 2 in any desired pattern. A perimeter adhesive 3 is applied to the coated face stock 1, and a two mil. polyester clear cover sheet 4 is laminated over the make-up 2. Cover 4 serves to prevent offset and projects the image of a clean, sanitary product.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, a small void 5 in the perimeter adhesive 3 in one corner of the cosmetic sampler 4 gives a starting point for the easy removal of the cover. As shown in FIG. 1B, the cosmetic sampler is manufactured in a strip of samples separated by perforations 6. This embodiment of the invention is a protected free-standing handout, i.e. for in-person disbursal by a sales agent.

The paper base 1 can be pre-printed on one or both sides or can be printed in line on one or both sides depending on the particular press configuration employed. Although it is not necessary to avoid printing under the cosmetic powder 2, most make-up is generally opaque, and any copy printed underneath the powder would be difficult to read. Printing the cosmetic over the pre-printed surface requires some registration device, such as a printed mark capable of being detected by an electric eye, or a hole or series of holes either detectable or usable as line-feed holes, if the press is equipped with a tractor feed.

In the process for making the invention, the paper base 1 is run through the press and printed with as many colors of make-up 2 as required and allowed by the press configuration. These deposits of make-up may be in virtually any shape and size compatible with the press capability and may be in proximity and registered with each other. In a preferred embodiment, a moderately coarse mesh (125 threads per inch) from Advance Process Supply Co. and a sharp 80-85 durometer squeegee are used to deposit the make-up on the substrate. The mesh has an unusually fine thread for its count resulting in a smooth screen with a high percentage of open area.

The make-up slurry is formed by wetting the make-up with a solvent compatible with the chemistry of the powder. For instance, a pearlescent eyeshadow with inorganic pigments that wets well can be used with n-propyl alcohol (an evaporating solvent). If a coarse screen and a poorly lubricated powder are used together, additional lubricant such as glycerine or silicone oil must be added to the slurry. The viscosity of the slurry and the amount of solvent added must be tailored to the individual powder, as is the choice and amount of lubricant, although the amount of lubricant should preferably be kept below 5%. Following screen printing of the slurry, the solvent evaporates to leave a sample of make-up 2 on the base 1.

Next, the perimeter adhesive 3 is printed on paper substrate 1, and the protective overlay 4 is laminated to the adhesive. The adhesive 3 is preferably, but not necessarily, pressure sensitive. It can consist of an anaerobic, a self crosslinking, a U.V. curable, a heat curable material, or it can simply be dried by evaporation. In the preferred embodiment, a U.V. crosslinked pressure sensitive adhesive is used for ease of operation. The protective overlay 4 can be a glassine sheet or a film such as a 2 mil. polyester, or a more opaque sheet, depending on the effect desired. In any event, however, the protective overlay 4 must be strong enough to be removed cleanly from the adhesive selected; i.e., it cannot tear upon removal. The finished lamination can then be perforated, die cut and finished in any configuration desired.

In a typical application, the product would be produced in a strip of five samples separated by perforations and packaged ten strips to a polybag. These samples could be torn off the strip and handed to the customer for demonstration of the product. Individual samples would contain enough powder for one application of the cosmetic, but not so much that it would substitute for a sale to the consumer.

In a second embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the paper base stock is replaced by an adhesive coated base material. The base material 7 can comprise, for example, a high gloss face stock and the adhesive 8, coated on the underside of the base, can be of a pressure sensitive, heat seal, water or solvent activated type. A liner 9 covers the pressure-sensitive adhesive. In the preferred embodiment, liner 9 is a kraft type liner, but it can also be a glassine, plastic film paper film laminate, or a layered paper. Alternatively, the base can be simply a raw stock capable of being glued onto a product by the manufacturer.

Following lamination of the protective cover sheet 4, in the preferred embodiment, the product is die cut and matrix stripped to convert the product into labels. As mentioned previously, cover sheet 4 must have sufficient internal strength so that the weakest bond is the adhesive-laminate bond, as is the case with any temporary laminate. After the product is die-cut, the individual pressure sensitive make-up samples are then applied either by hand or automatically to any labelable substrate, such as literature, a bill, a mailer, a magazine insert, bottles, or other containers, cartons, other labels or even directly on the cosmetic package.

