FR3114737A3 - Packaging unit for sanitary devices - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging unit of at least one medical-hygienic device (12) comprising an envelope (14) adapted to enclose said medical-hygienic device (12), in which the envelope (14) comprises at least one sheet of paper material ( 16), wherein a peripheral part of the inner surface (18) of the sheet of paper (16) is attached to another peripheral part of the same sheet of paper (16) or another sheet of paper (16) by means of a biodegradable adhesive material (24). (Figure 2)

Description

Packaging unit for sanitary devices

Field of invention

The present invention generally relates to the packaging of medico-hygienic devices, in particular flat devices, of thickness less than the other dimensions, as well as folded devices whose thickness after folding is less than the other total dimensions of the device. folded.

The invention has been developed in particular with a view to packaging absorbent hygienic articles such as: feminine sanitary napkins, sanitary napkins, protection for light incontinence, panty liners or the like.

In the following description, reference will be made to this specific sector of use without however losing its general purpose.

The invention can also be used for packaging plasters (such as dressing plasters, medicated plasters, painkiller plasters, heating plasters with and without medicaments) and face protection masks falling within the definition sanitary devices.

Description of the state of the art

Thin-shaped medical-hygienic devices, such as feminine sanitary napkins, are often individually packaged in respective packages commonly referred to as sachets or pouches.

The individual packaging of sanitary devices can be achieved by closing the individual sanitary devices with two flexible sheets superimposed on each other, which sandwich a sanitary device and which are united at their edges by means of an adhesive.

Solutions are also known in which each sanitary device is closed in a packaging formed from a single sheet of flexible material folded so as to form two or more flaps joined at their edges by means of an adhesive.

The packaging may consist of sheets of plastic material, for example of polyethylene, or of paper material.

Manufacturers and users of packaging materials are increasingly using paper to replace plastic to reduce environmental impact.

However, in the medical-hygienic device packaging sector, the advantages in terms of environmental sustainability resulting from the use of paper material instead of plastic sheets are partly canceled out by the fact that the packaging made of paper material are closed with adhesives of synthetic origin which compromise the biodegradability of the areas to which the adhesive is applied.

Subject matter and summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a packaging unit for medical-hygienic devices which has improved environmental durability compared to known solutions.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a packaging unit for medical-hygienic devices having the characteristics indicated in claim 1.

The present invention relates to a packaging unit for at least one medical-hygienic device comprising an envelope suitable for enclosing said medical-hygienic device, in which the envelope comprises at least one sheet of paper material having an internal surface and an external surface, wherein at least a peripheral part of the inner surface of the sheet of paper material is attached to another peripheral part of the same sheet of paper material or another sheet of paper material by means of a first adhesive material, in which said first adhesive material is biodegradable.

The first adhesive material may be compostable as well as biodegradable.

The paper material can also be biodegradable, and can be both compostable and biodegradable. These aspects make the envelope even more environmentally friendly and easy to dispose of.

In the rest of the description and in the claims, the term “medico-hygienic devices” means: absorbent pads, sanitary napkins, panty liners, protection for light incontinence, panty liners, dressings, face protection masks and medical devices. -hygienic similar dishes.

Once opened, the packaging of medico-hygienic devices are thrown in the trash and even remain in the presence of degradable waste for a long time. The degradation of waste promotes the proliferation of bacteria and other organisms. Often this process can generate liquids and gases that remain in the environment where said waste is placed.

The liquids formed by the degeneration of the waste are easily absorbed by the paper material forming the envelopes of the conditioning units according to the present invention. Liquid absorption is most pronounced near the edges where the biodegradable adhesive material is applied. In this context, the moist peripheral zone favors the biodegradation of the adhesive material because the moist paper material is an excellent support for the proliferation of bacteria. This makes it possible to initiate and accelerate the biodegradation of the biodegradable adhesive material more effectively than in the case where the biodegradable adhesive material is used on plastic packaging which, unlike paper, does not absorb liquids. Therefore, a synergistic effect is obtained thanks to the combination of the paper material with the biodegradable glue which considerably improves the eco-sustainability of the packaging unit which is more easily disposable than the typical plastic bags.

The most suitable paper materials for producing packaging units according to the invention are those with a high wetting coefficient (measured by wick test), which also promote the adhesion of the biodegradable glue. The paper materials that can potentially be used can have weights greater than 30 g/m ² .

