EP2646346B1

EP2646346B1 - Consumer package

Info

Publication number: EP2646346B1
Application number: EP10860148.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stephan Von Malortie
Original assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
Current assignee: Essity Hygiene and Health AB
Priority date: 2010-12-02
Filing date: 2010-12-02
Publication date: 2016-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-02
Also published as: RU2013129995A; CN103261055A; WO2012074447A1; CN103261055B; AU2010364994B2; BR112013013687A2; PL2646346T3; EP2646346A1; RU2547922C2; EP2646346A4; BR112013013687B1; US20130220864A1; AU2010364994A1; MX2013006001A

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a consumer package for holding a plurality of stacked articles, in particular absorbent hygiene articles.

BACKGROUND ART

Absorbent hygiene articles, such as panty liners or sanitary napkins are typically packed in packages which are adapted to hold a stack of absorbent articles. Such packages can be of various sizes, containing about ten single articles up to several dozens thereof. Access to the packed articles is typically provided by a perforated opening line arranged on the upper end of the package, along which the package material can be opened. Packages according to the preamble of claim 1 are disclosed in US 5 380 094 and US 5 361 905 .
Users often wish to bring along a few articles during the day. It is inconvenient for the user to carry along the whole consumer package containing a relatively large amount of hygiene articles. Absorbent hygiene articles, such as panty liners or sanitary napkins, are nowadays often single packed in a wrapping before being placed in a stack to be packed in a package. Thereby, the absorbent articles can be kept fresh also when handled outside the package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In spite of the use of single wrapped articles, users can nevertheless find it inconvenient to carry along a number of absorbent articles lying loose in the handbag or the like. The present invention aims at providing a solution to the problem of carrying along a number of single hygiene absorbent articles in a convenient way. This is achieved by the consumer package of the present invention, which is a dual purpose package, comprising both a bring-along package part and a storage package part.
The package of the present invention is thus a consumer package for holding a plurality of stacked absorbent articles: The package comprises end parts, side walls, and at least one line of weakness, along which the package can be opened. The line of weakness runs along the entire periphery of the package, and is arranged so as to divide the package into a first package part and a second package part, such that when the line of weakness is broken, the package is divided into two separate package parts, both having an opening at the line of weakness. The first package part comprises a first edge region adjacent to the line of weakness, and the second package part comprises a second edge region adjacent to the line of weakness. The package is made of wrinkable or pleatable flexible material at least in the edge regions of said first and second package parts. Means for reducing the size of the opening is arranged in the edge region of the first package part, so that the first package part can retain the stacked articles, when the second package part has been removed. The second package part is adapted to hold at least one, preferably 1-5 single articles, and means for reducing the opening is arranged in the edge region of the second package part, so that the second package part can function as a bring-along package.
The means for reducing the opening of the first and/or second package parts is preferably chosen from: an elastic member which is arranged on the first edge region and/or the second edge region; a single or double string, running in a channel formed on the first edge region and/or the second edge region; a tape; a hook-and-loop fastener; or a zip lock, or any combination thereof. The first and second package parts are suitably made of polymeric film material, or nonwoven material. The line of weakness line is preferably arranged on the side walls of the package between the end parts of the package, more preferably at a distance from the end part of the second package part, which corresponds to approximately 20-50 % of the height of a stacked article.
The edge region of the second package part may advantageously comprise additional material forming a bellows fold including an outer fold edge, which bellows fold partially overlaps the first package part. The line of weakness may then be arranged at the side wall of the package, outside the fold edge, while the means for reducing the opening of the second package part is arranged in the edge region of the second package part in the vicinity of the outer fold edge. Alternatively, the line of weakness may be arranged in the edge region of the second package part in the vicinity of the outer fold edge, while the means for reducing the opening of the second package part is arranged at the side wall of the package inside the outer fold edge.
The second package part may advantageously be invertible and the means for reducing the opening is then arranged so that the opening of the second package part can be reduced or closed when the second package part has been turned inside out.
The stacked absorbent articles held in the consumer package of the invention may be single wrapped absorbent articles. The end part of the second package part suitably has a length and a width that exceeds the length and width respectively of an article that is to be held in the package by 0-20%.
