Absorbent article wrapper comprising side flap fastener cover

• US 6,074,376 A
• Filed: 04/01/1997
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Mills, Sue Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUHL, DENNIS WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/831,036
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.1-390, 206/438-440
• US Class Current: 604/390
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15 Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body non-absorbent catamenial receptacles A61F5/44; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5514 each item packaged single

Abstract

An individually packaged absorbent article having side flaps with fasteners, such as adhesive fasteners thereon, is disclosed. The wrapper for individual packaging the absorbent article has a flap adhesive cover joined thereto. The flap adhesive cover protects the fasteners located on the side flaps of the absorbent article and maintains the flaps in a position which protects an absorbent side of the absorbent article from contamination until the article is ready for use. The wrapper overlays one major surface of the absorbent article and by folding the article and sealing the wrapper in that folded orientation, an individually packaged disposable absorbent article is provided.

Claims

1. An individually packaged absorbent article comprising:

(a) an absorbent article comprising a main body portion having a pair of longitudinal side edges, a pair of end edges, a garment surface, and a body surface, wherein said garment surface of said main body portion may be placed in wearer'"'"'s undergarment, and said absorbent article comprises a pair of flaps joined to said main body portion and extending laterally outward beyond a longitudinal side edge of said main body portion, wherein the garment surface of each of said flaps comprises a flap fastener and said flaps are folded over said body surface of said main body portion to expose said flap fasteners; and

(b) a wrapper for said absorbent article, said wrapper comprising a main wrapper sheet and a flap fastener cover directly attached to said main wrapper sheet, wherein said main wrapper sheet is positioned adjacent to said garment surface of said main body portion, and said main wrapper sheet and said main body portion of said absorbent article are folded as a unit about at least one transverse axis and said flap fastener cover is releasably affixed to said flap fasteners.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said flap fastener cover is an integral extension of said main wrapper sheet.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said flap fastener cover comprises a separate element.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said flap fastener is an adhesive and said flap fastener cover is provided with a nonstick surface for placement adjacent to said exposed flap fasteners.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein:

said main body portion of said absorbent article comprises a first end region, a second end region, and a central region positioned between said first end region and said second end region;

said main wrapper sheet comprises longitudinal edge portions which extend beyond the longitudinal side edges of the main body portion of said absorbent article and a first end portion located adjacent to said first end region of said main body portion and a second end portion located adjacent to said second end region of said main body portion, wherein at least said first end portion of said main wrapper sheet extends beyond the first end region of said main body portion of said absorbent article; and

said flap fastener cover is joined to the first end portion of the main wrapper sheet and extends longitudinally therefrom to lie adjacent the body surface of said absorbent article in the first end region of the main body portion.

6. The absorbent article of claim 5 wherein said flap fastener cover only covers the first end region of the main body portion of the absorbent article when the main body portion is in an unfolded state, and the first end region of said main body portion of said absorbent article lies folded upon said central region of said absorbent article so that said flap fastener cover overlies and releasably covers said flap fasteners.

7. The absorbent article of claim 5 wherein said flap fastener cover also extends over and covers at least a portion of the body surface of said central region of said absorbent article and releasably covers said flap fasteners.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal edge portions of said main wrapper sheet are frangibly sealed together.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein:

said main body portion of said absorbent article comprises a first end region, a second end region, and a central region positioned between said first end region and said second end region;

said main wrapper sheet comprises longitudinal edge portions which extend beyond the longitudinal side edges of the main body portion of said absorbent article and a first end portion located adjacent to said first end region of said main body portion, a second end portion located adjacent to said second end region of said main body portion, and a central portion located adjacent to said central region of said absorbent article, wherein at least said first end portion of said main wrapper sheet extends beyond the first end region of said main body portion of said absorbent article; and

said flap fastener cover is joined to the central portion of the main wrapper sheet adjacent one of the longitudinal edge portions thereof and extends transversely therefrom to overlie and releasably cover said flap fasteners.

10. An individually wrapped sanitary napkin comprising:

a napkin including an elongate napkin body having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet and a liquid-absorbent core disposed and encased therebetween, said napkin body further having longitudinally opposite end edges and transversely opposite side edges, and a pair of wings extending outward beyond the transversely opposite side edges of said napkin body, each wing having a top surface and a back surface;

a first release sheet releasably bonded onto an adhesive zone provided on said backsheet;

a second release sheet releasably bonded onto adhesive zones provided on the back surface of said wings which are folded along the transversely opposite side edges of said napkin body onto said topsheet;

an elongate wrapping sheet being fixedly bonded to an outer surface of said first release sheet so that longitudinally opposite end edges and transversely opposite side edges of said wrapping sheet extend outward beyond the longitudinally opposite end edges and the transversely opposite side edges of said napkin body respectively,

said napkin and said wrapping sheet being folded with said topsheet lying inside and with a first longitudinal end of said napkin and said wrapping sheet underlying a second longitudinal end of said napkin and wrapping sheet, the transversely opposite side edges of said wrapping sheet being placed one upon another and sealed together; and

wherein the longitudinal end edge of said wrapping sheet at the first longitudinal end edge of said napkin and said wrapping sheet is directly and fixedly bonded to said second release sheet.

11. An individually wrapped sanitary napkin according to claim 10, further comprising a tab having an adhesive inner surface which extends outward beyond the longitudinal end edge of said wrapping sheet at the second longitudinal end edge of said napkin and wrapping sheet, said tab being fixedly bonded to said longitudinal end edge of said wrapping sheet at the second longitudinal end edge of said napkin and wrapping sheet, the adhesive inner surface of said tab being releasably bonded onto an outer surface of a portion of said wrapping sheet to which said adhesive inner surface is opposed when the napkin and wrapping sheet are folded.

12. An individually wrapped sanitary napkin according to claim 10, wherein said wings are formed by bonding together portions of said topsheet and said backsheet which extend outward beyond the transversely opposite side edges of said napkin body.