Compact-folded article and pouch

• US 7,427,277 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Woltman, Garry Roland, Ruman, Marcille Faye, Pateras, Carrie Nicole, Heck, Angela Rae, Schroeder, Karyn Clare
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephens; Jacqueline F.
• Application Number:
  US11/406,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.02, 604/385.04, 604/385.01, 604/385.03, 604/385.201, 206/440, 206/823
• US Class Current: 604/385.201
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5514 each item packaged single

Abstract

A personal care article (20) has a longitudinal-direction (22), a relatively shorter, lateral cross-direction (24), a first end-section (72), a second end-section (72a), and an intermediate-section (76) which is contiguous with and interposed between the first end-section (72) and the second end-section (72a). The article includes a liquid permeable topsheet layer (26), and a backsheet layer (28) which is operatively connected to the topsheet layer (26). The article has been folded about a first, supplemental-fold-region (64) and a second, supplemental-fold-region (66) to provide a preliminary-folded article (82). The preliminary-folded article has been operatively enclosed in a wrap member (98), and the preliminary-folded article and wrap member have been folded along a composite-fold-region (96a) to provide a composite-folded, wrapped-article (114). The wrap member has included a wrap retainer mechanism (112) which has been configured to operatively hold the composite-folded, article and wrap member in their composite-folded condition.

Claims

1. A personal care article having a longitudinal-direction;

a relatively shorter lateral cross-direction, a first end-section;

a second end-section; and

an intermediate-section which is interposed between said first end-section and said second end-section;

said article comprising;

a liquid permeable topsheet layer; and

a backsheet layer operatively connected to the topsheet layer;

wherein

the article has been folded about a first, laterally extending supplemental-fold-region;

the first supplemental-fold-region has been located proximally adjacent a first portion of the article intermediate-section;

the first supplemental-fold-region has been operatively arrange to provide a folded-over first end-section, at least a portion of which is in facing relation with the intermediate-section of the article, and is positioned at least proximally adjacent the article intermediate-section;

the article has been folded about a second, laterally extending supplemental-fold-region;

the second supplemental-fold-region has been located proximally adjacent a second portion of the intermediate-section of the article;

the second supplemental-fold-region has been operatively arranged to provide a folded-over second end-section, at least a portion of which is in facing relation with the intermediate-section of the article, and is positioned at least proximally adjacent the article intermediate-section;

a preliminary-folded article has been provided after the article has been folded about both the first supplemental-fold-region, and the second supplemental-fold-region;

the preliminary-folded article has been operatively enclosed in a wrap member;

the preliminary-folded article and wrap member have been folded along a composite-fold-region of both the preliminary-folded article and wrap member, thereby providing a composite-folded, wrapped-article; and

the wrap member has included a wrap retainer mechanism which has been configured to operatively hold the composite-folded, article and composite-folded wrap member in their composite-folded condition;

wherein the article has been folded about a first, laterally extending supplemental-fold-line positioned proximally adjacent a first portion of the intermediate-section of the article to provide the first supplemental-fold-region;

the article has been folded about a second, laterally extending supplemental-fold-line positioned proximally adjacent a second portion of the intermediate-section of the article to provide the second supplemental-fold-region; and

the preliminary-folded article and wrap member have been folded along a third, laterally extending, composite fold-line, which is proximate a laterally-extending centerline of the article.

2. A personal care article as recited in claim 1, wherein the first supplemental-fold-line and the second supplemental-fold-line have been configured to approximately trisect a longitudinal length of the article.