In a third embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the conventional, single-layer pressure-sensitive base stock of FIGS. 2A and 2B is replaced with two-layer pressure-sensitive stock having a non-pressure sensitive removable adhesive between the two layers. This yields a roll form label that may be used in any of the applications of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The label of this embodiment, however, has the additional feature of being removable, leaving behind a clear non-tacky film or a paper that can be provided with print which is exposed upon removal of the top layer.

To form the product according to this embodiment, a base material 11, preferably pressure sensitive, is run through a press. The base material can be a film or a paper coated with any compatible pressure sensitive adhesive 8 on a polysiloxane coated release liner 9. Preferably, a polypropylene, acetate, polystyrene, or a paper substrate is used. This substrate may be printed and is then coated with a non-pressure sensitive removable adhesive 10 (either full coat or patterned). Such an adhesive can be obtained commercially or formulated from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, latex, EVA (a polymerized ethyl vinyl acetate), EVOH (a polymerized ethyl vinyl alcohol), PVA (a polyvinyl alcohol), brominated PVA and crosslinking elastomers.

An unsupported paper, foil or film 7 is then laminated to the adhesive surface. The top material may be, but does not have to be, printed. The result is a two-layer construction which can be applied to a product and separated by peeling off the top layer, yielding a non-tacky sheet and leaving a non-tacky base on the product. The two-layer paper or label is run through a screen press and printed with the make-up powder, then laminated and die cut. The result is a label that can be applied to a product, package or piece of printed material, but which can be removed from that product prior to the removal of the sample's cover and its use. The material left behind has no tacky residue, the background being opaque or transparent, printed or plain, as desired in the particular application.

In a fourth embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the two-layer cosmetic sampler label of the third embodiment is applied to a coupon in the form of, for example, an instant redemption coupon, a mail-in rebate or other promotion. The three-layer construction may comprise a sample of the product or some companion product, a cents-off coupon for this or the companion product, and other instructional or advertising information, or a clear base that does not interfere with package graphics.

A conventional single-layer cosmetic sampler of the second embodiment can also be used if the "coupon" is designed to be used after purchase. One additional feature that may be incorporated into the larger two-layer removable label is a strip of permanent adhesive printed along one edge to give a more easily applied coupon with no danger of accidental pre-separation of the two layers. This adhesive, usually a self-cross linking acrylic, is kept narrow enough so that it does not interfere substantially with the complete removal of the coupon.

A fifth embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, is a three-layered construction prior to the screen press. A pressure sensitive base material is run through a press, preferably a Flexographic press. As stated previously, the base material can be a paper foil or film and pre-printed, or printed during the press pass. The material is full or pattern coated with the removable, non-pressure sensitive adhesive 10 and possibly a narrow permanent edge bonding adhesive. A second web, which may also be pre-printed, blank or printed in-line during the process, is introduced to the wet adhesive surface, and is itself coated with a similar adhesive or a pair of adhesives.

A third web, as in the fourth embodiment described above, is then introduced and the finished construction is run through the screen press to be printed with the make-up and laminated. This embodiment of the invention is especially useful to sample several colors on package with a mail-in order form or coupon for a companion product, with the stay-behind base indicating that the coupon and samples have been removed.

All of the above embodiments of the present invention described above have the form of a protected "sanitary" means of make-up sample presentation. Obviously, the invention could be presented without the propylene cover, provided that handling techniques and stock selections are employed to avoid off-set. A major problem, of course, with unprotected versions is abrasion in packaging.

