Patent Publication Number: US-2018028373-A1

Title: Storage system for feminine hygiene product and method for use

Description:
The present invention relates generally to a storage system for feminine hygiene products, wherein the system includes various storage pockets. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Tampons have been known in the art for some time. Most tampons consist of an applicator which houses an absorbent insert and facilitates the deployment into the vaginal canal thereof. Absorbent pad have also been known in the art for some and generally consist of a piece of absorbent material that is placed above an undergarment to absorb any bodily fluids during the menstrual cycle. However, many existing tampon and/or absorbent pad systems do not have sufficiently convenient packaging and/or storage options. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment the invention is a system for storing an absorbent pad and a tampon, comprising two directly coupled storage pockets wherein a first storage pocket comprises an inner cavity with an absorbent pad positioned therein, and a second storage pocket comprises an inner cavity with a tampon positioned therein. 
     In another embodiment the invention is a method for using a system for storing feminine hygiene products, comprising two directly coupled storage pockets wherein a first storage pocket comprises an inner cavity with an absorbent pad positioned therein, and a second storage pocket comprises an inner cavity with a tampon positioned therein. The method optionally includes separating storage pockets along the tear guideline. The method optionally includes the additional step of disposing of a feminine hygiene product by positioning it in a storage pocket and closing the storage flap over the mouth of the pocket, thus sealing the feminine hygiene product inside for sanitary disposal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of one embodiment of the storage system, shown in a compact configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the storage system of  FIG. 1 , shown in an expanded configuration with the storage flaps in a closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the system of  FIG. 2 , with the storage flaps in an open position; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the system of  FIG. 3 , with a tampon and an absorbent pad partially removed from an associated storage cavity; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the system of  FIG. 4  wherein the storage pockets have been separated along a tear guideline and a storage flap has been closed; and 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a storage pocket of  FIG. 5  for standalone use and/or disposal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , in one embodiment the system  10  can include a first pocket  12  and a second pocket  14  coupled together. The first pocket  12  and second pocket  14  each have an associated inner cavity  15 , and can each have roughly the same size and shape, such as rectangular in top view in one case. The first pocket  12  and second pocket  14  can be coupled together along a tear guideline  20 . The tear guideline  20  can provide an area or line along which the system  10  is predisposed to tear, and may be able to be manually torn with a relatively low tearing force. As will be described in greater detail below, the tear guidelines  20  can also serve as a pivot/hinge line about which each pocket  12 ,  14  can pivot. In the illustrated embodiment the tear guideline  20  bisects the system  10  longitudinally. 
     The system  10 /pockets  12 ,  14  can have any of a wide variety of shapes and sizes. In one embodiment, however, each pocket  12 ,  14  can have a width (extending horizontally in  FIGS. 1-6 ) of about one inch, and a height (extending vertically in  FIGS. 1-6 ) of about four inches. The system  10 , and more particularly the pockets  12 ,  14  can be made of any of a wide variety of materials. For example, the system  10  and pockets  12 ,  14  can be made of a relatively thin, flexible and pliable polymer such as plastic, or paper, cardboard or combinations thereof, or various other materials. 
     The tear guideline  20  may include or take the form of perforation lines, fold lines, crease lines, areas of weakness, score lines, and as noted above is able to be manually torn to separate the first storage pocket  12  and second storage pocket  14  from each other.  FIG. 5  shows the first storage pocket  12  and the second storage pocket  14  after they have been entirely torn along the tear guideline  20  and separated from each other. 
     Each of the first storage pocket  12  and the second storage pocket  14  has a mouth  26 ,  28  that opens to an associated inner cavity  15 . Each of the first storage pocket  12  and the second storage pocket  14  also has an associated storage flap  16 ,  18  that controls access to the associated inner cavity  15 . The storage flap  16  of the first storage pocket  12  is attached to the upper, shorter side of the first storage pocket  12  and can be configured to selectively cover the mouth  26  of the first storage pocket  12  and/or selectively close the associated inner cavity  15 . The storage flap  18  of the second storage pocket  12  is attached to the upper, shorter side of the second storage pocket  14  and can be configured to selectively cover the mouth  28  of the second storage pocket  14  and/or selectively close the associated inner cavity. As show in  FIG. 2 , by folding the storage flaps  16 ,  18  over the respective mouths  26 ,  28 , access to the inner cavities  15  of each of the storage pockets  12 ,  14  is blocked. 
     The storage flaps  16 ,  18  can each be moved to an open position as shown in  FIG. 3 , allowing access to the inner cavities  15  of each of the storage pockets  12 ,  14  and any feminine hygiene products contained therein. In  FIG. 3 , an absorbent pad  22  is positioned in the inner cavity  15  of the first pocket  12 , and a tampon  24  is positioned in the inner cavity  15  of the second pocket  14 . Of course, the position of the tampon  24  and absorbent pad  22  can be reversed. The storage flaps  16 ,  18  shown are shown in  FIG. 3  in an open position, thus allowing access to the inner cavities  15  of each storage pocket  12 ,  14 . In one embodiment, the system  10  includes structure or means configured to releasably secure the storage flaps  16 ,  18  to the associated storage pockets  12 ,  14  when in their closed positions, such as a releasable adhesive or a hook and loop fastening material such as VELCRO® hook and loop fastening material. 
