U.S. patent application number 11/509104 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for reclosable flexible package for absorbent articles.
Invention is credited to Ibrahim Ulas.
Application Number | 20070065052 11/509104 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35636769 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070065052 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ulas; Ibrahim |
March 22, 2007 |
Reclosable flexible package for absorbent articles
Abstract
A package for containing and dispensing absorbent articles,
specifically a flexible pouch-like container enclosing absorbent
articles. The container is provided with a drawing means, which can
be pulled for closing the package. The drawing means is located
inside a channel and has two free ends, which can be grasped by the
user. Pulling the free ends closes the upper end of the container.
Further, a process for making such a package is disclosed.
Inventors: |
Ulas; Ibrahim; (Oberursel,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIVISION
WINTON HILL BUSINESS CENTER - BOX 161
6110 CENTER HILL AVENUE
CINCINNATI
OH
45224
US
|
Family ID: |
35636769 |
Appl. No.: |
11/509104 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B31B 2155/001 20170801;
B31B 70/8135 20170801; B31B 2155/00 20170801; B31B 70/00 20170801;
B31B 2160/10 20170801; B65D 33/28 20130101; B31B 70/262 20170801;
B31B 2155/0014 20170801; A61F 15/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/072 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/28 20060101
B65D033/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 16, 2005 |
EP |
05108566.0 |
Claims
1. A package comprising: a container made of flexible material,
said container having an interior surface and an exterior surface,
said interior surface defining an interior space; a plurality of
absorbent articles disposed within said interior space; said
container having a top end and a bottom end; said container has a
channel at or near said top end, said channel at least partially
enclosing drawing means; wherein said drawing means is able to move
freely inside said channel, said drawing means having two free ends
extending outside of the channel for being graspable to the user
and wherein said free ends extend outside of said channel at
adjacent locations; and a frangible closure being located at or
near said top end and being arranged such that said plurality of
absorbent articles is enclosed in said interior space between said
bottom end and said closure.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein said drawing means is a drawing
ribbon or draw string.
3. The package of claim 1, wherein said frangible closure is
selected from perforation lines, weakness lines, tear tapes, and
openings in the package covered by a flap.
4. The package of claim 1, wherein said free ends of said drawing
means extending out of the channel are joined to each other outside
said channel.
5. The package of claim 1, wherein said top end is provided with a
top panel and side extensions extending above the top panel,
wherein said channel enclosing said drawing means is disposed in
side extensions.
6. The package of claim 1, wherein said two free ends of said
drawing means are joined by a frangible joint, which breaks when
the user pulls on said free ends.
7. A process for making a container, said process comprising the
following steps: supplying a continuous package material in a
machine direction; folding said continuous package material such
that said continuous package material assumes an M-shaped cross
section in a cross-direction, which extends perpendicularly to said
machine direction, whereby forming tips; feeding one continuous
string-like material in said machine direction into each of the two
tips of the M-shaped folded continuous package material, said
string-like material being thermally incompatible to said package
material; forming channels in said tips by sealing said continuous
package material in said machine direction near said tips, thereby
enclosing said continuous string-like material into said channels;
heat cutting said continuous package material in said cross
direction intermittently, whereby individual compartments are
formed; displacing said individual compartments away from said
continuous package material along said machine direction; and
feeding said individual compartments through a cut and join unit,
where said two continuous string-like materials are cut and the
ends generated thereby are joined directly adjacent the end of the
channels.
8. The process according to claim 7, wherein said ends of said
string-like material are joined by at least one of stitching,
adhesive bonding, thermo bonding, pressure bonding, binding,
mechanical entanglement, knotting or joining by clamps.
