WO2018091886A1

WO2018091886A1 - Wrapper for absorbent pad

Info

Publication number: WO2018091886A1
Application number: PCT/GB2017/053433
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dominic HILL
Original assignee: It's A Monthly Thing Limited
Priority date: 2016-11-16
Filing date: 2017-11-15
Publication date: 2018-05-24
Also published as: GB2556056A

Abstract

A wrapper (10) for an absorbent pad (12) comprises a flexible sheet in a cruciform shape, with a central panel (14) and a flap (16, 18, 20, 22) extending from each side of the central panel. A bridging portion (24) extends from the central panel between each pair of adjacent flaps. The flaps and bridging portions are foldable inwardly to lie over the central panel, with the bridging portions closing the corners of the package to avoid gaps between adjacent flaps. Preferably, the bridging portions are triangular or sector-shaped.

Description

Wrapper for Absorbent Pad

The present invention relates to wrapper for an absorbent pad product such as a sanitary towel, incontinence pad or wound dressing.

For absorbent pad products of this type, it is desirable for the pad to be provided in a wrapper before use, to keep it clean, compact and discreet. It is especially desirable that the wrapper can then be used to re-wrap the product after use, in order to retain a used pad in a clean and compact package until it can be safely disposed of.

Various wrappers of this type are known but a number of problems remain. Some wrappers may rip when first opened so that they are unsuitable for re-wrapping the product after use. Also, many known wrappers do not completely enclose the used pad and therefore there is a risk of some fluid leakage from the pad when it is re-wrapped.

The present invention provides a wrapper for an absorbent pad, comprising a flexible sheet in a cruciform shape, with a central panel and a flap extending from each side of the central panel, and a bridging portion extending from the central panel between each pair of adjacent flaps, wherein the flaps and bridging portions are foldable inwardly to lie over the central panel, and wherein each bridging portion extends less than half of the distance between the central panel and an outer edge of a flap.

When the flaps are folded in to form a package, the bridging portions also fold in, closing the corners of the package to prevent any leaks. The bridging portions also strengthen the wrapper and prevent tearing at the junction of the flaps and the central panel.

Preferably, each bridging portion extends less than 25% of the distance between the central panel and an outer edge of a flap, and more preferably, less than 20%. In this way, the bridging portions take a minimal additional amount of material while still providing protection against leaks.

Each flap preferably has a surface area greater than half the surface area of the central panel. This ensures the pad is fully covered and secure package obtained. Preferably, the wrapper comprises four flaps arranged in two opposed pairs and the flaps in each pair are the same size and shape. This simplifies manufacture, and ensures the wrapper is easy to use, since the flaps can be folded in any order. In one embodiment, the flaps in one pair are trapezoidal in shape and taper in a direction away from the central panel, and the flaps in the other pair are rectangular. In this option, the tapered flaps may be folded first and do not interfere with folding in the remaining flaps. Preferably, the bridging portions are triangular or sector-shaped.

The wrapper may further comprise a closure device to retain the flaps in position once folded over the central panel. The closure device may comprise a re-usable sticker. Preferably, the wrapper is formed of a bio-degradable material.

The present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 a is a plan view of a wrapper, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, when it is unfolded;

Figures 1 b, 1 c and 1 d show alternative embodiments of the wrapper; Figure 2 shows the unfolded wrapper of Figure 1 d with an absorbent pad placed thereon;

Figures 3a and 3b are perspective views of the wrapper of Figure 1 d, showing how it is folded;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the wrapper folded to form a package enclosing the absorbent pad. As best seen in Figures 1 a-d and 2, a wrapper 10 in accordance with the present invention, for wrapping an absorbent pad 12, comprises a thin flexible sheet of materially in a generally cruciform shape. Thus, the wrapper 10 comprises a central panel 14 which is generally square or rectangular. A flap extends from each side of the central panel 14. There are therefore four flaps in total, arranged in two opposed pairs. With reference to the orientation shown in Figure 1 , a first pair of flaps 16, 18, extends from the top and bottom edges of the central panel 14 respectively. A second pair of opposed flaps 20, 22 extends from the left and right sides respectively of the central panel 14.

In the example shown in Figure 1 a, the left and right flaps 20, 22 are substantially rectangular. The top and bottom flaps 16, 18 are slightly trapezoidal, so that each flap tapers slightly in a direction away from the central panel 14. This facilitates folding of the flaps 16, 18 over the central panel before subsequent folding in of flaps 20, 22. However, flaps 16, 18 could simply be rectangular as well, or all four flaps 16-22 could be

substantially rectangular.

Examples of possible variations of the shape of the wrapper 10 are shown in Figures 1 b-d. In Figure 1 b the trapezoidal shape of the top and bottom flaps 16, 18 is more pronounced than in Figure 1 a. In Figure 1 c, the outer edges of the left and right flaps 20, 22 are arcuate. In Figure 1 d, only the outer edge of the right hand flap 22 is arcuate. In all of Figures 1 b-d, the outer corners of each flap are more radiused in order to provide more rounded corners. It will be appreciated that these examples are not exhaustive and other minor variations in the overall shape of the wrapper 10 can be envisaged.

In the embodiments of Figure 1 a-c the wrapper 10 is symmetrical and the flaps in each opposed pair are the same size and shape. In the embodiment of Figure 1 d, top and bottom flaps 16, 18 are identical, while left and right hand flaps 20, 22 vary slightly from one another due to the curved right edge of right hand flap 22. However, in all the embodiments shown, each flap 16, 18, 20, 22 is dimensioned so that when folded over the central panel 14 it will cover more than half of the area of the central panel 14.

