PACKAGE OF A STACK OF FLEXIBLE ARTICLES
A package with a stack of flexible articles includes a stack of flexible articles, a flexible outer cover, having a first end side panel and a second end side panel opposing the first end side panel. The package further includes two and preferably only two stiffening elements that are stiffer than the flexible outer cover and the flexible articles, whereby one of the stiffening elements is positioned against the interior surface of the end side panels of the outer cover and the other stiffening element is positioned against the opposing end side panel of the outer cover.
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The present disclosure concerns a package for a stack of flexible articles. The package has an outer cover enclosing the stack of articles.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREFlexible articles can be packed in plastic bags. A stack of a plurality of flexible articles may be cuboidal. However due to the flexibility of the plastic bag and compressive forces during the packaging the packages may become more round than cuboidal. Due to the tendency of the packages to assume a round shape the design on the sides of the packages can partly be seen when viewing the front side of the packages, thus designs on the side of the package, e.g. informative text can be discerned when viewing the front and this may ruin the impression that the front design is intended to give. One current solution to this problem is to stretch the front design over the corner of the package and into the sides of the package. Thereby the space for the design and information on the sides of the package is reduced. The flexible articles can be sheeted soft paper products, such as napkins, serviettes, hand towels and toilet papers. Other types of flexible articles are absorbent personal care articles, such as diapers, incontinence care articles, sanitary napkins and panty liners.
US200570121348 A1 describes a package for a stack of flexible articles that has a trough-formed three sided insert made of cardboard. The stack and the insert are covered by flexible outer cover. The insert covers the length of the stack and thereby the sides of all articles in the stack. The insert is large and increases the weight of the package without solving the problem with packages where the first and the last article in the stack bulge out of the package. EP 356319 A1 describes a package of three superposed stacks of flexible articles. The stacks of flexible articles are covered by a three sided insert made of cardboard. Also in this case the insert covers the length of the stacks and thereby the sides of all articles in the stack. The insert is large and increases the weight of the package without solving the problem with packages where the first and the last article in the stack bulge out of the package.
Thus there is a need to solve the problem of bulging packages in the area of packaged stacked flexible articles.
SUMMARYThe needs can be met with a package comprising a flexible outer cover, a stack of flexible articles and stiffening elements and a method for making such a package. Hereinafter the “stack of flexible articles” may be referred to as also the “stack of article” or only “the stack” and the “flexible outer cover” may also be called only “outer cover”. The “flexible article” is sometimes referred to as only “article”. The flexible outer cover has a first lateral panel and a second lateral panel opposing the first lateral panel. The first and the second lateral panels are connected via a continuous wall that is divided into four side panels, a first end side panel and a second end side panel opposing the first end side panel and a front side panels and a back side panels opposing the front side panel. Each side panel has a first and a second side edge, each side edge is connected to a side edge of two opposing adjacent side panels. The outer cover encloses the stack of flexible articles. The stack of flexible articles comprises two or more flexible articles and has, a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposing the first lateral side, a front side and a back opposing the front side, and a first end side being made up by a first article of the stack and a second end side being made up by a last article of the stack. The second end side opposes the first end side. Each lateral side is connected to the front side and the back and the end sides are of the connected to each other via the lateral sides the front side and the back. The package further comprises two stiffening element that are stiffer than the flexible outer cover and the flexible articles. One of the stiffening elements is positioned against the interior surface of a first end side panel of the outer cover and the other stiffening element is positioned against the second end side panel of the outer cover. Preferably only two stiffening elements are to be used.
The stiffening elements may be rectangular and may have a width that is 95-100% of the width of the end side panels of the outer covers. The height of the stiffening elements may be 95-100% of the height of the end side panels of the outer covers. The stiffening element may have rounded corners and/or edges. Preferably the stiffening elements only cover the end side panels of the flexible outer cover or parts thereof, i.e. the stiffening elements should preferably not extend over any other panels of the flexible outer cover.
In an alternative embodiment the height of the stiffening elements may be 70-95% of the height of the end side panels of the outer covers. They may extend along the end side panel of the outer cover from the first or second lateral panel to a first distance X from the other of the second or first lateral panels. Alternatively the side panels may extend along the end side panel from a first distance X from the first or second lateral panel to a second distance Y from the other of the second or first lateral panels.