One way to solve this problem is by interleaving or folding one side of the web over the printed make-up, resulting in a convenient "handout" embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 6. This product is formed by running a high quality C2S web through a screen press. Optionally, the web can be pre-printed with high-quality graphics, including four-color process copy. Make-up 2 is printed on the sheet 7 and, with the assistance of a perforation or score 12, the sheet is folded at the end of the press. The folded sheet provides necessary protection to allow handling and distribution of the non-laminated free-standing handout.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, a padded or stacked sheet of unit dose samples is formed. The high quality C2S sheet referred to in the previous embodiment is run through the web screen press (after pre-printing, if desired) and the make-up sample is printed onto it and laminated fully or only over the make-up sample, if desired. The printed web is then sheeted and stacked with appropriate chipboard backing and cover sheets, and is then padded. The result is a pad that can be incorporated into a make-up display similar to the cakes that are currently used, except that each customer now is able to tear off a clean sheet that has not already been handled by other customers.

The use of screen techniques according to the present invention for preparing make-up samples is not limited to samples of eyeshadows or other inorganically pigmented powders. Organically pigmented powders may also be sampled by adjusting the solvent system and by, if necessary, reducing the pigment loading to compensate for the tendency of some organic pigments to develop in a liquid medium. Such a technique would also allow the sampling of blushers.

The laminated techniques described above also lend themselves to sampling non-liquid but oily products, such as lipstick, sunscreen stick, stick deodorant, or any oily, non-liquid pharmaceutical product. A screen press with a heated steel mesh or a flexographic process with heated pans and cylinders allows the handling of high-viscosity oils or waxes that drop in viscosity when heated. These materials flow well enough when hot to be forced through a mesh or transferred through a roller train passing from the hotter surface to the cooler one. These products require the laminated cover (i.e. they can never be folded or stacked in a pad) as they are never truly dry, and would offset under pressure if rerolled without protection. Although this method of delivery is thus more limited than that for drier powders, it has great advantages over the current methods of sample distribution which are either expensive (individual lipstick tubes) or very messy and unsanitary (community lipstick pots).

Yet another embodiment provides a more effective method of screen printing and sampling wax based products such as lipstick. By way of example, a method of screen printing lipstick is described, although the method is similarly applicable to any type of wax based product.

First, the lipstick bulk is heated above its melting point of approximately 195.degree. to 205.degree. F. to ensure that the highest melting point waxes are dispersed, and that the lipstick is uniform. The formulation is then augmented by the addition of molten waxes and other additives which are mixed until uniform and poured when molten into a stainless steel jacketed kettle or a suitably sized plastic container. The mixture is then allowed to cool to return to a solid state. The purpose of adding waxes to the formula is to prevent the lipstick from melting or bleeding oil when exposed to subsequent environmental conditions.

After cooling, the mixture forms a hard waxy product which is not printable. Thus, the next step is to change the material to a paste-like consistency using a conventional recognized method of grinding or shearing such as by a Rollermill or planetary mixer.

The paste-like processed bulk is added to the screen press at room temperature and printed in a pattern onto a suitable substrate, which can be board, paper or film. The board or paper should have a suitable coating to prevent wicking of oils.

Since the material which now exists as a printed paste is not yet a lipstick, it is then heated to approximately 195.degree. to 200.degree. F. to re-melt, then chilled to form a lipstick. The resulting physical appearance of the lipstick print is shiny, glossy, and liquefied.

One further step in the process, which ensures that the lipstick will maintain its integrity when exposed to environmental conditions of heat or pressure, incorporates the printing of a protective overcoat on the printed lipstick. This overcoat is screen printed in the exact pattern as the printed lipstick. The overcoat serves not only to maintain the integrity of the lipstick, but also to prevent product transfer to the film overlay, which is the final step in the printing process. The overcoat can be selected from a series of polymers which are screen printed from a solvent system, allowing rapid drying and forming of a uniform film over the lipstick surface. The overcoat material is dried to a uniform film by use of air knives or moving room temperature air. Polymer systems, based upon cellulosics, polyvinyl pyrollidone, pyrollidone ester blends, acrylics, nitrocellulose, have shown to have certain degrees of effectiveness; however, the material of choice for the overcoat is "NO'TOX".TM. from Colorcon Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pa.

