Patent Abstract:
A package configuration for absorbent articles, such as disposable diapers, training pants and adult incontinence undergarments is disclosed. The package configuration may include one or more pluralities of absorbent articles, each plurality packaged in a flexible package. The one or more flexible packages may be wrapped and further contained by a wrap-around. The wrap-around may have first and second pairs of opposing side panels. Adjacent side panels from the first and second pair may be joined by corner panels. The corner panels may form interior angles with the side panels of from 100° to 170°. The presence of the angled corner panels may render the wrap-around better able to conform to the shape of the one or more flexible packages, and more resistant to deformation.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. EP 11005375.8, filed Jun. 30, 2011. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to packages for absorbent articles, such as disposable diapers, training pants and adult incontinence undergarments. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Absorbent articles such as diapers are typically packed in flexible packages such as packages made of films. However, only a limited amount of absorbent articles can be comprised in each package as otherwise the stability of the package may be adversely affected. 
     Non-flexible packages such as boxes made of cardboard or corrugated cardboard have been developed in order to contain more absorbent articles per package. Such packages typically comprise two or more individual flexible packages of densely packed absorbent articles. These packages typically have a parallelepiped shape. However, the problem with this type of packages is that the articles which are densely packed inside the package exert a force on the side panels of the package which may result in outward bending and buckling of the package. 
     Furthermore, such packages are typically stacked during storage. When a package is stacked upon another package, the upper package exerts a force on the lower package. This force may lead to additional deformation of the tower package. 
     The different deformations endured by a package may reduce the attractiveness of the package for the consumer. This may even convey the impression that the articles inside the package are of poor quality or have been damaged upon deformation of the package. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a package containing absorbent articles which is more resistant to deformation and still produced in a cost-effective manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a package of the prior art 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 1  taken at the section line  2 - 2 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic version of the cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 1  taken at the section line  2 - 2  illustrating the force which is exerted by the flexible packages of absorbent articles which are comprised in the package on one of the side panels. 
         FIG. 3B  is a schematic version of the cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 1  taken at the section line  2 - 2  illustrating the force which is exerted by the flexible packages of absorbent articles which are comprised in the package on another side panel. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a package of the prior art representing the side portions of the edges of the package which endure a deformation when such packages are stacked during storage. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a package according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 5  taken at the section line  6 - 6 . 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic version of the cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 5  taken at the section line  6 - 6  illustrating the force which is endured by one of the side panels due the flexible package of absorbent articles which are comprised in the package. 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic version of the cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 5  taken at the section line  6 - 6  illustrating the force which is endured by another side panel due to the flexible packages of absorbent articles which are comprised in the package. 
         FIG. 8A  is a cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 5  taken at the section line  6 - 6  comprising a wrap-around made of a single piece of material according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8B  is a plan view of the wrap around material comprised by the package of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9A  is a cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 5  taken at the section line  6 - 6  comprising a wrap-around made of two pieces of material according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9B  is a plan view of the wrap around material comprised by the package of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 10A  is a cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 5  taken at the section line  6 - 6  comprising a wrap-around made of four pieces of material according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10B  is a plan view of the wrap around material comprised by the package of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a package according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the package of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the handle of the package of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a package according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the handle of the package of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 5  taken at the section line  6 - 6  comprising a wrap-around made of a single piece of material having an attachment zone with an interior-to-interior configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 5  taken at the section line  6 - 6 , wherein each of the corner panels comprised by the wrap-around is divided into 2 sub-panels. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     “Absorbent article” is used herein to refer to devices that absorb and contain body exudates, and, more specifically, refers to devices that are placed against or in proximity to the body of the wearer to absorb and contain the various exudates discharged from the body. Absorbent articles include diapers, training pants, adult incontinence undergarments, feminine hygiene products and the like. As used herein, the term “body fluids” or “body exudates” includes, but is not limited to, urine, blood, vaginal discharges, breast milk, sweat and fecal matter. In some embodiments of the present invention, the absorbent article is a diaper or training pant. 
     “Connect or connected” is used herein to refer to configurations whereby a first element is directly secured to another element by affixing the first element directly to a second element or whereby a first element is indirectly secured to a second element by affixing the first element to a third, intermediate member, which in turn is affixed to the second element. The term “connected” also encompasses configurations wherein the first and second elements are integral and, when a third element is present, configurations wherein the first, second and third elements are integral. As used herein, the term “integral” also encompasses embodiments wherein the first; second and/or third elements, are made of coextensive layers of material, for example coextensive layers of a corrugated cardboard material. 