The stiffening element may be made of made of, wood, corrugated board, plastic sheet, and cardboard. The stiffening elements may be solid but may also be made like a frame with material at the edges of the element, but no or only a smaller amount of material in the middle.
The two stiffening elements may be joined to each one of the end side panels of the outer cover.
The end side panels of a package with flexible articles and stiffening elements should bulge from the side edges of the end side panel with a distance D that is at most 6 mm, preferably at the most 3 mm and most preferably 1 mm.
The outer cover may be made plastic film, nonwoven or paper.
The stack of flexible articles may be positioned so that the first article in the stack will be adjacent one of the stiffening elements and the last article in the stack will be adjacent the opposing stiffening element. The stack may moreover be compressed in the direction of the stack length, from one the first article of the stack towards the last article of the stack.
The stack of flexible article is substantially flat along the first lateral side, the second lateral side, the front side and the back.
The flexible article may be an absorbent article such as incontinence protection, diaper and/or a feminine pad.
A method for obtaining a package with a stack of flexible articles comprises the steps of providing a flexible outer cover, a stack of flexible articles and preferably two stiffening elements. The flexible outer cover has a first lateral panel and a second lateral panel opposing the first lateral panel. The first and the second lateral panels are connected via a continuous wall that is divided into four side panels, a first end side panel and a second end side panel opposing the first end side panel, and a front side panel and a back side panel opposing the front side panel. Each side panel has a first and a second side edge, each side edge is connected to a side edge of two opposing adjacent side panels. The stack of articles comprises two or more articles and has a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposing the first lateral side, a front side and a back opposing the front side, and a first end side being made up by a first article of the stack and a second end side being made up by a last article of the stack. The second end side opposes the first end side. Each lateral side is connected to the front side and the back and the end sides are of the connected to each other via the lateral sides the front side and the back. The stack is inserted into the outer cover. The stiffening elements are also inserted into the outer cover prior to, during or after the stack is inserted. The stiffening elements are positioned against the interior surface of each of the end side panels of the outer cover. Preferably only two stiffening elements are to be used.
The stiffening elements may be positioned adjacent each of the first article and the last article of the stack. This may be done prior to the insertion of the stack of articles. In an alternative method the stiffening elements may be inserted into the outer cover prior to the insertion of the stack of articles. In this case the stiffening elements may be joined to each one of the end side panels of the outer cover.
The stack of articles may be compressed in the direction of the stack length before and/or during the insertion into to the outer cover. Thereby the stiffening elements may be positioned adjacent the first and last articles of the stack prior to compressing the articles.
The embodiments of the disclosure will be described more closely below. The disclosure may however be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth in the drawings and the description thereto.
PackageIn
A stack 5 of articles can be seen in
One embodiments of the stack 5 of flexible articles with stiffening elements 10 can be seen in
Another embodiment of the package 1 with a stack 5 of flexible article with stiffening elements 10 can be seen in
An alternative embodiment of package 1 with a stack 5 of flexible article with stiffening elements 10 can be seen in
Another embodiment of the stack 5 of flexible articles with stiffening elements 10 can be seen in
Yet another embodiment is shown in
In all the described embodiments the width Ws of the stiffening elements shall be generally equal to the width Wa of the flexible articles, and thus of the width Wo of the end side panel of the outer cover. This means that the width Ws of the stiffening elements is 95-100% of the width Wa first or last article of the stack, and thus of the width Wo of the end side panel of the outer cover. In those embodiments where the height Hs of the stiffening elements is generally the equal to the height Ha of the flexible article this means that the height Hs of the stiffening elements is 95-100% of the height Ha first or last article of the stack and thus of the height Ho of the end side panel of the outer cover.
In the embodiments above the stiffening element has opposing sides that are parallel to each other, i.e. the elements are substantially rectangular. It would be possible foresee to have stiffening elements with two opposing sides that tapers slightly towards each other in one direction.
