Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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PACKAGE HAVING A LINE OF WEAKNESS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a package, wherein present in the package is a
wrapped feminine
hygiene article.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Producers of feminine hygiene articles attempt to satisfy a consumer's
expectations at
several levels. One such level is at the store shelf where a consumer expects
to make a purchase
quickly. However, the consumer often faces a multitude of choices as to which
feminine hygiene
article to purchase. As such, packages containing feminine hygiene articles
are often used to
help a consumer make a purchasing decision. For instance, a package may have
distinctive
markings or coloration to attract the consumer's attention to the feminine
hygiene articles
contained therein. A package is successful if it can attract the consumer's
attention, and
distinguish itself from the competitors around it, such that the consumer will
purchase it.
In addition to a package distinguishing itself from other packages, a package
should
convey to consumers information about the feminine hygiene article they
contain. For instance,
often a feminine hygiene article will be disposed in a wrapper. The wrapper
serves to not only
isolate and protect the feminine hygiene article, but may also have distinct
features of its own.
To communicate such features of a wrapper to consumers a number of methods may
be used.
For example, packages containing wrapped feminine hygiene articles may have
information
about the wrapper printed on them in the form of words, pictures, or symbols.
Other packages
use windows to allow a consumer to view the wrapped feminine hygiene articles
contained
therein. Windows though are often inadequate for properly displaying a
wrapper's line of
weakness, as a line of weakness usually extends substantially or completely
around the periphery
of a wrapper. And a window is only capable of displaying a single perspective
of a wrapped
feminine hygiene article. However, the functional features of a package have
mostly been
ignored as a means to communicate information about the wrapper containing a
feminine
hygiene article.
As such, it would be desirable to provide a package that communicates
information about
a feminine hygiene wrapper to a consumer.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A package is provided which comprises at least one wall defining an exterior
surface
having a periphery and an interior space of the package, wherein the package
comprises a line of
weakness having one or more properties. The package contains within the
interior space at least
one feminine hygiene article. The feminine hygiene article is disposed in a
wrapper having a
periphery and comprising a line of weakness having one or more properties,
wherein the package
line of weakness has the same or similar properties as the wrapper line of
weakness.
A package is provided which comprises at least one wall defining an exterior
surface
having a periphery and an interior space of the package, wherein the package
comprises a line of
weakness having a length that extends less than the entire periphery of the
exterior surface. The
package contains within the interior space at least one feminine hygiene
article disposed in a
wrapper having a periphery and comprising a line of weakness having a length
that extends less
than the entire periphery. The package has an after open appearance comprising
a hood and a
hinge and the wrapper has an after open appearance comprising a hood and a
hinge.
A method of communicating to a consumer properties of a line of weakness on a
wrapper
of a feminine hygiene article is provided. The method comprises providing a
package
comprising at least one wall defining an exterior surface having a periphery
and an interior space
of the package, wherein the package comprises a line of weakness having
properties. The
method further comprises providing at least one feminine hygiene article
contained within the
interior space of the package, wherein the feminine hygiene article is
disposed in a wrapper
comprising a line of weakness having properties. The package communicates to a
consumer the
properties of the wrapper line of weakness, by having the properties of the
package line of
weakness the same or similar to the properties of the wrapper line of
weakness.
The method may further include the steps of opening the package along the line
of
weakness such that after opening the package comprises a hood and a hinge, and
opening the
wrapper along the line of weakness such that after opening the wrapper
comprises a hood and a
hinge.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
1-4IG. 1 is a partial cut-away perspective view of an embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is a partial cut-away perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention.
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FIG. 5 is a partial cut-away perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 6 is a partial cut-away perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention wherein
the
package and wrapper are each open along a line of weakness.
