Packaging material, package and packaging blank

Abstract

A packaging material comprising an image having angle dependent viewing properties. The packaging material is in the form of a flexible sheet which may be wrapped around a product to be packaged. By suitable arrangement of the image on the packaging material a package, and selection of appropriate image properties a package can be produced that has a visually striking appearance.

1 . A package including an actual product, the product package comprising:
 imaging features carried on a surface of the package and arranged to produce a three dimensional image there-on,   wherein the imaging features are features for producing a viewing angle dependent image via reflective holographic elements or micro lens arrays disposed on the surface of the package,   wherein when viewed the three dimensional image appears as a three dimensional product within the package so as to give the appearance of a transparent package,   wherein the three dimensional product produced by the imaging features aligns with the actual product in the package as the actual product is positioned in the package.   
     
     
         2 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging features are arranged to produce a three dimensional representation of portions of a product that are within the package and spaced apart from the surface of the package. 
     
     
         3 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging features are arranged to produce a three dimensional representation of concave features of the product. 
     
     
         4 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging features are arranged to produce a life size representation of the product in the package. 
     
     
         5 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging features are arranged to produce an accurate-to-life representation of the product in the package. 
     
     
         6 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the majority of the front of the package is arranged with imaging features to provide a realistic impression of the product in the package. 
     
     
         7 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging features are arranged to give the appearance of a window through the package directly to the product there-within. 
     
     
         8 . The product package of  claim 7 , wherein the imaging features are arranged to give the appearance, through the window, of a portion of the product only. 
     
     
         9 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging features are provided on a non-planar portion of the package. 
     
     
         10 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging features are provided on a convex or concave portion of the package running up to an edge of the package. 
     
     
         11 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging features are provided on convex or concave portion of the package running up to a corner of the package. 
     
     
         12 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging features are provided running across a portion of a first face of the packaging and around the packaging and onto a portion of a second face of the packaging. 
     
     
         13 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging features are provided on externally visible portions of the package. 
     
     
         14 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging features are arranged to be generally transparent when viewed from a first viewing angle. 
     
     
         15 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging features are arranged to produce a three dimensional image when viewed from the second viewing angle. 
     
     
         16 . The product package of  claim 1 , comprising flexible sheet material provided the imaging features, and positioned around a product. 
     
     
         17 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet material is wrapped around the product. 
     
     
         18 . The product package of  claim 16 , wherein the flexible sheet material is adhered to an external surface of the package. 
     
     
         19 . The product package of  claim 16 , wherein the flexible sheet material is provided with the imaging features and is in-moulded into a packaging substrate. 
     
     
         20 . Packaging material comprising a flexible sheet carrying imaging features for producing viewing angle dependent image there-on, wherein when viewed from a first viewing angle the imaging features are generally transparent, and wherein when viewed from a second viewing angle the imaging features produce an image which is not transparent, wherein the imaging features are arranged to produce a three dimensional image when viewed from the second viewing angle. 
     
     
         21 . The packaging material of  claim 20 , wherein the imaging features comprise holographic imaging features, or micro-optical features. 
     
     
         22 . The packaging material of  claim 20 , comprising a generally transparent sheet onto which the imaging features are provided. 
     
     
         23 . The packaging material of  claim 20 , comprising a window over which the imaging features are provided as an overlay. 
     
     
         24 . The packing material of  claim 20 , comprising a laminated material of two or more layers, with the imaging features overlaid by a transparent layer. 
     
     
         25 . A package for a product, the package comprising imaging features at a transparent portion there-of, the imaging features arranged to produce a three dimensional image overlaid on the product contained in the package and visible through the transparent portion. 
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 25 , comprising imaging features provided on flexible sheet material, or other generally transparent sheets. 
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the three dimensional image corresponds to the appearance of the product contained in the package, or corresponds to a product description, or a brand or other product identifier, either in graphical or written form. 
     
     
         28 . Packaging material in the form of a flexible sheet having a first area carrying first imaging features arranged to produce viewing angle dependent images there-on across a predetermined viewing angle range, and second area distinct from the first and carrying second imaging features and arranged to produce a three dimensional image across the predetermined viewing angle range. 
     
     
         29 . The packaging material of  claim 28 , wherein the first imaging features a arranged to provide no visible image over a portion of the viewing angle range. 
     
     
         30 . The packaging material of  claim 28 , wherein the first imaging features are arranged to provide a first image over a first portion of the viewing angle range, and a second image over a second portion of the viewing angle range. 
     
     
         31 . Packaging material in the form of a flexible sheet carrying a first set of imaging features, the first set of imaging features arranged to produce, when viewed through a corresponding optical modifier including a second set of imaging features, a three dimensional image. 
     
     
         32 . The packaging material of  claim 31 , wherein the first set of imaging features are arranged, when viewed through an optical modifier comprising holographic imaging features and/or lenticular imaging features such as a one dimensional array or a two dimensional array of micro lenses or other micro-optical features, to produce the three dimensional image. 
     
     
         33 . A package comprising the packaging material of  claim 31 , wherein the packaging material may form the exterior, or an externally visible surface of the package and the package comprises the optical modifier packaged therein with a product, so as to be available once the package has been opened. 
     
     
         34 . A package comprising a label which is in-moulded to a substrate material, the label comprising imaging features arranged to produce a three dimensional image there-on. 
     
     
         35 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the label is in-moulded to a lid of the package. 
     
     
         36 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the label is in-moulded to a substrate material comprising a plastics material. 
     
     
         37 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the label is arranged with the imaging features provided on a non-planar portion of the package. 
     
     
         38 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the imaging features are arranged to produce a three dimensional image providing the appearance of a three dimensional product in the package so as to give appearance of a transparent package. 
     
     
         39 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the substrate material comprises a transparent portion there, with the imaging features arranged to produce a three dimensional image overlaid on the product contained in the package and visible through the transparent portion of the substrate material. 
     
     
         40 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the three dimensional image corresponds to the appearance of the product contained in the package, or to a product description, or a brand or other product identifier, either in graphical or written form. 
     
     
         41 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the label carries first imaging features defining a first area and arranged to produce viewing angle dependent images there-on across a predetermined viewing angle range, and on the package is provided a second area distinct from the first and carrying second imaging features and arranged to produce a three dimensional image across the predetermined viewing angle range. 
     
     
         42 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the label comprises a laminated material of two or more layers, with the imaging features provided on a surface layer, or overlaid by a transparent layer. 
     
     
         43 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the imaging features are in some embodiments be arranged to produce a viewing angle dependent image there-on, wherein when viewed from a first viewing angle the imaging features are generally transparent, and wherein when viewed from a second viewing angle the imaging features produce an image which is not transparent. 
     
     
         44 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the label comprises a first set of imaging features, the first set of imaging features arranged to produce, when viewed through a corresponding optical modifier including a second set of imaging features, a three dimensional image.