Abstract:
The present invention relates to sanitary absorbent articles and in particular to a sanitary absorbent article assembly including an overwrap structure for packaging a clean sanitary article, the overwrap structure including a pocket for receiving a soiled sanitary article for disposal.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Application No. 60/981,580 filed on Oct. 22, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to sanitary absorbent articles and in particular to a sanitary absorbent article assembly including an overwrap structure for packaging a clean sanitary article, the overwrap structure also including a pocket for receiving a soiled sanitary article for disposal. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Conventional sanitary absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins and the like are individually packaged prior to use to maintain the sanitary napkin clean prior to use. Often each individual sanitary napkin is folded in an overlapping configuration, commonly referred to as “tri-folded”, and individually packaged in a polypropylene or polyethylene film pouch, commonly referred to as the “overwrap”. In this manner, each individual napkin is maintained in a hygienic condition prior to use. When the user is ready to use the napkin, the napkin is removed from the “overwrap”, unfolded, and arranged in the undergarment for use. A problem with above described overwrap structure is that once the napkin has been used (i.e. soiled) there is no effective way for the user to dispose of the soiled absorbent article in a hygienic manner. Rather, the user is often forced to simply place the soiled absorbent article in a refuse container or in the alternative the user may first wrap the article in toilet paper or the like prior to disposal. 
         [0004]    In view of the foregoing, the inventors have recognized a need to provide a sanitary napkin assembly including an overwrap that effectively protects the sanitary napkin in a hygienic manner prior to use and also provides means to easily dispose of a soiled sanitary napkin in a hygienic manner. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a sanitary article assembly including a sanitary article having a tri-folded configuration prior to use, an overwrap for packaging the tri-folded sanitary article prior to use, the overwrap having a first wall and a second wall arranged in opposed relationship to one another, an outer surface and an inner surface, a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion arranged between the first and second end portions, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lip having a first position in which it is arranged in overlapping relationship to the inner surface, the overwrap having a first closed configuration wherein the first and second end portions of the overwrap are arranged in overlapping relationship to thereby define a pouch for receiving the tri-folded sanitary article prior to use, the overwrap having a second open configuration wherein the first and second walls of the overwrap define a pocket for receiving a soiled sanitary article, the lip being structured and arranged to be manually inverted by a user, when the overwrap is in the second configuration, from the first position to a second position wherein the lip is arranged in overlapping relationship with the outer surface of the overwrap to thereby close the pocket. 
         [0006]    The present invention provides, according to a second aspect of the invention, A method of packaging, using and disposing of a sanitary article including the steps of providing a sanitary article having a trifolded configuration prior to use, the sanitary article having a garment facing surface and an adhesive arranged on the garment facing surface for securing the sanitary article to an undergarment during use, the tri-folded configuration defining a first end portion of the sanitary article, a second end portion of the sanitary article and an intermediate portion arranged between the first end portion and the second end portion, packaging the trifolded sanitary article in an overwrap for protecting the sanitary article prior to use, the overwrap having a first wall and a second wall arranged in opposed relationship to one another, an outer surface and an inner surface, a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion arranged between the first and second end portions, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lip having a first position in which it is arranged in overlapping relationship to the inner surface, the overwrap having a first closed configuration wherein the first and second end portions of the overwrap are arranged in overlapping relationship to thereby define a pouch for receiving the tri-folded sanitary article prior to use, overwrap having a second open configuration wherein the first and second walls of the overwrap define a pocket for receiving a soiled sanitary article, removing the sanitary article from the overwrap by manually arranging the overwrap in the second open configuration, removing a soiled sanitary article from an undergarment, inserting the soiled sanitary article into the pocket, manually inverting the lip when the overwrap is in the second configuration, from the first position to a second position wherein the lip is arranged in overlapping relationship with the outer surface of the overwrap to thereby close the pocket. 