The consumer package of the present invention is useful for storing absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence guards, panty liners or sanitary napkins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1: is a front side view of the consumer package of the invention;
Figure 2: is a front side view of the first package part of the consumer package, including a number of stacked articles;
Figure 3: is a front side view of the first package part of the consumer package of Figure 2, including a smaller number of stacked articles;
Figure 4: is a front side view of the second package part of the consumer package;
Figure 5: is a front side view of an embodiment of the consumer package comprising a bellows fold;
Figures 6a and 6b: are schematic cross-sectional views alternative arrangements at the bellows fold of the package of Figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As indicated above, the present invention relates to a consumer package, which after opening is divided into two separate package parts. These two separate packages parts are adapted to act as independent packages serving different purposes. The package comprises end parts, acting as top and bottom of the package. Between the end parts are side walls. The end parts are preferably square or rectangular and four side walls connect the end parts to each other. This is a suitable shape for storing absorbent articles, and such packages are easy to manufacture. However, the end parts could have any other desired shape depending on the shape of the articles to be packed in the package.
The package is opened by breaking a line of weakness, which is arranged on the side walls. An example of such a package is shown in Fig. 1. The line of weakness runs along the entire periphery of the package, which means that when the line of weakness is broken, the package is divided into two separate package parts, both having an opening at the line of weakness. The package is thus comprised of a first and a second package part, which before opening of the package together form a package for stacked absorbent articles. Thus, before opening the package has the same shape and functions as similar packages hitherto available in the art. However, when the package is opened it forms first and second package parts, where the first package part is adapted to act as a storage package safely holding remaining articles, and the second package part is adapted to function as a bring-along package for holding a few absorbent articles. The user can then put a few single absorbent articles into the bring-along package, while leaving all remaining articles in the storage package.
The line of weakness may be a line of perforations or may be a line in which the package material is thinner than in other parts of the package. Alternatively, the line of weakness may be a cut in the package material, which is held together by a piece of tape before opening.
On each side of the line of weakness and adjacent thereto, the side walls comprise edge regions on which means for reducing the size of the opening are arranged. Various means for reducing the size of the opening can be used. Such means can for example be an elastic member, such as a rubber band, which may be attached to the inside or outside or the edge region material, or running in a channel formed on the edge region. Alternatively, a single or double string, running in a channel formed on the edge region, can be used. Further, tape, hook-and-loop fasteners or zip lock can be used for reducing the size of the opening. Of course, the first package part and the second package part need not include the same type of means for reducing the size of the opening, but can include any combination of opening reducing means. The purpose of reducing the size of the opening is not exactly the same in the first and second package part.
In the first package part, which is intended for use as a storage package, the means of reducing the size of the opening serves to securely retain the remaining absorbent articles, so as to prevent absorbent articles from falling out from the package during storage. For this purpose an elastic member; single or double string; tape; or hook-and-loop fasteners are most suitable as these allow multiple resizing of the opening.
The stack of absorbent articles can be oriented in the package in different directions, e.g. the stacking direction can be parallel or perpendicular to the end parts, i.e. the absorbent articles stand (parallel) or lie (perpendicular) on one of the end parts of the package. In this context, the stacking direction is meant to be the direction in which the stacked articles lie on top of each other. The possibility of reducing the opening size is particularly advantageous when the stacking direction of the absorbent articles is parallel to the end parts, i.e. the articles stand in the package, and the line of weakness is arranged on the side walls substantially parallel to the stacking direction. Because the line of weakness along which the package is opened is arranged on the side walls and not on one of the end parts, a portion of each absorbent article in the remaining stack will protrude outside the first package part, thus allowing easy access. The height of the first package part may thus be at least 50% of the height of the stacked article. Upon reduction of the opening size, the remaining articles will be kept in a neat stack, which is pressed together and tightly held as the means