     “Attached” is used herein to refer to configurations whereby a first element is directly secured to another element by affixing the first element directly to a second element 
     “Connecting edge” is used herein to refer to one of the edges of a panel which is shared between two contiguous panels. 
     “Free edge” is used herein to refer to one of the edge of a panel which is not shared between two panels. 
     “Interior surface” is used herein to refer to the surface of a wrap-around or a side panel or a corner panel which is facing towards the flexible packages of absorbent articles which are wrapped by the wrap-around material. 
     “Exterior surface” is used herein to refer to the surface of the wrap-around or a side panel or a corner panel which is opposite to the interior surface of the wrap-around and facing away from the flexible packages of absorbent articles which are wrapped by the wrap-around material. 
     “Interior angle” is used herein to refer to the angle between the two interior surfaces of two contiguous panels of the package which is oriented toward the interior of the package. 
     The package  10  according to the present invention comprises one or more flexible packages of absorbent articles  60  which are wrapped by a wrap-around  20 . The wrap-around  20  has an interior  201  and an exterior surface  202 . 
     As for example shown in  FIGS. 5 to 14 , the wrap-around  20  comprises a first and a second opposing side panel  21 ,  22  which are parallel to each other and a third and a fourth side panel  23 ,  24  which are parallel to each other. 
     The wrap-around  20  further comprises at least a first corner panel  31  which connects one of the first and second side panels  21 ,  22  to one of the third and fourth side panel  23 ,  24 . 
     As for example shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the first corner panel  31  connects the first side panel  21  to the third panel  23 . 
     The interior angle α between the first corner panel  31  and the one of the first and second side panels  21 ,  22  is from 100° to 170° or 120° to 150° or 130° to 140° and the interior angle α between the first corner panel  31  and the one of the third and fourth side panels  23 ,  24  is from 100 to 170° or 120° to 150° or 130° to 140° as for example shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As for example shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a package  10  according to the prior art is typically a box of parallelepiped shape comprising flexible packages of absorbent articles  60 . Such a box comprises four side panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 . 
     Since the flexible packages of absorbent articles  60  comprised in the package  10  are typically densely packed or compressed, they exert a force perpendicular to one or more of the side panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 . As for example shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the force exerted by the flexible package of absorbent articles  60  on one of the side panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  may lead to outward bending of the package  10  and therefore deformation of the package  10 . 
     Hence, it is particularly advantageous to connect two side panels with a corner panel in order to reduce the risk of bending of the side panels to which the corner panel is connected. As can be seen in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the risk of bending of the side panels of a package  10  according to the present invention is reduced since the presence of the corner panel(s)  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  allows for more flexibility of the package  10 . Indeed, the corner panel(s) will help the wrap-around  20  to conform to the shape of the flexible packages  60 . 
     In some embodiments, as for example shown in  FIGS. 5 to 14 , the wrap-around  20  further comprises a second, a third and a fourth corner panel  32 ,  33 ,  34  in addition to the first corner panel  31 . In such embodiments, the first corner panel  31  connects the first and the third side panels  21 ,  23 , the second corner panel  32  connects the first and the fourth side panels  21 ,  24 , the third corner panel  33  connects the second and the fourth side panels  22 ,  24  and the fourth corner panel  34  connects the second and the third side panels  22 ,  23 . In these embodiments, the interior angle α between each of the first, second, third and fourth corner panels  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  and each of the two side panels to which the respective corner panel  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  is connected is from 100° to 170° or 120° to 150° or 130° to 140°. 
     Shape of the Different Side Panels 
     As for example shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the first, second, third and fourth side panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  comprises a pair of free opposing edges  213 ,  214 ,  223 ,  224 ,  233 ,  234 ,  243 ,  244  and a pair of connecting edges  312 ,  321 ,  322 ,  331 ,  332 ,  341 ,  342 ,  311 . The connecting edges  312 ,  321 ,  322 ,  331 ,  332 ,  341 ,  342 ,  311  are typically parallel to each other. 
     The wrap-around  20  may comprise a first, second, third and fourth corner panels, as for example shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the first, second, third and fourth side panels comprises a pair of free opposing edges  313 ,  314 ,  323 ,  324 ,  333 ,  334 ,  343 ,  344  and a pair of connecting edges  312 ,  321 ,  322 ,  331 ,  332 ,  341 ,  342 ,  311 . 