In all the described embodiments the stiffening element may be made of wood, corrugated board, plastic sheet, or cardboard. The stiffness of the stiffening material shall be enough to keep the edges between the end side panels and the front side panel and/or the back panel sharp to avoid the roundedness of the current edges. The stiffening element may be made of a solid piece of material or may be built up by a more complex material e.g. a laminate of different layer of materials. It may also be constructed with a frame made of one kind of material. The centre of the frame may either be empty or be filled with a second material. It would also be possible to strengthen the frame with cross beams of materials that crosses the frame form one edge to an opposing edge or from corner to an opposing corner. It is further possible to print information and or pictures onto the stiffening elements, e.g. advertisements or offerings. It may also be possible to use a booklet that is stiff enough to function as a stiffening element. The booklet may have 2 or more leaves.
The outer cover may be made of a flexible plastic film, nonwoven or a paper material. The plastic film may be made of common available film material such as thermoplastic films or films laminated of different layers of material. All the layers may be made of film but it would be possible to include also a thin metal foil or a paper in the laminate. The film may e.g. be made of polyethylene.
The end side panel of a package having stiffening elements should preferably bulge from the side edges with a distance D (see test method below) that is at most 6 mm, preferably at the most 3 mm and most preferably at the most 1 mm at, as measured with the herein described test method.
The stiffening elements of the package may be positioned loose in the package without being joined to the articles or the flexible outer cover. However the stiffening elements may also be fastened to either the flexible outer cover, e.g.to the end side panels or to the first and/or the last article of the stack.
The stack of flexible articles can be positioned so that the first article in the stack will be adjacent and inside one of the stiffening elements and the last article in the stack will be adjacent and inside the opposing stiffening element. The stack of flexible article may also be substantially flat along the first lateral side 20, the second lateral side 21, the front side 22 and the back. Furthermore the stack of flexible article may be compressed in the direction of the stack length, from one the first article of the stack towards the last article of the stack.
The flexible articles in the packages are preferably an absorbent such as incontinence protection, diaper and/or a feminine pad or panty liners.
Method for Obtaining a Package.The stack of flexible articles described in connection to
The stack may optionally be compressed before it is inserted into the outer cover. One further option in this case is that the stiffening elements are positioned against the first and the last article of the stack before it is compressed.
In all of the embodiments described in
Measurement of Distance D
Distance D is a value that shows how much a package containing a stiffening element bulges. The method is described with the aid of
A package 1 with a stiffening element 10 is laid flat on a table with the front side panel 4 of the outer cover lying down on the table top 14. Find the part of the end side panel 3 of the outer cover that bulges the most, this part can usually be found at half of height Hs of the end side panel. Push a vertical ruler 15 until it comes in contact with an end side panel 3 of the outer cover 2 where the package bulges most. If the end side panel 3 of the outer cover 2 has a seam that is protruding push gently until the seam lies flat against the outer cover and the ruler 15 is flush against the part of the material that is adjacent of the seam, alternatively a part of the seam that coincides with the measurement site can be cut or shaved away without destroying the seam. With a finger find the back edge 17 of the stiffening element. With the help of e.g. a horizontal ruler 16 measure the distance D from the back edge of the stiffening panel and the vertical ruler 17. The angles α and β shall be 90°.
Repeat the measurement at the other end side panel.
Then turn the package so that the back panel of the outer cover lies on the table top and repeat the measurements. In this case it is the distance D between the front edge 18 and the vertical ruler 17 that shall be measured.
It is sufficient that one of the measured distances D falls with the range mentioned in the claim for the package to be within the claim.
Claims
1. A package with a stack of flexible articles, the package comprising:
- a flexible outer cover, having a first lateral panel and a second lateral panel opposing the first lateral panel, the first and the second lateral panels being connected via a continuous wall, the continuous wall being divided into four side panels, a first end side panel and a second end side panel opposing the first end side panel, and a front side panel and a back side panel opposing the front side panel, said flexible outer cover enclosing the stack of flexible articles, the stack comprising two or more flexible articles, the stack having a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposing the first lateral side, a front side and a back opposing the front side, and a first end side being a first article of the stack and a second end side being a last article of the stack, the second end side opposing the first end side,
- wherein the package further comprises:
- two stiffening elements, whereby one stiffening element is positioned against the interior surface of the first end side panel of the flexible outer cover and one stiffening element is positioned against the second end side panel of the flexible outer cover.
2. The package according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening elements are rectangular.
3. The package according to claim 1, wherein a width of each of the stiffening elements is 95-100% of the a width of the end side panels of the outer cover.