The dotted lines in Figure 1 a-d show the intended fold lines 28 for the wrapper 10 in use, as described further below. At the corners of the central panel 14 and between adjacent flaps, bridging portions 24 are provided. These bridging portions 24 are generally triangular with a straight outer edge, or in this example, sector-shaped, with an arcuate outer edge 26. As shown, the arcuate outer edges are preferably convex, i.e. curved outwardly with respect to the central panel 14. Thus, the edges of adjacent panels do not join one another at a sharp vertex (where the fold lines 28 cross), but merge via a bridging portion 24. Where the bridging portions 24 have an arcuate outer edge 26, the edge may be a circular arc, with the centre of the circle located where the fold lines 28 cross each other, i.e. at the corner of the central panel 14.

Each bridging portion 24 is considerably smaller in area than the central panel 14 and the flaps 16, 18, 20, 22. Thus, each bridging portion 24 extends only a short distance along the edges of the adjacent flaps relative to the total length of the edge of each relevant flap. For example, each bridging portion 24 may extend a distance d which is less than 50% of the total distance D between the central panel 14 (i.e. a fold line 28) to the outer edge of a flap. Preferably, the bridging portions extend less than 25% of the distance, and most preferably less than 20%. Therefore, the bridging portions 24 require only a small amount of extra material in terms of the amount required to produce a whole wrapper 10.

The wrapper 10 may be formed from any suitable thin, flexible sheet material.

Possible examples include plastics, paper, cardboard or a biodegradable substance such as a corn-based bioplastic. In use, an absorbent pad 12 is initially placed on the open wrapper 10, lying across the central panel 14 and an opposed pair of flaps, preferably the tapered flaps 16, 18. It is also possible for the pad 12 to be pre-folded into a smaller shape so that it fits on the central panel 14 without overlapping the flaps. Typically, in a known fashion, the underside of the pad 12 may include a peelable, re-usable adhesive so that the pad 12 can be adhered to the wrapper 10, but peeled off easily when required.

The flaps 16, 18, 20, 22 are sequentially folded in as shown in Figures 3a and 3b in order to create a closed package 30 as shown in Figure 4. Initially, one flap, preferable one of the tapered flaps such as the upper flap 16, with part of the pad 12 adhered to it, can be folded inwardly to lie over part of the central panel 14. Subsequently, the opposing tapered flap 18 is also folded inwardly to overlie part of the upper flap 16 and the central panel 14. Subsequently, the left and right side flaps 20, 22 are also folded in sequentially. The package 30 can be held closed by any convenient means, e.g. by use of a sticker 32. As the various flaps 16-22 are folded inwardly over the central panel 14, the bridging portions 24 also fold inwardly as illustrated in Figures 3a-b. These bridging panels 24 thus close the corners of the package 30 and avoid any gaps between adjacent flaps. Each bridging portion 24 will tend to fold along fold lines 28 where the bridging portion 24 meets the adjacent flaps. The bridging portion 24 may also fold along a central fold line 29 as shown in Figure 1 a.

When required, the package 30 can be opened by removing the sticker 32 and sequentially unfolding the flaps 16-22. The sticker 32 preferably has a peelable, re-usable adhesive so that it can be placed on another part of the wrapper 10 and retained for re-use later. The bridging panels 24 unfold as the flaps are unfolded and prevent any ripping of the wrapper 10 at the corners of the central panel 14.

The pad 12 can be peeled off the wrapper 10 and used as required. After use, the soiled pad 12 can be laid once again on the wrapper 10. Preferably, it is first folded into a smaller shape so that it sits only on the central panel 14. The flaps are again sequentially folded inwardly, preferably folding in the tapered flaps 16, 18 first, and then the other flaps 20,22. The sticker 32 can then repositioned to hold the package 30 closed. Once again, the bridging portions 24 fold inwardly to close the corners of the package 30 and prevent any openings through which leakage of fluid from the pad 12 might otherwise occur. Thus, the package 30 now securely retains the soiled pad until it can be safely disposed of.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A wrapper for an absorbent pad, comprising a flexible sheet in a cruciform shape, with a central panel and a flap extending from each side of the central panel, and a bridging portion extending from the central panel between each pair of adjacent flaps, wherein the flaps and bridging portions are foldable inwardly to lie over the central panel, and wherein each bridging portion extends less than half of the distance between the central panel and an outer edge of a flap.

2. A wrapper for an absorbent pad as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each bridging portion extends less than 25% of the distance between the central panel and an outer edge of a flap.

3. A wrapper for an absorbent pad as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each bridging portion extends less than 20% of the distance between the central panel and an outer edge of a flap.

4. A wrapper for an absorbent pad as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each flap has a surface area greater than half the surface area of the central panel.

5. A wrapper for an absorbent pad as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the wrapper comprises four flaps arranged in two opposed pairs and the flaps in each pair are the same size and shape.

6. A wrapper for an absorbent pad as claimed in claim 5, wherein the flaps in one pair are trapezoidal in shape and taper in a direction away from the central panel, and the flaps in the other pair are rectangular.

7. A wrapper for an absorbent pad as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bridging portions are triangular or sector-shaped.

8. A wrapper for an absorbent pad as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a closure device to retain the flaps in position once folded over the central panel.

9. A wrapper for an absorbent pad as claimed in claim 8, wherein the closure device comprises a re-usable sticker.

10. A wrapper for an absorbent pad as claimed in any preceding claim, formed of a bio- degradable material.