         [0007]    The present invention provides, according to a third aspect of the invention, a sanitary article assembly including a sanitary article, an overwrap for packaging the tri-folded sanitary article prior to use, the overwrap having a first wall and a second wall arranged in opposed relationship to one another to define, and a lip having a first open configuration, the overwrap having a first closed configuration for holding an unused sanitary article, the overwrap having a second open configuration wherein the first and second walls of the overwrap define a pocket for receiving a soiled sanitary article, and the lip being structured and arranged to be manually inverted by a user, when the overwrap is in the second configuration, from the first position to a second closed position to thereby close the pocket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Examples of embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an overwrap according to the present invention in a closed configuration, the overwrap containing an unused sanitary absorbent article; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the overwrap of  FIG. 1  in a partially open configuration; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the overwrap of  FIG. 1  in an open configuration; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing the manner of attachment of the sanitary absorbent article according to the invention to an undergarment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the overwrap of  FIG. 1  depicting the manner in which the overwrap may receive a soiled sanitary absorbent article; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is schematic view of the overwrap of  FIG. 1  containing a soiled sanitary absorbent article in a partially rolled configuration; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the overwrap of  FIG. 1  containing a soiled sanitary absorbent article in a fully rolled configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-7  the sanitary napkin assembly  10  according to the present invention generally includes an overwrap  12  and a sanitary napkin  14 . Although the invention will be described herein with reference to a sanitary napkin  14  the invention may be utilized with other disposable sanitary absorbent articles such as adult incontinence products, panty liners, diapers and the like. 
         [0017]    As best seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3  the sanitary napkin  14 , prior to use, is arranged in a trifolded configuration and contained within the overwrap  12 . The overwrap  12  is shown in a closed configuration in  FIG. 1  with the sanitary napkin  14  contained within the overwrap  12 . The overwrap  12  is also arranged in a tri-folded configuration so as to define a pouch  15  for receiving the napkin  14  prior to use. The overwrap  12  is preferably constructed from a liquid impermeable polymeric film such as polyethylene or polypropylene, although other suitable liquid impermeable materials may also be employed. 
         [0018]    The closed configuration of the overwrap shown in  FIG. 1  is the configuration in which the user would find the overwrap  12  and sanitary napkin  14  prior to use.  FIG. 3  shows the overwrap  12  in an open configuration enabling the user to manually remove the sanitary napkin  14  from the overwrap  12  for use. It is noted that overwrap  12  may be easily manually opened from the configuration shown in  FIG. 1  to the configuration shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the overwrap  12  includes a first wall  16  and a second wall  18  which are arranged in opposed relationship to one another. An outer surface  20  of the second wall  18  defines an outer surface of the overwrap  12  when the overwrap is in the closed configuration, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The first wall  16  includes a primary portion  17  and a lip portion  19 . The first wall  16  primarily defines the inner surface  22  of the overwrap  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The lip portion  19  is arranged, in a first position, such that it is in overlapping relationship to primary portion  17  and more particularly to the inner surface  22  of the overwrap  12 . 
         [0020]    As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the first wall  16  and second wall  18  are arranged in opposed relationship to one another such that they define a pocket  40  therebetween for receiving a soiled sanitary napkin  14   a . Although the first wall  16  is depicted in the Figures as being arranged in opposed relationship to the inner surface of the second wall  18  it could also be arranged in opposed relationship to the outer surface  20  of the second wall  18 . That is, the pocket  40  could also be arranged on the outer surface  20  of the overwrap  12 . 
         [0021]    The first wall  16  preferably extends substantially from a first transverse edge  41  a of the overwrap  12  to a second transverse edge  41   b  of the overwrap  12  such that the pocket  40  extends substantially from the first transverse edge  41   a  to the second transverse edge  41   b . In another embodiment of the invention, the first wall  16  may extend the entire length from the first transverse edge  41   a  to the second transverse edge  41   b  such that the pocket  40  extends the entire length from the first transverse edge  41   a  to the second transverse edge  41  of the overwrap  12 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the overwrap  12  generally includes a first end portion or tri-section  30 , a second end portion or tri-section  32  and an intermediate portion or tri-section  34 . As best seen in  FIG. 1 , when the overwrap  12  is in the closed configuration prior to use the first end portion  30  is arranged in overlapping relationship with the second end portion  32 . In the closed configuration, the first end portion  30 , second end portion  32  and intermediate portion  34  are preferably secured to one another along their respective edges by means of a crimp seal  42 . In this manner, the overwrap  12  is maintained in the closed configuration shown in  FIG. 1  to maintain the sanitary napkin  14  in a hygienic state until the user is ready to use the sanitary napkin  14 . 