9. The process of claim 7, wherein said string-like material is a
ribbon.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a package for containing
and dispensing absorbent articles. Specifically, the present
invention teaches a flexible pouch-like container enclosing
absorbent articles. The container is provided with a drawing means,
which can be pulled for closing the package. The drawing means is
located inside a channel and has two free ends, which can be
grasped by the user. Pulling the free ends closes the upper end of
the container. Further, a process for making such a package is
disclosed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Absorbent articles for personal hygiene, such as feminine
care articles like sanitary napkins, tampons or panty liners, are
marketed in manifold form by many different suppliers. Usually,
such articles are sold to the consumer as stacks of such articles
packaged in either carton boxes or pouch bags made of polymeric
film. Although such packages provide hygienic storage to the
contained articles during shelf live, once opened, these packages
cannot be closed completely anymore and thus allow access of
contaminants and bacteria into the package and thus to the stack of
absorbent articles.
[0003] Therefore, a continuing need exists for a package for
absorbent articles, which provides hygienic protection to the
articles contained therein even after having been opened by the
consumer. Ease of handling of such a package is another desired
attribute.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A package comprising a container made of flexible material,
said container having an interior surface and an exterior surface.
The interior surface defines an interior space and a plurality of
absorbent articles are disposed within said interior space. The
container has a top end and a bottom end and a channel at or near
said top end. The channel at least partially encloses a drawing
means. The drawing means is able to move freely inside said channel
and further has two free ends extending outside of the channel for
being graspable to the user and wherein said free ends extend
outside of said channel at adjacent locations. The container
further comprises a frangible closure located at or near said top
end and being arranged such that said plurality of absorbent
articles is enclosed in said interior space between said bottom end
and said closure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates ONE embodiment of the package of the
present invention in perspective view.
[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the package shown in FIG.
1.
[0007] FIG. 3 illustrates the package shown in FIG. 1 in closed
state when the user has pulled on the free ends of the drawing
means such that the top end is gathered together.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a scheme illustrating the process of the present
invention for making containers.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 along the line
5-5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the package of the
present invention is shown. The flexible container 10 is made from
polymer package material. The container has a top end 20 and a
bottom end 21. The container may be any shape known in the art. For
example, the container may have a polyhedral shape defining or
forming a polyhedral enclosure. The articles disposed within the
interior space may all be identical to one another or may be
different from one another. The articles may be disposable
absorbent articles, such as flat or folded sanitary napkins or
panty liners in a stacked configuration.
[0011] The container 10 is closed for shipping and marketing, and
has a frangible closure 30 for opening or otherwise accessing the
interior space for easy access to the articles. As shown in FIG. 2,
the frangible closure 30 can be a line of weakness, such as a line
of perforations. Such lines can have any configurations/shapes,
e.g. straight or curved. In alternative embodiments, the frangible
closure 30 for accessing the interior space can be formed of an
opening in the material of the container, which is releasably
closed by an adhesive tab.
[0012] The package material may be composed of different materials
or may be composed of substantially the same type of material. The
package material may be composed of a laminate. The package
material can be any flexible material. The package material can be
a blown or cast film of polyethylene, or a blend of low density
polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene, or other polymers
suitable for flexible films, including metallocene, ethylene vinyl
acetate, surlyn, polyethylene terephtalate, biaxially oriented
polypropylene, and/or nylon. The package material can be cloth. The
package material can be a nonwoven material. The package material
can be a woven material. Other materials suitable for the package
material are metallised polymeric films.
[0013] The absorbent articles contained in the package of the
present invention can be of any type known in the art. The
absorbent articles may be disposable absorbent articles such as
diapers, catamenial devices, tampons, sanitary napkins,
pantiliners, or adult incontinence products. The articles might
also be tissues, wipes and other hygienic absorbent articles.
[0014] One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1.
The top end 20 of the container 10 has a top panel 40 and
extensions 41, the extensions 41 extending above top panel 40 when
container is oriented as shown in FIG. 1. Side extensions 41
comprise a channel 42 formed by folding over the package material
in the extension area. A seam, such as a thermally-sealed line can
seal the channel 42. Inside channel 42 the container comprises a
drawing means such as a drawing ribbon 50. The two fee ends of the
drawing ribbon 50 extend out of the channel 42. The drawing means
is disposed to move freely inside channel 42 such that the top end
20 of container 10 can be drawn closed as shown in FIG. 3. By this,
the extensions 41 are gathered together.