     The side panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  and the corner panels  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  may be rectangular shaped as for example shown in  FIG. 5 . These embodiments are advantageous since rectangular shaped panels are particularly easy to obtain from the raw material of which the wrap-around  20  is made with little to no waste material. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the risk of bending of the side panels of a package  10  according to the present invention is reduced since the presence of the corner panel(s)  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  allows for more flexibility of the package. Indeed, the corner panel(s) will help the wrap-around  20  to conform to the shape of the flexible packages of absorbent articles  60 . 
     In some embodiments as for example shown in  FIG. 17 , at least one of the corner panels  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  comprised by the wrap-around  20  is divided into 2 or more sub-panels  31   a ,  31   b ,  32   a ,  32   b ,  33   a ,  33   b ,  34   a ,  34   b  or 2 to 6 sub-panels having each a different orientation. Each of the first, second, third and fourth corner panels is divided into 2 or more sub-panels  31   a ,  31   b ,  32   a ,  32   b ,  33   a ,  33   b ,  34   a ,  34   b  or 2 to 6 sub-panels having each a different orientation as for example shown in  FIG. 17 . The first, second, third and fourth corner panels  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  may be divided into two sub-panels or 3 or 4 sub-panels having each a different orientation. 
     It should be understood for the purpose of the invention that in the embodiments, wherein at least one of the corner panels  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  comprised by the wrap-around  20  is divided into 2 or more sub-panels or 2 to 6 sub-panels having each a different orientation, the sub-panels have a flat width of 2 mm or more or 2 mm to 50 mm or 2 mm to 30 mm and the interior angle α between the at least one of the corner panels  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  and one of the two side panels to which the corner panel is connected corresponds to the angle between the sub-panel of the corner panel  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  which is contiguous to the side panel of the wrap-around as for example shown in  FIG. 17 . 
     Preferably, the first, second, third and fourth side panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  have no sub-panels with different orientation. 
     Such a configuration of the package  10  may provide even more flexibility to the package  10  in order to help to conform to the shape of the flexible package(s) of absorbent articles  60 . 
     The Wrap-Around 
     As mentioned above, the wrap-around  20  comprises an interior  201  and an exterior surface  202 . The exterior surface  202  of the wrap-around  20  typically includes printed graphics such as artworks, trademarks, logos and/or regulatory information. 
     The wrap-around  20  may comprise or consist of cardboard material, corrugated board material and/or polymeric material. 
     In some embodiments, the wrap-around  20  comprises a hole or a window made of a transparent polymeric material which may be helpful in order to be able to see the flexible packages  60  from the outside of the wrap-around  20 . 
     The wrap-around  20  may be made of a single piece of material or of two or more pieces of material which are attached to each other. 
     As used herein the term “attachment zone” refers to the overlap between the two opposing edges of a single piece of material which are attached to each other in order to form the wrap-around  20  in the embodiment wherein the wrap-around  20  is made of a single piece of material. The term “attachment zone” refers to the overlap between the edges of two different pieces of material which are attached to each other in order to form a portion of the wrap-around  20  in the embodiments wherein the wrap-around is made of two or more pieces of material. 
     The wrap-around  20  may be made of a single piece of material or of two or more pieces of material. 
     Embodiments Wherein the Wrap-Around is Made of One Piece of Material 
     The wrap-around  20  may be made of a single piece of material  50 , as for example shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . In such embodiments, the different panels of the wrap-around  20  are made by folding the single piece of material  50  along folding lines  55  which correspond to the connecting edges of the different panels of the wrap-around  20 . Such folding lines  55  are typically parallel to each other. 
     As for example shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the single piece of material  50  may comprise a pair of opposing edges  501 ,  502  wherein the opposing edges  501 ,  502  of the single piece of material  50  are attached to each other along an attachment zone  41  in order to form the wrap-around  20  as for example shown in  FIG. 8A . 
     The attachment zone  41  between the two opposing edges  501 ,  502  of the single piece of material  50  can take any position on the wrap-around  20 . 
     As for example shown in  FIG. 8A , the attachment zone  41  between the two opposing edges  501 ,  502  of the single piece of material  50  of which the wrap-around  20  is made may be positioned in close proximity to one of the corner panels  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  of the wrap-around  20 , i.e. from 1 mm to 100 mm, or 1 mm to 50 mm away from the corner panel. Such embodiments are particularly advantageous since the impact on the visual appearance of the package  10  is reduced. Indeed, the visual appearance of the package  10  is more affected if the attachment zone  41  is positioned close to the middle of one of the side panels and if therefore a graphic which is printed on the exterior surface of such side panels is interrupted by such an attachment zone  41  since. Indeed, in such a case good alignment of the two opposing edges  501 ,  502  is required. 