To prevent offset, the substrate is preferably debossed or layered with a cut-out forming a well (FIGS. 7A-C and 10A-C), such that the screen printed lipstick lies beneath the upper surface of the substrate, thus preventing the lipstick from contacting the plastic film overlay.

Referring to FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, the lipstick sample 20 and supporting coated substrate 21 lie beneath a polyester film overlay 24 by means of a spacing element 25. The spacing element 25 is similarly a coated board, paper, or film and includes a cutout 26. The cutout 26 is adapted to surround the lipstick sample 20 creating a well in which the sample 20 sits. The polyester film overlay 24 is attached to the spacing element 25 by means of an adhesive 23, and the spacing element 25 is similarly attached to the supporting coated substrate 21 by means of an adhesive 23. The resulting well prevents offset of the sample 20 onto the film overlay.

Similar to the spacing element embodiment, the substrate of the sampler can be formed with a debossed well 30 (FIGS. 10A-C) to space the screen printed lipstick 20 from the film overlay 24 to prevent offset. The substrate 21 for the debossed well embodiment is formed from board, coated board, or vacuum formed plastic.

When formed of board or coated board, the substrate 21 is pressed between male and female debossing dies (not shown) to form the debossed well 30. This pressing is done on-line, the lipstick sample being screen printed into the well in a subsequent step. When formed of plastic, the substrate is heated and passed over a vacuum in a male/female mold (not shown) forming the debossed well 30, then cooled. This process is performed off line; i.e. the debossed well in the vacuum formed plastic substrate is formed separately and prior to the manufacture of the lipstick sampler.

Since powdery cosmetics are less likely to offset than waxy lipstick samples, the substrate of a cosmetic powder sampler can be embossed, rather than debossed. An embossed substrate raises the sample and provides a more attractive display.

In similar fashion to the cosmetic sampler, the lipstick sampler 20 may also be provided in a padded stack form. Referring to FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C and 9, a pad 27 of individual lipstick samples is shown. In this embodiment, the polyester film overlay 24 is directly attached to the supporting substrate 21, i.e. spacing element 25 is not included and there is no well. To prevent offset of the lipstick, the lipstick is augmented with additional waxes (6-9%) for hardening the sample 20. Although the debossed well embodiment permits the use of a softer sample (with only 3-6% added waxes), the augmented sample (6-9% waxes) is sufficiently soft to demonstrate the product but also hard enough to prevent offset of the lipstick onto the overlay 24. The pad 27 includes a supporting substrate 21 and a plurality of web sheets 28 on which the lipstick samples 20 are added. The web sheets 28 are held in pad form by means of pad glue 29. A polyester film overlay 24 covers each sample 20 between the web sheets 28.

The present invention can also be used for products other than cosmetics; e.g., it can be used to sample body fragrances such as polymeric fragrance mixtures, fragrance powders or wax based fragrances.

To create a polymer based fragrance sampler, a mixture of a polymeric dispersion of polymer, co-polymer, plasticizers, fragrance oil and a suitable fragrance solvent, such as ethyl alcohol, is formed and screen printed onto a suitable substrate. The substrate is preferably formed of polyester film, although polyester board, poly-coated paper or poly-coated board may also be used.

The printed polymeric fragrance mixture is rapidly dried and then sealed with a film overlay which attaches to an adhesive printed on the substrate. The substrate can be printed (screen printed or gravure) with a release coat before printing of the polymeric fragrance mixture to facilitate release of the mixture from the substrate and transfer to the film overlay upon separation of the overlay from the substrate, thus allowing the scent of the fragrance to emanate to the user.

Since both the fragrance and the substrate (preferably polyester film) are transparent, the sampler can be applied (via a pressure sensitive adhesive backing) to secondary cartons, primary containers, or advertising inserts such as are found in magazines or mailing inserts without blocking visibility of the advertisement underneath the fragrance sample.

Alternatively, pigments, dyes, talc, or nacreous pigment can be added to the polymeric fragrance mixture as a slurry or dispersion to make the sample opaque (and colorful) without affecting the scent of the fragrance sample.