FIG. 8 is a partial cut-away perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a package containing one or more
individually
wrapped feminine hygiene articles. The package and the wrapper of a feminine
hygiene article
each have a line of weakness. The line of weakness facilitates the opening of
the package or
wrapper by providing a weakened tear point. The line of weakness present on
the package
communicates to a consumer one or more of the properties of a line of weakness
present on a
wrapper, because the line of weakness on the package has the same or similar
properties as the
wrapper's line of weakness. For example, the line of weakness on the package
may have the
same or similar length, pattern, number, location, or after open appearance,
as the wrapper's line
of weakness. This allows the package to communicate to a consumer, at the
store shelf, the
properties of the wrapper's line of weakness without the consumer actually
having to open the
package to view the wrapper. The package's communication to a consumer at the
store shelf
allows the consumer to select the wrapper that is most convenient for them to
use. For instance,
some consumers might prefer a wrapper that when opened separates into two
separate pieces for
easy disposal, or a wrapper that when completely opened remains one piece to
store and dispose
of used feminine hygiene articles.
As used herein, the term "feminine hygiene article" refers to articles such
as, disposable
absorbent articles that can be worn by women for menstrual or incontinence
control, such as
sanitary napkins, tampons, pessaries, interlabial products, incontinence
articles, and pantiliners.
As used herein, a feminine hygiene article can include any associated
applicator that typically
can be associated with the feminine hygiene article. For example, a feminine
hygiene article can
be a tampon that may or may not include an applicator to facilitate insertion
of a tampon into the
vaginal canal or other body cavity.
As used herein, the term "tampon" refers to any type of absorbent structure
that can be
inserted into the vaginal canal or other body cavity for the purpose of anyone
or more of the
following such as absorbing fluid, aiding in wound healing, or for delivering
materials, such as
moisture or active materials such as medicaments. A tampon can include any
known tampon
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configuration, for example, digital tampons, tampons with traditional plunger
type applicators, or
tampons with compact applicators, such as those described in U.S. Patents
4,726,805; 4,846,802;
4,960,417; 5,087,239; 5,279,541; 6,258,075; 6,478,763; or any other known
tampon.
As used herein, the term "line of weakness" refers to one or more weakness
points
arranged in any pattern suitable to facilitate the opening of a package or
wrapper by providing a
weakened tear point. The pattern can extend in one or more directions, for
example the pattern
can be straight, bent, angled, curved, irregular or combinations thereof. One
or more of the
individual weakness points can overlap to form a line of weakness. In
addition, or alternatively,
one or more of the individual weakness points can be spaced apart from one
another to form a
line of weakness. A line of weakness can be formed in any suitable manner,
such as
mechanically, thermally, using a laser, chemically, or combinations thereof.
As used herein the term "properties of a line of weakness" refers to the
appearance of a
package's or wrapper's line of weakness, and may include a line of weakness's
length, pattern,
number, location, after open appearance or combinations thereof.
As used herein, the term "weakness point" refers to a region of the package or
wrapper
material where the thickness of the package or wrapper material is
substantially less than the
thickness of the package or wrapper material surrounding the region. In
certain embodiments, an
individual weakness point can be weaker than the surrounding area, for example
about 50%
weaker, about 75% weaker, or about 100% weaker. Weakness points can be formed
in any
suitable manner, such as by depressions or perforations.
As used herein, the term "depression" refers to a weakness point having a
thickness less
than the thickness of the surrounding package or wrapper material but greater
than zero. The
depressions can extend into the package or wrapper material from the inner
surface, outer surface
or both of the package or wrapper material. In certain embodiments, individual
depressions can
overlap each other when forming a line of weakness, so that a substantially
continuous line of
weakness formed by depressions is generated, such as a score line or groove.
As used herein, the term "perforation" refers to one or more weakness points,
wherein at
least a portion of the region of the package or wrapper material forming the
weakness point can
have a thickness of about zero.
FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention wherein a package 20
contains a
feminine hygiene article disposed within a wrapper 40. The package 20, as
shown in FIG. 1,
may be a box having one or more walls 22 that define an interior storage space
27 for storing one
or more feminine hygiene articles individually disposed within a wrapper 40.
Each wall 22 has
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an interior surface, which forms the interior storage space 27 and an exterior
surface, which
forms the exterior surface 24 of the package 20, wherein the exterior surface
24 has a periphery.
In addition, a line of weakness 28 is present on at least one wall 22 of the
package 20, and a line
of weakness 42 is present on the wrapper 40. Further, the package 20 may be of
any suitable
shape, such that a line of weakness 28 present on the package 20 can
communicate to a consumer
the properties of the line of weakness 42 of the wrapper.