     Embodiments Wherein the Wrap-Around is Made of Two Pieces of Material 
     The wrap-around  20  may be made of two pieces of material  51 ,  52  as for example shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . In such embodiments, a first piece of material  51  comprises the first side panel  21 , a portion of the third and of the fourth side panels  23 ,  24  and both first and second corner panels  31 ,  32  and a second piece of material  52  comprises the second side panel  22 , a portion of the third and of the fourth side panels  23 ,  24  and both third and fourth corner panels  33 ,  34 . 
     The different panels of the wrap-around  20  may be made by folding each of the first and second pieces of material  51 ,  52  along folding lines  55  which correspond to the connecting edges  312 ,  321 ,  322 ,  331 ,  332 ,  341 ,  342 ,  311  of the different panels of the wrap-around  20 . Such folding lines  55  are typically parallel to each other. 
     As for example shown in  FIG. 9B , both the first and the second pieces of material  51 ,  52  may comprise a pair of opposing edges  511 ,  512 ,  521 ,  522  wherein one of the edges  511 ,  512  of the first piece of material  51  is attached to one of the edges  521 ,  522  of the second piece of material  52  along a first attachment zone  41  and wherein the other edge  511 ,  512  of the first piece of material  51  is attached to the other edge  521 ,  522  of the second piece of material  52  along a second attachment zone  42  in order to form the wrap-around  20 . 
     The first and the second attachment zones  41 ,  42  can have any positioning on the wrap-around  20  but embodiments wherein each of the first and the second attachment zones  41 ,  42  are positioned in close proximity to one of the corner panels  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  of the wrap-around  20 , i.e. from 1 mm to 100 mm, or 1 mm to 50 mm away from the corner panel are particularly advantageous for the same reasons as mentioned above for the embodiments wherein the wrap-around  20  is made of a single piece of material. 
     The embodiments wherein the wrap-around  20  is made of two pieces of material  51 ,  52  are particularly advantageous since the first and second pieces of material can telescope by increasing or reducing the width of each of the first and the second attachment zones  41 ,  42 . Hence, the same package  10  may be used to contain different sizes of flexible packages of absorbent articles  60 , i.e. flexible packages comprising absorbent articles having different sizes or a different number of absorbent articles. 
     As for example shown in  FIG. 9A , the package  10  may comprise an axis of symmetry X which is perpendicular to the first and the second side panels  21 ,  22 . In such embodiments, the first and the second attachment zones  41 ,  42  are mirror images of each other. 
     Alternatively, the wrap-around  20  may be made of two pieces of material  51 ,  52  wherein the first piece of material  51  comprises the first side panel  21 , a portion of the second side panel  22 , the third and the fourth side panels  23 ,  24  and the first, second and third corner panels  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  and the second piece of material  52  comprises a portion of the second side panel  22   
     The wrap-around  20  may also be made of two pieces of material  51 ,  52  wherein the first piece of material  51  comprises a portion of the first side panel  21 , the third side panel  23 , a portion of the second side panel  22  and both first and fourth corner panels  31 ,  34  and the second piece of material  52  comprises a portion of the first side panel  21 , the fourth side panel  24 , a portion of the second side panel  22  and both second and third corner panels. 
     Embodiments Wherein the Wrap-Around is Made of Four Pieces of Material 
     The wrap-around  20  may be made of four pieces of material  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  as for example shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . 
     A first piece of material  51  may comprise the first side panel  21 , a portion of the third and of the fourth side panels  23 ,  24  and both first and second corner panels  31 ,  32 , a second piece of material  52  may comprise the second side panel  22 , a portion of the third and of the fourth side panels  23 ,  24  and both third and fourth corner panels  33 ,  34 , a third piece of material  53  may comprise a portion of the third side panel  23 , a fourth piece of material  54  may comprise a portion of the fourth side panel  24 . 
     The different panels of the wrap-around  20  are made by folding each of the first and second pieces of material  51 ,  52  along folding lines  55  which correspond to the connecting edges  312 ,  321 ,  322 ,  331 ,  332 ,  341 ,  342 ,  311  of the different panels of the wrap-around  20 . Such folding lines  55  are typically parallel to each other. 
