This invention relates generally to a package, and more particularly to interlabial pad packaging.
The invention concerns the packaging of interlabial pads of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,392 issued Jun. 17, 1986, entitled “Interlabial Pad”, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,403 issued Jun. 16, 1987, entitled “Method and Pad Allowing Improved Placement of Catamenial Device”. In addition, the invention is applicable to the packaging of other interlabial pads.
Interlabial pads like other absorbent feminine care products (e.g., tampons, panty liners and feminine napkins) are intended to be carried about in purses, backpacks and briefcases until needed. Unfortunately, these containers do not always provide a hygienic environment for the pads, and thus the pads can become dirty and/or damaged. Further, the pads can become scattered about in the containers so they are difficult to find when needed. Although packages have been developed to hold other absorbent feminine care products (e.g., the packages described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/713,604, 09/713,496, 09/713,565, 09/713,497, and 09/713,596, all of which were filed on Nov. 15, 2000, and are hereby incorporated by reference; and application Ser. Nos. 09/917,540, and 09/916,795, both of which were filed on Jul. 27, 2001, and are hereby incorporated by reference), there is a need for packaging for interlabial pads.
In general, the invention comprises a package of interlabial pads for carrying a supply of the pads in hygienic condition in such manner as to maintain them in hygienic condition and to be readily available for use in hygienic condition when needed. The package comprises a receptacle and a supply of pads in the receptacle. The receptacle has an opening through which a pad may be withdrawn for use when needed. Further, the receptacle has a reclosable closure for closing the opening. The closure is closed for carrying the pads in hygienic condition and for continued carrying in hygienic condition of the pads remaining in the receptacle after withdrawal of a pad.
Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
In the above-noted sectional views, film is depicted in single-line style rather than in exaggerated thickness with cross-hatching.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Referring to
As illustrated in
The receptacle 21 comprises a bag having front and back walls 27 and 29 joined at the sides 31 and 33 and bottom 35 and free from each other at the top to define the opening 23. The flap 25 which is integral with the back wall 29 may be folded over the opening 23 so it overlies the front wall 27. The flap 25 is releasably adhered to the front wall 27 by an adhesive or mechanical closure 37. The receptacle 21 is formed from an elongate rectangular blank folded along fold 35 to form the front and back walls 27, 29, respectively. In one embodiment, the blank is a plastic film such as polyethylene film having a thickness of between about 1.25 mil and about 2.0 mils. In alternative embodiments, the blank is a non-woven material or a non-woven and film laminate. The fold 35 constitutes the bottom of the receptacle 21. The front and back walls 27, 29 are sealed together as by heat seals 31s and 33s at both sides, and are free from each other at the top to define the bag opening 23. The plastic film (e.g., polyethylene) from which the bag is made is generally opaque as by being pigmented (e.g., blue) to conceal the packaged pads in the bag. In one embodiment, the closure 37 is a spot 45 of pressure-sensitive adhesive such as two-sided tape for releasably adhering the flap 25. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the closure 37 includes a stripe of pressure-sensitive adhesive extending from side to side along the receptacle 21. The packages 11 of pads 1 (e.g., from about three to about six in number) are aligned vertically so they extend from the opening 23 to the bottom 35 of the receptacle 21. In an alternative embodiment, it is envisioned that the pads 1 may be aligned horizontally from side to side in the receptacle 21. Although the receptacle 21 may have other dimensions without departing from the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the receptacle has an overall width measured from side to side of about 10.8 cm and an overall height measured from the opening 23 to the bottom 35 of between about 9.5 cm and about 14.0 cm. Further, the flap 25 of this one embodiment has a width matching the width of the receptacle 21 and a height of about 5.1 cm.
