A PACKAGING UNIT FOR HYGIENE ARTICLES AND A METHOD OF FORMING A PACKAGING UNIT

Abstract

A packaging unit for hygiene articles, the unit being formed from a sheet of material having an inner surface, said inner surface comprising an edge portion being provided with a resealable adhesive for closure of the packaging unit. The sheet has a longitudinal center line and at least one transversely extending folding axis dividing the sheet into a first region and a second region. A tab is arranged at an edge portion of the first region. The tab extends in a longitudinal direction from said edge portion so that an extension of the tab along or parallel to the center line from a tab base to an outer edge of the tab is 0.5 cm or more. A method of forming the packaging unit is also provided.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A packaging unit for hygiene articles, the packaging unit being formed from a sheet of material having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, said sheet having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface comprising an edge zone that comprises an edge portion being provided with a resealable adhesive for closure of the packaging unit, said sheet having a longitudinal center line and at least one transversely extending folding axis, said folding axis dividing said sheet into a first region and a second region, wherein said sheet is folded along said folding axis with said first region and said second region in an overlapping configuration, thereby providing a packaging unit of overlapping sheet layers, wherein a sheet-formed tab is arranged at an edge portion of the first region and at least partially along the center line, the tab having two major surfaces being free of any adhesive for closure of the packaging unit, wherein the tab extends in the longitudinal direction from said edge portion of the first region so that an extension of the tab along or parallel to the center line from a tab base to an outer edge of the tab is at least 0.5 cm, said tab base being a transversal line that longitudinally divides the tab with adhesive-free surfaces from a portion of the first region containing said resealable adhesive for closure of the packaging unit, to which resealable adhesive the tab base has a point of contact, wherein the first region forms an outer layer of the folded packaging unit and wherein the tab comprises a tab portion that protrudes outwardly from an edge defined by the overlapping sheet layers of the folded packaging unit.

22. A packaging unit according to claim 21, wherein said sheet is of substantially rectangular shape and comprises longitudinal edges and transverse edge portions, wherein the tab is arranged at one of the transverse edge portions.

23. The packaging unit according to claim 22, wherein said sheet has two folding axes, dividing said sheet into said first region, said second region and a third region.

24. The packaging unit according to claim 23, wherein said sheet is folded along said two folding axes with said first region, said second and said third region in an overlapping configuration of three layers.

25. Packaging unit according to claim 21, wherein a transverse edge portion of the sheet comprises the resealable adhesive for closure of the packaging unit to which the tab base is in contact.

26. The packaging unit according to claim 21, wherein a maximum extension of the tab from the tab base is substantially along the center line.

27. The packaging unit according to claim 21, wherein the tab is tongue-shaped, and a tip of the tongue shape is arranged close to, or at, the center line.

28. The packaging unit according to claim 21, wherein the sheet is a single-ply material.

29. The packaging unit according to claim 28, wherein the single-ply material is of polyolefin.

30. The packaging unit according to claim 21, wherein the tab is integrally formed with the sheet.

31. The packaging unit according to claim 21, wherein a chessboard pattern of resealable adhesive and non-adhesive portions is formed along the edge zone for complementary attachment between resealable adhesive and non-adhesive portions in a folded packaging unit.

32. The packaging unit according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said sheet and said tab are at least one of: opaque; and at least one of comprising print and tactile indications.

33. The packaging unit according to claim 32, wherein the tab is embossed.

34. The packaging unit according to claim 21, wherein said resealable adhesive is a pressure-sensitive hotmelt adhesive.

35. The packaging unit according to claim 21, wherein said packaging unit is reclosable.

36. A method of forming a packaging unit for hygiene articles, the packaging unit being formed from a sheet of material having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the method comprising the steps of: providing said sheet of material, the sheet of material having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface comprising an edge zone, providing an edge portion of said edge zone with resealable adhesive; wherein said sheet of material has a longitudinal center line and at least one transversely extending folding axis, said folding axis dividing said sheet of material into a first region and a second region; wherein a sheet-formed tab is arranged at an edge portion of the first region and at least partially along the center line, the tab having two major surfaces being free of any adhesive for closure of the packaging unit, wherein the tab extends in the longitudinal direction from said edge portion of the first region so that an extension of the tab along or parallel to the center line from a tab base to an outer edge of the tab is at least 0.5 cm, said tab base being a transversal line that longitudinally divides the tab with adhesive-free surfaces from a portion of the first region containing said resealable adhesive for closure of the packaging unit, to which resealable adhesive the tab base has a point of contact, wherein the method further comprises the step of: folding said sheet along said at least one folding axis with said first region and said second region in an overlapping configuration, thereby providing a packaging unit of overlapping sheet layers, wherein the first region forms an outer layer of the folded packaging unit, and the tab comprises a tab portion that protrudes outwardly from an edge defined by the overlapping sheet layers of the folded packaging unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a packaging unit according to an embodiment having one folding axis;