     As for example shown in  FIG. 10A , each of the first, second, third and fourth pieces of material  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  may comprise a pair of opposing edges  511 ,  512 ,  521 ,  522 ,  531 ,  532 ,  541 ,  542  wherein one of the edges of the first piece of material  511 ,  512  is attached to one of the edges of the third piece of material  531 ,  532  along a first attachment zone  41  and wherein the other edge of the first piece of material  511 ,  512  is attached to one of the edges of the fourth piece of material  541 ,  542  along a second attachment zone  42 . One of the edges of the second piece of material  521 ,  522  is attached to one of the edges of the fourth piece of material  541 ,  542  along a third attachment zone  43  and wherein the other edge of the second piece of material  521 ,  522  is attached to one of the edges of the third piece of material  531 ,  532  along a fourth attachment zone  44  in order to form the wrap-around  20 . 
     The first, second, third and fourth attachment zones  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  can have any positioning on the wrap-around  20  but embodiments wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth attachment zones  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  are positioned in close proximity to one of the corner panels of the wrap-around  20 , i.e. from 1 mm to 100 mm, or 1 mm to 50 mm away from the corner panel are particularly advantageous for the same reasons as mentioned above for the embodiments wherein the wrap-around  20  is made of a single piece of material. 
     As for example shown in  FIG. 10A , the package  10  may comprise an axis of symmetry X which is perpendicular to the first and the second side panels  21 ,  22 . In such embodiments, the first and the second attachment zones  41 ,  42  are mirror images of each other and the third and the fourth attachment zones  43 ,  44  are mirror images of each other. 
     Such embodiments wherein the wrap-around  20  is made of four pieces of material  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  are particularly advantageous since the same package  10  may be used to contain different sizes of flexible packages of absorbent articles  60  by increasing or reducing the width of each of the first, second, third and fourth attachment zones  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 . 
     Alternatively, the wrap-around may be made of four pieces of material  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 , wherein the first piece of material  51  comprises a portion of the first side panel  21 , a portion of the fourth side panel  24  and the second corner panel  32  and the second piece of material  52  comprises a portion of the second side panel  22 , a portion of the third side panel  23  and the fourth corner panel  34  and the third piece of material  53  comprises a portion of the first side panel  21 , a portion of the third side panel  23  and the first corner panel  31  and the fourth piece of material  54  comprises a portion of the second side panel  22 , a portion of the fourth side panel  24  and the third corner panel  33 . 
     In some embodiments, the wrap-around is made of three pieces of material. 
     The Attachment Zones 
     In some embodiments, as for example shown in  FIGS. 8A ,  9 A,  10 A, the attachment zones  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  have an interior-to-exterior configuration which means that a portion of the interior surface of the wrap-around  201  is attached to a portion of the exterior surface of the wrap-around  202  in order to form the attachment zones  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 . 
     In some other embodiments, as for example shown in  FIG. 16 , at least one of the attachment zones  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  has an interior-to-interior configuration which means that a portion of the interior surface of the wrap-around  201  is attached to another portion of the interior surface of the wrap-around  201  in order to form the attachment zone  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 . In such embodiments, the attachment zone  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  is bent outwardly and a handle  70  may be made in the attachment zone  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  by forming one or more cut-outs  74  in the attachment zone  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 . Such embodiments are particularly cost-effective since no extra material is needed in order to form the handle  70 . 
     The attachment means that may be used in order to attach a piece of material to itself or a piece of material to another piece of material in order to form an attachment zone  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  include adhesive bonds, heat bonds, pressure bonds, ultrasonic bonds, dynamic mechanical bonds, or any other suitable attachment means or combinations of these attachment means which are known in the art. 
     Shape of the Side Panels 
     As for example shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  at least one of the free edges  213 ,  214 ,  223 ,  224 ,  233 ,  234 ,  243 ,  244  of at least one of the first, second, third and fourth side panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  may be convexly shaped, i.e. extend outwardly within the plane of the side panel(s). In some of these embodiments, each free edge  213 ,  214 ,  223 ,  224 ,  233 ,  234 ,  243 ,  244  of each of the first, second, third and fourth side panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  is convexly shaped. 
     As for example shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a package  10  according to the prior art is typically of parallelepiped shape and made of four side panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  which are rectangular panels. When two of these packages are stacked, for example during storage, the upper package exerts a force on the lower package due to its weight. Such a force may be responsible for bending and therefore deformation of the lower package at the side portions of the side panels  80  as for example shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Hence, it is particularly advantageous to have one or more of the free edges of the side panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  which is/are convexly shaped in order to reduce the risk of bending of the package  10  at the side portions of the free edges of the side panels  80 . Indeed, most of the force which is applied by the upper package to the lower package is absorbed by the middle portions of each of the free side edges which are more resistant to bending than the side portions of the free edges of the side panels  80 . 