of reducing the size of the opening is tightened. Thus, the means of reducing the size of the opening should be chosen so that the opening can be reduced over and over again as the number of remaining articles in the package decreases. Elastic member or single or double string are particularly suitable means for reducing the opening size, when the absorbent articles are thus oriented in the package. Figures 2 and 3 show an example of a storage package part holding a stack of absorbent articles retained by means of a string. Further, when the line of weakness is arranged on the side walls substantially parallel to the stacking direction (the articles stand in the package) it is preferred that the line of weakness is arranged at a distance from the end part of the second package part (bring along part), which corresponds to approximately 20-50 % of the height of a stacked article. Thereby, the side walls of the first package part (storage part) will have a height which ensures efficient retaining of the remaining stacked products in, while the side walls of the second package part (bring along part) will be enough to enclose absorbent articles put therein.
If the stack of absorbent articles is oriented in the package perpendicular to the end parts, i.e. the articles lie on top of each other in the package, and the line of weakness is arranged on the side walls substantially perpendicular to the stacking direction, the means of reducing the size of the opening should be chosen such that the size of the opening can be reduced to such an extent that the opening becomes smaller than the surface area of an absorbent article held in the package. For this purpose elastic member; single or double string; tape; or hook-and-loop fasteners are most suitable as these allow multiple resizing of the opening.
In the second package part, which is intended for use as a bring-along package, the purpose of reducing the size of the opening is to more or less close the opening. The bring-along package can be closed or the opening can be reduced by means of zip-lock or hook and loop members, strings, elastic members, or resealable glue. The package material of the bring-along package will thus enclose the absorbent articles to an essential extent, thereby protecting them from mechanical damage or contamination by objects being kept close to the absorbent articles. Thus, a number of absorbent articles can be conveniently carried in for example a handbag without having to worry about dirt and damage from the debris that is often contained in a handbag. Further, the bring-along package can serve to conceal the absorbent articles within a bag, which is preferred by many consumers. For the purpose of reducing the size of the opening of the second package part, (bring-along package) any of the above mentioned means can be used. The dimensions of the second package part are such that it can hold at least one, preferably 1-5 single articles.
In order to allow for effective reduction of the size of the opening, for the respective purposes indicated above, the package is made of wrinkable or pleatable flexible material at least in the edge regions of said first and second package parts. Thereby, the package material adjacent to the opening can be deformed as needed for the necessary reduction of the opening size. Preferably, the entire package is made of wrinkable or pleatable flexible material, since it is advantageous from a manufacturing point of view to make the package from one material. A suitable wrinkable or pleatable flexible material may be a film, nonwoven, or a laminate thereof, made of a polymeric material, such as of polyolefines, preferably polyethylenes and/or polypropylenes. The material may advantageously be weldable, liquid-impervious, recyclable and/or biodegradable.
Additional reinforcing layers can be attached to the edge regions to make them wear resistant. Additional layers forming channels for strings or elastic threads may also be attached to the edge regions, preferably in the form of a strip which is glued or welded to the edge regions of the respective package parts. Such additional layers can be attached to the inside or the outside of the package.
Moreover, the edge region of the second package part may comprise additional material forming a bellows fold including an outer fold edge. The bellows fold partially overlaps the first package part before opening of the package. An example of this is shown in Figure 5. By means of this additional material, the volume of the second package part will become larger, thus facilitating the enclosing of single absorbent articles to be brought along. The bellows fold is realized by Z-folding the material, and may include one or more bellow layers as desired. An outer fold edge is present at a position on the side wall of the package where the Z-fold begins. The bellows fold is preferably arranged between the stack of absorbent articles and the edge region of the first package part, thus being arranged substantially inside the first package part.
When using a bellows fold, the line of weakness may be arranged at the side wall outside the outer fold edge and the means for reducing the opening of the second package part is arranged in the edge region of the second package part in the vicinity of the outer fold edge, see Figure 6a. Alternatively, the line of weakness may be arranged in the edge region of the second package part in the vicinity of the outer fold edge, and the means for reducing the opening of the second package part is arranged at the side wall of the package, inside the outer fold edge, see Figure 6b, i.e. the means for reducing the opening is arranged on a portion of the side wall forming the bellows fold.