To form a fragrance powder sampler, the desired fragrance oil is added to a volatile solvent or solvents combined with a wetting agent and added to a powder base comprising talc, mica, magnesium carbonate and a wetting agent.

The above ingredients are mixed well, and the resultant slurry is then deposited upon a base stock or web by screen printing, yielding an accurate, defined image of wet slurry in the desired pattern. The screen printed slurry is then dried at low temperature (ranging from about 70.degree. F. to 120.degree. F.) and sealed with a coated film overlay (to prevent offset) which is laminated to the stock by a pre-printed patterned adhesive.

Significantly, the film overlay serves to seal in a high level of fragrance, thus providing a fragrance sample in a sealed unit, wherein the consumer is not exposed to the fragrance either unknowingly or involuntarily.

To provide further sealing, a film can be laminated to the bottom surface of the paper or board upon which the fragrance sample is printed, or to both the base and the face of the paper or board stock. Such lamination all but insures that no incidental exposure of fragrance will occur.

In a further embodiment of the fragrance sampler of the present invention, the paper or board base stock is replaced by a pressure sensitive adhesive stock to form a unit dose sample that can be applied as a totally sealed label. Further, a non-pressure sensitive removable adhesive can be used in a two-layer removable label construction or a three-layer coupon construction.

In a still further embodiment, like the lipstick sampler shown in FIGS. 8A-8C and FIG. 9, the fragrance sampler can be formed as a pad of unit-dose, sealed individual screen printed samples provided on paper, board, or as pressure sensitive labels as described above.

The present invention can also be used for sampling fragrances using a wax based system. The fragrance sampler composition is a combination of waxes, oils and fragrances which can be rubbed with a finger and applied to the skin. The waxes can be natural waxes (e.g., beeswax, carnauba wax, etc.) or synthetic waxes (e.g., paraffins, microcrystalline wax, etc.); likewise, the oils can be natural or synthetic and of such a combination to be compatible with the fragrance oils.

The combination of waxes, oils and fragrances is prepared by adding the waxes to the oils, heating until molten and uniform, then adding the fragrance concentrate to the desired level. The fragrance level can range from 1% to as high as 80%, provided integrity of solid waxy print is maintained. The preferred range is 5% to 50%.

The resultant material is hard and waxy, and cannot be printed in that form. The material is processed into an unctuous paste and then placed on a screen press for printing in paste form. Since paste will immediately transfer to the covering film, it is preferable after printing to heat the paste until molten, cool rapidly to solidify the paste, screen print the adhesive onto the paper or board, and then cover with film.

The present invention can also be used for sampling microencapsulated fragrances, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,400, except that no binder is necessary in accordance with the present invention. In one such embodiment of the invention, the microencapsulated fragrance is simply mixed with solvent and screen printed. In an alternative embodiment, the microencapsulated fragrance is added, prior to screen printing, to a slurry of fragrance in free flowing powder form mixed with solvent. In yet another embodiment, the microencapsulated fragrance is mixed with fragrance provided in a wax-based vehicle prior to screen printing. In still another embodiment, the microencapsulated fragrance is mixed with fragrance provided in a polymer-based vehicle prior to screen printing.

Various other combinations of the above-noted fragrance carriers are possible. Thus, for example, a wax based fragrance can be combined with fragrance powder in a single sampler.

The present invention advantageously provides a fragrance sample screen printed in a pattern on a selected stock or substrate, surrounded by an adhesive, and covered by an impervious film to seal in the fragrance scent and minimize release prior to use. The user simply lifts the film, rubs the fragrance sample, and applies it to the skin.

As with the cosmetic sampler and the lipstick sampler described previously, the screen printing of fragrances permits unlimited shapes, sizes and patterns to be presented. For further aesthetic effect, colorants, pigments, and nacreous pigment can be added to the composition prior to printing.

The screen printed fragrance samples can be finished as individuals, sheets, rolls or pads as described above in connection with the cosmetic sampler.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, many other variations and modifications will now become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.