[0015] In use, the user can unseal the package by breaking the
frangible closure 30, which can be seen in FIG. 2. The frangible
closure 30 can be constituted of a line of weakness or line of
perforations, a tear tape or an adhesive flap or piece of adhesive
tape, which covers an opening. After unsealing the container 10 by
opening the frangible closure 30 the user can remove an article
from inside the interior of the container 10, and then re-close the
container by pulling on the drawing means 50 in an easy and
convenient manner. Once closed, the drawing means 50 can be used as
a convenient carrying handle.
[0016] In one embodiment herein the drawing means 50 is a drawing
ribbon. The drawing ribbon 50 can be pulled, thereby gathering in
the extensions 41 top end 20, as illustrated in FIG. 3. When the
drawing ribbon 50 is pulled to its substantially maximum amount,
the top panel 40 of the container 10 can be closed such that the
articles contained within cannot fall out. The drawing ribbon 50 in
a pulled position is an easy and convenient means for the consumer
to carry the container 10.
[0017] The drawing means 50 can be made of any thin flexible
material. Exemplary drawing means are made of blown or cast film in
a blend of low density polyethylene and linear low density
polyethylene, metallocenes, ethylene vinyl acetate, Surlyn.RTM.,
polyethylene terephtalate, biaxially oriented polypropylene, and/or
nylon. Other suitable materials for the drawing means 50 herein are
cloth, nonwoven or woven materials.
[0018] The drawing means 50 is disposed to move freely inside the
channel 42. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the drawing means
50 has two free ends, which extend out of the channel 42 at
adjacent locations. "Adjacent locations" herein means that the
distance between the locations, where the individual free ends are
extending out of the channel 42, is not more than about 5 cm, about
2 cm, about 1 cm or about 0.5 cm. The free ends are arranged
graspable for the user. By pulling the free ends the user can close
the top end of the container 10. This allows a hygienically
satisfactory storage of the remaining articles stored in the
container 10 after the container 10 has been opened as the closed
top end provides protection from contamination by dust, moisture
and the like.
[0019] In an alternative embodiment the free ends of the drawing
means 50 are joined by a readily frangible joint for preventing the
drawing means 50 from being pulled out of the channel
unintentionally during transport and shelve life. This frangible
joint easily breaks when the user pulls the two free ends.
[0020] An additional advantage of this particular arrangement of
the free ends is that the user can pull both free ends with one
hand at a time and securely hold the package with his other hand
therewhile. This represents a clear advantage over executions known
from the prior art, where free ends of drawings strings extend out
of the channel in opposite locations of the upper end of the
container. When pulling on these strings the user cannot hold the
package itself but has to pull on one free end with each of his
hands. The inability to hold the container when pulling on the
drawing strings gives rise to certain disadvantages, such as
articles may fall out of the not yet closed container.
[0021] To provide for easier stacking, storing, packing, or
shelving, the container 10 can be modified by folding down the side
extensions 41. By this the side extensions 41 lie substantially
flat against sides of the container 10. Such a configuration allows
more stable stacking and shelving by requiring less space. When the
container is used, i.e. when absorbent articles are dispensed and
the frangible closure is opened, the side extensions can be folded
back into their upright position for being able to fulfil their
functionality.
[0022] Container 10 can be made by methods known in the art, such
as by known "flow wrap" processes in which a web of material is
conveyed, cut, folded, seamed, filled and closed. Flow wrap
processes can produce generally "cube-shape" or polyhedral-shaped
containers. Alternatively, the container can be formed out of
pre-made bags, formed on or off the packing line. These pre-made
bags can be provided in many way, such as individually or in the
form of a stack (wicket), which is fed into the packing line. Such
pre-made bags are opened, filled and sealed.