The second package part may be invertible and the means for reducing the opening is arranged so that the opening of the second package part can be reduced or closed when the second package part has been turned inside out. A neutral or aesthetic surface pattern can be printed on the inside of the material of the second package part, while product information or brands etc. can be printed on the outside thereof. By inverting the second package part a neutral bring-along package can be obtained, which does not reveal its contents.
The consumer package of the present invention is especially useful for storing absorbent articles such as a diapers, incontinence guards, panty liners or sanitary napkins. The absorbent articles may be unfolded or folded. Folded articles may be three-folded. The absorbent articles may further be single wrapped. The wrapper may comprise a range of suitable materials. The material of the wrapper may be liquid-impervious, recyclable and/or biodegradable. Suitable materials include plastic films, nonwoven webs and laminates thereof. The wrapper may be reinforced, with additional materials located in various regions thereof. The wrapper may comprise the release paper of the absorbent article (the release paper is the paper which covers any adhesive present on the backsheet, prior to use). As such, the wrapper functions as both release paper and packaging. As such, the wrapper may be coated with a layer of e.g. silicone or similar agent which provides the wrapper with release properties. Alternatively, the wrapper may be separate from the release paper.
Preferably, the end part of the second package part has a length and a width that exceeds the length and width, respectively of an article that is to be held in the package by 0-20%, so that the area of the end part equal or a little larger than the area of an article to be contained in the bring-along package, thereby facilitating the placing of a few articles therein.
Figures 1-6 show examples of the present invention. Identical or corresponding parts of the consumer packages disclosed will be identified by the same reference numerals.
Figure 1 shows an example of a consumer package 10 according to the invention, for holding a plurality of stacked articles 34. The package comprises end parts 2, 4, shown as top 4 and bottom 2 in Fig. 1. Side walls 6 are arranged so as to connect the end parts 2, 4, and a line of weakness 16, along which the package can be opened is arranged to run along the entire periphery of the package 10. The line of weakness 16 is arranged such that when it is broken, the package is divided into a first package part 12 and a second package part 14, both having an opening at the line of weakness 16.
In the example shown in Figures 1-3, the line of weakness 16 is arranged approximately halfway down on the side walls 6, thus dividing the package in two halves of about the same height. Other positions may be suitable, as discussed above. Both the first package part 12, which is intended to function as a storage package, and the second package part 14, which is intended to function as a bring-along package, comprise edge regions 13, 15 on each side of and adjacent to the line of weakness 16. Means 11 for reducing the size of the opening of the first package part 12 is in the first edge region 13, so that the first package part 12 can retain the stacked articles, when the second package part 14 has been removed. This is shown in Figures 2 and 3, which disclose the first package part holding stacked articles. In this case the means for reducing the opening 11 is a string, which is arranged in a channel 18 on the edge region 13. In Figure 3, showing a package containing a smaller number of stacked articles, it can be seen how the material of the package has been wrinkled as the string has been tightened.
The second package part 14, being intended to function as a bring-along package, is adapted to hold at least one, preferably 1-5 single articles 34. The end part 4 of the second package part preferably has a length 4a and a width 4b that exceed the length 34a and width 34b, respectively, of the articles 34 by 0-20%. The means 17 for reducing the opening, which is a string arranged in a channel 19 in this case, is arranged in the edge region 15 of the second package part 14. Figure 4 shows the second package part 14 when closed. The side walls have been folded towards the middle, and the string 17 has been tightened, thus fully enclosing the articles held therein.
Figure 5 discloses an example of a consumer package, wherein the edge region of the second package part 14 comprises additional material forming a bellows fold 20. The bellows fold includes an outer fold edge 22, and partially overlaps the first package part 12. Figures 6a and 6b show examples of how the line of weakness 16 and the means 17 for reducing the size of the opening can be arranged on the bellows fold. In the example of Fig. 6a, the line of weakness 16 is arranged at the side wall of the package, outside the fold edge 22 and the means 17 for reducing the opening of the second package part is arranged in the edge region of the second package part in the vicinity of the outer fold 22 edge. In the example of Fig. 6b, the line of weakness 16 is arranged in the edge region of the second package part in the vicinity of the fold 22 edge, and the means 17 for reducing the opening of the second package part is arranged at the side wall of the package, inside the fold edge 22.