       FIGS. 2-4  illustrate the system  10  in an expanded configuration wherein the first storage pocket  12  and the second storage pocket  14  are unfolded and positioned side by side. The system  10  can also be positioned in a compact configuration, wherein the first storage pocket  12  and the second storage pocket  14  are folded along the tear guideline  20  such that the pockets  12 ,  14  are generally aligned, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The system  10  may include a retaining flap  17  attached to a longitudinal side of the one of the storage pockets  12 ,  14  (the second storage pocket  14  in the illustrated embodiment). In the illustrated embodiment the retaining flap  17  is attached to longitudinal edge of the second storage pocket  14 , and extends generally perpendicular to the edge where the retaining flap  17  is attached. In one embodiment, the retaining flap  17  includes structure or means (such as a releasable adhesive or a hook and loop fastening material) configured to releasably secure the distal end of the retaining flap  17  to the pocket  12  to maintain the system  10  in its compact position. 
     The system  10  can store a tampon  24  and an absorbent pad  22  (collectively termed “feminine hygiene products”). The tampon  24  can include a generally cylindrical applicator which houses an absorbent insert and facilitates deployment of the absorbent insert into the vaginal canal thereof. Such applicators are typically formed of two coaxial, telescoping pieces, with an inner piece acting as a plunger to force the absorbent insert through the top of an outer piece during deployment. The absorbent insert of the tampon  24  can be formed from cotton, rayon, or a cotton-rayon mixture and can vary in thickness. Individual tampons are typically stored in packages that are separate from other feminine hygiene products, and in packages that are not resealable. 
     The absorbent pad  22  can consist of a rectangular-shaped piece of absorbent material that is placed above a wearer&#39;s undergarment to absorb any bodily fluids during the menstrual cycle or otherwise. The absorbent pad  22  can be formed from cotton, rayon, or a cotton-rayon mixture and can vary in thickness. Some absorbent pads  22 , also called “maxi-pads” can absorb regular menstrual flow without the assistance of an additional feminine hygiene product such as a tampon  24 . Other absorbent pads  22  are much thinner and are typically known as panty-liners. The absorbent pad  22  disclosed and used in the system  10  can include or take the form of a panty-liner, a maxi-pad, a sanitary napkin, a sanitary pad, and the like. Individual absorbent pads  22  are typically stored in packages that are separate from other feminine hygiene products, and in packages that are not resealable. 
     As outlined above the system  10  packages together an absorbent pad  22  and a tampon  24  for convenient use. The system  10  can be boxed, shipped and stored in its compact configuration, as show in  FIG. 1 . In addition, a user may store the system  10  in its compact configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , for example in a purse or the like. The system  10  can be retained in its closed position by the retaining flap  17  as outlined above. When the user desires to use a tampon  24  and/or absorbent pad  22 , the user can release the retaining flap  17 , and pivot/move the system  10  to the expanded configuration, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the user can pivot open one or both of the storage flaps  16 ,  18  to access one or both of the tampon  24  or absorbent pad  22 , which can then be removed ( FIG. 4 ) from its associated inner cavity  15  and used as desired. If only one of the tampon  24  or absorbent pad  22  is desired to be used, the user can tear the system  10  along the tear guideline  20  ( FIG. 5 ). In this manner, the empty storage pocket  12 ,  14  can be discarded, while the storage pocket  12 ,  14  that is not empty can be retained (i.e. replaced in user&#39;s purse) ( FIG. 6 ) for storage or later use. 
     Sometimes, due to the nature and heaviness of a menstrual cycle, the user will require the protection of both a tampon  24  and an absorbent pad  22 . Thus the system  10  ensures both items  22 ,  24  are immediately available. In other cases, a user may not be sure whether the user will need either a tampon  24  or an absorbent pad  22 . Thus the system  10  ensures that both are available. 
     The system  10  can also be used as a sanitary means of disposing the tampon  24  or absorbent pad  22  after use. A user could place the used tampon  24  or absorbent pad  22  inside the empty inner cavity  15  of one of the storage pockets  12 ,  14 . The user can fold the storage flap  16 ,  18  over the mouth  26 ,  28  of the associated inner cavity  15  to the mouth  26 ,  28 . The storage flap  16 ,  18  can be affixed to the outer surface of the pocket  12 ,  14 , thus sealing the tampon  24  or absorbent pad  22  inside. Such system allows for sanitary disposal of the tampon  24  or absorbent pad  22  into an appropriate trash receptacle. 
     It will be understood that the foregoing is only illustrative of the principles described herein, and that various modifications can be made by those skill in the art without departing form the scope and spirit of the invention. Moreover, features of embodiments described herein may be combined and/or rearranged to create new embodiments.