4. The package according to claim 1, wherein a height of each of the stiffening elements is 95-100% of a height of the end side panels of the outer cover.
5. The package according to claim 1, wherein a height of each of the stiffening elements is 70-95% of a height of each of the end side panels of the outer cover, and that wherein each stiffening element extends along the end side panel from the first or second lateral panel to a first distance from the other of the second or first lateral panels.
6. The package according to claim 1, wherein a height of each of the stiffening elements is 70-90% of a height of each of the end side panels of the outer cover, and wherein each stiffening element extends along the end side panel from a first distance from the first or second lateral panel to a second distance from the other of the second or first lateral panels.
7. The package according to claim 1, wherein each stiffening element has rounded corners and/or edges.
8. The package according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening elements are stiffer than the flexible outer cover and the flexible articles.
9. The package according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening elements are made of wood, corrugated board, plastic sheet, and/or cardboard.
10. The package according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening elements are made in the form of a frame.
11. The package according to claim 1, wherein there are only two stiffening elements.
12. The package according to claim 1, wherein the end side panels bulges from the side edges of the end side panel with a distance that is at most 6 mm
13. The package according to claim 1, wherein the outer cover is made of plastic film, nonwoven or paper.
14. The package according to claim 1, wherein the stack of flexible articles is positioned so that the first article in the stack will be adjacent one of the stiffening elements and the last article in the stack will be adjacent the opposing stiffening element.
15. The package according to claim 14, wherein the stiffening elements are positioned between the end side panel of the flexible outer cover and the first or the last article of the stack.
16. The package according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening elements only cover the end side panels (3)-or parts of the ends side panels of the flexible outer cover.
17. The package according wherein the stack of flexible articles is compressed in the direction of the stack length, from the first article of the stack towards the last article of the stack.
18. The package according to claim 1, wherein the stack of flexible articles is substantially flat along the first lateral side, the second lateral side, the front side and the back.
19. The package according to claim 12, wherein one of the stiffening elements is joined to one of the end side panels of the outer cover and the other stiffening element is joined to the opposing end side panel of the outer cover.
20. The package according to claim 1, wherein the flexible article is an absorbent article.
21. A method for obtaining a package with a stack of flexible articles comprising:
- a. providing a flexible outer cover, having a first lateral panel and an second lateral panel opposing the first lateral panel, the first and the second lateral panels being connected via a continuous wall, the continuous wall being divided into four side panels, a first end side panel and a second end side panel opposing the first end side panel, and a front side panel and a back side panel opposing the front side panel,
- b. providing a stack of flexible articles, the stack of articles comprising two or more articles, the stack of flexible articles having a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposing the first lateral side, a front side and a back opposing the front side, and a first end side being a first article of the stack and a second end side being a last article of the stack, the second end side opposing the first end side,
- c. inserting the stack into the outer cover, and
- d. inserting two stiffening elements before, during or after step c into the outer cover and positioning one stiffening element against the interior surface of the first end side panel of the flexible outer cover and positioning one stiffening element against the second end side panel of the outer cover.
22. The method for obtaining a package according to claim 21 comprisinq compressing the stack of articles in the direction of the stack length before and/or during the insertion into the outer cover.
23. The method for obtaining a package according to claim 21, comprising positioning one of the stiffening elements adjacent the first article of the stack of articles and positioning the opposing stiffening element adjacent the last article of the stack.
24. The method for obtaining a package according to claim 22, comprising positioning the stiffening elements adjacent the first and last articles of the stack prior to compressing of the stack of articles.
25. The method for obtaining a package according to claim 22, comprising positioning the stiffening elements in the outer cover prior to the insertion of the stack of articles.
26. The method for obtaining a package according to claim 25, comprising joining one of the stiffening elements to one of the end side panels of the outer cover and joining the other stiffening element to the opposing end side panel of the outer cover.
27. The method for obtaining a package according to claim 22, wherein the flexible article is an absorbent article.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 27, 2012
Publication Date: Nov 19, 2015
Applicant: SCA Hygiene Products AB (Goteborg)
Inventors: Camilla ELFSBERG (Goteborg), Katarina ERIKSSON (Goteborg), Bjorn SVENSSON (Goteborg)
Application Number: 14/655,908