         [0023]    Once a user is ready to the use the napkin  14  the user may manually open the overwrap  12  from the closed configuration shown in  FIG. 1  to the open configuration shown in  FIG. 3  by unfolding the first end portion  30  and second end portion  32  of the overwrap from their overlapping condition shown in  FIG. 1  to thereby break the crimp seals  42  and place the overwrap  12  in the open configuration shown in  FIG. 3 . Once the overwrap  12  is placed in the open configuration shown in  FIG. 3  the user may access the napkin  14  for use. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the sanitary napkin  14  is arranged in a tri-folded configuration in the overwrap  12  prior to use. In one preferred embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 4 , the sanitary napkin  14  is provided with a garment attachment adhesive  42  arranged on a garment facing surface  44  of the napkin  14  which functions to securely attach the sanitary napkin  14  to an undergarment  45  during use. The adhesive  42  is preferably covered by a removable release paper  46  to protect the garment attachment adhesive  42  prior to use of the napkin  14 . In another embodiment of the invention, not shown in the Figures, the removable release paper  46  may be omitted. However, in such an embodiment, the inner surface  22  of the overwrap  12  should be provided with a nonstick surface coating, e.g. silicone, to facilitate the removal of the napkin  14  from the overwrap  12 . 
         [0025]    After a user has removed the napkin  14  from the overwrap  12  and arranged the napkin in the user&#39;s undergarment, the user may place a soiled napkin  14   a  within the pocket  40  defined between the first  16  and second  18  walls of the overwrap  12 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . After placing the soiled napkin  14   a  in the pocket  40  the user may then invert the lip portion  19  of the overwrap  12  from the first position shown in  FIG. 5  wherein the lip portion  19  is arranged in overlapping relationship to the inner surface  22  of the overwrap  12  to a second position shown in  FIG. 6  wherein the lip portion  19  is arranged in overlapping relationship to the outer surface  20  of the overwrap  12 . By inverting the lip portion  19  from the position shown in  FIG. 5  to the position shown in  FIG. 6  the lip portion  19  functions to close the pocket  40  by passing over the first transverse edge  41   a  of the overwrap thereby closing the opening to the pocket  40 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , after the user has placed the soiled napkin  14   a  in the pocket  40  and inverted the lip portion  19  as described above, the user may then roll the overwrap from a first end  50  of overwrap  12  to a second end  52  of the overwrap  12 . Secured to the second end  52  of the overwrap is a device  54  for selectively maintaining the overwrap  12  in a rolled configuration. In one embodiment of the invention the device  54  may comprise a piece of elastomeric material such as rubber or the like that can be wrapped around the overwrap  12  when the overwrap  12  is in a rolled configuration, as shown in  FIG. 7 . Other devices may also be employed provided that they function to maintain the overwrap  12  in the rolled configuration shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0026]    A method of using the absorbent article assembly  10  according to the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  the napkin  14  is provided in a trifolded configuration prior to use and packaged within the overwrap  12 . When the user desires to access the napkin  14  the user manually opens the overwrap  12  from the first closed configuration shown in  FIG. 1  to a second open configuration shown in  FIG. 3 . The user may then remove the napkin  14  from the overwrap  12  for use. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the user may then insert a soiled sanitary napkin  14   a  into the pocket  40  defined between the first wall  16  and second wall  18  of the overwrap  12 . After placing the soiled sanitary napkin  14   a  into the pocket  40 , the user may then invert the lip portion  19  of the overwrap  12  from the position shown in  FIG. 5  to the position shown in  FIG. 6  to thereby close the pocket  40 . Thereafter, the user may roll the overwrap  12  from the first end  50  of the overwrap to a second end  52  of the overwrap  12  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Thereafter, the user may maintain the overwrap in the rolled configuration shown in  FIG. 6  by manually activating the device  54  for selectively maintaining the overwrap  12  in a rolled configuration. In particular the user may wrap the device  54  around the rolled overwrap  12  to thereby maintain the overwrap  12  in the rolled configuration, as shown in  FIG. 7 . Thereafter, the user may easily dispose of the soiled napkin  14   a.    
         [0027]    Variations of the sanitary article assembly according to the present invention may be apparent to those of skill in the art based upon the disclosure of the present application. Thus, it is intended that the present application cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided that they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.