     These embodiments are also particularly advantageous since the risk of deformation of the package  10  is reduced without considerably reducing the size of the side panels and therefore also of the exterior surface  202  of the wrap-around  20  which typically includes printed graphics such as artworks, trademarks, logos and/or regulatory information. Since the size of the side panels is not considerably reduced, such a wrap-around  20  may maintain a good protection of the flexible packages of absorbent articles  60  which are wrapped by the wrap-around  20 . 
     In some of these embodiments, at least one of the side panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  comprises an axis of symmetry Y which is parallel to each of the connecting edges  312 ,  321 ,  322 ,  331 ,  332 ,  341 ,  342 ,  311  of the side panel  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  as for example shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . In such embodiments, the length of the connecting edges of the side panel is typically shorter than the length of the side panel at the axis of symmetry Y as for example shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     Shape of the Corner Panels 
     The free edges  313 ,  314 ,  323 ,  324 ,  333 ,  334 ,  343 ,  344  of the corner panels  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  may be straight as for example shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     At least one of the free edges  313 ,  314 ,  323 ,  324 ,  333 ,  334 ,  343 ,  344  of at least one of the corner panels  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  may be concavely shaped, i.e. extend inwardly within the plane of the corner panel(s). In some of these embodiments, each free edge  313 ,  314 ,  323 ,  324 ,  333 ,  334 ,  343 ,  344  of each of the side panels  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  is concavely shaped. 
     Flexibles Packages 
     In all the embodiments represented in  FIGS. 5 to 14 , the package  10  is shown as comprising three flexible packages of absorbent articles  60 . However, this should not be considered as a limitation of the scope of these embodiments. The package  10  may comprise one or more flexible packages of absorbent articles  60 , such as from 1 to 5 flexible packages, for example 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. The flexible packages  60  may be of the same size or of different sizes. Suitable flexible packages  60  are for example described in WO2009/129202. 
     The interior surface  201  of the wrap-around  20  may comprise a coating or one or more adhesive tapes or a releasable adhesive in order to increase the friction force that is exerted by each of the flexible packages  60  onto the wrap-around  20 . 
     In some embodiments, only discrete areas of the interior surface  201  of the wrap-around  20  are coated in order to increase the friction force that is exerted by each of the flexible packages  60  onto the wrap-around  20 . The coating may for example be in the form of a dot or a stripe pattern. 
     These embodiments are particularly advantageous since they provide a good immobilization of the flexible packages inside the package  10  and therefore reduce the risk that one of the flexible packages slides from the package  10 . 
     The package  10  is wrapped either partially or completely in a plastic film or a plastic bag. The plastic film may be a shrink film or a stretch film or two sleeves of plastic film which are attached to each other. 
     In some embodiments, as for example shown in  FIGS. 5 and 11  to  15 , the package  10  comprises a handle  70 . The handle  70  comprises a first and a second end portion  71 ,  72  and a middle portion  73 . 
     The middle portion  73  of the handle  70  may comprise a smooth material, for example a nonwoven material. 
     The first and the second end portions  71 ,  72  are attached to the wrap-around  20 . 
     The first end portion  71  may be attached to one of the side panels  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  and the second end portion  72  may be attached to the opposite side panel as for example shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     As for example shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the first and the second end portions  71 ,  72  may be attached to the same side panel  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 . The first and the second end portions  71 ,  72  can either be attached to the interior surface  201  or to the exterior surface  202  of the wrap-around  20 . As for example shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the side panel  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  to which the first and the second end portions  71 ,  72  of the handle  70  are attached comprises one or two cut-outs  74 ,  75  in order to have the first and the second end portions  71 ,  72  of the handle  70  which are attached to the interior surface  201  of the wrap-around  20 . This ensures a better anchorage of the handle  70  to the wrap-around  20 . 
     As explained above, in some embodiments as for example shown in  FIG. 16 , at least one of the attachment zones  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  has an interior-to-interior configuration. In such embodiments, the attachment zone  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  is bent outwardly and a handle  70  may be made in the attachment zone  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  by forming one or more cut-outs  74  in the attachment zone  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 . Such embodiments are particularly cost-effective since no extra material is needed in order to form the handle  70 .

Technology Classification (CPC): 6