Package for feminine care articles

• US 6,705,465 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2001
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Sorebo, Heather A., McDaniel, Mary Lou, Bechyne, Kami L., Ling, Lu, Maxton, Jacqueline M., Cottingham, Jeffery R., Xueen, Hao, McManus, James D., Nichols, Ann M.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSTER, JIMMY G
• Application Number:
  US10/010,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20020079246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 206/440, 206/449, 206/494, 206/499, 206/204, 206/526, 221/63, 229/80, 383/2, 383/86, 383/87
• US Class Current: 206/440
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47209 having only interlabial part, i.e. with no extralabial parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/55165 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/003 dispensers for catamenial tampons
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8497 having decorations or indicia means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/20 using pressure-sensitive adhesive

Abstract

A package including a plurality of absorbent articles, and recloseable packaging. The packaging includes a flexible pocket having a hollow interior, an opening extending into the interior, a flap for covering the opening, and a closure positioned on the pocket and/or the flap for releasably holding the flap in a closed position. The closure permits the flap to be positioned in a different location on the pocket during successive closings when successive articles are removed from the interior of the pocket to permit the packaging to conform to the remaining articles in the interior of the pocket.

Claims

1. A package comprising:

a plural number of individually wrapped absorbent feminine care articles which is less than eight; and

reclosable packaging including;

a flexible pocket having a hollow interior receiving said plural number of absorbent feminine care articles arranged in a stack, the hollow interior of the pocket having a volume which is substantially filled by the plural number of individually wrapped feminine care articles so that the pocket conforms to the stack of articles;

an opening extending into the hollow interior of the pocket sized and shaped for permitting at least one of said plural number of individually wrapped feminine care articles to be withdrawn from the hollow interior of the pocket;

a flap attached to the pocket adapted for covering the opening to retain said plural number of individually wrapped feminine care articles in the hollow interior of the pocket, said flap having a size larger than a maximum size of the opening and being selectably moveable between an open position in which the opening is generally unobstructed by said flap to permit said at least one article to be withdrawn through the opening and a closed position in which the flap covers the opening and an exterior area of the pocket to retain said plural number of articles in the pocket and to prevent said at least one article from passing through the opening; and

a closure positioned on said flap for releasably holding said flap in the closed position, said closure permitting the flap to be positioned continuously in a different location on the exterior area of the pocket along a line intersecting the opening during successive closings when successive articles are removed from the interior of the pocket to permit said packaging to conform to the remaining articles in the interior of the pocket.

2. A package as set forth in claim 1 wherein the feminine care articles comprise panty liners.

3. A package as set forth in claim 1 wherein the feminine care articles comprise interlabial pads.

4. A package as set forth in claim 1 wherein the packaging comprises a rectangular sheet having opposing side edges and a first told extending between said side edges so that each side edge has a front portion and a back portion separated by said first fold and so that said first fold forms a bottom of the pocket, and wherein the front portion of each side edge is joined with the corresponding back portion of each side edge thereby forming opposing sides of the pocket.

5. A package as set forth in claim 4 wherein the opposing sides of the pocket are substantially free of gussets.

6. A package as set forth in claim 4 wherein the sheet has a second fold extending between said side edges generally parallel to and above said first fold, said second fold separating the flap from the pocket.

7. A package as set forth in claim 6 wherein the flap is substantially rectangular.

8. A package as set forth in claim 6 wherein the flap has an inner face and an outer face, and the closure is positioned on said inner face of the flap for releasably holding said flap in the closed position.

9. A package as set forth in claim 8 wherein the closure is an adhesive material applied to the inner face of the flap.

10. A package as set forth in claim 6 wherein the front portion of each side edge of the sheet has an upper end opposite the first fold and said second fold is positioned immediately adjacent the upper ends of the front portions of the side edges and immediately adjacent the opening.

11. A package as set forth in claim 4 wherein the sheet is a heat sealable polymer sheet.

12. A package as set forth in claim 1 wherein the feminine care articles are wrapped in a single use wrapper.

13. A package comprising:

a plural number of individually wrapped absorbent feminine care articles which is less than eight; and

reclosable packaging including;

a flexible pocket having a hollow interior receiving said plural number of absorbent feminine care articles arranged in a stack, the hollow interior of the pocket having a volume which is substantially filled by the plural number of individually wrapped feminine care articles so that the pocket conforms to the stack of articles, wherein the packaging comprises a rectangular sheet having opposing side edges and a first fold extending between said side edges so that each side edge has a front portion and a back portion separated by said first fold and so that said first fold forms a bottom of the pocket, and wherein the front portion of each side edge is joined with the corresponding back portion of each side edge thereby forming opposing sides of the pocket;

an opening extending into the hollow interior of the pocket sized and shaped for permitting at least one of said plural number of individually wrapped feminine care articles to be withdrawn from the hollow interior of the pocket;

a flap attached to the pocket adapted for covering the opening to retain said plural number of individually wrapped feminine care articles in the hollow interior of the pocket, said flap having a size larger than a maximum size of the opening and being selectably moveable between an open position in which the opening is generally unobstructed by said flap to permit said at least one article to be withdrawn through the opening and a closed position in which the flap covers the opening and an exterior area of the pocket to retain said plural number of articles in the pocket and to prevent said at least one article from passing through the opening; and

an adhesive closure positioned on said flap for releasably holding said flap in the closed position, said closure permitting the flap to be positioned continuously in a different location on the exterior area of the pocket along a line intersecting the opening during successive closings when successive articles are removed from the interior of the pocket to permit said packaging to conform to the remaining articles in the interior of the pocket.

14. A package as set forth in claim 13 wherein the feminine care articles comprise panty liners.

15. A package as set forth in claim 13 wherein the feminine care articles comprise interlabial pads.

16. A package as set forth in claim 13 wherein the opposing sides of the pocket are substantially free of gussets.

17. A package as sec forth in claim 13 wherein the sheet has a second fold extending between said side edges generally parallel to and above said first fold, said second fold separating the flap from the pocket.

18. A package as set forth in claim 17 wherein the flap is substantially rectangular.

19. A package as set forth in claim 17 wherein the flap has an inner face and an outer face, and the closure is positioned on said inner face of the flap for releasably holding said flap in the closed position.

20. A package as set forth in claim 17 wherein the front portion of each side edge of the sheet has an upper end opposite the first fold and said second fold is positioned immediately adjacent the upper ends of the front portions of the side edges and immediately adjacent the opening.

21. A package as set forth in claim 13 wherein the sheet is a heat sealable polymer sheet.

22. A package as set forth in claim 13 wherein the feminine care articles are wrapped in a single use wrapper.