A wall 22 of the package 20 may be composed of different materials or may be
composed
of substantially the same type of material. A wall 22 may be a laminate of
materials, such as
paper, plastic or both. In certain embodiments, the package can comprise
inflexible materials,
such as cardboard, paperboard, cartonboard, chipboard, plywood, SBS, metal,
plastic, paper, card
stock, fabric, ceramic, polymer, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, webs, mesh,
screen, wood,
composite, combinations thereof, or any other suitable material.
Alternatively, or in addition, the
package can be made of a flexible material, such as, blown or cast film in a
blend of low density
polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene, metallocenes, ethylene vinyl
acetate, surlyn,
polyethylene terephthalate, biaxally oriented polypropylene, nylon,
combinations thereof, or any
other suitable material.
The package 20 can include at least one window 26, such as, a region of
transparency. As
used herein, "transparency" means having the property of transmitting light
without substantial
scattering so that items contained within the interior storage space 27 of a
package 20 can be
visible to a consumer. The window 26 can comprise a transparent covering, such
as, for
example, a transparent film. In addition, or alternatively, the window 26 can
comprise an
opening in the package 20 that does not include a covering. In certain
embodiments, the window
26 can comprise a transparent covering that can be anyone or more of the
following, such as
clear, translucent, tinted, or opaque. The transparent covering can be tinted
in any suitable color
or combination of colors. The transparent covering can also, or alternatively,
be printed,
embossed or both. In certain embodiments, the window 26 can be an image that
depicts or gives
the perception of a window, such as an image that depicts a region of
transparency or an opening.
The window 26 can be disposed on at least one wall 22 of the package, such as
the front
wall, the back wall, or side walls. The window 26 can be at any location on a
wall 22 and can
comprise any suitable amount of a wall 22, for example from about 5% to about
95% of the wall,
such as, for example, about 5% to about 75%, about 5% to about 50%, about 5%
to about 25%,
or any other amount of the wall. In certain embodiments, feminine hygiene
articles having a
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wrapper can be positioned adjacent the window such that at least a portion of
the wrapper can be
visible through the window.
FIG. 2 shows a side view of the package 20 of FIG. 1 containing a wrapper 40
having a
feminine hygiene article disposed therein, in this instance a tampon 50. The
wrapper 40 has a
length L, a width W, a top 44, a bottom 46, an outer surface 48 having a
periphery, and a line of
weakness 42. Any wrapped feminine hygiene article or combination of wrapped
feminine
hygiene articles can be contained in a package. The feminine hygiene articles
are individually
wrapped prior to being contained within a package. In certain embodiments, a
package can
contain a single wrapped feminine hygiene article.
The material of the wrapper can comprise one or more materials listed below,
such as
flexible polymeric films, for instance, polymeric films made of polyethylene,
polypropylene,
polyester, cellophane, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, or ethylene-vinyl
acetate copolymer; heat-
shrinkable films; stretch films; pre-stretched elastic material, such as
wrapper material that
comprises polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, or polyvinyl
chloride;
polystyrene; polyethylene-terephtalate (PET); metallic foils, such as aluminum
foil; non-
occlusive or porous materials such as nonwovens, wovens, scrims, meshes and
papers, or
combinations thereof. Non-occlusive materials can be made occlusive such as by
lamination
with or by coating with occlusive material. In the case of cellulosic papers,
examples include
lamination with a polymeric film such as a polyolefinic composition or coating
or impregnation
of the paper with wax. In certain embodiments, wrapper materials can be coated
with various
chemical compounds to improve their barrier properties or the ability for
sealing. In addition, the
wrapper material can have a low flexural modulus. The low flexural modulus
provides for a low
noise wrapper during transport, as well as during handling and opening of the
wrapper. Further,
in certain embodiments, the material of the wrapper may be the same as the
material of the
package. In certain other embodiments, the material of the wrapper may differ
from the material
of the package.
In certain embodiments, the wrapper can be constructed of one connected piece
of
wrapper material. In certain other embodiments, the wrapper may be constructed
from multiple
pieces of wrapper material, sufficiently joined together, such that wrapper
material substantially
acts as one connected piece of wrapper material. In certain embodiments, the
wrapper can be
formed by closing the wrapper material via heat-sealing onto itself after
wrapping the article. In
addition, the wrapper can be bonded or sealed by being glued, embossed,
crimped, sewed,
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stitched, entangled, mechanically interlocked, cold pressure welded,
ultrasonic bonded, or
combinations thereof.