In a possible embodiment, a peripheral part of the internal surface of the sheet of paper material is fixed to the external surface of the same sheet of paper material by means of the first adhesive material. This embodiment can be used in cases where the envelope is folded in three parts and closed by means of an adhesive instead of a tab. The advantage of this embodiment is that it avoids the use of tabs or other closing elements to close the envelopes.

In a possible embodiment, at least one release element is integrated or applied on a central part of the internal surface of the sheet of paper material, in which said release element is configured to transfer to the medical-hygienic device a second material adhesive capable of releasably attaching the medical-hygienic provision to clothing. The release member can typically be silicone paper or a layer of silicone. The release element is arranged only in the center and therefore does not affect the decomposition process of the biodegradable glue on the edges of the envelope. In addition, placing the release element in the central area of the sheet of paper material, makes it possible to avoid covering the entire surface of the sheet of paper material with silicone, with the obvious advantage of reducing costs and making the leaf easier to remove.

In possible embodiments, the release member may be biodegradable.

In one possible embodiment, the second adhesive material may also be biodegradable.

The second adhesive material is usually an evergreen glue, i.e. retaining its active adhesive properties over time and can removably stick the absorbent article to clothing. The fact that this second adhesive material is also biodegradable promotes its complete elimination from linens after using the absorbent.

In one possible embodiment, the central part of said internal surface is coated with silicone and the peripheral part of the internal surface on which the first adhesive material is applied is at least partially not coated with silicone.

This embodiment concerns the use of silicone coated paper with non-silicone edges on which the biodegradable adhesive material is applied, so that the advantage of the biodegradability of the edges is preserved. By at least partly non-silicone zone is meant a zone in which a silicone covering has not been carried out, or, from a sheet whose internal surface is siliconed, a zone where a silicone covering has been applied. deactivated, for example mechanically (with removal elements such as blades or claws) or chemically (with agents which increase the wettability of the paper).

In one possible embodiment, the first adhesive material is disposed on the peripheral portion in a pattern of discrete dots. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of biodegradable adhesive material used by guaranteeing the necessary sealing and also promotes the synergistic effect because the wet paper material encircles the points, so that overall the total surface of the adhesive material affected by this wet paper is more important. In the case of adhesive material placed continuously, the central area of the strip of adhesive material is not surrounded by the wet paper as in the case of dot application.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention is described below in detail with regard to the drawings appearing in the appendix, given solely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

- the is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of a conditioning unit according to the present invention in an open configuration,

- the is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of a conditioning unit according to the present invention in an open configuration,

- the is a perspective view showing the packaging unit of the in closed configuration,

- Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views illustrating two variants of the packaging unit of the in an open configuration, and

- the illustrates another embodiment of a conditioning unit according to the present invention.

Claims (10)

Packaging unit of at least one medical-hygienic device (12) comprising an envelope (14) designed to enclose said medical-hygienic device (12), the envelope (14) of which comprises at least one sheet of paper material (16 ) having an inner surface (18) and an outer surface (20), wherein at least a peripheral portion of the inner surface (18) of said sheet of paper material (16) is attached to another peripheral portion of the same sheet of paper material (16) or another sheet of paper material (16) by means of a first adhesive material (24), wherein said first adhesive material (24) is biodegradable. Packaging unit according to claim 1, in which at least a peripheral part of the interior surface (18) of the sheet of paper (16) is fixed to the exterior surface (20) of the same sheet of paper (16) by means of of the first adhesive material (24). A packaging unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a release member (26) is incorporated or applied to a central portion of the inner surface (18) of said sheet of paper material (16), wherein the release member (26) is configured to transfer to said medical-hygienic device (12) a second adhesive material (28) suitable for releasably securing the medical-hygienic device (12) to linen. A packaging unit according to claim 3, wherein said release member (26) is biodegradable. A unit package according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the second adhesive material (28) is biodegradable. A packaging unit according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the central part of the inner surface (18) is coated with silicone and the peripheral part of the inner surface (18) on which said first adhesive material (24) is at least partly uncovered with silicone. A unit package according to any preceding claim, wherein the first adhesive material (24) is compostable. A packaging unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the paper material is biodegradable. A packaging unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the paper material is compostable. A packaging unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the first adhesive material (24) is disposed on said peripheral portion in a pattern of discrete dots.