[0061] FIG. 2 shows the packaging unit depicted in FIG. 1 in a folded state;

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a packaging unit according to an embodiment having two folding axes;

[0063] FIG. 4 shows the packaging unit depicted in FIG. 3 in a folded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0064] The packaging unit of the present disclosure is in the form of a sheet that may be used as a single wrap that has resealable adhesive for closure of the packaging unit holding an unused hygiene article therein or a used article therein. The closure of the packaging unit may include folding the sheet and enclosing the hygiene article between folded sheet layers that are sealed by the resealable adhesive provided close to the edges of the sheets.

[0065] In the following, the packaging unit will be exemplified by a packaging unit comprising a rectangular sheet. Other forms, such as circular sheet, are also within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, the exemplified packaging unit comprises resealable adhesive for closure of the packaging unit, wherein a chessboard pattern of resealable adhesive and non-adhesive portions is formed along at least longitudinal edge zones (i.e. along the longitudinal direction (L)) for complementary attachment between resealable adhesive and non-adhesive portions in a folded packaging unit. According to the present disclosure, other ways of applying one or more resealable adhesive portions for closure of the packaging unit may also be considered.

[0066] FIG. 1 depicts a packaging unit 1 for hygiene articles according to the present disclosure. The packaging unit is formed from a sheet of material having a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (T). The sheet has an inner surface 2 and an outer surface 3, the inner surface comprising an edge zone 4 comprising an inner edge portion 5, 8 and an outer edge portion 6, 7. The packaging unit 1 also comprises transverse edge portions 4 and 4. The sheet has a longitudinal center line (L1) and a folding axis 9, wherein the folding axis divides the sheet into a first region 10 and a second region 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the outer edge portion 6 of the edge zone 4 of the first region 10 is provided with resealable adhesive 12, while the inner edge portion 5 of the edge zone 4 of the first region 10 is adhesive-free. Further, the inner edge portion 8 of the edge zone 4 of the second region 11 is provided with resealable adhesive 12, while the outer edge portion 7 of the edge zone 4 of the second region 11 is adhesive-free. Also, the transverse edge portion 4 of the first region 10 is provided with resealable adhesive 12, while the transverse edge portion 4 of the second region 11 is adhesive-free. Thus, the resealable adhesive pattern in the first region 10 is complementary to the resealable adhesive pattern of the second region 11. This in turn means that, when the sheet is folded about the folding axis 9 as shown in FIG. 2, the edge portions 6 carrying resealable adhesive in the first region 10 are brought in contact with the adhesive-free edge portions 7 in the second region 11, the edge portions 8 carrying resealable adhesive 12 in the second region 11 are brought in contact with the adhesive-free edge portions 5 in the first region 10, and the transverse edge portion 4 carrying resealable adhesive 12 in the first region 10 is brought in contact with the adhesive-free transverse edge portion 4 in the second region 11. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the width of the sealing area corresponds to the sum of the widths of the resealable adhesive portions 6, 8. Such a sealing ensures a tight package for both a new and a disposed article.

[0067] Furthermore, the packaging unit 1 further comprises a sheet-formed tab 13 arranged at a transverse edge portion of the first region and at least partially along the center line (L1). The illustrated substantially rectangular-shaped sheet comprises longitudinal edges 14, 15 and transverse edge portions 4, 4, wherein the sheet-formed tab 13 is arranged at one (4) of the transverse edge portions. The sheet-formed tab 13 is tongue-shaped, wherein the tip of the tongue shape is arranged close to, or at, the center line (L1). As described above, other shapes may also be considered for providing a finger-gripping tab 13. The tab 13 has two major surfaces 16, 17 being free of any adhesive for closure of the packaging unit. The sheet-formed tab 13 as shown in FIG. 1 extends in a longitudinal direction from the transversal edge portion and has an extension (A) along the center line (L1) from a tab base (B) to an outer edge 18 of the tab (13). The tab base (B) is a transversal line (B) that longitudinally divides the tab 13 with adhesive-free surfaces from the transverse edge portion 4 carrying resealable adhesive 12 in the first region 10, to which resealable adhesive 12 the tab base (B) has a point of contact. The point of contact is at an edge of the resealable adhesive 12 that provides the shortest extension (A).