Claims

A consumer package (10) for holding a plurality of stacked absorbent articles (34), said package comprising end parts (2, 4), and side walls (6), and at least one line of weakness (16), along which the package can be opened, wherein
- the line of weakness (16) runs along the entire periphery of the package (10), and is arranged so as to divide the package into a first package part (12) and a second package part (14), such that when the line of weakness (16) is broken, the package is divided into two separate package parts (12, 14), both having an opening at the line of weakness (16), and wherein

- said first package part (12) comprises a first edge region (13) adjacent to the line of weakness (16), and the second package part (14) comprises a second edge region (15) adjacent to the line of weakness (16), wherein the package (10) is made of wrinkable or pleatable flexible material at least in the edge regions (13, 15) of said first and second package parts (12, 14),
characterized in that
- a means (11) for reducing the size of the opening is arranged in the edge region (13) of the first package part (12), so that the first package part (12) can retain the stacked articles, when the second package part (14) has been removed, and

- the second package part (14) is adapted to hold at least one, preferably 1-5 single articles (34), and a means (17) for reducing the opening is arranged in the edge region (15) of the second package part (14), so that the second package part (14) can function as a bring-along package.
The consumer package of claim 1, wherein the means (11, 17) for reducing the opening of the first and/or second package parts (12, 14) is chosen from:
- an elastic member which is arranged on the first edge region (13) and/or the second edge region (15);

- a single or double string, running in a channel formed on the first edge region and/or the second edge region;

- a tape;

- a hook-and-loop fastener; or

- a zip lock,
or any combination thereof.
The consumer package of any one of the previous claims, wherein the first and second package parts (12, 14) are made of polymeric film material, or nonwoven material.
The consumer package of any one of the previous claims, wherein the line of weakness (16) is arranged on the side walls (6) of the package between the end parts (2, 4) of the package.
The consumer package of claim 4, wherein the line of weakness (16) is arranged at a distance from the end part (4) of the second package part, which corresponds to approximately 20-50 % of the height of a stacked article.
The consumer package of any one of the claims 1-4, wherein the edge region (15) of the second package part (14) comprises additional material forming a bellows fold (20) including an outer fold edge (22), which bellows fold (20) partially overlaps the first package part (12).
The consumer package of claim 6, wherein the line of weakness (16) is arranged at the side wall of the package, outside the outer fold edge (22) and the means (17) for reducing the opening of the second package part (14) is arranged in the edge region of the second package part (14) in the vicinity of the outer fold (22) edge.
The consumer package of claim 6, wherein the line of weakness (16) is arranged in the edge region of the second package part (14) in the vicinity of the outer fold (22) edge, and the means (17) for reducing the opening of the second package part (14) is arranged at the side wall of the package, inside the outer fold edge (22).
The consumer package of any one of the previous claims, wherein the second package part (14) is invertible and the means for reducing the opening is arranged so that the opening of the second package part can be reduced or closed when the second package part has been turned inside out.
The consumer package of any one of the previous claims, wherein the stacked absorbent articles are single wrapped absorbent articles.
The consumer package of any one of the previous claims, wherein the end part (4) of the second package part has a length (4a) and a width (4b) that exceeds the length (34a) and width (34b) respectively of an article (34) that is to be held in the package by 0-20%.
The consumer package of any one of the previous claims, wherein the absorbent articles are selected from diapers, incontinence guards, panty liners and/or sanitary napkins.