Absorbent article dispensing system

• US 20060074390A1
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Zander, Teresa Marie, Price, Cindy Lou, Underhill, Diane Michele
• Application Number:
  US10/959,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074390A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/357
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/001 Packages or dispensers for bandages, cotton balls, drapes, dressings, gauze, gowns, sheets, sponges, swabsticks or towels A61F15/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/002 dispensers for web or tape like bandages
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/003 dispensers for catamenial tampons

Abstract

An article dispensing system (80) comprises a package (82) and a plurality of personal care articles (20) contained in the package. Each article (20) can include a topsheet (26) and a backsheet (28) operatively connected with the topsheet. Each article (20) also includes a releasable, sequence-attachment mechanism (34) operatively connected to that article. In a particular aspect, the sequence attachment mechanism (34) can be operatively connected to at least a portion of an outward-facing surface of the article. In another aspect, the articles (20) can be connected to provide a sequencing of the articles in an operative zig-zag arrangement. In a further aspect, the package (82) can include an exit mechanism (84) which provides a package opening (86) through which the articles (20) can be removed from the package (82). In a particular configuration, individual articles (20) can be sequentially removed from the package (82), and an individual article can be readily separated from other articles, particularly other following articles.

Claims

1. An article dispensing system comprising a package;

and a plurality of personal care articles contained in said package;

wherein

each article includes a topsheet, and a backsheet operatively connected with the topsheet;

each article includes a releasable, sequence-attachment mechanism operatively connected to that article;

said articles have been connected to provide a sequencing of the articles in an operative zig-zag arrangement; and

said package includes a exit mechanism which provides a package opening through which the articles can be removed from said package.

2. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein each article includes at least one transverse fold which places a first section of a first surface of said each article substantially adjacent a second section of said first surface of a said each article, thereby providing a folded article.

3. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein each releasable, sequence-attachment mechanism is operatively connected to the backsheet of its corresponding article.

4. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of a backsheet of a primary-article is releasably connected to at least a portion of a backsheet of a serially-adjacent, sequential-article.

5. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of a topsheet of a primary-article is releasably connected to at least a portion of a topsheet of a serially-adjacent, sequential-article.

6. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein each article includes at least one transverse fold which places a first section of a bodyside surface of the topsheet of that article substantially adjacent a second section of said bodyside surface of the topsheet of that article, thereby providing a folded article.

7. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the releasable, sequence-attachment mechanism of a primary-article releasably attaches a garment-side or bodyside surface of the primary-article to a garment-side or bodyside surface of a serially-adjacent, sequential-article.

8. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein each article includes a first transverse fold and at least a second transverse fold.

9. A dispensing system as recited in claim 8, wherein

each article further includes at first section, a second section, at least a third section, and has a second surface positioned opposite said first surface;

the first transverse fold overlays the first section of said each article in a position that is substantially adjacent the second section of said each article;

the second transverse fold places the third section of said each article in a position that is over at least a portion of the second section of said each article;

each sequence-attachment mechanism releasably connects a third section of a primary-article to a first section of a serially-adjacent, sequential-article.

10. A dispensing system as recited in claim 8, wherein the sequence-attachment mechanism releasably joins a garment-side or bodyside surface of a primary-article to a garment-side or bodyside surface of a serially-adjacent, sequential-article.

11. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the releasable, sequence-attachment mechanism of said each article includes a separately provided sequencing-component that releasably interconnects between a primary-article and a serially-adjacent, sequential-article.

12. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the releasable, sequence-attachment mechanism of said each article includes an adhesive.

13. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein

at least a portion of a backsheet of a primary-article is connected to at least a portion of a backsheet of a serially-adjacent, sequential-article along a backsheet joinder region;

the backsheet joinder region includes an operative, frangible line of weakness to thereby provide at least a portion of a releasable, sequence-attachment mechanism between the primary-article and the sequential-article.

14. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein

at least a portion of a topsheet of a primary-article is connected to at least a portion of a topsheet of a serially-adjacent, sequential-article along a topsheet joinder region;

the topsheet joinder region includes an operatively frangible line of weakness to thereby provide at least a portion of a releasable, sequence-attachment mechanism between the primary-article and the sequential-article.

15. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein

each article further includes

a garment-fastener which is substantially fixedly attached to a garment-side surface of its corresponding backsheet, and configured to operatively secure that article to a wearer'"'"'s undergarment, and

a release layer which operatively covers the garment-fastener of that article;

at least a portion of the release layer of a primary-article is connected to at least a portion of the release layer of a serially-adjacent, sequential-article along a strip joinder region; and

the strip joinder region includes an operatively frangible line of weakness to thereby provide at least a portion of a releasable, sequence-attachment mechanism between the primary-article and the sequential-article.

16. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein

each article further includes a wrapper which operatively provides a wrapped enclosure about that article, and

each article includes at least one transverse fold when positioned in its corresponding wrapped enclosure.

17. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein

each article further includes a wrapper which operatively provides a wrapped enclosure about that article;

each wrapped enclosure has a first end portion and a longitudinally opposed second end portion;

each sequence-attachment mechanism releasably connects an end portion of a primary wrapped enclosure to an end portion of a serially-adjacent wrapped enclosure.

18. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein

each article further includes a wrapper which operatively provides a wrapped enclosure about that article;

each wrapped enclosure has a first end portion and a longitudinally opposed second end portion;

a wrapped enclosure of a primary-article is connected to a wrapped enclosure of a serially-adjacent sequential article along a wrap-joinder region;

the wrap-joinder region includes an operatively frangible line of weakness to thereby provide at least a portion of a releasable, sequence-attachment mechanism between the primary-article and the sequential-article.

19. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the exit mechanism includes:

a package face-panel which includes a package opening having a boundary edge, at least a major portion of which is curvilinear; and

an operatively flexible panel-member which spans across the package opening and provides an exit slot, the exit slot having a slot opening which is smaller than said package opening

20. A dispensing system as recited in claim 1, further including a position-advancement mechanism which provides an operative proximity between a next-unused article and the exit mechanism of the package.