Thus, the supply 19 of pads 1 is carried in a hygienic condition. Because the receptacle 21 (including the flap 25) is opaque, the contents are not visible and thus are carried in a discreet manner. A pad 1 is readily available for use in hygienic condition when needed by pulling the flap 35 back (to the open condition illustrated in
In further detail, the receptacle 81 comprises an elongate rectangular blank of the opaque plastic film, portions of which are folded over as indicated at 95, 97 to form the inside walls 89, 91. The folds 95, 97 form the bottoms of the pockets 83, 85. The folded-over end portions forming the inside walls 89, 91 are heat-sealed at both sides as indicated at 99 and 101 to the portion of the blank between folds 95, 97 constituting the outside wall 87. The openings of the pockets 83, 85 lie on opposite sides of a fold line F at the center of the outside wall 87 on which the receptacle is foldable as illustrated in FIG. 17. The receptacle 81 may be held closed by a tab 103 heat-sealed to the outside wall 87 and having a spot (or stripe) 105 of pressure-sensitive adhesive thereon. Or, as shown in
Although the packages are described above as containing interlabial pads, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the packages may include other feminine care products and associated supplies. For example, the packages may contain a supply of interlabial pads and a supply of tampons and/or panty liners. Examples of associated supplies which the packages may contain include wipes and/or tissues. Further, it is envisioned that the packages may include more than one size of interlabial pad without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
900751 | Lockwood | Oct 1908 | A |
1671825 | Johnson | May 1928 | A |
1750375 | Vinciguera | Mar 1930 | A |
2305402 | Avery et al. | Dec 1942 | A |
2573309 | Chipkevich | Oct 1951 | A |
2603266 | Carroll | Jul 1952 | A |
2750033 | Pickens | Jun 1956 | A |
2870955 | Brady et al. | Jan 1959 | A |
3062371 | Patience | Nov 1962 | A |
3070280 | Richmond | Dec 1962 | A |
3160273 | Reuther et al. | Dec 1964 | A |
3310225 | Hoblit | Mar 1967 | A |
3314464 | Veilleux | Apr 1967 | A |
3320863 | Ells et al. | May 1967 | A |
3338019 | Trewella et al. | Aug 1967 | A |
3405861 | Bush | Oct 1968 | A |
3420433 | Bostwick | Jan 1969 | A |
3557853 | Jones | Jan 1971 | A |
3670876 | Davis | Jun 1972 | A |
3674195 | Stone | Jul 1972 | A |
3730338 | Chesky | May 1973 | A |
3858790 | Humphrey | Jan 1975 | A |
3982687 | Auer et al. | Sep 1976 | A |
3990872 | Cullen | Nov 1976 | A |
4073950 | Hansen et al. | Feb 1978 | A |
4131195 | Worrell | Dec 1978 | A |
4192420 | Worrell, Sr. et al. | Mar 1980 | A |
4276982 | Sibrava et al. | Jul 1981 | A |
4286639 | Murphy | Sep 1981 | A |
4441613 | Hain et al. | Apr 1984 | A |
4460088 | Rugenstein et al. | Jul 1984 | A |
4502599 | Perecman | Mar 1985 | A |
4546029 | Cancio et al. | Oct 1985 | A |
4550855 | Harrison | Nov 1985 | A |
4556146 | Swanson et al. | Dec 1985 | A |
4679693 | Forman | Jul 1987 | A |
4700841 | Padgett, Jr. et al. | Oct 1987 | A |
4713839 | Peppiatt | Dec 1987 | A |
4739879 | Nakamura | Apr 1988 | A |
4743245 | Lassen et al. | May 1988 | A |
4785940 | Wilson | Nov 1988 | A |
4786190 | Van Erden et al. | Nov 1988 | A |
4834241 | Southern | May 1989 | A |
4838327 | Ambler et al. | Jun 1989 | A |
4917675 | Taylor et al. | Apr 1990 | A |
4934535 | Muckenfuhs et al. | Jun 1990 | A |
4948028 | Vollowitz | Aug 1990 | A |
4964859 | Feldman | Oct 1990 | A |
4966286 | Muckenfuhs | Oct 1990 | A |
4979613 | McLaughlin et al. | Dec 1990 | A |
5046620 | Barabino | Sep 1991 | A |
5048687 | Suzuki et al. | Sep 1991 | A |
5050742 | Muckenfuhs | Sep 1991 | A |
5054619 | Muckenfuhs | Oct 1991 | A |
5065868 | Cornelissen et al. | Nov 1991 | A |
5076465 | Lawson | Dec 1991 | A |
5082112 | Dunklee | Jan 1992 | A |
5242057 | Cook et al. | Sep 1993 | A |
5261531 | Nieves | Nov 1993 | A |
5358171 | Focke | Oct 1994 | A |
5391136 | Makowka | Feb 1995 | A |
5413568 | Roach et al. | May 1995 | A |
D360577 | van Loo | Jul 1995 | S |
5476323 | Gold | Dec 1995 | A |
D365981 | Sullivan | Jan 1996 | S |
5560798 | Brusky | Oct 1996 | A |
5569230 | Fisher et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
5579916 | Manko | Dec 1996 | A |
5639523 | Ellis | Jun 1997 | A |
5655842 | Hagino | Aug 1997 | A |
5730294 | Blosser et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
5778954 | Sullivan et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
5884771 | McCormick | Mar 1999 | A |
5951505 | Gilman et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
5954201 | Finch et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
5971153 | Bauer et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5996797 | Flaig | Dec 1999 | A |
6015045 | Joseph et al. | Jan 2000 | A |
6039175 | Wright | Mar 2000 | A |
6041928 | Jousinen et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6059100 | Jones | May 2000 | A |
6115997 | Burrow et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
6126009 | Shiffler et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6168022 | Ward et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6257473 | Ringelstetter | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6338572 | Schneck | Jan 2002 | B1 |
20020063076 | Kolterjohn et al. | May 2002 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2025856 | Mar 1991 | CA |
2 109 782 | May 1995 | CA |
39 23 839 | Oct 1990 | DE |
0 419 770 | Apr 1991 | EP |
1 043 004 | Oct 2000 | EP |
1 482 194 | Apr 1966 | FR |
WO 9400362 | Jan 1994 | WO |
WO 9818682 | May 1998 | WO |
WO 9857610 | Dec 1998 | WO |
WO 9926576 | Jun 1999 | WO |
WO 0208087 | Jan 2002 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20030089633 A1 | May 2003 | US |