Abstract:
A method of individually packaging an absorbent article and attaching the absorbent article to an undergarment including the steps of providing a tri-folded absorbent article having two end portions and an intermediate portion, providing a pouch containing the tri-folded absorbent article, opening the pouch to thereby expose a garment-facing surface of the intermediate portion of the absorbent article prior to exposing a garment facing surface of either of the end portions of the absorbent article.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to individually packaged disposable absorbent articles, and in particular to a method of individually packaging an absorbent article and attaching the absorbent article to an undergarment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Individually packaged disposable absorbent articles are well known in the art. For example, feminine sanitary napkins are often sold in such a configuration. Commercially available sanitary napkins are commonly folded in three overlapping sections along the length of the napkin (“tri-folded”) and such tri-folded napkin is arranged in a sealed pouch to thereby maintain the napkin sanitary prior to use. Sanitary napkins of this type conventionally include an adhesive arranged on a garment-facing side of the napkin (“garment attachment adhesive”) to enable the user to attach the napkin to an undergarment during use. Prior to use, the garment attachment adhesive is covered by a removable release paper that is intended to protect the adhesive and prevent the garment attachment adhesive from adhering to the pouch prior to use. Alternatively, the release paper may by omitted, and the interior surface of the pouch may include a non-stick coating (e.g. silicone) to prevent the garment attachment adhesive from adhering to the pouch. When ready for use, a user removes the napkin from the pouch, unfolds the napkin, removes the release paper (if such paper is employed) and attaches the napkin to the undergarment. 
     The inventor of the present invention has discovered that a problem with the above described configuration is that the user must completely remove the napkin from the pouch, and remove the release paper if such release paper is present, prior to attaching the napkin to the undergarment. The above described process can be cumbersome and may cause the user to inadvertently attach the napkin at the wrong location in the undergarment and/or contaminate the garment attachment adhesive before the user attaches the napkin to the undergarment. 
     In view of the foregoing, the inventor has disclosed herein an improved method of individually packaging an absorbent article and method for attaching such absorbent article to an undergarment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing the present invention provides, according to a first aspect of the invention, a method of individually packaging an absorbent article and attaching the absorbent article to an undergarment including the steps of providing a tri-folded absorbent article including a garment-facing surface having a garment attachment adhesive, a body-facing surface, a first fold line, a second fold line, a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion arranged between the first end portion and the second end portions, the first end portion being separated from the intermediate portion by the first fold line, the second end portion being separated from the intermediate portion by the second fold line, and the intermediation portion being located between the first fold line and the second fold line, providing a pouch for containing the tri-folded absorbent article, the pouch formed from a sheet material having a first terminal edge and a second terminal edge, opening the pouch along the first terminal edge of the sheet material and lifting the sheet material to expose a garment-facing surface of the intermediate portion of the article prior to exposing the garment-facing surface of the first end portion and the garment-facing surface of the second end portion. 
     The present invention provides, according to a second aspect of the invention, a method of individually packaging an absorbent article and attaching the absorbent article to an undergarment including the steps of providing a tri-folded absorbent article including a garment-facing surface, a body-facing surface, a first fold line, a second fold line, a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion arranged between the first end portion and the second end portions, the first end portion being separated from the intermediate portion by the first fold line, the second end portion being separated from the intermediate portion by the second fold line, and the intermediation portion being located between the first fold line and the second fold line, providing a pouch for containing the tri-folded absorbent article, the pouch formed from a sheet material having a first terminal edge, a second terminal edge and a line of weakness arranged between the first terminal edge and the second terminal edge, opening the pouch along the line of weakness and lifting the sheet material to expose a garment-facing surface of the intermediate portion of the article prior to exposing the garment-facing surface of the first end portion and the garment-facing surface of the second end portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an individually packaged absorbent article assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention showing the exterior surface of the pouch that forms part of the assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is bottom perspective view of an individually packaged absorbent article assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of the of the absorbent article assembly shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  revealing the first and second sheets of material that define the pouch and the absorbent contained within such pouch; 
         FIGS. 4-11  depict the manner in which the absorbent article is removed from the pouch and applied to an undergarment; 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom perspective view of an individually packaged absorbent article assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention showing the exterior surface of the pouch that forms part of the assembly; 
         FIG. 13  is a detailed top perspective view of a portion of the individually packaged absorbent article assembly shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is detailed view of a portion of the individually packaged absorbent article assembly shown in  FIG. 13  depicting the manner in which pouch is opened to obtain access to the absorbent article; and 
         FIG. 15  is a partially exploded view of the of the absorbent article assembly shown in  FIG. 12  revealing the sheet of material that forms the pouch and the absorbent article contained within such pouch. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings there is shown an individually packaged disposable absorbent article assembly embodying the teachings of the present invention. As used herein “disposable absorbent articles” includes articles such as sanitary napkins, pantiliners, absorbent products for incontinence, and other disposable absorbent articles worn close to a wearer&#39;s body. Although the invention will be described herein with reference to a sanitary napkin, the invention may be utilized with other disposable sanitary absorbent articles such as absorbent products for incontinence, diapers, pantiliners and the like. 