A wrapper can be any suitable color. In certain embodiments, a wrapper can
include one
or more colors that correspond to a feature of the feminine hygiene article
contained therein, such
as absorbency, size, scent, lotion, or other features. For example, the
feminine hygiene article
can be a tampon and the wrapper can include one or more colors that correspond
to the
absorbency of the tampon. In certain embodiments, the wrapper can include one
or more indicia
to provide a visual indication of the location of a line of weakness present
on a wrapper. The
indicia can be any indicia suitable for providing a visual indication, such
as, color, opacity,
embossment, texture, or other suitable indicia. In certain embodiments, the
indicia can be one or
more colors suitable for indicating the location of a line of weakness, such
as any one or more
colors that are darker than, lighter than, or contrasting to one or more of
the colors of the
wrapper. The indicia can be one or more colors. The indicia can be present at
any location on a
wrapper suitable for indicating the location of a line of weakness, such as at
a location near to or
corresponding to the location of a line of weakness.
In certain embodiments, a wrapper can include an opening aid, such as a means
for
making it easier for a user to open the wrapper. The opening aid can assist a
user in removing a
feminine hygiene article from the wrapper, by providing a means for the user
to grip the wrapper
to break the one or more lines of weakness. The opening aid can be any
suitable means, such as
one or more tabs, flaps, rings, caps, plates, curved plates, sticks, discs,
asymmetrical structures,
meshes, screens, flared structures, molded parts, cut or stamped sheet, or any
other suitable
opening aid, such as, opening aids described in U.S. Patent 6,955,665.
Referring back to FIG. 2,
the opening aid can be at any one or more suitable locations on the wrapper
40, such as, the top
44 of the wrapper 40, one or more sides of the wrapper 40, or the bottom 46 of
the wrapper 40.
In certain embodiments, the one or more tabs can be formed from a portion of a
wrapper.
Alternatively, or in addition, the one or more tabs can extend from the outer
surface of the
wrapper, such as a portion of wrapper protruding from the wrapper. A tab can
be any suitable
size. In certain embodiments, a tab will be sufficiently large to be reliably
grasped by the user,
such as handle or finger grip. In certain embodiments, a tab can be stiffened
by heat sealing, or
embossing with or without the addition of heat. In certain embodiments, the
tab can also
function as a seal.
The package and wrapper can have one or more lines of weakness. A line of
weakness
can be located at any suitable location on the package or wrapper. For
instance, as shown in FIG.
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2, the lines of weakness 28, 42 can be located near the top 29 of the package
20 or top 44 of the
wrapper 40. As used herein, the "top of the wrapper" means the portion of the
wrapper nearest to
or which covers the end of the feminine hygiene article that should be removed
first from the
wrapper. For example, when the feminine hygiene article is a tampon with an
applicator, the top
of the wrapper can be the portion of the wrapper nearest to or which covers
the portion of the
applicator nearest the insertion end. In certain embodiments, a line of
weakness can be located
in, for example, the upper half of the wrapper, the upper third of the
wrapper, the upper fourth of
the wrapper, the upper fifth of the wrapper, the upper sixth of the wrapper,
or any other suitable
location on the wrapper. As used herein, the "top of the package" refers to
the end portion of the
package that is opposite the surface upon which the package would normally be
displayed at the
store shelf. For example, in certain embodiments the top of the package is the
portion of the
package having the line of weakness to allow a user to access the wrapped
feminine hygiene
articles contained therein. In certain embodiments, a line of weakness can be
located in, for
example, the upper half of the package, the upper third of the package, the
upper fourth of the
package, the upper fifth of the package, the upper sixth of the package, or
any other suitable
location on the package.
In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3 a line of weakness 28, 42 can go
around the
entire periphery of the package 20 or wrapper 40, such that when the package
20 or wrapper 40 is
completely opened, the package 20 or wrapper 40 comprises two or more
unconnected portions.