[0068] Thus, the packaging unit 1 has a tab 13 that is adhesive-free at the portion protruding outwards from the packaging unit 1 to provide finger-gripping surfaces close to, or at, a center portion of a free-end edge of the packaging unit. The illustrated sheet-formed tab 13 is easy to grip and localize. It provides means to open and close the packaging unit 1 in the form a wrap. The user would intuitively try the tab means 13 for opening a packaging in the center portion of the free-end edge of the packaging unit.

[0069] The sheet-formed tab extension (A) in the longitudinal direction from said edge portion 4 from the tab base (B) to the outer edge 18 is 0.5 cm or more, and may be 1 cm or more, or 2 cm or more. The extension (A) may be up to 3 cm, 4 cm, or 5 cm. Thus, the extension may, for example, be 0.5 to 5 cm, 1 to 4 cm or 2 to 3 cm. The extension (A) may, as illustrated in the drawing, be the maximum longitudinal extension of the tab 13. The width of the tab 13 in the transverse direction (T) depends on the shape of the tab 13 and may be up to a transverse distance between two points of intersection between the tab base (B) and the outer edge (s) 14,15 of the packaging unit 1.

[0070] In FIG. 1, and as described herein above, the resealable adhesive (s) is provided on edge portions such that when the sheet is folded about the folding axis 9, the resealable adhesive aids in the closure of the packaging unit 1 enclosing a hygiene article. FIG. 2 illustrates a folded sheet along the at least one folding axis, with the first and second regions 10, 12 in an overlapping configuration, thereby providing a packaging unit 1 of overlapping sheet layers.

[0071] In the folded packaging unit, the sheet-formed tab 13 protrudes from an edge 19 formed of the overlapping sheet layers. A tab portion extends from the edge 19 of the folded packaging unit and provides a free-end and material overhang that is adhesive-free and easy to grip by a user's hand as compared to known adhesive-free end portions and tabs. The sheet-formed tab 13 portion does not overlap with any other packing unit regions 10; 11. The longitudinal tab extension (C; overhang) from the edge 19 formed by the overlapping sheet of layers to the outer edge 18 of the tab 13 along or parallel to the center line (L1) may be 0.5 to 5 cm; 1 to 4 cm, or 2 to 3 cm.

[0072] The most common packaging unit for individual packaging of absorbent articles is a rectangular sheet of material having a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (T) with a longitudinal center line (L1) and which sheet comprises two folding axes, longitudinal edges and transverse edges. Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3. The packaging unit 301 is a rectangular sheet comprising two folding axes 309, 309 dividing the packaging unit into a first region 310, a second region 311 and a third region 312. Each of the regions comprises an inner edge portion 305, 305, 308 and an outer edge portion 306, 306, 307. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer edge portions 306, 307 of the first and third regions respectively are provided with resealable adhesive 12, while the inner edge portions 305, 308 of the first and third regions respectively are adhesive-free. The resealable adhesive pattern of the second region 311 is complementary to the adhesive pattern of the first and third regions 310, 312, thus forming a chessboard pattern. In other words, the outer edge portion 306 of the second region 311 is adhesive-free, and the inner edge portion 305 of the second region 311 is provided with resealable adhesive. This in turn means that, when the sheet is e-folded about the folding axes 309, 309 as shown in FIG. 4, the outer edge portions 306 of the first region 310 or the outer edge portions 307 of the third region 312 carrying resealable adhesive 12 are brought in contact with the adhesive-free outer edge portions 306 in the second region 311, depending on which of the first and the third regions 310, 312 is brought in contact with the second region 311. Consequently, the inner edge portions 305 carrying resealable adhesive 12 in the second region 311 are brought into contact with the adhesive-free inner edge portions 305 of the first region 310 or the adhesive-free inner edge portions 308 of the third region 312.