     An individually packaged absorbent article assembly  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The individually packaged absorbent article assembly  10  generally includes a sanitary napkin  12  and a pouch  14 . 
     Prior to removal from the pouch  14 , the sanitary napkin  12  is tri-folded such that three portions of the napkin  12  are defined. Specifically, referring to  FIG. 3 , the napkin  12  in its folded state prior to use includes a first end portion  16 , a second end portion  18 , and an intermediate portion  20  arranged between the end portions  16  and  18 . The first end portion  16  is separated from the intermediate portion  20  by fold line  19  and the second end portion  18  is separated from the intermediate portion  20  by fold line  21 . The napkin  12  further includes a body-facing surface  22  and a garment-facing surface  24 . The terms “body-facing” and “garment-facing” as used herein are intended to indicate the final orientation of the napkin after the napkin has been attached to an undergarment by the user. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first end portion  16  is folded toward the body-facing surface  22  and then the second end portion  18  is folded on top of and in overlapping relationship to the first end portion  16 . The napkin  12  also includes a garment attachment adhesive  26  that is applied to the garment-facing surface  24  of the napkin that functions to attach the napkin  12  to an undergarment during use. 
     In the specific embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the pouch  14  is defined by two lengths of a sheet material  29  that are attached to one another to form the final pouch  14 . However, the pouch  14  could alternatively be formed from a single length of the sheet material  29 . The sheet material  29  may be a plastic film sheet or a paper sheet material. The paper or plastic film sheet is coated on its inwards facing surface thereof with a coating of silicone polymer to prevent the adhesive  26  on the garment-facing surface of the napkin  12  from adhering to the pouch  14 . Other non-stick coatings may be employed provided that they effectively prevent the napkin  12  from adhering to the pouch  14 . 
     In the specific embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the pouch is formed by a first length of sheet material  30  and a second length of sheet material  31 . The first length of material  30  defines a first end section  32  of the sheet material  29  and the second length of material  31  defines a second end section  34  of the sheet material  29 . The first length of material  30  further defines an intermediate section  36  of the sheet material  29  arranged between the end sections  32  and  34 . The first length of material  30  includes a first terminal transverse edge  37  and a second terminal transverse edge  39 . The second length of material  31  includes a first terminal transverse edge  47  and a second terminal transverse edge  49 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  the first length of material  30  partially overlaps the second length of material  31  adjacent terminal edges  39  and  47  and the two lengths of material are permanently secured to one another by a strip of adhesive or the like. Thus, in the final pouch configuration the sheet material  29  has two terminal edges, i.e. terminal edges  37  and  49 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first end section  32  of the sheet material  29  extends over and corresponds in location to the intermediate portion  20  of the napkin  12 . The intermediate section  36  of the sheet material  29  extends over and corresponds in location to the second end portion  18  of the napkin  12 . The second end section  34  of the sheet material  29  extends over and corresponds in location to the first end portion  16  of the napkin  12 . 
     It is noted that in the final pouch  14  configuration the first terminal edge  37  of the first length of material  30  is substantially aligned with the fold line  19  of the napkin  12  that separates the intermediate portion  20  of the napkin  12  from the first end portion  16  of the napkin  12 . 
     Along the first terminal edge  37 , the first length of material  30  may optionally be provided with a tab  41 . The tab  41  may be formed from the first length of material  30  or may constitute a separate piece of material permanently attached to the first length of material  30 . As show in  FIG. 2 , the tab  41  overlaps the end section  34  of the pouch  14  and is secured to the external surface of the end section  34  by adhesive arranged on a bottom surface  43  of the tab  41 . The adhesive provided on the bottom surface  43  of the tab  41  should be selected so as to enable a user to selectively open the pouch  14  by pulling on the tab  41 , as will be described herein in greater detail below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pouch  14  also includes side seams  40  defined by embossments running along and defining opposite longitudinal edge zones of the pouch. The side seams  40  function to seal the overlapping portions of the sheet material  29  and thereby form a sealed enclosure for the napkin  12 . The embossments may be formed by any suitable known means to provide such embossments, such as heated embossing rolls or the like. Alternatively, in lieu of embossments, other means such as glue or tape may be used to seal the pouch. 
     The manner of deploying the napkin  12  from the pouch  14 , and attachment of the napkin to an undergarment  60  of a user, will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 4-11 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  the user first grasps the tab  41  and pulls the tab  41  to separate the same from the external surface of the end section  34  of the pouch  14 . As the user pulls the tab  41  and lifts the first end section  32  of the pouch  14 , the embossments defining the side seams  40  separate thereby exposing the intermediate portion  20  of the napkin  12 , and more specifically exposing the garment-facing surface  24  of the intermediate portion  20 . Thereafter, as shown  FIG. 6 , the user may then attach the intermediate portion  20  of the napkin  12  to the undergarment  60  with the garment-facing surface  24  of the napkin  12  in abutting relationship to the undergarment  60 . 