In certain other embodiments, referring back to FIG. 1, a line of weakness 42
can encompass any
amount of the periphery of the package 20 or wrapper 40 suitable to allow the
package 20 or
wrapper 40 to remain in one piece after the package 20 or wrapper 40 is fully
opened. For
instance, a line of weakness can extend across less than the entire periphery
of a package or
wrapper, for example less than about 95%, less than about 90%, less than about
85%, less than
about 80%, less than about 75%, less than about 70%, less than about 65%, less
than about 60%,
less than about 55%, less than about 50%, less than about 45%, less than about
40%, or any other
suitable amount of the periphery. A line of weakness can extend a sufficient
length along a
package or wrapper to create an opening that is sufficiently large to allow a
wrapped feminine
hygiene article to be removed from a package, or a feminine hygiene article
from a wrapper.
A line of weakness can be provided in any suitable pattern. For example, as
shown in
FIG. 4, a line of weakness 28 can extend across the package 20, so as to be in
a parallel direction
with respect to one or more edges 25 of a package 20. Wherein an edge 25 of a
package 20 is
formed when two walls 22 intersect, for example each wall 22 of a package 20
that has a box
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shape will have four edges 25. Further, a line of weakness 42 can be provided
across the wrapper
40, for example in a transverse direction with respect to the length L of the
wrapper 40.
As shown in FIG. 5, a line of weakness 28, 42 can extend in an angled
direction with
respect to an edge 25 of a package 20 or longitudinal axis LA of a wrapper 40.
Any suitable
angle can be used, for a line of weakness 28, 42 on a package 20 or wrapper
40. For example, as
shown in FIG. 5, an angle for a line of weakness 28 originating from on an
edge 25 of a package
20 can have an upward angle from the edge 25 towards the top 29 of the package
20. As further
shown, a line of weakness 42 located on a wrapper 40 may have an angle, such
as an angle
upward from the initiation point 45 of the line of weakness 42 toward the top
44 of the wrapper
40. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6 an angle for a line of weakness 28
originating from on an
edge 25 of a package 20 can have a downward angle from the edge 25 towards the
bottom 35 of
the package 20, and a line of weakness 42 located on a wrapper 40 may have an
angle downward
from the initiation point 45 of the line of weakness 42 toward the bottom 46
of the wrapper 40.
As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 a line of weakness 28 originating from an edge
25 of a package
20 may have an angle T1 respective to the edge 25 of from about 50 to about
175 , such as, for
example from about 45 to about 145 0, such as, for example about 75 to
about 125 . A line of
weakness 42 originating from an initiation point 45 may have an angle T2
respective to the
longitudinal axis LA of from about 50 to about 175 , such as, for example
from about 45 to
about 145 , such as, for example about 75 to about 125 .
FIG. 7 shows that in certain embodiments, when a package 20 and wrapper 40
have a
similar line of weakness 28, 42, after the line of weakness 28, 42 is
separated during the opening
of the package 20 and wrapper 40, the after opening appearance of the package
20 and wrapper
40 may also be similar. As the top 29 of the package 20 or the top 44 of the
wrapper 40 is
separated from the other portion of the package 20 or wrapper 40 along the
line of weakness 28,
42 a hood 33, 63 is formed which is attached to the rest of the package 20 or
wrapper 40 by a
hinge 31, 61. The formation of a hood 33, 63 and hinge 31, 61 after opening
the package 20 and
wrapper 40 gives the package 20 and wrapper 40 the same or similar appearance.
Further, as
shown in Figure 7, in this embodiment the wrapper 40 can remain in one piece
after opening.
The wrapper 40 can then be used to store a used feminine hygiene article or a
portion of the
inserted hygiene article, such as an applicator, or both. In this embodiment,
the hood 63 can be
disposed over the used feminine hygiene article or portion of the inserted
feminine hygiene
article for increased discretion and cleanliness during transportation or
disposal.
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FIG. 8 shows that a package 20 and wrapper 40 may have a non-linear line of
weakness
28, 42, in that the line of weakness 28, 42 may extend in a curved direction.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being
strictly
limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise
specified, each such
dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range
surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is
intended to mean
"about 40 mm."
The citation of any document is not to be construed as an
admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the
extent that any meaning
or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or
definition of the same term
in a document cited herein, the meaning or definition assigned to that term
in this
document shall govern.