[0073] As can be seen from FIG. 4, the width of the sealing area corresponds to the sum of the widths of the resealable adhesive portions 306, 305. The packaging unit may be folded around the second folding axis 309, bringing the third region 312 in contact with the second region 311, sealing the outer edge portions 307, 306 and the inner edge portions 308, 305. The packaging unit is subsequently folded around the first folding axis 309, bringing the first region 310 in contact with the outer surface of the third region 312, thus sealing the packaging unit (FIG. 4). Thus, the packaging unit will provide a tight and hygienic package.

[0074] The packaging unit 301 further comprises a sheet-formed tab 313 that is arranged at the transverse edge portion 304 of the first region and at least partially along the center line (L1). Similar to the tab 13 as illustrated in FIG. 1, the sheet-formed tab 313 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 extends in a longitudinal direction from an edge portion 304 and has an extension (A) along the center line (L1) from a tab base (B) to an outer edge 318 of the tab 313. The tab base (B) is a transversal line (B) that longitudinally divides the tab 313 with adhesive-free surfaces 316, 317 from the transverse edge portion 304 carrying resealable adhesive 12 in the first region 310, to which resealable adhesive 12 the tab 313 base (B) has a point of contact. The point of contact is at an edge of the resealable adhesive 12 that provides the shortest extension (A).

[0075] In order to obtain a tight package, the transverse edge portion 304 of the packaging unit 301 is provided with resealable adhesive 12. Folding then ensures that the first region 310 comprising the adhesive-covered transverse edge portion 304 forms a lid, and the resealable adhesive positioned at the transverse edge portion 304 seals the packaging unit 301, with the sheet-formed tab 313 extending from the lid. It is also conceivable to provide each one of the opposite transverse edges with resealable adhesive.

[0076] Thus, also in the packaging unit with two folding axes, the tab portion may extend from an edge 319 of the folded packaging unit to provide a free-end and material overhang that is adhesive free and easy to grip by a user's hand as compared to known adhesive-free end portions and tabs. The sheet-formed tab portion 13 does not overlap with any other packing unit regions 310-312. The longitudinal tab extension (overhang) from the edge 319 of the folded packaging unit 301 to an outer edge 318 of the tab 313 may be any shape and extension according to the present disclosure and as defined by the appended claims, e.g. the shapes and dimensions as described for the single-axis packaging unit.

[0077] It should be noted that when the packaging unit according to the present disclosure is used for disposal, the user can choose to roll up the packaging unit 1, 301 and the soiled article positioned on it rather than folding it. This rolling action is made easier by the provision of a finger-gripping tab 13, 313. If the gripping tab 13, 313 is used in such rolling action, the skilled person can choose to roll the packaging unit 1, 301 such that the tab is part of an outermost layer of the rolled packaging unit.

[0078] The illustrated packaging units 1, 301 may be formed from a sheet of material having a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (T). The method comprises the steps of: a) providing the sheet of material, the sheet having an inner surface 2, 302 and an outer surface 3, 303, the inner surface 2,302 comprising an edge zone, and b) providing an edge portion 4, 6, 8; 304, 306, 305, 307 of the edge zone with resealable adhesive 12, e.g. in a chessboard pattern as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

[0079] The method may further comprise the step of folding the sheet along the at least one folding axis 9; 309, 309 with the first and second regions 10, 11; 311, 312 in an overlapping configuration, thereby providing a packaging unit 1, 301 of overlapping sheet layers as described herein above. In such a folded packaging unit 1, 301, the tab 13, 313 may form an overhang as described hereinabove.

[0080] As the skilled person will appreciate, it is intended that the detailed description be regarded as illustrative and that many embodiments and alternatives are possible within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example, the packaging unit may adopt other geometrical shapes than the rectangular ones shown in the drawings. The geometrical shape of the sheet can vary depending on the type of the hygiene article to be packaged. The sheet may be circular, triangular, square, rectangular, or any other shape suitable for the hygiene article to be packaged. It is desirable, however, that the sheet has at least one symmetry axis.

[0081] Furthermore, the present disclosure has been exemplified with packaging units comprising resealable adhesive for closure of the packaging unit, wherein a chessboard pattern of resealable adhesive and non-adhesive portions is formed along at least longitudinal edge zones (i.e. along the longitudinal direction (L)) for complementary attachment between resealable adhesive and non-adhesive portions in a folded packaging unit. Other ways of applying one or more resealable adhesive portions for closure of the packaging unit may also be considered.