     As the user continues to pull on the tab  41 , and/or the portion of the pouch  14  now separated from the napkin  12 , the second end portion  18  of the napkin is released from the pouch  14  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Thereafter, the user may then attach the second end portion  18  of the napkin to the undergarment  60  as shown in  FIG. 8 . As the user continues to pull on the tab  41 , and/or the portion of the pouch  14  now separated from the napkin  12 , the first end portion  16  of the napkin  12  is release from the pouch as shown in  FIG. 9 . Thereafter, the user may then attach the first end portion  16  of the napkin  12  to the undergarment  60  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     The napkin  12  may optionally be provided with wings  50  and  52  that extend out from the main body of the napkin  12  and are adapted to be folded over the edges of the undergarment  60  and attached to the crotch portion of the undergarment  60  by means of adhesive provided on the garment-facing surface of the wings  50  and  52 . Prior to deployment of the wings  50  and  52  the wings  50  and  52  may be folded toward the body-facing surface  22  of the napkin  12  and the adhesive on the wings  50   52  may be covered by a release paper  54 . When the user is ready to attach the wings  50  and  52  to the undergarment the release paper  54  may be removed and the wings  50  and  52  folded around the edges of the undergarment  60  and attached to the crotch portion of the undergarment  60 , as shown in  FIG. 11   
     It is noted that that the individually packaged absorbent article assembly  10  as described above enables the intermediate portion  20  of the napkin, and particularly the garment-facing surface  20  thereof, to be first exposed prior to exposing the garment-facing surfaces of the other portions of the napkin  12 . This enables the user to easily attach the intermediate portion  20  of the napkin to the undergarment before the other portions of the napkin are deployed form the pouch  14 . This significantly simplifies the attachment process and represents a significant improvement over prior art assemblies. 
     Another embodiment of an individually packaged absorbent article assembly  100  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 12-15 . In those instances where the same or similar structural elements are present in the second embodiment of the invention as those described above with regard to the first embodiment the same or similar reference numerals will be employed. The individually packaged absorbent article assembly  100  generally includes a sanitary napkin  12  and a pouch  14 . 
     In the specific embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 12-15 , the pouch  14  is defined by a single piece of sheet material  29 . The sheet material may be a plastic film sheet or a paper sheet material. The sheet material  29  includes a first end section  132 , a second end section  134 , and an intermediate section  136  arranged between the end sections  132  and  134 . 
     In the second embodiment of the invention  100 , the intermediate section  136  of the sheet material  29  extends over and corresponds in location to the intermediate portion  20  of the napkin  12 . The second end section  134  of the sheet material  29  extends over and corresponds in location to the second end portion  18  of the napkin  12 . The first end section  132  of the sheet material  29  extends over and corresponds in location to the first end portion  16  of the napkin  12 . The sheet material  29  includes a first terminal edge  137  and a second terminal edge  149 . The sheet material  20  is also provided with a score line or other line of weakness  180  arranged between the first terminal edge  137  and the second terminal edge  149 . 
     It is noted that in the final pouch  14  configuration the score line  180  is substantially aligned with the fold line  19  of the napkin  12  that separates the intermediate portion  20  of the napkin  12  from the first end portion  16  of the napkin  12 . The pouch  14  may optionally be provided with a tab  41  that is formed from a separate piece of material that is permanently attached to the pouch in a location adjacent the score line  180 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , when a user desires to open the pouch  14  the user grasps the tab  41  and pulls the tab in an upward direction causing the pouch  14  to open along the score line  180 , i.e. by forming a “free end”  182  of the sheet material  29  along the score line  180 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the side seams of the pouch  14  are designated by the numeral  40  and are defined by embossments running along and defining opposite longitudinal edge zones of the pouch. The side seams  40  function to seal the overlapping portions of the sheet material  29 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , the second end section  134  of the sheet material partially overlaps the first end section  132  of the sheet material adjacent terminal edges  149  and  137  and the two ends of the sheet material  29  are permanently secured to one another by a strip of adhesive or the like. In this manner, the pouch  14  provides a sealed enclosure for the tri-folded napkin  12  prior to use of the napkin  12 . 
     The manner of deploying the napkin  12  from the pouch  14  in the individually packaged absorbent article assembly  100  is substantially identically to the manner employed in the first embodiment of the invention  10  described above with reference to  FIGS. 4-11 . However, with the absorbent article assembly  100  the user initiates opening the pouch  14  by opening the pouch along the score line  180 . Specifically, the user grasps the tab  41  and pulls the tab  41  in an upward direction to thereby open the pouch  14  along the score line  180 . 
     It is noted that that the individually packaged absorbent article assembly  100  as described above, like the first embodiment of the invention  10 , enables the intermediate portion  20  of the napkin, and in particularly the garment-facing surface  20  thereof, to be first deployed prior to the deployment of the other portions of the napkin  12 . This enables the user to easily attach the intermediate portion  20  of the napkin to the undergarment before the other portions of the napkin are deployed form the pouch  14 . This significantly simplifies the attachment process and represents a significant improvement over prior art assemblies.