[0023] One process for producing the container according to the
present invention is described and is illustrated in FIG. 4. The
particular embodiment described is a continuous process, although
it need not be so. The process described can be described in four
steps: [0024] 1. supplying and folding the continuous package
material 60, [0025] 2. supplying string-like material 70 and
forming the channels enclosing said string-like material 70, [0026]
3. cut-sealing the continuous package material 60 in cross
direction, whereby forming individual compartments 80, and [0027]
4. forming the drawing means by feeding the individual compartments
80 through a cut and join unit 90.
[0028] "Machine direction" as used herein refers to the direction
of the production line. "Cross-direction" as used herein refers to
a direction, which extends perpendicularly to said machine
direction.
[0029] In one step of the process a continuous package material 60
is supplied in a machine direction MD. This continuous package
material 60 is then folded such that it assumes an M-shaped
cross-section in cross direction. FIG. 5 illustrates the M-shaped
cross-section, as present in region 6-6. The M-shape is
characterized by two tips 61 in the outer fold lines and one inner
fold line 62.
[0030] In another step, the continuous M-shaped package material 60
is provided with continuous string-like material 70, which is fed
into each of the two tips 61 of the continuous package material 60.
This string-like material 70 will form the drawing means in the
final container. The continuous string-like material 70 is
thermally incompatible with the continuous package material 60,
i.e. it has a higher melting point. "Thermally incompatible" as
used herein means that the melting point difference between two
materials is at least about 100.degree. C. In another step, the
continuous package material 60 will be sealed near each tip 61 by a
sealing line 62 in machine direction, thereby forming a channel
enclosing the continuous string-like material 70 between each of
the tips 61 and the sealing lines 62. A suitable means for forming
the sealing lines 62 are heated rollers 100, which heat seal the
continuous package material 60 linearly.
[0031] In another step, individual compartments 80 are formed. The
continuous package material 60 with the channels enclosing the
continuous string-like material 70 will be fed through a hat
cutting section 100, where the continuous package material 60 is
cut in cross-direction by heated blades, which are heated to the
melting point of the continuous package material 60 but below the
melting point of the continuous string-like material 70. The heated
blades on one hand cut the continuous package material 60 in cross
direction and on the other they seal the edges of the cut
continuous package material 60. Due to the thermal incompatibility
of the continuous package material 60 does not bond to the
continuous string-like material 70 upon being fed through the heat
cutting section 110, because the melting point of the continuous
string-like material 70 is higher than the melting point of the
continuous package material 60. Further, the continuous string-like
material 70 will not be cut in this step. The cut segment of
package material, herein referred to as individual compartments 80,
will be displaced versus the non-cut continuous package material 60
in machine direction for exposing the continuous string-like
material 70 between the individual compartment 80 and the
continuous package material 60.
[0032] In another step of the process, the drawing means is formed
out of the continuous string-like material 70. The individual
compartment 80 with the exposed continuous string-like material 70
is fed through a cut and join unit 90. When looked at it in machine
direction the cut and join unit 90 joins the two strings of
continuous string-like material 70 behind the individual
compartment 80 and forms a connection 91 between them. Between the
connection 91 and the continuous package material the two strings
of continuous string-like material are cut. The joining can be
facilitated by any known means, such as stitching, adhesive
bonding, heat-bonding, pressure or other mechanical bonding,
binding mechanical entanglement knotting or joining by clamps.
[0033] This cycle may be repeated continuously. The string-like
materials forms the drawing means 50 of the container 10. Joining
the two string-like materials before the cut at the cut and join
unit 90 creates a connection 91 between the two strings. After the
connection 91 the two lines of string-like material will be cut.
This forms the free ends of the drawing means 50.
[0034] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".
[0035] All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the
Invention are, are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by
reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as
an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present
invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term
in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition
of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or
definition assigned to the term in this written document shall
govern.
[0036] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *